Screenshot of an emailed press release from GAMA announcing Finalists for the 2026 Origins Awards, with The Bonsai Diary highlighted under the category, "Roleplaying Games"
😯😮🫢
The Bonsai Diary is a FINALIST for the 2026 Origins Awards!
And that makes me want to encourage them to become type 1 people. If it's good, just put it out there. #ttrpg #gamedesign
It's interesting to me. There are two (reductively) types of TTRPG designers out there. The ones who make their own games and publish them, and those who pitch their games to publishers. The second set are not wrong for doing so, but I've seen some bemoan the fact their game was never published.
gothHoblin's Grimoire it's our funeral - ttrpg micro grants winners
Thanks to everyone who applied for our TTRPG Micro Grants! We had so many amazing applications come through, and we are grateful to be able to give back to the TTRPG community as our final act.
We are happy to announce the winners below! 👇
3) The d20 sucks as a randomizer. But it's not as bad as cards. Standard playing cards only work for prompts, otherwise they should never be used in a TTRPG.
This is fascinating and yes, something both TT academics and designers should dig into
2) Mechanics are great. Don't give them to your players or readers all at once. Feed them mechanics slowly like little treats so they learn how to use them right.
1) RPGs need to have some guardrails. You can't just give me a cool setting. I have to know what to do with it.
Do I have an unhinged opinion? Likely. #ttrpg #gamedesign #meme
In theory I talk about tabletop game design here...
When I remember this app exists.
#ttrpg #gamedesign
What would help most is steady employment. #accessibility or #UX but can also edit: recently edited @highlevelgames.bsky.social 's May I Enter. Recently working with MCDM on #ttrpg accessibility consulting. Site: kita11y.work (UX portfolio), foxdesign.tech (personal site & accessibility ref)
Hey! We broke $5K right before starting day 2 of 21.
Thank you so much to everybody who has backed and shared this. Last year was super hard—we lost a major supplier bc of tariffs, which gutted us economically—and I had been really dispirited, really wondering if I still had it in me.
@simulacratv.bsky.social You should do this!
Have you ever made a game about music and if so, what genre? #ttrpg #gamedesign
I'm excited to watch your progress!
Oh nice! This fits with my question from the other day about games that use real world timing too! Thanks!
I only ever hear good things about Delta Green.
Tell me about a cool new game you like!? #ttrpg #ttrpgrising #gamedesign
White space is the idea you don't need to write out everything, players and GMs will build out the setting.
I used the term Green space last night and I like it more.
Green space is where you have seeded story hooks and ideas for GMs and players to intentionally build off. #ttrpg #gamedesign
I'm both thankful and distressed that you brought this to my attention 😂
Time in RPGs is something I don't think gets talked about enough. D&D was often initially run in semi - real-time. But I don't think I know of another game that does. Instead most games go for a cinematic time that flows as the story needs. Has anyone experimented with this? #gamedesign #ttrpg
Tell me more about facing challenges you normally wouldn't? :)
Why do we want to tell a story? :)
What do you think the purpose of a roleplaying game is?
#ttrpg #gamedesign
What's the weirdest TTRPG concept you've ever played?
#ttrpg #gamedesign
Exactly, glad we agreed lol
One of the worst things is brainstorming a great project idea and not having the extra brain juice to do it.
#ttrpg #gameDesign
There's only one week left on the MONARCHIES OF MAU/SQUEAKS IN THE DEEP Bundle of Holding. If you want to get all this first edition goodness as a low price, now's the time!
bundleofholding.com/presents/Mon...
I am curious about randomizers. We've got dice, cards, spinners, rock paper scissors...
Any others? #ttrpg #gamedesign
Stranger Things is a great show. D&D is not the best game to emulate it. Would Kids on Bikes be? Maybe Call of Cthulhu?
#ttrpg #gameDesign
