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Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

*whispers*

Copies of Just Passing Through and Allucinalia are on their way to PAX Unplugged where you can grab them from @sidequestbooks.bsky.social!!

(Does this make me feel better about not being able to go to PAXU myself? A little bit!)

#ttrpg #duetgame #solojournaling #PAXU

Two small stacks of copies of "Just Passing Through" and "Allucinalia," on my kitchen table.

"Just Passing Through: A Cozy Fantasy Duet Game" has a green cover with a drawing of a teapot on the front.

"Allucinalia: A Game of Solo Dreaming" has a black-and-white cover, where a person lies asleep in the foreground, and behind them a river winds up to a city. The stars above the sleeping person become the lights of the city above.

A cardboard box full of lots of copies of "Allucinalia" and "Just Passing Through", fresh from pick-up on the print shop counter. The booklets are packed neatly and efficiently, and one copy of each game rests on top so you can see the cover art.

"Just Passing Through: A Cozy Fantasy Duet Game" has a green cover with a drawing of a teapot on the front.

"Allucinalia: A Game of Solo Dreaming" has a black-and-white glossy cover, where a person lies asleep in the foreground, and behind them a river winds up to a city. The stars above the sleeping person become the lights of the city above.

November 15, 2025 at 12:49 AM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

We simply had to stop the car so I could go photograph this river. It looked so surreal in person, like the whole world tipped to the side down the way.

A river stretches along the center of the photo. On either side are trees with green leaves and just the start of some yellow fall foliage. The sky is gray and overcast, but there is still brightness behind the clouds. At the horizon line, the river splits, and the sky blends into the tree line.

September 6, 2025 at 8:11 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Here's a sneak peek... It's taking forever, but I'm carefully removing the full backgrounds from some public domain house illustrations so they can be used for games more easily. (It's become a labor of love at this point, they are DETAILED.) It's a really nice way to de-stress after work!

A scan from a book with the caption "Dutch Colonial" and a line drawing of a two-story Dutch Colonial style home, with two chimneys and trees all around. The background is a cream yellow old-paper color.

A screenshot of an Affinity Photo 2 window with a line-art image of a Dutch Colonial style house, with editing tools on the left sidebar and top of the window. The background of the image has been removed, and the line art is over the gray-and-white checked boxes that signify a transparent background in photo editing programs.

September 6, 2025 at 12:43 AM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Today’s #steadyseptember was actually working on a knitting project that I’ve been meaning to finish for… over a year. Someday soon it will finally be a sweater!

A pile of knit sweater pieces in a jewel tone variegated rainbow, reminiscent of a sunset with oranges, pinks, and golds as the primary colors, with blue, purple, and green mixed in. The top piece is a long sleeve, in stockinette stitch, still on the knitting needles and attached to a ball of yarn.

September 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

At the point in my #PlaylistDungeon jam entry where I'm not done the content, but couldn't resist starting on layout. It's cooking...there's more but it's still a draft. May not be a playlist OR a dungeon, but I'm having a blast!

itch.io/jam/revenge-... < Peep the jam!
cc: @gamefiend.bsky.social 👀

A screenshot of the a game header. A letters-cut-out-from-magazines style font reads, "The Harmonic Mixes," with the subtitle "An Optional Moveset for Playlist Dungeon" below it. Three measures from the sheet music for Fugue No. 6 by J. S. Bach runs below the title and subtitle.

August 18, 2025 at 7:46 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

I chose the wish about seeing the parents - and I chose the epilogue prompt, "When and how do they realize the wish has come true?"

I wanted to give players flexibility at the end to choose a prompt. If the star is granting the wish, I think the star gets to shape what the end-game looks like.

The back side of a Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The text is green. Below the card is a green pen, and above the card are three d6 dice showing the faces 5, 2, and 6.

The text reads: "It takes a while for them to realize that the wish has come true. Some things fall into place slowly - a good deal on a vacation trip, a mileage reward cash-in, the kids get so good at traveling, and then a perfect job opportunity arises that brings them all driving distance apart. It relieves a burden of worry. They are there to help as their parents age. The world of their new life is not perfect, but the extra time makes a huge impact - especially on the parents."

August 2, 2025 at 1:36 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

I'll preface this last card by saying several of my friends have lost pets recently, and they've been on my mind. This wish was "impossible or impractical," and I think that many people make this wish about their beloved furry (or scale-y or feathered or otherwise!) friends. What really got me was-

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish) I wish my cat could live forever.

(Info about the Person) This soul has wanted this wish for a long time - not since they got their cat, because they were a child. But ever since they realized their cat could age. And more specifically, ever since their cat actually began to age.

(Info about the Wish) If the cat were to live forever, they would outlive the hopeful soul - this could make care hard, and may not even be what the cat wanted.

Little red stars are doodled in the top right corner.

August 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

The fifth wish required a sacrifice, and that anchored the entire writing process for this card. I knew going in that this wish to see parents wasn't as simple as being busy. I was thrilled to get story prompts like "What is their day-to-day life like right now?" because I could create that context.

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish) I wish I could see my parents more often.

(Info about the Person) Their life is so busy, and it really keeps them anchored on the West Coast USA - their family lives overseas, so even scheduling virtual time is difficult, but to be in person is hard for both time and money.

(Info about the Wish) This wish would positively impact the whole family - the hopeful soul, their parents, their children. It would mean that they all get more time together making core memories.

Little red stars are doodled on the left side of the card.

August 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

This card was tricky. I thought that this Hopeful Soul would feel really sympathetic, but as soon as I started writing my answers to the questions "What larger challenge are they trying to overcome" and "What subtext do you know is missing from the wish?" I realized I was fighting an uphill battle.

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish) I wish I had gotten into my first-choice college.

(Info about the Person) This person really wanted the opportunities that would have come w/ this college - the networking, funding, etc - but also their best friend DID get in, and that stings.

(Info about the Wish) The big subtext is that this person did get into other schools… just not this one. And they got into a less expensive (fewer loans) school - nearby this one.

Tiny red stars are doodled on the right hand side under the purple text.

August 2, 2025 at 1:16 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

This wish's prompts were sorrowful, about the world, and expressing a regret. It was one of my favorites to expand on with the later prompts, but I didn't feel amazing about it when I generated it. It's interesting b/c the purple text is response to the question, "Would it be possible to achieve-

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish, blue text) I wish I had gone out traveling the world when I had the chance.

(Info about the Person, purple text) It would probably be possible but much more slowly and with big compromises. Like, they would have to save money and prioritize how they spent their money. So, possible, but not super duper likely. :(

(Info about the Wish, aqua text) This wish is special because the Hopeful Soul has actually never been on an airplane before, so this would potentially be their first opportunity.

Red stars are doodled on the right side of the card along the edge.

August 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Because you're limited to a single index card for each star, you have to be pretty deliberate and concise with your phrasing. This second card, I realized I was starting to get a little ramble-y in my word choices - but to be fair, I have empathy for this soul trapped in the world of online dating!

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish, blue text) I wish for this date to go really well!!

(Info about the Person, purple text) Yes! This person believes it *could* come true, but honestly, they aren’t expecting it to. The date seems nice and kinda funny, and they met online, so who knows, but it does seem like a possibility.

(Info about the Wish, aqua text) This wish makes me think about how so many sweet little wishes get lost in space and time, and maybe don’t get answered - but those little wishes are so possible, maybe they happen anyway.

Little red stars are doodled between the purple and aqua text on the right side of the card.

August 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

In BWOS, you play a star who listens to wishes made at night, and gets to choose one to grant. Wishes are generated via a series of prompts - this first wish felt "desiring or yearning," was about "a life event or opportunity" and also "was unfair to others."

A Wish Card for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight. The color-coded writing on the card reads:

(The Wish, blue text) I want to get the promotion at work.

(Context, green text) An arrow pointing towards the circled text that says “Unqualified.”

(Info about the Person, purple text) This voice is new to me, I have never heard from them before.

(More Info, green text) They hate their current role, and they think a promotion would fix that.

(Information about the Wish, aqua text) I hear wishes like this all the time - and the thing is, I can’t promote everyone!

Little red stars are doodled in the bottom left corner.

August 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

It's Saturday morning, I've got my coffee, and I'm ready to share my playtest from my latest game, By Way Of Starlight, a #solorpg.

maggiemahoney.itch.io/by-way-of-st...

I'm uploading a pic here, but I'm going to add photos in a thread b/c it's the only way to fit all the alt text.

Six index cards on a wooden tabletop. Each card has blue circled text in the center & color coded text around it, with star doodles. The cards are surrounded by colorful d6 dice and colorful pens. They are Wish Cards for a playtest of By Way Of Starlight.

The Wish is the circled blue text in the center of each card.
The text that provides more information about the wishes is written in aqua and purple ink, and takes up the rest of the space on the index cards.
The star doodles are in red pen.

The six wishes are:
- I want to get the promotion at work.
- I wish for this date to go really well!!
- I wish I had gone out traveling the world when I had the chance.
- I wish I had gotten into my first-choice college.
- I wish I could see my parents more often.
- I wish my cat could live forever.

More specific breakdowns of the rest of the text on each card are provided in the other pictures in this thread due to character limits for alt text.

August 2, 2025 at 12:53 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Working on a solo game for #1pRPGjam where you play a star fielding wishes from people... and it's finally cooking to the point where it'll be done soon but I'm struggling with a name. So while I sit here wishing (lol) for bsky to add a solid poll feature, I'd love to know your pick of these titles.

Screenshot of a Discord poll, where the three options are: "Star Light, Star Bright," "First Star I See Tonight," and "By Way Of Starlight." No poll option is selected in this screenshot.

July 28, 2025 at 2:21 AM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Had the honor of creating a custom Little Quests for a friend’s wedding, and it was so much fun!

Would love to do another - if you’re getting married and want me to customize a lil zine game for you to print and fold, hit me up I guess?

maggiemahoney.itch.io/little-quest...

Bold, black font reads “Little Quests for Jenn & Adam’s Wedding Guests - a party game by Maggie Mahoney.” Doodled confetti (small rectangles, circles, and spirals) is scattered around the text.

This is the custom cover of the linked game.

June 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

The sourdough was fine, by the way.

A freshly-baked sourdough boule on a wire cooling rack. It has two long curved score lines, banneton marks, and it's got good color, golden and brown. (Plus residual rice flour from the banneton basket.) An aqua potholder and an aqua dough scraper are just visible at the edges of the photo.

June 2, 2025 at 1:36 AM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Just Passing Through is about two friends with very different lives. It's a great duet #ttrpg for:

🍵 A cozy session w/ little writing and no math
👥 Fun, improvisational character creation
⏸️ An interlude in a larger campaign

maggiemahoney.itch.io/just-passing...

v2 on @itch.io! #selfpromosaturday

Pages 2-3 of Just Passing Through. Left side page is an ink drawing of a simple compass with the needle pointing north/northeast. To the right, is the following instructional text:

Getting Started

Just Passing Through is a game about old friends catching up after their lives have taken very different but equally meaningful directions - one on magical adventures, and one staying home.

It is played in four parts: Creation, Conversation, Conclusion, and Contemplation. Players will create decks for two roles (the Voyager and the Villager) and draw cards that correspond to prompts in this rulebook in order to:
- Build a shared understanding of their world.
- Take turns using prompts to have a conversation about their characters’ lives, experiences, and connections.
- Have their characters say goodbye to each other, and reflect on what they’ll carry with them from this conversation.

You Will Need
- A deck of playing cards with jokers
- A handful of tokens (shiny stones, pennies, acorns, etc.)
- At least 40 minutes for an engaging conversation
- A comfortable space to sit together
- An easy way for both players to access the game
- A warm beverage for each player
- The safety tool(s) of your choice
- Character sheets for each player

Optional:
- You may want to either record or take notes on your game.
- If you are playing this game as an extension of a different game, bring your character sheet(s) from that game to help with Character Creation.
- If the weather is warm, you may prefer a cold beverage.

The Quick Reference guide from the back cover of the game book. The following text with no images:

Quick Reference

CREATION (page 13)
- Answer questions together as co-authors.
- These questions help define the world, town, and the connection between your characters.

CONVERSATION (page 14)
- Players take turns drawing number cards from their Conversation Deck, and create a story to tell or ask a question corresponding to the card (a prompt).
- At any point, a player may claim a Push Token to challenge another player’s response or invite them to complicate it.
- If a Joker is drawn, instead of answering a prompt, the players role-play an Interlude scene (page 15).
CONCLUSION (page 16)
- When all Push Tokens have been claimed (except for short games), or when all cards in both players’ decks have been drawn and answered, both players conclude the conversation together.
- The player with the most tokens initiates the departure, providing the reason.
- The player with the fewest tokens brings a callback from the game into the departure scene.

CONTEMPLATION (page 16)
- With the conversation finished, both players should take 5 minutes to wrap up gameplay.
- Answer questions about the experience to bring the game to a satisfying close.

April 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

My cozy duet #ttrpg about conversations between old friends just got released with:

🖌️ New illustrations!
🃏 Revised & new mechanics!
❓ 50+ storytelling prompts!
and more.

maggiemahoney.itch.io/just-passing...

Just Passing Through v2 is a major update.
Please help spread the word! 🔁 #CozyFantasy

March 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

Not feeling good about the world. But I like this tree.

A small, bare tree with many branches pointing skyward. At the base of the photo, a cityscape and more trees is seen from afar. The tree branches are covered in snow, stark against a blue sky, and behind the tree, the sun flares out, just visible through the branches.

January 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

I am a full adult in my 30s and still, sometimes, when I walk to my job at the library, I feel like Matilda on HER way to the library for the first time.

December 4, 2024 at 3:39 PM

Maggie 🇵🇸

@magathachristie.bsky.social

I have created a new iteration of the Little Quests game - this one is for CONVENTION GUESTS, so if you're on your way to #PaxUnplugged... maybe grab a copy. This 8-page zine can be printed double-sided with a certificate of achievement pre-signed by yours truly!

maggiemcgee.itch.io/little-quest...