(he/him) tabletop gamer, game designer, superhero fan, anti-fascist, geek, witch, poly, and queer 🏳️🌈 partners with @christopherpenczak.bsky.social and @adamsartwell.bsky.social 💖 stevekenson.com • patreon.com/stevekenson
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I’ve had an ongoing conversation with @paulandstorm.bsky.social (among others) about how hard it is to write a song that has to be a hit “in-universe.” That is, it has to be so good the characters/listeners react in the way the story needs them to. K-pop Demon Hunters does it 8 times.
Also because what they want and what they think they want aren't the same thing. They want something they haven't seen yet. I don't remember who said it -- Gruenwald? -- but someone used to say "Don't give the fans what they say they want, give them what they don't yet know they want."
RFK Jr: “If you’ve ever compared an unvaccinated kid to a vaccinated kid… you see the bright eyes, the engagement, the social interactions, the curiosity. And you compare them to the child who even had one or two vaccines, and they’re completely different.“ This man is an existential threat.
This is the way.
The .com address for “ishedeadyet” is on-sale for an exorbitant price but the .us address points to the site we’re all looking for in case you want to update your bookmarks. 😎
The only thing ChatGPT ever does.
We are less than 10 minutes away from starting the Mutants & Masterminds 4th edition playtest on the @bamfpodcast.bsky.social GM is Alex Thomas from @greenroninpub.bsky.social Players are ME, @owenkcstephens.bsky.social , Ade Smith, and Mike Lafferty! www.youtube.com/live/i7GVb6g...
Fantasy AGE 2E Core Rulebook First Look and Page-Through - @greenroninpub.bsky.social #FantasyAGE2E #TTRPGs thegaminggang.com/game-news/fa...
Fairies aren't real. But you don't mess with them anyway.
Award-winning trRPG designer Owen K.C. Stephens is creating a new RPG from the ground up in weekly articles on Patreon. Each entry explains a specific topic, and all entries (and the ability to ask questions) are available to paying members, costing just $4 a month. www.patreon.com/posts/writin...
how can i be sure i’m in the right timeline
Seriously, humans: learn to tell the difference between “that’s weird and definitely not for me, but it’s not hurting anybody and actually making some people happy” and “that’s going to hurt people and needs to stop.”
This is one of the ways that white supremacy weaponizes civility: by implying that certain people get to be served, and other kinds of people (you know what kinds) need to be grateful, without interrogating it.
They’re the same picture.
I can’t imagine a better way to put this. Support and protect the weirdest members of your community, both because caring for others is a personal strength, but also because having empathy for and protecting others even if you don’t understand them is the bedrock of community.
The thirst for the taste of Trump’s shoe-leather is STRONG in the GOP.
There can’t be any gun restrictions because we have to protect against federal government tyranny, and if kids get shot we just have to live with it. Also the President can send troops to cities because the federal government can do whatever it wants. These two ideas are consistent and reasonable.
I will remind folks those images of Nazi book burnings aren't burning just any books. They're burning the library of Magnus Hirschfeld; a gay, Jewish doctor who created an institute dedicated to LGBTQ sex education and healthcare. And a man who pioneered gender affirming care surgeries.
"Efficiency!"
This, from the Quakers, is a pretty good example of how to resist pressure from bigot lobbying groups. Effectively “we legally can allow trans people to use the loo, we morally should, and we tried it and nothing bad happened”
The military parades will continue until the fascist President's morale improves.
Gonna say right now I don't think America is ready for the disruption the suspension of the de minimus threshold is going to cause for commerce and shipping. We're about to become an international shipping pariah.
Buying anything from overseas is about to get more expensive, more logistically complicated, slower, and overall more annoying. Film photography community, retro games community, people into skincare already seeing chaos on eBay. eBay sellers locking US buyers out. www.404media.co/trump-tariff...
There are tons of graphic novels, academic papers, film and TV scripts, & prose novels/nonfiction on the LibGen list Anthropic used. As settlement approaches, make it easy for the class action lawyers to contact you! Here’s how Part 1: is your work in Libgen? www.theatlantic.com/technology/a...
History can call all it likes, Susan Collins isn't answering. Her "concern" has become a cliché, but her record speaks for itself. Past time the people of Maine voted her out. Plus I think the Bangor Daily News grossly underestimates how much the "traditional GOP" led us right to the "MAGA GOP."
remember folks, we cant have gun restrictions because if we do the federal government will occupy our streets, imprison people without due process, ship dissidents to foreign gulags and things of that nature
I'm sure the American administration that is vigorously going after antisemitism will ... wait I'm being handed something...
American fascism looks like the president using armed military units from governors loyal to his regime to seize cities run by opposition political figures and it looks like the president using federal law enforcement to target regime opponents.
So future generations are totally gonna be like "Does the term 'trumped-up charges' come from the Trump regime?" At least if I have anything to say about it. 😎
If the sub Dunn threw was a ham sandwich, this seriously upsets the metaphor about Federal Grand Juries.
After Florida spent millions painting crosswalks green to improve visibility (a program that appears to have worked) they're now repainting them black and flushing all of that money and effort to make it seem like rainbow "Pride crosswalks" aren't being singled out. Republican "efficiency."
Maybe it's my "echo chamber" but it feels like all of the "We MUST protect children online!" people suddenly have nothing to say about a chat-bot talking a teenager into committing suicide.
If Obama or Biden had said this, it would be rightfully understood as them arrogating dictatorial authority to themselves, it would be the only thing anyone in the media or opposition would talk about for a year, and it would probably end their presidency. For Trump, it’s literally just Tuesday.
Every occupied nation has its Vichy collaborators.
This level of sycophantic toadying to a would-be authoritarian is an embarrassment to every citizen of this nation.
Trump has moved to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, causing shockwaves in the markets. I explain what’s behind his long quest to bend the Federal Reserve to his will, why he’s targeting Cook in this latest attack, and why he faces legal headwinds. My write-up in the replies.
“I swear this regime could not be more cartoonishly evil if they…” “Wait. What?”
Satire is just dead.
Trump "claimed to have legal authority" "claimed to have cause" "without releasing any evidence" ... He hasn't 'fired' Ms. Cook. He WANTS to fire her and is trying to but, as your own text says he has no authority, cause, or evidence to do so. Fix your headline!
Don't be too fast of a learner, or too slow. Don't have any disabilities! Don't daydream. Don't socialize. Don't get bored. Don't get upset. Don't have questions. Don't think.
Dear journalists: The President has not fired Lisa Cook. The President is *trying* to illegally fire her. Your words shape people’s reality. Please be accurate in your reporting.
... and then, I guess Trump ALL CAPS YELLING at the markets and businesses to right themselves and STOP INFLATION and STOP FALLING because he's the President, darn it, and he SAID SO as he turns every dial and lever at the Fed now under his control. There'll be a certain grim amusement there.
Oh, and a plummeting dollar and rising inflation as soon as the markets realize the Central Bank is not as hands-off as they thought and that Trump can and will do whatever he wants with it.
Well, guess we can now look forward to the nomination of, I dunno, Donald Trump’s favorite caddy or crypto bro or the “great guy” who moved boxes of classified documents into his john or something, to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.
Today it’s particularly hard focusing on my silly lil’ superhero games while a real-life gang of criminals runs our country. 😔
I mean, you can tell he's not a racist by the way he assumes all black people share the same opinions regardless of what continent they live on and how he uses expressions like "deepest, darkest Africa." 🙄
Has literally no one at all, not even once, just called out “That’s not how percentages work!”…?
The prolonged public torturing of a single man because the state cannot admit to its errors is not something that occurs in a free country
So, like, even if there hadn't been two Supreme Court decisons in living memory directly holding that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment, *new criminal laws cannot be created by executive order.*
“The reason for your trip?” “Oh…um, family vacation.” “We’re going to have to examine the kids’ for needle marks.” “Please! We just wanted to get them vaccinated! School is starting soon!” “I knew it. Report these subversives for child abuse. You’re under arrest.” #TrumpsAmerica
Whenever Trump says “a lot of people are saying” he always means “This is what I believe or want.”
In addition to this being demented nonsense, the “I” states are 100% code for “the white parts of the country.”
That’s the thing about protection rackets: once you’ve paid, you’re a mark who had better KEEP paying … or else.
The party of "We must avoid 'death-panels' at all costs" has decided it's more efficient to give just one appointed eugenicist the authority to choose who is and isn't "worthy" of health-care and should just die to stop being a "burden" on society.
1) ABC/NBC should lose license or pay hefty fees because their reporting is mean to him. 2) MD should maybe lose bridge repair funds because Wes Moore was mean to him. 3) The feds should investigate Chris Christie for Bridgegate because he was mean to him.
The account that made this viral post uses a AI-generated stock photo as their profile picture, and the main claim that Big Balls "was harassing and trying to pick up the 15-year-old girl" is not in the article. We are not immune from disinformation.
Building up a database of artists/illustrators (especially BIPOC and minority) to reach out to for future collabs/paid work! Looking for anyone who loves drawing horror, folklore, and dark fairy tales, as I've a few things coming up in that field. 💀🪦 Interested? Drop those links and examples below!
It's like an image of armed and armored troops lining the streets and steps of buildings in the nation's capitol in front of a giant banner of Trump's face, "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW" written on it like a slogan – hypocrisy so searing it burns.
Donald J. Trump all-caps posting NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW as he weaponizes the justice system for his ongoing revenge tour is a shameful statement on America as a nation.
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear." -- Nemik's Manifesto Read "DOT repaints Pulse crosswalk for a second time. FHP and OPD watching site:" www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/08/24/d...
This made my day. Also, have a blog on the topic. (Mainly: I use pre-game e-mails to avoid the "I say that" problem.) #TTRPG #StarTrekAdventures
Oooo Bellerophon’s Science Officer is a linguist, too? Can’t wait for our crossover episode(s) to meet them! (And “yes, please” to routing comms through Xon’s station!)
As if any of that “gold” is real…
In an earlier Trek era, my character would 100% be the comms officer and a peer of Uhura and Hoshi Sato, but by the TNG/DS9 era we’re playing in, Starfleet has decided that job consists of tapping one button, so the security officer does it. 🙄
The Ivy League has provided him with such penetrating insight…
Meanwhile, #TTRPG ‘sky, today I’m running part 4 (of 6) of “Harlequin’s Quest” a modified version of “Harlequin’s Back” for my Shadowrun-using-Savage Worlds variant campaign. It’s been fun reframing all of the adventure’s metaphors for my game’s plot.
My #StarTrekAdventures science officer kind of stumbled into being an A&A officer (lifepath character creation, ya know?) but I wouldn’t have it any other way with the “cultural briefings” it gets me from @nathanburgoine.bsky.social pre-game. They’re delightful.
Democracy Dies In Broad Daylight While We Ask Both Sides About It
"You're back together with Shadowrun? Really? After all that's happened?" "But they've changed! They say they've really worked through some things. It's not like when we broke up last time." "I've heard that before."
Absolutely. "There's no way Trump/the GOP is going to do that" has been wrong pretty much 100% of the time for the past 10+ years. How any elected Democrat can be confident, much less overconfident, at this point is beyond me.
Welcome again to all of the absurd accounts that are following me along with tens of thousands of other accounts! Just so you know: • I don't follow-for-follow. • I'm not interested in "resistor" accounts. • I limit responses to my posts. If that makes you want to unfollow, please do!
What is SAGE? Check out the discussion around the Simple Adventure Game Engine #TTRPG, premiering in issue no. 3 of ENGINE Magazine from @greenroninpub.bsky.social!
SAGE - Simple Adventure Game Engine is not too different from how Abraxas' Precipice is run. It feels in a place between AGE & PbtA. Stunt simplification is way overdue, so dig that. Excellent job from @greenroninpub.bsky.social on this issue of Engine #TheExpanse greenroninstore.com/products/eng...
D.C. has more residents than two U.S. states. They pay more per capita in federal taxes than any other state. But they don’t get a serious seat at the table to decide how they’re governed. D.C. statehood now.
if you are ever tempted to write off the residents of a "red" (i.e., gerrymandered) state and say "set them adrift, let them secede, they deserve what they voted for", you are missing all the thousands of stories like this where the human beings in those states are pushing back every single day
Here the WSJ states plainly Trump’s retribution presidency is “worse than we imagined.” No one had to imagine anything. He said he would do this. All you had to do was listen.
Cool, I hope everyone had fun! 😁
Oh, without question. I literally wrote a whole article in “Hobby Games: The 100 Best” on how great it is. In that particular instance I was fascinated by a mechanic that so many (myself included) seemed to gloss over for some reason.
Reminds me of my informal poll about Marvel Super-Heroes’ system of declaration-initiative-resolution, which could preempt declared actions depending on who went first, which almost no one actually played as-written.
At this rate, Trump will have “settled” over a hundred wars by the end of the year. Or the month. Or the weekend. 🙄
So, apparently, the Trumpian way to declare martial law is slowly, incrementally, taking one city at a time while saying “Who’s gonna stop me?” Same way he’s gotten us here over the past ten years.
Elves, man. They’re the best, because of how they’re the absolute worst. ✨
"Chicago is next" If there isn't a full on uprising over this chasing the military out, we will have de facto martial law.
This from the people who knock solar power with “What happens when the sun isn’t shining?”
I think we have long-since proven the U.S. is not a sane nation, if ever it was.
Fake gold crap ALL over the nation’s capitol!
I want Congressional Democrats to shut down the federal government unless or until their negotiating demands are met. Use all the leverage you have! Repost if you agree!
New flood of mid-90s, New Warriors-era comics on Marvel Unlimited has got me nostalgic this morning.
Their memorials are history. Ours are political. Because as always, there are two sexualities - straight, and political. Two genders - male, and political. Two religions - Christian, and political. Two races - white, and political.
Another day, another incident showing it's not "witch hunts" that concern Donald Trump, it's being treated like a witch ... he's fine with being the Witch-Finder General.
You can really appreciate his … title in those trunks. 👀
Right after Infrastructure Week.
Kind of Jess Nevins to write this, allowing me to waste not a moment more on James Dobson.
TFW you have events and obligations spaced JUST far enough apart during your day that it feels like you don’t have time to start or accomplish ANYTHING else. 😔
Hey hi I am late with this but this Saturday I am doing the National Capital Pride Run 5k race, and we are raising funds for Bruce House, an organization providing support to people affected by HIV in Ottawa. I would be honoured to have your support. raceroster.com/events/2025/...
Taps the sign The institutions of this economy depend on the institutions of this democracy.
In workshops, I always pop this onto a slide. I wonder when the US mostly stopped punishing people for being left-handed, and/or forcing people to try and be right-handed.
Just reminding folks that the mainstream reaction "Where did all of these young queer folk come from all of a sudden?" isn't a "fad" – it's a direct result of queer civil rights progress leading to fewer of us hiding or dying so more of us are visible, a trend some are working very hard to reverse.
