Spencer | Monkeyslunch

Spencer (he/him). Product & design leader by day, #TTRPG #gamedesigner by night. Original games & supplements for your old favs too. 🌈🧠

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

Oh henlo!

I'm Spencer, a design strategist, illustrator, cat dad. I'm creating all sorts of supplements and original #ttrpg games under Bug & Claw! Follow me here or check out https://t.co/ro5HfvZhoy to signup for updates

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

You can also find me on BlueSky

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

I do not support fascists, nazis, or sexual predators.

I will be leaving for the time being, and I recommend you do, too.

If you want to find me in the future, I recommend the links that follow.

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

My main, personal site, where I post about business, product development, and more, as well as where I will be posting resources related to such.
https://t.co/r83ezHjMFj

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

Me and my mutuals

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

I explore some of Bug & Claw's main systems and how they interact in: Main systems - Devlog 31
https://t.co/zhkEscoLVE
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

We can fall in love with mechanics and systems, but everything needs to have a reason to exist in a game, or it can feel bloated. On the flip side, you may spend a long time working on something that ultimately adds little value.

Where do you need to cut?
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

Join the Indie #TTRPG Tumblr Community!
https://t.co/DRMLIkgtXF
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

The Tumblr indie #ttrpg community I started a few months back is now over 1100 members strong, and posting every day!
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

So far, the rules of Bug & Claw are based on these core premises. Perhaps more to come.

Fundamental ideas - Bug & Claw Devlog 20
https://t.co/v31ndRAylv
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

When planning fiction, a setting, or generally world-building, I think it's important to get down what your "Fundamental ideas" are.

What are the things that are always true?
What are the things that effect everything else?
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

A good friend has been encouraging me to start a podcast or youtube channel to chronicle Bug & Claw and other development updates. Keep it low production.

Thinking about it...

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

I speak about different modes of communication for #ttrpg Bug & Claw in:
Communicating - Devlog #30
https://t.co/7v3CjmY3Or
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

Diversity and representation can be really important in games and other media. One way I've explored this is with communication. Different languages are often available in TTRPGs but rarely other modes of communicating.
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

Had to take a couple of weeks off of evening game dev.
We had such a massive shift in weather here that my fancy migraine pills said "nope" and open the door.
Back in the saddle.

[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

This is a concept I am building into Bug & Claw. Read more in:
Roll under, with clarity - Bug & Claw Devlog 24
https://t.co/7pqSlJjHqA
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

If a character would automatically pass a test regardless of their roll because their attribute score is so high, there is no need to roll. If a situation is not challenging then there should be no test to begin with– Do not overuse attribute tests.
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

I explore some of this more in: Game phases: Examining point crawls - Bug & Claw Devlog 28
https://t.co/cnDQJJTQW1
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[Spencer | Monkeyslunch @bugandclaw]

An aspect of TTRPGs that I find incredibly interesting is when a game successfully separates various phases, like town, camp, dungeon diving, overworld, and so on.

Which games have you seen that do this really well?
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