Joseph Wetzel
@josephwetzel.bsky.social
Enjoyer of tabletop gaming, sociolinguistics, speculative fiction, and pulpy vibes.
September 8, 2026 at 11:44 AM
My ungenerous take is that this is a result of the influx of theatre kids (who I love & admire) to the hobby. They weren't drawn to the hobby to have experiences generated by following rules and procedures (which I love & admire), but by the potential for inhabiting characters and telling stories.
Sure.
My complaint is that when you go "Okay, let's talk about leading gamers to water", the response is "Yeah, they won't drink, pffft.", and then either I need to go "Fuck off, okay?" or indulge that topic instead of the one involved.
Endless, endless derailing.
My complaint is that when you go "Okay, let's talk about leading gamers to water", the response is "Yeah, they won't drink, pffft.", and then either I need to go "Fuck off, okay?" or indulge that topic instead of the one involved.
Endless, endless derailing.
August 9, 2026 at 4:42 PM
My ungenerous take is that this is a result of the influx of theatre kids (who I love & admire) to the hobby. They weren't drawn to the hobby to have experiences generated by following rules and procedures (which I love & admire), but by the potential for inhabiting characters and telling stories.
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
I'd say this kind of joke is borne out of play cultures that for one reason or another have no interest in discussing game design at all. Kind reading, popcorn and memes social play ; bad-faith reading, playstyles where domination is a constant subtext (rules cheesing, gm v players, whatever).
August 9, 2026 at 3:09 PM
I'd say this kind of joke is borne out of play cultures that for one reason or another have no interest in discussing game design at all. Kind reading, popcorn and memes social play ; bad-faith reading, playstyles where domination is a constant subtext (rules cheesing, gm v players, whatever).
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Discussion of "How can you develop structures that not only provide, but *point to,* good times" is also fraught with both this and with the echoes of the idiotic "game design is mind control".
August 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Discussion of "How can you develop structures that not only provide, but *point to,* good times" is also fraught with both this and with the echoes of the idiotic "game design is mind control".
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
The problem is that we see discussion of game design as a medium shut down by this trivial observation. When people want to discuss game-structures and are shut down by somebody pointing out that play-events can be anything, the result is that we ignore game-structures as a topic.
August 9, 2026 at 2:03 PM
The problem is that we see discussion of game design as a medium shut down by this trivial observation. When people want to discuss game-structures and are shut down by somebody pointing out that play-events can be anything, the result is that we ignore game-structures as a topic.
Give in to temptation. It's like no other card game you've played. Excellent deck building, mind games and bluffing, and flavor. #netrunner
I am strongly tempted by this.
netrunner is free to print and play, community nurtured, queer and disabled inclusive, playable in-browser, anti-liceasing tie ins and it was designed by richard garfield at his best.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
August 9, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Give in to temptation. It's like no other card game you've played. Excellent deck building, mind games and bluffing, and flavor. #netrunner
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
netrunner is free to print and play, community nurtured, queer and disabled inclusive, playable in-browser, anti-liceasing tie ins and it was designed by richard garfield at his best.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
August 7, 2026 at 10:28 PM
netrunner is free to print and play, community nurtured, queer and disabled inclusive, playable in-browser, anti-liceasing tie ins and it was designed by richard garfield at his best.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
community and game quality shoots way, way up when the money isnt poisoning your hobby.
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Wow, I can’t believe Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an allegory for [redacted]. 🕷️❤️💙
August 5, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Wow, I can’t believe Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an allegory for [redacted]. 🕷️❤️💙
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Short people are allowed to do evil because for them it's mischief
June 25, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Short people are allowed to do evil because for them it's mischief
Really looking forward to subsequent entries in the As My Balls franchise
From the brilliant mind of Magnolia Keep comes the long-awaited sequel to Combat as my Balls!
The term "Player skill" has always rankled me, so I decided to delve a little deeper into that and discuss different kinds of player skill games can encourage.
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2025/12/skil...
The term "Player skill" has always rankled me, so I decided to delve a little deeper into that and discuss different kinds of player skill games can encourage.
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2025/12/skil...
Skill as My Balls
I have a distaste for a lot of terms bandied about in the OSR sphere. Gameable Content is one. Another, apparently is "Player Skill." During...
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Really looking forward to subsequent entries in the As My Balls franchise
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
I think that as an indie game dev without a large publisher, your target audience is not gamers in general, it is sickos.
It's hardcore sickos that will be diving the depths of your genre and finding your game, and it is sickos who will be spreading it.
Please the passionate, not the masses.
It's hardcore sickos that will be diving the depths of your genre and finding your game, and it is sickos who will be spreading it.
Please the passionate, not the masses.
August 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I think that as an indie game dev without a large publisher, your target audience is not gamers in general, it is sickos.
It's hardcore sickos that will be diving the depths of your genre and finding your game, and it is sickos who will be spreading it.
Please the passionate, not the masses.
It's hardcore sickos that will be diving the depths of your genre and finding your game, and it is sickos who will be spreading it.
Please the passionate, not the masses.
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
It's a Sunday afternoon in mid-July, and that can only mean one thing: the award ceremony for the 2025 Spiel des Jahres award, the most important prize in tabletop gaming. Also the final of Wimbledon, but that's much less interesting. It starts in ten minutes and I'll be live-posting the whole event
July 13, 2025 at 3:52 PM
It's a Sunday afternoon in mid-July, and that can only mean one thing: the award ceremony for the 2025 Spiel des Jahres award, the most important prize in tabletop gaming. Also the final of Wimbledon, but that's much less interesting. It starts in ten minutes and I'll be live-posting the whole event
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Top shortage and DM shortage parallels
May 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Top shortage and DM shortage parallels
Ichigo on the Precipice of Defeat | Bleach AMV
YouTube video by First Time Last
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Playing TTRPGs: Goofing, gabbing, fun with friends
Designing TTRPGs: I have locked myself in the tower and will only leave for bread and water. My hands cramp with the toil of my labor. Will I see daylight this year? It is unknown.
Designing TTRPGs: I have locked myself in the tower and will only leave for bread and water. My hands cramp with the toil of my labor. Will I see daylight this year? It is unknown.
December 7, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Playing TTRPGs: Goofing, gabbing, fun with friends
Designing TTRPGs: I have locked myself in the tower and will only leave for bread and water. My hands cramp with the toil of my labor. Will I see daylight this year? It is unknown.
Designing TTRPGs: I have locked myself in the tower and will only leave for bread and water. My hands cramp with the toil of my labor. Will I see daylight this year? It is unknown.
Everyone who likes The Sunlit Man should know that Green Lantern stories are basically just this over and over again.
#cosmere #sunlitman
#cosmere #sunlitman
December 6, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Everyone who likes The Sunlit Man should know that Green Lantern stories are basically just this over and over again.
#cosmere #sunlitman
#cosmere #sunlitman
I like it when late stage cosmre stuff is weird and janky, like an awaked steelmind. I like it less when it's all just flattened into batteries and appliances, like a jar of dor.
#cosmere
#cosmere
December 6, 2024 at 3:31 AM
I like it when late stage cosmre stuff is weird and janky, like an awaked steelmind. I like it less when it's all just flattened into batteries and appliances, like a jar of dor.
#cosmere
#cosmere
I've been mainlining the cosmere secret projects to get caught up before Wind and Truth. I think these might be my new favorite cosmere novels.
#cosmere
#cosmere
December 6, 2024 at 3:20 AM
I've been mainlining the cosmere secret projects to get caught up before Wind and Truth. I think these might be my new favorite cosmere novels.
#cosmere
#cosmere
I finally started watching the Dune show and I'm having a rough time. Are there any scenes that aren't just characters explaining what's happening?
December 4, 2024 at 12:25 AM
I finally started watching the Dune show and I'm having a rough time. Are there any scenes that aren't just characters explaining what's happening?
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
We finally started our Women in TTRPG Starter Pack!
go.bsky.app/P4FN8hM
Go check out this epic list of amazing women, working and creating in the TTRPG space.
We’ll also keep adding to this list over time so make sure you check back.
go.bsky.app/P4FN8hM
Go check out this epic list of amazing women, working and creating in the TTRPG space.
We’ll also keep adding to this list over time so make sure you check back.
November 28, 2024 at 6:49 PM
We finally started our Women in TTRPG Starter Pack!
go.bsky.app/P4FN8hM
Go check out this epic list of amazing women, working and creating in the TTRPG space.
We’ll also keep adding to this list over time so make sure you check back.
go.bsky.app/P4FN8hM
Go check out this epic list of amazing women, working and creating in the TTRPG space.
We’ll also keep adding to this list over time so make sure you check back.
I shake my head a little when I see someone starting the cosmere with Way of Kings.
Mistborn is a story about assassin Jesus and his apostles of crime.
Stormlight is a story about angst and big swords for people who felt like Bleach was rushed.
#cosmere #mistborn #stormlightarchive
Mistborn is a story about assassin Jesus and his apostles of crime.
Stormlight is a story about angst and big swords for people who felt like Bleach was rushed.
#cosmere #mistborn #stormlightarchive
November 28, 2024 at 2:59 AM
I shake my head a little when I see someone starting the cosmere with Way of Kings.
Mistborn is a story about assassin Jesus and his apostles of crime.
Stormlight is a story about angst and big swords for people who felt like Bleach was rushed.
#cosmere #mistborn #stormlightarchive
Mistborn is a story about assassin Jesus and his apostles of crime.
Stormlight is a story about angst and big swords for people who felt like Bleach was rushed.
#cosmere #mistborn #stormlightarchive
Reposted by Joseph Wetzel
Alright #bskyGMs - what’s your favorite #TTRPG to run/facilitate? Here’s my top three!
1.) Changeling: The Lost
2.) Ten Candles
3.) Call of Cthulhu
1.) Changeling: The Lost
2.) Ten Candles
3.) Call of Cthulhu
November 20, 2024 at 12:21 AM
