Irene Zielinski
@spacejob.bsky.social
TTRPG designer, creator of Scurvy Buggers, game developer and general henchman at Steve Jackson Games. Occasionally on tiktok. spacejob.itch.io ⚢
Pinned
Irene Zielinski
@spacejob.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Hi! I'm Irene Zielinski, a TTRPG designer based in Atlanta. I wrote Scurvy Buggers, a troupe-style found family dramedy set in the Golden Age of Piracy. By day, I'm a game developer at Steve Jackson Games.
I'm mostly here to talk about games, but there will likely be some other nonsense here too.
I'm mostly here to talk about games, but there will likely be some other nonsense here too.
Thanks so much for the very fun chat!
This month, we chat with Irene Zielinski of @stevejacksongames.bsky.social about identity, queer fashion, indie TTRPGs, & Scurvy Buggers, a game about found family. From painting minis to editing for Dahlia’s Diversions for Peculiar Parties, Irene brings joy & insight to every project. Link in Bio.
August 8, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Thanks so much for the very fun chat!
I just accidentally emailed a trrpg designer friend from my roller derby email address. I don't know whether to be thrilled or mortified that they immediately and intuitively knew that Maxx Damage was me.
August 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
I just accidentally emailed a trrpg designer friend from my roller derby email address. I don't know whether to be thrilled or mortified that they immediately and intuitively knew that Maxx Damage was me.
carrying around a commander deck at gen con with the same energy as a teenager keeping condoms in his wallet – am I gonna get to use this? probably not! but if the opportunity arises and I find myself unprepared, I will never forgive myself (I just started playing magic again)
August 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
carrying around a commander deck at gen con with the same energy as a teenager keeping condoms in his wallet – am I gonna get to use this? probably not! but if the opportunity arises and I find myself unprepared, I will never forgive myself (I just started playing magic again)
anybody doing Fancy Ennies this year? are we still trying to make that happen?
July 29, 2025 at 1:41 AM
anybody doing Fancy Ennies this year? are we still trying to make that happen?
RIP to my trusty starter fountain pen – my beloved standard fine nib black pilot metropolitan, which served me faithfully for seven years.
July 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
RIP to my trusty starter fountain pen – my beloved standard fine nib black pilot metropolitan, which served me faithfully for seven years.
ok who was gonna tell me that learning to ride a unicycle is really hard
July 20, 2025 at 3:57 AM
ok who was gonna tell me that learning to ride a unicycle is really hard
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
Are you a PoC creator attending Gamehole Con? @glyphtide.games & I are hosting an industry dinner (sponsored by Monte Cook Games ❤️🔥) to foster community and help POC creators connect w/ mentorship and opportunities!
If you are or know anyone who would benefit, apply! Apps close 7/23: bit.ly/ghcpoc25
If you are or know anyone who would benefit, apply! Apps close 7/23: bit.ly/ghcpoc25
July 16, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Are you a PoC creator attending Gamehole Con? @glyphtide.games & I are hosting an industry dinner (sponsored by Monte Cook Games ❤️🔥) to foster community and help POC creators connect w/ mentorship and opportunities!
If you are or know anyone who would benefit, apply! Apps close 7/23: bit.ly/ghcpoc25
If you are or know anyone who would benefit, apply! Apps close 7/23: bit.ly/ghcpoc25
after my summer buzz cut, my beard is longer than my head hair #hotgirlsummer
July 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
after my summer buzz cut, my beard is longer than my head hair #hotgirlsummer
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
a work is feminist if two women are cuddling and making out and optionally nibbling each others flesh and tasting each other etc.
July 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
a work is feminist if two women are cuddling and making out and optionally nibbling each others flesh and tasting each other etc.
I'm going back to roller derby this month to see if that fixes my brain.
June 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I'm going back to roller derby this month to see if that fixes my brain.
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
Supremes say parents can opt out of letting their kids listen to LGBTQ stories. Can parents similarly opt out of kids listening to stories that DON'T have LGBTQ themes or incidents? 🤣
June 27, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Supremes say parents can opt out of letting their kids listen to LGBTQ stories. Can parents similarly opt out of kids listening to stories that DON'T have LGBTQ themes or incidents? 🤣
today's lunch was the first tomato ever from our GARDEN, salted and peppered, on mayo toast . . . and I was not prepared for the euphoria that this produced
June 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
today's lunch was the first tomato ever from our GARDEN, salted and peppered, on mayo toast . . . and I was not prepared for the euphoria that this produced
I'm disappointed in Roll20 and angered by this situation, but I've never been prouder to have my first book fly under the 9th Level Games flag alongside important work like Rebel Scum. Keep fighting, @9thlevelgames.bsky.social; I'm behind you all the way.
Roll20, which owns DriveThruRPG, told Rebel Scum's designer (@9thlevelgames.bsky.social) that allowing their "hateful content" and political speech on its platform constituted a "slippery slope."
DriveThruRPG delisted a tabletop game about revolutions over “hateful” politics
Rebel Scum's censorship reveals the limits of Roll20's apolitical guidelines.
www.rascal.news
June 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I'm disappointed in Roll20 and angered by this situation, but I've never been prouder to have my first book fly under the 9th Level Games flag alongside important work like Rebel Scum. Keep fighting, @9thlevelgames.bsky.social; I'm behind you all the way.
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
Last month, I spent a week playtesting @jdragsky.bsky.social's the Seven Part Pact in a fancy house in Bath. I write about the most maximalist RPG I've ever played.
The Seven Part Pact: the First Actual GM-Full Game - Old Men Running The World
I was asked if I wanted to be a wizard for a week. I said yes.
oldmenrunningtheworld.com
June 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Last month, I spent a week playtesting @jdragsky.bsky.social's the Seven Part Pact in a fancy house in Bath. I write about the most maximalist RPG I've ever played.
last night I dreamt that Dahlia's had gotten a review from a ttrpg news outlet I really like but the review title was "Why does this exist?"
June 24, 2025 at 4:57 PM
last night I dreamt that Dahlia's had gotten a review from a ttrpg news outlet I really like but the review title was "Why does this exist?"
What if Lemony Snicket was a punctilious old woman whose parlor game collection was full of indie RPG zines?
You'd get Dahlia's Diversions for Peculiar Parties – my first big editorial project I created for SJ Games! Check it out on #backerkit now! #dahliasdiversions sjgames.com/dahlia
You'd get Dahlia's Diversions for Peculiar Parties – my first big editorial project I created for SJ Games! Check it out on #backerkit now! #dahliasdiversions sjgames.com/dahlia
May 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
What if Lemony Snicket was a punctilious old woman whose parlor game collection was full of indie RPG zines?
You'd get Dahlia's Diversions for Peculiar Parties – my first big editorial project I created for SJ Games! Check it out on #backerkit now! #dahliasdiversions sjgames.com/dahlia
You'd get Dahlia's Diversions for Peculiar Parties – my first big editorial project I created for SJ Games! Check it out on #backerkit now! #dahliasdiversions sjgames.com/dahlia
better than therapy: hearing through the grapevine that someone has been using your RPG to run a muppet treasure island game for the past year
May 2, 2025 at 3:33 PM
better than therapy: hearing through the grapevine that someone has been using your RPG to run a muppet treasure island game for the past year
I fear mud wrestling may be my true calling
April 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I fear mud wrestling may be my true calling
working on my costume for Monster Mud Wrestling and I cannot think of a better way to spend Easter Sunday than getting absolutely wrecked in some mud while getting heckled by cool gay people (and raising money for a local mutual aid group)
April 13, 2025 at 3:00 AM
working on my costume for Monster Mud Wrestling and I cannot think of a better way to spend Easter Sunday than getting absolutely wrecked in some mud while getting heckled by cool gay people (and raising money for a local mutual aid group)
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
My FIRST physical RPG book, Secret of the Night Market, is LIVE on Kickstarter! I’m so grateful to @outridercreative.bsky.social for playing in my game, loving this location, and adorning it with his gorgeous illustration.
If you’ve ever wondered “what if a shopping episode was good” check it out!
If you’ve ever wondered “what if a shopping episode was good” check it out!
April 8, 2025 at 5:44 PM
My FIRST physical RPG book, Secret of the Night Market, is LIVE on Kickstarter! I’m so grateful to @outridercreative.bsky.social for playing in my game, loving this location, and adorning it with his gorgeous illustration.
If you’ve ever wondered “what if a shopping episode was good” check it out!
If you’ve ever wondered “what if a shopping episode was good” check it out!
there are THREE classic blunders:
Never get involved in a land war in Asia
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line
Never enter a battle of wills against a Jack Russell Terrier
Never get involved in a land war in Asia
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line
Never enter a battle of wills against a Jack Russell Terrier
April 8, 2025 at 8:33 PM
there are THREE classic blunders:
Never get involved in a land war in Asia
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line
Never enter a battle of wills against a Jack Russell Terrier
Never get involved in a land war in Asia
Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line
Never enter a battle of wills against a Jack Russell Terrier
😭🏴☠️🏳️🌈 this is so cool I am so excited!!!
Avast ye Mateys!! ☠️ 🏴☠️
@casperdanbghost.bsky.social is gonna be appearing as a GM on Somebody's Heroes running a Scurvy Buggers game by @9thlevelgames.bsky.social
They're in need of an all ENBY & Transgender Crew to srt sail in an epic Pirate-themed Anthology
Those interested comment below
@casperdanbghost.bsky.social is gonna be appearing as a GM on Somebody's Heroes running a Scurvy Buggers game by @9thlevelgames.bsky.social
They're in need of an all ENBY & Transgender Crew to srt sail in an epic Pirate-themed Anthology
Those interested comment below
April 2, 2025 at 8:29 PM
😭🏴☠️🏳️🌈 this is so cool I am so excited!!!
Reposted by Irene Zielinski
I hope your success irritates the fuck out of people who can’t stand to see you win.
March 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I hope your success irritates the fuck out of people who can’t stand to see you win.
I love friend art, phrase which here means art made [with/by/of] friend(s).
March 30, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I love friend art, phrase which here means art made [with/by/of] friend(s).
I made a themed connections puzzle with company trivia for our silly company blog and the responses are just people going "I have no idea what this game is, and I lost when I clicked on stuff randomly, so this is pointless and low quality content"
March 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I made a themed connections puzzle with company trivia for our silly company blog and the responses are just people going "I have no idea what this game is, and I lost when I clicked on stuff randomly, so this is pointless and low quality content"