David A Ludwig
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davidaludwig.bsky.social
David A Ludwig
@davidaludwig.bsky.social
480 followers 400 following 7.6K posts
Gamer and author of #CatsThePajamas. I believe everyone has a story. I have several. He/Him

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Profile Picture by @yasosume.bsky.social
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davidaludwig.bsky.social
Interest was expressed by @kikirini.bsky.social if I found my earliest anime art.

I found a whole binder, but this is the one I was thinking of.

Dang, Rachel "Death Violet" Morrigan has changed since then. Though I still like my costume design here.
Photo of a sheet with colored pencil drawings of a white woman with a purple braid. In the center she is in street clothes, left a ninja costume from the back, right the ninja costume from the front. I advise ignoring the text at the bottom.
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 AM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I had a hot streak writing the self-duplicating hero, Gemini, from my PRUDENT setting on #ThursThreads earlier this year and had the opportunity to commission this exquisite piece from @yumekiiii.bsky.social.

It's a lot of fun figuring out interesting ways to utilize and counter self-duplication.
Digital drawing of a woman with blonde ringlets in a pineapple updo. She is wearing a two-tone leotard with the Gemini symbol on the front with a utility belt, matching domino mask and boots, and golden gloves. The background is a twilight city. The woman is looking with an arm raised to the left, with a smiling image of her over that shoulder. A frowning image of her is over her right shoulder. The artist is Yume Pat. 08/28/25 “They don’t like it.” Honorable Mention! The impact of her duplicate’s fist on Helen Harper’s cheek wasn’t bad. Absorbing a whole ass other her through her face, however… Was bizarre. She staggered, clutching her head. Her other hostile duplicates backed off. ‘They don’t like it when I absorb them,’ Helen smiled grimly. Of course, Helen hadn’t enjoyed the experience herself. Something had been in the duplicate’s head that shouldn’t have been. Helen wiped the squished remains of the parasite off her cheek with the back of her hand. Foreign contaminants were more or less filtered out on reintegration, though remnants of this one buzzed like a jackhammer in Helen’s head. She surrounded herself with a circle of fresh duplicates. Helen hated using herself as a human shield, but she wasn’t chancing another exposure to whatever that was. She and her new duplicates fought in formation through their opposites. No further absorptions. Whoever was creating these enemy duplicates was similarly close to the original as Helen herself. As far as she knew, that narrowed it down to the missing superhero, Gemini. Or her supervillain opposite. More mind-numbing buzzing, not in Helen’s head, pressed down on the combatants. An insectile woman hovered in a cloud of the parasitic bugs. “Another high-level copy. How delightful. You make most convenient servants.” Helen pursed her lips. Took a deep breath through her nose and began passing out earplugs from her utility belt to her friendly duplicates. She found the thing responsible for superhero-her’s disappearance. No biggie. Totally fine. 09/04/25 “That was too simple.” I WON! The Helen Harpers who weren’t fully occupied keeping parasitic insects from entering their heads had already succumbed and turned on the rest of her. One supervillain under her belt and she thought she could handle the one who disappeared the superhero Gemini? Stupid. “This could all go much easier if you stopped resisting.” The humanoid bug queen taunted Helen. The way Helen’s duplicates screamed as they were taken over, Helen was not looking forward to reintegrating them and their memories. But she couldn’t just leave a dozen of herself out there. Right? An explosion on the overlook interrupted the battle between the Helens and the bugs below. All turned to see a missile speed into the bug queen’s torso. The explosion sent her skidding. Even before she came to a stop, all the insects and controlled copies fell limply to the ground. Gemini stood on the overlook, reloading a shoulder-mounted launcher. That was too simple. Also, if that one wasn’t Helen and wasn’t the superhero… Did her supervillain double just save her? “You have ten seconds to get clear with any duplicates you want to save!” Supervillain Gemini called down. “After that I’m going scorched earth!” Helen exchanged a glance with her three duplicates still standing. She raised a hand between her and Gemini while backing toward the unconscious bug queen. “Wait! We can take her in! Maybe help her! We don’t have to kill her!” Gemini hefted her launcher back to her shoulder. “You forget, I’m no hero.”
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Gadzooks! Winning in such a strong field is always exciting, but on a Halloween edition is extra special.

Thank you, @siobhanmuir.bsky.social for hosting and judging!

And congrats, @drmag00.bsky.social on the Honorable Mention!
#ThursThreads Winner Year 13 With gold confetti!
October 31, 2025 at 11:32 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Happy Halloween week!

Melody Fayth doesn't do spooky, but she'd certainly enjoy dressing up.

Autumn Shroud, the Elementian Halloween equivalent, is Cat N. Kinnery's favorite holiday by far.

Cheerleader Melody and Nekomancer Cat were commissioned from the excellent @yasosume.bsky.social.
Digital drawing of a woman with long blonde hair in a two-piece cheerleader uniform doing a cheer with pompoms. Digital drawing of a two-tailed catgirl in a hooded black robe perched on a large scythe. She has hairy tufts on her feet and hands, and her broken bones glow through her skin.
October 27, 2025 at 11:48 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
We are now all decorated for Halloween, and I am mostly recovered and caught-up from the trip.
Nightime photo of a dark driveway with a few illuminated Halloween decorations. Nightime photo of a house with a few illuminated Halloween decorations.
October 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I don't really have a spooky Melody, but in terms of dressing characters up I did commission a cheerleader Melody from @yasosume.bsky.social that I couldn't resist plugging into the Barbie movie meme.

The Nekomancer is actually a deep facet of Cat's personality by Ar Tonelico's Cosmosphere system.
Barbie movie meme with a digital drawing of a cheerleader with long blonde hair in an explosion of sparkly pink. She has a two piece, light lavender cheer uniform, purple pompoms, and is doing a cheer. The text says "This Barbie is cheering you on!" The art is by @yasosume
October 11, 2025 at 11:46 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
There are WAY more Dere Types than I had any concept of! While assuming a Dere Type is a stretch for some characters, I always love a good character quiz.

Captain Cat N. Kinnery is an S Dere! Which definitely fits.

Melody Fayth is a Hajidere. She isn't literally a fainter, but otherwise also fits.
Four panel digital drawing. In the first panel, a dark-haired, cat-earred girl with a gold right eye and a skull-eyepatch over her left eye is smiling in navy captain's regalia. She says, "I never ignore a body in need." In the second panel, a blue-eyed woman with long blonde hair parted by purple pansy hair ties is wearing a white robe and also smiling. She says, "You help them, right?" In the third panel the cat girl lifts her eye patch to reveal a silver left eye. Still smiling, she doesn't otherwise respond. In the fourth panel the blonde looks very concerned and repeats, "You help them, right?" Art by @yasosume.
October 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I am home from my trip and mostly decorated for Halloween; so I can begin the recovery process.

Going out of state to help with a toddler for a week is a good thing to do.

But exhausting.
Photo of the autumn driveway of a white house among evergreens, with some Halloween decorations.
October 6, 2025 at 11:38 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I'm very pleased to say I got to play Dungeons & Dragons again over the weekend, though I apologize for my absence around that event.

Now that I can draw on my computer again, I also thought I'd take a stab at depicting a rainy day downtime from earlier in the campaign.
Digital drawing of an adventuring party taking shelter from the rain in a cave. From left to right: A red haired fire genasi is sulking; a distinguished human is embroidering; a lightly armored halfling is carving a ladle; a human in hides is teaching her flaming badger to fetch a stick; a human with a wolf-pelt hood is knitting; and an amethyst dragonborn is painting the scene.
September 24, 2025 at 10:55 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Previously on sweet @siobhanmuir.bsky.social's #ThursThreads, judge sincere Silver James named me the winner, with honors for the field! #WriteSky #FlashFiction

siobhanmuir.com/thursthreads...
#ThursThreads Winner Year 12 On a colorful background woven with gold.
September 17, 2025 at 11:06 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Found this timeline while cleaning.

Apparently the important things in my life happened quite early.

And sad to be 15 years past the end of the timeline without achieving that benchmark yet.
Photo of long paper timeline with images on a bed with a dragon comforter. The timeline is rather front-loaded.
September 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I'm able to draw on my computer again! Just in time to return to playing the half-efreeta Warlock, Stella Blaze, on Saturday.

I look forward to seeing what happens next with the Dungeons & Dragons campaign where this entitled, fiery teenager is one of the more level heads in the party.
Digital drawing of a tan, freckled woman with a brilliant red ponytail and dark sepia eyes. She is wearing a red and gold harem dancer outfit with an oil lamp at her left hip. Magic sparks from her right hand as she snaps her fingers. I'm the artist; you can take my word for it. Digital drawing of a tan, freckled woman with a brilliant red ponytail and dark sepia eyes. She has not-entirely-impractical black leather armor over a red and gold harem dancer outfit with an oil lamp at her left hip. Magic sparks from her right hand as she snaps her fingers. I'm the artist; you can take my word for it.
August 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
And what would a swashbuckling, high fantasy story be without a Prince Charming?

open.spotify.com/playlist/2ZK...

Jacques de Blanche was one of my earlier commissions from @yasosume.bsky.social
Digital drawing of a smiling brown-haired man with a goatee shading his green eyes with his right arm. He has a red headband. He wears a studded leather vest over a white collared shirt with the sleeves ripped off. His pants and tall boots are form fitting.
August 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
As a big fan of the Barbie meme, I love this one! Always fun seeing which characters get plugged into which roles.

I was lucky to be able to commission @birdeeblake.bsky.social to plug Melody and Cat into the format. Which doesn't quite occur this way in Book 3.
Digital drawing of Melody and Cat in the Barbie mugshot meme format. Melody is blonde with blue eyes and a violet robe with matching flower hair ties. She looks concerned. Cat has short brown hair, bleached at the ends, with cat ears. Her right eye is gold and her left is silver. She's enjoying herself. The artist is Birdee Blake, and the year 2023.
August 13, 2025 at 12:01 AM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
After accidentally doing a drive-by of Devil's Slide, my family now has a joke about "high speed sight seeing."

This is a commemoration.
August 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
#AugustWorldbuilders Education

Education is not just generally available, but expected for the betterment of the queendom of Terre Reine.

Though the Celestial Temple Melody grew up in provides most of the schooling, Melody had more individual tutors than formal school attendance.
AugustWorldbuilders prompt list Hosted by Kira of the Wind. Week 1 is Education.
August 5, 2025 at 11:20 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I have been surprisingly lucky with my wildlife photography this year.
Digital photo of a doe and fawn in a green yard between bushes. Digital photo of a young buck between a trellis in the foreground and fence in the background.
August 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
With Maester Sforzando Alighieri's playlist, I try to evoke his complexity, history, and experiences.

open.spotify.com/playlist/20K...

He's been a scholar, a brigand, a courtier, war hero, and--most recently--Melody's singing instructor at the Celestial Temple.

Art by @yasosume.bsky.social
Digital drawing of a tan, shirtless man with long grey locs and icy blue eyes. He has a major scar on his left shoulder and a light rising from his raised left hand. He has a blue and gold headband, dark blue sash, and lavender pants. The artist is Yaso.
August 1, 2025 at 11:08 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
It's probably cheating to go with "The Night Ship" by To Ashes, that I commissioned for Cat. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLUP...

The top her 6 hour playlist is Powerglove's instrumental cover of "Gotta Catch 'em All."

Melody's is "Thank You for the Music" by ABBA.

Art by @yasosume.bsky.social
Four panel digital meme comic. In the first panel, a catgirl pirate in a blue outfit with one golden eye and a skull eyepatch says, "I never ignore a body in need." Second Panel: A blonde woman with flowers in her hair says, "You help them, Right?" Third Panel: The catgirl reveals a silver eye under her eyepatch and grins silently. Fourth Panel: The blonde repeats with a worried expression, "You help them, Right?"
July 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Thinking about my Four Elven Sisters again inspired me to commission Natazla and Oaklie from the awesome @yasosume.bsky.social.

Unlike Vedania on a motorcycle, this duel is canon. When Natazla and Oaklie's convent determined Oaklie was a prophesied Champion, they made Natazla her training partner.
Digital drawing of a pair of pointy-eared women in a sword duel. Their habits are rolled down, exposing their torsos. The one on the left has her back to us, with long dark hair in twintails and an icy expression. Her sword is a rapier. The one on the right is facing us, with short brown hair and a bright expression. Her sword is a scimitar. The artist is Yaso, and the year is '25.
July 11, 2025 at 11:19 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Apologies for my recent absence. I, excitingly, got to play D&D again as a player. And got fairly caught up in preparing, actually playing, and then writing up after.

A claustrophobic centaur courier may not have been the best choice for an old-school dungeon crawl. But it was fun.
Hero Forge portrait of a black haired centaur running a forest trail. She has silver goggles with blue lenses over her eyes, and a teal scarf pulled up over her face. Her outfit is shades of blue, and her horse half is brown. Hero Forge portrait of a black haired centaur woman in a field, raising a hand toward the viewer. She has silver goggles with blue lenses up on her head, and golden eyes. Her outfit is shades of blue, and her horse half brown with black tail and hooves.
July 2, 2025 at 5:38 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I've loved making Hero Forge figures for a while now, and always look forward to when I can afford to have one printed.

Dylan's awesome response, via Hero Forge, to Kiki's Vedania on a motorcyle motivated me to attempt my own take on her.
Hero Forge Pro screenshot of an elf with green skin and a green ponytail blowing behind her. She is on a sleek green motorcycle, wearing brown and green leather, with a quiver on her back and fancy bow in her left hand. The subtitle is "Vedania cycle." Because this is Vedania Oathsworn, on a motorcycle.
June 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I'm thrilled with how this commission of Vedania Oathsworn came out!

The technology level's higher than in her canon setting, but this is still an image I've had in my head forever. And @kikirini.bsky.social captured it even better than I imagined!

Close up to fully appreciate the grumpiness.
Digital drawing of an elf with green hair, eyes, and skin, her ponytail blowing behind her as she lines up a shot with her bow. Her expression is intense. She's wearing brown and dark green motorcycle leathers, that look like armor, with a quiver on her back. Digital drawing of an elf with green hair, eyes, and skin, lining up an arrow shot from the back of her green sport motorcycle. She's rounding a corner with a blurry, night cityscape behind her. Her headlight's on. She's wearing brown and dark green motorcycle leathers, that look like armor, with a quiver on her back.
June 19, 2025 at 10:43 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
Lofn and I both appreciate the moments of beauty and peace in Baldur's Gate 3. Dark fantasy isn't always the most soothing escapism. And even worse to live, I trust.

Very excited to have finally reached Act 3 of 3. I never get to play characters this high in level in tabletop.
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of the half elf paladin, Lofn. She has blue eyes with green and red makeup, framed by blonde hair with a pony tail in the back. She is wearing shining half plate armor with a longsword on her back. The light is warm and comforting, even if the background is less so. Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of the blonde pony-tailed, half elf paladin, Lofn climbing onto a nighttime rooftop. She's in her blue bodice over a white blouse with brown slacks. This is as good a shot as I've gotten of her fancy gilded blue shoes. Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of Lofn and her party looking out over nighttime battlements. From left to right; Shadowheart is a black haired half elf in her sexy black camp clothes. Lae'zel is a brown haired githyanki in her revealing camp clothes. Lofn is a blonde half elf in her, finally, nice looking camp clothes. Karlach is a burning red tiefling in her tattered black camp clothes. Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of the blonde half elf, Lofn, standing on a green cliff looking out over a sweeping night vista of trees and cliffs giving way to warmly lit buildings before the bridge across the moonlit water to Baldur's Gate itself.
June 9, 2025 at 10:47 PM
davidaludwig.bsky.social
I try to tailor my screenshots based on not being the only one who still needs to finish their first playthrough of BG3.

It has been an experience for Lofn, the half-wood elf paladin, to witness how far off she is from the coolest paladin around. For now.
And always fun to make a dramatic entrance.
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of a winged woman in shining armor with a greatsword raised in her right hand. Her eyes glow and her equipment blazes with holy fire. Dame Aylin says, "THE GODS FIGHT AT OUR SIDE!" Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of Lofn and her party entering battle like badasses. From left to right; Shadowheart is a half-elf with long braided black hair with golden armor over a black underlayer. She is reaching for the morning star on her back. Karlach is a fiery red tiefling with one horn. She's wearing scale armor, and is bigger than the others even though she's in the back. Lofn is a blonde half elf, standing in front in shining half plate. She has a gilded longsword in her right hand, adamantine shield in her left, and a lute on her back. Lae'zel, the githyanki in adamantine splint mail draws her greatsword from her back on the right side.
May 30, 2025 at 10:56 PM