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Josh Heath

@highlevelgames.bsky.social

350 followers 400 following 350 posts

COO HLG, philosophy, TTRPGs, intercultural dialogue, Star Trek, communications, and journalist

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · May 18

Hit 100 now. So I'll shut up about the game for a little bit and try and think of game design thoughts to share

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · May 18

99/100 #vampires #ttrpg #osr #nsr #indiegames

www.kickstarter.com/projects/hig...

Coming soon: May I Enter: A Vampire Game

Play vampires inspired by the question: May I Enter?

www.kickstarter.com

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 1d

Today's Government Shutdown livestream starts at Noon! I'll be talking about settings and how to create a setting that grab's people's attention and drags them to the table to play your game. #ttrpg #gamedesign #writing #governmentshutdown2025

youtube.com/live/tiG33V1...

Shutdown Game Design Live Stream 3 - Josh Heath/High Level Games

YouTube video by High Level Games

youtube.com

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 2d

2nd Livestream happened at Noon! Today I'll be talking almost exclusively about my new game, May I Enter. #gamedesign #govshutdown

I'll be trying to do these at 12 Noon for every Game Design Livestream during the shutdown.

www.youtube.com/live/hSAxtE-...

Shutdown Game Design Live Stream 2 - Josh Heath/High Level Games

YouTube video by High Level Games

www.youtube.com

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 9d

@stickydoodler.bsky.social Always energizes me when we talk about game design. I picked up a game of his this weekend and his excitement around pushing the envelope about how to do game design made me impressed and delighted.

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 12d

Actual play of me running May I Enter! Had a great crew of players from @thepocketdragonpub.bsky.social

youtu.be/8tQ_Mj-Y74E?...

Indie Game Month: May I Enter, a PBTA RPG by Josh Heath

YouTube video by PocketDragonPub

youtu.be

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 13d

Final page of May I Enter. Main layout is done, now I just need to finish the ToC and the Indexing work. #ttrpg #gameart #gaming

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 19d

People should come play the game with me!

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 19d

I think there's ONE seat left to play "May I Enter?" with designer @highlevelgames.bsky.social. Fresh off a successful Kickstarter, the game explores questions of consent... and vampires!

📖 Pure Panic Comics & Games
🗓️ September 28, 10am-8pm
📍 8317 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 21d

New art for May I Enter by the great Alex Sheikman. #ttrpg #gameArt #gaming

Reposted by Josh Heath

The Pocket Dragon Pub 🔜 PAX UNPLUGGED 2025 @thepocketdragonpub.bsky.social · 21d

🐉 This month at Pocket Dragon Pub, we're spotlighting indie TTRPG & board game creators! Join us Saturdays (and one Thursday!) for unique games by @highlevelgames.bsky.social ,@22to22.bsky.social, @Duamn.bsky.social, and @ashyfeet.bsky.social !🎲

#ttrpg #Indiegames

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Reposted by Josh Heath

The Pocket Dragon Pub 🔜 PAX UNPLUGGED 2025 @thepocketdragonpub.bsky.social · 25d

🧛‍♀️ Ready to bite into something fresh?
It’s Indie Game Month at the Pocket Dragon Pub!
First up, "May I Enter?" by @highlevelgames.bsky.social!

With:
@midnight-maiden.bsky.social
@keichiokami.itch.io
@jellyfishlines.itch.io
@bishiebunny.bsky.social

#IndieGameMonth #IndieTTRPG #VampireTTRPG

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Reposted by Josh Heath

Vixie Belle🔜 PAX Unplugged @vixiebelle.bsky.social · 25d

@thepocketdragonpub.bsky.social is hosting an Indie Game Month in September on our Twitch Channel. Our first game is today at 8PM EST! We'll be playing "May I Enter" by @highlevelgames.bsky.social !

Also here is a shrubbery! 🌳

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 26d

I'll be on the Twitch channel Pocket Dragon Pub this weekend running May I Enter: A Vampire Game

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 27d

#Worldbuilding these are all examples from our real world but don't be afraid to think of new things that are completely weird sounding or different. Weird has purpose in faith. Weird is often ritual done for purposes that have been forgotten or because of mysteries. Mystery is key to faith.

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · 27d

Follow-up to my last thought. Make your game's holy places special and interesting. Temples don't have to look Greek or Catholic. A massive tree may be the center piece of a holy grove. Godpoles may be present instead of detailed statues. The temple may have lots of strict rules about entry #ttrpg

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Sep 8

Yeah, it's one of my favorite D&D settings, not least because it has a lot of verisimilitude and it meshes with the mechanics effectively. I'm new to The One Ring but it's amazing.

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Sep 8

How you build faith and community matters in the verisimilitude of a game setting. Do some research and then try and build things so they feel real and cohesive. #worldbuilding

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Sep 8

But not all of them. Most non-monotheistic cultures have either times and places where specific gods or spirits receive worship or people seek out any god who will answer. The best D&D setting I've found for this is Eberron, where the Sovereign Host are integrated deeply into lives. #dnd

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Sep 8

When creating religions in TTRPGs, it's easy for folks to fall into monotheistic or henotheistic assumptions. There are numerous types of polytheistic and/animistic cultures in our world to draw examples from. Some have dedicated temples to individual gods. Some have a system of 'favored god' #ttrpg

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Reposted by Josh Heath

Arc Dream Publishing @arcdreampublishing.bsky.social · Aug 27

Victoria, BC — Arc Dream Publishing (Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game, The Black Company Roleplaying Game) is proud to welcome Chris Spivey, founder of Darker Hue Studios (Haunted West, Harlem Unbound), as its new production director.

Official press release:
arcdream.com/home/2025/08...

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 15

And so easy to advocate for my rates, because even with a language barrier I was able to explain what the client needs and how best I can support them. It was... empowering to feel competent and feel like I was helping. Honestly, that's what I look for in work and it was refreshing to feel it again

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 15

Last week I had a discussion with a potential freelance client looking for SEO support. I've been doing #SEO work for 12+ years and it's also part of my day job. There are days I don't feel like an expert, but during the conversation it was so easy to offer good advice.

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 13

Occasionally people ask me why my productivity slowed down. I'm always like, no, it became healthier. And I empathize with the week of ideations.

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 13

Game writing is often a slog. I'm always impressed by people who can just put fingers to keyboard and have words appear. I've done it a few times, but honestly it was only because of undiagnosed Bipolar-2. Since becoming medicated and therapized my words come out in much more regulated speed. #ttrpg

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Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 13

I have to give credit to @timhutchings.bsky.social who suggested something like it. Lots has been done with the PbtA framework and it is a good idea to try and give something back to the folks who helped inspire a massive shift in game design.

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 12

I wish analog game design had a different name. Being confused for a video game designer is kind of weird. People make it weird.

I'm partial to ludographer, but I think people would make that weird too. #ttrpg #gameDesign

Josh Heath @highlevelgames.bsky.social · Aug 12

Double the work, but quite likely worth it

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