Mike Mearls
@mearls.bsky.social
I spend too much thinking about TTRPGs. I sometimes publish them.
I can't think of a reason NOT to go.
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I can't think of a reason NOT to go.
We just had a new player join on Friday. I added his PC to an encounter, saw his HP total, confirmed his Con 8, and started composing the “Hey man, go ahead and bump your Con to 12” email right after the session.
January 11, 2026 at 4:45 AM
We just had a new player join on Friday. I added his PC to an encounter, saw his HP total, confirmed his Con 8, and started composing the “Hey man, go ahead and bump your Con to 12” email right after the session.
For Baldman Games, I'd check their web site for contact info. For Chris, not sure if he is active on social media. I think he is on Facebook and LinkedIn
January 11, 2026 at 2:45 AM
For Baldman Games, I'd check their web site for contact info. For Chris, not sure if he is active on social media. I think he is on Facebook and LinkedIn
Great question! I cannot recall exactly who wrote it, but I can give you some next steps to check in with:
Dave Christ at Baldman Games might know, since his company managed Gen Con events for Wizards.
Chris Tulach might know, since he managed D&D organized play at the time.
Dave Christ at Baldman Games might know, since his company managed Gen Con events for Wizards.
Chris Tulach might know, since he managed D&D organized play at the time.
January 11, 2026 at 2:45 AM
Great question! I cannot recall exactly who wrote it, but I can give you some next steps to check in with:
Dave Christ at Baldman Games might know, since his company managed Gen Con events for Wizards.
Chris Tulach might know, since he managed D&D organized play at the time.
Dave Christ at Baldman Games might know, since his company managed Gen Con events for Wizards.
Chris Tulach might know, since he managed D&D organized play at the time.
That's fantastic to hear. Congrats on the hard earned success!
January 8, 2026 at 2:20 PM
That's fantastic to hear. Congrats on the hard earned success!
Anyone who looks at LinkedIn and says, "I need to spend more time on this site," literally does not have a soul.
January 7, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Anyone who looks at LinkedIn and says, "I need to spend more time on this site," literally does not have a soul.
Like if LinkedIn was really about getting you a job, they'd make money by cashing in when you get a job through the site. They don't do that. Instead, they charge for access to information that is probably not going to help you, but creates the sense that you need it.
January 6, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Like if LinkedIn was really about getting you a job, they'd make money by cashing in when you get a job through the site. They don't do that. Instead, they charge for access to information that is probably not going to help you, but creates the sense that you need it.
No, LinkedIn is designed to do exactly that. When I was looking at a job, my game design brain figured out that it the site is optimized for making you feel like you are one spin of the scroll wheel away from an amazing new job. It's the worst social media site.
January 6, 2026 at 5:25 AM
No, LinkedIn is designed to do exactly that. When I was looking at a job, my game design brain figured out that it the site is optimized for making you feel like you are one spin of the scroll wheel away from an amazing new job. It's the worst social media site.
Unfortunately the video games are what move the needle for the stock price. If he spent a lot of time talking TTRPGs, it might actually hurt the stock (analysts could take that as a sign of a lack of progress on the digital side).
January 5, 2026 at 11:13 PM
Unfortunately the video games are what move the needle for the stock price. If he spent a lot of time talking TTRPGs, it might actually hurt the stock (analysts could take that as a sign of a lack of progress on the digital side).
(This is going to be awkward when the PCs find out who was working with the orcs.)
Last week they decided to talk to a Red Wizard mummy who casually devours people's souls. They're working for him now! They fed his traitorous apprentice to him! So I think chaos is their MO. Which is typical.
Last week they decided to talk to a Red Wizard mummy who casually devours people's souls. They're working for him now! They fed his traitorous apprentice to him! So I think chaos is their MO. Which is typical.
December 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
(This is going to be awkward when the PCs find out who was working with the orcs.)
Last week they decided to talk to a Red Wizard mummy who casually devours people's souls. They're working for him now! They fed his traitorous apprentice to him! So I think chaos is their MO. Which is typical.
Last week they decided to talk to a Red Wizard mummy who casually devours people's souls. They're working for him now! They fed his traitorous apprentice to him! So I think chaos is their MO. Which is typical.
(The Zhents charmed the troll and set it loose to attack caravans that were not part of the "Trade Guild", a cross-Dales trade org secretly run by the Zhents. The guy hiring the party to murder orcs and goblins "to keep trade flowing" is the local Zhent king pin.)
December 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
(The Zhents charmed the troll and set it loose to attack caravans that were not part of the "Trade Guild", a cross-Dales trade org secretly run by the Zhents. The guy hiring the party to murder orcs and goblins "to keep trade flowing" is the local Zhent king pin.)
They were hired to track down a marauding troll. They corner it and try to talk it down, nat 20 on a Charisma check before the troll can do anything, and get the entire Zhentarim secret plan to dominate the Dales. At least, the version of the plan that a troll could grok.
December 17, 2025 at 10:12 PM
They were hired to track down a marauding troll. They corner it and try to talk it down, nat 20 on a Charisma check before the troll can do anything, and get the entire Zhentarim secret plan to dominate the Dales. At least, the version of the plan that a troll could grok.
I don’t own the rights to it, so not a direct descendent. However, I do have a 5e hack that does something similar in the back of my mind. Will take a bit for it to develop, but it’s there
December 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I don’t own the rights to it, so not a direct descendent. However, I do have a 5e hack that does something similar in the back of my mind. Will take a bit for it to develop, but it’s there
Right? The flourishes and details suggest lots of different stories.
December 13, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Right? The flourishes and details suggest lots of different stories.
Basically, the Starter Set is a teaching tool with a versatile DM kit attached. I can see someone running D&D for a long time just using this stuff and their imagination.
December 13, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Basically, the Starter Set is a teaching tool with a versatile DM kit attached. I can see someone running D&D for a long time just using this stuff and their imagination.
Combined with the D&D Beyond markup to automate my homebrew monsters' rolls, it's all super easy.
(That's also why Maps is my go-to playtest tool for D&D likes. It keeps the mechanics honest, and the die roll log shows me how long stuff takes to resolve and how effective things are.)
(That's also why Maps is my go-to playtest tool for D&D likes. It keeps the mechanics honest, and the die roll log shows me how long stuff takes to resolve and how effective things are.)
December 13, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Combined with the D&D Beyond markup to automate my homebrew monsters' rolls, it's all super easy.
(That's also why Maps is my go-to playtest tool for D&D likes. It keeps the mechanics honest, and the die roll log shows me how long stuff takes to resolve and how effective things are.)
(That's also why Maps is my go-to playtest tool for D&D likes. It keeps the mechanics honest, and the die roll log shows me how long stuff takes to resolve and how effective things are.)
All that came from the map, combined with my embryonic idea to have Red Wizards messing around in the Dales.
The sticker feature on Maps is great, too! It makes customizing a map by adding furniture, doors, etc., all really easy.
The sticker feature on Maps is great, too! It makes customizing a map by adding furniture, doors, etc., all really easy.
December 13, 2025 at 12:20 AM
All that came from the map, combined with my embryonic idea to have Red Wizards messing around in the Dales.
The sticker feature on Maps is great, too! It makes customizing a map by adding furniture, doors, etc., all really easy.
The sticker feature on Maps is great, too! It makes customizing a map by adding furniture, doors, etc., all really easy.
That dynamic led to a really fun adventure, with the PCs turning mentor and apprentice against each other. The mentor ended up devouring his former apprentice's soul, and the PCs are now sorta-kinda-maybe allied with a Red Wizard against an Orcus cult that has infested the Dalelands.
December 13, 2025 at 12:20 AM
That dynamic led to a really fun adventure, with the PCs turning mentor and apprentice against each other. The mentor ended up devouring his former apprentice's soul, and the PCs are now sorta-kinda-maybe allied with a Red Wizard against an Orcus cult that has infested the Dalelands.