Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 36m

One of the sort of artifacts of the theory was a series bible Paramount supposedly kept after JMS's pitch

Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 37m

Yeah it's wild how often it happens with no foul play whatsoever. There were 3 different sets of disaster movies that did it in the 90's/00's

It's just enough fuel for fandom feuds and even Straczinski said he didn't think there was anything intentional or malicious

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 1h

Could very well just be convergent thinking from writers and creatives all consuming similar genre media and synthesizing it in a similar way. Wild but not unheard of, even with that specificity

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 1h

I think she's referring to the unverifiable messiness of B5 getting pitched to Paramount, P showing interest then bailing only to pop back up a while later with their new Trek series about a very similar space station. It's very "he said, she said" history with no great documentation either way

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 2h

So the empty moralism of a lot of 90's family sitcoms didn't amount to much but I do wonder if future kids are getting figures like Mr Feeny
Cause William Daniels can still absolutely flip my life upside down w/one line
"Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good. I love you all. Class dismissed."

a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a group of students in a classroom .

ALT: a man in a suit and tie is standing in front of a group of students in a classroom .

media.tenor.com

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 2h

Oh that's awesome! When there's multiple authors/artists I'm not always sure who is writing/drawing what. My jaw dropped when I first saw that standing in a store flipping through.

Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 3h

Sorry for the repeat, I can see now that you've already been well encouraged to watch B5. Enjoy your viewings 😂

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 3h

I'll also throw out that fans of DS9 might enjoy Babylon 5. Very similar premise and honestly one of the best written frenemy duos in any media ever

a group of aliens with the words isn 't the universe an amazing place

Alt: G'kar from Babylon 5 addressing a group of assorted aliens saying "isn't the universe an amazing place? I wouldn't live anywhere else."

media.tenor.com

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 4h

I'd love to design a new TTRPG mythology together live, build some divinities or patrons together or even run a one shot with the new subclasses. Feel free to reach out here or you can email me at [email protected]

Reposted by Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist)

Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Hey folks!
Since it is starting to appear for pre-order, I can officially announce that I've finished my first solo book for the Game Master's series!
Introducing the Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Pacts and Pantheons!
Coming August 2026 but available for pre-order now!
#ttrpg #dnd #gmbppp

Blue Book Cover "The Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Pacts and Pantheons" "A comprehensive guide to incorporating fiends, fey and the fallen into your 5th edition TTRPG adventures" Colby Whittaker Foreword by Taylor Dianne Robinson Illustrations by Luke Eidenschink

Cover Art: Blue background with white symbols. A D20 in the center with a staff and spear crossed behind it. To the left a scale, lightning bolt and trident. To the right a skull, rod of hermes and an anvil and hammer

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 6h

I'd honestly play the reverse too. A DBZ+Attack on Titan type game about Punching Shrimp relentlessly training to fight bigger and bigger mollusk power armors

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 7h

If you're calendaring your #dnd or #ttrpg podcast/show for next Fall/late Summer I'd love to talk about the book or just come and nerd out about all things tabletop!
I've also run 50 different systems for local community one shots over 4 years if you don't just wanna talk D&D

Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Hey folks!
Since it is starting to appear for pre-order, I can officially announce that I've finished my first solo book for the Game Master's series!
Introducing the Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Pacts and Pantheons!
Coming August 2026 but available for pre-order now!
#ttrpg #dnd #gmbppp

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 7h

100% One of my favorites is an illustration of Eltrac from Towns/Cities. The perspective is angled upwards in a way that adds both a sense of size or scope and also the slightly Escher-esque quality of all the underground train lines leading off at different heights and angles

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 9h

I'm always excited to see the art! I definitely have a little folder on my desk of anything that I wrote that got an illustration because that is so surreal and awesome to me as a writer. I think I had 2 in Towns/Cities and 2-3 in Legendary Locations 😁
Can't wait to see these!

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

I can't wait to see the illustrations by Luke Eidenschink @lukeink.bsky.social who has done phenomenal work on other Game Master's Books and I'm so excited to have a foreword from Taylor Dianne Robinson of Taylor's Tavern Tales! @taylorstaverntales.bsky.social

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

And of course it wouldn't be a Game Master's book without random tables. Find hundreds of entries to help customize a divinity or religion with history, beliefs, practices and holy days. And secret motivations, weaknesses and quirks to customize your Supernatural patrons

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Every element of the book is made with actual storytelling at the table in mind, not just talking about divinities or mythologies or patrons but looking at how they create story hooks and driving motivations for players. Like 5 new factions, including the fey Court of Servitors and the Ordo Mortalis

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

And to explore all of these new themes there's also 5 new subclasses like the Faithless Warlock, abandoned by gods and spirits, the Oath of the Divine Fist Paladin who turns their body into a weapon against evil and the Way of the Monastic Monk who chants holy verses to create powerful effects

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Or patrons like the twisted Sin Eater, a monstrous evil-devouring angelic weapon created by the gods and then sealed away, the Archfey Anthocyanin, the King in Autumn, who reigns over transitions, impermanence and decay or Melursia the great bear spirit of sloth, hibernation and decadence

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

There's also almost 50 example divinities & patrons. Like Ruesart, the patchwork god of riots, revolutions & the dispossessed, & Renard of Nine Tails, an accidental fox god who seduced emperors & monks, terrorized travelers & lived countless lives before inadvertently stumbling into divinity

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

With both survey level explanations of different approaches to religion in your TTRPG world and deep dives into topics like Oaths, Bargains and Contracts with Supernatural beings, you'll be ready to tackle world building and storytelling with these larger than life powers

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Using the Favor and Gifts mechanic, PCs can build (or lose) favor with their supernatural or divine benefactors by embracing and carrying out their agendas and ideals in the world, earning boons, blessings and powers tailored to their bond.

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

This book is intended to equip GMs (and players) to build a robust religious and supernatural backdrop for their world, with layered and engaging religions (reflecting a breadth of real world and fictional approaches) and incredible supernatural patrons to tempt, empower and manipulate

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 11h

Hey folks!
Since it is starting to appear for pre-order, I can officially announce that I've finished my first solo book for the Game Master's series!
Introducing the Game Master's Handbook of Patrons, Pacts and Pantheons!
Coming August 2026 but available for pre-order now!
#ttrpg #dnd #gmbppp

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Colby Whittaker (Hagiologist) @hagiologist.bsky.social · 12h

Oh yeah very similar energy. And I think you can see that Nintendo v. Others philosophy running through both sets. Sonic has done some amazing storytelling but also put out some real bizarre garbage narratively and video game-wise

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