iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Oops I wrote an entire time loop game in an afternoon. If anyone is interested in playtesting, dm me and i can send the draft over. its a solo journaling game about having been in a time loop so long you are desperate to try anything and see what sticks #ttrpgdesign #ttrpgs #ttrpgdev #timeloop

Spades represent apathy. You are no longer concerned with the consequences of your actions. You may break things, but they'll be fixed the next time around anyway, so why care? When you play a Spade to overcome an Obstacle, choose one of the following questions: What will people think about you if this loop becomes permanent? What will you think about yourself if this loop becomes permanent?

Diamonds represent safety. You have taken this option countless times before, and you know what awaits you. It hasn't gotten you out of the time loop yet, but maybe it will this time. When you play a Diamond to overcome an Obstacle, choose one of the following questions: When was the last time you learned something new about this Obstacle? Do you think you are missing out on anything by doing this again?

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I haven't read much about how others have interpreted PbtA (I still haven't even read Apocalypse World! I need to change that), but the schema of moves as the World's response to a set of actions which vary based on the principles of that world resonates and I want to explore it more #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

You start with about 6-8 open prompts, outlines of actions you can take without their resolution. As you take each action, the world responds with a random set of outcomes that become your set move for that run. Maybe this world responds well to self-sacrifice and not attacking first #ttrpdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Maybe that's an Interstitial Hack in the making - similar to the Roleplayer Playbook's move It's Called an Homage, taking moves from any other PbtA game and using them. #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Moves of this style communicate how the world/setting responds to certain actions. The same type of basic move can have different outcomes depending on the game, and the uncertainty there can be interesting to play with. #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

But whether or not that is the right approach in this game, is there space for uncertainty about what moves do in a PbtA format? Imagine a roguelike ttrpg where you have a set of move prompts ("When you take ... action"), but where the rest of the move isn't clear until you use it #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

This is a risk - they may avoid it due to the uncertainty? It could blow up in their face. Or even if they trust me to not do that, it might still get them further from their goal on a full success. Can the outcomes be meaningfully obscured in a PbtA move? #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

As I'm creating the Environment Moves for the next few Worlds, I realized that one would be funnier if the players didn't know the outcome. "When you try to make an over-the-top show of skill, roll with Light" as the only bit of information - nothing about how that move would resolve #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I understand why this cannot be in the base game - it is already playing a bit fast and loose with copyright, and writing moves tied directly to specific intellectual properties would be a huge risk. And since anything is a possibility, you can hardly make a list of moves for each World #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

There are things I would edit if I wanted to run this move now, but it let people get into the mindset of how their current world plays. In the campaign, my players just ended an arc in the MCU, so I might create an Environment Move that rewards quipping or silly one-liners #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Instead of dealing Harm, you can choose to knock someone out. The more Harm your opponent has marked, the more dice you roll than need to show a 5 or 6. On a 10+, you get to mark Harm on them before rolling your Knockout dice, and on a miss you put yourself in harm's way #ttrpgdesign

Knockout. When you attempt to remove a player from the battleground, roll with the type of Link you have with them. On a hit, roll a number of d6 equal to the amount of Harm your target currently has +1. If you roll a 5 or 6 on any of the dice, you successfully knock your target out of the arena. On a 10+, your target marks one Harm before you roll. On a miss, you open yourself up - the next to target you gets +3 to their Knockout roll

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

As an example, before I started the campaign, I did a series of one-shots to get my players familiar with the rules. One was a Smash Bros Tournament, and I added the move Knockout which was an attempt to mirror the fighting mechanics of Smash Bros #ttrpgdesign

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

I've had an idea I want to implement in my current campaign of Interstitial 2E: Environment Moves An Environment Move is specific to the World you are in and relates to the themes or how it plays, giving the players a benefit for leaning in to the vibe of the setting #ttrpgdesign

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Reposted by Olivia has an idea

Tab Creations @tabcreations.com · 06/09/2025

Some tips for breaking into tabletop RPG design! (1/9) To create an RPG, you must first WRITE one. Pick a concept and go for it. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Just get something on the page. Your journey begins with that first paragraph. #TTRPGdesign #GameDev #RPGdesign #IndieRPG

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Reposted by Olivia has an idea

Kelly Turnbull @coelasquid.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Sometimes we’re unsatisfied with a thing we made because when it only existed in our head, we saw all the things it could have been and when it’s done we know all the things that it isn’t, but we can’t see the way it expands into a million new things when someone else unpacks it in their head. 🖊️🦑

Frustrated little dude gripping a pencil saying “how do I pack this down into something I can actually share?” While swirling rainbows labeled “INFINITE POTENTIAL” float around them.

Little dude frowns at a tiny grey box, exclaiming “all that work for THIS?!”

Little dude shoves the grey box into another little guy’s hands; Frowning, stomping off, and saying “Here you go, I made this, it sucks.”

Second little dude cracks open the box, swirling rainbows project out onto their face.

Second little dude stares in awe at all the swirling rainbows now floating around them.

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

We're both really proud of this and would love if you checked it out! It's free at this link: celestepluto.itch.io/trans-on-tra... #transrepjam

celestepluto.itch.io

Trans on Trains by CelestePluto

A Lasers and Feelings hack about navigating identity on a mysterious train

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

For the 2025 Trans Representation Game Jam, my friend @judithstafford.bsky.social and I made a ttrpg! It's called Trans on Trains and is about if the Infinity Train existed but specifically to crack your egg @transrepjam.bsky.social #transrepjam

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Anyways, hi I'm doing all this posting because I have a game being entered in the 2025 #transrepjam ! It's called Trans on Trains and it is a collaboration with my friend @judithstafford.bsky.social It'll be uploaded soon, so look forward to seeing that!

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

god i'm so used to tumblr where i don't have character limits. i do not miss the character limits! i am to verbose to be easily constrained!

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

If you want to play this playbook in your own Interstitial 2E campaign, you can download it for free at my itch page here. It is available as a pdf *and* as a Google Sheet character sheet celestepluto.itch.io/the-runaway #InterstitialJam

celestepluto.itch.io

The Runaway by CelestePluto

Get outta there and reinvent yourself

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

And that move title helped me to find the design for the thumbnail of this playbook! So it all worked out in the end!

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I based the move Feeling Closer to the Stars on a lyric from the band half🞄alive. The lyric itself is from their song "still feel." but i forgot and thought it was included in their song "RUNAWAY" which is why I included it here. I still think it fits well

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I also based this heavily on The Doctor, specifically the Ninth Doctor. Someone good at running away always has an escape plan, which led to the moves Getting Out of Dodge and Feeling Closer to the Stars

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I loved the idea of destiny pursuing you while also needing you to be a certain way. Sometimes you run far enough and fast enough that you become someone different in the process. Your destiny needs you to be a man, but if you aren't one, will it even recognize you anymore?

A Playbook ability. Title is: The Old World is Dying. The ability text is: Your world has long, reaching arms, desperate to pull you back. When you enter a new world, roll with Light. On a 10+, they can't get to you here. On a 7-9, you leave traces - someone will know you've been here. On a miss, they're here now. When you become unrecognizable to anyone from your world who claims to love you, get rid of this ability and choose another

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

I had just finished reading the visual novel Heart of the Woods, which provided a lot of inspiration. Morgan is in line to be the next host of an evil spirit who has wanted her to be a certain way. When the spirit is defeated, Morgan completely changes her appearance and vibes.

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

When I told my girlfriend I was making a Playbook and what it was about, she immediately pointed out the transness in the idea. So I leaned in and did what no other playbook dared to do - make pronouns a game mechanic

A playbook ability titles: I Know Designers Who Use Subtext And They're All Cowards. The ability reads: Once per session, you may choose a new set of pronouns to replace your current pronouns. Gain Lift on your next roll. The new pronouns cannot match your three previous sets of pronouns

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

My first design project was a custom Playbook for the #InterstitialJam called The Runaway. My goal, beyond just making a first project, was to capture the idea of running from your own destiny. Base game playbooks like The Chosen are about destiny, but not about breaking free from it

A deep space field of stars with the words The Runaway, An Interstitial 2E Playbook about escaping your fate

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Olivia has an idea @celestepluto.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Howdy! I've been a ttrpg GM for almost 5 years, and I'm starting to get into game design as well. I have a few projects under my belt and would love to connect with others in this space! Everything I've published is on my itch page at celestepluto.itch.io

celestepluto.itch.io

CelestePluto

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