Sam D
@diceexploder.com
TTRPG designer and podcaster. Find me on Dice Exploder, a mechanic-of-the-week design podcast and blog. Won a Golden Cobra once. Screenwriter. No colon.
https://www.diceexploder.com/
https://sdunnewold.itch.io/
https://www.diceexploder.com/
https://sdunnewold.itch.io/
What are your favorite songs that are at least 6 minutes 5 seconds long and ideally as close to that as possible?
December 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
What are your favorite songs that are at least 6 minutes 5 seconds long and ideally as close to that as possible?
The Dice Exploder 2025 year end bonanza is here! This year I got together with @lincodega.com and @diogooldskull.bsky.social to go over a whole bunch of game mechanics that we think represent where rpgs were at in 2025 and where they might be going in the future.
2025 Year End Bonanza — Dice Exploder
It's the Dice Exploder 2025 year end bonanza! This year I'm joined by Lin Codega and Diogo Nogueira to go over a whole bunch of game mechanics that we think represent where rpgs were at in 2025 and wh...
www.diceexploder.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The Dice Exploder 2025 year end bonanza is here! This year I got together with @lincodega.com and @diogooldskull.bsky.social to go over a whole bunch of game mechanics that we think represent where rpgs were at in 2025 and where they might be going in the future.
Henry Cavill: "this time I'm writing a story about how you should live whatever life you want and not listen to society's expectations"
Jason Momoa: "it's about emotional repression again"
Jason Momoa: "it's about emotional repression again"
December 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Henry Cavill: "this time I'm writing a story about how you should live whatever life you want and not listen to society's expectations"
Jason Momoa: "it's about emotional repression again"
Jason Momoa: "it's about emotional repression again"
I appreciate Blank Check for being the only podcast where everyone regularly on the show looks EXACTLY the way I expected to after hearing their voices.
December 14, 2025 at 6:06 AM
I appreciate Blank Check for being the only podcast where everyone regularly on the show looks EXACTLY the way I expected to after hearing their voices.
larp series: ✅
mechanics I wanted to cover: ❌
6 eps I don't appear on: ✅
diversity goals: ❌, but not as bad as I thought
ap series: ✅
Not terrible for calling my shot on 2025!
mechanics I wanted to cover: ❌
6 eps I don't appear on: ✅
diversity goals: ❌, but not as bad as I thought
ap series: ✅
Not terrible for calling my shot on 2025!
2025 Dice Exploder goals:
- 6 episode series on larp
- 6 episode series on "the mechanics I've personally wanted to cover"
- 6+ episodes that I do not appear on
- meet my internal diversity goals for the show in terms of who's on air and what games get covered
- 6 episode series on larp
- 6 episode series on "the mechanics I've personally wanted to cover"
- 6+ episodes that I do not appear on
- meet my internal diversity goals for the show in terms of who's on air and what games get covered
December 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
larp series: ✅
mechanics I wanted to cover: ❌
6 eps I don't appear on: ✅
diversity goals: ❌, but not as bad as I thought
ap series: ✅
Not terrible for calling my shot on 2025!
mechanics I wanted to cover: ❌
6 eps I don't appear on: ✅
diversity goals: ❌, but not as bad as I thought
ap series: ✅
Not terrible for calling my shot on 2025!
Life is an endless stream of mild embarrassments I'm unable to forget and great successes I can never remember.
December 12, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Life is an endless stream of mild embarrassments I'm unable to forget and great successes I can never remember.
pbta renaissance 2026 is coming
December 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
pbta renaissance 2026 is coming
Reposted by Sam D
I read @monsterpotion.bsky.social's new version of Fight Truck, and cried about it. Then I wrote this. It's personal and vulnerable and bold and I'm very proud. I'd love to hear from anyone if this speaks to you, and I want to hear why other people seek out risky play .
"What do we risk when we play?"
Contributor @seraphimseraphina.bsky.social interrogates the path of her life through a joyfully violent larp that radically reframes safety and risk.
Contributor @seraphimseraphina.bsky.social interrogates the path of her life through a joyfully violent larp that radically reframes safety and risk.
I want to fight my friends in the back of a moving truck
What if some games are too risky to not play?
www.rascal.news
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I read @monsterpotion.bsky.social's new version of Fight Truck, and cried about it. Then I wrote this. It's personal and vulnerable and bold and I'm very proud. I'd love to hear from anyone if this speaks to you, and I want to hear why other people seek out risky play .
I see lots of people in indie ttrpgs talking about how some designers are getting influenced by cool stuff happening in wargames. But who are these designers, what's the cool stuff happening in wargames, and what's an example of something in ttrpgs that's a response to it?
December 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I see lots of people in indie ttrpgs talking about how some designers are getting influenced by cool stuff happening in wargames. But who are these designers, what's the cool stuff happening in wargames, and what's an example of something in ttrpgs that's a response to it?
Catching up on Fallout season 1: Walter Goggins looks more like himself when he doesn't have a nose.
November 30, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Catching up on Fallout season 1: Walter Goggins looks more like himself when he doesn't have a nose.
What if... I stopped editing my podcast and started just hitting publish
November 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
What if... I stopped editing my podcast and started just hitting publish
Got a new game out in public beta/playtest today with @randylubin.com! Three Generations: The Rise and Fall of the Eternal Empire is a game where you make a little fantasy land, then you draw character cards who travel around and change the land forever.
Three Generations: The Rise and Fall of the Eternal Empire by Randy Lubin, sdunnewold
Build an empire and watch it crumble
randylubin.itch.io
November 26, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Got a new game out in public beta/playtest today with @randylubin.com! Three Generations: The Rise and Fall of the Eternal Empire is a game where you make a little fantasy land, then you draw character cards who travel around and change the land forever.
I'm back with @seraphimseraphina.bsky.social doing another 90 minutes on expressionism over on the patreon, this time breaking down game examples from my own work. This framework continues to be useful for me even as it doesn't apply tons of the time.
November 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I'm back with @seraphimseraphina.bsky.social doing another 90 minutes on expressionism over on the patreon, this time breaking down game examples from my own work. This framework continues to be useful for me even as it doesn't apply tons of the time.
Someone explain to me why I like Silksong so much less than Hollowknight, I can't figure it out
November 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Someone explain to me why I like Silksong so much less than Hollowknight, I can't figure it out
I have succeeded at climbing my way out of a writing pit of despair, please clap
November 21, 2025 at 7:16 AM
I have succeeded at climbing my way out of a writing pit of despair, please clap
My take on Pluribus is that it's about how weird it is to become rich and now be surrounded by assistants who do everything for you.
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 AM
My take on Pluribus is that it's about how weird it is to become rich and now be surrounded by assistants who do everything for you.
This is the post about o/u I was waiting for.
#over/under was not one of a kind. I have been playing similar games for the last EIGHT YEARS. Today, I give this medium a name - "Live Text Roleplay" - and help you build a community of your own.
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
www.valerialoves.com/how-to-repli...
How to Replicate Over/Under
A Guide to Live Text Roleplay
www.valerialoves.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This is the post about o/u I was waiting for.
This week on Dice Exploder, just in time for Mausritter month, @itsquinns.bsky.social joins me to talk about the Mausritter's inventory system: the only inventory system I've ever liked.
Inventory Tetris (Mausritter) with Quinns — Dice Exploder
Mausritter is an old school dungeon crawling game where instead of playing as elves fighting dragons, you play as mice fleeing from owls. It’s not unlike any number of other old school games like Cair...
www.diceexploder.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM
This week on Dice Exploder, just in time for Mausritter month, @itsquinns.bsky.social joins me to talk about the Mausritter's inventory system: the only inventory system I've ever liked.
Reposted by Sam D
Go back AW3e so I can play the Faceless in @diceexploder.com’s next AW campaign like I’ve always dreamed!
The Faceless. Underneath the mask, you never flinch.
The News. You're bringing the truth, no matter how bad it hurts.
The Show. Your music cracks open the world and moves people to your beat.
Updating these for #AW3rd is our first stretch goal.
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
#pbta #ttrpg
The News. You're bringing the truth, no matter how bad it hurts.
The Show. Your music cracks open the world and moves people to your beat.
Updating these for #AW3rd is our first stretch goal.
Let's go, let's go, let's go!
#pbta #ttrpg
In 2016, the Apocalypse World 2nd Ed campaign ended at $149,681. We'd like to beat that!
At $149,682, we'll get with the original authors and update three classic playbooks:
• The Faceless by Bret Gillan
• The News by Josh Savoie
• The Show by Elliot Baker
At $149,682, we'll get with the original authors and update three classic playbooks:
• The Faceless by Bret Gillan
• The News by Josh Savoie
• The Show by Elliot Baker
November 17, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Go back AW3e so I can play the Faceless in @diceexploder.com’s next AW campaign like I’ve always dreamed!
Reposted by Sam D
First, this interview was great fun, and second, #AW3rd is kickstarting now and you can come along! www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
November 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
First, this interview was great fun, and second, #AW3rd is kickstarting now and you can come along! www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Today on Dice Exploder I talk with @megueyb.bsky.social and @lumpley.bsky.social about Apocalypse World 3e. We took the 2e Brainer playbook and broke down every change as it became the 3e Brain-Picker.
It's fascinating to me how AW from the jump has been designed around the Baker's kids.
It's fascinating to me how AW from the jump has been designed around the Baker's kids.
The Brainer and the Brain-Picker (Apocalypse World 2e/3e) with the Bakers — Dice Exploder
A third edition of the landmark indie darling Apocalypse World is on Kickstarter right now, and I wanted to have on Meguey and Vincent Baker to see what makes this edition different. Specifically, in ...
www.diceexploder.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Today on Dice Exploder I talk with @megueyb.bsky.social and @lumpley.bsky.social about Apocalypse World 3e. We took the 2e Brainer playbook and broke down every change as it became the 3e Brain-Picker.
It's fascinating to me how AW from the jump has been designed around the Baker's kids.
It's fascinating to me how AW from the jump has been designed around the Baker's kids.
Reposted by Sam D
#OVER/UNDER
I fucking hate leaving summer camp I cry every single year.
I fucking hate leaving summer camp I cry every single year.
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 AM
#OVER/UNDER
I fucking hate leaving summer camp I cry every single year.
I fucking hate leaving summer camp I cry every single year.
Reposted by Sam D
I find it kind of beautiful that we're seeing the next iteration of Apocalypse World's DIY art. Two of the biggest names in indie roleplaying games show, once again, that it's not about spectacle or expense. It's about using the skills you have and the skills you can develop to make it how you can.
November 7, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I find it kind of beautiful that we're seeing the next iteration of Apocalypse World's DIY art. Two of the biggest names in indie roleplaying games show, once again, that it's not about spectacle or expense. It's about using the skills you have and the skills you can develop to make it how you can.
Attempting to steal and crash a car in #over/under, hope my friends forgive me
November 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Attempting to steal and crash a car in #over/under, hope my friends forgive me
Reposted by Sam D
VOID 1680 AM was the game the changed the face of Tales Yet Told and helped us understand just what kind of stories we wanted to tell. An amazing game about community, self-reflection, and sick tunes.
#ttrpg #actualplay
Check out the trailer of 2048 AM Voices in the Wood:
youtu.be/YNKTtnFNMRo
#ttrpg #actualplay
Check out the trailer of 2048 AM Voices in the Wood:
youtu.be/YNKTtnFNMRo
November 4, 2025 at 9:09 PM
VOID 1680 AM was the game the changed the face of Tales Yet Told and helped us understand just what kind of stories we wanted to tell. An amazing game about community, self-reflection, and sick tunes.
#ttrpg #actualplay
Check out the trailer of 2048 AM Voices in the Wood:
youtu.be/YNKTtnFNMRo
#ttrpg #actualplay
Check out the trailer of 2048 AM Voices in the Wood:
youtu.be/YNKTtnFNMRo