Johnstone Metzger
@chthonstone.bsky.social
I make tabletop role-playing games.
johnstone (dot) metzger (at) gmail (dot) com.
chthonstone.ca
johnstone (dot) metzger (at) gmail (dot) com.
chthonstone.ca
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
I've got a new game called We Contain Solitudes that I am putting out today!
You can get it here: sevencrowsgames.itch.io/we-contain-s...
It's a 2 player ttrpg about troubled souls stuck in a time loop that plays out in prose and soliloquy.
You can get it here: sevencrowsgames.itch.io/we-contain-s...
It's a 2 player ttrpg about troubled souls stuck in a time loop that plays out in prose and soliloquy.
We Contain Solitudes by Seven Crows Games
A 2 player TTRPG about troubled souls trapped in a time loop that plays out in prose and soliloquies.
sevencrowsgames.itch.io
August 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I've got a new game called We Contain Solitudes that I am putting out today!
You can get it here: sevencrowsgames.itch.io/we-contain-s...
It's a 2 player ttrpg about troubled souls stuck in a time loop that plays out in prose and soliloquy.
You can get it here: sevencrowsgames.itch.io/we-contain-s...
It's a 2 player ttrpg about troubled souls stuck in a time loop that plays out in prose and soliloquy.
Amazing that not even a month ago I was finally thinking "maybe, at long last, I should start selling my stuff on Itch."
I am basically a nobody, and this is just a suggestion, but if DriveThruRPG want me to see them as the reasonable ones in this situation, I think maybe they should stop trying to drive my audience away from their site, where I sell my games at.
July 26, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Amazing that not even a month ago I was finally thinking "maybe, at long last, I should start selling my stuff on Itch."
You need to log into soundcloud to listen, but if you do here's Through Ultan's Door via The Nightmares Underneath.
Part four of our exploration of Through Ultan's Door by
@benlaurence.bsky.social using the Nightmares Underneath from @chthonstone.bsky.social is out now! This is the last Ultan's Door episode for the time being.
on.soundcloud.com/J30hg7RbFvLW...
@benlaurence.bsky.social using the Nightmares Underneath from @chthonstone.bsky.social is out now! This is the last Ultan's Door episode for the time being.
on.soundcloud.com/J30hg7RbFvLW...
Through Ultan's Door - Ruins of the Inquisitor's Theater - Part 4
With fresh knowledge, and fresh fruit, the party goes in search of further comestibles, but what they find may be somewhat less appetizing...
Buy Through Ultan's Door: throughultansdoor.bigcartel.co
on.soundcloud.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:59 AM
You need to log into soundcloud to listen, but if you do here's Through Ultan's Door via The Nightmares Underneath.
I am basically a nobody, and this is just a suggestion, but if DriveThruRPG want me to see them as the reasonable ones in this situation, I think maybe they should stop trying to drive my audience away from their site, where I sell my games at.
July 2, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I am basically a nobody, and this is just a suggestion, but if DriveThruRPG want me to see them as the reasonable ones in this situation, I think maybe they should stop trying to drive my audience away from their site, where I sell my games at.
Darn, guess I should have signed up for the Tomb Raider playtest to see what it was all about.
June 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Darn, guess I should have signed up for the Tomb Raider playtest to see what it was all about.
I posted an update to my dad's gofundme earlier today, short version is: George is doing well and he's getting good care. Longer version in the link. Thanks to everybody who donated.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
Donate to Help George Metzger move into a care home., organized by Johnstone Metzger
Legendary underground comics creator George Metzger can no longer live at… Johnstone Metzger needs your support for Help George Metzger move into a care home.
www.gofundme.com
June 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I posted an update to my dad's gofundme earlier today, short version is: George is doing well and he's getting good care. Longer version in the link. Thanks to everybody who donated.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
Our campaign for Tacklebox—a surreal fishing RPG by @ludopolitics.bsky.social ft new cards by @inauthenticity.bsky.social & art by @patrickedell.bsky.social—and Better Strangers—a people-watching RPG by Tyler Crumrine w/ art by Ellie White—is NOW LIVE! Back today! www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
Tacklebox & Better Strangers: Two Card-Based TTRPGs
J. Walton's surreal fishing RPG Tacklebox & Tyler Crumrine's people-watching RPG Better Strangers return in new editions!
www.kickstarter.com
May 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Our campaign for Tacklebox—a surreal fishing RPG by @ludopolitics.bsky.social ft new cards by @inauthenticity.bsky.social & art by @patrickedell.bsky.social—and Better Strangers—a people-watching RPG by Tyler Crumrine w/ art by Ellie White—is NOW LIVE! Back today! www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
I wrote one of my yearly blog posts, this time about how to role-play characters in a setting they are familiar with. Even though the last time I had that conversation was 10 months ago.
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2025/05/play...
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2025/05/play...
Playing a Character in a Familiar Setting
Role-playing games began with the exploration of a literal dungeon, and it’s obvious why this premise has remained an influential concept. ...
chthonstone.blogspot.com
May 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I wrote one of my yearly blog posts, this time about how to role-play characters in a setting they are familiar with. Even though the last time I had that conversation was 10 months ago.
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2025/05/play...
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2025/05/play...
After a long delay, the latest issue of my Old-School Essentials monster manual zine has been released.
Essential Enemies 10: Temples of Greed showcases a bunch of greedy monsters, cultists, criminals, and mercenaries. Available now at DriveThruRPG and Lulu.
Essential Enemies 10: Temples of Greed showcases a bunch of greedy monsters, cultists, criminals, and mercenaries. Available now at DriveThruRPG and Lulu.
April 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
After a long delay, the latest issue of my Old-School Essentials monster manual zine has been released.
Essential Enemies 10: Temples of Greed showcases a bunch of greedy monsters, cultists, criminals, and mercenaries. Available now at DriveThruRPG and Lulu.
Essential Enemies 10: Temples of Greed showcases a bunch of greedy monsters, cultists, criminals, and mercenaries. Available now at DriveThruRPG and Lulu.
People like Classic Traveller because it has the character lifepath minigame, but the real juice is the random sector / speculative trading combo. Every time I go back to mess around with it, I get sucked in again.
March 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
People like Classic Traveller because it has the character lifepath minigame, but the real juice is the random sector / speculative trading combo. Every time I go back to mess around with it, I get sucked in again.
Oh hello.
The Oneironaut is here at long last, my Patreon exlusive mini-zine! Travel in issue 1 with titular Oneironaut to revisit the Ruins of the Inquisitor's Theater from Through Ultan's Door 1 for new lore, better faction play, and an Appendix N!
March 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Oh hello.
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
I backed Haft-Zine, a Persian Mythos RPG Zine, on Kickstarter during Zine Month. Boosting because I’m excited for this one but it hasn’t funded yet and the creator is only asking for $450.
Punny title aside, it has beautiful artwork and simple yet dramatic mechanics.
www.kickstarter.com/...
Punny title aside, it has beautiful artwork and simple yet dramatic mechanics.
www.kickstarter.com/...
March 12, 2025 at 3:57 PM
I backed Haft-Zine, a Persian Mythos RPG Zine, on Kickstarter during Zine Month. Boosting because I’m excited for this one but it hasn’t funded yet and the creator is only asking for $450.
Punny title aside, it has beautiful artwork and simple yet dramatic mechanics.
www.kickstarter.com/...
Punny title aside, it has beautiful artwork and simple yet dramatic mechanics.
www.kickstarter.com/...
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
Our Dungeon Full of Monsters game (by @chthonstone.bsky.social) continued last night. We are still having a great time running it with Caern.
Tonight the party narrowly escaped Zebbagrulom’s wrath (leader of the Eyeball Syndicate), on the strict condition that they bring him a wizard to eat.
Tonight the party narrowly escaped Zebbagrulom’s wrath (leader of the Eyeball Syndicate), on the strict condition that they bring him a wizard to eat.
March 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Our Dungeon Full of Monsters game (by @chthonstone.bsky.social) continued last night. We are still having a great time running it with Caern.
Tonight the party narrowly escaped Zebbagrulom’s wrath (leader of the Eyeball Syndicate), on the strict condition that they bring him a wizard to eat.
Tonight the party narrowly escaped Zebbagrulom’s wrath (leader of the Eyeball Syndicate), on the strict condition that they bring him a wizard to eat.
Look at these weirdo jerks.
In the Outlands.
In the Outlands.
February 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Look at these weirdo jerks.
In the Outlands.
In the Outlands.
Maybe something is finally coming together, I dunno, but once it's done I can use it to move on to the next thing, at the very least.
In the Outlands.
In the Outlands.
February 25, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Maybe something is finally coming together, I dunno, but once it's done I can use it to move on to the next thing, at the very least.
In the Outlands.
In the Outlands.
I don't usually post about personal stuff, but over the last year I've been dealing with my dad's declining health, and now that he's had to move into a care home, I've started a gofundme so friends and fans of his can help out.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
Donate to Help George Metzger move into a care home., organized by Johnstone Metzger
Legendary underground comics creator George Metzger can no longer live at… Johnstone Metzger needs your support for Help George Metzger move into a care home.
www.gofundme.com
January 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I don't usually post about personal stuff, but over the last year I've been dealing with my dad's declining health, and now that he's had to move into a care home, I've started a gofundme so friends and fans of his can help out.
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
www.gofundme.com/f/help-georg...
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you.
One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order.
No explanations, no reviews, just covers
Day 18
#booksky
(Thank you @chthonstone.bsky.social for such an amazing game, that reignited my passion and expanded my horizons for ttrpgs)
One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order.
No explanations, no reviews, just covers
Day 18
#booksky
(Thank you @chthonstone.bsky.social for such an amazing game, that reignited my passion and expanded my horizons for ttrpgs)
December 30, 2024 at 9:26 AM
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you.
One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order.
No explanations, no reviews, just covers
Day 18
#booksky
(Thank you @chthonstone.bsky.social for such an amazing game, that reignited my passion and expanded my horizons for ttrpgs)
One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order.
No explanations, no reviews, just covers
Day 18
#booksky
(Thank you @chthonstone.bsky.social for such an amazing game, that reignited my passion and expanded my horizons for ttrpgs)
On the Banks of the River Knife.
December 4, 2024 at 8:57 PM
On the Banks of the River Knife.
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
On the Banks of the River Knife.
December 2, 2024 at 6:54 PM
On the Banks of the River Knife.
On the Banks of the River Knife.
December 2, 2024 at 6:54 PM
On the Banks of the River Knife.
Watching an episode of the new Arcane and being immediately reminded that this is the Frenchest fucking thing I have ever seen.
November 28, 2024 at 2:36 AM
Watching an episode of the new Arcane and being immediately reminded that this is the Frenchest fucking thing I have ever seen.
Reposted by Johnstone Metzger
This post about Johnstone Metzger from earlier this year about classifying rpgs based on components remains really good
It's useful self-knowledge to understand if you prefer a pre-designed map, world, storyline or improvisational tools
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2024/04/type...
It's useful self-knowledge to understand if you prefer a pre-designed map, world, storyline or improvisational tools
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2024/04/type...
Types of GM Materials
I tend to think that rpg taxonomies are usually based more on vibes than concrete details so I decided to try something different, and the...
chthonstone.blogspot.com
October 25, 2024 at 5:14 AM
This post about Johnstone Metzger from earlier this year about classifying rpgs based on components remains really good
It's useful self-knowledge to understand if you prefer a pre-designed map, world, storyline or improvisational tools
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2024/04/type...
It's useful self-knowledge to understand if you prefer a pre-designed map, world, storyline or improvisational tools
chthonstone.blogspot.com/2024/04/type...
The latest issue of my Old-School Essentials monster manual zine is out.
Essential Enemies 9: Not of This Earth.
Essential Enemies 9: Not of This Earth.
September 2, 2024 at 5:58 PM
The latest issue of my Old-School Essentials monster manual zine is out.
Essential Enemies 9: Not of This Earth.
Essential Enemies 9: Not of This Earth.
Hexcrawl city.
July 23, 2024 at 6:43 PM
Hexcrawl city.
Game design amirite?
(And even this is the simple version.)
(And even this is the simple version.)
July 2, 2024 at 10:21 PM
Game design amirite?
(And even this is the simple version.)
(And even this is the simple version.)