Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
@romanpenna.bsky.social
Contractor playtester for Wildmage Press, Playtest coordinator for MCDM. TTRPG designer, writer and tester. Musician, poet. Christian. He/Him.
business: romanpenna.com
business: romanpenna.com
Pinned
Only one week to go! I'll be running @hellomcdm.bsky.social's Draw Steel at @paxaus.bsky.social. Come see me run through @barilleon.com's Fall of Blackbottom alongside some amazing creator's including @dailydael.bsky.social and @pattybvids.bsky.social
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
An offering to the lorecast - Sir Frodrick the Knight and his loyal bard John Frogerty
@thebenbyrne.bsky.social @dailydael.bsky.social @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social @shawnmerwin.bsky.social
@thebenbyrne.bsky.social @dailydael.bsky.social @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social @shawnmerwin.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
An offering to the lorecast - Sir Frodrick the Knight and his loyal bard John Frogerty
@thebenbyrne.bsky.social @dailydael.bsky.social @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social @shawnmerwin.bsky.social
@thebenbyrne.bsky.social @dailydael.bsky.social @jamesjhaeck.bsky.social @shawnmerwin.bsky.social
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
It's a Draw Steel prozine!
Hey folks the first 3 issues of the Blacksmith's Guild are now available as a bundle with a 20% discount.
tabletopnonsenseverse.myshopify.com/products/the...
#draw-steel #the-blacksmith's-guild
tabletopnonsenseverse.myshopify.com/products/the...
#draw-steel #the-blacksmith's-guild
[BUNDLE] The Blacksmith's Guild Issues #1, #2, & #3
Get the first three issues of The Blacksmith's Guild as a bundle at a 20% discount. In issue 1: 9 Sidekick Retainers - "They can do everything that you can do, only slower." - The Lieutenant (the Ambu...
tabletopnonsenseverse.myshopify.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
It's a Draw Steel prozine!
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
This meeting could've been a Draw Steel montage.
October 23, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This meeting could've been a Draw Steel montage.
No one even tried, I was disappointed.
October 29, 2025 at 8:51 AM
No one even tried, I was disappointed.
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
You can't logic your way out of being burnt out. Unless you're me. Who should be able to do it and it's a personal failing that I can't
October 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
You can't logic your way out of being burnt out. Unless you're me. Who should be able to do it and it's a personal failing that I can't
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Hello hello, it's my birthday today~🎉
I'd love to ask others to share my art around today!
I'd love to ask others to share my art around today!
October 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Hello hello, it's my birthday today~🎉
I'd love to ask others to share my art around today!
I'd love to ask others to share my art around today!
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
MCDM just released the symbols they use in stat blocks under a free license.
mcdm.gg/DrawSteel/Dr...
If you've never worked with a CC-BY-SA license, check out the thread for some guidance.
mcdm.gg/DrawSteel/Dr...
If you've never worked with a CC-BY-SA license, check out the thread for some guidance.
mcdm.gg
October 10, 2025 at 2:38 AM
MCDM just released the symbols they use in stat blocks under a free license.
mcdm.gg/DrawSteel/Dr...
If you've never worked with a CC-BY-SA license, check out the thread for some guidance.
mcdm.gg/DrawSteel/Dr...
If you've never worked with a CC-BY-SA license, check out the thread for some guidance.
Draw Steel Panel went great!!! Was a lot of fun with @dailydael.bsky.social @pattybvids.bsky.social @dreadedgm.bsky.social @ellybeandicequeen.bsky.social @retroarchetype.bsky.social and Aussiesupergirl.
Thanks to @incandescaent.bsky.social and @barilleon.com for Fall of Blackbottom.
Thanks to @incandescaent.bsky.social and @barilleon.com for Fall of Blackbottom.
October 11, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Draw Steel Panel went great!!! Was a lot of fun with @dailydael.bsky.social @pattybvids.bsky.social @dreadedgm.bsky.social @ellybeandicequeen.bsky.social @retroarchetype.bsky.social and Aussiesupergirl.
Thanks to @incandescaent.bsky.social and @barilleon.com for Fall of Blackbottom.
Thanks to @incandescaent.bsky.social and @barilleon.com for Fall of Blackbottom.
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
OMG PAX Aus is THIS WEEK!!! Australia's BIGGEST Gaming Festival! Game all weekend long with family and friends! Very limited Friday and Sunday Badges left! Book now: events.ticketbooth.com.au/tickets/pax-...
October 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
OMG PAX Aus is THIS WEEK!!! Australia's BIGGEST Gaming Festival! Game all weekend long with family and friends! Very limited Friday and Sunday Badges left! Book now: events.ticketbooth.com.au/tickets/pax-...
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
@hellomcdm.bsky.social's Draw Steel has finally arrived at my doorstep!
Orden is such an exciting, dynamic chunk of the Timescape and it's been incredible to be part of it.
I'm proud to be credited with the layout of these ambitious books, and excited to hold the completion of so much hard work.
Orden is such an exciting, dynamic chunk of the Timescape and it's been incredible to be part of it.
I'm proud to be credited with the layout of these ambitious books, and excited to hold the completion of so much hard work.
October 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
@hellomcdm.bsky.social's Draw Steel has finally arrived at my doorstep!
Orden is such an exciting, dynamic chunk of the Timescape and it's been incredible to be part of it.
I'm proud to be credited with the layout of these ambitious books, and excited to hold the completion of so much hard work.
Orden is such an exciting, dynamic chunk of the Timescape and it's been incredible to be part of it.
I'm proud to be credited with the layout of these ambitious books, and excited to hold the completion of so much hard work.
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Meet Moriel Gray, played by @dreadedgm.bsky.social and Pathos played by me! This is some early sketches from Joywire .ink over on IG!
October 4, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Meet Moriel Gray, played by @dreadedgm.bsky.social and Pathos played by me! This is some early sketches from Joywire .ink over on IG!
Only one week to go! I'll be running @hellomcdm.bsky.social's Draw Steel at @paxaus.bsky.social. Come see me run through @barilleon.com's Fall of Blackbottom alongside some amazing creator's including @dailydael.bsky.social and @pattybvids.bsky.social
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
October 4, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Only one week to go! I'll be running @hellomcdm.bsky.social's Draw Steel at @paxaus.bsky.social. Come see me run through @barilleon.com's Fall of Blackbottom alongside some amazing creator's including @dailydael.bsky.social and @pattybvids.bsky.social
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
Come see who survives! 1.00pm Saturday
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Red - (My fave illustration from this year)
September 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Red - (My fave illustration from this year)
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
As a writer also in a field with a very high exec/top brass presence in the creative process, I can guarantee you that in 99% of cases, if the writing feels like you're repetitively being spoon fed plot and exposition, it's a directive from on high and not what the writer would do if left alone.
Before I made any assumptions, I went and read the Pc Gamer piece that is "ragging" on Veilguard.
Summary: It's not. It speaks of a phenomenon in some games of chewing out information, which Veilguard DOES do, and correctly assigns the responsibility of it to the top brass.
Summary: It's not. It speaks of a phenomenon in some games of chewing out information, which Veilguard DOES do, and correctly assigns the responsibility of it to the top brass.
We can't keep making videogame stories for players who aren't paying attention to them
Let me get lost, I promise it's okay.
www.pcgamer.com
August 19, 2025 at 10:28 PM
As a writer also in a field with a very high exec/top brass presence in the creative process, I can guarantee you that in 99% of cases, if the writing feels like you're repetitively being spoon fed plot and exposition, it's a directive from on high and not what the writer would do if left alone.
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
I’m thrilled to finally share the first piece from a series of stained glass works I created for MCDM Draw Steel! ✨
This has been one of my absolute favorite projects this year and one I’m deeply proud of. I hope you love it as much as I do!
This has been one of my absolute favorite projects this year and one I’m deeply proud of. I hope you love it as much as I do!
August 19, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I’m thrilled to finally share the first piece from a series of stained glass works I created for MCDM Draw Steel! ✨
This has been one of my absolute favorite projects this year and one I’m deeply proud of. I hope you love it as much as I do!
This has been one of my absolute favorite projects this year and one I’m deeply proud of. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Real Talk: I’ve been playing some form of D&D/ttrpg for a little over 20 years, and combat was NEVER my favorite part. I’m often a little checked out when waiting for it to be my turn. Doodling, checking sms, etc.
Even in BG3 — which I LOVE — it feels real bad to miss when you use a level 6 spell.
Even in BG3 — which I LOVE — it feels real bad to miss when you use a level 6 spell.
August 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Real Talk: I’ve been playing some form of D&D/ttrpg for a little over 20 years, and combat was NEVER my favorite part. I’m often a little checked out when waiting for it to be my turn. Doodling, checking sms, etc.
Even in BG3 — which I LOVE — it feels real bad to miss when you use a level 6 spell.
Even in BG3 — which I LOVE — it feels real bad to miss when you use a level 6 spell.
I am so excited for this!
I've been testing Draw Steel for 2 and a half years now and being able to run it live for everyone at @paxaus.bsky.social is pretty special.
(Ignore the panic in my eyes, that's just years of tester experience talking - hopefully my players don't see it and exploit me!)
I've been testing Draw Steel for 2 and a half years now and being able to run it live for everyone at @paxaus.bsky.social is pretty special.
(Ignore the panic in my eyes, that's just years of tester experience talking - hopefully my players don't see it and exploit me!)
@hellomcdm.bsky.social 's new TTRPG Draw Steel will be live on stage @paxaus.bsky.social in Naarm/Melbourne! Join us as @romanpenna.bsky.social Directs our Heroes through a (Panel length) adventure of the Fall of Black Bottom, live on stage for the first time this October in the Owlbear theatre!
August 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I am so excited for this!
I've been testing Draw Steel for 2 and a half years now and being able to run it live for everyone at @paxaus.bsky.social is pretty special.
(Ignore the panic in my eyes, that's just years of tester experience talking - hopefully my players don't see it and exploit me!)
I've been testing Draw Steel for 2 and a half years now and being able to run it live for everyone at @paxaus.bsky.social is pretty special.
(Ignore the panic in my eyes, that's just years of tester experience talking - hopefully my players don't see it and exploit me!)
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
I will never pass up a chance to re-share this piece. Best way I ever found to talk about AI to anyone: softwarecrisis.dev/letters/llme...
The LLMentalist Effect: how chat-based Large Language Models rep…
The new era of tech seems to be built on superstitious behaviour
softwarecrisis.dev
August 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I will never pass up a chance to re-share this piece. Best way I ever found to talk about AI to anyone: softwarecrisis.dev/letters/llme...
Hey that's me!
And yes I'll be running Draw Steel at #PAXAUS - I am very ready and slightly terrified.
More details incoming :)
And yes I'll be running Draw Steel at #PAXAUS - I am very ready and slightly terrified.
More details incoming :)
Just got confirmation for my panel at #PAXAUS with @romanpenna.bsky.social running Draw Steel! Stay tuned to hear who else was feeling Heroic!
August 13, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Hey that's me!
And yes I'll be running Draw Steel at #PAXAUS - I am very ready and slightly terrified.
More details incoming :)
And yes I'll be running Draw Steel at #PAXAUS - I am very ready and slightly terrified.
More details incoming :)
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Hey, wait a minute!
August 9, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Hey, wait a minute!
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
Spoilers for new ancestries!
Radenwight illustration done for Draw Steel. Cheeky little rats 🐀
August 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Spoilers for new ancestries!
August 13, 2025 at 5:53 AM
When you start wondering if you're having too much caffeine, maybe it's time to check whether you're overworked.
And by "you" I mean "me"
And by "you" I mean "me"
August 7, 2025 at 2:49 AM
When you start wondering if you're having too much caffeine, maybe it's time to check whether you're overworked.
And by "you" I mean "me"
And by "you" I mean "me"
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
I’m truly so proud of this and the work the entire Draw Steel team did. It’s rare to be given both the opportunity and the freedom to take big swings like this, and @jamesintrocaso.bsky.social, @hellomcdm.bsky.social, and @mattcolville.bsky.social made it possible.
So, so proud of what we made.
So, so proud of what we made.
Draw Steel's art description guide isn't just a new approach to alt-text. It synthesizes museum-tested accessibility with an eye towards poetry and metaphor.
Lin spoke with @dreamwisp.bsky.social about MCDM's mission-in-progress and creating "more visceral and tactile" descriptions.
Lin spoke with @dreamwisp.bsky.social about MCDM's mission-in-progress and creating "more visceral and tactile" descriptions.
Draw Steel sets new standards for alt text in their books
A deep dive into what an Art Description is, how it works, and who it’s for, including an interview with alt text writer, Jen Kretchmer.
www.rascal.news
August 6, 2025 at 12:56 AM
I’m truly so proud of this and the work the entire Draw Steel team did. It’s rare to be given both the opportunity and the freedom to take big swings like this, and @jamesintrocaso.bsky.social, @hellomcdm.bsky.social, and @mattcolville.bsky.social made it possible.
So, so proud of what we made.
So, so proud of what we made.
Reposted by Roman Penna (Fae'ael)
So, yeah, longer thread coming tomorrow after I have slept, because this whole team has been working SO hard to get this out, but Draw Steel introduces Art Description, a new form of image description combining alt text and new standards based on art museum best practices for image description.
1/
1/
[Today 3:19PM] You can share this link as long as you remind them not to click it until 12:01am PDT: mcdm.gg/rpg
July 31, 2025 at 8:06 AM
So, yeah, longer thread coming tomorrow after I have slept, because this whole team has been working SO hard to get this out, but Draw Steel introduces Art Description, a new form of image description combining alt text and new standards based on art museum best practices for image description.
1/
1/