Tom Pleasant

"And there is valor in that mindset. But then something wondrous happens. We actually win.

"The act of continually losing, of facing insurmountable challenge, it enhances the satisfaction of victory. It heightens the emotional payout." 3/3

"Games like Regicide and The Mind begin with the premise that you will lose. This increased threat is an essential element of the game’s characterization and everyone who has even a lick of experience approaches with the correct pessimistic assumptions. We expect defeat and we play them anyway. 2/3

Philosophy and Board Games: Hopeful Pessimism Philosopher Mara van der Lugt’s 2025 book Hopeful Pessimism challenges ideas of motivation and the role of despondency. It’s a revelation of sorts, especially for those plagued with ete…

Some interesting philosophy around the value of playing to lose to eventually win. Works for all games, but also for surviving the hellscape that is life these days, maybe? 1/3

#ttrpgs #boardgames #cardgames

playerelimination.com/2025/10/06/p...

The Parasite Economy It’s hard to do business with fungus in your brain, but seemingly impossible without it.

True-speak from Joel about the shitty business realities of being a 'content creative'.
open.substack.com/pub/joelmorr...

Join Us: Twenty of the Creepiest Cults in Horror Fiction Beware strange or persuasive men and women who insist they have all the answers!

When he's not cranking out reviews, @jonezyboy.bsky.social's cranking out features. Check out his latest, JOIN US: TWENTY OF THE CREEPIEST CULTS IN HORROR FICTION. Check out what made the list, and get ready to open your wallets! #booksky #cults #amreading #horror

www.horrordna.com/features/joi...

Possibly this? bsky.app/profile/rprf...

I wish there were the occasional links for context

The Best Scene in 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981) Isn't the One You Think How to write a comedy of terrors

Great article about how the masterful use of humour in American Werewolf in London improves the horror, not diminishes it. #writing #writingcommunity #HorrorSky #horror
open.substack.com/pub/alecworl...

Why Intentional Storytelling Matters in an Era of AI and Algorithm-Driven Content Intentional storytelling means making creative choices with purpose. Here’s why that matters more than ever in an AI-driven content world.

Great article from KM Weiland about intentional writing in the era of AI and other attempts to industrialise the art and craft of writing.

#writing #WritingCommunity #SpecLit #SpecFic #ScifiLit #HorrorLit #FantasyLit #sff #WriteSky #WriterSky

www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/why-intentio...

That's probably why a lot of groups bounce hard off of some games and start hacking them before they even finish their first scenario!

I never played Exalted but did early Vampire. Can you explain how it managed to combine different attitudes where Vampire didn't?

Very interesting thread! I'd add that different playing groups/tables, not just individual players, also adopt the same attitude through shared games and campaigns they've already played, often without realising it. 1/2

"Highly accurate," says the father of just such a four-year old.

She's not wrong!

Took the boy to the playground and had some fun ourselves.

An especially awesome episode!

Who Goes There? (1938) vs The Thing (1982) John W. Campbell's classic novella of Golden Age science fiction and John Carpenter's modern horror masterpiece - both absorb new meanings in the age of Covid, identity politics and generative AI

Great combo article exploring Who Goes There? and The Thing, taking in the evolution of Golden Age sci-fi, the downfall of John W Campbell and identity politics!
open.substack.com/pub/alecworl... #HorrorSky

At least it wasn't pesto made from blended newts!

Stumbled on an author's blog while researching only to discover his twice weekly blog posts are obviously all AI generated. Silly sod. Why do people do this?!

Transference by Ian Patterson A Rusalka Books Review

This review prompted me to buy it immediately!
open.substack.com/pub/rusalkab...

Finished it today and it was bloody brilliant. Kudos!

Agreed! Wish more authors did that and also offered ebook downloads too.

The Death of Shopify’s Start-up Dream, One Layoff at a Time | The Walrus How the company chased scale, hit a wall, retrenched, and became the very thing it promised not to be

Also, did you read this interesting article about the shitification of Shopify? thewalrus.ca/the-death-of...

I used Wix for our tiny business and that suited us fine. Simple to start but with pleny of more advanced options.

Ultimately, The Hamlet is not just a story; it is an exploration of fear, curiosity, and the human condition. Its thought-provoking themes and beautiful prose resonate deeply, solidifying its place as one of my all-time favourite books.

What an offer!

‘Together’ Trailer – Alison Brie & Dave Franco’s Love and Flesh Get Corrupted Aptly set to The Turtles‘ “Happy Together,” the trailer for Together teases a horrific codependent relationship portrayed by real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Currently rated 100% on Rott...

This could be the beginning of something wonderful. Watch the official trailer for Neon's TOGETHER starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, a body horror nightmare that promises to be one of the must-see movies of 2025.

The Psychology of Covers - Agile Vocalist What's the brain science of cover songs? Why are we drawn to them? Adolescent and young adulthood are formative years when it comes to music & the brain.

Maybe that's related to the longevity of certain songs, but I suspect it's more to do with other elements that make them popular and end up being covered a lot, such as 'Yesterday', 'Summertime' and 'My Way': chord structure, universal meaning: agilevocalist.com/2021/01/15/c...

Psychology of Earworms: Investigating the world of 'Default Songs' We delve in the science and psychology of why a single song can be stuck in your head for a lifetime with expert guidance from Concetta Tomaino and Nick Seaver.

Not quite what you're asking but the psychology of ear worms is fascinating! Here's one of many articles: bit.ly/42I0K3v It's very subjective, but there are certain songs, such as 'Baby Shark' that are notorious for being them. 1/2

Free?! This is a perfect way to check out the excellent writing of @tcparker.bsky.social of the awesome book Tradwife.

Logo of the magazine Cosmic Horror Monthly Patreon along with my own name and photo showing I've resumed supporting them

Had to lapse my support of Cosmic Horror Monthly magazine for a couple of years due to a change in career, but I'm back! Great publication and writers. #horror #cosmichorror