Ben at 𝒹𝟧

@d5

Independent game developer working on "of Cogs and Monsters" and UnHeroic.

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Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· 15d

I also got a solo game called Be Like A Crow by Tim Roberts. It's taking a lot of effort to not just lock in and play this all night since I theoretically want to be awake for more con tomorrow morning. #TTRPG #SoloTTRPG #BeLikeACrow

A zine-sized book with a large crow on the cover labeled "Be Like a Crow" "a solo role-playing game" at the top and "created by Tim Roberts" at the bottom

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· 15d

The Exhibit Hall at Gen Con has been open for two days and haven't purchased a single die. My inner dice goblin will have to settle for beverage-based dragon pins.

Three pins pinned to black backgrounds, featuring the creator's website: UkiyoeHeroes.com

The top pin is a wide-eyed dragon perched on a mug of coffee.

The second is a smiling cozy-looking drahon with small wings hugging a clear cup of milk tea with boba ay the bottom of the cup

The third is a feathery cheery dragon behind a teapot with its tail curved around the back. In the foreground is a cup of tea.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Apr 18

I'd love a chance to represent of Cogs and Monsters and Unheroic if there's still some space. Here's one of my favorite images created for of Cogs and Monsters This fellow is my bugbear.

A purple-skinned fellow with batlike ears and nose. He bears a badge reminiscent of a marshall or sheriff while holding a revolver at the ready in his right hand.

His pose us both relaxed and attentive.

He is leaning back on a chair with his feet up. His right arm hanging loose. His feet are crossed and resting on a railing.

The duster he wears waves like a cape to his left suggesting sudden movement as if he has just pulled the gun. His eyes are fixed on the viewer and focused.

Behind him is a cool night and he is illuminated by moonlight.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Jan 31

Monster Truckers by Table Cat Games that lets you play a werewolf with and let that tongue flap in the wind as you cruise the open road through the Worstlands. Check out the playtest material in @tablecatgames.com's post below. Also, watch out for the turkeys.

A turkey with the posture of a bipedal dinosaur set against a background of an out-of-focus highway.

Its eyes are narrow, clever, and predatory.

The image on a Polaroid that reads

"HWY 66, MILE MARKER 818
THE TURKEYS HAVE SPOILED"

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Jan 30

It's still technically #WIPWednesday where I am, so check out this Tobgoblin Luiz is work on! One of the first few images I posted was a bob/tob gnome. Tobgoblins are descended from tobs who have been exposed to the roiling chaos. Similarly, there are bobgoblins and hobgoblins. #TTRPG #TTRPGArt

A goblin with a batlike nose and large batlike ears. His skin is green and his hair is red with a ponytail. He wears a formal vest and slacks and has a loose tie.

At his side is a sketch of a single-shot pistol attached to a thigh holster.

A portion of his leg has no color and is a sketch of a prosthetic with ripped sketched pant-leg around it, exposing the unfinished prosthesis.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Jan 29

Yesterday, I dropped this prototype character sheet for Unheroic. In a world of heroes and monsters, you're an ordinary person not fit for heroic deeds. Your core attributes define your shortcomings that you must overcome in an unconventional 2d4 roll-under system.

A horizontal lined 3 by 5 lined index card.

At the top it says Name: and Profession.

Under that is the instruction, "Roll 2d4 and add one of these attributes" separated by a pipe ("|") is "Assign -1,0,1,2" on the same line.

Below that are four rows with boxes to the left of attribute sentences. Attribute sentences read.
"Overcome AWKWARDNESS to try to be social or resolute" social and resolute are underlined.
"Overcome CLUMSINESS to try to be nimble or dextrous" nimble and dextrous are underlined.
"Overcome FOOLISHNESS to try to be clever or knowledgeable" clever and knowledgeable are underlined.
"Overcome WEAKNESS to try to be strong or tough" strong and tough are underlined.
Below that is the word "Quirk:" with room to add a quirk.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Jan 28

I've got a guy. He's a human with a real human name (Luiz)! I pay him money to make stuff. His works go through distinct phases that allow his hands to turn my ideas into something beautiful. We document the stages as well because it's worth proving that this is human art.

A deputy with blueish skin nike night and white starry freckles leaning back on a chair on a porch. He has a batlike nose and ears. The background is of a dry desert sky.

His jacket is a classic duster embellished with baroque stylings. A calvary saber hangs from his belt.

His feet are up on a railing and his right arm hangs loose. He has pulled a gun, flinging dust into the air along with a portion of his jacket.

His mixed posture suggests both comfortable repose and sudden motion.

The image is signed by the author with a stylized LF in the top right corner. The top of the L is elongated and curved as is the bottom of the F. The underline at the bottom of the L is used to create the middle line in the F.

A very rough sketch of the same deputy. There is no detailing and objects are all lined and differentiated by the lines around them.

A rudimentary stick figure of the same fellow. This one is signed by "BW" and individual parts of the image are labeled with text necessary to convey what they are.

Labels Read:
"Head downish"
"Gun"
"Wall"
"Porch"
"Rail"
"Hat on knee" (moved to his head in the final product).

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Dec 18

As written, Tools Required clarifies that an M component makes it an artificer spell rather than clarifying that that means the spell requires a spellcasting focus.

Tools Required.
You produce your Artificer spells through tools. You can use Thieves’ Tools, Tinker’s Tools, or another kind of Artisan’s Tools
with which you have proficiency as a Spellcasting Focus, and you must have one of those focuses in hand when you cast an Artificer spell (meaning the spell has an “M” component when you cast it).

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 23

Same. I signed up to promote the TTRPG I'm developing and now I think I need a personal account to track all these pets and witticisms. Also, here's this boy.

An adorable black dog stares at you with his deep brown eyes. His ears are perked and he is alert, but comfy.

He rests upon a white blanket and is snuggled under a fitted sheet.

He is, without doubt, a good boy.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 23

I've never wanted to plagiarize anything as much as this blurb by @hellcowkeith.bsky.social. There's something beautiful about the idea that a work being the foundation for the stories other people create at their tables. #TTRPG #TTRPGDesign

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 22

Anyway, here's the bugbear from "of Cogs and Monsters" It's two of the best pieces of art we've commissioned. We'll be posting more about these guys and their high-elf origin later. #TTRPG #Art #TTRPGArt

Gaunt, night-skinned, star-freckled bugbear from "of Cogs and Monsters".
This marshal leans back on a chair having just pulled his gun. His coat still aflutter.
Behind him is a bright desert sky.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 20

d5 is a big fan of human artwork. As a one-man pre-revenue organization, this makes us a bit slow at art worth showing off. So here's the precursor to the logo for of Cogs and Monsters mocked up in Affinity by someone who hires artists. #TTRPG #Art ?

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 18

Just for fun, here's the early sketch of the hob. Luiz perfectly captured every instruction and historical reference, but it was odd to discover that we'd accidentally reinvented the leprechaun aesthetic.

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 18

Hob guild-families retain quite a bit of the remaining farmland that hasn't given way industrial zones and dense housing. #TTRPG

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 18

Gnomes in "of Cogs & Monsters" are organized into large guild-families focused on a specific trade. Bobs and tobs are two commonly recognized branches of gnome, though most people can't tell the difference between them. #TTRPG

Ben at 𝒹𝟧@d5· Nov 16