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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Murkdice
@murkdice.bsky.social
· Dec 27
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.
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...
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
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...
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...
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
This week we are writing encounters in pairs (thanks @sean.tuesdayknightgames.com) #osr #ttrpg murkdice.substack.com/p/writing-en...
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-...
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
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-...
A treasure trove of links for rpg designers by rpg designers 👇
www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
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
12 NPC has had TEN THOUSAND reads in less than 2 months! Crazy stuff murkdice.substack.com/p/the-only-1...
slight diminish a game:
Mythic Knightland
Mythic Knightland
slightly diminish a game:
wolves in proximity to the coast
wolves in proximity to the coast
slightly diminish a game:
the area
the area
January 26, 2026 at 11:24 PM
slight diminish a game:
Mythic Knightland
Mythic Knightland
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...
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
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...
All of my work on itch is on sale. Tell your friends, buy something, thank you very much.
itch.io/s/179351/jan...
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
Something utilitarian and practical this week: a @morkborg.com to Cairn conversion guide murkdice.substack.com/p/borg-to-ca... #osr #ttrpg
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...
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
In tabletop rpg design, sometimes gameplay doesn't come from the mechanics we add, but the ones we omit.
www.explorersdesign.com/dominant-mec...
www.explorersdesign.com/dominant-mec...
The Vast was one of my favourite modules to run last year. Get a copy before they're gone!
We have copies here, currently working to get it out to a few game stores and distributors.
feralindiestudio.squarespace.com/store/p/the-...
feralindiestudio.squarespace.com/store/p/the-...
The Vast in the Dark Expanded — Feral Indie Studio
The sky is black as night, a tectonic rumbling can be heard overhead; the ruins sprawl out with a fractal madness, their shapes incoherent and puzzling; and a vast sea of colorless sand stretches out ...
feralindiestudio.squarespace.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:26 PM
The Vast was one of my favourite modules to run last year. Get a copy before they're gone!
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
With your help we can reach 100%!!! eucatastrophic.itch.io/downrooted
January 19, 2026 at 12:39 PM
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
With your help we can reach 100%!!! eucatastrophic.itch.io/downrooted
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
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
11/20. Anti-phoenix, Scrap Princess
January 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM
11/20. Anti-phoenix, Scrap Princess
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
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.
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...
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
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...
www.explorersdesign.com/the-explorat...
It also has my second announcement...
10/20. Martin Grip, Symbaroum illustrations (yes, all of them, but this one is a favourite)
January 1, 2026 at 12:56 PM
10/20. Martin Grip, Symbaroum illustrations (yes, all of them, but this one is a favourite)
9/20. Richard Anderson.
December 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
9/20. Richard Anderson.
Uh oh. I don’t want to work with Triffids.
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Uh oh. I don’t want to work with Triffids.
8/20. Dawn at the Temple, Jason Scheier.
December 30, 2025 at 11:06 AM
8/20. Dawn at the Temple, Jason Scheier.
7/20. Pandemonium, John Martin.
December 29, 2025 at 2:11 PM
7/20. Pandemonium, John Martin.
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
6/20. Vision of Death, Gustav Doré
5/20. War, Grady Frederick
December 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
5/20. War, Grady Frederick
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/
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
I wrote about my plans for 2026, both under the @cairnrpg.com umbrella and Between Two Cairns.
newschoolrevolution.com/cairn-in-2026/
newschoolrevolution.com/cairn-in-2026/