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
FRESH IN THE SHOP THIS MONTH: Glatisant from @lucaszellers.bsky.social + @graftbound.bsky.social
🐉
An Arthurian duet for a brave Knight Errant and a chimeric Questing Beast. The Knight undergoes trials, the Beast makes them worthy of their title. Built upon Carta, a playing card point crawl system
🐉
An Arthurian duet for a brave Knight Errant and a chimeric Questing Beast. The Knight undergoes trials, the Beast makes them worthy of their title. Built upon Carta, a playing card point crawl system
February 9, 2026 at 7:03 PM
FRESH IN THE SHOP THIS MONTH: Glatisant from @lucaszellers.bsky.social + @graftbound.bsky.social
🐉
An Arthurian duet for a brave Knight Errant and a chimeric Questing Beast. The Knight undergoes trials, the Beast makes them worthy of their title. Built upon Carta, a playing card point crawl system
🐉
An Arthurian duet for a brave Knight Errant and a chimeric Questing Beast. The Knight undergoes trials, the Beast makes them worthy of their title. Built upon Carta, a playing card point crawl system
The Bloggies Nominees are here!
We are 1 week away from voting, so I need everyone's help spreading the word. Congrats to all the nominees and blogs submitted—this last year was incredible. Forming the lists was equal parts rewarding and painful.
www.explorersdesign.com/this-years-b...
We are 1 week away from voting, so I need everyone's help spreading the word. Congrats to all the nominees and blogs submitted—this last year was incredible. Forming the lists was equal parts rewarding and painful.
www.explorersdesign.com/this-years-b...
This year's Bloggies Nominees
Over 90+ blog posts. And a surprise category for 2026.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:41 PM
The Bloggies Nominees are here!
We are 1 week away from voting, so I need everyone's help spreading the word. Congrats to all the nominees and blogs submitted—this last year was incredible. Forming the lists was equal parts rewarding and painful.
www.explorersdesign.com/this-years-b...
We are 1 week away from voting, so I need everyone's help spreading the word. Congrats to all the nominees and blogs submitted—this last year was incredible. Forming the lists was equal parts rewarding and painful.
www.explorersdesign.com/this-years-b...
My month in a nutshell:
(Official nominees announcement tomorrow!)
(Official nominees announcement tomorrow!)
February 8, 2026 at 5:02 PM
My month in a nutshell:
(Official nominees announcement tomorrow!)
(Official nominees announcement tomorrow!)
I forgot to add Alfred Valley's "Start Hoarding Textures" to the latest Explorateur. Fixed that.
I'd probably share this video just for the editing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB6...
I'd probably share this video just for the editing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB6...
How to make a copyplace book
YouTube video by Alfred Valley
www.youtube.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:19 PM
I forgot to add Alfred Valley's "Start Hoarding Textures" to the latest Explorateur. Fixed that.
I'd probably share this video just for the editing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB6...
I'd probably share this video just for the editing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAB6...
Interesting thought from an architecture book: Floor plans are great for conveying organization, flow, and arrangement, but sections or "cross-sections" are better for conveying space, scale, and feel.
This is why I think many Mausritter maps benefit from being sections, and OSE maps floor plans.
This is why I think many Mausritter maps benefit from being sections, and OSE maps floor plans.
February 3, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Interesting thought from an architecture book: Floor plans are great for conveying organization, flow, and arrangement, but sections or "cross-sections" are better for conveying space, scale, and feel.
This is why I think many Mausritter maps benefit from being sections, and OSE maps floor plans.
This is why I think many Mausritter maps benefit from being sections, and OSE maps floor plans.
One of the best talking about one of the best.
In celebration of the imminent Blades ‘68 campaign, I thought I’d talk a bit about its graphic design.
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
BUT FIRST let’s compare and contrast with the graphic design of Blades in the Dark, a landmark in the history of RPG layout.
Type nerdery ahoy 🧐
February 3, 2026 at 3:01 AM
One of the best talking about one of the best.
The Bloggies 2026 submissions are officially closed. Get ready for the nominations next Monday.
You can get the full schedule and submissions breakdown here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-sub...
You can get the full schedule and submissions breakdown here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-sub...
What's Next After Submissions?
The Bloggies' 2026 submissions are closed. Here's what's next...
www.explorersdesign.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The Bloggies 2026 submissions are officially closed. Get ready for the nominations next Monday.
You can get the full schedule and submissions breakdown here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-sub...
You can get the full schedule and submissions breakdown here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-sub...
The articulation Sam makes here is the same thing I've been struggling to articulate for over a year.
"A game where there is no difference between how you would describe your character and what’s on their character sheet."
We have the same dream rpg.
"A game where there is no difference between how you would describe your character and what’s on their character sheet."
We have the same dream rpg.
Been thinking about @explorersdesign.bsky.social's recent post ("Against Dominant Mechanics") and what we can strip away to maximize the RPG experience.
Yes, there's a backhoe in this.
Yes, there's a backhoe in this.
My Dream RPG
In search of mechanical-narrative coherence.
open.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The articulation Sam makes here is the same thing I've been struggling to articulate for over a year.
"A game where there is no difference between how you would describe your character and what’s on their character sheet."
We have the same dream rpg.
"A game where there is no difference between how you would describe your character and what’s on their character sheet."
We have the same dream rpg.
Did I forget to write and publish The Explorateur while working on The Bloggies? *Jonathan Frakes Voice:* "Not this time."
A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
The Explorateur: Issue #16
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Did I forget to write and publish The Explorateur while working on The Bloggies? *Jonathan Frakes Voice:* "Not this time."
A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
Bloggies 2026 nominations are about to close in 30 minutes. After that, I have a lot of reading to do. (I've been reading ahead, thankfully.)
February 1, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Bloggies 2026 nominations are about to close in 30 minutes. After that, I have a lot of reading to do. (I've been reading ahead, thankfully.)
Reposted by Clayton
You all seemed to think it was funny, and despite its utter failure to end all discourse forever I would be failing to big myself up appropriately if i didnt put forward "What is an OSR" for your consideration. My other nominations in the thread below :)
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
February 1, 2026 at 1:14 AM
You all seemed to think it was funny, and despite its utter failure to end all discourse forever I would be failing to big myself up appropriately if i didnt put forward "What is an OSR" for your consideration. My other nominations in the thread below :)
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
thegardenbelow.blot.im/what-is-an-osr
Reposted by Clayton
i am barely a blogger, or really even a presence, but if anything i wrote last year was worthy of anything bloggie-able, it woulda been this. knock me out in the first round and i can nap happy
January 31, 2026 at 2:33 PM
i am barely a blogger, or really even a presence, but if anything i wrote last year was worthy of anything bloggie-able, it woulda been this. knock me out in the first round and i can nap happy
Reposted by Clayton
Today (Jan 31, 2026) is the last day to nominate your favorite Skeleton Code Machine articles for The Bloggies hosted by @explorersdesign.bsky.social. It's a fun, rather light-hearted event and I know Clayton is putting a lot of work into making it happen. So go do it. Just takes a minute. #ttrpg
The Bloggies 2026 submissions are closing this Saturday night!
Please submit your favorite blog posts, blog series, and newcomers on this year's official web page:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
(And please, share this far and wide 🙏)
Please submit your favorite blog posts, blog series, and newcomers on this year's official web page:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
(And please, share this far and wide 🙏)
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Today (Jan 31, 2026) is the last day to nominate your favorite Skeleton Code Machine articles for The Bloggies hosted by @explorersdesign.bsky.social. It's a fun, rather light-hearted event and I know Clayton is putting a lot of work into making it happen. So go do it. Just takes a minute. #ttrpg
Reposted by Clayton
The Bloggies are the Dundies of the blogging world. Be sure to nominate your own work!! I started my blog (theplayreports.com) in 2025, so all posts on the site are eligible. 😱
January 31, 2026 at 6:10 PM
The Bloggies are the Dundies of the blogging world. Be sure to nominate your own work!! I started my blog (theplayreports.com) in 2025, so all posts on the site are eligible. 😱
Reposted by Clayton
its the last day, but the proudest of my blog articles ive written is my first one on interactivity and tactility in rpgs. Its such an undiscussed topic that informs a lot of design and issues with design, and of which id love to write more on in the future
January 31, 2026 at 1:52 AM
its the last day, but the proudest of my blog articles ive written is my first one on interactivity and tactility in rpgs. Its such an undiscussed topic that informs a lot of design and issues with design, and of which id love to write more on in the future
Reposted by Clayton
What Alexandrian posts from last year should be nominated for the Bloggies?
If you want to be nominated for a Bloggie, please campaign for yourself. You campaigning helps expand the audience of The Bloggies which gets more eyes on everyone's writing.
Thanks Exeunt!
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Thanks Exeunt!
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
January 30, 2026 at 1:57 PM
What Alexandrian posts from last year should be nominated for the Bloggies?
Reposted by Clayton
I'd love it if this post of mine would get nominated.
monstermind.substack.com/p/the-five-l...
Interpreting the Five Laws of Library Science for roleplaying games.
monstermind.substack.com/p/the-five-l...
Interpreting the Five Laws of Library Science for roleplaying games.
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 AM
I'd love it if this post of mine would get nominated.
monstermind.substack.com/p/the-five-l...
Interpreting the Five Laws of Library Science for roleplaying games.
monstermind.substack.com/p/the-five-l...
Interpreting the Five Laws of Library Science for roleplaying games.
Reposted by Clayton
If you'd like to nominate something I wrote, I'd really appreciate it. Here are my favorite posts from last year:
Sandbox Settlements: Prep, Run, and Thrive
Sandbox Settlements: Downtime
Running Mythic Bastionland
Mapping the Blogosphere
elmc.at
Sandbox Settlements: Prep, Run, and Thrive
Sandbox Settlements: Downtime
Running Mythic Bastionland
Mapping the Blogosphere
elmc.at
January 30, 2026 at 12:06 AM
If you'd like to nominate something I wrote, I'd really appreciate it. Here are my favorite posts from last year:
Sandbox Settlements: Prep, Run, and Thrive
Sandbox Settlements: Downtime
Running Mythic Bastionland
Mapping the Blogosphere
elmc.at
Sandbox Settlements: Prep, Run, and Thrive
Sandbox Settlements: Downtime
Running Mythic Bastionland
Mapping the Blogosphere
elmc.at
Reposted by Clayton
It feels a bit awkward to campaign for myself, but then again, I do think I wrote some nice things last year, such as
dicegoblin.blog/just-use-bea...
and
dicegoblin.blog/add-this-to-...
So yeah, if you like my stuff, please cast a vote!
dicegoblin.blog/just-use-bea...
and
dicegoblin.blog/add-this-to-...
So yeah, if you like my stuff, please cast a vote!
January 29, 2026 at 10:34 PM
It feels a bit awkward to campaign for myself, but then again, I do think I wrote some nice things last year, such as
dicegoblin.blog/just-use-bea...
and
dicegoblin.blog/add-this-to-...
So yeah, if you like my stuff, please cast a vote!
dicegoblin.blog/just-use-bea...
and
dicegoblin.blog/add-this-to-...
So yeah, if you like my stuff, please cast a vote!
Reposted by Clayton
Bloggies closes tomorrow! Please vote for Bathtub Reviews or Critique Navidad for best series or for one of my other posts for design, like the Zungeon Manifesto, Don’t Wait to Create, or When is the Cake Baked! idlecartulary.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Bloggies closes tomorrow! Please vote for Bathtub Reviews or Critique Navidad for best series or for one of my other posts for design, like the Zungeon Manifesto, Don’t Wait to Create, or When is the Cake Baked! idlecartulary.com
Reposted by Clayton
I suppose it’s my turn to campaign for my blog. I wrote one about putting lore in tables that seems to have gone down well. So why not have a read and maybe nominate it if you like it that much. Or just read a bunch of blogs. They’re great.
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
January 29, 2026 at 9:44 PM
I suppose it’s my turn to campaign for my blog. I wrote one about putting lore in tables that seems to have gone down well. So why not have a read and maybe nominate it if you like it that much. Or just read a bunch of blogs. They’re great.
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
Reposted by Clayton
In the spirit of "shy bairns get nowt," I've nominated myself for a bloggie for this dissection of play cultures that were not my own: burnafterrunningrpg.com/2025/08/11/c... vote for my when Clayton does the thing and I'll be eternally / temporarily grateful depending on the outcome
January 29, 2026 at 8:53 PM
In the spirit of "shy bairns get nowt," I've nominated myself for a bloggie for this dissection of play cultures that were not my own: burnafterrunningrpg.com/2025/08/11/c... vote for my when Clayton does the thing and I'll be eternally / temporarily grateful depending on the outcome
Reposted by Clayton
The Man has spoken. Time to campaign for myself.
Just a few days left to submit nominations for the Bloggies, so here’s a thread of Cats Have No Lord posts from 2025 you might consider.
Just a few days left to submit nominations for the Bloggies, so here’s a thread of Cats Have No Lord posts from 2025 you might consider.
If you want to be nominated for a Bloggie, please campaign for yourself. You campaigning helps expand the audience of The Bloggies which gets more eyes on everyone's writing.
Thanks Exeunt!
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Thanks Exeunt!
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
January 29, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The Man has spoken. Time to campaign for myself.
Just a few days left to submit nominations for the Bloggies, so here’s a thread of Cats Have No Lord posts from 2025 you might consider.
Just a few days left to submit nominations for the Bloggies, so here’s a thread of Cats Have No Lord posts from 2025 you might consider.
Reposted by Clayton
I submitted this post to the Bloggies as well. This one is my theory submission, where I use scientific principles from ecology to look at TTRPGs. I also discuss a little reasoning for why I did that based on the current state of discourse using the ideas of Murray Bookchin
January 29, 2026 at 7:06 PM
I submitted this post to the Bloggies as well. This one is my theory submission, where I use scientific principles from ecology to look at TTRPGs. I also discuss a little reasoning for why I did that based on the current state of discourse using the ideas of Murray Bookchin
Reposted by Clayton
It would be really cool to be nominated in the Bloggies for my post on how TTRPGs helped me deal with PPD.
I'd like this post to get more visibility so it can reach folks who are struggling with PPD and give them a bit of hope:
www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/19/m...
I'd like this post to get more visibility so it can reach folks who are struggling with PPD and give them a bit of hope:
www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/19/m...
January 29, 2026 at 7:06 PM
It would be really cool to be nominated in the Bloggies for my post on how TTRPGs helped me deal with PPD.
I'd like this post to get more visibility so it can reach folks who are struggling with PPD and give them a bit of hope:
www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/19/m...
I'd like this post to get more visibility so it can reach folks who are struggling with PPD and give them a bit of hope:
www.ttrpgkids.com/2025/11/19/m...