@masukomi@dice.camp
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

masukomi

@masukomi@dice.camp

👉 Senior Back-End Dev. Seeking Remote Position 👈

Autodidactic, Autistic, ADHD, Trans 🏳️‍⚧️, programmer who loves thinking about TTRPGs.

If you're interested in hearing my random thoughts about life, programming geekery, 3D printing, and cute pics of my dogs and cat, then follow my other account at https://connectified.com/@masukomi

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I hoped to use the Worlds Within Kickstarter campaign page as a "teachable moment". It's honestly trying but has a lot that could be improved. I wrote ~4,300 words with constructive bullet points of what could be improved for every section, + personal thoughts.

I'm not publishing it. It wouldn't be kind, & it's too late to help them.

However, I WANT the awesome games YOU're making to succeed. If you want that level of detailed honest feedback about your game / scenario's pitch. Hit me up.

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I spent years helping small businesses promote their stuff. I've read a bookshelf or two of marketing books. I have read tons of traditional and story games, and understand the various styles and approaches they can take.

If you've made something awesome for TTRPGs I want you to succeed as wildly as possible. If you're willing to accept honest (not polite, but honest) feedback about your thing I'm happy to provide it.

masukomi, (edited ) to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@pteryx mentioned they’d be open to trying new generic systems, but I figured I’d share this outside of that thread

Take a look at Heroes and Hardships. https://www.fifegames.com

I haven’t gotten it to the table yet. However, here’s what I can tell you. It is clear, simple, well written, incredibly well laid out, filled with top-notch, original art, and the guy behind it keeps putting out new, quality content for it.

1/2

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@pteryx I read games because I love learning how they work. I can be pretty nitpicky about mechanics. While it’s been a few months since I read it, I can’t remember having any complaints beyond the fact that the character sheet looks like a spreadsheet.

It’s a really solid generic system that has a simple core mechanic. Jason really knows his stuff, has clearly thought about this carefully, and has made a quality product that I am proud to have on my shelf.

2/2

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@pteryx I’ll have to get back to you on that. I don’t really remember. Currently writing a blog post that is turning out to be very long. ;)

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@pteryx Looking at it now, there's just one core mechanic. The non-combat mechanics are the same as the combat mechanics. D10 dice pool. Simple and good. Nothing fancy. With the games you've read this part of the Table of Contents should give you a pretty good guess about that stuff. If you've a more specific question I'm happy to find the answer.

The selection of social skills is "meh" but it's absolutely trivial to create your own. See 2nd screenshot.

a screenshot of the Communication and Influence skills. Each one is 1 to 2 sentences long and has no dice modifiers or anything like that. For example: Persuasion. You are able to persuade people with your words and actions. This Skill can be used when attempting to convince another person of something so long as deceit is not involved.

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

It’s funny, I have an absolutely terrible memory, but I still remember those god-awful dice that came with the D&D Red Box. I don’t know if they came with a crayon to color in the numbers or if I just had a used set that someone had put a crayon in.

For those who don’t know, a crayon is a terrible solution for numbering dice. I mean, “use this crayon” 🖍️ is far more practical & reasonable than providing paint & brush, & expecting everyone to be able to paint some thing that small. But still…

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but “new” is not a differentiating adjective that will help convince me to investigate, and hopefully buy your RPG.

This is doubly true when it is combined with no imagery that even hints at the genre game is aiming at.

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@Teyrnon @Da_Gut i was wondering if it might be another universal system.

Personally I’m hard pressed to care about yet another one. I’ve got at least 3 already and they all feel good in their own ways.

I want games that tell awesome stories with rules that support those stories well.

masukomi, to ruby
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

My current contract has just ended, and I'm officially on the hunt for a new job.

If anyone needs a Tech Lead / Principle dev with boatloads of / experience‡, hit me up.

Resume here: https://masukomi.org/resume/kay_rhodes_resume.html

‡ and a bunch of other languages you're probably not hiring for: , , , a little

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I was reminded of the Devil character in Stealing Stories For The Devil and i must admit that i just don’t get it.

Like i get the basic game. I just don’t get why’s the Devil character exists in the background or what in supposed to do with the knowledge that he’s there.

It’s like “oh by the way. The Devil was in the room and you didn’t know”… ok. So?

1/2

masukomi, (edited )
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

Am i supposed to assume from that tiny hint and the title that there’s a subplot that you’re unknowingly doing tasks for the Devil?

Am i, as a GM expected to come up with some big reveal? “Haha! It was all a set up by the devil to…. Do a thing!”

Did i miss something obvious? Why is he in this game?

[edit: in case it’s not obvious, I actually DO want to know. I’m not just ranting that I don’t get it]

2/2

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

was just looking through my games for things with free-floating cards I could put in some deck boxes that just got delivered.

I saw my boxed set of The Fantasy Trip

While I'm still glad I got it, it feels like a lost opportunity.

a) it's just a direct reprint with nothing updated
b) nothing updated since
c) only releases are a much needed monster manual & 1 adventure.

The community has made some small things but mostly it just feels like a time capsule.

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I'd love to see someone at Steve Jackson Games say "hey, what happens if we take this game and apply all the amazing things that people have learned about making TTRPGs in the past 40 years"

(and make the art not weird)

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@kevin i think it’s a good game but it’s more simulationist than most people want now. The combat’s tactically cool, but I’m not sure how many people want to think about combat that tactically in an RPG .

Feels a little too close to its miniature wargaming ancestry for today’s tastes.

It’s more like a cool museum piece than a “let’s play this!” thing

davidrevoy, to random
@davidrevoy@framapiaf.org avatar

There is a large exhibition dedicated to my artworks in a supermarket in Plérin, France, from today until 11 November. ☺️ Yay!

Many comic pages and illustration were printed in big. Their is also many activities around the exhibition: a cooking potion contest, a signing session, drawing and digital painting workshop too.

Blog post for more info: https://www.davidrevoy.com/article992/large-exhibition-in-plerin-france

(translation of the poster in the Alt text)

The poster (in French) of the exhibition, translation: DAVID REVOY 23oct - 11nov EVENTS - ESPACE CULTUREL Saturday 28 October - Magic potion competition - 10am/12am - 2pm/4pm For children aged 8 & 12 (8 children per workshop). Supervised by Jean-Jacques Monfort, chef at Brut restaurant. Places limited - Registration: webmestre@bullesacroquer.net Friday 3 November - David Revoy workshops - 10.30am/12am Comic strip workshop - Gag in 3 boxes - 8/12 years (20 children). Places limited - Registration: webmestre@bullesacroquer.net 14h30/16h Drawing workshop - Dragons and castles - All ages (20 people). Places limited - Registration: webmestre@bullesacroquer.net 4.30pm/6pm Speedpainting demonstration - Discover digital painting - Open to the general public. Saturday 4 November - 3pm/7pm Signing session with David Revoy.

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@davidrevoy a) congrats b) i really hope you got paid for that.

masukomi, to random
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I'm surely not the 1st to think of this, but I've been practicing a strategy I call "character sheet based development"

1st design the character sheet (don't get fancy)
2nd create / modify rules to support what the sheet shows.

1/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

Is 8 hp bad? 🤷‍♀️ I dunno.

Even within the same game it could be unanswerable without more details. In D&D that's great for a level 1 character, but it's on death's door for a level 12.

The character sheet should telegraph to the player that their character is safe, or in danger RIGHT NOW.

🧵15/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

Math

Don't make me do math to do the current state of things. Don't make me know additional rules to know it.

if 8 is bad make me feel it, don't make me realize that my class has a d8 which means an average of 4 per level and I'm level 12 so 4 x 12 == 36 and 32 / 8 == rougly 1/4 so... i'm low

Yes, this is a contrived case, because by the time you reach level 12 you have a feel for your character and what # == bad

BUT... the point is that you shouldn't need that context.

🧵 16/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

Anyone should be able to pick up the character sheet and say "oh 💩 you're in danger"

ESPECIALLY the GM. Most GMs can't keep track of all the variables in a standard game and the "appropriate" health level for each class / kin / whatever. They should be able to glance over at your sheet and go "ok, they're fine, they can withstand more" or whatever.

🧵 17/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@DianaThompson I agree and disagree on that one, and I do so as someone who needs 20px

The reason I disagree is that you can't predict what "enough" is and the user has the ability to set a "minimum font size" in all browsers. So, they can make it exactly what they need.

BUT I do agree with the essence of what you're saying. Stop assuming perfect 20/20 vision and using teeny tiny crap and NOT testing what it looks like with big fonts.

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

Telegraphing mechanical meaning.

Some games have keywords that get associated with characters like "clever" or "resilient" and these can have mechanical meaning.

Frequently it's something like rolling an additional die or adding +2 when it's relevant.

Players shouldn't have to "just know" that.

The rule book is for clarification, additional details, and meta-discussion.

The character sheet is for answering "what can i do now?" and "what mechanics to i do if i do it?"

🧵 18/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

It'll be hard to do ALL the things in this thread. If you CAN do them without also making the character sheet cluttered (back to whitespace) then you absolutely should.

If you can redesign the character sheet of your favorite game to do this then you absolutely should. Please share the result please.

If you can't do it all strive to come as close as possible then question if the things in your game that are preventing you from doing all of this can't be simplified.

🧵 19/?

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

I think that's it for now.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. ;)

Maybe I'll make a blog post about this.

🧵 20/20 (probably)

masukomi,
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@DianaThompson the other problem is that 16pt can be fine on one monitor and teeny weeny on the next, without changing anything but the monitor (or the resolution)

Really what i’d like is the ability to say “text b that is 4mm tall on the users screen” which IS theoretically possible but I’ve never seen it done.

masukomi, (edited )
@masukomi@dice.camp avatar

@DianaThompson to be clear, by theoretically possible I mean the people making the monitors, and the operating system have sufficient information to figure that out and pass it on to the browser, but as far as I know no one ever does

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