Shawn Tomkin

A screencap of a forum post. It reads: This is my fourth run with Ironsworn since discovering the system in 2021. One game solo. One GM-led game with me as GM + 4 players playing bog-standard Ironsworn classic. One co-op game with me + 1 playing Ironsworn: Starforged. Just started co-op game with me + 1, with another + 1 friend to be joining, playing Ironsworn classic with a setting shift to ancient Greece. Every single time I have turned to this system to run a game, as long as I follow its core premises, procedures, and ethos, it has delivered beyond my expectations each time. It's fun, it's engaging, it produces compelling gameplay and narratives. It's almost . . . eerie, in a sense. Like, there's a secretly a part of me that keeps thinking, "Surely this game can't be this good. Surely it's going to be a let down at some point, or not deliver the goods." But that secret fear continues to be smashed every time I use Ironsworn in play. It's a wholly unique experience of its own that is unlike anything else I have played. It delivers a level of energy and engagement that is unique, and frankly rare relative to other roleplaying experiences I've had. Maybe 1-in-3 or 1-in-4 sessions of other games I've played consistently reach that same level of engagement I've seen in nearly every session of Ironsworn I've ever held.

Everything is awful, but this very kind Ironsworn comment over at EN World sure did put some wind in my sails.

Even without looking at the thread, I thought "hey, a trunkfish."

I love those derpy guys.

Selene knows something is wrong. The Venture was cloaked. So how did the enemy find them? Her questions turn toward her brother Dorian.

THE FINALE IS HERE! 🫨

Listen here: dub.sh/ir-ep8-finale

#starforged #ironrising #ironsworn #actualplay #podcast

1. A sponsored first look from a creator who was in the space at the time, but is no longer (for reasons)

2. Quinns is easily the most influential voice in the indie TTRPG community (although I'd personally be terrified to have them review any of my stuff, so I hesitate to say I'd wish for it).

Most people are great! But the occasional crappy interaction can really take the wind out of your sails.

Meanwhile, I just named it after myself because I needed to apply for a business license and couldn't be bothered.

People can still be toxic. But rarely so. And I don't need any day-to-day fulfillment, so I avoid most of that mess.

YouTube video by Parenti Brothers BOARDED! - Sundered Isles Episode 9

The Parenti Brothers are back with more co-op Sundered Isles shenanigans.

youtu.be/79yPS3tz728?...

Who could it be
zos

5 hours to go now! Every little bit helps put us in a better position to continue crafting creative games that challenge the norm and bring something new to the TTRPG table!

Book cover that looks like an old atari game box. Title is Shadow in the Stars. Features a space pilot.

Announcing Shadow in the Stars, a solo ttrpg. Embark on a daring mission to destroy the enemy home world. Face enemy defenses, cosmic dangers, and incredible stress as you try to recover your lost memories and get a high score.

Join the TCG maillist for updates: tablecatgames.com/mail-list/

Black Cinders - Ironsworn: Entry 13 Session 4: Until Nothing but Embers Remain - Part 4

New Black Cinders post is up! Quite proud of this one. Kanno learns some answers for his quest.

Minor content warning - Body Horror

#BlackCindersIS #Ironsworn #solorpg #writing #darkfantasy

Back this is you want to open up the stretch goals and make me have to do some work.

40% there already.

YouTube video by The Bad Spot Motives and Opportunities | Sundered Isles Part 17 | Solo RPG

Sundered Isles is back!

Time to upgrade the monkey.

youtu.be/6Q0kwZWlOmQ

YouTube video by The Bad Spot BIG CHANGES Coming To Ironsworn 2e? | Ironsworn Guyz | Podcast

Have you heard? There might be some pretty big changes coming down the pipe for Ironsworn 2e. Luckily for you, The Ironsworn Guyz are here to talk about what it all might mean.

Also mark my words, you'll all be screaming WITNESS ME! before you roll...

youtu.be/oPs2Kg2fEHo

WITNESSED!!

😍

Honestly, I don't hate it.

👀

True courage would be writing all mechanics as emojis.

🎲 ➕ ❤️

That's where I landed with Starforged. Bold and red when the terms first appeared, and in important contexts where I wanted them to stand out.

Does require a font with really good contrast between bold and regular. Or an extrabold variant.

Oh, yeah. I'm actually using small caps for a specific subset of terms (procedures that reference each other). I like it. But that means I can't use it more widely.

All right, TTRPG peeps. Capitalizing game terms. Yea or nay?

I've always tended not to capitalize, but my WIP has lots of diegetic terms for mechanical states. Such as having a Favored position, or facing a Setback. Bold or color is an option, but relying on formatting might make it less portable?

Predator Badlands is on streaming, and I really enjoyed giving it a rewatch. Just a fun time.

The arms race in TTRPG production values is really intimidating! And hard on my pocketbook as a fan. So many talented people making strikingly beautiful things.

A challenge for me going forward is to somehow meet a production value threshold — without sacrificing affordability and accessibility.

I was curious about what happened to that project, so I looked at their KS this morning. Their Kickstarter did decent numbers (£173K), but they've since basically ghosted backers.

Feed bad for those backers, but also enjoying a bit of schadenfreude that my little game actually exists.

Around the time I was wrapping up Starforged, a publisher announced a crowdfunded "Starforge" 5e sci-fi RPG. I reached out to them and basically said, "This sorta' seems bad for both of us," and got a very pissy "your little game doesn't matter" response. But they eventually changed names...

No plans. I still want to support SF as-is.

Thanks! That's very kind.

Was just flipping through the PDF a bit ago. Love the rules direction, and the writing has just the right amount of mirth.