The Aleks (they/them)
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thealeks.bsky.social
The Aleks (they/them)
@thealeks.bsky.social
I make art, video games, tabletop roleplaying games, that kind of thing. Very cool. The Poochie of social media.

https://thealeks.itch.io
https://unverifiedpersonalgnosis.neocities.org

https://ko-fi.com/feedthealeks
https://patreon.com/atelier_aleks
Anyway, I'm depressed and broke right now, which makes me more depressed, but I've been working on stuff, albeit very slowly and through a lot of naps and crying.

I'm really sorry for the delays with the TTIFOM second edition. I just have to get past this ... deep, dark, draining hole...
December 14, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Sorry for navel-gazing while yet another disaster happens, but, like, I'm sorry, but I can't keep track anymore... It's every day at this point.

I'm just gonna keep navel gazing, more or less. Every once in a while, I do a political diatribe, but that's mostly just self soothing behavior anyway.
December 14, 2025 at 2:33 AM
I don't know, man. I'm tired ... I've made a lot of art in my lifetime, but I sometimes feel like everything I've done is shabby and piecemeal. I know that's not true...

Pleroma has jank, but it's a frigging magnum opus made on a budget of 500 bucks. The Tarot deck isn't perfect, but it's good ...
December 14, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Maybe I should become a Knight Errant?

Should we all normalize becoming a Knight Errant?
December 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
A heartfelt thank you to all who buy from independent artists, hire us, or even share our work or give words of encouragement. Even the most established of artists are feeling a decline in work and sales this year. Your support in all or any way is felt and appreciated amongst us! Thank you!!
December 12, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Does anyone want to virtually hold my hand while I quietly "crash out" (as the kids say) tonight?
December 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
My therapist is going to retire in a month or so ...
December 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Reminder. An executive order is a piece of bureaucratic guidance with the following key characteristics:

1. It CAN tell FEDERAL bureaucrats what to do, a bit.

2. I can't tell the states or local governments what to do.

3. It can't tell other branches what to do.

4. It can't create new laws.
December 12, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
So much money in video games and so little of it actually going to developers.
December 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I don't really want a grimdark Divinity game, honestly ... I'm so fucking tired of grimdark everything ...
December 12, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Believe it or not, as messed up as I am, I don't currently feel "bad" as such ... I don't want to cry. I don't really feel much of anything.

I used to think that was a bad thing, that I had to "get in touch with my emotions" and "be open and vulnerable" - turns out that's bullshit, apparently.
December 12, 2025 at 2:11 AM
I'm just gonna let go of the *alekssamoylov.com domain, I think. I can't afford it this year, and honestly it's never done me much good.

It's been tied to my main email address for years, but I've moved most of my accounts away from it today, and it's mostly for bullshit like steam and stuff.
December 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Gods, I'm a fucking wreck today.
December 12, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
This isn't really going anywhere so far, but I'll keep trying for a bit...

I'm running a 50% off sale on all my games because I'm broke and maybe kind of broken right now, and could use a few hundos (or anything, really) for basic expenses and survival.

#mutualaid #ttrpg

itch.io/s/171796/win...
Wintertide
A bundle by Aleks Samoylov, $45.00 for 14 games
itch.io
December 11, 2025 at 10:05 AM
This isn't really going anywhere so far, but I'll keep trying for a bit...

I'm running a 50% off sale on all my games because I'm broke and maybe kind of broken right now, and could use a few hundos (or anything, really) for basic expenses and survival.

#mutualaid #ttrpg

itch.io/s/171796/win...
Wintertide
A bundle by Aleks Samoylov, $45.00 for 14 games
itch.io
December 11, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
I know most of you are probably in the same boat, but if you aren't, and you want to help a disabled, lgbtqa+ creator crawl their way through a bad winter in exchange for some video and tabletop games, I'm having a sale. I also have a kofi.

#ttrpg #humanartist #mutualaid

itch.io/s/171796/win...
Wintertide
A bundle by Aleks Samoylov, $45.00 for 14 games
itch.io
December 7, 2025 at 3:25 AM
There's a difference between the Socratic Method and "just asking questions."

The questions matter. They must provisw a framework for a *good faith* and *reasonable* exploration of the answers.

You can't just say "what if murder is good, actually?" and claim to be a "free thinker" or whatever...
December 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
I don't think I really want to be here anymore, to be honest.
December 8, 2025 at 1:28 AM
I know most of you are probably in the same boat, but if you aren't, and you want to help a disabled, lgbtqa+ creator crawl their way through a bad winter in exchange for some video and tabletop games, I'm having a sale. I also have a kofi.

#ttrpg #humanartist #mutualaid

itch.io/s/171796/win...
Wintertide
A bundle by Aleks Samoylov, $45.00 for 14 games
itch.io
December 7, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Creepypasta title: "I was born into a socioeconomic system. There are strange rules."
December 7, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
As the last 4 years have shown, there are few things more dangerous than a technology which does not exist but is being sold on the premise that it does. Imagine how dangerous it would be to have a machine that people believe reads thoughts but does not. Imagine what law enforcement would do with it
December 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Sometimes I just want to sleep until the world ends.
December 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
Shopping small is meaningful!
November 29, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Reposted by The Aleks (they/them)
Electric bill was up again despite the fact my heatings been on the fritz & only partly working, new unit gets installed tomorrow. *sigh* really sick of prices going up. And still no SNAP. 😡

If anyone can chip in to help me with groceries & gas it'd be appreciated.

www.paypal.com/paypalme/bul...
Pay Steven Ratkovich using PayPal.Me
Go to paypal.me/bulldrek and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.
www.paypal.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM