Ursidae
@ursidaepress.bsky.social
Table top RPG content creator (they/them)
Like with all media and art:
An experience doesn't have to be fun, it can just be rewarding.
Same goes for games. Some people want pure fun out of a game but others want something else.
As a #ttrpg designer and GM, providing both, especially at the same time, is the hardest thing to do imo!
An experience doesn't have to be fun, it can just be rewarding.
Same goes for games. Some people want pure fun out of a game but others want something else.
As a #ttrpg designer and GM, providing both, especially at the same time, is the hardest thing to do imo!
November 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Like with all media and art:
An experience doesn't have to be fun, it can just be rewarding.
Same goes for games. Some people want pure fun out of a game but others want something else.
As a #ttrpg designer and GM, providing both, especially at the same time, is the hardest thing to do imo!
An experience doesn't have to be fun, it can just be rewarding.
Same goes for games. Some people want pure fun out of a game but others want something else.
As a #ttrpg designer and GM, providing both, especially at the same time, is the hardest thing to do imo!
During the latest #ttrpg debrief players felt "they had so many choices but no clarity where to go under time pressure, and everything is so high stakes... but ultimately they're having fun!"
But that was my goal! Campaign ending with difficulty of choice, paranoia and urgency!
I will adjust though
But that was my goal! Campaign ending with difficulty of choice, paranoia and urgency!
I will adjust though
November 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
During the latest #ttrpg debrief players felt "they had so many choices but no clarity where to go under time pressure, and everything is so high stakes... but ultimately they're having fun!"
But that was my goal! Campaign ending with difficulty of choice, paranoia and urgency!
I will adjust though
But that was my goal! Campaign ending with difficulty of choice, paranoia and urgency!
I will adjust though
The most interesting aspect in playing a cookie-cutter #dnd campaign along side a Horror/Investigation heavy D&D campaign, both at level 11, is seeing how it's imo easy to make D&D work with less combat, but you still NEED combat/conflict due to how most classes are set up, esp at higher levels.
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 AM
The most interesting aspect in playing a cookie-cutter #dnd campaign along side a Horror/Investigation heavy D&D campaign, both at level 11, is seeing how it's imo easy to make D&D work with less combat, but you still NEED combat/conflict due to how most classes are set up, esp at higher levels.
As much as I love a good map or a good scene art, I don't want to lose that theater of mind (ToM) muscle in my #ttrpg
Realized watching @mysteryquest.bsky.social, don't use tactical maps for combat, and I don't even think about it!
I'll never stop using maps, but going to lean more on ToM!
Realized watching @mysteryquest.bsky.social, don't use tactical maps for combat, and I don't even think about it!
I'll never stop using maps, but going to lean more on ToM!
November 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
As much as I love a good map or a good scene art, I don't want to lose that theater of mind (ToM) muscle in my #ttrpg
Realized watching @mysteryquest.bsky.social, don't use tactical maps for combat, and I don't even think about it!
I'll never stop using maps, but going to lean more on ToM!
Realized watching @mysteryquest.bsky.social, don't use tactical maps for combat, and I don't even think about it!
I'll never stop using maps, but going to lean more on ToM!
Reposted by Ursidae
I posted a buy link here to "A Magical Inheritance" a few days ago, and 24 of you immediately went to Anna's Archives and fucking stole it from me.
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
November 24, 2025 at 4:04 AM
I posted a buy link here to "A Magical Inheritance" a few days ago, and 24 of you immediately went to Anna's Archives and fucking stole it from me.
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
Yes, stole it.
I do not get paid for your download there because YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME.
🖕
#ttrpg Our Crit Rules are simple but satisfying
Roll damage dice twice, but the minimum damage is half.
If your attack is 1d8
Roll 2d8
Any roll below a 5 (4.5, half a d8) is a 5
So if I get a 2 & 6
Damage is 11 (5 + 6)
If my roll is a 2 & 3
Damage is 10 (5+5)
If damage is 6 & 7
Damage is 13
Roll damage dice twice, but the minimum damage is half.
If your attack is 1d8
Roll 2d8
Any roll below a 5 (4.5, half a d8) is a 5
So if I get a 2 & 6
Damage is 11 (5 + 6)
If my roll is a 2 & 3
Damage is 10 (5+5)
If damage is 6 & 7
Damage is 13
November 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
#ttrpg Our Crit Rules are simple but satisfying
Roll damage dice twice, but the minimum damage is half.
If your attack is 1d8
Roll 2d8
Any roll below a 5 (4.5, half a d8) is a 5
So if I get a 2 & 6
Damage is 11 (5 + 6)
If my roll is a 2 & 3
Damage is 10 (5+5)
If damage is 6 & 7
Damage is 13
Roll damage dice twice, but the minimum damage is half.
If your attack is 1d8
Roll 2d8
Any roll below a 5 (4.5, half a d8) is a 5
So if I get a 2 & 6
Damage is 11 (5 + 6)
If my roll is a 2 & 3
Damage is 10 (5+5)
If damage is 6 & 7
Damage is 13
It's interesting how I always hear about big backstories in #ttrpg or PCs that take the central part of a campaign.
I've only experienced players that, want to have an interesting arc, but express no interest in being a chosen one or being uniquely special.
I as a player also prefer that.
Do you?
I've only experienced players that, want to have an interesting arc, but express no interest in being a chosen one or being uniquely special.
I as a player also prefer that.
Do you?
November 23, 2025 at 10:50 AM
It's interesting how I always hear about big backstories in #ttrpg or PCs that take the central part of a campaign.
I've only experienced players that, want to have an interesting arc, but express no interest in being a chosen one or being uniquely special.
I as a player also prefer that.
Do you?
I've only experienced players that, want to have an interesting arc, but express no interest in being a chosen one or being uniquely special.
I as a player also prefer that.
Do you?
I need my fantasy and scifi #worldbuilding to be at the extremes:
Either grounded, focusing mostly on real world issues, perhaps with a twist of folklore...
...or batshit insane with dream logic and abstraction.
Very little of the in-between satisfies me, but that's ok!
How about you?
Either grounded, focusing mostly on real world issues, perhaps with a twist of folklore...
...or batshit insane with dream logic and abstraction.
Very little of the in-between satisfies me, but that's ok!
How about you?
November 22, 2025 at 9:17 AM
I need my fantasy and scifi #worldbuilding to be at the extremes:
Either grounded, focusing mostly on real world issues, perhaps with a twist of folklore...
...or batshit insane with dream logic and abstraction.
Very little of the in-between satisfies me, but that's ok!
How about you?
Either grounded, focusing mostly on real world issues, perhaps with a twist of folklore...
...or batshit insane with dream logic and abstraction.
Very little of the in-between satisfies me, but that's ok!
How about you?
Luck is a meta meta currency.
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Luck is a meta meta currency.
Yesterday in #ttrpg
Bard: Has reduced max HP due to the Incubus' draining kiss
Bard: Later finds the bloodied Incubus in a cell
Incubus: Is sharing valuable info to the party's interest
Bard: Casts Vicious Mockery as out of anger, only intending to hurt the Incubus
Incubus: Dies
The Bard:
Bard: Has reduced max HP due to the Incubus' draining kiss
Bard: Later finds the bloodied Incubus in a cell
Incubus: Is sharing valuable info to the party's interest
Bard: Casts Vicious Mockery as out of anger, only intending to hurt the Incubus
Incubus: Dies
The Bard:
a woman is standing in front of a microphone making a funny face .
ALT: a woman is standing in front of a microphone making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Yesterday in #ttrpg
Bard: Has reduced max HP due to the Incubus' draining kiss
Bard: Later finds the bloodied Incubus in a cell
Incubus: Is sharing valuable info to the party's interest
Bard: Casts Vicious Mockery as out of anger, only intending to hurt the Incubus
Incubus: Dies
The Bard:
Bard: Has reduced max HP due to the Incubus' draining kiss
Bard: Later finds the bloodied Incubus in a cell
Incubus: Is sharing valuable info to the party's interest
Bard: Casts Vicious Mockery as out of anger, only intending to hurt the Incubus
Incubus: Dies
The Bard:
Potion seller making potions out of their bodily fluids.
Creates different potions based on what you give them to eat and drink.
Sorry had to share, enjoy it in your #worldbuilding or #ttrpg 😭
Creates different potions based on what you give them to eat and drink.
Sorry had to share, enjoy it in your #worldbuilding or #ttrpg 😭
November 12, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Potion seller making potions out of their bodily fluids.
Creates different potions based on what you give them to eat and drink.
Sorry had to share, enjoy it in your #worldbuilding or #ttrpg 😭
Creates different potions based on what you give them to eat and drink.
Sorry had to share, enjoy it in your #worldbuilding or #ttrpg 😭
Well put. The biggest thing I can't stand is "evil race"
Then the question opens up when you get into sci-fi and alien "species", but I'm glad it's being addressed plainly
Then the question opens up when you get into sci-fi and alien "species", but I'm glad it's being addressed plainly
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Well put. The biggest thing I can't stand is "evil race"
Then the question opens up when you get into sci-fi and alien "species", but I'm glad it's being addressed plainly
Then the question opens up when you get into sci-fi and alien "species", but I'm glad it's being addressed plainly
I've been mulling over the idea that a lot of power scaling in #game narratives never quite work.
Your level 20 characters aren't going to have to deal with goblins attacking a village anymore? Why not? Bigger stakes? But where were those stakes before?
It feels too...character power aware?
Your level 20 characters aren't going to have to deal with goblins attacking a village anymore? Why not? Bigger stakes? But where were those stakes before?
It feels too...character power aware?
November 11, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I've been mulling over the idea that a lot of power scaling in #game narratives never quite work.
Your level 20 characters aren't going to have to deal with goblins attacking a village anymore? Why not? Bigger stakes? But where were those stakes before?
It feels too...character power aware?
Your level 20 characters aren't going to have to deal with goblins attacking a village anymore? Why not? Bigger stakes? But where were those stakes before?
It feels too...character power aware?
The past two #ttrpg sessions I experienced what I'd call as "nudging anxiety"
I relayed information the party had gathered, clarifying the implications of each option
It could be considered nudging, but I was just being transparent about the options.
Some just had more urgency than others 🤔
I relayed information the party had gathered, clarifying the implications of each option
It could be considered nudging, but I was just being transparent about the options.
Some just had more urgency than others 🤔
November 7, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The past two #ttrpg sessions I experienced what I'd call as "nudging anxiety"
I relayed information the party had gathered, clarifying the implications of each option
It could be considered nudging, but I was just being transparent about the options.
Some just had more urgency than others 🤔
I relayed information the party had gathered, clarifying the implications of each option
It could be considered nudging, but I was just being transparent about the options.
Some just had more urgency than others 🤔
It's interesting to play #ttrpgs that are about combat vs not, but I don't agree that this is determined by how much of the rules / content is combat centric.
I think it's more about the options presented to players for characters and as solutions. If everyone is a hammer, everything is a nail.
I think it's more about the options presented to players for characters and as solutions. If everyone is a hammer, everything is a nail.
October 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
It's interesting to play #ttrpgs that are about combat vs not, but I don't agree that this is determined by how much of the rules / content is combat centric.
I think it's more about the options presented to players for characters and as solutions. If everyone is a hammer, everything is a nail.
I think it's more about the options presented to players for characters and as solutions. If everyone is a hammer, everything is a nail.
Running out first Call of Cthulhu one shot tomorrow! Just in time for Halloween!
Although I've used the game for inspiration for years, it's taken a while to find the time to kick it off!
Wish us luck 👀😰
#callofcthulhu #coc
Although I've used the game for inspiration for years, it's taken a while to find the time to kick it off!
Wish us luck 👀😰
#callofcthulhu #coc
October 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Running out first Call of Cthulhu one shot tomorrow! Just in time for Halloween!
Although I've used the game for inspiration for years, it's taken a while to find the time to kick it off!
Wish us luck 👀😰
#callofcthulhu #coc
Although I've used the game for inspiration for years, it's taken a while to find the time to kick it off!
Wish us luck 👀😰
#callofcthulhu #coc
What is it with people insisting that you need bioessentialsm and completely different species to be able to "roleplay" in their #ttrpgs
Are you saying humans are not diverse enough!?
Is roleplay only possible if you play a 9 legged giraffe lion!?
Are you saying humans are not diverse enough!?
Is roleplay only possible if you play a 9 legged giraffe lion!?
a man with curly hair and glasses is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .
ALT: a man with curly hair and glasses is wearing a suit and tie and making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
What is it with people insisting that you need bioessentialsm and completely different species to be able to "roleplay" in their #ttrpgs
Are you saying humans are not diverse enough!?
Is roleplay only possible if you play a 9 legged giraffe lion!?
Are you saying humans are not diverse enough!?
Is roleplay only possible if you play a 9 legged giraffe lion!?
My biggest issue with #dnd is at high level it turns into a Dragon Ball Z episode where 1 turn takes 30 minutes, dragging the action to a crawl.
It's intentional to have deep tactics and it's a game which people love, but for me, it doesn't beat fast action, even if I can enjoy it.
It's intentional to have deep tactics and it's a game which people love, but for me, it doesn't beat fast action, even if I can enjoy it.
October 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
My biggest issue with #dnd is at high level it turns into a Dragon Ball Z episode where 1 turn takes 30 minutes, dragging the action to a crawl.
It's intentional to have deep tactics and it's a game which people love, but for me, it doesn't beat fast action, even if I can enjoy it.
It's intentional to have deep tactics and it's a game which people love, but for me, it doesn't beat fast action, even if I can enjoy it.
It's interesting that in #ttrpgs heavy in combat and action, exploration and social roleplay is there to add to the stakes (create something to lose)
But in social and exploration heavy games, action and combat are there to also add to the stakes (create possibility of loss)
🤔
But in social and exploration heavy games, action and combat are there to also add to the stakes (create possibility of loss)
🤔
October 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
It's interesting that in #ttrpgs heavy in combat and action, exploration and social roleplay is there to add to the stakes (create something to lose)
But in social and exploration heavy games, action and combat are there to also add to the stakes (create possibility of loss)
🤔
But in social and exploration heavy games, action and combat are there to also add to the stakes (create possibility of loss)
🤔
It's Dungeons AND Dragons not Dungeons WITH Dragons or Dragons IN Dungeons.
You don't need to cram your dragons into dungeons.
Just ensure your world has:
Dungeons
and
Dragons
#dnd
You don't need to cram your dragons into dungeons.
Just ensure your world has:
Dungeons
and
Dragons
#dnd
a man in a suit and glasses is sitting in a red chair with the word simple written on his shirt
ALT: a man in a suit and glasses is sitting in a red chair with the word simple written on his shirt
media.tenor.com
October 5, 2025 at 11:45 AM
It's Dungeons AND Dragons not Dungeons WITH Dragons or Dragons IN Dungeons.
You don't need to cram your dragons into dungeons.
Just ensure your world has:
Dungeons
and
Dragons
#dnd
You don't need to cram your dragons into dungeons.
Just ensure your world has:
Dungeons
and
Dragons
#dnd
If rolling in the open vs behind the screen is akin to honest/dishonest or fair/unfair, then why not tell the players everything?
Share the whole adventure beforehand and have them read it.
Is it not dishonest/unfair to have information they don't?
I am for open AND hidden rolls
Share the whole adventure beforehand and have them read it.
Is it not dishonest/unfair to have information they don't?
I am for open AND hidden rolls
October 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
If rolling in the open vs behind the screen is akin to honest/dishonest or fair/unfair, then why not tell the players everything?
Share the whole adventure beforehand and have them read it.
Is it not dishonest/unfair to have information they don't?
I am for open AND hidden rolls
Share the whole adventure beforehand and have them read it.
Is it not dishonest/unfair to have information they don't?
I am for open AND hidden rolls
Wow Inkarnate why are you so bad.
Hiking prices, using AI and being tone deaf.
Peeps just use other maps from great creators and systems there's so many of them.
Or just draw your own!
#ttrpg
Hiking prices, using AI and being tone deaf.
Peeps just use other maps from great creators and systems there's so many of them.
Or just draw your own!
#ttrpg
September 28, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Wow Inkarnate why are you so bad.
Hiking prices, using AI and being tone deaf.
Peeps just use other maps from great creators and systems there's so many of them.
Or just draw your own!
#ttrpg
Hiking prices, using AI and being tone deaf.
Peeps just use other maps from great creators and systems there's so many of them.
Or just draw your own!
#ttrpg
I am using more percentage dice to make decisions on the fly and simulate luck in #ttrpgs
A player wanted to use a candle to look down a well while it was raining.
I asked them to roll a d100, 25% chance the candle would always go out due to rain, unless they got creative.
Guess the outcome 😭
A player wanted to use a candle to look down a well while it was raining.
I asked them to roll a d100, 25% chance the candle would always go out due to rain, unless they got creative.
Guess the outcome 😭
September 24, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I am using more percentage dice to make decisions on the fly and simulate luck in #ttrpgs
A player wanted to use a candle to look down a well while it was raining.
I asked them to roll a d100, 25% chance the candle would always go out due to rain, unless they got creative.
Guess the outcome 😭
A player wanted to use a candle to look down a well while it was raining.
I asked them to roll a d100, 25% chance the candle would always go out due to rain, unless they got creative.
Guess the outcome 😭