I. Dear friends…
Oof! Monday already.
Remember when this newsletter posted on Tuesdays? Which then became Wednesdays because I was late? …. Which then became Thursdays? … and onward?
So, why have there been more pauses between issues over the past few months? One reason is transformation.
Sunsetting the Writer, and Sunrising Something New!
Today, I’ve begun writing what will be the LAST article on ChaoticanWriter.com. Yup! That geeky niche blog which had been my proud sea vessel for a decade is about to make port for the last time.
In its place will be a NEW property; something that continues the spirit of CW while stepping boldly into the hobby gaming industry as a new, flashy corsair ship destined to be a place with my own indie TTRPG products, as well as a blog for game development, world-building, and other things.
I’m calling it… Odd Fair Press!
The grounds for festivity and magic amongst the unique and the strange.
While the website already exists, and is technically up now, it will take time to finalize a bunch of the nitty gritty, such as the final color scheme, layout, initial articles, products, and so forth!
Until then, you can gain access to the Random Name Generators here, … and enjoy the main CW site here! … You may notice the new site will become a hodge-podge of new-new content and specially-polished/updated versions of old content. If you want to continue to peek in on the development process, consider subscribing to Dungeon Delve and I’ll keep you tuned in to the next chapter!
II. The Sage Speaks
Honestly, last issues delve into new TTRPG terms has me thirsting for more vocabulary. Language is such a beautiful thing, and learning unique terms can feel like uncovering a treasure trove in and of itself. Therefore, I’ve brought back an old DD segment to showcase more interesting terms
Rule 0: A stand-in for a common rule at most tables, where “the GM has the last say”, regardless what rules-as-written dictates. Its a rule that requires the GM and players to agree upon a social contract and trust-level at the table.
Beer & Pretzels: Not always in-person, but with camaraderie and entertainment as the cornerstone. A relaxed style of gameplay where high stakes, and deep levels of setting engagement are not necessary.
Safety Valve: Turning it releases built up pressure. These are incidents built into a module, or moments put into a live game, designed to ease the atmosphere and tension at a table. Usually a humorous event or background intrusion used to lighten the mood after a high pressure circumstance in-world.
Scene Framing: A concept in film and a GM-technique used to establish a sequence of imaginary events from beginning to end, with clear opening and cut-off. It determines what characters are involved and where it takes place, which then skips fictional time or changes location to a new scene.
III. The Treasure Chest
«««»«»«»«»»» This Weeks FREE Resource!! «««»«»«»«»»»
On my nerdy tech journey of self-hosted services, I’ve adopted a NEW tool which I need to gush about! … Obsidian.md is a note-taking tool which punches above its weight as a personal wiki, knowledge-base, and a platform for cool plugins!! For game masters, there are apps for dice rolling and combat management. For projects, it has apps for kanban boards, tagging, to-dos, templates, calendars, and more! A lot of utility, with somewhat of a technical curve.
IV. Markings on the Wall
TTRPG Sales, Deals, Etc.
The TTRPGs for Trans Rights (Idaho) bundle continues on Itch.io, with over 500 indie games, resources, assets, and more, all for just $5.
Cubicle 7’s Easter Sale continues with 50% off of the physical core books for Warhammer: Age of Sigmar: Soulbound, and the Doctor Who: the Roleplaying Game 2E.
Pathfinder 2E’s Bundle at the Center of the World features a large treasure trove of adventures, maps, and the NPC core physical book, on Humble Bundle raising money for Comicbooks for Kids.
DriveThruRPG hosts a Stock Art Sale with selections perfect for your game dev project, or your next publication!
Final week for Humble Bundle’s Dungeon Masters Adventures Bundle: 3D printable miniature STLs for characters, monsters, scenery, and more!
[4 DAYS LEFT] Magpie Mega Bundle is a collection of great games from Avatar the Last Airbender TTRPG, Masks, Root the Roleplaying Game, etc.
Through the rest of April, Fanatical hosts a bunch of great bundles, from Books of Random Tables, to DCC’s Dying Earth + Purple Planet, the Symbaroum Dark Fantasy Bundle, the Shadowdark Adventures Bundle, and more!
NEW Crowdfunding Projects
Magic of Inventorying - Whoever thought that decluttering would be so much fun? This no-prep, GM-less storytelling game about life after defeating the dungeons monster. Find the loot, and determine the best way to declutter the goods. This game sparks joy!
RPG News and Finds
Ever wanted a specially curated digital experience for running Blades in the Dark? Alchemy VTT has released its own software module, and it looks fantastic! … It includes the automated playbook, guided character generator, and a ton of other goodies!
R Talisorians new game Shadow Scar, a saga of dimension hopping and martial arts, has finally released. I obtained the quick-start from their team while prowling GenCon last year, and I recommend grabbing it and giving it a go at your table!
Stumbled upon this site on Github by Kejid called TTRPG Showcase which is a quick catalogue of different TTRPG systems, their settings, genres, basics of their mechanics, and what people say about them. Might be a cool way to find your next game system!
In a similar vein, TTRPG Wiki is a site whose mission is to provide a similar quick synopsis on RPGs and their core mechanics, highlights, and considerations. Seems the medium has grown so large and varied that new repositories have sprung up!
NEW handout options have appeared on Cthulhu Architect, including a blood test report, book spines, and ring binder notepad! For those looking to easily create handouts for their games.
Is the pen mightier than the sword? A new academic paper (PDF) has been published analyzing the phenomenon of “murderhobo-ism” in hack-and-slash TTRPGs.
A new market research report has just published about the TTRPG market projections from now to 2023, posted on LinkedIn. While the full report costs a LARGE chunk of change intended for TTRPG industry-minded folk, you can get an insight by just reading the initial report.
Blood is thicker than water! The latest season of Dimension 20 with Brendan Lee Mulligan takes on Vampire: The Masquerade in “City Council of Darkness”, Nerdist reports.
For digital players who want to sink their teeth into Draw Steel with their friends over the internet, MCDM and Verisim have released a bespoke VTT for the RPG on Steam, including all of the core rules, assets, and more!
Just me taking pride in a game review from a year ago! … My friend who runs The Dungeons Key put out a looter-shooter RPG called Dirtbags! in March of 2025. If you enjoy the idea of splatting buggy aliens as an incarcerated mercenary, check it out.
If you enjoy one-shot fantasy heists, then I suggest Outclaws from Bardlight Studios, a NEW game inspired by Blades in the Dark, Lasers and Feelings, and Honey Heist. … AND if you like the concept and want to enter a game jam, consider submitting YOUR one-page monster lair!
CC 3.0 Art Credits for Thumbnail:
Kordanalev - Brown Wooden Shelves With Books
PrettaLuz - trailer house quick colored sketch
Check out the previous issue here!