The only thing left is the map. Taking a fresh stab at it, pretty happy with how it’s going. Switching from trying to design it to treating it like another illustration was a game changer!

*excited shivers* #ttrpg #osr #Dragonbane

Final edit is done, front and back covers are done. Just need to revamp the map and we're ready to publish!

Final editing pass coming in for a landing this weekend. Then just need the new map in and we're all buttoned up for a PDF launch! I've been thinking of some custom #Dragonbane improvised weapon and treasure cards for the Belle, might squeeze those in to the handouts if I get a little extra time.

Honing in on front and back covers. The to-do list for PDF release is getting shorter and shorter 😅 Next major task is a thorough, final edit, and then incorporating the new map and it's #shipit time! October is gonna be an exciting month.... #ttrpg #osr #art #BelleOfTheBog #Dragonbane

WAIT THIS IS SO COOL ACTUALLY

It ain't a trip on the Belle unless you cast a line or two with Ernest! This is the drop target for the fishing minigame I've included. Inspired by the excellent "A Tactical Simulation of Land Folk Fishers Plumbing the Watery Depths of a Fantastical World" - www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/3...

Pregens for Belle: ✅ Came out pretty snazzy if I do say so myself. #ttrpg #osr #layout #Dragonbane

Coming next summer! Join @bradkerr.net, Skullboy and I at Between Two Cons, an indie RPG/OSR convention in Portland, Oregon. Fill out this survey to influence how it takes shape: forms.gle/bxs7RkvRkeeD...

Done with all the art for the Belle. In fact, done with everything but the maps and handouts (and a quick cover touch-up). Really proud of everything I created here and absolutely cannot wait to push it across the finish line. #ttrpg #art #learntodraw #osr #Dragonbane

The vast bulk of my layout is done! Final page count is 74, right on the money. Let me know if you'd like a copy of the draft PDF to read, I'm still very hungry for feedback. #BelleOfTheBog #ttrpg #osr

This layout doesn't look right. Let's see, what if I shrunk this to a half column, maybe move this over there... Hmm, I could rearrange these two blocks so it fits better... No, that's not it, do I leave extra space for art? *30 minutes of futzing* You know what? It looked better beforehand.

The "walk by the grapes on the counter without eating one (1) grape" challenge - impossible

Done laying out all the locations! Just a few appendixes & procedures to go and I'm done with this step (for now). Home stretch, baby! #layout #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog

*Wipes sweat* OK, still going strong on the layout but whew, it's not easy! About 2/3 done and we're at 50 pages on the nose, so I think I was on the money with the 70-80 page target. It's still looking good, but I'm going to need a 3-4 more illustrations to finish it out. #ttrpg #osr #dnd #layout

Here's a spread I just finished laying out #BelleOfTheBog #ttrpg #osr

Quick update, I'm hard at work on layout, a little over halfway done. Cautiously optimistic that I will have a V1 PDF by my self-imposed deadline of the 22nd, though I'm not sure I'll be ready to put it up on DriveThru then. In other news, @dysonlogos.bsky.social agreed to do a map, so excited!

Got my main map laid out. This will be the first thing you see when you open the book. It's not totally polished but I think it's good enough to move on. Maybe I'll hire a cartographer for the second printing... @dysonlogos.bsky.social would be life goals. #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog #maps

Good news: I'm about halfway done with layout for #BelleOfTheBog 😍 Bad news: The only copy of my map design file was on a dead computer so I'm going to need to redo them by hand 🤦‍♂️ Good news: I had a fair bit of work on the maps anyway and I'm a much better artist now than when I first drew them...

I could do a #selfpromoSaturday but I muted everyone that didn't use alt text so it ended up being quiet. Instead, I'd like to invite #TTRPG #artists who do stock art to post where to get theirs! I know @salvaterra.bsky.social and @felipefaria.bsky.social both do this! Definition of stock art: 1/

Oh man, we're starting to look like an actual book! This is my first time digging in to Affinity Publisher and I'm having an absolute blast. Huge shoutout to @alderdoodle.bsky.social for having a ton of absolutely bangin' page decorations. You seriously rock! #layout #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog

Oh also excited to announce that Taller Tales is now a verified @drivethrurpg.com partner!

Final editing pass is done, moving into layout! #BelleOfTheBog #ttrpg #osr #Dragonbane

If you see this, post something monochromatic #ttrpg #b&wart

Drip and Drop, resident snitches of the Belle, taking a peek at a perfectly licit transaction. #learntodraw #ttrpg #osr #art #BelleOfTheBog

A few critical things are managed by this control panel in the engine room of the Belle. It’s seen better days. If only things were labeled! Second to last illustration for the book. I’m getting a bit misty! #ttrpg #osr #art #learntodraw #BelleOfTheBog

You’ll find the hooked dice on a few different things in the Belle. There might even be a way to turn the symbol to your advantage… #ttrpg #art #learntodraw #BelleOfTheBog

Proud to be the 2,637th backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Vaults of Vaarn Second Edition! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/v...

A bottle of “bluet”, one of the many drinks Crusty Craig serves on the Belle. Sweet and mournful, it tastes like forgotten love on a crisp fall day. Dreadful hangover afterwards. #ttrpg #art #learntodraw #osr #BelleOfTheBog

on attacking

Finished shading it out, wish I’d gone a little easier on the lines but overall pretty happy with it. Careful what you pick! #art #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog #Dragonbane

Times are very tight and I am looking for work. All the work I can get. Illustrations, cartography, and logo work. Bring it on. Let's make your thing. #dnd #ttrpg brianfnpatterson.com/contact

Here's a free one for you Dungeon Masters out there. Normally you don't think of dwarves as a boating people, but this is totally some dwarven steampunk shit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_b...

The Belle has quite the rooftop gardens. A fair few surprises for the canny forager. Excited to share this one, haven’t decided how I’m going to do it. #art #ttrpg #learntodraw #osr #BelleOfTheBog

The Vineheart Engine needs to push power to all corners of the Belle. This is where the ghost lanterns come in. They might not shed the most light, but it's very important that they don't get broken. #art #ttrpg #learntodraw #BelleOfTheBog #osr #Dragonbane

Spirit bottle I did at the hospital. These power the Belle, but it’s tricky to get them filled. Ol’ Billy has his ways… #ttrpg #osr #art #learntodraw #Dragonbane #BelleOfTheBog

A little downtime as I welcomed a new member of my family! Now a proud parent of 2 soon-to-be-gamers.

Calling it quits on the Leviathan Lunkhead. I love how the fish came out but ran out of steam (hah) on Ernest and the boat. Time waits for no one though, so calling it here. #ttrpg #osr #art #learntodraw #Dragonbane

Recently reminded of this Kevin Crawford AMA, and it remains everything.

If you see this, post a knight.

Meet the Leviathan Lunkhead and Ernest. Still workshopping this one but I think I like the general composition. Going to try the watercolors again, but I think I'm going to do colors first, then lines over afterwards. #learntodraw #art #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog #Dragonbane.

I'd normally ink this guy but I honestly really like how it turned out as just a sketch, and for some pretty low-stakes spot art I think I'm going to call it good as-is. I'm particularly chuffed by how the cards turned out. #art #learntodraw #ttrpg #osr #BelleOfTheBog #Dragonbane

It's been a while since I've plugged my stuff so here's a brief recap of who I am and what I'm doing! My name is Tom and I'm working on becoming a 1-stop-shop #ttrpg designer. I'm focused on #Dragonbane right now!

All done with the bogmangler! Had fun learning a bit about the different charcoal and watercolor tools here. Will be glad to switch back from spooky boys to a few lighter scenes. #learntodraw #osr #ttrpg #Dragonbane #BelleOfTheBog

Rounding out our "people I wouldn't want to kiss" is the bogmangler. I took a pretty different approach with this one and tried to work a lot of charcoal in. I'm honestly not sure if I like the result or not but it's certainly got a vibe.

Here's the final on Ol' Billy after a bit of a tuneup Still very creepy! Happier with his mouth and hair though

Ol' Billy came out pretty spooktacular. I need to redo his mouth to make it a liiiittle less creepy and more friendly, I feel like I did a good job of that in the sketch but lost it in the shading a bit. Still, he's looking like a proper antagonist I think. #ttrpg #osr #learntodraw #Dragonbane

Ol' Billy's here to welcome you aboard the Belle. The drinks are cold and the dice are hot, come play a few hands and relax! #ttrpg #BelleOfTheBog #osr #Dragonbane #learntodraw #digitalart

Here's Alice, spent a few days doodling but really got her all down in 1 day which I'm pretty proud about. Making some real progress here, it's satisfying blitzing through these easier illustrations and havingf them actually feel easier. #learntodraw #BelleOfTheBog #ttrpg #osr #Dragonbane