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Tom Francis

@pentadact.com

Designer/writer/coder on Gunpoint, Heat Signature, and Tactical Breach Wizards. More on those and other things I write or do or be: https://www.pentadact.com/

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22.06.2023
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Latest posts by Tom Francis @pentadact.com

With a green leaf that makes it look like an abstract tomato for some reason.

22.02.2026 02:47 ๐Ÿ‘ 17 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Wizard tuning
Wizard tuning YouTube video by Tom Francis

Tip for balancing wizards: keep buffing them til their attacks visibly illuminate your face.
youtu.be/TBELTya013I .

21.02.2026 18:56 ๐Ÿ‘ 35 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A screenshot of a text box from Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown. Kathryn Janeway: Follow them! We'll get Tuvok's lungs back.

A screenshot of a text box from Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown. Kathryn Janeway: Follow them! We'll get Tuvok's lungs back.

This is what gaming is all about

20.02.2026 03:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 4427 ๐Ÿ” 1062 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 61 ๐Ÿ“Œ 45
Video thumbnail

The Killing Stone is OUT NOW in Early Access

๐Ÿƒ Occult Card Battler
๐Ÿ‘บ 17th Century Occult Horror Mystery
๐Ÿ“– Modern and 17th Century English
๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Starring @emmagregoryvoice.bsky.social & @voiceofobrien.bsky.social

Can you beat the Devil at his own game?

store.steampowered.com/app/2781470/

18.02.2026 15:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 110 ๐Ÿ” 53 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4 ๐Ÿ“Œ 12
A pink recycling bin sealed with a "coming soon!" label

A pink recycling bin sealed with a "coming soon!" label

Are we doing trailers for bins now

13.02.2026 19:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 54 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 8 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Met a very high resolution rabbit tonight, and a very sweet drawing of a rabbit I did not meet tonight.

12.02.2026 07:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 41 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A screenshot in which an obviously Roman character is greeting me, and my response options include "I'm Roman and I've just come from the future. "

A screenshot in which an obviously Roman character is greeting me, and my response options include "I'm Roman and I've just come from the future. "

The Forgotten City is a game about going back to Roman times, so when it came time to choose a name, I decided it was worth becoming someone I hate in return for also ruining the game.

12.02.2026 06:09 ๐Ÿ‘ 69 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 5 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

If I ever taste a drink that is too spicy for me, it will be the death I always wanted.

(Swung by there today but they ran out! Livid. I might have to make a dedicated trip on Friday)

12.02.2026 05:48 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

God damn, this one sounds like my cup of tea.

11.02.2026 06:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Tools.Wait(lifetime)
	StartSinking()

Tools.Wait(lifetime) StartSinking()

Accidentally summed it up.

07.02.2026 15:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 95 ๐Ÿ” 8 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"Time to lower my guard, even for a second."

03.02.2026 14:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 3 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

"All of this has been useful so far" is an incredibly Act One sentence.

03.02.2026 14:25 ๐Ÿ‘ 14 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
28.01.2026 19:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 16549 ๐Ÿ” 6480 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 46 ๐Ÿ“Œ 39
Bilbo looking at his phone top

on bottom is ChatGPT

After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?

You're absolutely right โ€” you found it, it's been with you a long while, and it's only natural to feel fond of something that's served you so well, especially when someone like Gandalf suddenly seems to want it for himself.

Bilbo looking at his phone top on bottom is ChatGPT After all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it? You're absolutely right โ€” you found it, it's been with you a long while, and it's only natural to feel fond of something that's served you so well, especially when someone like Gandalf suddenly seems to want it for himself.

28.01.2026 01:51 ๐Ÿ‘ 25429 ๐Ÿ” 6953 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7 ๐Ÿ“Œ 155

A new website about PC games, from me, @brendyc.bsky.social and @jonhicks.com.

Reader-supported, which means no ads, no guff, and lots of games blogging about delightful things to play. If you liked our work on RPS, we think you'll like @jank.cool.

27.01.2026 13:00 ๐Ÿ‘ 557 ๐Ÿ” 207 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 26 ๐Ÿ“Œ 15

We need scores out of ten!

25.01.2026 05:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

My eyes are bad but I won't ruin the vibe with a flashlight.

24.01.2026 23:32 ๐Ÿ‘ 105 ๐Ÿ” 10 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The brains are in the grenades: how enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards
The brains are in the grenades: how enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards YouTube video by Tom Francis

The brains are in the grenades: How enemies think in Tactical Breach Wizards

youtu.be/gEFfBXQAtYE

I'm not going to GDC this year, so here's a little talk for free - on a thing I want to share before I forget how it works.

22.01.2026 16:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 167 ๐Ÿ” 35 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4 ๐Ÿ“Œ 3

I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place

20.01.2026 01:57 ๐Ÿ‘ 21487 ๐Ÿ” 5121 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 15 ๐Ÿ“Œ 3555

Day 3 of being woken up by a long, low foghorn-like sound:

It strikes me now that - given I live near the water and the weather has been foggy for 3 days - the explanation for this phenomenon may be closer to hand than previously realised.

21.01.2026 14:49 ๐Ÿ‘ 122 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 7 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A timeline visually representing the advice from my post, emphasising how dramatically and reliably having more time, with a testable build, converts to your game being better and your studio being safer.

A timeline visually representing the advice from my post, emphasising how dramatically and reliably having more time, with a testable build, converts to your game being better and your studio being safer.

I've been running an indie games studio for 15 years now, and it felt like a good time to boil down what I've learned into 4 pieces of advice:

www.pentadact.com/2026-01-08-1...

I hope it's of use, not least because goddamn I forgot how long blog posts take to write.

08.01.2026 18:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 1845 ๐Ÿ” 577 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 51 ๐Ÿ“Œ 65

My post-layoff professional hiatus has come to an end and I'm looking to rebuild my contact book. If you're in need of:

โœ๏ธ Fiction! Produced entirely by my human brain and hands!
๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธ Narrative design, worldbuilding or creative direction!
๐ŸŽบ Comms, bizdev or marketing support!

...then get in touch!

05.01.2026 12:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 26 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

Too kind! ๐Ÿงก

The other one I wished I'd written was a Steam review for Pacific Drive:
S. T. A. L. C. A. R.

01.01.2026 01:23 ๐Ÿ‘ 6 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Sure, making games is great, but has anything I've done in the last 15 years truly matched the high of nailing a good strapline.

01.01.2026 00:35 ๐Ÿ‘ 22 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Tactical Breach Wizards |OT| Rites in Tight Spaces OT Release Date: August 22, 2024 Developer: Suspicious Developments Inc Publisher: Suspicious Developments Platform: Steam (Demo available) Steam Deck Compatibility: Playable Price: $19.99 ABOUT From th...

Goddamn, I only just saw the Resetera thread for @breachwizards.bsky.social has the best strap I've seen in all our coverage: www.resetera.com/threads/tact...

Rites in Tight Spaces.

01.01.2026 00:29 ๐Ÿ‘ 58 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Love this bit, when your Christmas License to Indulge has expired but your New Year's Obligation to Live Sensibly hasn't started yet.

Feels like a loophole.

31.12.2025 16:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 53 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I'll add: if the other game is out, that's a gift.

You get to play a finished version of your idea, see how it feels, how it sold, and what everyone thought of it? That's incredibly powerful information to make something that builds on it.

22.12.2025 07:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 101 ๐Ÿ” 9 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Extra-love this shit:

x I've got no choice.
x Fine, I'll do it.
-> I don't like this, but I'll do my duty.

Shepard: "I guess I don't have a choice."

19.12.2025 06:54 ๐Ÿ‘ 112 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Save 35% on Tactical Breach Wizards on Steam In Tactical Breach Wizards, you lead a team of renegade wizards in kevlar through turn-based battles to unravel a modern conspiracy plot. Combine their unique spells in clever ways, or rewind time to ...

This season, give yourself the gift of giving us less money:

๐Ÿง™โ€โ™‚๏ธ Tactical Breach Wizards is 35% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/1043810/...

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ Gunpoint is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/206190/G...

๐Ÿš€ Heat Signature is 75% off!
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/H...

18.12.2025 18:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 74 ๐Ÿ” 30 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1 ๐Ÿ“Œ 4

You could use this phenomenon to write a secret message that people can only see while their skulls are being vibrated, and I just think that's neat.

15.12.2025 19:26 ๐Ÿ‘ 29 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0