Clayton

Binary has been doing really cool work with conflict resolution in tabletop rpgs. I don't think I've seen a more info-dense approach to dice than the kind in Null_Space.

Check out this SRD if you're a mechanics sicko like myself.

Unfortunately, I think "Moleman Syndrome" might already evoke a clear image of someone who espouse the virtues of dirt while conducting anti-surface crusades using massive drills.

Or is that just me?

This probably lacks some context, so let me ground it a little. If you're a designer or copywriter, and the idea's name and form doesn't immediately click with people—if it needs explanation—it's not going to find immediate adoption and advocacy on its own after its separated from that explanation.

When I was studying design and copywriting, I was taught that ideas need names. If you can't name the idea, the idea isn't finished.

I'm somewhat convinced the same might be true for game design and naming rules. If you can't name it—or the name feels wrong—maybe the rule isn't baked yet.

TIME WARP: Prison Planet, with Luke Gearing | Ansible Uplink Get more from Ansible Uplink on Patreon

TIME WARP

@lukegearing.bsky.social joins me on Ansible Uplink to review Adventure 08: Prison Planet, for Classic Traveller

Stuffed animals.

Don't be afraid to do the obvious thing. Sometimes it feels obvious because it's natural, and sometimes—in an attempt to be obvious—you end up being clever, or even better, original.

After a decade of design writing, I can honestly say this is the hardest lesson to actually learn and live by.

YouTube video by Viktor Pushkarev Trench Crusade. Assets for the rulebook.

I can’t wait for my Trench Crusade rule book to arrive. Amazing seeing the slow methodical process of the artist Viktor Pushkarev.

I deleted and reworded, fyi. But yeah, I’m referring to a lot of my friends and mutuals, lol.

And if you're one of those folks designing tabletop games while raising a child, or at a service job, you can probably ignore this.

"Take it to the pub." Designers tend to design games at home, at leisure, with conditions just right. Take the game to a crowded place. Read it under poor lighting and at an arm's length. Read the book with music, food, and drink fighting for attention. Judge it under play-like conditions.

The OSR News Roundup for January 26th is now live. www.sabregamesandcards.com/post/osr-new... Check it out for an overview of last week's #ttrpg releases in the #indierpg and #osr spheres.

It turns out the hogs will feed themselves.

Pollute the Elfen Memory Water | Between Two Cairns Get more from Between Two Cairns on Patreon

Today on Between Two Cairns, @bradkerr.net, @betterlegends.bsky.social and I are joined by @budapestkick.bsky.social to review Pollute the Elfen Memory Water by Michael Raston, and to answer a mailbag question.

www.patreon.com/posts/pollut...

Against Dominant Mechanics Rules form relationships with each other. Some share play. Some hog it.

Not surprisingly there's strong public support for "Hog Rules" to replace the name "Dominant Mechanics." 🐖⚙

www.explorersdesign.com/dominant-mec...

The entire population of Maine is only 1.4 million people. Our biggest city has fewer than 70k people. The median age is over 45 years old.

It's mostly trees and grandparents here.

These outsiders, these brown shirt cosplayers, hate all of it, because it scares the shit out of them.

The Electrum Archive is Prescription Medication The Endless Capsule Game that will Never let the OSR Die

New Review - The Electrum Archive!

Checking in on the Dungeon Boys again.
They are, as usual, getting up to strange tomfoolery.

www.valerialoves.com/the-electrum...

Maybe dominant mechanics is partly dependent on there being emergent gameplay and open-ended play spaces. Something video games don't really do and board games can only do in a very limited way.

Not exactly. I think a dominant mechanic is any mechanic that overrides other mechanics and monopolizes play. If other mechanics go unused because another mechanic is present in the system—that is a dominant mechanic.

BLOG POST TIME

My follow-up to @explorersdesign.bsky.social's excellent Dominant Mechanics - My minor manifesto on loot - I give you:

The Loot Sicko's Dilemma

www.failforward.moe/2026/01/the-...

I wonder if in board games the relevant/related phenomenon is the optimal strategy. "Good" board games tend to obscure or present lots of them. "Bad" board games often don't.

I'm not a good client to me. That guy is a bastard.

Thanks for sharing my article! When I see someone post my article directly, I'm always a little surprised.

I try not to say "this is required reading" because that gets old really quick, but I genuinely think this is great advice that will help make you an absolute gem to work with.

You'll get better layout, timelines, and collaboration by following this advice. Give it a read if you can.

Austin's work is a huge influence on me in general, it definitely had some influence on this line of thinking.

Aww, thank you. That's really nice of you to say.

It had a very brief moment in Ohio when I was younger.

I have to credit @prismaticwasteland.com for that one. We agreed it probably only made sense to those of us familiar with the invasive, overgrown kudzu found in the American South and Midwest.

In the end, I landed on @save.vs.totalpartykill.ca's name: "dominant mechanics" because it felt right after writing out the whole article.

Maybe in a couple weeks I'll succumb to my absurdity and start calling them Hog Rules—because it's more fun. Dumb. But fun.

Dominant Mechanics is just one of many names I considered while trying to name the pattern I was experiencing in playtesting.

Other names from friends and colleagues:

Invasive Mechanics
Dominate Mechanics
Kudzu Mechanics
Hog Mechanics
Hog Rules (tempting)
Loud Mechanics
Magnet Mechanics
Etc.