Rob Donoghue
@rdonoghue.bsky.social
Not writing nearly as much about RPGs or Agile as I would like to be.
Pinned
Rob Donoghue
@rdonoghue.bsky.social
· May 31
I have a fondness for game boxes, if only out of nostalgia for utility. My old Basic & Expert D&D boxes got hauled around with all the AD&D stuff because they held all the character sheets and dice. So, I was definitely intrigued with what the intent was for this box.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Okay, 2026, let's do this.
January 5, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Okay, 2026, let's do this.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
If you're interested there's a new alternate version of Microscope in the works that's more focused and character-centered. It's a free download for anyone to try.
A lot of the improvements in scenes etc can be used to upgrade original Microscope too.
www.lamemage.com/microscope-c...
A lot of the improvements in scenes etc can be used to upgrade original Microscope too.
www.lamemage.com/microscope-c...
Microscope Chronicle
A new version of Microscope, the fractal role-playing game of epic histories
www.lamemage.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
If you're interested there's a new alternate version of Microscope in the works that's more focused and character-centered. It's a free download for anyone to try.
A lot of the improvements in scenes etc can be used to upgrade original Microscope too.
www.lamemage.com/microscope-c...
A lot of the improvements in scenes etc can be used to upgrade original Microscope too.
www.lamemage.com/microscope-c...
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Happy to see the @bundleofholding.com just launched two bundles for Champions 6E stuff. As you might guess, I love superheroes games. Also, the first big RPG book I wrote on my own was Western Hero, for use with Champions, back in 1992.
bundleofholding.com/presents/202...
bundleofholding.com/presents/202...
January 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Happy to see the @bundleofholding.com just launched two bundles for Champions 6E stuff. As you might guess, I love superheroes games. Also, the first big RPG book I wrote on my own was Western Hero, for use with Champions, back in 1992.
bundleofholding.com/presents/202...
bundleofholding.com/presents/202...
“An industry that used to pride itself on publicly reporting security issues and openly disclosing vulnerabilities now circles its wagons to gang up on people who suggest that an AI tool shouldn’t tell children to harm themselves”
Good read for an array of reasons.
Good read for an array of reasons.
How the hell are you supposed to have a career in tech in 2026? - Anil Dash
A blog about making culture. Since 1999.
anildash.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:48 PM
“An industry that used to pride itself on publicly reporting security issues and openly disclosing vulnerabilities now circles its wagons to gang up on people who suggest that an AI tool shouldn’t tell children to harm themselves”
Good read for an array of reasons.
Good read for an array of reasons.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has been dissolved, ending its 58 years as the primary funder for PBS, NPR and local TV and radio stations
Corporation For Public Broadcasting Is Dissolved After 58 Years Of Service
www.huffpost.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The destruction doesn't make for a photo-op like tearing down the East Wing of the White House or bulldozing the Rose Garden, but it's every bit as bad. Generations of American children learned to spell and count, learned the Preamble to the Constitution, from watching shows produced by the CPB.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
For those of us who love playing in this genre, and for those who still mourn the cancellation of MHR 😢 #CortexForever
cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2025/04/10/r...
cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2025/04/10/r...
Rules, retcons, and rightsholders: The tough road for superhero RPGs
Back in November of last year while talking about network effects and how they make you play D&D, I dropped a little bomb. I stated that there has never been a good mass market RPG in the super…
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
For those of us who love playing in this genre, and for those who still mourn the cancellation of MHR 😢 #CortexForever
cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2025/04/10/r...
cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2025/04/10/r...
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
This is a long thread full of really important info for all indie ttrpg folk who want to tell the wider world about our games. Many thanks to @wyrdscience.bsky.social for laying it all out so clearly!
Anyway as a corollary to this, I've done variations of this in the past but here are my top tips for contacting and perhaps getting press attention around your game, podcast, novel, comic, toy, album fantasy themed coffee or tea etc etc etc. Following all of these won't guarantee you coverage but...
anyway it's a new year, a year in which we plan* to release 4 (+ actually) issues, and so for the fifth year running I am on my hands & knees begging people to try sending us info about what they're working on, ideally 2-3 months before release
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
our inbox for all press releases is press@wyrd.science
January 5, 2026 at 7:23 PM
This is a long thread full of really important info for all indie ttrpg folk who want to tell the wider world about our games. Many thanks to @wyrdscience.bsky.social for laying it all out so clearly!
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
This is a long video but it's actually the best I've found for doing the backwards math necessary for successful seed starting. At the 29:25 point they get into seasonal and geographic ranges, and how to maximize which plants will thrive across the growing season.
January 5, 2026 at 3:24 PM
This is a long video but it's actually the best I've found for doing the backwards math necessary for successful seed starting. At the 29:25 point they get into seasonal and geographic ranges, and how to maximize which plants will thrive across the growing season.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
If a person or business is still on Twitter in the era of "Look, it's a kiddie porn generator!", they deserve my, and your, full contempt.
And no, I don't give a single fuck about their reasons, and arguing that there are good ones at this point is grounds for disgust at the arguer.
And no, I don't give a single fuck about their reasons, and arguing that there are good ones at this point is grounds for disgust at the arguer.
January 5, 2026 at 3:12 PM
If a person or business is still on Twitter in the era of "Look, it's a kiddie porn generator!", they deserve my, and your, full contempt.
And no, I don't give a single fuck about their reasons, and arguing that there are good ones at this point is grounds for disgust at the arguer.
And no, I don't give a single fuck about their reasons, and arguing that there are good ones at this point is grounds for disgust at the arguer.
I can’t hep but feel there’s a word for people who won’t do a necessary thing unless they are guaranteed to succeed without consequences.
I suspect most of us know this word. The ones who don’t are the ones who think “that just sounds smart”.
I suspect most of us know this word. The ones who don’t are the ones who think “that just sounds smart”.
January 5, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I can’t hep but feel there’s a word for people who won’t do a necessary thing unless they are guaranteed to succeed without consequences.
I suspect most of us know this word. The ones who don’t are the ones who think “that just sounds smart”.
I suspect most of us know this word. The ones who don’t are the ones who think “that just sounds smart”.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
My #WeeklyTShirt resolution begins with reviving a vintage design that hasn't been officially available as a t-shirt for 10+ years.
My favorite game console is a table and chairs.
danielsolis.threadless.com/designs/my-f...
#BoardGame #Shirt
My favorite game console is a table and chairs.
danielsolis.threadless.com/designs/my-f...
#BoardGame #Shirt
My favorite game console is a table and chairs Men's T-Shirt | Daniel Solis' T-Shirt Shop
My favorite game console is a table and chairs on Men's T-Shirt – My old 2011 design for fans of board games.
danielsolis.threadless.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:52 PM
My #WeeklyTShirt resolution begins with reviving a vintage design that hasn't been officially available as a t-shirt for 10+ years.
My favorite game console is a table and chairs.
danielsolis.threadless.com/designs/my-f...
#BoardGame #Shirt
My favorite game console is a table and chairs.
danielsolis.threadless.com/designs/my-f...
#BoardGame #Shirt
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
It would really help TTRPGkids if you filled out the survey here!
Only takes a few minutes, and it helps me get some great community feedback!!
Only takes a few minutes, and it helps me get some great community feedback!!
Happy New Year!
Check out TTRPGkids today for a short "year in review" AND a quick feedback survey that will help shape TTRPGkids in 2026!
Please consider filling out the form, and thank you all for helping create some bright moments amidst chaos in 2025.
Find it here: https://loom.ly/570aw1E
Check out TTRPGkids today for a short "year in review" AND a quick feedback survey that will help shape TTRPGkids in 2026!
Please consider filling out the form, and thank you all for helping create some bright moments amidst chaos in 2025.
Find it here: https://loom.ly/570aw1E
January 5, 2026 at 2:36 PM
It would really help TTRPGkids if you filled out the survey here!
Only takes a few minutes, and it helps me get some great community feedback!!
Only takes a few minutes, and it helps me get some great community feedback!!
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
A love letter to the game design of really good charts, plus (minor) news updates and a bit of babble about Demonschool! It's the latest issue of my newsletter! buttondown.com/pugsteady/ar...
The Elegance of One Big Chart
A love letter to the game design of really good charts, plus (minor) news updates and a bit of babble about Demonschool!
buttondown.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:38 PM
A love letter to the game design of really good charts, plus (minor) news updates and a bit of babble about Demonschool! It's the latest issue of my newsletter! buttondown.com/pugsteady/ar...
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
For those wanting to play with ghost self hosting i strongly recommend their very thorough how-to on setting it up via docker:
docs.ghost.org/install/docker
docs.ghost.org/install/docker
January 5, 2026 at 1:49 PM
For those wanting to play with ghost self hosting i strongly recommend their very thorough how-to on setting it up via docker:
docs.ghost.org/install/docker
docs.ghost.org/install/docker
“Viceroy Miller” sounds about right.
Per WASH POST, Stephen Miller will play an “elevated role” in Venezuela (what could go wrong!) and Machado won’t be president because she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize Trump wants (yes, seriously)
Couldn’t make it up if we tried
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Couldn’t make it up if we tried
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
January 5, 2026 at 1:44 PM
“Viceroy Miller” sounds about right.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
hey!
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
January 5, 2026 at 1:30 PM
hey!
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
hey!!!
if you are an academic of any rank in the critical tech studies space who cares about how money, finance, and business structures work in science and technology, i want to see your abstracts for a collected volume! they're due tomorrow!!!
https//oddletters.com/tech-money/
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
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 Rob Donoghue
ICYMI, I whipped up some ideas of custom Fear moves to use in the Witherwild campaign frame for Daggerheart. This is just one piece of the growing collection of Witherwild material I've been developing, which rn you can only find on Patreon (I will try to publish this more broadly at some point).
Inspired by the cool one-page prompts that bsky.app/profile/dngn... made this week ( dngnclub.itch.io/heartbreakers), I decided to make some Improvised Fear Moves for the Witherwild Campaign Frame. Members get the whole thing now ( www.patreon.com/posts/142030... ), but here's a preview:
January 5, 2026 at 1:42 PM
ICYMI, I whipped up some ideas of custom Fear moves to use in the Witherwild campaign frame for Daggerheart. This is just one piece of the growing collection of Witherwild material I've been developing, which rn you can only find on Patreon (I will try to publish this more broadly at some point).
Even if “AI” in a virtual pet was a good idea, I don’t see how the Tamagotchi interface would benefit from it. Good excuse for a large markup, though.
I expect these things are going to sell in huge numbers because of the idea that AI is kind of alive, and that makes it worse, somehow.
I expect these things are going to sell in huge numbers because of the idea that AI is kind of alive, and that makes it worse, somehow.
Sorry Tamagotchi Fans, It's AI Time
It was only a matter of time before someone took a Tamagotchi-like toy and crammed AI into it.
gizmodo.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Even if “AI” in a virtual pet was a good idea, I don’t see how the Tamagotchi interface would benefit from it. Good excuse for a large markup, though.
I expect these things are going to sell in huge numbers because of the idea that AI is kind of alive, and that makes it worse, somehow.
I expect these things are going to sell in huge numbers because of the idea that AI is kind of alive, and that makes it worse, somehow.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Success/failure and life/death are often *not* the most interesting stakes in a given TTRPG session or campaign. How something is done and its consequences can be more interesting!
Session Zeroes can help establish the "themes" of the game, which any player can double down upon in juicy ways.
Session Zeroes can help establish the "themes" of the game, which any player can double down upon in juicy ways.
Reframing my GM mindset from “challenge comes from threatening the PCs’ lives” to “challenge comes from threatening their goals” has made my experience at the table more fun.
The tension can come from the chance of them completing their goals rather than the possibility of death.
#ttrpg
The tension can come from the chance of them completing their goals rather than the possibility of death.
#ttrpg
January 5, 2026 at 2:02 AM
Success/failure and life/death are often *not* the most interesting stakes in a given TTRPG session or campaign. How something is done and its consequences can be more interesting!
Session Zeroes can help establish the "themes" of the game, which any player can double down upon in juicy ways.
Session Zeroes can help establish the "themes" of the game, which any player can double down upon in juicy ways.
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Given everything happening right now, I updated this article with options for weather apps, web forms, and translation services — along with some tweaks to existing categories.
I hope it helps your transition off US tech!
I hope it helps your transition off US tech!
Silicon Valley’s alliance with Donald Trump was a mask off moment and showed the world we can’t depend on US tech companies.
For the past few months, I’ve been trying to get off US tech and I put together a guide so you find alternatives too. I hope you find it helpful!
For the past few months, I’ve been trying to get off US tech and I put together a guide so you find alternatives too. I hope you find it helpful!
Getting off US tech: a guide
I’m in the process of dropping US tech services. Here’s how I did it, and options you should consider.
www.disconnect.blog
January 4, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Given everything happening right now, I updated this article with options for weather apps, web forms, and translation services — along with some tweaks to existing categories.
I hope it helps your transition off US tech!
I hope it helps your transition off US tech!
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
I'm sad reading that Steve Dee passed.
Please check everyone's posts about his cool games.
Steve was a fellow fan of Nephilim, which was one of the inspirations for his Relics.
I recommend checking it for its triggered memory-based system.
www.tinstargames.com/relics/
Please check everyone's posts about his cool games.
Steve was a fellow fan of Nephilim, which was one of the inspirations for his Relics.
I recommend checking it for its triggered memory-based system.
www.tinstargames.com/relics/
Relics — Tin Star Games
Abandoned by God. Surrounded by Enemies. Desperate for Answers. RELICS: A GAME OF ANGELS is a unique storytelling experience in a world inspired by The Prophecy, Dogma, and Wings of Desire. It comes i...
www.tinstargames.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:54 AM
I'm sad reading that Steve Dee passed.
Please check everyone's posts about his cool games.
Steve was a fellow fan of Nephilim, which was one of the inspirations for his Relics.
I recommend checking it for its triggered memory-based system.
www.tinstargames.com/relics/
Please check everyone's posts about his cool games.
Steve was a fellow fan of Nephilim, which was one of the inspirations for his Relics.
I recommend checking it for its triggered memory-based system.
www.tinstargames.com/relics/
Reposted by Rob Donoghue
Ah, Steve Dee, RIP. Steve of @tinstargames.bsky.social contributed tirelessly to the @igdn-official.bsky.social blog where I act as an editor, so I got to really dig in to a lot of juicy #ttrpg articles with him. In memoriam, here's one of my favourites. www.igdnonline.com/blog/2023/1/...
World Building For Game Designers — Indie Game Developer Network
World Building For Game Designers Lesson Twelve: The Richard Scarry Principle Steve Dee
www.igdnonline.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:52 AM
Ah, Steve Dee, RIP. Steve of @tinstargames.bsky.social contributed tirelessly to the @igdn-official.bsky.social blog where I act as an editor, so I got to really dig in to a lot of juicy #ttrpg articles with him. In memoriam, here's one of my favourites. www.igdnonline.com/blog/2023/1/...
I just discovered they’re doing Yakuza Kawami 3, and I am clinging desperately to this bit of wonderful news.
January 5, 2026 at 1:14 AM
I just discovered they’re doing Yakuza Kawami 3, and I am clinging desperately to this bit of wonderful news.