May 31, 2025

City of Ghosts

Hello Last Piners,

I hope the Spring is treating you well. It’s been a bit of a strange one here, but the weather finally seems to have equalized and I’m hoping we get a few weeks of this before the summer heat starts beating down on us.

It’s been a hell of a time to work in higher education, let me tell you. My university is now facing significant budget cuts due to loss of research funding, decreased enrollment projections (largely due to losing international graduate students), and the likelihood that Republicans in the state legislature will not only not approve the UW system budget, but actually slash it.¹ To be frank with you, I’m just hoping I still have a job in a few months’ time. But I’ve also been getting to do some really exciting stuff professionally, and next week I get to travel to upstate New York for a conference that I’m really looking forward to.

In Bump news, we launched the Bump in the Dark Bundle for Indigenous Health, a fundraiser for the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center here in Milwaukee. We’ve already blown through our first goal and I would absolutely love for y’all to help us meet our second goal. In addition to being for a good cause, it’s also the cheapest way to get Bump in the Dark along with seventeen brand new supplements (made for the Cold Iron Blues jam back in the fall), some of which push the game in entirely new directions. Please consider checking it out!

I’ll also be appearing at a Free RPG Day event at the Sanctum Tabletop Gaming Emporium in Racine, WI on June 21. I’ll be speaking on a panel about horror in TTRPGs, as well as running some Bump for folks!

Things I’m Enjoying

• The new Propagandhi record, At Peace, absolutely kicks ass and is the perfect soundtrack for what is feeling like an unending apocalypse. I was bummed to learn that they won’t be touring the states any time soon (for obvious and understandable reasons) so Mary and I decided that we’re going to Toronto in October to see them. Take that, Toronto! You can’t keep me away!

• Another favorite of mine, Aesop Rock, just released a new record as well. I’m fuckin’ stoked to dig in more in depth with it.

• Got to see both Sinners and Friendship recently, both of which I enjoyed quite a bit and can recommend. Definitely catch Sinners while it’s still in the cinema, as it’s a beautiful spectacle of a film.

• Oh yeah, we also caught Pavements at the Milwaukee Film Fest, which I recommend if you are a fan of the band. It does a great job of capturing the band’s contradictions and strange charm.

• In other things I’m watching: Andor season 2 was great, just finished up the Righteous Gemstones which I’m up and down on (though mostly up), and I found Last of Us season 2 incredibly disappointing.

• I’m currently reading two books: Reign of the Empire: Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed, and A Country of Ghosts by Margaret Killjoy. The former is a Star Wars book taking place shortly after the establishment of the Empire, and I’m liking it a lot. Definitely check it out if you are a fan of Andor, as it’s got a similarly grounded, political tone. The latter is a utopian speculative fiction novel with amazing vibes and the feel of an epic despite barely breaking 200 pages. It’s published by AK Press’ Black Dawn imprint which focuses on sci fi and fantasy exploring anarchist and anticolonialist themes. The setting makes me want to play a Blades in the Dark campaign set in the stone Imperial cities of Boroloa and the forests of Hron. Recommend if you like Ursula K. Le Guin.

Crowdfunding Now

So much great stuff at the moment!

• The Slugblaster expansion Slime, Warp, and Solder is a collection of three zines featuring all kinds of rad supplements and new material in a box set. Also … pogs!?!?

• Deep Cuts is a setting and systems expansion for Blades in the Dark, featuring a ton of new lore and some optional, modular systems that you can slot into your ongoing games.

• I’ve been waiting a long time for print editions of Galactic and Going Rogue, and now you can get them published together in one beautiful volume. More than just Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off, these games explore themes of rebellion, relationships, cynicism, and hope using the incredible GM-less Belonging Outside Belonging system.

• Defy the Gods by Chys Sellers is an explicitly queer sword & sorcery game with absolutely beautiful art and a unique take on PbtA mechanics. Very excited for this one.

• Finally, Mad as Hell is the new game from the folks at SoulMuppet publishing, and it bills itself as an “anti-capitalist demonhunting RPG.” As you can imagine, it sounds precisely up my alley, and it might be up yours as well.

Remember that even if it’s not in your budget to support all these awesome games, you can always support in other ways — boosting, reposting, and sharing links, talking about them with your friends, encouraging your FLGS to back at a retailer tier, etc. The indie TTRPG world is in a very strange place right now, and we need your help to continue thriving!

And not game related, but American Science & Surplus, one of the coolest and most unique stores I’ve ever been so lucky to visit, is in trouble and needs your help! They’ve set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds to modernize their systems and relocate their warehouse. Read this awesome, personal story from my friend DJ for more information.

Alright, that ended up being a lot — maybe if I actually can get on a monthly rhythm you won’t get so much from me all at once! Whatever the case, I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this.

In hope,

jex