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A Couple of Drakes

@acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social

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Navi & Shawn Drake | Indie TTRPG Design and Publishing @ A Couple of Drakes | Perpetrators of Court of Blades, Dead Belt, HEDGE, the DISASTER/games, and others still. Snag our games @ acoupleofdrakes.itch.io Become a patron @ patreon.com/acoupleofdrakes

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · Nov 5

The fateful button has been pressed and HEDGE is now live on Kickstarter. If you thought Captain Planet would be cooler with body horror and deadly weapons, or Diablo III could've used more combo skills, or wish that the world's problems could be solved by biomechanical magic ninjas, check it out.

HEDGE - The Fey Are Coming, Only You Can Save the Last of Us

The power fantasy tabletop roleplaying game of nature's post-apocalyptic magical warriors versus hordes of scary faeries.

www.kickstarter.com

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 1d

Just enough to keep a roof over your head goes a *LONG* way toward allowing you the breathing space to be creative.

And apparently it turns a profit for the country, besides.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 1d

Man. Would be cool to live in a country that invested in the humanities rather than doubling down on perpetual inhumanity.

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 1d

I didn't then, but i do now. Thanks for the rec!

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

That's a good way to go, too! I often find that NPCs and previous locations end up being the answer to the "What about this project is..."

"Well, Speaks-For-Ghosts is pretty weird. Maybe we should ask her what kind of reagents this kind of thing might take. Her expertise is weird enough, right?"

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

Recipe for a Banishing Flare:

Fox Cross Oil + Shimmerwing Royal Jelly + Speaks-For-Ghost's Apparition Salt + a last goodbye, never sent.

Something Rote, something Tricky, something Weird, and something Sentimental.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

"Burn it, add its ashes into the mixture, and then forget to write another. The unspoken words, the words of comfort you would give to your wife, the last goodbye? That's powerful magic. That will keep the Ghost Owl at bay."

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

But what is going to give it the heartfelt? Some kind of emotional resonance? What's going to make this item YOURS? You sure you want me to do this one for you?

"Just shut up and hurt me, Drake."

"The goodbye letter you are carrying for your wife in the event you die out here"

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

"What's Weird?" Birch asks. "Gotta be something undead right? Its a ghost owl." I agree with that and Fennel thinks about where we've been and what we know. "Speaks-for-Ghosts in the swamps north of Big Stump can mix us up a potion maybe? Or sell us some reagents?" Plausible.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

"Tricky is getting it to stick burn slower. Figure some of the Royal Jelly honey from these beehives we gave a wide berth on the edge of the river here?" I nod, that's a good call. And its a nights gaming to get it probably. Double trouble.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

Wish granted. From our last Mausritter game: a flare to drive away the Ghost Owl who haunted the Knocking Oak on the border of Fox Crossing. "Rote" says Fennel, "the oil from my bag, just the thing to burn for hours."

Boxman214 @boxman214.bsky.social · 2d

I'd love to read an example, if one comes to mind

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

As in "what about this project is...?"

You get to answer three of those questions. I'll tell you the last one. They will be materials, procedures or knowledge. You gather all four together and you make the thing. No checks, no rolls to see how well it turns out. Just done.

Works 95% of the time.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 2d

Crafting systems are like boats. I am sure I could have fun with one and it would open up an entirely new variety of experiences if I could figure out the logistics.

But whenever I grab one my eyes glaze over and I default to my usual. Rote, Tricky, Weird, and Sentimental.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 3d

I make my favorite games in hopes that maybe you've got room in your heart for new favorites, too.

Eternal Skies @eternalskiestcg.bsky.social · 3d

Indie games are kind of like low budget cult classic films, where you aren't really competing for the same audience as the big boys, but you ARE competing against the people who would fall in love with your work just going back and repeatedly experiencing old favorites.

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Reposted by A Couple of Drakes

Tabletop Arts Fund @tabletopartsfund.org · 8d

Previous winners have received more than 100 nominations and three dozen awards at festivals on four continents. Now it's your turn! The Tabletop Arts Fund is proud to announce our 2026 Actual Play Grants.

📅 Submissions close October 31, 2025.
👉 Apply now: apply.tabletoparts.fund/ActualPlay2026

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 11d

Love Beyond the Wall. Sits in the same category as Wildsea and There and Hack Again in that I can run character generation and have it feel like a satisfying night of gaming if we take our time and play out the occasional scene to explain our choices...

Those playbooks are really well constructed.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 12d

We all are. This image is basically a mass-casualty incident.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 12d

Everyone's catching splash damage with this one.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

I don't know them, but I'm looking forward to them now.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

Gotta lock the storm doors in the basement alchemical lab, hoss. Any adventurer can just walk right on in.

Look, I'm not going to shame anyone for going haring after the new hotness swimming around in their brain rather than sticking to their WIP. Because that would be really hypocritical of me.

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

I'm gratified to learn that I'm not the only one with the problem, but I'm very sorry so many are catching splash damage from my own self-deprecation.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

The amount of crossover into all of the other artistic disciplines is giving me life.

There's just something ineffably alluring about a sexy new project...

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A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

Maybe...?

a man in a suit and tie stands in a crowd

Alt: a man in a suit and tie stands in a crowd calling out "There are dozens of us! Dozens!"

media.tenor.com

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

There are dozens of us! Dozens!

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

We are all being personally attacked on this blessed day.

A Couple of Drakes @acoupleofdrakes.bsky.social · 13d

I witness you!

a bald man in a car with the word witness written on his back

Alt: a bald man in a car with the word witness written on his back

media.tenor.com