Afraid of Encounters
@isaacisafraid.bsky.social
He/Him, Game Dev (Narrative Designer/Game Writer), Tabletop RPG Designer. I write, roleplay, and roll dice to tell stories.
https://isaacisafraid.itch.io/
https://afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/
Nusantara, Maritime Southeast Asia
https://isaacisafraid.itch.io/
https://afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/
Nusantara, Maritime Southeast Asia
Pinned
The Knight Errant ranked 1st out of 227 entries in the Appendix N Jam 😭 This feels surreal!
Huge thanks to @dankdungeons.bsky.social & @jorphdan.bsky.social for hosting the jam, and to everyone who rated my first OSR adventure!
And congratulations to all the amazing participants and their works!
Huge thanks to @dankdungeons.bsky.social & @jorphdan.bsky.social for hosting the jam, and to everyone who rated my first OSR adventure!
And congratulations to all the amazing participants and their works!
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Feeling behind on the latest OSR blogs? Simply read them all at once!
November 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Feeling behind on the latest OSR blogs? Simply read them all at once!
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Spent the past week mining my RSS reader to map what I'm calling the "Blogverse"
Still adding data and tuning the graph, but I'll share soon
Early stats: 1027 blogs, 13393 links, 203918 posts - and counting
Still adding data and tuning the graph, but I'll share soon
Early stats: 1027 blogs, 13393 links, 203918 posts - and counting
November 12, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Spent the past week mining my RSS reader to map what I'm calling the "Blogverse"
Still adding data and tuning the graph, but I'll share soon
Early stats: 1027 blogs, 13393 links, 203918 posts - and counting
Still adding data and tuning the graph, but I'll share soon
Early stats: 1027 blogs, 13393 links, 203918 posts - and counting
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
New Blogpost: I’d Rather Be a Mouse Than an Elf
Why sword & whiskers fantasy is more gameable than your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy settings.
#osr #ttrpg #MausritterMonth
Why sword & whiskers fantasy is more gameable than your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy settings.
#osr #ttrpg #MausritterMonth
I’d Rather Be a Mouse Than an Elf — Prismatic Wasteland
I love pretending to be an elf just as much as the next guy, but it pales in comparison to the joys of pretending to be a mouse with a sewing needle sword at my side.
www.prismaticwasteland.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
New Blogpost: I’d Rather Be a Mouse Than an Elf
Why sword & whiskers fantasy is more gameable than your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy settings.
#osr #ttrpg #MausritterMonth
Why sword & whiskers fantasy is more gameable than your standard pseudo-medieval fantasy settings.
#osr #ttrpg #MausritterMonth
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Hey, I'm doing an AMA over on r/PbtA, if anybody's interested:
www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comme...
I've answered a bunch of questions and a bunch more to go. If you want to read up or add to the pile, please come!
www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comme...
I've answered a bunch of questions and a bunch more to go. If you want to read up or add to the pile, please come!
From the PBtA community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the PBtA community
www.reddit.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Hey, I'm doing an AMA over on r/PbtA, if anybody's interested:
www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comme...
I've answered a bunch of questions and a bunch more to go. If you want to read up or add to the pile, please come!
www.reddit.com/r/PBtA/comme...
I've answered a bunch of questions and a bunch more to go. If you want to read up or add to the pile, please come!
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Of the different types of dungeon rooms, "Special" can be one of the hardest to write towards. This list of sub-categories of special rooms has great prompts!
In a🧵 below, I delve into examples from CASTLE AUTOMATIC for each sub-type of special rooms. (Warning: Spoilers for the dungeon!)
In a🧵 below, I delve into examples from CASTLE AUTOMATIC for each sub-type of special rooms. (Warning: Spoilers for the dungeon!)
The 10 types of special rooms
"A Special is anything not exactly a trap, but placed for special reasons." Moldvay Basic pg. B52 Traps, monsters, secret doors, and treas...
traipse.hexarcana.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Of the different types of dungeon rooms, "Special" can be one of the hardest to write towards. This list of sub-categories of special rooms has great prompts!
In a🧵 below, I delve into examples from CASTLE AUTOMATIC for each sub-type of special rooms. (Warning: Spoilers for the dungeon!)
In a🧵 below, I delve into examples from CASTLE AUTOMATIC for each sub-type of special rooms. (Warning: Spoilers for the dungeon!)
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
I made a "barebones" version of Cairn. Sort of. It's the 2e rules but with swingy and random character generation (no tables, no implied setting). I'm still tweaking it a lot so expect some changes.
It's SRD only now, but here you go I guess.
cairnrpg.com/barebones/
It's SRD only now, but here you go I guess.
cairnrpg.com/barebones/
Barebones
cairnrpg.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I made a "barebones" version of Cairn. Sort of. It's the 2e rules but with swingy and random character generation (no tables, no implied setting). I'm still tweaking it a lot so expect some changes.
It's SRD only now, but here you go I guess.
cairnrpg.com/barebones/
It's SRD only now, but here you go I guess.
cairnrpg.com/barebones/
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
I also ought to repost this crowdfunding campaign. It's at 50%!
If you have the means, help me pay for my college tuition fees! It would mean the world to me
ko-fi.com/goobernuts/g...
If you have the means, help me pay for my college tuition fees! It would mean the world to me
ko-fi.com/goobernuts/g...
Buy goobernuts a Coffee
Become a supporter of goobernuts today!
ko-fi.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I also ought to repost this crowdfunding campaign. It's at 50%!
If you have the means, help me pay for my college tuition fees! It would mean the world to me
ko-fi.com/goobernuts/g...
If you have the means, help me pay for my college tuition fees! It would mean the world to me
ko-fi.com/goobernuts/g...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
🚨And we are live!🚨 Time to sail away.
🚨NEW WEIRD GAME KLAXXON🚨
ECO MOFOS sets sail!!
Windwaker meets Waterworld in this rules light procedure-heavy TTRPG for solo and group play. Smash Corpo Schemes while discovering Monsters and Mecha lurking beneath the waves, guzzling ambergris to learn new spells.
tinyurl.com/yfryeat8
ECO MOFOS sets sail!!
Windwaker meets Waterworld in this rules light procedure-heavy TTRPG for solo and group play. Smash Corpo Schemes while discovering Monsters and Mecha lurking beneath the waves, guzzling ambergris to learn new spells.
tinyurl.com/yfryeat8
November 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🚨And we are live!🚨 Time to sail away.
A blogpost that I made out of pettiness. Gamemasters are Game Designers!
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/gamemasters-...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/gamemasters-...
Gamemasters are Game Designers!
Yes. Tabletop RPG Gamemasters are Players as well. But they are also Game Designers.
What made me to make this blogpost? Pettiness. Someone said that one ...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev
November 4, 2025 at 7:09 AM
A blogpost that I made out of pettiness. Gamemasters are Game Designers!
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/gamemasters-...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/gamemasters-...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
As a game-maker it's a gift to hear of folks playing something you wrote; to see how they react to the situations you designed; to be surprised at the decisions they make.
Love this so much. The adaptations @isaacisafraid.bsky.social made to fit Jakarta; the fact that the adventure felt true.
Love this so much. The adaptations @isaacisafraid.bsky.social made to fit Jakarta; the fact that the adventure felt true.
Happy Halloween! For this special occasion, I've posted a play report for first and second session of @zedecksiew.bsky.social's A Perfect Wife that I've run from September - October. Hope you folks enjoy reading it!
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
Afraid of Play Reports - A Perfect Wife (Session 1 & 2)
<i>Afraid of Play Reports is a series of blogposts where I write play reports of the campaign that I have finished or currently running. I name it that way b...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev
October 31, 2025 at 4:04 PM
As a game-maker it's a gift to hear of folks playing something you wrote; to see how they react to the situations you designed; to be surprised at the decisions they make.
Love this so much. The adaptations @isaacisafraid.bsky.social made to fit Jakarta; the fact that the adventure felt true.
Love this so much. The adaptations @isaacisafraid.bsky.social made to fit Jakarta; the fact that the adventure felt true.
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
I enjoy Halloween! I blog about it somewhat frequently so have eight (8) blogposts that are appropriately spooky for you to enjoy on this Hallows Eve. I shall collect them here for you #osr
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
Do the Monster Mashup — Prismatic Wasteland
I mashup several classic Halloween monsters to create ten new spooky monsters, and discuss how I would use them in games.
www.prismaticwasteland.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I enjoy Halloween! I blog about it somewhat frequently so have eight (8) blogposts that are appropriately spooky for you to enjoy on this Hallows Eve. I shall collect them here for you #osr
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
1/8: Do the Monster Mashup! Combining different classic monsters to make new, weirder monsters
Happy Halloween! For this special occasion, I've posted a play report for first and second session of @zedecksiew.bsky.social's A Perfect Wife that I've run from September - October. Hope you folks enjoy reading it!
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
Afraid of Play Reports - A Perfect Wife (Session 1 & 2)
<i>Afraid of Play Reports is a series of blogposts where I write play reports of the campaign that I have finished or currently running. I name it that way b...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev
October 31, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Happy Halloween! For this special occasion, I've posted a play report for first and second session of @zedecksiew.bsky.social's A Perfect Wife that I've run from September - October. Hope you folks enjoy reading it!
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
afraidofencounters.bearblog.dev/afraid-of-pl...
When I was in Bangkok last weekend, people thought that I was either Thai or Filipino. I guess I have strong Southeast Asian genes 💪
a blue flag with a red circle with the letter x in it
ALT: a blue flag with a red circle with the letter x in it
media.tenor.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:25 AM
When I was in Bangkok last weekend, people thought that I was either Thai or Filipino. I guess I have strong Southeast Asian genes 💪
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
🚨MAJOR NEO-ELFGAME ANNOUNCEMENT🚨
@zedecksiew.bsky.social will not only be Editor of Islands of Weirdhope, he’s writing a whole new adventure, expanding on To Put Away A Sword. Yes, Mecha are in the sea, too.
We have 3 other contributors, which we’ll announce over the next 3 days. I’m so excited.
@zedecksiew.bsky.social will not only be Editor of Islands of Weirdhope, he’s writing a whole new adventure, expanding on To Put Away A Sword. Yes, Mecha are in the sea, too.
We have 3 other contributors, which we’ll announce over the next 3 days. I’m so excited.
🚨NEW WEIRD GAME KLAXXON🚨
ECO MOFOS sets sail!!
Windwaker meets Waterworld in this rules light procedure-heavy TTRPG for solo and group play. Smash Corpo Schemes while discovering Monsters and Mecha lurking beneath the waves, guzzling ambergris to learn new spells.
tinyurl.com/yfryeat8
ECO MOFOS sets sail!!
Windwaker meets Waterworld in this rules light procedure-heavy TTRPG for solo and group play. Smash Corpo Schemes while discovering Monsters and Mecha lurking beneath the waves, guzzling ambergris to learn new spells.
tinyurl.com/yfryeat8
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
🚨MAJOR NEO-ELFGAME ANNOUNCEMENT🚨
@zedecksiew.bsky.social will not only be Editor of Islands of Weirdhope, he’s writing a whole new adventure, expanding on To Put Away A Sword. Yes, Mecha are in the sea, too.
We have 3 other contributors, which we’ll announce over the next 3 days. I’m so excited.
@zedecksiew.bsky.social will not only be Editor of Islands of Weirdhope, he’s writing a whole new adventure, expanding on To Put Away A Sword. Yes, Mecha are in the sea, too.
We have 3 other contributors, which we’ll announce over the next 3 days. I’m so excited.
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
👯♂️Islands of Weirdhope is a #ttrpg about SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS
🤲Islands of Weirdhope is a #roleplayinggame about BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER
🧑🧑🧒🧒Islands of Weirdhope is a #tabletoproleplayinggame about FINDING YOUR FAMILY
💚FOLLOW IT HERE:
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
🤲Islands of Weirdhope is a #roleplayinggame about BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER
🧑🧑🧒🧒Islands of Weirdhope is a #tabletoproleplayinggame about FINDING YOUR FAMILY
💚FOLLOW IT HERE:
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
ISLANDS OF WEIRDHOPE - AN ECO MOFOS GAME!! - Sail the Seas to forge a better world
From Copy/Paste Co-op - ISLANDS OF WEIRDHOPE - AN ECO MOFOS GAME!! - Sail the Seas to forge a better world
www.backerkit.com
October 18, 2025 at 6:39 AM
👯♂️Islands of Weirdhope is a #ttrpg about SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS
🤲Islands of Weirdhope is a #roleplayinggame about BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER
🧑🧑🧒🧒Islands of Weirdhope is a #tabletoproleplayinggame about FINDING YOUR FAMILY
💚FOLLOW IT HERE:
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
🤲Islands of Weirdhope is a #roleplayinggame about BEING THERE FOR EACH OTHER
🧑🧑🧒🧒Islands of Weirdhope is a #tabletoproleplayinggame about FINDING YOUR FAMILY
💚FOLLOW IT HERE:
www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Real ones know but if you loved the tracks from K-Pop Demon Hunters then check out K/DA which is the League of Legends girl band that’s made up of LoL characters. Their songs are real bangers. This game’s music is wild.
a close up of a woman 's face with #kda written on the bottom right
Alt: a close up of a woman 's face with #kda written on the bottom right
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Real ones know but if you loved the tracks from K-Pop Demon Hunters then check out K/DA which is the League of Legends girl band that’s made up of LoL characters. Their songs are real bangers. This game’s music is wild.
Quote this with the first four Horror movies that come to your mind that are 10/10s for you. No cheating. Just the first four that pop into your head.
The Thing
The Wailing
Scream
Alien
The Thing
The Wailing
Scream
Alien
Quote this with the first four Horror movies that come to your mind that are 10/10s for you. No cheating. Just the first four that pop into your head.
Scream
The Descent
The Babadook
Alien
Scream
The Descent
The Babadook
Alien
Quote this with the first four Horror movies that come to your mind that are 10/10s for you. No cheating. Just the first four that pop into your head.
The Shining
The Seventh Victim
Alien
Onibaba
The Shining
The Seventh Victim
Alien
Onibaba
October 16, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Quote this with the first four Horror movies that come to your mind that are 10/10s for you. No cheating. Just the first four that pop into your head.
The Thing
The Wailing
Scream
Alien
The Thing
The Wailing
Scream
Alien
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
One of the projects I've been most excited about for Mothership Month is Sunlit Path, which details a lot more about the Solarians. I've always had a soft spot for them and I'm glad to see someone else's take on them.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/r...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/r...
SUNLIT PATH: A Solarian toolkit for Mothership RPG
Explore the mysteries of a sect of Solarians with a powerful understanding of Solar Astrology, 2 unique classes, new items for innovative problem solving, and both ties to Prospero's Dream, and a mand...
www.backerkit.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:21 PM
One of the projects I've been most excited about for Mothership Month is Sunlit Path, which details a lot more about the Solarians. I've always had a soft spot for them and I'm glad to see someone else's take on them.
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/r...
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/r...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
It is absolutely heartening to see videos and accounts of the Palestinian people returning to their homes after the ceasefire, and of aid finally reaching them. The time for rebuilding and healing begins. It is also imperative we do not stop fighting for the end of oppression.
October 12, 2025 at 7:24 AM
It is absolutely heartening to see videos and accounts of the Palestinian people returning to their homes after the ceasefire, and of aid finally reaching them. The time for rebuilding and healing begins. It is also imperative we do not stop fighting for the end of oppression.
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Multi-purpose point-crawls. Might be handy for your game this evening
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
Multi-purpose Maps
Need a map for your game tonight, but run out of time/spoons?
open.substack.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Multi-purpose point-crawls. Might be handy for your game this evening
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
open.substack.com/pub/davidbla...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Why Don't I Hate Fabula Ultima?
Theoryslop shadowboxing an omnigender Italian
www.valerialoves.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:18 PM
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
How do I explain to offline people that my favorite Japanese mascot said "we can only be liberated from queer oppression if we are truly seen as human" and then started wielding fireworks like a rocket launcher on the side of a mountain without sounding like I've totally lost it?
Chiitan forever
Chiitan forever
Chiitan has a dream.
I hope that one day the term LGBT will become a thing of the past.
I will continue to spread my message until we live in a world where everyone can love freely and is free from persecution and discrimination.
Until then, let's all support each other🤍
I hope that one day the term LGBT will become a thing of the past.
I will continue to spread my message until we live in a world where everyone can love freely and is free from persecution and discrimination.
Until then, let's all support each other🤍
October 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
How do I explain to offline people that my favorite Japanese mascot said "we can only be liberated from queer oppression if we are truly seen as human" and then started wielding fireworks like a rocket launcher on the side of a mountain without sounding like I've totally lost it?
Chiitan forever
Chiitan forever
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
It is a minor spoiler, but it's true. Fucking up ICE assholes is definitely part of this campaign.
Also, God's Teeth has all the Content Warnings.
All. Of. Them.
There were Content Warnings I didn't know should exist until we played this. It's awesome. It's beautiful. It's fucking horrifying.
Also, God's Teeth has all the Content Warnings.
All. Of. Them.
There were Content Warnings I didn't know should exist until we played this. It's awesome. It's beautiful. It's fucking horrifying.
Want to fuck up ICE assholes? Play God’s Teeth. shop.arcdream.com/products/del...
Delta Green: God's Teeth (hardback)
Comes With the PDF Free Reviews "This might be art." —Quintin Smith (Quinns) on Rascal Stygian Muse review See Also God's Teeth Audio Props by H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society God's Teeth Evidence Ki...
shop.arcdream.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
It is a minor spoiler, but it's true. Fucking up ICE assholes is definitely part of this campaign.
Also, God's Teeth has all the Content Warnings.
All. Of. Them.
There were Content Warnings I didn't know should exist until we played this. It's awesome. It's beautiful. It's fucking horrifying.
Also, God's Teeth has all the Content Warnings.
All. Of. Them.
There were Content Warnings I didn't know should exist until we played this. It's awesome. It's beautiful. It's fucking horrifying.
Reposted by Afraid of Encounters
Want to fuck up ICE assholes? Play God’s Teeth. shop.arcdream.com/products/del...
Delta Green: God's Teeth (hardback)
Comes With the PDF Free Reviews "This might be art." —Quintin Smith (Quinns) on Rascal Stygian Muse review See Also God's Teeth Audio Props by H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society God's Teeth Evidence Ki...
shop.arcdream.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Want to fuck up ICE assholes? Play God’s Teeth. shop.arcdream.com/products/del...
SEAsian real life problems!
Useful tip for folks running A PERFECT WIFE (or any other rpg set in a SEAsian city):
If somebody at your table can't make a session, handwave as: they got stuck in a traffic gridlock, cannot get free for three hours
If somebody at your table can't make a session, handwave as: they got stuck in a traffic gridlock, cannot get free for three hours
October 9, 2025 at 3:21 AM
SEAsian real life problems!