RPGs… Why I Prefer Mixed-Level Parties 19 Sep 202619 Sep 2026 One thing I’ve always found funny in D&D, and other games with strict, linear progression is the idea that your adventuring party is a perfectly levelled squad. Five heroes, all…
RPGs D&D Sucks and So Do You: It Was You, the DM, Who Ruined This Party 12 Aug 202611 Jul 2026 You didn’t mean to break them. That’s the first thing to understand. No one ever sets out to ruin a party. It happens slowly, almost politely, like rot under floorboards.…
RPGs… Where Culture Meets the Tabletop, Part 3: David Lynch and Narrative Ambiguity 24 Jul 202615 Jul 2026 It's Friday! Usually, we'd be jumping into 5 on Friday, but as I'm travelling just now, and those posts are a pain to format on the phone, here's something a…
RPGs The Problem With RPG Puzzles Is You’re Testing Your Players, Not Their Characters 21 Jun 2026 Another recent post got me thinking about puzzles in RPGs. The classic tabletop puzzle feels like it should be a natural fit for RPGs. A riddle carved into a stone…
Film… Zydrate Anatomy: How to Run a ‘Repo! The Genetic Opera’ Style RPG 9 Jun 20265 Jun 2026 If you’ve read our recent review of Repo! The Genetic Opera, you already know we have a soft spot for its unique brand of blood-soaked, neon-drenched gothic camp. But as…
RPGs… Beyond Campaign’s End: Roleplaying in the Vibe of Frieren 24 May 202624 May 2026 Every tabletop RPG player knows the classic trajectory. You start in a tavern, kill some giant rats in a cellar, steadily escalate to slaying dragons, and eventually face down a…
Tabletop Games Where Culture Meets the Tabletop, Part 2: The Photography of Gregory Crewsdon 26 Apr 202619 Apr 2026 Tabletop gaming does not and should not sit in a vacuum. It absorbs whatever the wider culture is generating, whether that might be aesthetics, moods, creative instincts… whatever. We should…
Pop Culture… Where Culture Meets the Tabletop, Part 1: The Music and Artistry of Sofia Isella 14 Apr 2026 Tabletop gaming does not and should not sit in a vacuum. It absorbs whatever the wider culture is generating, whether that might be aesthetics, moods, creative instincts... whatever. We should…
RPGs… Finding Inspiration: Playing The Promised Neverland 7 Apr 20264 Apr 2026 Some shows entertain you, and then some shows crawl under your ribs and start rearranging the furniture. The Promised Neverland’s first season is the latter. It's a tightly wound thriller…
RPGs… Lessons from Hades: How a Roguelike Can Reshape Your Tabletop Game 16 Nov 202515 Nov 2025 Supergiant’s Hades is a fantastic game. It is fluid, stylish, and emotionally resonant. But beyond its excellent gameplay and mythic storytelling, it offers something subtler: some lessons that are transferable…
Film… Finding Inspiration: What Lessons Can GMs Learn from Jesus Christ: Superstar? 18 Sep 202417 Sep 2024 I enjoy a bit of musical theatre. I try to see some sort of show whenever I visit London, and I've seen a lot that I've really enjoyed. In terms…
RPGs The Role of Music in Tabletop RPGs: Enhancing Immersion and Player Experience 4 Aug 202429 Jul 2024 Tabletop roleplaying games have long been a beloved pastime for gamers seeking collaborative storytelling and immersive adventures. While the core elements of these games - imaginative narration, dice rolls, and…
