Valeria Loves
@valerialoves.bsky.social
https://www.valerialoves.com/
The second best trans woman who reviews indie TTRPGs while taking baths, somehow.
The second best trans woman who reviews indie TTRPGs while taking baths, somehow.
Reposted by Valeria Loves
The Explorateur #14 is out now! The only newsletter designed to level-up your design skills (how's that for sales copy?).
Please like, share, and subscribe. If you have any links you particularly like, drop a comment on Explorers Design or here.
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
Please like, share, and subscribe. If you have any links you particularly like, drop a comment on Explorers Design or here.
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
The Explorateur: Issue #14
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Explorateur #14 is out now! The only newsletter designed to level-up your design skills (how's that for sales copy?).
Please like, share, and subscribe. If you have any links you particularly like, drop a comment on Explorers Design or here.
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
Please like, share, and subscribe. If you have any links you particularly like, drop a comment on Explorers Design or here.
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
I had long forgotten that Courtney’s posts were referencing prior discourse on Illusionism - what crucial history!
You’re spot on in identifying how quickly the concept shifted from theoryslop to boogeyman. Great post.
You’re spot on in identifying how quickly the concept shifted from theoryslop to boogeyman. Great post.
It's been over a decade since the original quantum ogre posts. We use the term, but do we all mean the same thing? In this post I unpack the history of the quantum ogre and propose a modern definition.
www.fluoriteguillotine.com/blog/2025/11...
www.fluoriteguillotine.com/blog/2025/11...
quantum ogre reborn
It’s time we re-examine what we mean when we use the term “quantum ogre”. The seed of this post started when Valeria posted her review of Fabula Ultima and quoted Emanuele Galletto (the game’s author)...
www.fluoriteguillotine.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I had long forgotten that Courtney’s posts were referencing prior discourse on Illusionism - what crucial history!
You’re spot on in identifying how quickly the concept shifted from theoryslop to boogeyman. Great post.
You’re spot on in identifying how quickly the concept shifted from theoryslop to boogeyman. Great post.
Incredibly important post.
I have written a new blog about what an OSR is. I am told there is a lot of discourse about this, but am confident that this should settle the matter once and for all.
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
What is an OSR? - The Garden Below
a post about not knowing what the OSR is.
thegardenbelow.blot.im
November 30, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Incredibly important post.
I wrote a #mothership module about greasy spoon diners, dementia, gendered violence, and uploaded intelligence.
Minimalist Jam 4 entry - No Art, No Layout.
Judge my writing as I’ve judged yours.
valerialoves.itch.io/yonkers-fles...
Minimalist Jam 4 entry - No Art, No Layout.
Judge my writing as I’ve judged yours.
valerialoves.itch.io/yonkers-fles...
valerialoves.itch.io
November 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I wrote a #mothership module about greasy spoon diners, dementia, gendered violence, and uploaded intelligence.
Minimalist Jam 4 entry - No Art, No Layout.
Judge my writing as I’ve judged yours.
valerialoves.itch.io/yonkers-fles...
Minimalist Jam 4 entry - No Art, No Layout.
Judge my writing as I’ve judged yours.
valerialoves.itch.io/yonkers-fles...
Reposted by Valeria Loves
The latest TEETH newsletter features a guest essay on OVER/UNDER by prolific journalist and role-player @markwallace.bsky.social
It's really good. Have a read!
It's really good. Have a read!
Guest Post: On OVER/UNDER, by Our Man In California
Ahoy! You probably know what this newsletter is, since you signed up for it. But if you don’t, why not come by the Discord and ask someone? Perhaps Marsh or...
buttondown.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The latest TEETH newsletter features a guest essay on OVER/UNDER by prolific journalist and role-player @markwallace.bsky.social
It's really good. Have a read!
It's really good. Have a read!
Reposted by Valeria Loves
Spent the last month mapping the blogosphere by its links. The graph is finally ready
Communities clump into a big hex and the whole thing looks like a star map
What are blogs anyway but stars in the sky?
elmc.at/mapping-the-...
To check out the graph directly follow this link:
graph.elmc.at
Communities clump into a big hex and the whole thing looks like a star map
What are blogs anyway but stars in the sky?
elmc.at/mapping-the-...
To check out the graph directly follow this link:
graph.elmc.at
Mapping the Blogosphere
An interactive graph of TTRPG blogs, showing who links to whom, how communities change over time, plus stats and how it all works.
elmc.at
November 26, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Spent the last month mapping the blogosphere by its links. The graph is finally ready
Communities clump into a big hex and the whole thing looks like a star map
What are blogs anyway but stars in the sky?
elmc.at/mapping-the-...
To check out the graph directly follow this link:
graph.elmc.at
Communities clump into a big hex and the whole thing looks like a star map
What are blogs anyway but stars in the sky?
elmc.at/mapping-the-...
To check out the graph directly follow this link:
graph.elmc.at
Reposted by Valeria Loves
God it would be so funny to put this under clips of designers talking about Google+
"The Civil War" Soundtrack - Ashokan Farewell
YouTube video by Movie Music HQ
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
God it would be so funny to put this under clips of designers talking about Google+
Reposted by Valeria Loves
Reposted by Valeria Loves
I need a big sword for gender reasons
November 23, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I need a big sword for gender reasons
Reposted by Valeria Loves
hi this is a game I made
amandalee.itch.io/local-heroes
amandalee.itch.io/local-heroes
Local Heroes by amandalee
A one-shot RPG for 4-5 friends and a Wizard
amandalee.itch.io
November 20, 2025 at 7:14 PM
hi this is a game I made
amandalee.itch.io/local-heroes
amandalee.itch.io/local-heroes
#over/under was not one of a kind. I have been playing similar games for the last EIGHT YEARS. Today, I give this medium a name - "Live Text Roleplay" - and help you build a community of your own.
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
How to Replicate Over/Under
A Guide to Live Text Roleplay
www.valerialoves.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
#over/under was not one of a kind. I have been playing similar games for the last EIGHT YEARS. Today, I give this medium a name - "Live Text Roleplay" - and help you build a community of your own.
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
Reposted by Valeria Loves
New crucial companion video to my Umamusume article.
youtu.be/jDneagagd5s?...
www.valerialoves.com/i-do-not-lik...
youtu.be/jDneagagd5s?...
www.valerialoves.com/i-do-not-lik...
Why Do So Many Twitter Nazis Love K-On!?
YouTube video by Moon Channel
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 11:57 PM
New crucial companion video to my Umamusume article.
youtu.be/jDneagagd5s?...
www.valerialoves.com/i-do-not-lik...
youtu.be/jDneagagd5s?...
www.valerialoves.com/i-do-not-lik...
Learning folks were gossiping about who broke Kira’s wrist is so insanely thrilling.
FYI, the player-made Choke ARG elements had been drip fed for a long time. All bosses had a shared group chat to discuss it, prior to the incident. Bosses collectively announcing the evacuation started the panic.
FYI, the player-made Choke ARG elements had been drip fed for a long time. All bosses had a shared group chat to discuss it, prior to the incident. Bosses collectively announcing the evacuation started the panic.
In which I write about how #over/under has *a lot* of information games flying around- and how it lead to the game having its own corrupted blood incident.
The Information Game
Over/Under and Info/Misinfo
jayhawking.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Learning folks were gossiping about who broke Kira’s wrist is so insanely thrilling.
FYI, the player-made Choke ARG elements had been drip fed for a long time. All bosses had a shared group chat to discuss it, prior to the incident. Bosses collectively announcing the evacuation started the panic.
FYI, the player-made Choke ARG elements had been drip fed for a long time. All bosses had a shared group chat to discuss it, prior to the incident. Bosses collectively announcing the evacuation started the panic.
Reposted by Valeria Loves
it hasn't helped sell any mags but it appears our nonsense on here has just pushed our account over 5K 'followers', so let's embrace that as some kind of achievement!
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
it hasn't helped sell any mags but it appears our nonsense on here has just pushed our account over 5K 'followers', so let's embrace that as some kind of achievement!
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
Like & repost this to be in with a chance to win every in-print issue of Wyrd Science & a t-shirt of your choice*
The greatest post in #Over/Under RP history.
October 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
The greatest post in #Over/Under RP history.
Reposted by Valeria Loves
Reposted by Valeria Loves
Hey - if you're a Denizen of The Dream in #OVER/UNDER and want to follow more of the fun and cool people you've met over there over here then this is a darn good place to look: go.bsky.app/2dTRvz3
October 21, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Hey - if you're a Denizen of The Dream in #OVER/UNDER and want to follow more of the fun and cool people you've met over there over here then this is a darn good place to look: go.bsky.app/2dTRvz3
Reposted by Valeria Loves
A contrasting example: Fabula Ultima as played by a table of storytellers
Fabula Ultima is my favorite fantasy game. I got to experience it for the first time with folks from Paper Cult, and I wrote my thoughts on it after our campaign's finale.
www.fluoriteguillotine.com/blog/2025/10...
www.fluoriteguillotine.com/blog/2025/10...
fabula ultima was made for me
Last night, the Paper Cult crew wrapped up our Fabula Ultima game. Out of every game I’ve played with them, this is the game I regretted saying farewell the most. I’ve decided it’s my favorite fantasy...
www.fluoriteguillotine.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A contrasting example: Fabula Ultima as played by a table of storytellers
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Why Don't I Hate Fabula Ultima?
Theoryslop shadowboxing an omnigender Italian
www.valerialoves.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:18 PM
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Reposted by Valeria Loves
False Machine orders to North America are now open once more falseparcels.bigcartel.com
October 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
False Machine orders to North America are now open once more falseparcels.bigcartel.com
Waiting for Gygax by Ironykins
Imagine if your D&D Campaign never left the Tavern
ironykins.itch.io
October 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Valeria Loves
MORE THAN 100K IN 10MINS!
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol . I is now live on #Kickstarter! 💎
Back within the first 48 hours to get an exclusive bonus cloth patch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol . I is now live on #Kickstarter! 💎
Back within the first 48 hours to get an exclusive bonus cloth patch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol. I
The ENNIE-winning JRPG-inspired tabletop role-playing game levels up with hardback and collector's editions, and the new Bestiary Vol.I
www.kickstarter.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
MORE THAN 100K IN 10MINS!
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol . I is now live on #Kickstarter! 💎
Back within the first 48 hours to get an exclusive bonus cloth patch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...
Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol . I is now live on #Kickstarter! 💎
Back within the first 48 hours to get an exclusive bonus cloth patch!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...