Ross Cowman
@rosscowman.bsky.social
🛠 Owner: heartofthedeernicorn.com
📜 Designer: #fallofmagic ❤️ #bffrpg ❄️ #cityofwinter 👑 #lichlords
📣 President: Tabletop Game Alliance of Washington State
📷: Barham Lashley w/ Emma Juncosa
📜 Designer: #fallofmagic ❤️ #bffrpg ❄️ #cityofwinter 👑 #lichlords
📣 President: Tabletop Game Alliance of Washington State
📷: Barham Lashley w/ Emma Juncosa
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Two-Hand Path Review: Getting a Grip on Luck and Magic
"After the locusts and pits and boiling seas. After the war in heaven and feasting on earth. After the seven years of blood and forty years of night. There is magic. Magic and bone. Where streets grow weeds and skyscrapers stand hollow. Where…
"After the locusts and pits and boiling seas. After the war in heaven and feasting on earth. After the seven years of blood and forty years of night. There is magic. Magic and bone. Where streets grow weeds and skyscrapers stand hollow. Where…
Two-Hand Path Review: Getting a Grip on Luck and Magic
"After the locusts and pits and boiling seas. After the war in heaven and feasting on earth. After the seven years of blood and forty years of night. There is magic. Magic and bone. Where streets grow weeds and skyscrapers stand hollow. Where old gods wake and new gods form in the hearts of the wayward. Where cult and banner flourish.
cannibalhalflinggaming.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Two-Hand Path Review: Getting a Grip on Luck and Magic
"After the locusts and pits and boiling seas. After the war in heaven and feasting on earth. After the seven years of blood and forty years of night. There is magic. Magic and bone. Where streets grow weeds and skyscrapers stand hollow. Where…
"After the locusts and pits and boiling seas. After the war in heaven and feasting on earth. After the seven years of blood and forty years of night. There is magic. Magic and bone. Where streets grow weeds and skyscrapers stand hollow. Where…
Reposted by Ross Cowman
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
automaton-media.com/en/news/its-...
“It’s important to assume every game company is now using AI.” Nexon CEO comments on role of human creativity as AI tools become the norm - AUTOMATON WEST
In an interview following the launch of ARC Raiders, the CEO of Embark Studios' parent company Nexon shares his views on AI.
automaton-media.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:25 AM
We don’t use generative AI at Strange Scaffold and I can confirm that a *lot* of other studios are not—whether indie or AAA.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
Get outta here with this normalization bullshit.
March 14th in Olympia, WA. I’m helping put on a Tabletop Games Summit with the @tga.bsky.social.
tabletopgamesalliance.org
This will be a 1 day industry focused conference for a few hundred folks with a small expo hall, and 4 breakout rooms for seminars, panels, and talks
mark you calendar!
tabletopgamesalliance.org
This will be a 1 day industry focused conference for a few hundred folks with a small expo hall, and 4 breakout rooms for seminars, panels, and talks
mark you calendar!
tabletopgamesalliance.org
November 23, 2025 at 4:37 AM
March 14th in Olympia, WA. I’m helping put on a Tabletop Games Summit with the @tga.bsky.social.
tabletopgamesalliance.org
This will be a 1 day industry focused conference for a few hundred folks with a small expo hall, and 4 breakout rooms for seminars, panels, and talks
mark you calendar!
tabletopgamesalliance.org
This will be a 1 day industry focused conference for a few hundred folks with a small expo hall, and 4 breakout rooms for seminars, panels, and talks
mark you calendar!
Reposted by Ross Cowman
This was a great episode. @ehronlime.bsky.social has such insight and experience at making a great, functional RPG playtesting community. And also such a purposeful sense of making games.
Also, "More Matts than women" 😮
Also, "More Matts than women" 😮
Starting the day listening to @newmadras.bsky.social in conversation with @ehronlime.bsky.social about TTRPG & communities in Yes Indie’d — only fitting given that today is our final fall conversation at Auburn about play & communities with @itsquinns.bsky.social this afternoon.
Games Need Communities (w/ Aaron Lim)
Podcast Episode · Yes Indie'd Pod · 11/17/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:52 AM
This was a great episode. @ehronlime.bsky.social has such insight and experience at making a great, functional RPG playtesting community. And also such a purposeful sense of making games.
Also, "More Matts than women" 😮
Also, "More Matts than women" 😮
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Green Ronin is in effect at booth 4109 at PAX Unplugged. This is our last convention of the year and to celebrate our 25th anniversary, everything is 25% off. Find old favorites like Dragon Age and Blue Rose, and newer releases like Modern AGE Powers and Engine Magazine.
November 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Green Ronin is in effect at booth 4109 at PAX Unplugged. This is our last convention of the year and to celebrate our 25th anniversary, everything is 25% off. Find old favorites like Dragon Age and Blue Rose, and newer releases like Modern AGE Powers and Engine Magazine.
11 Episode Podcast of Fall of Magic in Hebrew.
It is always such joy to hear one of my games being played in other languages!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6kxkr-...
It is always such joy to hear one of my games being played in other languages!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6kxkr-...
לא קריטי 257 היכלי המאגוס – משחקים נפילת הקסם א
בפרק הזה שיחקנו ב"נפילת הקסם", משחק תפקידי ללא מנחה שמשוחק על מפה מצוירת גדולה. הקסם גוסס והמאגוס גוסס איתו. אנו יוצאים למסע עם המאגוס אל אומברה, המקום בו הקסם נולד.
https://heartofthedeernicorn.com/...
www.podbean.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
11 Episode Podcast of Fall of Magic in Hebrew.
It is always such joy to hear one of my games being played in other languages!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6kxkr-...
It is always such joy to hear one of my games being played in other languages!
www.podbean.com/ew/pb-6kxkr-...
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Surprise, we're getting pretty close to the final version of REALIS!
ICYMI: I've been making a TTRPG about mystical moons and living spaceships and sentences that can kill you. A preview is available now (see my pinned post), but the full version draws near!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
ICYMI: I've been making a TTRPG about mystical moons and living spaceships and sentences that can kill you. A preview is available now (see my pinned post), but the full version draws near!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
Coming soon: Realis
A new tabletop roleplaying game by Austin Walker
www.kickstarter.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Surprise, we're getting pretty close to the final version of REALIS!
ICYMI: I've been making a TTRPG about mystical moons and living spaceships and sentences that can kill you. A preview is available now (see my pinned post), but the full version draws near!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
ICYMI: I've been making a TTRPG about mystical moons and living spaceships and sentences that can kill you. A preview is available now (see my pinned post), but the full version draws near!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cru...
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Just finished a 12 sessions game of Fall of Magic for my ##ActualPlay.
This game is absolutely brilliant. We got so much milage out of its understated prompts. Highly recommended.
##ttrpg ##fallofmagic
This game is absolutely brilliant. We got so much milage out of its understated prompts. Highly recommended.
##ttrpg ##fallofmagic
November 19, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Just finished a 12 sessions game of Fall of Magic for my ##ActualPlay.
This game is absolutely brilliant. We got so much milage out of its understated prompts. Highly recommended.
##ttrpg ##fallofmagic
This game is absolutely brilliant. We got so much milage out of its understated prompts. Highly recommended.
##ttrpg ##fallofmagic
*Normal Brain* Researching weather science to model weather for your D&D campaign.
*Genius Brain* Realizing weather is controlled by the Gods
*Galaxy Brain* Researching family systems theory to model weather for you D&D campaign.
*Genius Brain* Realizing weather is controlled by the Gods
*Galaxy Brain* Researching family systems theory to model weather for you D&D campaign.
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
*Normal Brain* Researching weather science to model weather for your D&D campaign.
*Genius Brain* Realizing weather is controlled by the Gods
*Galaxy Brain* Researching family systems theory to model weather for you D&D campaign.
*Genius Brain* Realizing weather is controlled by the Gods
*Galaxy Brain* Researching family systems theory to model weather for you D&D campaign.
Remember that old man in a hole in the metallica music video for unforgiven?
What did he do that was so bad?
What did he do that was so bad?
November 20, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Remember that old man in a hole in the metallica music video for unforgiven?
What did he do that was so bad?
What did he do that was so bad?
I don’t know how true this is but 10 years ago I FELT like I could keep up with ttrpg discourse.
All the convos I cared about happened in the storygames forum.
Its cool how broad it is now, but I feel like I can’t meaningfully contribute other than to make a new game every couple years.
All the convos I cared about happened in the storygames forum.
Its cool how broad it is now, but I feel like I can’t meaningfully contribute other than to make a new game every couple years.
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 AM
I don’t know how true this is but 10 years ago I FELT like I could keep up with ttrpg discourse.
All the convos I cared about happened in the storygames forum.
Its cool how broad it is now, but I feel like I can’t meaningfully contribute other than to make a new game every couple years.
All the convos I cared about happened in the storygames forum.
Its cool how broad it is now, but I feel like I can’t meaningfully contribute other than to make a new game every couple years.
Reposted by Ross Cowman
When we walked in, having managed to have no preparatory conversation in two days, I said “do you trust me?”
So here’s @itsquinns.bsky.social in a trust fall, recorded (with thanks to @brianflaherty.bsky.social for some quick cleanup on this audio)
So here’s @itsquinns.bsky.social in a trust fall, recorded (with thanks to @brianflaherty.bsky.social for some quick cleanup on this audio)
Communities, Criticism: a Conversation with Quinns | Dr. Em Friedman
Get more from Dr. Em Friedman on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:28 PM
When we walked in, having managed to have no preparatory conversation in two days, I said “do you trust me?”
So here’s @itsquinns.bsky.social in a trust fall, recorded (with thanks to @brianflaherty.bsky.social for some quick cleanup on this audio)
So here’s @itsquinns.bsky.social in a trust fall, recorded (with thanks to @brianflaherty.bsky.social for some quick cleanup on this audio)
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Just a note to those going to PAX Unplugged that we will have a limited supply of the Vault of Mini Things available at Zulu’s Games shop. Also, we will be releasing a new standee pack as well! Stay tuned for more!!
November 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Just a note to those going to PAX Unplugged that we will have a limited supply of the Vault of Mini Things available at Zulu’s Games shop. Also, we will be releasing a new standee pack as well! Stay tuned for more!!
I’d love it if games journalists and awards stopped using the word game to only mean video game.
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 AM
I’d love it if games journalists and awards stopped using the word game to only mean video game.
loving this 20 page example and flowchart for AD&D initiative.
I never clocked how wild this shit was when I was 8 years old.
knights-n-knaves.com/dmprata/ADDI...
I never clocked how wild this shit was when I was 8 years old.
knights-n-knaves.com/dmprata/ADDI...
knights-n-knaves.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:20 AM
loving this 20 page example and flowchart for AD&D initiative.
I never clocked how wild this shit was when I was 8 years old.
knights-n-knaves.com/dmprata/ADDI...
I never clocked how wild this shit was when I was 8 years old.
knights-n-knaves.com/dmprata/ADDI...
Generations of game designers tried their best but the only word they could muster was “GMless”
November 15, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Generations of game designers tried their best but the only word they could muster was “GMless”
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Hey all you PAX Unplugged attendees. We will be running demos of the Vault of Mini Things at the Zulu Board Games booth where it will finally be available for sale! 🎉🎊🎉 come find us and say hello! #PAXU #dnd #Pathfinder #tinkerhousegames
November 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Hey all you PAX Unplugged attendees. We will be running demos of the Vault of Mini Things at the Zulu Board Games booth where it will finally be available for sale! 🎉🎊🎉 come find us and say hello! #PAXU #dnd #Pathfinder #tinkerhousegames
I've actually gotten to do game design every day this week. What is even going on?
November 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I've actually gotten to do game design every day this week. What is even going on?
I love how lets you integrate notecards. Something so simple and integral to story games that is really hard to find in other VTTs.
screentop.gg/@Deernicorn/...
screentop.gg/@Deernicorn/...
November 13, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I love how lets you integrate notecards. Something so simple and integral to story games that is really hard to find in other VTTs.
screentop.gg/@Deernicorn/...
screentop.gg/@Deernicorn/...
Game design writing. So much words! Tens of thousands more words than end up in the finished game.
But I'm really not writing for the words, I'm writing to have the ideas.
But I'm really not writing for the words, I'm writing to have the ideas.
November 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Game design writing. So much words! Tens of thousands more words than end up in the finished game.
But I'm really not writing for the words, I'm writing to have the ideas.
But I'm really not writing for the words, I'm writing to have the ideas.
To my past self wondering how long it will take to negotiate this license agreement:
9 months
9 months
November 12, 2025 at 5:34 PM
To my past self wondering how long it will take to negotiate this license agreement:
9 months
9 months
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Apocalypse World has had a bigger impact on my life than any other roleplaying game. It's just a phenomenal game, designed by phenomenal people. You should pick up a copy of the new edition!
Here We GO! Come along, my dearies!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Apocalypse World has had a bigger impact on my life than any other roleplaying game. It's just a phenomenal game, designed by phenomenal people. You should pick up a copy of the new edition!
Reposted by Ross Cowman
It’s here: a podcast with our faces.
We’re playing Fiasco, a TTRPG that goes gloriously off the rails on purpose. Because sometimes chaos is the plan.
Part one is out now wherever you listen to podcasts, and on our YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKhp...
We’re playing Fiasco, a TTRPG that goes gloriously off the rails on purpose. Because sometimes chaos is the plan.
Part one is out now wherever you listen to podcasts, and on our YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKhp...
Worlds Beyond Number: Fiasco! Pt. 1
YouTube video by Worlds Beyond Number
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
It’s here: a podcast with our faces.
We’re playing Fiasco, a TTRPG that goes gloriously off the rails on purpose. Because sometimes chaos is the plan.
Part one is out now wherever you listen to podcasts, and on our YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKhp...
We’re playing Fiasco, a TTRPG that goes gloriously off the rails on purpose. Because sometimes chaos is the plan.
Part one is out now wherever you listen to podcasts, and on our YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKhp...
Reposted by Ross Cowman
Apocalypse World taught me a lot about RPG design, and I'm excited to try the new edition. @lumpley.bsky.social has taught me many things over the years, and it's thrilling to see the success that he and @megueyb.bsky.social have achieved.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Apocalypse World: Burned Over
The 3rd edition of the groundbreaking original.
www.kickstarter.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Apocalypse World taught me a lot about RPG design, and I'm excited to try the new edition. @lumpley.bsky.social has taught me many things over the years, and it's thrilling to see the success that he and @megueyb.bsky.social have achieved.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/lum...
Playing Impossible Landscapes got me researching 90s cafe’s in NYC and I found this gem. The Pink Pony Cafe. Closed now.
My group really enjoyed revisiting 90s nostalgia, and playing in a rpg setting where you can like, just go to the hardware store and pick up something on your credit card.
My group really enjoyed revisiting 90s nostalgia, and playing in a rpg setting where you can like, just go to the hardware store and pick up something on your credit card.
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Playing Impossible Landscapes got me researching 90s cafe’s in NYC and I found this gem. The Pink Pony Cafe. Closed now.
My group really enjoyed revisiting 90s nostalgia, and playing in a rpg setting where you can like, just go to the hardware store and pick up something on your credit card.
My group really enjoyed revisiting 90s nostalgia, and playing in a rpg setting where you can like, just go to the hardware store and pick up something on your credit card.