Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

@cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social

490 followers 430 following 230 posts

Youtube TTRPG reviewer focusing on small, indie and solo games | (he/they) 📺 youtube.com/@CozyRPGReviews ☕️ https://ko-fi.com/cozyrpgreviews 📖 Have an RPG you'd like reviewed? Please feel free to DM

ko-fi.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 10d

Better late than never :)

My review of Brambletrek by @crossedpaths.co.uk

A surprisingly tactical journaling game about mousefolk on a journey through the forests of Hyhill. A good starting point if you're familiar with #TTRPG tropes and want to try out solo gaming

youtu.be/Yt7RfviEHTI

Brambletrek | An RPG Review

YouTube video by Cozy RPG Reviews

youtu.be

8 18

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 8h

Very cool little addition to the cozier side of Midnight Muscadines!

Something I love about this setting: Today we get a supplement about teashops and coffeehouses. Next month someone might write a Dark Souls inspired adventure about chained gods and eldritch entities from the sea of stars.

Eric Lazure @ericlazure.bsky.social · 12h

I just published my first project on itch: a supplement for Midnight Muscadines!
ericlazure.itch.io/wining-and-d...

Wining and Dining Under the Beacons by Eric Lazure

A supplement for Midnight Muscadines

ericlazure.itch.io

1 1 2

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 18h

Massive congrats to @roosterema.bsky.social and @needgames.bsky.social

1 5

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 18h

Stoked to see Fabula Ultima doing so well. A single-designer indie TTRPG going toe-to-toe in the same arena with Draw Steel, Daggerheart and Cosmere is awesome.

At what point is it reasonable to say Fabula is one of "the big four"?

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ndg...

Fabula Ultima TTJRPG Celebration Edition + Bestiary Vol. I

The ENNIE-winning JRPG-inspired tabletop role-playing game levels up with hardback and collector's editions, and the new Bestiary Vol.I

www.kickstarter.com

1 2 12

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 3d

Awesome! Lego is therapeutic :)

1 1

Reposted by Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

Mythworks ➡️ PAXU @mythworks.bsky.social · 3d

🐞PREORDERS for Pico are closing soon! Hop on board at the BackerKit before we go to print....! 🐞
https://pico-tiny-bugs-big-world.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
#love #BUG

3 10

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 3d

Tried to send that post with one hand, but dropped the phone and scared him :(

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 3d

Welp. I was trying to play Midnight Muscadines when this little guy jumped into my arms and immediately fell asleep.

My tuxedo cat Drift asleep in my arms. Laptop, card deck and character sheet visible in the background.

1 12

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 4d

I got >yet another< email today asking me to review a game full of genAI images. It raised a scary amount of money from more than 900 backers. That's a lot of people happy to pay for AI art (and potentially AI text).

I guess they'll be fine asking an LLM to play for them too. Why not?

🎃Gore By Night🎃 @lorebynightvtm.bsky.social · 4d

4th and final video this week and it's not as upbeat/positive as the others as I, yet again, rant about Generative AI. Apparently, we are now using it to run and play our TTRPGs. I don't have the answers, but I have a lot to say on the matter on YouTube.
youtu.be/_UDy65F9nBY

TTRPGs Are Cooked

YouTube video by Lore By Night

youtu.be

3 2 8

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 4d

That was a pretty fun way of touring the map!

Caesar Ink 🔜 Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce on Kickstarter! @caesar-ink.bsky.social · 4d

A small look at the map of Cocytus; the region wyccefinders will be scouring for heresy in Thou Shalt Not Sufer The Wycce!

Find out more about the Doomsong TTRPG: www.kickstarter.com/projects/cae...

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

Absolutely! There are:
2 genders: men and political
2 skin colours: white and political
2 sexualities: straight and political

Here's one of my favourite lists that is unintentionally honest about what it considers political

Hilariously the creator claims to want more diversity in the TTRPG scene

Heroes. These are companies that keep real world politics and leftist garbage out of their games as well as keeping their employees under control... We recommend supporting these companies. Image: angry white bearded man

1 1

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

If I ever found myself listed in that category I'd be trying to get downgraded to "politics in gaming" as soon as possible.

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

It's possibly more of an issue in the OSR scene, where I'm wary of certain games and creators because they're considered "apolitical" and therefore virtuous by some not so cool folks.

Being added to one of those "non-woke creators" documents as "apolitical" is not a good thing...

2 6

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

My dad used to tell me "no politics or religion in the pub". I never took that advice, and never regretted it!

In the TTRPG space, I want the sense that a creator's values has at least informed their work. And sometimes not addressing it at all can be suspicious...

🖤🐦‍⬛⚫𝑭𝒆𝒅𝒆⚫🐦‍⬛🖤 @fsohns.bsky.social · 5d

People taking an all-encompassing anti-discourse stance in the TTRPG space are all too often doing a poorly veiled version of "no politics in gaming" BS. It's very easy to disregard discourse when you're comfily couched in a play culture that caters to your own political bedrot. It isn't so for...

1 3 13

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

Awesome! It's a very nice box. I've been using the cards for other games too.

1 2

Reposted by Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

Duamn Figueroa Rassol 🇦🇷 [Commissions Open] @duamn.bsky.social · 5d

Emergency commissions!

I got laid off last weeek. If y'all wanna help out a (human) Latino artist from the Global South, commission me some art!

#Art #OC #CharacterPortrait #TTRPG #DnD #Commission #NotAI

Commission sheet showing an array of character portraits and an adventuring party line-up.
"Character Portraits
$75 full color digital bust portraits.
Fantasy, Space opera, Cyberpunk, you name it...
Full party lineup $50 per character
Lineart + flat color + base shading, no background"
Send your request to:
Bsky: @duamn.bsky.social
Instagram: @duamnNFR
Email: duamnNFR@gmail.com

55 60

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 5d

Oh! I didn't know that existed. Thank you for the health advice ^^

Reposted by Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

Eric Lazure @ericlazure.bsky.social · 6d

While my focus is on Hope Springs Eternal, I should still have the time to soon finish a Midnight Muscadines supplement!

work in progress cover for a Midnight Muscadines supplement showing a busy street, people eating, a beacon in the background

2 13

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 6d

New #TTRPG day!

Cosmere arrived yesterday, which is cool. But what I really want to show off is this simple but gorgeous review copy of Morkin by @juandbb.bsky.social

It's a solo RPG adventure inspired by an 80s ZX Spectrum game: The Lords of Midnight.

Right: Morkin front cover, black and white image of a warrior facing a dragon. Left: hex map of Western Midnight

Interior page of Morkin - notably printed on black paper. Image on right shows the adventurer with a torch entering some ruins.

Stat block and image of a Frostbronger: a tall, icy monster.

3 10

Reposted by Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

Asa Donald | Backwards Tabletop @backwardsttrpg.bsky.social · 8d

NEW (FREE) GAME FORTHCOMING:

SPINE is a dark solo ttrpg about losing yourself in a book.

In SPINE, you are a researcher who has inherited a strange book from an estranged relative…

You are a researcher who has inherited a strange book from an estranged relative… Image: Print copy of SPINE

8 130 280

Reposted by Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews

Kickstarter United @kickstarterunited.org · 6d

‼️🚨KICKSTARTER WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE🚨‼️

As of 8am this morning, the workers of Kickstarter United/OPEIU Local 153 are on strike.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A BOYCOTT! Creators and allies, please continue using and supporting the platform.

Kickstarter United is on strike!
We are not asking for a boycott! Creators & Allies: Please continue to support & use the platform
swipe for ways to show your solidarity

Why We're Striking
A codified 4-day work week.
We simply want to protect the way we've been working for over 3.5 years. The 4dww has proven benefits, such as increased productivity and improved employee satisfaction. It's part of what makes Kickstarter a special, innovative place to work.
Fair pay for our lowest-paid workers.
We're fighting for livable minimum salaries for roles that are undervalued by the market but crucial to keeping Kickstarter running. We believe none of our workers should struggle to make ends meet.

8 770 970

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 6d

Ikr! I want that bestiary so much. I want the hardbacks so much. Anf I'm so excited for official solo and 1-to-1 modes.

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 6d

I really don't want to be an AI witchunter.

So, dear TTRPG marketing people trying get me to review their AI generated game,

Please stop making me go on AI witchhunts in my free time. Please just tell me it's an AI game so I can ignore you. It's the least you could do.

Thanks ❤️

1 1 16

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 7d

(3/3) But Fabula Ultima didn't. It's a single-designer indie game. It never had a huge marketing budget. It built a fanbase organically to the point where it managed to pull £600,000 in the first dat of the current kickstarter.

There's a big audience for games with eclectic mechanics.

1 4

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 7d

(2/3) It's a feature of a lot of popular post-5e games that aim for a modern audience. Fabula Ultima, Daggerheart etc. have similar design influences. The collaborative playstyle they cater to is huge.

It's easy to say that Cosmere and Daggerheart both had fandoms ready to throw money at them...

1 3

Robin J | Cozy RPG Reviews @cozyrpgreviews.bsky.social · 7d

(1/3) Interesting read!

Had a quick glance at Cosmere earlier, and it seemed to have a hybrid lineage: 4e-style video-game elements, and Apocalypse/FATE influences in the plot dice.

I don't think it's fair to call these games Fantasy Heartbreakers, the hybrid style is deliberate...

Mythworks ➡️ PAXU @mythworks.bsky.social · 7d

A new "How Myth Works" column is live! We explore the design lineage of the Cosmere® Roleplaying Game, tracing the traditions and innovations that shaped its system. Read here:

How Myth Works: Exploring the Design Lineage of the Cosmere® Roleplayi

by Graham Gentz Play & Culture Lead There are a bunch of big new games gunning for the D&D 5e throne. Games like Shadowdark, Daggerheart, and The Matt Colville Dungeon Master Roleplaying Game: Draw Steel have each gathered followings of their own and are looking to syphon off a little more of that core WOTC a

www.myth.works

1 4