Shannon Appelcline 🌮
@shannonappelcline.bsky.social
Author of the DESIGNERS & DRAGONS series of RPG histories, including THIS IS FREE TRADER BEOWULF: A SYSTEM HISTORY OF TRAVELLER. Science-fiction, fantasy, comic, and RPG fan.
If you think screen time was bad for kids last year because of serious brain development issues, it's about to get a lot worse as hucksters like Kevin Fischer screw with their emotional and social development with fake friends online.
December 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
If you think screen time was bad for kids last year because of serious brain development issues, it's about to get a lot worse as hucksters like Kevin Fischer screw with their emotional and social development with fake friends online.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
"We bombed ourselves back to the stone age"
I know that feel, Microscope
I know that feel, Microscope
A lovely game "Microscope" by @lamemage.com - with @planesailinggames.com and @moltensulfur.bsky.social !
I quite enjoyed our post-apocalyptic civilization, with a mysterious Whomp technology, entrepreneurial "rat" people, telepathy and its discontents, and even a Mule-like figure!
🌏🚀
I quite enjoyed our post-apocalyptic civilization, with a mysterious Whomp technology, entrepreneurial "rat" people, telepathy and its discontents, and even a Mule-like figure!
🌏🚀
December 7, 2025 at 11:26 PM
"We bombed ourselves back to the stone age"
I know that feel, Microscope
I know that feel, Microscope
Non Marvel, DC or Image cover of the day ...
December 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Non Marvel, DC or Image cover of the day ...
Always thrilled to learn of authors who are roleplayers.
(And one of my favorite authors no less.)
(And one of my favorite authors no less.)
Yesterday's Word Count = 954
Let's pop back in time to the era of small brown books...
I had a lot of fun with this although mortality rates were high.
(*just to clarify I'm posting the covers of games I either owned or played contemporaneously with the editions shown.)
Let's pop back in time to the era of small brown books...
I had a lot of fun with this although mortality rates were high.
(*just to clarify I'm posting the covers of games I either owned or played contemporaneously with the editions shown.)
December 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Always thrilled to learn of authors who are roleplayers.
(And one of my favorite authors no less.)
(And one of my favorite authors no less.)
I’m always impressed by Stan!’s homages and this original is, of course, an all-time great, even if Beauvais turned out to be a jerk.
Here's the latest completed cartoon homage from 50 Years in the Dungeon—my creative hat tip to Den Beauvais's classic cover painting for Dragon Magazine 86.
December 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
I’m always impressed by Stan!’s homages and this original is, of course, an all-time great, even if Beauvais turned out to be a jerk.
I'll be renewing my Rascal subscription in the next few weeks.
New subscriptions to Rascal News will be rising by $1 in 2026. If you've been waiting to support us, we're currently running a holiday sale where the first two months of our entry tier is only $1/month!
Independent journalism on the cheap? Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!
Independent journalism on the cheap? Yippee-Ki-Yay, Anklebiters!
We’re raising Rascal’s subscription prices by $1 in 2026
But you can lock in the old price right now with a holiday discount!
www.rascal.news
December 6, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I'll be renewing my Rascal subscription in the next few weeks.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Blades in the Dark to show how tight structure can spark imagination.
Pathfinder 2e to help them realise if they actually want tactical combat to be a central focus.
The Quiet Year as a really smooth on-ramp to GMless and/or less character focused games.
Dread because Jenga Tower.
Pathfinder 2e to help them realise if they actually want tactical combat to be a central focus.
The Quiet Year as a really smooth on-ramp to GMless and/or less character focused games.
Dread because Jenga Tower.
If you wanted to run say, four different games that weren't Dungeons & Dragons in hopes of showing people the breadth of the TTRPG hobby, what games would you run for them? Assume that they are sort of familiar with 5E.
December 5, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Blades in the Dark to show how tight structure can spark imagination.
Pathfinder 2e to help them realise if they actually want tactical combat to be a central focus.
The Quiet Year as a really smooth on-ramp to GMless and/or less character focused games.
Dread because Jenga Tower.
Pathfinder 2e to help them realise if they actually want tactical combat to be a central focus.
The Quiet Year as a really smooth on-ramp to GMless and/or less character focused games.
Dread because Jenga Tower.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Smallville (puts values and relationships first)
Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok (heavy combat engine)
Montsegur 1244 (rules extremely light but highly structured game based on a specific situation)
Apocalypse World (its Apocalypse World)
Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok (heavy combat engine)
Montsegur 1244 (rules extremely light but highly structured game based on a specific situation)
Apocalypse World (its Apocalypse World)
If you wanted to run say, four different games that weren't Dungeons & Dragons in hopes of showing people the breadth of the TTRPG hobby, what games would you run for them? Assume that they are sort of familiar with 5E.
December 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Smallville (puts values and relationships first)
Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok (heavy combat engine)
Montsegur 1244 (rules extremely light but highly structured game based on a specific situation)
Apocalypse World (its Apocalypse World)
Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok (heavy combat engine)
Montsegur 1244 (rules extremely light but highly structured game based on a specific situation)
Apocalypse World (its Apocalypse World)
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Picking from RPGs preceding AD&D 2nd Ed. (1989):
Call of Cthulhu (1982)
Paranoia (1984)
Pendragon (1985)
Ghostbusters (1986)
Or games released between 5E (2014) and 5.5E (2024)
Bubblegumshoe (2016)
Bluebeard's Bride (2017)
Honey Heist (2017)
Ironsworn (2018)
D&D is always the narrowest choice.
Call of Cthulhu (1982)
Paranoia (1984)
Pendragon (1985)
Ghostbusters (1986)
Or games released between 5E (2014) and 5.5E (2024)
Bubblegumshoe (2016)
Bluebeard's Bride (2017)
Honey Heist (2017)
Ironsworn (2018)
D&D is always the narrowest choice.
If you wanted to run say, four different games that weren't Dungeons & Dragons in hopes of showing people the breadth of the TTRPG hobby, what games would you run for them? Assume that they are sort of familiar with 5E.
December 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Picking from RPGs preceding AD&D 2nd Ed. (1989):
Call of Cthulhu (1982)
Paranoia (1984)
Pendragon (1985)
Ghostbusters (1986)
Or games released between 5E (2014) and 5.5E (2024)
Bubblegumshoe (2016)
Bluebeard's Bride (2017)
Honey Heist (2017)
Ironsworn (2018)
D&D is always the narrowest choice.
Call of Cthulhu (1982)
Paranoia (1984)
Pendragon (1985)
Ghostbusters (1986)
Or games released between 5E (2014) and 5.5E (2024)
Bubblegumshoe (2016)
Bluebeard's Bride (2017)
Honey Heist (2017)
Ironsworn (2018)
D&D is always the narrowest choice.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Prince Valiant: Introduces narrative collaboration without the intensity of PbTA.
Outgunned: Rewards style and stunts over tactics and crunch.
Delta Green: Teaches that tragedy, paranoia, and hard choices can still be fun.
DCC: Celebrates wild creativity, unpredictable magic, and emergent chaos.
Outgunned: Rewards style and stunts over tactics and crunch.
Delta Green: Teaches that tragedy, paranoia, and hard choices can still be fun.
DCC: Celebrates wild creativity, unpredictable magic, and emergent chaos.
If you wanted to run say, four different games that weren't Dungeons & Dragons in hopes of showing people the breadth of the TTRPG hobby, what games would you run for them? Assume that they are sort of familiar with 5E.
December 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Prince Valiant: Introduces narrative collaboration without the intensity of PbTA.
Outgunned: Rewards style and stunts over tactics and crunch.
Delta Green: Teaches that tragedy, paranoia, and hard choices can still be fun.
DCC: Celebrates wild creativity, unpredictable magic, and emergent chaos.
Outgunned: Rewards style and stunts over tactics and crunch.
Delta Green: Teaches that tragedy, paranoia, and hard choices can still be fun.
DCC: Celebrates wild creativity, unpredictable magic, and emergent chaos.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
i worked on the mechanics for this !! this is what ive been doing when im not working on wizards btw
A new edition of Toon: The Cartoon Roleplaying Game is coming to BackerKit! In this hilarious RPG, you'll become any human, creature, or inanimate object you can think of . . . or make up. Characters will fall down – but they'll never die. Sign up for project notifications today!
bit.ly/toon2ebk
bit.ly/toon2ebk
December 5, 2025 at 10:51 PM
i worked on the mechanics for this !! this is what ive been doing when im not working on wizards btw
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Kevin Kulp goes live for an AMA today at 2PM EST. Join the conversation about Swords of the Serpentine, GUMSHOE design, worldbuilding choices, and what is coming next from one of our sharpest creators. Bring questions and pull up a chair.
bit.ly/3MlPDr8
bit.ly/3MlPDr8
December 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Kevin Kulp goes live for an AMA today at 2PM EST. Join the conversation about Swords of the Serpentine, GUMSHOE design, worldbuilding choices, and what is coming next from one of our sharpest creators. Bring questions and pull up a chair.
bit.ly/3MlPDr8
bit.ly/3MlPDr8
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Vincent is threatening to write a beginners guid to designing a game the Powered by the Apocalypse way and I'll be honest, I kind of need y'all to step up so that goodness can come into the world. Just, like, 10.000 dollars more to go.
December 5, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Vincent is threatening to write a beginners guid to designing a game the Powered by the Apocalypse way and I'll be honest, I kind of need y'all to step up so that goodness can come into the world. Just, like, 10.000 dollars more to go.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
I can hardly believe I have to say this, but here we are: NEVER even suggest that an independent creator or small business owner lower their prices. They know their costs and needs in detail. You do not. You don't like the prices? GO SHOP ELSEWHERE.
"But I like their style!" THEN PAY THEM FOR IT.
"But I like their style!" THEN PAY THEM FOR IT.
Downsized my Lab and everything thing I do due to not being able to afford it. Cost of living going up. And now someone asks me to lower the prices on my shop?
Nah.
I'm tired, y'all.
Nah.
I'm tired, y'all.
December 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I can hardly believe I have to say this, but here we are: NEVER even suggest that an independent creator or small business owner lower their prices. They know their costs and needs in detail. You do not. You don't like the prices? GO SHOP ELSEWHERE.
"But I like their style!" THEN PAY THEM FOR IT.
"But I like their style!" THEN PAY THEM FOR IT.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
I've realised I should use Bluesky more to promote great RPG stuff by awesome people.
So here goes. Have you tried Ludonarrative Dissidents Podcast by @gregstolze.bsky.social @rosspayton.bsky.social and @jameswallis.bsky.social ?
It's a great collection of RPG reviews, theory, and war stories!
So here goes. Have you tried Ludonarrative Dissidents Podcast by @gregstolze.bsky.social @rosspayton.bsky.social and @jameswallis.bsky.social ?
It's a great collection of RPG reviews, theory, and war stories!
December 4, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I've realised I should use Bluesky more to promote great RPG stuff by awesome people.
So here goes. Have you tried Ludonarrative Dissidents Podcast by @gregstolze.bsky.social @rosspayton.bsky.social and @jameswallis.bsky.social ?
It's a great collection of RPG reviews, theory, and war stories!
So here goes. Have you tried Ludonarrative Dissidents Podcast by @gregstolze.bsky.social @rosspayton.bsky.social and @jameswallis.bsky.social ?
It's a great collection of RPG reviews, theory, and war stories!
Geez whiz, it's the 80s complaints against the munchkins that came in via BD&D and the cartoon ("Generation Venger") from the grognard college kids who discovered the game in the 70s.
Except 40 years later, which shows a disturbing lack of creativity from supposedly creative gamers.
Except 40 years later, which shows a disturbing lack of creativity from supposedly creative gamers.
Even by the standards of anti-woke journalism this is lazy dreck. The first piece of "evidence" that older gamers are mad about wokeness is a random Reddit comment — that isn't a complaint about wokeness.
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/11/2...
www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/11/2...
December 2, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Geez whiz, it's the 80s complaints against the munchkins that came in via BD&D and the cartoon ("Generation Venger") from the grognard college kids who discovered the game in the 70s.
Except 40 years later, which shows a disturbing lack of creativity from supposedly creative gamers.
Except 40 years later, which shows a disturbing lack of creativity from supposedly creative gamers.
Design notes are what make history books fun. Here's a first entry for Designers & Dragons: The '20s.
I want to do a thread covering some of what we covered in yesterday's panel around the direction we're taking T&T: A New Age 🧵👹
December 2, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Design notes are what make history books fun. Here's a first entry for Designers & Dragons: The '20s.
I find it so disheartening when creators crap on other creators, but that's exactly what @whatsforlynch.bsky.social describes here. He's telling the story of a publisher who doesn't care that they're literally stealing art that people drew, as long as it's done via the intermediary of LLMs.
Over the last month, I've been working on this essay about the use of AI art in board games, "Is This Really What We Want?" Though it is contextually specific, it is also a reflection of my wider thoughts on the use of AI art and writing in creative contexts.
www.meeplemountain.com/articles/is-...
www.meeplemountain.com/articles/is-...
Is This Really What We Want? – AI Art in Board Games – Meeple...
AI generated imagery and text are a threat to what makes board games worthwhile. In this piece, Andrew explains Meeple Mountain’s policy.
www.meeplemountain.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
I find it so disheartening when creators crap on other creators, but that's exactly what @whatsforlynch.bsky.social describes here. He's telling the story of a publisher who doesn't care that they're literally stealing art that people drew, as long as it's done via the intermediary of LLMs.
Reposted by Shannon Appelcline 🌮
🧵 @kortizart.bsky.social is one of my favorites. She’s fighting on the frontlines of the creatives’ war vs. AI theft and global abuse. Listen to Karla. Follow her here on BSky.
1/3 Massive efforts are being done to ensure states do not regulate GenAI.
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
Regulations like CA’s AB-412. A transparency bill that terrifies Big Tech!
On Dec. 8th, there is a major hearing on this bill.
We need as many folks to show up! Come join in support of creatives!
Rsvp link in thread!
December 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
🧵 @kortizart.bsky.social is one of my favorites. She’s fighting on the frontlines of the creatives’ war vs. AI theft and global abuse. Listen to Karla. Follow her here on BSky.
Wow, I had no idea.
But I think a lot of people have no idea how badly AIDs was stigmatized at the time. I've been (re)reading the amazing _Spectre_ series by John Ostrander, and one of his leads has HIV. Totally courageous. 1992. The same year Isaac died.
Hat tip to @geekgirlsrule.bsky.social
But I think a lot of people have no idea how badly AIDs was stigmatized at the time. I've been (re)reading the amazing _Spectre_ series by John Ostrander, and one of his leads has HIV. Totally courageous. 1992. The same year Isaac died.
Hat tip to @geekgirlsrule.bsky.social
In 1983, science fiction writer Isaac Asimov had triple bypass surgery at NYU Medical Center, during which he contracted HIV from transfusions.
His doctors advised him not to disclose his status because of anti-AIDS sentiment.
He died 1992 from AIDS-related complications.
His doctors advised him not to disclose his status because of anti-AIDS sentiment.
He died 1992 from AIDS-related complications.
December 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Wow, I had no idea.
But I think a lot of people have no idea how badly AIDs was stigmatized at the time. I've been (re)reading the amazing _Spectre_ series by John Ostrander, and one of his leads has HIV. Totally courageous. 1992. The same year Isaac died.
Hat tip to @geekgirlsrule.bsky.social
But I think a lot of people have no idea how badly AIDs was stigmatized at the time. I've been (re)reading the amazing _Spectre_ series by John Ostrander, and one of his leads has HIV. Totally courageous. 1992. The same year Isaac died.
Hat tip to @geekgirlsrule.bsky.social
E-bikes: the new moral panic.
As @hyperlexic.bsky.social suggests, this NY Times article is up to their usual levels of "quality", which is to say it sucks as bad as most modern journalism.
It mentions different classes of e-bikes, but doesn't correlate that with injuries.
As @hyperlexic.bsky.social suggests, this NY Times article is up to their usual levels of "quality", which is to say it sucks as bad as most modern journalism.
It mentions different classes of e-bikes, but doesn't correlate that with injuries.
Unregulated e-bikes are a growing danger on American streets. In one Bay Area town, a terrible accident finally led to reform. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/m...
December 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
E-bikes: the new moral panic.
As @hyperlexic.bsky.social suggests, this NY Times article is up to their usual levels of "quality", which is to say it sucks as bad as most modern journalism.
It mentions different classes of e-bikes, but doesn't correlate that with injuries.
As @hyperlexic.bsky.social suggests, this NY Times article is up to their usual levels of "quality", which is to say it sucks as bad as most modern journalism.
It mentions different classes of e-bikes, but doesn't correlate that with injuries.
Without saying Lord of the Rings, name a fantasy film.
November 30, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Without saying Lord of the Rings, name a fantasy film.
PROMOTION'S 11: A SHORT STORY
Once upon a time, a 'bro said, "What if we stole the entire world's content, and hid that fact by claiming we were training AI?" "But it's just fancy auto-correct," his bro said. "There's no intelligence." The first 'bro shrugged.
It was the biggest heist in history.
Once upon a time, a 'bro said, "What if we stole the entire world's content, and hid that fact by claiming we were training AI?" "But it's just fancy auto-correct," his bro said. "There's no intelligence." The first 'bro shrugged.
It was the biggest heist in history.
November 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
PROMOTION'S 11: A SHORT STORY
Once upon a time, a 'bro said, "What if we stole the entire world's content, and hid that fact by claiming we were training AI?" "But it's just fancy auto-correct," his bro said. "There's no intelligence." The first 'bro shrugged.
It was the biggest heist in history.
Once upon a time, a 'bro said, "What if we stole the entire world's content, and hid that fact by claiming we were training AI?" "But it's just fancy auto-correct," his bro said. "There's no intelligence." The first 'bro shrugged.
It was the biggest heist in history.
One of Kimberly's and my first dates was seeing Indian Ink. We were very lucky to be living in the Bay Area for the American premieres of that & Invention of Love at ACT and the entire Coast of Utopia trilogy at Shotgun Players.
RIP to one of the best to ever do it. Absolute powerhouse and a legend.
Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88
A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
One of Kimberly's and my first dates was seeing Indian Ink. We were very lucky to be living in the Bay Area for the American premieres of that & Invention of Love at ACT and the entire Coast of Utopia trilogy at Shotgun Players.