Nick Bate
LightNews LightNews
banner
ickbat.bsky.social
Nick Bate
@ickbat.bsky.social
2.3K followers 530 following 970 posts
Used to be a galactic archaeologist. Now I design tabletop games about epic heists, illegal mech racing, daring sky pirates, doomed expeditions, and other such nonsense. 🚀

Black Armada Tales cast member.

https://ickbat.itch.io
Posts Replies Media Videos
ickbat.bsky.social
I give you The Humble Tape Measure, which is apparently ‘a small case from which an extendable measuring tape can be deployed by hand.’
A photograph of a section of the Horus Heresy 3rd edition rulebook, describing in excessive detail what a tape measure is.
October 16, 2025 at 6:01 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of this table for helping players in Against Time and Death decide when to set their scenes. It was fun figuring out what sorts of things define each of the six eras I chose.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...
Era When will the scene take place? 1. Prehistory. Geological processes, megafauna, early humans, mythmaking. 2. Ancient history. Empires, gods and heroes, foundations of art and science, monument building. 3. History. Holy war, monarchy, trade empires, exploration, colonialism, scientific and artistic flourishing. 4. Now. Nation states, world wars, mass protest, pop culture, evolution, computation, cyberspace, capitalism, tourism, terrorism, revolution. 5. The future. Catastrophic climate change, corporate states, the solar system, true AI, interplanetary warfare, transhumanity, pushing boundaries, the stars. 6. The mythic future. Infinite panhumanity, engineering on impossible scales, magictech, dreams made manifest, the darkness between stars, the things that reside there.
September 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Really wish I knew what was driving this extra traffic to Chiron's Doom over the last week! Most of the referrals are coming from YouTube...

ickbat.itch.io/chirons-doom
A graph of Chiron's Doom referrers by day over the last month. Beginning September 15th, the graph rises from about 10 per day to over a hundred. A green circle highlights the rise.
September 23, 2025 at 10:29 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Is somebody somewhere talking about Chiron’s Doom?

There’s been a noticeable bump in sales over the last week or so and I don’t know why!
The cover of Chiron’s Doom by Nick Bate. It depicts a giant diamond-shaped portal on a dark volcanic beach, with three different views of a tower through the portal, one infested with a giant eye with 8 tentacles. Three small explorers stand before the portal.
September 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
I mean, Ringo is having an objectively correct reaction…

… but look at this thing!
A photo of a splash page in the Lancer rulebook. It shows two mechs squaring off against each other, one wielding laser swords the other firing missiles.
June 30, 2025 at 6:23 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Oh hey! While I wasn’t watching, we hit £6,000 on Against Time and Death!

Late pledges are still open — join the multiversal time war, fall in love…

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

🔴 🔵
A screenshot of the front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter. The funding total of £6,000 is circled in red, with an arrow and two exclamation points.
June 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
So, uhh, does this seem right?

openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac...
Brian Johnson from The Breakfast Club Chili Anagonye from The Good Place Bruce Banner from the MCU Dr. Marcus Brody from Raiders of the Lost Ark
May 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Yo, Spider is a good shout. Love a devious mastermind!

Don't think there's a Spider equivalent in Speed Daemons, my illegal mech racing, Fast/Furious meets The Matrix WIP. I wonder which you'd gravitate towards in its absence?
Daemonologist: House mechs and their pilots have teams of specialists running tech support. In the underground, you’re it. Flare: What’s the point in racing if it doesn’t look good? You put on a show, and everyone knows it. Jarhead: You’re the result of an experiment to create the ideal daemon, a literal brain in a jar. Lazarus: You used to race, but you’ve been out for years. Now something has pulled you back in. Reliquary: At the end of human civilisation, you are the team’s memory—historian, xenoarchaeologist, eschatologist, and priest. Spark: You’re a true believer. The team rallies around you. Weaver: You navigate the mesh. It’s shot through with holes, rotten with centuries of compacted information, and absolutely crucial to the race.
March 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
I cannot tell you all how badly I want for it to be out in the world!
A black and white illustration of a racing mech from the work in progress game Speed Daemons. Art by Si Sweetman.
March 14, 2025 at 10:12 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
Reset the clock!

It has been [0] days since I last thought about Wushu.
Two dual pistol-wielding warriors swirl around each other like a yin-yang symbol. One is dressed in black, the other white. Taken from the cover of Wushu Black Belt Edition, written by Dan Bayn and illustrated by Levi Kornelsen.
March 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
And there it is!

361 amazing backers pledging £5,766 to make Against Time and Death happen. I'm grateful to each and every one of you legends, and I cannot wait to get the game into your hands.

The time war is go!

🔵 🔴
A screenshot of the front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter, showing 361 backers contributing a generous £5,766 towards the campaign. Thank you, you legends!
February 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
This is your 15 minute warning!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

🔴 🔵
An Against Time and Death poster, showing a silhouetted figure from a low angle, pointing a gun. They have blue glasses and a blue insignia on their chest. Around them loom buildings that are illuminated red. A banner on the top of the image reads 'Ends Feb 25!', and a banner on the bottom reads 'Against Time and Death on Kickstarter now'.
February 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
We’re just 5 backers away from beating the Chiron’s Doom backer count — I think we’re going to make it!

33 hours to go #BattlestarGalacticaReference! Don’t miss out!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...
The front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter with “321 backers” circled in red.
February 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
And here is the final legendary design duo to join the Against Time and Death team: @macguffinandco.bsky.social!

Sasha Sienna and Jonathan Sims' Odd Jobs is one of my favourite ttrpg books: eleven unique system-neutral micro-settings. I'm excited to see that worldbuilding verve in action on ATaD!
Title image for Against Time and Death containing the logo on the right (back-to-back silhouettes pointing guns, one with a red tie and one with a blue tie, surrounded by the game's title) and a split image of Sasha Sienna and Jonathan Sims on the right, surrounded by the words 'MacGuffin & Co. Sasha Sienna Jonathan Sims'.
February 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
Which brings us to our third superstar duo: @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social, Shawn and Navi Drake!

You might know them from Court of Blades, Fe Borg, Skyworthy, Dead Belt, or maybe just from being tireless champions of indie ttrpg designers like me. You also know they're going to crush the time war.
On the left of the image, the Against Time and Death logo: two back-to-back agents in silhouette, pointing guns. One has a red tie, the other a blue tie. On the right of the image, a picture of Shawn and Navi Drake. The text reads 'A Couple of Drakes, Navi Drake, Shawn Drake'. The background is the curved tracks and coloured swatches of the Against Time and Death cover, meant to imply the multiverse.
February 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
Our second hotshot duo are the Brain Trust, @worldchamp.bsky.social and @willjobst.bsky.social!

Their work is defined by a deep understanding of genre and a no-holds-barred gonzo aesthetic. I cannot wait to see what happens when they get to grips with Against Time and Death's multiversal time war!
On the left of the image, the Against Time and Death logo: two back-to-back agents in silhouette, pointing guns. One has a red tie, the other a blue tie. On the right of the image, a picture of Adam Vass and Will Jobst. The text reads 'The Brain Trust, Adam Vass, Will Jobst'. The background is the curved tracks and coloured swatches of the Against Time and Death cover, meant to imply the multiverse.
February 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
The first dynamic duo to join the Against Time and Death crew was the @storybrewers.bsky.social, Hayley Gordon and Vee Hendro!

You probably know them from Good Society: The Jane Austen RPG. They design heartfelt emotional games - perfect for ATaD!

And, as an added bonus, fellow Aussies!
On the left of the image, the Against Time and Death logo: two back-to-back agents in silhouette, pointing guns. One has a red tie, the other a blue tie. On the right of the image, a picture of the Storybrewers. The text reads 'Storybrewers, Hayley Gordon, Vee Hendro'. The background is the curved tracks and coloured swatches of the Against Time and Death cover, meant to imply the multiverse.
February 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
I'm excited to be working again with editor extraordinaire @ohnomelody.bsky.social. Melody is an incredible editor on every level - she makes my words better, but she also makes my games better. Clearer, more evocative, more playable, just better.

She'll make Against Time and Death sing!
On the left of the image, the Against Time and Death logo: two back-to-back agents in silhouette, pointing guns. One has a red tie, the other a blue tie. On the right of the image, a picture of Melody Watson. The text reads 'Melody Watson, Editor'. The background is the curved tracks and coloured swatches of the Against Time and Death cover, meant to imply the multiverse.
February 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
We can't talk about Against Time and Death without talking about @spookshow71.bsky.social. Paul's brilliant cover art has utterly defined the look of the game and the Kickstarter. His preview interior art is all style - you know this is going to be a gorgeous zine, and it's all thanks to Paul.
On the left of the image, the Against Time and Death logo: two back-to-back agents in silhouette, pointing guns. One has a red tie, the other a blue tie. On the right of the image, a picture of Paul Tomes. The text reads 'Paul Tomes, artist'. The background is the curved tracks and coloured swatches of the Against Time and Death cover, meant to imply the multiverse.
February 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
We're heading into the final 72 hours of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter campaign - the time war nears its conclusion!

Let's shout out the brilliant crew who are helping to make this game the best it can be. Please share!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

#SelfPromoSaturday #ttrpg
A poster image of a stylised figure in silhouette, from a low angle. They're pointing a gun, and have blue glasses and a sort of blue symbol on their chest. Around them loom tall buildings illuminated in red. A banner on the top of the image reads 'Ends Feb 25!'. Another banner on the bottom of the image reads "Against Time and Death on Kickstarter now".
February 22, 2025 at 11:58 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Have you joined the time war yet?

🔴 🔵

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...
A poster image of a stylised figure in silhouette, from a low angle. They're pointing a gun, and have blue glasses and a sort of blue symbol on their chest. Around them loom tall buildings illuminated in red. A banner on the bottom of the image reads "Against Time and Death on Kickstarter now".
February 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
This just in! A limited Against Time and Death Maesto reward has just come available!

Snap up a signed an annotated zine while you can! It'll contain a piece of written multiversal ephemera shared between you and one other person. Will you meet them some day?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...
A logo consisting of a blue clock surrounded by two rings of lines ending in dots. Slightly under half of the lines are red, the remainder are blue.
February 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
ickbat.bsky.social
I'm all about Against Time and Death at the moment, but next year is a big year for Stealing the Throne: it'll be five years old!

I'm looking to celebrate this milestone, and I'd love your thoughts on how best to do it. Please take (and share) this short survey:

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
A black and white image split into four quadrants, showing the heads of four Thrones. Clockwise from the top left, we have the dinosaur-like Justice Above, the domed hat of Tenswords, Belly Laugh seated on its own giant throne, and the flame-engulfed mask of The Burning Soldier.
February 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
Let’s take a moment to recognise the absolute heroes who have backed Against Time and Death at the Duet tier.

These five legends are picking up a copy of the zine for themselves *and* one for their rival/frenemy/friend/lover.

Heroes, I say. 🙌

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...
February 19, 2025 at 11:20 AM
ickbat.bsky.social
In This Is How You Lose the Time War, the elite operative Red (of the Agency) confronts Blue (of the Garden). Fireworks ensue.

In Against Time and Death, you similarly pit two agents from different factions against each other.

What factions would you choose? What concepts would define them? 🤔
"If you loved this" with an arrow pointing to the cover of This Is How You Lose the Time War, followed by "I think you'll love this" with an arrow pointing towards the cover of Against Time and Death.
February 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM