Merrilee
@merrileebufkin.itch.io
Writer | Certified Fledgling Game Designer | Game & Play Space Enjoyer | ADHD | Queer | Enby
https://merrileebufkin.com/
https://merrileebufkin.com/
Heads up: I live in Mississippi (a tragedy) so I can only open Bluesky through a strange loophole when I’m tagged or sent messages so please no one think I’m dead 💀
October 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Heads up: I live in Mississippi (a tragedy) so I can only open Bluesky through a strange loophole when I’m tagged or sent messages so please no one think I’m dead 💀
Reposted by Merrilee
New Dice Exploder this week: I'm off but @merrileebufkin.itch.io and @jdragsky.bsky.social hold down the fort with an ep all about You Will Die In This Place by @liz-shrikestudio.bsky.social. This ep, like this game, is packed with ideas about gender, the games industry, House of Leaves, and more.
You Will Die In This Place with Merrilee Bufkin and Jay Dragon — Dice Exploder
Last summer a hot new game hit the indie rpg scene: You Will Die In This Place, a surreal and experimental... dungeon crawler? Technically? ...that seems to have more in common with House of Leaves th...
www.diceexploder.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:57 PM
New Dice Exploder this week: I'm off but @merrileebufkin.itch.io and @jdragsky.bsky.social hold down the fort with an ep all about You Will Die In This Place by @liz-shrikestudio.bsky.social. This ep, like this game, is packed with ideas about gender, the games industry, House of Leaves, and more.
Reposted by Merrilee
LESS than 1 week remains in the @diceexploder.com 1 Hour or Less Jam so don't forget @jmstar.bsky.social's advice for writing self-contained #TTRPGs: "Whatever happens, it happens in the span of 1 hour. [...] There are fewer variables and loose ends." #RPGs #GameJam
Dice Exploder - 1 Hour or Less Jam
A game jam from 2025-07-10 to 2025-08-11 hosted by Lady Tabletop, Sam Roberts, sdunnewold & greenbriar. Welcome to the third Dice Exploder game jam! What is Dice Exploder ? Each week, Sam Dunnewold an...
itch.io
August 4, 2025 at 8:17 PM
LESS than 1 week remains in the @diceexploder.com 1 Hour or Less Jam so don't forget @jmstar.bsky.social's advice for writing self-contained #TTRPGs: "Whatever happens, it happens in the span of 1 hour. [...] There are fewer variables and loose ends." #RPGs #GameJam
Reposted by Merrilee
confession: I made this almost a year ago and was afraid to post it
August 4, 2025 at 9:49 PM
confession: I made this almost a year ago and was afraid to post it
Reposted by Merrilee
Hello again, tabletop RPG designers! The second Bannerless Games Tabletop RPG Grant is now taking applications!
I'm looking to award up to 10 grants at $200 apiece.
Applications open until the end of the month. Apply here: bannerless.games/grants
I'm looking to award up to 10 grants at $200 apiece.
Applications open until the end of the month. Apply here: bannerless.games/grants
August 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Hello again, tabletop RPG designers! The second Bannerless Games Tabletop RPG Grant is now taking applications!
I'm looking to award up to 10 grants at $200 apiece.
Applications open until the end of the month. Apply here: bannerless.games/grants
I'm looking to award up to 10 grants at $200 apiece.
Applications open until the end of the month. Apply here: bannerless.games/grants
Reposted by Merrilee
Wow we’re having “games are art” discourse again! Just gonna leave this here.
From my dissertation:
From my dissertation:
August 4, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Wow we’re having “games are art” discourse again! Just gonna leave this here.
From my dissertation:
From my dissertation:
Reposted by Merrilee
I wouldn't shilling so hard if it wasn't an emergency. Had some unexpected expenses this summer (which is the slower season for my household) and we are try to catch up. Please consider grabbing EVERY PAID GAME I HAVE for $15 bucks and/or sharing this around.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
August 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I wouldn't shilling so hard if it wasn't an emergency. Had some unexpected expenses this summer (which is the slower season for my household) and we are try to catch up. Please consider grabbing EVERY PAID GAME I HAVE for $15 bucks and/or sharing this around.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
Reposted by Merrilee
Games I Want to Play That AREN’T D&D — Orbital Blues: The Wanderer
Solo rules for sad space cowboys by @moreblueberries.bsky.social @soulmuppet.co.uk
Solo rules for sad space cowboys by @moreblueberries.bsky.social @soulmuppet.co.uk
July 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Games I Want to Play That AREN’T D&D — Orbital Blues: The Wanderer
Solo rules for sad space cowboys by @moreblueberries.bsky.social @soulmuppet.co.uk
Solo rules for sad space cowboys by @moreblueberries.bsky.social @soulmuppet.co.uk
Reposted by Merrilee
Chase Taylor-Carter interviews @hatchlingdm.itch.io about Underisles, the capstone book in their trilogy of games designed to teach the basics of sign language and Deaf culture, talking about educational games, growth, patience, and how to deal with creative burnout.
Inspirisles creators wave goodbye to popular sign language RPG with third book
Signing off, for now.
www.rascal.news
July 22, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Chase Taylor-Carter interviews @hatchlingdm.itch.io about Underisles, the capstone book in their trilogy of games designed to teach the basics of sign language and Deaf culture, talking about educational games, growth, patience, and how to deal with creative burnout.
Reposted by Merrilee
Daggerheart, more extensive thoughts: This game understands D&D. It nailed the vibe without trying to replicate the mechanics. Playing Daggerheart felt like playing the D&D everyone dreams of. It’s all the fun stuff and none of the “does a 23 hit? No? Okay, that’s my entire turn.”
Just played a Daggerheart one shot. Conclusion: It's very good.
June 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Daggerheart, more extensive thoughts: This game understands D&D. It nailed the vibe without trying to replicate the mechanics. Playing Daggerheart felt like playing the D&D everyone dreams of. It’s all the fun stuff and none of the “does a 23 hit? No? Okay, that’s my entire turn.”
Reposted by Merrilee
DAILY REMINDER:
VOTE FOR YAZEBAS BNB AND HIS MAJESTY THE WORM SO I CAN WIN TWO ENNIES IN THE SAME YEAR.
IT WOULD BE:
-COOL
-NICE
-SUPER RAD
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
VOTE FOR YAZEBAS BNB AND HIS MAJESTY THE WORM SO I CAN WIN TWO ENNIES IN THE SAME YEAR.
IT WOULD BE:
-COOL
-NICE
-SUPER RAD
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
Before voting, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the products and judges. Clicking on a product's title will take you to its publisher's websites, allowing you to learn more about that product.
vote.ennie-awards.com
July 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
DAILY REMINDER:
VOTE FOR YAZEBAS BNB AND HIS MAJESTY THE WORM SO I CAN WIN TWO ENNIES IN THE SAME YEAR.
IT WOULD BE:
-COOL
-NICE
-SUPER RAD
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
VOTE FOR YAZEBAS BNB AND HIS MAJESTY THE WORM SO I CAN WIN TWO ENNIES IN THE SAME YEAR.
IT WOULD BE:
-COOL
-NICE
-SUPER RAD
vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2025/
Reposted by Merrilee
ESPN starting the day strong with one hell of a take; the ttrpg discourse will burn for days and be visible for miles.
July 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
ESPN starting the day strong with one hell of a take; the ttrpg discourse will burn for days and be visible for miles.
Reposted by Merrilee
Check out the Afterimage podcast on @diceexploder.com’s website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Thank you to Sam for sharing this beautiful story of your playthrough of City of Winter ❤️ #ttrpgs #storygames #podcast
July 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Check out the Afterimage podcast on @diceexploder.com’s website, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Thank you to Sam for sharing this beautiful story of your playthrough of City of Winter ❤️ #ttrpgs #storygames #podcast
Reposted by Merrilee
Help me survive the summer with the SUMMER SURVIVAL SALE.
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
Not Writing Games Summer Survival Sale by NotWriting
A bundle by NotWriting, $50.00 for 31 games
itch.io
July 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Help me survive the summer with the SUMMER SURVIVAL SALE.
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
All my games are half-off for the month of July so that I can keep living and paying bills.
Don’t got money? Share the sale! Post about my games! Everything and anything helps! Thank you!
itch.io/s/156160/not...
Reposted by Merrilee
Hey I threw up 50 community copies of VOID 1680 AM just for fun. Go check out my award-winning playlist building game you can submit to be broadcast on the air and on YouTube!
bannerless.games/voidam
bannerless.games/voidam
VOID 1680 AM by Bannerless Games
A solo playlist building game about being a lone voice in the dark.
bannerless.games
July 4, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Hey I threw up 50 community copies of VOID 1680 AM just for fun. Go check out my award-winning playlist building game you can submit to be broadcast on the air and on YouTube!
bannerless.games/voidam
bannerless.games/voidam
Reposted by Merrilee
As promised, here’s a TTRPG use for a cassette case:
Print some cards, pop them in M:tG sleeves, and boom—point crawl, dungeon crawl, or an NPC kit for a solo game. 40 sleeves, 3d6, 3 tokens/coins.
Cards:
-Deck of Point Crawl Locations is from SoloRPG
-ICRPG Cards Vol. 2 are from RUNEHAMMER GAMES
Print some cards, pop them in M:tG sleeves, and boom—point crawl, dungeon crawl, or an NPC kit for a solo game. 40 sleeves, 3d6, 3 tokens/coins.
Cards:
-Deck of Point Crawl Locations is from SoloRPG
-ICRPG Cards Vol. 2 are from RUNEHAMMER GAMES
June 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As promised, here’s a TTRPG use for a cassette case:
Print some cards, pop them in M:tG sleeves, and boom—point crawl, dungeon crawl, or an NPC kit for a solo game. 40 sleeves, 3d6, 3 tokens/coins.
Cards:
-Deck of Point Crawl Locations is from SoloRPG
-ICRPG Cards Vol. 2 are from RUNEHAMMER GAMES
Print some cards, pop them in M:tG sleeves, and boom—point crawl, dungeon crawl, or an NPC kit for a solo game. 40 sleeves, 3d6, 3 tokens/coins.
Cards:
-Deck of Point Crawl Locations is from SoloRPG
-ICRPG Cards Vol. 2 are from RUNEHAMMER GAMES
Reposted by Merrilee
New episode of Dice Exploder Afterimage, this time about City of Winter from @heartofthedeernicorn.com.
I found this game causing me to reflect on my own life, legacy, mortality, and need to make art at a particularly poignant time in my life. It's a beautiful game.
I found this game causing me to reflect on my own life, legacy, mortality, and need to make art at a particularly poignant time in my life. It's a beautiful game.
Afterimage #2: City of Winter — Dice Exploder
I have a box full of memories that lives in my closet, a pair of drumsticks, a half smoked cigar, a thimble full of sand from a beach I've never been to. If I passed away and you were cleaning ou...
www.diceexploder.com
June 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
New episode of Dice Exploder Afterimage, this time about City of Winter from @heartofthedeernicorn.com.
I found this game causing me to reflect on my own life, legacy, mortality, and need to make art at a particularly poignant time in my life. It's a beautiful game.
I found this game causing me to reflect on my own life, legacy, mortality, and need to make art at a particularly poignant time in my life. It's a beautiful game.
Reposted by Merrilee
One thing you will never think after reading a great book or listening to a great album or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious while they were making this and guarded against being perceived as weird.”
June 20, 2025 at 2:36 PM
One thing you will never think after reading a great book or listening to a great album or seeing a great piece of art is, “I’m really glad this person remained cautious while they were making this and guarded against being perceived as weird.”
Reposted by Merrilee
Human the Masquerade is finally available for free. So please stop paging me.
rahrahstorytime.itch.io/humanthemasq...
rahrahstorytime.itch.io/humanthemasq...
June 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Human the Masquerade is finally available for free. So please stop paging me.
rahrahstorytime.itch.io/humanthemasq...
rahrahstorytime.itch.io/humanthemasq...
Reposted by Merrilee
Everyone else has already mentioned Salvaterra, but they may not know he has assembled an entire starter pack full of TTRPG stock artists because there's so many great ones already here on BSky!
I really like these Patreons:
@evlynmoreau.bsky.social
@hairic.bsky.social
@bertdrawsstuff.bsky.social
I really like these Patreons:
@evlynmoreau.bsky.social
@hairic.bsky.social
@bertdrawsstuff.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Everyone else has already mentioned Salvaterra, but they may not know he has assembled an entire starter pack full of TTRPG stock artists because there's so many great ones already here on BSky!
I really like these Patreons:
@evlynmoreau.bsky.social
@hairic.bsky.social
@bertdrawsstuff.bsky.social
I really like these Patreons:
@evlynmoreau.bsky.social
@hairic.bsky.social
@bertdrawsstuff.bsky.social
Reposted by Merrilee
You Will Die In This Place was selected for Gamefound's RPG Party. I'm going to be honest, it came as quite the surprise in what has been a surprising week (I may have forgotten that I even submitted it).
Preview page should go live later this month. Aiming to fund physical copies.
Preview page should go live later this month. Aiming to fund physical copies.
June 15, 2025 at 8:41 PM
You Will Die In This Place was selected for Gamefound's RPG Party. I'm going to be honest, it came as quite the surprise in what has been a surprising week (I may have forgotten that I even submitted it).
Preview page should go live later this month. Aiming to fund physical copies.
Preview page should go live later this month. Aiming to fund physical copies.
I did a lil write up of all the very complicated, very big thoughts that You Will Die In This Place brought up for me !!! It's a great game, check it out!
merrileebufkin.substack.com/p/you-will-d...
merrileebufkin.substack.com/p/you-will-d...
You Will Die In This Place
Gender, Nihilism, and Interpretation
merrileebufkin.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I did a lil write up of all the very complicated, very big thoughts that You Will Die In This Place brought up for me !!! It's a great game, check it out!
merrileebufkin.substack.com/p/you-will-d...
merrileebufkin.substack.com/p/you-will-d...
Reposted by Merrilee
fuckkkk dude i hate it when the crimson king banishes my gay ass to the cyclopean abyssal labyrinth !!! ughhhhh this keeps happening to me
June 16, 2025 at 3:19 AM
fuckkkk dude i hate it when the crimson king banishes my gay ass to the cyclopean abyssal labyrinth !!! ughhhhh this keeps happening to me
Reposted by Merrilee
just finished reading You Will Die In This Place, and as someone who wrote their senior thesis paper on House of Leaves and Borgesian fiction I have SO many thoughts.
A really really cool piece of work that I can't wait to watch evolve into its final form
liz-shrikestudio.itch.io/you-will-die...
A really really cool piece of work that I can't wait to watch evolve into its final form
liz-shrikestudio.itch.io/you-will-die...
You Will Die In This Place (development preview) by Liz
A nihilistic dungeon crawler about death, art and identity.
liz-shrikestudio.itch.io
June 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
just finished reading You Will Die In This Place, and as someone who wrote their senior thesis paper on House of Leaves and Borgesian fiction I have SO many thoughts.
A really really cool piece of work that I can't wait to watch evolve into its final form
liz-shrikestudio.itch.io/you-will-die...
A really really cool piece of work that I can't wait to watch evolve into its final form
liz-shrikestudio.itch.io/you-will-die...