Rich Stokes
@tacticalbacon.bsky.social
GenX nerd.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
Thinks he's funny, but isn't.
If you care about what I think, you probably shouldn't. I'm an idiot.
Look, I'm just here to talk about RPGs. And sometimes Industrial music and videogames or movies.
Also sometimes comics. More of a DC guy, sorry.
Dammit, all this thinking and talking about V:tM has ended up with me buying a ton of Vampire: the Eternal Struggle cards.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
November 14, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Dammit, all this thinking and talking about V:tM has ended up with me buying a ton of Vampire: the Eternal Struggle cards.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
Black Chantry have done a phenomenal job keeping this game going and have managed to modernise it and bring it in line with V5 without losing what made it so good 30 years ago.
More musings on the V:tM TTRPG:
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
November 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
More musings on the V:tM TTRPG:
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
The underlying system was, imo, not great and even at the time I had issues with it. I found it mainly OK, but required significant effort on my part when running it to keep things Working.
Recent conversation with an old TTRPG buddy around our shared love of V:tM and the WoD in general and the shortcomings I feel the entire thing had.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
November 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Recent conversation with an old TTRPG buddy around our shared love of V:tM and the WoD in general and the shortcomings I feel the entire thing had.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
Important to understand that I still love a lot of what WoD is/was despite feeling there are some serious problems with it.
Seriously, at this point just have James Bond fight Predator and be done with it.
November 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Seriously, at this point just have James Bond fight Predator and be done with it.
Good golly, I missed some odd TTRPG discussions this week.
Like, "rule of cool" being misunderstood is all well and good, but fundamentally if you want a specific play experience and the game/system you're running your game with doesn't do that, then that's a shortcoming or mismatch.
Like, "rule of cool" being misunderstood is all well and good, but fundamentally if you want a specific play experience and the game/system you're running your game with doesn't do that, then that's a shortcoming or mismatch.
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Good golly, I missed some odd TTRPG discussions this week.
Like, "rule of cool" being misunderstood is all well and good, but fundamentally if you want a specific play experience and the game/system you're running your game with doesn't do that, then that's a shortcoming or mismatch.
Like, "rule of cool" being misunderstood is all well and good, but fundamentally if you want a specific play experience and the game/system you're running your game with doesn't do that, then that's a shortcoming or mismatch.
I've realised I'm way too busy* to create a full on dungeon for my current OSE TTRPG game, so I've decided to randomly generate the content of rooms by just picking them blidfolded from the various megadungeon nonsense books I own but will never run.
* by which I mean lazy
* by which I mean lazy
October 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I've realised I'm way too busy* to create a full on dungeon for my current OSE TTRPG game, so I've decided to randomly generate the content of rooms by just picking them blidfolded from the various megadungeon nonsense books I own but will never run.
* by which I mean lazy
* by which I mean lazy
Mrs Rich decided she wanted to watch a horror film.
Not just any random one, she specifically wanted to watch Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead.
So I tracked it down and it turns out to be a Lloyd Kaufman Troma film.
She REALLY wasn't prepared for this nonsense.
m.imdb.com/title/tt0462...
Not just any random one, she specifically wanted to watch Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead.
So I tracked it down and it turns out to be a Lloyd Kaufman Troma film.
She REALLY wasn't prepared for this nonsense.
m.imdb.com/title/tt0462...
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006) ⭐ 6.0 | Comedy, Horror, Musical
1h 43m | Not Rated
m.imdb.com
October 20, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Mrs Rich decided she wanted to watch a horror film.
Not just any random one, she specifically wanted to watch Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead.
So I tracked it down and it turns out to be a Lloyd Kaufman Troma film.
She REALLY wasn't prepared for this nonsense.
m.imdb.com/title/tt0462...
Not just any random one, she specifically wanted to watch Poultrygiest: Night of the Chicken Dead.
So I tracked it down and it turns out to be a Lloyd Kaufman Troma film.
She REALLY wasn't prepared for this nonsense.
m.imdb.com/title/tt0462...
Republica aren't a band I paid much attention to back in the day. They had their hits, I kinda liked their albums and they seemed to be playing locally every week.
So seeing them for the first time in nearly 30 years on Friday it was nice to see they're still pretty fun.
So seeing them for the first time in nearly 30 years on Friday it was nice to see they're still pretty fun.
September 28, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Republica aren't a band I paid much attention to back in the day. They had their hits, I kinda liked their albums and they seemed to be playing locally every week.
So seeing them for the first time in nearly 30 years on Friday it was nice to see they're still pretty fun.
So seeing them for the first time in nearly 30 years on Friday it was nice to see they're still pretty fun.
Looking through the Outgunned PDFs while I wait for my books to be delivered.
Initial impressions and hot takes, bearing in mind this is after a brief read of the core and a skim of the 2 Action Flicks books:
Initial impressions and hot takes, bearing in mind this is after a brief read of the core and a skim of the 2 Action Flicks books:
September 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Looking through the Outgunned PDFs while I wait for my books to be delivered.
Initial impressions and hot takes, bearing in mind this is after a brief read of the core and a skim of the 2 Action Flicks books:
Initial impressions and hot takes, bearing in mind this is after a brief read of the core and a skim of the 2 Action Flicks books:
Got bored and bought the RIFTS mega bundles from bundle of holding last night and spent some fun time reading the frankly batshit nonsense those books contain.
I kinda feel weirdly fond of RIFTS, despite knowing both intellectually and instinctively that's it's a complete load of arse.
I kinda feel weirdly fond of RIFTS, despite knowing both intellectually and instinctively that's it's a complete load of arse.
September 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Got bored and bought the RIFTS mega bundles from bundle of holding last night and spent some fun time reading the frankly batshit nonsense those books contain.
I kinda feel weirdly fond of RIFTS, despite knowing both intellectually and instinctively that's it's a complete load of arse.
I kinda feel weirdly fond of RIFTS, despite knowing both intellectually and instinctively that's it's a complete load of arse.
Spent some time with Jump Space over the weekend and it was pretty fun!
Mainly pitched at coop with up to 4 players, but pretty playable solo. The solo aspect is good because I hate jumping into a multiplayer thing without having time to practice.
store.steampowered.com/app/1757300/...
Mainly pitched at coop with up to 4 players, but pretty playable solo. The solo aspect is good because I hate jumping into a multiplayer thing without having time to practice.
store.steampowered.com/app/1757300/...
Jump Space on Steam
Jump Space (formerly Jump Ship) is a mission based co-op PvE for 1-4 players, where you are the crew of a spaceship. Transition seamlessly from crewing the ship to on-foot exploration and space walks....
store.steampowered.com
September 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Spent some time with Jump Space over the weekend and it was pretty fun!
Mainly pitched at coop with up to 4 players, but pretty playable solo. The solo aspect is good because I hate jumping into a multiplayer thing without having time to practice.
store.steampowered.com/app/1757300/...
Mainly pitched at coop with up to 4 players, but pretty playable solo. The solo aspect is good because I hate jumping into a multiplayer thing without having time to practice.
store.steampowered.com/app/1757300/...
Looked at the Outgunned TTRPG and it sounds pretty neat.
Will admit I'm struggling a little with the product line. There's a core book, some things called Flicks which I'm struggling to find details on but look like example settings? And World of Killers which appears to be "Not John Wick, Honest"?
Will admit I'm struggling a little with the product line. There's a core book, some things called Flicks which I'm struggling to find details on but look like example settings? And World of Killers which appears to be "Not John Wick, Honest"?
September 18, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Looked at the Outgunned TTRPG and it sounds pretty neat.
Will admit I'm struggling a little with the product line. There's a core book, some things called Flicks which I'm struggling to find details on but look like example settings? And World of Killers which appears to be "Not John Wick, Honest"?
Will admit I'm struggling a little with the product line. There's a core book, some things called Flicks which I'm struggling to find details on but look like example settings? And World of Killers which appears to be "Not John Wick, Honest"?
Saw Weapons this weekend, and while I generally enjoy horror films, I don't really consider myself a horror fan as such. If a horror film is just about scary monsters, there's better be a good plot. If it relies on suspense alone, I'm probably going to get bored if nothing is happening on screen.
September 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Saw Weapons this weekend, and while I generally enjoy horror films, I don't really consider myself a horror fan as such. If a horror film is just about scary monsters, there's better be a good plot. If it relies on suspense alone, I'm probably going to get bored if nothing is happening on screen.
The original thread doesn't appear to allow me to respond, but I found this an interesting read.
While there are lots of interesting comments and further explanation on topic, there's one thing I want to ask @jdragsky.bsky.social about this:
While there are lots of interesting comments and further explanation on topic, there's one thing I want to ask @jdragsky.bsky.social about this:
i know some folks are bouncing off of this cuz they have questions about what exactly it means. i cannot express the depths to which i am eager to talk about the topics this manifesto brings up— PLEASE ask me questions! i am very happy to help talk through what i mean & there's no shame in grappling
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
September 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The original thread doesn't appear to allow me to respond, but I found this an interesting read.
While there are lots of interesting comments and further explanation on topic, there's one thing I want to ask @jdragsky.bsky.social about this:
While there are lots of interesting comments and further explanation on topic, there's one thing I want to ask @jdragsky.bsky.social about this:
I'm dead exciting, me.
Mrs Rich and I ordered a new washing machine. I've had the old one 18 years and don't know how old it was when I got it. It was in a house I bought, left by the previous owner. Moved with us 3 years ago. Still works, just not terribly well.
Mrs Rich and I ordered a new washing machine. I've had the old one 18 years and don't know how old it was when I got it. It was in a house I bought, left by the previous owner. Moved with us 3 years ago. Still works, just not terribly well.
September 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I'm dead exciting, me.
Mrs Rich and I ordered a new washing machine. I've had the old one 18 years and don't know how old it was when I got it. It was in a house I bought, left by the previous owner. Moved with us 3 years ago. Still works, just not terribly well.
Mrs Rich and I ordered a new washing machine. I've had the old one 18 years and don't know how old it was when I got it. It was in a house I bought, left by the previous owner. Moved with us 3 years ago. Still works, just not terribly well.
Fun rainy day project for me over the weekend: get Bloodborne working ok pc via an emulator and see if the thing can run well on my rig with higher frame rate.
September 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Fun rainy day project for me over the weekend: get Bloodborne working ok pc via an emulator and see if the thing can run well on my rig with higher frame rate.
Ok TTRPG folks, the players in my weekly OSE/OSR campaign have decided they're opening a tavern in a remote gold rush town.
What kind of things do they need to consider and line up so this runs smoothly?
What kind of things do they need to consider and line up so this runs smoothly?
September 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Ok TTRPG folks, the players in my weekly OSE/OSR campaign have decided they're opening a tavern in a remote gold rush town.
What kind of things do they need to consider and line up so this runs smoothly?
What kind of things do they need to consider and line up so this runs smoothly?
Pivot moment for the ongoing Oldschool Essentials TTRPG campaign.
Going from the initial "let's just play some pre-written dungeons while we figure out what this campaign is about" into "ok, we've got a grip on the characters and setting, let's explore that"
Going from the initial "let's just play some pre-written dungeons while we figure out what this campaign is about" into "ok, we've got a grip on the characters and setting, let's explore that"
August 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Pivot moment for the ongoing Oldschool Essentials TTRPG campaign.
Going from the initial "let's just play some pre-written dungeons while we figure out what this campaign is about" into "ok, we've got a grip on the characters and setting, let's explore that"
Going from the initial "let's just play some pre-written dungeons while we figure out what this campaign is about" into "ok, we've got a grip on the characters and setting, let's explore that"
Just realising I'm so far gone that this unholy abomination on my desk seems really normal to use.
August 22, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Just realising I'm so far gone that this unholy abomination on my desk seems really normal to use.
I've been running a game using Old School Essentials for over a year now and it's reached another turning point. Meaning I have to put some work in to figure out what to do next with it.
TL;DR is that I can't just keep running pre-written adventures, something has to change.
TL;DR is that I can't just keep running pre-written adventures, something has to change.
August 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I've been running a game using Old School Essentials for over a year now and it's reached another turning point. Meaning I have to put some work in to figure out what to do next with it.
TL;DR is that I can't just keep running pre-written adventures, something has to change.
TL;DR is that I can't just keep running pre-written adventures, something has to change.
I'm not easily given to hyperbole, but holy shit Life of Chuck is fucking amazing.
Fantastic cast, great script, beautiful cinematography, the whole deal. Disturbing and delightful.
It might not land for everyone, but it's quite honestly one of my favourite films of the last decade.
Fantastic cast, great script, beautiful cinematography, the whole deal. Disturbing and delightful.
It might not land for everyone, but it's quite honestly one of my favourite films of the last decade.
August 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I'm not easily given to hyperbole, but holy shit Life of Chuck is fucking amazing.
Fantastic cast, great script, beautiful cinematography, the whole deal. Disturbing and delightful.
It might not land for everyone, but it's quite honestly one of my favourite films of the last decade.
Fantastic cast, great script, beautiful cinematography, the whole deal. Disturbing and delightful.
It might not land for everyone, but it's quite honestly one of my favourite films of the last decade.
A thread in which I ask questions about Alien: Earth after watching the first 2 episodes.
Prefacing with the comment that I don't hate it, it looks great, cast is excellent and overall I'm enjoying it, but...
(Obviously contains spoilers)
Prefacing with the comment that I don't hate it, it looks great, cast is excellent and overall I'm enjoying it, but...
(Obviously contains spoilers)
August 14, 2025 at 10:18 AM
A thread in which I ask questions about Alien: Earth after watching the first 2 episodes.
Prefacing with the comment that I don't hate it, it looks great, cast is excellent and overall I'm enjoying it, but...
(Obviously contains spoilers)
Prefacing with the comment that I don't hate it, it looks great, cast is excellent and overall I'm enjoying it, but...
(Obviously contains spoilers)
They did, in fact, play Jesus Built my Hotrod and NWO.
I am now absolutely wrecked, deaf as fuck and officially too old for mosh pits.
I am now absolutely wrecked, deaf as fuck and officially too old for mosh pits.
I get it, Al, you did two albums before LoRaH which sounded really different. That's not what I'm looking for in a set list though mate. Play Jesus Built my Hot Rod and NWO FFS.
August 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
They did, in fact, play Jesus Built my Hotrod and NWO.
I am now absolutely wrecked, deaf as fuck and officially too old for mosh pits.
I am now absolutely wrecked, deaf as fuck and officially too old for mosh pits.
This time on "Rich sees a band he liked in the 90s, but also it's really hot"
29 degrees and Ministry.
Hopefully this will be a proper Ministry set and not the awful emo tour they did recently.
29 degrees and Ministry.
Hopefully this will be a proper Ministry set and not the awful emo tour they did recently.
August 11, 2025 at 11:04 AM
This time on "Rich sees a band he liked in the 90s, but also it's really hot"
29 degrees and Ministry.
Hopefully this will be a proper Ministry set and not the awful emo tour they did recently.
29 degrees and Ministry.
Hopefully this will be a proper Ministry set and not the awful emo tour they did recently.