Johnny O’Neal
@johnnyoneal.bsky.social
Brotherwise Games Co-Founder. Geeky dad. Game designer, art director, and chief Cosmere officer. Trying to make the world a more positive & joyful place through games.
It's been a while since the last time I attended a Magic pre-release, but I couldn't resist stopping by the Game Hub to play the new Avatar set! Put together a pretty decent green/white Allies deck with Aang, Momo, Sokka, and Kyoshi. Lots of exiling and earthbending. Good times!
November 17, 2025 at 4:45 AM
It's been a while since the last time I attended a Magic pre-release, but I couldn't resist stopping by the Game Hub to play the new Avatar set! Put together a pretty decent green/white Allies deck with Aang, Momo, Sokka, and Kyoshi. Lots of exiling and earthbending. Good times!
We've always tried to do weekly date nights at restaurants, but this is cheaper and a lot more fun! At first we wondered, "Are we too old for this?" (We're 45.) But there's always a big age range at these places, and we're roughly in the middle. This feels like such a life hack. I recommend it!
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November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
We've always tried to do weekly date nights at restaurants, but this is cheaper and a lot more fun! At first we wondered, "Are we too old for this?" (We're 45.) But there's always a big age range at these places, and we're roughly in the middle. This feels like such a life hack. I recommend it!
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Earlier this year, my wife and I went to see a 90's cover band and had a total blast. So we found a similar band and did it the next weekend. Then we found a dive bar with live music, and another local venue with a great DJ. Then we realized that nothing stops us from doing this every weekend!
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November 15, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Earlier this year, my wife and I went to see a 90's cover band and had a total blast. So we found a similar band and did it the next weekend. Then we found a dive bar with live music, and another local venue with a great DJ. Then we realized that nothing stops us from doing this every weekend!
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Let's play the Cosmere RPG!
This awesome new TTRPG is now in stores, so @suenshine.bsky.social and I worked with the Dragonsteel team to create this fun series of videos about what makes this system so fun to play. The playlist *just* launched, so check it out!
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
This awesome new TTRPG is now in stores, so @suenshine.bsky.social and I worked with the Dragonsteel team to create this fun series of videos about what makes this system so fun to play. The playlist *just* launched, so check it out!
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Let's play the Cosmere RPG!
This awesome new TTRPG is now in stores, so @suenshine.bsky.social and I worked with the Dragonsteel team to create this fun series of videos about what makes this system so fun to play. The playlist *just* launched, so check it out!
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
This awesome new TTRPG is now in stores, so @suenshine.bsky.social and I worked with the Dragonsteel team to create this fun series of videos about what makes this system so fun to play. The playlist *just* launched, so check it out!
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
One of my professional dreams is working on an Avatar board game. Brotherwise pitched for the rights twice. The second time, we got so close that we started art! We planned original pieces, but we were also working with @dmacalvert.bsky.social to paint over stills from the show. Here's an example!
November 1, 2025 at 4:06 PM
One of my professional dreams is working on an Avatar board game. Brotherwise pitched for the rights twice. The second time, we got so close that we started art! We planned original pieces, but we were also working with @dmacalvert.bsky.social to paint over stills from the show. Here's an example!
Here's the same career journey in another format, chronicling my "eras." It starts with my years as a film major (and meeting Beverly!) at Northwestern. After some boring years as an HR consultant, I went to grad school, which led to my years in the toy industry before (and during) Brotherwise.
October 9, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Here's the same career journey in another format, chronicling my "eras." It starts with my years as a film major (and meeting Beverly!) at Northwestern. After some boring years as an HR consultant, I went to grad school, which led to my years in the toy industry before (and during) Brotherwise.
Today I was invited to give a career talk at my son's high school, which was supposed to include a section on your career path. I presented mine like a board game, and I think the result is pretty cute.
My message for the kids: don't expect your path to a creative industry job to be a straight one!
My message for the kids: don't expect your path to a creative industry job to be a straight one!
October 9, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Today I was invited to give a career talk at my son's high school, which was supposed to include a section on your career path. I presented mine like a board game, and I think the result is pretty cute.
My message for the kids: don't expect your path to a creative industry job to be a straight one!
My message for the kids: don't expect your path to a creative industry job to be a straight one!
I've lived in the LA area for almost 20 years and somehow never made it to Frank & Son until yesterday. It's like the merch stalls at a con, but always there! My son and I had fun checking it out. I got a few Magic cards (including some lucky pulls) and he got Pokemon cards and Demon Slayer merch.
October 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I've lived in the LA area for almost 20 years and somehow never made it to Frank & Son until yesterday. It's like the merch stalls at a con, but always there! My son and I had fun checking it out. I got a few Magic cards (including some lucky pulls) and he got Pokemon cards and Demon Slayer merch.
About to jump online to play Super Boss Monster 2 with @banzainator.bsky.social and @meanpomelo.bsky.social!
Come join us!
twitch.tv/banzainator
Come join us!
twitch.tv/banzainator
October 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
About to jump online to play Super Boss Monster 2 with @banzainator.bsky.social and @meanpomelo.bsky.social!
Come join us!
twitch.tv/banzainator
Come join us!
twitch.tv/banzainator
Took the day off to celebrate Beverly's birthday! We spent the morning biking up and down the Strand, ate steamed crab and Korean noodles for lunch, then enjoyed a lazy afternoon. We've been celebrating birthdays together since we were teenagers and life just keeps getting better. 💕
October 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Took the day off to celebrate Beverly's birthday! We spent the morning biking up and down the Strand, ate steamed crab and Korean noodles for lunch, then enjoyed a lazy afternoon. We've been celebrating birthdays together since we were teenagers and life just keeps getting better. 💕
This week's hike: going off-trail in Lunada Bay. The little guy did a great job traversing some pretty vertical areas, and we were rewarded with awesome tide pools full of baby crabs.
September 28, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This week's hike: going off-trail in Lunada Bay. The little guy did a great job traversing some pretty vertical areas, and we were rewarded with awesome tide pools full of baby crabs.
My 16-year-old is interested in getting into politics, so my parents gifted him their collection of political buttons dating back to the 60s. Here are a few of them.
September 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
My 16-year-old is interested in getting into politics, so my parents gifted him their collection of political buttons dating back to the 60s. Here are a few of them.
Very jealous of this game room. 👀
September 22, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Very jealous of this game room. 👀
Enjoyed a great afternoon of gaming today, including my first time playing Captain Sonar. Thanks for inviting me, Christina and @danshoehsu.bsky.social!
September 22, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Enjoyed a great afternoon of gaming today, including my first time playing Captain Sonar. Thanks for inviting me, Christina and @danshoehsu.bsky.social!
Saw Grandaddy in concert last night at the Fonda. They played all of the Sophtware Slump (which came out 25 years ago! 😭) and a selection of great songs from other albums. Pedro the Lion opened and Conor Oberst was in the audience. It was a very indie rock night with @dzevans.bsky.social!
September 13, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Saw Grandaddy in concert last night at the Fonda. They played all of the Sophtware Slump (which came out 25 years ago! 😭) and a selection of great songs from other albums. Pedro the Lion opened and Conor Oberst was in the audience. It was a very indie rock night with @dzevans.bsky.social!
Everyone at Brotherwise Games is so proud of Jillian Schumacher, Finalist for Marketing Visionary at the 2025 Women in Toys Awards!
It was great fun rubbing elbows with industry luminaries and celebrating Jillian at this glitzy event in Beverly Hills. Go Jillian! 👑
@brotherwisegames.bsky.social
It was great fun rubbing elbows with industry luminaries and celebrating Jillian at this glitzy event in Beverly Hills. Go Jillian! 👑
@brotherwisegames.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Everyone at Brotherwise Games is so proud of Jillian Schumacher, Finalist for Marketing Visionary at the 2025 Women in Toys Awards!
It was great fun rubbing elbows with industry luminaries and celebrating Jillian at this glitzy event in Beverly Hills. Go Jillian! 👑
@brotherwisegames.bsky.social
It was great fun rubbing elbows with industry luminaries and celebrating Jillian at this glitzy event in Beverly Hills. Go Jillian! 👑
@brotherwisegames.bsky.social
This week we're dropping off our 18-year-old at college, so there have been a lot of goodbyes. But the toughest was with Jack's 16-year-old brother, D. Here's what they said, through tears, as they hugged each other.
D: I don't know how to be without you.
J: You're better than me. You'll be great.
D: I don't know how to be without you.
J: You're better than me. You'll be great.
September 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
This week we're dropping off our 18-year-old at college, so there have been a lot of goodbyes. But the toughest was with Jack's 16-year-old brother, D. Here's what they said, through tears, as they hugged each other.
D: I don't know how to be without you.
J: You're better than me. You'll be great.
D: I don't know how to be without you.
J: You're better than me. You'll be great.
Today my 9-year-old wanted to play Twilight Princess on our Wii U, which hasn't worked in years. I looked up instructions online, warned him that we maybe had a 10% chance of success, and opened the controller. But it worked! Honestly shocked that we fixed it.
September 3, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Today my 9-year-old wanted to play Twilight Princess on our Wii U, which hasn't worked in years. I looked up instructions online, warned him that we maybe had a 10% chance of success, and opened the controller. But it worked! Honestly shocked that we fixed it.
If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read about (just some of!) the people behind the Cosmere RPG. I couldn't be more grateful to work with this team of wonderful humans.
And to everyone who picks up our game, thank YOU! You make it possible for us to do what we love!
🧵/🧵
And to everyone who picks up our game, thank YOU! You make it possible for us to do what we love!
🧵/🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:55 AM
If you've made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read about (just some of!) the people behind the Cosmere RPG. I couldn't be more grateful to work with this team of wonderful humans.
And to everyone who picks up our game, thank YOU! You make it possible for us to do what we love!
🧵/🧵
And to everyone who picks up our game, thank YOU! You make it possible for us to do what we love!
🧵/🧵
Last but certainly not least, I have to recognize our Marketing Manager, Jillian Schumacher. Recently nominated for the prestigious Women in Toys Wonder Women Award, she manages a huge range of marketing initiatives with an approach that's smart, scrappy, and professional!
@meanpomelo.bsky.social 🧵
@meanpomelo.bsky.social 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Last but certainly not least, I have to recognize our Marketing Manager, Jillian Schumacher. Recently nominated for the prestigious Women in Toys Wonder Women Award, she manages a huge range of marketing initiatives with an approach that's smart, scrappy, and professional!
@meanpomelo.bsky.social 🧵
@meanpomelo.bsky.social 🧵
Mattie Molandes is the Logistics Manager at Brotherwise Games, and in a small business like ours he wears a lot of hats. As our lead and key advocate for Customer Service, he helps our backers feel like a community, and leaps into action to assist anyone who needs help!
@lostmymeeples.bsky.social 🧵
@lostmymeeples.bsky.social 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Mattie Molandes is the Logistics Manager at Brotherwise Games, and in a small business like ours he wears a lot of hats. As our lead and key advocate for Customer Service, he helps our backers feel like a community, and leaps into action to assist anyone who needs help!
@lostmymeeples.bsky.social 🧵
@lostmymeeples.bsky.social 🧵
And the biggest Cosmere expert of all is Karen Ahlstrom! As Dragonsteel's Continuity Editor, she's the first person we contact when we have a question about what's canonical. For the toughest questions, she helps us get answers from Brandon. We cannot overstate our gratitude for Karen! 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM
And the biggest Cosmere expert of all is Karen Ahlstrom! As Dragonsteel's Continuity Editor, she's the first person we contact when we have a question about what's canonical. For the toughest questions, she helps us get answers from Brandon. We cannot overstate our gratitude for Karen! 🧵
Speaking of Cosmere experts, we've been incredibly lucky to work with work with some of the most knowledgeable people in the fandom. Brandon calls them the Arcanists, and they're his sounding board for deep Cosmere questions. We call them the Worldsingers, and they help the RPG team every day! 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Speaking of Cosmere experts, we've been incredibly lucky to work with work with some of the most knowledgeable people in the fandom. Brandon calls them the Arcanists, and they're his sounding board for deep Cosmere questions. We call them the Worldsingers, and they help the RPG team every day! 🧵
Ben McSweeney (aka inkthinker) has drawn more official Cosmere art than anyone, and now works full-time at Dragonsteel as Creative Art Director. He meets with me and Matt every Tuesday, reviewing dozens of illustrations for quality and canonical accuracy. He's a great art director and a great guy! 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Ben McSweeney (aka inkthinker) has drawn more official Cosmere art than anyone, and now works full-time at Dragonsteel as Creative Art Director. He meets with me and Matt every Tuesday, reviewing dozens of illustrations for quality and canonical accuracy. He's a great art director and a great guy! 🧵
The Cosmere RPG wouldn't exist without Isaac Stewart, cartographer and overall head of creative development at Dragonsteel. I had the pleasure of partnering with him on Call to Adventure and Stormlight Miniatures, which led Isaac to advocate for Brotherwise as the partner for *all* Cosmere Games! 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 1:44 AM
The Cosmere RPG wouldn't exist without Isaac Stewart, cartographer and overall head of creative development at Dragonsteel. I had the pleasure of partnering with him on Call to Adventure and Stormlight Miniatures, which led Isaac to advocate for Brotherwise as the partner for *all* Cosmere Games! 🧵