iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Inspired by Halo Reach and ODST amongst a number of other things, this is my independent take on a campaign structure for FitD, playing with anti-canon and shared control of the squad ideas that I started playing with in The Unity of Skovlan, with a bunch of new innovations.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The Oleander Daemon is released! My squad-based FitD campaign of military sci-fi action about a guerilla force fighting back against an occupying invader is available in both PDF and softcover POD. tLBP: buff.ly/797VvFw DTRPG: buff.ly/67gBMOl Itch: buff.ly/GCKR8XF Lulu: buff.ly/5duEpis

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Alrighty, got my DTRPG proof of The Oleander Daemon, which was my last limiting factor on the release of the game (POD was a mandatory element). It's sufficient! The game will release within on the next couple weeks!

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Anyways, Oleander Daemon comes out next month, basically as soon as my proofs arrive. It's been a while since I've been this excited for a release.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Okay, that's me committed THE OLEANDER DAEMON releases in October, PDF and POD. I don't have a final date (I need to receive my POD proofs to hit the button, so it's not 100% in my hands) but I'm targeting the 11th or 12th (the latter is my birthday)

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

So in The Unity of Skovlan, there's a late-Period Mission where you assassinate an Akarosi general I adapted that one to Oleander Daemon, a scifi Halo-like game But I'm realizing in the adaptation, I basically wrote a mission where you assassinate Darth Vader

Header: The Secundus
Body: Fully power-armored even in the safety of the Citadel, they are identifiable by their unique helmet and grand cloak. Little is known of their identity or relationship with the Primarch, but they have been the Secundus for years.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

I've rewritten this thread like ten times, so I'm going with this, whatever Announcing a new thing I'm putting together: --SUNRISE OVER ASPHALT --A Coming-of-Age Road Trip Game about Running Away, Driving Forward, and Finding Ourselves

Simple grayscale vector art of a road leading to the horizon with a rising sun over it. Over the rode is the title text "Sunrise Over Asphalt", followed by the subtitle "A Coming-of-Age Road Trip Game about Running Away, Driving Forward, and Finding Ourselves". At the bottom is the text "A Logbook Project Game."

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

With the website redesign, I made Vibroblades In The Dark free to the public, rather than hidden in the Patreon Archive! I made it for a couple friends initially, but it's a simple and sharp Blades reskin for cyberpunk with a few really interesting playbooks. www.logbook-project.com/other-projec...

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

It's the most back burner project I have, and I'm not nearly ready to try to develop it to the extent I dream of, but one day I WILL be able to write Copper Ganglia. I keep reaching the point of actually manifesting my dream projects, so I KNOW I will manage this one. One day.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Speeding up the start of play and quickly building conflicts and needs, it then largely stays out of the way and lets the brilliance of Apocalypse World shine through.

apocalypse world is a dangerous place, but every so often there’s enough stuff to go around that the haves and the have-nots can find a balance, a status quo to cling to. the suppliers, sitting pretty on their hoards, reluctantly parceling out their treasures to the junkies and the dreamers (for a price) through their middle-management dealers. that’s when trouble rolls into town, towing chaos and blood and drama.

your little hold, the place you call home, found this balance; and so here comes trouble, because in apocalypse world, there can be no status quos.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Montsimmard 9:38 is released! It's a PWYW passion project, a love letter to Dragon Age 2, and a celebration of the potential of pseudo-medieval urban fantasy. thelogbookproject.itch.io/montsimmard-938 (no exp with Dragon Age necessary, but you'll need the playsheets from Urban Shadows 2e to play)

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

I responded to a great email about Unity of Skovlan's rules that really exposed why I'm so excited about The Oleander Daemon and taking my FitD squad-based campaign ideas so far along their evolutionary trajectory. There's so much meat on these mechanical bones to work with.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Got LOTS done today. Proofread/completed Trouble Comes To Town, amended Unity of Skovlan's sheets, prepped Montsimmard 9:38 for it's public release in a few days, and progressed Under Forgotten Stars several critical pages. Also did some Pokemon Draft League statistics work.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

With Apocalypse World 3e on the horizon, I dusted off and refreshed my old ApW one-shot scenario, Trouble Comes To Town. It's still pretty rad, and now it looks professional instead of... default. Like the original form, it'll still be free, but I'm still putting the finishing touches on it.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Just published Montsimmard 9:38, a Dragon Age Adaptation of Urban Shadows 2e, on my Patreon. $3 gives access to it and a bunch of other stuff. It'll go PWYW publicly eventually, but it's exciting and if you've got a couple bucks it's worth it for 120 pages of content! www.patreon.com/c/thelogbook...

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Read a great passage from Maggie Stiefvater's Mister Impossible tonight on this kind of vibe that resonated very hard with me.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

I was approaching the revisions and expansions for Under Forgotten Stars and was feeling apprehensive about where to start, so I used my fallback and started re-laying out the whole game. It's looking amazing and I'm thrilled to push further into the Expanded Edition content eventually.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Finally, the Lens has their Progression card, choosing the next Chapter. This is actually the only point Education can be chosen -- once the Seed moves beyond the Programmer, Education won't be playable. But this is so much responsibility for just one Programmer who didn't mean to be here.

Card text indicates Progression and Nascence. Text reads: "The Seed is immobile, reliant upon you for any change in their situation.

When the Seed tells you they are done with their Diagnostics, decide what to do with them:

 Keep them hidden, teach them, and prepare them for the world. (You will play Education)

 Bring the Seed to the university. You are not a professional in this sort of thing, but they must be able to help understand the Seed better. (You will play Trials)

 Go public. The world must know. (You will play Revelation)

 Have the Seed locked away, for their own benefit or for the world’s. (You will play Exile)". Card ends with the instruction "Pick up the Story Card for the Chapter you will play next and read it out loud."

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

After 15 minutes, the Seed judges the Lens secretly on their Diagnostic. It is purely subjective , but also devoid of nuance -- you MUST say Yes or No, and it WILL matter later. This isn't too spoiler-y, it totally works on replays.

Card text indicates Diagnostic and Nascence. Text reads: "Secretly answer each of these questions with a Yes or No. No maybes, no qualifiers. Mark the answers secretly on your Tally Card.

 Did the Programmer treat you as an equal intelligence, rather than in a patronizing or dehumanizing way?

 Do you have an understanding of
your identity?

 Do you feel like you were in a safe or powerful position?

Adopt the Programmer’s Value, writing it on one of your blank Value Cards." The card ends with the instruction "Tell the Programmer when you are finished."

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

These are the Seed and Lens Rules cards. Nascence is played between a Seed who can only speak through text and a Lens who must wait while the Seed writes to respond, all within a 15 minute window. That's not long to truly answer a new being's desire for definition and identity. It'll have to do.

Card text indicating Seed Rules and Nascence. Text reads: "You cannot speak. In this Chapter, you can only write, using the Blank card. Additionally, you can use no words with more than
two syllables.

When the Lens answers your initial question (“what am i”), set a timer for fifteen minutes. Have a conversation with the Programmer, remembering your restrictions." It ends with an instruction: "When the fifteen minutes are up, immediately end the conversation and pick up your Diagnostic Card for this Chapter."

Card text indicates Lens Rules and Nascence. Text reads: "I am the Programmer. What do I Value?

Choose one of the following and write it on your Lens Value card.
 Optimism
 Knowledge
 Compassion

You accidentally created the Seed, and are their first contact with the world. Begin by answering their question (“what am i”) to the best of your ability.

When you answer, start a timer for fifteen minutes. Have a conversation with the Seed. You may not speak while the Seed is writing." The card ends with the instruction "When the fifteen minutes are up, immediately end the conversation and pick up the Progression Card."

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The opening narration is read by the Lens (and the instruction to do so is earlier). This is the start of the all games of Bootstrapping. It contains a lot of little details that matter a lot.

Card Text indicates Story and Nascence, then reads: "It was the middle of the night. In the dark of their home office, the Programmer’s computer cast a dim glow over the room. They had left some code to finish compiling while they got a drink.

The acrid smell of coffee wafts in as the Programmer returns and sits down. They know instantly that something is not right.

The computer is a mess of glitching pixels, colors and sounds, the screen flashing, screaming.

Then it stops, right where the Programmer left it.
The command prompt opens.

And one letter at a time, the Seed AI spells out its first sentence:
“what am i”". It ends with an instruction: "Both players should draw their respective Rules Cards for this Chapter."

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The card backs are designed to be clear for organization purposes. The bottom left (Chapter XX) lists the card number within the chapter, while the bottom right (Total XX) lists the card number in the full 54-card stack. This makes arranging the deck easy.

Back of the cards for Nascence with a computer monitor icon, listing the card as "Story," "Lens Card," "Card 01 of the Chapter" and "Card 10 of the Game"

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

It is one of my favorite games I've ever designed, despite its original iterations being over eight years old by now. I met my partner through playing this game. It is especially inspired by Ex Machina, Her, Ghost in the Shell, The Sundered Land, and Firebrands.

Photo of the game's deck splayed out next to the game's tuckbox to show what the purchased product will look like. The background is a blue wood table.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Bootstrapping is a 54-card deck of 7 unique microgames, called Chapters. The first and last Chapters are set, but the order and number of middle Chapters will be up to your choices. It takes about 1-2 hours to play. Play is highly asymmetrical , and is a very cerebral, intimate experience.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

I'm satisfied, Bootstrapping releases on Monday (6/9)! I'm tired of people not being able to play it, and the print quality has met my needs!

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

In design, declare clearly that the system is complex and interlocking and mucking will have unintended ripple effects. Delineate what pieces are load-bearing and where creative energy can easily be directed. Declare that all changes should be tracked so they can be rolled back.

Excerpts of an upcoming game illustrating a fully written approach to dissuading overzealous use of Rule Zero

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Half-prompted by a friend, today I set up Bootstrapping for both its Print-and-Play and Print-on-Demand release as soon as my proof from DrivethruCards gets to me. It's been a long-time coming, I'm sick of people not being able to get one of my favorite and most meaningful designs.

A grayscale banner featuring the word Bootstrapping, geometric vector work, and a stylized human head and shoulders.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Spent the day in the yard, grinding away at a salvaged iron garden table. Yellowy stuff is lichen, and it covered the whole table. Feeling very happy with my work, finally have a table (and pair of chairs) I can be proud of. Fixed my gate and sanded a couple shelves (prepped to paint) today too.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

It's a simple structure currently. At the $3 tier, you'll get access to my Drafts page where I post my full drafts of currently ongoing projects. At the $10 tier, you'll get access to the Backlog, where games go when I'm done. There's a lot, some of it exclusive. www.patreon.com/c/thelogbook...

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

I would be remiss if I didn't also mention Learning Pixel Art. While I haven't been active for many years, I wrote effectively an instructional textbook for pixel artists, and it's still great. I have it on Amazon and my site for just $1, and I give free copies to anyone who asks. buff.ly/qbfwpy4

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Under Forgotten Stars is my fourth upcoming game. A sci-fi solo game about waking up alone on a wondrous and frightening world with no memory of who you are, it is a game of exploration and contemplation, heavily inspired by walking simulator puzzle games and Metroid Prime. buff.ly/Jmf7xxz

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The Oleander Daemon is an upcoming Military Sci-Fi Campaign, Forged in the Dark. Inspired by Halo: Reach and ODST, among other things, The Oleander Daemon is a story about war, sacrifice, and resistance against imperialist occupation. Recently completed, it is currently in playtesting and revision.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

I misunderstood the Blades licensing rules, and so I couldn't release The Unity of Skovlan with a price tag. As such, the whole thing is Pay What You Want. Over 180 pages of extensively-designed work. buff.ly/BvTuS0A

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The Shining Void is my other major Powered By The Apocalypse game about a crew of heroic people on a spaceship. It's a bunch of stuff, but it's especially Mass Effect, and I revitalized it a couple years ago when Mass Effect Legendary Edition came out. buff.ly/3QlH2ei

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Magical/Girl is still forthcoming, a game about connection and understanding in a shattered world. It is about hope and fear, and where Starglow is obsessed with the aesthetics of magical girls, M/G is fixated on their mental state and emotional journey. buff.ly/qJn7h1X

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

TITAN/child is about a handful of children and a construct's mind struggling for control of the construct's body as they try to stop an invasion from space. It's very Eva. Blood/Lust is a gothic horror romance about a vampire and a human in love (or lust). It will end in tragedy, but what sort?

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

The games TITAN/child, Blood/Lust, and Magical/Girl are all riffs on my own homegrown Oblique Engine, a framework for 2-player games with each taking a complementary role in the pursuit of some shared goal. Fundamentally, they are prompt-answering games with mechanics to moderate and adjust them.

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Starglow is a game in the LUMEN engine about a VRMMO with Magical Girl tropes, except it's collapsing and glitching and getting freaky. A power fantasy game of success and boldness. Virtual Reality Magical Girls, Sparklepunk Glitchcore Action. buff.ly/fwYuqoV

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Worlds Without Harmony is a game about ideological conflicts, unanswerable questions, and the people caught between them. Literally played with cards and string, WWH is a deeply cerebral and philosophical game about what we care about, and why. buff.ly/cDPv9lu

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The Logbook Project (Max) @logbookproject.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

In 2021, I began working on a complete overhaul of LotE, producing a 2nd Edition that is one of the best and most refined PbtA games around. I love the original, but the new version is superior in just about every way. A full draft is available through my Patreon. buff.ly/2iFjiW7

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