Working on Clandestine Societies Issue 2

 

A few years back I had started work on what I intended to be a series of releases for Supernatural - Horror - Occult gaming. Just a small release with some different articles inside all falling into that vibe. I called this Clandestine Societies, referencing the secret societies and groups that would be created by the existence of such things in our world. 

I managed to get issue one completed and ready to go and was working on issue two. The idea was to get three done before I released the first. A planned release schedule. But then I caught Covid, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Ended up in Barnes Hospital in St. Louis on a ventilator, it got bad, up to the point where they told my wife she may want to start thinking about making 'arrangements' because my outlook was bleak. But right after that call my body started turning around and I survived. 

Went through in facility physical therapy to recover from both muscle atrophy and lung damage. When I finally got home that brain fog people talk about was all to real and really rough. But I recovered enough that sat down and went ahead and released Issue One on 6/12/21. But it would be a while before I could focus enough on writing and creating anything.

Now it's been a few years. While I still fight with some mental and memory issues I am back to where I feel I can start making material again. I attribute a lot of my recovery to doing face to face gaming again and getting a job where I exercise my brain a bit. 

So two years ago I released a new Squad Names, but it was something I had partially written and didn't require to much work. Then recently I released Cyberpunk Random Charts. Now I'm working on Clandestine Societies Issue Two. 

It's all written and done. I've got the cover image figured out and I'm looking for other pieces of stock art for the articles inside. While I'm doing all that I'm rereading everything for the fifth or sixth time. Layout is going to be done on LibreOffice cause I just don't feel like relearning how to use Scribus again after all this. I'm going to be using the words "Not professional, not slick, but cheap" quite often from now on. 

I'm thinking of making the release date January to start the new year off with something. I'll probably keep the regular price I charge of a dollar since it looks to end up around eleven or twelve pages. Got a few other things I'm slowly working on and hopefully I'll get them rolled out as well as 2026 progresses. 

This went on for a bit longer than I anticipated. Thanks for those who read through it all. 

Daggerheart: 15 Sessions Later, a Post-Mortem Review

A good, solid, honest review of Daggerheart. One that was made after several sessions of play with the system. Been waiting for a review like this of the game. 

Tuesday Promo - Gregorius21778

 

At one point I was trying to promote other folks and their stuff every Tuesday. Sadly it didn't last long as real life (as always) intruded and I had less time to spend doing stuff on here. Now I have more free time so I feel I need to make an attempt at that again.

So today I'm pointing over to a blog calld 'Gregorius21778'. This person stays pretty dang busy. He put out material every day for Sprawlvember and then previously everyday for Morktober the month before. Not to mention a huge amount of previous material and has released a lot of product. 

Lots of creative ideas are over there. I haven't even begun scratching the surface on looking through it all. So if you want to see read some cool shit then look no further than that particular blog. 

New Product - Cyberpunk Random Tables

 

Over on my Ko-Fi shop I have a new product up for folks. It's a collection of various cyberpunk themed random charts that have appeared on this blog over they years. While it's not slick, nor is it professional, it is only a buck. So go on over and check it out if you would! 

Well it's also over on DrivethruRPG for those who prefer purchasing from that platform. So here is a link for you to find it over there. 

Cyberpunk Sunday 11/30/25

 

Scientists grow mini human brains to power computers. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7p1lzvxjro

Brain inspired computing can help us create faster, more energy efficient devices.

https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/brain-inspired-computing-can-help-us-create-faster-more-energy-efficient

Power for AI: Easier said than built. 

https://about.bnef.com/insights/commodities/power-for-ai-easier-said-than-built/

Magician Forgets Password to RFID Chip Implanted In His Hand. 

https://obdaily.com/weird/magician-forgets-password-to-rfid-chip-implanted-in-his-hand/

Why are we still carrying around car keys?

https://www.wired.com/story/why-are-we-all-still-carrying-around-car-keys/

Sprawlvember 29: Glitches

 

For the 29th day we have Glitches as the prompt. So here is something special to aggravate your netrunners with. 

A Six pack of Glitches happening while you are jacked into the net. 

1 – You can’t see anyone’s actual avatar. All you see are various polygons (the more detailed or complex the avatar the more sides on the visible polygon) of different colors with their user name floating above them.

2 – A bit of strange feedback into your meat body. Every twenty seconds of so your meat house gets a shock to the area around your data port. You can feel it very distinctly and it’s quite distracting.

3 – Going from system to system is buggy. So when you go from a city view up to a regional view it may fail a few times or simply take longer than normal. Very aggravating when you are on a time sensitive schedule.

4 – All audio input has been switched over to mute with closed captioning provided but using bold flashing letters. For some reason it will not switch back.

5 – For some reason anytime you receive or send data packages your system wants you to set a passcode key for each one. It cannot be a passcode that you previously used.

6 – The trial version of the cyberdeck is in place every single time you log in. You have to reinstall the purchase code to turn it off. Otherwise after three minutes jacked in your are recalled back to the cyberdecks lobby program and have to wait an hour before you can jack back in.

If you are on Discord please check out the Old School//Cyberpunk server that is under new management. 

Be A Better Player 21 - Don't expect Critical Role

 

Be A Better Player 21 "Don't expect critical role" and for damned sure don't demand it! 

DM - "Welcome to the table, glad to have you here."

Player 1 - "Yeah we need some new blood."

Player 2 - "Grab a seat, we can move around a bit if need be."

New Player - "Okay great, happy to be hear. Where can I set to face the camera better?"

Player 3 - "Face the what now?"

New Player - "The camera for when you stream the game. Where do you usually set them up?"

DM - "We don't stream our games."

New Player - "You don't?"

Player 2 - "Yeah we just play here at the table. For fun."

New Player - "Why would anybody want to even play if it's not being streamed? That's kind of dumb."

DM - "Maybe you should rethink what you think gaming should be."

While Critical Role has been instrumental in propelling the popularity of the gaming hobby to never before seen levels there have been some issues to come along with it. Before I start I'm in no way bashing the show, it's stories, or how they do things. I'm simply pointing out some problems I've seen come up because of the way people see the show. Also this isn't just limited to Critical Roles influence, there have been many successful streaming actual play shows which have caused some folks to develop a false sense of expectations. 

What you see, and hear, on that show is now how most gaming looks at the table. Matthew Mercer is a professional voice actor, many of cast are voice actors or work in the film industry in some fashion. These folks have been to acting school, or at least classes. They are professionals doing a job that has a production budget, editing team, writers and so much more. 

Most likely, you don't have any of that. 

So don't expect the person running the game to have all that. Don't expect all the players to have all that. Definitely don't DEMAND that they have all that. 

I've seen players tell folks who've been running games for decades that they shouldn't be a DM because they "can't do all the voices and accents". Or that everyone at the table should have to dress up as their character. Not to mention asking why they don't have a high end streaming set up so they can "become" famous with the game. Or act like you are auditioning for Critical Role at a table where nobody else is interested in that.

Being that jackass with over the top expectations from the other people at the table will likely get you uninvited from that table. As they should do. Let everyone have the fun the way they want to. If you can't do without all the extras then leave and find a group that does. Good luck with that.