TheDevinTeam
@thedevteam.itch.io
Hyper-focusing on RPG design, Scroll & Steel (out now!), PBTA, Pathfinder 2e, etc.
he/they, free Palestine, blocks AI slop
he/they, free Palestine, blocks AI slop
Update on skipping lunch yesterday then eating a bunch of movie theater popcorn followed by burger and a beer (and also in my mid-thirties):
November 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Update on skipping lunch yesterday then eating a bunch of movie theater popcorn followed by burger and a beer (and also in my mid-thirties):
So let’s go to the onion. If we replace “Adventure” with “Prep” and “Shared fiction,” and then add “Mechanics” and “GM say,” the problem becomes evident. We already have “Mechanics” in the outer layer.
So if we remove all the outer layers, we’re also removing part of the inner layer. (9/16)
So if we remove all the outer layers, we’re also removing part of the inner layer. (9/16)
November 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
So let’s go to the onion. If we replace “Adventure” with “Prep” and “Shared fiction,” and then add “Mechanics” and “GM say,” the problem becomes evident. We already have “Mechanics” in the outer layer.
So if we remove all the outer layers, we’re also removing part of the inner layer. (9/16)
So if we remove all the outer layers, we’re also removing part of the inner layer. (9/16)
This is fine, in theory, but my problem is that this post uses “Adventure” to mean multiple things, and which things you emphasize drastically impact play.
This is how the post defines “Adventure,” and it’s conflating two things: prep and shared fiction. (3/16)
This is how the post defines “Adventure,” and it’s conflating two things: prep and shared fiction. (3/16)
November 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is fine, in theory, but my problem is that this post uses “Adventure” to mean multiple things, and which things you emphasize drastically impact play.
This is how the post defines “Adventure,” and it’s conflating two things: prep and shared fiction. (3/16)
This is how the post defines “Adventure,” and it’s conflating two things: prep and shared fiction. (3/16)
But I wanted to discuss what this lens misses.
The crux is that “Adventure” sits at the heart of OSR design. Everything else exists in relation to that. If you remove all the outer layers, the GM can still go, “You’re in a 10x10 room with 3 entrances.” (2/16)
The crux is that “Adventure” sits at the heart of OSR design. Everything else exists in relation to that. If you remove all the outer layers, the GM can still go, “You’re in a 10x10 room with 3 entrances.” (2/16)
November 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
But I wanted to discuss what this lens misses.
The crux is that “Adventure” sits at the heart of OSR design. Everything else exists in relation to that. If you remove all the outer layers, the GM can still go, “You’re in a 10x10 room with 3 entrances.” (2/16)
The crux is that “Adventure” sits at the heart of OSR design. Everything else exists in relation to that. If you remove all the outer layers, the GM can still go, “You’re in a 10x10 room with 3 entrances.” (2/16)
To be clear, though, I am also still writing cool sword attacks.
![Blessed weapon
When you pray to a deity and ask for their blessing on a weapon, you may mark a bond with that deity. If you do, that deity blesses your weapon.
When you deal damage with a blessed weapon, you may mark a bond with the deity who blessed it. If you do, you deal [+3d6] damage and choose one:
Your weapon gains messy while resolving this move.
Your target is flung to a near location after taking this damage.
The damage you deal is in your deity’s domain element.
These blessings last until the deities revoke them, which they can do at any time.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cv35qcosmyolzqbe5dknsob7/bafkreig77ujtxkz5glewlnuphhgbvgmxy2tuxtvikjpougvo6n7e4md3sa@jpeg)
November 28, 2025 at 5:36 AM
To be clear, though, I am also still writing cool sword attacks.
If you see this, stop & quote with a song that has your name/nickname in the title or lyrics
My wife really likes that this song features my name.
My wife really likes that this song features my name.
November 27, 2025 at 6:12 AM
If you see this, stop & quote with a song that has your name/nickname in the title or lyrics
My wife really likes that this song features my name.
My wife really likes that this song features my name.
Adventure modules: “Here’s steps 1-34 of this adventure and all the things the adventurers need to do in what order they need to do them in.”
Scenarios:
Scenarios:
November 26, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Adventure modules: “Here’s steps 1-34 of this adventure and all the things the adventurers need to do in what order they need to do them in.”
Scenarios:
Scenarios:
Also want to share this update to Overcome. The first version (which can’t even all fit on my screen) does a lot, and I actually think it does it well.
But my game doesn’t need it to be doing all that much. This move isn’t meant to be what the game centers around, so it can do less and be fine.
But my game doesn’t need it to be doing all that much. This move isn’t meant to be what the game centers around, so it can do less and be fine.
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Also want to share this update to Overcome. The first version (which can’t even all fit on my screen) does a lot, and I actually think it does it well.
But my game doesn’t need it to be doing all that much. This move isn’t meant to be what the game centers around, so it can do less and be fine.
But my game doesn’t need it to be doing all that much. This move isn’t meant to be what the game centers around, so it can do less and be fine.
Been reviewing Scroll & Steel moves with an eye toward making them more concise and punchy, and this evolution of Hunt Prey really stood out.
These don’t do the exact same thing, but it’s close enough. Also maybe we don’t need another character type whose personality is, “Hates all goblins.”
These don’t do the exact same thing, but it’s close enough. Also maybe we don’t need another character type whose personality is, “Hates all goblins.”
November 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Been reviewing Scroll & Steel moves with an eye toward making them more concise and punchy, and this evolution of Hunt Prey really stood out.
These don’t do the exact same thing, but it’s close enough. Also maybe we don’t need another character type whose personality is, “Hates all goblins.”
These don’t do the exact same thing, but it’s close enough. Also maybe we don’t need another character type whose personality is, “Hates all goblins.”
Other candidates were:
![Bobby Newport saying, “Holy [bleep] Leslie, that was awesome.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cv35qcosmyolzqbe5dknsob7/bafkreicipzxisasufq7tojokfz2mh5vqblcrdzpvdgolxh7iaffh7r6dza@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Other candidates were:
without downloading new pics, what is it like dating you?
November 22, 2025 at 5:55 AM
without downloading new pics, what is it like dating you?
Bond producers: “How do we write a new Bond movie when he died in the last one!?”
Meanwhile Rian Johnson:
Meanwhile Rian Johnson:
November 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Bond producers: “How do we write a new Bond movie when he died in the last one!?”
Meanwhile Rian Johnson:
Meanwhile Rian Johnson:
Oh I adore this explanation of “play to find out.”
I think a lot of anxious GMs, myself included, use prep as a way to way to ensure everyone will have fun. Like, “If I think of everything, then there’s no way the session will go badly.”
So PTFO is nerve-wracking. It means there are unknowns.
I think a lot of anxious GMs, myself included, use prep as a way to way to ensure everyone will have fun. Like, “If I think of everything, then there’s no way the session will go badly.”
So PTFO is nerve-wracking. It means there are unknowns.
November 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Oh I adore this explanation of “play to find out.”
I think a lot of anxious GMs, myself included, use prep as a way to way to ensure everyone will have fun. Like, “If I think of everything, then there’s no way the session will go badly.”
So PTFO is nerve-wracking. It means there are unknowns.
I think a lot of anxious GMs, myself included, use prep as a way to way to ensure everyone will have fun. Like, “If I think of everything, then there’s no way the session will go badly.”
So PTFO is nerve-wracking. It means there are unknowns.
There’s lots of great stuff here but I especially love this answer about what people usually get wrong about PBTA.
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
There’s lots of great stuff here but I especially love this answer about what people usually get wrong about PBTA.
Good thing I got the window seat!
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Good thing I got the window seat!
Watching election results tonight from Tennessee like
November 5, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Watching election results tonight from Tennessee like
I really appreciate the way making a physical reference sheet invites you to condense and concentrate mechanics and concepts.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
November 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I really appreciate the way making a physical reference sheet invites you to condense and concentrate mechanics and concepts.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
I've been working on these ideas for a while but they've never felt more real than in this spreadsheet.
It’s the afternoon now…
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
It’s the afternoon now…
You’ll enjoy this response to a comment I made pointing out that PF2 *does* have significant attrition.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
November 3, 2025 at 3:06 AM
You’ll enjoy this response to a comment I made pointing out that PF2 *does* have significant attrition.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
It’s basically, “The biggest subsystem in the game that half the classes focus around is the exception.”
Okay, sure.
I’m making tokens and I think my cat wants to play with them.
November 1, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I’m making tokens and I think my cat wants to play with them.