Clay Sheldon
@claysheldon.bsky.social
Writer, DM, Storyteller and a fan of all things fiction.
Represented by the Rights Factory
http://claysheldon.com/
Check out this fantasy murder mystery party game! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/402695/mysteries-of-the-flying-haddock-a-trilogy
Represented by the Rights Factory
http://claysheldon.com/
Check out this fantasy murder mystery party game! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/402695/mysteries-of-the-flying-haddock-a-trilogy
Pinned
Clay Sheldon
@claysheldon.bsky.social
· Aug 22
Mysteries of The Flying Haddock - a trilogy - Enigmatic Events Collective Inc. | DriveThruRPG
Mysteries of the Flying Haddock are a set of threeshort murder mystery roleplaying games inspired by Dungeons and Dragons Fifth Edition and the Forgotten Realms. It is, however, not a 5th edition adv...
www.drivethrurpg.com
Do you like fantasy? How about murder mystery party games? Good news! The Flying Haddock is open for business! Solve three unique mysteries with friends, before the killer gets you!
And if you're feeling generous, I would greatly appreciate a like and a repost!
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
And if you're feeling generous, I would greatly appreciate a like and a repost!
www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/4...
I love #LikeADragon. But MAN does it have a lot of cutscenes. Especially in the first few chapters. Sometimes it can feel like I'm just watching a movie with the occasional button input. It's a good movie, but still... No shade on Like a Dragon. The plot is actually really good.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
November 24, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I love #LikeADragon. But MAN does it have a lot of cutscenes. Especially in the first few chapters. Sometimes it can feel like I'm just watching a movie with the occasional button input. It's a good movie, but still... No shade on Like a Dragon. The plot is actually really good.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
When you have a moment as a GM, it can be a good idea to message you PCs and just chat about how things are going. Don't do this all the time. That can get tiring, but a regular check-in can help deal with problems before they reach the table and transform into a real issue.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 AM
It's always funny to me when guns in RPGs are presented as being on-par with fantasy weapons (like swords and bows). Because that's just not how advancing technology works. And unless that magical enchantment is 'deflect bullets', then I don't see it being a fair contest.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Sound is one of those easy ways as a GM to set tone. Don't just visually describe a scene, describe what they hear. That ancient bog could be buzzing with hundreds of mosquitos. That sacred chapel could have a heavenly choir singing from somewhere unknown. Have fun with it!
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 24, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Writing Tip:
Never forget the environment of your scene. It's a common mistake a lot of writers make, as they're focusing on actions or dialogue. But often the easiest solution to a scene is in the setting. If someone is bored, and they're in a library, grab a book!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Never forget the environment of your scene. It's a common mistake a lot of writers make, as they're focusing on actions or dialogue. But often the easiest solution to a scene is in the setting. If someone is bored, and they're in a library, grab a book!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Writing Tip:
Never forget the environment of your scene. It's a common mistake a lot of writers make, as they're focusing on actions or dialogue. But often the easiest solution to a scene is in the setting. If someone is bored, and they're in a library, grab a book!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Never forget the environment of your scene. It's a common mistake a lot of writers make, as they're focusing on actions or dialogue. But often the easiest solution to a scene is in the setting. If someone is bored, and they're in a library, grab a book!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, create a holiday in your fictional world. Think of how an event like that would spring into existence, who would celebrate it, and how? What series of events led to this holiday being developed? Get creative!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, create a holiday in your fictional world. Think of how an event like that would spring into existence, who would celebrate it, and how? What series of events led to this holiday being developed? Get creative!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, create a holiday in your fictional world. Think of how an event like that would spring into existence, who would celebrate it, and how? What series of events led to this holiday being developed? Get creative!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, create a holiday in your fictional world. Think of how an event like that would spring into existence, who would celebrate it, and how? What series of events led to this holiday being developed? Get creative!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing Tip:
Is your villain doing that terrible thing because they want to? Or are they doing it because it moves the plot around? It's an important question. So many villains are seen as idiotic because of this simple writing error, as it often causes their own end.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Is your villain doing that terrible thing because they want to? Or are they doing it because it moves the plot around? It's an important question. So many villains are seen as idiotic because of this simple writing error, as it often causes their own end.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Writing Tip:
Is your villain doing that terrible thing because they want to? Or are they doing it because it moves the plot around? It's an important question. So many villains are seen as idiotic because of this simple writing error, as it often causes their own end.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Is your villain doing that terrible thing because they want to? Or are they doing it because it moves the plot around? It's an important question. So many villains are seen as idiotic because of this simple writing error, as it often causes their own end.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
You don't have to make all your healing items potions. There's no rule saying you can't have a healing stew, or a healing pie. Mechanically, anything you can attribute to a potion could be converted to any consumable object. Which opens up a lot of possibilities.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Thinking about it, aesthetics are more than just window-dressing in a D&D campaign. They're the subtle clues you as a GM can give to your players to tell them things without having to outright state it. It allows them to come to their own conclusion about what they're seeing.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
As a GM, door aesthetics can be a good way to guide your players through a dungeon. Do they want that big obsidian locked door with all the skulls on it or the flimsy wooden door next to it? Sure, if they WANT to pick the lock, they can. But they know what they're getting into.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Writing Tip:
Find your positivity while writing. It's an important/hard step, because this career doesn't always give that out. Chat with your test readers, and find things you did right. Hang out with other writers while discussing your project. Have fun with it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Find your positivity while writing. It's an important/hard step, because this career doesn't always give that out. Chat with your test readers, and find things you did right. Hang out with other writers while discussing your project. Have fun with it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Writing Tip:
Find your positivity while writing. It's an important/hard step, because this career doesn't always give that out. Chat with your test readers, and find things you did right. Hang out with other writers while discussing your project. Have fun with it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Find your positivity while writing. It's an important/hard step, because this career doesn't always give that out. Chat with your test readers, and find things you did right. Hang out with other writers while discussing your project. Have fun with it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
#Forestrike has a lot going for it, but there are optimizations that could have been made. Repeating cutscenes, for example, which is a little annoying for a roguelike. There are subtle differences, but not enough to justify seeing the same cutscene 5 times per combat style.
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
November 23, 2025 at 11:05 PM
#Forestrike has a lot going for it, but there are optimizations that could have been made. Repeating cutscenes, for example, which is a little annoying for a roguelike. There are subtle differences, but not enough to justify seeing the same cutscene 5 times per combat style.
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
I'm really digging #Forestrike. Like a lot. But it felt like it needed a bit... more? More skills to unlock and whatnot. For example, you choose from the exact same starter skills at the beginning of every run. Feel like there should be more variety there.
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
November 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I'm really digging #Forestrike. Like a lot. But it felt like it needed a bit... more? More skills to unlock and whatnot. For example, you choose from the exact same starter skills at the beginning of every run. Feel like there should be more variety there.
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
🎮 #gaming #Roguelike
Really got that itch to play an RPG with proper crafting mechanics. Don't need to be able to build a base or pointless aesthetic stuff. I mean starting from nothing and building my gear from scratch. I've always had a soft spot for that rags to riches gameplay.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
November 23, 2025 at 11:01 PM
It's such a little thing, but if I need to skip a cutscene in an RPG, and you have a cutscene immediately after that, just assume I want to skip it all. It's annoying to mash the skip button when you have back-to-back cutscenes especially if it's for a bossfight you've been stuck on.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, find three random objects within the eyesight of where you currently are right now. Write a brief one-page outline of a story that prominently includes those three items, and try to make it as interesting as you can. It'll be hard!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, find three random objects within the eyesight of where you currently are right now. Write a brief one-page outline of a story that prominently includes those three items, and try to make it as interesting as you can. It'll be hard!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, find three random objects within the eyesight of where you currently are right now. Write a brief one-page outline of a story that prominently includes those three items, and try to make it as interesting as you can. It'll be hard!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, find three random objects within the eyesight of where you currently are right now. Write a brief one-page outline of a story that prominently includes those three items, and try to make it as interesting as you can. It'll be hard!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
When an RPG starts touting that it has the greatest of graphics of all time, I know for a fact I'm not playing. If your best selling point is 'it's really pretty' that means the devs dumped millions into the graphics development and half-assed the actual mechanics and story.
🎮 #gaming #RPG
🎮 #gaming #RPG
November 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Writing Tip:
Balance is the name of the game. If you focus too much on a single tone, that can get exhausting to a reader. Even the scariest bleakest horror fiction has moments of fun and levity. And even the bubbliest happy pieces have quiet, sad moments. Balance.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Balance is the name of the game. If you focus too much on a single tone, that can get exhausting to a reader. Even the scariest bleakest horror fiction has moments of fun and levity. And even the bubbliest happy pieces have quiet, sad moments. Balance.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Writing Tip:
Balance is the name of the game. If you focus too much on a single tone, that can get exhausting to a reader. Even the scariest bleakest horror fiction has moments of fun and levity. And even the bubbliest happy pieces have quiet, sad moments. Balance.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Balance is the name of the game. If you focus too much on a single tone, that can get exhausting to a reader. Even the scariest bleakest horror fiction has moments of fun and levity. And even the bubbliest happy pieces have quiet, sad moments. Balance.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As a GM, when the PCs of your campaign accomplish something, don't move on to the next big mission, give them an in-game celebration. Maybe the town they saved from that false hydra throws them a parade! Or maybe they just get some ales on the house for squashing that bandit camp.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Writing Tip:
Writing pieces are often a lot more sturdy than we realize. It can take a lot of edits before serious plot holes occur. So don't be afraid to give your writing a serious edit. Fear that you might 'ruin' your work is silly. You can always undo it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing pieces are often a lot more sturdy than we realize. It can take a lot of edits before serious plot holes occur. So don't be afraid to give your writing a serious edit. Fear that you might 'ruin' your work is silly. You can always undo it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Writing Tip:
Writing pieces are often a lot more sturdy than we realize. It can take a lot of edits before serious plot holes occur. So don't be afraid to give your writing a serious edit. Fear that you might 'ruin' your work is silly. You can always undo it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing pieces are often a lot more sturdy than we realize. It can take a lot of edits before serious plot holes occur. So don't be afraid to give your writing a serious edit. Fear that you might 'ruin' your work is silly. You can always undo it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, create a mirror universe. Take your fictional world and invert it. Wargame out a world were the good guys are bad and the bad guys are good. What would that look like? You might just like the answer.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, create a mirror universe. Take your fictional world and invert it. Wargame out a world were the good guys are bad and the bad guys are good. What would that look like? You might just like the answer.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Writing Tip:
As an exercise, create a mirror universe. Take your fictional world and invert it. Wargame out a world were the good guys are bad and the bad guys are good. What would that look like? You might just like the answer.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
As an exercise, create a mirror universe. Take your fictional world and invert it. Wargame out a world were the good guys are bad and the bad guys are good. What would that look like? You might just like the answer.
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Writing Tip:
Positivity is hard to maintain, especially now for a whole slew of reasons. You're not wrong for feeling down. And I'm not going to tell you to push through it and keep writing. But use your writing as a lighthouse. Write what brings you joy. And share it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Positivity is hard to maintain, especially now for a whole slew of reasons. You're not wrong for feeling down. And I'm not going to tell you to push through it and keep writing. But use your writing as a lighthouse. Write what brings you joy. And share it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
November 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Writing Tip:
Positivity is hard to maintain, especially now for a whole slew of reasons. You're not wrong for feeling down. And I'm not going to tell you to push through it and keep writing. But use your writing as a lighthouse. Write what brings you joy. And share it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Positivity is hard to maintain, especially now for a whole slew of reasons. You're not wrong for feeling down. And I'm not going to tell you to push through it and keep writing. But use your writing as a lighthouse. Write what brings you joy. And share it!
#writing #writingtips #Booksky
Turn your Nat 1s into a story. Don't just say 'you fail'. Dramatic failures can create narratives that would otherwise be impossible. Those moments of monumental bad luck can often be the most memorable things players remember in a game, and that's a good thing!
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Sometimes you've got a plot/character hook set up for a player to pick up on and it just flies right over their head. Don't despair. Sometimes it's good to be subtle, but it's also okay to give the player a narrative elbow by reminding/accentuating that point to them.
#D&D #TTRPG
#D&D #TTRPG
November 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM