Posts by zdl@gamerplus.org
(DIR) Post #Awx8ESgnHkiVkUptaa by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:37:32Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
4. Information design. There are popular games out there I can't stand because when I need to reference things **I can't find them**. (I'm looking at you here, Savage Worlds.) Then there's the games where you can find things you need, but you probably won't ever actually use them because the way they're organized is so frustrating to read. (This tragically includes my favoured Chivalry & Sorcery 5th Edition rulebook.)Information design is a thing. Read up on it. Use it. GET FEEDBACK!🧵 ▶️
(DIR) Post #Awx8EZafcuyh9X1bW4 by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:39:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
And I can't stress that feedback thing enough: get feedback from people who are *not* in your corner. Get feedback from smart people. From stupid people. From people who like things different from you. From people who like the same as you.Then listen to that feedback. In the end, if your prospective customer says your rules are confusing, THEY ARE NOT IN THE WRONG. YOU ARE. Because they want your game less than you want their money.(Don't be Steve Jackson, I'm trying to say.)🧵 ▶️
(DIR) Post #Awx8EgVbu85cbriA6K by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:42:16Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
5. Price. I know I know, I'm going to get a whole bunch of publishers beating their chests like gorillas challenging an incursion by outsiders, but stick around.There's something to be said for customers having to get used to higher prices. But that something was to be said fifteen years ago, not in the escalating financial disaster that's cutting into more and more people's pocket money. The time to "train" your customers to accept higher prices was when times were good, not now.🧵 ▶️
(DIR) Post #Awx8EnKsWQfFmbkBqS by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:45:06Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
In current economic climes having games get more and more and more expensive—even as they get narrower and narrower and narrower in niche appeal—is a sucker's game. In 2010-2015 people might have been willing to shell out in larger numbers for a $70 rule book for a game with such a narrow and tightly-focused genre that you might only get, say, a dozen sessions of play out of it before it becomes a permanent resident of the shelf.Today is not 2010-2015.🧵 ▶️
(DIR) Post #Awx8EtRpnTnGjv2pWK by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:47:44Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Now here's the good news: one of the things I mentioned above (about the full-gloss, full-colour pages) is one of the best ways to cut back on those costs. It's a LOT LESS EFFORT AND COST to use high quality matte paper with black ink than it is to make full-gloss, full-colour pages. You can use the money and time you save to fund providing more content or to reducing the price tag of the book, overcoming that price:benefit ratio barrier one way or another.Or you can go PDF-exclusive.🧵 ▶️
(DIR) Post #Awx8EziiTcrYC0zOfQ by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-08-08T02:50:02Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
Of course what do I know? I mean aside from being an avid purchaser of TTRPGs since 1978. (Oh, and working in market consultation for multiple decades.)I guess what I know is that I saw the TTRPG industry come to a near-collapse once before over this kind of ridiculousness and didn't like it. I don't want to see it happen again.🧵 ⏹️
(DIR) Post #AxmQQbu0Z33s2CuphA by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-09-02T01:18:51Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@futurebird Could you explain this to a non-American who isn't quite getting it?
(DIR) Post #B0MIubFZP4Nh7oZD5k by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-11-18T04:27:53Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@aral The USA, apparently. I guess they're orcs now?
(DIR) Post #B1ag9G7J9DbU7FQjT6 by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-12-25T00:46:45Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@historyofpunkrock
(DIR) Post #B1dTd3Jma8WxB91NeC by zdl@gamerplus.org
2025-12-25T08:27:30Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@davidculley @hateaid "We're not allowed to enter the Fascist States of America any longer!""Oh no! ... Anyway..."
(DIR) Post #B1pIguO6xUVx2eCXDs by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-01T02:04:36Z
0 likes, 0 repeats
@lowqualityfacts I actually didn't see the punchline for a good fifteen seconds. Which I believe is part of the point, right?
(DIR) Post #B2DL3Cgv83DYw071A8 by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-11T21:52:43Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Two-Fisted Tales had always tickled my fancy since I first encountered it. Like everything non-D20, it died off during the massive Wave of Tedious Gray that Wizards unleashed upon the gaming world until it wound up, resurrected in a redesigned second edition in the arms of Precis Intermedia.Thus it was an obvious shoe-in for the #CharacterCreationChallenge today.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-12-two-fisted-tales-2nd-edition-precis-intermedia
(DIR) Post #B2DLJsimd75nvCw6ca by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-11T00:32:20Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Today's #CharacterCreationChallenge comes to us from Parts per Million's Navigator RPG: A Rolemaster/HARP retroclone.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-11-navigator-rpg-parts-per-million
(DIR) Post #B2Ea53qaftAqYSwH8S by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-12T21:41:54Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Today's #CharacterCreationChallenge entry is that old classic of serious, in-depth RP that plumbs the depth of our culture....Nah, it's Kobolds Ate my Baby!https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-13-kobolds-ate-my-baby-super-deluxx-edition-dork-storm-press-9th
(DIR) Post #B2MqYPao3dB2vUFjrk by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-17T00:05:41Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Today's entry in the #CharacterCreationChallenge is another 1PG game by Deep7 called "Buggin'". Think movies like Antz or A Bug's Life for the genre.Yes, this one's about bugs.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-17-buggin-deep7
(DIR) Post #B2RqCG6PM6IgeFox96 by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-18T22:26:46Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Today's #CharacterCreationChallenge is the 1PG game Star Legion from Deep7. My brain went a little odd making this one.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-19-star-legion-deep7
(DIR) Post #B2TIZm4fdsbgLIyB96 by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-19T22:27:48Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
It's the Old West (mythical variety of Hollywood, not the historical one) for today's #CharacterCreationChallenge, featuring the True20 game.I'm going to have oh so many thoughts over this challenge. I'll probably do a daily follow-up with thoughts on individual systems and the overall hobby.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-20-true20-revised-edition-green-ronin
(DIR) Post #B2XEphsHP0uClYM59k by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-21T22:18:52Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
For the #CharacterCreationChallenge today, I bring in Deep7's Arrowflight.I can already see the rolling eyes. No, this is not a 1PG game. This is Deep7's serious game line based on their XPG system.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-22-arrowflight-2nd-edition-deep7
(DIR) Post #B2egKwiA41BBwd0ZbE by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-24T23:49:36Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
Another day, another #CharacterCreationChallenge entry. (This is beginning to wear thin. It's harder than it looks.) Today we have "Ace" Fitzroy, the driven seeker of dark truths to bring to public light for Deep7's Airship Daedalus.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-25-airship-daedalus-deep7
(DIR) Post #B2hVdRV3oZnOcoNT5k by zdl@gamerplus.org
2026-01-26T21:49:25Z
0 likes, 1 repeats
The end is in sight. I'm down to four characters after today's entry from The Esoterrorists in the #CharacterCreationChallenge. Except with the final one it's going to feel like eight characters.https://wordsmith.social/character-creation-challenge-2026/2026-01-27-the-esoterrorists-2nd-edition-pelgrane-press