Michael Curtis
@manlymikecurtis
TTRPG designer, writer, and Director of Product Development, DCC at Goodman Games. Unrepentant weirdo. More at
Arriving with perfect timing just before the weekend, Midnight of the Century's list of influences looks like a checklist of "Things Mike Loves." Looks like Frank Black (not the Pixies one) and I will be hanging out the weekend as I give it a read through. Luckily, the forecast is rain.
It all makes sense now. Bruce painted one strap too many on his Napoleonics minis and this was the result.
Torolf & Helgi, sister-sons of Magni, join their uncle's crew for a springtime voyage on the whale road. New lands, new dangers, and new wonders await them. Models by @footsoreminiatures.bsky.social, decals by Little Big Man, backdrop by @handiworkgames.bsky.social, painting by me. #brutallands
Spent a good hour and change digging through my library trying to find a sketch of a Neolithic mortuary structure I remember seeing somewhere (that's just how my brain works, OK?). Lesson learned: Always check Francis Pryor first.
Buying an official Zocchihedron from the man, himself, at Gen Con 2019. @dieterz.bsky.social and I somehow also ended up packing up Lou’s booth into his van, which might have been the last wedge-shaped van in existence. It smelled like a gas refinery and we feared for Lou’s life. RIP Lou.
During COVID, I discovered a number of folklore/folk horror/weirdness zines from the UK like @helleborezine.bsky.social @occultaria.bsky.social and Weird Walks, so it's nice to finally see a similar publication from this side of the Atlantic: Issue #1 of @crossroadsfolk.bsky.social
If Maria Dahvana Headley had translated the Red Book of Westmarch instead of Tolkien (for the record, I enjoy Headley’s Beowulf translation).
Delightful arrival in today's mail: Carved in Stone by @stoutstoat.co.uk. Absolutely gorgeous book, thoroughly researched and reviewed, and crammed with everything you never knew you needed to know about the Picts. Not a game stat in sight, but plenty of prompts for your game design needs.
My god, this game completely fell into my memory hole. So many hours playing this on an Apple ][e with a green monochrome monitor. That damn hawk! I can’t believe I had no memory of it until I came across the game box cover art.
As the storm rages outside in real life, Will settles down in the Pleasant Valley Farmhouse with a big meal to celebrate 400 days of survival in @thelongdark.bsky.social. 100 more to go! #tld
I've been so busy with work and the collapse of democracy that I utterly missed the debut of the 3rd season of Primal. AND, "Hide, Stone, and Bone: A Paleolithic Skirmish Wargame" ships on January 27th. Looks like I need to get back to work on my Steven Barber "Prehistoric Settlement" minis. #primal
"The Lion in Winter" may be the most quotable movie ever produced. Some of those quotes are more timeless and true than others.
After 11 hours and untold losses to angry mobs and lag along the way, a few hearty souls made it from Hobbiton to Mordor. We even somehow managed to keep a level 1 hobbit alive the whole way through. #lotro #marchtomordor
Walking to Mordor today in #LOTRO. Made it from the Party Tree across the Brandywine so far.
On Saturday, December 20th, I'll be participating in an day-long event in Lord of the Rings Online: "The Monumental March to Mordor" on the Peregrin server. This will be streamed live and open to all. Details to the Discord server with more info in the image below. #lotro #somegoodinthisworld
I’ve got a set that’s probably older than some people reading this! (But I have that set too,)
The passing of Anthony Geary made me realize that I can, at any moment of my choosing, stream the 1987 “comedy” Disorderlies starring the Fat Boys. Not sure if that means civilization has reached its apex or nadir.
Snowed in and my head’s doing a number on me today, so please direct any requests or inquiries to my Chief Executive Director of Shenanigans. Thank you.
As much as I love Jackson’s LotR films, part of me wishes they’d been less successful. His adaptation has become so monolithic that generations no longer envision Middle-earth via their own imaginations. Which means less opportunities to experience a Middle-earth like these:
Photographer Whitey Schafer shot this photo, entitled “Thou Shall Not” in 1940 to thumb his nose at the Hays Code. Included in the image are 10 things considered verboten by the Motion Picture Production Code.