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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED

@squadronuk.bsky.social

890 followers 380 following 6.6K posts

Created/co-wrote Golden Heroes (it’s in Wikipedia). Write/publishes various other TTRPGs on an iPAD in his bedroom. Easing back into my gaming & TTRPG con addiction ATM. My games: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/721/Simon-Burley-Productions

www.drivethrurpg.com

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 19m

That bugger would need a pommel the size of a wrecking ball!

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

The end of session ritual. Didn’t anyone else enjoy the end of evening accountancy and adding up the experience - even if you didn’t go up a level - sharing out the gold, allocating magic items, updating character sheets?

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

1) Something in reserve if you run into a blank wall. Eg. Party finish your evening prep earlier than expected.
2) something for a sub set of the party to complete if a player is away.
3) I reserve for developing into a fuller scenario later.
4) To refer to to make the world feel fuller
5) practice.

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

See also swords which are taller and heavier than you are.

Rodney Matthew’s and Elric have a lot to answer for.

(I realsie this pic is probably not his work.)

White faced figure holding a sword with a far too wide black blade glowing it red runes and a far too slender hilt.

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

What, why, who?

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

…you think I could review the systems I played at Furnace but take it easy on the other stuff?

As I say, I’llask. Again tomorrow.

5/fin

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

“You’re all robots with robot eyes. You hear a humming noise.”

I still remember THAT one you devil! (And we never discovered what was really going on. I had to buy the scenario to find THAT clever idea out.)

Sorry, tangent.

So as someone who’s felt twinge at a throw at comment…

4/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

We all KNEW that was a quikstart-start adventure. Bad Captain marooned at sea vs. A Spanish Galleon. It was what we signed up for right? What else could you have done with the pack you had? I just assumed it was the one in the pack. YOUR scenarios are normally more twisted and devious.

3/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

Because 4/5 of my Referees are mutuals on here, I was going ask what people thought because we British don‘t public rate each other and I was going to ask you as an example as someone I get along with and someone who is exceptionally sound how YOU’D feel if I pubicly said “stuff”.

2/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

I have tended in the past to try to be very British in my comments and try to keep my thoughts to myself. I don;t review/rate conventions for example. Tomorrow’s comment was to ask if people wanted me to review the games. JUST the systems or all four of the elements I’ve discussed.

1/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

YOUR game had a good system a good story a good referee and good players. It was a solid and fun session and a great start to the convention.

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

A small games day meet-up in. London. Great if you’re in or around London and just a day out playing games. Probably not suitable for anyone else or anyone wanting to promote stuff.

SUMMARY

January 2026 might not be the best month to start dipping your toe into with UK Cons.

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

It’s organised by a group called the Wyrd Sisters and thats an appropriate name. There’s a chance that if you contact them directly with what you’re hoping to do they can give you some good advice and Contingency might not be out of the question for 2026.

DAHN SARF

31st January - London

5/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

A large week long residential convention at an out of season holiday camp. Basically (for me) a week long holiday playing TTRPGs. I think it’d be too overwhelming if you’d just putting your toe into the water. And then there’d be the accomodation cost. But don’t dismiss it out of hand.

4/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

I know very little about this. I need to look into it myself. I suspect the key term here is GROG. So you may not want to make this your first convention. (Dirk or other please post here so Joy know what you’re about.)

CONTINGENCY

26th January to 2nd February - Hunstanton

3/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

STABCON

2nd-4th January Stockport.

Not on the master spreadsheet. Lovely. Friendly. A bit insular. Not one to start with unless you already know people there. Not good for promoting stuff. Not brilliantly accessible? A Gamers con.

GROGMEET

16th - 18th January Manchester.

“Unconfirmed”.

2/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 1h

#CONVENTIONADVICE2026

12 occasional threads advising people about conventinos upcoming in 2026 with my advice - slanted towards @joymakesmonsters.bsky.social - but hopefully useful to others and I’d love it others would reshare and chip in with their thought and other events.

JANUARY 2026

1/x

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

Being a pedantic dick I notice you STILL didn’t say where you’re based. But this time I checked your profile. (Which STILL doesn’t say where you’re from.)I noticed a link with “TheWelshDM” in it so I’ll make some assumptions based on that & your desire to plug art & I’ll get back here with advice.

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

Possibly the same copy?

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

As I said, not the worst game system I played all weekend.

3/fin

Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

….which makes it hard to go on living”, what’s the difference between a cooper, a carpenter & a shipwright? etc. But a good Referee (you are a good referee) - with an interesting eye for props (still not sure about it but a good spot and good buy) - and good experienced players made a fun game. 2/3

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 3h

One of my other thoughts this week will be about how a con game experience is built of system, scenario, referee and players. This was an enjoyable game with more than the odd chuckle. The scenario was poor. The system has its moments “..smashing the skull, crushing the brain…. 1/3

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 5h

10

To be continued tomorrow…

10/fin (ish) TBC

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 5h

9

- rips into the character’s back destroying their coat - and parrot if present.

So, yes, Neil. Even with the best Referee the system can make a huge difference to the game being played at a convention. I concede.

The thing is……

….this wasn’t even the WORST system I played at the weekend.

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Simon Burley 🔜 CONDENSED @squadronuk.bsky.social · 5h

8

…which we weren’t even going to visit during the game, Guy asked if he could manage the Critical results tables and was handed a whole book full of them.

The game was everything they’d heard of and expected. (Critical result - wood splinter -

8

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