The Novel Game Master
@thenovelgamemaster.bsky.social
š¤ 154
š„ 264
š 117
TTRPG blogger @
https://thenovelgamemaster.com/
Sci-fi & fantasy author at shannonrampe.com
Could not agree with this more. AI is not in any way intelligent - it's an algorithmic system that lacks cognition or intent. As a result, any text produced by AI will lack meaning, because there's no real "author" behind it attempting to convey meaning.
add a skeleton here at some point
15 days ago
0
2
1
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Shannon Rampe
19 days ago
Hot off the virtual press, it's Issue 28 of the Writers & Robots newsletter! Will Shannon survive a week of writing in the rainforest? What new blog posts have arrived for the thirsty GM? What is Shannon Reading? Find out now!
mailchi.mp/97ddadb8fbb1...
#amwritingfantasy
#blogging
#booksky
loading . . .
Rainforest & Robots
https://mailchi.mp/97ddadb8fbb1/writers-robots-refreshed-4961103
0
3
1
Playing
@esotericebb.bsky.social
and really digging it. I think my take is that I would like more gamey elements - it plays more like a visual novel than a true CRPG - but I am really enjoying the vibes, worldbuilding, and writing. I really like
@bakenshake.bsky.social
's review as well!
add a skeleton here at some point
19 days ago
0
2
1
The Daggerheart Meatgrinder
patchworkpaladin.com/2026/03/13/t...
loading . . .
The Daggerheart Meatgrinder
Our Daggerheart game kills off characters on the regular. Surprising, but I encourage you to embrace the death, danger, and destruction.
https://patchworkpaladin.com/2026/03/13/the-daggerheart-meatgrinder/
19 days ago
0
1
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Afraid of Encounters (He/Him)
19 days ago
A DEAD PLANET, A FORSAKEN KNIGHT AND A GROUP OF STRANDED SPACEFARERS The Knight Errant: Expanded Edition is now available on itch! A science fantasy old school Tabletop RPG adventure, designed for any Mark of the Odd games. Published by
@davidblandyrpgs.bsky.social
Copy/Paste Co-op. Link below!
9
118
67
Being a good game master has a lot in common with being a good project manager, and I'd argue that applying some good project management principles to your game can make for a better experience. And no Gantt charts, I promise!
www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/03/proj...
#blog
#dnd
#projectmanagement
loading . . .
Project Management for Game Masters
A recent comment by Nick LS Whelan in our local GM hangout about the value of soft skills for GMs as well as a recent blog post on The Play ...
https://www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/03/project-management-for-game-masters.html
21 days ago
1
21
10
Amazing new tool from
@ktrey.bsky.social
! Can't wait to try this out at the table.
add a skeleton here at some point
21 days ago
0
2
2
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Zak H. | Bommyknocker Press
24 days ago
New blogpost, daydreaming of Mythic Bastionland: A knight can interact with the themes of a myth to draw closer to it. PLUS 12 myth-specific relics.
#osr
#ttrpg
#blog
loading . . .
Myth Attunement
12 new items and new houserules to draw your knights deeper into myth
https://bommyknocker.bearblog.dev/myth-attunement/
1
39
22
I absolutely love this approach to managing combat encounters - it leverages the best parts of the ICI doctrine and establishes intent before outcome. Highly recommend giving this one a read!
add a skeleton here at some point
21 days ago
1
1
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Seraphina Garcia Ramirez
22 days ago
Triangle Agency is gorgeous, titanic, and iconic, thereās nothing quite like it, and I couldnāt do it service if you gave me 20 hours to talk about it (but we did our best with two.) It will challenge you as audience, it will elevate you as a player, and it will teach you as a designer. Come listen!
add a skeleton here at some point
0
27
7
Gamers! Get yer Hodag Mag! The Mag is short for... MAGIC! by
@hodagrpg.bsky.social
Just look at the first half of this sweet comic strip about an arcane and mysterious pastry treat:
add a skeleton here at some point
30 days ago
0
12
2
@elmc.at
serving the greater good again for all of TTRPGdom!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
0
2
0
Love this approach for using a d66 table to generate different settlements in a sandbox!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
0
3
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Prismatic Wasteland
about 1 month ago
Catch āEm All while you can! In commemoration of the 30th anniversary, Iām heistfunding a PokĆ©pocalyptic game based on Into the Odd. I call it INTO THE ODDISH! You can pre-order it now (until ???)
#ttrpg
#pokemon
#osr
loading . . .
Into the Oddish is Heistfunding Now ā Prismatic Wasteland
Pre-Order a PokƩmon tabletop roleplaying game parody of Into the Odd with Vileplume Mountain, a funhouse dungeon adventure.
https://www.prismaticwasteland.com/blog/oddish-preorders
10
210
140
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Idle Cartulary
about 1 month ago
Continuing my little series on basic dice math, I talk about advantage and its variations:
idlecartulary.com/2026/02/27/t...
loading . . .
Taking the Highest Die (Make Dice Work For You #4)
Make Dice Work For You is a series where Iāll regularly talk through a new way to use dice in your game. It came out of conversation surrounding What to randomise when youāre randomising, and what ā¦
https://idlecartulary.com/2026/02/27/taking-the-highest-die-make-dice-work-for-you-4/
0
31
12
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Shannon Rampe
about 1 month ago
GODS of SKY and DUST Now on submission! A jaded treasure-hunter is offered a chance at personal redemption when he and a scholar-friend discover an ancient, sentient robot that may be key to unlocking the secrets of an ancient civilization.
#WSPit
#OS
#A
#SF
#F
Learn more:
www.shannonrampe.com
1
19
10
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Shannon Rampe
about 1 month ago
THE COMPANY A dungeon-lit cozy fantasy adventure in the old school style!
#WSPit
#Ag
#NA
#A
#F
#R
learn more:
www.shannonrampe.com
0
17
4
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Zine Month IS HERE!!!
about 1 month ago
Join us for the last
#ZiMo
workshop of 2026. Where do you get good
#TTRPG
layout? YOU STEAL IT! At 3pm et today
@clearkeep.bsky.social
unleashes his next manifesto of design and invites you to join The Layout Rogues Guild.
twitch.tv/TonyPlusOne
1/2
3
18
14
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Binary
about 1 month ago
The final pamphlet job for NULL_SPACE is up! (This is the last week of itchfunding. Get in while you can.)
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
loading . . .
NULL_SPACE by Binary Star Games
Freelancing in the solar system of the 24th century
https://binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
1
30
29
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Magnolia Keep
about 1 month ago
From the brilliant mind of Magnolia Keep comes the high-octane third part of Prepping Plots! This time we talk about how to onboard players into the campaign, and some tricks for learning more about the heroes!
https://magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2026/02/prepping-plots-part-3-enter-players.html?m=1
loading . . .
Prepping Plots, Part 3: Enter the Players
So you've gone ahead andĀ sketched out a rough outline Ā of where you want your campaign to go. Now all that's left is the most important ing...
https://magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2026/02/prepping-plots-part-3-enter-players.html?m=1
0
10
6
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Marsworms
about 1 month ago
Disappeared for two months now I'm back with a post over at Save vs. Worm: FISH-EATERS! a character background and some worldbuildy stuff for my late antique Iranian D&D setting.
#OSR
savevsworm.blogspot.com/2026/02/fish...
loading . . .
Fish-Eaters of the Enlightened Empire (A Character Background for King of Kings)
These Ichthyophagi subsist on what their name is derived from, ā fish. Yet only a few of them fish out in the deep, for boats to do it wi...
https://savevsworm.blogspot.com/2026/02/fish-eaters-of-enlightened-empire.html?m=1
1
23
10
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Clayton
about 1 month ago
It's been a couple years since Reach of the Roach God was published, and I'm still thinking about how it pulled off stat blocks without stats. It's a load-bearing piece of tech that's criminally underused.
www.explorersdesign.com/designing-lo...
loading . . .
Designing Lore Blocks
An alternative to stat blocks designed for The 1 HP Dragon.
https://www.explorersdesign.com/designing-lore-blocks/
9
182
86
I'd like to say my comment inspired this fascinating analysis of NULL_SPACE, but reading
@binarystar.games
's blog post, you can tell this stuff was all there waiting to rise to the surface.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
1
3
1
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Valeria Loves
about 1 month ago
In an effort to bribe you into voting for me, I have once again broken my record for longest post. Enjoy my review of Daggerheart. It's full of statements that are approximately true.
valerialoves.com/daggerheart-...
add a skeleton here at some point
12
102
25
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Binary
about 1 month ago
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? š§µ
add a skeleton here at some point
1
19
11
As a reformed Instructional Designer, I absolutely adore this!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
1
3
0
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
loading . . .
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...
https://www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/running-factions-and-faction-turns.html
about 1 month ago
1
15
9
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Clayton
about 1 month ago
And you can vote for all of the current contenders for round 3 in this form!
forms.gle/bgzyuLaCQAYF...
loading . . .
The Bloggies: Round 3
Welcome to The Bloggies. You're currently voting in the third round of all five brackets. Why are all of the categories included? Up until this point there were a lot of matchups. Now there are only t...
https://forms.gle/bgzyuLaCQAYFkgQg6
0
17
18
Time to vote!
www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
#bloggies
#ttrpg
#rpgblogs
loading . . .
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
https://www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
about 1 month ago
0
3
2
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
elmcat
about 2 months ago
Four days in, and 53 nominated Bloggies posts have already been read and recorded by wonderful authors and volunteers, then published on the We Read The Bloggies podcast. Truly incredible!
loading . . .
We Read The Bloggies (@WeReadTheBloggies) ⢠Episodes
Weāre volunteers turning Bloggies-nominated blog posts into audio. So you can enjoy them anywhere, in a more accessible format.
https://podcast.bloggies.org/@WeReadTheBloggies/episodes
0
24
10
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Agreeable Chatter
about 2 months ago
Great post from Viridian Void on the challenging conversation we all eventually have to have with our parents about rpgs. He is wisely not on Bluesky š
viridianvoid.bearblog.dev/how-i-explai...
0
9
6
This was a fun read
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Amanda P.
about 2 months ago
The awesome
@bommyknocker.bsky.social
,
@elmc.at
, Grace of Choir of Fire
@seraphimseraphina.bsky.social
and many community members have organized a group recording effort of every Bloggies post as podcast episodes inspired by Blogs on Tape!https://podcast.bloggies.org/
loading . . .
We Read The Bloggies (@WeReadTheBloggies) ⢠Activity
Weāre volunteers turning Bloggies-nominated blog posts into audio. So you can enjoy them anywhere, in a more accessible format.
https://podcast.bloggies.org/
2
80
54
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Clayton
about 2 months ago
The Bloggies' page has updates! 1. "We Read the Bloggies" A fan-made podcast is live and linked! 2. A new submission has been nominated, "Book [Verb] Play" in Theory. The other post was removed on the author's request. 3. I've redesigned the page to keep things short and sweet. Happy reading!
loading . . .
The Bloggies 2026
A yearly celebration of blogging in tabletop roleplaying games.
https://www.explorersdesign.com/bloggies-2026/
0
52
33
Excited to get my hands on a print copy of NULL_SPACE by
@binarystar.games
binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
loading . . .
NULL_SPACE by Binary Star Games
Freelancing in the solar system of the 24th century
https://binary-star-games.itch.io/null-space
about 2 months ago
1
3
1
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Prismatic Wasteland
about 2 months ago
All bloggers are hereby cordially invited to participate in a new blog bandwagon on the topic of MAPS, featuring art (which you can use, remix, distort as you see fit) from
@amandalee.bsky.social
(Garbage Barge, Vampire Cruise, et al) You have 80 days starting now!
#osr
#tttpg
#blog
loading . . .
Bandwagon: The Map is Not the Territory But It is the Topic ā Prismatic Wasteland
Announcing a new blog bandwagon! This time you have 80 days in which to write something on your blog about maps and/or to annotate/remix/expand a map drawn by the esteemed Amanda Lee Franck!
https://www.prismaticwasteland.com/blog/bandwagon-the-map-is-not-the-territory-but-it-is-the-topic
5
125
67
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
jay Dragon is on some wizard shit
about 2 months ago
a response to the
@rascal.news
article on yazeba's bed & breakfast, clarifying some misunderstandings and (hopefully) providing a clearer explanation of what happened
possumcreek.medium.com/a-response-t...
16
371
151
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Agreeable Chatter
about 2 months ago
Continuing to work through the implications of this deep dive the other week. In this one, I posit a framework for managing the reputation of a state entity or other powerful patron.
#osr
#ttrpg
tbr.bearblog.dev/a-reputation...
loading . . .
A Reputation System for Surveyors
This post was originally titled "A Lightweight Reputation System" and it turned out to be truly anything but. . I've been sharpening up the major gamepla...
https://tbr.bearblog.dev/a-reputation-system-for-surveyors/
0
5
4
I really dig this. Got me thinking about switching from hexcrawls to pointcrawls.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
2
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Magnolia Keep
about 2 months ago
From the brilliant mind of Magnolia Keep comes a high-octane blogpost about video games and elfgames! I played Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 last month, and I think a lot of what made it fresh can be ported over to your campaign with very little trouble.
magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2026/02/what...
loading . . .
What Elfgames Can Learn From Kingdom Come: Deliverance
I've been spending a lot of time playing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. To sum the game up briefly, imagine if Skyrim or The Witcher 3 we...
https://magnoliakeep.blogspot.com/2026/02/what-elfgames-can-learn-from-kingdom.html
0
10
6
I spent a lot of time thinking about mental models and GMing. One of the underlying models I use is what I call a narrative framework.
www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/narr...
loading . . .
Narrative Frameworks in TTRPGs
One of the most essential tools I employ when game mastering, both in prep and play, is what I call a narrative framework . This is my term ...
https://www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/narrative-frameworks-in-ttrpgs.html
about 2 months ago
0
13
9
Yo! People! You need a Valentine's gift for your loved one? For yourself? Then hit up
@hodagrpg.bsky.social
for a copy of this month's HODAG MAG. You will not be disappointed. Includes the "Eat like a Goblin" follow up - Eat like a Centaur!
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
8
4
Pretty excited to get my hands on Twisting Unseen, a build-the-dungeon zine for Mothership RPG!
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/5...
loading . . .
Twisting Unseen, a build-the-dungeon zine for Mothership RPG
Twisting Unseen is a 36pg adventure module where crewmembers Build the Superstructure using long-defunct Gate tech. A Sleeper Crew Adventure inspired by BLAME!, Half-Life, and Pandorum for Mothership ...
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/5-million-worlds-press/twisting-unseen?ref=bk-social-pledge-button
about 2 months ago
0
1
0
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Lone Archivist
about 2 months ago
Happy
#ZineMonth
/
#ZiMo26
! Are you working on a project? I want to hear about it. Use this as your soapbox.
33
80
60
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Dyson Logos
about 2 months ago
Black Polished Chrome Because, what the hell, this art needs a home, right? (repost because of a typo)
3
28
11
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Binary
about 2 months ago
NULL_SPACE IS ITCHFUNDING NOW! Let me tell you a little more about it, if you don't know about it yet. š§µ
binarystar.games/null-space-i...
loading . . .
NULL_SPACE by Binary Star Games
Freelancing in the solar system of the 24th century
https://binarystar.games/null-space-itchfund
1
91
81
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Chris Airiau
about 2 months ago
My
#ZineMonth
project for Mothership RPG is live! Get out the scissors and glue, cuz you're making a map to escape this portal tech twisted nightmare:
www.backerkit.com/c/projects/5...
1
65
35
reposted by
The Novel Game Master
Lazy_Litch
about 2 months ago
Demidirge - Fanged Funnel is now live
www.kickstarter.com/projects/laz...
Obey, toil, scheme and conspire to escape the Malic Mindshaft
#zinequest
#ttrpg
#Shadowdark
#dnd
loading . . .
Demidirge - Fanged Funnel
An acidic nightmare adventure for Shadowdark RPG
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lazylitch/demidirge
0
17
8
Another delightful newsletter to tickle my inbox.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 2 months ago
0
1
0
Here's a fun adventure location you can drop into your next puzzle dungeon, weird wizard tower, or science-fantasy techo-lab.
www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/the-...
loading . . .
The Time Tuner - an Adventure Location
The Time Tuner is a magical location that could appear in a magical dungeon, a wizard's tower, or a strange lab. It could prove to be a puzz...
https://www.thenovelgamemaster.com/2026/02/the-time-tuner-adventure-location.html
about 2 months ago
0
0
0
Load more
feeds!
log in