City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
@citysquarestudios.bsky.social
duo creating new original tabletop games every month from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Our games use stuff you already own!
31+ original games on Patreon part of the 52 Pickup zine series https://www.patreon.com/CitySquareStudios
Our games use stuff you already own!
31+ original games on Patreon part of the 52 Pickup zine series https://www.patreon.com/CitySquareStudios
Pinned
Frontline Grind is only free for one more week!
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
Some sneak peek info for our next very soon to be released tabletop game!
patreon.com/posts/sneak-peek-52-32-144177461
patreon.com/posts/sneak-peek-52-32-144177461
Sneak Peek: 52 Pickup Issue #32 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Some sneak peek info for our next very soon to be released tabletop game!
patreon.com/posts/sneak-peek-52-32-144177461
patreon.com/posts/sneak-peek-52-32-144177461
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
I started a Patreon for folks interested in generally supporting this indie publisher to get some of the stuff i make that doesn't necessarily get added into a book.
www.patreon.com/cw/DuckandCr...
www.patreon.com/cw/DuckandCr...
Duck and Crow Press | Patreon
Wizards and fighters and robots and shit. Let's roll.
www.patreon.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I started a Patreon for folks interested in generally supporting this indie publisher to get some of the stuff i make that doesn't necessarily get added into a book.
www.patreon.com/cw/DuckandCr...
www.patreon.com/cw/DuckandCr...
Tonight: some cocktails and game design.
Tomorrow night: something else and game design because cocktails are expensive
Tomorrow night: something else and game design because cocktails are expensive
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Tonight: some cocktails and game design.
Tomorrow night: something else and game design because cocktails are expensive
Tomorrow night: something else and game design because cocktails are expensive
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Does every game need to be 'fun'?
We discuss that and a bit of game history and philosophy in the designer notes for Frontline Grind.
🎲✂️ #ttrpgdesign #indiedev
We discuss that and a bit of game history and philosophy in the designer notes for Frontline Grind.
🎲✂️ #ttrpgdesign #indiedev
This month’s 52 Pickup release is Frontline Grind: a grimdark TTRPG of conscripts, villages, and a single weapon passed through the fallen.
Check out the designer notes for the game below.
#ttrpg #indiegames
patreon.com/posts/designer-notes-143080905
Check out the designer notes for the game below.
#ttrpg #indiegames
patreon.com/posts/designer-notes-143080905
November 23, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Does every game need to be 'fun'?
We discuss that and a bit of game history and philosophy in the designer notes for Frontline Grind.
🎲✂️ #ttrpgdesign #indiedev
We discuss that and a bit of game history and philosophy in the designer notes for Frontline Grind.
🎲✂️ #ttrpgdesign #indiedev
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
I am 1000% here for this
we should have Leave A Nice Review Friday. its where on fridays we leave nice reviews for works by indie creators on whatever platform having reviews on helps them the most
November 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I am 1000% here for this
Frontline Grind is only free for one more week!
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
November 22, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Frontline Grind is only free for one more week!
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
A horror grim dark TTRPG where you play a village of conscripts in an endless struggle, use playing cards to make your skill checks.
patreon.com/posts/52-pickup-issue-142462243
#ttrpg #rpg #indiegame
November 21, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Sometimes in game dev the only thing you can aim for is a Non-Zero Day, that is a day when you just get a non-zero amount done
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Sometimes in game dev the only thing you can aim for is a Non-Zero Day, that is a day when you just get a non-zero amount done
Latest round of play testing for the new game went well, adjustments seem to have done the trick to address the issues from the earlier rounds.
Please enjoy this (very early) concept image, feel free to guess what the next game will be about!
🎲✂️ #indiedev
Please enjoy this (very early) concept image, feel free to guess what the next game will be about!
🎲✂️ #indiedev
November 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Latest round of play testing for the new game went well, adjustments seem to have done the trick to address the issues from the earlier rounds.
Please enjoy this (very early) concept image, feel free to guess what the next game will be about!
🎲✂️ #indiedev
Please enjoy this (very early) concept image, feel free to guess what the next game will be about!
🎲✂️ #indiedev
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
The English edition of “Choose Your Own Journey: Kyoto” features a newly updated cover and layout!
I photographed locations around Kyoto during the summer to create this book, so I hope you enjoy reliving the journey through its pages. The book will be available at Game Market Tokyo, Booth K06!
I photographed locations around Kyoto during the summer to create this book, so I hope you enjoy reliving the journey through its pages. The book will be available at Game Market Tokyo, Booth K06!
November 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
The English edition of “Choose Your Own Journey: Kyoto” features a newly updated cover and layout!
I photographed locations around Kyoto during the summer to create this book, so I hope you enjoy reliving the journey through its pages. The book will be available at Game Market Tokyo, Booth K06!
I photographed locations around Kyoto during the summer to create this book, so I hope you enjoy reliving the journey through its pages. The book will be available at Game Market Tokyo, Booth K06!
If you have a game that's young child friendly, but you have a variant rule that makes it slightly more strategic so it can be enjoyed by a larger age range should you:
- keep it as variant but recommend that rule be used
- make the rule part of base game with a variant to remove it
- keep it as variant but recommend that rule be used
- make the rule part of base game with a variant to remove it
November 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
If you have a game that's young child friendly, but you have a variant rule that makes it slightly more strategic so it can be enjoyed by a larger age range should you:
- keep it as variant but recommend that rule be used
- make the rule part of base game with a variant to remove it
- keep it as variant but recommend that rule be used
- make the rule part of base game with a variant to remove it
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
It's always good to consider other people's ideas and opinions...
vulpinoid.blogspot.com/2025/11/othe...
vulpinoid.blogspot.com/2025/11/othe...
Other Games
I like reading other people's posts about game philosophy and design. Like this one I've played most of the games listed here, and generally...
vulpinoid.blogspot.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:45 AM
It's always good to consider other people's ideas and opinions...
vulpinoid.blogspot.com/2025/11/othe...
vulpinoid.blogspot.com/2025/11/othe...
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
For any TTRPG people thinking about their first con, attending their first con as an exhibitor, or even (like us) getting ready for their next big ones this year and next, Colin's post-con breakdowns are invaluable.
Do yourself a favour and give them all a read, starting with this one!
Do yourself a favour and give them all a read, starting with this one!
Thought Bubble remains my favourite convention, even if this year we ended up in the red.
Here's my latest #post-con-post-mortem for Thought Bubble 2025.
#TTRPG #TBF25
byodinsbeardrpg.com/2025-11-17-t...
Here's my latest #post-con-post-mortem for Thought Bubble 2025.
#TTRPG #TBF25
byodinsbeardrpg.com/2025-11-17-t...
Thought Bubble 2025 Report
This past weekend, I returned to exhibit at the Thought Bubble convention, following on from a successful experience in 2024. Thought Bubble is a comic art festival held annually in Harrogate, UK and ...
byodinsbeardrpg.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
For any TTRPG people thinking about their first con, attending their first con as an exhibitor, or even (like us) getting ready for their next big ones this year and next, Colin's post-con breakdowns are invaluable.
Do yourself a favour and give them all a read, starting with this one!
Do yourself a favour and give them all a read, starting with this one!
Got a sweet 2nd place (out of 5) in the Gaslands death race. The main take away was we were all mainly concerned with the "death" and not the "race", close to 10 wrecks!
Full Car build:
- Sponsor: Mishkin
- Weapon: Thumper
- Upgrades: Experimental Teleporter
- Perks: Whizband, Gyroscope
#tabletop
Full Car build:
- Sponsor: Mishkin
- Weapon: Thumper
- Upgrades: Experimental Teleporter
- Perks: Whizband, Gyroscope
#tabletop
November 17, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Got a sweet 2nd place (out of 5) in the Gaslands death race. The main take away was we were all mainly concerned with the "death" and not the "race", close to 10 wrecks!
Full Car build:
- Sponsor: Mishkin
- Weapon: Thumper
- Upgrades: Experimental Teleporter
- Perks: Whizband, Gyroscope
#tabletop
Full Car build:
- Sponsor: Mishkin
- Weapon: Thumper
- Upgrades: Experimental Teleporter
- Perks: Whizband, Gyroscope
#tabletop
What have we been getting up to this month?
- 700 Patreon member game give away (live now!)
- Our first Rough Cut game release
- Frontline Grind TTRPG release
- Armageddon Expo 2025
More details below👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-143606257
- 700 Patreon member game give away (live now!)
- Our first Rough Cut game release
- Frontline Grind TTRPG release
- Armageddon Expo 2025
More details below👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-143606257
City Square Town Hall: November 2025 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:12 AM
What have we been getting up to this month?
- 700 Patreon member game give away (live now!)
- Our first Rough Cut game release
- Frontline Grind TTRPG release
- Armageddon Expo 2025
More details below👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-143606257
- 700 Patreon member game give away (live now!)
- Our first Rough Cut game release
- Frontline Grind TTRPG release
- Armageddon Expo 2025
More details below👇
patreon.com/posts/city-square-town-143606257
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
Oh to drift completely plastered down the Ancient Nile, playing Senet extremely slowly while watching out for the cursed sea peoples.
November 16, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Oh to drift completely plastered down the Ancient Nile, playing Senet extremely slowly while watching out for the cursed sea peoples.
We're trying something new, introducing Rough Cuts! In this series we release in development cuts of possible games, where you can get your say on how in progresses.
First up is a new chess variant...
#tabletop #boardgames #indiedev
patreon.com/posts/rough-cut-chess-143605591
First up is a new chess variant...
#tabletop #boardgames #indiedev
patreon.com/posts/rough-cut-chess-143605591
Rough Cut: Revolution Chess | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
We're trying something new, introducing Rough Cuts! In this series we release in development cuts of possible games, where you can get your say on how in progresses.
First up is a new chess variant...
#tabletop #boardgames #indiedev
patreon.com/posts/rough-cut-chess-143605591
First up is a new chess variant...
#tabletop #boardgames #indiedev
patreon.com/posts/rough-cut-chess-143605591
Just seen someone put up a prototype that is incredibly similar to a game I've also prototyped (but never shown).
It's all good, this happens, there's room enough for everyone 🤷♂️
#indiedev
It's all good, this happens, there's room enough for everyone 🤷♂️
#indiedev
November 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Just seen someone put up a prototype that is incredibly similar to a game I've also prototyped (but never shown).
It's all good, this happens, there's room enough for everyone 🤷♂️
#indiedev
It's all good, this happens, there's room enough for everyone 🤷♂️
#indiedev
One thing I like about print and play games is sometimes getting to draw a little map
November 13, 2025 at 5:49 AM
One thing I like about print and play games is sometimes getting to draw a little map
Got a 25 can game set up for the is Saturday, thinking going Mishkin with some teleporter shenanigans
I could go for a game of gaslands rn
November 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Got a 25 can game set up for the is Saturday, thinking going Mishkin with some teleporter shenanigans
We just hit 700 members on the 52 Pickup Patreon!
To celebrate, we’re giving away 5 Mini Zines from our back catalogue. Like or comment on the Patreon post to enter. Free worldwide shipping. Ends Nov 25.
www.patreon.com/posts/mini-z... #TTRPG #tabletop #zine #giveaway #boardgame
To celebrate, we’re giving away 5 Mini Zines from our back catalogue. Like or comment on the Patreon post to enter. Free worldwide shipping. Ends Nov 25.
www.patreon.com/posts/mini-z... #TTRPG #tabletop #zine #giveaway #boardgame
Mini Zine Giveaway! 📚 | City Square Studios
Get more from City Square Studios on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM
We just hit 700 members on the 52 Pickup Patreon!
To celebrate, we’re giving away 5 Mini Zines from our back catalogue. Like or comment on the Patreon post to enter. Free worldwide shipping. Ends Nov 25.
www.patreon.com/posts/mini-z... #TTRPG #tabletop #zine #giveaway #boardgame
To celebrate, we’re giving away 5 Mini Zines from our back catalogue. Like or comment on the Patreon post to enter. Free worldwide shipping. Ends Nov 25.
www.patreon.com/posts/mini-z... #TTRPG #tabletop #zine #giveaway #boardgame
Current game workflow:
1. Dan sends me a picture of a weird chess board set up from an article or some other internet thing
2. I make a chess variant that makes that board configuration work
3. We put it on the plan to publish
Try it yourself today!
1. Dan sends me a picture of a weird chess board set up from an article or some other internet thing
2. I make a chess variant that makes that board configuration work
3. We put it on the plan to publish
Try it yourself today!
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Current game workflow:
1. Dan sends me a picture of a weird chess board set up from an article or some other internet thing
2. I make a chess variant that makes that board configuration work
3. We put it on the plan to publish
Try it yourself today!
1. Dan sends me a picture of a weird chess board set up from an article or some other internet thing
2. I make a chess variant that makes that board configuration work
3. We put it on the plan to publish
Try it yourself today!
November 9, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by City Square Studios 🎲🃏♟️
#SelfPromoSaturday!
Get in here and show off your stuff!
✅ New creations
✅ Work-In-Progress creations
✅ Future releases
Whether you're working on something new, polishing something old, or perfecting something already beloved, get in here and brag!
#D&D #TTRPG
Get in here and show off your stuff!
✅ New creations
✅ Work-In-Progress creations
✅ Future releases
Whether you're working on something new, polishing something old, or perfecting something already beloved, get in here and brag!
#D&D #TTRPG
November 8, 2025 at 12:41 PM
#SelfPromoSaturday!
Get in here and show off your stuff!
✅ New creations
✅ Work-In-Progress creations
✅ Future releases
Whether you're working on something new, polishing something old, or perfecting something already beloved, get in here and brag!
#D&D #TTRPG
Get in here and show off your stuff!
✅ New creations
✅ Work-In-Progress creations
✅ Future releases
Whether you're working on something new, polishing something old, or perfecting something already beloved, get in here and brag!
#D&D #TTRPG