Marc Hobbs
@thehintguy.bsky.social
Designer of GMless tabletop RPGs: Eden, No Boundaries, Epitaph, One Missed Call. Leave a message after the tone. He/him
Pinned
Marc Hobbs
@thehintguy.bsky.social
· Nov 18
<3 Blog
Less Than Three Games
lessthanthreegames.com
Hi, I’m Marc 👋
I’m a game designer based in the Pacific Northwest. I make GMless games with my wife under the banner of Less Than Three Games!
🔗 Website
lessthanthreegames.com
✏️ Blog
lessthanthreegames.com/blog/
🎲 Itch
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/
I’m a game designer based in the Pacific Northwest. I make GMless games with my wife under the banner of Less Than Three Games!
🔗 Website
lessthanthreegames.com
✏️ Blog
lessthanthreegames.com/blog/
🎲 Itch
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
Thanks @al-lukehart.bsky.social, @lamemage.com and @thehintguy.bsky.social for such quotes as: “Boats should be seen and not heard”, “I saw a community who didn’t respect the arts once. The next year we went back? Ruins”, and "Get in loser, we’re going raiding!" ❤️
January 7, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Thanks @al-lukehart.bsky.social, @lamemage.com and @thehintguy.bsky.social for such quotes as: “Boats should be seen and not heard”, “I saw a community who didn’t respect the arts once. The next year we went back? Ruins”, and "Get in loser, we’re going raiding!" ❤️
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
Anyway, if you want to actually have a holly-jolly Christmas game, may I recommend @thehintguy.bsky.social's Save Christmas quest!
the Save Christmas, a quest for Follow by lessthanthreegames
Ho, ho, help!
lessthanthreegames.itch.io
December 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Anyway, if you want to actually have a holly-jolly Christmas game, may I recommend @thehintguy.bsky.social's Save Christmas quest!
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
You know what tells you a lot about a society? Our LAWS.
What do we punish? Do we enforce them fairly? Do we think our laws are just?
So of course I made world-building game about that…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
What do we punish? Do we enforce them fairly? Do we think our laws are just?
So of course I made world-building game about that…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
Rules of Law Is Ready to Play
Our justice says who we are as a people. What do we punish? Do we enforce our laws fairly for everyone? Do we think our system is just?
These are big questions about the foundations of society, so of...
arsludi.lamemage.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
You know what tells you a lot about a society? Our LAWS.
What do we punish? Do we enforce them fairly? Do we think our laws are just?
So of course I made world-building game about that…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
What do we punish? Do we enforce them fairly? Do we think our laws are just?
So of course I made world-building game about that…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/48...
Bleh I’m so bad at social media.
Listen to me talk on this wonderful podcast! Oh and listen to the first few episodes with the gameplay too—the hosts are charming and played a great game! #ttrpg #gmless
Listen to me talk on this wonderful podcast! Oh and listen to the first few episodes with the gameplay too—the hosts are charming and played a great game! #ttrpg #gmless
My partner Marc (@thehintguy.bsky.social) had a really lovely conversation with the charming folks on @readplaygame.bsky.social about their play through of Epitaph a few weeks ago. It's a great listen if you are curious about iterative design or gmless gaming!
Epitaph - Interview (feat. Marc Hobbs) | Read, Play, Game
shows.acast.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Work continues on my current project, a versatile archaeology world-building game currently titled “More to Explore”. Got an awesome session in at Go Play NW and now it’s back to the workbench for tinkering! 🔧 ⚙️ #trrpg #gamedesign
July 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Work continues on my current project, a versatile archaeology world-building game currently titled “More to Explore”. Got an awesome session in at Go Play NW and now it’s back to the workbench for tinkering! 🔧 ⚙️ #trrpg #gamedesign
Really excellent time at @goplaynw.bsky.social last weekend (July 19-20)! Every game I played was great and the event organization was so smooth and streamlined. Shoutout to excellent donut host @seannittner.bsky.social (and others!) I look forward to Go Play every year and can’t wait to go again! 💚
July 28, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Really excellent time at @goplaynw.bsky.social last weekend (July 19-20)! Every game I played was great and the event organization was so smooth and streamlined. Shoutout to excellent donut host @seannittner.bsky.social (and others!) I look forward to Go Play every year and can’t wait to go again! 💚
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
I had such a lovely @goplaynw.bsky.social this weekend! Huge thanks to the organizers for cultivating a welcoming space and for all the behind-the-scenes work that lets us enjoy the magic of playing games with friends, old and new ❤️
July 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I had such a lovely @goplaynw.bsky.social this weekend! Huge thanks to the organizers for cultivating a welcoming space and for all the behind-the-scenes work that lets us enjoy the magic of playing games with friends, old and new ❤️
I represented Groundtable (GMless) all the way: Follow, The Final Girl, In This World, Kingdom, and my newest project More To Explore.
If you went to Go Play NW, I want to hear what you played!
July 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I represented Groundtable (GMless) all the way: Follow, The Final Girl, In This World, Kingdom, and my newest project More To Explore.
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
#IGM25 sponsor Less Than Three Games is @chobbs.bsky.social and @thehintguy.bsky.social who design creative and collaborative story-driven games. Physical copies their games Downfall, Epitaph, and Fedora Noir can be won by registering for IGM at the link in our bio.
Thanks lessthanthreegames.com !
Thanks lessthanthreegames.com !
Less Than Three Games – Less Than Three Games Store
lessthanthreegames.com
June 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
#IGM25 sponsor Less Than Three Games is @chobbs.bsky.social and @thehintguy.bsky.social who design creative and collaborative story-driven games. Physical copies their games Downfall, Epitaph, and Fedora Noir can be won by registering for IGM at the link in our bio.
Thanks lessthanthreegames.com !
Thanks lessthanthreegames.com !
Someone asked me if D&D is a good game, but it wasn’t my turn so I had to wait. Then I failed my roll so I couldn’t answer.
Someone asked me if An Altogether Different River is a good game. I told them it used to be.
Someone asked me if Fiasco was a good game. I said if you put your cards on the table it goes horribly.
June 16, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Someone asked me if D&D is a good game, but it wasn’t my turn so I had to wait. Then I failed my roll so I couldn’t answer.
Someone asked me if Polaris is a good game. I said they were asking far too much.
Someone asked me if Epitaph is a good game. I said sure, if that's how you want to live your life.
Someone asked me if An Altogether Different River is a good game. I told them it used to be.
June 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Someone asked me if Polaris is a good game. I said they were asking far too much.
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
Someone asked me if Epitaph is a good game. I said sure, if that's how you want to live your life.
Someone asked me if An Altogether Different River is a good game. I told them it used to be.
Someone asked me if Fiasco was a good game. I said if you put your cards on the table it goes horribly.
June 16, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Someone asked me if Epitaph is a good game. I said sure, if that's how you want to live your life.
All aboard motherf***ers 🚂
Had a rockin' game of In This World last night where we finally chose "trains" for our topic! (@thehintguy.bsky.social made his train dreams come true)
May 26, 2025 at 3:04 AM
All aboard motherf***ers 🚂
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
Had a rockin' game of In This World last night where we finally chose "trains" for our topic! (@thehintguy.bsky.social made his train dreams come true)
May 26, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Had a rockin' game of In This World last night where we finally chose "trains" for our topic! (@thehintguy.bsky.social made his train dreams come true)
An 80s Night today is the equivalent of a Sock Hop in the 90s
This has been my quarterly post, see you in August
This has been my quarterly post, see you in August
May 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
An 80s Night today is the equivalent of a Sock Hop in the 90s
This has been my quarterly post, see you in August
This has been my quarterly post, see you in August
Have fun! Share your map after the game if you can! ✨
The Iqaluit Centennial Library's Storytelling Game Club will be playing Eden, designed by @thehintguy.bsky.social tonight.
I can't wait to see what sort of menagerie we come up with.
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/eden
I can't wait to see what sort of menagerie we come up with.
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/eden
April 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Have fun! Share your map after the game if you can! ✨
My son learned how to ride a bike about a week ago and has wanted to ride every day since. Even in the pouring rain. It’s really uplifting to see how much joy it brings him 🚲 💕
March 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
My son learned how to ride a bike about a week ago and has wanted to ride every day since. Even in the pouring rain. It’s really uplifting to see how much joy it brings him 🚲 💕
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? - D&D 3.5 (GMless: Inspectres)
2. First you ever ran? - Fiasco
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below
6. Most recently played? my current game project
7. Most recently run? my current project
2. First you ever ran? - Fiasco
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below
6. Most recently played? my current game project
7. Most recently run? my current project
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? - D&D 3.5
2. First you ever ran? - Don't Rest Your Head (omg)
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below lol
6. Most recently played? untitled Marc game
7. Most recently run? Downfall 2e playtest
2. First you ever ran? - Don't Rest Your Head (omg)
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below lol
6. Most recently played? untitled Marc game
7. Most recently run? Downfall 2e playtest
1. D&D red box
2. Either the same, or Rifts, not sure which
3. Monsterhearts or Apocalypse World probably?
4. Dark Heresy (6 year campaign!)
5. I'm not really a favourites kind of person. But I do love a lot of PBTA games.
6. Wizard World (Ars Magica PBTA)
7. Ex Tenebris
2. Either the same, or Rifts, not sure which
3. Monsterhearts or Apocalypse World probably?
4. Dark Heresy (6 year campaign!)
5. I'm not really a favourites kind of person. But I do love a lot of PBTA games.
6. Wizard World (Ars Magica PBTA)
7. Ex Tenebris
March 15, 2025 at 2:49 PM
1. First #ttrpg you ever played? - D&D 3.5 (GMless: Inspectres)
2. First you ever ran? - Fiasco
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below
6. Most recently played? my current game project
7. Most recently run? my current project
2. First you ever ran? - Fiasco
3. Played the most? - Kingdom
4. Run the most? - not counting my games, Follow & Fiasco
5. Favorite? - List below
6. Most recently played? my current game project
7. Most recently run? my current project
Working on game design today. My latest project is about archaeology, and after several successful playtests l’ve… started a fresh draft. All part of the iterative process! ✍️😮💨
March 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Working on game design today. My latest project is about archaeology, and after several successful playtests l’ve… started a fresh draft. All part of the iterative process! ✍️😮💨
I think it’s very telling that bald eagles actually make squeaky, chirpy little noises, but Americans feel compelled to substitute in another bird’s cry in all our media.
March 1, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I think it’s very telling that bald eagles actually make squeaky, chirpy little noises, but Americans feel compelled to substitute in another bird’s cry in all our media.
Ground Table 🥳
"These are the kind of games we make (or want), what we think they should do, and what we value."
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Principles of Ground Table, A First Draft
"Our ground is level and our table is round"
What do we want out of role-playing games? What do we think they should do? What do we value?
Our crew has been talking about this stuff for ages, in per...
arsludi.lamemage.com
February 25, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Ground Table 🥳
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
"These are the kind of games we make (or want), what we think they should do, and what we value."
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Principles of Ground Table, A First Draft
"Our ground is level and our table is round"
What do we want out of role-playing games? What do we think they should do? What do we value?
Our crew has been talking about this stuff for ages, in per...
arsludi.lamemage.com
February 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
"These are the kind of games we make (or want), what we think they should do, and what we value."
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
Stating our ideals, loud and clear, and putting them all together in one place. GMless, Story Games Seattle-style
Some are obvious. Some might make you go hmmmm…
arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/45...
This is what I was talking about—GMless isn’t quite sufficient as a descriptor, and until we get these principles out there, we’ll continue to struggle to explain what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s looking real good!
Just had a fantastic manifesto talk with @chobbs.bsky.social and @thehintguy.bsky.social. Really interesting holding up existing games and seeing how the ground table principles applied.
The manifesto marches on…
The manifesto marches on…
February 17, 2025 at 6:40 AM
This is what I was talking about—GMless isn’t quite sufficient as a descriptor, and until we get these principles out there, we’ll continue to struggle to explain what we’re trying to accomplish. It’s looking real good!
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day by playing a short 2-player game about making phone calls in a long-distance relationship: 1. That's very specific, and 2. You should check out One Missed Call by me and @thehintguy.bsky.social 💕
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/one-missed-c...
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/one-missed-c...
One Missed Call by lessthanthreegames
a story game for 2 about loved ones separated by space
lessthanthreegames.itch.io
February 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day by playing a short 2-player game about making phone calls in a long-distance relationship: 1. That's very specific, and 2. You should check out One Missed Call by me and @thehintguy.bsky.social 💕
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/one-missed-c...
lessthanthreegames.itch.io/one-missed-c...
Reposted by Marc Hobbs
I've had a ton of fun playing this with my 6yo board-gamey kid. It's a really great length and good level of complexity for both of us to genuinely have fun
Bad Baby Lich Lords is here and she's perfect.
It costs $30 which is only .18 for every version of the game we playtested over 3 years.
heartofthedeernicorn.com/product/bad-...
It costs $30 which is only .18 for every version of the game we playtested over 3 years.
heartofthedeernicorn.com/product/bad-...
February 4, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I've had a ton of fun playing this with my 6yo board-gamey kid. It's a really great length and good level of complexity for both of us to genuinely have fun