Clayton
@explorersdesign.bsky.social
Pronunciation: "Klay-tun Note-Styne" Designer. Writer. Educator. Tabletop games. Explorers Design. Pro-union and cooperatives. He/Him.
Pinned
Clayton
@explorersdesign.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Explorers Design
Bespoke adventures, tools, and resources for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
This is a new introduction thread for myself. I'm Clayton Notestine ("note-styne"). I'm a learner, reviewer, and design writer in tabletop rpgs. I make tools and resources.
This thread is my current list of favorite articles and projects on Explorers Design.
This thread is my current list of favorite articles and projects on Explorers Design.
Reposted by Clayton
Love seeing more inventory Tetris stuff. I’ve been working on a system that has lots of inventory inspiration à la Mausritter and the Diablo games.
Cool to see those things applied to Magic!
Cool to see those things applied to Magic!
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Love seeing more inventory Tetris stuff. I’ve been working on a system that has lots of inventory inspiration à la Mausritter and the Diablo games.
Cool to see those things applied to Magic!
Cool to see those things applied to Magic!
Reposted by Clayton
Y’all know I’m a certified hater of Vancian magic and always looking for a better option. And this option fucking rips! Gonna be thinking about this one a lot
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Y’all know I’m a certified hater of Vancian magic and always looking for a better option. And this option fucking rips! Gonna be thinking about this one a lot
Reposted by Clayton
Hey hey people! Got a new one for you. Jackian Magic! It's all about demons that live in your head and how to cast them by playing a tile game! Reminds me a lot of Seven Part Pact with how evocative its themeing is- I should really finish that video. Going live in a week!
youtu.be/kPxS0BwZZBY
youtu.be/kPxS0BwZZBY
Jackian Magic | Subsystem Review
YouTube video by [lexchxn]
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Hey hey people! Got a new one for you. Jackian Magic! It's all about demons that live in your head and how to cast them by playing a tile game! Reminds me a lot of Seven Part Pact with how evocative its themeing is- I should really finish that video. Going live in a week!
youtu.be/kPxS0BwZZBY
youtu.be/kPxS0BwZZBY
I'm just now seeing this post! Its fantastic. I love how we're all trying to slay the 1 HP Dragon (combat without HP/numbers). This is a really good system. My current drafts have similar ideas, but this one is so much more fleshed out.
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
Combat without Combat
NULL_SPACE # Liminal Void is has been consigned to the void. Well, the name has, anyway. Going forward, it will be called NULL_SPACE!
When I spoke about it last, I said both of the following:
(in the ...
binarystar.games
December 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I'm just now seeing this post! Its fantastic. I love how we're all trying to slay the 1 HP Dragon (combat without HP/numbers). This is a really good system. My current drafts have similar ideas, but this one is so much more fleshed out.
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
Reposted by Clayton
An alternate magic system for Cairn has entered the arena...
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
An alternate magic system for Cairn has entered the arena...
Reposted by Clayton
This really does get the brain design juices flowing. Imagine a moving inventory system. When objects hit each other, maybe they become damaged, maybe they get bonuses? Maybe far left has higher speed, maybe they make noise.
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This really does get the brain design juices flowing. Imagine a moving inventory system. When objects hit each other, maybe they become damaged, maybe they get bonuses? Maybe far left has higher speed, maybe they make noise.
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Sure, you know about Vancian Magic, but what about Jackian Magic? (Someone please finish this design.)
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
www.explorersdesign.com/jackian-magic/
Reposted by Clayton
Throwing one more post on the pile before the end of the year. Enjoy
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
Conflict as Motivation and Resolution
Or: Everyone always says what combat is doing, but nobody ever asks how combat is doing.
The TTRPG community (well, the blogging part of it) sure does love to define combat as one specific pithy thing...
binarystar.games
December 20, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Throwing one more post on the pile before the end of the year. Enjoy
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
binarystar.games/posts/origin...
I read The Elements of Style every year, and this year—I’m certain—this year, more than 5% of it will stick.
December 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I read The Elements of Style every year, and this year—I’m certain—this year, more than 5% of it will stick.
Making some roughs today between day job projects. That means no downloading fonts or trying to make the paper texture on this thing look real.
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Making some roughs today between day job projects. That means no downloading fonts or trying to make the paper texture on this thing look real.
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
What are good names for a classic Murder Mystery game? Daggerbacks? Murder Mystery Theater? Murder?
Reposted by Clayton
I said this about making art before and I stand by it.
December 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
I said this about making art before and I stand by it.
All of my current game projects are either for my home table or so rough around the edges they need to be played with a hazmat suit.
I should make a category on my Itch that's just R&D "no promises."
I should make a category on my Itch that's just R&D "no promises."
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
All of my current game projects are either for my home table or so rough around the edges they need to be played with a hazmat suit.
I should make a category on my Itch that's just R&D "no promises."
I should make a category on my Itch that's just R&D "no promises."
Reposted by Clayton
Here's a pretty great article for #ttrpg publishers (no matter how small!) explaining how important some design elements are in simple language. Excellent work, @explorersdesign.bsky.social, a benefit to the #ttrpgcommunity.
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Here's a pretty great article for #ttrpg publishers (no matter how small!) explaining how important some design elements are in simple language. Excellent work, @explorersdesign.bsky.social, a benefit to the #ttrpgcommunity.
Reposted by Clayton
This is a great distillation of how to help guide people through your books. Fabulous work from Clayton.
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:47 PM
This is a great distillation of how to help guide people through your books. Fabulous work from Clayton.
Reposted by Clayton
Clayton has been on fire lately. This post is a must read for anyone doing visual design with games... not just TTRPGs, but board games too.
I'd love to incorporate some of this into future public library classes I might teach. 🤔
I'd love to incorporate some of this into future public library classes I might teach. 🤔
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Clayton has been on fire lately. This post is a must read for anyone doing visual design with games... not just TTRPGs, but board games too.
I'd love to incorporate some of this into future public library classes I might teach. 🤔
I'd love to incorporate some of this into future public library classes I might teach. 🤔
Reposted by Clayton
I went and wrote it. Here are some things you can do as a ttrpg project manager to make freelancing fun and easy:
barilleon.com/managing-ttr...
barilleon.com/managing-ttr...
December 15, 2025 at 11:31 PM
I went and wrote it. Here are some things you can do as a ttrpg project manager to make freelancing fun and easy:
barilleon.com/managing-ttr...
barilleon.com/managing-ttr...
Reposted by Clayton
One of the updates to the songbirds book was to add signals and then hyperlink them for the pdf. If only I had Clayton's fucking adorable illustrations to help me in that process. GO LOOK AT THEM AND LEARN WITH ME
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One of the updates to the songbirds book was to add signals and then hyperlink them for the pdf. If only I had Clayton's fucking adorable illustrations to help me in that process. GO LOOK AT THEM AND LEARN WITH ME
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
www.explorersdesign.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
99% of rpg zines and books should have page numbers.
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
And that's just the start. There's actually a lot of technique and intentionality behind things like page numbers, running headers, etc.
Let me know what you think!
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-si...
I played Dispatch and now I have to recover from it like a good book.
December 15, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I played Dispatch and now I have to recover from it like a good book.
Reposted by Clayton
Here's a stocking stuffer I whipped up for the #TTRPGbookmarkjam . A little game you play after you read!
December 13, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Here's a stocking stuffer I whipped up for the #TTRPGbookmarkjam . A little game you play after you read!
Reposted by Clayton
In a very special Bonus Episode of Between Two Cairns, @bradkerr.net and I interview @samsorensen.bsky.social about Over/Under, a massive wargame/LARP held during Mothership Month. This episode is only available to Patrons but will see a wider release in the future.
www.patreon.com/posts/story-...
www.patreon.com/posts/story-...
The Story of Over/Under | Between Two Cairns
Get more from Between Two Cairns on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:22 PM
In a very special Bonus Episode of Between Two Cairns, @bradkerr.net and I interview @samsorensen.bsky.social about Over/Under, a massive wargame/LARP held during Mothership Month. This episode is only available to Patrons but will see a wider release in the future.
www.patreon.com/posts/story-...
www.patreon.com/posts/story-...
I'm not saying Sam's aiming for the Bloggies, I'm just saying he's like that guy from the olympics who competed without any gear because he didn't need it.
what's up gamers, I'm back with ten more tangible tips for editing your tabletop RPG manuscript: samsorensen.blot.im/ten-more-tan...
![screenshot of a blogpost that reads:
"Ten More Tangible Tips for Editing Your RPG Manuscript
"1. Remove instances of here from location descriptions—it’s obvious you’re describing the location already. Instead of 'A hobgoblin hammers iron here,' write 'A hobgoblin hammers iron on an anvil.'
"2. For the same reason, remove instances of this in description entries. If you must reference the entry’s subject, use 'the.' Instead of 'Smoke fills this room,' write 'Smoke fills the room,' or better yet 'Smoke fills the air.'
"3. When writing entries for monsters, magic items, and so on, skip repeating the name of the subject with [X] is or [X] are in the first sentence. Instead of 'VODYANOY: Vodyanoy are froggy, pot-bellied water spirits,' write 'VODYANOY: Froggy, pot-bellied water spirits.'"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ku77xydmphm4eg5jvbgnqo7o/bafkreia6hlg2lyvb25iupssafeg44fqc43sb3a24zjabs7spzz3dt3ojgi@jpeg)
December 12, 2025 at 2:33 PM
I'm not saying Sam's aiming for the Bloggies, I'm just saying he's like that guy from the olympics who competed without any gear because he didn't need it.
This is a cool opportunity. If you love reading and thinking about rpgs, I cannot recommend judging enough. It's a chance to spotlight creators, celebrate diversity, and reward great games and ideas.
The 2025 Indie Groundbreaker Awards are nearly here and we need Judges! Do you know tabletop games? TTRPGs? Card games? Resource collection? We need your expertise. Join us on a panel of Judges to declare 2025’s best indie tabletop games.
forms.gle/2NpVyf4riA8v...
forms.gle/2NpVyf4riA8v...
Indie Groundbreaker Awards Judge Application
Use this form to apply to be a judge for the Indie Groundbreaker Awards.
forms.gle
December 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is a cool opportunity. If you love reading and thinking about rpgs, I cannot recommend judging enough. It's a chance to spotlight creators, celebrate diversity, and reward great games and ideas.
Reposted by Clayton
Announcement time!
I've gone and decided to move on from my google hosted Blogger blog, and instead do my own thing with my own domain. Check it out over here:
personable.blog/new-blog-sam...
I've gone and decided to move on from my google hosted Blogger blog, and instead do my own thing with my own domain. Check it out over here:
personable.blog/new-blog-sam...
New Blog, same nonsense
An inaugural post for my new domain.
personable.blog
December 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Announcement time!
I've gone and decided to move on from my google hosted Blogger blog, and instead do my own thing with my own domain. Check it out over here:
personable.blog/new-blog-sam...
I've gone and decided to move on from my google hosted Blogger blog, and instead do my own thing with my own domain. Check it out over here:
personable.blog/new-blog-sam...
This holiday season, give your favorite creators the perfect gift: attention. A 5-star rating, a product review on Exalted, or even a share on Reddit.
www.explorersdesign.com/critmas-2025/
www.explorersdesign.com/critmas-2025/
Critmas Gift Guide 2025
The 3 gifts every game designer wants (and a holiday party idea).
www.explorersdesign.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
This holiday season, give your favorite creators the perfect gift: attention. A 5-star rating, a product review on Exalted, or even a share on Reddit.
www.explorersdesign.com/critmas-2025/
www.explorersdesign.com/critmas-2025/