iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Ben Robbins is launching M2 @lamemage.com · 15h

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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Jennifer Adcock @jenkatwrites.bsky.social · 18h

But when it's Time to Sit Down and Work, the ability to make quick decisions without too much second-guessing is really valuable. The more you do it, and the better you understand your ideas, the more often that first decision will be one that is right for the project, or at least works.

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Jennifer Adcock @jenkatwrites.bsky.social · 18h

And decisiveness... the thing about writing is that every single word you put down is an individual decision. Decision fatigue IS real but I absolutely think you can put it off by just not making too much of it. I am not waffling back and forth between options. PICK ONE. TRUST YOUR GUT. MOVE ON.

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Scréamus @phantom-limbs.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Sitting online trying not to jump into a bunch of TTRPG related discussions I have very strong feelings about. Really though I think the best thing I can do is just put my head down and get writing again. No point in pontificating about this shit if I don't have anything to show for it.

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Travis D. Hill, Ph.D. ☕️ @travisdhill.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Did you know that you can cover solo games (card, board, RPGs) without (1) making an excuse why it’s okay to play a game solo and (2) playing it off as if it’s just a silly thing because you “have no friends.” Solo gaming has been, and will continue to be, legitimate. It’s 2026, y’all.

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Leon "Used to Be Cat" Richardson @catlinggun.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm gonna say that TTRPG designers would benefit from designing outside TTRPGS. I have learned SO much on my forays into creating simple video and board games. It all cross-pollinates.

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Fabian Blake(he/him)Rose tint my world @glitzydemon.itch.io · 28/09/2026

I KNOW y'all love wrestling. So which one of you is hiding a Queer as Fuck wrestling TTRPG up your sleeve or in your 'playtesters needed' pile? Something with plenty of off-stage drama as well as rumbles in the ring????? 🤞🥺🥺🤞

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Scare-on Lim 林家丰 @ PAX Aus @ehronlime.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I play TTRPGs to feel sad, but in a fun way!

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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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Heart of the Deernicorn @heartofthedeernicorn.com · 22/09/2026

If you've been wanting to join our Solo RPG Book Club but you don't live near Olympia, WA, you should check out our online Solo RPG Book Club! We will be hosting a livestream every month on Discord to walk you through how to play that month's game.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I'm thrilled to be the very first backer on the Color Jam campaign! As a fan of @stickydoodler.bsky.social's work, and seeing the other talented people involved, I have complete confidence that this will be as engaging to play as it is charming. Definitely check it out!

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Me, listening to my fave emo songs in 2001: yeahhh this rocks, emo is forever Me, still listening to all the same songs in 2026: i don’t know the lady you’re mad at but she probably has a pretty good point, maybe put down the microphone and do a zillion hours of therapy before you talk to her again

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Chris | Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

BRAINSLUG coming soon! This is a new puzzle game zine that I've been working on with @tysonw.bsky.social. This will probably be a physical-only game. Details will remain scarce as I think part of the fun is with experiencing the book! I'm looking for some folks to playtest this, details below ⬇️

Photo of me holding a test print of the game BRAINSLUG in a transparent red bag. The game says BRAINSLUG EMERGENCY MANAUL and shows a pixel illustration of a skull with a weird slug creature inside the brain.

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Mike Berg, We 🧡 Games @weheart.games · 21/09/2026

I recently designed a party game where you draw a yes/no question from a deck, and have to guess if half or more of your friends will answer yes. Does anyone know who would be a good publisher to pitch a small card-based party game to? 🎲✂️

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I have another joke about Fiasco but I’m already sharing it with someone.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I have a joke about Fiasco, but I don’t really have a need to tell it.

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Jason Morningstar @jmstar.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A friend suggested the "how to make a one-hour larp" chapter from Nine Space Games might be inspirational and a good format for folks to try out for the Golden Cobras, so I updated it and added a neutral worked example. I hope it inspires you! bpglink.com/freeform

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Jason Morningstar @jmstar.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The 2026 Golden Cobra Challenge is live! I'm on the organizing committee and I'd be happy to answer questions and/or cheer you on. It's a cool larp contest and often generates interesting, weird, and sometimes excellent games. www.goldencobra.org

goldencobra.org

Golden Cobra Challenge

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

h4ck3rz0nly, of course, but it won’t help you: this account is already being traced. Get out. Spread the word. Before they shut —

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Dead Belt has always looked super cool to me but so far everything I’ve seen of Dead Net is *specifically* tuned to the exact wavelengths of my brain. Solo, cyberpunk, hacking-focused, and absolutely oozing with aesthetic. Can’t wait to check out the campaign tomorrow!

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Chris | Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

can anyone point me to where i can find good decorations, dividers, and frames for a dark fantasy ttrpg? feel free to share your own stuff

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Chris | Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

if you've got a moderately gloomy saturday like me, why don't you check out some moderately gloomy solo games!

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Sticky Doodler 🖍️ Color Jam @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Color Jam goes live on Kickstarter in just 11 days! Find your next creative cozy game that you can play with friends or by yourself. It's a surprisingly challenging, authentic coloring experience. Link after the jump...

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Chance Encounter Games @chanceencounter.games · 10/09/2026

Come to Chance Encounter Games tomorrow 9/11 between 6 and 10 pm to play solo RPGs among friends and neighbors! Bring your own game or pick one up at the shop. We have supplies to share (dice, cards, notebooks, pencils), and a cozy quiet space to have a bit of creative me-time.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This short essay on legacy and loss speaks deeply to me as I think about my own place in the world and the art I want to make. As always, Gene manages to deftly capture exactly what it means to be human, with all the joy and pain that accompanies it.

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Chris | Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I'll be tabling at a local anime con later this month! I'll be representing the design collective I'm part of, Designed in the DMV, and will be selling cool indie ttrpg's! I'll also be tabling next to my wife Emily, who makes really great crochet creations. Come swing by if you're local!

Flyer for RisuCon. Text says September 26, 2026, 11AM to 7PM. The Montgomery county fairgrounds. Gaithersburg MD.

Designed in the DMV Hall #4, booth 422. Ellie's Yarn World, Hall #4, Booth #423.

Come and find Emily and I at RisuCon. This is our first event together and we will be side by side

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I’ve had great experiences all along that spectrum, though I think my preference is more towards game than writing. Something like 1-3 game decisions, even if they’re fairly simple, for every chunk of writing I do seems like a good balance to me.

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Chant Evans @exstasisgames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Solo TTRPG players of the Internet! When you're playing a solo RPG that is mostly writing... how much game do you want in your creative writing exercise, or alternatively, how much writing do you want in your gaming? Like, where's the balance? (Please help me out with some reposts!)

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I’ve helped organize a couple very small community conventions for a single publisher. Happy to chat if you think it’d be helpful!

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I'm very fortunate to call Matt a friend and to have had a front-row seat as he's developed this game. It is a passion project in the best possible way: a game that comes from Matt's deep commitment to guiding the next generation of STEM enthusiasts. Definitely worth following for when it launches!

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Oh hey! My game One Breath Left is in this bundle — along with a bunch of other cool games — so check it out!

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Oh hey! My game One Breath Left is in this bundle — along with a bunch of other cool games — so check it out!

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Heart of the Deernicorn @heartofthedeernicorn.com · 02/09/2026

Solo Journaling RPGs are having a huge moment right now, and for good reason! These are games that are designed for contemplative solo play. Many have a focus on journaling and creative writing. Check out our website to find one that matches your vibe! Journal pictured is from Song of the Scryptwyrm

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Banana Chan 🔜 Portland Retro Gaming Expo @bananachangames.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I made a trilogy of horror solo journaling games. The final game is Sample. It’s about a DJ who meets a tragic end and it’s set during Y2K right before the ball drops. Players create their own music and choose melodies to determine the outcome. Follow here before we launch: tinyurl.com/2af9nnte

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Chris | Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I made a Junk Food Games starter pack! This is an introduction to the kind of games I like to make. 4 games for $8! I plan to keep this bundle up for a year. And then make a new version of the bundle next year. itch.io/s/198975/jun...

itch.io

Junk Food Games Starter Pack by Junk Food Games

A bundle by Junk Food Games, $8.00 for 4 games

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Francita, ✨ graphic designer 🖼️🖌 @byfrancita.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

TTRPG Layout/Graphic Design AMA? I've worked in a lot of games, for a long time, so let's try this.

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RPG Trader @rpgtrader.com · 19/08/2026

Random RPG thought: there is something really awesome about someone having a weird little idea, turning it into a game, and putting it out into the world for other people to play. ❤️🎲

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Jason Morningstar @jmstar.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Games You Should Play Before Playing Fiasco, in no particular order. * Play whatever you like * Even games that suck teach you stuff * Also play games that scare you sometimes * Distrust taste-makers * As a taste-maker I highly recommend Rusałka by Nick Wedig

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Sean McKnight @ynot1989.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

It kinda sucks that we live in an era of high quality cyberpunk media that is everything I wanted in my teens and 20s... because now, living in a cyberpunk dystopia, I'm kinda burned out by the genre.

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Francita, ✨ graphic designer 🖼️🖌 @byfrancita.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

this will sound crazy but I'm willing to super sprint and do free layout for one (1) ttrpg for the @onepagerpgjam.bsky.social . i can have it done in time for the deadline. interested? dm me. i will reject any game with AI or hateful themes, and prioritize games that are finished right now.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Games have a tremendous resonant power. They stick in our brains. They turn your kitchen table into an interactive theater, a living art gallery. The rules are the ticket to get you in, not the thing itself. When you pitch a game, use that ticket — but make sure you show the experience as well.

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

The more effectively you can communicate those moments or the experience overall, the better we understand your game. Our judges don’t expect professional writing or videography. But if you, the designer, can’t tell us what makes your game exciting… then who can? More importantly, who will? 7/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Put another way: when you tell your friend about an exciting new game you saw, do you start with setup? Do you clarify how each card works? Heck no! You focus on what’s COOL! “I was about to win when…” “It has this neat mechanic where…” “We were all laughing so hard because…” 6/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Yes, rules are important. Yes, theme is important. Yes, table presence is important. Don’t leave any of those out! But if your game doesn’t seem exciting, doesn’t seem interesting, if all I get out of a 1-minute video is a rules explanation… you’re putting your game at a big disadvantage. 5/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Our judges are extremely savvy, but we’re not perfect. The best thing you can do to help yourself when pitching for these challenges — and for pitching to publishers too, I imagine — is to show them what the game *experience* is about. What does an exciting moment or sequence look like? 4/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

What is that experience like? Is it a slow and strategic march to victory? Is it tense, full of uncertainty and second-guessing? Is it frantic? Do people laugh when they play? Do people immediately want to play again or do they need to think about it for a while to prepare their gameplan? 3/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Our design challenges require a 1-minute pitch video and I can’t tell you how many of those videos are just rules. Don’t get me wrong: rules are great too! We need to know the core rules to understand the context of the game. But a game is so much more than its rules. A game is an experience. 2/8

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Ian Howard @leafydragongames.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

After the last Button Shy design challenge, I offered feedback to willing entrants in exchange for a small charitable donation. That meant watching and rewatching a lot of pitch videos, and there’s one big piece of feedback that I found myself repeating: SHOW US WHAT MAKES YOUR GAME EXCITING. 1/8

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