The Explorateur: Issue #17
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Latest
Designing Lore Blocks
An alternative to stat blocks designed for The 1 HP Dragon.
Bloggies Breakdown: Round 4
The Bloggies Tournament is over. Here are the 2026 champions...
Bloggies Breakdown: Round 3
After the third Bloggies Blog Bath: Who won? And by how much?
Bloggies Breakdown: Round 2
After the second Bloggies Blog Bath: Who won? And by how much?
Bloggies Breakdown: Round 1
After The Bloggies Blog Bath: Who won? And by how much?
The Bloggies' 2026 Nominees
Over 90+ blog posts. And a surprise category for 2026.
What's Next After Submissions?
The Bloggies' 2026 submissions are closed. Here's what's next...
The Explorateur: Issue #16
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Against Dominant Mechanics
Rules form relationships with each other. Some share play. Some hog it.
My 5 Favorite RPG Newsletters
Forget the algorithms. We've got people to show us the rpg blogosphere.
The Bloggies Hall of Fame
Every winner of The Bloggies from 2022 to 2025. Want to melt your rpg brain? Start here.
Explorateur
The Explorateur: Issue #15
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Theory
The Jackian Magic System
Experimental mechanics that combine Mausritter inventory, Tetris, and engine-building into an alternative Vancian magic system.
Education
How to Design Signals in Books
User-friendly definitions, tips, and tricks for tabletop rpg designers.
Explorateur
Critmas Gift Guide 2025
The 3 gifts every game designer wants (and a holiday party idea).
How do The Bloggies work?
The blogosphere's annual celebration is coming back.
Explorateur
The Explorateur: Issue #14
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Critique
Dare to Play it Straight
The rarest tabletop genre is the simplest one. A call for more anti-mashups.
Critique
Affinity Studio First Impressions
Is Affinity Studio the right software for tabletop rpg designers?
Explorateur
The Explorateur: Issue #13
Monthly design jams, critique, theory, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers by rpg designers. Vetted. Looted. Curated.
Education
What is bleed and slug?
User-friendly layout definitions for tabletop rpg designers.
Education
How to Promote Your Work
How to reach out to blogs, pods, and media outlets, and the 5 things creators can do to promote their work in a more community-minded way.
Critique
The Awards Debrief
A 4-part series on rpg awards, how they're designed, and what they mean for the rpg industry with a behind-the-scenes breakdown and critique of the Ennies.