Jesse Ross
@jesseross.com
I design and develop experiences that bring people together. Creator of Trophy, Girl Underground, and other fine roleplaying games. Minnesotan and DFLer | he/him
https://jesseross.com
https://trophyrpg.com
https://hedgemazepress.itch.io
https://jesseross.com
https://trophyrpg.com
https://hedgemazepress.itch.io
Pinned
Jesse Ross
@jesseross.com
· Oct 19
Hi, I’m Jesse and I make tabletop RPGs. You might know me from my games Trophy, Girl Underground, R’lyehwatch, Sunset Kills or others (hedgemazepress.itch.io). I like smallish games where the mechanics reinforce the theme. I’m also a designer and illustrator and I do most of my own art and layout.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Reporting from the Witch’s Hat Tower.
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Reporting from the Witch’s Hat Tower.
I'm running this at my local con in February and I'm super excited!
The Gardens of Ynn is a point-crawl adventure by @cavegirl.bsky.social set in an ever-shifting extradimensional garden. Perfect for creating a zero-prep session or campaign, no matter the system, as each expedition generates a new route as you explore.
soulmuppet-store.co.uk/products/the...
soulmuppet-store.co.uk/products/the...
November 11, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I'm running this at my local con in February and I'm super excited!
Reposted by Jesse Ross
I grew up thinking the bottom could fall out at any moment. Too many folks feel that way right now.
We need Senators that get it - and vote like they give a damn.
We need Senators that get it - and vote like they give a damn.
November 10, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I grew up thinking the bottom could fall out at any moment. Too many folks feel that way right now.
We need Senators that get it - and vote like they give a damn.
We need Senators that get it - and vote like they give a damn.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
If you need a high-octane found family heist one-shot, why haven't you tried GOBLIN PROM yet????!?! My players absolutely hung from rafters, heisted a crown, impressed their crushes, disintegrated warthog statues, and peeled out in a mustang. 10/10 from @outridercreative.bsky.social's brain
Goblin Prom by Outrider Creative
A Honey Heist Hack about Teenage Goblins
outrider-creative.itch.io
November 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
If you need a high-octane found family heist one-shot, why haven't you tried GOBLIN PROM yet????!?! My players absolutely hung from rafters, heisted a crown, impressed their crushes, disintegrated warthog statues, and peeled out in a mustang. 10/10 from @outridercreative.bsky.social's brain
So hyped! Let's go!
Here We GO! Come along, my dearies!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
So hyped! Let's go!
Anyone have a copy of Trophy Dark they want to part with?
I don't know how much spare money I'm going to have at PAXU this time around, but I do have a very specific bounty: the hardcover of Trophy Dark. I've got the rest of Trophy, I've got all the PDFs. But the Dark book eludes me. Care to make a bargain? Let me know.
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Anyone have a copy of Trophy Dark they want to part with?
So grateful to Amanda and the Sprigs & Kindling team for doing this, and honored to have been able to play a part in it 🖤
I was busy doing things on my very favourite day of the year and forgot to promo this but VOLUME 5 of Sprigs & Kindling is OUT! HUGE thanks to our team for working so hard to get this done for Halloween!!!
Trick-or-Treat, it's TROPHY!
sprigsandkindling.com
Trick-or-Treat, it's TROPHY!
sprigsandkindling.com
Sprigs and Kindling
An ongoing digital zine of community collected creative works for Carved from Brindlewood TTRPG games
sprigsandkindling.com
November 1, 2025 at 7:40 PM
So grateful to Amanda and the Sprigs & Kindling team for doing this, and honored to have been able to play a part in it 🖤
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Halloween is the best holiday because it's all about people giving neighbors and strangers treats for free and telling kids how awesome they are.
November 1, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Halloween is the best holiday because it's all about people giving neighbors and strangers treats for free and telling kids how awesome they are.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Alright everyone! We didn’t meet our fundraising goal to release the cats. We’re trying a new approach!
If you contribute $25 we will unlock a cat. Look at our website.
www.jasonchavez.org/cats
If you contribute $25 we will unlock a cat. Look at our website.
www.jasonchavez.org/cats
CATS — Jason Chavez for Ward 9
www.jasonchavez.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Alright everyone! We didn’t meet our fundraising goal to release the cats. We’re trying a new approach!
If you contribute $25 we will unlock a cat. Look at our website.
www.jasonchavez.org/cats
If you contribute $25 we will unlock a cat. Look at our website.
www.jasonchavez.org/cats
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Happy Halloween!
For today only (unless I forget to change it back), my Trophy Dark incursion A Warm and Pleasant Hum is FREE on itch!
Now get off my porch, a'fore I set the bees on ya!
signalstation.itch.io/a-warm-and-p...
For today only (unless I forget to change it back), my Trophy Dark incursion A Warm and Pleasant Hum is FREE on itch!
Now get off my porch, a'fore I set the bees on ya!
signalstation.itch.io/a-warm-and-p...
A Warm and Pleasant Hum: A One-Shot for Trophy Dark by Michael Van Vleet
A bee-filled scenario for Trophy Dark
signalstation.itch.io
October 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Happy Halloween!
For today only (unless I forget to change it back), my Trophy Dark incursion A Warm and Pleasant Hum is FREE on itch!
Now get off my porch, a'fore I set the bees on ya!
signalstation.itch.io/a-warm-and-p...
For today only (unless I forget to change it back), my Trophy Dark incursion A Warm and Pleasant Hum is FREE on itch!
Now get off my porch, a'fore I set the bees on ya!
signalstation.itch.io/a-warm-and-p...
Reposted by Jesse Ross
It’s still remarkable that Disney produced - and released - this segment in 1940. A horror short that should rank with its Universal monster movie contemporaries… The animation is lush and experimental, and really shows off the Disney special animated effects team…
October 24, 2025 at 3:28 AM
It’s still remarkable that Disney produced - and released - this segment in 1940. A horror short that should rank with its Universal monster movie contemporaries… The animation is lush and experimental, and really shows off the Disney special animated effects team…
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Seasonal Bundle of Holding! Lots of horror stuff! In terms of stuff I know and dig Stealing Cthulhu, Lovecraftesque and Cthulhu Dark. All enabling a bunch of smart ways to make it work now.
Bundle of Tentacles 7
Investigator! This Bundle of Tentacles 7 is our seventh all-new library of Sanity-shattering tabletop roleplaying ebooks inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos. Illuminate your position in the cosmos with fiv...
bundleofholding.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Seasonal Bundle of Holding! Lots of horror stuff! In terms of stuff I know and dig Stealing Cthulhu, Lovecraftesque and Cthulhu Dark. All enabling a bunch of smart ways to make it work now.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
There was a time we backed every #pbta #ttrpg project. Then folk's creative drive outpaced our capacity, as well as our shelf-space. It was a wicked cool moment. In 6 days, we're hoping you'll back #AW3rd, and keep the momentum rolling!
Working on the AW3rd kickstarter (T minus 6 btw) and I notice that listed under Meg's and my name it says "11 created • 347 backed."
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Coming soon: Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Lucky to be among the 347 here, and so hyped to return the favor and back the new AW on day 1!
Working on the AW3rd kickstarter (T minus 6 btw) and I notice that listed under Meg's and my name it says "11 created • 347 backed."
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Okay first of all, 347 backed, wowie.
But of those 347, probably around 300 have been PbtA. That's a lot to be confronted with on a Tuesday morning.
Coming soon: Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Lucky to be among the 347 here, and so hyped to return the favor and back the new AW on day 1!
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Mega-thread of all the creators in Tiny Tome 3!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lon...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lon...
Coming soon: Tiny Tome 3
We're back with 50 single-page RPGs from 50 different creators.
www.kickstarter.com
October 19, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Mega-thread of all the creators in Tiny Tome 3!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lon...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lon...
Reposted by Jesse Ross
T minus 7. We're launching the KS next Monday, one week from today!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Coming soon: Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
T minus 7. We're launching the KS next Monday, one week from today!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Reposted by Jesse Ross
🩸 Laissez Couler le Bon Sang 🩸
#COMEONIN hits crowdfunding October 2026 in partnership with @plusoneexp.bsky.social.
Thanks to @scragend.bsky.social for this fantastic cover.
#trrpg #horror #carvedfrombrindlewood
#COMEONIN hits crowdfunding October 2026 in partnership with @plusoneexp.bsky.social.
Thanks to @scragend.bsky.social for this fantastic cover.
#trrpg #horror #carvedfrombrindlewood
October 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
🩸 Laissez Couler le Bon Sang 🩸
#COMEONIN hits crowdfunding October 2026 in partnership with @plusoneexp.bsky.social.
Thanks to @scragend.bsky.social for this fantastic cover.
#trrpg #horror #carvedfrombrindlewood
#COMEONIN hits crowdfunding October 2026 in partnership with @plusoneexp.bsky.social.
Thanks to @scragend.bsky.social for this fantastic cover.
#trrpg #horror #carvedfrombrindlewood
Reposted by Jesse Ross
S&K Volume 5 is all about Trophy! The cover that @jesseross.com made for us is SICK. Everything is edited except one last incursion, layout is 78% done, and our copy editor @rebeccahall15.bsky.social is having an amazing honeymoon but will power through when she is back (she's great!)
I'm excited!
I'm excited!
October 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
S&K Volume 5 is all about Trophy! The cover that @jesseross.com made for us is SICK. Everything is edited except one last incursion, layout is 78% done, and our copy editor @rebeccahall15.bsky.social is having an amazing honeymoon but will power through when she is back (she's great!)
I'm excited!
I'm excited!
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Ryan over on @theweeklyscroll.com and I were talking about how some folks promote themselves like cheap door-to-door salesmen.
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
How to Promote Your Work
How to reach out to blogs, pods, and media outlets, and the 5 things creators can do to promote their work while building community.
www.explorersdesign.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Ryan over on @theweeklyscroll.com and I were talking about how some folks promote themselves like cheap door-to-door salesmen.
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
As someone trained in branding, there's another way that's more rewarding and more fun. The approach I'm trying to get better at👇
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-promo...
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Something I learned from a playwriting class: write the review before you start working on it.
Create the great review you want your project to get (imagine it’s by someone who Gets It) once it’s launched, and you’ll quickly tease out what the themes are, what’s important to you, and what isn’t.
Create the great review you want your project to get (imagine it’s by someone who Gets It) once it’s launched, and you’ll quickly tease out what the themes are, what’s important to you, and what isn’t.
What's your number one personal game design principle? And even better - does it have a cool name?
October 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Something I learned from a playwriting class: write the review before you start working on it.
Create the great review you want your project to get (imagine it’s by someone who Gets It) once it’s launched, and you’ll quickly tease out what the themes are, what’s important to you, and what isn’t.
Create the great review you want your project to get (imagine it’s by someone who Gets It) once it’s launched, and you’ll quickly tease out what the themes are, what’s important to you, and what isn’t.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
There are many ways to structure a TTRPG book with pros and cons.
Put character creation first: engaging for players but lacks context.
Setting first: immersive but delays the "how do you play" bit.
Rules first: dry but helps you understand the rest.
TIME FOR A VOTE! Like the reply you prefer.
⤵️
Put character creation first: engaging for players but lacks context.
Setting first: immersive but delays the "how do you play" bit.
Rules first: dry but helps you understand the rest.
TIME FOR A VOTE! Like the reply you prefer.
⤵️
October 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
There are many ways to structure a TTRPG book with pros and cons.
Put character creation first: engaging for players but lacks context.
Setting first: immersive but delays the "how do you play" bit.
Rules first: dry but helps you understand the rest.
TIME FOR A VOTE! Like the reply you prefer.
⤵️
Put character creation first: engaging for players but lacks context.
Setting first: immersive but delays the "how do you play" bit.
Rules first: dry but helps you understand the rest.
TIME FOR A VOTE! Like the reply you prefer.
⤵️
Reposted by Jesse Ross
Okay I'm just gonna start posting wild shit I'm seeing in #OVER/UNDER (public facing stuff only).
First: they set up a fucking casino??
First: they set up a fucking casino??
October 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Okay I'm just gonna start posting wild shit I'm seeing in #OVER/UNDER (public facing stuff only).
First: they set up a fucking casino??
First: they set up a fucking casino??
A friend-of-a-friend who is furloughed because of the US government shutdown is doing some professional GMing. If you’re looking for someone to run Cairn, Shadowdark, Mothership, or other OSR-adjacent games for you and your friends, give his profile a look!
startplaying.games/gm/cmgfmd6kn...
startplaying.games/gm/cmgfmd6kn...
October 14, 2025 at 11:42 PM
A friend-of-a-friend who is furloughed because of the US government shutdown is doing some professional GMing. If you’re looking for someone to run Cairn, Shadowdark, Mothership, or other OSR-adjacent games for you and your friends, give his profile a look!
startplaying.games/gm/cmgfmd6kn...
startplaying.games/gm/cmgfmd6kn...
Murderous Ghosts is such a fun party game. It's perfect for folks to observe and just jump in as they want. Highly recommended 👻
Tis the season! The spooky season. Murderous Ghosts is a great one-shot for 2 to 20 players. You're a resourceful urban explorer, lost in a haunted building. Can you find your way out before the ghosts find you? Outlook uncertain!
lumpley.itch.io/murderous-gh...
lumpley.itch.io/murderous-gh...
Murderous Ghosts by Meguey & Vincent Baker, et al
A roleplaying party game for Hallowe'en or horror fans.
lumpley.itch.io
October 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Murderous Ghosts is such a fun party game. It's perfect for folks to observe and just jump in as they want. Highly recommended 👻