Books in October 2026

I read twelve books in October (99 in total this year) for another 2,747 pages (25,784 so far). These included two non-fiction, four role-playing and six novels or novellas.

The first non-fiction book was Middleland by Rory Stewart. As a semi-regular The Rest is Politics listener, I'd heard about this book on the podcast and decided not to get it. Then my kids bought it for me as a present. It's sat there looking at me since Christmas, so I ended up selecting it as one of my Audible listens. The book is a collection of Stewart's columns written when he was an MP in Penrith, cleaned up with narratives connecting them. You can see how his thinking develops. I enjoyed this; it wasn't quite what I expected, but that's a good thing, isn't it? It certainly gives a flavour of living in a rural constituency, and seeing how decisions from afar in Westminster change can change your lives and livelihoods without much thought on their consequences, especially the connection to the land and community that farming brings.

The second non-fiction book was an impulse purchase called Running the Risk: Understanding life's biggest risks and how we build a safer future by David Barrett Reid. I picked it up as risk management is what I do every day as a safety professional. The book collects and discusses various disasters, risks and consequences, exploring how likely they are and what can be done about them. This was interesting, but overall I didn't really think it covered the future part of the subtitle well and I was underwhelmed. At least it's 11 hours of CPD.

On to roleplaying. I reread The Hooded Man before running it at Furnace (reviewed previously here). I followed this up with Graham Walmsley's Play Unsafe, which I'd picked up the 20th Anniversary Edition of at Furnace; this was really interesting and I wish that I'd read it earlier. Bizarrely, one of the topics effectively came into play at work the week after I read this and helped me to frame a discussion about how we addressed the behaviour. I will return to this. Finally, I read the Twilight Sword Core Book and Lands of Radia, which I gave some first impressions of here on the blog. I enjoyed these and hope to run them at some point.

Time to dive into the fiction. I started with The Drain by Caitlin T. Vale, part of the 1993 collection from The Eden Book Society, a fake historical fiction group used as a reason to publish a selection of short stories and novellas by Dead Ink Books. I actually bought this by mistake; I thought I'd ordered the eBook but it turns out I ordered both versions! It's a really nice modern take on a vampire story, completely unglamorous and somewhat nasty. The physical version comes in a lovely small format (if you recall the small classics that Penguin used to publish then that's exactly the format). Enjoyed this.

Next up was William Boyd's Cold Sunset, the third in his Gabriel Dax trilogy. In this one Dax ends up in Russia, and other complications arise. Definitely very readable, and I'm not certain if this actually a series or a trilogy. I'd recommend reading the first two books before this though as it does reference back to them.

After that, I read Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler, her last novel. Again, it’s a modern day vampire novel, and really well done. There are uncomfortable aspects to it, which I think is exactly right given the nature of theme. There is an energy to this and the society that comes to light in it is fascinating. Unfortunately, the author passed away, so there are no further books. I read this as part of Elle Cordova's book club; it's the first one in a few months that I haven't previously read, and I enjoyed discovering this. I have some of Butler's earlier books, which I will visit at some point.

I then dove into two Emily St. John Mandel books, back to back. I started with The Singer's Gun and then read The Lola Quartet. The former tells the story of a former criminal trying to go straight, but ending up doing one last job for his cousin. The second tells the tale of a quartet of musicians and how their life develops after they leave school and go their separate ways. The protagonist's girlfriend, disappears at their final performance, possibly with another member of the quartet. I loved the writing on both of these, but preferred the first book. I love the author's style of writing, it draws me on and is very enjoyable.

Finally, I read The 22 Murders of Madison May by Max Barry. This is a science-fiction story, with characters hoping across the multiverse trying to prevent the murder of Madison May, a sometimes actress who is being killed repeatedly by the same man, another multiversal traveller. Part detective, part thriller, the story is quite compelling and comes together well.

Looking back, I'd be torn between Cold Sunset and The Singer's Gun for my favourite novels this month.

1 November 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 22 - Crack Shot

Slightly delayed write-up as we had some issues with both the main gaming tools that we use for the campaign this week. Our VTT, Role, seemed to lose data in some of Lieto's character sheet fields (Graham and I are going on a bug hunt with the Dev at the moment), and Tabletop Recorder just refused to process the session, so no transcript or summaries were available for the session until this morning when the Dev on that platform found and resolved the issue. I also had an issue - in game - with fog of war in Owlbear Rodeo, but that was 100% a user issue on my part.

I have enabled the transcript feature in Audio Hijack as a fallback, but I hope I won't have to do anything with that output. It's just a backup, much like asking the players to give me a form-filled version of their character sheet is.

I was away from home with work again but this time I decided to run the game tethering to my iPhone as I had a very fast 5G connection compared to the WiFi. It mostly worked fine; some break up towards the end of the session but okay otherwise.

Anyway, enough tech. We were two players down - Hattie was travelling and Simon was still feeling unwell, and there was a risk that the session wouldn't happen but Graham came through, playing despite  being full of lurgy.

It was interesting; this was - in effect - our fourth delve, and the third using the full delve rules, and it seemed to run much faster than on previous sessions. The players were also much more into the whole theme. There was more planning before they started and - from the GM's perspective - it felt very much like they were professional explorers trying to work their way through a challenging mission. This is one of my frustrations with some of the criticisms of the game you see out there, especially from people who have just read the book rather than played or run it. Delves are important, but the whole mechanical section drops to the background and generates tension. It gives a feeling of peril, of resources being consumed, and of a need to consider your next moves carefully. I've explored ruins in Traveller before, and the air storage of Vac Suits means that the environment doesn't feel that hostile. The mechanics of Coriolis: The Great Dark evoke the feel of exploring a dangerous environment. 

They handled a very dangerous combat situation really well and are now using the crew manoeuvres to great effect. However, it did hinge on two key dice rolls; they managed to beat the 8 dice perception pool for the Ash Crawler, and then Graham took a decision to push one of Lieto's rolls with his fusilard pistol which achieved a critical and a single shot kill on the poor creature. They managed to completely finish it off before it had a chance to properly respond. Clever and lucky, that's what we like.

There were also some choices with the Bird - burning extra energy to ensure that they had an 'oasis' from the blight that lasted longer when they created their supply stash. Finally, Meristo finally got a really successful delving roll which moved them much more quickly.

Overall, a fun session.

Our Crew;

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

Their hired staff;

• Gina Zee, a Black Toad aligned expert ruin delver going under a pseudonym. (Hired by Fassour).
• Dr Layla Jaspel, a medical doctor and botanist from the Gardener's Guild. (Hired by Rashid).
• Karmelia Merest, a Navigator's Guild Algebraist, fascinated by the Singularity Spheres and apparently also a lover of Zinti novels. Very much angling to be Arda's BFF. (Hired by Arda)

The New Seekers (Corvus, Arda, Meristo, Fassour, Rashid and Lieto)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

The team gathered at the edge of the Ashen Gorge with a clear objective: reach the signal they believed lay deeper in the ravine, while avoiding as much blight as possible. Rashid Al Masri, Meristo Koulas and Lieto Miesma were joined by Arda Qamar, Fassour Farradi and Gina Zee, the experienced Delver they had hired for the mission. They planned to establish a supply cache at location F7, where several routes could lead back towards their rover if their chosen path became blocked. The group had brought extra supplies, accepting that carrying so much would hinder their movement, and made sure much of the load could be dropped quickly if they needed to move fast. Gina’s presence also meant the team would burn more supplies as they travelled, but they felt her experience would pay off

The gorge was dark beneath heavy cloud, with ash whipping through the wind and lightning flashing both down from the clouds and up from the ravine. Lieto used his natural affinity for cartography alongside the portable deep scanner to study the terrain. His mapping revealed a slower route along a ridge that would halve the number of hazard checks, at the cost of increased supply use. The team chose the safer path.

Meristo led the descent. The first stretch was uneventful, but a violent lightning strike close enough to shake and disorient the team on the next section cost them additional supplies. Lieto and Arda were left distracted by the spectacle; Fassour had to push himself to stay focused. The team pressed on, while Arda sent the bird ahead to scan the route. Its readings revealed blight in the areas further down the gorge.

The blight took its toll as they advanced. Their suits protected most of the party, but Rashid, Arda and Gina each lost heart at different points. Lieto was caught in a cloud of luminous spores, which threatened to leave him shaken and blighted, but his suit held and he brushed them away. The team also found a cave opening in the cliff, with ash grit and fragments of bone inside. Though Lieto was eager to investigate, they decided to mark it and continue towards F7.

From their position, Arda used the bird to survey further ahead, while Lieto and Rashid worked with the deep scanner to clarify the map. The scan cost time and supplies, but revealed more of the route and the high-blight areas ahead. Meristo then pushed through several sections at pace, hoping to reduce the exposure of the team. The quicker advance brought them to the planned staging point with fewer hazards, though the blight still forced the group to make further protection checks.

At F7, the team decided to return to the rover rather than immediately push deeper. They placed 71 supply in a cache, keeping only enough for the return journey, and used the bird to clear blight from their current area for a limited time. The party withdrew through the gorge and rested in the rover. Their rest helped clear the lingering distraction and restored some heart and hope. Before setting out again, they used the bird and scanner to survey the route ahead, confirming that particularly dangerous concentrations of blight lay further down.

During the rest period, Rashid spotted a shuttle descending rapidly into the gorge. The Akhander - at the end of a poor comms connection - confirmed that it had observed a mining combine vessel passing over the area, similar in size to the shuttle, and that it had refused attempts to hail it. The vessel claimed to be on Combine business, but had offered little explanation. The Akhander warned that relations between the Mining Combine and the Sharzad Collective were poor, and to be careful. The team suspected they had competition in the gorge, though they did not yet know who had landed or what they wanted.

The group returned down the route, again carrying extra supplies. Near the cave they had passed earlier, Meristo used his night-vision goggles and spotted movement inside. The creature appeared to be a huge, armoured centipede, more than ten metres long, its carapace anybody  glowing with blight. The team judged that leaving it behind them was too risky, and chose to attack rather than try to sneak past.

Rashid coordinated concentrated fire against the creature and moved to flank it. Meristo's opening shot tore away some of its legs. Rashid’s incendiary attack set it alight and inflicted serious damage, while Gina struck it with her Zapti Long Gun. Lieto initially missed, but, taking advantage of the team’s coordinated attack, identified a vulnerable point beneath its head. He fired into the weak spot, and the creature’s legs buckled as it died. Its final thrashing caught Gina, who took a minor injury despite her armour; the others managed to avoid the worst of it. Meristo's rousing words helped restore the team’s morale.

The cave proved to be a blight-free pocket. Once the fires had died down, Gina searched the remains and found a pale, dusty exosuit glove. Rashid and Lieto recognised it as identical to the glove recovered from the body at the Well of Souls. Its markings suggested that it might have belonged to someone from the Nadir. The cave held no other useful finds, and the creature’s young had been caught in the fire.

The team ended the session with a substantial supply cache established at F7, a clearer picture of the blight ahead, and evidence that another party had entered the gorge. The old glove was the most promising clue yet that they were close to a place connected with the Nadir and their objective.

Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

First Impressions - Twilight Sword RPG, some quick thoughts

https://youtu.be/H6mmGjGmhu0?si=g5wupYDt2CkXxWyn

I'm not planning to write a detailed review on Twilight Sword. That's not because I don't like it, but rather because it would take a chunk of time and much of what I would write has already been covered by Patchwork Paladin's blog post. I encourage you to read that.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ncqUjeZFH6I?si=6T_HQJCq2SUVUivW

I've finished reading through the Twilight Sword Core Rules, the Lands of Radia campaign book and the mini-campaign in the starter set. I didn't read the starter rules (a shortened version of the core book but on a quick flick through, they looked good.

Things I like:

• It's a medium crunch system using D12 roll-under mechanics.
• It's beautifully clean and well written, which makes the crunch feel simple.
• The format and illustrations are top notch.
• The physical quality is superb and begs to be run at the table.
• There are elements of the design that are clearly intended to evoke video game sources (eg Zelda) and are quite cute - expect foes to dissolve away when slain, boss monsters and patterns of attack you can learn.
• The Lands of Radia campaign book is a well constructed sandbox adventure that leads towards a good climax.
• The starter set is superb, and has a nice prequel mini-campaign.

Things that could better:

• Neither the Core Book or Lands of Radia has a short starter encounter or adventure detailed out to use immediately. You need the starter set for that. I'm with Patchwork Paladin that there should have been at least one example and perhaps Lands of Radia should have had some more guidance on fleshing out locations or have had maps of them.
• I think that the Card Chest would have benefited from the addition of some dividers to sort the cards out.

Overall, this is one I want to run. Starter set mini campaign, anyone? Or maybe next Furnace?

29 October 2026

Losing the Rosetta framework

I recently updated to macOS 27 Golden Gate having deliberately ignored macOS 26 Tahoe because I really didn't like the aesthetics. As it is, I have Liquid Glass dialled right back.

I'm getting a gentle nagging dialog box now, warning me that several of my applications won't work when macOS 28 comes out in a year or two because the Rosetta translation system between Intel and Apple Silicon code will be removed. Now, ideally, I'd have loved it to have been available still as an optional download, but we are a long way into the Apple Silicon transition so I get why Apple are dropping it.

I've been gradually either deleting apps (if I don't use them often) or looking for updates, and where it's possible posting on the support forums as a nudge.

Wonderdraft relies on an Intel framework, but Dungeondraft doesn't, so queried if there was a plan. I do hope this migrates.

I'll miss Copied (which uses iCloud to sync my clipboards across my macOS and iOS/iPadOS devices) but hopefully there are alternatives out there.

My biggest concerns at the moment are the scanner drivers:

• Canon's driver was last updated in 2021 (although some of their wrap around stuff is later).
• ScanSnap - part of the tools installed by my ScanSnap (ABBYY Fine Reader) are showing as Intel based. The main ScanSnap driver is Apple Silicon only so I'm hoping that it will continue to work just fine. It is regularly updated. 
• CZUR's driver was updated in the last ten days and works fine (and faster). 

I have three scanners for a variety of reasons; each is a very different tool (A4 flatbed, document scanner, larger format scanner).

This is bringing back memories of past OS updates which obsoleted decent bits of hardware because the manufacturer didn't update the driver so you buy a new version. Hopefully, the situation will improve over the year. 

I guess the ongoing nagging means I'll keep checking this so I'm ready, if possible.

25 October 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 21 - The Ashen Gorge

We skipped two weeks, partly due to availability; I couldn't make the second week as I was away with work and had an evening event. This week we were just quorate, with Simon still unwell, and Dr Mitch having to do some last minute work through the evening, leaving Graham, Andy and Hattie available to play. I was in the Days Inn again, and the internet connection was mostly decent. I had a bit of a faff getting the AV right, but got there in the end before we started. Of course, the middle of the fortnight break was Furnace, so in some ways I was glad that work commitments stopped me from running the second Tuesday, as I was pretty tired after the convention. 

We had a good catch up before we started, and much excitement was heard about the recent low key announcements from Fria Ligan on the new books for Coriolis: The Great Dark and more. One of them - Into the Abyss - looks like it may well be the sequel to Flowers of Algorab. We were joking that we could be facing a second season for the campaign!

The session was shorter than normal; we covered the journey through the Gahand cloud, and the arrival on the surface of the cloud-enshrouded planet Anshubur. The crew got as far as a deep scan, and proceeded to plan their next steps. It seemed to be a good reason to call time then as there was every chance that we'd have more players next session. It felt like a real expedition; they were facing into how much supply they needed, and whether increasing the team number to six was worth it with the doubling of supply consumption that it would bring when compared to the flexibility and expertise that they gained. The team concluded it would, but then deliberately over encumbered themselves with the plan to create supply caches on the way in.

I made one mistake; I forgot to cover the blight scores when I created the VTT map. I need to resolve that before the next session.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Corvus, Arda, Meristo, Fassour, Rashid and Lieto)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

Our intrepid adventurers find themselves steering the slipstream cruiser Akhander through the tumultuous stretches of the Gahand Cloud towards Anshubur. The Akhander is towing the ore hauler, Shimzabla’s Golden Smile, toward Habanatum, a curious destination as the system is dominated by a neutron star. Additionally, a bard-like prophet-poet named Charcout has joined the journey, promising to enhance the crew’s morale.

As the Akhander ventures into the upper decks of the Gahant Cloud, a vast dust and gas cloud stretching nearly fifteen astronomical distances, navigational challenges mount. Rashid and Lieto leverage their skills and ship’s technology to discern an oddity in their path—an echo in the cloud that suggests another presence. This echo, peculiar in its nature, seemingly sways with an organic rhythm, hinting at the mysterious Umbravores known to inhabit these nebulous regions. It remains at the thermocline between the upper and lower cloud decks, pacing the ship.

Real-time strategy discussions ensue amongst the crew, navigating through the technical details of spacecraft operations and the cloud’s environmental data. Arda, suggests using the starship’s deep scanners further, supported by Lieto referencing background radiation readings to differentiate the echo from cosmic interference. This reveals not only the massive size of this entity but also its potential as a formidable Umbravore that trails the Akhander feeding off its particulate wake.

Tension escalates as the slipstream cruiser halts to refine the scan, discerning the massive shape of the Umbravore hovering near. Quick decisions are required to prevent a collision—opt for misdirection or initiate evasive manoeuvres? Despite adventurous suggestions, the crew opts for the latter, managing to cautiously accelerate and steer clear of the imminent threat. This decision stirs up an ether storm, enveloping the Umbravore in a spectacle of plasma that mesmerises and terrifies in equal measure. 

As the ship left the Gahand Cloud, the whole crew reflecting on their close encounter, inspired by Charcout’s poetic ode to the majestic creature they narrowly eluded. The journey, filled with both danger and beauty, continues to promise more as the Akhander finally emerges from the roiling mists of the Gahand Cloud, the crew sets their sights on the enigmatic planet Anshubur. The air is filled with a mix of relief and anticipation; the crew is grateful for the lack of confrontations with the Leviathan, yet they remain cautious, aware of the mysterious and possibly treacherous nature of their next destination.

Lieto Miesma, delves into the legends surrounding Anshubur, somewhat distracted by the stories of the the mythic lost planet  in the Cloud called Umbra Major—rumoured to be a treasure trove of ancient builders' ruins and possibly holding the secret to eternal life, guarded by a mystical priestess. The crew muses over these tales, which add both allure and ominous undertones to their expedition.

Approaching Anshubur, its surroundings grow increasingly foreboding as nightmarish details become apparent; it is shrouded in dark clouds, with storms of acid rain and fierce winds whipping across its surface. This hostile atmosphere prompts concerns about the crew's safety and the capabilities of their equipment. Their destination appears less like a haven and more like a hellish vista ripped from a twisted dream.

They quickly locate the area that the potential Singularity Sphere transmission is coming from and face a crucial decision about navigating the peril surrounding Anshubur's atmosphere in their shuttle. Rashid uses this tense moment to assert his leadership, pondering whether to brave the tempest to reach their target directly or to find a safer, albeit possibly longer, path to their destination.

The crew opts for caution, deciding to land the Grasshopper away from the worst of the storms and make their way towards the source of an intriguing signal by foot and rover, leaving the Akhander safely in orbit above. Their discussion is tactical, measured, and underscored by the awareness that every choice in this alien terrain could mean the difference between discovery and disaster.

They prepare for their descent. Eager yet unsure of what awaits them, they equip themselves with their delve suits designed to withstand the harsh environmental conditions, and their ship bristles with the tension of explorers on the brink of a possibly monumental discovery. Everyone is on edge, poised for whatever mysteries are veiled in the stormy, uninviting embrace of the hellscape in front of them.

Lieto Miesma, expressed concerns about making a quick exit, leading Arda Qamar to suggest using their seldom-employed rover for expedited movement. Rashid Al Masri queried about driving responsibilities, with Alda agreeing to taking the lead.

The group discussed logistical concerns about leaving certain team members with the rover or the shuttle, weighing up the usefulness of each crew member in their upcoming expedition deep into Anshubur's treacherous landscapes. Insights into each character's capabilities emerged, emphasising a collective reliance on each other's strengths and expertise. They decided to leave Kamalia and the doctor on the Akhander, but take the extremely experienced Gina Zee with them.

Rashid flies the Grasshopper shuttle into the storm, cooly controlling the craft through lightning, ash, particulates and plasma flares, landing about a kilometre from the target site. The crew brave the weather outside to anchor the Grasshopper down lest it is blown away, and then prepare to offload their Rhino class Rover, a huge wheeled and armoured ATV.

A daring plan materialised as the team prepared to embark in the rover, facing the precarious weather and turbulent landscape of Anshubur. The sky was choked with a roiling black cloud, contributing to a suffocating sense of claustrophobia among the crew. Tremors in the ground added to their unease, signalling potential seismic activities beneath the surface. As the rover journeyed through this hostile terrain, Arda skilfully brought the rover forward towards the maze-like gorge they could see ahead. Rashid had taken preventive measures to inspect and maintain the rover, ensuring its functionality against the harrowing conditions.

A tension-filled descent towards an ominous gorge required precise handling from Arda, who handled the rover with agility — albeit with palpable anxiety. The gorge revealed a labyrinthine maze, prompting a strategic review using their deep scanner to map out a feasible path forward through the maze-like terrain.

They progressed with practical discussions, from allocating and managing resources like supplies to implementing tactical maneuvers through the gorge. Calculations concerning supply usage were meticulously made, discussing the carrying capacities and potential to cache supplies en route to manage their heavy burdens.

Intrigue around their destination mounted as they approached the signal's source, implicating further complexities due to the gorge’s dangerous layout and apparent blight presence. The group strategised paths, contemplating less blighted routes while preparing for unexpected challenges, embodying a blend of caution and adventurous spirit. The discussion was a tapestry of critical decision-making, resource management, and cooperative strategy, setting the scene for a high-stakes exploration into the heart of Anshubur. The crew deliberated over potential drop-off points for their equipment to avoid encumbrance as they approach their target. The conversation, driven by earnest collaboration and tactical forethought, centres on various locales, with E9 and F9 serving as prospective cache sites due to their geographical features, such as caves which Lieto and Rashid consider with strategic intent. 

The session concludes with Dom guiding the group to a graceful pause, agreeing to continue their meticulous planning in the next chapter of their journey. The crew's camaraderie and shared resolve shine through, leaving listeners in eager anticipation of what lies ahead in the depths of Anshubur's foreboding landscapes and the Ashen Gorge.

Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Furnace XXI (2026) After Action Report

This last weekend was the twenty-first Furnace roleplaying convention, held as usual at the Garrison Hotel in Sheffield. It was our biggest yet, topping out at just over a hundred registrations and in the low/mid nineties for attendees. That's usual, because you tend to see 5-10% drop out rates thanks to real life (illness, things that come up, changes of plans and the folks that register but never respond to any emails or posts on the various channels we have for the convention). We saw more new folks, some attending for their first convention, and some old friends returning. As usual, All Rolled Up and Patriot Games were our splendid traders for the weekend. We had a very informal bring and buy stand too.

Once again, it was our triumvirate of Graham, Elaine and myself who were organising it, and once again it pretty much ran on rails. We did have some bumps along the way (changes of events coordinator at the Garrison for example) but nothing insurmountable.

I usually take the Friday off before the convention to leisurely complete preparation, but I ended up travelling for three days with work and then having a meeting I couldn't get out of moved to Friday morning. As a result, I had a pretty hectic Friday, arriving at the convention just after 22:30 but before last orders. I managed to park in the dedicated car park for the first time ever, which was a shock. There was Karaoke on as an event, but I managed to arrive too late to avoid the attempts from the ladies at the event to drag folks in to dance with them. I had a quick catch up with folks but went to my room before midnight. Of course, I then managed not to get to sleep until 2am!

Breakfast was early - the hotel had brought it half an hour earlier because we were using the restaurant again - but service was quick and friendly as ever. I found the food was better than the previous year and it was lovely to see the staff who come to know over the years.

I had time to quickly read through my scenario before heading up to the rooms to do final set up. This was mainly getting the badges out, making sure the extra Taylor's Coffee Bags were out to compliment the instant coffee, and getting the table signs in place. We've also been adding a box of tissues and - this year - some antibacterial wipes (as the little hand sanitizer's are harder to find) on each table at the convention in an attempt to minimise cases of 'con crud' afterwards. Graham tried to cleverly avoid me recording the opening speech by sending me upstairs but I managed to get back in time.

The Opening Speech

This year, I'd decided to simplify what I was doing and run the same game multiple times, albeit with different scenarios. These meant all the pressure to forget one game engine and adopt another was gone. I'd chosen The Hooded Man RPG (which I reviewed previously) and decided to run the three example scenarios in the book back-to-back with the same characters as if it was the Robin of Sherwood TV series. By making it episodic, it meant that people who signed up for three games got a mini-campaign, but other folks could sign up for a single episode. I had two players who played all three episodes, and three that played two of the episodes, the balance being folks who played a single session.

In preparing for the convention, I went down a bit of an expensive rabbit hole. I decided I wanted some maps on the table to make it feel more grounded, and ended up picking up several of the Tom Cartos 'Into the Wild' battle map books for the game. I'd previously purchased some modern day sets from him via a Kickstarter (TC Modern) and had a variety of Cyberpunk and SF battle map books from Loke, but nothing suitable for a fantasy game. I planned to use these with tokens, but I really struggled to find some nice ones that were either sensibly priced or looked right. I asked The Hooded Man Discord forum on Osprey Games' server, and some folks suggested some miniatures ranges that may work. Now, I rarely use miniatures for gaming; my games are usually over a VTT, but I have painted miniatures for games before (most notably for a Savage Worlds Hack of 2300AD's Mission Arcturus at a very early Furnace). 

The forum folks pointed me at North Star Figures and Wargames Atlantic, and ended up picking up a set of Oathmark British Light Infantry for the Outlaws (from North Star) and some Baron's War Foot Serjeants for the Sheriff's men. I also picked up a box of Villagers, mainly to raid for female heads and bodies. Finally, I ordered some STL printed Men at Arms to use for the Norman leaders from OttsWorkshop on Etsy.  I was wincing at this point as I had spent far more than I intended on the game bling. That was the point that I found out that my paints had all mainly dried up, so I needed to get some quickly. I found a set of NicPro Modeling Acrylic Paints for a decent price with 30 colours, and picked up some matt varnish. 

I spent several hours assembling the models (14 Normans and 12 Outlaws) wondering when the STL characters would arrive (I'd ordered about 5 weeks before the convention from a UK printer, and chased after three weeks but they hadn't arrived), and then a chunk of a Saturday painting them. Overall I was pleased with the outcome and, so long as you didn't look too closely, they looked great. I'd made sure that the outlaw characters had the right gender and equipment, which worked well.  

There's a really simple random character generation system in The Hooded Man, so I produced six characters and their companions. I'd offered spaces for five players in my game, but ended up running two of the sessions for six, which wasn't a problem. If I ran the same again, I'll probably loose the companions because it does make the game quite busy; then again, it does give the feel of an outlaw company.

One worry I did have was that the scenarios as written did have less in than I would normally have done if I wrote them myself, and I'd prepared some injects/beats to add if it seemed like they're run very short. However, as two of the slots were shorter than the ones that I usually pick (I often pick the four hour slots) this probably worked in may favour. Two of the sessions finished a bit early, but the players cleverly steered their characters to resolve the issues very effectively.

Your life has been turned upside down since the Sheriff of Nottingham declared you outlaws. Hunted, you fled into Sherwood Forest, hiding amongst the ancient, verdant and shady trees from the Sheriff’s men. You have fallen in with others who have suffered the same fate, a small community of lost souls, but life is hard and lean, and every day a struggle. You have heard rumours of the Hooded Man, an outlaw who protects the poor and weak, but is it just a myth?

The first scenario had Neil, Jon, John, Tamar and Dr Mitch playing, and instantly got the vibe of the setting. Fortunately most of them had seen Robin of Sherwood, so understood the influences that the game carried on its sleeve. I used the sting from the main title music a couple of times to emphasise this, but it was sparing as we were in a room full of other games being played. They met Robin and his band, and undertook a mission to deal with Norman tax collectors. What I loved is that having ambushed the advance scouting party, they grabbed their outfits and carried out a ruse where they managed to head off with all the taxation and two prisoners ('witches'), while misdirecting the heavily armed guards into a wild goose chase for Robin Hood. It was Tamar's first convention game and she gelled with the group really well so we had a lot of fun.

Over lunch I went to Morrisons and caught up with some folks.

At the village of Oston, your allies, news comes of a young woman from nearby Wellbury who has been seized by the Sheriff’s men after she rebuffed their advances. They accuse her of witchcraft, a crime which will likely lead to her torture and death. Her father pleads that you save her…

The second scenario sees the outlaws called to rescue a young woman, Jenny, who has been kidnapped by the Sheriff's men. They soon found out that she didn't really need saving, and at least one of the characters became enamoured with her. They used the tabards stolen in the first episode once more. This session saw Neil, John, Jon and Dr Mitch returning, joined by Simon and Tom. This was also the session when Neil realised that his character was the only one that hadn't really committed a crime, and that his character's traits pushed him to be a leader for the group. All of a sudden we had an Outlaw Band forming from a group of individuals. We also learned that Dr Mitch's character was a genius for cunning plans. Simon really brought his character's hunting dog into the fore, which was fun. Towards the end of the session, Tom's character suddenly realised that she'd never be a potter again, and the anger that brought out led to a very nasty end for the Norman leader. Following that, she ended up seeing a vision and meeting what could be Herne the Hunter (I described a very mist laden, back lit situation) with Jenny, and realising that even if Jenny wasn't a witch then she was well on the way to becoming one. They recruited her to their band along with her father to avoid reprisals on the village of Wellbury.

Dinner was at KFC, as is now traditional. The Garricon Bookclub continues, with a widening group joining each convention. We sit around and talk books, films and other media while enjoying fried chicken.

It’s All Hallows Eve, and Nottingham is bustling from the people who have come to celebrate Hallowmas and All Souls Day at the Church of St Mary the Virgin. Your company have taken the risk of visiting an Inn in Nottingham to meet an informant who has passed word that they have news from a prisoner of the Sheriff. Can you evade recognition and find out more?

The final scenario sees the characters entering Nottingham. As presented, this was totally underwritten, as the author had mentioned the possibility of rescuing the prisoner of the Sheriff, but there was absolutely no information on how to do this. Naturally, this became a big thing during the game session.  This session saw Jon and Dr Mitch reprising their roles as the cutpurse and slightly menacing but cunning bowyer along with Simon returning as the huntress with her loyal dog. Dr Bob, Jenny and Elina joined us. Elina took over Thomas from Neil, and the change in approach led to jokes that the character's hair had changed colour (like the change in actor for Robin Hood in the TV series). The character became known as Modest Tom. They met an informant in an Inn, then spent All Souls Day recovering a talisman taken by a veteran forester in a foreign war, and ambushing a band of the Sheriff's men who had tortured the forester to get details of the treasure. This led to a spectacular fight when they ambushed the soldiers as they crossed a bridge. It caused a mild bought of panic when they realised that the leader of the soldiers was far stronger than any opponent that they'd faced with armour and a villain trait that made them very dangerous. The outlaws prevailed, but not without some injuries.

That was the point when the scenario went completely off the track in the book and they staged a very apt Robin Hood style rescue of the forester before he was hanged. This included impersonating a priest and using the tabards again! A crowd was gathered for the hangings; they ended up rescuing five people  but leaving a nasty murderer to die. It was very dramatic, and they just escaped Nottingham. My only regret (in hindsight) was that I didn't offer some kind of archery contest for them to become involved with, but we had fun and escaped.

I had a quick drink in the bar with some of the folks, then headed to bed.

Sunday brought an early breakfast, and then a very relaxed day.

Slot 4 saw me playing Coriolis: The Third Horizon run by Hattie (who plays Arda in my Coriolis: The Great Dark Campaign). The scenario, Eye of the Beast, had vibes of Avatar, and we had great fun with the factional interplay; if anything, too much fun as we became pressed for time to follow all the threads in the three hour session. That's always the challenge for a GM, if the players are really getting into the roleplaying, then it's hard to move them along. Hattie did brilliantly, and helped us to come to a satisfying conclusion. This reminded me why I love playing in the Third Horizon; I was grateful for the opportunity to return.

Lunch was Morrisons again.

Before the final session, we had the raffle which was done by friend of the convention and Most Worshipful Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Andy Sanger. Andy's been a Garricon regular from the start and his year as the leading citizen of Sheffield means he can't join us properly. He gave a short speech, and then we were off for our final session.

This time I was playing in Graham's game of Aegean, The Curse of the Golden Bull. This was a game that was new to me, where you can play mortals and demi-gods in Ancient Greece. Being honest, I was fading a bit at this point as I'd not slept brilliantly on Saturday night, but the story was compelling and interesting. The route we chose through favoured our brave warriors (and I was a talky character) but it was great fun. The conclusion was appropriately epic, with potential future repercussions for our Polis as we may have offended at least on of the gods. I really liked the system, which was a d10 dice pool based, and I ended up ordering a copy from Patriot Games.

And then it was all over; Graham and Elaine headed off and I finished off tidying up. We certainly enjoyed ourselves. 

As ever, we'd welcome feedback from attendees and always love seeing after-action reports of how it was for you. We always want to make Furnace better; that's why we brought the new space into play last year and have changed things like the slot lengths. 

Hoping to see some of you at Furnace XXII next year, or at North Star, Revelation or LongCon before that.

It's a wrap.

17 October 2026 

Books in September 2026

I read 11 books in September (87 in total this year) and these added another 3,697 pages (for 23,037 in total). A big part of the month was spent completing John Marsden's Tomorrow When the War Began series in a fictional future when Australia is invaded by another power and a group of teenagers effectively find themselves acting as a resistance unit whilst trying to survive in a familiar but now occupied landscape. The books gripped me and I tore through them very quickly, finishing the remaining five books in the series early in the month. I enjoyed them, as they didn't pull punches. Characters died, struggled and relationships developed in a complicated landscape. The consequences of actions were shown, and characters developed. The brutality of an occupational regime is shown. I recommend this series; don't be put off that it's nominally in the young adult category.

I was looking at what to read next, when I realised that Marsden had written a sequel to the series, so I dived straight back in. The sequel is a short trilogy, collectively referred to as The Ellie Chronicles, set six months after the end of the war when an uncomfortable peace has been agreed, with part of Australia remaining occupied. The protagonist, Ellie, is dealing with a return to normality with her parents, combined with a degree of fame as the group's exploits in the war have been celebrated. However, this isn't just a return to mundanity; Ellie's parents are struggling to keep their farm going and she is struggling to readjust to normality. Tensions are high in the border region, with informal action & reprisals taking place on both sides of the border. I enjoyed this again; it serves the same kind of purpose as Dune Messiah, showing the aftermath and impact of the actions taken previously and how the protagonists deal with it. There's a downward spiral from pressures, but it does end on a realistic high note that needed hard choices to meet.

I then read The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. This tells the tale of a pilot who has survived a viral apocalypse in the USA. He lives at an airfield with his dog and a survivalist, using his Cessna to fly and get supplies. The book has recently been filmed by Ridley Scott, and has been criticised quite heavily. However, when I saw it with my eldest, we both enjoyed it. The cinematography was lush, and it was very much a 'show not tell' story. We both felt connected to the characters when we watched it. Bizarrely, most of the criticism I saw was saying that 'The Walking Dead' had already done this. However, we felt it was good, and I immediately downloaded my copy of the book from the virtual 'to read' pile on my Kindle and set to it. The story in the novel is less cinematic, but the bones of it remain quite clearly in the film version. The only thing that irked me about the book was that the author has opted not to use speech marks, which took a couple of chapters to adapt to. Overall, I recommend both the book and the film version; they're both subtly different so it has its own feel.

The final novel I read was Cixin Liu's The Three Body Problem, which was a return to Elle Cordova's Book Club for me. I'd skipped several months because I'd read the books that were the picks reasonably recently or because that re-reading the novel was likely to trigger a re-read of a series that I didn't want to read again right now. The Three Body Problem is another of the books that's been in my too-read pile for a while; I think that my friend Tom recommended it to me. I found it had an interestingly different style (I suspect from the translation and differences in language structure) and I welcomed that the translator had added footnotes that explained context. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough that I have the next book queued up to read in October. 

I only read one non-fiction book this month, The Nazi Mind by Laurence Rees. This is an analysis of how the Nazi's thought and developed their philosophy of control, using techniques of othering people though creating and 'them vs us' situation and more. It was chilling, especially when you can see elements of it being used by the current US administration and the UK right wing. But know your enemy, yes?

Overall, a busy month for reading, and I'm pretty confident that I will get into three figures for books read this year again.

3 October 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 20 - On Hammurabi Station (Gahand)

This was the first session in a while with the whole crew, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was also one o those more social interludes when the characters were just experiencing being a Zinti novel influencer and her entourage on tour, sorry, Explorer's Guild Delving Crew. It's strange how a passing reference in character generation has expanded into something increasingly significant in the backstory. Hattie's character, Arda, has moved from being a Zinti novel fan to an aspiring author. In parallel, we've had a pretend crowdfunding exercise for merchandise for the campaign in the form of pamphlet books on the episode write ups, bookmarks and a stamp of authority. I've been wary to mention these, as they've been created with AI tools, but they are lovely keepsakes for our players and I'm thankful to Hattie for the passion that she has put into the game.

Away again, in a Premier Inn again, with some more weirdness. Audio Hijack took a long to launch again (no idea why) and Safari refused to do audio on Role. Fallback was to use Firefox. Somewhere in the recording, I was getting a buzzing noise, but I think the rest of the players were fine. The recording worked well, so definitely some kind of weirdness on how Audio Hijack and Firefox were playing together.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Corvus, Arda, Meristo, Fassour, Rashid and Lieto)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

In the Gahand star system, the crew of the Akhander had just emerged from the slipstream, approaching Hammurabi Station for docking. As the sensors began their tedious buzz of operations, the crew recalls the different messages they received upon arrival: directives from Hammurabi traffic control, propaganda from the Free Gahand rebels, and other communications hinting at resistance and corruption within the system.

The crew, consisting of Rashid Al Masri, Lieto Miesma, Ada Qamar, Fassour Faradi, and Meristo Koulas, primarily discussed their immediate plans while in the system. There was mention of repairs needed on the Akhander due to damages sustained while taking a glancing blow avoiding an asteroid during their journey through the slipstream. The mention of visiting Jiriman's Taverna at Hammurabi Station to experience local cuisine was floated, painting a lively picture of places named after iconic scenes from the diaspora history.

However, their thoughts were also on the mysterious and unstable signals they had intercepted, potentially from Anshubar. There was a brief confusion over place names and signals, leading to a discussion on properly identifying transmissions and locations.

As the Akhander successfully docked at the station, the crew fancied a stroll through the liveliness of Hammurabi Station, starting with the vibrant Taverna district, filled with mosaics, smells of exotic foods, and the hustle of crowds. The plan was to soak in the local culture and perhaps, in their relaxation, gather more information on the elusive rebels and the political tension gripping the system.

In the bustling heart of the Taverna district at Hammurabi Station, nestled under the shimmering veil of fairy lights and surrounded by the tantalizing aroma of exotic cuisines, our group of interstellar travelers found themselves engrossed in culinary adventures. The illustrious chef Meristo Kulas, wielding his well-thumbed cookbook from this very Taverna, expertly navigated the eclectic menu, engaging in enlightening discussions with the serving staff about the selection of tapas-style dishes before them. As courses flowed, so did the conversation, enriching their gastronomic journey with insights and anecdotes from the realms of interstellar cookery.

Amidst the flavours and fervour, Arda Qamar, under the guise of an incognito influencer and enabled by Fassour's well placed bribe, anticipated signing issues of the beloved Zinti novels on request, bringing a touch of literary grace to the evening. The meal peaked with interactions enveloped with warmth and joy, particularly when Jiraman, the celebrated chef himself, made his grand entrance. Recognising Meristo's profound connection with his cuisine through the well-worn pages of his cookbook, an immediate culinary camaraderie blossomed.

Their engagement deepened as Jiraman presented Meristo with an early copy of his new book, a gesture that symbolised respect and fellowship. This exchange under the softly lit mosaics was not just about food; it was a reciprocal appreciation of their respective crafts. As the evening waned, the conversation veered towards their ongoing mission and discreet undertakings within the Gahand system, with Jiraman curiously probing into the origins and intentions of their voyage.

But the station held more than just culinary delights. Arda and Meristo, swept up in a whirl of interactions ranging from fans to curious journalists, found themselves navigating the intricate dance of fame and anonymity. A news agent, intrigued by their distinct presence at the VIP section, approached with questions, teetering on the boundary of curiosity and intrusion. With tactful deflection and a guarded grace, they managed to maintain their composure and secrecy, allowing them to savour the richness of the station's offerings without the burden of unwanted exposure.

Their venture into the local scene, however, was not merely a quest for delectable indulgences but also a discreet investigation into the station's underworld. The fringes of society, marked by rebel symbols and whispers of unrest, beckoned with promises of secrets tucked away in shadowy corners. As they delved deeper into the station's underbelly, they encountered representatives and rogues, each interaction spinning threads of potential alliances and stoking the embers of upcoming adventures.

Thus, beneath the glow of Hammurabi Station's lights, amidst sumptuous spreads and hushed conversations, the crew of the Akhander wove through the tapestry of culinary arts, covert missions, and interstellar diplomacy, each moment seasoned with the exquisite flavours of the stars.

In the midst of the bustling Hammurabi Station, Fassour found himself engaged in a lively conversation about the ramifications of having a Jarkava prophet-poet aboard their vessel, musing with Meristo about the potential impact on crew morale. The notorious droning of the poet's prayers clashed with their serene environment, making the crew ponder the inclusion of such a character in their journey. The challenge was that the local boss for the Black Toad allied Sharzad Collective, wanted them to take his poet nephew out into the stars and also offered to connect them to a group that needed haulage rights to travel to Habanatum. Why anyone would want to travel to that icons-forsaken neutron star system is another matter altogether!

Arda, keen on blending into the local scene, schemed about deceptively accruing Zinti novel signatures as an incognito influencer. Meanwhile, Lieto Miesma sought local lore and hidden knowledge within the station, digging through sources like libraries and social media, driven by a thirst for understanding the mysterious signals and other uncharted phenomena in the Gahand system.

The crew also received a caution about the notorious wreckers operating within the system, adding a layer of urgency and caution to their mission. With Arda and Lieto diving deep into Hammurabi’s culture and dangers, their evening extended into plans of tackling the challenging environments whispered about in the station’s shadowy corridors.

As the station's vibrant life swirled around them, the crew of Akhander balanced their time between seeking knowledge and enjoying the rich cultural tapestry presented by Hammurabi Station. Their experiences ranging from culinary delights to covert inquiries set the stage for their next interstellar maneuvers, under the twinkling lights and amidst the echoing tales of rebellion and intrigue.

Regrouping with Rashid Al Masri, along with their other companions, the New Seekers considered the proposals brought forth by contacts at the station. The first was a poet known for his art-prophecies, seeking passage further down the arm of the galaxy to spread his verses. His presence offered no tangible rewards but could potentially curry favours beneficial to the crew in unforeseen ways. The poet's insertion into the crew's dynamic was debated, highlighting concerns about his doctrines affecting morale.

Concurrently, the proposition to transport an ore hauler was placed before them, promising straightforward financial gain. This hefty craft, destined for Habanatum—a location notable chiefly for its inhospitable environment and a stark white neutron star at its centre—would dock externally, presenting minimal risk to the Akhander's manoeuvrability.

As they contemplated these offers, including the poet's connection to a crime lord, they faced another unexpected opportunity. A journalist, Aframan Helen, approached Arda Kamar again, seeking an interview about her literary work on the Zinti novels. Arda agreed to the interview but was tactful, aiming to share knowledge of her work without compromising the mission's details. The journalist then pitched a business proposition to transport and sell info cubes containing expansive regional news, offering Arda a cut of his profits or publicity for her literary series.

With the crew needing to factor in these developing circumstances, they moved cautiously. Rashid, wary from prior experiences, expressed concern over the undertones linked with some of the journalist’s cargo, which included controversial revolutionary pamphlets. The discussions and decisions became a dance of diplomacy and discretion, as they balanced potential benefits against unforeseen consequences that might ripple through their journey.

In the end, having consulted with the First Officer, they accepted the haulage contract and agreed to take the prophet-poet with them, surprisingly to the crew's delight as they saw him as a source of luck for the expedition.

As the crew of the Akhander prepared to depart Hammurabi Station, a brief reunion with the plot saw them entertaining the thought of returning to the narrative. The exchange was lighthearted with mixed reactions; Arda Qamar rooted for heading back to the plot while Fassour Faradi humorously opposed, citing potential mishaps. Dom, resuming his role as the Game Master, guided the Akhander's undocking and set their course through the Gahand Cloud towards the elusive destination of Anshubur.

During the departure, concerns surfaced about the ship potentially scraping the station. Dom conducted a pilot check, confirming with relief and a hint of theatrical suspense that the maneuver was executed with stunning precision, avoiding any contact.

The conversation took a turn as Fasour brought up a detail about wreckers operating independently in the system, targeting all factions equally. This revelation added a layer of complexity to their journey, indicating potential threats without the possibility of leveraging organised groups.

Arda Qamar questioned the implications, leading to Rashid Al Masri revealing they possessed access codes from the Mining Combine, intended to aid their passage through the system. However, it was quickly deduced that these codes would likely be ineffective against the wreckers, pointing to challenges ahead in navigating these hostile spaces.

Meanwhile, the news agent arrived at the now empty dock, early for the journey he planned to join, but found the Akhander departed. Rashid just didn't feel he was right for the Expedition's crew.

With these considerations in mind and the clock ticking towards the end of their session, Dom concluded the night's adventure, wrapping up another chapter in the saga of the Akhander Expedition as it sailed through the stars, its crew poised to face the mysteries and dangers of the Gahand system.

Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Out of Application Memory...

Now that's an error message I've not seen for a long time (to paraphrase Obi Wan Kenobi). In fact, I can't actually remember ever getting this kind of error in recent memory.

I found the error this morning when I unlocked the MacBook, as I'd forgotten to shut it down.

I had a fair few apps open, but the one consuming the RAM was Safari which had 2.2GB in use. Kind of weird as it only had five tabs open (3x DriveThru RPG, a static blog page and a Backerkit confirmation). Next biggest after that was Discord at 2GB and Music at 660MB. Hope this isn't going to be an ongoing thing for Golden Gate.

And how on earth do Safari and Discord use so much RAM?!

I'm also curious if you can open the Force Quit Dialog and have it show memory usage like this did: Esc+Opt+Cmd just shows the apps by default.

27 September 2026