iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 14/09/2026

I am once again so sorry for BONKY. He came to me from some cosmic chaotic force deep within me, and I have no control over myself when it bids me to BONK.

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in my Strega Nona era @horizonswake.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Those dream sequences at the end of the episode were so fucking cool I immediately rewound the 25 minutes so I could listen to them again. #TTRPG #ActualPlay #ShrimpAndCrits #Ironsworn

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Shrimp and Crits @shrimpandcrits.com · 01/09/2026

🌠🎧📣 LISTEN TO ACTUAL PLAYS REVIEW ACTUAL PLAYS SHOW AND SHARE THE AWESOME STORIES YOU LOVE 📣🎧🌠

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 01/09/2026

Do you miss the Monster of the Week golden age when @shrimpandcrits.com and @monsterhourpod.bsky.social were both producing good old fashioned monster hunting fun? You don’t want to miss this. I think we bonked it out of the park ⚾️.

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Jess @jesssparksnotes.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Played Night Hag by @gshowitt.bsky.social with @itscap.bsky.social and @maudlingames.com and it felt like running through a hilarious 103 degree fever dream.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 08/08/2026

My post-GenCon update for the ttrpg shelf. Any glaring omissions? Tell me what this assortment of games says about me 😂.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 02/08/2026

Had my best GenCon yet. Thanks Indy. If we met this weekend, I can’t wait to game with you soon! 🦐💙🍤

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 20/06/2026

Do you have stubborn Monster of the Week players like I do who don't want to switch playbooks or retire their hunter? Keep the improvements coming with Veteran Improvements! rpg-trader.com/products/474...

rpg-trader.com

Veteran Improvements on RPG Trader

A Monster of the Week Supplement for Extending the Life of your Monster Hunter

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 16/06/2026

Reintroducing my games now that I'm on RPG Trader. First up is Bid Around the Bush. A chaotic romp on one page that encourages you to hoot, holler, interrupt your friends, and occasionally profit from bidding on foreclosed storage units. rpg-trader.com/products/383...

rpg-trader.com

Bid Around The Bush on RPG Trader

A Storage Unit Auction Parody TTRPG On One Page

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 15/06/2026

@dreasilvertooth.bsky.social is pretty much the coolest person in AP. They are a joy to record with. Proud of you Drea!

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Shrimp and Crits @shrimpandcrits.com · 15/06/2026

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY @maudlingames.com!!! Our ride or die GM with the mostest. We can't thank you enough for sharing your amazing stories and music with us, as well as your often horrendous dad-jokes. Share the love and say Happy Birthday to Ian today! 🎂🎈

Ian sitting with a book in hand. His shirt has polyhedral dice on it and his hat says "blow up your tv"

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 14/06/2026

My games are now on RPG Trader! If you enjoy my games, please go review them and give them a thumbs up. Over the next week or so, I'll take this opportunity to reintroduce each game I've made. rpg-trader.com/creator/696/...

rpg-trader.com

Maudlin Games on RPG Trader

Hello and welcome to our humble page of tabletop games! Maudlin Games was born out of a great love for collaborative storytelling, and our aim is to design games that encourage folks to step just outs...

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 13/06/2026

Ah the Soldier. The last in this little series of design notes. The soldier was one of the KOTOR 6 and pretty easy to make a playbook for. Star ‘Wars’ need star soldiers after all. The combat specialties were a lot of fun, and I think make this playbook deceptively versatile.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 08/06/2026

Algo-be-damned, here’s the second of these lil design journal posts today since I missed one over the weekend. Another of the “KOTOR 6” and the only one of the Jedi that did not get renamed. This one felt like it could have been cut, but I felt like it has huge untapped potential for role players.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 08/06/2026

Alright, I fell behind so you’re getting a two-fer today. This is one of the “KOTOR 6” and one of the few playbooks that I took a long look at cutting from the game. A playbook should have a clear story to tell and it was tough to give this one its own lane between Bounty Hunter and Scoundrel, BUT…

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 03/06/2026

With the Scoundrel, it took me a while to pin down what the narrative aspect of the playbook should be. What could I provide as a springboard to make sure players were set up to tell a great story. Thankfully the Crooked from MotW had just what I needed.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 01/06/2026

Like it or not, redemption is one of the strongest thru-lines in Star Wars. This playbook is a fun way to gamify that and break some of the conventions of this game’s dark side system. You start with Your Path and a Dark Master, and this playbook will be pulling you in both directions constantly.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 30/05/2026

Star Wars has always been political. From Leia’s hiding her rebel activity under the guise of a diplomatic mission to the long winded Senate sessions of the prequels to Andor’s tense party scenes where Mon Mothma is balancing the nascent rebellion on a razor’s edge.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 29/05/2026

If I could make one movie I would make a psychological horror about a couple losing their minds together and it would star these two.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 27/05/2026

This is by far the most popular Jedi playbook and for good reason. In many ways the “wayward warrior with a code” is the original vision for the Jedi, and I think a lot of players are slightly uncomfortable being connected to the more… dogmatic Jedi archetypes.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 23/05/2026

The Master was originally called “the Consular” which you’ll know if you were a KOTOR fan. It was important to cue in on the trope of ‘you’ve accomplished greatness; you’ve made mistakes; and you have one last mission’ that is prevalent in everyone from Yoda to Obi-Wan to Sequel Luke.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 21/05/2026

Ahhh this one is a personal favorite of mine, and the one I have played as a player the most. In fact the art for this playbook is my PC Loonin Voh. Star Wars stories are full of fringe characters who have their own unique ways of studying the Force different from the Jedi or the Sith.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 18/05/2026

The Learner! What an important cornerstone playbook for this game. Called “the Knight” in the earliest drafts of this game and “the Padawan” after that before I settled on using Vader’s verbiage from that last fight between him and Obi-Wan.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 16/05/2026

The Imp was a fun one to work on. One of the second batch of playbooks. I felt like the game needed a ‘spy,’ but it didn’t feel ‘star warsy’ enough to do a playbook called the Spy or even the Infiltrator. However there are LOTS of examples of Imperials seeing the light and joining the good guys.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 13/05/2026

There are so many great Star Wars leaders. From Leia to Luthen to Saw Gererra. My goals with this playbook were to illustrate someone already in a leadership position that still has highs to rise to, as well as give them an underlying darkness that I think even the most honorable leaders have.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 11/05/2026

I had a lot of fun with this one. The Pararomantic from Monster of the Week has so many great ideas that just don’t get used that often because people turn their nose up at the romantic subtext. Big obvious shout out to that playbook that gave me so much to use here.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 09/05/2026

Cap is a player who is always going to push boundaries. He always believes in his intentions, yet isn’t too prideful to take direction. His characterization is powerful and fearless. Truly a joy to have at any table. Can’t wait to show you all the next episode of Dania!

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 08/05/2026

THE DROID. I have yet to play a Light Side session that doesn’t have someone trying to call dibs on the Droid. I’m proud of this one in part because a large complaint with other Star Wars ttrpgs is that playing a droid is prohibitively complex.

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 07/05/2026

As Cap makes these posts I’m gonna talk about some of my inspirations and design ideas for each playbook. This one came so easily to us because we started writing Light Side in the wake of the first two seasons of Mandalorian. The biggest challenge was making it not too Mando-coded….

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 05/05/2026

Have you been thinking about running a Star Wars one shot on your Actual Play? Now that @lightsiderpg.bsky.social is complete, I would love to guest on some AP shows who are interested in trying it. Willing to GM or play. I’m cool with it being main feed or bonus content for your patreon.

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Jess @jesssparksnotes.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

If you like Star Wars, you'll love this game. It's got all the hope and adventure of playing around in the SW universe. @maudlingames.com @ @itscap.bsky.social absolutely crushed it.

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Light Side @lightsiderpg.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

The Complete First Version of #LIGHTSIDE is here! This Pbta TTRPG captures the magic of Hope and Optimism found in the #StarWars franchise created by George Lucas. Find the game here! No credits required, it's free! ianmauldin.itch.io/light-side Join the Official Discord discord.gg/Szqbpj8A2U

ianmauldin.itch.io

Light Side by Ian Mauldin

A Space Fantasy Powered By The Apocalypse Game Based On Star Wars

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 01/05/2026

We'd love to game together again, Elliot! That was a blast.

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Lian Xia Rose @lianxiarose.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

So proud of the stories we've told and all the laughter, tears and edge-of-your-seat moments along the way!

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The Monster's Playbook @monstersplaybook.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

We are SOOOO close to our 5K goal and today is the final day to fight with us against hunger on behalf of Feeding America. 47 Million Americans are facing food insecurity this holiday season, and every dollar donated during December funds 20 meals. Join the fight: tinyurl.com/fight-hunger

teamfeed.feedingamerica.org

I'm supporting Feeding America!

To feed America’s hungry through food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger

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S. A. Hunt @sahuntbooks.com · 05/12/2025

Not nearly enough of you are listening to the fantasy masterpiece @shrimpandcrits.com. Just increasingly amazing. Best TTRPG podcast around and yeah I'm counting TAZ and Critical Role. This mid-series short arc ARCADIA is hands down the best scifi I've ever encountered in an audio medium.

media.tenor.com

a cartoon alligator is playing a piano with yellow eyes

Alt: a cartoon alligator is playing a piano with yellow eyes

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 17/09/2025

We all need to get weird every once in a while. Back Absurdia now!

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 29/08/2025

As someone who has been constantly writing worlds since I was about 7 or 8 years old, this is the best compliment I could possibly receive. 🥲

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GM Connie Chang 🌈🐸 @byconniechang.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

If you’re a #TTRPG creator with a Patreon page, please do this survey and state that you’re opposed to the use of AI! We need to nip this in the bud ASAP. The survey takes 2 minutes and will hopefully have a big impact if enough of us submit strongly negative opinions!

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Shrimp and Crits @shrimpandcrits.com · 04/08/2025

OOPS! This is embarrassing. Yesterday was our 5 YEAR Pod anniversary! 🦐🎉 Thank you all so much for listening over the years, we can't wait to share even more games and stories with you in the future!

The faces of all the Shrimp and Crits cast in individual bubbles on a background of drawn shrimp and crits.

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Monster Hour Pod @monsterhourpod.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

PATRONS! Tune in as three *unconventional* treasure seekers try to outbid one another and stake their claim on a menagerie of mysterious, possibly even lucrative (?) storage containers. Will the cream rise to the top? Or will they crash out and close up shop? www.patreon.com/posts/off-ho...

A pink garage door to a storage container. Text reads “MH PRESENTS: BID AROUND THE BUSH.”

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Quinn Majeski @quinnmajeski.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Incredibly excited to announce that Absurdia, my TTRPG love letter to classic and contemporary works of absurdism like Welcome to Night Vale, Alice in Wonderland, and Gravity Falls, is coming to Backerkit this fall! Subvert normalcy. Embrace chaos. Make it weird. Follow today 👁️ bit.ly/46upHBR

bit.ly

Get Ready for Absurdia: The (Meta)Physical Edition

From Quinn Majeski - Get Ready for Absurdia: The (Meta)Physical Edition

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Shrimp and Crits @shrimpandcrits.com · 15/06/2025

Happy Birthday to the brilliant and talented @maudlingames.com! 🦐🎉

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Haunted Table @hauntedtable.games · 03/06/2025

Celebrating our CRIT awards nomination, two years since our campaign and a year since release: Triangle Agency is on sale for the first time! This month, you can get the Triangle Agency core rulebook for only $45! That's 25% off normal price. shop.hauntedtable.games/products/tri...

shop.hauntedtable.games

Triangle Agency (PHYSICAL BOOK + DIGITAL PDF)

Welcome to the first job of the rest of your life! This purchase comes with Triangle Agency (Digital Edition) immediately. "The best game I've ever read" - Rowan Zeoli, Polygon "Top to bottom, Triangl...

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Drea Silvertooth @dreasilvertooth.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Oh gosh, I have been nominated for a CRIT award. If you want, you can vote for me or for one of these other lovely humans at the link below! Or you can just affectionately tease me about not knowing Pathfinder 1e's mechanics, like my beloved @badheroescast.com cast ❤️

Graphic with text that reads: CRIT AWARD FINALISTS: Best Game Master - Paizo | Drea Silvertooth @dreasilvertooth, Aubrey Knotts @madqueencosplays, Joe Treff @alberonrpg, David @stealthyelf, Michael @mousenmidnight

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Ian Mauldin @maudlingames.com · 03/05/2025

Let’s do a Star War! I’m excited for this one.

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