Explorers Design
  • Home
  • The Bloggies
  • Explorateur
  • Education
  • Theory
  • Critique
Sign in Subscribe

Clayton Notestine

Clayton Notestine
A laptop screen with the title, "My 5 favorite rpg newsletters of 2026."

My 5 Favorite RPG Newsletters

Forget the algorithms. We've got people to show us the rpg blogosphere.

13 Jan 2026
The Bloggies Hall of Fame

The Bloggies Hall of Fame

Every winner of The Bloggies from 2022 to 2025. Want to melt your rpg brain? Start here.

06 Jan 2026
A sci-fi computer panel and controls with "The Explorateur" in a blackletter/medieval font on the screen.

Explorateur

The Explorateur: Issue #15

Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.

01 Jan 2026
Multi-colored tiles sit on a grid representing a magical inventory.

Theory

The Jackian Magic System

Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.

23 Dec 2025
How to Design Signals in Books

Education

How to Design Signals in Books

User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.

16 Dec 2025
Critmas Gift Guide 2025

Explorateur

Critmas Gift Guide 2025

The 3 gifts every game designer wants (and a holiday party idea).

10 Dec 2025
How do The Bloggies work?

How do The Bloggies work?

The blogosphere's annual celebration is coming back.

03 Dec 2025
A sci-fi computer panel and controls with "The Explorateur" in a blackletter/medieval font on the screen.

Explorateur

The Explorateur: Issue #14

Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.

01 Dec 2025
Dare to Play it Straight

Critique

Dare to Play it Straight

The rarest tabletop genre is the simplest one. A call for more anti-mashups.

19 Nov 2025
The Affinity Studio logo on a green textured background.

Critique

Affinity Studio First Impressions

Is Affinity Studio the right software for tabletop rpg designers?

12 Nov 2025
A sci-fi computer panel and controls with "The Explorateur" in a blackletter/medieval font on the screen.

Explorateur

The Explorateur: Issue #13

Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.

01 Nov 2025
A paper on a green background with the title "What is bleed and slug?"

Education

What is bleed and slug?

User-friendly layout definitions for tabletop rpg designers.

29 Oct 2025
See all
Explorers Design

Explorers Design

Bespoke adventures, tools, and resources for tabletop game designers.

Recommendations

  • Carouse, Carouse!
    Carouse, Carouse!
    carouse.blog

    A raucous revel of RPG writing and ideas.

  • Backwards Tabletop
    Backwards Tabletop
    backwardstabletop.com

    Home of the Mecha TTRPG Newsletter

  • The Dododecahedron
    The Dododecahedron
    dododecahedron.blog

    Rowan covers some of the best and most innovative ideas in the New School Revolution.

  • Fail Forward
    Fail Forward
    failforward.moe

    Ideas on everything from splatbooks, hexcrawls, language, and more.

  • Hendrik Biweekly
    Hendrik Biweekly
    buttondown.com/hendriktennapel

    Hi, I’m Hendrik ten Napel. I think about the rules and mechanics that make role-playing games tick and reflect on my own experiences playing those games.

Explorers Design
  • Sign up
  • RSS
  • Shop
  • Itch
Powered by Ghost

Explorers Design

Bespoke adventures, tools, and resources for tabletop game designers.