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Jesse Ross
@jesseross.com
2.4K followers 810 following 300 posts
I design and develop experiences that bring people together. Creator of Trophy, Girl Underground, and other fine roleplaying games. Minnesotan and DFLer | he/him

https://jesseross.com
https://trophyrpg.com
https://hedgemazepress.itch.io
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jesseross.com
Jesse Ross @jesseross.com · Oct 19
Hi, I’m Jesse and I make tabletop RPGs. You might know me from my games Trophy, Girl Underground, R’lyehwatch, Sunset Kills or others (hedgemazepress.itch.io). I like smallish games where the mechanics reinforce the theme. I’m also a designer and illustrator and I do most of my own art and layout.
A smiling Jesse (a white man with dark hair, beard, and glasses), holding a red-bordered book called "Los Vigilantes de R’lyeh", the Spanish translation of R’lyewatch. The cover of the book has a lifeguard facing off against a giant green Cthulhu. A painting of a woman in a white robe holding a green snake above her head. Here eyes are white and she is in a trance. This is a piece of art from the game Trophy. A spread from the book Trophy Dark. This is the entry for the incursion "A Warm and Pleasant Hum", and has an image of a man with a crown of bees, as well as the introductory text for the incursion. A sketchy watercolor painting of a green pig-faced orc.
Reposted by Jesse Ross
creativewronging.bsky.social
#TTRPG 🎲 Advent Calendar, Day 5:

"Trophy Loom" by Jesse Ross ( @jesseross.com )

Essentially a system-neutral dark fantasy setting generator, this book is roll tables turned into poetry. Not just useful for Trophies Dark & Gold, but there's something in here that'll tantalize any gaming table!
Cover of the TTRPG book "Trophy Loom" by Jesse Ross. It has foiled green lettering near the binding & moody art of adventurers descending into a subterranean cavern where moss covered stone pillars of a prior civilization lie toppled. Inside spread from Trophy Loom from the Monsters of the Wood section, guest written by James Holloway & Michael Van Vleet, showing result 66 on the d66 table, The Green Battalion "The Green Battalion are soldiers who lost their way in the wood and cannot seem to leave it. It has started to extend its shoots into them; ivy crowns their rusted helms and little mushrooms grow from the soft and rotted hafts of their bills and halberds. They live in a fever dream of war, and may see anyone they meet as comrade or enemy. Their families in the villages miss them." This description is accompanied by corresponding art. Inside spread from Trophy Loom from the Ajino, the Debauched Painter section, guest written by The Gauntlet, showing results 41 & 42 on the d66 table. 41 is "Empty Baskets", a painting buried in a pauper's grave so that no one finds it, as it inspired a 3-day class riot against the elites the last time it was shown in public. 42 is "The Sinister Period", a painting done with his left hand after his right was removed. All the paintings from this era have a prophetic quality, with viewers seeing themselves somewhere in the painting (usually in dire situations) that later end up becoming true. This ended after his hand was reattached. Inside spread from Trophy Loom from the Local Gods section, guest written by James Holloway, showing art of a swordsman facing off with an enormous white wolf with icy blue eyes. Entry 66 on the d66 table is Daughter Wolf & reads "A child of the Old One, or of some older, long forgotten power, Daughter Wolf is the bloody huntress of the forest, pitiless and untamed. The villagers here offer her a portion of what they hunt to keep her from preying on them. A handful pursue the deeper mysteries- an older form of the faith where devotees seek to become perfect, inhuman killers like their grey-coated goddess."
December 5, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
save.vs.totalpartykill.ca
Shout out to @melsonian-arts-council.itch.io who sold me this book at Dragonmeet. I’ve wanted a copy for ages. Crown of Salt by @thebreadwyrm.bsky.social. They did all writing, layout and art! That’s what it’s all about.
Crown of Salt
December 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
thenatalieash.bsky.social
I've mentioned, a couple of times, that I was writing a Trophy Dark incursion called Light. Well, now it's out there, ready for you to wander through a terrible magical desert while trying to save a sorcerer who can make your dreams come true.

byemberandash.itch.io/light-for-tr...
book cover for "Light" by Natalie Ash, designed for Trophy Dark. There is a field of blue and the bottom third is covered by overlapping brown dunes. A white tower-shape rises from the brown bottom into the blue field. At the top, the word "Light", in a fancy serif font, is in block white letter outlined with gold. These are sun-rays coming from the word "Light". At the bottom, over the brown dune shapes, is the author's name - Natalie Ash - and the logo and text "Designed For Trophy Dark".
December 4, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
signalstation.bsky.social
If you're a fan of Trophy Dark/Trophy Gold, just a quick heads up that a bunch of Trophy writers are compiling new incursions for a Kickstarter for next year.

I'll no doubt talk about it more as the date approaches, but if you wanna set a reminder for yourself:

ruinanthology.com
Ruin: An Anthology of One Shot Trophy Incursions
An Anthology of One Shot Trophy Incursions. Crowdfunding in March 2026.
ruinanthology.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
jesseross.com
Just a steady stream of gorgeous work from Munkao. I'm so excited for see what happens when all of this comes together -- we're in for a treat!
munkao.bsky.social Munkao @munkao.bsky.social · 1d
"Pin Manda, First Maiden of the Heron Court"

Posting my once-a-week despite panic-packing for Singapore. AHHHHHH (this is my battle-cry, which is also a cry)
Southeast Asian Fantasy: A court lady with 6 arms playing different types of musical instruments. xylophone, harp, gone.
December 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
plusoneexp.bsky.social
It's not everyday you get to add @lincodega.com to a design team...

But it's always a good day when you do.

ttrpg.link/speedofsad
Formula Infiniti Launch
Formula Infiniti brings your Orbital Blues campaign to the race track. Featuring bespoke race mechanics, new planets, and character options right off of the track. Be the first to hear when the campai...
ttrpg.link
December 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
jesseross.com
Boris Woloszyn does my favorite miniature sculpts. I recently bought a bunch of the Litchmyre Dungeon ones he did (basically reimaginings of all the HeroQuest minis) and they’re so, so full of character and detail.
Four fantasy figures, sculpted from green stuff, of a hunched skeleton holding a scythe, a lich wizard standing on a wave of spirits, a heavily armored chaos knight with a horned helmet and a giant axe, and a moaning zombie with a worn cleaver.
December 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
jesseross.com
If you ever want to see where your roleplaying and character portrayal blindspots are as a GM, there's nothing like designing a cast of 20+ NPCs to see how often you go back to the same well.

And yes, my home group did kick off our new campaign of Urban Shadows last night. Thank you for asking.
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
notwritinggames.bsky.social
Hey Slugblaster fans! I'm helping make SCRAM CAT MAGAZINE, a Slugblaster fan zine! Got art, trippy fan fiction, or a small supplement you want to share with other fans of the Slugblaster TTRPG?

We're taking pitches until December 31st! Find out more and pitch here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Yellow, black, and white text surrounds a scared cat crossing dimensions on a hoverboard. The text reads "Scram Cat, upcoming Slugblaster fan zine, call for pitches, pitch deadline: December 31st, Art! Fiction! Supplements!"
November 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
gonzohistory.bsky.social
Morning post: the prelaunch page for my next project, the Booklet of Bounties, is now live. Sign up now!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/mon...
Coming soon: The Booklet of Bounties
A zine of fantasy fugitives and bounty-hunting scenario seeds.
www.kickstarter.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
exeunt.press
Might do another SCM gift guide this year.

Until then, last year's 2024 guide is still a good resource: www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/gift-guide...
Skeleton Code Machine Gift Guide
Gift ideas for those who love tabletop board games and roleplaying games, collected from this year's Skeleton Code Machine articles
www.skeletoncodemachine.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
rustysellsword.com
1. My wife @profbanks.bsky.social is doing Tarot readings for $30, she is great
2. You could switch a free Patreon membership to paid for a month Patreon.com/cambanks
3. I do design/dev consults, world building assistance, and mentorship for $50/hour, I’d love to help you out.

Thanks. 💜💜
Rusty's House of Swords | Patreon
creating open source worlds and tabletop games
Patreon.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
jesseross.com
Do I hear sleigh bells?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/but...
Pick Me TTRPG
Love-starved Christmas toys are delivered to a home where a child plays favorites.
www.kickstarter.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
lumpley.bsky.social
I'm thinking about SRDs, but meanwhile...

I want to preview another Warriors of the World Ablaze playbook on the kickstarter!

We've already previewed the Harrow Queen and the Hunting Kite. Which one would you like to see next?

Most likes wins! How about...

www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
jesseross.com
I’m so excited for this expansion to Wassailing. Thanks for letting me play with your Christmas toys, Mike (and thanks for making such good art, Brian)!
clearkeep.bsky.social Mike Martens | Clear Keep @clearkeep.bsky.social · 10d
Wrapped production of the second expansion zine for The Wassailing!

And what is this? @jesseross.com contributed an entirely new rules component where a cursed forest can take over the Manor … if you ask too much of it, which you will, because you're a sicko.

(Art by @oxsago.bsky.social.)
The Deepest Forest spread from The Pine Tar of Claus Manor. Art includes an etching of a fanged mouth forming in moonlit trees, overlaid on a oil painting of dark snowy woods.
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
blackfiskpub.bsky.social
All our game PDFs are pay what you want all week!

blackfiskpublishing.com/store
blackfiskpub.itch.io

(And all weeks...)
Black background with blue ink. White text: "BLÄCK WEEK". Four tablets with book covers: "Knight Forlorn", "Heroes of Cerulea", "Blood Feud", and "Slaying Dragons."
November 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
yochaigal.bsky.social
In 2025 I will begin publishing Cairn supplements for third parties, under the moniker Cairn Press.

If you're a writer and want help with editing, layout, or printing I should be able to hook you up with the right people.

My goal is to make more Cairn content and get people paid for their work.
November 25, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
jasoncordova.bsky.social
Writers! Particularly TTRPG writers, but anyone comfortable with fantasy: The Gauntlet Pitch Day is coming December 6th!

Details at the link below.
www.gauntlet-rpg.com/pitch-day.html
Pitch Day
Pitch Day: The Great Forest We’re taking pitches for our upcoming game, The Lands Remaining ! Pitch Day will be December 6th, 2025. There will be three different Zoom calls you can join to make...
www.gauntlet-rpg.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
glowingroots.bsky.social
We never left the Forest
iamatrex.com Amanda/iamatrex @iamatrex.com · 14d
Happy Friday! We're getting hyped for an upcoming project, looking to crowdfund physical copies in March 2026! That's right, we're getting MORE (unofficial)TROPHY! In partnership with @jesseross.com and @pemetawe.bsky.social, with a stellar list of writers! #TrophyTTPRG #Trophy #TTRPG
RUIN: an anthology of one shot Trophy incursions. Writers include: Sarah Bolling Darren Brockes J Carter Kevin Macku Ben Mansky Mike Martens Blaine C. Martin Amanda Mullins Gabriel Robinson Brian Sago Sean Tibbitts Mads C. Turley Michael Van Vleet Arthur Wells Crowdfunding in 2026!
November 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
slipperyjack.bsky.social
If you'll allow me a Friday Shop Plug, I've got a new lino print in my Summerisle Procession series, and copies of my spooky book defaced with Krampus heads and the like. Reposts extremely welcome (Christmas is coming, lads)...
👁️ slipperyjack.bigcartel.com
Two folksy lino prints based on procession characters from The Wicker Man Haxan lino print Spooky book defaced with a Krampus head.
November 21, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
ndpdesign.com
damn @epidiah.bsky.social we did it

Keep my feet on the ground
Keep my head in the clouds
Electrified by the sound
It comes from the down

www.kickstarter.com/projects/unw...
Screenshot of the Swords Without Master preview page summary displaying 311 followers
November 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
iamatrex.com
Happy Friday! We're getting hyped for an upcoming project, looking to crowdfund physical copies in March 2026! That's right, we're getting MORE (unofficial)TROPHY! In partnership with @jesseross.com and @pemetawe.bsky.social, with a stellar list of writers! #TrophyTTPRG #Trophy #TTRPG
RUIN: an anthology of one shot Trophy incursions. Writers include: Sarah Bolling Darren Brockes J Carter Kevin Macku Ben Mansky Mike Martens Blaine C. Martin Amanda Mullins Gabriel Robinson Brian Sago Sean Tibbitts Mads C. Turley Michael Van Vleet Arthur Wells Crowdfunding in 2026!
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
munkao.bsky.social
"Wretched Escapees From Gisang's Forsaken Comedies"

This illustration thematically previews my next theatre adventure, which I've just sent to print. Yasss.
Southeast Asian Fantasy: 3 masked looking guys in a cool pose. One on the left is wielding kerambits, small malay/indonesian daggers, looking a bit wild. Guy in the middle is in a pose, welcoming a fight. Holds a pole arm. Guy on the right has a huge head and holding a fly whisk. Calm looking.
November 20, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
jasoncordova.bsky.social
PAXU is great and all, but you could be at a Spanish con that’s just about The Between (and which is on its second or third year?)
November 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Jesse Ross
tablecatgames.com
I should have won an ENNIE for making this meme.
tabcreations.com Tab Creations @tabcreations.com · 15d
I've often joked that ongoing tabletop campaigns are actually schedule-based puzzle games with a bit of roleplaying from time to time.

#ttrpg #rpg #dnd #ttrpgsky #meme #ttrpgcommunity
LotR meme: "We play on the 5th." "You have my sword." "And you have my bow." "The 5th isnt great for me."
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM