Magician
@magbonch.bsky.social
RPG geek. Also miniatures painting, board games, etc.
Blog: https://ponderingsongames.com/
Blog: https://ponderingsongames.com/
Players: "We've brought down the scarecrow thing with stilt-scythes for arms that's been stalking the town drowning in unnatural fog. Can we figure out who made it or how?"
Me, making stuff up the entire session: "excellent question, we'll pick this up right here next week!"
Me, making stuff up the entire session: "excellent question, we'll pick this up right here next week!"
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Players: "We've brought down the scarecrow thing with stilt-scythes for arms that's been stalking the town drowning in unnatural fog. Can we figure out who made it or how?"
Me, making stuff up the entire session: "excellent question, we'll pick this up right here next week!"
Me, making stuff up the entire session: "excellent question, we'll pick this up right here next week!"
3 hungry dogs, a zombie dog, and a demon dog. Turned out ok for a couple hours of messing around with speed paints.
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
3 hungry dogs, a zombie dog, and a demon dog. Turned out ok for a couple hours of messing around with speed paints.
A player is going away for a couple of months, so we agreed to feature their character prominently and have them go off to do something important in the last game they're available. Then this week's game got cancelled, and now I have a planned Thing and no star character. The joys of GMing.
November 13, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A player is going away for a couple of months, so we agreed to feature their character prominently and have them go off to do something important in the last game they're available. Then this week's game got cancelled, and now I have a planned Thing and no star character. The joys of GMing.
Giant crate of Dolmenwood goodness has finally arrived in my neck of the woods.
First impression: it's so, so lovely!
Putting secret GM-only info on the giant cloth map was sure a choice. Hopefully it's not that secret.
1/
First impression: it's so, so lovely!
Putting secret GM-only info on the giant cloth map was sure a choice. Hopefully it's not that secret.
1/
November 2, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Giant crate of Dolmenwood goodness has finally arrived in my neck of the woods.
First impression: it's so, so lovely!
Putting secret GM-only info on the giant cloth map was sure a choice. Hopefully it's not that secret.
1/
First impression: it's so, so lovely!
Putting secret GM-only info on the giant cloth map was sure a choice. Hopefully it's not that secret.
1/
More Mothership! A whole lot more. Now, personally, I probably have enough unread Mothership adventures, but if you don't, you're in luck.
Alright gang, #MothershipMonth25 is now live. These 26 other creators have done a phenomenal job bringing the setting of Prospero's Dream to life. Give them a look.
Oh also, no big deal but OVER/UNDER has over 1,200 players right now.
www.backerkit.com/c/collection...
Oh also, no big deal but OVER/UNDER has over 1,200 players right now.
www.backerkit.com/c/collection...
MOTHERSHIP MONTH on BackerKit
Mothership Month returns October 14, 2025 with even more creators, nightmares, and community events. Whether you're an old teamster or a fresh recruit, you're invited to the largest Mothership even...
www.backerkit.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM
More Mothership! A whole lot more. Now, personally, I probably have enough unread Mothership adventures, but if you don't, you're in luck.
This looks brilliant. But going from the awesome artwork of a knight standing in a grisly giant skeleton (just click that link!) to a 5-foot squares dungeon map is some serious OSR brainrot whiplash. It might be intentional, and if so, bravo.
October 14, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This looks brilliant. But going from the awesome artwork of a knight standing in a grisly giant skeleton (just click that link!) to a 5-foot squares dungeon map is some serious OSR brainrot whiplash. It might be intentional, and if so, bravo.
Not sure if I have enough to say to warrant writing up a full review of Shadow of the Weird Wizard. It's a fine D&D-like, is my verdict. Highly flexible character options, easy to run, some balance issues. Somewhat tedious bucketfulls of d6s at high levels.
October 13, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Not sure if I have enough to say to warrant writing up a full review of Shadow of the Weird Wizard. It's a fine D&D-like, is my verdict. Highly flexible character options, easy to run, some balance issues. Somewhat tedious bucketfulls of d6s at high levels.
Shadow of the Weird Wizard campaign with Group B came to a screeching halt when I asked the players what their characters wanted, and turned out they didn't want to be adventurers anymore. And the thought of dragging them into trouble again and again wasn't appealing either. Ah well.
October 13, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Shadow of the Weird Wizard campaign with Group B came to a screeching halt when I asked the players what their characters wanted, and turned out they didn't want to be adventurers anymore. And the thought of dragging them into trouble again and again wasn't appealing either. Ah well.
You ever wonder, what if a penanggalan but horse? No, just me?
And then the characters are traumatized as The Most Beautiful Horse They Ever Saw twists its own head off and tries to strangle them with its entrails. And gets away, leaving them dreading the moment the Damn Horse comes back.
And then the characters are traumatized as The Most Beautiful Horse They Ever Saw twists its own head off and tries to strangle them with its entrails. And gets away, leaving them dreading the moment the Damn Horse comes back.
October 9, 2025 at 6:13 AM
You ever wonder, what if a penanggalan but horse? No, just me?
And then the characters are traumatized as The Most Beautiful Horse They Ever Saw twists its own head off and tries to strangle them with its entrails. And gets away, leaving them dreading the moment the Damn Horse comes back.
And then the characters are traumatized as The Most Beautiful Horse They Ever Saw twists its own head off and tries to strangle them with its entrails. And gets away, leaving them dreading the moment the Damn Horse comes back.
A joy of long-running sandbox campaigns: I get to drop any loose end from a year ago before them, and players go "holy shit, that's what X was up to all this time".
October 8, 2025 at 7:15 AM
A joy of long-running sandbox campaigns: I get to drop any loose end from a year ago before them, and players go "holy shit, that's what X was up to all this time".
Reposted by Magician
Looking for playtesters for an upcoming sci-fi horror game kind of like shadowdark meets ten candles meets mothership.
If you want to test it with your group, send me a DM on Bluesky and I’ll send you a free copy.
If you want to test it with your group, send me a DM on Bluesky and I’ll send you a free copy.
September 27, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Looking for playtesters for an upcoming sci-fi horror game kind of like shadowdark meets ten candles meets mothership.
If you want to test it with your group, send me a DM on Bluesky and I’ll send you a free copy.
If you want to test it with your group, send me a DM on Bluesky and I’ll send you a free copy.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. character minis done! Onto the enemies. So many camo dudes with guns...
September 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. character minis done! Onto the enemies. So many camo dudes with guns...
I've come to really appreciate making at least some of the NPCs in positions of power absolute fuck ups in my games. Just utter buffoons. So I ask myself, what's the worst dumbest thing they could do right now? And the answer drives the game world forward/sideways.
September 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I've come to really appreciate making at least some of the NPCs in positions of power absolute fuck ups in my games. Just utter buffoons. So I ask myself, what's the worst dumbest thing they could do right now? And the answer drives the game world forward/sideways.
How often do you go back to a TTRPG you've played? D&D excluded, I suppose.
I run 2 weekly games, and have another fortnightly group for brief games. Safe to say, I play more ttrpgs than most. And despite that, I almost never revisit a game, no matter how much I loved it.
I run 2 weekly games, and have another fortnightly group for brief games. Safe to say, I play more ttrpgs than most. And despite that, I almost never revisit a game, no matter how much I loved it.
September 17, 2025 at 9:07 AM
How often do you go back to a TTRPG you've played? D&D excluded, I suppose.
I run 2 weekly games, and have another fortnightly group for brief games. Safe to say, I play more ttrpgs than most. And despite that, I almost never revisit a game, no matter how much I loved it.
I run 2 weekly games, and have another fortnightly group for brief games. Safe to say, I play more ttrpgs than most. And despite that, I almost never revisit a game, no matter how much I loved it.
SoulMuppet continues to make games where everything's bad. Escapism!
Having scrolled through the quickstart, this looks to be the first solid soulslike ttrpg impelemntation I've seen. And a campaign/setting included? Sign me up.
Having scrolled through the quickstart, this looks to be the first solid soulslike ttrpg impelemntation I've seen. And a campaign/setting included? Sign me up.
Live now on Kickstarter!
Doomspiral a #TTRPG of desperate battles in a dying world. This is our love letter to soulslike games, with dramatic fights, labyrinthine exploration and many laughing shopkeeps.
Back now before the cruel spiral of entropy consumes all.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sou...
Doomspiral a #TTRPG of desperate battles in a dying world. This is our love letter to soulslike games, with dramatic fights, labyrinthine exploration and many laughing shopkeeps.
Back now before the cruel spiral of entropy consumes all.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/sou...
September 17, 2025 at 7:30 AM
SoulMuppet continues to make games where everything's bad. Escapism!
Having scrolled through the quickstart, this looks to be the first solid soulslike ttrpg impelemntation I've seen. And a campaign/setting included? Sign me up.
Having scrolled through the quickstart, this looks to be the first solid soulslike ttrpg impelemntation I've seen. And a campaign/setting included? Sign me up.
Huh.
It took playing Regicide Legacy to find out we've been playing regular ol' Regicide wrong for years. Did you know you're not supposed to discard played cards if the enemy isn't defeated. They just sit there. Probalby to make it possible to calculate things without note taking.
Huh, I say.
It took playing Regicide Legacy to find out we've been playing regular ol' Regicide wrong for years. Did you know you're not supposed to discard played cards if the enemy isn't defeated. They just sit there. Probalby to make it possible to calculate things without note taking.
Huh, I say.
September 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Huh.
It took playing Regicide Legacy to find out we've been playing regular ol' Regicide wrong for years. Did you know you're not supposed to discard played cards if the enemy isn't defeated. They just sit there. Probalby to make it possible to calculate things without note taking.
Huh, I say.
It took playing Regicide Legacy to find out we've been playing regular ol' Regicide wrong for years. Did you know you're not supposed to discard played cards if the enemy isn't defeated. They just sit there. Probalby to make it possible to calculate things without note taking.
Huh, I say.
You ever look at a thing, go "looks cool, I should get it", only to double check and find out you already have it? Yeah.
Looks cool though!
Looks cool though!
Orphans, the brand new module for Mothership by @lukegearing.bsky.social is out now. It's classic (can I say that yet) Mothership: deadly, terrifying, and has a swamp monster.
Grab it at the shop: www.tuesdayknightgames.com/products/orp...
Grab it at the shop: www.tuesdayknightgames.com/products/orp...
Orphans
Orphans is a one-shot starter adventure zine for Mothership RPG. Written by Luke Gearing, it includes: Imuen Station, a small refueling station, recent victim of a harrowing massacre. A pair of teens ...
www.tuesdayknightgames.com
September 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM
You ever look at a thing, go "looks cool, I should get it", only to double check and find out you already have it? Yeah.
Looks cool though!
Looks cool though!
Reposted by Magician
Ex Tenebris is LIVE on Kickstarter! Back now to help us get a strong start.
Play a ragtag team of investigators, walking the stars and hunting indescribable horrors with few resources and no backup.
The Republic Of Stars needs you. Will you answer the call?
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bla...
Play a ragtag team of investigators, walking the stars and hunting indescribable horrors with few resources and no backup.
The Republic Of Stars needs you. Will you answer the call?
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bla...
Ex Tenebris: A gothic space TTRPG
Unravel mysteries, battle horrors, protect the stars
www.kickstarter.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Ex Tenebris is LIVE on Kickstarter! Back now to help us get a strong start.
Play a ragtag team of investigators, walking the stars and hunting indescribable horrors with few resources and no backup.
The Republic Of Stars needs you. Will you answer the call?
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bla...
Play a ragtag team of investigators, walking the stars and hunting indescribable horrors with few resources and no backup.
The Republic Of Stars needs you. Will you answer the call?
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bla...
Here, then, a Substratum Protocol review:
I had a great time running this game for 2 players, going on a Science Adventure. The random tables and the art combined to create a unique atmosphere, and glancing at options not rolled and wondering how different the journey would have been was fun.
1/
I had a great time running this game for 2 players, going on a Science Adventure. The random tables and the art combined to create a unique atmosphere, and glancing at options not rolled and wondering how different the journey would have been was fun.
1/
Substratum Protocol by Pandion Games
The Apocalyptic Mystery TTRPG
pandiongames.itch.io
September 9, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Here, then, a Substratum Protocol review:
I had a great time running this game for 2 players, going on a Science Adventure. The random tables and the art combined to create a unique atmosphere, and glancing at options not rolled and wondering how different the journey would have been was fun.
1/
I had a great time running this game for 2 players, going on a Science Adventure. The random tables and the art combined to create a unique atmosphere, and glancing at options not rolled and wondering how different the journey would have been was fun.
1/
Went to rate a game I ran on itch io, added a tiniest of reviews, and I guess the review part is for the author's eyes only? What a strange way of doing this.
September 9, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Went to rate a game I ran on itch io, added a tiniest of reviews, and I guess the review part is for the author's eyes only? What a strange way of doing this.
A lot of the time nowadays, I read a ttrpg blog post, shrug, and go "you do you". Doubt it's wisdom, might be age.
But this post was interesting, perhaps even revelatory. I've been fiddling with a game concept for some time now that would fit this definition to a T, so this was quite a discovery.
But this post was interesting, perhaps even revelatory. I've been fiddling with a game concept for some time now that would fit this definition to a T, so this was quite a discovery.
good morning, i wrote a manifesto about a new direction for game design / play
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
possumcreek.medium.com/the-expressi...
The Expressionist Games Manifesto
“Work! Intoxication! Brain-racking! Chewing, eating, gorging, rooting up! Rapturous birth pangs! Jabbing of the brush, preferably right…
possumcreek.medium.com
September 9, 2025 at 6:22 AM
A lot of the time nowadays, I read a ttrpg blog post, shrug, and go "you do you". Doubt it's wisdom, might be age.
But this post was interesting, perhaps even revelatory. I've been fiddling with a game concept for some time now that would fit this definition to a T, so this was quite a discovery.
But this post was interesting, perhaps even revelatory. I've been fiddling with a game concept for some time now that would fit this definition to a T, so this was quite a discovery.
Look at what came in the mail! His Majesty the Worm, that's what. The cat was already here.
For some reason I expected it to be A3 format, y'know, the indie size. It's massive!
I've long wanted to run a west marches/darkest dungeon style game, and this just might do the trick for me.
For some reason I expected it to be A3 format, y'know, the indie size. It's massive!
I've long wanted to run a west marches/darkest dungeon style game, and this just might do the trick for me.
September 9, 2025 at 6:05 AM
Look at what came in the mail! His Majesty the Worm, that's what. The cat was already here.
For some reason I expected it to be A3 format, y'know, the indie size. It's massive!
I've long wanted to run a west marches/darkest dungeon style game, and this just might do the trick for me.
For some reason I expected it to be A3 format, y'know, the indie size. It's massive!
I've long wanted to run a west marches/darkest dungeon style game, and this just might do the trick for me.
Rules-as-Written vs house rules seems to be today's topic. Sure, why not.
When learning a new game (which may well be the entirety of my playtime) I try to not just stick to RAW, but also to the intended way of playing it, which is why I appreciate when the game text is explicit about this.
1/
When learning a new game (which may well be the entirety of my playtime) I try to not just stick to RAW, but also to the intended way of playing it, which is why I appreciate when the game text is explicit about this.
1/
September 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Rules-as-Written vs house rules seems to be today's topic. Sure, why not.
When learning a new game (which may well be the entirety of my playtime) I try to not just stick to RAW, but also to the intended way of playing it, which is why I appreciate when the game text is explicit about this.
1/
When learning a new game (which may well be the entirety of my playtime) I try to not just stick to RAW, but also to the intended way of playing it, which is why I appreciate when the game text is explicit about this.
1/
Suddenly overcome with an urge to heavily modify Gumshoe action rules. This desire is tempered by the fact that they're fine, really, and also not that important to the experience. Still, fiddling with mechanics is fun.
September 3, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Suddenly overcome with an urge to heavily modify Gumshoe action rules. This desire is tempered by the fact that they're fine, really, and also not that important to the experience. Still, fiddling with mechanics is fun.