Murkdice
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murkdice.bsky.social
Murkdice
@murkdice.bsky.social
ENNIE nominated UK RPG duo. Writing, designing, illustrating, and editing. Makers of MurkMail (https://murkdice.substack.com/), a wicked RPG newsletter.
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We're Murkdice. We write, design, layout, illustrate, and edit RPGs.

MurkMail, our wicked newsletter: murkdice.substack.com

Games: www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher...

Physical: www.lulu.com/search?contr...

We're for hire. We've worked with Oddity Press, Goblin Archives, and Gary's Appendix.
Our #osr @morkborg.com megadungeon Inkvein is on 1000 pre-launch followers, but we need to spread the inky madness further…

Now is the perfect time to follow the project (which gets you a free quickstart guide) and to share with others!

www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Dive into Inkvein - a MÖRK BORG Megadungeon
From Space Penguin Ink LLC - Dive into Inkvein - a MÖRK BORG Megadungeon
www.backerkit.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
This week we are writing encounters in pairs (thanks @sean.tuesdayknightgames.com) #osr #ttrpg murkdice.substack.com/p/writing-en...
Writing encounters in pairs
Easy adventure connectivity
murkdice.substack.com
February 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by Murkdice
Did I forget to write and publish The Explorateur while working on The Bloggies? *Jonathan Frakes Voice:* "Not this time."

A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇

www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
The Explorateur: Issue #16
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
www.explorersdesign.com
February 1, 2026 at 5:13 AM
12 NPC has had TEN THOUSAND reads in less than 2 months! Crazy stuff murkdice.substack.com/p/the-only-1...
The only 12 NPCs you need
Lean and gameable NPC templates
murkdice.substack.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:16 AM
slight diminish a game:

Mythic Knightland
slightly diminish a game:

wolves in proximity to the coast
slightly diminish a game:

the area
January 26, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Murkdice
Hello. It's my final week as a full time game designer, and as if to underline why I can't do this anymore, I currently can't afford to cover my bills at the end of the month.

All of my work on itch is on sale. Tell your friends, buy something, thank you very much.

itch.io/s/179351/jan...
January
A bundle by Chris Bissette, £150.00 for 60 games
itch.io
January 26, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Something utilitarian and practical this week: a @morkborg.com to Cairn conversion guide murkdice.substack.com/p/borg-to-ca... #osr #ttrpg
Borg to Cairn Conversion Cookbook
A quick guide
murkdice.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by Murkdice
In tabletop rpg design, sometimes gameplay doesn't come from the mechanics we add, but the ones we omit.

www.explorersdesign.com/dominant-mec...
Against Dominant Mechanics
Some rules guide play. And some rules monopolize it. Designing by omission.
www.explorersdesign.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:59 PM
The Vast was one of my favourite modules to run last year. Get a copy before they're gone!
January 19, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Reposted by Murkdice
Life has been... busy, and I forgot to celebrate Downrooted hitting 70% funded!!! Nearly there folks!

With your help we can reach 100%!!! eucatastrophic.itch.io/downrooted
January 19, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Randomised character advancement by reaching levels of dungeons? Get weirder as you delve deeper #osr #ttrpg
The dungeon changes you
Transmutation advancement
murkdice.substack.com
January 18, 2026 at 11:21 AM
We’re talking about setting specific backgrounds today! And why every adventure designer and GM should make one for chunkier games/modules #osr #ttrpg
Setting specific backgrounds rule
Setting specific backgrounds aren't just something for published adventure modules, GMs can make them too! They are great game prep for your campaign.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:35 AM
It’s a tricky one this week in MurkMail, maybe even a *risky* thing for me to talk about… open.substack.com/pub/murkdice... #ttrpg #osr
The Civil TTRPG discourse guide
Via the magic of ice cream
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 10:38 AM
11/20. Anti-phoenix, Scrap Princess
January 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Murkdice
If you have a spare $1 a month (budgets are tight so I would not assume anyone does honestly), I have a Patreon where I post early blogposts and early PDFs of my games. Also occasionally some exclusive stuff like this little retrospective.
2025 Retrospective | Prismatic Wasteland
Get more from Prismatic Wasteland on Patreon
www.patreon.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Murkdice
Two big announcements this New Year for me. First, the latest issue of The Explorateur is out. It has two of my favorite blog posts I've ever written in it (Including a YouTube read through! Wild!)

www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...

It also has my second announcement...
The Explorateur: Issue #15
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
www.explorersdesign.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
10/20. Martin Grip, Symbaroum illustrations (yes, all of them, but this one is a favourite)
January 1, 2026 at 12:56 PM
9/20. Richard Anderson.
December 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Uh oh. I don’t want to work with Triffids.
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
8/20. Dawn at the Temple, Jason Scheier.
December 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
7/20. Pandemonium, John Martin.
December 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
MurkMail’s last post of 2025! #ttrpg #osr
The ENDIES 2025
The Murkdice wrap-up
murkdice.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:03 AM
6/20. Vision of Death, Gustav Doré
December 28, 2025 at 9:40 AM
5/20. War, Grady Frederick
December 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Murkdice
I wrote about my plans for 2026, both under the @cairnrpg.com umbrella and Between Two Cairns.
newschoolrevolution.com/cairn-in-2026/
Cairn in 2026
Every year I try and write a little post about what folks should expect from me in the coming year. I suppose a small part of me feels that once I've announc...
newschoolrevolution.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:29 AM