Remember when I was going to make a #zine club, created an entire patreon, and subsequently never launched it? I was even going to have a digital and a print option where you received 2 one-page zines from me each month.

Currently at an antique spot exploring possible ephemera to include in my #junkjournaling #TTRPG #zine. I have some ideas.

I have about four pages left in this notebook for buildings from Japanese. Think I might move into landscapes or scenes or something else from our trip.

Is this you today? This is me today.

Is this you today? This is me today.

Proof copies of the zines came in, and while there are a few tweaks to make, I’m super thrilled with them. A dear friend of mine, with fun handwriting, came over to demo a couple of entries.

“I can’t believe how strange it is to be anything at all.”

Between recovering from minor dental surgery and the release of the ATLA trailer, feels like a good time for a rewatch.

A couple of days later, and I feel much better about this one. Part of it is that there's more going on in this picture, which makes me take a step back and think, "I don't have to capture everything." Either way, it's another fun entry in #learningtodraw. Might turn some images into a zine after.

In two weeks, I’ll launch Metal Scraps Covered in Moss, and there are already 140 people following. That’s so encouraging. I run short (7-8 days), no frills, no stretch goals campaigns with very few reprints, if any. Maybe if I get 200 followers, I’ll make this last 10 days instead!

Wasn’t feeling it today, and not super pleased with the outcome, BUT I am posting me #learningtodraw because it’s about exploring a medium I’ve always wanted to explore.

Hung out with an old friend yesterday, playing four games of Onirim and cycling through a couple of expansions. #sologaming #oniverse

Reflecting on this post from a few days ago: I struggle hard with the feeling that what I make is rarely acknowledged. I know that’s not necessarily true, but feelings are feelings unfortunately. These recent exciting events are a reminder to me that people ARE interested in the things I make.

Between the holiday and bad takes on video game companies and Ennie announcements and ongoing orthodontia not-feeling-great, I fear I’m already in a bit of a negative headspace. I think I’m going to log off for most of the day and read a book or play a game. Take care of yourselves, friends.

It has been far, far, far too long since I've sat down to sketch. It was nice getting back into it a bit. This is my 16th sketch ever, and I'm still poking at buildings we saw in Japan. This was an old temple we saw buried in the trees.

Proof copies of the zines came in, and while there are a few tweaks to make, I’m super thrilled with them. A dear friend of mine, with fun handwriting, came over to demo a couple of entries.

In the past month I have signed five contracts: 1. A book 2. A boardgame (!!!!!!!) 3-4. Two full year consultancy gigs 5. Two adjunct courses for the fall Super thrilled over here!

Spouse and I are watching the One Piece anime for the first time. Didn’t think I’d be getting emotional this often, but it’s been lovely.

A little over three weeks out, and there are 130+ people following along. Thanks! Proofs arrive tomorrow, and I’m excited to see things in person.

Someone asked me years ago if I was going to include any games for Free RPG Day. I had been designing games for a couple years and really trying to “make it,” whatever that means. There’s a weird balance with exposure. How much hard work does someone have to give away before they are seen?

ZINES IN THE MACHINE Returning this week at our vending machine at TPK Brewing: - Witchflip from @junkfoodgames.bsky.social - this world is not yours from @travisdhill.bsky.social Swing by if you’re in town and take a peek at our magic box of goodies (maybe try the yucca frites)

A journaling game where you wander around in the real world finding objects then write about them in your journal in a solarpunk world?! I am the exact target audience/radical buyer/ideal customer profile for this game

In a strange and sudden move, I might be going to Gen Con this year on Friday and Saturday. It's been like 7 years since I've been. Will I know anyone there?

Just going to leave this here. #TTRPG #zine #junkjournaling Click below to sign up.

You don’t have to be good at a Thing to do the Thing. My greatest hope for you, you wild young creative, is to eschew the capitalistic tendencies driven into us by society, and just create. Process triumphs product. Creation overshadows stagnation. Yourself before others.

Haven't gone this hard on finalizing a game in a while. It's been nice. Apparently, I'm making a @backerkit.com for Metal Scraps Covered in Moss, so maybe it is more real than I thought. So if it's a solo junk journaling game, maybe I can send scraps of stuff to people as part of it. #TTRPG #zine

December feels like so long ago…but now I’ve got the final approval copy from the factory! No matter how much it tried to kill my hand, I loved working on this project. Make sure to follow or sign up for my newsletter to get a copy when they go live! always-awake-games.kit.com/6e660f3e7a

Haven't gone this hard on finalizing a game in a while. It's been nice. Apparently, I'm making a @backerkit.com for Metal Scraps Covered in Moss, so maybe it is more real than I thought. So if it's a solo junk journaling game, maybe I can send scraps of stuff to people as part of it. #TTRPG #zine

I'm almost out of stock on physical #zines, so I decided to make all my #TTRPGs half off on itch to be able to purchase. Go grab something. Or point someone to go grab something. Thanks for sharing! ___________________ A bundle by Travis D. Hill, $41.00 for 23 games itch.io/s/191190/gam...

I'm almost out of stock on physical #zines, so I decided to make all my #TTRPGs half off on itch to be able to purchase. Go grab something. Or point someone to go grab something. Thanks for sharing! ___________________ A bundle by Travis D. Hill, $41.00 for 23 games itch.io/s/191190/gam...

I am proud of you. Go do that thing and do it well!

Spouse and I sat down today for a couple of hours to finally begin ideating on our follow up to the Portal at Hill House. Excited to jump back into this space from the other side of the portal, but this time with some dice and super fun ideas. Stay tuned! #ttrpg #zines

Weird day. On the day I took the first step in my orthodontia adventure (see: get a palate expander installed), I received an email requesting me to adjunct 2 courses in the fall and was asked to be brought to a large school district to support their advanced academics/accountability planning.

I think this game design is turning into a post-postapocalyptic cozy junk journaling solo RPG, and I'm here for it.

Can definitely tell the weather is warmer, as I’m getting tattoo questions more often. Within a half day, I got: “Oh, how much does one tattoo even cost?” “What was your first one?” “How long have you had those?” “That hurt?” It’s never, “How does this make you feel comfortable with how you look?”

Might have signed a contract for my first BOOK the other day. A whole ass book written by me about pedagogical uses for TTRPGs in building creativity and perspective taking. What a world

And, in no surprise, everything written has been converted to digital files already. Spouse has downloaded Affinity. We have a timeline and a structure. Maybe this goes to crowdfunding in September!

Spouse and I sat down today for a couple of hours to finally begin ideating on our follow up to the Portal at Hill House. Excited to jump back into this space from the other side of the portal, but this time with some dice and super fun ideas. Stay tuned! #ttrpg #zines

It's worth noting that Travis' games aren't just creative but also great for channeling your own creativity. In the interest of celebrating humanity in all it's quirks faults here's my own very amateur attempt at Portal of Hill House, the first solo journaling game I played.

If you enjoy something that someone has made, you should tell them! It just might make them feel very happy and warm, which might contribute to them wanting to create things.

Please save us from boardgame reviewers who play a game once and proceed to write a thousand words over every flaw or "broken" aspect in the game design and why it isn't good.* *Even more egregious when the game is played incorrectly. A singular play does not make you an expert. Caveats follow:

Friends couldn’t attend BGG Spring this year (for various reasons). So instead of spending $$$ on hotel, badges, etc, we are hosting our own BGG Spring NE (because we all live in NE Dallas). I made weekend gaming zines for everyone! We start Thursday!

Don’t mind me. Just tearing up over here listening to the low brass section of the Lighting of the Beacons RotK score, reminding me to always be hopeful of a better tomorrow.

Currently crowdsourcing for the Lego Minas Tirith set so I can also get the Grond mini set. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The academia hiring landscape is receiving a decline of hiring email for a postdoc position I forgot I applied to three months ago.

⚡Thursday Night Thrash Show: Moshing vs. Monsters⚡ Do you remember your 20s, wearing cut-off jean shorts and spending Thursday night in the backroom of a pizza shop watching 4 bands play 38 songs in 25 minutes? Relive those days while spinkicking monsters in this 1-page zine. #zine #TTRPG #thrash

⚡Thursday Night Thrash Show: Moshing vs. Monsters⚡ Do you remember your 20s, wearing cut-off jean shorts and spending Thursday night in the backroom of a pizza shop watching 4 bands play 38 songs in 25 minutes? Relive those days while spinkicking monsters in this 1-page zine. #zine #TTRPG #thrash

Got the back of my thigh stabbed a lot yesterday! Stabby stab stab

Next month, I get to do a thing I’ve needed to for a while, but when you don’t grow up with much, you have to take care of these things as an adult. In 6 weeks, I get a palette expander and braces. My job is so external-facing, I’m nervous (?), but it must happen. 44 will be an interesting year.

Checking in with the Masses: It’s fine to get in bed by 8:45pm, touting that you’re going to read your book for a bit, but then immediately go to sleep, right?