Malcolm Craig
@malcolmcraig.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in US History @ljmuofficial.bsky.social, historian of games, the Cold War, nuclear stuff, researching #ColdWar era post-apocalypse roleplaying games. #TTRPG designer. You may remember me from such games as #astaterpg, #ColdCity, and #HotWar
Pinned
Malcolm Craig
@malcolmcraig.bsky.social
· Nov 14
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces | Journal of American Studie...
When You Say, “Thermonuclear War,” I Think You Mean “the Call to Adventure”! The Twilight: 2000 Tabletop Role-Playing Game and the Postapocalyptic World’s Imaginary Spaces
www.cambridge.org
Hurrah! My article on the Twilight 2000 RPG in the Journal of American Studies is now open access (OA), so anyone who wants to can have a read. OA is important to me, as I want my work on RPG history to go beyond the academy and reach the gaming public.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Because it's along thread, one things that might not be clear is: ask! The worst that can happen is no response or a polite "Sorry, I'm really busy right now."
1) So You're A Game Designer Who Needs Advice From a Historian?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
September 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Because it's along thread, one things that might not be clear is: ask! The worst that can happen is no response or a polite "Sorry, I'm really busy right now."
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
For DOOMSDAY MACHINES this week, I take a trip down memory lane, revisiting one of the first books I can remember reading that had anything about nuclear weapons in it: David Macaulay’s 1988 classic, "The Way Things Work."
The Way Nukes Work (*Sort of)
Nuclear weapons and war in David Macaulay’s “The Way Things Work” (1988)
doomsdaymachines.net
September 24, 2026 at 3:56 PM
For DOOMSDAY MACHINES this week, I take a trip down memory lane, revisiting one of the first books I can remember reading that had anything about nuclear weapons in it: David Macaulay’s 1988 classic, "The Way Things Work."
On those rare times that I run games at cons, I am very much engaged in expectation management. Just because it's a game I designed it doesn't mean that it's going to be Best Game Evar!
Fun fact: Once had a player drop out of a campaign because they knew I made TTRPGs, put me on a pedestal, and then lost respect for me when I just ran a pretty normal game (all their own words).
They were genuinely upset that I didn’t live up to their expectations.
I think about that a lot. :/
They were genuinely upset that I didn’t live up to their expectations.
I think about that a lot. :/
I was just thinking about how the *one thing* that really hampers me about having a public reputation in the field is that folks have an erroneous sense of what I know, who I know, & in some cases, how I play & what I’ve played.
Plenty of folks can attest that I’ve still got a lot to learn.
Plenty of folks can attest that I’ve still got a lot to learn.
September 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM
On those rare times that I run games at cons, I am very much engaged in expectation management. Just because it's a game I designed it doesn't mean that it's going to be Best Game Evar!
1) So You're A Game Designer Who Needs Advice From a Historian?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
September 24, 2026 at 9:56 AM
1) So You're A Game Designer Who Needs Advice From a Historian?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
Games with historical/historically inspired settings/themes are great. Occasionally an email pops into my university inbox from someone seeking advice, feedback, consultancy, and so on. As the advice-seeker, what's the best approach?
It's always delightful when this kind of thing actually lands.
@malcolmcraig.bsky.social @handiworkgames.bsky.social Did I get a hint of The Fast Show reading the Cold City rulebook, The Prodigal Son situation setting “Children playing football, hummm, jumpers for goalposts. Enduring image isn’t it? Hummm.” 👌🤣
September 21, 2026 at 7:40 AM
It's always delightful when this kind of thing actually lands.
Oh no. Malcolm Gladwell has written his book again. I've only just recovered from The Bomber Mafia, and now this!
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
The American Way of Killing by Malcolm Gladwell review – wide of the mark
The author of Blink brings his exquisite writing and storytelling chops to a subject he just doesn’t understand
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Oh no. Malcolm Gladwell has written his book again. I've only just recovered from The Bomber Mafia, and now this!
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
www.theguardian.com/books/2026/s...
I have so, so many questions about that advert. I also have questions about the picture with the horse in it. Kaboom, tiiiisshhh!
Thank you, I'd be here all night. Please enjoy the complimentary olive bar.
Thank you, I'd be here all night. Please enjoy the complimentary olive bar.
it is my solemn pledge to you that if 1000 of you buy or subscribe to Wyrd Science within the next 24 hours then me, my horse friend and his wife will spend a chunk of that money reenacting this classic booze ad
start the clock!
wyrd.science
start the clock!
wyrd.science
September 18, 2026 at 7:31 AM
I have so, so many questions about that advert. I also have questions about the picture with the horse in it. Kaboom, tiiiisshhh!
Thank you, I'd be here all night. Please enjoy the complimentary olive bar.
Thank you, I'd be here all night. Please enjoy the complimentary olive bar.
These five reason are all excellent reasons why you should get #FiveEvil
Hey #DnD and other #TTRPG GMs!
Spooky season is right around the corner. Let me explain why your Halloween special game this year should be #FiveEvil Fiendish 5E Horror, from @handiworkgames.bsky.social , and specifically the scenario "Wakefield House"
Five reasons, starting with:
Spooky season is right around the corner. Let me explain why your Halloween special game this year should be #FiveEvil Fiendish 5E Horror, from @handiworkgames.bsky.social , and specifically the scenario "Wakefield House"
Five reasons, starting with:
September 18, 2026 at 7:07 AM
These five reason are all excellent reasons why you should get #FiveEvil
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
My copy of @malcolmcraig.bsky.social 's 2nd edition of Cold City arrived! I have cherished my 1st edition for over a decade and am excited to try this one out!
September 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
My copy of @malcolmcraig.bsky.social 's 2nd edition of Cold City arrived! I have cherished my 1st edition for over a decade and am excited to try this one out!
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
This is a good listen. @malcolmcraig.bsky.social chatting to @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7T...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7T...
The Price of Freedom RPG (with Malcolm Craig)
YouTube video by The GROGNARD files: RPG Podcast
www.youtube.com
September 15, 2026 at 4:28 PM
This is a good listen. @malcolmcraig.bsky.social chatting to @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7T...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7T...
Futher down the thread, @fromthemorgue.bsky.social describes excatly how I feel about the physical books.
Well if it isn’t the second editions of @malcolmcraig.bsky.social ‘s Cold City and Hot War from @handiworkgames.bsky.social !!
(I don’t actually get new games in hard copy very often any more, because the shelves are crazy. But there was no going past this one.)
(I don’t actually get new games in hard copy very often any more, because the shelves are crazy. But there was no going past this one.)
September 9, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Futher down the thread, @fromthemorgue.bsky.social describes excatly how I feel about the physical books.
Hooting bigots having a go at the RNLI (the RNLI!) for assisting small boats in distress in the Channel should consider the Penlee disaster and then take a long, hard look at themselves. I'm proud to be a regular donor to the RNLI, because they selflessly do great work
rnli.org/about-us/our...
rnli.org/about-us/our...
![‘The greatest act of courage that I have ever seen, and am ever likely to see, was the penultimate courage and dedication shown by the Penlee [crew] …
‘They were truly the bravest eight men I've ever seen, who were also totally dedicated to upholding the highest standards of the RNLI.’](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:asshe5vuns6tsvxdkvycf5mg/bafkreihobqahup6u6bo55yonvjrqxzxveoikav47qhcvzowxd7tfbv65im)
September 9, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Hooting bigots having a go at the RNLI (the RNLI!) for assisting small boats in distress in the Channel should consider the Penlee disaster and then take a long, hard look at themselves. I'm proud to be a regular donor to the RNLI, because they selflessly do great work
rnli.org/about-us/our...
rnli.org/about-us/our...
Well, if she insists...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5za...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5za...
September 5, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Well, if she insists...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5za...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5za...
The first film I was ever taken to see at the cinema - at the age of 4 - was the 1978 version of Superman. I recently re-watched it for the first time in decades and by heavens, it's a pretty bloody good movie. I had totally forgotten how genuinely brilliant Christopher Reeve was in it.
September 4, 2026 at 5:47 PM
The first film I was ever taken to see at the cinema - at the age of 4 - was the 1978 version of Superman. I recently re-watched it for the first time in decades and by heavens, it's a pretty bloody good movie. I had totally forgotten how genuinely brilliant Christopher Reeve was in it.
Lovely to see so many of these out in the wild!
Just arrived c/o @handiworkgames.bsky.social and @malcolmcraig.bsky.social cannot wait to get these to the table. These look absolutely top drawer
September 4, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Lovely to see so many of these out in the wild!
As a 17 year old would-be movie geek at Video Vogue, my taste-making efforts were misguided, often resulting in customer anger. Recommending Jacob's Ladder to the bloke who wanted "Something like Hellraiser" did not end well. Also repeated customer misunderstandings of Betty Blue, based on the title
Decades before recommendation algorithms, video stores served as social hubs where conversation and camaraderie became a form of taste-making.
The Lost Civic Life of Movie Rental Stores
Decades before recommendation algorithms, video stores served as social hubs where conversation and camaraderie became a form of taste-making.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
September 4, 2026 at 11:46 AM
As a 17 year old would-be movie geek at Video Vogue, my taste-making efforts were misguided, often resulting in customer anger. Recommending Jacob's Ladder to the bloke who wanted "Something like Hellraiser" did not end well. Also repeated customer misunderstandings of Betty Blue, based on the title
And here's me, spraffing on about The Price of Freedom with @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social!
What is The Price of Freedom?
£16.95 apparently.
The GROGNARD files looks at the 1986 game from West End games.
And, we do #RPGaDay - almost
thegrognardfiles.com/2026/09/04/t...
£16.95 apparently.
The GROGNARD files looks at the 1986 game from West End games.
And, we do #RPGaDay - almost
thegrognardfiles.com/2026/09/04/t...
The Price of Freedom RPG (with Malcolm Craig) - The GROGNARD Files
In this episode, we head for the bunker once again and talk about RPGs and the Cold War.
thegrognardfiles.com
September 4, 2026 at 8:57 AM
And here's me, spraffing on about The Price of Freedom with @thegrognardfiles.bsky.social!
It's not often you have a meeting about a major collaborative research funding bid where you wang on about the radiation sickness rules in 1st edition Twilight: 2000. But there we are.
September 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM
It's not often you have a meeting about a major collaborative research funding bid where you wang on about the radiation sickness rules in 1st edition Twilight: 2000. But there we are.
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
Topping and tailing the GROGPOD… rolling virtual gifts, apparently at random, for new Patreons. A new episode coming very soon.
September 2, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Topping and tailing the GROGPOD… rolling virtual gifts, apparently at random, for new Patreons. A new episode coming very soon.
This was one of the most fun parts of a|state 2nd edition to be involved with. Academic study of a social game, redacted by the authorities, and annotated by an actual player. It's an analysis of a game played within the setting of a game, but also a functional game in and of itself. Meta!
What kind of RPG do the people who live in the dystopian sci-fi city of a|stste play? Thats what we asked ourselves when making the most meta book we've ever made.
The Three Coins is the result. It's an in world artefact, an academic study from with The City of the folk game played in back alleys.
The Three Coins is the result. It's an in world artefact, an academic study from with The City of the folk game played in back alleys.
September 2, 2026 at 2:09 PM
This was one of the most fun parts of a|state 2nd edition to be involved with. Academic study of a social game, redacted by the authorities, and annotated by an actual player. It's an analysis of a game played within the setting of a game, but also a functional game in and of itself. Meta!
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
The Three Coins* is a description of a roleplaying game, which is a roleplaying game supplement, and also, a roleplaying game. This will unzip your brain and turn it around. Nothing else like it.
* it needs four coins
#TTRPG
* it needs four coins
#TTRPG
What kind of RPG do the people who live in the dystopian sci-fi city of a|stste play? Thats what we asked ourselves when making the most meta book we've ever made.
The Three Coins is the result. It's an in world artefact, an academic study from with The City of the folk game played in back alleys.
The Three Coins is the result. It's an in world artefact, an academic study from with The City of the folk game played in back alleys.
September 2, 2026 at 9:45 AM
The Three Coins* is a description of a roleplaying game, which is a roleplaying game supplement, and also, a roleplaying game. This will unzip your brain and turn it around. Nothing else like it.
* it needs four coins
#TTRPG
* it needs four coins
#TTRPG
That's a massive delivery of goodness!
I must remember to snog the postie the next time I see him.
@handiworkgames.bsky.social's Cold City Hot War second edition, @jimmyshelter.bsky.social's Shallow Pines: A Meddlesome Kids Game, and @alfredvalley.bsky.social's Brute Fort: A Solo Card Game.
@handiworkgames.bsky.social's Cold City Hot War second edition, @jimmyshelter.bsky.social's Shallow Pines: A Meddlesome Kids Game, and @alfredvalley.bsky.social's Brute Fort: A Solo Card Game.
September 1, 2026 at 4:57 PM
That's a massive delivery of goodness!
Reposted by Malcolm Craig
We're seeing renewed interest in a|state - it's a really great adaptation of the already brilliant Forged in the Dark rules. In a|state you'll take the role of troublemakers trying to improve their corner of The City, pushing back against the Trusts, organised crime, et al.
September 1, 2026 at 3:34 PM
We're seeing renewed interest in a|state - it's a really great adaptation of the already brilliant Forged in the Dark rules. In a|state you'll take the role of troublemakers trying to improve their corner of The City, pushing back against the Trusts, organised crime, et al.
But if you are going to buy more games, then Cold City and Hot War show taste and discernment
Me: I shouldn’t buy any more games; I don’t have a group, don’t have time to read them, don’t have book space.
Also me:
@handiworkgames.bsky.social @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
Also me:
@handiworkgames.bsky.social @malcolmcraig.bsky.social
August 28, 2026 at 6:55 AM
But if you are going to buy more games, then Cold City and Hot War show taste and discernment
So I've said many times that we do not own a cat, but that neighbours cats used to come round and hang out. Well, that has changed. We now have a cat, Oscar. He was a stray living in our garage, now he sleeps on our sofa, enjoys regular meals, and very much likes chasing string around.
August 26, 2026 at 6:15 PM
So I've said many times that we do not own a cat, but that neighbours cats used to come round and hang out. Well, that has changed. We now have a cat, Oscar. He was a stray living in our garage, now he sleeps on our sofa, enjoys regular meals, and very much likes chasing string around.