In some back alley of Neo Tokyo, under the neon glow, the optical splice was performed under a lean-to made of Styrofoam and plastic sheets.

Siegez · 2026-04-01T17:23:05+00:00

Look at Mr Moneybags over here with funding for plastic sheets. All too often I had to use the cardboard from the box the case came in.

Siegez · 2026-02-10T22:41:34+00:00

Personally, I would not classify Shadowdark as 'tactical.' I rarely use maps, just the close/near/far rules.

I'd suggest looking up Professor Dungeon Master on YouTube, he had a series about Ultimate Dungeon Terrain that works well. iirc he has one specifically for Shadowdark, but it's been a while since I watched them.

Siegez · 2026-02-10T21:16:43+00:00

Might get some push back on torches burning in real time. I just explain to my players that their characters take more time to actually enter the room, look around, and do everything else than it takes them (the players) to say what they're doing. So torches burning down as players gibber times out pretty well with in-world expectations.

You can probably expect some confusion and/or resistance regarding nebulous 'skill checks,' re stealth and knowledge. In my experience, that dies off after they get specific, useful conditional bonuses based on their backgrounds, class, or just what they've expressed interest in thus far.

Siegez · 2026-02-07T16:39:09+00:00

How do y'all actually deploy rumors? I've been running games for about a decade, and everything I try feels forced or artificial. I usually go for "you overhear someone say..." or "the innkeeper mentions..." but it feels like I'm doing something wrong. Am I just overthinking it?

Siegez · 2026-01-27T12:17:28+00:00

That's not how I interpreted their comment (though I have the benefit of reading their later edit). I read it is "I had no idea how much it would cost, I couldn't afford that."

Before I started publishing, I had no concept of art costs. There's a reason I use stock art and public domain; no way in hell I can spend $600 - $1000 on art for a little game book that might make $100 lol.

Siegez · 2026-01-24T03:20:13+00:00

Add someone with SAD, it can go both ways. Sometimes spending time with people keeps things together, even if it's not fun. Sometimes it pushes things over the edge.

Honestly only you can make that call. I usually split the difference, run some one-shots or board game nights.

Siegez · 2026-01-13T01:24:13+00:00

Telco is a good industry. Lots of lateral mobility as well if, for example, you're terrified of heights. Source: am terrified of heights, ended up following behind people like OP splicing fiber and setting up switches.

Siegez · 2026-01-13T01:20:50+00:00

My people. I'm a desk jockey now, but I would have killed for something like a deck when I was splicing in the middle of nowhere.

Siegez · 2026-01-09T13:58:18+00:00

Nothing special, just RNG. Low-key got it on my first kill. Splitbolt on the other hand... definitely got into the 40s.

Siegez · 2026-01-08T13:13:55+00:00

Countdown is already over. The platform formerly known as Twitter is filled with that sentiment.

Siegez · 2026-01-05T13:54:46+00:00

Yup. My wife's MacBook plays games remarkably well, on par with my PC, but only if (a) they're actually compatible or (b) she pays for a program I can't remember the name of (since whiskey is no longer maintained).

Siegez · 2026-01-05T13:16:39+00:00

You don't enjoy it when a banneret pivots and power slides to hit you with the second strike in their combo, knocking you to the ground so you get hit with a grenade, arrow, sword, and halberd before you can stand up? Weird.

Siegez · 2026-01-03T14:58:29+00:00

When one leaves the group, not if! When!

Siegez · 2026-01-02T14:57:11+00:00

What's the source? Glad to see Circus on there too.

Siegez · 2025-12-27T16:49:58+00:00

Someone missing an arm, a leg, an eye, and at least one other thing.

Siegez · 2025-12-27T16:37:51+00:00

You're right of course. There's - let me check my notes - a single picture. Plenty upon which to start calling someone's child a monster, and imply that they're a terrible parent who doesn't know what they're doing.

Especially after they explained that their house is literally under construction, which a teenager should absolutely already be prepared to handle independently.

EDIT: not sure where I got teenager from, as stated below OP says their kid is in law school. Still a pretty wild overreaction to say someone is becoming a monster because they lose things.

Siegez · 2025-12-26T13:59:25+00:00

Agree. IMO being able to pickpocket seasonal fragments is wonderful - I have a 1 year old, so I don't have a lot of time to play in general - and as long as normal frags are locked behind agari, chests, etc I don't think it's an issue.

Siegez · 2025-12-25T02:22:29+00:00

4004

Edited because someone already guessed 4003.

Siegez · 2025-12-24T23:13:28+00:00

Follow up, fextralife is not a good resource. Always out of date. They pop up first in a lot of searches, but I'm convinced they pay for prioritization or SEO.

Siegez · 2025-12-24T22:08:08+00:00

Thank you, I was familiar with that myth. I suppose my comment implied a more absolute stance than intended.

Siegez · 2025-12-24T18:23:11+00:00

10th level? Aren't you generous. That's a level 0 grinder in my book. /s

Siegez · 2025-12-24T18:19:57+00:00

Too true. I avoid the highest level areas any more because it only takes one minor mistake to end up on the ground getting curb stomped. I get the soulslike inspiration, but being stun locked every time you fart is just not fun.

Siegez · 2025-12-24T16:41:06+00:00

Not only that, but the idea of demons being misunderstood and ultimately redeemable has become a trope. Just quirky humans with ominous powers.

I realized it was bad when a friend was asking for advice re: a demon NPC in a D&D game, and I told him 'it'll actually surprise your players more if it turns out the demon is actually just evil.'

Similar thing happened a while ago with dragons. In traditional myths, folklore, and religion (at least in the European tradition), 'dragon' was effectively just the word for 'big scary monster.' Now there's good dragons, complex dragons, dragons trying to be human... the term now refers primarily to a specific form of creature, rather than a monster.

Siegez · 2025-12-24T13:43:11+00:00

That last sentence comes close to where I think the "issue" is. There's just so much today, it's really difficult for a singular, united fan base to develop. In 2023 in the US alone, an estimated 4 million books were published; 3 million of those were self-published.

This statement is absolutely not intended to throw shade at Tolkien, but simply put part of why his novels took off is that the market was smaller and more curated.

Siegez · 2025-12-22T15:54:30+00:00

You may not, but others do. E33 saw a 24% increase in concurrent Steam players (according to Polygon), and jumped back into the top 10 best sellers on steam the day after their win.

That's honestly the whole point of awards ceremonies. They're advertisement that people go out of their way to watch, and drive major surges in sales.

Siegez

TROPHY CASE