iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Just making a little stack of ttrpg books ahead of today’s Lunchtime is Dicetime stream with @beckyannison.bsky.social and @armadajosh.bsky.social… Come join us at 12:30pm BST! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKP...

A photo of a stack of four ttrpg rulebooks: Ultraviolet Grasslands 2E, Blades in the Dark, Ironsworn: Starforged, and Apocalypse Keys.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

So, final day of #UKGE 2026! If you haven’t dropped by to pick up your copy of Against Time and Death, look for the red and blue! (If you look real close you’ll see the mechs from yesterday’s world-first Speed Daemons demo…)

A photo of the Black Armada Games / ickbat games stall at UKGE 2026, with Against Time and Death in the front of the frame.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Are you at #UKGE? Come and find the tentacles and let me tell you about a multiversal time war and a forbidden relationship… It’s Against Time and Death’s convention debut!

The Black Armada Games / ickbat games stall at UKGE 3A-407.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

And speaking of firsts: Speed Daemons demos! UKGE 2026 is the first time anyone (outside of my playtest group) will be able to try out this Forged in the Dark game of illegal mech racing. One hour demos will give you a taste of the game - sign up now! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

UKGE is the first time you'll be able to pick up Against Time and Death since the crowdfunding campaign! If you like any of these things, this game is for you: - This Is How You Lose the Time War - duet games - multiversal time wars - high-stakes choices - intimate stories

The cover art for Against Time and Death by Nick Bate. The art is bold reds and blues, lines and dots implying branching timelines or multiverses.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I'm going to be at the Black Armada Games stall all weekend. That's stall 3A-407, which you can find courtesy of this brilliant map from @jogbrogzin.bsky.social. Look out for the purple tentacles! You'll be able to pick up both my games and Black Armada Games' excellent back catalogue.

A fantasy-style map of the UKGE layout, showing the route to Black Armada Games.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Hey racer! Are you interested in Speed Daemons, my forthcoming ttrpg of illegal mech racing? It's Fast and the Furious meets The Matrix with mechs! I'm sharing details of my current playtest season over on the ickbat games discord. Come check it out! (Drop me a note if you need a link...)

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

#Dragonmeet2025! It’s happening! I’m special guest in the Black Armada Games stall today — come by, pick up some cool games, say hi to me, @beckyannison.bsky.social and @armadajosh.bsky.social!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Hey Against Time and Death backers, you might want to check your emails. The Time War has begun! And if you’re not a backer yet, there’s still time… against-time-and-death.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

I give you The Humble Tape Measure, which is apparently ‘a small case from which an extendable measuring tape can be deployed by hand.’

A photograph of a section of the Horus Heresy 3rd edition rulebook, describing in excessive detail what a tape measure is.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of this table for helping players in Against Time and Death decide when to set their scenes. It was fun figuring out what sorts of things define each of the six eras I chose. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

Era
When will the scene take place?
1. Prehistory. Geological processes, megafauna, early humans, mythmaking.
2. Ancient history. Empires, gods and heroes, foundations of art and science, monument building.
3. History. Holy war, monarchy, trade empires, exploration, colonialism, scientific and artistic flourishing.
4. Now. Nation states, world wars, mass protest, pop culture, evolution, computation, cyberspace, capitalism, tourism, terrorism, revolution.
5. The future. Catastrophic climate change, corporate states, the solar system, true AI, interplanetary warfare, transhumanity, pushing boundaries, the stars.
6. The mythic future. Infinite panhumanity, engineering on impossible scales, magictech, dreams made manifest, the darkness between stars, the things that reside there.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Really wish I knew what was driving this extra traffic to Chiron's Doom over the last week! Most of the referrals are coming from YouTube... ickbat.itch.io/chirons-doom

A graph of Chiron's Doom referrers by day over the last month. Beginning September 15th, the graph rises from about 10 per day to over a hundred. A green circle highlights the rise.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

Is somebody somewhere talking about Chiron’s Doom? There’s been a noticeable bump in sales over the last week or so and I don’t know why!

The cover of Chiron’s Doom by Nick Bate. It depicts a giant diamond-shaped portal on a dark volcanic beach, with three different views of a tower through the portal, one infested with a giant eye with 8 tentacles. Three small explorers stand before the portal.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

I mean, Ringo is having an objectively correct reaction… … but look at this thing!

A photo of a splash page in the Lancer rulebook. It shows two mechs squaring off against each other, one wielding laser swords the other firing missiles.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Oh hey! While I wasn’t watching, we hit £6,000 on Against Time and Death! Late pledges are still open — join the multiversal time war, fall in love… www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick... 🔴 🔵

A screenshot of the front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter. The funding total of £6,000 is circled in red, with an arrow and two exclamation points.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

So, uhh, does this seem right? openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac...

Dr. Marcus Brody from Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Yo, Spider is a good shout. Love a devious mastermind! Don't think there's a Spider equivalent in Speed Daemons, my illegal mech racing, Fast/Furious meets The Matrix WIP. I wonder which you'd gravitate towards in its absence?

Daemonologist: House mechs and their pilots have teams of specialists running tech support. In the underground, you’re it.
Flare: What’s the point in racing if it doesn’t look good? You put on a show, and everyone knows it.
Jarhead: You’re the result of an experiment to create the ideal daemon, a literal brain in a jar.
Lazarus: You used to race, but you’ve been out for years. Now something has pulled you back in.
Reliquary: At the end of human civilisation, you are the team’s memory—historian, xenoarchaeologist, eschatologist, and priest.
Spark: You’re a true believer. The team rallies around you.
Weaver: You navigate the mesh. It’s shot through with holes, rotten with centuries of compacted information, and absolutely crucial to the race.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I cannot tell you all how badly I want for it to be out in the world!

A black and white illustration of a racing mech from the work in progress game Speed Daemons. Art by Si Sweetman.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Reset the clock! It has been [0] days since I last thought about Wushu.

Two dual pistol-wielding warriors swirl around each other like a yin-yang symbol. One is dressed in black, the other white. Taken from the cover of Wushu Black Belt Edition, written by Dan Bayn and illustrated by Levi Kornelsen.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

And there it is! 361 amazing backers pledging £5,766 to make Against Time and Death happen. I'm grateful to each and every one of you legends, and I cannot wait to get the game into your hands. The time war is go! 🔵 🔴

A screenshot of the front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter, showing 361 backers contributing a generous £5,766 towards the campaign. Thank you, you legends!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

This is your 15 minute warning! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick... 🔴 🔵

An Against Time and Death poster, showing a silhouetted figure from a low angle, pointing a gun. They have blue glasses and a blue insignia on their chest. Around them loom buildings that are illuminated red. A banner on the top of the image reads 'Ends Feb 25!', and a banner on the bottom reads 'Against Time and Death on Kickstarter now'.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

We’re just 5 backers away from beating the Chiron’s Doom backer count — I think we’re going to make it! 33 hours to go #BattlestarGalacticaReference! Don’t miss out! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

The front page of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter with “321 backers” circled in red.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

And here is the final legendary design duo to join the Against Time and Death team: @macguffinandco.bsky.social! Sasha Sienna and Jonathan Sims' Odd Jobs is one of my favourite ttrpg books: eleven unique system-neutral micro-settings. I'm excited to see that worldbuilding verve in action on ATaD!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Which brings us to our third superstar duo: @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social, Shawn and Navi Drake! You might know them from Court of Blades, Fe Borg, Skyworthy, Dead Belt, or maybe just from being tireless champions of indie ttrpg designers like me. You also know they're going to crush the time war.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

Our second hotshot duo are the Brain Trust, @worldchamp.bsky.social and @willjobst.bsky.social! Their work is defined by a deep understanding of genre and a no-holds-barred gonzo aesthetic. I cannot wait to see what happens when they get to grips with Against Time and Death's multiversal time war!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

The first dynamic duo to join the Against Time and Death crew was the @storybrewers.bsky.social, Hayley Gordon and Vee Hendro! You probably know them from Good Society: The Jane Austen RPG. They design heartfelt emotional games - perfect for ATaD! And, as an added bonus, fellow Aussies!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

I'm excited to be working again with editor extraordinaire @ohnomelody.bsky.social. Melody is an incredible editor on every level - she makes my words better, but she also makes my games better. Clearer, more evocative, more playable, just better. She'll make Against Time and Death sing!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

We can't talk about Against Time and Death without talking about @spookshow71.bsky.social. Paul's brilliant cover art has utterly defined the look of the game and the Kickstarter. His preview interior art is all style - you know this is going to be a gorgeous zine, and it's all thanks to Paul.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

We're heading into the final 72 hours of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter campaign - the time war nears its conclusion! Let's shout out the brilliant crew who are helping to make this game the best it can be. Please share! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick... #SelfPromoSaturday #ttrpg

A poster image of a stylised figure in silhouette, from a low angle. They're pointing a gun, and have blue glasses and a sort of blue symbol on their chest. Around them loom tall buildings illuminated in red. A banner on the top of the image reads 'Ends Feb 25!'. Another banner on the bottom of the image reads "Against Time and Death on Kickstarter now".

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Have you joined the time war yet? 🔴 🔵 www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

This just in! A limited Against Time and Death Maesto reward has just come available! Snap up a signed an annotated zine while you can! It'll contain a piece of written multiversal ephemera shared between you and one other person. Will you meet them some day? www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

I'm all about Against Time and Death at the moment, but next year is a big year for Stealing the Throne: it'll be five years old! I'm looking to celebrate this milestone, and I'd love your thoughts on how best to do it. Please take (and share) this short survey: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

A black and white image split into four quadrants, showing the heads of four Thrones. Clockwise from the top left, we have the dinosaur-like Justice Above, the domed hat of Tenswords, Belly Laugh seated on its own giant throne, and the flame-engulfed mask of The Burning Soldier.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Let’s take a moment to recognise the absolute heroes who have backed Against Time and Death at the Duet tier. These five legends are picking up a copy of the zine for themselves *and* one for their rival/frenemy/friend/lover. Heroes, I say. 🙌 www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

In This Is How You Lose the Time War, the elite operative Red (of the Agency) confronts Blue (of the Garden). Fireworks ensue. In Against Time and Death, you similarly pit two agents from different factions against each other. What factions would you choose? What concepts would define them? 🤔

"If you loved this" with an arrow pointing to the cover of This Is How You Lose the Time War, followed by "I think you'll love this" with an arrow pointing towards the cover of Against Time and Death.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

🚨 News from the multiverse incoming! 🚨 Possibly the most requested duo here on Bluesky, I'm super excited to say that @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social Shawn and Navi are joining the Against Time and Death team! Welcome them into the time war, Drakes! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

The Kickstarter banner for Against Time and Death. On the right side, an image of Navi and Shawn Drake, surrounded by text that reads "A Couple of Drakes - Navi Drake / Shawn Drake".

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I made you a digital Valentine's card. I thought it might be useful. (I've added a Duet backer tier to the Kickstarter so you can pick up a copy of the zine for yourself and one for your 'rival'.) www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

An edited version of the title card for the Against Time and Death Kickstarter. The title has been replaced with the words "Fight a Time War with me?", and some of the black nodes on the background map of the multiverse have been replaced with red or blue hearts.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Woke up to the excellent Valentine's Day news that Against Time and Death is now a Kickstarter 'Project We Love'! (I think it was @spookshow71.bsky.social's art that did it, and why not -- it's gorgeous!) Kickstarter and I both think you should check it out: www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

A gif showing a Kickstarter Project We Love badge. A red heart in the centre of the badge blinks between full and empty.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

I say "near-unique" because your piece of multiversal ephemera will be shared with exactly one other backer. Will you find the one other person who knows what you know? Perhaps you'll meet at a con, or in a discord? Maybe you'll play a game of Against Time and Death against each other?

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Pause from tonight's playtest of Ex Tenebris, @armadajosh.bsky.social's forthcoming gothic space investigation game for an Against Time and Death check in! We're at 96 backers - can we make it to 100 before bedtime? What would convince you to join the time war? www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

Screenshot of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter page, showing £1,712 pledged and 96 backers.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

And there it is! In the 68th minute we crossed the threshold -- this time war is on! Thank you everyone. I really love this game, and I think you're going to love it too. Please continue to share the word, and I'll get an update up as soon as I can! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

A screen shot of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter page, showing £1,011 pledged of a £1,000 goal. Funded!

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

The cat is out of the bag! The second dynamic duo joining the Against Time and Death campaign is none other than The Brain Trust themselves, @willjobst.bsky.social and @worldchamp.bsky.social themselves! Come and join the time war! www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

The race is on -- can we fund Against Time and Death in the first hour?! We just need 11 more print backers to get us over the line...

A screenshot of the Against Time & Death Kickstarter page, showing £841 pledged of a £1,000 goal.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Every time I do a Kickstarter, I try to make a video. I still have no idea what I'm doing. (Slightly truncated for Bluesky's 60 second limit.)

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

❤️ Announcement incoming! 💙 The first dynamic duo to join the Against Time and Death Kickstarter is the Storybrewers, Hayley Gordon (@storybrewers.bsky.social) and Vee Hendro! You know: Good Society, Fight With Spirit, and more! Spread the word: they'll be writing a special quickstart for the game!

An image of two white circles against a red and blue backdrop that implies the multiverse. The left circle includes two silhouettes back-to-back, each holding a gun. one has a red tie, the other a blue tie. They are surrounded by the words 'Against Time and Death'. The second circle contains a photo of Hayley Gordon and Vee Hendro, both smiling, surrounded by the words 'Storybrewers' and 'Hayley Gordon' and 'Vee Hendro'.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

I've got some exciting announcements to make once the Against Time and Death Kickstarter launches! It's a two player game, so who better to contribute than some of the powerhouse game design duos out there? 🤔 Coming Feb 11th: www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

Two dots, one light blue and one red, giving the impression that they're orbiting around each other.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Special bonus episode of Black Armada Tales out today! Tune in to hear @suefacetm.bsky.social and I play Against Time and Death, ahead of the Kickstarter next week. In this first part we have the opening exchanges between the agents of Sea and Stone. creators.spotify.com/pod/show/bla...

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

I am once again asking you to help me get the Against Time and Death Kickstarter to a round number follower count. Round numbers feel nice.

A screenshot of the Against Time and Death Kickstarter pre-launch page. The figure '193 followers' has a red circle drawn around it, with a red arrow pointing to the circle.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

PS: links! Growing Thylacine by @pidj.bsky.social: www.kickstarter.com/projects/sun... Silver Age by @rrookstudio.bsky.social: www.kickstarter.com/projects/r-r... Against Time and Death by me: www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

Promo image for Growing Thylacine: A Pamphlet TTRPG by Pidj Sorensen. It features a black and white image of two Tasmanian tigers, plus images of five dice in various shades of black, yellow, green, and white.

Promo image for Against Time and Death by me, Nick Bate. It features silhouettes of two figures with guns, back to back, one with a red tie and one with a blue tie. They're in a bubble with the title around it, against a backdrop of tracks and bubbles in shades of blue and red, implying a multiverse.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

This arrived on my doorstep today, before the game itself. The perfect piece of ominous foreshadowing for Lovecraftesque 2e. Well played, @armadajosh.bsky.social and @beckyannison.bsky.social!

The photo of the back of a playing card. The card depicts a combination key and magnifying glass and says the word “mystery”.

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Nick Bate @ickbat.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Just… one… more… Or, you know, twenty-one more. Twenty-one more would also be good. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ick...

A screenshot of the Kickstarter pre-launch page for Against Time and Death. A red circle and arrow draw the eye to the bottom of the page, where it says “179 followers”.

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