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Max Brooke

@maxcbrooke.bsky.social
365 followers 1.1K following 240 posts

Game designer with a lot of RPGs and space battle games on the ol' resume. Recent projects include Precipice: Mech Miniatures Combat and Plotweaver RPG! My studio: www.wildplumgames.com My game design musings: www.maxbrooke.com

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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 23h
This week's Fiction Primer delves into one of my favorite topics in mecha media: control systems. Read on to learn about how characters from the worlds of Arbelos, Swarmworld Arcturus, and Harness control their very different machines! www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/fiction-primer-control-schemes
wildplumgames.com
Fiction Primer: Control Schemes — Wild Plum Games
Precipice is a game that focuses on “Jumping into the cockpit,” and that means you need to have an idea of what the cockpit looks like. We’re asking you to imagine piloting the mech when you plot you...
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Meric Moir @mericmoir.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Weekend Plotweaver update… Guidebook is heading to dev editing! Erstwild narrative revisions are happening! Splinterlight open alpha is happening! Hexbeat goes to open alpha on October 5! PlotweaverRPG.com
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This week's Dev Update brings you news from the Peninsula, reflections on playtest feedback we've received so far, a chance to weigh in on future design, and more info on Preview Packs to help you Bring Your Own Mech to the table! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/dev-update-precipice-9242026
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (9/24/2026) — Wild Plum Games
In this week’s update, learn about a battle for survival on the Peninsula in our latest fiction, a list of the most burning requests from playtesters (so far), and an update on Preview Kits!
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The people long for the pile bunker. Read on to find out what else has been requested after Precipice playtests, and the various reasons that feedback hasn't been implemented (yet)! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/mechanics-update-most-wanted
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Most Wanted — Wild Plum Games
Today, I’ll discuss the most requested mechanical updates to Precipice as of Open Alpha v1.1, why I think they stand out to people, and why I haven’t implemented them yet (plus, how likely they to a...
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Sam Gregor-Stewart @samgregorstewart.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
So as my buddy @maxcbrooke.bsky.social continues developing his new Precipice minis game, he's got people writing some utterly sweet fiction. Check out the newest set of stories, that feature mechs in Renaissance Italy by Michael Gernes! I absolutely love them. www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/harn...
wildplumgames.com
Harness Chapter 1: Sparring — Wild Plum Games
Orlondo swept his right leg back and elevated his poleaxe’s butt end above his head in his overhand grip. As he did, his foot harness’ plates softly clanked together. His stance angled the weapon’s he...
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Daniel Clark @danlovatclark.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Giant robots/suits of armor hell yeah
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Chapter 3 of Michael Gernes' Harness kicks off with a cannon-fire at dawn. As shot rains down and great harnesses clash, who will survive the battle on the hillside? www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/harn...
wildplumgames.com
Harness Chapter 3: Ruins — Wild Plum Games
Orlondo had half finished lacing his doublet when heard the trumpet blow. He blinked, and not just from the water running down his face. The orange blaze of the sunrise dazzled his eyes as it emerged ...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Here's the Precipice Dev Update for the week. Read on for the next chapter of Harness, plus a playtest report with musings on rapid iteration and encounter design in Precipice! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/dev-update-9172026
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update (9/17/2026) — Wild Plum Games
In this week’s Dev update, we return to the world of Harness. Plus, what’s going on with encounter and mission design?
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Here's the writeup of last weekend's Precipice playtest. This time, I explored a (quick-and-dirty) draft of encounters and missions. What was the mission that got me to aggro and get my mech blown to shreds? And what did I learn from it? Check it out here: www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Searching for the Heart of Encounters — Wild Plum Games
Last week’s Mechanics Update got into some of the ways the initial and rather barebones take on Encounters in Precipice have been straining under the needs of the system, along with some thought...
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Plotweaver RPG @plotweaver.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Want to explore the sci-fi world of Splinterlight? Our GM ambassadors, the Plotweaver Envoy Team, have volunteered to run games for interested players on the weekend of 9/25-9/27! Just fill out this Google Form by 11:59 PM EST, September 20th. All details are on the form! ow.ly/5Ieu50ZNzEe
Text reads: Splinterlight Alpha Weekend 9/25-9/27. Art of a short, humanoid bunny-like creating known as a frinn has a bionic arm and one bionic eye and holds what looks to be a glowing hand grenade in her outstretched bionic hand. She has a crazed look in her eyes.
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Daniel Clark @danlovatclark.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I dig how the Precipice over-setting can have weird and whacky stuff like "Mecha, but Renaissance Italy" inside it.
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Excited for more medieval/renaissance mecha action from Michael Gernes' Harness setting? In Chapter 2: Raised Up, Orlondo weighs his oaths and his desires as he dons the great harness Gatewatcher for the first time, and faces his first test as champion. www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/harn...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
From this weekend's Precipice playtest, the fleeing convoy narrowly escapes my mech! This week's Mechanics Update will get into the scenario I was testing, and the ways it worked (and didn't). Stay tuned!
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Brotherwise Games @brotherwisegames.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Mistborn World Guide is every Mistborn fans dream! Full of the rich lore and history of Scadrial and it's many locations and cultures in both Era 1 and Era 2 👀🔥 Be sure to grab your digital copy today, available on DriveThruRPG! ow.ly/BMLw50ZNtxr
The cover of the Mistborn World Guide for the Cosmere RPG. 
Spreads from the Mistborn World Guide for the Cosmere RPG featuring artwork by Marie Seeberger of Elendel and notes about allomantic grenades, transportation and motor cars in Era 2.Spreads from the Mistborn World Guide from the Cosmere RPG including text on Obligators and the Steel Ministry, and passages about Vin and Yomen as patrons
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
We've got another Precipice Dev Update. This week's theme is the Precipice itself: how it's represented mechanically in our latest Mechanics Update, plus how it functions in various worlds in this week's Fiction Primer. Plus, pictures of primed minis! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (9/10/2026) — Wild Plum Games
Precipice design moves ahead, and this time, the main focus is the forthcoming revamp of encounters! Plus, two kinds of primer: a new Fiction Primer about a few ways the Precipice may manifest on var...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Today's Mechanics Update is a look under the hood of Encounter Design in Precipice (aka what you're doing *besides* throwing giant robot punches). Find out what's working, what's getting revamped, and when playing cards are a better table randomizer than dice! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Enigmatic Encounters — Wild Plum Games
From the start, unpredictability has been key to the scenarios (called “encounters” in the game) within Precipice . In the early stages of design, these included various rollable tables of results fo...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Humidity's low for a minute, so that means it's time to prime some Precipice miniatures!
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Andrew Fischer @afischergames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Look what showed up just in time for the digital release of the Mistborn setting for the Cosmere RPG! This one is even more ambitious than Stormlight. 2 eras, 16+ metals each represented across 3 magic systems ... I'm super proud of it. You can get the PDFs here: tinyurl.com/2yn483y7
The Mistborn Handbook, World Guide, and adventure book for the Cosmere RPG.
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Brotherwise Games @brotherwisegames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Grab your metals and get ready!🪙🗡️ The Mistborn RPG books are now available through our partners at DriveThruRPG, Demiplane, Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry VTT. Want to play but don't have a group to play with? No problem! Check out startplaying.games to find a game and Start Playing today! ❤️‍🔥
A woman in an ornately beaded black flapper dress made of mistcloak tassels and holds a gun. The image reads "Cosmere Roleplaying Game Mistborn Setting Available Now On DriveThruRPG, Demiplane, Roll20, FantasyGrounds, and Foundrey Virtual Tabletop"
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Brotherwise Games @brotherwisegames.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Lydia Suen, lead designer of the Cosmere RPG, is here to tell YOU that the Mistborn RPG books are now available through our partners at DriveThruRPG, Demiplane, Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, and Foundry VTT. Looking for a game? Join the Cosmere RPG Discord server! discord.gg/cf2aNWbx74
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Today, we have another Precipice Fiction Primer. This time, we delve into how the Precipice functions across different worlds, including some of its common manifestations. Plus, more Dubious Max Original Graphics! www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/fiction-primer-precipice-manifestations
wildplumgames.com
Fiction Primer: Precipice Manifestations — Wild Plum Games
The Precipice intersects with countless worlds, but its interactions with each one are unique. Read on to find out more about the way the realm beyond manifests across a number of worlds!
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
What's up in Precipice this week? Find out in this week's dev update featuring the Renaissance-inspired world of Harness, an interview with its creator Michael Gernes, and an update on Preview Kit materials! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/dev-update-precipice-932026
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (9/3/2026) — Wild Plum Games
This week in the Precipice Dev Update, we dive into the Renaissance-inspired world of Harness. Plus, updates on the Preview Kit to help you Bring Your Own Mech to the table very soon!
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Did Tuesday's first Harness story leave you wanting more of this world of chivalry, intrigue, and giant combat armor? If so, check out this Interview with Michael Gernes about creating this setting for Precipice! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/world-interview-introducing-michael-gernes-harness
wildplumgames.com
World Interview: Introducing Michael Gernes’ Harness — Wild Plum Games
When I set out to make Precipice , the first person I approached for world design was my longtime collaborator and Star Trek: Into the Unknown co-designer Michael Gernes.
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Chris Hutton - TTRPG Insider @newsnerd.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Today’s big story: a preview of MISTBORN from @brotherwisegames.bsky.social as its digital game releases www.ttrpginsider.news/p/everything...
ttrpginsider.news
Everything You Need to Know About Brotherwise Games' Mistborn TTRPG
A look at the updated additions to Brotherwise Games and Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG, as it adds the two eras of Mistborn to the list of playable options.
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Demiplane @demiplane.com · 01/09/2026
We've been over on r/CosmereRPG this week, giving folks an advanced look at all things Mistborn® ahead of backer release day tomorrow! Don't miss it: www.reddit.com/r/cosmererpg...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I'm thrilled to present Michael Gernes' Harness. In a land of rolling hills and sunlit ruins, wars are fought with spears, cannon, and massive armor called great harnesses. As war looms over Premonta, the aspiring artisan Orlondo is called to act. Read Ch. 1: www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/harn...
A giant robot of cables and gears
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Brandon Perdue @pikorito.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
In case you missed it (or were waiting for the whole thing), all four chapters of the story introducing my mecha setting Swarmworld Arcturus (part of the Precipice universe of @maxcbrooke.bsky.social ) are up! www.wildplumgames.com/swarmworld-a...
wildplumgames.com
Swarmworld Arcturus — Wild Plum Games
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
In this week's Precipice Dev Update, I ruminate on Minnesota summer and fall, then go mad with (magnet) power working the finalized M-Trak sculpt. Plus, what we see in robot faces, and more! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (8/27/2026) — Wild Plum Games
A bit of an update on weather in Minnesota. Oh, and robots. Lots and lots of robots!
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Why put a head on a robot? What do we see in those faces? And how does that translate to game mechanics? Read on in today's Mechanics Update! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Head to Head — Wild Plum Games
Mechs don’t have to have heads, but humans love to see faces in things, and heads often follow. While the legs may give the machine a humanlike gait, a head is a space to express personality.
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Sure, it's the name of the game, but what *is* the Precipice? Today's Fiction Primer has you covered, and shows off some of the amazing concept art by @budger.bsky.social! www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/fiction-primer-the-precipice
wildplumgames.com
Fiction Primer: The Precipice — Wild Plum Games
What is the Precipice? Explore this strange interdimensional realm in today’s Fiction Primer!
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Not every mech in Precipice will have arms, but if you ever spend time thinking about big metal robot hands (or mounted particle cannons), this is the post for you. Plus sneak peaks of @javiroque.bsky.social's archtypes and a sculpt for the M-Trak's ancestor! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Arms Race — Wild Plum Games
Arms can be an important aspect of mech design. Through its arms, a mech interacts with the world. And so the choice of what to put on those arms signals a great deal about the mech’s history, purpose...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
What's up in Precipice this week? Come to read about how Arms can make the mech, stay for updates on the Precipice Preview Kit and more! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates/dev-update-precipice-8202026
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (8/20/2026) — Wild Plum Games
This week, we’ve got news on Robot Arms, a catch-up on the fiction of Arbelos and Swarmworld Arcturus before we dive into the world of Harness, and an update on the status of Precipice Preview Kits.
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I really enjoyed watching Games Night play out Federation versus Klingons in Star Trek: Into the Unknown. This is exactly the sort of evocative gameplay that Michael Gernes and I set out to enable when designing STIU, and it's so gratifying to see it in action! www.youtube.com/watch?v=AusM...
youtube.com
We played Star Trek on tabletop! | Battle Report: Star Trek: into the Unknown
YouTube video by Games Night
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
We'll soon be starting a new set of Precipice stories, these set in Michael Gernes' medieval-inspired world of Harness. For this week, you can take a chance to catch up on the first set of stories from Arbelos and @pikorito.bsky.social's Swarmworld Arcturus. www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/fict...
wildplumgames.com
Fiction Catch-Up: Arbelos and Swarmworld Arcturus — Wild Plum Games
If you haven’t yet had a chance to read these stories, now is a great time to get started! So, what has been going on in these two very different worlds?
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Because the legs have to attach to something. www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Mechanics Update: Core Issues — Wild Plum Games
In Precipice , a mech's core is the bulk of its body. It provides connections for the mech's limbs, which determine how much power the limb receives from the core and in which arcs the limb is expo...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
What's the word on Precipice this week? Well, we've been busy! Check out this update for info on the 4th Swarmworld Arcturus story by @pikorito.bsky.social, an update on mech cores in Precipice, and a preview of our next featured world! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (8/13/2026) — Wild Plum Games
The machine keeps moving forward as we bring you the fourth Swarmworld Arcturus story (the capstone of this arc), an update on how mech cores have evolved through playtesting, and a preview of an upco...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
This week, we post the finale of Swarmworld Arcturus part 1 by @pikorito.bsky.social. In a place beyond their understanding, Maris and Komodo find a cyclopean gravesite occupied by something... unprecedented and uncanny. Read on! www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/swar...
wildplumgames.com
Swarmworld Arcturus 4: Beithir — Wild Plum Games
Maris, safe in the control sphere at Komodo’s heart, surfaced a few moments after the faun’s head. The transition from murky ocean depths to stark, hazy light forced Maris to blink away the ghosts tha...
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Kicking this one out for public discussion: This is the Leg part of a mech in Precipice. Do you prefer the information minimalist (left) or maximalist (right) approach to card layout?
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Weekly Precipice development update! Check it out for Version 1.1 of the Open Alpha, the third Swarmworld story, and more! www.wildplumgames.com/blog-updates...
wildplumgames.com
Dev Update: Precipice (8/6/2026) — Wild Plum Games
Notes on the Update to Open Alpha v1.1, Swarmworld Arcturus Story 3, and more!
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Andrew Fischer @afischergames.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Easily the best part of working on the Cosmere RPG is the team. This is one of the kindest, smartest, and most passionate groups of people I've ever had the joy of working with.
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Brotherwise Games @brotherwisegames.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
The Stormlight Starter Set was a sold out hit at Gen Con, and it is now available at Target! 🎯⚔️🌩️ This is a $25 box set that includes everything you need to get started with the Cosmere RPG so head over to your local Target or order your copy online TODAY! ow.ly/TbC450ZwGG0
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Ollie @ordheist.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
a rare prop design commission for an indie game I’m not allowed to talk about yet
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Jillian Schumacher @jillianschumacher.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Congratulations to @kiennas.bsky.social, @anarisis.dylangrinder.com, @mericmoir.bsky.social, and the rest of the Plotweaver team for starting the Open Alpha playtesting on Erstwild! Exciting times for an amazing system. If you haven't tried out Plotweaver yet, now is the time!
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Kienna is making Erstwild @kiennas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Erstwild open alpha is live ✨right now✨ So very proud of what I, @anarisis.dylangrinder.com, and the rest of the @plotweaver.bsky.social team has pulled together, and I can't wait to see what folks do in our setting 💖 Join the playtest here: discord.gg/jgqZWwcmHm
A spiritfolk (a person with an inky void-like body and a mask for a head) crouches in front of a trio of people approaching an ancient mural. Text reads, "Erstwild Open Alpha"
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Chapter 3 of @pikorito.bsky.social's Swarmworld Arcturus is up! Maris continues her journey, and continues to learn about the (still nameless) faun. www.wildplumgames.com/fiction/swar...
wildplumgames.com
Swarmworld Arcturus 3: Komodo — Wild Plum Games
Maris splashed through another shallow pool, submerged nearly to her knees. Grime and sweat matted her dark hair; the messy bun she’d started the day with was thoroughly compromised. Dirt from the nam...
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Lyla @lyla.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Heck yeah! That's my book! Look at her, all grown up and three dimensional 😭!
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Plotweaver RPG @plotweaver.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This morning, we made some big Plotweaver announcements at the Gen Con Opening Ceremony! We are excited to announce our partnership with Earthborne Games, and Keith Baker and Jenn Ellis! Not to mention The Plotweaver Setting Search judged by Keith Baker: Coming Next Year! More news coming soon 🤗
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Max Brooke @maxcbrooke.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I rewatched 08th MS Team over the weekend, and now I need to add like four new mechanical considerations to Precipice.
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Andrew Fischer @afischergames.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Day 2! If you see someone in an Earthborne Rangers tshirt, feel free to stop me and say hi!
The front entrance to Gen Con.
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Scott Wegener @scott-wegener.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Oh ho ho, look what you can find at #GenCon2026 booth #2549!!!
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