Jim McGarva
@jimbozig.bsky.social
I teach math and stats and make tabletop RPGs and have a house full of kids and pets. He/him.
Find Tailfeathers, Strike!, and more http://jimbozig.itch.io and at http://strikerpg.com
Chat about my games at https://discord.gg/SmxeetS
Find Tailfeathers, Strike!, and more http://jimbozig.itch.io and at http://strikerpg.com
Chat about my games at https://discord.gg/SmxeetS
Slightly diminish a game:
Work to rule!
Work to rule!
Slightly diminish a game:
Fabula Penultima
Fabula Penultima
Slightly dimish a game:
Puppies in the Allotment
Puppies in the Allotment
January 24, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Slightly diminish a game:
Work to rule!
Work to rule!
Reposted by Jim McGarva
Fixing your heart is, for us born into our arsenal of privilege in the world's most empire, both a lifelong undertaking requiring discipline, patience, perspective, and good teachers, and a necessary first step toward reclaiming your self.
It's our essential duty and our most precious opportunity.
It's our essential duty and our most precious opportunity.
January 23, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Fixing your heart is, for us born into our arsenal of privilege in the world's most empire, both a lifelong undertaking requiring discipline, patience, perspective, and good teachers, and a necessary first step toward reclaiming your self.
It's our essential duty and our most precious opportunity.
It's our essential duty and our most precious opportunity.
Obviously the AI use is shitty, but I find it hilarious to post at 8AM Pacific time that you notified a group called LA Worldcon 15 hours ago.
Oh, you mean these people you messaged at 5pm, presumably after they clocked out for the day, hasn't gotten back to you by 8AM the next morning? Gosh.
Oh, you mean these people you messaged at 5pm, presumably after they clocked out for the day, hasn't gotten back to you by 8AM the next morning? Gosh.
January 22, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Obviously the AI use is shitty, but I find it hilarious to post at 8AM Pacific time that you notified a group called LA Worldcon 15 hours ago.
Oh, you mean these people you messaged at 5pm, presumably after they clocked out for the day, hasn't gotten back to you by 8AM the next morning? Gosh.
Oh, you mean these people you messaged at 5pm, presumably after they clocked out for the day, hasn't gotten back to you by 8AM the next morning? Gosh.
Ari Aster just hates everyone, doesn't he? Watching Eddington and everyone is just the worst version of a type of guy.
It's like the opposite of a film that humanizes both sides of a conflict. It dehumanizes everyone, reducing every character to how their haters see them.
It's like the opposite of a film that humanizes both sides of a conflict. It dehumanizes everyone, reducing every character to how their haters see them.
January 21, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Ari Aster just hates everyone, doesn't he? Watching Eddington and everyone is just the worst version of a type of guy.
It's like the opposite of a film that humanizes both sides of a conflict. It dehumanizes everyone, reducing every character to how their haters see them.
It's like the opposite of a film that humanizes both sides of a conflict. It dehumanizes everyone, reducing every character to how their haters see them.
Fruitful Void is a compelling phrase is because it's unexpected. Wow, this apple just popped out of this void!
Some people, misunderstanding the concept, say whatever *really matters* to your game should not be mechanized.
They believe only voids can be fruitful. That apples cannot grow on trees.
Some people, misunderstanding the concept, say whatever *really matters* to your game should not be mechanized.
They believe only voids can be fruitful. That apples cannot grow on trees.
January 20, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Fruitful Void is a compelling phrase is because it's unexpected. Wow, this apple just popped out of this void!
Some people, misunderstanding the concept, say whatever *really matters* to your game should not be mechanized.
They believe only voids can be fruitful. That apples cannot grow on trees.
Some people, misunderstanding the concept, say whatever *really matters* to your game should not be mechanized.
They believe only voids can be fruitful. That apples cannot grow on trees.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
One of the most frustrating things about talking about RPGs on the internet is people so entrenched in their narrow paradigms that it’s literally not possible to have a conversation with them. We’re not speaking the same language. There’s nowhere to start.
January 18, 2026 at 3:04 PM
One of the most frustrating things about talking about RPGs on the internet is people so entrenched in their narrow paradigms that it’s literally not possible to have a conversation with them. We’re not speaking the same language. There’s nowhere to start.
This is part of it. But also, Canada didn't want Chinese EVs before to protect our auto manufacturing sector. Trump and the tariffs will completely destroy that sector, since the parts have to cross the border often multiple times. So if there's nothing left to protect...
Canada isn't using China as a bargaining chip.
Canada is connecting with China as a trade partner.
Because our other extremely large trade partner keeps throwing bizarre tantrums.
Canada is connecting with China as a trade partner.
Because our other extremely large trade partner keeps throwing bizarre tantrums.
Peter Navarro: "I was tempted to put something up on X and Gettr to the effect of, was Carney looking for a discount on fentanyl while he was over? I don't know what their strategy is. If Canada thinks they can use China as a bargaining chip, that doesn't end well."
January 18, 2026 at 12:02 AM
This is part of it. But also, Canada didn't want Chinese EVs before to protect our auto manufacturing sector. Trump and the tariffs will completely destroy that sector, since the parts have to cross the border often multiple times. So if there's nothing left to protect...
Ok folks, which matters less:
System
Voting
???
System
Voting
???
January 16, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Ok folks, which matters less:
System
Voting
???
System
Voting
???
Reposted by Jim McGarva
No! The criticism of the Dems isn't that they never win elections, it's that they don't use power to solve the problems that got us here. Elite impunity, concentration of wealth, the unitary executive. Winning is only step 1
New - Chuck Schumer to haters: “The answer to these critics is to win. If we win back the Senate, that will answer every question"
Peltola “was the last piece to the puzzle"
He says Dem path to Senate is Ohio, Alaska, Maine and NC. Dems are watching Texas/Iowa
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Peltola “was the last piece to the puzzle"
He says Dem path to Senate is Ohio, Alaska, Maine and NC. Dems are watching Texas/Iowa
www.semafor.com/article/01/1...
Exclusive: Schumer lauds recruits as Democrats see Senate within reach
The minority leader took an Al Davis-style approach as he sat down with Semafor: “The answer to these critics is to win.”
www.semafor.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:08 PM
No! The criticism of the Dems isn't that they never win elections, it's that they don't use power to solve the problems that got us here. Elite impunity, concentration of wealth, the unitary executive. Winning is only step 1
Was looking through my old pics and found an old fave. These two were such good buddies. A lot of cats only tolerate each other, but this pair loved to cuddle together. We had plenty of cats, but Mats never had a friend like Kiki after she died.
January 13, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Was looking through my old pics and found an old fave. These two were such good buddies. A lot of cats only tolerate each other, but this pair loved to cuddle together. We had plenty of cats, but Mats never had a friend like Kiki after she died.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
Every game I've ever written is better than DnD 5e, straight up
Thinking again about the Polygon article that's like "the problem with indie TRPG designers is that they simply aren't outspoken enough," meanwhile Polygon will just devote an entire article to someone's ersatz K-Pop Demon Hunters 5E kickstarter
www.polygon.com/k-pop-demon-...
www.polygon.com/k-pop-demon-...
January 12, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Every game I've ever written is better than DnD 5e, straight up
Reposted by Jim McGarva
Dear god, if I hear how this event was a "political Rorschach test" one more goddamn fucking time... No. It was a murder. Some number of people either refuse to see that or see it and like it. That isn't a fucking Rorschach test.
January 11, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Dear god, if I hear how this event was a "political Rorschach test" one more goddamn fucking time... No. It was a murder. Some number of people either refuse to see that or see it and like it. That isn't a fucking Rorschach test.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
See? They did prepare you for the real world.
January 6, 2026 at 1:37 PM
See? They did prepare you for the real world.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
we live in a society where it's just kind of casually accepted that advertisements, politicians, cops, textbooks, etc. are going to constantly lie to you and it's on you if you can't keep up. that's not how it works. trying to live like that leads us directly to where we are now.
January 5, 2026 at 7:41 PM
we live in a society where it's just kind of casually accepted that advertisements, politicians, cops, textbooks, etc. are going to constantly lie to you and it's on you if you can't keep up. that's not how it works. trying to live like that leads us directly to where we are now.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
I see people disagreeing with this, but tell me: who is out there making social mechanics that are NOT severely limiting? What games have social mechanics with lots of options and significantly different effects for those options?
I know one: Miseries and Misfortunes. I'd love to hear about more!
I know one: Miseries and Misfortunes. I'd love to hear about more!
My hot take is that any social mechanics in TTRPGs are largely bad and limiting. The best mechanic for non-combat resolution of conflict is conversation. If your players don’t want to have conversations either with the NPCs or each other, no game mechanics will change that.
January 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
I see people disagreeing with this, but tell me: who is out there making social mechanics that are NOT severely limiting? What games have social mechanics with lots of options and significantly different effects for those options?
I know one: Miseries and Misfortunes. I'd love to hear about more!
I know one: Miseries and Misfortunes. I'd love to hear about more!
Reposted by Jim McGarva
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
January 4, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
Just learned it's legal to kidnap a president. So, you know. You can go do that when you have a free weekend or whatever.
January 3, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Just learned it's legal to kidnap a president. So, you know. You can go do that when you have a free weekend or whatever.
Reposted by Jim McGarva
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
if you are talking today about how bad maduro was and were alive, at all, during the run-up to the iraq war you are potentially the dumbest person to ever live
Reposted by Jim McGarva
Wow I had no idea it was actually true that vampires can't see themselves in the mirror
January 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Wow I had no idea it was actually true that vampires can't see themselves in the mirror
Reposted by Jim McGarva
Stranger Things Season 5 "Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up". Directed by The Duffer Brothers
January 1, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Stranger Things Season 5 "Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up". Directed by The Duffer Brothers
Reposted by Jim McGarva
I did the reading on this a month or two ago and the answer is that they want all 'games' to be collections of random tables with no instructions on how to use them. These will then plug in to whatever game you and your friends make up, which will always be D&D.
December 30, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I did the reading on this a month or two ago and the answer is that they want all 'games' to be collections of random tables with no instructions on how to use them. These will then plug in to whatever game you and your friends make up, which will always be D&D.
TTRPG discourse is always like
"I am not down with rules. Instead I think we should get together and agree on how we want to play and then keep our agreement."
"I am not down with rules. Instead I think we should get together and agree on how we want to play and then keep our agreement."
December 27, 2025 at 4:08 AM
TTRPG discourse is always like
"I am not down with rules. Instead I think we should get together and agree on how we want to play and then keep our agreement."
"I am not down with rules. Instead I think we should get together and agree on how we want to play and then keep our agreement."
Reposted by Jim McGarva
"For sir, the menu. And for madame, the womenu."
December 8, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"For sir, the menu. And for madame, the womenu."