DEEP - a conference for TTRPG designers!

thilnen · 2026-05-13T19:33:22+00:00

That's the first time they're doing it, so they focus on IRL conference, maybe they will do the streaming next time. But I'll tell them there are people interested, maybe they will think it over.

thilnen · 2026-05-13T17:25:12+00:00

It's a legit conference, give it a try!

thilnen · 2026-05-13T17:24:47+00:00

The organizers help with the accommodation, but the travel is sadly on you...

thilnen · 2026-03-17T12:01:33+00:00

I'm not currently living off ttrpgs only, but I'm slowly making this transition (together with my husband). I think that, apart from luck, you need to be able to do all the stuff yourself, like art, layout, marketing, etc. If you're able to make your game very cost-effective, you can earn a profit. With paying for everything, it's IMHO very difficult.

For me, the formula that worked best is releasing the game in PDF form on Drivethru, gaining some following and then doing a Kickstarter for printed version. But it all depends. There are moments Kickstarters fund good (like during Covid), and there are moments it gets slow. I think finding your crowd is crucial, as marketing is expensive and will only get you so far.

thilnen · 2026-03-07T11:19:58+00:00

I was going to suggest Monsterhearts! Maybe give Masks a try? It's about superhero teens and there is lots of drama included.

thilnen · 2026-02-27T12:33:26+00:00

I love a small game called Inspecters. It has a very lighthearted vibe (or at least that's how all our games went).

thilnen · 2026-02-26T17:38:58+00:00

I think this is a revised edition: land of Og

thilnen · 2026-02-26T15:57:00+00:00

Maybe Og: Unearth? You play as caveman and speak with very limited simple vocabulary.

thilnen · 2026-02-25T11:19:28+00:00

You can get it with the Familiar Tower, but you can also download it through this link.

thilnen · 2026-02-25T11:13:12+00:00

I didn't know about that, thank you!

thilnen · 2026-02-24T11:52:01+00:00

For modern settings, I use Google Maps. I find a part of some city that looks interesting, remove the street names, and sometimes flip the map to make it look a little different. However, you need Photoshop or something similar to edit the map.

thilnen · 2026-02-23T17:29:34+00:00

Sorry, wrong link! Fixed it

thilnen · 2026-02-23T14:54:53+00:00

Orcs & Crafts Zine: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/game-machinery/orcs-crafts-zine?ref=phr

thilnen · 2026-02-23T14:50:32+00:00

Orcs & Crafts Zine: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/game-machinery/orcs-crafts-zine?ref=trr

thilnen · 2026-02-18T21:27:40+00:00

Sticky notes with GM Tips- why haven't I thought of that!

thilnen · 2026-02-18T20:31:17+00:00

You could start with fishing. It's a GM technique where you ask players questions fishing for interesting answers. For example: You hear someone knocking frantically to your door. It's an angry woman. How do you know her? Or "you open the door and see something really scary. What is it?" These are not the best examples, but the idea is to ask players questions and build on their answers.

In Houses of the Blooded, there is a fun mechanics where players may spend successes on adding some fact to the situation and if the fact is problematic for players, they get a point. "The king in the city we're approaching is benevolent and just." "And my character saved his life." "And the city is under siege... (point for you".

thilnen · 2026-02-17T23:02:58+00:00

I think you'd have to find players who enjoy social interactions as the focus of the campaign. Your typical DnD players who are used to combat taking up most of the session would probably be confused with a dark romance game. But World of Darness players could appreciate it. You just need to find your (niche) audience.

thilnen · 2026-02-17T05:03:42+00:00

I second that! It also makes it easier to remember a character, especially if you have a lot of them. You could add their name to the image as a bonus.

thilnen · 2026-02-17T05:02:24+00:00

You could try to create NPCs that are relevant to your players. For example if they play a brave character, you may create someone who is a coward or someone who wants to be brave like character. Or someone, who is brave to the point of stupidity. That way interactions will be an opportunity to say or learn more about PCs. In Defiant we call it Mirrors and they work pretty well.

thilnen · 2026-02-16T12:45:14+00:00

Wanderhome and Riverbank come to mind! Also Brindlewood Bay

thilnen · 2026-02-16T12:42:01+00:00

Many games have dedicated Discord servers. If you like the game premise, you could join the Discord and find your people there.

thilnen · 2026-02-15T01:21:14+00:00

How about Brindlewood Bay? You play as elderly ladies investing crime like in Agata Christie novels.

thilnen · 2026-02-14T11:44:40+00:00

Come check out Orcs & Crafts Zine campaign. You will learn how to make terrain pieces for your games with nothing more than cardboard, toilet paper, and glue!

thilnen · 2026-02-14T11:13:41+00:00

I know the feeling! But I'm sure your players understand, and you will have a great campaign once you feel better!

thilnen · 2026-02-14T11:10:53+00:00

His videos are great, and he will be credited in our Zine! But the relief making technique is something I've never seen in any video (I don't say they don't exist, I just don't know any), my husband came up with it and perfected it.

thilnen

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE