iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by John Harper

It's the State of the Hat with @seannittner.bsky.social! Previewing Rangers of a Broken World plus updates on Designers & Dragons Origins, Blades '68, Umdaar, Tian Deng, AGON: Realms of Khaos and much more www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUIf...

youtube.com

Word from the Hat - October 2026

YouTube video by Evil Hat Productions

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Banana Chan 🔜 Portland Retro Gaming Expo @bananachangames.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

We launch in 6 days! Would love to get 300 followers before we hit the launch button. If you like scary shit for spooky season, this might be up your alley. www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...

backerkit.com

Follow Sample before we launch

From Read/Write Memory - Follow Sample before we launch

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Reposted by John Harper

Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 06/10/2026

The kickstarter for the new Microscope is live! I can't wait to see what you make with the new edition www.kickstarter.com/projects/lam...

kickstarter.com

Microscope (2nd Edition)

The award-winning game of epic fractal histories

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Been having a ton of fun with this and can confirm: if you like classic immsims, this is definitely for you.

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RetroSpace // immersive discopunk space horror @retrospacegame.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The time has come, immsim sickos... 🪩!!! RETROSPACE IS OUT NOW !!!🪩 You're just a simple janitor, but it's up to you to save humanity from cosmic madness! > Immersive, disco-punk, space-horror, stealth-shooter, eurojank, janitor core > Grab the game now on Steam and consoles!

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Want to see some layout/design fiddliness? Here's a before and after side-by-side. I decided that a table format was better for the threat listings and the miasma victim should be a bit more central on the page for visual balance.

A page spread from Requiem for the Wretched Dead, depicting the Miasma. The threats are presented as a bullet list.

A page spread from Requiem for the Wretched Dead, depicting the Miasma. The threats are presented in a table format, with escalating dangers indicated by numbers. The art of the miasma victim has been adjusted to place them more central on the page.

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Licensed properties are completely different, though. I once got a 6% royalty offer on a major license and that was unheard of.

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

As close to 50/50 as you can get. That's an ideal, not brass tacks. You still gotta run the numbers.

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Daniel Mank @danielmank.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Bad Salzdetfurth🥶

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Thanks! I do the layout, too, yep.

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Speaking of toxic miasma... :) (work on the Breathless hack continues!)

A page spread from Requiem for the Wretched Dead, depicting the Miasma.

Text reads: The ubiquitous toxic void-smoke of the deathlands—all that remains of the howling death throes of the souls consumed by the arcane cataclysm that broke the world.
Deathlanders must remain alert to its malevolent presence, relying on portable lightning barrriers or emergency plasm-flares for defense when it strikes.

Threats (bullet list):
At a distance:
1. Obscures vision, dampens hearing. You fail to notice what’s happening or lose track of where you are.
2. Senses you. Moves to nearby.

Nearby:
1. Fouls gear, erodes materials. An item is badly damaged—mark 1 usage.
2. Closes in. Moves to close contact.

In close contact:
1. Fully envelops you. Mark 1 usage on all your items and suffer Harm. If you can’t escape it, face the next threat.
2. Finds a gap in your mask or exposure suit. You start choking uncontrollably as it gets into your mouth and nose. Suffer Harm. If you can’t escape it or get immediate aid, suffer Harm again and face the next threat.
3. Fills your lungs, snakes into your ears and eyes. You succumb fully to the miasma and perish. See Wretch on page xx.

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lumpley @lumpley.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Now, there are some PbtA and post-PbtA games that do take "acting under fire" as their core template, and build their resolution rules on top of it. Significantly, crucially, they add new systems that deal with the problem I'm describing. Blades in the Dark's position and effect, for instance...

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Kumail Nanjiani @kumail.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

AI will never be able to make art. Thanks.

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Coffee All Night Games ➡️ Arcane Con @coffeeallnight.itch.io · 01/10/2026

The Decay: Survival Horror Roleplaying is now live on Kickstarter! Go back your new favorite horror ttrpg and get the Early Bird prices during the first 24 hours. We have such sights to show you. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cof...

kickstarter.com

The Decay: Survival Horror Roleplaying

A tabletop roleplaying game of weird horror and the struggle to survive it.

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🍷allison arth🍕 (she / they) @arthograph.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's my birthday! Get the full Gentleman series of solo+ poetry RPGs & the Telegraph generators for just $13: 🎂 Gentleman Bandit & the ghastly Dark Highway, dark Westerns 🎂 Gentleman Pirate, gay adventure on the high seas 🎂 Gentleman Scoundrel, a Blades in the Dark hack itch.io/s/78055/poet...

itch.io

POETRY PARTY 🎉 Birthday Sale! | Poetry Games 50% OFF by allison arth

A bundle by allison arth, $13.00 for 6 games

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

perhaps... or I haven't yet spilled all the beans

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I enjoyed your story and also felt a bit guilty that our Paranoia games were so much great fun. I didn't do the styrofoam cup, though. Missed opportunity.

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

"These things happen, deary. Have some tea."

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Watched the Traitors and then (randomly) (re)watched Goldeneye. Only conclusion: Alan Cumming is our most valuable (benevolent) demon. Protect him (and Lala) at all costs.

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Kieron Gillen @kierongillen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A year on from me starting it, I complete my list of 101 TTRPGs I played before my 50th birthday. How did you spend your birthday? I bet it wasn't doing your work and then hammering out 3.5k words about the chatgames with funny dice (or no funny dice, or no dice.) #ttrpg

oldmenrunningtheworld.com

My 101 Favourite TTRPGS: 10-1 - Old Men Running The World

Lawks. We've only gone and done it. I set myself a year to write about my 101 favourite TTRPGs. In my tribute to freelancers everywhere, I do almost all the

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Just caught up with the excellent @newmadras.bsky.social and @kierongillen.bsky.social reacting to reactions about the setting of Blades in the Dark and sharing even more insights and good tips. Thanks to @rascal.news for continuing to provide a platform for deep dives into TTRPG stuff like this.

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Coffee All Night Games ➡️ Arcane Con @coffeeallnight.itch.io · 30/09/2026

💀⚠️💀 We are launching tomorrow, and we have another contributor to the Mass Grave stretch goal zine: @johnharper.bsky.social John is joining an already stacked list of folks who are going to be bringing their own unique perspectives to this zine. www.kickstarter.com/projects/cof...

kickstarter.com

Coming soon: The Decay: Survival Horror Roleplaying

A tabletop roleplaying game of weird horror and the struggle to survive it.

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

if we ever make the TV show, you'll get to see exactly how horrifying they are. :)

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Reposted by John Harper

🍷allison arth🍕 (she / they) @arthograph.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Need a rec for what to watch next? Collected just for you, some memorable & marvelous TV and movies (with compliments to @johnharper.bsky.social) on the latest Little Oracles 📺 open.spotify.com/episode/2j4d...

open.spotify.com

S04:E12 | Reflect: 2025 Hits & Highlights, TV & Film Edition

Little Oracles · Episode

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Reposted by John Harper

Stacey Mason @stcymsn.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

Formal affordances are the elements that pull a player toward certain actions, they “cry out” for the player to take those actions. Material affordances are the actions a system actually allows the player to take. Agency occurs when the two are in balance. (Mateas 2001)

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Luna P. @satelitesnaturales.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

My ttrpg take is that the bones are the skeletons' money and in our world bones equal dollars

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Pam Wishbow @pamwishbow.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Hey #portfolioday I’m Pam Wishbow, an illustrator that makes limited color, print inspired work based in Seattle, WA. I’m looking to do more work in publishing, editorial, and games this year. represented by How Do You Do pamwishbow.com

printerly illustration of a gauntlet grasping a snake

illustration for Blood Of Gods Metal and Wine zine, the image is of two women sitting around a backyard fire drinking wine

Photo of a bottle of rum and two canned cocktails with illustrated hands on them

Poster for the show Daria by Pam Wishbow via Mondo, the image is Daria and Jane sitting at a pizza booth in the hallway of a trashed high school

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Tim's new website is cool, and also: scroll down and check out the Blades Crow's Foot art assets. Great stuff!

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Dr. Emily Friedman @ecfriedman.com · 16/07/2026

Games Not (Only) By Cis-Dudes 🧵 (list in progress I keep on my phone & pasting here) * Apocalypse World * For the queen * The quiet year * Yazeba’s bed and breakfast * Seven part pact * Kagematsu & A single man * Tales of the Fisherman’s Wife * Steal Away Jordan * A Mending * Field guide to memory

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John Harper @johnharper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Patreon is switching fully to monthly billing (no more per-release model) so I'm thinking about it. I have stuff I could bring back to Patreon -- specifically mini games, more Blades stuff, and playable works-in-progress. Also some designer chats, game spotlights, and insights. What do you think?

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lolt64 @lolt64.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

🚨🚨 WAR-TORN ICE MOON, our 123-page module for FIST, is now out in both print and PDF. I can't describe how it feels to say that after over a year in the ice mines. I'd be honored if you'd take a look. WF. FIST: @claymorerpgs.bsky.social Art: @finnmattfour.bsky.social lolt64.itch.io/wartornicemoon

lolt64.itch.io

War-Torn Ice Moon by lolt64

The Europa Ice War campaign kit for FIST

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🍷allison arth🍕 (she / they) @arthograph.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Your TBR just got bigger 📚 On the latest Little Oracles, a dozen+ book recommendations: from bowls of lemons, to grief as architecture, to Point Break and Guns n Roses, to real-life art heists, to weird and tender women ... there's something for everyone. open.spotify.com/episode/5iYF...

open.spotify.com

S04:E11 | Reflect: 2025 Hits & Highlights, Books Edition

Little Oracles · Episode

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