🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
@elainelithgow.bsky.social
Scottish TTRPG Producer at Rowan Rook & Decard. Usurper to the throne of Spire and Heart. Designer, Writer, and sometimes VTuber. She/her 🏳️🌈
Telling each other stories as the light goes out.
https://linktr.ee/elainelithgow
Telling each other stories as the light goes out.
https://linktr.ee/elainelithgow
Pinned
Lots of new followers lately, so re-intro time!
I'm Elaine, Scottish TTRPG producer by day, mini-painter and v-tuber by night.
I currently work at Rowan Rook & Decard on Heart and Spire, and previously worked at Cubicle 7 on the Warhammer roleplaying games, Broken Weave, and too many other games.
I'm Elaine, Scottish TTRPG producer by day, mini-painter and v-tuber by night.
I currently work at Rowan Rook & Decard on Heart and Spire, and previously worked at Cubicle 7 on the Warhammer roleplaying games, Broken Weave, and too many other games.
Ran over 12 hours of TTRPG this weekend and I’m SPENT.
Finally managed to get Salvage Union from @leylinepress.bsky.social to the table though and I can confirm it’s a great system.
Really fun mech game the perfect combo of crunchy mech building but super slick resolution mechanics for my group.
Finally managed to get Salvage Union from @leylinepress.bsky.social to the table though and I can confirm it’s a great system.
Really fun mech game the perfect combo of crunchy mech building but super slick resolution mechanics for my group.
November 9, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Ran over 12 hours of TTRPG this weekend and I’m SPENT.
Finally managed to get Salvage Union from @leylinepress.bsky.social to the table though and I can confirm it’s a great system.
Really fun mech game the perfect combo of crunchy mech building but super slick resolution mechanics for my group.
Finally managed to get Salvage Union from @leylinepress.bsky.social to the table though and I can confirm it’s a great system.
Really fun mech game the perfect combo of crunchy mech building but super slick resolution mechanics for my group.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
Rockstar is totally not union busting, totally. They just happened to fire 30+ people organizing together. What a coincidence, who could have known!
Oh wait, that's the definition of union busting? Well, they couldn't have possibly known that either, right?
Oh wait, that's the definition of union busting? Well, they couldn't have possibly known that either, right?
Rockstar claims dismissals were due to information leaks, not union busting
UPDATE: Developer says it "took action against a small number of individuals" for "distributing and discussing confidential information"
www.gamesindustry.biz/iwgb-accuses...
UPDATE: Developer says it "took action against a small number of individuals" for "distributing and discussing confidential information"
www.gamesindustry.biz/iwgb-accuses...
Rockstar claims dismissals were due to information leaks, not union busting
UPDATE: Developer says it "took action against a small number of individuals" for "distributing and discussing confidential information"
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 6, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Rockstar is totally not union busting, totally. They just happened to fire 30+ people organizing together. What a coincidence, who could have known!
Oh wait, that's the definition of union busting? Well, they couldn't have possibly known that either, right?
Oh wait, that's the definition of union busting? Well, they couldn't have possibly known that either, right?
NPI make some of my fav boardgame coverage (and honestly calling it just 'boardgame coverage' feels like underselling some of their crazy well-researched deep dives on genres, history, and politics around board games).
Give them a look if you haven't already!
Give them a look if you haven't already!
Hi, I hate doing self promo so I'll just say that this indie board game coverage channel that could is about to hit a milestone of sorts.
There is no skeet that can summarize who we are or what we do, but we do cool work and you should check us out. www.youtube.com/@NoPunIncluded
There is no skeet that can summarize who we are or what we do, but we do cool work and you should check us out. www.youtube.com/@NoPunIncluded
November 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
NPI make some of my fav boardgame coverage (and honestly calling it just 'boardgame coverage' feels like underselling some of their crazy well-researched deep dives on genres, history, and politics around board games).
Give them a look if you haven't already!
Give them a look if you haven't already!
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
Rockstar union workers have set up a solidarity fund to help them survive and fight after 30 of them were fired in an attempt to destroy the union.
Help them fight back! If you can, any little bit you can donate will massively help their efforts.
actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
Help them fight back! If you can, any little bit you can donate will massively help their efforts.
actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
Support Rockstar Workers Fighting Unfair Dismissals!
Last week over 30 members of staff at Grand Theft Auto VI developer Rockstar were fired en masse in a “calculated attack on workers”. The IWGB described Rockstar’s actions as ‘the most blatant and rut...
actionnetwork.org
November 4, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Rockstar union workers have set up a solidarity fund to help them survive and fight after 30 of them were fired in an attempt to destroy the union.
Help them fight back! If you can, any little bit you can donate will massively help their efforts.
actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
Help them fight back! If you can, any little bit you can donate will massively help their efforts.
actionnetwork.org/fundraising/...
In a world of increasing AI marketing slop, be like Jon:
Stay safe. Follow all advice from your local Maskwitches, and help them whenever you can. No one wants a manifestation of a ten thousand year old spirit made from pine tar and dog teeth from the ice.
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...
#ttrpg #maskwitches
handiwork.games/home/the-sil...
#ttrpg #maskwitches
November 3, 2025 at 5:28 PM
In a world of increasing AI marketing slop, be like Jon:
Friends… I went outside for the first time in almost a month! I drove the car! It only hurt my ankle a modest amount!
(This is huge. I really don’t do well when I’m housebound.)
(This is huge. I really don’t do well when I’m housebound.)
November 1, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Friends… I went outside for the first time in almost a month! I drove the car! It only hurt my ankle a modest amount!
(This is huge. I really don’t do well when I’m housebound.)
(This is huge. I really don’t do well when I’m housebound.)
Bonus take: If you find yourself in a job where you feel afraid to talk about worker solidarity… you’re in a job that desperately needs worker solidarity.
I've seen a couple of people say you shouldn't talk to your coworkers about unions on work time or that a union is like fight club and you shouldn't talk about it at all.
While I think people have good intentions with these, I think you ultimately have to take calculated risks. Let me explain. 1/
While I think people have good intentions with these, I think you ultimately have to take calculated risks. Let me explain. 1/
November 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Bonus take: If you find yourself in a job where you feel afraid to talk about worker solidarity… you’re in a job that desperately needs worker solidarity.
I also submit for consideration that middle earth’s cartographers maybe just weren’t accurate?
Have you seen some of the maps from the Middle Ages? Some wacky stuff on there and they didn’t even have to avoid armies of evil monsters to map a coastline.
Have you seen some of the maps from the Middle Ages? Some wacky stuff on there and they didn’t even have to avoid armies of evil monsters to map a coastline.
only huge dorks complain about tolkein's unrealistic plate tectonics. yes mordor is shaped like a bigass square but maybe thats because mordor's mountains were not formed the way mountain ranges in our world are
November 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
I also submit for consideration that middle earth’s cartographers maybe just weren’t accurate?
Have you seen some of the maps from the Middle Ages? Some wacky stuff on there and they didn’t even have to avoid armies of evil monsters to map a coastline.
Have you seen some of the maps from the Middle Ages? Some wacky stuff on there and they didn’t even have to avoid armies of evil monsters to map a coastline.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
I wasn't going to say anything about the biggest TTRPG convention in the UK promoting AI slop, but then the slop makers said "everyone uses gen AI, we're just honest about it", and I fucking saw red.
Make your own art. Even if it's rancid garbage, it's still better than a machine's hallucination.
Make your own art. Even if it's rancid garbage, it's still better than a machine's hallucination.
October 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I wasn't going to say anything about the biggest TTRPG convention in the UK promoting AI slop, but then the slop makers said "everyone uses gen AI, we're just honest about it", and I fucking saw red.
Make your own art. Even if it's rancid garbage, it's still better than a machine's hallucination.
Make your own art. Even if it's rancid garbage, it's still better than a machine's hallucination.
In todays TTRPG Dev Vlog I have too many meetings and ramble about the multi-phase boss fight called International Logistics.
So, Selling Books Internationally, huh?
YouTube video by Is This Something? A TTRPG Dev Vlog
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
In todays TTRPG Dev Vlog I have too many meetings and ramble about the multi-phase boss fight called International Logistics.
In today's TTRPG Dev Vlog I have a sleepy chat about torturous muses and how I design character sheets.
How I Design TTRPG Character Sheets
YouTube video by Is This Something? A TTRPG Dev Vlog
youtu.be
October 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
In today's TTRPG Dev Vlog I have a sleepy chat about torturous muses and how I design character sheets.
Clever mechanics that force you to explore a specific genre or theme during play is like catnip to me.
New article on Old Men Running the World, where I drill down into what makes me want to run a game and what makes me run a mile. #ttrpg
What Makes Me Want To Run A Game? - Old Men Running The World
Or, to give it its true clickbait title, "Why I have absolutely no interest in running 7/9 of the games Quinns Quest has reviewed."
oldmenrunningtheworld.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Clever mechanics that force you to explore a specific genre or theme during play is like catnip to me.
Managed to get FFXIV running on my Steam Deck tonight.
No idea what having my fav MMO on a handheld device will mean for my gaming habits but we’ll find out together!
No idea what having my fav MMO on a handheld device will mean for my gaming habits but we’ll find out together!
October 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Managed to get FFXIV running on my Steam Deck tonight.
No idea what having my fav MMO on a handheld device will mean for my gaming habits but we’ll find out together!
No idea what having my fav MMO on a handheld device will mean for my gaming habits but we’ll find out together!
In today's TTRPG Dev Vlog I show proof of life.
I'm Not Dead, I'm Just Burned Out
YouTube video by Is This Something? A TTRPG Dev Vlog
youtu.be
October 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In today's TTRPG Dev Vlog I show proof of life.
Pretty sure this is a Triangle Agency anomaly.
October 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Pretty sure this is a Triangle Agency anomaly.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
Crowdfunding is supposed to derisk the expensive process of making new things. If it can't do that it's just a marketing channel.
Crowdfunders should break even when they fund and it sucks that companies feel that's not viable.
(Not criticising any creators, just the crowdfunding hustle)
Crowdfunders should break even when they fund and it sucks that companies feel that's not viable.
(Not criticising any creators, just the crowdfunding hustle)
A system that demands artists misrepresent the reality of creating things is just fundamentally broken, and we're poorer for allowing those assumptions to become baseline.
Bring your dog and pony show, or you can't even get on stage.
Bring your dog and pony show, or you can't even get on stage.
We’ve had a great start! Stellar, even.
As I am forever pathologically transparent: We still have around $75k to go before our actual break-even point on this project.
Making four gorgeous, info-dense books all in one go is expensive, y’all. (Not a complaint!)
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
As I am forever pathologically transparent: We still have around $75k to go before our actual break-even point on this project.
Making four gorgeous, info-dense books all in one go is expensive, y’all. (Not a complaint!)
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
October 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Crowdfunding is supposed to derisk the expensive process of making new things. If it can't do that it's just a marketing channel.
Crowdfunders should break even when they fund and it sucks that companies feel that's not viable.
(Not criticising any creators, just the crowdfunding hustle)
Crowdfunders should break even when they fund and it sucks that companies feel that's not viable.
(Not criticising any creators, just the crowdfunding hustle)
ORS Designer: There are D6 Dire Cows in the room.
PBTA Designer: You have eight playbooks, one for each breed of Cow.
Heart Designer: The cow moos in a reverberating bovine chant unheard since the dawn of time. Check Mind+Endure or suffer D6 Mind Stress. If you suffer fallout use the MOO! fallout.
PBTA Designer: You have eight playbooks, one for each breed of Cow.
Heart Designer: The cow moos in a reverberating bovine chant unheard since the dawn of time. Check Mind+Endure or suffer D6 Mind Stress. If you suffer fallout use the MOO! fallout.
Systems design: you have two cows. one of the cows dies; it drops 25 xp, 2x leather, 1x meat.
Narrative design: you have two cows. one of the cows dies; the other cow uses a salience-based storylet system to react with an appropriate bark ("moooo")
3c design: you have two cows. they can airdash
Narrative design: you have two cows. one of the cows dies; the other cow uses a salience-based storylet system to react with an appropriate bark ("moooo")
3c design: you have two cows. they can airdash
October 23, 2025 at 12:31 PM
ORS Designer: There are D6 Dire Cows in the room.
PBTA Designer: You have eight playbooks, one for each breed of Cow.
Heart Designer: The cow moos in a reverberating bovine chant unheard since the dawn of time. Check Mind+Endure or suffer D6 Mind Stress. If you suffer fallout use the MOO! fallout.
PBTA Designer: You have eight playbooks, one for each breed of Cow.
Heart Designer: The cow moos in a reverberating bovine chant unheard since the dawn of time. Check Mind+Endure or suffer D6 Mind Stress. If you suffer fallout use the MOO! fallout.
You want ways? I gottem, buddy! Means? Why there ain't been any means around her nigh-on twenty years... but I might be able to rustle some up for you if you ask reeeeeal nice.
Did you miss the 🫀WAYS and MEANS🫀 backerkit? have you cried yourself to sleep for many weeks? Do you wake up with a belly full of empty regret?? 😣
No more, you can fill that yawning hole with ✨purchases✨Pre-orders are now open for 🫀WAYS and MEANS🫀our latest HEART sourcebook: buff.ly/Y5FlNIp
No more, you can fill that yawning hole with ✨purchases✨Pre-orders are now open for 🫀WAYS and MEANS🫀our latest HEART sourcebook: buff.ly/Y5FlNIp
October 22, 2025 at 5:28 PM
You want ways? I gottem, buddy! Means? Why there ain't been any means around her nigh-on twenty years... but I might be able to rustle some up for you if you ask reeeeeal nice.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
Ryan over on @theweeklyscroll.com and I were talking about how some folks promote themselves like cheap door-to-door salesmen.
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
How to Promote Your Work
How to reach out to blogs, pods, and media outlets, and the 5 things creators can do to promote their work while building community.
www.explorersdesign.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Ryan over on @theweeklyscroll.com and I were talking about how some folks promote themselves like cheap door-to-door salesmen.
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
SAD has been hitting me like a tonne of bricks this week.
Shoving my face in a sunlight lamp like dalamund is about to end the realm.
Shoving my face in a sunlight lamp like dalamund is about to end the realm.
a statue of a man with a beard and ears
ALT: a statue of a man with a beard and ears
media.tenor.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
SAD has been hitting me like a tonne of bricks this week.
Shoving my face in a sunlight lamp like dalamund is about to end the realm.
Shoving my face in a sunlight lamp like dalamund is about to end the realm.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
🚨 EAT THE REICH DICE🚨
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
October 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🚨 EAT THE REICH DICE🚨
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
The edging is over because these bad boys from @dispeldice.bsky.social are coming THURSDAY!
Each dice has a vibrant insert covered in @chamonkee.bsky.social art, with a sharp wrapping that's easy to read when you're fang deep 🫀
Get ready here: buff.ly/10yNPQenotif...
In today's TTRPG dev vlog I chat about the role of 'producer' and how it's an odd duck of a thing.
Plus I'm very sleepy... It's dark ok. I need sunlight to function!
Plus I'm very sleepy... It's dark ok. I need sunlight to function!
What Does A TTRPG Producer Actually Do?
YouTube video by Is This Something? A TTRPG Dev Vlog
youtu.be
October 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In today's TTRPG dev vlog I chat about the role of 'producer' and how it's an odd duck of a thing.
Plus I'm very sleepy... It's dark ok. I need sunlight to function!
Plus I'm very sleepy... It's dark ok. I need sunlight to function!
I STG some days this is all I see.
October 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I STG some days this is all I see.
Reposted by 🌱Elaine Lithgow 🌱
Like a silly goose I absolutely forgot to tell y'all that I worked with Wizards of the Coast??? I wrote Scream of the Crop and Ballad of the Rat King for the new Welcome to the Hellfire Club box set!
October 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Like a silly goose I absolutely forgot to tell y'all that I worked with Wizards of the Coast??? I wrote Scream of the Crop and Ballad of the Rat King for the new Welcome to the Hellfire Club box set!
in todays TTRPG daily dev vlog I chat about four corner opposition, one of my fav ways of designing adventures that have conflict baked into their inception.
Designing TTRPG Adventures With Conflict
YouTube video by Is This Something? A TTRPG Dev Vlog
youtu.be
October 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
in todays TTRPG daily dev vlog I chat about four corner opposition, one of my fav ways of designing adventures that have conflict baked into their inception.