DANIEL D. FOX
@zweihanderrpg.bsky.social
Multiple award-winning game designer. ZWEIHANDER RPG. Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR. Countless licensed kids' board games (Pete the Cat, Very Hungry Caterpillar, I SPY, Dog Man, Daniel Tiger). A miserable little pile of secrets. https://sllswrd.games
Pinned
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
#MainGauche para @zweihanderrpg.bsky.social recibido en casa. Editado en castellano por @77mundos.bsky.social, es uno de los mejores suplementos del género grimdark.
𝑵𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑨𝒃𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒐, 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆. 🤘🔥🔥🤘
#ElRincóndelViejoMundo #lodelrol
𝑵𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑨𝒃𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒐, 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆. 🤘🔥🔥🤘
#ElRincóndelViejoMundo #lodelrol
December 2, 2025 at 11:09 AM
#MainGauche para @zweihanderrpg.bsky.social recibido en casa. Editado en castellano por @77mundos.bsky.social, es uno de los mejores suplementos del género grimdark.
𝑵𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑨𝒃𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒐, 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆. 🤘🔥🔥🤘
#ElRincóndelViejoMundo #lodelrol
𝑵𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑨𝒃𝒊𝒔𝒎𝒐, 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒓𝒂 𝒅𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒆. 🤘🔥🔥🤘
#ElRincóndelViejoMundo #lodelrol
This is an awesome deal for the Arkham Horror TTRPG boxed kit by Edge Studios.
$20 shipped in the US!
amzn.to/48j6m5C
$20 shipped in the US!
amzn.to/48j6m5C
December 2, 2025 at 12:39 AM
This is an awesome deal for the Arkham Horror TTRPG boxed kit by Edge Studios.
$20 shipped in the US!
amzn.to/48j6m5C
$20 shipped in the US!
amzn.to/48j6m5C
The old scarcity model used to keep FLGS sales booming.
But when 5e books are everywhere (and heavily discounted online) it naturally cuts into what local stores can move.
NPD BookScan has the numbers to back it up.
The upside? Non-5e titles at FLGS have been steadily climbing since 2018.
But when 5e books are everywhere (and heavily discounted online) it naturally cuts into what local stores can move.
NPD BookScan has the numbers to back it up.
The upside? Non-5e titles at FLGS have been steadily climbing since 2018.
From an FLGS perspective, 5e conversions rarely do as well for us compared to the original. My perception is that the 5e market is dominated by direct sales and Amazon; we get much less of a look in. We sell 3x One Ring vs LotR 5e for example, but it clearly does well enough to justify publication
November 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The old scarcity model used to keep FLGS sales booming.
But when 5e books are everywhere (and heavily discounted online) it naturally cuts into what local stores can move.
NPD BookScan has the numbers to back it up.
The upside? Non-5e titles at FLGS have been steadily climbing since 2018.
But when 5e books are everywhere (and heavily discounted online) it naturally cuts into what local stores can move.
NPD BookScan has the numbers to back it up.
The upside? Non-5e titles at FLGS have been steadily climbing since 2018.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
I am writing another bloody TTRPG. My cursed soul cannot stop.
November 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I am writing another bloody TTRPG. My cursed soul cannot stop.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Wouldst thou like to live deliciously this Thanksgiving?
November 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Wouldst thou like to live deliciously this Thanksgiving?
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Discoverability. Your creative work shares mindspace with everything that ever came before you as well as your contemporaries and the new hotness that'll come after your title.
Less of an issue if you're doing things solely for the creation, but PRIMARY if you're trying to make a living at it.
Less of an issue if you're doing things solely for the creation, but PRIMARY if you're trying to make a living at it.
What's the flavour of the current era of TTRPG design? Social Media Refragmentation? Is it a consolidation cycle? What are the new upcoming designers struggling with and against now?
November 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Discoverability. Your creative work shares mindspace with everything that ever came before you as well as your contemporaries and the new hotness that'll come after your title.
Less of an issue if you're doing things solely for the creation, but PRIMARY if you're trying to make a living at it.
Less of an issue if you're doing things solely for the creation, but PRIMARY if you're trying to make a living at it.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
La hora del Abismo está cada vez más cerca para l@s mecenas de #MainGauche. 👏
Los libros van a empezar a salir de imprenta en dirección a sus nuevos hogares, donde formarán un tándem perfecto con ese gran tomo de ZWEIHÄNDER 👿 así que ¡atentos a los emisarios!
#lodelrol
Los libros van a empezar a salir de imprenta en dirección a sus nuevos hogares, donde formarán un tándem perfecto con ese gran tomo de ZWEIHÄNDER 👿 así que ¡atentos a los emisarios!
#lodelrol
November 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
La hora del Abismo está cada vez más cerca para l@s mecenas de #MainGauche. 👏
Los libros van a empezar a salir de imprenta en dirección a sus nuevos hogares, donde formarán un tándem perfecto con ese gran tomo de ZWEIHÄNDER 👿 así que ¡atentos a los emisarios!
#lodelrol
Los libros van a empezar a salir de imprenta en dirección a sus nuevos hogares, donde formarán un tándem perfecto con ese gran tomo de ZWEIHÄNDER 👿 así que ¡atentos a los emisarios!
#lodelrol
Wouldst thou like to live deliciously this Thanksgiving?
November 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Wouldst thou like to live deliciously this Thanksgiving?
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Hey, props to writers who got literally anything done this year.
November 26, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Hey, props to writers who got literally anything done this year.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
There’s a very specific Venn diagram out there: a single circle made up of people shouting “games should be free, piracy lolers,” who are somehow also vehemently anti-AI.
It’s always “pay artists,” right up until paying artists means they can’t get their free PDFs.
It’s always “pay artists,” right up until paying artists means they can’t get their free PDFs.
November 26, 2025 at 5:14 AM
There’s a very specific Venn diagram out there: a single circle made up of people shouting “games should be free, piracy lolers,” who are somehow also vehemently anti-AI.
It’s always “pay artists,” right up until paying artists means they can’t get their free PDFs.
It’s always “pay artists,” right up until paying artists means they can’t get their free PDFs.
I'll take this fit any day of the week over the quintessential leather jacket of every cawp on tv.
November 26, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I'll take this fit any day of the week over the quintessential leather jacket of every cawp on tv.
One of the approaches I've been using in development of NOCTURNE Gothic Horror OSR is the removal of d20 rolls for the DM.
The playtesters have loved this. They feel more agency in defending against attacks/magic/etc.
Here is a look at the fully converted D&D 5e Wight:
The playtesters have loved this. They feel more agency in defending against attacks/magic/etc.
Here is a look at the fully converted D&D 5e Wight:
November 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
One of the approaches I've been using in development of NOCTURNE Gothic Horror OSR is the removal of d20 rolls for the DM.
The playtesters have loved this. They feel more agency in defending against attacks/magic/etc.
Here is a look at the fully converted D&D 5e Wight:
The playtesters have loved this. They feel more agency in defending against attacks/magic/etc.
Here is a look at the fully converted D&D 5e Wight:
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Three more of my GREEN GLOW pieces for the @iam8bit.com anniversary show! I think there are still prints of all three here: www.iam8bit.com/search?&q=ko...
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Three more of my GREEN GLOW pieces for the @iam8bit.com anniversary show! I think there are still prints of all three here: www.iam8bit.com/search?&q=ko...
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
[#FanzineFocus XXXVII] LOWBORN Issue I
A review of the first issue of ‘An Independent Grim Perilous Fanzine for Zweihänder RPG’.
rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/fanz...
#reviewsfromrlyeh #rpgreview #rpgreviews #Fanzine #FanzineFocus
A review of the first issue of ‘An Independent Grim Perilous Fanzine for Zweihänder RPG’.
rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/fanz...
#reviewsfromrlyeh #rpgreview #rpgreviews #Fanzine #FanzineFocus
[Fanzine Focus XXXVII] LOWBORN Issue I
On the tail of the Old School Renaissance has come another movement—the rise of the fanzine. Although the fanzine—a nonprofessional and nono...
rlyehreviews.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:44 PM
[#FanzineFocus XXXVII] LOWBORN Issue I
A review of the first issue of ‘An Independent Grim Perilous Fanzine for Zweihänder RPG’.
rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/fanz...
#reviewsfromrlyeh #rpgreview #rpgreviews #Fanzine #FanzineFocus
A review of the first issue of ‘An Independent Grim Perilous Fanzine for Zweihänder RPG’.
rlyehreviews.blogspot.com/2025/04/fanz...
#reviewsfromrlyeh #rpgreview #rpgreviews #Fanzine #FanzineFocus
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Shipping out more copies of Haunted West today, and it genuinely brightens my whole day. Your support inspires me to keep writing and creating strange, wonderful worlds.
Thank you for riding along with me! 🤠👻💛 #BlackOwnedBusiness #TTRPG
Thank you for riding along with me! 🤠👻💛 #BlackOwnedBusiness #TTRPG
November 19, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Shipping out more copies of Haunted West today, and it genuinely brightens my whole day. Your support inspires me to keep writing and creating strange, wonderful worlds.
Thank you for riding along with me! 🤠👻💛 #BlackOwnedBusiness #TTRPG
Thank you for riding along with me! 🤠👻💛 #BlackOwnedBusiness #TTRPG
I want to share with you a very sobering fact.
In the last 3 years, I have made 12 mass market board games.
Each of those board games took less effort to sell more units individually in the first 3 months than Zweihander RPG did in a year.
25-30k units each by month 3 vs 12k units by year 1.
In the last 3 years, I have made 12 mass market board games.
Each of those board games took less effort to sell more units individually in the first 3 months than Zweihander RPG did in a year.
25-30k units each by month 3 vs 12k units by year 1.
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I want to share with you a very sobering fact.
In the last 3 years, I have made 12 mass market board games.
Each of those board games took less effort to sell more units individually in the first 3 months than Zweihander RPG did in a year.
25-30k units each by month 3 vs 12k units by year 1.
In the last 3 years, I have made 12 mass market board games.
Each of those board games took less effort to sell more units individually in the first 3 months than Zweihander RPG did in a year.
25-30k units each by month 3 vs 12k units by year 1.
This is such a great insight, esp on regular KS updates.
The desire to make "high art" gets in the way of actually getting the thing done.
Certainly make the games you want, but you also have to be okay with getting it 90% of the quality you desire. That last 10% is what trips people up.
The desire to make "high art" gets in the way of actually getting the thing done.
Certainly make the games you want, but you also have to be okay with getting it 90% of the quality you desire. That last 10% is what trips people up.
After ten years making indie TTRPGs I’ve learned that you don’t have to make *good* games to succeed. It is enough to make *okay* games with humility and regularly scheduled Kickstarter updates.
November 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This is such a great insight, esp on regular KS updates.
The desire to make "high art" gets in the way of actually getting the thing done.
Certainly make the games you want, but you also have to be okay with getting it 90% of the quality you desire. That last 10% is what trips people up.
The desire to make "high art" gets in the way of actually getting the thing done.
Certainly make the games you want, but you also have to be okay with getting it 90% of the quality you desire. That last 10% is what trips people up.
Fiction isn’t a moral lesson by default.
When you design games, don’t sanitize them. Be bold. Be divisive. Be daring.
Make the things that creatively light you up. The right audience will always find you.
Yes, even for your strange, sharp-edged, gloriously divisive TTRPG.
When you design games, don’t sanitize them. Be bold. Be divisive. Be daring.
Make the things that creatively light you up. The right audience will always find you.
Yes, even for your strange, sharp-edged, gloriously divisive TTRPG.
November 18, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Fiction isn’t a moral lesson by default.
When you design games, don’t sanitize them. Be bold. Be divisive. Be daring.
Make the things that creatively light you up. The right audience will always find you.
Yes, even for your strange, sharp-edged, gloriously divisive TTRPG.
When you design games, don’t sanitize them. Be bold. Be divisive. Be daring.
Make the things that creatively light you up. The right audience will always find you.
Yes, even for your strange, sharp-edged, gloriously divisive TTRPG.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Michael (also known as @mkemichael.bsky.social), a pal and a big fan of great roleplaying games like Shadowdark and DCC, is almost to his goal for his gauntlet scenario.
Let’s help him cross that finish line!
Let’s help him cross that finish line!
Hirelings to Heroes
0-level funnel/gauntlet adventure for DCC/Shadowdark. Hirelings become heroes who might bring the gods and magic back into the world.
www.kickstarter.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Michael (also known as @mkemichael.bsky.social), a pal and a big fan of great roleplaying games like Shadowdark and DCC, is almost to his goal for his gauntlet scenario.
Let’s help him cross that finish line!
Let’s help him cross that finish line!
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Rebecca Heineman - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:52 PM
My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away.
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
Fuck cancer.
Friends, let’s not forget her: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca...
I blocked out the UX for the Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR character sheet on Sunday.
I am thinking more like a haunted brochure than a trad character sheet: stark lines, wide gutters, tactile slots for Dread, Inner Darkness, and Role abilities.
Form and mood work together.
I am thinking more like a haunted brochure than a trad character sheet: stark lines, wide gutters, tactile slots for Dread, Inner Darkness, and Role abilities.
Form and mood work together.
November 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I blocked out the UX for the Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR character sheet on Sunday.
I am thinking more like a haunted brochure than a trad character sheet: stark lines, wide gutters, tactile slots for Dread, Inner Darkness, and Role abilities.
Form and mood work together.
I am thinking more like a haunted brochure than a trad character sheet: stark lines, wide gutters, tactile slots for Dread, Inner Darkness, and Role abilities.
Form and mood work together.
Ravenloft in 3rd edition D&D by Sword & Sorcery took the sometimes-goofy Hammer Horror of the setting and matured it in a way yet-unrealized by 5e.
That's why over a year ago I began developing Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR in response. And it's nearly ready for public beta.
That's why over a year ago I began developing Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR in response. And it's nearly ready for public beta.
November 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Ravenloft in 3rd edition D&D by Sword & Sorcery took the sometimes-goofy Hammer Horror of the setting and matured it in a way yet-unrealized by 5e.
That's why over a year ago I began developing Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR in response. And it's nearly ready for public beta.
That's why over a year ago I began developing Nocturne Gothic Horror OSR in response. And it's nearly ready for public beta.
Reposted by DANIEL D. FOX
Hell yes
A pair of expansions for the Shadowdark RPG, delving into the infernal recesses of the Dark Realms
Featuring 3 Player Classes (Bloodguard, Diabolist, and Sin Eater), 4 Ancestries, 30 New Spells, 18 Major NPCs, dozens of minions and artifacts, and a book full of adventures in the Inferno!
A pair of expansions for the Shadowdark RPG, delving into the infernal recesses of the Dark Realms
Featuring 3 Player Classes (Bloodguard, Diabolist, and Sin Eater), 4 Ancestries, 30 New Spells, 18 Major NPCs, dozens of minions and artifacts, and a book full of adventures in the Inferno!
Dark Devilry | for the Shadowdark RPG
A pair of fiendish supplements for Shadowdark and the wider OSR space.
www.kickstarter.com
October 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Hell yes
A pair of expansions for the Shadowdark RPG, delving into the infernal recesses of the Dark Realms
Featuring 3 Player Classes (Bloodguard, Diabolist, and Sin Eater), 4 Ancestries, 30 New Spells, 18 Major NPCs, dozens of minions and artifacts, and a book full of adventures in the Inferno!
A pair of expansions for the Shadowdark RPG, delving into the infernal recesses of the Dark Realms
Featuring 3 Player Classes (Bloodguard, Diabolist, and Sin Eater), 4 Ancestries, 30 New Spells, 18 Major NPCs, dozens of minions and artifacts, and a book full of adventures in the Inferno!
Zweihander RPG in a nutshell
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Zweihander RPG in a nutshell