iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Stayed up late to learn and play Aurelian and it was 10000% worth it even though I lost on turn 4. (Keeping up with those VPs is tough!) I think I’ll be playing this one a lot.

An overhead view of the map for Aurelian: Restorer of the World at the end of a game. Various boxes show the regions of the Roman Empire, while cardboard chits indicate the different enemies at hand. This game was a loss despite clearing the western edges of the empire and attempting to keep the populace pacified through temples.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Oh I cannot WAIT to dig into these

Two game boxes from Hollandspiele sitting on a table. The one on the left is called Aurelian Restorer of the World and it has a purple cover with an ancient Roman sword. The one on the right is called Swords Against and it has a blue cover with a rectangular graphic showing a heroic adventurer blocking a fire attack of some kind; the box appears to be in a 1970s style.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Played a few games of Cross4 by @amabel.bsky.social tonight. This may be the most moreish game I own even if I’m terrible at it. Seriously, it’s almost impossible to play just 1 round in a sitting. It’s as charming as it is challenging! My highest score tonight was 8 out of the required 20 to win. 😬

The box for the board game Cross4 stands on a wooden table. In front of it are three crossword-style grids partially filled using colored dry-erase markers. None of the boards have a particularly good score because this game is very hard (but it’s also very fun).

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Last but not least, @adoxtalks.bsky.social gave me two brand-new designs. I Am/You Are is a 2-player game about a creator and their creation struggling for freedom, while the other one is a convention game where people you meet provide ingredients and at the end you make a recipe from them. 🤯

A mini-zine called I Am / You Are sits on a table next to a homemade business card game. The top of the business card reads “Recipe for” with directions for play in a column along the side.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Speaking of gifts: everyone who ran a session was given their choice from a library of donated games, and I knew immediately which ones I wanted. As a solo RPG fan, MIRU (and MIRU 2) by @hinokodo.com has been on my list for a loooooooooong time and I’m thrilled that I finally have a copy!

Two books, MIRU and MIRU 2, sit next to each other on a table. MIRU is red with a skull-like design on the bottom, while MIRU 2 is green and has a similar but more pixelated design with open eyes.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

@cmlawson.bsky.social played in one of my 5-Star Match sessions and we had a blast with our ridiculous, weird, incoherently artistic wrestling promotion. I was honored when he gave me a copy of Arcane Catastrophes, a deck of cards he designed for use with Mork Borg (and other games). Super cool!

A boxed deck of cards sitting on a table. The title is Arcane Catastrophes. The artwork features a skeleton on a bright yellow background. Both the skeleton and the background are festooned with colorful objects such as stars and ribbons.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

@rollinitiative.bsky.social was the RPG Manager for the convention and is also an incredibly wonderful, supportive person who clearly loves RPGs and the RPG community. I only made it to Breakout because of his generosity in inviting me, so how could I not pay it back by getting a few of his games?

Two books side by side on a table. The book on the left is Junk Drawer Heroes; the book on the right is Dungeon Crawler.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to @queenregnant.bsky.social and Allison, who run Gal Pal Games. They showed such kindness to me the very first morning of the con and I’ll never forget it. Their postcard games are GORGEOUS and so are their books! I was happy to snag a few items from 2 great people.

On the left, the cover of a game called Ghosts of Relationships Past. On the right, a bundle of beautifully collaged postcard games wrapped in a silver-white ribbon.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I only picked up three games from @joshuakitz.bsky.social and I’m kicking myself I didn’t get more. I love WWI stuff, so Ross Rifles by Dundas West and Love & Barbed Wire by @planesailinggames.com were mandatory. And I got a print copy of Bettin’ Bullets by the incredible @panjumanju.bsky.social!

Three books arranged on a table so that their covers are visible. The top-left book is Love & Barbed Wire; the top-right book is titled Ross Rifles; the bottom book is Bettin’ Bullets.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

First up: two zines from @junkfoodgames.bsky.social. Chris always makes interesting stuff and these two small zines are rad as heck. I got these from the excellent people at @ratti.bsky.social and was stoked to get a bookmark and sticker. I hate rats but I LOVE swag, so… 🤷‍♂️

Two zines, Wither & Grow and Witchflip, on a table next to a rat-themed bookmark and a sticker for Ratti Incantati.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Finally unpacking all my treasures from Breakout Con! There were just so many cool games and I wish I could have brought home even more! I’ve tagged as many creators and distributors as I could find, but feel free to tag anyone I might have missed.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Had some zines printed up for demoing at Breakout Con this weekend! I’m pretty stoked to show off Infinite Paths in particular. It’s a really neat system with a lot of fun potential and these quickstart rules look SO GOOD in person!

Printed zines of two games, Infinite Paths and Burnword, sitting on a wood table. The cover of Infinite Paths shows a full-color image of an adventurer stepping between multiple worlds, represented by natural, science fiction, and dystopian elements. Below it, the cover of Burnword is printed with black-and-white text indicating that it is for playtesting only.

A full-color interior spread of Infinite Paths showing common checks made in the game in pink, yellow, and green call-out boxes.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Mail day! Just got my copy of Moon Rings by @junkfoodgames.bsky.social and The Bonsai Diary by @stickydoodler.bsky.social! Pretty psyched to check these out. This was also my first time ordering from @tabletopbookshelf.com but I’ll definitely be repeating the experience!

The front covers of Moon Rings and The Bonsai Diary. Moon Rings is a bold red spiral-bound with a splashy moon graphic while The Bonsai Diary has a tan and green cover with a charming illustration of a cat looking curiously at a bonsai tree.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

The KS is expected for late October/early November, so follow along at the link above to get notified when it goes live! While you're waiting, enjoy this gorgeous full cover illustration, one of several illustrations that the immensely talented @boxen.bsky.social is providing for the book! 3/3

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

5-Star Match, my solo TTRPG about building and booking your own pro wrestling promotion, is finally shipping out to US backers! While I’m very proud of this game, it could not have happened without the help of the following people:

A cardboard box holding many copies of the solo pro wrestling TTRPG 5-Star Match. The top book overlaps the two stacks below. The book cover shows a wrestler holding a championship belt and posing on the turnbuckle for the crowd. In the foreground another wrestler lies defeated on the mat.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Played my first game of Finspan from @stonemaiergames.com tonight and was thrilled to see this little guy! I obviously have a big soft spot for leafy sea dragons (the inspiration for our company name) and any game that includes one gets an automatic thumbs-up from me!

A card from Finspan depicting the majestic leafy sea dragon

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Just got my copy of Dawn of the Orcs by @lymerpg.bsky.social and I’m so stoked to play through this! Characters are sages who create a group of orcs to protect their nation against invaders, but over time the orcs change in fascinating ways. A neat concept that promises an intriguing experience!

The front cover of the RPG Dawn of the Orcs. The cover depicts a group of dark fantasy sages gathered in a gloomy hall. A round table sits in the center with a blade driven through the center of the table. Behind the blade a pair of red eyes glow from a darkened doorway.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

8) Anamnesis by @goblinmixtape.bsky.social I definitely have a type, and that type is “solo RPGs about memory”. While I haven’t played this one yet I know I’ll love it. The design is clean and elegant, with a strong concept, so I really need to dig up my Tarot set soon and give it a proper whirl.

The black-and-white front cover of Anamnesis. A tastefully nude humanoid figure sits in the foreground. Their head appears to be made of smoke that streams backwards away from them; the same smoke billows around the figure’s torso and legs. Behind their head lies a full moon. The title appears at the top in bright white and is then repeated multiple times more faintly, as though it were a dying echo or a fading afterimage.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

7) Thousand Year Old Vampire by @timhutchings.bsky.social I think most RPGers are aware of this one, with good reason. It’s equal parts art object, solo RPG, and rueful meditation on memory: that is to say, very specifically my jam. Sadly I never finished my tale but one day I hope to play again.

The front cover of Thousand Year Old Vampire, which features an abstract image composed of swirls or bubbles in gold, blue, and grey-ish white. The cover is mocked up to look like an old, well-traveled library book. Two bookmarks of ribbon peek out from the bottom of the book.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

6) Ten Candles by Stephen Dewey This has been on my to-play list for so long! The proscribed experience, with a full set of lit candles, just sounds so unique and exciting that I’m almost afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype. The vibes are too perfect for earthly attainment.

The front cover of Ten Candles. A small group of humans with lit flashlights stands at the very center of a city shrouded in darkness. Indistinct monsters, much larger than the humans, lurk at the edges of the cover. To the right, a splash of red suggests a building on fire, with a dark dragon-like face just in front of it.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

5) Be Seeing You by @floaker.bsky.social This is a super-niche game and here I am, sitting in my niche, waiting to play. 3-5 players, rotating roles, inspired by a very specific 1960s TV show. Delightful. Tanya sent this to me for free for reasons I don’t remember & I am so grateful bc it rules.

The front cover of Be Seeing You, which depicts a wall-mounted security camera in black and white. The title occupies big yellow blocks that feel like they’re bursting off the page in comparison. The game’s subtitle reads “a roleplaying game about independence, control, freedom, & compliance by Tanya Floaker”.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

4) Notorious by Jason Price I don’t particularly care for Star Wars, but this game’s loving homage to the Boba Fetts of the world (universe?) is so intriguing to me. The artwork is delightful and the rules are fairly sleek. As a primarily solo player I have no excuses for not getting this tabled.

The front cover of Notorious features 6 panels, each of which shows a different sci-fi mercenary against an orange background. The mercenaries have a variety of equipment and styles. Standouts include a slender lo-fi droid and a humanoid iguana with a kerchief around its neck and a laser rifle across its back.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

3) Fiasco by Jason Morningstar One of my all-time favorite games since I first played it more than a decade ago. It’s hard to overstate how unbelievably stylish, sharp, and taut it is. And its gorgeously poetic prompts like “a stupid plan executed to perfection” sing eternally in my brain.

Two books, one titled Fiasco and the other titled The Fiasco Companion. Fiasco features a stylish red cover with silhouette art showing a gun firing from the left and a character with a broken heart reaching out of frame on the right. The Fiasco companion features a similar cover but in blue and showing two characters holding hands. The left character has an intact heart and appears to be wearing a skirt with a triangular haircut, reaching out of frame to the left, while the character on the right has a broken heart and a blockier skull shape. All of these characters are doomed.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

2) Xenolanguage by Thorny Games A sci-fi game about alien linguistics from the team behind Dialect, AND it uses a Ouija-style planchette?!? Yeah, sign me up. The fact that I haven’t even opened a game this unbelievably cool-looking is a scathing indictment of me as both a person and a gamer.

The front box cover of Xenolanguage, depicting a pair of humans facing outwards from a central spine of radiating energy. Behind them are moderately indistinct landscape images bathed in sunlight. The text underneath describes it as “a game about alien language and human memory”.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

1) Spectres of Brocken by Aaron Lim Giant mechs. Time-skips. Friends-turned-enemies. A Word Bank. THEME SONGS. This is at the top of my to-play list for so many reasons (I repeat: THEME SONGS) but unfortunately I don’t have a group to try it out with so it sits on the shelf, taunting me.

The front cover of Spectres of Brocken, which portrays two youthful anime-style pilots in front of a hulking giant mech that looms over them both.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 22/04/2024

I also got to play One Breath Left (from @stoutstoatpress.bsky.social and I) with my daughter. She moved expertly through the ship, carefully avoiding a monster that “smelled like poop” and had acid spit, to recover the incriminating footage and make a narrow escape just as her oxygen ran out!

A card layout from the RPG One Breath Left showing a fully explored Wreck

A cartoonish hand-drawn image made by a child showing a monster with wings and acid spit

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 22/04/2024

Finally got a chance yesterday to crack open one of the Littlebox RPGs from the team at @storybrewers.bsky.social. Our family had a great time with Villagesong. Gorgeous art, evocative setting, interesting prompts — but the best part is reading the song of your village’s history at the end.

An image of the game box, a sample character, and a sample village at end of game for the RPG Villagesong from Storybrewers Roleplaying.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 05/03/2024

brb just changing careers real quick

A screenshot from the video game Hardspace: Shipbreaker describing the fictional job of Jellyman (a jellyfish-catcher) in a retro-computer style using green text on a black background

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 08/12/2023

Setting up for the first real playtest of my solo pro wrestling RPG. Fingers crossed it’s not a total botch!

Several record-keeping sheets for a professional wrestling RPG laying on a table with two dice and a pencil. The sheets feature wrestling terms and game imagery but have not been filled out.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 03/12/2023

Finally got a chance to read through my copy of “Under the Autumn Strangely” by @thismaybegraham.bsky.social. Enthusiastically tapping the O Card [included in the game’s safety tools] to show my support for the unsettling vibes, gorgeous art, variable roles, and malleable story structure. Too cool.

The cover of “Under the Autumn Strangely” by Graham Gentz. The zine has somber autumnal tones with spreading vines across the cover.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 21/11/2023

I know that a solo RPG about professional wrestling is just too niche to live, but working on it gives me such joy that I almost don’t care. I think this is some of the best writing (and game design) I’ve done yet.

A screenshot of a Google Doc showing an overly-wrought chunk of game text too large to transcribe. The author describes his love of professional wrestling and briefly describes this game’s purpose: to focus on the art of booking professional wrestling matches.

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