It's About Time (Part I): The Missing Mechanic

New General Access Feature

Welcome to the start a new hacking miniseries. Years ago, I build a basic time-keeping mechanic that let you introduce random events into your adventures based on how efficiently how your players adventures. As great as it was, though, it only highlighted the need for a real, comprehensive, core time-keeping mechanic that would work in all modes of play. Well, I built just such a system. Years ago. I just kind of forgot to tell you. So I'm here to rectify that in classic The Angry GM style. By walking you through the over-analyzed design in way too many parts.

Read It's About Time (Part I): The Missing Mechanic at TheAngryGM.com

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Angry Check-In Monday, September 7, 2026

New Update

For the foreseeable future, until I can say I'm truly recovered, in the interest of transparency, I'm going to go back to posting Monday check-ins just to let you know how things are going.

I pivoted last week to getting the Live Chat out for supporters as quickly as possible and then spent the weekend working on The Third Heat: Part III, which is the backlogged article. I have run into some serious problems with that essay and even after a hefty rewrite, I don't feel comfortable releasing it. The backlogged article is going to float in limbo for a few days because I can't let it derail other things. I'll keep working on it on the side.

Meanwhile, I'm shifting focus to make sure nothing else is derailed by my struggles with one complicated article. I am working today on getting the Proofreadaloud backlog cleared. Then, my focus will be on making sure the current Early Access Feature hits on Wednesday as scheduled, making sure Slapchat happens Wednesday night for Frienemy-tier Club Slapdash members and the recording gets published, and then making sure the Club Slapdash Design Blog happens on Thursday.

So that's it. All is still well, despite some frustrations. Thanks for your support. And I hope all my American supporters enjoy one last gasp of summer today. Have a good Labor Day.

Live Chat Reminder (Tonight) and Update

New Update

First, I want to remind all of my supporters with Discord access that I will be hosting the September Mostly Monthly Live Chat tonight, Wednesday, September 2 at 8:00 PM ET. The recording will be available in a couple of days for all my supporters.

Second, I want to update you on the recovery plan. Because, while I’m still on target for the overall goal, things are taking a little longer and I need to give some things another pass.

The point, if you recall, is to be back to releasing weekly Early Access Features every week on Wednesday by next Wednesday, September 9, hosting regular Wednesday live events, Slapdash blogs on Thursdays, and random drops of bonus content for supporters. I am on target to be hitting those benchmarks by next week, the first full week of September.

My current to-do list includes the following…

• Release the delayed Early Access Feature
• Clean up and release the Proofreadalouds of the last few Early Access Features
• Slapdash Design Blog: Health, Status, and Conditions Preview
• Repair two technical issues on my site

Timing is a little off, but I am on target to get them all done this week, including a Saturday workday. I just can’t promise the specific days they’ll hit. I know I gave some hard and fast dates, but the best laid of plans of mice and me…

Anyway, that’s the check-in. Still here. Still chugging on way. Things are going in a good direction. Just, as always, everything is twice as big a pain in the ass as it should be. Life. You know.