Steven Garstone
@stevengarstone.bsky.social
Love me some Super Heroes, Movies and anything pop-culture. Somehow stumbled into being a professional Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons.
Pinned
I think, just to get my Blue Sky account really started I'm going to give myself a month long challenge. Every day of December I'm going to give an example of a #TTRPG game mechanic that I really love. Only from games I've played & experienced myself.
Reposted by Steven Garstone
February 9, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Steven Garstone
Hey! Draw Steel won an Editor's Choice award from @gamingtrend.com! gamingtrend.com/reviews/draw...
Draw Steel: Heroes review
Plunge into a new era of cinematic action with this Editor's Choice Award winner!
gamingtrend.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Hey! Draw Steel won an Editor's Choice award from @gamingtrend.com! gamingtrend.com/reviews/draw...
Reposted by Steven Garstone
finally ran draw steel (first session of the delian tomb) and dare I say that this game Has the Juice.
had a mix of veterans and people new to TTRPGs and everyone had a blast, combat feels super collaborative and fluid
had a mix of veterans and people new to TTRPGs and everyone had a blast, combat feels super collaborative and fluid
February 8, 2026 at 11:57 PM
finally ran draw steel (first session of the delian tomb) and dare I say that this game Has the Juice.
had a mix of veterans and people new to TTRPGs and everyone had a blast, combat feels super collaborative and fluid
had a mix of veterans and people new to TTRPGs and everyone had a blast, combat feels super collaborative and fluid
Reposted by Steven Garstone
Ran my third session in the #deliantomb of @hellomcdm.bsky.social's #drawsteel today. The party finished the first level of the dungeon, returned to town, and had their first negotiation!
Draw Steel systems seem like "a lot" at first, but once you start playing it calms down quickly.
Draw Steel systems seem like "a lot" at first, but once you start playing it calms down quickly.
a group of people are sitting in front of a castle and one of them is saying i got a good feeling about this
Alt: a group of people are sitting in front of a castle and one of them is saying i got a good feeling about this
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Ran my third session in the #deliantomb of @hellomcdm.bsky.social's #drawsteel today. The party finished the first level of the dungeon, returned to town, and had their first negotiation!
Draw Steel systems seem like "a lot" at first, but once you start playing it calms down quickly.
Draw Steel systems seem like "a lot" at first, but once you start playing it calms down quickly.
Reposted by Steven Garstone
The utility of the negotiation system is immediately apparent. I can see the levers to finesse a negotiation into a very compelling bit of drama in game. I love that the dice, roleplay, AND character's arguments all have mechanical weight. MECHANICAL WIEGHT! Imagine that.
a man in a suit and tie says it 's pretty good while sitting at a table
Alt: a man in a suit and tie says it 's pretty good while sitting at a table
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2026 at 10:54 PM
The utility of the negotiation system is immediately apparent. I can see the levers to finesse a negotiation into a very compelling bit of drama in game. I love that the dice, roleplay, AND character's arguments all have mechanical weight. MECHANICAL WIEGHT! Imagine that.
The game is suuuuuper chill. When I'm sick and getting bed rest it'll be one of the games I load up to help me relax. Sleep Is You.
February 9, 2026 at 12:15 AM
The game is suuuuuper chill. When I'm sick and getting bed rest it'll be one of the games I load up to help me relax. Sleep Is You.
Reposted by Steven Garstone
Draw Steel is certainly gunning for the title of “best crunchy grid-based” combat. I started it last week and what it lacked in complexity it made up for in being dynamic. Bonuses are easy to track and add. The situation changes every turn as player. and enemies use their powers. Worth a look
February 7, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Draw Steel is certainly gunning for the title of “best crunchy grid-based” combat. I started it last week and what it lacked in complexity it made up for in being dynamic. Bonuses are easy to track and add. The situation changes every turn as player. and enemies use their powers. Worth a look
Woah! This is the first I've heard you're dabbling with Baba is You! This is one of my favourite games!
February 8, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Woah! This is the first I've heard you're dabbling with Baba is You! This is one of my favourite games!
This clip lives rent free in my head in moments like these.
February 4, 2026 at 2:38 AM
This clip lives rent free in my head in moments like these.
Big one for me is players talking over the top of each other. At the table that can happen and you can tune out the voices to hear what you need to hear, but when they come through the same audio channel you can't.
February 3, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Big one for me is players talking over the top of each other. At the table that can happen and you can tune out the voices to hear what you need to hear, but when they come through the same audio channel you can't.
You know what this means? He can now have the rockets blow themselves up with only a single text prompt!
February 3, 2026 at 6:10 AM
You know what this means? He can now have the rockets blow themselves up with only a single text prompt!
Nice stone wall you've got there. Would be a real shame if a Fury smashed a goblin through it! Haha.
February 1, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Nice stone wall you've got there. Would be a real shame if a Fury smashed a goblin through it! Haha.
Not usually, but I do when I run Star Wars. John Williams score serves on two levels. It has a unmistakable mood that it strikes with pace & stakes. In addition to that it really makes players feel like they're even more immersed in the Star Wars universe!
Session recaps scroll up through the stars
Session recaps scroll up through the stars
January 25, 2026 at 12:56 AM
Not usually, but I do when I run Star Wars. John Williams score serves on two levels. It has a unmistakable mood that it strikes with pace & stakes. In addition to that it really makes players feel like they're even more immersed in the Star Wars universe!
Session recaps scroll up through the stars
Session recaps scroll up through the stars
I used to this! Back before my knees went bad. Thank you for sharing.
January 18, 2026 at 5:39 AM
I used to this! Back before my knees went bad. Thank you for sharing.
Reposted by Steven Garstone
I ran my first session of Draw Steel today and I absolutely adore it. This game was made for me. It takes everything I love about D&D 4th edition and completely jettisons the stuff I don’t like. Fun as hell. Highly recommend it.
January 17, 2026 at 11:22 PM
I ran my first session of Draw Steel today and I absolutely adore it. This game was made for me. It takes everything I love about D&D 4th edition and completely jettisons the stuff I don’t like. Fun as hell. Highly recommend it.
Have you ever played The Hero System/Champions? It allows you to have skills so high that they function like a Superpower. In that system to pass a skill roll you need to roll under your skill (+ or - difficulty modifiers). The worst/highest you can roll is obviously 18, but your skill might be 25!
January 17, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Have you ever played The Hero System/Champions? It allows you to have skills so high that they function like a Superpower. In that system to pass a skill roll you need to roll under your skill (+ or - difficulty modifiers). The worst/highest you can roll is obviously 18, but your skill might be 25!
It doesn't need to be anything as rigid as specific phases, but the dynamic nature definitely keeps players engaged. I remember the first time Strahd used their ability to move through the walls of Castle Ravenloft to separate a PC from the rest of the group definitely raised the stakes!
a man in a suit stands in front of a dark castle
ALT: a man in a suit stands in front of a dark castle
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2026 at 2:04 AM
It doesn't need to be anything as rigid as specific phases, but the dynamic nature definitely keeps players engaged. I remember the first time Strahd used their ability to move through the walls of Castle Ravenloft to separate a PC from the rest of the group definitely raised the stakes!
Reposted by Steven Garstone
I heard it was #DragonAppreciationDay ?
How about a Dragon Knight? 🐲💚✨
|| #art #digitalart #illustration #dragon #dragonknight #drawsteel #ttrpg #ocsky #originalcharacter ||
How about a Dragon Knight? 🐲💚✨
|| #art #digitalart #illustration #dragon #dragonknight #drawsteel #ttrpg #ocsky #originalcharacter ||
January 17, 2026 at 1:44 AM
I heard it was #DragonAppreciationDay ?
How about a Dragon Knight? 🐲💚✨
|| #art #digitalart #illustration #dragon #dragonknight #drawsteel #ttrpg #ocsky #originalcharacter ||
How about a Dragon Knight? 🐲💚✨
|| #art #digitalart #illustration #dragon #dragonknight #drawsteel #ttrpg #ocsky #originalcharacter ||
I like to imagine that the Owl has SOME say in it.
January 14, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I like to imagine that the Owl has SOME say in it.
I take the complete opposite approach. Especially with D&D. I definitely feel that the fastest way to learn how to play is create a character. It provides the context of player options & gives them a far greater understanding of the proficiency system. The experience person can help answer questions
January 13, 2026 at 9:12 PM
I take the complete opposite approach. Especially with D&D. I definitely feel that the fastest way to learn how to play is create a character. It provides the context of player options & gives them a far greater understanding of the proficiency system. The experience person can help answer questions
Reposted by Steven Garstone
Lounging in the dying world. 🖤✨
Finished piece of Prosperity wearing Denizen's armor, and looking fine as hell while doing it!!~
|| #art #illustration #ocsky #elf #digitalart #elfenjoyers #drawsteel #blackgold ||
Finished piece of Prosperity wearing Denizen's armor, and looking fine as hell while doing it!!~
|| #art #illustration #ocsky #elf #digitalart #elfenjoyers #drawsteel #blackgold ||
January 12, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Lounging in the dying world. 🖤✨
Finished piece of Prosperity wearing Denizen's armor, and looking fine as hell while doing it!!~
|| #art #illustration #ocsky #elf #digitalart #elfenjoyers #drawsteel #blackgold ||
Finished piece of Prosperity wearing Denizen's armor, and looking fine as hell while doing it!!~
|| #art #illustration #ocsky #elf #digitalart #elfenjoyers #drawsteel #blackgold ||
People looking at their #DrawSteel characters moments after choosing their class abilities:
January 13, 2026 at 1:21 AM
People looking at their #DrawSteel characters moments after choosing their class abilities:
My favourite thing to do is to engineer a situation where the moral dilemma is one that the least rounded out character in the group needs to make. Its just them, alone & they need to make the decision now. Indecision isn't an option. Inaction is a choice. Show us who you really are.
January 12, 2026 at 2:04 AM
My favourite thing to do is to engineer a situation where the moral dilemma is one that the least rounded out character in the group needs to make. Its just them, alone & they need to make the decision now. Indecision isn't an option. Inaction is a choice. Show us who you really are.
OMG. This is amazing <3 I love this so much.
January 11, 2026 at 12:20 AM
OMG. This is amazing <3 I love this so much.