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Nick Ferris

@nickferris.bsky.social
191 followers 79 following 461 posts

I make boardgames, grow things in dirt, and espouse progressivism. Tall, but not too tall. Connecticutie. he/him nickferris.carrd.co “The first duty... is to the truth, whether it's scientific truth, or historical truth, or personal truth.”

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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
A few episodes later, decided an update was due. One each of STRANGE, NEW, and WORLD in my humble assessment. No combination is readily presenting itself as clearly the best, though I will say I thoroughly enjoyed "Off-Hour" in an otherwise lackluster season.
Three large white-outlined circles overlap one another to form a Venn-diagram-like composition. Each circle contains titles from episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with titles appearing in white.

The upper-left circle is labeled “STRANGE” in large cream-colored, italicized block lettering near the upper left. Within this circle are the following episode titles:

“Level-Five Transporter Accident” — highlighted in yellow
“The Griffin Incident”
“Four-and-a-Half Vulcans”
“Subspace Rhapsody”
“Lost in Translation”
“Memento Mori”
“What Is Starfleet?”
“A Space Adventure Hour”
“Those Old Scientists”
“A Quality of Mercy”
“Human Best Friend”
“Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach”
“Spock Amok”
“The Serene Squall”
“Charades”
“The Elysian Kingdom”
“Wedding Bell Blues”
“Valles Marineris”
“New Life and New Civilizations”
“The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail”
“Among the Lotus Eaters”
“Strange New Worlds”

The right circle is labeled “WORLDS” in very large cream-colored italicized lettering, with a stylized star inside the “O.” It contains:

“All Those Who Wander”
“Hegemony”
“Hegemony, Part II”
“Terrarium”
“A Case of Chiaroscuro” — highlighted in yellow
“Human Best Friend”
“Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach”
“Valles Marineris”
“New Life and New Civilizations”
“The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail”
“Among the Lotus Eaters”
“Strange New Worlds”
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”
“Through the Lens of Time”

The lower-left circle is labeled “NEW” in large cream-colored italicized lettering. It contains:

“Children of the Comet”
“Ghosts of Illyria”
“The Broken Circle”
“Ad Astra per Aspera”
“Under the Cloak of War”
“Shuttle to Kenfori”
“Off-Hour” — highlighted in yellow
“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”
“Through the Lens of Time”
“Valles Marineris”
“New Life and New Civilizations”
“The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail”
“Among the Lotus Eaters”
“Strange New Worlds”
“Spock Amok”
“The Serene Squall”
“Charades”
“The Elysian Kingdom”
“Wedding Bell Blues”
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Don't sleep on one of the greatest game design and playtest opportunities in all of New England. Heck, in all of New *and* Old England. Yeah, I said it. Anyway, come play our games and show us yours and we'll all be better for it! 🎲✂️
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Lots of love for A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated the past couple weeks, and here's some more courtesy of @boardgameanimal.bsky.social along with an overview of last IGNM. Coincidentally, I did a very small reprint of Wizardologist to fill lingering requests. If you want to buy one, DM me!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
No, *you're* buying Magic cards for the first time in 30 years.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I spoke on the candle to my grandmother's lover this morning for just shy of 20 minutes. We talked about ANAPHASIC life forms, PLASMA conduits, and that awful new guy Mitch who just showed up where he is. I told him we want to see him get a prequel episode in SNW Season 5.
Beverly Crusher having some quality time by the candle.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If you've been waiting to pick up a copy of Fright Factor until it's closer to Halloween season, YOU FOOL.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
They're giving Ro Laren her own videogame? Excellent. Amazing. I really hope this is the start of a new golden age of Star Trek videogames.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
@joshforct.bsky.social, the next governor of Connecticut if-there-is-any-justice-in-the-world, is doing an AMA over on the Connecticut subreddit today. Please go ask him any questions and consider voting for him in the primary on August 11th. www.reddit.com/r/Connecticu...
reddit.com
From the Connecticut community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the Connecticut community
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Time to do some democracy.
A photo of me holding my CT State Convention delegate badge.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
I'm breaking the news of Tim's upcoming release before he even works on it. Don't let this one sit on the side of the road with a sign saying "free" for six months until it literally dissolves in the rain. No raccoons harmed in the making of this game.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
If enough publishers opt to use a platform like this, I feel it will help undo a lot of the harm that crowdfunding has inflicted on game development in the past decade.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Everyone should check their spam folder for notice of a class action settlement in Taylor v. Google. It's 100% legit; punch in your info on the settlement website so you'll get surprise money down the road. Also, the irony that a lawsuit against Google ends up in my Gmail spam folder...
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
If you tell yourself "I love trick taking games, but I can't play them in October because none of them are scary," then be sure to pick up a copy of Fright Factor before they're all gone, and then you can play trick taking games in October. Otherwise you have to stop, sorry I don't make the rules.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
My wife is trying to send me a message in a language I do not understand.
A whole pineapple with a hand written post it note declaring "Passive aggressive pineapple" seated on a small table.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Hobbies, amirite?
A wire rack holding a number of board game boxes. Atop the boxes are plant starts in various stages of early growth, just under some LED light panels.
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BoardGame Animal 🐕 @boardgameanimal.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
This past weekend got some gaming in, some treats, & got to connect with @nickferris.bsky.social in person! Great times~
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Tim has found the ideal review format.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Nick's Game Design Tip of the Day. Stuck on something in your game? Write the rules for that part, even if it's broken, or even if you haven't designed it yet. Sometimes just writing in the area of a problem gives your brain the means to solve it. 🎲✂️
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
Considering I've watched it three times now, I'm ready to proclaim Starfleet Academy as my favorite Trek series premiere of all time. Please watch this show so it gets a proper run. (Maybe, dare I ask, a 20-episode season?)
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
@jenniesue.bsky.social and I ate about 3% of those cookies. They are delicious and so are the games, so you should all come check out the cafe sometime!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
This is a smartly curated best-of selection for 2025--perhaps the one I've seen so far with which I most agree. (Yes I'm on it, but I swear that's only 4% of the reason why this list is so great.)
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: I have no gift to bring. BABY JESUS: Nice drum. LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: ... BABY JESUS: ... LITTLE BOY: ... BABY DRUMMER JESUS: New plan, Mom and Dads. I'm starting a band.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Wizardologist is sold out! (A few copies are still in transit to purchasers; a few are on hold for those I've spoken with.) Final donation tally to the Trans Youth Emergency Project between PAX Unplugged sales and after: $1345.00 I cannot express my appreciation to the board game community enough.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Look at this thing. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS THING. Thank you.
A sealed copy of the game Fright Factor by Nick Ferris (me) with illustrations by A. Giroux who is amazing and is going to continue to take the board game illustration world by storm into 2026 and beyond, also the game itself is great too. Published by New Mill Industries. The game is sitting on the corner of a brown table.

In the background, seasonally appropriate holiday tree, a table, the back of a sofa, and part of one of those pretentious sliding barn doors.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Just a casual Monday text-only post to say I'm expecting to mail the last copies of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated this week. DM to order. After that, I'll have a few copies left you could get if you find me in person, and that's that. Options for its future are still being explored. 🧙‍♂️✨
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Today is a "Go to the grocery store and hand-pick individual green beans out of a pile in the produce section" kind of day. There are no stores that have that around here. So I guess it's just Tuesday.
media.tenor.com
a man in a red uniform says don 't tell me tuesday
Alt: Captain James T. Kirk in his maroon monster uniform standing board the bridge of the Enterprise-B says "Don't tell me... Tuesday."
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Remaining copies of games featured at the Indie Games Night Market at PAX Unplugged, like Houdini's Last Act, are starting to pop up online. Be sure to keep a lookout for them here and wherever else their designers tend to hang out, or you might miss them forever!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Last chance for Bluesky folks to snag a copy before I open up orders to the unwashed masses of the world! For those who have already ordered, thank you!, and your packages are packed and ready to go to the post office by this Friday.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Struggle artists of board game design, unite! I had to teach myself something resembling art for Wizardologist. In my case, I was lucky enough to be able to leverage experience with photo editing that I knew some tricks to turn my pixel doodles into something a little more eye-appealing.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
Bluesky folks! You get first dibs to grab one of the very few remaining copies of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated if you missed it at PAX Unplugged. Each copy is just $10, and shipping anywhere in the US is $6. To purchase, send me a DM here! Details follow...
Mail shipping diagram. Mailbird with game brings to mailbox which brings it to Rumi from K-Pop Demon Hunters which is who I'm hoping you are because that would be rad.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Also, if you're in the central Connecticut area and wanna stop in for tonight's social deduction game night at @backagaincafe.bsky.social in Middletown, I may just have a few copies of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated on hand...
Cover of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated, featuring the Parsley Sage, Apprenticist, Wizardologist, Penguin, and Spheniscographer. 3-18 players. 5 minutes. Ages 10+. By me!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Though they completely sold out at PAX Unplugged, I have a handful of copies left of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated that I'll be putting together and making available in the next day or two. And since Bluesky is such a swell bunch of folks, I'll announce it here first!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
One of the biggest surprises for me when showing Wizardologist at #PAXU were the amazing compliments on the art. I am not an artist or graphic designer at all. At best, I'm a photographer with some experience working with images and clip art. No AI was used.
Final art of the Prestidigidude, a wheelchair-using man in a white t-shirt, trucker cap, and jeans holding up a hand of four aces.

The wheelchair took me forever to get right, and it still looks like it was drawn by someone who's never actually seen one.Final art of the Transmutician, a non-binary scientist in a white lab coat with a light blue top and pink pants holding a beaker in their right hand and a ball of flame in their left.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Officially sold 102 copies of Wizardologist at PAX Unplugged's Indie Games Night Market. With extra contributions from especially generous gamers, that makes a grand total of $1085 raised for the Trans Youth Emergency Project at @southernequality.bsky.social . Thank you all for supporting TYEP!
Donation confirmation page for the Trans Youth Emergency Fund showing a donation of $1085.00 with the text "Thank you for making a donation!
Thank you! Your gift will have an immediate impact in supporting life-saving care for trans youth and enable us to continue to fight for the rights our communities need and deserve. A receipt was sent to the following email address:" Hundred of gamers lined up for the latest amazing games at the Indie Games Night Market at PAX Unplugged 2025.
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Reposted by Nick Ferris
Mika Thorn 🌟🐻🌟✨️ @thornm78.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
I picked up two games at the PAXU Night Market! 😁 Beastro 🐻👩‍🍳 and A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated! 🧙‍♂️🪄 Both the designers were really nice and Nick Ferris is donating all of his sales at the con to the Trans Emergency Fund. 🥺🏳️‍⚧️😭😭😭
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
Back home but a quick recap: Indie Games Night Market at #PAXU was a wild success, particularly for A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated which sold out all 100 copies I brought! I'm still tallying sales and extra contributions, but look for a follow-up post later today with the grand charity total.
Game Designer and yellow shirt wearer Nick Ferris at his table at the PAX Unplugged 2025 Indie Games Night Market with A Wizardologist Most Exasperated for sale, including promotional material and a set of cards laid out. He appears almost unnaturally happy, like a good thing is about to happen.Infamous taker of poor selfies Nick Ferris poses with the queue for A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated prior to the opening of the Indie Games Night Market at PAX Unplugged 2025. Not shown: the other half of the queue that didn't fit in the photo, and the 20+ folks I said "Go look at the other games first; I brought plenty of copies."
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Learn more about A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated on the BGG page. See cards! Skim rules! Then come to the #PAXUnplugged Indie Games Night Market at 7pm tonight to get your copy before they sell out. #IGNM #PAXU
boardgamegeek.com
A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated
Convince the Wizardologist you're their forgotten Apprenticist!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Breakfast at an old favorite before hopping on the train down to Philly and #PAXU. Indie Games Night Market tonight at 7pm! Let's see if I remember how to do a game convention...
The storefront of Ashlawn Farm Coffee in Old Saybrook, CT complete with outside seating, cute little pastoral mural, and pride flag.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Emily is an incredibly talented graphic designer and put this together for IGNM this Saturday night. Please come and buy lots of amazing, unique indie games you may never see again.
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Reposted by Nick Ferris
Marceline Leiman is Racing Dinos @marcelineleiman.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Pax Unplugged is right around the corner!! Looking back at all the IGNM coverage—I’m so proud and impressed at how much our community came together to promote these awesome indie works! There’s a game for everyone in this lot! Here’s a thread of all the incredible coverage of IGNM 2025: 🧵 🎲✂️
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
I'll be releasing a small run of A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated, a 5-minute social deduction game for 3-18 players, at the Indie Games Night Market this Saturday night at PAX Unplugged. 100% of the price of each copy sold will go to the Trans Youth Emergency Project. (1/3) #IGNM #PAXUnplugged
A glamour shot of various physical (against a white backdrop) role cards from A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated. Pictured in full are the Wizardologist (dressed in maroon and gold), the Penguin (with a copycat of the Wizardologist's hat), the Archmagicker (in her bad-ass pink/blue/yellow armor), the Prestidigidude (with his trucker hat, white tee, and hand full of Aces), the Transmutician (in their lab coat with light blue top and pink pants, beaker in one hand, flame in the other), Doughmancer (in her off-white baker garb, baguette held high), and the Abracadabbler (hot pink wizard robe and hat plus cliched magician wand). Partially in view are the Apprenticist, Chief Hexecutive Officer, Arcano-Bureaucrat, and Pack of Screaming Cats.The logo for the Trans Youth Emergency Project--pink/blue gradient letters against a blue circle. The smaller logo for the Campaign for Southern Equality appears at the bottom.
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Reposted by Nick Ferris
BoardGame Animal 🐕 @boardgameanimal.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
We’re thrilled to share our Special Presentation; Indie Games Night Market Preview! It was a privilege to be part of this & share these games with you all~ youtu.be/HA_u8oxU0kc?... See the games that will be at the IGNM in exactly 1 week at #PAXunplugged! #boardgames #ignm #cardgames #indiegames
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
I heard we're sharing photos of our assembly lines. Mine is more of a pile, but at least the cards are here and everything is printed! #IGNM #PAXUnplugged #boardgames #AWizardologistMostHexasperated
Stacks of cards, rules, and package envelopes for A Wizardologist Most Hexasperated with a copy of the game splayed open in front. That weird tool is something my wife gave me to make folding rules easier. She says it is called a bone press which I think sounds rad.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
This is a feed of designers bringing their games to Indie Games Night Market at PAX Unplugged 2025 next week. Right now, it is chock full of folks cutting, printing, boxing, and otherwise willing their games to life.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
This is it. This is the singular photo that's going into the high school textbooks in the 21st Century American History chapter.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
I'm not just reposting this because I have a game in it (Fright Factor, up for pre-order now @newmilky.bsky.social), but because this is essentially a terrific holiday shopping guide for all of us who are virtually out of shelf space but want to keep buying great games. Sometimes smaller is better!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Post an image from the last episode of Star Trek you watched.
Sprocket, JR, and Roo from Star Trek Scouts jumping in the air and fist-pumping.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Let's all prove Daniel's wife right and buy some of the new games coming from New Mill... like "Fright Factor"... which would prove *my* wife right that people want to play games I make.
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
A glowing review for Fright Factor, my upcoming trick-taker, among a tremendous slate of games that'll be popping up for pre-order on the New Mill website in less than half a day. www.newmillindustries.com Also 100% concur that @asmeesh.bsky.social is an S-tier artist!
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Nick Ferris @nickferris.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
💯To add to this, if you have a decent-sized playtesting group, try to have a couple of those folks not touch your game at all until way late in development. Eventually those who have played your prototype often become dull to the impact of your minor improvements and can't see the bigger picture.
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