Graham Walmsley
@grahamwalmsley.bsky.social
I design games, especially tabletop roleplaying games (Cthulhu Dark, Cosmic Dark). I also write books on storytelling (Play Unsafe) and drift into interactive fiction (39 Steps) and LARP (Will That Be All).
And I love theatre, art and history.
And I love theatre, art and history.
Do me a favour and follow this project. Ella needs 400 followers to get this into ZineQuest, so you'll really help her out.
(That means...follow it even if you don't think you'll back it, but also, back it.)
(That means...follow it even if you don't think you'll back it, but also, back it.)
We've already got over 150 followers! I'm so excited about how quickly and kindly people have shown support for this project.
Please keep signing up to be notified on launch and tell your friends, the number of followers we have on our teaser page will impact whether we get into Zinetopia!
Please keep signing up to be notified on launch and tell your friends, the number of followers we have on our teaser page will impact whether we get into Zinetopia!
Delve into The Deepest Dark
From Ella Watts - Delve into The Deepest Dark
www.backerkit.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Do me a favour and follow this project. Ella needs 400 followers to get this into ZineQuest, so you'll really help her out.
(That means...follow it even if you don't think you'll back it, but also, back it.)
(That means...follow it even if you don't think you'll back it, but also, back it.)
This looks weird (compliment). I love the voice acting.
🚨⚠️ Release Date Disclosure! ⚠️🚨
TRAILER: VIDEO EVIDENCE, see below. Please watch, assimilate and share.
DESIGNATION: TR-49
GENRE: NARRATIVE DEDUCTION / AUDIO_DRAMA
DATE: 21st JANUARY
PLATFORMS: iOS / PC / Mac / Deck
This is what we know, so far.
TRAILER: VIDEO EVIDENCE, see below. Please watch, assimilate and share.
DESIGNATION: TR-49
GENRE: NARRATIVE DEDUCTION / AUDIO_DRAMA
DATE: 21st JANUARY
PLATFORMS: iOS / PC / Mac / Deck
This is what we know, so far.
TR-49 - Official Trailer
YouTube video by inkleStudios
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:59 PM
This looks weird (compliment). I love the voice acting.
I'm catching up with this. It's rich and fascinating in the later years.
I think it stumbles a bit in the early years, especially picking 2010 as the start point, and it tends to buy the idea that the Forge was the source of everything. I'll jot some thoughts down if my thoughts get more coherent!
I think it stumbles a bit in the early years, especially picking 2010 as the start point, and it tends to buy the idea that the Forge was the source of everything. I'll jot some thoughts down if my thoughts get more coherent!
My End of Year video is on the "Golden Age of Indie RPGs," from roughly 2010 to 2025. I start with Apocalypse World's release, work through the Google+ Era, and follow design lineages and historical events that have impacted the hobby up through 2025.
The Golden Age of Indie RPGs: 2010-2025
YouTube video by A.A. Voigt
youtu.be
January 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
I'm catching up with this. It's rich and fascinating in the later years.
I think it stumbles a bit in the early years, especially picking 2010 as the start point, and it tends to buy the idea that the Forge was the source of everything. I'll jot some thoughts down if my thoughts get more coherent!
I think it stumbles a bit in the early years, especially picking 2010 as the start point, and it tends to buy the idea that the Forge was the source of everything. I'll jot some thoughts down if my thoughts get more coherent!
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
If you are a TTRPG Actual Play creator who records in-person & would be willing to share your setup (photo/video or me observing in-person*), I’d love to hear from you as I finish the book. (Comments, DMs or ecfriedman@auburn.edu)
*In-person:
- Atlanta/AL/GA
- Philly area
- DC area
- Bonn
- UK
*In-person:
- Atlanta/AL/GA
- Philly area
- DC area
- Bonn
- UK
January 4, 2026 at 1:49 PM
If you are a TTRPG Actual Play creator who records in-person & would be willing to share your setup (photo/video or me observing in-person*), I’d love to hear from you as I finish the book. (Comments, DMs or ecfriedman@auburn.edu)
*In-person:
- Atlanta/AL/GA
- Philly area
- DC area
- Bonn
- UK
*In-person:
- Atlanta/AL/GA
- Philly area
- DC area
- Bonn
- UK
It's been a long time since I've seen this Turner painting, but I remember it vividly. It's one of his later ones and was critically panned at the time. Look at the swirls of colour and darkness.
January 4, 2026 at 12:13 PM
It's been a long time since I've seen this Turner painting, but I remember it vividly. It's one of his later ones and was critically panned at the time. Look at the swirls of colour and darkness.
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
Saw an interesting post freaking out about the upcoming Royal Mail changes. They’re an inconvenience, and imho not worth getting super upset about. Save your energy. But! It made me think and uh oh here’s a thread 🧵
January 4, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Saw an interesting post freaking out about the upcoming Royal Mail changes. They’re an inconvenience, and imho not worth getting super upset about. Save your energy. But! It made me think and uh oh here’s a thread 🧵
This looks wonderful (which Ella's stuff usually is). Do follow it and back it when the time comes.
Hey folks! Myself and @georgiacooked.bsky.social are creating a TTRPG zine for Zine month this year!
The game is a GM-less, tragic horror about explorers trapped by a cave in. It's set in the real world and uses a d6 communal dice pool mechanic.
Please give us a follow and spread the word!
The game is a GM-less, tragic horror about explorers trapped by a cave in. It's set in the real world and uses a d6 communal dice pool mechanic.
Please give us a follow and spread the word!
Get Ready for The Deepest Dark
From Ella Watts - Get Ready for The Deepest Dark
bit.ly
January 2, 2026 at 12:17 PM
This looks wonderful (which Ella's stuff usually is). Do follow it and back it when the time comes.
Excited about things entering the public domain in 2026: it looks like Dr Faustus, How To Win Friends And Influence People and the works of Albert Einstein are the major ones, although I'm hoping someone does a RPG based on the romantic novels of Ruby M Ayres.
January 2, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Excited about things entering the public domain in 2026: it looks like Dr Faustus, How To Win Friends And Influence People and the works of Albert Einstein are the major ones, although I'm hoping someone does a RPG based on the romantic novels of Ruby M Ayres.
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
In years past, I’d drop plot hooks on New Year’s Eve. This year’s a bit unpredictable, so I’m resurrecting them from the other site along with a few new surprises I dug up today. Consider this your invitation to kick off 2026 with hooks, dangerous ideas, and gaming! let’s start the year rolling. 🎲✨
December 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In years past, I’d drop plot hooks on New Year’s Eve. This year’s a bit unpredictable, so I’m resurrecting them from the other site along with a few new surprises I dug up today. Consider this your invitation to kick off 2026 with hooks, dangerous ideas, and gaming! let’s start the year rolling. 🎲✨
I'm so grateful to @symphonyhorror.bsky.social for this award for Best Sonata (i.e. best improvised scenario). Here's the award ceremony if you want a silly video of me in a cupboard. www.twitch.tv/symphonyente...
Twitch
Twitch is the world
www.twitch.tv
December 31, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I'm so grateful to @symphonyhorror.bsky.social for this award for Best Sonata (i.e. best improvised scenario). Here's the award ceremony if you want a silly video of me in a cupboard. www.twitch.tv/symphonyente...
It's amazing to watch these arrive. (If yours hasn't arrived, don't worry, they're going out in batches.)
Seeing out the old year with a happy arrival - my Kickstarter copies of 'Cosmic Dark' by @grahamwalmsley.bsky.social - a tabletop roleplaying game of weird space horror, which I'm looking forward to running in the new year, and previous game, 'Cthulhu Dark', which I'd missed at the time. #ttrpg
December 31, 2025 at 9:46 AM
It's amazing to watch these arrive. (If yours hasn't arrived, don't worry, they're going out in batches.)
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
Seeing out the old year with a happy arrival - my Kickstarter copies of 'Cosmic Dark' by @grahamwalmsley.bsky.social - a tabletop roleplaying game of weird space horror, which I'm looking forward to running in the new year, and previous game, 'Cthulhu Dark', which I'd missed at the time. #ttrpg
December 31, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Seeing out the old year with a happy arrival - my Kickstarter copies of 'Cosmic Dark' by @grahamwalmsley.bsky.social - a tabletop roleplaying game of weird space horror, which I'm looking forward to running in the new year, and previous game, 'Cthulhu Dark', which I'd missed at the time. #ttrpg
While we're talking about things we do as designers: I see a lot of art. Sometimes I get ideas straightaway, sometimes it takes a while to percolate.
Today I saw Wayne Thiebaud at The Courtauld, which I got much more out of than I thought I would.
Today I saw Wayne Thiebaud at The Courtauld, which I got much more out of than I thought I would.
December 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
While we're talking about things we do as designers: I see a lot of art. Sometimes I get ideas straightaway, sometimes it takes a while to percolate.
Today I saw Wayne Thiebaud at The Courtauld, which I got much more out of than I thought I would.
Today I saw Wayne Thiebaud at The Courtauld, which I got much more out of than I thought I would.
This is great from @handiworkgames.bsky.social .
I try not to let external validation matter to me. It's difficult. What does matter is that I make space to do things that are a little different and that I want to do for myself.
I try not to let external validation matter to me. It's difficult. What does matter is that I make space to do things that are a little different and that I want to do for myself.
I sometimes have concerns about my outlook, but here’s a thing. I was talking to a fellow creator, and they were expressing some desperation about not getting into ttrpg starter packs.
I think it’s worth unpacking that desire to check on your aims. And I think this can be applied to various stuff.
I think it’s worth unpacking that desire to check on your aims. And I think this can be applied to various stuff.
December 30, 2025 at 9:09 AM
This is great from @handiworkgames.bsky.social .
I try not to let external validation matter to me. It's difficult. What does matter is that I make space to do things that are a little different and that I want to do for myself.
I try not to let external validation matter to me. It's difficult. What does matter is that I make space to do things that are a little different and that I want to do for myself.
This is incredibly helpful stuff from @shaneivey.bsky.social .
The Cosmic Dark printers were great, but the print proofs showed things up that needed to be corrected and could have meant a reprint. It was often tiny things.
The Cosmic Dark printers were great, but the print proofs showed things up that needed to be corrected and could have meant a reprint. It was often tiny things.
We printed a DG book with a new printer a few years ago. Highly rated place, tons of experience. Because it was a new place we asked for inkjets to confirm layout, laser proofs to confirm coloring, and even F&G’s to confirm the confirmations. F&G means folded & gathered: the print run is done but…
Never skip the press proof before the final print run. You'll always catch something in the demo book or zine that you'd regret seeing in the final product.
December 30, 2025 at 6:54 AM
This is incredibly helpful stuff from @shaneivey.bsky.social .
The Cosmic Dark printers were great, but the print proofs showed things up that needed to be corrected and could have meant a reprint. It was often tiny things.
The Cosmic Dark printers were great, but the print proofs showed things up that needed to be corrected and could have meant a reprint. It was often tiny things.
I was on a radio show with Billy Bragg, talking about skiffle music.
(Maybe this isn't minor but it's pleasingly weird.)
(Maybe this isn't minor but it's pleasingly weird.)
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 29, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I was on a radio show with Billy Bragg, talking about skiffle music.
(Maybe this isn't minor but it's pleasingly weird.)
(Maybe this isn't minor but it's pleasingly weird.)
This feels like a good time to reshare my history of indie RPGs from 2003-2010.
www.patreon.com/collection/2...
www.patreon.com/collection/2...
Indie games 2003-2010 | Collection from Graham Walmsley | 18 posts
Get more from Graham Walmsley on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This feels like a good time to reshare my history of indie RPGs from 2003-2010.
www.patreon.com/collection/2...
www.patreon.com/collection/2...
Friends, what's the state of "Vampire LARP" these days? Back in the day, it was published by White Wolf and the system used was called Minds Eye Theatre, an offshoot of Vampire: The Masquerade. What are the equivalents of those things now?
December 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Friends, what's the state of "Vampire LARP" these days? Back in the day, it was published by White Wolf and the system used was called Minds Eye Theatre, an offshoot of Vampire: The Masquerade. What are the equivalents of those things now?
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
Hey new people 👋
I have free art for your projects 🤩
✨Free for personal & commercial projects ✨
ko-fi.com/alderdoodle/...
I have free art for your projects 🤩
✨Free for personal & commercial projects ✨
ko-fi.com/alderdoodle/...
December 27, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Hey new people 👋
I have free art for your projects 🤩
✨Free for personal & commercial projects ✨
ko-fi.com/alderdoodle/...
I have free art for your projects 🤩
✨Free for personal & commercial projects ✨
ko-fi.com/alderdoodle/...
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
A lot of you know the games I've made, but there are surely many who don't. I wrote one in 2001 called The Pool that I almost never talk about, but I'm very proud of it. I'll tell you about it now, for giggles.
It's a "rules lite" game. It's a GM game. It is universal, generic, or non-setting. 1/5
It's a "rules lite" game. It's a GM game. It is universal, generic, or non-setting. 1/5
December 27, 2025 at 4:58 AM
A lot of you know the games I've made, but there are surely many who don't. I wrote one in 2001 called The Pool that I almost never talk about, but I'm very proud of it. I'll tell you about it now, for giggles.
It's a "rules lite" game. It's a GM game. It is universal, generic, or non-setting. 1/5
It's a "rules lite" game. It's a GM game. It is universal, generic, or non-setting. 1/5
For some reason, we watched "Now You See Me" tonight, and are thinking about watching "Now You See Me 2", which is meant to be better. (I think the description was "Marginally better than its disappointing predecessor")
Anyway happy Christmas
Anyway happy Christmas
December 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
For some reason, we watched "Now You See Me" tonight, and are thinking about watching "Now You See Me 2", which is meant to be better. (I think the description was "Marginally better than its disappointing predecessor")
Anyway happy Christmas
Anyway happy Christmas
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
Sorry, clarification - I have an immediate need for an
Illustration to go with a translation of my short story Children of Dagon and wondered if anyone here had a piece showing a seal/human creature - ideally with a ruined city landscape - ready to go, that I could haggle for. Should be SFW
Illustration to go with a translation of my short story Children of Dagon and wondered if anyone here had a piece showing a seal/human creature - ideally with a ruined city landscape - ready to go, that I could haggle for. Should be SFW
Any artists out there got an available (non AI) picture of what could be a bioengineered seal/aquatic human?
December 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Sorry, clarification - I have an immediate need for an
Illustration to go with a translation of my short story Children of Dagon and wondered if anyone here had a piece showing a seal/human creature - ideally with a ruined city landscape - ready to go, that I could haggle for. Should be SFW
Illustration to go with a translation of my short story Children of Dagon and wondered if anyone here had a piece showing a seal/human creature - ideally with a ruined city landscape - ready to go, that I could haggle for. Should be SFW
Morning all. Over the last few days, while I should have been taking a break, I put together a revised version of my first book, Play Unsafe.
Here it is on my Patreon. Hope you enjoy it. And have a great day.
www.patreon.com/posts/gifts-...
Here it is on my Patreon. Hope you enjoy it. And have a great day.
www.patreon.com/posts/gifts-...
Gifts | Graham Walmsley
Get more from Graham Walmsley on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Morning all. Over the last few days, while I should have been taking a break, I put together a revised version of my first book, Play Unsafe.
Here it is on my Patreon. Hope you enjoy it. And have a great day.
www.patreon.com/posts/gifts-...
Here it is on my Patreon. Hope you enjoy it. And have a great day.
www.patreon.com/posts/gifts-...
These are two of my favourite games, with subtle and dark storytelling. Do get them.
Strange Antiquities and Strange Horticulture are on sale right now on Steam. Our cosy dark games are perfect for a cold Christmas eve. Link: store.steampowered.com/developer/ba...
December 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM
These are two of my favourite games, with subtle and dark storytelling. Do get them.
Reposted by Graham Walmsley
Tacklebox is kinda blowing up at the moment, thanks to Quinn's Quest (~1500 copies & counting). Just in case anyone's interested, I would also be open to co-publishing some of my other games (Geiger Counter, Planarch Codex, Restless, Tomb Priestesses, Lofty Beacons, Metrofinal, Last Kings, etc).
December 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Tacklebox is kinda blowing up at the moment, thanks to Quinn's Quest (~1500 copies & counting). Just in case anyone's interested, I would also be open to co-publishing some of my other games (Geiger Counter, Planarch Codex, Restless, Tomb Priestesses, Lofty Beacons, Metrofinal, Last Kings, etc).