The Dolent City
@thedolentcity.bsky.social
Reposted by The Dolent City
My second interview in the SPINE design series is about book design with @explorersdesign.bsky.social. He discusses how designs can ground play, how book formats engineer expectations and use, and how books emulate other genres and objects. We also open the floodgates on the book design for D&D 3E.
Clayton Notestine on Book Design
An interview with Clayton Notestine about book design and how it can invite play
www.backwardstabletop.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:31 AM
My second interview in the SPINE design series is about book design with @explorersdesign.bsky.social. He discusses how designs can ground play, how book formats engineer expectations and use, and how books emulate other genres and objects. We also open the floodgates on the book design for D&D 3E.
Reposted by The Dolent City
Part 3 is here. The deep dive into the Ennies. If you're someone who doesn't know much about the Ennie Awards, you should read parts 1 and 2. But if you like a bit of inside baseball and are interested in award shows in general—this is the article for you.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-3/
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-3/
How are the Ennies designed?
An insider's look into the 2025 Ennie Awards. Part three. How does the structure of the Ennies determine its outcomes? And what does it mean for others?
www.explorersdesign.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Part 3 is here. The deep dive into the Ennies. If you're someone who doesn't know much about the Ennie Awards, you should read parts 1 and 2. But if you like a bit of inside baseball and are interested in award shows in general—this is the article for you.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-3/
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-3/
Reposted by The Dolent City
Alright, the first in-depth article of my awards debrief is live. "How do the Ennies work?" A top-down look at my judging experience from A to Z.
Please share, leave comments, and ask questions. And don't forget to read part 1 if you haven't already.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-2/
Please share, leave comments, and ask questions. And don't forget to read part 1 if you haven't already.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-2/
How do the Ennies work?
An insider's look into the 2025 Ennie Awards. Part two. What is the award process like behind closed doors, and how do the judges select nominees?
www.explorersdesign.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Alright, the first in-depth article of my awards debrief is live. "How do the Ennies work?" A top-down look at my judging experience from A to Z.
Please share, leave comments, and ask questions. And don't forget to read part 1 if you haven't already.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-2/
Please share, leave comments, and ask questions. And don't forget to read part 1 if you haven't already.
www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-2/
Reposted by The Dolent City
WHAT THE HELL
September 16, 2025 at 1:49 AM
WHAT THE HELL
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? D&D 4e
2. First you ever ran? FFG Genesys
3. Played the most? 4e (unfortunately)
4. Run the most? A series of rules-lite systems called “Protean”
5. Favorite? Mothership
6. Most recently played? D&D 5e
7. Most recently run? Jotun (mech game I’m developing)
2. First you ever ran? FFG Genesys
3. Played the most? 4e (unfortunately)
4. Run the most? A series of rules-lite systems called “Protean”
5. Favorite? Mothership
6. Most recently played? D&D 5e
7. Most recently run? Jotun (mech game I’m developing)
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? D&D Basic (Menzer Red Box or Black Box, not sure)
2. First you ever ran? D&D Basic
3. Played the most? A friend's freeform fantasy game
4. Run the most? WhiteHack
5. Favorite? Tribe 8
6. Most recently played? Witchburner
7. Most recently run? WhiteHack/Roach God
2. First you ever ran? D&D Basic
3. Played the most? A friend's freeform fantasy game
4. Run the most? WhiteHack
5. Favorite? Tribe 8
6. Most recently played? Witchburner
7. Most recently run? WhiteHack/Roach God
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? Technically D&D Basic (Blue Box) but I still stand by Return to Brookmere
2. First you ever ran? Elfquest (Tried)
3. Played the most? Hyperborea
4. Run the most? Call of Cthulhu
5. Favorite? DCC
6. Most recently played? Traveller
7. Most recently run? Pendragon 6E
2. First you ever ran? Elfquest (Tried)
3. Played the most? Hyperborea
4. Run the most? Call of Cthulhu
5. Favorite? DCC
6. Most recently played? Traveller
7. Most recently run? Pendragon 6E
July 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? D&D 4e
2. First you ever ran? FFG Genesys
3. Played the most? 4e (unfortunately)
4. Run the most? A series of rules-lite systems called “Protean”
5. Favorite? Mothership
6. Most recently played? D&D 5e
7. Most recently run? Jotun (mech game I’m developing)
2. First you ever ran? FFG Genesys
3. Played the most? 4e (unfortunately)
4. Run the most? A series of rules-lite systems called “Protean”
5. Favorite? Mothership
6. Most recently played? D&D 5e
7. Most recently run? Jotun (mech game I’m developing)
Reposted by The Dolent City
Presenting the BRAND-NEW season - @dimension20.bsky.social On a Bus! 🚌
DM'd by Katie Marovitch, and as players: Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jasmine Bhullar, and Mark Mercer!
DM'd by Katie Marovitch, and as players: Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jasmine Bhullar, and Mark Mercer!
July 14, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Presenting the BRAND-NEW season - @dimension20.bsky.social On a Bus! 🚌
DM'd by Katie Marovitch, and as players: Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jasmine Bhullar, and Mark Mercer!
DM'd by Katie Marovitch, and as players: Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Jasmine Bhullar, and Mark Mercer!
Reposted by The Dolent City
word of mouth is huge for artists like me so I appreciate each and every one of you (NOT YOU, PETE! GO AWAY.) who re-tweet n share and say nice things (AGAIN, FUCK YOU, PETE. YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!). :)
WE CONTINUE!!
GO BUY SONGBIRDS!!
GO BUY SONGBIRDS!!
July 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM
word of mouth is huge for artists like me so I appreciate each and every one of you (NOT YOU, PETE! GO AWAY.) who re-tweet n share and say nice things (AGAIN, FUCK YOU, PETE. YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!). :)
Reposted by The Dolent City
finally published #CINCO, my homebrew heartbreaker!
my goal was to isolate the character-driven subculture of 5E from the mechanical cruft of that game's rules, making smth more streamlined and dare i say fun 🙂↕️💖
featuring gorgeous art by @nornnoszka.bsky.social!!
traversefantasy.itch.io/cinco
my goal was to isolate the character-driven subculture of 5E from the mechanical cruft of that game's rules, making smth more streamlined and dare i say fun 🙂↕️💖
featuring gorgeous art by @nornnoszka.bsky.social!!
traversefantasy.itch.io/cinco
June 28, 2025 at 1:24 PM
finally published #CINCO, my homebrew heartbreaker!
my goal was to isolate the character-driven subculture of 5E from the mechanical cruft of that game's rules, making smth more streamlined and dare i say fun 🙂↕️💖
featuring gorgeous art by @nornnoszka.bsky.social!!
traversefantasy.itch.io/cinco
my goal was to isolate the character-driven subculture of 5E from the mechanical cruft of that game's rules, making smth more streamlined and dare i say fun 🙂↕️💖
featuring gorgeous art by @nornnoszka.bsky.social!!
traversefantasy.itch.io/cinco
Reposted by The Dolent City
Roll20, which owns DriveThruRPG, told Rebel Scum's designer (@9thlevelgames.bsky.social) that allowing their "hateful content" and political speech on its platform constituted a "slippery slope."
DriveThruRPG delisted a tabletop game about revolutions over “hateful” politics
Rebel Scum's censorship reveals the limits of Roll20's apolitical guidelines.
www.rascal.news
June 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Roll20, which owns DriveThruRPG, told Rebel Scum's designer (@9thlevelgames.bsky.social) that allowing their "hateful content" and political speech on its platform constituted a "slippery slope."
Reposted by The Dolent City
Some real(?) talk about providing VTT support as a publisher. (Real talk... virtual tabletop... there's a joke in there somewhere. I'm not finding it. Onward.)
I'm the guy who makes the Roll20 character sheets at Evil Hat. Because I'm a company founder, I don't need to charge the company for it.
I'm the guy who makes the Roll20 character sheets at Evil Hat. Because I'm a company founder, I don't need to charge the company for it.
June 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Some real(?) talk about providing VTT support as a publisher. (Real talk... virtual tabletop... there's a joke in there somewhere. I'm not finding it. Onward.)
I'm the guy who makes the Roll20 character sheets at Evil Hat. Because I'm a company founder, I don't need to charge the company for it.
I'm the guy who makes the Roll20 character sheets at Evil Hat. Because I'm a company founder, I don't need to charge the company for it.
Lore Check — Lancer
A deep dive into the Lancer RPG setting. Some criticisms, some feedback, and an alternative premise for those who don't want to do the work of creating their own setting for Lancer games.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/lore-c...
A deep dive into the Lancer RPG setting. Some criticisms, some feedback, and an alternative premise for those who don't want to do the work of creating their own setting for Lancer games.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/lore-c...
Lore Check — Lancer
A deep dive into an RPG's setting and how it can be improved.
www.thedolentchronicle.com
June 6, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Lore Check — Lancer
A deep dive into the Lancer RPG setting. Some criticisms, some feedback, and an alternative premise for those who don't want to do the work of creating their own setting for Lancer games.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/lore-c...
A deep dive into the Lancer RPG setting. Some criticisms, some feedback, and an alternative premise for those who don't want to do the work of creating their own setting for Lancer games.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/lore-c...
Reposted by The Dolent City
A new design delve this week. This time I'm studying (and casing) a highly polished one-shot called The Royal Art Gallery Heist by @deptofunusual.bsky.social!
Does its design have any loot for us to smash and grab? The answer is always yes.
www.explorersdesign.com/exploring-ro...
Does its design have any loot for us to smash and grab? The answer is always yes.
www.explorersdesign.com/exploring-ro...
Exploring The Royal Art Gallery Heist
A design delve into the adventure, The Royal Art Gallery Heist, and how its brevity gives it certain advantages.
www.explorersdesign.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM
A new design delve this week. This time I'm studying (and casing) a highly polished one-shot called The Royal Art Gallery Heist by @deptofunusual.bsky.social!
Does its design have any loot for us to smash and grab? The answer is always yes.
www.explorersdesign.com/exploring-ro...
Does its design have any loot for us to smash and grab? The answer is always yes.
www.explorersdesign.com/exploring-ro...
Reposted by The Dolent City
Here's something not design-related from Explorers Design. A confession: I can't do accents. Not even coherent bad ones. So, when I prep for my sessions, I deliberately redesign NPCs without them.
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-rolep...
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-rolep...
How to Roleplay Without Accents
Can't do an accent? Join the club. Here's how I roleplay without them.
www.explorersdesign.com
May 13, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Here's something not design-related from Explorers Design. A confession: I can't do accents. Not even coherent bad ones. So, when I prep for my sessions, I deliberately redesign NPCs without them.
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-rolep...
www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-rolep...
Reposted by The Dolent City
if your game has RANDOM TABLES, its osr
if your game has PICKLISTS its a storygame
if your game has 300 PAGES OF POORLY INDEXED PARAGRAPHS, its trad
if your game has PICKLISTS its a storygame
if your game has 300 PAGES OF POORLY INDEXED PARAGRAPHS, its trad
May 1, 2025 at 7:26 AM
if your game has RANDOM TABLES, its osr
if your game has PICKLISTS its a storygame
if your game has 300 PAGES OF POORLY INDEXED PARAGRAPHS, its trad
if your game has PICKLISTS its a storygame
if your game has 300 PAGES OF POORLY INDEXED PARAGRAPHS, its trad
Reposted by The Dolent City
if your combat system is ponderous and dull, your ttrpg is TRAD
if your combat system is fast-paced and dull, your ttrpg is OSR
if your combat system is fast-paced and inscrutable, your ttrpg is a STORYGAME
if your combat system is fast-paced and dull, your ttrpg is OSR
if your combat system is fast-paced and inscrutable, your ttrpg is a STORYGAME
May 1, 2025 at 6:54 AM
if your combat system is ponderous and dull, your ttrpg is TRAD
if your combat system is fast-paced and dull, your ttrpg is OSR
if your combat system is fast-paced and inscrutable, your ttrpg is a STORYGAME
if your combat system is fast-paced and dull, your ttrpg is OSR
if your combat system is fast-paced and inscrutable, your ttrpg is a STORYGAME
Reposted by The Dolent City
The Explorateur is a newsletter crammed, like Beetle from Breath of the Wild's backpack, full of links and tools for rpg designers. Reviews, mechanics, theory, and more.
I'm slowly getting over that 1000-subscriber hump without Substack, Twitter, or Facebook.
www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...
I'm slowly getting over that 1000-subscriber hump without Substack, Twitter, or Facebook.
www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...
The Explorateur: Issue #7
Monthly design discoveries for tabletop rpg designers including jams, critique, theory, and tools. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
www.explorersdesign.com
May 1, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The Explorateur is a newsletter crammed, like Beetle from Breath of the Wild's backpack, full of links and tools for rpg designers. Reviews, mechanics, theory, and more.
I'm slowly getting over that 1000-subscriber hump without Substack, Twitter, or Facebook.
www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...
I'm slowly getting over that 1000-subscriber hump without Substack, Twitter, or Facebook.
www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...
Reposted by The Dolent City
hey remember when the bourgeois and the proletariat worked together during the french revolution to overthrow the aristocracy? i'm just saying to any disaffected brokers out there who just lost millions on tariffs that i'd be willing to get the band back together
April 3, 2025 at 3:33 AM
hey remember when the bourgeois and the proletariat worked together during the french revolution to overthrow the aristocracy? i'm just saying to any disaffected brokers out there who just lost millions on tariffs that i'd be willing to get the band back together
Reposted by The Dolent City
Contemporary "cozy" fiction is missing a vital ingredient: pain.
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/02/23/l...
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/02/23/l...
Legends, Lattes, and Lament: The Necessity of Pain in "Cozy" Fiction - Typebar Magazine
Cozy fiction works best when contrasted against harsh emotional, material, or political realities.
www.typebarmagazine.com
March 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Contemporary "cozy" fiction is missing a vital ingredient: pain.
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/02/23/l...
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/02/23/l...
Reposted by The Dolent City
After receiving a TON of packages for the Ennie Awards (March 31st deadline!), I realized I have a rare perspective on what packaging actually survives.
What packaging gave your stuff the best fighting chance against a Maine winter? Let me tell ya...
www.explorersdesign.com/surviving-sh...
What packaging gave your stuff the best fighting chance against a Maine winter? Let me tell ya...
www.explorersdesign.com/surviving-sh...
An RPG's Guide to Surviving Shipping
Which rpgs survive the journey to my house? It depends on the packaging.
www.explorersdesign.com
March 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
After receiving a TON of packages for the Ennie Awards (March 31st deadline!), I realized I have a rare perspective on what packaging actually survives.
What packaging gave your stuff the best fighting chance against a Maine winter? Let me tell ya...
www.explorersdesign.com/surviving-sh...
What packaging gave your stuff the best fighting chance against a Maine winter? Let me tell ya...
www.explorersdesign.com/surviving-sh...
Reposted by The Dolent City
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow
As the administration does its best to hide public records from the public, Wired magazine is stepping up to help stem the secrecy
freedom.press
March 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
They're called public records for a reason. Starting today, WIRED will *stop paywalling* articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, becoming the first publication to partner with @freedom.press to offer this for our new coverage.
Play Critica is a new review series where I focus on practical uses of an RPG text. I would love any feedback you have on the format. In this post, I reviewed the Runecairn Bestiary, a 64-page fantasy module filled with Norse-themed monsters.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/review...
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/review...
Play Critica — Runecairn Bestiary
An RPG critique focused on inspiring, usable, and playable texts.
www.thedolentchronicle.com
March 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Play Critica is a new review series where I focus on practical uses of an RPG text. I would love any feedback you have on the format. In this post, I reviewed the Runecairn Bestiary, a 64-page fantasy module filled with Norse-themed monsters.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/review...
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/review...
Reposted by The Dolent City
Scurry is a one-shot TTRPG that demands quick thinking and quicker actions!
Go on heists as crafty beasts through Scotland's undergrowth, sharing a single set of dice with the whole crew.
This 3rd edition reprint comes with 7 heists to hurtle through.
Check it out on BackerKit this March 1st 🐀💨
Go on heists as crafty beasts through Scotland's undergrowth, sharing a single set of dice with the whole crew.
This 3rd edition reprint comes with 7 heists to hurtle through.
Check it out on BackerKit this March 1st 🐀💨
Get Ready for Scurry: Heists in the Undergrowth
From Stout Stoat Press - Get Ready for Scurry: Heists in the Undergrowth
www.backerkit.com
January 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Scurry is a one-shot TTRPG that demands quick thinking and quicker actions!
Go on heists as crafty beasts through Scotland's undergrowth, sharing a single set of dice with the whole crew.
This 3rd edition reprint comes with 7 heists to hurtle through.
Check it out on BackerKit this March 1st 🐀💨
Go on heists as crafty beasts through Scotland's undergrowth, sharing a single set of dice with the whole crew.
This 3rd edition reprint comes with 7 heists to hurtle through.
Check it out on BackerKit this March 1st 🐀💨
Reposted by The Dolent City
Scurry launches TOMORROW! I got excited and spent several days feverishly working in the AfterEffect mines to excavate this trailer in time for the backerkit campaign to go live :)
February 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Scurry launches TOMORROW! I got excited and spent several days feverishly working in the AfterEffect mines to excavate this trailer in time for the backerkit campaign to go live :)
Announcing a new tactical roleplaying game (in alpha). In 2024, almost every game I ran was done in a blackbox style, but sometimes I do love delving back into my roots of crunchy combat.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/new-ga...
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/new-ga...
New Game: Paladins of Awoudan
Announcing a new grimdark, tactical roleplaying game.
www.thedolentchronicle.com
February 28, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Announcing a new tactical roleplaying game (in alpha). In 2024, almost every game I ran was done in a blackbox style, but sometimes I do love delving back into my roots of crunchy combat.
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/new-ga...
www.thedolentchronicle.com/posts/new-ga...
Journeyman is an awesome RPG from the FKR space. You can back it today!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/zac...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/zac...
Journeyman
A rules-light, trust-heavy tabletop roleplaying game. Build (or bring) your own world.
www.kickstarter.com
February 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Journeyman is an awesome RPG from the FKR space. You can back it today!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/zac...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/zac...