Tom Dowd
@tomdowd.bsky.social
Game Writer, Designer, Storymaker, Gamer, Shadowrun guy, MechAssault, Educator, etc. Interim Director/School of Design Columbia College Chicago. Beyond that, your guess is better than mine.
(Header from a visual novel I'm working on.)
(Header from a visual novel I'm working on.)
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Come to our small town, where the Static reigns. Wavelength vanished in the early 90s, but it remains in eerie perfection. But now a signal is warping reality and rewriting people to its whims. Who will you become?
crowdfundr.com/32VFe7
#TTRPG #IndieGame #Crowdfunding
crowdfundr.com/32VFe7
#TTRPG #IndieGame #Crowdfunding
Secrets in the Static: Lynchian Horror TTRPG by Thought Punks
Secrets in the Static is a tabletop roleplaying game about surreal dread, unstable identity, and small town horror, written by Rev Casey the author of No Angels Live Here and NEVER Stop Smiling.
crowdfundr.com
March 23, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Come to our small town, where the Static reigns. Wavelength vanished in the early 90s, but it remains in eerie perfection. But now a signal is warping reality and rewriting people to its whims. Who will you become?
crowdfundr.com/32VFe7
#TTRPG #IndieGame #Crowdfunding
crowdfundr.com/32VFe7
#TTRPG #IndieGame #Crowdfunding
Reposted by Tom Dowd
One of my favorite portraits. Inspired by numerous portrait painters, notably Anthony Van Dyck & Lorenzo Lotto, I wanted her to be slightly distracted, immersed in 'waves' of paper. A big shout out to Claudia Rodriguez for modeling!
Cartographer
20" x 22" Oil on Panel 2000
private collection
Cartographer
20" x 22" Oil on Panel 2000
private collection
March 13, 2025 at 1:02 PM
One of my favorite portraits. Inspired by numerous portrait painters, notably Anthony Van Dyck & Lorenzo Lotto, I wanted her to be slightly distracted, immersed in 'waves' of paper. A big shout out to Claudia Rodriguez for modeling!
Cartographer
20" x 22" Oil on Panel 2000
private collection
Cartographer
20" x 22" Oil on Panel 2000
private collection
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Asmodee just posted a big handful of job openings at Fantasy Flight Games and Asmodee USA. If you or someone you know is looking to work in the tabletop game industry with trading card games, board games or organized play, check out these new job opportunities!
Links below 🧵
Links below 🧵
January 17, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Asmodee just posted a big handful of job openings at Fantasy Flight Games and Asmodee USA. If you or someone you know is looking to work in the tabletop game industry with trading card games, board games or organized play, check out these new job opportunities!
Links below 🧵
Links below 🧵
Reposted by Tom Dowd
I understand that. The thing is, this is an overall trend in TV. Not just 1 show taking a long time. These days 18 mo between seasons would seem fast for most shows. 2 yrs seems standard. 3 yrs not uncommon. Streamers have abdicated the idea that they have to resell the show to us, their *customers*
January 17, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I understand that. The thing is, this is an overall trend in TV. Not just 1 show taking a long time. These days 18 mo between seasons would seem fast for most shows. 2 yrs seems standard. 3 yrs not uncommon. Streamers have abdicated the idea that they have to resell the show to us, their *customers*
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Good deal. Wyrd Science is lush
For less than a pint of lager in a London pub you could download all six issues of Wyrd Science today, over 600 pages of features on tabletop games from the gothic literary roots of Ravenloft & graphic design of Mörk Borg to the politics of Root, the history of horror RPGs & the future of wargames
Wyrd Science Vol. 1 / Issues #1-6 Bundle [BUNDLE] - Wyrd Science | DriveThruRPG
This special bundle product contains the following titles.
Wyrd Science - Expert Rules (Vol.1 / Issue 2)Regular price: $3.25Bundle price: $1.14Format: PDF
Wyrd Science returns with an even bigger a...
www.drivethrurpg.com
January 18, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Good deal. Wyrd Science is lush
!?!
@deepcuts.bsky.social finds a 1911 Lord Dunsany fanfic poem written by… Aleister Crowley?!? 🤯 deepcuts.blog/2025/01/11/t...
“The Message of Thuba Mleen” (1911) by Aleister Crowley
“Was it because of the Desert’s curse?” I asked. And he said, “Partly it was the fury of the Desert and partly the advice of the Emperor Thuba Mleen, for that fearful beast …
deepcuts.blog
January 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
!?!
I think about this a lot...
One well known challenge in writing RPGs is that the rulebook needs to serve multiple purposes. It needs to convey information about the game fiction/setting, instruct the reader how to play AND serve as a reference for the rules once play begins.
That's a tall order.
That's a tall order.
December 8, 2024 at 3:45 PM
I think about this a lot...
Hah!
December 8, 2024 at 3:39 PM
Hah!
Reposted by Tom Dowd
More TTRPGs should include a "game pitch".
Not a marketing pitch to get GMs to buy the games.
A game pitch meant for the GM to use to lure potential players.
farirpgs.com/posts/more-t...
Not a marketing pitch to get GMs to buy the games.
A game pitch meant for the GM to use to lure potential players.
farirpgs.com/posts/more-t...
More TTRPGs Need to Include a “Game Pitch” - Fari RPGs
Let’s face it, we (probably) all have too many TTRPGs lying around.
Buying TTRPGs, collecting them, reading them, and playing them are for many four totally different hobbies. That means...
farirpgs.com
November 29, 2024 at 8:27 PM
More TTRPGs should include a "game pitch".
Not a marketing pitch to get GMs to buy the games.
A game pitch meant for the GM to use to lure potential players.
farirpgs.com/posts/more-t...
Not a marketing pitch to get GMs to buy the games.
A game pitch meant for the GM to use to lure potential players.
farirpgs.com/posts/more-t...
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Ladies and gentlemen... the weekend. (also: you are important and are not alone 🧡)
November 30, 2024 at 12:00 AM
Ladies and gentlemen... the weekend. (also: you are important and are not alone 🧡)
Reposted by Tom Dowd
If you’re looking for a #tabletopgame gift, check out my storytelling game, La Mancha! Use chivalry cards to build adventures - fight your friends one minute and declare love to them the next! It’s on BIG sale with FREE SHIPPING for #BlackFriday. All copies must go! www.pfbstudios.com/product/la-m..
November 29, 2024 at 3:45 PM
If you’re looking for a #tabletopgame gift, check out my storytelling game, La Mancha! Use chivalry cards to build adventures - fight your friends one minute and declare love to them the next! It’s on BIG sale with FREE SHIPPING for #BlackFriday. All copies must go! www.pfbstudios.com/product/la-m..
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Shadowrun: Tarnished Star (Runner Resource Book) is available now from @catalystgamelabs.bsky.social
Get it here: tinyurl.com/tjuvbfyp
The old law enforcement motto of “to serve and protect” is a long-dead joke in the Sixth World. #ttrpgs
Get it here: tinyurl.com/tjuvbfyp
The old law enforcement motto of “to serve and protect” is a long-dead joke in the Sixth World. #ttrpgs
November 27, 2024 at 2:36 PM
Shadowrun: Tarnished Star (Runner Resource Book) is available now from @catalystgamelabs.bsky.social
Get it here: tinyurl.com/tjuvbfyp
The old law enforcement motto of “to serve and protect” is a long-dead joke in the Sixth World. #ttrpgs
Get it here: tinyurl.com/tjuvbfyp
The old law enforcement motto of “to serve and protect” is a long-dead joke in the Sixth World. #ttrpgs
Reposted by Tom Dowd
The most important thing in writing is to finish. A finished thing can be fixed. A finished thing can be published. A finished thing can be made into a movie.
An unfinished thing is just a dream. And dreams fade if you don't hold on tight enough.
So finish the thing.
An unfinished thing is just a dream. And dreams fade if you don't hold on tight enough.
So finish the thing.
November 13, 2024 at 2:38 PM
The most important thing in writing is to finish. A finished thing can be fixed. A finished thing can be published. A finished thing can be made into a movie.
An unfinished thing is just a dream. And dreams fade if you don't hold on tight enough.
So finish the thing.
An unfinished thing is just a dream. And dreams fade if you don't hold on tight enough.
So finish the thing.
If I’d known that the bar was so low I’d have applied for Secretary of Defense too…
November 13, 2024 at 2:39 PM
If I’d known that the bar was so low I’d have applied for Secretary of Defense too…
Reposted by Tom Dowd
For all matte painters and concept artists.
These are scans of the original b/w line artwork created for the brass etched silhouettes used in BLADE RUNNER.
They were scanned whilst we were working on THE FIFTH ELEMENT
These are a free download
Enjoy!
ankaris.gumroad.com/l/EpePN
These are scans of the original b/w line artwork created for the brass etched silhouettes used in BLADE RUNNER.
They were scanned whilst we were working on THE FIFTH ELEMENT
These are a free download
Enjoy!
ankaris.gumroad.com/l/EpePN
Original Blade Runner Textures
When I was working on The Fifth Element at Digital Domain in 1996, we had access to the original black line art that was used to create the brass etched pieces for the miniatures. The line work was cr...
ankaris.gumroad.com
November 13, 2024 at 2:18 AM
For all matte painters and concept artists.
These are scans of the original b/w line artwork created for the brass etched silhouettes used in BLADE RUNNER.
They were scanned whilst we were working on THE FIFTH ELEMENT
These are a free download
Enjoy!
ankaris.gumroad.com/l/EpePN
These are scans of the original b/w line artwork created for the brass etched silhouettes used in BLADE RUNNER.
They were scanned whilst we were working on THE FIFTH ELEMENT
These are a free download
Enjoy!
ankaris.gumroad.com/l/EpePN
Reposted by Tom Dowd
I may be a weird foreigner but the US election has global stakes. More than 400 game creators just signed a letter endorsing the Harris/Walz ticket. I'm among them. For details, check out #Gamers4Harris gamers4harris.org
Home
GAMERS 4 HARRIS
Harris/Walz 2024: It's the Correct Play
More than 400 creators of your favorite games have a m...
gamers4harris.org
October 14, 2024 at 11:00 PM
I may be a weird foreigner but the US election has global stakes. More than 400 game creators just signed a letter endorsing the Harris/Walz ticket. I'm among them. For details, check out #Gamers4Harris gamers4harris.org
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Reposted by Tom Dowd
If you're worried about brevity in your writing, don't. It took Project 2025 nine hundred pages to say fourteen words.
July 6, 2024 at 4:34 AM
If you're worried about brevity in your writing, don't. It took Project 2025 nine hundred pages to say fourteen words.
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Stuart Stevens: Just to recap: Donald Trump is a felon. He joins his campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, national security advisor, foreign policy advisor, political consultant, and personal lawyer as felons.
May 30, 2024 at 9:22 PM
Stuart Stevens: Just to recap: Donald Trump is a felon. He joins his campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, national security advisor, foreign policy advisor, political consultant, and personal lawyer as felons.
Reposted by Tom Dowd
The Tabletop Game Designers Association is live! Please check out our shiny new website to learn more, and see our broad range of resources!
Thanks to everyone who helped us get to this point, particularly @elizhargrave.bsky.social and @senfoonglim.bsky.social
www.ttgda.org
🎲✂️
Thanks to everyone who helped us get to this point, particularly @elizhargrave.bsky.social and @senfoonglim.bsky.social
www.ttgda.org
🎲✂️
Tabletop Game Designers Association
Home page for the Tabletop Game Designers Association
www.ttgda.org
May 6, 2024 at 3:22 PM
The Tabletop Game Designers Association is live! Please check out our shiny new website to learn more, and see our broad range of resources!
Thanks to everyone who helped us get to this point, particularly @elizhargrave.bsky.social and @senfoonglim.bsky.social
www.ttgda.org
🎲✂️
Thanks to everyone who helped us get to this point, particularly @elizhargrave.bsky.social and @senfoonglim.bsky.social
www.ttgda.org
🎲✂️
Reposted by Tom Dowd
I promised folks if it came to this, I'd share the news and link far and wide. My GoFundMe, for funds to fight cancer. Every little bit helps, as does sharing this link anywhere you feel is appropriate, and liking, sharing, and replying to this post. gofund.me/8582c06e
February 26, 2024 at 1:08 AM
I promised folks if it came to this, I'd share the news and link far and wide. My GoFundMe, for funds to fight cancer. Every little bit helps, as does sharing this link anywhere you feel is appropriate, and liking, sharing, and replying to this post. gofund.me/8582c06e
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Black History Month
Brian Stelfreeze has been a sequential artist and painter across several companies for almost 40 years. His covers at DC on Shadow of the Bat were noteworthy, as was his run with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Marvel’s Black Panther.
Brian Stelfreeze has been a sequential artist and painter across several companies for almost 40 years. His covers at DC on Shadow of the Bat were noteworthy, as was his run with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Marvel’s Black Panther.
February 25, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Black History Month
Brian Stelfreeze has been a sequential artist and painter across several companies for almost 40 years. His covers at DC on Shadow of the Bat were noteworthy, as was his run with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Marvel’s Black Panther.
Brian Stelfreeze has been a sequential artist and painter across several companies for almost 40 years. His covers at DC on Shadow of the Bat were noteworthy, as was his run with Ta-Nehisi Coates on Marvel’s Black Panther.
Reposted by Tom Dowd
Ppl need to stop referring to AI “hallucinations.” LLMs are maybe-most-likely-machines not tools for accurate summarization. It is HIGHLY LIKELY that I would have written an article titled “Manuscript Mediation & Reproduction of Authority” but I didn’t. That’s not hallucination; that’s probability.
February 22, 2024 at 6:28 PM
Ppl need to stop referring to AI “hallucinations.” LLMs are maybe-most-likely-machines not tools for accurate summarization. It is HIGHLY LIKELY that I would have written an article titled “Manuscript Mediation & Reproduction of Authority” but I didn’t. That’s not hallucination; that’s probability.