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Sticky Doodler

@stickydoodler.bsky.social

1.2K followers 750 following 4.1K posts

I make games that spark imagination and empathy. I also promote tabletop game designers based in the DMV ♦️🎲 (DC-MD-VA). 爸爸 to Big Sticky and Li'l Doodler. He/他/any. 🌳✂️ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stickydoodler/the-bonsai-diary

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · Oct 23

Hello friends new & old! I'm Gene, and I design games that evoke empathy and imagination. I enjoy exploring the uncanny valley between board and role-playing games, where one day I will discover Shangri-La. Until then, I post about my design journey and theories and avoid engagement farming.

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 4h

Is your ideal heist potentially an engine-builder board game?

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 4h

Awesome, congrats and can't wait to play!!

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 7h

That's @laomao.bsky.social hand-painting the cover in this video. Her inkwash paintings are gorgeous and evocative, and she's available for commissions: skeb.jp/@laomao

Music credit: "Childhood" cc-by Scott Buckley: www.scottbuckley.com.au/library/chil...

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skeb.jp

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 7h

Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair
📆 Sat, Oct 18
🕛 12-5pm
📍@peoplesbooktakoma.com

RSVP for the panel (which I'll be moderating):
peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/indie-...

Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair 2025

The DMV is home to some of the world’s leading tabletop game designers! Come meet your neighbors whose games are available at hobby shops, online, and even your local bookstore. Designed in t…

peoplesbooktakoma.com

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 7h

In The Bonsai Diary, you grow a tree and tell its story over the course of decades and then centuries. The Kickstarter for this journaling game exceeded my hopes, and the first print sold out on @ipr.bsky.social last month. Luckily, it's back in stock in time for our upcoming event:
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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 14h

Very excited to have you join us! As far as this event is concerned, you're an honorary DMV ♦️ Designer

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 19h

You might even say we'd be honored

Darth Vader invites Han Solo to a nice meal on Bespin

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 20h

Well frick he nailed me in one

Reposted by Sticky Doodler

Chris, Junk Food Games @junkfoodgames.bsky.social · 1d

Check out these tiny, hand-assembled zine games over at Knave of Cups on Friday!!

This is the first time physical copies of these have been available online

Knave of Cups @knaveofcups.com · 1d

Arriving Friday - two new @junkfoodgames.bsky.social zines
🍃Wither & Grow - a tiny solo game following the life of a sentient being made of growing plants
🐍🕷️The Serpent & The Spider - a duet for a necromancer + a sword-wielder to team up, combatting corporate corruption in a fantasy techno-future

The cover of Wither & Grow, a solo journaling game by Junk Food Games. Dark green ink on light green paper. The title is all lower-case whimsical serif font with an elaborate ampersand. The central image is a hulking being made of shaggy plants. Its face is partially covered by vines, flowers bloom from its back, and its willowy arms drag on the ground

The cover of The Serpent and The Spider, a ttrpg for 2 players by Junk Food Games. Yellow paper with black ink, calligraphy font for the text, and, in the center, a hand-drawn vampire skull with a sword through it, accented by a snake

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 22h

It's like some kind of worker placement game

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

Glad to have at least played the first one and moved some art around. Also, nice to meet your actual pickup! 🛻

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

Also, four is not so much to split. I'd rather focus fire on one day if you want to drive attention, or in rapid sequence so you can engage an existing audience to get off their butts and take action.

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

Building "awareness" in advance of taking action is, IMO, a luxury attached to having a strong brand, a strong community, or domination of a channel. Otherwise I think driving people to immediate action is much safer.

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

Be a pioneer of joy.

You can fight over the scraps of a developed market, or create a new one. The second isn't easier than the first -- it strikes me as much, much harder -- but the rewards can be so much greater.

I think of it as discovering new ways to bring joy to more people.

Sabrina.C @sabrinac.bsky.social · 3d

If you are a tabletop game creator feeling discouraged about how many games are coming out each year, some perspective:
🎲✂️🎲

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

All I can say is that it's a really good question to face if you have a choice in the first place

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 23h

These are my favorite games to play, tbh. All the heart and vision of the designer are right there, before colliding with the market

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

We'd love for you to join us and maybe even consider joining the community!

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair
📆 Sat, Oct 18
🕛 12-5pm
📍@peoplesbooktakoma.com

Learn more: peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/indie-...
2/⏹️

Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair 2025

The DMV is home to some of the world’s leading tabletop game designers! Come meet your neighbors whose games are available at hobby shops, online, and even your local bookstore. Designed in t…

peoplesbooktakoma.com

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Once you start going to local tabletop design events you start realizing how many people make games, some right in your own hometown. @playsamovar.bsky.social is someone I'm delighted to share a neighborhood with. Come check out his love letter to Ursula Le Guin's Hainish cycle:
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Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair
featuring Samovar Games
Emissary: A story game inspired by Ursula Le Guin's Hainish Cycle
📆 Sat, Oct 18
🕛 12-5pm
📍 People's Book, Takoma Park MD

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Maybe a 8.5 x 11 sign with a QR code to the bundle? Most of the sales will be happening at outdoor tables from 12-5, and we'd be happy to add another spot for your friend.

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Program movement and set your own targets, that's a neat combo!

Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Just keep moving around the country and we will be the United States of TTRPGs!

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

Here's the event:
peoplesbooktakoma.com/event/indie-...

And here's our Discord -- we can figure out a way to get you a table if you want to try selling the bundle (or your own games) IRL: discord.gg/wU7VGgKws

Indie & Local Tabletop Games Fair 2025

The DMV is home to some of the world’s leading tabletop game designers! Come meet your neighbors whose games are available at hobby shops, online, and even your local bookstore. Designed in t…

peoplesbooktakoma.com

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Reposted by Sticky Doodler

Elizabeth Hargrave @elizhargrave.bsky.social · 1d

I'm giving an online talk for Mass Audubon on Wednesday. Register for free below, and check out their very cool fall lineup!

The Art of Birds: Fall Online Lecture Series

Explore the different facets of birds through the eyes of game designers, artists, historians, and activists in this engaging series of six online programs.

www.massaudubon.org

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Sticky Doodler @stickydoodler.bsky.social · 1d

I hope those are not termites!