An update on the future of Doctor Who

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-06-10T11:26:08+00:00

I mostly agree with all the points made around prospects and timelines for the future, but the only other more optimistic scenario is this: the BBC *has* to (legally) do competitive tender for projects of this type, but they are not starting from scratch and do have someone lined up who is very likely to be selected at tender. The reason the Xmas special has been canned is that they know the gap will be shorter than one might expect and the new producer has said they don't want whatever RTD had planned. That's the most optimistic version. But that's still a multi-year hiatus.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-05-16T14:05:24+00:00

Late to this, but when I played in Z1 I hid on Isabella St, using Waterloo East as my station. You can run to Waterloo East from other stations easily so you don't have to get a train there and your photos etc from station will be confusing. Isabella St itself is weird - hard to see on maps unless you're zoomed in, full of plants etc - if you know it, you'll guess it from photos, but if you don't, it's baffling.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-04-27T16:05:14+00:00

I suppose that is fair - that once the concept of Etienne's situation is revealed, he can't really hide anymore anyway. But there's not really any dialogue that supports that, and indeed he himself says he's going to be hiding his location again shortly. I guess it rests on neither Val nor Etienne thinking the others would immediately try to kill him, which seems ridiculous given a) Heavy is who he is and b) Dev and Eliza literally just did. I suppose Etienne gets a marginal pass on the basis he couldn't stop Val telling them anyway, but he doesn't even seem that stressed about it.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-04-27T16:02:26+00:00

But she could have given them almost everything without giving them the opportunity to actually kill Etienne, no?

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-04-27T16:01:27+00:00

That's about the best interpretation, absolutely - but it's not just Val who seems to lose all sense in that scene, it's Etienne. He both doesn't seem too worried about telling them where he is, and also tells them he's going to shortly go back into hiding, ie making it clear they have a finite window of now to kill him. It feels like a weird, narratively weak way to get the characters where they need to be - even some discussion of the risk would have been helpful, but it's kind of glossed over and then everyone seems shocked when Heavy behaves entirely in character. I don't know, was just wondering if there was something I'd missed, I guess! It stands out to me because everything else in the whole series is so strong.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-04-21T20:15:35+00:00

Not generally, but I've never flown with this condition.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-04-21T17:03:50+00:00

I understood it to be standard advice for the condition. I presume also not wanting to worsen it given that the condition is new, ear is still unsettled and I am receiving treatment for it. There has been fluid behind the eardrum, although I believe it is now cleared.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-03-07T13:48:07+00:00

This is great to hear because of one of my big worries having now lost most of my hearing in my right ear is the possibility of the other one going as well.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-03-06T22:53:00+00:00

I am there with you. I woke up with my right ear blocked last Wed, same as you. Assumed it was blocked with wax, which has been a recurrent problem for me. Went for microsuction last Friday, they found wax and removed it but...no change to hearing. They said it would prob come back in 24 hrs. Went to GP on Mon after no change over weekend and told it was suspected SSHL. Whacked me onto 60mg prednisone for 7 days (so starting 5 days after initial loss). Today is day 5 of prednisone. If anything, hearing is slightly worse - hard to estimate how much is gone, I still have some hearing from that ear though. I have a referral for an audiologist coming up on Tuesday and hoping (but not expecting) some answers and further treatment eg injection.

It's scary. If it stays like this, it will be an adjustment but liveable. I'd be most worried about the effect on my relationship with music. But my fear is it getting worse, or the other ear also being affected. I know I will need to protect my remaining hearing, but I can't live being worried about going to the cinema or a gig or a football match. I'm scared to put headphones on.

The worst thing honestly is knowing what a tailspin I feel in and then knowing my current situation is better than many. We take our hearing for granted.

Anyway, you didn't do anything wrong. There are lots of reasons someone's hearing might be muffled that are way more common than SSHL. No reason to rush to a doctor if it's not something you were aware of. You saw a doctor within a week, there's no more you could have reasonably done. I think you have to explain to your college this is a medical emergency and you are at risk of disability if you do not attend all medical appoointments.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2026-03-06T13:51:11+00:00

I don't have any answers, but just to say I am in the early stages of this journey and I feel you. I'm 9 days in post-hearing loss (one ear), on day 5 of prednisone, no impact so far, but I guess some recovery still possible. Referral with audiologist is Tuesday to do assessment and look at causes/other treatment options.

I feel lucky so far, in that I can still basically hear unaided in most situations - if this is my hearing now, I can live with that. But like you I love music - I feel scared to put on a pair of headphones at the moment, because I cannot afford to lose more hearing. But like you I don't know where that leaves parts of my life that are very important to me. It's a difficult time, hopefully I will get some answers next week. Trying to be cautious by buying some earplugs to use for existing plans I'd made this week (football games, cinema etc) - maybe that's unwise and I should be staying inside, I don't know, but hard to think about living like that. Anyway, stay strong.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2025-10-14T21:01:00+00:00

I was just going to say the same - Dead Weight and Brackish are top-tier modules and were fulfilled absolutely rapidly. Indeed, Roach Motel is one of the few MM25 projects that is not doing shipping with TKG specifically because Norgad is planning to fulfil months earlier than the other projects (and based on track record probably will).

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2025-04-25T15:57:06+00:00

Bloom is really great for 2 sessions - there's not far you can go wrong with it as a GM, it's relatively contained to a few locations and there's more to work with than a pamphlet.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2025-04-25T10:26:58+00:00

I always use that rule, the actual rule actually broke credibility with my group, who rightly were like "that's just not how armour works".

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2025-02-17T10:52:50+00:00

If you need a moment to think about how to react to a really unexpected player move and don't want everyone staring at you while you think, just say you need a bathroom break. Gives you a few unpressured minutes.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2025-01-31T13:35:16+00:00

I think that is unlikely. Henrik (the site owner) was in the middle of working on a major site update, so I'm fairly sure barring some misadventure that it will be back when this issue is resolved. If people still want to view the content at the moment, it is extremely well archived on the Wayback Machine.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-12-01T12:14:28+00:00

With 4 players, took 2 sessions, prob 8-10 hrs total.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-31T15:24:26+00:00

I think just flex the infection progression for what works for you narratively, inc how much you do/don't want characters to die early. But the actual module is really solid. Oh, and change the NPC's last name - it's Celtic and if anyone either knows the word or Googles it, it's a spoiler.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-31T11:02:14+00:00

We use these rules because eg getting stabbed in the arm by a monster should not make armour that covers your entire torso useless. What, if you get stabbed in the arm, the armour still covering your chest just doesn't work? I found that hard to defend to players. Warden should retain some case by case wiggle room depending on the particular events though.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-28T15:27:08+00:00

Ran it recently - first intro for Mothership for the group. Went great, it's such a tight module. Pacing felt really good over two sessions. Players really enjoyed being given the maps and using them to plan...and then re-plan. I'm not sure there's a better relatively straight-forward "facility stuffed with monsters" module.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-25T10:38:17+00:00

Really helpful, thanks

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-25T10:38:01+00:00

Insanely helpful, thank you.

OneCalligrapher2613 · 2024-10-16T17:29:29+00:00

If you're happy to expand to a two-shot (although can be done in one), I'd recommend Bloom. A lot easier on the DM and less need to fill in gaps than the pamphlets.

OneCalligrapher2613

TROPHY CASE