The Meta-First Way
An alternative (and experimental) approach to roleplaying games that does what fiction-first systems cannot.
Latest
Stop Hiding the Apes in Your RPG
How to show the cool and important parts of your game without muddling the work, burying the lede, and creating more noise.
Explorers Design in Review
A 2024 retrospective, the best Explorers Design articles of the year, and plans for the future.
The Explorateur: Issue #3
Monthly design discoveries for tabletop rpg designers including jams, critique, theory, and tools. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Exploring Nighthawks
In this week's design delve, we inspect how tabletop games engage with fine art.
Accessibility in Tabletop Design
What is accessible design? Why is it important? And how can we get more of it in tabletop game design?
Tabletop Accessibility Checklist
A forever-unfinished list of guidelines for making analog games more accessible.
Small Factions for Sunk Cost
Homebrew factions for the early release of Sunk Cost a game by Magnolia Keep.
Exploring Bucket of Bolts
In this week's design delve, we lift the hood on ritual mechanics, product design, and splitting your product into different pieces.
2024 Gifts for RPG Designers
Here are 5 gifts you can get your favorite game designers. No gold necessary.
The Explorateur: Issue #2
Monthly discoveries for tabletop roleplaying game designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Not All That Glitters Is Gold
A mini-article of 50 roleplaying game currencies that aren't gold for Blog Friday.
Education
Typography 101: Getting Started
Beginner tips and tricks for setting up, arranging, and pairing your game's typography.
Ideas
What is an RPG? Doesn't matter.
Should designers explain what rpgs are in their games? My short answer is no. My long answer is complicated.
News
The Explorateur: Issue #1
Monthly discoveries for tabletop roleplaying game designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Education
Slay Word Kobolds | Copywriting
Avoid these three copywriting mistakes when promoting your game.
Education
General Design 101: The Explorers' Method
How to design games and everything else with the Explorers Design five-step method.
Ideas
Hacking the Mothership
Troubleshoot. My hack for Mothership.
Ideas
Playing the Corporate Baddies
Draw from real life, avoid the myths. and treat them like the antagonists they are.
News
Becoming Judge | ENNIES pt.3
I'm your judge in the 25th annual ENNIES.
Critique
Exploring Knave 2E
Is the Questing Beast book all bark and no bite? We'll have to find out.
News
Sharing My Ballot | ENNIES pt.2
A look into my thought process. Vote Clayton Notestine for the 2025 ENnies.
Education
Where to Get Free Fonts
Typefaces. How to search. Where to find them.
News
Running for Judge | ENNIES pt.1
Rank Clayton Notestine #1 in this year's ENnies.