Out of Character is a State of Mind

The logic goes something like this: WotC is bad, and therefore it is good to steal from them. Indie creators are good, and therefore it is bad to steal from them. Therefore, if you don't have money to spend on games, it is moral to play D&D and immoral to play indie games.

Interested in solo games?

One Page Left, by M. Kirin, is a solo horror roleplaying game inspired by slasher movies. You survive as long as you can fit words on a single sheet of paper; run out of space and you die!

Want to play as a group?

Cryptid Creeks, by HatchlingDM, is inspired by Stranger Things and Gravity Falls; you are a group of kids trying to save their home from something terrible. It uses a generative mystery mechanic that is super light-prep for the GM and encourages collaborative storytelling.

Want fantasy instead?

Slay, by Trollish Delver Games, is a stat-less dungeon-crawler that cobbles characters together using descriptors, gear, and skills. High-danger, rules-lite.

Want something more light-hearted?

Havoc Brigade, by Grant Howitt, is a high-energy one-shot about orcs on a special undercover mission. The game is all about "stupid plans and wild distractions", according to the game designer.

Want space or sci-fi instead?

Monolith, by AdamHensley is a sci-fi hack of Cairn and Into the Odd, perfect for a galaxy full of aliens, adventure, and danger.

Want something more collaborative?

A Perfect Rock, by Deep Dark Games, is a world-building game where you explore planets using your own personal rock collection, inspired by Interstellar, Subnautica, and The Outer Wilds.

All of these games were found in the free section of Itch.io. If you want more, you can browse there.

You can also check out some of my recommendation posts below.

Free TTRPGS 1/2

Free TTRPGS 2/2

Free Solo Games for First-Timers

Then, if you can join me for Phase 2. March 7 2025 thtough March 14 2025? No Amazon. None. 1 week. No orders. Not a single item. Not one ebook. Nothing. 1 week. Just 1.

If you live outside the USA boycott US products on February 28 2025 and stand in solidarity with us and also join us for the week of no Amazon.

Are you with me?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls

Here’s the fda link to use to search for recalls, safety alerts, and market withdrawals.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Executive orders do not change the Constitution or laws passed in Congress.

Push back. Use your voice. Stay engaged.

DO NOT SUBMIT IN ADVANCE.

If y'all are anything like me, this time of year is triggering AF. Here are some small, very easy grounding exercises that I was taught by my therapist, basically in order of how much I like them for this rage-inducing season. You make like them in a different order, depending on your rage-to-despair ratio.

Push a wall: literally go up to a wall and try to push it over. Really try. I promise you won't push it over, but give it your best shot. Try to hold it as long as you can, and then take a breather and assess whether you need to repeat. Why it works: This is a quick, physical expulsion of the fight-or-flight feeling. It's a bit like punching a wall, but without the potential to hurt yourself/look scary/damage things. You can even do it in front of people and say you're stretching, they'll never know (unless the wall actually falls down, but this will not happen, I assure you).

Shake like a dog: Animals shake to release stress, and you are also an animal. Setting aside time to just shake it out, as vigorously as you can, arms and legs, face, stick your tongue out, pretend you're shaking like a wet dog. You can dance instead, if that feels better, and you can do this to music, but basically the more unhinged you can be, the better. If you are in a place you can scream, scream too! Why it works: like the above, this is a release of pent-up stress and anxiety. Especially if your rage-to-woe ratio is high, some kind of physical exertion is often the best way to burn through the cortisol and adrenaline you're building up.

Bilateral Tapping: Cross your arms over your chest so that your fingertips are at your shoulders, and slowly tap, one hand at a time, back and forth, for about a minute. Breathe slowly. Why it works: This is weird as hell, but because this engages both sides of your brain, it helps override the activity of the amygdala, which is the part of your brain that Makes The Fear. If you're being literally triggered in a situation, i.e. you're having a trauma response, or reliving some family trauma, this is a good one.

Box Breathing: From a comfortable position (can really be seated, laying down or standing), inhale slowly for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, then repeat. You can do it for shorter counts or longer counts, but if you vary the counts make sure the exhale is longer than the inhale. You can close your eyes or leave them open. Why it works: This exercise helps you move from a sympathetic (activated) nervous system response to a parasympathetic (balanced) response. I do this one every day, and it's a good gateway to meditation. Especially helpful in anxious or tense situations, but I find if I'm very triggered I need one of the other ones first, or it can make anxiety worse. Breathwork is amazing but not usually as a first exercise if you're very activated, or have been activated a long time.

Ice: Lots of ways to do this one – hands in cold water for 30 seconds, ice pack on the back of your neck, dip your entire face into a bowl of ice water (this one's the most effective). Why it works: I kinda think this is hilarious, but this activates your mammalian dive reflex. It immediately slows your heart-rate, so if you are feeling your blood pressure and heart rate rising, this one is very good. The only reason this one's at the bottom of my list is because I hate being cold.

*doom music starts to play* I actually kindof like scheduling these kinds of appointments now...

but seriously Fellas, don't forget to schedule a pap smear every couple of years just in case. If you still have a cervix you can still get cervical cancer. ilu

it'd be a shame if this...

Oh, no. No. No, we are not doing this. 

This doc has information on the resolutions and their process, as well as sample messages and a phone script you can use. Please, use this moment to hear witness for your neighbors.

You can use these words:

“My name is [Your Name] and I am your constituent from [Your Address]. I am asking the Senator to cosponsor Senate Joint Resolutions 111 through 116 to disapprove of the proposed foreign military sale of certain defense articles and services to Israel. The resolution was introduced by Senator Sanders.”

If you voted for Trump AT ALL. Get the fuck off my blog. Unfollow me immediately.

I don’t care why you did it and I’m not gonna bother explaining myself to you, because as long as I have rights, I will execute them.

Senator Bob Casey’s race is now at a margin of 0.53%.

An automatic recount in PA is triggered with a margin of 0.5%. That’s a difference of 0.03% or a little over 2,000 votes. We need to make sure every ballot is counted here, and there’s thousands of uncounted ballots right now due to voter error.

Did you mail in a ballot? Check to see it was accepted here:

If it says anything other than accepted/counted/etc, your ballot needs your attention. A mistake in filling it out means that your ballot will not count unless you “cure” it. Check your county’s curing policies:

See full instructions for curing by county here.

You have until November 12 to cure your ballot in PA.

Do you know someone who mailed in a PA ballot? Please pass these links on to them. You may be the difference between their vote counting or not in a super close race.

Everyone else, you can help PA voters cure their ballots. If you live in Pennsylvania, you can help canvass in your county (see links in this thread). If you are in another state, you can sign up to call voters and help them cure by phone.

Erin Reed has presented a new version of her Anti-Trans Risk Assessment Map over at Erin in the Morning.

She writes:

The elections have tightened across the United States, and anti-trans ads have become a major part of the 2024 campaign cycle. As such, the risk has substantially raised for nationwide laws targeting transgender people in the coming years for both youth and adults. For states, the state of Texas has been upgraded to Do Not Travel, only the second state to receive such a recommendation. This comes as Odessa, Texas becomes the first city in the nation to pass a $10,000 bounty on transgender people inside of bathrooms.

For those in the US, there is a petition demanding a recount and revote as well as an investigation about the sudden change in support. Your voice matters and I encourage you to sign!

Check your ballots and tell your people to check theirs. There is a process to fix errors (usually signatures not matching; common with younger voters who tend to sign their ballots nicer than their driver’s license or whatever form they signed to register)

"Need a ride to the polls? The NAACP has you covered!

Use Lyft code #NAACPVOTE24

RE-REGISTER, AND CHECK THE DEADLINES FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS IF YOU ALREADY KNOW YOU WON'T BE IN TOWN ON ELECTION DAY!