iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Got to play test a couple of the new games tonight. Pretty successful I think. Stick Four ended up being the most challenging game play. I think it's almost there, just need to clarify a few rules.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

This game came together really fast. Started by thinking on a Vermont centered game with 2-sided maple leaves and a few days later here we are. Will update if it’s fun to play after a few play tests, lol. #tabletop #boardgamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Got some copies of the new Gravity Well graphics. This is how the cover art for all 5 of my games look together & I’m very happy with them. Time to think more on a 6th game. I’d like it to be specific to Vermont so Fall themed seems most likely. #tabletop #graphicdesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Tweaked the control board. Reduced turns per round from 5 to 4 which does a few interesting things: 1. Players now have a choice of which 4 out of 5 actions they want to use each round instead of automatically using all 5 and just decided their order, adding to the strategy. #gamedesign #tabletop

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Ok, now we’re talking. Love these colors for Gravity Well. Now to dial in the new rules. #tabletop #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Reworked the Gravity Well program board a bit. Needed to make more room in the box for 2 of these, a game board and all the bits. Had “Tie Breaker” text because it’s an important part of the game but looked too much like the games name so swapped it for the actual game name. #tabletopgamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

New version (left pic) of my Gravity Well game. I changed quite a bit to bring this game closer to the complexity and gameplay of my other games. It also feels much more substantial than the original (right pic) option. #tabletopgames #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Any thoughts on this option for a wood version of Toppa? I’m trying to think of a way to make the wood Toppa without the need of using a CNC machine. I can make this one myself with a scroll saw and drill press (once I get those, lol). This first one was with a hand held drill so it’s VERY rough.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New hex components im making for a potential game. Not sure what the game is yet at all but I’m loving the hexes. The colors represent Water, Rocks, Forest, Desert, Brick/roads, and Burnt forest or Wasteland and i have 4 different heights for each. #tabletop #games #3dprinting

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Originally I designed a 2 tone stackable checker for my Toppa game. Just made a 1 color checker. I like it but something about the 2 tone feels more... classy? Maybe it's just the darker color? At the very least I'm sure I'll put the new file up on my digital file Etsy shop. #tabletop #games

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Saw Disclosure Day yesterday. A few years ago for fun I was doing my own movie poster design of every movie I saw in theaters (giving myself only as much time to complete as length of the movie). Here's the one I did this morning for Disclosure Day. #disclosureday #movieposters #graphicdesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Based on the play testing last weekend these are the new updated rules. - Changed the wild cards from 2 colors to 3. - Added two 5 color wild cards. - I had increased the single color cards from 40 to 50 for the 4 player game but I'm reducing it again back to 40.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Got to play test the 2-player Pigeonhole Principle rules last night. It went pretty good actually. It's an interesting game with a bit of strategy. I think it could use a couple specially cards maybe for that extra bit of strategy but overall feels good so far. #tabletopgame #cardgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Tweaked the rules a bit. - Added 10 more color cards. 4-player game wouldn't really have enough cards left for effective gameplay if all 4 players had 2 sets before someone getting a 3rd. - Made Wild cards 1-time use. Can't wait to play test to see if it actually works or not!

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

I think I finally figured out the Pigeonhole Principle game rules after only about 30 different iterations and rule sets. Haven't play tested this version yet. It may be fine with fewer cards or I might need more to make it work for 4 players. Or it may not work at all, lol.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

A look at the set up for the Toppa tournaments I ran this past weekend. The calm before the storm.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Time is moving too fast these days, lol. This weekend I'll be at a VT con running 5 TOPPA tournaments a day w/8 Players per tourney. It's tough to get people to sit down for a bit in the middle of a show but hopefully I can fill the tables a few times at least. There'll be prizes! #tabletopgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Finished staining the Medieval Toppa & reduced the board to from 8x8 (top) to 7.5x7.5 (bottom). Not a huge difference but feels more proportional to me. I want to add some grooves to the board for accurate chip placement but overall not bad. #gamedesign #tabletopgame

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

I finally figured out how to do a “Medieval” version of Toppa. I’ve wanted to table at some Renn fairies in the future but bringing 3d and modern box printing didn’t seem appropriate. Rules stay the same, runes replacing the different color chips. #tabletopgames #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

This game has already gone through some quick iterations! From blocks to cards to 3d printed runes. Will most likely make the runes 2 color when and if it works out as a playable game. #gamedesign #tabletopgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

I think this is a board for a potential new take on the Pigeonhole game. I’m really good at making boards first without knowing any of the game rules, lol. #tabletopgame #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

I’m pretty basic with how I think about my 3d designs. Mostly extruding flat layers into 3d. Part of that is how I get things to look 3d with only a one color printer but it’s also just how my brain works after 5 years of making things with a laser cutter, lol. #3dprinting

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Playing around today with 3d text. This is also a font I designed for myself a while ago too. Not sure what I’ll do with it yet, maybe add some rings to the back for a “brass knuckle” kind of thing? #3dprinting #pow #zap #boom #onomatopoeia

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

The beginnings of my "Pigeonhole Principle" game. Kind of an experiment to see if I can make a game with the fewest possible number of pieces (currently 15. 10 cards & 5 blocks). #gamedesign #tabletopgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Been a while since I did an index of posters. Certainly not a complete representation. Mostly the poster work I've done for my own creative fulfillment over the past 25 YEARS! (I'm sure I've missed more than a few thanks to my ever-so creative file labeling system). #posterart #posterartist

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

A bit of card and box art I did for “Escape from Horrorwood” from NewVenture Games. I like all cards but the Werewolf and Mummy are probably my favorites! #tabletopgames #gameart

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Been a while since I cut anything on the laser (preoccupied with my 3d printer I guess) but I figured since I recently got the rights back to this graphic I’d make some wooden postcards & bookmarks for upcoming shows. #lasercutting

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Got in my Toppa cards in for the “Stacks” card version of Toppa. Still need to play test. The swapping of boards is such a big part of the tabletop version, the challenge will be in how to incorporate a similar mechanic into the card game. #tabletop #cardgame

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

One of my current projects is a Holiday card game. Hopfully it will be ready for this year! Even if it's not a specific game of its own, it should be suitable for most traditional card deck games. #cardgame #tabletop

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Got a sample deck of my icon card game. Still need to play test some more and dial in the rules… and probably tweak the name but i couldn’t wait to get a sample. I’m incredibly impatient which is why I have a box filled with out of date prototypes, lol. #cardgames #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I've been trying to design a customizable cube/box since I got my 3d printer about 6 months ago. I think this might be the one! #3dprinting #boxes #3Ddesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Working on a playing card version of Toppa (possibly). I like the idea of offering a low cost alternative but also wouldn't want to cannibalize the small amount of game sales I do have for the board versions. #cardgame #gamedesign #tabletop

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Progress on the new matching card game. Still thinking on names. I like "ICON: A Game of Pairs" but I think there's a game named Icon already? I could go with just "A Game of Pairs" maybe? Names are hard, lol. Digging the UNO color vibe though! #gamedesign #tabletop

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Ordered a few sample Toppa Arcade promo cards. Not bad! I’ve used Print & Play a couple other times in the past for things but never cards. Quality is good & the price is not terrible for prototyping a low volume of cards.

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Math & game people. I have a ? for you. 2 players have 13 unique cards & choose 7 of those 13 cards (leaving 6 out to use later), is there any way that there's NOT at least 1 matching set of cards in the 2 sets of 7? My brain says there must be at least 1 match? #math #probability #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Just got a new box sample for Toppa. Linen texture & updated graphics. It’ll be a bit before I sell through the original boxes I’ve got & the 3d printed version of will continue to use a clear plastic case. Still a nice upgrade (eventually) for the wooden game though! #tabletopgames #boardgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Can anyone check the math on my dumb guessing game? 5 dots per row. 3 Yellow, 1 Red, 1 Green. Reveal a Y dot & guess again. Reveal a G dot & advance to the next row. Reveal a R dot & it's game over. Technically this is still a 50/50 shot at advancing to the next row correct? #math #games

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

Added a couple new games I designed to my Toppa Arcade. I'm very much enjoying this process. I absolutely prefer creating games for the real world but this is also pretty satisfying. Neither of these are as fun to play as Toppa of course, lol. #onlinegames #makinggames markgonyea.com/toppa-game

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

All set up at Trekonderoga!

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Oooo, we're in the groove now! Added a 4x4 and 5x5 versions of solo TOPPA. markgonyea.com/toppa-game #sologames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Just added Wolf in Sheep's Clothing & Zombie Bingo to my original tabletop game shop on Etsy. That's is now all FIVE of my original games complete and available! I'm really happy w/how all the games play. Not the most complicated games but each one is fun in their own, unique way. #tabletopgames

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Just dropped off 20 of my Vermont mountains magnet to a local shop! Hopefully the first of many. : )

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

I can get 28 Toppa boards from 1 full spool of PLA on my Bambu A1 Mini. About 35g each. I could probably make the walls a bit thinner but I like that it feels solid & 14 sets of boards from a single spool is good enough for me! #3dprinting #tabletopgames #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Having a 25% off sale on most of my Etsy digital 3d Printing and Laser Cutting files. Ends July 1st! #Lasercutting #3dprinting #onsale www.etsy.com/shop/ToppaGa...

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

I reworked my Block Market game so instead of printing a set of 24 paper "Investment Cards" for each game I'm 3d printing my own "Tiles" that will do the same thing as the cards. Adds a LOT to the print time but fits the theme so much better & I kind of love it all looks. #tabletop #gamedesign

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

This is what about 2 weeks of off & on printing looks like when you only have a single Bambu A1 Mini (plus a few prototypes game boards). #tabletop #games #3dprinting I have a few of each game available on my Etsy shop w/free shipping in the U.S. www.etsy.com/shop/ToppaGa...

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Saw pics of some 3d printed brackets online. I knew I had these great planks gathering dust so made myself some table displays. I’ve got 1 more plank of the cherry wood so 2 more brackets coming up! #3dprinting #conventiondisplays

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Mark G @markgonyea.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Reverted the hex game back to my "Rock Meets Cloud" theme. I've got a set of rules but haven't play tested yet. Feels "light". Cute but needs something more. Not sure what yet but definitely more of something. #tabletop #boardgames #gamedesign

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