The Marsupialmancer
@themarsupialmancer.bsky.social
Some random yahoo who likes TTRPGs and wombats.
Last Saturday I ran the fifty-first session of this game that was originally supposed to be a short one-or-two games nostalgia trip.
I have problems. It's not this game, but I do have them.
I have problems. It's not this game, but I do have them.
So, I'm 19 sessions in on running an AD&D 2nd Edition throwback game on Saturday evenings. It's somewhat house-ruled in ways I will describe herein, with my learnings from doing so and things I've found challenging after revisiting it after... longer years than I care to count. Let's roll. ->
December 25, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Last Saturday I ran the fifty-first session of this game that was originally supposed to be a short one-or-two games nostalgia trip.
I have problems. It's not this game, but I do have them.
I have problems. It's not this game, but I do have them.
I posed this question elsewhere, but I ask it here as well in honor of the Gishmas holiday.
What is your favorite arcane/warrior hybrid from any game? Could be an individual or a class.
What is your favorite arcane/warrior hybrid from any game? Could be an individual or a class.
December 24, 2025 at 10:29 PM
I posed this question elsewhere, but I ask it here as well in honor of the Gishmas holiday.
What is your favorite arcane/warrior hybrid from any game? Could be an individual or a class.
What is your favorite arcane/warrior hybrid from any game? Could be an individual or a class.
When the sky gods come down with the divine flu, they pull the cloudy comforter over the word to stop the propitiating for the day.
December 23, 2025 at 3:27 PM
When the sky gods come down with the divine flu, they pull the cloudy comforter over the word to stop the propitiating for the day.
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Still trapped down the Rimworld hole.
This megavole, man. My colony's mascot. Defender of children. Carrier of burdens. Had his left foot chewed off by a cougar. Left eye has a gnarly scar over it. 10 years old. Has a heart attack.
Off to Vole-halla with you, you little champion.
This megavole, man. My colony's mascot. Defender of children. Carrier of burdens. Had his left foot chewed off by a cougar. Left eye has a gnarly scar over it. 10 years old. Has a heart attack.
Off to Vole-halla with you, you little champion.
December 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Still trapped down the Rimworld hole.
This megavole, man. My colony's mascot. Defender of children. Carrier of burdens. Had his left foot chewed off by a cougar. Left eye has a gnarly scar over it. 10 years old. Has a heart attack.
Off to Vole-halla with you, you little champion.
This megavole, man. My colony's mascot. Defender of children. Carrier of burdens. Had his left foot chewed off by a cougar. Left eye has a gnarly scar over it. 10 years old. Has a heart attack.
Off to Vole-halla with you, you little champion.
Sure, I'll play.
Introduce in five #ttrpg classes (or their equivalent):
Warlord (D&D 4E)
Glass Walker Philodox (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
Ranger (AD&D 2E)
Warrior->Fighter->Conqueror (Shadow of the Demon Lord)
Guardian/Commander (Fabula Ultima)
Introduce in five #ttrpg classes (or their equivalent):
Warlord (D&D 4E)
Glass Walker Philodox (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
Ranger (AD&D 2E)
Warrior->Fighter->Conqueror (Shadow of the Demon Lord)
Guardian/Commander (Fabula Ultima)
introduce in five #ttrpg classes
Mage (AD&D 2E)
High Mage (Worlds Without Number)
Warcaster (Iron Kingdoms)
Order of Hermes (Mage: the Ascension)
Techie (Cyberpunk 2020)
Mage (AD&D 2E)
High Mage (Worlds Without Number)
Warcaster (Iron Kingdoms)
Order of Hermes (Mage: the Ascension)
Techie (Cyberpunk 2020)
introduce yourself in five #ttrpg classes
- Clan Tzimisce (Vampire: The Masquerade)
- Bone Gnawer (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
- Shunned Nanomancer (CY_BORG)
- The Infernal (Monsterhearts)
- Masked Horrorist (Electric Bastionland)
- Clan Tzimisce (Vampire: The Masquerade)
- Bone Gnawer (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
- Shunned Nanomancer (CY_BORG)
- The Infernal (Monsterhearts)
- Masked Horrorist (Electric Bastionland)
December 4, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Sure, I'll play.
Introduce in five #ttrpg classes (or their equivalent):
Warlord (D&D 4E)
Glass Walker Philodox (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
Ranger (AD&D 2E)
Warrior->Fighter->Conqueror (Shadow of the Demon Lord)
Guardian/Commander (Fabula Ultima)
Introduce in five #ttrpg classes (or their equivalent):
Warlord (D&D 4E)
Glass Walker Philodox (Werewolf: The Apocalypse)
Ranger (AD&D 2E)
Warrior->Fighter->Conqueror (Shadow of the Demon Lord)
Guardian/Commander (Fabula Ultima)
It is 2:38 AM. I have been playing Rimworld for 12 hours.
What have I done. Why did I buy this? I knew it was going to do this to me.
What have I done. Why did I buy this? I knew it was going to do this to me.
November 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
It is 2:38 AM. I have been playing Rimworld for 12 hours.
What have I done. Why did I buy this? I knew it was going to do this to me.
What have I done. Why did I buy this? I knew it was going to do this to me.
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
Spent the last two weeks working on this, missing deadlines and not answering messages---but this thing was in my mind like a psychic worm; I just had to get it out, you know?
Process notes and extra thoughts here: slowlorispress.com/post/8005714...
2/
Process notes and extra thoughts here: slowlorispress.com/post/8005714...
2/
CHAPTER SERF
CHAPTER SERF is a tabletop roleplaying game and adventure, set in Warhammer 40K, where you play those hooded peasant weirdos you sometimes spot in the backgrounds of the art.
Full PDF downloadable...
slowlorispress.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Spent the last two weeks working on this, missing deadlines and not answering messages---but this thing was in my mind like a psychic worm; I just had to get it out, you know?
Process notes and extra thoughts here: slowlorispress.com/post/8005714...
2/
Process notes and extra thoughts here: slowlorispress.com/post/8005714...
2/
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
What can you infer about OD&D if you ignore its actual influences?
coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2025/11/osr-...
coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2025/11/osr-...
OSR: Beyond the Western Desert (or OD&D with Appendix N-1)
The conceit of my current OD&D game is "OD&D without context". What weird mutant offshoot of the tree of RPG development will we create if...
coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
What can you infer about OD&D if you ignore its actual influences?
coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2025/11/osr-...
coinsandscrolls.blogspot.com/2025/11/osr-...
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
The Implied Setting of AD&D Towns & Cities: Four Themes
This is a topic I've been dancing around a lot for the past few months. As my observations have accumulated, I've begun to feel that it woul...
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I decided it would be beneficial to collect my findings over the past few months with regard to AD&D towns & cities into one "master" post. I came up with a list of four themes that characterize these environments which the DM might keep in mind when running adventures there:
Tonight, my 2nd Edition players returned to the lands of Sullene, where they'd previously defeated a juvenile white dragon. On the way back to their frontier settlement, they tracked down some kobolds they'd wanted to hire as stonemasons, then settled a labor dispute among their carpenters.
November 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Tonight, my 2nd Edition players returned to the lands of Sullene, where they'd previously defeated a juvenile white dragon. On the way back to their frontier settlement, they tracked down some kobolds they'd wanted to hire as stonemasons, then settled a labor dispute among their carpenters.
Always on the rowing machine I have my design epiphanies.
And always by the time I finish the workout, the idea is gone.
And always by the time I finish the workout, the idea is gone.
October 27, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Always on the rowing machine I have my design epiphanies.
And always by the time I finish the workout, the idea is gone.
And always by the time I finish the workout, the idea is gone.
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
My contribution to the proud tradition of trying to understand alignment languages. I discuss why speaking alignment languages in AD&D is socially taboo, how then they are meant to be used to identify creatures with a common ethos, & what this suggests about what alignment language actually is:
Alignment Languages are Socially Repulsive
In my last post on languages in AD&D , I teased that alignment languages were a topic worthy of their own post. Was I right? Let's find out....
forlornencystment.blogspot.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
My contribution to the proud tradition of trying to understand alignment languages. I discuss why speaking alignment languages in AD&D is socially taboo, how then they are meant to be used to identify creatures with a common ethos, & what this suggests about what alignment language actually is:
You go back and read your old stuff and muse on chances not taken, or systems not as fleshed out as they could be. Ah well, it's for a system you don't play anymore.
What's this? Bad grammar or typo? Better do a full cover to cover revision and version update.
What's this? Bad grammar or typo? Better do a full cover to cover revision and version update.
October 16, 2025 at 1:57 AM
You go back and read your old stuff and muse on chances not taken, or systems not as fleshed out as they could be. Ah well, it's for a system you don't play anymore.
What's this? Bad grammar or typo? Better do a full cover to cover revision and version update.
What's this? Bad grammar or typo? Better do a full cover to cover revision and version update.
Godbound is one of my favorite TTRPGs, and this is a good list.
New blog post for today; ten commandments of Godbound. I figured I talk about Godbound often enough I should make a blog post with some of my thoughts and advice for it.
aryxymaraki.blogspot.com/2025/10/ten-...
aryxymaraki.blogspot.com/2025/10/ten-...
Ten Commandments for Godbound
I talk about Godbound a lot ( free version available here , and the deluxe version available here ; free version is complete and has everyt...
aryxymaraki.blogspot.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Godbound is one of my favorite TTRPGs, and this is a good list.
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Why Don't I Hate Fabula Ultima?
Theoryslop shadowboxing an omnigender Italian
www.valerialoves.com
October 9, 2025 at 4:18 PM
My first system review, after a year's experience at the table!
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Come gawk at my Big Complex Feelings™.
www.valerialoves.com/why-dont-i-h...
Trying a new hobby to get in touch with my inner halfling.
October 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Trying a new hobby to get in touch with my inner halfling.
Come for the gamethinks, stay for asides that make you hungry, like noodles and later, fresh guac.
I've been thinking a lot lately about the different ways and approaches that people - and here I mean players, designers, observers, armchair pundits and more - have towards character internalities in tabletop RPGs. whether and how to mechanize them.
This is a thread about Mara's Gamethinks.
This is a thread about Mara's Gamethinks.
September 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Come for the gamethinks, stay for asides that make you hungry, like noodles and later, fresh guac.
@aryxymaraki.itch.io is one of the most clever TTRPG game system minds I know and you should buy more of their products.
new release day! it's minimalist jam time
Godeaters of the Astral Sea is a supplement for WOIN or other scifi/fantasy game where you sail the astral sea searching for the husks of dead gods so you can steal their blood
aryxymaraki.itch.io/godeaters-of...
Godeaters of the Astral Sea is a supplement for WOIN or other scifi/fantasy game where you sail the astral sea searching for the husks of dead gods so you can steal their blood
aryxymaraki.itch.io/godeaters-of...
Godeaters of the Astral Sea by Aryxymaraki
a TTRPG supplement about harvesting the blood of dead gods
aryxymaraki.itch.io
September 18, 2025 at 12:33 AM
@aryxymaraki.itch.io is one of the most clever TTRPG game system minds I know and you should buy more of their products.
👁️
OMIOS URES IS OUT!
My classless, level-less RPG set in a weird fantasy world is available as Early Access, pay-what-you-like!
Get it HERE: matheusgraef.itch.io/omios-ures
Full overview of the system + extra images in the replies! Shares & reposts are super appreciated!
My classless, level-less RPG set in a weird fantasy world is available as Early Access, pay-what-you-like!
Get it HERE: matheusgraef.itch.io/omios-ures
Full overview of the system + extra images in the replies! Shares & reposts are super appreciated!
September 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
👁️
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
Redux of an old post of mine that was borderline unreadable, but which had a nugget of wisdom worth salvaging.
There are two totally different types of hexcrawl and nobody else seems to have pointed this out before.
knightattheopera.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-...
There are two totally different types of hexcrawl and nobody else seems to have pointed this out before.
knightattheopera.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-...
How Do You Handle the "Inside" of a Hex? (George Lucas Special Edition)
[Context for this post: this is a re-write of an old post of mine I wrote back in 2021. I wasn't happy with my explanation, and it's filled ...
knightattheopera.blogspot.com
September 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Redux of an old post of mine that was borderline unreadable, but which had a nugget of wisdom worth salvaging.
There are two totally different types of hexcrawl and nobody else seems to have pointed this out before.
knightattheopera.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-...
There are two totally different types of hexcrawl and nobody else seems to have pointed this out before.
knightattheopera.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-...
Weird dreams where Sir Attenborough was narrating my overseas trip and calling out all the dumb shit I did wrong, like not getting on the ferry right or failing to add something to a drink before slamming it back and offending my host.
I have no idea what country I was visiting in this dream.
I have no idea what country I was visiting in this dream.
September 1, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Weird dreams where Sir Attenborough was narrating my overseas trip and calling out all the dumb shit I did wrong, like not getting on the ferry right or failing to add something to a drink before slamming it back and offending my host.
I have no idea what country I was visiting in this dream.
I have no idea what country I was visiting in this dream.
Rolled stats for the party's hired elf ranger/probable future henchelf.
Turns out they went to badass academy.
Turns out they went to badass academy.
August 24, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Rolled stats for the party's hired elf ranger/probable future henchelf.
Turns out they went to badass academy.
Turns out they went to badass academy.
Sixty six sessions of Worlds Without Number. A wild ride that keeps on delivering, and they've barely scratched faction gameplay and what Legate Writs can do yet.
August 3, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Sixty six sessions of Worlds Without Number. A wild ride that keeps on delivering, and they've barely scratched faction gameplay and what Legate Writs can do yet.
Reposted by The Marsupialmancer
Just heading out to do some errands before today's mapstream...
So I thought I'd drop what I was drawing this morning. This is a redraw of a piece I did as part of my "drawing a day" series back in 2017.
My personal OSR.
So I thought I'd drop what I was drawing this morning. This is a redraw of a piece I did as part of my "drawing a day" series back in 2017.
My personal OSR.
July 21, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Just heading out to do some errands before today's mapstream...
So I thought I'd drop what I was drawing this morning. This is a redraw of a piece I did as part of my "drawing a day" series back in 2017.
My personal OSR.
So I thought I'd drop what I was drawing this morning. This is a redraw of a piece I did as part of my "drawing a day" series back in 2017.
My personal OSR.