mental-misstep

[mental-misstep]

I go back and forth on if my "i'm boycotting woth" stance should also spread to the one time one of my friends nuts up and DM's for once. Is me not wanting to be a social outcast for a weekend showing lack of spine or is it my friends refusing to play a different game showing lack of a spine?

[mental-misstep]

presented with out context

[mental-misstep]

The Two D&Ds

I am going to make two statements:

I despise D&D, and consider it a parasitic drain on ttrpgs as an artform.

I love D&D and my fascination with it continually inspires me to create art using it.

These two statements might seem to be at odds, but in fact there is no conflict when one considers that the term 'D&D' is being used to refer to two completely different things. I hate one of those things and like the other. So let's unpack that. Firstly, there's D&D-as-a-lifestyle-brand. D&D as presented by critical role, by memes about horny bards and wholesome gay tiefling found families, and by the wider hasbro-sanctioned fandom. Where the actual design and mechanics of the game are a vague suggestion that exists homeopathically in the same vicinity as what you're doing. But really, you're inventing blorbos, collecting pretty dice, and speculating on events in an actual-play on twitch; the rules in that very pretty rulebook are an afterthought to the fandom.

Then there's D&D-as-a-family-of-ttrpg-mechanics. This covers the various editions of Dungeons & Dragons - from the white-box OD&D to 5th edition and everything in between - as well as various retroclones, hacks and spin-offs such as the OSR, Pathfinder, etc. This isn't defined as a cultural space; it's a set of game mechanics and design principles shared across the text of various games. And there's a lot of variation with the specifics, but like The Blues, if you know the basic structure it all makes sense.

The two D&Ds have very little to do with each other.

When indie people like myself criticise D&D, we are usually criticising the first one. We're generally outsiders to that fandom-space who are unhappy with the way that fandom encroches on, and ultimately stiffles, everything else in ttrpgs as an artistic medium. We tend also to dislike the very shallow interest in that fandom of the things we care about in ttrpgs - game design, gameplay, theory, criticism, etc.

Here's the thing. I am, personally, immensely critical of D&D-as-lifestyle-brand. I detest it, honestly. It strikes me as a corporate exploitation of the wider medium in pursuit of an easy profit, at the expense of catering to the lowest common denominator. Like invasive kudzu, it chokes out all ecological diversity in the art-form. Its a homogenising influence, and in my experience pretty anti-intillectual.

Because, at risk of sounding like a pseud, I consider ttrpg design to be an art-form that merits serious effort, discussion and appreciation.

However. D&D-as-a-set-of-games I actually quite like. I find myself fascinated by the way so many games take apart the starting framework of a given edition of D&D - like your 12-bar-blues structure - and adapt it and riff on it and fuse it with other genres. I find it interesting to track the way whole movements and genres mutate out from that starting position. Hell, I do that myself, a lot. A lot of my design work takes the very early editions of D&D as a starting point, gets into a groove, and riffs on it until it's seemingly unrecognisable.

To me, a work like Mork Borg is D&D (the second definition). It is, however, totally unrelated and unrecognisable to D&D (the first definition).

So I will talk about "D&D as the containment game for shit players" and I mean it, because I'm talking about type-1. And I'll do that while designing a paleolithic OSR game, because that's type-2. And by and large, all that happens when both those things intersect is people get upset.

[mental-misstep]

People will see a character's worst traits be brought to the surface and call it character assassination.

[mental-misstep]

I find it genuinely fascinating that Ward seems to refuse to work on Adventure Time. Back in my day he was the goat! Then he backed off and Mutto kind of actually lead the show while it build what it's now known for.

Anyways, the big money parachute attached to the announcement is an apt metaphor.

[mental-misstep]

Season one non communication is fine cause you know secret identity. But season 2...

Like seriously, how the fuck do we get 4 episodes of worth of "Omg I have something to say - never mind it can wait."

Swear to me, the 10 of you that will read this, that you won't fucking preamble to your significant other. It's like writing an email. Just say up front "There's another living member of my species."

[mental-misstep]

[mental-misstep]

Doing more than one? Choose whichever you found the most helpful. ❤️

[mental-misstep]

bunny girl osr - first class!

my bunny girl osr idea is moving along. i have a few completed drafts of classes, so i wanted to share the first one! introducing...

Classic Bunny Girl

Choose a signature accessory or make your own:

Distracting bunny tail

Stilettos that double as stilettos

True bunny ears that give you super hearing that makes you impossible to sneak up on

Bodysuit that reduces the difficulty of Quiet rolls by 1

Magic fishnet stockings that become a large net whenever you like

Choose an archetype or make your own:

Happy-go-lucky

Still getting used to the outfit

Your already intimidating presence is accentuated by the outfit

Old & over it (but still wearing the outfit)

Cartoonishly evil

Choose a wound or make your own:

Insecurity that people aren’t taking you seriously

Self-esteem could use some work

Missing a loved one

Need to prove yourself (to yourself or someone else)

Obsessed with paying penance for a past wrong

Equipment:

The classic bunny girl outfit

Ornate dagger strapped to inner thigh

Rabbit Revolver or a Comically Large Hammer

Infinite pairs of stockings or ONE indestructible pair of stockings

Unending need to protect all bunny girls

Skills:

Sweet 4

Cute 4

Buff 2

Unique

Paws Off My Bunny Girls!

When a bunny girl takes damage and their attacker is in range of your equipped weapon, you can attack that enemy (once per round).

[mental-misstep]

[mental-misstep]

I think baldur’s gate really gave me the woman experience by thinking I was having an innocent conversation only to have this man obsessed with me.

Which is just a strange fault of the writing. Really wish there was some wiggle room between “associates” and “lovers”.

Seriously who decided it was a good idea when you connect with Gale using the weave to have 2 romantic options and the other 2 beat him up or literally kill the guy.

[mental-misstep]

REDDIT DUDES ARE MAD ABOUT KARLACH TOPPING THEM

[mental-misstep]

It might’ve been how I obtained the particular episode, any one else have Herles glass animated a foot away from her?

[mental-misstep]

No one else just likes looking at 3 shredded/half naked men?

[mental-misstep]

All the enthusiasm draining from my body as I have to contend with another “wHaT if SUpErMan BaD?”

What a novel concept that hasn’t been explored except in:

1. Injustice

2. Red sun

3. All of ultraman

4. The Boys

5. Invincible

6. The one where he’s from apocalypse

7. Superboy Prime

8. Hyperion

9. Snyder JLA

The only hope is that it’s like Action Comics 775 “What's So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way?”. A reconstruction of Superman upholding being a symbol of hope in the face of edge boy comic books.

Just glad that the lamest interpretation of Superman spawned the lamest interpretations of Lois.

Let him be the big blue Boy Scout and learn to write with out using the lowest common denominator.

At least the constant of Olsens being a ride or die is around.

[mental-misstep]

I see people are progressing through the game because finally, Karlach, is getting the attention she deserves.

[mental-misstep]

You all disgust me

Why is the cunty little Anne Rice vampire everybody's favorite when there's a funny one-horned tiefling with big muscles and a bigger smile and she is full of love and compassion and curse words and she is also touch starved because she's too hot to touch and she just wants a hug

Why the fuck are none of you FERAL about Karlach