Prismatic Wasteland
@prismaticwasteland.com
3x Ennie-winning TTRPG designer
My blog: https://www.prismaticwasteland.com
My games in print: https://www.prismaticwasteland.com/shop
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrismaticWasteland
My blog: https://www.prismaticwasteland.com
My games in print: https://www.prismaticwasteland.com/shop
My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PrismaticWasteland
Pinned
Prismatic Wasteland
prismaticwasteland.com
I’m W.F. Smith, tabletop RPG designer and blogger at Prismatic Wasteland, best known for Barkeep on the Borderlands, a pubcrawl fantasy adventure.
⬇️ for my top blogposts, my published adventures, and where you can find me other than my blog, prismaticwasteland.com
⬇️ for my top blogposts, my published adventures, and where you can find me other than my blog, prismaticwasteland.com
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Pulling the idea of "cyberpunk-esque" out from several days ago because I wanted to expand on that: What is the intended vibe of NULL_SPACE, exactly? 🧵
I've been itching for a good SF game for awhile. I like the theme of near future space exploration and small time piracy. It seems like it's got a low-powered mothership feel but leaning towards more cyberpunk-esque rather than space horror. I'm looking forward to giving it a spin at the table.
February 18, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Pulling the idea of "cyberpunk-esque" out from several days ago because I wanted to expand on that: What is the intended vibe of NULL_SPACE, exactly? 🧵
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Instructional Design should be more involved in the TTRPG space, and The Rulebook missed out on tapping into it.
#blog #ttrpg #instructionaldesign
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
#blog #ttrpg #instructionaldesign
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
The Play Reports
TTRPGs Need Instructional Designers
theplayreports.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Instructional Design should be more involved in the TTRPG space, and The Rulebook missed out on tapping into it.
#blog #ttrpg #instructionaldesign
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
#blog #ttrpg #instructionaldesign
theplayreports.com/posts/instru...
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
I've been enjoying using factions in my game to evolve the world outside of just what the PCs are doing. Here's a simple procedure I use to figure out what the factions are doing and how:
www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/runn...
#sandbox #ttrpg #blogpost #osr #dnd
www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/runn...
#sandbox #ttrpg #blogpost #osr #dnd
Running Factions and Faction Turns
Factions that pursue their own agendas regardless of the PCs are a great tool to bring your RPG setting to life, and can help the world feel...
www.thenovelgamemaster.com
February 18, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Glass Men is an adventure module about a girl called Honey and what a fragile, brittle, cruel man did to her. One of its 4 varient covers was made by me. You can read a full break down of how I designed it here: thegardenbelow.blot.im/depicting-vi...
Heed the content warnings on this one folks.
Heed the content warnings on this one folks.
Depicting Violence - The Garden Below
An artists breakdown of her cover for Luke Gearing’s Glass Men.
thegardenbelow.blot.im
February 18, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Glass Men is an adventure module about a girl called Honey and what a fragile, brittle, cruel man did to her. One of its 4 varient covers was made by me. You can read a full break down of how I designed it here: thegardenbelow.blot.im/depicting-vi...
Heed the content warnings on this one folks.
Heed the content warnings on this one folks.
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
New post!
Thinking about the purpose and audience for TTRPG maps.
Also a chance to share the map art I put together for Dead I Am the Rat.
cc @prismaticwasteland.com who is running a blog Bandwagon about maps right now
Thinking about the purpose and audience for TTRPG maps.
Also a chance to share the map art I put together for Dead I Am the Rat.
cc @prismaticwasteland.com who is running a blog Bandwagon about maps right now
Whose Map Is It Anyway?
A Bandwagon post about Maps Who are TTRPG maps for? Because there are so many game styles, I imagine there's no single answer to this qu...
blog.hilltown.studio
February 18, 2026 at 5:10 PM
New post!
Thinking about the purpose and audience for TTRPG maps.
Also a chance to share the map art I put together for Dead I Am the Rat.
cc @prismaticwasteland.com who is running a blog Bandwagon about maps right now
Thinking about the purpose and audience for TTRPG maps.
Also a chance to share the map art I put together for Dead I Am the Rat.
cc @prismaticwasteland.com who is running a blog Bandwagon about maps right now
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
I wrote about player mapping in dungeons in AD&D, specifically about how the dungeon map enables expedited travel along mapped routes, allowing not only a quick escape from the dungeon to rest, but also a quick route back into the dungeon to continue exploration on subsequent delves. #D&D #AD&D #OSR
The Player-Drawn Dungeon Map is a Fast Travel Hack
This post is part of the Prismatic Wasteland blog bandwagon on the topic of maps . The first mention of mapping by players in the AD&D PHB i...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:47 PM
I wrote about player mapping in dungeons in AD&D, specifically about how the dungeon map enables expedited travel along mapped routes, allowing not only a quick escape from the dungeon to rest, but also a quick route back into the dungeon to continue exploration on subsequent delves. #D&D #AD&D #OSR
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Already two of my posts eliminated in the first round bloodbath (and so many of my favorites also eliminated by the fierce competition).
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
You have less than 24 hours to vote in round 2.
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Already two of my posts eliminated in the first round bloodbath (and so many of my favorites also eliminated by the fierce competition).
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
This is your nightly invitation to read through The Bloggies and vote on your favorite rpg blogs from last year.
If you haven't participated already, that's okay. You can jump in now and vote on one or more matchups. You might even walk away with new ideas or house rules in the process.
🧙♂️🗳️👇
If you haven't participated already, that's okay. You can jump in now and vote on one or more matchups. You might even walk away with new ideas or house rules in the process.
🧙♂️🗳️👇
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 18, 2026 at 12:31 AM
This is your nightly invitation to read through The Bloggies and vote on your favorite rpg blogs from last year.
If you haven't participated already, that's okay. You can jump in now and vote on one or more matchups. You might even walk away with new ideas or house rules in the process.
🧙♂️🗳️👇
If you haven't participated already, that's okay. You can jump in now and vote on one or more matchups. You might even walk away with new ideas or house rules in the process.
🧙♂️🗳️👇
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Been noodling away at this for a while, now I'm ready to release the ashcan of my vampire game: Ripped Stockings, Leather Jackets, and Bloody Lips
personable.itch.io/ripped-stock...
personable.itch.io/ripped-stock...
Ripped Stockings, Leather Jackets, and Bloody Lips by Personable
A Vampire RPG
personable.itch.io
February 17, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Been noodling away at this for a while, now I'm ready to release the ashcan of my vampire game: Ripped Stockings, Leather Jackets, and Bloody Lips
personable.itch.io/ripped-stock...
personable.itch.io/ripped-stock...
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Round 2 is live and "[HMTW] Using Divination to Generate a Character" squeaked through! Go give it a vote in the Gameable section, please!
You have less than 24 hours to vote in round 2.
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Round 2 is live and "[HMTW] Using Divination to Generate a Character" squeaked through! Go give it a vote in the Gameable section, please!
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
SO excited to release Broadcast Fiends! a set of analog creeps hijacking the airwaves and reshaping the locals. stick em in your game and let em wreak havoc on the wires. @chaoticrobin.bsky.social did the art, i did the words. we hope you enjoy!
giantrobottackler.itch.io/broadcast-fi...
giantrobottackler.itch.io/broadcast-fi...
Broadcast Fiends by giantrobottackler, Robin
sine wave sickos for electric bastionland
giantrobottackler.itch.io
February 17, 2026 at 3:42 PM
SO excited to release Broadcast Fiends! a set of analog creeps hijacking the airwaves and reshaping the locals. stick em in your game and let em wreak havoc on the wires. @chaoticrobin.bsky.social did the art, i did the words. we hope you enjoy!
giantrobottackler.itch.io/broadcast-fi...
giantrobottackler.itch.io/broadcast-fi...
Already two of my posts eliminated in the first round bloodbath (and so many of my favorites also eliminated by the fierce competition).
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
You have less than 24 hours to vote in round 2.
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Already two of my posts eliminated in the first round bloodbath (and so many of my favorites also eliminated by the fierce competition).
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Go vote! Specially vote for “Monster, Maiden, Madonna, Medusa” in the critique category; it’s one of my best written posts imo
Links to voting and favs below
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
You have less than 24 hours to vote in round 2.
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
You have less than 24 hours to vote in round 2.
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The good news: There are half as many posts in round 2, and if you voted in the first round, you've likely read most of them.
The official webpage for this year can be found here:
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
If you're reading this, round 1 of the Bloggies' Hunger Games is over and round 2 has already started!
This post has all of the voting breakdowns sans the vote count (it would have taken me an extra hour to add those in, and I have a day job 😔.)
You won't believe the margins on these matchups!
This post has all of the voting breakdowns sans the vote count (it would have taken me an extra hour to add those in, and I have a day job 😔.)
You won't believe the margins on these matchups!
Bloggies Breakdown: Round 1
After The Bloggies Blog Bath: Who won? And by how much?
www.explorersdesign.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
If you're reading this, round 1 of the Bloggies' Hunger Games is over and round 2 has already started!
This post has all of the voting breakdowns sans the vote count (it would have taken me an extra hour to add those in, and I have a day job 😔.)
You won't believe the margins on these matchups!
This post has all of the voting breakdowns sans the vote count (it would have taken me an extra hour to add those in, and I have a day job 😔.)
You won't believe the margins on these matchups!
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
NULL_SPACE's 3rd pamphlet job has hit the itch page!
HALTING_PROBLEM; details getting something important back from a factory with a malfunctioning security system, but is that the only thing going on here?
Get it here (the itchfund is ongoing!)
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
HALTING_PROBLEM; details getting something important back from a factory with a malfunctioning security system, but is that the only thing going on here?
Get it here (the itchfund is ongoing!)
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
NULL_SPACE by Binary Star Games
Freelancing in the solar system of the 24th century
binary-star-games.itch.io
February 17, 2026 at 2:09 PM
NULL_SPACE's 3rd pamphlet job has hit the itch page!
HALTING_PROBLEM; details getting something important back from a factory with a malfunctioning security system, but is that the only thing going on here?
Get it here (the itchfund is ongoing!)
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
HALTING_PROBLEM; details getting something important back from a factory with a malfunctioning security system, but is that the only thing going on here?
Get it here (the itchfund is ongoing!)
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
GOOD MORNING, FARMHANDS! It's time for more Hytale on the HEY!!!Tale SMP, live on Twitch! We're going to be working on our farmhouse and crop fields and... oh who am I kidding, we're going to talk about the Neopets TTRPG. www.twitch.tv/farmergadda
February 17, 2026 at 2:04 PM
GOOD MORNING, FARMHANDS! It's time for more Hytale on the HEY!!!Tale SMP, live on Twitch! We're going to be working on our farmhouse and crop fields and... oh who am I kidding, we're going to talk about the Neopets TTRPG. www.twitch.tv/farmergadda
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Shimmernight Session Two play report / thoughts are up on the ol' blog
www.mindstormpress.com/shimmernight...
www.mindstormpress.com/shimmernight...
Shimmernight: Session Two
I talk about the second session of my nautical fantasy campaign.
www.mindstormpress.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Shimmernight Session Two play report / thoughts are up on the ol' blog
www.mindstormpress.com/shimmernight...
www.mindstormpress.com/shimmernight...
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Hey! You should go vote for "Barkeep on the Borderlands: A Review" (in critique) and "[HMtW] Using Divination to Generate a Character" (in game able). Also! Vote for all the entries @riseupcomus.bsky.social wrote!
Would be real cool of you.
Would be real cool of you.
Bloggies PSA! Round 1 of all 5 initial Categories is open until 7 AM EST. Not just Advice.
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
February 16, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Hey! You should go vote for "Barkeep on the Borderlands: A Review" (in critique) and "[HMtW] Using Divination to Generate a Character" (in game able). Also! Vote for all the entries @riseupcomus.bsky.social wrote!
Would be real cool of you.
Would be real cool of you.
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
The long-awaited second part to my revolutionary and highly acclaimed weather system #Weather-Calendar/Calendar-Weather has finally arrived! Find within those weird weathers you fantasyheads and #OSR #fiends have been ravenously clamouring for:
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2026/02/d30-...
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2026/02/d30-...
d30 Months of Weird Weather
Find within Fantastical Weather Phenomena (with simple and fun mechanics) for your OSR games.
foreignplanets.blogspot.com
February 17, 2026 at 7:04 AM
The long-awaited second part to my revolutionary and highly acclaimed weather system #Weather-Calendar/Calendar-Weather has finally arrived! Find within those weird weathers you fantasyheads and #OSR #fiends have been ravenously clamouring for:
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2026/02/d30-...
foreignplanets.blogspot.com/2026/02/d30-...
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Bloggies PSA! Round 1 of all 5 initial Categories is open until 7 AM EST. Not just Advice.
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
February 16, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Bloggies PSA! Round 1 of all 5 initial Categories is open until 7 AM EST. Not just Advice.
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
Advice: forms.gle/LApoXPh7cVhy...
Critique: forms.gle/5Qvwxxsvyhq8...
Gameable: forms.gle/WjPxMyQunpPZ...
Theory: forms.gle/VSa1fwjYLcrk...
Meta: forms.gle/R26nY7qm7DaA...
Vote for your favorites. PSA over
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
It's the middle of February, so that means it's time for another edition of my newsletter, featuring a roundup of interesting OSR blog posts, a look at what I've been reading, and what video games and RPGs I've spent my time on this month.
table46.bearblog.dev/the-46er-feb...
#rpg #osr #nsr #posr
table46.bearblog.dev/the-46er-feb...
#rpg #osr #nsr #posr
The 46er - February 2026
It's been a great month for blogging! The Bloggies are in full swing, with voting about to begin. There's been many great posts - I've curated a selection of...
table46.bearblog.dev
February 16, 2026 at 3:02 AM
It's the middle of February, so that means it's time for another edition of my newsletter, featuring a roundup of interesting OSR blog posts, a look at what I've been reading, and what video games and RPGs I've spent my time on this month.
table46.bearblog.dev/the-46er-feb...
#rpg #osr #nsr #posr
table46.bearblog.dev/the-46er-feb...
#rpg #osr #nsr #posr
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Bloggies voting has begun! This week is the tournament: the Thunderdome of rpg blogs. If you're thinking to yourself, "This is a lot of reading." I've got bad news: you're already running out of time.
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Bloggies voting has begun! This week is the tournament: the Thunderdome of rpg blogs. If you're thinking to yourself, "This is a lot of reading." I've got bad news: you're already running out of time.
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
Oh shit it’s time to vote. The blogging Thunderdome has started.
Bloggies voting has begun! This week is the tournament: the Thunderdome of rpg blogs. If you're thinking to yourself, "This is a lot of reading." I've got bad news: you're already running out of time.
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
Here's everything you need to know for this week... 1/4
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Oh shit it’s time to vote. The blogging Thunderdome has started.
Go vote for my posts! I think I’m in all non-advice categories (because I only give bad advice, like “go vote for my posts”)
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-202...
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-202...
February 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Go vote for my posts! I think I’m in all non-advice categories (because I only give bad advice, like “go vote for my posts”)
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-202...
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-202...
Reposted by Prismatic Wasteland
I need more people to vote in the categories not labeled "advice."
February 16, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I need more people to vote in the categories not labeled "advice."