Late Feb Update, projects, and other things.
Added 2026-02-21 16:42:29 +0000 UTCComments
What happened to Episode 10 of Traveler. It’s not on Spotify? Just asking.
BigDawgz
2026-03-04 02:32:29 +0000 UTCTex, Save voice as needed. Before my question, I wanted to point how right you were about something you said recently. A few weeks ago, when talking about the values of you and your team and why you all do things the way you do, you commented that while none of you will ever be rich from this, none of you will ever be without shelter or go hungry. While only speaking for myself and my tiny household, I can say with confidence that you and everyone on your team will always have a place at my table should any of you ever be in need and should I be in a position to offer. My question concerns table top. At many tables, you have that character or even player who cannot walk across a room without causing a large-scale incident. In the Mage: The Anscension Technocracy game, for example, we had a player literally cause an international incident just by driving through a suburb(they were speeding, botched a social roll when pulled over and did the opposite of de-escalating). Who from your table top tables/games is that player at your tables? Do you have any particularly funny stories? I remember you speaking at one point about someone driving a vehicle straight off a roof and dying immediately, for example. Thank you as always for everything you and your team do. I very much look forward to the Traveller documentary. I know how seriously you and your team take your love of both history, TTRPGs, and doing art properly. I am confident it will leave a mark on the history of the hobby.
Loewe
2026-02-28 15:10:39 +0000 UTC(Please save voice, as is the way.) Thank you for your last recommendations. Oddly enough, my financial advisor said something similar; I wish I were kidding. I hope Mike is doing well with moving his stockpile of hotdogs to wherever he's headed. Is there an origin story to Corey Treverson? Mike brought him up a bunch during Magistratum Mundanus, and I was sure I just heard you reference him in Traveller. Also, you've mentioned working with the military industrial complex/think tanks before. Are there any publicly-available lecture series from their research you could recommend? I recently found Max Brooks speaking at West Point and Mad Scientist from some years ago. I was struck with how prescient some of his examples were in relation to our current...whatever this is. My desire to know more intensifies. Warmest regards to you and the BPL, but no hugs and kisses, just stern eye contact.
Spinetanium
2026-02-28 08:23:35 +0000 UTCSave Voice! The BPL channel really needs some more streaming /gaming content. Maybe some Dex and Tep? IDGAF Astronaut guy streams? Something. I know we got traveller going on right now, I am voicing for the choir that those dem there evening streams are great for the old mind juice. Regardless, thanks for making what you have already made and sharing it. EDIT: I finally watched Outland, fantastical film! Has that classic Shepperton Quality to the models and sets. Now here's a weird finding, I think my Dad may have stylized his personality after Sean Connery from this film, lol!
Walt_Man
2026-02-23 14:48:22 +0000 UTCG’Day Tex Save voice as appropriate. Your explanation of leadership and management reminded me of the interplay between the Peter Principle and the Gervais Effect The Peter Principle being that everyone is promoted to their level of incompetence and the Gervais Effect is, briefly, that people will not promote or hire someone under them that could do their own job. This explains a lot of managers unfortunately all the way up to the CEO level. Keep on keeping on.
Lord Travis Lance the 3rd Matheson esq
2026-02-23 00:19:38 +0000 UTCGreetings Tex, if you had the opportunity to write a Battletech source book, what would your focus be? I would write a source book that is all about transport, civilian machines and infrastructures such as cars, trucks, trains, planes, loaders and such things (and how they can be weaponized ;) ) which also includes things like space stations, jumpship networks, trade routes, who uses what and who can afford what etc depending on how big I could make the sourcebook. All in service of essentially, giving the players stuff to fight over in their games. And for Van Zandt, I contributed a little merc company (called the Blue Beagles) that provides essentially half of the planets quality medical healthcare because they transport and sell the yearly harvests of recreational and pharmaceutical plants (often they are the same) produced on Van Zandt to the big pharma in Canopus who turn them into the actual high grade things and, in addition to bringing back everyone's share of the profits made, switch out the doctors and nurses that are willing to, for reasonable pay, earn essentially street cred by working on less developed and often dangerous worlds so they may later be hired by the big merc companies and such or just because they crave adventure. And in case people are wondering how I came up with that, it's simple, I wondered how did the ridiculous Van Zandt people would try to at least partially solve that problem, and the rest is history. In fact, that is how I came up with the idea for a source book all on civilian vehicles.^^ Have a nice day, and I hope to one day see the Locust episode be made a reality.
Nemoralis
2026-02-22 19:35:21 +0000 UTCAnother fun fact about the Selectric (though stop me if you've mentioned this before, I think you might have in a previous update); someone figured out how to 3d print replacement typeballs for them. Now your old-timey typewriter can type in Comic Sans! Or Papyrus, if you're a monster. Although speaking on the persistence of art; if you know where to look, I actually have a couple of sprites I slapped together that are still in use in a handful of SS13 codebases. Ever seen those four-piece hatch doors that pop open and retract into the corners? Made 'em* a decade ago on a whim, under a different name/handle. Seeing them floating around still always brightens my day a little bit. *Well, the original version. I know there's been at least one redesign, when Bay switched the perspective for walls and doors.
Killian
2026-02-22 00:02:19 +0000 UTCYou referenced Montblanc pens - over a decade ago, I found an honest-to-goodness Montblanc Meisterstuck ballpoint pen on the ground in a parking lot. I didn't know what it was, so I looked it up later and holy shit I'm not sure how someone just drops a $500 pen but fuck it, it's mine now. The funniest thing about these pens is that $500 buys you approximately nothing in terms of writing quality, since the actual writing experience is mostly controlled by the replaceable cartridge. Name brand Montblanc ballpoint replacement cartridges are $21 for a pair. Any pen nerd can perfectly replicate the Montblanc Meisterstuck experience - hell, you can surpass it - for around $100 at a crafter/maker's market. You can buy a lovingly crafted, hand-turned pen body from an actual human being who you can meet and whose hand you can shake, and just stick one of those refills in it.
Quantum Hamologist
2026-02-21 23:15:02 +0000 UTCHey Tex Save voice as needed I really appreciate what you guys do Tex. It gives me so much joy knowing that you treat each other like a real team rather than a bunch of assets to be used then dropped when no longer needed. This comes through in your work too as it takes heart to make truly meaningful works of art. I’ll definitely give Mike whatever encouragement I can as I know all too well what having to move while mid job search is like. While I don’t know Mike personally, I know he’s an army vet and that the army doesn’t produce soft men. Whether you’re peeling potatoes or working in Delta operations you have that same base level of endurance built into you to never quit till the job is done. He will make it no matter what he puts his mind to. Been enjoying the Traveler series you’ve put out on YouTube. Predictable as a sunrise I’m a fan of Kroban the unintentional autist of the group. Carlos Jones definitely comes in a close second for the “fails with flare” style he has going for him. Kinda like the Robot Chicken take on Boba Fett where every accident was totally on purpose and in no way an accident. Honestly with how shitty the world is getting I needed a laugh so seriously thank you for it. Suggested reading/idea for a Battletech video way off in the future: I was reading up on the Jihad era for some character creation and learned of a mercenary group called Grandin’s Crusaders. The Battletech equivalent of Krombopulous Micheals who works for anyone doing anything killing anyone and because they’re former Davion troopers they do it with the most polite attitude ever. So if you ever wanted to do a mercenaries series on Battletech they’d be a great one to start off with so you didn’t have to resort to the typical Wolf’s dragoons, Kell Hounds, Iradani ligh horse, Northwind highlanders, Route. If nothing else it’s good for a laugh to read about them. Quick question: I was looking at stepping into the 1911 world but don’t want to spend so much that the wife poisons my coffee. I’ve been told that Tisas is a solid choice for beginners but I wanted to check with you first. Have you had any experience with Tisas and are they any good. If not then what would you suggest that is budget friendly but reliable. I appreciate it. Stay strong and keep doing what you’re doing Tex. When in doubt just remember the Epic Sax man. He came in 22nd place in the music competition he was featured in and yet 15 years later he is still a famous meme and nobody remembers the winner of that competition at all. Simple with character wins hearts and minds (and memes) more than shallow epicness ever will. Take care.
Canderous Snurd
2026-02-21 22:58:14 +0000 UTCMike's got this. I'm gonna say, respectfully, the news was always biased and distorted. Just a question of which bias. Ego can indeed poison the heart, no arguing that. But don't beat yourself into the ground to prove it. That too is poison. Yeah, I was trained to type on an old school real deal chunky heavy typewriter. Oof.
Jay McIntyre
2026-02-21 22:53:27 +0000 UTC
