Idle Cartulary
@idlecartulary.itch.io
Nova (she/her). Ennie and Bloggie nominated author of world-famous Bathtub Reviews. Writes modules and elfgames. Links at https://msha.ke/idlecartulary.
Pinned
Idle Cartulary
@idlecartulary.itch.io
· Dec 12
Playful Void
mainly about diy elfgames
idlecartulary.com
Hi I'm Nova, also known as Idle Cartulary. I write mainly about DIY elfgames, also known as DIY D&D, OSR and NSR games, as well as write games and modules. I'm best known for Advanced Fantasy Dungeons, and my world-famous Bathtub Reviews.
Surprise post! Randomisation errors and how to avoid sabotaging your model with bad use of randomisation! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/06/w... #osr
What to randomise when you’re randomising
You may have noticed that a common theme in my reviews is that I criticise people’s random tables: Their wilderness generators, their wandering monsters, their weather tables, their treasure …
idlecartulary.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Surprise post! Randomisation errors and how to avoid sabotaging your model with bad use of randomisation! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/06/w... #osr
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
aaand the first Bathtub Review of the year is Providers! Does it provide a creepy ass cult and a ripping setting, or have we had enough micro settings for Mothership? Find out!! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/05/b...
Bathtub Review: Providers
Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module de…
idlecartulary.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
aaand the first Bathtub Review of the year is Providers! Does it provide a creepy ass cult and a ripping setting, or have we had enough micro settings for Mothership? Find out!! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/05/b...
aaand the first Bathtub Review of the year is Providers! Does it provide a creepy ass cult and a ripping setting, or have we had enough micro settings for Mothership? Find out!! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/05/b...
Bathtub Review: Providers
Bathtub Reviews are an excuse for me to read modules a little more closely. I’m doing them to critique a wide range of modules from the perspective of my own table and to learn for my own module de…
idlecartulary.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
aaand the first Bathtub Review of the year is Providers! Does it provide a creepy ass cult and a ripping setting, or have we had enough micro settings for Mothership? Find out!! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/05/b...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of Steve Dee’s passing. His passion for making games and sharing the craft of gamemaking was unmatched. He made a whole bunch of great games (It Is Forbidden is stellar), and in his memory I want to share my favourite:
January 5, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of Steve Dee’s passing. His passion for making games and sharing the craft of gamemaking was unmatched. He made a whole bunch of great games (It Is Forbidden is stellar), and in his memory I want to share my favourite:
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Honestly this is really heartwarming to hear. I wasn’t sure this got the message I was trying to get across, and it hasn’t had a lot of attention, so it’s great to see some people appreciated it! Thanks elmcat!
My daily Bloggies picks (3):
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
How to Write a Module: An Incoherent Play-by-Play
A few months ago I decided to write a module live on Bluesky, from woe to go, to show my process and why I keep insisting it’s not hard. A few people asked me to immortalise it here, so I’m reprodu…
idlecartulary.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Honestly this is really heartwarming to hear. I wasn’t sure this got the message I was trying to get across, and it hasn’t had a lot of attention, so it’s great to see some people appreciated it! Thanks elmcat!
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Another one from @idlecartulary.itch.io's because this really inspires me to create! idlecartulary.com/2025/07/09/d...
Don’t wait to create, don’t wait to learn
A prominent game designer recently said in a Dice Exploder thread, that breaking down design paradigms before you design games is self-limiting and unproductive. This was interpreted by many as “yo…
idlecartulary.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Another one from @idlecartulary.itch.io's because this really inspires me to create! idlecartulary.com/2025/07/09/d...
Honestly this is really heartwarming to hear. I wasn’t sure this got the message I was trying to get across, and it hasn’t had a lot of attention, so it’s great to see some people appreciated it! Thanks elmcat!
My daily Bloggies picks (3):
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
How to Write a Module: An Incoherent Play-by-Play
A few months ago I decided to write a module live on Bluesky, from woe to go, to show my process and why I keep insisting it’s not hard. A few people asked me to immortalise it here, so I’m reprodu…
idlecartulary.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Honestly this is really heartwarming to hear. I wasn’t sure this got the message I was trying to get across, and it hasn’t had a lot of attention, so it’s great to see some people appreciated it! Thanks elmcat!
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
START - Tutorial adventure site for BREAK!! RPG
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bre...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bre...
January 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
START - Tutorial adventure site for BREAK!! RPG
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bre...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bre...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
My daily Bloggies picks (3):
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
How to Write a Module: An Incoherent Play-by-Play
A few months ago I decided to write a module live on Bluesky, from woe to go, to show my process and why I keep insisting it’s not hard. A few people asked me to immortalise it here, so I’m reprodu…
idlecartulary.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:12 PM
My daily Bloggies picks (3):
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
@idlecartulary.itch.io on starting a module: put something on paper, ask questions, answer them, iterate. A good reminder that polished work doesn’t appear by magic.
idlecartulary.com/2025/11/19/h...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
It’s Bloggies Time! This is a thread of what I’m nominating, so you can, if you choose, read them and nominate them yourself! Firstly, please nominate something of mine that made an impact on you — a series like Critique Navidad or a single post like my Module-Writing Play by Play! Thanks! 1/🧵
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 AM
It’s Bloggies Time! This is a thread of what I’m nominating, so you can, if you choose, read them and nominate them yourself! Firstly, please nominate something of mine that made an impact on you — a series like Critique Navidad or a single post like my Module-Writing Play by Play! Thanks! 1/🧵
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Two silly big posts today, the first being the Idle Digest for December of 2025, featuring a recap of Critique Navidad for those who couldn’t follow it closely: open.substack.com/pub/idlecart...
The Idle Digest #14
Idle Cartulary's Digest for December 2025
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Two silly big posts today, the first being the Idle Digest for December of 2025, featuring a recap of Critique Navidad for those who couldn’t follow it closely: open.substack.com/pub/idlecart...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Advice #2: @idlecartulary.itch.io's Zungeon Manifesto comes close. It's a very good pointer towards local craft, a thing that only got more timely and prescient as tariffs kicked the teeth of the production side of the hobby in this year:
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
The Zungeon Manifesto: Demystifying Dungeon Creation
I have a really large earring collection; I have perhaps as many earrings as I have TTRPGs, and I mainly buy them from local craft markets, not jewellers. They’re all made from resin or clay,…
idlecartulary.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Advice #2: @idlecartulary.itch.io's Zungeon Manifesto comes close. It's a very good pointer towards local craft, a thing that only got more timely and prescient as tariffs kicked the teeth of the production side of the hobby in this year:
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Critique #2: @idlecartulary.itch.io had to make an appearance here somehow, and I'm going to pick out "What do critics owe us". I do love me a critique of criticism.
idlecartulary.com/2025/09/25/w...
idlecartulary.com/2025/09/25/w...
What do critics owe us?
A few things recently happened in the discourse that raised the question, “what do critics owe us?”, in various forums across the TTRPG space. I have a response, but to understand it we must meande…
idlecartulary.com
January 2, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Critique #2: @idlecartulary.itch.io had to make an appearance here somehow, and I'm going to pick out "What do critics owe us". I do love me a critique of criticism.
idlecartulary.com/2025/09/25/w...
idlecartulary.com/2025/09/25/w...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
The treasure trove in just these two articles - useful tips, best ranked games and adventures of 2025, so much more. It's been 2 sitting just read the hyperlinks and digest all of the ttrpg goodness.
Two silly big posts today, the first being the Idle Digest for December of 2025, featuring a recap of Critique Navidad for those who couldn’t follow it closely: open.substack.com/pub/idlecart...
The Idle Digest #14
Idle Cartulary's Digest for December 2025
open.substack.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:36 AM
The treasure trove in just these two articles - useful tips, best ranked games and adventures of 2025, so much more. It's been 2 sitting just read the hyperlinks and digest all of the ttrpg goodness.
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
🚨IMPORTANT AWARDS ALERT🚨
The second being the Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames, featuring my favourite things of 2025! What were the best modules? Games? Books? Podcasts? Find out here! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/01/i...
Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames
Everyone loves an informal end-of-year awards ceremony. This year, everyone’s doing it! I’ll join the bandwagon! Best Single-location Module Gold: Cyro-Siq (review here) is a tiny module, tha…
idlecartulary.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM
🚨IMPORTANT AWARDS ALERT🚨
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Who wants to play a game on Party of One (@partyofonepodcast.bsky.social) in 2026?
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 AM
Who wants to play a game on Party of One (@partyofonepodcast.bsky.social) in 2026?
It’s Bloggies Time! This is a thread of what I’m nominating, so you can, if you choose, read them and nominate them yourself! Firstly, please nominate something of mine that made an impact on you — a series like Critique Navidad or a single post like my Module-Writing Play by Play! Thanks! 1/🧵
January 2, 2026 at 5:59 AM
It’s Bloggies Time! This is a thread of what I’m nominating, so you can, if you choose, read them and nominate them yourself! Firstly, please nominate something of mine that made an impact on you — a series like Critique Navidad or a single post like my Module-Writing Play by Play! Thanks! 1/🧵
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
I am a sincere admirer of Nova and her reviews. So, I am honored to see that she picked SPINE as the best RPG of 2025 in the Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames.
If you're wondering about SPINE, please check out Nova's review. And check out the many other games that she picked too.
If you're wondering about SPINE, please check out Nova's review. And check out the many other games that she picked too.
January 1, 2026 at 12:29 PM
I am a sincere admirer of Nova and her reviews. So, I am honored to see that she picked SPINE as the best RPG of 2025 in the Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames.
If you're wondering about SPINE, please check out Nova's review. And check out the many other games that she picked too.
If you're wondering about SPINE, please check out Nova's review. And check out the many other games that she picked too.
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
It's an honor to receive bronze in Best Roleplaying Game for Chain×Link!
Thank you so much to @idlecartulary.itch.io for reviewing the game!
Be sure to also check out @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social's Spine and @aethercorp.games's Field Agent's Handbooks.
Thank you so much to @idlecartulary.itch.io for reviewing the game!
Be sure to also check out @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social's Spine and @aethercorp.games's Field Agent's Handbooks.
The second being the Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames, featuring my favourite things of 2025! What were the best modules? Games? Books? Podcasts? Find out here! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/01/i...
Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames
Everyone loves an informal end-of-year awards ceremony. This year, everyone’s doing it! I’ll join the bandwagon! Best Single-location Module Gold: Cyro-Siq (review here) is a tiny module, tha…
idlecartulary.com
January 1, 2026 at 1:28 PM
It's an honor to receive bronze in Best Roleplaying Game for Chain×Link!
Thank you so much to @idlecartulary.itch.io for reviewing the game!
Be sure to also check out @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social's Spine and @aethercorp.games's Field Agent's Handbooks.
Thank you so much to @idlecartulary.itch.io for reviewing the game!
Be sure to also check out @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social's Spine and @aethercorp.games's Field Agent's Handbooks.
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
A lot of time and effort goes into these reviews and write-ups. Thank you. I hope you're gaming enough ❤️
Two silly big posts today, the first being the Idle Digest for December of 2025, featuring a recap of Critique Navidad for those who couldn’t follow it closely: open.substack.com/pub/idlecart...
The Idle Digest #14
Idle Cartulary's Digest for December 2025
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
A lot of time and effort goes into these reviews and write-ups. Thank you. I hope you're gaming enough ❤️
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
Oh hey! Isle of Hex made silver? Whaaaa?! Does this mean I get to put "award-winning author" in front of my name? Maybe change my name altogether? The year is full of possibilities already!
The second being the Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames, featuring my favourite things of 2025! What were the best modules? Games? Books? Podcasts? Find out here! idlecartulary.com/2026/01/01/i...
Idle Cartulary Awards for Excellence in Elfgames
Everyone loves an informal end-of-year awards ceremony. This year, everyone’s doing it! I’ll join the bandwagon! Best Single-location Module Gold: Cyro-Siq (review here) is a tiny module, tha…
idlecartulary.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Oh hey! Isle of Hex made silver? Whaaaa?! Does this mean I get to put "award-winning author" in front of my name? Maybe change my name altogether? The year is full of possibilities already!
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
My other favorite advice piece was "Should your module be system agnostic?" by @idlecartulary.itch.io
I also submitted Nova's Bathtub Reviews as a favorite series.
I also submitted Nova's Bathtub Reviews as a favorite series.
Got no game: Should your module be system agnostic?
A lot of people ask questions like “should I write a module as system-agnostic, or for a popular system?” or “if I write a module for an unpopular system like X, will nobody read my module?”. I’m a…
idlecartulary.com
January 1, 2026 at 4:16 PM
My other favorite advice piece was "Should your module be system agnostic?" by @idlecartulary.itch.io
I also submitted Nova's Bathtub Reviews as a favorite series.
I also submitted Nova's Bathtub Reviews as a favorite series.
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
The frighteningly hard-working Nova has placed my social-political Mothership sandbox as her second-favorite single-location module of 2025.
See her review here:
See her review here:
January 1, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The frighteningly hard-working Nova has placed my social-political Mothership sandbox as her second-favorite single-location module of 2025.
See her review here:
See her review here:
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
@idlecartulary.itch.io
This was pinned to my desktop while I wrote Yonkers Fleshless Love. It perfectly balances the breadth of generalist advice with the specificity of @samsorensen.bsky.social 's '10 in/tangible tips' posts. Nova remains an inspiration to me.
idlecartulary.com/2025/04/08/w...
This was pinned to my desktop while I wrote Yonkers Fleshless Love. It perfectly balances the breadth of generalist advice with the specificity of @samsorensen.bsky.social 's '10 in/tangible tips' posts. Nova remains an inspiration to me.
idlecartulary.com/2025/04/08/w...
When is the cake baked?
Lately I’ve read a bunch of modules that feel like they weren’t fully baked. The scope story they were trying to tell was greater than their page count. I was left wishing there was more, despite a…
idlecartulary.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:11 PM
@idlecartulary.itch.io
This was pinned to my desktop while I wrote Yonkers Fleshless Love. It perfectly balances the breadth of generalist advice with the specificity of @samsorensen.bsky.social 's '10 in/tangible tips' posts. Nova remains an inspiration to me.
idlecartulary.com/2025/04/08/w...
This was pinned to my desktop while I wrote Yonkers Fleshless Love. It perfectly balances the breadth of generalist advice with the specificity of @samsorensen.bsky.social 's '10 in/tangible tips' posts. Nova remains an inspiration to me.
idlecartulary.com/2025/04/08/w...
Reposted by Idle Cartulary
My favorite posts of the year: first up, the Zungeon Manifesto by @idlecartulary.itch.io . A clear, easy procedure for writing a dungeon from scratch.
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
The Zungeon Manifesto: Demystifying Dungeon Creation
I have a really large earring collection; I have perhaps as many earrings as I have TTRPGs, and I mainly buy them from local craft markets, not jewellers. They’re all made from resin or clay,…
idlecartulary.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:48 PM
My favorite posts of the year: first up, the Zungeon Manifesto by @idlecartulary.itch.io . A clear, easy procedure for writing a dungeon from scratch.
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...
idlecartulary.com/2025/01/01/t...