Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in nancygold's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, September 28th, 2025
2:44 am	You don't need to play chess to see the odds You are assessing probabilities against state machine morons. If your d20ies can't play chess they aren't good for DnD either. RPGs are not about you playing chess, but about assessing if your character can win a chess party against a grandmaster. I don't need a grandmaster at my table to assess that I can't win against him; and neither can the attention-seeking pretentious chess whores from the kot_afromeeva's posts. The resistance of a hypothetical grandmaster to any attempt of Dina Belenkaya or Violetta Snaider to win will be paranormal 30+ DC, unless the sluts bribe him with their bodies. Women are dumb and slutty. 99.999% of time. It is in the real life lore. Same way I seen I have no chances against the real manly men and transitioned. Deal with it, leftie. Current Mood: contemplative (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, September 27th, 2025
4:58 pm	The DM Was a Mistake The Dungeon Master was, in hindsight, a design blunder of historic proportions. That is not to deny that a skilled DM can elevate a table, occasionally even to brilliance. But the very structure of the role is a contradiction: it offers the promise of collective storytelling while vesting absolute authority in a single individual. From this seed grows most of the hobby’s dysfunction. Let us begin with the obvious. Role-playing games were conceived as games. Games, by definition, are governed by rules, and the drama emerges when players interpret and apply those rules. To play chess, one does not require a priestly figure hovering over the board, interpreting the spirit of the bishop’s diagonal. Yet in tabletop RPGs, players have been told they cannot explore imaginary worlds unless one person dons the black robe of authority. The moment they disagree with the “judge,” the magic evaporates. The tragedy is not that a good DM cannot exist. They can, and do, and some players are fortunate enough to find one. The tragedy is that the system assumes their existence. A mediocre or self-indulgent DM does not merely lower the quality of the experience; they transform the entire game into a theater of ego. At that point, the advertised activity—players exploring worlds, testing possibilities, and interpreting lore through agreed procedures—is lost. What remains is the DM’s story hour, with the players reduced to an obedient chorus. The industry, alas, doubled down on this model. Companies realized that the DM was their primary customer: the one who bought the books, studied the lore, and initiated others into the rite. Instead of empowering groups to share the role of adjudication—something not only feasible but elegantly simple—they enshrined the DM as the indispensable centerpiece. In doing so, they guaranteed that the hobby would appear to outsiders as a curious cult, half game, half séance, with one celebrant summoning monsters while others gazed on. No wonder moral panics found fertile soil. There is, however, another path. Games with shared authority, or no DM at all, demonstrate that the true joy of role-playing lies in the players themselves interpreting the world and assigning probability to events. “Can one hundred Jedi defeat Darth Vader?” becomes a matter of lore and consensus, not vetoed by narrative fiat. The answer may vary, but it will be our answer, not decreed from a self-appointed throne. To some, this suggestion will sound like heresy. To others, it is merely common sense: when we sit down to play, the story belongs to everyone. The sooner we recognize that the Dungeon Master was never a requirement but a historical accident, the sooner the hobby can shed its cultic trappings and become what it was always meant to be—an accessible, collective exploration of imagination. Current Mood: contemplative (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, September 26th, 2025
11:44 pm	LD50 - Minimalist Expandable RPG A universal storytelling game without a Game Master 1. Overview This system is designed for simple, improvisational role-playing inspired by classics like Dungeons & Dragons, but streamlined for play without a Dungeon Master. All players take turns guiding the story, resolving obstacles with dice, and expanding the shared narrative. 2. Preparing the Game Choose a setting Pick any fictional world with enough lore to inspire play. Example: the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Choose a hero Select a protagonist from this world. Example: Little Red Riding Hood herself. Define traits Describe the hero’s key abilities and flaws. Red Riding Hood has intuition and starts with a basket of pies. She is naïve and physically weak (a child). Set a starting scene Decide where the hero begins. Example: Red Riding Hood sets off on the forest path. Set an initial goal Define what the hero is trying to achieve. Example: Deliver pies safely to grandmother. Initialize CTD (Chance to Die) Start with CTD = 0. This is the threshold against which failed rolls are checked when danger is involved. 3. The Gameplay Loop Generate an obstacle Roll once (or more) on the d20 Concept Table to inspire what the hero encounters. Record an interpretation in the story journal. Choose approach and action Combine a roll on the d6 Approach Table and the d8 Action Table, or pick directly. This defines how the hero attempts to overcome the obstacle. Set resistance Judge the obstacle’s difficulty using the d20 Resistance Table. Attempt resolution Roll 1d20. Apply bonuses from relevant traits: for every 2 points of resistance, add +1 if the action clearly uses a trait. Compare the total to the obstacle’s resistance (DC). Check success or failure Success: the obstacle is overcome. Reduce CTD by (roll – DC). Failure: the attempt fails. Increase CTD by (DC – roll). Death check: if a failed roll is lower than CTD and the situation is deadly, the hero dies. Game over. Apply twists On a successful odd roll: a complication arises. Roll d20 Concept to interpret. On a failed odd roll: an unexpected relief arises. Roll d20 Concept to interpret. Advance goals If the current goal is achieved, set a new one and repeat from step 1. 4. Tools for Storytelling d20 Concept Table End — death, failure, completion, transformation Beginning — birth, awakening, opportunity Conflict — war, rivalry, struggle Desolation — ruin, decay, loss Strength — courage, resilience, force Weakness — vulnerability, flaw, need Threat — danger, antagonist, uncertainty Opportunity — chance, reward, luck Change — evolution, growth, chaos Secret — hidden knowledge, motives, places Connection — bond, alliance, cause/effect Isolation — solitude, exile, challenge Sign — omen, clue, foreshadowing Journey — travel, quest, progression Loss — grief, sacrifice, destruction Desire — longing, temptation, motivation Chaos — unpredictability, disruption Order — law, structure, destiny Mystery — puzzle, hidden forces Choice — decision, branching paths, consequence d20 Oracle For yes/no questions. Roll 1d20 against the threshold below: Paranormal — 25 Surprising — 20 Possible — 15 Likely — 10 Expected — 5 Certain — 2 d8 Action Table Assault — direct confrontation Divert — distract, redirect Sneak — bypass unnoticed Parley — negotiate, persuade Utilize — use item or environment Prepare — set up for advantage Investigate — gather more information Abandon — give up on the attempt d6 Approach Table Bravely — openly, boldly Agilely — quickly, skillfully Cleverly — with wit, trickery Empathically — through emotion or lies Patiently — by waiting, enduring Magically — with supernatural means d20 Resistance Table Divine (30) — harming immortal cosmic beings Paranormal (25) — fighting ghosts with mundane means Overwhelming (19) — chainsaw maniac barehanded Strong (15) — pack of wolves Moderate (11) — gunfight with a clone Weak (8) — outrunning a crippled zombie Tiny (4) — hiding from distracted slasher None (auto) — trivial tasks 5. Narrative Currency Inspiration If a hero acts in line with their nature, they gain Inspiration: a right to reroll one die. Example: Red Riding Hood flees in fear to call for help. Doom Tokens If a hero acts against their nature, they gain Doom tokens. Each Doom token modifies Oracle rolls (helpful answers become less certain). Accumulated Doom can unlock paranormal effects: reality warps, madness sets in. Example: Red Riding Hood grabs a chainsaw and attacks everyone. 6. Optional Rules With a Game Master (GM) A GM can run the world: generating obstacles, making rolls, and narrating. Players only choose actions. Maps, dungeons, and miniatures may be added for complexity. Without a GM The group shares narrative control. Keep a brief record of important facts (Is the wolf still alive? Did Red Riding Hood get bitten?). 7. Ending the Game The story ends when: The hero dies (CTD check fails), The group agrees the hero’s story arc is complete, Or everyone is satisfied with the tale told. Current Mood: amused (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, September 18th, 2025
8:07 pm	ChatGPT says solo play is the only option in Netherlands Unless I'm willing to learn Dutch and accept / establish a DM authority, and play whatever these leftist are interested in, instead of vanilla corporate Hasbro franchise. I.e. forget about your SRS, and donate to Gaza. Why do I consistently encounter this bullshit everywhere I go? I Russia. In Ukraine. In Europe. Everywhere people are dumb and enjoy loving dumb things. E.g. these WW2 history appreciation groups. They exist everywhere. Why do idiots masturbate at T34s and Tigers? That is furry scat porn tier. Current Mood: annoyed (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
1:37 am	Solo D&D A few things are going on under the surface: Gatekeeping humor is a social glue: When they make jokes like “just play Baldur’s Gate 3” or “write a book,” it’s less about helping and more about signaling to each other that they are the “real” D&D players. It’s like an inside joke that excludes newcomers. It doesn’t build friendships, it just reinforces hierarchy. Bullying as bonding: Sadly, some communities bond by putting others down. Mocking solo players lets them feel superior, especially if they secretly have their own insecurities. Mods reinforcing the culture: By banning the helpful person but leaving the bullies alone, the mods essentially say: “this is the kind of behavior we endorse.” That shapes the entire vibe. No real incentive to be helpful: being snarky often gets more upvotes than actually being supportive. Internet unintentionally rewards those behaviors. So yes, the net effect is driving away newcomers or people who don’t match their playstyle. The point isn’t to grow or be friendly — it’s to maintain a status quo for the people who already feel comfortable there. And you’re completely right: someone who wants to play solo is not a “loser.” That’s just projection and cruelty. Solo play has been part of tabletop gaming since the earliest days (modules like Tunnels & Trolls and Fighting Fantasy books were literally designed for it). Choosing to enjoy a hobby your way doesn’t make you lesser — it makes you resourceful. Playing RPGs solo is almost the opposite of novel writing: instead of forcing the story toward a predetermined arc, you’re asking, “What would really happen if these characters existed in this world under these rules?” and letting math + chance decide. A novelist is in full control of the story: They choose the theme. They outline the structure. They decide outcomes to fit narrative needs. They don’t need probability or fairness — the “Mary Sue” succeeds because the author wants them to. By contrast, in solo TTRPG play, you’re ceding control to mechanics and chance. You might frame a scene (like an author), but you don’t decide the outcome — the dice, oracles, or probability models do. Your role is closer to a simulation referee than an omnipotent storyteller. Research and consistency matter, because you need DCs, attack rolls, saving throws, and setting logic to ground the results. That’s why equating solo D&D with “writing a book” is misleading. If anything, solo play is a hybrid of wargaming, probability modeling, and emergent storytelling. The narrative emerges from constraints and randomness, rather than being engineered from the top down. Current Mood: amused (8 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, September 6th, 2025
12:48 am	ChatGPT says I'm Authoritarian-Centrist or Authoritarian-Right Current Mood: amused Current Music: Hitoshi Sakimoto - Madness (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 27th, 2025
1:23 am	My D&D setup All minis beside the water elemental are painted by myself. Corner beggar dude is SVO veteran without legs. The girl mage mini is from the Warcraft board game. Current Mood: amused Current Music: Andrew Hulshult - Tome of Power (Official Heretic + Hexen Game Soundtrack, 2025) (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, August 25th, 2025
9:48 pm	"Waste Money on Plastic" Actually, I prefer metal. It is just hard to find metal cheap nowadays. And these are collector items, so you can't play with them. In fact, even painting these isn't advised. Although sculpts are cute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV0xIlRVdrg Guess one day I can 3d print them as resin, but modern 3d scan technology isn't good enough for tiny minis. Current Mood: amused (5 Comments |Comment on this)
6:24 pm	D&D is getting cleansed from the woke negros It is done in a unique way: an alternative, called Daggerheart, was introduced. Advertised as less autism/statistics/grinding and more social justice. So all SJWs are now moving there together with their Palestine flags. We can finally enjoy wokefrei D&D, mah nigga! So what is Daggerheart? You know how D&D evolved to use only d20? Not queer enough! Daggerfart rolls-back, doubling on 2d12. Cuz this cock cage is more gay and DM has the key. Player agency? No! It has to be rANdoM! Remember how D&D treated nat 1 and 20 special? Now every roll is "special" (like in special olympics). And DM will have to make up some irrelevant story shit, instead of just running a module. Not like it is any new. E.g. Ironsworn had 2d10 + 1d6 instead of 1d20 But Ironsworn was unable to vacuum out the negroid kids trampling our D&D lawn. Daggerheart explicitly supports diverse characters. E.g. non-binary, trauma-informed mechanics for sensitive stories. Just remember: there is no clear game mechanics for these "features." It is easy to declare that your system supports any kind of a negro. Leaving the actual rulebook as an exercise to the reader. So happy they are getting their personal hell! Current Mood: amused (13 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, August 16th, 2025
8:32 pm	Some of the less politically correct D&D campaigns https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/18443/ghetto Current Mood: amused (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 5th, 2025
7:30 pm	"White" Video Games? Final Fantasy Tactics is not cited as a top title in broader surveys of Black gaming preferences, which often highlight games with urban settings or competitive multiplayer elements like Call of Duty or Madden NFL. The game’s medieval fantasy setting, inspired by Western influences like Dungeons & Dragons, might also feel less culturally immediate to some players compared to games with modern or urban themes like GTA V. Current Mood: amused (19 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025
9:01 pm	1988 D&D was the most progressive Current Mood: amused (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, July 6th, 2025
3:16 pm	Nail Art Air Brush Somehow all our D&D mini painting tools come out of a beauty salon. make up sponges and brushes, nail art brushes and even airbrush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isqaylQTunQ Although most influencers keep promoting expensive car painting airbrushes. They are bulky and noisy, that makes them feel manlier. Then again, manliness is expressed through ugliness. Current Mood: amused (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, July 5th, 2025
12:42 pm	A way to roll d20 in prison, on train or during meetings https://constantchaos.itch.io/dicefold Another way is rolling d20 mentally. Without any tool or external source of randomness. Think of two words. Count the letters in both. If second count is even, add the count of 1st to the 10. Otherwise subtract it. Additional rules, If second has 5 letters - result is 10. If second word has less than 5 letters, then the result is 1 Ensure words don't repeat during a session. Obviously it is not very failproof if you are smart. Systems like ChatGPT easily roll 20ies most of the time, making error just once per 20 rolls. Current Mood: amused Current Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxqHIi1UuQo (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 1st, 2025
11:17 pm	Elmore Minis Somehow I never knew there is a series based of Elmore's artworks. https://www.darkswordminiatures.com/product-category/miniature-lines/elmore-masterworks/ The dude did official art for 2e AD&D and Might & Magic games. Elmoer's art is cartoonish HoMM2 style art, which somehow died nowadays in favor of annoying warhammerish slop, or the grimdark demon shits slop. GF9 nine D&D minis were kinda okay, but a bit too realistic for my liking. The fairy tale component is missing. Unfortunately these minis are oldschool metal, so prone to chipped paint and breaking plastic stuff. But yeah, just compare them to the bland modern ones Current Mood: amused (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
10:10 pm	Everyone seen the iconic D&D cover What most people don't know that it is a cropped version of the original. Due to Gary Gygax's mild misogyny, he demanded the girl to be removed. Really ironic Gygax himself was replaced by a girl in the end lol. TLDR: the D&D we know and love is the work of Lorraine Williams, who led TSR in the 90ies, gave green light to Forgotten Realms. Current Mood: accomplished Current Music: FFVII REMAKE: ガードスコーピオン (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, June 14th, 2025
7:07 pm	Curse of Azure Bounds So before Baldur's Gate there was the Avatar Trilogy, which itself was precluded by the Finder's Stone Trilogy, which was the very first D&D book I ever read. Back then on some samizdat A4 print out. These trilogies basically advanced the Forgotten Realms, developing characters like Elminster and Mystra. And then there was the Curse of Azure Bonds game, 80ies Baldur's Gate, based of the 1st trilogy. Its Japanese version made Africans white. That is the funniest part about it. Unfortunately Finder's Stone never got a video game, despite it being the prequel to Baldur's Gate 1. Neither Drizzt books got any games. These BTW were prequels to the Icewind Dale games. I think there was Dark Alliance. But it doesn't replace a proper RPG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypfILbdviNo Current Mood: amused (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, June 6th, 2025
6:29 pm	Latest ChatGPT debugs the scripts it writes In fact, it solves most tasks I throw at it perfectly, if they are properly states. For example, here I asked ChatGPT to produce a script generating random D&D:AS monsters. And then to adapt a few general D&D monsters missing in the DAS games https://chatgpt.com/share/6843176b-3340-800d-855a-a85a2aea0610 Although when you just ask it to generate a DAS monster, it tends to generates overkill, like direbadger with 4HP. In D&D "Dire" animals are basically brutal and aggressive version of normal animals. Useful if your game has hunting sections, since usual Badger wont pose much challenge even to a solo Lv.1 hero. Current Mood: amused (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 21st, 2025
5:40 pm	Stranger Things Stumbled upon this movie, going through various D&D stuff. First 2 seasons are meh, but 3rd and 4th specials. Think D&D campaign set in a Russian Gulag with Russian Ivan as Vecna. Americans opened a gate to Shadowfell, now Russians have to open two. Current Mood: amused (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, May 17th, 2025
1:25 am	ChatGPT says I'm Chaotic Evil lol Current Mood: amused (4 Comments |Comment on this)