Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Verdict: a clever, charming engine for telling Discworld stories with friends. It nails tone, rewards creativity, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m excited to run it - probably a Hogswatch one shot to start with. Just bring puns, tea, and a spare bit of Luck. (8/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Limitations: if you crave tactical depth, advancement trees, or long combat set pieces, this will feel too light. The GM carries the pacing and consequence-load. Works best with players who know (or want to learn) the Disc’s vibe. (7/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Who’ll love it: groups who enjoy improv, satire, and character-forward play; GM s who like saying “yes, and.” Newcomers to TTRPGs or Disc-curious readers will do fine, the rules stay out of the way. (6/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Support is solid for quick starts: a punchy Ankh-Morpork gazetteer and three ready adventures. Guidance for scene framing, group tests, and keeping tone on-point means you can be playing in under an hour. (5/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Magic is very Discworld: it works, but always costs Luck and success can spark weird side effects. No tactical combat chapter; fights are scenes like any other. The focus is jokes, drama, and consequences, not builds. (4/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Character creation is breezy: pick flexible Traits (background, species, niche, quirks), a once-per-story Core Trait moment, and spendable Luck. You can play humans, dwarfs, trolls, Igors, zombies, even gargoyles. (3/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Core loop: declare a Trait, roll your die vs the GM’s Narrativium d8. High wins; ties succeed with a twist. Consequences steer the story, not just hit points. It’s simple, teachable, and encourages glorious chaos. (2/8)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 2d

Over the weekend I read @modiphius.bsky.social's new Discworld RPG core rulebook. It's a love letter to Pratchett: fast, funny, and relentlessly story-first. Ankh-Morpork pops off the page, and the book keeps the satire without drowning you in crunch. (1/8)

1 2 7

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 3d

Final game against Jon's beautiful Cathay. An unsurprising 16-4 loss. I can see why a more optimised list would be pretty unfun to play into.

All in all a great time at the TSN arena. @sixdiceskills.bsky.social puts on the best events.

3

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 3d

New day, fourth game. This time into Tom's brightly coloured Vampire Counts. I've now played Vampire models as Bretonnians and Bretonnians as Vampires.

A sneaky scout move and a ravenous dragon got me a 16-4 win.

2W2L going into game 5. Perfectly mid as I am 😄

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 4d

Third game into Dwarven Expeditionary Force piloted by the affable Tom.

Again a fun bit of warhams altho not much my fragile saucy elves can do into all that long range shooting. A 17-3 loss.

But 3 great games, so roll on tomorrow!

Oh remembered to take one photo as well

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 4d

My second game was a proper hoot with the lovely @leith-something.bsky.social and his incredibly thematic Warriors of Chaos with every Chaos god represented.

And a win for the Dark Elves 18-2!

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 4d

First time playing me Dark Elves at an event! Nice to get the army out to play.

Round 1 into Bretonnians playing the lovely Lewis who organised the Saffron Slam tournaments and it went as expected with a 17-3 win to the baguette lovers.

Will have to remember to take more photos!

1 1 18

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 10d

That sounds like an amazing campaign! 🤩

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

20/19/20 suggest NO 😅

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

The winners of the War in the Old World VII

Overall - Malik Amin Rubio
Best General of Good - Malik Amin Rubio
Best General of Evil - Tom Mann
Best Sport - Danny Paines
Coolest Army - Andy O'Reilly
New dice - Mathew Lang

1 2 11

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

Round 3 - Encirclement

We went because we thought it mattered to be seen. A small counter-protest, standing against a tide, hemmed in by flags and chants. On the pavements of central London the crowd seemed endless, faces p...

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

Round 2 - A Chance Encounter

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

Round 1 - King of the Hill (modified)

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 11d

It's another War in the Old World Saturday! Once again blown away by the hobby and good vibes.

#Warhammer #OldWorlr #WiTOW

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 14d

The story of resisting the Far Right in the UK is not new.

A short story reflecting on this.

blog.srazavi.com/stories/2025...

Surrounded

blog.srazavi.com

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 15d

Real talk: nothing killed my love of reading and writing like doing a PhD.

Feels like I've emerged from a creative black hole now that is behind me.

I did the write a thousand words / day thing over the summer and sifting through it all bit by bit since September. Feels like finding your old self.

Seyed P. Razavi (aka Syd) @monkeyx.bsky.social · 16d

Well done Phil! Good to see the manboobs do so well x