One Of My Favorite TTRPGs Is Kicking Butt On Kickstarter
Dungeons & Dragons is practically synonymous with "tabletop role-playing games," but sometimes you want something a little different. Or at least I do. And in the wake of Wizard of the Coast's 2023 OGL fiasco, a ton of TTRPGs that are D&D-like but different in their own way popped up--Critical Role's Daggerheart, Kobold Press' Tales of the Valiant, The Arcane Library's Shadowdark, Gila RPGs' Dragon Slayers, and MCDM Productions' Draw Steel, just to name a few. My favorite of the lot (so far--time and money prevents me from playing everything I want to try) is Nimble, which originally existed as an alternative ruleset for D&D 5e in 2023, but then it evolved into its own system in 2024 with a Backerkit crowdfunder that exceeded its $5,000 goal by over $260,000. Now, Nimble is on Kickstarter for a reprint and expansion, and it has overshot its $50,000 goal by $663,000 with a week to go (as of publishing this article).
Nimble is a system built on speed. It accomplishes this by being more efficient than a lot of other combat-driven TTRPGs. Just comparing it to D&D 5.5e, Nimble has four ability scores instead of six, and 10 skills instead of 18 (which is too many, WotC!). These changes make for a smaller and easier-to-track character sheet. This also makes it very easy to onboard new players, even if they've never played a TTRPG. Instead of keeping track of the pages of notes you'd need for something like D&D, Nimble only asks you to keep on top of what amounts to half a page of numbers when you're first starting out. In Nimble, you can understand your character at a glance.
Combat is where Nimble really shines, though. There aren't a ton of weapons and spells but each does something unique and is useful, and since initiative puts emphasis on the players going before enemy creatures and attacks almost always hit, every player feels suitably heroic whenever combat happens. A simple and easy-to-remember action economy and loosy-goosey handling of initiative order ensures the Game Master can keep battles feeling punchy and fast-paced as well, controlling the tempo of every scene and creating avenues for the players to be both creative and tactical. My biggest qualm with D&D, especially at the higher levels of play, is that a single combat encounter can last for three to four hours (sometimes longer!). In Nimble, the longest encounter I've ever had was an hour. I like having room for the exploration and social pillars in my sessions, which typically only last for three hours.Continue Reading at GameSpot
05.03.2026 23:18
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Buy Lexi - BlackGirlMage a Coffee
Become a supporter of Lexi - BlackGirlMage today!
hi friends! i'm in the final month of my living situation, and before I kick off a month of streams/games to raise funds for my move, I wanted to throw my k0-fi here as I'm a bit under for rent this month, and would appreciate any help to get me there!
ko-fi.com/blackgirlmag...
28.02.2026 18:19
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Brotherwise Games: We are Hiring! Social Media Coordinator
Brotherwise Games is expanding our team! If you're passionate about social media and engaging the tabletop community, please consider applying for our Social Media Coordinator role!
Links to job description and application below 👇
03.02.2026 14:13
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A mutual aid poster with a picture of Lexi (a brown-skinned femme-presenting person) in a circular frame at the top. It advertises two days of fundraising, January 22nd where she plans to do a video game marathon and script reading game called script blitz. On January 23, she will play The Quiet Year Live with Kendrick Smith and live artist Nala J. Wu. Finally there are fun tags across the poster that read, 'fun! music! games! gay people!' and a caption that reads, "help me raise funds to help with my living situation!' and a ko-fi link that is linked later in the post.
HELLO FRIENDS!!! this week i'm going to be streaming and raising funds to alleviate the financial stress of my current living situation! THURSDAY we're going to be playing THE QUIET YEAR LIVE with an actual artist (@naladraws.com!!!) and some friends @kendomakesfilms.bsky.social and more!!
21.01.2026 16:42
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How I Heard It Guest Writer Application
First Pancake Studios is seeking guest writers for our upcoming TTRPG How I Heard it (Free Ashcan Available Here). How I Heard it is a GM-less storytelling game played around a campfire. Players take ...
Hey you! Are you a TTRPG writer staring at discourse on bluesky??? Would you rather be writing for a game? I want to pay you (at $0.20/word) to write for a zine month project!
I'm seeking folks interested in folk stories and examining power structures in storytelling!
17.01.2026 00:04
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We're looking for a News Editor to join TWIV. Ideal candidate would have proven experience with:
- Working in news for a games outlet
- Conducting original reporting
- Mentoring junior writers
...and genuinely enjoy writing news, diving deep, and talking to people. UK timezone preferred. Email me.
13.01.2026 10:16
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Hell yeah! 😍 I knew begging in a GS video would work 😅
15.01.2026 16:42
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hi! i'm co-founding a new gaming website with my former polygon colleague @zoehhannah.com. it's called mothership.blog. i made it for someone like me... the kind of website i always wished we had in our space. watch the video to learn more :D
09.01.2026 17:04
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It's called Story difficulty and it's GLORIOUS, Steve. Join me in playing more games on their easiest available option.
12.12.2025 04:20
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Senior Managing Editor, Square Enix (Open to Remote)
Senior Managing Editor, Square Enix (Open to Remote)
🚀 Square Enix is hiring a Senior Managing Editor.
Full time, open to Remote (US Only?), $76.5K. Must apply by Jan 9, 2026. #comicjobs
jobsearch.createyourowncareer.com/PRH_US/job/S...
10.12.2025 22:53
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Folks! We are at 94% overall reviews on Steam, which means we are very close (🤞) to getting an Overwhelmingly Positive overall rating. This is every dev's dream, and we are so grateful for your support. If you liked Cabernet, please consider giving us a thumbs up there 👍🖤
26.11.2025 01:00
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'Few games capture the spirit of indie game development quite like VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. What initially started out as a short game for a Cyberpunk Game Jam back in 2014, soon became a standout indie hit. VA-11 Hall-A delivers a heartfelt story of happiness in the depths of disaster, draped in a unique cyberpunk aesthetic and set to a distinctive synthwave soundtrack to match. It’s a truly remarkable visual novel, and the perfect choice for our Design Works range.
Produced in collaboration with Sukeban Games and Ysbryd, VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works explores the corrupt metropolis of Glitch City, its culture, and the people who frequent the game’s beloved hole in the wall, VA-11 Hall-A. Written by talented journalist and author Ashley Schofield (Polygon, EDGE, Unwinnable and VGC), you’ll hear how this world came to be and the cyberpunk touchstones that inspired it — all the while lending insight into the history of Venezuela, where the team is located, and the unique challenges of developing a game there. VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works will be a celebration of this beautiful indie masterpiece, and the people that made it all possible.
Alongside contemporary interviews with writer/programmer Fernando Damas and artist/designer Christopher Ortiz conducted exclusively for VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works, the book also features a collection of highlights from the ‘Daily VA-11 Hall-A’ blog posts directly from Sukeban.moe. You can also expect deep dives into the development of the game’s prototype and prologue; the bartending mechanics that put you in the shoes of disaster bisexual bartender Jill Stingray, and interviews exploring its iconic synthwave soundtrack/jukebox with composer Michael Kelly.
VA-11 Hall-A: Design Works features detailed insight into the game’s early concepts and development, an exploration of Glitch City itself, and a deep dive into the programming, art and soundtrack — an unmissable read for any fan.'
A magazine cover of Unwinnable Monthly #191, with the feature being my essay 'I Don't Want To Be This Kind of Animal Anymore' and art by Shafer Brown.
An excerpt reads:
In the dark times, should the stars also go out?
'Revachol is still. Silent. Decades of unrest, corruption and capital gain have reduced it to a shell of a city. And yet, under these sullen skies, a miracle is happening. The limbed and headed machine of pain and undignified suffering is firing up again.'
My review of Hollow Knight: Silksong for Video Games Chronicle.
'Hollow Knight: Silksong review: A game that intends to make you suffer, even to its own detriment.
Team Cherry’s sequel has a clear mission statement, but doesn’t seem to consider the consequences.
3/5 stars.'
My review of Demonschool for Rock Paper Shotgun, included in RPS' Bestest Bests category.
'Demonschool review
Saturday morning carcasses.'
hey, i'm looking for work! full-time or freelance 💜
journalist, critic, author
proficient in features, criticism, reporting, reviews, previews, news, guides
words at lost in cult, RPS, VGC, unwinnable, gamesradar+, polygon, EDGE, PLAY
muckrack.com/ash-like-a-d...
ashleyschofieldwrites@gmail.com
22.11.2025 11:52
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For anyone who can, a GoFundMe has been set up to help Rob's wife and their young daughter. Sending tons and tons of love and deepest condolences to Rob's family and friends.
www.gofundme.com/f/family-of-...
15.10.2025 03:00
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Associate Community Manager (Independent Contractor)
Job Opening: Associate Community Manager (Independent Contractor) at Ruckus Games in United States.
I'm hiring for an Associate Community Manager (Contract) for
@ruckus-games.com !
This is an entry level position, especially great for streamers/content creators looking for the opportunity to break into the industry.
bit.ly/48vLiuw
#gamedevjob #indiegame #streamer
25.09.2025 21:36
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Wolverine from Insomniac's Marvel's Wolverine is preparing to extend his adamantine claws while dressed in his traditional yellow and black suit.
Interesting to see Marvel's Wolverine adopt the traditional color scheme and style for Logan's suit. After the studio gave Spider-Man that big ol' white spider, I was expecting Insomniac to similarly distinguish its Wolverine's look from the classic look.
24.09.2025 21:49
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Sr Writer (Contract)
United States, Los Angeles, CA
OPPORTUNITY Senior Writer - Santa Monica - US
Not affiliated. Shares welcome.
job-boards.greenhouse.io/sonyinteract...
24.09.2025 16:39
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I love that my brand must include RPG musicals because five people have messaged me to make sure I knew about this game.
24.09.2025 16:34
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But...how? I've reviewed THREE games at once and felt like I was gonna die. I can't even imagine four...
17.09.2025 18:22
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No, Nintendo and Pokémon did not patent ‘summoning characters and making them battle’
Is that even allowed?
I dug into that recent Pokémon patent on @theverge.com in the interest of getting some facts straight www.theverge.com/games/779062...
17.09.2025 15:38
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🚨🚨Potential job opportunity: looking for someone with experience in social media around gaming and entertainment. If this is you, DM for more details. If this isn't you, but you know someone who it is, send them my way.
05.09.2025 21:18
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Rogue
Ad-free video game news, guides, opinions, history, culture, previews, interviews, and reviews written by humans, for humans
Rogue.site is now a reality! Thank you to everyone along the way who helped make it possible.
If you like what you see, and want more of it. Consider pledging your support with a subscription. Your funds will go to support independent games journalism written by humans, for humans.
02.09.2025 20:09
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