Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

February 10, 2026 at 3:09 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

I am far more solidly within video game professionals than I would have guessed!

A great kidney bean shaped blob of yellow, labeled Video Game Professionals, amidst a sea of green. Our hero himself is called out as being in the right node of the yellow blob.

February 9, 2026 at 5:14 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Ok now I can watch this game and catch up on all the hot action I’ve missed so fa-

A plate piled high with beautifully golden crispy jalapeño poppers

February 9, 2026 at 12:56 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

We’re having fun

Jalapeño poppers frying up brown in a pan of oil

Beautifully crispy jalapeño poppers sitting on a paper towel on a plate

February 9, 2026 at 12:48 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Domina???

a blushing cartoon character being interviewed says “Big… Huge… Strong lady…”

“n… nice to me…”

February 5, 2026 at 3:22 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

An awkward looking young white man is interviewed by a woman with a microphone:

“I live in constant fear of the western descent towards fascism. But I digress… The club is bumping. The ladies look good. The alcohol is flowing. There is much pain in this world but not in this room.”

January 20, 2026 at 3:43 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

I hate liquid glass

Hulk looking anguished, then Hulk crying meme

January 19, 2026 at 6:03 PM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Summary of tonight’s session, courtesy of @jeffhamilton.bsky.social :

A charmingly awkwardly photoshopped screen shot of Dark Souls- a cut and paste picture of a bear, with red stars drawn over its eyes, faces a knight in a sea of clouds. At the bottom, the boss bar is titled “Ulguroth, the Great Bear”

January 18, 2026 at 4:01 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Chunk is apparently the brand! It’s pretty good- the flavor is a bit stronger than I wish (but still good, and my wife loves it), but the texture and nutrition profile are great!

Box of Chunk steak, a red box with a sliced grilled steak on the front

January 5, 2026 at 2:35 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Marinating in spices for a few hours for flavor

Four steaks completely slathered in an orange-red paste marinade for vindaloo

January 4, 2026 at 11:38 PM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

UHHHH

GUYS???

A knight sits in the Kiln of the First Flame, with letters emblazoned across the screen:

“2020 NG++++++”

January 1, 2026 at 7:50 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Many gifts exchanged but I’ve always wanted this one

The complete collection of Calvin and Hobbes

December 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Solstice tarot!

Two of Cups reversed
Queen of Wands upright
Five of Cups reversed

December 23, 2025 at 5:49 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

More “make my new level 1 DCC west marches character more interesting” stuff: optional “you’re from this other town” choices!

Gonna be about 6-8 of these… maybe with 1-2 “you’re from the main city, but with this twist”

And definitely one “someone you care deeply about is from one of these spots”

ORIGIN
Optionally, choose or roll that you originally come from one of these particular settlements within a day or two's travel of Holden. Each settlement is dealing with a persistent problem, which you're aware of but the wilds are dark and unknown to you, just as they are to denizens of Holden itself.
Note that these settlements are not Havens, and as such, your journeys can neither begin nor safely end there.
1d10
Settlement
1:
> Skiringsskol, pop ~300
> 020.006, in the snow capped mountains 6hx NE of Holden
> A tribe of fur clad barbarians living secluded in the mountains to the northeast; their Jarl is Toki Helmut, his mead hall is open to guests of any kind, and their shield maidens are especially renowned in battle; non-Dwarf women from Skiringssalr may choose to level as a Dwarf.
> Ice-rimed skeletons roam the snows of the nearby peaks, and have been slaughtering the large game the holdfast relies on as they tighten their stranglehold on the village of brave warriors...
2:
> Amona Marsh, pop ~200
> 013.004, in the fetid swamps 6hx N of Holden
> A small village of swamp gatherers who reside in stilt huts; they use flat bottomed boats to traverse the waterways, and often walk around on stilts to avoid the muck and venomous creatures of the swamp. Their coven circle is led by Magritte, Gertrude, and Elba. Denizens of any race from Amona Marsh may choose to level as a Wizard.
> The demons of Bobugbubilz, summoned by the frog folk of the marsh, stalk the night. A great albino crocodile nicknamed "The Amona Zolom" devours friend and foe alike, vanishing as swiftly as it strikes.

3:
> Cathedral of Saint Umber the Lost, pop ~150
> 020.011, in the plains 5hx SE of Holden
> An ancient and devout monastery and its supporting villages and farms. The last cleric perished years ago, vanishing into the depths of the catacombs beneath the Cathedral itself; Old Man Gnarly speaks for the townsfolk now. The monastery was dedicated to the acquisition and study of arcane knowledge and artifacts, and used to receive many a strange visitor on occasion. Denizens of the Cathedral of Saint Umber the Lost may choose to level as an Elf, regardless of their race.
> Strange screams have recently been heard echoing from the depths below the cathedral, and fires of unknown origin have broken out near the town of late...

December 23, 2025 at 4:45 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Taking some time today to put together some charts of “make my level 0 character more interesting” for the Gamedev West Marches game! Looking at ways of giving additional motivations, hooking into local NPCs or events, etc.

SWORDS OF DAMOCLES
These are especially deforming, but if you're interested, are especially potent motivations for going out on adventures. Left unattended, these choices will eventually render your character dead or otherwise unplayable.
This section- like all others- is optional! Roll or choose.
1d10
Swords of Damocles

Debt. You're in debt to the tune of 2,000 gold. Your creditors are shadowy and many armed: even the fantasy of avenging yourself upon them is a distant imagining. Pay them back (earning 1xp per 20gp repaid).
They re already pursuing you. You will have hostile encounters with their agents Paying them back promptly and regularly will earn you respite; frivolous expenses or delays will earn their ire. Perhaps someday in the distant future you will have the opportunity for revenge.

Early Lycanthropy. One morning each month you awaken, clothes tattered, covered in blood, with no memory from sundown the night before. The curse is progressive and, without a cure, you will eventually lose your mind to it.
Choose your animal form. Every month, your physical form changes subtly to more closely reflect your animal form (sharper canines, eye color; hair color; hair thickness, muscle growth, long nails, etc etc).
You will turn in 12 months' time.
The Witch Hunters are on your trail and you will encounter them. You may be able to hide from, deceive, or evade them.

Early Vampirism. Perhaps the ritual wasn't complete, perhaps your Lord or Lady vas very young; for whatever reason, your vampiric nature is slow to take hold but you know that eventually it will, stealing away your free will and your ability to function in civilization. Relieve the curse's progressive effects by killing and drinking the blood of an innocent, as you search for a more permanent cure.
-1d within 3h of noon. +1d within 3h of midnight. For each month you go without innocent blood, - 1d. You can no longer regain Luck via any normal means, but your Luck no longer has a natural maximum. Drinking the blood of any creature: +5 Luck. Drinking innocent blood: +10 Luck.
You will turn in 12 months' time.
The Witch Hunters are on your trail and you will encounter them. You may be able to hide from, deceive, or evade them. Indulging your affliction will make that harder.

Wanted Criminal. For whatever reason, some local Lord wants you hanged-| discuss who with the GM. Their agents will pursue you; you may be able to evade them or buy them off for a time (earning 1xp per 20gp spent this way), but they'11 come back. Exonerate yourself, frame an innocent, or avenge yourself upon your (rich, powerful, and well connected) tormentor:

Magical Disease. You are afflicted with a mysterious magical illness. Discuss with the GM whether there is a particular God, Patron, Demon, or other magic affiliated with this disease. Choose the stat afflicted; for each month you suffer this illness, this stat's maximum is reduced by 1. You will perish (or worse when this stat reaches 0. Find a cure, and this stat's maximum shall return to its original value.

December 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

That… seems pretty worth paying attention to.

A chart showing 62.7% of total respondents feeling “very negative” about the use of Generative AI in video games.

15.9% somewhat negative
6.8% slightly negative
6% neutral
3% slightly positive
2.8% somewhat positive
1.8% very positive
9% don’t know enough to say

December 20, 2025 at 1:21 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Feel like shit just want her back

A photo of Amsterdam’s classic white and blue tram in front of brick Amsterdam houses. The front kiosk reads “2: Centraal Station”

December 13, 2025 at 12:29 AM

Steven Lumpkin

@silent0siris.bsky.social

Tree Decorations:
+10 Festive
+8 Jolly
+12 Cozy

15% chance to double the effect of any hot chocolate beverage

“T’was the mimsy-wraiths who first choosened to bedeck their halls with such frippery; alas that they knew not the true cost until too late”