Fan Club “Blog” #10: Broke Leg Blog
Added 2024-10-17 10:52:43 +0000 UTC
Oh boy! 😅 Oh f**k!
As some of you may have seen on Twitter or this Patreon’s Community tab, I have had a slight misadventure and broken my leg.
As my friends have been at pains to point out, I at least snapped my shin doing something semi-impressive: kickboxing! Did I break my leg because my kicking form was bad, despite being told two dozen times to rotate my hip more? I don’t see how that’s relevant. But suffice to say, in sustaining an injury in this fashion I am something of a 21st century hero and very brave.
I escaped surgery and my mobility is only going to get better, but it’s likely that I’ll be in some combination of cast and crutches for 4 months, around the beginning of February.
What does this mean for Quinns Quest?
Well, miraculously, while there’s some bad news in this post, I think it’s mostly good news.
I'll explain everything.
First off, this does mean the 6th and final review of Quinns Quest season one is now gonna be out in November, because there are some pickup shots I need to film and filming is very physically demanding. I need to move heavy furniture, tripods, lights, electrics... before I’ve even hit the “Record” button on the camera I’ve spent more time than you’d imagine going up on tip-toes and literally crawling on the floor. Not exactly feasible when I’m pivoting my way around the flat on crutches and -y'know - my leg just f**king hurts!
The injury also means the collapse of a bunch of trips I had coming up in October, November and December. The day after I broke my leg I was scheduled to fly to upstate New York to playtest a super secret new TTRPG, then there was Big Bad Con, PAX Unplugged, a People Make Games shoot in Poland... a whole laboriously-organised pile of work and information-gathering and networking that, with the nauseatingly loud "SNAP" of my shinbone fracturing, instantaneously went up in smoke.
I was left to consider this AT LENGTH in hospital, where due to complications they couldn’t put me in a full cast for 4 days, leaving me in bed with my leg cupped in a semi-circular half cast.
(Fun fact: You know that thing where you’re falling asleep and you feel like you’re falling, and your muscles contract to catch you? As I would fall asleep in the darkness of my hospital ward my body would feel itself falling and kick outwards with the broken leg, causing me to gasp in astounding pain, followed by a sort of combination giggle-groan at the ridiculousness of it.)
Here's the cast as it looks today. Did you know you can choose the colour of your cast now? I chose "Green", which turned out to be a bold emerald green.
So yeah- I had plenty of time to think about all of the energy and my money and other folks’ money that had gone into planning the rest of my year and was now mostly wasted.
Here’s the weird part though: I didn’t feel annoyed.
For the first time all year, I felt... peace.
If you don't mind, can I get real with you for a second? The year of our lord 2024 has been a lot for me.
Some of you may know that I got a divorce this year (which, ridiculously, a lot of people learned about from my appearance on dungeon module podcast Between Two Cairns). My ex-wife and I were together for 11 and a half years, so that is, uh, a big life change! So that saw me first flathunting and then moving in together with one of my best friends (who's also one of my TTRPG players), then of course there’s also the launch of a new business in the form of Quinns Quest, and - as I mentioned in the last Patreon post - Quinns Quest being an unexpected success means it’s caused MORE work and opportunities that I have to react to.
In all of this, when my friends asked how I was doing (perhaps noticing a new, distracted movement to my eyes) I’d say something along the lines of “I’m great! I’m so great!! Life’s going great. I’m kickboxing now! No, I stopped seeing my therapist earlier this year. Why do you ask?”
Suddenly being given a lot of hours to stare at the ceiling while my bone knits back together has helped me to realise that (you’ll never expect this coming from the newly-divorced man) I perhaps wasn’t doing as okay as I thought. I wasn’t giving enough time to processing my feelings.
Prior to the leg break I was dashing around everywhere and feeling indefinably unsynchronised with myself for months at a time, and I didn't notice that I was emotionally a bit ragged. I didn’t even have the spare cycles to stop and reframe what Quinns Quest is in my head, after it launched and has slowly transformed from pie-in-the-sky idea to a project with some serious funding supported by a group of Patrons who I have... not an obligation to, exactly, because that word is a little toxic, but a community of supporters - you reading this, right now - who I’m really grateful for and interested in.
So yeah. On the one hand, I broke my leg and it sucks. I have to inject myself with blood thinners every 24 hours and I have to put on my underwear and trousers by trying to lasso the end of my cast and then shake them down my foot. On the other hand, my life was going much too fast for a moment there, and I’m finding the chance to stop, breathe and reflect isn’t simply welcome, it’s a huge relief.
Now, let me pivot this from a more feelsy post to a list of practical patreon stuff and Quinns Quest news.
(1) Oh my GOD is this gonna be good for my love of TTRPGs! 😊
Let me be clear: A huge amount of my work, hobbies and socialising has just gotten either more complicated or impossible. You know what IS still on the table? Roleplaying!! Within days of breaking my leg I was already texting my players “You guys, I think the next few months is going to be a golden age for our roleplaying. I have so much more time to plan and get excited about our games.”
This week, like a giddy theatre director I began writing the names of all my players on post-its and re-assigning them all into NEW groups that would have NEW chemistry and dynamics (I should do a blog post on this later), casting them all in NEW games that I KNEW they’d be excited about. In the next couple of months I’m going to be starting full campaigns of Public Access, Mythic Bastionland and Good Society. I cannot wait. (The WIP music playlist we've got for Mythic Bastionland is already stupid good.)
(2) The Quinns Quest Actual Play podcast where you can hear me GM with my players (that I teased in the last post) is officially coming out!! The fancy, experienced Actual Play audio producer got back to me saying he thinks the content is very, very good and he’s going to start work on the first episode.
Which is a relief! Because I put so much goddamn work into it!! And also because it means a brand-new pillar of content for y’all to enjoy on Quinns Quest that won’t get in the way of the reviews at all and that you can listen to between Season 1 and 2!!!
I’ll do a whole, dedicated blog introducing and explaining the high concept further down the line, but for now I'll just give you the series title: Quinns Quest: Play to Find Out.
Honestly, I have so, so much to say about recording Actual Play already- it’s so much harder and richer a craft than I expected. If roleplaying is beer, recording actual play is whisky- primarily it’s just more condensed, but also more damaging to your health. I know Actual Play (like whisky) isn't for everybody, but I think if you folks like Quinns Quest, you’ll love hearing what I GM and how I choose to GM it.
(3) Don’t hold me to this, but I’ve realised that I might be able to substantially improve the quality of Quinns Quest Season 2 by filming the entire thing in one go.
Here’s the thing- I’ve already played almost all of the games I’m planning to review, so (while it’s a frightening prospect) there’s no obstacle towards me writing everything and then filming everything and then editing everything (though still releasing it on a similar schedule to Season 1). I’ve never worked that way before in my life, for the entire time I've been a YouTuber I've only focused on one video at a time. But here’s the thing- if I manage to find efficiencies in batch-recording, I then free up more time and money to be more ambitious with what the season actually is- I could pay other professionals to help me workshop and tighten the scripts, to plan and film additional segments, to do all of my lighting and finally do more unusual editing. All of which could lead to a real jump in quality between season 1 and 2.
Like I say, don’t hold me to this. But if it works, I can think of half a dozen ways that you folks would get a better product.
(4) Finally, a fun thing for you to watch- Modiphius paid me to GM the quickstart of their upcoming Discworld RPG! I agreed to do it because I love Discworld, I fell asleep to those books on tape as a kid, but also because a GM couldn't ask for a more dazzling team of players than who I knew I'd have- actual play stars Abubakar Salim, Liv Kennedy and Josephine McAdam.
That's all for now, everyone. More updates to come soon. But huge thanks to the members of the Quinns Quest Patreon community for all of the good wishes you've sent so far. I feel really, really appreciative of you all.
Sending love from Brighton, UK,
Quinns
xox
Comments
Mate, I'm so sorry to hear about the divorce. There is a great book called "Rebuilding" by Bruce Fisher which helped me IMMENSELY when I got divorced. It's not a typical self-help book -- it's a recipe to recovery. I've bought at least 3 copies of it to give away when friends/acquaintances get divorced - it's that good.
Nicholas Caldwell
2024-11-27 20:39:09 +0000 UTCHey mate! I found out about this when asking why I didn't see you at Big Bad this year. Just wanted to reach out with my love and wish you all the best on your recovery. Hope to see you (on Quest and otherwise) after you've recovered well.
Sidney Icarus
2024-11-12 17:12:59 +0000 UTCLate with my well-wishes, but hope you're healing well and continue to heal well! I've broken a half-dozen bones in my life and could instantly relate to the aches and pains both literal and figurative that follow a breakage. Yikes. Get well soon!
Alan Linenberger
2024-11-11 21:45:08 +0000 UTCConverted that WIP Apple playlist to Spotify, sharing here if anyone wants it: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6hxjJ7arROfat1SC3ORQI6?si=dq0DvG8nS-SPagvhksDFWQ&pi=u-A1_0M3hXR3ua
Henry Roberts
2024-11-08 04:10:52 +0000 UTCI supported the Quinn's Quest patreon because I've always loved Shut Up and Sit Down, and TTRPGs are even more important to me than boardgames. Since joining, I have picked up Heart, Lancer, and Mothership. I just ran my first game of Mothership last week, with a new group of friends who mostly come from a D&D background. The group text chain is still abuzz with praise, everyone had an absolute blast. My point is, you've had a real positive impact on my life, and I am very satisfied. I am concerned about you burning the candle at both ends, and as someone who has put themselves into a crippling burnout before, I really encourage you to keep working at finding that balance in life.
Robert Haynes
2024-11-01 18:08:05 +0000 UTCQuick note, I saw that you already have some Hildegard von Bingen on your playlist, but I wanted to mention the album Lux Vixens, by Jocylen Montgomery and yes, David Lynch. It’s Hildegard as filtered through Lynches synth fever dreams, which I think is perfect for Mythic Bastionland
Keith Houston
2024-10-22 16:51:32 +0000 UTCstrongly agree about Kevin Penkin, amazing OST's by him.
Lamont A-R
2024-10-19 13:05:22 +0000 UTCWishing you a speedy recovery Quinns! Consider this my virtual signing of your cast ✍️
Joe
2024-10-18 22:00:43 +0000 UTCI’m glad that you’re able to step back, however well you’re able to step, to reassess everything. I’ve often caught myself just trying to push through painful things, hoping that I was gonna come out the other side. But that’s all it was , a chase to get away from pain as opposed to finding my joy again. Joy is a tricky little rabbit. It’s always with us, but gets easily scared when things are rough and intense. And we often find ourselves frantically looking for it, which causes it to receded even further. The minute we’re allowed to close our eyes, take it all in, and find some rest is when joy slowly crawls back in our lap. I know I speak for all of us when I say that I can’t wait to see what you rediscovered with your joy.
Keith Houston
2024-10-18 21:18:37 +0000 UTCThat playlist has pretty much every musician artist and band that I’ve ever loved.
Keith Houston
2024-10-18 21:07:18 +0000 UTCHey Quinns, I had a listen to a bit of that Mythic Bastionland playlist you posted, and it made me wonder if you've ever listened to the work of Kevin Penkin? Particularly his work on Made in Abyss and Tower of God. He has this beautiful, alien way of approaching fantasy scoring that really cranks up the wonder and/or horror. It reminds me of what you said about Wildsea, about ripping out the tropes of fantasy so you can experience awe and wonder again, because even the more traditional tracks still feel wholly fresh and unique. Thought it might be a good fit for just how strange a lot of T.T.R.P.G.s can get! Anyway, just something to check out if you get bored while you rest up. Feel better soon!
Blizzic
2024-10-18 17:48:05 +0000 UTCCheers. It is hard but I'm lucky to have some great people around me. One imagines divorce is pretty bloody rough!
Ads
2024-10-18 10:00:19 +0000 UTCQuinns
2024-10-18 09:41:28 +0000 UTCQuinns
2024-10-18 09:35:05 +0000 UTCThat was so important for you to realize that you've been burning your candle on both ends simultaneously. And most importantly you chose to tell us about your realization and hopefully we all learn from it. Kudos to you lovely Quinns to keeping it real, being transparent and pondering the psychology around it ♥️ Was it meant to be that something made you slow down. And was it also meant to be that you had the means and an audience to tell it to, to spread the word?
Jere Widenius (Kasanen)
2024-10-18 09:02:23 +0000 UTCGet well soon!
Grishnak
2024-10-18 07:43:57 +0000 UTCSnazzy cast! Get well soon, take care of yourself I am very much excited to hearing an actual play of the Jane Austen RPG - one of those games I can't imagine myself or my friends playing but love the idea of
Any Guy
2024-10-18 05:49:43 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing this, and thank you for being so emotionally honest too. I'm sure what you said here resonated with a lot of people, and I'm sure there's people here who need reminding to slow down and look after themselves too, so it's valuable to put it all in writing like this. Hope you can slow down a bit and give yourself what you need
Kai Lancaster
2024-10-17 19:08:05 +0000 UTCYour optimism is honestly inspiring, and the future of QQ seems bright and exciting. How effed up is capitalism that I've fantasized about having an injury or breakdown so that I wouldn't have to work for a few weeks? 😅 Living the dream man. (To be clear I'm not jealous of you breaking your leg specifically, I literally cannot imagine the pain) I'll leave you with this, I hope it resonates: https://youtu.be/coC9JSO17GQ?si=TnAa-31bt0GB3KSd
Todd Christiansen
2024-10-17 18:37:17 +0000 UTCWow, that's A LOT. My twin brother died at the start of the year. Between work and all my other commitments I haven't had a moment to find my balance since. It's great to hear that you're getting that opportunity even if it took a broken leg to make it happen. Hell, sometimes a broken leg is the *only* way it happens. And, hey, now you can talk about your "combat injury". Looking forward to Season 2, the AP and any improvements you might make but frankly business as usual is a-okay with me, as is taking as long as you need to get back to it . Not that you need my or anyone else's permission.
Ads
2024-10-17 18:20:35 +0000 UTCGreat mid-post turn around there: "I get a chance to slow down... SO I COULD DO MORE!" Take care of you Quinn. Nothing else matters <3
Chips
2024-10-17 17:46:55 +0000 UTCThis post may very well have had an effect on me. I don't know if I've been going through something quite as emotional as you have, but when it comes to having time to breathe and relax. I don't think I've actually sit down and given myself that in a long while. I hope your recovery is swift and your games are great!
Knightish
2024-10-17 17:46:32 +0000 UTCSounds like you’re getting some much needed rest at least! I’m so sorry you’ve been having such a rough go of it, man. I know you want to stay occupied during your bed rest but don’t feel the need to rush things on our account, we’re here for the long haul
TaxiPhish
2024-10-17 17:24:16 +0000 UTCQuinns
2024-10-17 17:15:40 +0000 UTCThat's a lot of bad, a lot of good, and it's awesome that you're finding a way to balance dealing with both while staying positive. Wishing you the absolute best!!
Zak K
2024-10-17 16:21:27 +0000 UTCWow how wonderful? Good to here you have some time to process things even though the way how was abit painful. Just take it easy (like your underwear) one leg at a time.
Michel Plokker
2024-10-17 16:14:15 +0000 UTCtake care of yourself Quinns! Thank you for sharing with us. Eagerly looking forward to the next era of QuinnsQuest :)
edmo
2024-10-17 15:42:04 +0000 UTCWhat great timing! Seriously, I hope this time allows you to process everything happening right now, both the good and the not-so-good. You know I support fair, well-paid, and decent work, not just endless content. That includes the right to rest and recover. Often, when we’re doing what we love, we end up overworking ourselves and putting ourselves in unsafe work environments. Be kind to yourself and make sure you have the working conditions every human being deserves. You’ve been doing a great job—take a deep breath and let it all in and out. Big hug!
Fernando Barajas
2024-10-17 15:40:38 +0000 UTCThe lyrics of John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy" contain the famous quip "Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." The universe clearly decided to give you a break (pun intended, fully), and you've already realized how much you've needed some down time. I'm excited for your future projects and I'm really looking forward to the finale of season 1 and what's to come in season 2. The Ankh-Morpork RPG play through was candidly not something I would normally watch, but I was laughing throughout. Is there a way to weasel myself onto your virtual table? Gaming with you would be a treat.
Roger Leroux
2024-10-17 15:34:42 +0000 UTCThat was an emotional rollercoaster of a post. Looking forward to everything you have lined up, but please look after yourself, chief. 👍🏽
Screaming Meat
2024-10-17 14:57:30 +0000 UTCTake care, Quinns! Wish you a swift recovery.
Євген Мокеєв
2024-10-17 14:40:05 +0000 UTCthat's a ton of change in such a short time. I hope you find a good therapist to talk to, if you end up looking. Alternatively, have you ever played a ttrpg? I hear your friends can give you free therapy doing that! :P
nabsy
2024-10-17 13:37:24 +0000 UTCHoping you recover quickly and aren’t in too much pain!
Mystic Mushroom Press
2024-10-17 13:30:16 +0000 UTCBreaking a leg while exercising post divorce, resulting in a forced postponning of x3 professional trips ...whilst navigating a six months acclimation to a new level 'Internet Quinn as a business' ... where you noted a need to take advice to rest up and consider from friends and family ...and now your literally stuck resting, wearing glistening emerald, unable to put underpants on for weeks? I don't know how you keep failing upwards!
WarpTHUMP
2024-10-17 12:47:11 +0000 UTCcongrats on the broken leg, sounds like it's going to be great for you!
Benjamin Nickolls
2024-10-17 12:45:25 +0000 UTCI had a serious head injury last week playing peekaboo, so good job getting hurt doing something cool! Please be sure to spend plenty of your recuperation period being lazy af. You're (hopefully) not going to have many more opportunities like this to do nothing. Also, I'm actually running a Mythic Bastionland one-shot this weekend so I'll just be swiping that playlist.
Brendan Truett
2024-10-17 12:26:23 +0000 UTCWishing you all the best take your time recover
Mat
2024-10-17 11:55:56 +0000 UTCIt has been quite a year. I can certainly empathise, split up with my partner after 10 years in Jan. Just a bit of self kindness is the only thing. Oh, and for the leg, one of those long grabber things I found was helpful for getting dressed when I broke my leg. Take it easy chap.
RainIsMotherNaturesCarwash
2024-10-17 11:50:24 +0000 UTCAs someone who has been divorced for a little longer than yourself, this reads very familiar. The fact that you can see yourself in this moment is a great sign you're doing alright. Whatever else happens, you matter. You got this sir.
Scott Gregson
2024-10-17 11:47:31 +0000 UTCWishing you a speedy recovery Quinn! As someone who is currently sitting at home after lying in hospital for several days after surgery, I can totally relate as to how all that free time allows you to take some distance from the daily rush and reconnect with where you truly are mentally. I am finding it really helpful. I love that this episode also led to that burst of creative energy and enthusiasm for your coming games. Get well soon and see you in season 2 and the actual plays! PS: The Discworld actual play was a blast.
Wendelius
2024-10-17 11:42:05 +0000 UTCAw - get well soon mate. If it helps, it sounds like mentally you’re very much on top of things even though your old body is falling apart :) Take care - we’ll all be here when you get back x
Tony Makos
2024-10-17 11:31:48 +0000 UTCOh heck! Make sure to actually do some resting ;)
ongoingwow
2024-10-17 11:25:43 +0000 UTCMy hearts with you Quinn! I broke my wrist last year after roller skating (I can’t roller skate) so I know the feeling. It was a golden age for TTRPGs afterwards though so I can vouch for that. I even ran a session the day after my surgery while still half-intoxicated on the pain relief drugs. You have my full support for whatever comes next :D
Jack Catchpowle
2024-10-17 11:20:31 +0000 UTCI can understand having an enforced rest turning out to be a blessing - it's difficult to stop sometimes unless someone or something makes you. As we say in IT "schedule downtime, or downtime schedules you". Take it easy, listen to your body, I look forward to the future kickboxing video redemption arc.
Chris Sparke
2024-10-17 11:18:54 +0000 UTCThat's a pretty chaotic year. I'm glad you have time to breathe and process. Hope the mending is quick and the rest is peaceful.
Andy Jones
2024-10-17 11:17:55 +0000 UTCI love the idea of you being able to film them all in one go but be careful of stretching yourself too thin that way too. I'm sure it takes a lot of energy to pep yourself up and get in to presenter mode and the idea of having to do that for hours on end sounds knackering!
Backpack Boom Bap (Tom)
2024-10-17 11:14:44 +0000 UTCReminds me of when Dave Grohl broke his leg. The tour they put on then was wild. Very rockstar of you, Quinns! Best of luck with the healing!
Yancey
2024-10-17 11:06:13 +0000 UTCI can't be the only one sitting here thinking about all the roleplaying I could be doing if only my friends happened to break their legs am I..?
Lojaan
2024-10-17 11:05:37 +0000 UTCThat *is* a bold green
Lojaan
2024-10-17 11:03:29 +0000 UTCOh you silly goose. Get better soon my dude 💪
James Taylor
2024-10-17 11:00:10 +0000 UTCHope your leg mends well and quickly. Take care!
Daniel Takai
2024-10-17 10:58:40 +0000 UTCWhat an unexpectedly emotional blog post. I wasn't supposed to feel feelings this early in the morning! We love you Quinns (you know, from a safe, non-parasocial distance).
birdmilk
2024-10-17 10:58:38 +0000 UTC
