The Explorateur: Issue #11
Monthly design discoveries for tabletop rpg designers including jams, critique, theory, and tools. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Heads down. Pencils up.
Like many people, I've been busy the past few months. Somehow unscathed from Gen Con, I was instead blindsided by my day job (ain't that the way). Meanwhile, in the background, I've been trying to avoid burnout the only way I know how:
By letting myself be the guy on the mountain. Holed up. Busy chopping wood.
Sometime this month, I'll be releasing my multi-part series on The Ennie Awards, then it's back to writing adventures, reviewing games, and talking about fonts. But enough about that, I have to get back to work. What's your tactic for avoiding burn out?
Let's get on to last month's discoveries...
Quest Givers
This section shares any game jams, contests, and collaborations. If you want to share a community event, jam, or project message me on Bluesky.
- Cassette Case Game Jam. You can fit quite a bit into a standard cassette case, so why not pack a whole game into one? This jam, like many others, is all about brevity, form factor, and a can-do attitude. Jam ends September 30th.
- Minimalist TTRPG Jam 4. No pictures, no graphics, and no layout. This jam is all about writing a game with nothing but words and ideas to carry it. If you're looking for a challenge—this one's it. Jam ends November 1st.
- Mecha Mini-Games/Firebrands Game Jam. If you don't know the game, Firebrands, it's Meguey and Vincent Baker’s family of mini games with big-ass robots and human-sized pilots. The jam ends October 31st.
- The Onegeon Manifesto. 2025 has been the year of manifestos. This one by Cats Have No Lord, challenges designers to make singular rooms interesting enough to slot onto other dungeons. The jam ends December 3oth.
- Enter the Zungeon. I'm resurfacing this competition now that we're entering Fall. Kludge together a fast and weird zungeon zine. Oh, you forgot know what a Zungeon is? Check out the Zungeon Manifesto. Jam ends December 30th.
Reviews & Exhibits
Critique and examinations of tabletop rpgs, adventures, and more. I try to share exhibits with something to say other than the usual, "Is this worth buying?"
- Legend in the Mist by Bob World Builder. Video. Son of Oak's latest game, Legend in the Mist, is an rpg giant that lives in its own corner of the industry, which is a shame because it's very interesting.
- Daggerheart Thoughts and Ramblings by How to Solo TTRPG. This is a thorough read of Daggerheart, its mechanics, and what they might mean in play. It's a shame Critical Role isn't playing it this season.
- Unicorn Meat is a Masterpiece by Valeria Loves. There are many words to describe Unicorn Meat and schlock is just one of them. But unlike many of its compatriots, Unicorn has something else. Art.
- A Perfect Wife by Idle Cartulary. Zedeck Siew's latest game is unlike anything he's made before. Set in a modern day neighborhood, it brings Zedeck's signature cocktail of dread, chills, and beauty to capsule games.
- How the Wildsea Produces Culture by A.A. Voigt. Video. This is a great exploration into the Wildsea setting and how it's themes and design create a world of evocative and engaging characters.
Rumors & Best-iary
The never-sponsored section of the newsletter. These links are anything I think are worth exploring, but might not fit in any of the other categories.
- Mausritter Month is Coming! It starts in November. If you're a big swords-and-whiskers fan, put it on your calendar (and maybe save some money so you're not skimping on holiday meals afterwards).
- A Pattern Language for (OSR) Adventure Design by Dungeon Merlin. Christopher Alexander's architecture book, A Pattern Language, has permeated every part of the design world. This is a cool experiment.
- The Weekly Scroll Interviews KOBAYASHI. Video. This is a good interview about being the much-coveted offline designer. (If you're a consummate multitasker, check out the Weekly Scroll podcast.)
- Grognardia Interviews Sean McCoy. It's probably not too surprising that cosmic horror was an influence on Sean McCoy's Mothership. This interview covers the bases—horror, madness, fatalism, and more.
- A Combat Conversation w/ Chris McDowall. Quinns made this interview free on his Patreon, and thank god for that, because it's fantastic. One of the industry's best reviewers talking to one of its best designers about combat.
- Fantastic Sports (TTRPGs) and Where to Find Them by Weird Place. Video. Don't worry, this isn't another interview. Instead, it's a parade of sports-themed rpgs you've probably never heard of. Expand your horizons.
Theory & Advice
Any ideas, guidance, and tools that make playing and creating in the tabletop space more engaging, meaningful, and rewarding. This is the catch-all section.
- How Dice Create Game Feel by Chris P Wolf. An excellent article about "game feel" that intangible quality when playing a video game that makes players good—a concept and topic seldom discussed in rpgs.
- A Comprehensive Guide to TTRPG Art, Commissioning & Licensing by Araukana. This guide is doing good work. It covers terminology and process with awesome examples from across the rpg industry.
- Sicko Worldbuilding by Mindstorm. It's not enough to be a tourist in your fictional world, you have to live in. This article has some great quotes about how other designers make their worlds feel real (by being sickos).
- Game Mechanics as Affordances by Hendrik Biweekly. If you haven't read The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman, you're missing out. This article explores how we might use product design language to explain how rpgs work.
- A Dungeon of Your Own by Goblin Punch. "Everyone should write a dungeon at least once." This article is one-part advice and one-part design diary. It also has a few bonus links to check out.
Design Lore
Design inspiration from beyond tabletop rpgs. I share them when I find them.
- Penguin Publishing's Inclusive Sans by Olivia King. This newest typeface was a three-year endeavor by Olivia King to give Penguin an all-new typefaces that's more legible than ever. The best part? Everyone can use it.
- Why Art Directors Ghost You, by True Grit Texture Supply. Another great article for illustrators and designers working with clients, this time it's hyper-focused on something less common in rpgs—the art director.
- Why Fictional Religions Feel So Fake by ReligionforBreakfast. Video. Next time you write a super tidy religion for your game, give this a watch. It's great worldbuilding advice for religion, cults, and characters.
- Best Book Covers of August 2025 by Print Magazine. It's always good too see what's trending in your local bookstore, even if it's only half as interesting as your average paperback from the '70s.
- Studio Showcase: The Folio Society. It's not a design agency, it's even better that that, it's an independent publisher—a publisher with the best covers, art, and typesetting in the business. Too bad my favorites cost an arm and leg.
- Artist Showcase: Marc Moureau. It's no secret I'm a fan of pulp fantasy, and Marc Moureau illustrates very colorful, very active pulp fantasy. I especially like the black and white illustrations.
Design Archive
Sometimes I miss something or want to bring it back from the dead.
- Textual Rebellion and the Rejections of RPGs by Sidney Icarus. This remains one of my favorite musings on "RPGs as manuals" and what it means to read, obey, and even reject a book's instructions. It predates lyric games.
- D&D's Obsession with Taxonomy by Zedeck's Writing Hours. Every year, I stand on my roof and yell, "The art direction for D&D 3rd edition is the most conceptually-D&D style of all time!" This article is my first "evidence" for why.
Missed the last issue? Read it here.
Clayton Notestine
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