Ema Acosta
@ema-acosta.com
🪲 Call me Em. I make illustrations, design books, and write tabletop RPGs.
🖐️ Human-made art
💌 hi @ ema-acosta.com
https://linktr.ee/em.a
🖐️ Human-made art
💌 hi @ ema-acosta.com
https://linktr.ee/em.a
Reposted by Ema Acosta
It's 968 AC.
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
Blades '68 Crowdfunding Trailer
YouTube video by Evil Hat Productions
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:12 PM
It's 968 AC.
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
An artificial sun shines down upon Doskvol. Autopods cruise down rows of peaceful, prosperous houses. Beneath it all, strange actors and twisted conspiracies work their shadowy agendas.
Blades '68. The future is now. Don't miss it:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/e...
Junji Ito Pinball Machine oneshot using External Containment Bureau. The initial briefing is simply the Reddit post—the agents then are free to investigate any way they like. Maybe they have access to the message board and can use it to look for clues. Could even be a livestream…
February 7, 2026 at 12:32 PM
Junji Ito Pinball Machine oneshot using External Containment Bureau. The initial briefing is simply the Reddit post—the agents then are free to investigate any way they like. Maybe they have access to the message board and can use it to look for clues. Could even be a livestream…
Someone who knows what they’re doing can actually do that relatively easily with an automated script. You could even get more value out of it by having them self-deploy, because then the website is essentially free forever
February 7, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Someone who knows what they’re doing can actually do that relatively easily with an automated script. You could even get more value out of it by having them self-deploy, because then the website is essentially free forever
This was such a good read. Do you plan on moving away from Substack altogether and host your posts on Pika? (Asking so I know which of the two to put on my RSS feed, hah)
February 6, 2026 at 12:26 PM
This was such a good read. Do you plan on moving away from Substack altogether and host your posts on Pika? (Asking so I know which of the two to put on my RSS feed, hah)
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Have you ever wanted something so bad but knew you can't have it?
JUNJI ITO PINBALL is part selfish wish-fulfilment, part internet art, part game. And it's shaped entirely by people like you 🌀
Curious? Confused? Go check out the readme doc on the page above.
JUNJI ITO PINBALL is part selfish wish-fulfilment, part internet art, part game. And it's shaped entirely by people like you 🌀
Curious? Confused? Go check out the readme doc on the page above.
February 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Have you ever wanted something so bad but knew you can't have it?
JUNJI ITO PINBALL is part selfish wish-fulfilment, part internet art, part game. And it's shaped entirely by people like you 🌀
Curious? Confused? Go check out the readme doc on the page above.
JUNJI ITO PINBALL is part selfish wish-fulfilment, part internet art, part game. And it's shaped entirely by people like you 🌀
Curious? Confused? Go check out the readme doc on the page above.
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Exile's crying-based economy is just one element that marks the "feelings-based RPG" as unique. Designer @ema-acosta.com puts her whole heart into our gauntlet of questions in the latest Rascal 7.
Exile wants you to share your teenage angst amidst monster fighting
Designer Ema Acosta lays bare her feelings on one of two new games.
www.rascal.news
February 3, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Exile's crying-based economy is just one element that marks the "feelings-based RPG" as unique. Designer @ema-acosta.com puts her whole heart into our gauntlet of questions in the latest Rascal 7.
Reposted by Ema Acosta
BTW I have a blog now, I’m part of the blogosphere.
So if you prefer, you can read this whole ramble in blogpost form, like it’s 2008:
blog.olddog.games/posts/the-vi...
So if you prefer, you can read this whole ramble in blogpost form, like it’s 2008:
blog.olddog.games/posts/the-vi...
February 3, 2026 at 1:50 AM
BTW I have a blog now, I’m part of the blogosphere.
So if you prefer, you can read this whole ramble in blogpost form, like it’s 2008:
blog.olddog.games/posts/the-vi...
So if you prefer, you can read this whole ramble in blogpost form, like it’s 2008:
blog.olddog.games/posts/the-vi...
Reposted by Ema Acosta
i know i've been pretty quiet but here's the result of my January: a totally handmade, fully-functional marionette created for a local winter-themed puppet show. she's called the Winter Maw & she'll eat you alive, just like real winter
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
i know i've been pretty quiet but here's the result of my January: a totally handmade, fully-functional marionette created for a local winter-themed puppet show. she's called the Winter Maw & she'll eat you alive, just like real winter
As far as I can tell, it seems to be a common studio gig. Short of having a buddy, I’d probably look for local brewers in the area and reach out. Or the LinkedIn route (💀)
February 2, 2026 at 6:33 PM
As far as I can tell, it seems to be a common studio gig. Short of having a buddy, I’d probably look for local brewers in the area and reach out. Or the LinkedIn route (💀)
Reposted by Ema Acosta
an axe with heart-shaped holes in the blade, japan, 14th century
January 23, 2026 at 9:08 PM
an axe with heart-shaped holes in the blade, japan, 14th century
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Announcing a new podcast: Rascal Reading Club! Join @newmadras.bsky.social as he analyzes RPG texts in an inviting, conversational framework.
First up: the Warden's Operations Manual for @mothership.bsky.social.
First up: the Warden's Operations Manual for @mothership.bsky.social.
We just launched a new podcast
And we yearn for your responses.
www.rascal.news
January 23, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Announcing a new podcast: Rascal Reading Club! Join @newmadras.bsky.social as he analyzes RPG texts in an inviting, conversational framework.
First up: the Warden's Operations Manual for @mothership.bsky.social.
First up: the Warden's Operations Manual for @mothership.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ema Acosta
New!
Crescent: Feelings-Delving Role-Playing (2nd Edition) is an RPG of lost children in a magical dreamworld, seeking a way home
Exile: Dark Fantasy Role-Playing is a fairy tale RPG of sharp blades, cutthroat kinship, and bloodied tears
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
Crescent: Feelings-Delving Role-Playing (2nd Edition) is an RPG of lost children in a magical dreamworld, seeking a way home
Exile: Dark Fantasy Role-Playing is a fairy tale RPG of sharp blades, cutthroat kinship, and bloodied tears
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
January 22, 2026 at 2:17 AM
New!
Crescent: Feelings-Delving Role-Playing (2nd Edition) is an RPG of lost children in a magical dreamworld, seeking a way home
Exile: Dark Fantasy Role-Playing is a fairy tale RPG of sharp blades, cutthroat kinship, and bloodied tears
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
Crescent: Feelings-Delving Role-Playing (2nd Edition) is an RPG of lost children in a magical dreamworld, seeking a way home
Exile: Dark Fantasy Role-Playing is a fairy tale RPG of sharp blades, cutthroat kinship, and bloodied tears
www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/
😍 How should I go about getting these in the EU?
January 19, 2026 at 1:47 PM
😍 How should I go about getting these in the EU?
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Burnout is genuinely life-destroying and I really can't say, on this website, what I think should happen to managers who not only let it happen to one individual worker but who systemically make it happen on large groups of workers.
January 14, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Burnout is genuinely life-destroying and I really can't say, on this website, what I think should happen to managers who not only let it happen to one individual worker but who systemically make it happen on large groups of workers.
Reposted by Ema Acosta
I think this gets lost in a lot of these discussions. Crunch isn't just a bad experience in the moment or a bad job situation. Burnout has long, lingering effects on the brain and body that can last for years.
January 14, 2026 at 2:19 PM
I think this gets lost in a lot of these discussions. Crunch isn't just a bad experience in the moment or a bad job situation. Burnout has long, lingering effects on the brain and body that can last for years.
Oh hell yeah, I had missed this.
"Play SWM with Stras" is definitely going on my list of convention dreams ;-)
"Play SWM with Stras" is definitely going on my list of convention dreams ;-)
January 13, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Oh hell yeah, I had missed this.
"Play SWM with Stras" is definitely going on my list of convention dreams ;-)
"Play SWM with Stras" is definitely going on my list of convention dreams ;-)
So cool!
Ok I’m reposting it all fresh and new cause I learned that @ema-acosta.com is on Bluesky and I’m excited to show my new Crescent Moon OC ✨
Anthony is excited to explore the dream world and to see his creations come to life 🎨🖌️
Anthony is excited to explore the dream world and to see his creations come to life 🎨🖌️
January 13, 2026 at 5:54 PM
So cool!
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Pierre Amédée Marcel Beronneau - Orpheus in the Underworld
December 30, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Pierre Amédée Marcel Beronneau - Orpheus in the Underworld
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Trim the elf’s beard, this is the cutest Advent calendar (for next year!)
franzworks.com/en?utm_sourc...
franzworks.com/en?utm_sourc...
December 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Trim the elf’s beard, this is the cutest Advent calendar (for next year!)
franzworks.com/en?utm_sourc...
franzworks.com/en?utm_sourc...
Reposted by Ema Acosta
"Courtship of Kings, Danglok's Royal Dance"
Redid it an old piece from last year that annoyed and frustrated me so much.
Redid it an old piece from last year that annoyed and frustrated me so much.
November 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"Courtship of Kings, Danglok's Royal Dance"
Redid it an old piece from last year that annoyed and frustrated me so much.
Redid it an old piece from last year that annoyed and frustrated me so much.
Reposted by Ema Acosta
*Great* mail day today featuring the absolutely beautiful Crescent and Exile by @ema-acosta.com and published by @mythworks.bsky.social
(I also got all my Alien: Evolved Edition stuff today but none of it is as exciting as these!)
(I also got all my Alien: Evolved Edition stuff today but none of it is as exciting as these!)
November 19, 2025 at 12:19 AM
*Great* mail day today featuring the absolutely beautiful Crescent and Exile by @ema-acosta.com and published by @mythworks.bsky.social
(I also got all my Alien: Evolved Edition stuff today but none of it is as exciting as these!)
(I also got all my Alien: Evolved Edition stuff today but none of it is as exciting as these!)
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Sun and moon in pageant, from a 1596 manuscript about the eight lavish pageants held for the christening of Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, 1596.
One of 900+ prints available to buy from our online shop: https://publicdomainreview.org/product/sun-and-moon-in-pageant/
One of 900+ prints available to buy from our online shop: https://publicdomainreview.org/product/sun-and-moon-in-pageant/
November 4, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Sun and moon in pageant, from a 1596 manuscript about the eight lavish pageants held for the christening of Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, 1596.
One of 900+ prints available to buy from our online shop: https://publicdomainreview.org/product/sun-and-moon-in-pageant/
One of 900+ prints available to buy from our online shop: https://publicdomainreview.org/product/sun-and-moon-in-pageant/
Reposted by Ema Acosta
Hey it’s me, Graham, again. I’m back! The other half of the RPG dyad with Crescent is Exile! We’re teens in a dungeon of the soul, cast out by our people. Time to do some hard growing up with a LET’S MAKE A CHARACTER THREAD!
October 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Hey it’s me, Graham, again. I’m back! The other half of the RPG dyad with Crescent is Exile! We’re teens in a dungeon of the soul, cast out by our people. Time to do some hard growing up with a LET’S MAKE A CHARACTER THREAD!