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Ben Doherty

@spongeonmaster

He/Him Irish TTRPG Writer/Editor #1 Bestselling DM's Guild Contributor Co-Founder of @emeraldcollective.bsky.social Portfolio: https://bendohertyttrpg.com/

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16.10.2023
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Latest posts by Ben Doherty @spongeonmaster

Just 4 more hours left now!

Having played GALLOWS CORNER myself, I can tell you it is a *fantastic* game.

Join the revolution before it's too late! ✊⛏️🔥

03.03.2026 15:05 👍 5 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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March’s Patreon rewards just dropped for our supporters over there!

The city of the dead is not a place for the living, with creatures like the Whispering Dead lurking in every shadow, but the search for a Mournblade can tempt even the wisest souls.

www.patreon.com/TheEmeraldCo...

01.03.2026 15:53 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
The Bane Creeper on a blue background. A large grey monster with the a body covered in necrotic black scars. The creature has no eyes and exposes, sharp teeth. It holds a human bone in its sharp claws. At the bottom of the image, text reads; "Brewed Evil. Banecreepers are the twisted experiments of dark witches".

The Bane Creeper on a blue background. A large grey monster with the a body covered in necrotic black scars. The creature has no eyes and exposes, sharp teeth. It holds a human bone in its sharp claws. At the bottom of the image, text reads; "Brewed Evil. Banecreepers are the twisted experiments of dark witches".

Bane Creepers are the result of Hags' twisted experiments - the newts whose eyes are taken for potions and elixirs, infused with necrotic magic & bound to the will of the one who holds their eyes.

Get new monsters to terrify your players with SIDEQUEST magazine: icarus-games.co.uk/s...

26.02.2026 16:21 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Beyond the Woods for Legend in the Mist RPG Explore a world of ancient myth and legend in this Irish inspired campaign setting for the acclaimed Legend in the Mist tabletop RPG.

Beyond the Woods for Legend in the Mist is Now Live! We’re incredibly excited to bring the world of Tír Nascath to Legend in the Mist. Back within the first 48 hours to get the exclusive early bird discount on the gorgeous slipcase.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/old...

24.02.2026 16:01 👍 38 🔁 27 💬 3 📌 11

Can't wait!

19.02.2026 19:36 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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kermit the frog and fozzie bear are driving in a car and the words on the road again are visible ALT: kermit the frog and fozzie bear are driving in a car and the words on the road again are visible

Ah the calm before the storm.

I know a lot of folks will be travelling down to #AthCon4 from early tomorrow.

No matter what part of the world you're coming from, make it down safely folks.

We look forward to seeing y'all!!

#AthCon4

19.02.2026 19:25 👍 15 🔁 3 💬 4 📌 1
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a young boy is riding a scooter down a sidewalk while another child watches . ALT: a young boy is riding a scooter down a sidewalk while another child watches .

So it's probably fitting that our next GM features on the day that #AthCon4 gets to hang up our Sold Out sign.

Yes we've sold out!!

Only tickets left are those for mini adventures (that's under 12s) and NPCs (that's folks that don't want to game but mind mini people and soak up atmosphere).

22.01.2026 20:35 👍 9 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 1
AthVentureCon 4

This mousey adventure early Sunday and again that evening so grab your seat at it soon as seat bookings are now open!

We're down to just crumbs when it comes to available tickets but you still have time to get your hands on some.
Just!!

Www.athventurecon.ie

21.01.2026 20:10 👍 2 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
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a mouse in armor holds a spear in his hand ALT: a mouse in armor holds a spear in his hand

Don your teeny tiny suit of armour, pick up your toothpick lance and prepare to fight off warrior roaches and many other fearsome, if miniature, dangers in GM Ben's Mausritter adventure; Wizard of Arms & Armour!

The party all play miceses in this rules-light fun system that is always popular!

21.01.2026 20:10 👍 7 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0

So excited to come back for AthCon again this year! Also, I'm just now realising I've got a rodent theme going because my other two games at AthCon4 are Mausritter...

20.01.2026 20:42 👍 5 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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a cartoon of a duck holding a baseball bat with the words mess with the honk you get the bonk statewiderp ALT: a cartoon of a duck holding a baseball bat with the words mess with the honk you get the bonk statewiderp

Hoooonnnkkk!!!

Yes we have at #AthCon4 we have not one but two chances to run with the gooseseses!

GM Cathlin returns with a trio of games the first one being The Great Cake Heist (a H.O.NK. game system) where you play geeseseses in gang warfare against those evil ducks in Phoenix Park!

20.01.2026 20:23 👍 10 🔁 7 💬 1 📌 1
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a brown and white dog with the words ' i 's good boy ' below it ALT: a brown and white dog with the words ' i 's good boy ' below it

First game up is GM Declan, one of the crew from the awesome D8 Dungeon, and To Be Or Not To Be....A Good Boy!

This is a barking mad take on the Everyone Is Jack game system where players take on the role of various personalities within....(paws for effect)...Fido the prize winning dog!!

20.01.2026 20:07 👍 10 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 1
Full colour gift certificate for AthVentureCon

Full colour gift certificate for AthVentureCon

Printer-friendly gift certificate for AthVentureCon

Printer-friendly gift certificate for AthVentureCon

🎅🏼Looking for a last minute gift for a geek in your life? We've got you covered!

🎟️Tickets to AthVentureCon will provide a day or two of adventure for your loved one AND raise funds for our amazing @athenryadventurers

14.12.2025 14:30 👍 8 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 0

Book your spot at Keith's table as soon as bookings open—you won't regret it! And, as per the second message in the thread, if you wanna play D&D in a castle (of course you do!), follow his D+D Eire account for info on those events.

10.12.2025 21:06 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

I'd like to say a couple of things about UKGE and their silence in regards to the whole AI debacle.
I'll start with a disclaimer: I know UKGE is a HUGE opportunity for many small businesses and publishers, and in the current unstable financial situation we're all in, skipping it because of ethical>

09.12.2025 13:49 👍 109 🔁 44 💬 4 📌 7

Thanks, Penny! 💚

08.12.2025 21:04 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

It's been amazing to game with so many great people in 2025, and I still can't believe we made the Top 10%

A massive thank you to everyone who watches along and supports us--the EC community are a bunch o' legends!

08.12.2025 20:56 👍 4 🔁 2 💬 1 📌 0
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Our statement on the recent layoffs affecting workers at Coatsink, Splash Damage, Glowmade & Square Enix, putting over 300 workers at risk of redundancy in the run up to Christmas.

If you work in the UK games industry, join our union today: iwgb.org.uk/en/join/game...

08.12.2025 12:30 👍 216 🔁 112 💬 0 📌 5
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Steam Curator: Games From Ireland Games developed in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, from Irish creators, or playable in the Irish language (Gaeilge).

I'd love it if we could get @imirt.bsky.social 's Curator Page on #Steam to 1000 followers before #Christmas !

#IrishGameDev #IndieDev #GameDev #IrishCreatives #IrishGameDomination #SpeirGhorm #IndieGame

store.steampowered.com/curator/4145...

07.12.2025 11:28 👍 96 🔁 64 💬 3 📌 7

You love to see it!

Personally running Mausritter for the kids and Shadowdark for the big kids (a.k.a the "adults").

Roll on AthCon4! Can't wait

06.12.2025 17:51 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Against an encroaching pitch-black background, a white candle casts a small corona of light. Title text (white outlined in red) reads: "Against the Crimson Queen". Additional text reads: "Tonight at 7pm GMT". There are logos for The Emerald Collective and Shadowdark RPG in the bottom left and right corners, respectively.

Against an encroaching pitch-black background, a white candle casts a small corona of light. Title text (white outlined in red) reads: "Against the Crimson Queen". Additional text reads: "Tonight at 7pm GMT". There are logos for The Emerald Collective and Shadowdark RPG in the bottom left and right corners, respectively.

Our Shadowdark stream returns tonight!

The party passed through the Ashwood and into the hills on their journey to Tyred, and despite some grave omens, emerged unscathed. Will they make it safely to the market town or will death and destruction cross their path once more before they reach it?

02.12.2025 15:22 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

Seen that, it's really cool!

19.11.2025 11:19 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Our Shadowdark game 'Against the Crimson Queen' continues tonight at 7pm GMT!

On the journey to Tyred, the party passed through the mountains, aiding an injured explorer, avoiding a hungry horned giant, and fighting off the nocturnal attack of a flock of dire vultures. Next up—the Ashwood.

18.11.2025 14:49 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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We’re LIVE with our Daggerheart Finale over on Twitch now!

Join the gang as they set their sights on the centre of the Dreamsphere and seek to end the threat to Horizon’s Hollow once and for all.

www.twitch.tv/emerald_coll...

26.10.2025 20:35 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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That's the 5k goal hit for @projecthopeorg.bsky.social! 😱

Thanks to our GM @spongeonmaster.bsky.social and all of our players tonight!

As well as tonight's prize donors @arcdreampublishing.bsky.social and @dungeondepths.bsky.social 🥰

We'll see you next week for round 2 and a new goal! 💸

15.08.2025 22:19 👍 13 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 1
Euphoria's logo, a yellow five pointed star made up of d4s, with a trailing yellow tail like a comet, inside a yellow ringed navy blue circle.
Title - Disability Representation in TTRPGs. 
A grey background with five coloured stripes in the top right and bottom left - red, yellow, white, blue, and green, the colours of the disability pride flag.
Headshot of Penny (any pronouns), inside a rectangular frame with a red border.
Wednesday 30th July, 7pm BST, 8pm CEST
Twitch.tv/euphoriaap
Supported by Hidden Folk of the Feywild

Euphoria's logo, a yellow five pointed star made up of d4s, with a trailing yellow tail like a comet, inside a yellow ringed navy blue circle. Title - Disability Representation in TTRPGs. A grey background with five coloured stripes in the top right and bottom left - red, yellow, white, blue, and green, the colours of the disability pride flag. Headshot of Penny (any pronouns), inside a rectangular frame with a red border. Wednesday 30th July, 7pm BST, 8pm CEST Twitch.tv/euphoriaap Supported by Hidden Folk of the Feywild

Introducing our panelists for Disability Representation in TTRPGS!

@pennyblake.bsky.social is a Romani, genderfluid, disabled Creator. They're an editor, writer, designer, sensitivity reader, and activist, and a joyful and supportive member of our community.

Buy his games! pennyblake.itch.io

22.07.2025 09:33 👍 28 🔁 20 💬 4 📌 3
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Treasures from the Dark - for the Shadowdark RPG Magic weapons and items, including creations that increase in power! Designed for use with Shadowdark RPG. OSR / 5E D&D Compatible.

Proud to be working on yet another one of the awesome @jeffstevensgames.bsky.social books, but even moreso than usual since it's the first of his Shadowdark supplements! We're in the final few hours, so back while you still can!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/587...

15.07.2025 13:18 👍 9 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A colorful promotional graphic for “D8DungeonDrive 2025: D8ing My Hex,” a 48-hour TTRPG charity event. The background features soft clouds in pastel pink, purple, and blue tones. Bold bubble text reads: “48 Hours, 16 Games, 1 Mission.” The event supports Project HOPE, with their logo prominently displayed alongside the phrase “In aid of.” A QR code at the bottom left includes an arrow pointing to it with the caption “donate here!” At the bottom right are the logos for D8Dungeon and Hexes and Vexes, the event's collaborating organizers.

A colorful promotional graphic for “D8DungeonDrive 2025: D8ing My Hex,” a 48-hour TTRPG charity event. The background features soft clouds in pastel pink, purple, and blue tones. Bold bubble text reads: “48 Hours, 16 Games, 1 Mission.” The event supports Project HOPE, with their logo prominently displayed alongside the phrase “In aid of.” A QR code at the bottom left includes an arrow pointing to it with the caption “donate here!” At the bottom right are the logos for D8Dungeon and Hexes and Vexes, the event's collaborating organizers.

Join us and @hexesandvexes.bsky.social for D8DungeonDrive: D8ing My Hex — a 48-hour TTRPG charity marathon in support of @projecthopeorg.bsky.social

Sign up now to grab a seat at the table:
forms.gle/8wurxcKYJUdC...

#D8DungeonDrive #TTRPG #CharityGaming #ProjectHOPE #Tabletop

15.07.2025 08:22 👍 19 🔁 7 💬 0 📌 2

Super excited to play in this one tonight!

01.07.2025 14:54 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0

The last AthCon was my first proper con (though I've run games at Conclave in Limerick, which is more of a game day) and it was a phenomenal experience!

I'm planning to run more games this year than I did last year and a spot at at least one will definitely be saved!

05.06.2025 20:38 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0