Iain McAllister

Hello new followers! I'm Iain McAllister and I post about games of all persuasions. You'll find all my written work over on my site. I have a particular focus at the moment on trying tabletop RPG criticism in different ways. Links in Bio, podcasts included. giantbrain.co.uk

Today I turn my eye to the digital as I look at the rather charming Dog in the Machine from @studiochahut.bsky.social. Its a turn based game where the secret sauce is that you can design your own powers. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/26/d...

My most recent RPG review is of CBR+PNK from @mythworks.bsky.social. A game built on Blades in the Dark that I enjoyed running, but I felt could have focused more on the 'one last run' narrative. Review is with a one shot game under my belt. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/19/c...

Today I turn my eye to the digital as I look at the rather charming Dog in the Machine from @studiochahut.bsky.social. Its a turn based game where the secret sauce is that you can design your own powers. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/26/d...

Another satisfied listener @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social

First 5 TTRPGs I played (well mostly ran) 1) Advanced Fighting Fantasy (at school) 2) Deadlands (university from here on) 3) WFRP 2nd Edition 4) 7th Sea 5) Dogs in the Vineyard (actually a player in this)

In the latest episode of "But Why Vikings?" @ava.foxfort.net and I dive deep into how to be a better player around the RPG table. Thanks to @trvshane.bsky.social for the question. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

The latest episode of But Why Vikings? is up. @giantbrain.co.uk & @ava.foxfort.net do a deep dive on what makes a good ttrpg player. (the answer is funny voices *scrunches face up* 'oh ello guvnor, oim a dirty little goblin I am') podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i...

Once again creators covering my games on refusing to simply *say my name*. It feels intentional at this point. As creators, it’s your due diligence to say the name of the designer of a game you’re covering. Would you do this for a book?? And as viewers, we should call out those that don’t.

@olddog.games this thing is absolutley gorgous. The Map is especially brilliant.

The Locked Room Murder Mystery Game is live on Kickstarter now. Make your own murder mysteries with this hybrid board game + ttrpg! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ada...

I take a look at CBR+PNK, a one shot adaptation of Blades in the Dark that looks fantastic but is a little lacking under the hood. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/19/c...

I have once more venture into the world of AP with @burnafterrunning.bsky.social running Legends in the Mist. It was really fun to get my Gandalf on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_0d...

I take a look at CBR+PNK, a one shot adaptation of Blades in the Dark that looks fantastic but is a little lacking under the hood. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/19/c...

I don't know what it will be like to run, but I am prepping Mythic Bastionland by @bastionland.bsky.social. I am having a ton of fun and marvelling at how much Chris has just thought of all the little things you might need. Fantastic work.

My issue of @playtestmaterial.bsky.social came today! Can't wait to dive in, there's a lot of very interesting think pieces in here and I'm very glad it exists. Awesome to print it too 🥹💕

Another great episode of CotO, with @giantbrain.co.uk and @mattthr.bsky.social, in which I coin the game genre of "smarty party" that will obviously take the world by storm. Also, I feel like I talked a lot in this episode. Uh, sorry for dominating the conversation.

The latest episode of Cult of the Old is out now! Try and figure out the words that connect @mattthr.bsky.social , @sanildefanso.bsky.social and I as we look at Codenames. Available wherever you get your casts open.spotify.com/episode/0zBN...

Closing in on 24 hours left to back my dream edition of my dream game, which I hoped to deliver with artwork by world-class cartoonists like @simonroy.bsky.social , @milonogiannis.com and Steven De Waele. I'll be direct with you: It hasn't funded yet. It won't, unless a lot more people back it.

The latest episode of Cult of the Old is out now! Try and figure out the words that connect @mattthr.bsky.social , @sanildefanso.bsky.social and I as we look at Codenames. Available wherever you get your casts open.spotify.com/episode/0zBN...

We are pleased to announce Brian Duguid as the winner of the 2026 Greg Stafford Memorial Award for Gloranthan Fandom. This month marks the eighth anniversary of the passing of Greg Stafford, Chaosium's revered founder and original creative visionary.

Another great night of games at Piranha Café in Truro. We played Masquerade Trick Party, Decko, Cascadero and even a game of Magical Athlete to finish things off.

Great to see @rascal.news covering @playtestmaterial.bsky.social. Really proud to be part of the first issue. www.rascal.news/playtest-mat...

We are recording tomorrow evening, all going well. What tabletop games questions have been weighing on your mind? Send them our way and we will do our best to untangle your conundrums. Post questions in reply to this or use our question form at the link!

Friends, are you or do you know any graphic designers who are free to take freelance gig on a short notice? Experience in tabletop games is a huge plus! If so, please contact me!

Do you like duels? Do you like cards? Why not try Duel for Cardia a game with a name so on the nose it feels like you balance it there waiting for a treat. This is a good one folks, don't let it pass you by. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/10/d...

Please ask us questions about tabletop games! Can we recommend a game for a specific occasion or person? Resolve a dispute that left you troubled? Dive into etiquette? Give you advice on crafting your game night? Talk about some aspect of gaming history? Please hit us up with your queries

We will be recording a new episode of "But, Why Vikings?" this week. Would you like to ask us a question? Want the 3 Fates of boardgaming problems to peer into your quandries? Post questions in reply to this or fill out the form below! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

I genuinely dug quite earnestly into ways I think I've fucked up here. It's a tough topic and a great question.

The latest episode of "But, Why Vikings?" is out now. This time out @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social delve into what to do when board game friendships go wrong, and discuss the merits, or not, of expansions. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Our love letter to Epic poetry and ancient Greek mythology, Atrapos, has fully funded on Kickstarter! Huge thanks for all your support & if you haven't checked out this #TTRPG of doomed heroes, vengeful gods and perilous journeys home... nows the time! www.kickstarter.com/projects/sou...

If you've ever wanted to ask me @giantbrain.co.uk and/or @timclare.bsky.social a question about games, but been afraid of or reckless approach to gathering said questions, try our new Google form, with boxes and everything. Feed us questions! We hunger! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

The latest episode of "But, Why Vikings?" is out now. This time out @ava.foxfort.net and @timclare.bsky.social delve into what to do when board game friendships go wrong, and discuss the merits, or not, of expansions. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

I ran three new-to-me things at a convention last week. Here's the first one. Get ready to get primitive! More of this, less licenses please.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ben about this new edition for TTGM. I'll be checking it out for sure.

The kickstarter for the new Microscope is live! I can't wait to see what you make with the new edition www.kickstarter.com/projects/lam...

I make a boardgame agony aunt podcast with @giantbrain.co.uk & @ava.foxfort.net - we've made 16 episodes so far with a new one out soon. I hope you've enjoyed it if you've listened to it, & if you haven't (& you play games) why not give 1 episode a try? podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

I'm relieved to report that the long-awaited second edition of An Infamous Traffic is even better than the original — in gameplay, in narrative, in clarity. My preview: spacebiff.com/2026/10/05/a...

My September Newsletter is out now. It's been a trying time, but I am back in the flow of things. Newsletter is free with a small behind the scenes part for the lovely folk that chuck a few bucks my way a month. www.patreon.com/thegiantbrai...

The Wine Dark Sea Campaign Launches in 12 hours. gamefound.com/en/projects/... I wanted to take this time to thank the following folks for their input and support, without with this project would be not be as cool as it is or a book.

@ava.foxfort.net @ecfriedman.com excellent episode of But Why Vikings. Especially the part about the sorority student and letting people surprise you. As someone who also lives in a red state I struggle with this one repeatedly.

@jamsandwich.bsky.social is involved in getting this pilot of a new comedy set in Glasgow going. Chuck them some bucks if you can. www.kickstarter.com/projects/iro...

Bit of a contemplative one from me today as I look back on a life in games. giantbrain.co.uk/2026/10/04/46/

My September Newsletter is out now. It's been a trying time, but I am back in the flow of things. Newsletter is free with a small behind the scenes part for the lovely folk that chuck a few bucks my way a month. www.patreon.com/thegiantbrai...

Playtest Material Issue One is out now: playtestmaterial.org/playtest-mat...

So many people have put so much effort into Issue One of Playtest Material. It releases today online, with complete open access, at 20:00 UTC. playtestmaterial.org/playtest-mat...

We're hiring! We're looking for a Writer and Narrative Designer to join the Fallen London team at a senior or mid level. This position is permanent, remote, and full time, which for us means 35 hours a week. #GamesJobs

If you'd like to listen to our boardgame agony aunt podcast, But Why Vikings?, all the episodes are up on Boardgamegeek - you can just click & listen. Also we are always in need of questions: dilemmas, questions about our game experiences, recommendation requests: boardgamegeek.com/boardgamepod...

DICEVADERS IS OUT NOW! 👽 Roll the dice, build your alien army, and break the game. Play now!: Steam: https://tinyurl.com/2t3d9p8f Nintendo Switch: https://tinyurl.com/yrauhn93 Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/eZRlAwco398 #dicevaders #roguelike #deckbuilder

If you enjoyed the latest episode of 'But, Why Vikings?' with @ava.foxfort.net and @ecfriedman.com then know that we are always on the lookout for new questions. We want to help you have a better tabletop gaming life, so fire your questions to us here, or via DM (website coming soon!).