February 26, 2026
GMing Like A Host, Not A Referee
A practical framework for running sessions with strong pacing, clear stakes, and better table energy without over-prepping every beat.
Read morePersonal Records
Notes and Blog Notes
Notes render from `notes/*.mdx`, and blog notes render from each child in `blogs/*`.
Blog Notes
February 24, 2026
On Wizards of the Coast and Long-Horizon Product Thinking
Notes on what large-scale tabletop product ecosystems get right, and what independent creators can adapt without copying the full corporate model.
Read moreNotes
February 25, 2026
Writing Voice Reminder
When writing setting text, lead with mood first, then mechanics.
If the paragraph sounds like documentation, rewrite it until it sounds like a world someone could step into. The reader should feel tone before they parse rules detail.
Checklist for edits:
- First sentence establishes atmosphere.
- Concrete nouns beat abstract lore language.
- Rules references come after image and tone.
- End with a line that implies action.
February 22, 2026
Prep Note - Encounter Pressure
I want encounters to create pressure without forcing a single solution.
Good pressure comes from three things: time, exposure, and cost. If at least one is present, players make sharper decisions and roleplay becomes more decisive.
- Time pressure: something bad advances each round.
- Exposure pressure: staying visible has escalating risk.
- Cost pressure: success is possible, but not free.
Next session I will test one encounter where all three pressures are present but each can be solved in multiple ways.