Ben Newbon
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bennewbon.itch.io
Ben Newbon
@bennewbon.itch.io
Creator of silly rules-lite TTRPGs, actual player and host of the Cybertopia actual play podcast.
Videogames analyst currently looking for work
https://bennewbon.itch.io
https://anchor.fm/cybertopiaap
https://youtube.com/@ben_newbon/videos
Say no to genAI
Pinned
Overgrown 2e is now available to purchase (or update to if you already owned it!)
bennewbon.itch.io/overgrown/de...
Reposted by Ben Newbon
Help us make hope normal again.

Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
Have you produced an Actual Play?
Do you want it to exist in 10+ years?
Do you want ppl to be able to find it & get what it's about?

I made a checklist to walk you through documenting your AP & uploading it to the Internet Archive!
allmyfriendsarestories.neocities.org/iachecklist
Internet Archives Checklist
All My Friends Are Stories is a project designed to help people tell collaborative stories through Table Top Roleplaying Games (TTRPG). There are so many ways to play TTRPGs: you can play them for the...
allmyfriendsarestories.neocities.org
January 22, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
We're still looking for DC / MD / VA game designers to include in our catalog of locally-designed games. Card games, TTRPGs, board games, journaling games -- if our local retail shops can sell it, we want to promote it!
Designed in the DMV is a local artist's collective based in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We help each other create and promote tabletop games of all types, including role-playing games, board games, card games, and LARPs.

One of the most visible things we do is publish a catalog...
1/4▶️
January 22, 2026 at 12:21 PM
I've been a volunteer caseworker for the IWGB union's Game Worker branch for a few months now and it's been an eye opener, even beyond how eye opening it was to join the union as a regular member!

It's an absolute constant befuddlement between executive incompetence and active malice.
January 22, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Anyone know any Draw Steel actual plays? Especially with someone playing the Summoner class?

I'm potentially going to be in one soon but would be good to see the game in action. And I'm planning on playing a summoner, so would be extra helpful to have an example of that play to go by.
January 21, 2026 at 10:58 PM
A huge ensemble cast of groups living in the same world, working for different factions, whose stories and choices affect situations for each other group. Honestly could be any genre, any setting - just wanna experience that sort of living game (without having to manage it myself because 😬!)
Fun question inspired by a discord convo: If you had the resources of a renaissance noble and could commission an AP to entertain yourself, what would you commission and from who?
January 21, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Just played a quick lunchtime game of Overgrown with my 7y/o daughter, since she's off school sick - she played a bunnicorn and I was a frogtoise. she came up with a story where we woke up to all our housemates having disappeared.
(For context, this is Overgrown: bennewbon.itch.io/overgrown)
Overgrown TTRPG by Ben Newbon
Make & play as weird animal hybrids - now fully released!
bennewbon.itch.io
January 21, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
If you go to settings, then accessibility, you can turn a setting on that won’t allow you to post without adding alt text.! It absolutely helped me get in the habit.
Here’s the thing about alt text: it helps everyone! Sometimes, I don’t know what is in a photo without it.

Plus, it’s fun!

I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.

Join us.
January 21, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
ACTUAL PLAYERS! GODS HELP REQUIRED
Small Embers is looking for the voices of our Gods for some recorded lines.

If you’re on an actual play, we’ll credit/link to you show.

1st God: female voice; quirky, irreverent, supremely confident.

Interested in appearing in the show, sling me a DM.
a woman with a surprised look on her face says it 's not my place to question the wisdom of the goddess
ALT: a woman with a surprised look on her face says it 's not my place to question the wisdom of the goddess
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
I spend a decent amount of time searching but I cannot seem to find the post about someone who was offering to teach folks how to play/run new TTRPG systems. I saw the post awhile back but now cannot for the life of me find it. Anyone got any leads?
January 20, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Daughter is home sick from school today, so we're rewatching the entirety of Is It Cake? and getting extremely hungry for cake... I feel we've made bad TV choices
January 20, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
In 2025 we raised ~$300 to fund a new website which remains unspent. As our final act upon this material plane, we will be using that money to award 6x $50 USD micro grants to ttrpg designers or content creators that could use a small boost.

APPLY HERE before Jan 31: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
January 17, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
#Booksky Hive Mind: I'm looking for Arabic science fiction & futurist recommendations which contain aspects which could be broadly described as anarchist, autonomist, or libertarian socialist/communist. More broadly, Arabic SF which rejects or is critical of nationalism would also be of interest.
January 16, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
On the hunt for TTRPGs with annotated ludographies/bibliographies in their text. (In other words, not *just* a list of inspirations)

(Bonus points for in-line citations or marginal notes that credit other texts/games/people)
January 15, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
I'm a guest robot! 😁🤖
Cybertopia back with another solo ep, hearing what happened with Maurice (@jenbles.bsky.social) when he dipped out and luckily missed the fateful Stellar heist to instead catch up with an old flame. Guest v/o from @reprobategamer.bsky.social & @murphypop.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5mcL...
2.30 An Independent Machine
open.spotify.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Cybertopia back with another solo ep, hearing what happened with Maurice (@jenbles.bsky.social) when he dipped out and luckily missed the fateful Stellar heist to instead catch up with an old flame. Guest v/o from @reprobategamer.bsky.social & @murphypop.bsky.social
open.spotify.com/episode/5mcL...
2.30 An Independent Machine
open.spotify.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
People Make Games has yet again done an incredible job covering Rockstar firing 34 union workers and has gone in depth with the evidence presented by Rockstar.

One employee had a single message that was evidence for why they should be fired.
We traveled back up to Edinburgh to be there as Rockstar Games and its fired union members took their case to court:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnui...
Rockstar vs. Union: We Went to Court and Saw the Evidence
YouTube video by People Make Games
www.youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
Okay. I need a boost here.

Looking for artists.

We're talking about some potential comic book style art and/or concept art for the #iHunt film. We're privately funding development, so budget isn't Hollywood.

I want queer and/or nonwhite artists. I want cool styles.

Links? Tags? Self-promo?
January 13, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
Our statement concerning the decision to not grant interim pay relief to the member's fired by Rockstar. We remain confident in the strength of our case against Rockstar Games and we reiterate our firm belief that Rockstar broke the law when it summarily dismissed 31 union members.
January 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
This really sucks - some of those ppl unjustly fired by Rockstar were on Visas and being granted interim relief would have allowed them to stay until they are able to see their redemption in court.

Very interesting to really lay bare how flimsy the accusations from Rockstar are though!
Our statement concerning the decision to not grant interim pay relief to the member's fired by Rockstar. We remain confident in the strength of our case against Rockstar Games and we reiterate our firm belief that Rockstar broke the law when it summarily dismissed 31 union members.
January 13, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
Any recommendations for TTRPG artists that can draw fat characters?

I’d love if the artist was plus size themselves too, but I wanna know about all the inclusive artists out there 💖 #ttrpg
January 11, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Part 1 of the finale of the supers Cypher game I play in, Gilded Age is about to go live over at www.twitch.tv/wouldbeheroes
Come see my magma monster destined to be king of Hell, with his 6 powered teammates, putting on an awesome gold themed masquerade ball!
WouldBeHeroes - Twitch
Would-Be Heroes (Cypher System): Gilded Age - Episode 13 - Life is a Masquerade
www.twitch.tv
January 10, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
If you use Discord and want to tell them how you feel about them adding AI tools, here's a link to the survey. Share it far & wide. Let them know we don't want it. discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
discord.sjc1.qualtrics.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Tonight I watched the season 1 finale of Severance and the season 4 finale of The Boys...

Ho boy, how do I sleep now???
January 8, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Newbon
I'm looking for fun 2-3 player (including the gm) ttrpgs that are not too complicated, focused, and can be adapted to an existing setting.

Bonus points if they involve libraries or archives, or are full of that "mystical danger" flavor/charm.

Who has ideas? 👀
a woman in a white cape is reaching for a book in a library
Alt: A scene from the anime Frieren. Books magically float down from a bookshelf as an elf in a white outfit browses through them.
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:36 PM