Tea Vampire
@stras.bsky.social
Game designer | RPG nerd | Scum and Villainy | Band of Blades | Spell and Blade | Illuminated Worlds | he/him
Pinned
Tea Vampire
@stras.bsky.social
· Aug 3
Hey, I made it to the skies! I make RPGs (mostly indie, you may have heard of a few) and talk about nerdy media. I like dice, probability, and drinking tea!
But ask your heart how many such people you need. Pick an actual number. Is one too few? How about 10? I think you'll find it's far fewer than the fear whispering in your ear. Then look at the folks that supported you, and are in your comments here. It's probably more likely than you think. ^_~
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
But ask your heart how many such people you need. Pick an actual number. Is one too few? How about 10? I think you'll find it's far fewer than the fear whispering in your ear. Then look at the folks that supported you, and are in your comments here. It's probably more likely than you think. ^_~
So keep doing what you love. And keep putting those rad colors in. And find joy in spaceships and robots. And if that joy comes through (and I'm here to tell you peeking over your shoulder it does) trust that one person will smile and have as much fun as you. If there's more? Amazing! ^_^
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
So keep doing what you love. And keep putting those rad colors in. And find joy in spaceships and robots. And if that joy comes through (and I'm here to tell you peeking over your shoulder it does) trust that one person will smile and have as much fun as you. If there's more? Amazing! ^_^
But if your game truly affects someone deeply, that's an accomplishment few manage in their lives. And all we can do as designers is realize how powerful that is and make things we love, and show them to people, and hope that in turn they love them too. That's art.
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
But if your game truly affects someone deeply, that's an accomplishment few manage in their lives. And all we can do as designers is realize how powerful that is and make things we love, and show them to people, and hope that in turn they love them too. That's art.
Some people will simply put it on a shelf. Some will trash it to make themselves seem smart. But some will truly love it: and while you may never meet most of those people ... it matters. For some it will be their first game. For others, their last. You never know who will end up playing it or when.
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Some people will simply put it on a shelf. Some will trash it to make themselves seem smart. But some will truly love it: and while you may never meet most of those people ... it matters. For some it will be their first game. For others, their last. You never know who will end up playing it or when.
Those of us that write these don't need the books. Our groups have been playing with us without it. Making a book is for all the others. The book is an immense amount of labor you're doing for literally everyone else.
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Those of us that write these don't need the books. Our groups have been playing with us without it. Making a book is for all the others. The book is an immense amount of labor you're doing for literally everyone else.
Hey, here's the thing. I can't define success for you. Only you can. But I can tell you that when I've had to think about this I realized that I didn't care if if twas 10k, or 1k, 10, or (and this is serious) 1. If someone truly gets it, and truly loves it: one is enough for me.
February 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Hey, here's the thing. I can't define success for you. Only you can. But I can tell you that when I've had to think about this I realized that I didn't care if if twas 10k, or 1k, 10, or (and this is serious) 1. If someone truly gets it, and truly loves it: one is enough for me.
You're doing fine fren. No apologies necessary.
There are a shockingly few that actually go through the marathon that is putting out a full book. To quote Dogma — finishing a book "... is like an endurance trial". Last 20% and all that. ^_~
I love seeing these pretty updates though!
There are a shockingly few that actually go through the marathon that is putting out a full book. To quote Dogma — finishing a book "... is like an endurance trial". Last 20% and all that. ^_~
I love seeing these pretty updates though!
February 13, 2026 at 12:27 AM
You're doing fine fren. No apologies necessary.
There are a shockingly few that actually go through the marathon that is putting out a full book. To quote Dogma — finishing a book "... is like an endurance trial". Last 20% and all that. ^_~
I love seeing these pretty updates though!
There are a shockingly few that actually go through the marathon that is putting out a full book. To quote Dogma — finishing a book "... is like an endurance trial". Last 20% and all that. ^_~
I love seeing these pretty updates though!
Suddenly this seems a lot more relevant <_<
Did you happen to need another tester to kick the tires?
Did you happen to need another tester to kick the tires?
February 10, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Suddenly this seems a lot more relevant <_<
Did you happen to need another tester to kick the tires?
Did you happen to need another tester to kick the tires?
You know... while Blood Bowl is not the kind of football I saw (BB is not the kind you play with your feet), I think you're onto something.
Gaming and wargaming (like 40k type things) are not far apart. And 40k is huge in england which makes the next step pretty reasonable.
Gaming and wargaming (like 40k type things) are not far apart. And 40k is huge in england which makes the next step pretty reasonable.
February 10, 2026 at 12:57 AM
You know... while Blood Bowl is not the kind of football I saw (BB is not the kind you play with your feet), I think you're onto something.
Gaming and wargaming (like 40k type things) are not far apart. And 40k is huge in england which makes the next step pretty reasonable.
Gaming and wargaming (like 40k type things) are not far apart. And 40k is huge in england which makes the next step pretty reasonable.
Somehow I'm not super shocked where I fall!
This is a cool site (bluesky-map.theo.io) as much for seeing where you fall in clusters of interest, as to see which groups are close/related.
Color me surprised that football (aka soccer) is so close to the TTRPG space — I wonder where the overlap is?
This is a cool site (bluesky-map.theo.io) as much for seeing where you fall in clusters of interest, as to see which groups are close/related.
Color me surprised that football (aka soccer) is so close to the TTRPG space — I wonder where the overlap is?
February 9, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Somehow I'm not super shocked where I fall!
This is a cool site (bluesky-map.theo.io) as much for seeing where you fall in clusters of interest, as to see which groups are close/related.
Color me surprised that football (aka soccer) is so close to the TTRPG space — I wonder where the overlap is?
This is a cool site (bluesky-map.theo.io) as much for seeing where you fall in clusters of interest, as to see which groups are close/related.
Color me surprised that football (aka soccer) is so close to the TTRPG space — I wonder where the overlap is?
I love this piece.
I know it's such a minor thing, but I really enjoy how you use the same but more dense lines on the right of the shield to give it depth/shadow.
What brush did you use for the background?
I know it's such a minor thing, but I really enjoy how you use the same but more dense lines on the right of the shield to give it depth/shadow.
What brush did you use for the background?
January 29, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I love this piece.
I know it's such a minor thing, but I really enjoy how you use the same but more dense lines on the right of the shield to give it depth/shadow.
What brush did you use for the background?
I know it's such a minor thing, but I really enjoy how you use the same but more dense lines on the right of the shield to give it depth/shadow.
What brush did you use for the background?
Reposted by Tea Vampire
Thanks so much for the kind words! They really mean a lot!
Sharing games is both my favorite thing, and how I ended up being a game designer. So hearing you get a chance to do the same thanks to something I wrote is amazing! ^_^
Sharing games is both my favorite thing, and how I ended up being a game designer. So hearing you get a chance to do the same thanks to something I wrote is amazing! ^_^
January 21, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Thanks so much for the kind words! They really mean a lot!
Sharing games is both my favorite thing, and how I ended up being a game designer. So hearing you get a chance to do the same thanks to something I wrote is amazing! ^_^
Sharing games is both my favorite thing, and how I ended up being a game designer. So hearing you get a chance to do the same thanks to something I wrote is amazing! ^_^
Well good luck ^_^ I'm curious to see what you make! LMK if you post it anywhere.
January 21, 2026 at 10:14 PM
Well good luck ^_^ I'm curious to see what you make! LMK if you post it anywhere.
I just got linked this today. ^_^ It's amazing!
January 21, 2026 at 9:51 PM
I just got linked this today. ^_^ It's amazing!
Seeing something you made inspire and and bring joy to others is what reminds me that there are very good reasons to make games (aka art) even in the apocalypse.
I guess I remain surprised to hear folks are still playing my games, and how much they mean to them.
I guess I remain surprised to hear folks are still playing my games, and how much they mean to them.
January 21, 2026 at 9:48 PM
Seeing something you made inspire and and bring joy to others is what reminds me that there are very good reasons to make games (aka art) even in the apocalypse.
I guess I remain surprised to hear folks are still playing my games, and how much they mean to them.
I guess I remain surprised to hear folks are still playing my games, and how much they mean to them.
As a game designer most of the time the folks playing your game have no idea who you are, and vice versa.
But sometimes, if you're very lucky — you can stumble across some strangers joy and creativity tied directly to your game.
Someone made Scum & Villainy music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIg8...
But sometimes, if you're very lucky — you can stumble across some strangers joy and creativity tied directly to your game.
Someone made Scum & Villainy music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIg8...
Dizzy The Bard - The Black Frontier | Spaceship Engine Thrust Visualizer
YouTube video by Dizzy The Bard
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:48 PM
As a game designer most of the time the folks playing your game have no idea who you are, and vice versa.
But sometimes, if you're very lucky — you can stumble across some strangers joy and creativity tied directly to your game.
Someone made Scum & Villainy music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIg8...
But sometimes, if you're very lucky — you can stumble across some strangers joy and creativity tied directly to your game.
Someone made Scum & Villainy music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIg8...
Steven. STEVEN. Whyfore are we not playing Steven.
January 21, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Steven. STEVEN. Whyfore are we not playing Steven.
Not sure if it's possible once you're done (usually you do it with a Give Up or a save which is reset once you're back home). But something to keep in mind for the future! ^_^
January 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Not sure if it's possible once you're done (usually you do it with a Give Up or a save which is reset once you're back home). But something to keep in mind for the future! ^_^
Hopefully, this standalone version and KS will help make it better known. I certainly think more folks should give it a try. ^_^
January 13, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Hopefully, this standalone version and KS will help make it better known. I certainly think more folks should give it a try. ^_^
You can save the seed for another run at lower fear?
January 13, 2026 at 8:07 PM
You can save the seed for another run at lower fear?
Let me know if you want or need a whistling aficionado for a collab ^_~ (also I'd love to hear this cover)
January 13, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Let me know if you want or need a whistling aficionado for a collab ^_~ (also I'd love to hear this cover)
I have discord/zoom and we don't have to plan lengthy trips to make this happen ^_^ Just let me know what times work for you!
January 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I have discord/zoom and we don't have to plan lengthy trips to make this happen ^_^ Just let me know what times work for you!
If you're curious go check out some actual plays (I did some Sunday Mornings using old sword and sorcery cartoons for our eidolons).
And if you're convinced go back it by Crom! ^_^
And if you're convinced go back it by Crom! ^_^
January 13, 2026 at 6:11 PM
If you're curious go check out some actual plays (I did some Sunday Mornings using old sword and sorcery cartoons for our eidolons).
And if you're convinced go back it by Crom! ^_^
And if you're convinced go back it by Crom! ^_^
It's also got a flexible form factor. You can tell a four hour epic, or shrink it down. I've played it with a dice ring (below) in a long supermarket line.
January 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
It's also got a flexible form factor. You can tell a four hour epic, or shrink it down. I've played it with a dice ring (below) in a long supermarket line.