David Doughty
@sleepypenguin.bsky.social
Indie game, web & VR/AR/MR developer, TTRPG DM and author.
Maine, USA
Maine, USA
Reposted by David Doughty
props to WSJ for once on a useful notion, ADMIN PARTY for everybody
November 15, 2025 at 2:11 PM
props to WSJ for once on a useful notion, ADMIN PARTY for everybody
Reposted by David Doughty
Core to the Motif approach is dice labels (or "flavors" in Motif-speak). It's really one of my favorite things! (And I love seeing other designers use dice labels.) Each die is a unique factor. Explore these #TTRPGThoughts with me!
thoughtpunks.com/dic...
#TTRPG #IndieDev
thoughtpunks.com/dic...
#TTRPG #IndieDev
Dice Labels: The Heart of the Motif Approach
Thinking About Dice Labels and Narrative Dice in Motif
Also check out the free RPG I was inspired to share from my slushpile by this post!
When it comes to TTRPGs, rolling dice is often about success and failure. But what if the dice could do more? What if they could weave a rich, story-driv
thoughtpunks.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Core to the Motif approach is dice labels (or "flavors" in Motif-speak). It's really one of my favorite things! (And I love seeing other designers use dice labels.) Each die is a unique factor. Explore these #TTRPGThoughts with me!
thoughtpunks.com/dic...
#TTRPG #IndieDev
thoughtpunks.com/dic...
#TTRPG #IndieDev
Reposted by David Doughty
Want to get your character done before Christmas? I'm down to my LAST TWO SLOTS, and I already started booking larger commissions to 2026.
Book here for 30% off: flygohr.com#booking
I'm also offering FLYGOHR GIFT COUPONS, valid all year 2026 🙌🏻
All info: ckarchive.com/b/n4uohvhxro...
Book here for 30% off: flygohr.com#booking
I'm also offering FLYGOHR GIFT COUPONS, valid all year 2026 🙌🏻
All info: ckarchive.com/b/n4uohvhxro...
November 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Want to get your character done before Christmas? I'm down to my LAST TWO SLOTS, and I already started booking larger commissions to 2026.
Book here for 30% off: flygohr.com#booking
I'm also offering FLYGOHR GIFT COUPONS, valid all year 2026 🙌🏻
All info: ckarchive.com/b/n4uohvhxro...
Book here for 30% off: flygohr.com#booking
I'm also offering FLYGOHR GIFT COUPONS, valid all year 2026 🙌🏻
All info: ckarchive.com/b/n4uohvhxro...
So proud to be working on this!
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
So proud to be working on this!
Reposted by David Doughty
Games industry veteran Alyssa Kollgaard has put together a tool called Publisher Pathfinder, which guides developers towards publishing partners and investors that match their game's needs.
www.gamesindustry.biz/publisher-pa...
www.gamesindustry.biz/publisher-pa...
Publisher Pathfinder is a new tool to help developers find publishing partners and investors
Styled as an old-school text adventure game, the tool includes a database of nearly 800 companies
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Games industry veteran Alyssa Kollgaard has put together a tool called Publisher Pathfinder, which guides developers towards publishing partners and investors that match their game's needs.
www.gamesindustry.biz/publisher-pa...
www.gamesindustry.biz/publisher-pa...
Reposted by David Doughty
Though we’ve always struggled to keep our heads just above water, I’m so grateful to still be making ttrpgs full time, creating worlds inspired by my favourite media, and working with some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Creativity is so important in this capitalist nightmare. Keep exploring! 💛
November 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Though we’ve always struggled to keep our heads just above water, I’m so grateful to still be making ttrpgs full time, creating worlds inspired by my favourite media, and working with some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Creativity is so important in this capitalist nightmare. Keep exploring! 💛
Reposted by David Doughty
"Postcards from Ancient #Mars: Isotopes Illuminate Early Martian Climate"
New analysis of chemical signatures measured by NASA's #Curiosity Rover gives a peek at Mars' past to a time, some 3.7 billion years ago, when it was warmer and wetter.
#RedPlanet #Caltech
New analysis of chemical signatures measured by NASA's #Curiosity Rover gives a peek at Mars' past to a time, some 3.7 billion years ago, when it was warmer and wetter.
#RedPlanet #Caltech
Postcards from Ancient Mars: Isotopes Illuminate Early Martian Climate
Oxygen isotopes measured by the Curiosity Rover signify a lake evaporating on Mars around 3.7 billion years ago.
www.caltech.edu
November 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
"Postcards from Ancient #Mars: Isotopes Illuminate Early Martian Climate"
New analysis of chemical signatures measured by NASA's #Curiosity Rover gives a peek at Mars' past to a time, some 3.7 billion years ago, when it was warmer and wetter.
#RedPlanet #Caltech
New analysis of chemical signatures measured by NASA's #Curiosity Rover gives a peek at Mars' past to a time, some 3.7 billion years ago, when it was warmer and wetter.
#RedPlanet #Caltech
Blustery down by the river today.
November 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Blustery down by the river today.
Reposted by David Doughty
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if you are having an extended text message conversation with someone while you are sitting on a crowded train, you DO NOT NEED YOUR PHONE TO GO PING EVERY TIME THEY REPLY.
November 3, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but if you are having an extended text message conversation with someone while you are sitting on a crowded train, you DO NOT NEED YOUR PHONE TO GO PING EVERY TIME THEY REPLY.
Reposted by David Doughty
Free art by dead people. 👻🎨🖌️
Using public domain art in tabletop game design: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-dom... (Part 1 of 2)
#ttrpg #boardgames #gamedesign #publicdomain #art #freeart
Using public domain art in tabletop game design: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-dom... (Part 1 of 2)
#ttrpg #boardgames #gamedesign #publicdomain #art #freeart
Public domain art resources
Using public domain art in tabletop game design
www.skeletoncodemachine.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Free art by dead people. 👻🎨🖌️
Using public domain art in tabletop game design: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-dom... (Part 1 of 2)
#ttrpg #boardgames #gamedesign #publicdomain #art #freeart
Using public domain art in tabletop game design: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-dom... (Part 1 of 2)
#ttrpg #boardgames #gamedesign #publicdomain #art #freeart
Reposted by David Doughty
And they did this when they should have been spending money on air filtration.
Maybe the thing that gives me a pulse-pounding throbbing headache is when I think of how techbros sold ChatGPT to universities as ‘revolutionizing’ higher education and our institutions just forked over money without even asking for actual evidence
When people learn with ChatGPT instead of following their own searches, they end up knowing less, caring less, and producing worse advice, even when the facts are the same.
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Friction is an essential ingredient for learning! Convenience makes us shallow.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
October 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
And they did this when they should have been spending money on air filtration.
Got some welcome feedback on the #DiplosRPG rules from some friends that basically came to "it's confusing", so working on simplifying the rules and explanations. #ttrpg #amwriting
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Got some welcome feedback on the #DiplosRPG rules from some friends that basically came to "it's confusing", so working on simplifying the rules and explanations. #ttrpg #amwriting
Reposted by David Doughty
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by David Doughty
GM Tip:
Narrate failures through the competence of the PCs against a hazardous world.
They're a skilled thief, but the trap is rusted.
They have a glib tongue, but the guard is already being coerced.
They're strong, but even a giant couldn't lift this portcullis.
Narrate failures through the competence of the PCs against a hazardous world.
They're a skilled thief, but the trap is rusted.
They have a glib tongue, but the guard is already being coerced.
They're strong, but even a giant couldn't lift this portcullis.
October 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
GM Tip:
Narrate failures through the competence of the PCs against a hazardous world.
They're a skilled thief, but the trap is rusted.
They have a glib tongue, but the guard is already being coerced.
They're strong, but even a giant couldn't lift this portcullis.
Narrate failures through the competence of the PCs against a hazardous world.
They're a skilled thief, but the trap is rusted.
They have a glib tongue, but the guard is already being coerced.
They're strong, but even a giant couldn't lift this portcullis.
The wife and I have decided the world needs a Muppet version of The Princess Bride with Mary Wiseman as Buttercup.
October 26, 2025 at 12:36 AM
The wife and I have decided the world needs a Muppet version of The Princess Bride with Mary Wiseman as Buttercup.
Saw some nice color along the river this morning.
October 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Saw some nice color along the river this morning.
Reposted by David Doughty
tested negative post gamehole con! thanks to everyone that masked, i tried to give each one of your a compliment. thanks to everyone who picked up a mask from our booth! special thanks to @adambell.games for letting me use the laminar air flow filter, a piece of scifi technology.
October 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
tested negative post gamehole con! thanks to everyone that masked, i tried to give each one of your a compliment. thanks to everyone who picked up a mask from our booth! special thanks to @adambell.games for letting me use the laminar air flow filter, a piece of scifi technology.
Reposted by David Doughty
Break from video editing today and doing some writing instead. Having more than one creative outlet can be a really healthy way to channel your creative spark without falling into the trap of hyper focusing. As you move from one project to the next it's like you're giving parts of your brain a break
October 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Break from video editing today and doing some writing instead. Having more than one creative outlet can be a really healthy way to channel your creative spark without falling into the trap of hyper focusing. As you move from one project to the next it's like you're giving parts of your brain a break
Reposted by David Doughty
Reposted by David Doughty
Some random thoughts
I believe there are three purposes for writing character backstories in TTRPG:
I believe there are three purposes for writing character backstories in TTRPG:
October 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Some random thoughts
I believe there are three purposes for writing character backstories in TTRPG:
I believe there are three purposes for writing character backstories in TTRPG:
Reposted by David Doughty
Important news: I have learnt how to make homemade miso soup, and my power over this realm is now endless.
October 18, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Important news: I have learnt how to make homemade miso soup, and my power over this realm is now endless.
Reposted by David Doughty
Got myself double vax'd today!
I'm prepared to be OUT OF ORDER tomorrow. 😅
Hopefully not, but it's always been hard to tell how I'll be affected by the booster. 🤞
Make sure to set aside some time to get yours! ❤️
I'm prepared to be OUT OF ORDER tomorrow. 😅
Hopefully not, but it's always been hard to tell how I'll be affected by the booster. 🤞
Make sure to set aside some time to get yours! ❤️
October 15, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Got myself double vax'd today!
I'm prepared to be OUT OF ORDER tomorrow. 😅
Hopefully not, but it's always been hard to tell how I'll be affected by the booster. 🤞
Make sure to set aside some time to get yours! ❤️
I'm prepared to be OUT OF ORDER tomorrow. 😅
Hopefully not, but it's always been hard to tell how I'll be affected by the booster. 🤞
Make sure to set aside some time to get yours! ❤️
Reposted by David Doughty
Some of the best TTRPG sessions I've ever had were when unplanned inspiration or events struck. When I first started GMing games I tried to force the action and the drama, and I built set-pieces and events to try and shock and awe my group, who I saw as my audience.
But that's not the way to do it.
But that's not the way to do it.
October 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Some of the best TTRPG sessions I've ever had were when unplanned inspiration or events struck. When I first started GMing games I tried to force the action and the drama, and I built set-pieces and events to try and shock and awe my group, who I saw as my audience.
But that's not the way to do it.
But that's not the way to do it.
Reposted by David Doughty
Steal a film technique for game night, and give your players a scene to remember.
koboldpress.com/homebrew-you...
koboldpress.com/homebrew-you...
Homebrew Your Campaign: These 3 film techniques make your players uneasy
So you want to create your own campaign for your players? You want to craft adventures with thrilling action, compelling characters, and rich plot hooks? With cliffhangers and twists, treachery and re...
koboldpress.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Steal a film technique for game night, and give your players a scene to remember.
koboldpress.com/homebrew-you...
koboldpress.com/homebrew-you...
Reposted by David Doughty
People think that when you become disabled, support magically appears
That once it’s “official” you will have your basic needs met
The truth is people fight for years to get the bare minimum in benefits
Caregivers are nearly impossible to find
If you’re not rich or very lucky… you’re on your own
That once it’s “official” you will have your basic needs met
The truth is people fight for years to get the bare minimum in benefits
Caregivers are nearly impossible to find
If you’re not rich or very lucky… you’re on your own
October 8, 2025 at 10:45 PM
People think that when you become disabled, support magically appears
That once it’s “official” you will have your basic needs met
The truth is people fight for years to get the bare minimum in benefits
Caregivers are nearly impossible to find
If you’re not rich or very lucky… you’re on your own
That once it’s “official” you will have your basic needs met
The truth is people fight for years to get the bare minimum in benefits
Caregivers are nearly impossible to find
If you’re not rich or very lucky… you’re on your own