Zack Thomson
@zackthomson.bsky.social
Game design student, speculative fiction writer, niche TTRPG enthusiast.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
most mcu viewers don’t read marvel comics. The mcu isn’t 616 and isn’t trying to be. But all the context and qualifiers in the world don’t change the fact that they are bringing steve back because they have no faith in the Sam they created. And in the America we live in right now, that’s a statement
December 23, 2025 at 5:12 PM
most mcu viewers don’t read marvel comics. The mcu isn’t 616 and isn’t trying to be. But all the context and qualifiers in the world don’t change the fact that they are bringing steve back because they have no faith in the Sam they created. And in the America we live in right now, that’s a statement
Reposted by Zack Thomson
I had a teacher who reversed that and said "Know what you write." Like if you're writing about Elizabethan England, you don't need to already be an expert, just do some research beyond reading Shakespeare and watching Elizabeth. Research is one of the fun parts anyway. I found that much more useful.
December 23, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I had a teacher who reversed that and said "Know what you write." Like if you're writing about Elizabethan England, you don't need to already be an expert, just do some research beyond reading Shakespeare and watching Elizabeth. Research is one of the fun parts anyway. I found that much more useful.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Layout of the first splatbook for THE THUINDER PERFECT MIND is underway. Extended setting material for undead politics + #ttrpg compatible (yet standalone) #larp rules 🎭
More splatbook backers = more digital splatbooks for all!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
More splatbook backers = more digital splatbooks for all!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
December 23, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Layout of the first splatbook for THE THUINDER PERFECT MIND is underway. Extended setting material for undead politics + #ttrpg compatible (yet standalone) #larp rules 🎭
More splatbook backers = more digital splatbooks for all!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
More splatbook backers = more digital splatbooks for all!
Follow the project here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/flo...
Reposted by Zack Thomson
I mean this in the most abstract way possible:
A core insistence of fascism is that form=substance.
Fight this lie with all you have.
A core insistence of fascism is that form=substance.
Fight this lie with all you have.
December 23, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I mean this in the most abstract way possible:
A core insistence of fascism is that form=substance.
Fight this lie with all you have.
A core insistence of fascism is that form=substance.
Fight this lie with all you have.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Absolutely. “You don’t need to interact with this” is crucial information to convey with game, artistic, and narrative design. It’s one of the most important things you can communicate!
December 23, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Absolutely. “You don’t need to interact with this” is crucial information to convey with game, artistic, and narrative design. It’s one of the most important things you can communicate!
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026:
- Absurdia
- Alice Is Missing
- I first saw you smile as a small child
- Eat the Reich
- Wildsea
- Triangle Agency
- Slugblaster
- Noir World
- Deathmatch Island
- Things from the Flood
(10 is not enough, this was quite difficult 😮💨)
- Absurdia
- Alice Is Missing
- I first saw you smile as a small child
- Eat the Reich
- Wildsea
- Triangle Agency
- Slugblaster
- Noir World
- Deathmatch Island
- Things from the Flood
(10 is not enough, this was quite difficult 😮💨)
10 ttrpgs I want to play/run in 2026!
- Girl Frame
- City of Flesh
- a|state
- Hot War
- Undead Paradise
- Exile
- In Dreaming Avalon
- Tribes in the Dark
- Zephyr
- City of Winter
- Girl Frame
- City of Flesh
- a|state
- Hot War
- Undead Paradise
- Exile
- In Dreaming Avalon
- Tribes in the Dark
- Zephyr
- City of Winter
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026!
- The Between
- Our Queen Crumbles
- Solemn Vale
- Deathmatch Island
- Mythic Bastionland
- DIE
- Flabbergasted
- Public Access
- Inevitable
- Perils & Princesses
Slightly cheating, as at least 2 of these are definitely happening.
- The Between
- Our Queen Crumbles
- Solemn Vale
- Deathmatch Island
- Mythic Bastionland
- DIE
- Flabbergasted
- Public Access
- Inevitable
- Perils & Princesses
Slightly cheating, as at least 2 of these are definitely happening.
December 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
10 TTRPGs I want to play/run in 2026:
- Absurdia
- Alice Is Missing
- I first saw you smile as a small child
- Eat the Reich
- Wildsea
- Triangle Agency
- Slugblaster
- Noir World
- Deathmatch Island
- Things from the Flood
(10 is not enough, this was quite difficult 😮💨)
- Absurdia
- Alice Is Missing
- I first saw you smile as a small child
- Eat the Reich
- Wildsea
- Triangle Agency
- Slugblaster
- Noir World
- Deathmatch Island
- Things from the Flood
(10 is not enough, this was quite difficult 😮💨)
Reposted by Zack Thomson
It is so much fun and so ridiculously thoughtful of the silly problematic premise of the Avatar universe. I was in stark awe of how good creators can elevate anything. Forget the movies, just try this game.
also you get to be a 12-feet tall eco-terrorist and you'll fucking love it
also you get to be a 12-feet tall eco-terrorist and you'll fucking love it
Just mentioning it off-hand, but on top of being the best Far Cry game since Primal, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a much better story than the films.
No white saviors here. You're a Na'vi abducted at childhood to be groomed into a corporate 'ambassador'. It's far more pointedly anti-colonialist.
No white saviors here. You're a Na'vi abducted at childhood to be groomed into a corporate 'ambassador'. It's far more pointedly anti-colonialist.
Save 33% on Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ on Steam
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora™ is a first-person, action-adventure game set in the Western Frontier. Reconnect with your lost heritage and discover what it truly means to be Na'vi as you join other cla...
store.steampowered.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:35 PM
It is so much fun and so ridiculously thoughtful of the silly problematic premise of the Avatar universe. I was in stark awe of how good creators can elevate anything. Forget the movies, just try this game.
also you get to be a 12-feet tall eco-terrorist and you'll fucking love it
also you get to be a 12-feet tall eco-terrorist and you'll fucking love it
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
I had five fascinating conversations for this RPS piece, gathering perspectives on genAI chatbots in games, as seen in Where Winds Meet. Thanks to @meghna.bsky.social, @pyrofoux.bsky.social, @maxkreminski.bsky.social, and @chrisgardiner.bsky.social www.rockpapershotgun.com/horrible-bor...
"Horrible", "boring", and "cheap": Experts pan new chatbot NPCs, but some leave room for optimism
We speak to a collection of developers and AI experts about the potential impact of LLM-powered NPCs in videogames.
www.rockpapershotgun.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Essentially, I think that LLM-generated dialogue only makes sense if you believe that the product of writing is words.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
But the product of writing isn't words, any more than the product of justice is prisoners, or the product of love is weddings. The product of writing is meaning.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
As promised in our newsletter, we're organizing a giveaway of the Summer Eternal Anthology Deluxe Firestarter Bundle!
To enter:
1. Follow us
2. Repost this post
Winner receives one free pre-order for the Anthology Deluxe Bundle.
To enter:
1. Follow us
2. Repost this post
Winner receives one free pre-order for the Anthology Deluxe Bundle.
December 23, 2025 at 4:12 PM
As promised in our newsletter, we're organizing a giveaway of the Summer Eternal Anthology Deluxe Firestarter Bundle!
To enter:
1. Follow us
2. Repost this post
Winner receives one free pre-order for the Anthology Deluxe Bundle.
To enter:
1. Follow us
2. Repost this post
Winner receives one free pre-order for the Anthology Deluxe Bundle.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
The confusion and conflation of ‘generative ai that is built on stolen artwork’ and ‘machine learning, character behaviour modelling and proc gen’ is intentional on the part of the grifters peddling the former. They benefit from murkiness of classification, because the latter predates their bollocks
December 23, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The confusion and conflation of ‘generative ai that is built on stolen artwork’ and ‘machine learning, character behaviour modelling and proc gen’ is intentional on the part of the grifters peddling the former. They benefit from murkiness of classification, because the latter predates their bollocks
Reposted by Zack Thomson
24. The word "slop" makes me genuinely uncomfortable. I fucking hate it. It's a perfect and effective word to describe stuff made using generative AI.
I think we should stop using it for "low-effort" stuff or stuff we don't like, and use it exclusively for AI.
I think we should stop using it for "low-effort" stuff or stuff we don't like, and use it exclusively for AI.
December 24, 2025 at 12:35 AM
24. The word "slop" makes me genuinely uncomfortable. I fucking hate it. It's a perfect and effective word to describe stuff made using generative AI.
I think we should stop using it for "low-effort" stuff or stuff we don't like, and use it exclusively for AI.
I think we should stop using it for "low-effort" stuff or stuff we don't like, and use it exclusively for AI.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
'Tis the season to rewatch Bob Clark's BLACK CHRISTMAS. A Canadian classic that is the first slasher film ever made and is still utterly chilling fifty years later.
December 20, 2025 at 3:33 AM
'Tis the season to rewatch Bob Clark's BLACK CHRISTMAS. A Canadian classic that is the first slasher film ever made and is still utterly chilling fifty years later.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
“Clinton is in the Epstein files!”
Great. Next time I come across a Clinton rally, someone wearing a Clinton hat, or flying a Clinton flag on their truck, I’ll be sure to let them know.
The rest of us want them ALL held accountable because we aren’t in a cult. Hope that helps.
Great. Next time I come across a Clinton rally, someone wearing a Clinton hat, or flying a Clinton flag on their truck, I’ll be sure to let them know.
The rest of us want them ALL held accountable because we aren’t in a cult. Hope that helps.
December 23, 2025 at 3:28 PM
“Clinton is in the Epstein files!”
Great. Next time I come across a Clinton rally, someone wearing a Clinton hat, or flying a Clinton flag on their truck, I’ll be sure to let them know.
The rest of us want them ALL held accountable because we aren’t in a cult. Hope that helps.
Great. Next time I come across a Clinton rally, someone wearing a Clinton hat, or flying a Clinton flag on their truck, I’ll be sure to let them know.
The rest of us want them ALL held accountable because we aren’t in a cult. Hope that helps.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
December 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Calling criticism “TDS” is how adults avoid acting like adults. My latest piece is an indictment of trump’s enablers and the damage they’re doing.
Check out my Substack here:https://brooklyndaddefiant.substack.com/p/its-time-to-retire-that-idiotic-tds
Check out my Substack here:https://brooklyndaddefiant.substack.com/p/its-time-to-retire-that-idiotic-tds
December 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Calling criticism “TDS” is how adults avoid acting like adults. My latest piece is an indictment of trump’s enablers and the damage they’re doing.
Check out my Substack here:https://brooklyndaddefiant.substack.com/p/its-time-to-retire-that-idiotic-tds
Check out my Substack here:https://brooklyndaddefiant.substack.com/p/its-time-to-retire-that-idiotic-tds
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Just want to add: Being convicted of a crime in the U.S. wouldn’t justify sending someone to a foreign gulag to be tortured, and arguably violates separation of powers since the “sentence” they are legally bound to serve is one issued by a judge, not Stephen Miller (i.e. the factoid is irrelevant)
Bari Weiss lied in her memo. She said segment didn't report administration's legal justification (it does in the very first sentence) and didn't say how many detainees had been charged with crimes as opposed to just those who were convicted (it does). www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch-the-...
WATCH: The 60 Minutes CECOT Segment
I was sent the CECOT segment anonymously in a group chat.
www.muellershewrote.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Just want to add: Being convicted of a crime in the U.S. wouldn’t justify sending someone to a foreign gulag to be tortured, and arguably violates separation of powers since the “sentence” they are legally bound to serve is one issued by a judge, not Stephen Miller (i.e. the factoid is irrelevant)
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Bobby: "See, Joseph, with Powered by the Apocalypse games, you only need these two six-sided dice. And you use 'moves' to change the narrative flow of--"
Hank: "Bobby, what are you doing in there?!"
Bobby: "Uh... playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dad!"
Hank: "Bobby, what are you doing in there?!"
Bobby: "Uh... playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dad!"
December 23, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Bobby: "See, Joseph, with Powered by the Apocalypse games, you only need these two six-sided dice. And you use 'moves' to change the narrative flow of--"
Hank: "Bobby, what are you doing in there?!"
Bobby: "Uh... playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dad!"
Hank: "Bobby, what are you doing in there?!"
Bobby: "Uh... playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dad!"
Reposted by Zack Thomson
It's a Winter Sale! Get my 2-player games for only $4!
Brandon's 2-Player Winter Sale 2025 by Brandon O'Brien | Neon Robin Bard Games
A bundle by Brandon O'Brien | Neon Robin Bard Games, $4.00 for 6 games
itch.io
December 23, 2025 at 5:41 AM
It's a Winter Sale! Get my 2-player games for only $4!
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Klaxon! New on Bundle of Holding is our own DIE RPG - the award-winning core book, plus the three scenario books and the quickstart for $15. Purchasing also includes a 15% off voucher for buying the physical books from @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social. #ttrpg #indiettrpg
DIE RPG Bundle
Adventurer! This new DIE RPG Bundle presents DIE, the tabletop roleplaying game from Rowan, Rook, & Decard based on – rather, created in parallel with – the DIE Image Comics series (20 issues, 2018-21...
bundleofholding.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Klaxon! New on Bundle of Holding is our own DIE RPG - the award-winning core book, plus the three scenario books and the quickstart for $15. Purchasing also includes a 15% off voucher for buying the physical books from @rowanrookanddecard.bsky.social. #ttrpg #indiettrpg
Reposted by Zack Thomson
🤞
everyone dislikes genai in games, but kids and story-focused players the most.
sounds like we'll be ok. just have to stay the course here and the "inevitable" new technology nobody likes will die. again.
quanticfoundry.com/2025/12/18/g...
sounds like we'll be ok. just have to stay the course here and the "inevitable" new technology nobody likes will die. again.
quanticfoundry.com/2025/12/18/g...
Gamers Are Overwhelmingly Negative About Gen AI in Video Games, but Attitudes Vary by Gender, Age, and Gaming Motivations.
Learn about how gender, age, and gaming motivations shape the perception of Gen AI in video games.
quanticfoundry.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
🤞
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Perform empathy. Please. Perform the fuck out of it. It's so good to act with kindness. I hope it penetrates to a place where you feel it, too, but if you must act some way, act the right way. I'm not here to judge your authenticity, I just want you to be kind, thoughtful, and mortified by meanness.
December 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Perform empathy. Please. Perform the fuck out of it. It's so good to act with kindness. I hope it penetrates to a place where you feel it, too, but if you must act some way, act the right way. I'm not here to judge your authenticity, I just want you to be kind, thoughtful, and mortified by meanness.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Hey, guess who doesn't use AI in any of their processes! Small indie creators like us.
I know it's crazy to think that we do concept art the real way and write our emails ourselves, but it's true. We do. It's not even hard. We just do it.
I know it's crazy to think that we do concept art the real way and write our emails ourselves, but it's true. We do. It's not even hard. We just do it.
December 23, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Hey, guess who doesn't use AI in any of their processes! Small indie creators like us.
I know it's crazy to think that we do concept art the real way and write our emails ourselves, but it's true. We do. It's not even hard. We just do it.
I know it's crazy to think that we do concept art the real way and write our emails ourselves, but it's true. We do. It's not even hard. We just do it.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
Same goal as AI: control information sources, pollute them so no one knows what's real, then you can't have democracy anymore.
On the contrary, a majority of voters will choose a strongman offering them a lifeline of fake cognitive security amidst the fog of the unreal created by media & AI czars.
On the contrary, a majority of voters will choose a strongman offering them a lifeline of fake cognitive security amidst the fog of the unreal created by media & AI czars.
it's odd to see the people who can accurately assess Bari Weiss isn't a good journalist and failed upward into her role as chief brunchlord, but can't take the additional leap to realize this is part of an active plot by extraction class media ownership to actively destroy journalism and consensus
December 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Same goal as AI: control information sources, pollute them so no one knows what's real, then you can't have democracy anymore.
On the contrary, a majority of voters will choose a strongman offering them a lifeline of fake cognitive security amidst the fog of the unreal created by media & AI czars.
On the contrary, a majority of voters will choose a strongman offering them a lifeline of fake cognitive security amidst the fog of the unreal created by media & AI czars.
Reposted by Zack Thomson
The "people are citing fake articles because gen AI made shit up" wouldn't be a problem if people weren't citing things they haven't read! I can't even begin to address why these kinds of citations are bad for not only scholarship and research, but for everyday conversation as well....
December 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The "people are citing fake articles because gen AI made shit up" wouldn't be a problem if people weren't citing things they haven't read! I can't even begin to address why these kinds of citations are bad for not only scholarship and research, but for everyday conversation as well....