Critical Thoughts

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Exploring big ideas and connecting through gaming, fantasy, and geek culture

They laughed. Then the fire came.

They laughed. Then the fire came.

The Curse Of Cassandra She saw it all. Cassandra, princess of Troy, was blessed by Apollo with the gift of prophecy. She could see the future like a map: The...

The Curse of Endless Desire

The Curse of Endless Desire

Tantalus was cursed by the gods to stand in a pool of water, surrounded by fruit trees. But every time he reached up, the fruit pulled away. Every time he...

Not knowing is half the battle

Not knowing is half the battle

The Creator Class Has No Prerequisites You don’t need a certificate. A plan. A perfect first draft. We think we need to know before we begin. Know how to paint....

The muse won't find you on a battlefield, she w...

The muse won't find you on a battlefield, she w...

The Sacred Art of Stepping Away You stare at the blank screen. Nothing. You’ve opened all the tabs. Checked every stat. Rerolled the same problem a dozen times. The dungeon...

The gods don't call the unprepared.

The gods don't call the unprepared.

The gods don't call the unprepared.

In the hero's journey there are no mistakes. If you're on the quest, it’s because you’re meant to be. Not because you're worthy of the treasure, or the most capable...

Three adventurers in an underground river. Two are drowning, one drags them both to shore.

You didn't quit because you lost, you quit beca...

You didn't quit because you lost, you quit beca...

Players don't quit because their characters die. They quit because they lose hope. It’s never the TPK that kills the campaign. It’s the silence that follows—when no one knows why...