Shawn Tomkin
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shawntomkin.bsky.social
Shawn Tomkin
@shawntomkin.bsky.social
4.5K followers 680 following 1K posts
Creator of the Ironsworn family of TTRPGs. Contributor to The One Ring, Dragonbane, and more. Banner art by Joshua Meehan.

Games & Downloads: tomkinpress.com
Discord: discord.gg/8bRuZwK
DriveThruRPG: bit.ly/tomkin-drivethrurpg
Itch: bit.ly/tomkin-itch
Posts Replies Media Videos
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Me girding up to make an /r/rpg post.
A snapshot of a scene from The Two Towers, in which King Gamling helps prepare King Theoden for battle. The caption reads "to whatever end."
October 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Looking for Ironsworn: Starforged asset cards? Unfortunately, they are out of stock. As a stopgap while I try to source a new printer, and to ensure they are perpetually available in some format, I now also have the asset deck available via @drivethrurpg.com.

www.drivethrurpg.com/product/5384...
A mockup of a stack of Ironsworn: Starforged asset cards. The front face of the cards features an icon, a design element of scattered hexagons of various colors, and the text description of abilities. The backside features a planet illustration against a red nebula background. A mockup of "In Control" (blue, with a checkmark icon) and "In a Bad Spot" (red, with an X icon) cards for Ironsworn: Starforged.
October 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Busy feeder at sunset. The perched hummingbird spends its day chasing everyone else away, but it deigned to let others gather for a few minutes. So generous.
A photograph of a red hummingbird feeder with a trio of hummingbirds -- two perched and one in flight. In the background, Mount Rainier is lit by the setting sun.
October 14, 2025 at 1:39 AM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Celebrate spooky seas(on) with Sundered Isles, the epic seafaring expansion for Ironsworn: Starforged. Includes a bounty of random generators for ghost ships, cursed treasures, forsaken isles, and more.

Digital Edition is 33% off via my store, Itch, or DTRPG.

tomkinpress.com/sundered-digital
An illustration of a ghostly ship with tattered sails and a maw-like prow. It is sailing among storm-tossed seas against a gray sky, and emitting a pallid green light. Art credit: Vyacheslav Milinchuk,
October 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Hummingbird grabbing an early breakfast.
A photograph of a hummingbird at a feeder. The hummingbird is silhouetted against an orange sunrise. In the background, Mount Rainier dominates the landscape.
September 27, 2025 at 2:05 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Very scientific.
A line chart showing "How old I am" in the X plane, and "Amount of enjoyment I derive from watching birds" in the Y plane. The line quickly peaks in the low range of "How old I am", then drops back down and flatlines until it peaks again at implied old age.
September 8, 2025 at 5:11 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Rereading this thread, that's a very awkward and-and sentence that spans the two posts. Would gen-AI have used such clumsy wording? Perhaps not.

But...
A screen capture from the Superman movie, showing the titular Superman from the shoulders up. The text caption reads "That is being human, and that's my greatest strength."
September 3, 2025 at 12:41 AM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Find someone who listens to your harebrained schemes with polite incredulity.

(Grand Designs is on YouTube, and I've been binging)
Kevin McCloud, the host of the UK television show "Grand Designs", is standing outside wearing a windbreaker. A person stands in the foreground with their back to the camera, and Kevin is listening to them with a slightly bemused expression.
August 15, 2025 at 5:18 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Has anyone else tried out a vertical mouse? I bought one on a whim. Supposedly good for reducing wrist strain. Took a few hours to get acclimated, but I like it. Trying to go back to the claw grip mouse now feels clumsy.

I don't know if it's really all that ergonomic, though.
A photograph of a vertical-oriented mouse and a USB dongle.
August 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Ironsworn: Starforged and its seafaring expansion (Sundered Isles) are at Gen Con! Check out the Modiphius booth #1429 for the deluxe edition hardcover rulebook, character asset decks, and table-friendly, wirebound guides.

#gencon2025 #ttrpg
A photo of bookshelves in a trade show booth, showing Ironsworn: Starforged and Sundered Isles among other products.
August 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
My heart dwells in the weird little indie TTRPG universe, but I'm impressed by the new wave of big heroic fantasy games: Daggerheart, Draw Steel, and the Cosmere RPG. Each has lavish production values, a clear design intent and ethos, and fun, interesting mechanics. Good stuff.
The cover of the Daggerheart RPG, showing a mix of fantasy characters arranged like a movie poster. The cover of the Draw Steel RPG, showing an array of warriors in a fight against a variety of fearsome foes.
July 31, 2025 at 11:57 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
I won't be at GenCon, but Starforged will be! Visit @modiphius.bsky.social at booth 1429 for the complete Starforged & Sundered Isles kit.
An arrangement of Starforged and Sundered Isles books and cards against a gray background. Includes the GenCon and Modiphius logos, and a reference to booth #1429.
July 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Watched A Monster Calls (2016) on a whim. All I knew was that Liam Neeson was voicing the titular monster. Figured it'd be some fluffy coming-of-age hijinks with a kid and their found friend.

My friends, this movie broke me. It was fantastic, but emotionally devastating for a softie like me.
The film poster for "A Monster Calls". It shows a boy in a school uniform nestled against the base of a tree. A giant hand reaches down from above.
July 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Happy 7th birthday to Ironsworn! Officially released at @drivethrurpg.com on this day in 2018. Thank you to everyone who supported the game, whether you were there from the start or discovered it only recently.

The Digital Edition is always free to download: tomkinpress.com

#ttrpg
The Ironsworn cover image, which shows a kneeling warrior grasping a sword that flames red-hot at its tip. The image is modified to show the warrior stabbing the sword into a birthday cake with 7 candles.
July 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
I blocked this user, so my reply isn't on the post anymore. However, since they tagged starforged, I just want to go on record as saying that this is some despicable shit. This person is not welcome in the community, and I just banned their account on the Ironsworn Discord.
The post reads: The truth was, there was no way someone would ask how I would run Alligator Alcatraz as a TTRPG setup without immediately putting together some Starforged elements. The women-in-prison exploitation film references are just a bonus. The text reads: Illegal Alien (Dangerous; Formidable in groups) Features: Unintelligible language Orange jumpsuit Shackles Drives: Escape Aggression Organize in Gangs Tactics: Shiv from behind Brave only in groups Dogpile
July 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Happy 50th anniversary, Jaws!

I saw it opening night when I was 9 years old (oh, the halcyon days before PG-13). Still my fav movie.
The one-sheet poster for the movie Jaws, showing a great white shark rising toward a swimmer.
June 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Let's dig into Ironsworn: Lodestar pay-what-you-want numbers!

After 1 day, Lodestar is presently sitting at #2 on the DTRPG bestselling list, bookended by Daggerheart. Not bad for a PWYW product! How does that break down, though? ... 🧵
A screen capture of the DriveThruRPG homepage, showing Ironsworn Lodestar as the #2 bestselling title.
June 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Here's my little PYYW product cozying up with Daggerheart on the @drivethrurpg.com bestselling list.
A screen capture of the DTRPG homepage, showing Daggerheart as the #1 seller followed by Ironsworn: Lodestar at #2.
June 3, 2025 at 5:47 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Digital bonuses!

The Lodestar digital edition includes a glorious new illustrated map of the Ironlands by @damienmammoliti.bsky.social and an illustrated character sheet by @meishali.bsky.social. Both are a big time glowup from previous versions.
A mockup of a poster map, showing the Ironlands penninsula. The ironsworn illustrated character sheet.
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Pay what you want? In this economy?

Yes! Ironsworn: Lodestar is PWYW via @drivethrurpg.com. You can get the PDF at no cost, and purchase the hardcover or softcover print versions for a price as low as the cost of printing + shipping. Set your own price over these minimums to show your support.
A mockup of Ironsworn: Lodestar, showing an adventurer standing atop a high rock, holding a medallion with an eight-pointed star.
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
What the heck is Lodestar?

Lodestar is a quick reference guide for the Ironsworn #ttrpg. It includes the essential rules, moves, setting info, and oracle tables in a streamlined format for convenient reference during play. it's everything you need to keep your story moving in a sleek 99 pages.
A mockup of the coilbound edition of Ironsworn: Lodestar. A mockup of an interior spread for Ironsworn: Lodestar, showing settlement oracles.
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
The expanded and updated version of Ironsworn: Lodestar is now available!

tomkinpress.com/lodestar

This new edition of the Ironsworn reference guide adds the much-requested key content from the Delve expansion, extra gameplay options, an array of new and enhanced oracle tables, and more.
A promotional image for Ironsworn: Lodestar. The cover art shows an adventurer grasping a medallion with an eight-pointed star. The text reads: "Ironsworn: Lodestar - The expanded reference guide for the Ironsworn RPG. Available Now in Digital & Print"
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Was trying to film a catch-up video on Ironsworn releases, but I'm a bumbling idiot, so I gave up after 20 takes. It did give me an excuse to assemble piles of Ironsworn stuff, and to be reminded of how appreciative I am for the support and encouragement that enables me to make these games. Thanks!
A photograph of Ironsworn books and cards, including Ironsworn, Ironsworn: Starforged, and Sundered Isles
June 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
Starforged spotted by @deren-o.bsky.social at UKGE.
A photograph of the Modiphius booth at UK Games Expo. In the foreground is the Ironsworn: Starforged hardcover rulebook.
May 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
shawntomkin.bsky.social
The game does have a lot of tokens bouncing around. Fear and hope, for example. And some abilities use tokens.

The "Character tokens" that you add to a roll seem to be pretty much stat + modifiers.

But I've just been skimming, so could be wrong :)
The text reads: Once you declare what modifiers you’re applying to your action roll, grab that many character tokens. Tokens aren’t dice; they’re counters you add to your hand to help total your results. Before you roll, total the sum of all of your modifiers and grab that many tokens. For example, if you have a −1 to Agility and a +2 modifier from an Experience you’re utilizing, you have a +1 total modifier to the roll, so set aside 1 token to represent that.
May 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM