algeh | Reading

1. I had two web interviews today and unlike the guy yesterday, neither of them stood me up. Two more interviews on Thursday so hopefully they come through, too.

2. I got my hair cut today. Cannot stress enough how great it is to have that next appointment already scheduled and not have to deal with having to make the appointment when my hair is starting to bother me. It's already in the calendar! And to go to someone who knows exactly what to do without me telling them every time!

3. The tri-tip Carla grilled on Sunday has indeed made delicious sandwiches. And we still have a ton left so there will be sandwiches all week.

4. Carla was having a high anxiety day so as a mood booster we went down to Disneyland for dessert tonight. Had a very nice trip.

5. Molly's got her eye on you.

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-07-02

I've been meaning to write about this for a bit now, but I'm finally able to get around to it. I traveled to England for the first time earlier this year with two missions:

Experience UKGE
Playtest Seven-Part Pact, my ambitious wizard game

UKGE was a total blast (and Birmingham is, in my opinion, unfairly maligned by the British – it would be amongst the most beautiful cities in the US if it was located here). I got to hang out with some dear friends, meet some people I've been trying to meet for ages, and learn what indie secrets the Brits are hiding out on their side of the pond. My personal highlight was grabbing a copy of Revolt!, a collaborative map-making game where the ruler changes based on who won the previous game.

I also had the incredible opportunity to playtest Seven-Part Pact with a really unique group of people in a really unique place. My friend and colleague Emily Friedman rented out the Elton House, a landmark trust Georgian-inspired household at the center of the city, directly next to the Abbey of Bath. We, along with a truly fantastic crew (Kieron Gillen, Quinns Smith, and Brian Flaherty, along with my dear friend Molly Darling) spent 4 days straight playtesting Seven-Part Pact, pushing it to its absolute limit and exploring the deepest recesses of the game.

It was a phenomenal experience.

I've been working a lot on this game, so expect to hear more about it as I go forward. Now that I'm recovered from the trip to the UK, I'll be focusing my creative attention on my darling messy wizards.

– Jay Dragon

Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action

There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-07-02

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-07-01

In case you missed the news, someone pitted the general-purpose AI software ChatGPT against the Atari 2600 version of chess (Atari Chess, as the 1977 cartridge is known). Spoiler alert: ChatGPT lost badly, on the "beginner" level of difficulty. The original post on LinkedIn has more details.

Personally, I like imagining that the cartridge software used is actually a piece of super-computer code designed to be hyperdimensionally squeezed into the 4,096-byte program size, which somehow escaped from Warehouse 23 . . .

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: Why Is The Darkness Blinking?

They're trapped between the realm of the living and the dead . . . and they're not too pleased about it. The Book of Unlife adds 44 unliving monsters to your The Fantasy Trip campaigns, along with a complete adventure setting. Live like there's too many tomorrows thanks to Warehouse 23!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-07-01

torachan

1. Our back screen door has two out of three broken hinges and the only thing holding it together at the top is the bar that makes it close on its own (idk what that's called), so whenever we open or close it, it takes more work than usual to get it to actually shut, since it's a little askew. I actually bought some hinges, thinking to try and fix it myself, but after I bought them I realized that the part of the hinge that attaches to the screen is welded on there, not just held with screws. So we ended up calling the people we got the door from (it's been over ten years since we installed all the pet screens!) and they came out today to take a look. Apparently these doors have a hinge plate that attaches with all the hinges on it, so they will order a new one of those. The door itself is totally fine, so I'm glad we can get just a replacement part rather than a whole new screen door. Unfortunately it will take a couple weeks to get the part in, but it's still usable as-is, at least, and can't get any worse since the bar on the top is quite sturdy.

2. This may be my favorite picture of Tuxie ever. How is that comfortable!? Only a cat would think so.

alierak posting in

dw_maintenance

We're having to rebuild the search server again (previously, previously). It will take a few days to reindex all the content.

Meanwhile search services should be running, but probably returning no results or incomplete results for most queries.

dorktower_feed

Posted by John Kovalic

https://www.dorktower.com/2025/06/30/19572/

https://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=19572

This or any DORK TOWER strip is now available as a signed, high-quality print, from just $25! CLICK HERE to find out more!

HEY! Want to help keep DORK TOWER going? Then consider joining the DORK TOWER Patreon and ENLIST IN THE ARMY OF DORKNESS TODAY! (We have COOKIES!) (And SWAG!) (And GRATITUDE!)

https://www.dorktower.com/2025/06/30/19572/

https://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=19572

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-30

Beyond a doubt, this is my favorite "discovered in 2025" series. The Bobiverse books, by Dennis E. Taylor, chronicle the adventures of one Robert Johansson. He was cryonically suspended, murdered and uploaded by a Christofascist future government, and installed as the enslaved brain of a space probe designed to do the Von Neumann thing: replicate, replicate, replicate, and explore the galaxy.

And that's in the first hundred pages, give or take, of the first book. Then Bob, in his new space probe body, blasts out of the solar system and the adventures really start. Yes, replication works. No, the copies are not identical to the original. Much less the copies of the copies. And thereby hangs a tale.

This is space opera at its best: unashamedly escapist, with heroic but conflicted heroes and unconflictedly wicked villains. Also: aliens. Space battles. Threats to the Whole Human Race. And a virtual Admiral Ackbar.

Amazingly, Taylor could not find a "regular" publisher for the books. So, with his agent, he did it himself. There are audiobooks, too . . .

Taylor has written five Bobiverse books, and – so I hear – plans five more. I can't wait. Except, I gotta.

– Steve Jackson

Warehouse 23 News: The Autodueling Continues . . .

. . . with the Car Wars Pocket Box Bundle 2! Visit Midville and Black Lake to see its sights and colorful citizens, or take your chances in the Armadillo Autoduel Arena! Will you find glory or defeat? Find out by picking up this Pocket Box from Warehouse 23 today!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-30

torachan

1. Carla grilled today. Hamburgers and corn and tri-tip. The burgers and corn were delicious, and while I didn't have any of the tri-tip tonigh, it smells amazing and I can't wait to have some on sandwiches.

2. I feel like this picture sums up their relationship very well.

torachan

Currently Reading
Sister Outsider
17%. Collection of essays by Audre Lorde. I have never read any of her writing before, so when this came up on a Kindle sale I was browsing, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I've only just gotten started, but the first essay was about her trip to the Soviet Union in the 70s, which was very interesting.

A Terrible Nasty Business
41%. Sequel to A Most Agreeable Murder, which I liked a lot. This is just as amusing and fun.

Riding the Rails
43%.

How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
69%.

Recently Finished
A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge
As I mentioned in my last post, I didn't love this one as much because I was so frustrated by the MC's bad choices, but I am definitely still interested in reading more books in the series.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms
This was fun. It looks like there's a sequel coming out later this year, so I'll definitely check it out.

Horrorstör
I think this is the third Grady Hendrix book I've read and they all end up being good but not great. I did like the premise a lot, though.

These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart
Dystopian murder mystery novella with clones. I enjoyed this a lot and would definitely read more in this universe.

Linus and Etta Could Use a Win
Cute middle grade novel about a trans boy at a new middle school who makes friends with a girl who's recovering from a bad friend break-up, but unbeknownst to him, her enthusiasm about him running for student council is due to a bet with her ex friend. I really liked this a lot, but was frustrated by the fact that the friend breakup didn't have a satisfying resolution. It was this whole thing about the friend cutting Etta out of her life with no explanation and we never get an explanation!

Dwellings
Graphic novel featuring various horror stories set in the same town. I liked it, but the cutesty art style (kind of Richie Rich/Casper vibes) made it hard to tell characters apart and also hard to tell their ages (I kept assuming people were kids and then realizing belatedly they were adults). It was all right.

Ojisama to Neko vol. 15
Yet another new character whose issues are fixed by getting a cat lol.

Kindaichi Papa no Jikenbo vol. 1
New Kindaichi series, set seven years from the Kindaichi Age 37 series. Now he has a kid who goes mystery solving with him. Still good mysteries.

Kinou Nani Tabeta? vol. 24
This was a bittersweet volume. I love this series.

cockeyed_feed

https://www.cockeyed.com/personal/shipping/shipping-across-country.html

I folded up and send a giant Wheel of Fortune to Chicago

https://www.cockeyed.com/personal/shipping/shipping-across-country.html

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-29

Last Train To Bremen is available now on Backerkit! It is a tragedy for a doomed quartet: a storytelling game about four arrogant musicians who made a deal with the Devil that blew up in their faces. Now they're stuck in a boxcar, fleeing from their cursed contract, and there's nothing left to do but point fingers and lay the blame for how they wound up in this sorry mess. It's one of my favorite games of 2024, and I'm beyond thrilled that Possum Creek and Steve Jackson Games are publishing it.

– Jay Dragon

Warehouse 23 News: A Great Deal Of Adventure!

Excitement is in the cards with the Decks of Destiny for The Fantasy Trip. This collection of resources and reference material contains adversaries, rumors, combat options, and more to make your games of TFT fast and furious. Download this set today from Warehouse 23!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-29

torachan

1. Between when I was talking about it last week and payday, I totally forgot my bonus was coming, so I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my balance today to pay bills!

2. It was very warm and sunny this morning when I walked up to the farmers market. I usually go around ten so that I can pop in the library, too, but this morning it was already seeming waaaaaay too sunny when I was doing my morning chores around eight, so since I didn't have anything urgent I needed to pick up at the library, I went earlier, around nine, and it was still so sunny and not particularly pleasant. But! At the stand that sells fruit leather that I've been frequenting recently, I spotted that they also had bottles of watermelon lemonade, nice and cold, so I got one of those to drink on the walk home and it was perfect! It reminded me of that delicious watermelon lemonade we were getting a bunch last year at DCA, but alas they don't have it this year. Adding the watermelon just makes it feel so much more refreshing.

3. Posing for her portrait.

torachan

Welp, surprise Disneyland trip last night as there was availability and we decided to go down for dessert and parade.

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torachan

1. We had an award ceremony for one of the stores today and I got some cakes for the ceremony and they were really good. Would definitely get from that bakery again.

2. This evening after I got home Carla asked if I'd be interested in going down to Disneyland for an after dinner trip and even though we just went yesterday, I decided going tonight and then having Saturday and Sunday just for staying home and resting would be nice, so we went down there tonight and had dessert and watched the parade. I'm super tired now but I had a great time.

3. It's the weekend!

4. Yawn!

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-28

My gaming tables tend to be as organized as my computer desk . . . which is to say, "Completely not organized, oh help, I just pulled a load-bearing pencil and now I'm buried." As a result, I don't necessarily have the dice I need at my fingertips. But I'm lazy; I'll just roll whatever's handy that gets the job done.

For example, we're currently playing a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in our house. Unlike GURPS, which keeps things easy by just using good old six-sided dice, D&D employs a jillion different dice. But who has time to find a four-sider when you need it? So I just toss an eight-sider and divide by two. (Heck, I'll even use this method if I can find my four-siders; I just like how eight-siders roll better.) If I need to randomly determine which of five targets are getting hit, maybe I'll use a 10-sider and divide by two. Maybe a 20-sider and divide by four. Maybe a six-sider, rerolling sixes.

This works even when I can find my dice, but I just need more dice. Does a particularly nasty damage roll require a bunch of 10-siders? I've used the custom percentile dice and ignored the zero at the end. I've rolled 20-siders. Heck, in a pinch, I've dropped a 12-sider down the ol' dice tower and just rerolled 11s and 12s. After all, 83% of the time, it works perfectly.

If you're the same way, or if you have some other weird randomizer quirk, I'd love to hear about it on the forums!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: Classic Car Wars!

Get on the road, but watch out . . . the right of way goes to the biggest guns! Choose your vehicle – complete with weapons, armor, power plants, suspension, and even body style. Order the Car Wars Pocket Box Bundle 1 now on Warehouse 23, and enjoy classics like Car Wars, Truck Stop, Convoy, and more in the classic Pocket Box format!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-28

dorktower_feed

Posted by John Kovalic

https://www.dorktower.com/2025/06/27/19567/

https://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=19567

This or any DORK TOWER strip is now available as a signed, high-quality print, from just $25! CLICK HERE to find out more!

HEY! Want to help keep DORK TOWER going? Then consider joining the DORK TOWER Patreon and ENLIST IN THE ARMY OF DORKNESS TODAY! (We have COOKIES!) (And SWAG!) (And GRATITUDE!)

https://www.dorktower.com/2025/06/27/19567/

https://dorktower.kovalic.com/?p=19567

ysabetwordsmith posting in

followfriday

Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).

Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".

Current Mood: busy

daily_illuminator_feed

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-27

If you've perused high-quality RPG books in the gaming biz in the past couple of decades, you've likely run across Owen K.C. Stephens (who, among a jillion other credits in the gaming realm, had an ongoing column – Icosahedron Adventures – that's part of the Pyramid Volume 2 HTML Archive).

Owen had a rough bout with fighting a two-prong battle against cancer – which he beat – and cancer-related expenses . . . which he's still working on thwarting.

To that end, Legendary Games has organized a charity bundle to help fight against the shambling mound of bills. Featuring more than a hundred PDFs from more than 10 publishers, it provides cool support for multiple games – and also supports a cool guy who's fighting the good fight.

If getting more than $870 in inspirational downloads for less than 30 bucks – while doing a good deed – sounds appealing, check out the Owen Stephens Summer Survival Spectacular Bundle while it lasts!

– Steven Marsh

Warehouse 23 News: Colosseum To Believe 'Em

If the real world's got you down, consider an exciting new career as a gladiator! GURPS Martial Arts: Gladiators presents all the details you need to add this era to your historical adventures . . . or mine it for ideas to include in other campaigns! With historical insight, rules, weapons, character options, and more, it's never been easier to bring gladiatorial glamour to your game. Download it today from Warehouse 23!

http://www.sjgames.com/ill/a/2025-06-27

torachan

1. I had a nice birthday! Other than going to Disneyland, we didn't really do anything, but Disneyland was fun. And it was nice not having to go to work, though I kept thinking it was Saturday and now I have to go back to work tomorrow (boo).

2. I got a little storage cabinet to organize all our extra legos. The sets usually come with an extra piece for all the small ones. I guess they figure those are most likely to get lost. Up until now we've been putting them in ziploc baggies with the name of the set they belong to, but that's gotten out of hand and also they don't need to be separated by set. I just started sorting them out today and I imagine that will take some time, but it should make everything more organized and save on space once it's done.

3. Love those big Chloe yawns!

torachan

Birthday trip! I don't ever bother getting a birthday badge or anything because I don't need random people telling me happy birthday (and also there's usually a long line) but I do like going to the parks on my birthday.

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