Nat Mesnard
@natmesnard.bsky.social
Game designer, writer, teacher in NYC. Co-founder Scryptid Games & Unquiet Games. They/them 🤖 natmesnard.com
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Today on Edge Effects, @natmesnard.bsky.social reflects on their new table top role-playing game Assemblages: the strange creatures players create for its imaginary multispecies universe and the meditation they elicit on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival in the Anthropocene. ♟️🍄
Role-Playing Queer Assemblages Amidst Capitalist Ruins - Edge Effects
Ecologically inspired role-playing game Assemblages is a meditation on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival.
edgeeffects.net
If you picked up Assemblage at PAX Unplugged and wanna read more about it, I have this exceedingly nerdy design diary / personal essay up over on @edgeeffectsmag.bsky.social 🍄
Who can point me to some TTRPGs that use a physical component *other than* dice, cards, and tarot? I'm thinking games like Dread, only not Jenga. Give me your recs!
December 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Who can point me to some TTRPGs that use a physical component *other than* dice, cards, and tarot? I'm thinking games like Dread, only not Jenga. Give me your recs!
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
If you picked up Assemblage at PAX Unplugged and wanna read more about it, I have this exceedingly nerdy design diary / personal essay up over on @edgeeffectsmag.bsky.social 🍄
Today on Edge Effects, @natmesnard.bsky.social reflects on their new table top role-playing game Assemblages: the strange creatures players create for its imaginary multispecies universe and the meditation they elicit on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival in the Anthropocene. ♟️🍄
December 1, 2025 at 1:47 AM
If you picked up Assemblage at PAX Unplugged and wanna read more about it, I have this exceedingly nerdy design diary / personal essay up over on @edgeeffectsmag.bsky.social 🍄
Today on Edge Effects, @natmesnard.bsky.social reflects on their new table top role-playing game Assemblages: the strange creatures players create for its imaginary multispecies universe and the meditation they elicit on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival in the Anthropocene. ♟️🍄
Role-Playing Queer Assemblages Amidst Capitalist Ruins - Edge Effects
Ecologically inspired role-playing game Assemblages is a meditation on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival.
edgeeffects.net
December 1, 2025 at 1:27 AM
If you picked up Assemblage at PAX Unplugged and wanna read more about it, I have this exceedingly nerdy design diary / personal essay up over on @edgeeffectsmag.bsky.social 🍄
Oooh, this haul also looks so so good 🤩
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Oooh, this haul also looks so so good 🤩
Delighted to see Assemblage amidst this enticing haul, being its RPG-in-a-box self at center along w/ so many indie friends! 🍄
December reading.
Some of this is re-reading, to be fair. A lot of this job is thumbing through games and then seeing which are the ones I can't stop thinking about
Some of this is re-reading, to be fair. A lot of this job is thumbing through games and then seeing which are the ones I can't stop thinking about
November 30, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Delighted to see Assemblage amidst this enticing haul, being its RPG-in-a-box self at center along w/ so many indie friends! 🍄
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
I’m editing an anthology! And it’s about cryptids! 👀 This is a dream project for me, and I can’t wait to share this book of games, stories, poems, and other uncanny ephemera with you. Follow the project on Backerkit to learn more.
We are crowdfunding our first anthology! Tales from the Cryptids will launch on Backerkit for Zinetopia in February 2026. Follow the project to be the first to know when it goes live: bit.ly/3XVa94n.
November 29, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I’m editing an anthology! And it’s about cryptids! 👀 This is a dream project for me, and I can’t wait to share this book of games, stories, poems, and other uncanny ephemera with you. Follow the project on Backerkit to learn more.
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
We are crowdfunding our first anthology! Tales from the Cryptids will launch on Backerkit for Zinetopia in February 2026. Follow the project to be the first to know when it goes live: bit.ly/3XVa94n.
November 29, 2025 at 7:44 PM
We are crowdfunding our first anthology! Tales from the Cryptids will launch on Backerkit for Zinetopia in February 2026. Follow the project to be the first to know when it goes live: bit.ly/3XVa94n.
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
3 FT Lecturers of Game Design jobs at UAlbany
Open to game designers, developers, technical artists, narrative designers with a Master's.
Metro North is starting limited train service from Grand Central
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#gamejob #gamejobs
HT/ @jcorace.bsky.social
Open to game designers, developers, technical artists, narrative designers with a Master's.
Metro North is starting limited train service from Grand Central
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#gamejob #gamejobs
HT/ @jcorace.bsky.social
albany.interviewexchange.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
3 FT Lecturers of Game Design jobs at UAlbany
Open to game designers, developers, technical artists, narrative designers with a Master's.
Metro North is starting limited train service from Grand Central
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#gamejob #gamejobs
HT/ @jcorace.bsky.social
Open to game designers, developers, technical artists, narrative designers with a Master's.
Metro North is starting limited train service from Grand Central
albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdeta...
#gamejob #gamejobs
HT/ @jcorace.bsky.social
I got to playtest this at Metatopia and it was an atmospheric delight. I love what this design team is doing with ritual space and immersion. ✨ Definitely a project to support!
HINTERLIGHT IS LIVE ON KICKSTARTER BABY!
Thanks a million to @plusoneexp.bsky.social and @rrookstudio.bsky.social and special thanks to @feralcharlie.bsky.social for the trailer!
ttrpg.link/hinterlight
Thanks a million to @plusoneexp.bsky.social and @rrookstudio.bsky.social and special thanks to @feralcharlie.bsky.social for the trailer!
ttrpg.link/hinterlight
Hinterlight
A gothic worldbuilding ritual & roleplaying game that sews seeds of adventure as you tell the tale of your demise!
ttrpg.link
November 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I got to playtest this at Metatopia and it was an atmospheric delight. I love what this design team is doing with ritual space and immersion. ✨ Definitely a project to support!
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
Thanks to Nat Mesnard and Lauren Bilanko for having us at their Game Design Days panel! We had a blast talking about media inspirations, playtesting, and how to pinpoint the fun in a game. Keep an eye out for other events at Twenty Sided Store, especially Nat’s Assemblage release party on 1/31!
November 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Thanks to Nat Mesnard and Lauren Bilanko for having us at their Game Design Days panel! We had a blast talking about media inspirations, playtesting, and how to pinpoint the fun in a game. Keep an eye out for other events at Twenty Sided Store, especially Nat’s Assemblage release party on 1/31!
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
Tomorrow Nov 16 is the TTRPG Writing Workshop at Twenty Sided Store in NYC! It is part of NYU's Game Design Days and is lead by one of our Narrascope volunteers @natmesnard.bsky.social game-design-days.com
Game Design Days
Game Design Days is a NYU Game Center sponsored event series that highlights the underground independent game development communities of NYC.
game-design-days.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Tomorrow Nov 16 is the TTRPG Writing Workshop at Twenty Sided Store in NYC! It is part of NYU's Game Design Days and is lead by one of our Narrascope volunteers @natmesnard.bsky.social game-design-days.com
My @nyugamecenter.bsky.social Game Design Days event is gonna be so much fun. Just finished outlining the playstorming plan, and we'll be writing TTRPGs that take inspiration from TV and video games (like the delightful @sccreatives.bsky.social game Campanions!)
twentysidedstore.com/collections/...
twentysidedstore.com/collections/...
Spotlight | NYU Game Design Days w/ Scryptid Games & Twenty Sided
Game Design Days is a week-long NYU Game Center sponsored event highlighting indie game design and production, connecting students and game enthusiasts with professionals to inspire creative futures. ...
twentysidedstore.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
My @nyugamecenter.bsky.social Game Design Days event is gonna be so much fun. Just finished outlining the playstorming plan, and we'll be writing TTRPGs that take inspiration from TV and video games (like the delightful @sccreatives.bsky.social game Campanions!)
twentysidedstore.com/collections/...
twentysidedstore.com/collections/...
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
If you’re looking into novellas during awards season, I humbly put forth my own, from @neonhemlock.bsky.social?
Gay archeologists, academic footnotes, alt history shenanigans, giant robots, hot superheroes, and hard-to-cook samosas are all plot points!
www.neonhemlock.com/books/iron-b...
Gay archeologists, academic footnotes, alt history shenanigans, giant robots, hot superheroes, and hard-to-cook samosas are all plot points!
www.neonhemlock.com/books/iron-b...
The Iron Below Remembers by Sharang Biswas — neon hemlock
Publication date: March 25, 2025. An 8” x 5” novella. Set in an alternate version of the British Isles where South Asian imperial interest colonized much of the globe thanks to their advanced techno...
www.neonhemlock.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
If you’re looking into novellas during awards season, I humbly put forth my own, from @neonhemlock.bsky.social?
Gay archeologists, academic footnotes, alt history shenanigans, giant robots, hot superheroes, and hard-to-cook samosas are all plot points!
www.neonhemlock.com/books/iron-b...
Gay archeologists, academic footnotes, alt history shenanigans, giant robots, hot superheroes, and hard-to-cook samosas are all plot points!
www.neonhemlock.com/books/iron-b...
This cute little game I designed with @patrickdkwatson.bsky.social is out now! ✨
Starlee Davidson by @9thlevelgames.bsky.social is a game of Tarot, Motorcycles, and Self Healing. A no prep TTRPG, the cards lead the story and the players as they take on different roles in a psychedelic explosion of mystery, mysticism, and motorbikes.
tabletopbookshelf.com/products/sta...
tabletopbookshelf.com/products/sta...
November 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This cute little game I designed with @patrickdkwatson.bsky.social is out now! ✨
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
A live game show, a game manual jam, game-based street dance & live music, networking and gallery shows… a few highlights from our packed week of Game Design Days 2025!
The fun kicks off this Friday, 11/14, leading up to No Quarter on 11/22. Free events all week — most requiring RSVP!
Link in bio!
The fun kicks off this Friday, 11/14, leading up to No Quarter on 11/22. Free events all week — most requiring RSVP!
Link in bio!
November 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
A live game show, a game manual jam, game-based street dance & live music, networking and gallery shows… a few highlights from our packed week of Game Design Days 2025!
The fun kicks off this Friday, 11/14, leading up to No Quarter on 11/22. Free events all week — most requiring RSVP!
Link in bio!
The fun kicks off this Friday, 11/14, leading up to No Quarter on 11/22. Free events all week — most requiring RSVP!
Link in bio!
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
New York friends, who will we see at Game Design Days at Twenty Sided Store this Sunday, 11/16??
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
Spotlight | NYU Game Design Days w/ Scryptid Games & Twenty Sided
Game Design Days is a week-long NYU Game Center sponsored event highlighting indie game design and production, connecting students and game enthusiasts with professionals to inspire creative futures. ...
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:41 PM
New York friends, who will we see at Game Design Days at Twenty Sided Store this Sunday, 11/16??
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
I'll be at Twenty Sided this weekend with some absolutely delightful folks discussing #ttrpg design and playstorming new games! Event is free, but tix are limited. Come on out!
New York friends, who will we see at Game Design Days at Twenty Sided Store this Sunday, 11/16??
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
Join us for a two-part interactive creative event with @natmesnard.bsky.social, @twentysided.bsky.social, and @sccreatives.bsky.social.
More info: bit.ly/4oIP9da
Spotlight | NYU Game Design Days w/ Scryptid Games & Twenty Sided
Game Design Days is a week-long NYU Game Center sponsored event highlighting indie game design and production, connecting students and game enthusiasts with professionals to inspire creative futures. ...
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I'll be at Twenty Sided this weekend with some absolutely delightful folks discussing #ttrpg design and playstorming new games! Event is free, but tix are limited. Come on out!
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
Hehe. So pumped to playtest this unhinged sock puppet TTRPG I codesigned with @natmesnard.bsky.social this weekend at Metatopia! It’s been too many years since I had to pick dried glue off my hands for days.
Definitely looking forward to co-GMing some truly unhinged puppet shenanigans with @brigittewinter.bsky.social. Puppets in TTRPG are having their moment, so let's get glue and googly eyes all over the Hyatt Regency Morristown!!! Haha just kidding, we totally promise it will be clean. Sort of. Yeah.
November 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hehe. So pumped to playtest this unhinged sock puppet TTRPG I codesigned with @natmesnard.bsky.social this weekend at Metatopia! It’s been too many years since I had to pick dried glue off my hands for days.
Other Metatopia 2025 highlights! 🧵
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Other Metatopia 2025 highlights! 🧵
Peak Metatopia is getting off the waitlist today into @jenkatwrites.bsky.social's Friday morning playtest for Pax Deorum. Ideal schedule complete. I can't wait to play!
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Peak Metatopia is getting off the waitlist today into @jenkatwrites.bsky.social's Friday morning playtest for Pax Deorum. Ideal schedule complete. I can't wait to play!
Really excited to be presenting our second iteration of the @scryptidgames.bsky.social x @twentysided.bsky.social TTRPG Writing Workshop during Game Design Days this year! We'll be joined by the amazing @sccreatives.bsky.social ✨
Game Design Days is also returning November 14-22! This event series highlights the underground independent game design communities of NYC, creating additional opportunities for anyone curious about game design to connect with local studios, collectives, and spaces.
game-design-days.com
game-design-days.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Really excited to be presenting our second iteration of the @scryptidgames.bsky.social x @twentysided.bsky.social TTRPG Writing Workshop during Game Design Days this year! We'll be joined by the amazing @sccreatives.bsky.social ✨
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
Game Design Days is also returning November 14-22! This event series highlights the underground independent game design communities of NYC, creating additional opportunities for anyone curious about game design to connect with local studios, collectives, and spaces.
game-design-days.com
game-design-days.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Game Design Days is also returning November 14-22! This event series highlights the underground independent game design communities of NYC, creating additional opportunities for anyone curious about game design to connect with local studios, collectives, and spaces.
game-design-days.com
game-design-days.com
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
Today on Edge Effects, @natmesnard.bsky.social reflects on their new table top role-playing game Assemblages: the strange creatures players create for its imaginary multispecies universe and the meditation they elicit on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival in the Anthropocene. ♟️🍄
Role-Playing Queer Assemblages Amidst Capitalist Ruins - Edge Effects
Ecologically inspired role-playing game Assemblages is a meditation on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival.
edgeeffects.net
October 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Today on Edge Effects, @natmesnard.bsky.social reflects on their new table top role-playing game Assemblages: the strange creatures players create for its imaginary multispecies universe and the meditation they elicit on extinction, grief, and collaborative, queer survival in the Anthropocene. ♟️🍄
Reposted by Nat Mesnard
“My ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ character was a fat, short, slutty, transmasculine lightfoot halfling bard named Apple (no relation to Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter).”
Up now in Evergreen’s DAS VIDEOSPIEL: “Bad Apple” by @natmesnard.bsky.social. evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...
Up now in Evergreen’s DAS VIDEOSPIEL: “Bad Apple” by @natmesnard.bsky.social. evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...
[DAS VIDEOSPIEL] Bad Apple
Evergreen Review
evergreenreview.com
October 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
“My ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ character was a fat, short, slutty, transmasculine lightfoot halfling bard named Apple (no relation to Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter).”
Up now in Evergreen’s DAS VIDEOSPIEL: “Bad Apple” by @natmesnard.bsky.social. evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...
Up now in Evergreen’s DAS VIDEOSPIEL: “Bad Apple” by @natmesnard.bsky.social. evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...
New essay up on @evergreenreview.bsky.social where I talk about my hot Baldur's Gate 3 character, POV in video games & the indie game dev work I've been doing as part of @unquietgames.bsky.social: evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...
[DAS VIDEOSPIEL] Bad Apple
Evergreen Review
evergreenreview.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
New essay up on @evergreenreview.bsky.social where I talk about my hot Baldur's Gate 3 character, POV in video games & the indie game dev work I've been doing as part of @unquietgames.bsky.social: evergreenreview.com/read/bad-app...