Skip to content
  • Home Home Home, current page.
  • Moments Moments Moments, current page.

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Language: English
    • Bahasa Indonesia
    • Bahasa Melayu
    • Català
    • Čeština
    • Dansk
    • Deutsch
    • English UK
    • Español
    • Filipino
    • Français
    • Hrvatski
    • Italiano
    • Magyar
    • Nederlands
    • Norsk
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Română
    • Slovenčina
    • Suomi
    • Svenska
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Türkçe
    • Ελληνικά
    • Български език
    • Русский
    • Српски
    • Українська мова
    • עִבְרִית
    • العربية
    • فارسی
    • मराठी
    • हिन्दी
    • বাংলা
    • ગુજરાતી
    • தமிழ்
    • ಕನ್ನಡ
    • ภาษาไทย
    • 한국어
    • 日本語
    • 简体中文
    • 繁體中文
  • Have an account? Log in
    Have an account?
    · Forgot password?

    New to Twitter?
    Sign up
cstross's profile
Charlie Stross
Charlie Stross
Charlie Stross
Verified account
@cstross

Tweets

Charlie StrossVerified account

@cstross

SF author, he/him. Next novella: ESCAPE FROM PUROLAND (July '21): Next novel: INVISIBLE SUN (Sept '21). Resident of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Berlin, Germany
antipope.org/charlie/blog-s…
Joined October 2011

Tweets

  • © 2021 Twitter
  • About
  • Help Center
  • Terms
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies
  • Ads info
Dismiss
Previous
Next

Go to a person's profile

Saved searches

  • Remove
  • In this conversation
    Verified accountProtected Tweets @
Suggested users
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @
  • Verified accountProtected Tweets @

Promote this Tweet

Block

  • Tweet with a location

    You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more

    Your lists

    Create a new list


    Under 100 characters, optional

    Privacy

    Copy link to Tweet

    Embed this Tweet

    Embed this Video

    Add this Tweet to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Add this video to your website by copying the code below. Learn more

    Hmm, there was a problem reaching the server.

    By embedding Twitter content in your website or app, you are agreeing to the Twitter Developer Agreement and Developer Policy.

    Preview

    Why you're seeing this ad

    Log in to Twitter

    · Forgot password?
    Don't have an account? Sign up »

    Sign up for Twitter

    Not on Twitter? Sign up, tune into the things you care about, and get updates as they happen.

    Sign up
    Have an account? Log in »

    Two-way (sending and receiving) short codes:

    Country Code For customers of
    United States 40404 (any)
    Canada 21212 (any)
    United Kingdom 86444 Vodafone, Orange, 3, O2
    Brazil 40404 Nextel, TIM
    Haiti 40404 Digicel, Voila
    Ireland 51210 Vodafone, O2
    India 53000 Bharti Airtel, Videocon, Reliance
    Indonesia 89887 AXIS, 3, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL Axiata
    Italy 4880804 Wind
    3424486444 Vodafone
    » See SMS short codes for other countries

    Confirmation

     

    Welcome home!

    This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

    Tweets not working for you?

    Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

    Say a lot with a little

    When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

    Spread the word

    The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

    Join the conversation

    Add your thoughts about any Tweet with a Reply. Find a topic you’re passionate about, and jump right in.

    Learn the latest

    Get instant insight into what people are talking about now.

    Get more of what you love

    Follow more accounts to get instant updates about topics you care about.

    Find what's happening

    See the latest conversations about any topic instantly.

    Never miss a Moment

    Catch up instantly on the best stories happening as they unfold.

    Charlie Stross‏Verified account @cstross 11 Feb 2020

    Why has it taken 40+ years for my brain worms to ask WHY anyone would try to rob a dungeon? (As opposed to the underground lair of an evil sorcerer, a cave occupied by a dragon, a nest of goblins, etc.) Dungeons are prisons! (Yes, I'm looking at YOU, Messrs. Arneson and Gygax.)

    5:33 AM - 11 Feb 2020
    • 96 Retweets
    • 691 Likes
    • อนิจจตา Bert Hert Princess Niko Blackwood James Stouffer Rob Jellinghaus RPGMY 🇲🇾 Plain Vanilla Stephen Mark Sander
    68 replies 96 retweets 691 likes
      1. New conversation
      2. Charlie Stross‏Verified account @cstross 11 Feb 2020

        I mean yes, Alliteration for the Nation: but dungeons, REALLY? Dungeons: dank holes in the ground full of starving manacled prisoners and the odd skeleton. Not so much a feature of treasure vaults. (WHY brain, WHY NOW?!?)

        13 replies 12 retweets 144 likes
        Show this thread
      3. Charlie Stross‏Verified account @cstross 11 Feb 2020

        Got it: the prisoners are the last posse of murder hobos to pass through the portal in search of loot. The dragon guarding the treasury that backs the local fiat currency administers a beat-down then confiscates all their loot and charges them bed and board. Debtor's prison!

        3 replies 11 retweets 154 likes
        Show this thread
      4. Charlie Stross‏Verified account @cstross 11 Feb 2020

        Never trust a currency denominated in precious metal coinage with a decimal-divisible base and a fixed exchange rate. All it takes is opening up one new electrum mine and BOOM, there goes your economy! (Yes, I know what electrum is. Why do you ask?)

        8 replies 17 retweets 220 likes
        Show this thread
      5. End of conversation
      1. Matt Kennedy‏ @_mck_ 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @cstross

        ULoaES & D doesn't roll off of the tongue as nicely.

        0 replies 0 retweets 4 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. , Slimber (green type)‏ @wordymelt 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @cstross

        It was a scam the whole time! They sent adventurer after adventurer down that hole chasing the promise of wealth. None returned, and the dungeon just got fatter and more smug.

        2 replies 1 retweet 10 likes
      3. Threadpool: The merc with the c: mount‏ @davedisasterman 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @wordymelt @glummdead @cstross

        ...or... ...more Smaug? I'll, err, get me coat...

        1 reply 1 retweet 6 likes
      4. Show replies
      1. James Hetley‏ @Jhetley 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @cstross

        It's a clever ruse. You hide your loot in the dungeon because nobody will ever look there.

        0 replies 1 retweet 4 likes
        Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. Undo
        Undo
      1. New conversation
      2. Pete Birkinshaw‏ @binaryape 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @cstross

        From Norman word "donjon", meaning castle or fortress

        1 reply 1 retweet 6 likes
      3. Pete Birkinshaw‏ @binaryape 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @binaryape @cstross

        (D&D wasn't marketed to 11th Century Normans, so it's only an accidental excuse)

        1 reply 1 retweet 5 likes
      4. Show replies
      1. New conversation
      2. Fafner DeUrsine‏ @FafnerDeUrsine 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @cstross

        How else is the aristocracy going to get its authentic BDSM gear? Just hire a bunch of adventurous drunks from the local tavern of course!

        1 reply 1 retweet 1 like
      3. Matthew Royal‏ @masyukun 11 Feb 2020
        Replying to @FafnerDeUrsine @cstross

        How else do the ruling class get the upstarts out of the way? Tell them there's treasure down a risky mineshaft. Best case, you declare them dead and confiscate their property. Worst case, some of them return, promoting more rabble to play the same risk.

        0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
      4. End of conversation

    Loading seems to be taking a while.

    Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

      Promoted Tweet

      false

      • © 2021 Twitter
      • About
      • Help Center
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Cookies
      • Ads info