Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon

@krasiph

(they/him/hers) Ex-software engineer, now full time TTRPG designer, actor, & artist. You can find everything I'm building at... Like what I make and want to support me?

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Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Jul 12

With Hope Dies Last becoming more and more of a reality each day, it's time to dig in to Daggerheart!! Excited to crack open the core set and learn the system for real. #daggerheart #ttrpg #hopedieslast

A photo of the Daggerheart core set, still shrink wrapped, standing on a table. A painting of a mountain waterfall is on the wall in the background, and the Art & Arcana book is lying on its back on the same table.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Jun 30

The quickstart is available on both Itch and RPG Trader. infinitecitadel.itch.io/the-beckonin... rpg-trader.com/products/150...

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Jun 27

I mean, it's literally on the tin. That feels like another purposefully smarmy comment.

A zoomed in screenshot of the D&D PHB. "Everything a player needs to create heroic characters for the world's greatest roleplaying game."

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· May 21

Speaking of games built on Mörk Borg... Mörk Sol! A faster-than-light sci-fi action horror game built for starship combat.

The cover of Mörk Sol which has the title rendered in ink-smudge and industrial types. Three space ships burn fast towards a space station tunnel. Made by Conlin Durbin, Matt Best, and Andrew Beauman. Compatible with Mörk Borg.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· May 14

These two goals are big for me - not just exciting, but anxiety-inducing because they represent so much of where my time and energy has been the past two years. The @infinite-citadel.com Patreon is over 50 members! The Beckoning Dream Quickstart is live on Itch! #ttrpgcommunity #goals

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· May 4

Five men in fashionable semi-matching pink outfits stand to the right. One holds a microphone and shout-sings "PLAY GAMES WITH US!", which is on the image in bubble-y blue-and-pink font. A cloud beneath says the same in Korean. A host stands agape to the left while three women look down from above, trying to hide in the shadows of the sound stage.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 29

A glowing skeleton man in a black jacket stands behind a computer console and says, "Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down?"

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 27

*very* rough mock-up #ttrpg #tarot

A guided play surface diagram for The Beckoning Dream. A window on the right is labeled "Future". Two lines at right angles are in a circle in the middle, and an hourglass with sand in the top is at the top of the window. Words on both sides say "Face Down. Things that will be." Beneath that window are two arcs, one facing up labeled "Help", the other down labeled "Hinder". They are connected by glyph lines which lead to a larger broken circle.
In the middle, at the bottom of the area, is a diamond symbol labeled "Present". An eye in the diamond is labeled "Awareness". Further left are several lines that converge into a circle that contains a symbol for Oneirogen. Within the lines are instructions for how a player ends their turn. Above that area is a window similar to the one on the right, but this one is labeled "Past" and has four right angles arranged like a cross. An hourglass at the top has it's sand drained to the bottom, and text on either side reads "Face Up. Things that have been." Flames are along the top, labeled "Pyre", "A communal pile where lost things BURN."

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 25

The most recent meme in your photo roll describes your mental state

A car completely covered with weed waifu anime stickers. Text says, "REPORT: Cars with anime stickers are 65% less likely to be pulled over because officers "don't want to start that conversation"."

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 17

Bless this user for trying to hype Fomoria on the heels of their dumbass self-promo rules expansion. Not surprised it suddenly disappeared after I walked away. In the (now hidden) post text, the user made it clear they are in no way related to Fomoria and are just excited. Kek

Screen shot of a reddit post that was previously up and now says "Post is awaiting moderator approval". Post is titled "Fomoria kickstarter (gushing about a game)".

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 13

w/ alt text

A screenshot of user Monstrar traduccion saying, "I want a manga that's a dark fantasy adventure but it's not depressing, like I want it to take place in a grim and decayed world with ancient ruins and monsters but I still want the MCs to be cheery and having a good time on a adventure"

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 8

I finally read "UnClobber" by Colby Martin, and ngl I'm irritated at the people that turned me off to it all those years ago. This was not a book I needed to read as I've arrived at these theological conclusions by other paths, but I was surprised by how good it was academically.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 2

Help us create the final version of Mörk Sol's skip module manifest!

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Apr 1

Just queued up a new Building the Citadel post and realized that I should probably update our newsletter subs with everyone that responded to the Mörk Sol surveys. There were A LOT of people... so yeah, WELL over 200 strong. 😅🎉

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 24

Another example which is in conversation with the marginalia from page 4. The book has four "voices": the original author in the main body text; an older annotator contemporary with the author (older marginalia font); a modern annotator (sans-serif marginalia); and the book's "owner" (handwriting).

A sample spread from The Beckoning Dream. Pieces of the lore are called out, but there are two important parts for this conversation.

First, the continued clarification of the types of stories the game wants to tell in the margin of page 8:
2 - “Stories [It] Wants You To Tell”, Continued…
Broadly speaking, this is a story about Dreamers exploring the Dreamlands, leading double lives where the peace of their night’s rest is replaced by a quest. The Dream beckons, not just in what it can offer an individual through exploration of our inner worlds, but to gain their aid in shaping the destinies of every living mind.
This is where the roles of Dreamers become clear: to combat Nightmares and keep their influence at bay. If one were to claim the empty Throne, or corrupt any of the Major Arcana, it would spell disaster for both worlds. One need not look far to see what happens when fear is in charge.
To be successful, Dreamers will need to use teamwork and wit to oppose Nightmares both personal and universal. Mechanically that means playing the right cards at the right times, recognizing that a minor setback can set up a major victory.

And Second, a modern annotation scribbled out by the fourth voice.
Scribbled text: What would happen if a dreamer sat this throne? Could one’s own grasp of the immaterial reach a state that would allow them to seize control of the Dreamlands?
Handwritten Text: Thoughts of crowns and high tables are poison. Do not desecrate yourself!

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 24

I'm not familiar with some of your touchstones (The Forge and Dr. Moran), but I dove into Vermillion Vespers and I think The Beckoning Dream is somewhere in the 6-8 realm. Here are some example spreads where the intentionality is laid out clear as day.

A sample spread from The Beckoning Dream. The first page contains a poem wherein the "original author" describes the experience and inspiration of the game. There is a marginalia note about this poem by an "older commentator" (i.e. older in time relative to us) regarding this poem's creation being the result of sleep-writing. It frames the book as a conversation between multiple perspectives that is heavily based on the fragmented, powerful thought patterns of dreams.

The second page begins the TTRPG's text proper, outlining what this "thing" is. First off, it is A Game, and the section describes the expectations of what a tabletop roleplaying game is. The margin, written in a more modern annotator's voice/font, lists various media and game inspirations for the book.

Pages 3 and 4 of The Beckoning Dream, which continue to explain the book's three-part nature: A Game was on page 2; page 3 explains its nature as A Story, limited only by Narrative Positioning and Abstract Resolution; page 4 describes it as a Lession, specifically one about tarot, cartomancy, interpretation, and the purpose of dreams.

An example of play is in the margin on pg 3. It characterizes exactly what Narrative Positioning and Abstract Resolution are. Page 4's marginalia contains the following text:
1 - “Stories [It] Wants You To Tell”
There are certain narrative touchstones that the text consistently implies, but fails to name precisely. I shall endeavor to correct this.
This game wants you to tell stories about…
Fear being the supreme enemy of human kindness.
Aspirations, and the necessary sacrifices to attain them.
Honesty with oneself in pursuing your dream under circumstances of supreme liberation.
Liberation for self and others, where conscious and subconscious bias would otherwise re-create status quo.
Inconsistencies in memory, rules, and the human heart.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 24

As an example, here's a page where I highlight how the Interpretation's choice-based action economy is inspired by Powered by the Apocalypse games. #ttrpg

A page from The Beckoning Dream that explains the rules for Interpretation. Part of the text along with a related margin note have been called out in green marker.
Emphasized Primary Text: When you Interpret a card, choose a number of Interpretations based on the card’s Score as follows: Triumphs grant 3 choices; Clashes & Successes grant 2 choices; Setbacks grant only 1 choice; Countered cards grant nothing.
Margin Note Text: Gaining more choices, and more powerful options to choose from, is heavily inspired by Powered by the Apocalypse systems. The intention is every Interpretation moves the narrative forward. It should never be the case that “nothing happens”.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 22

I really like the Zendikar Duel Decks. They teach several fundamentals, are extremely vibey (nature allies vs colorless eldrazi horrors is instantly understandable).

Picture of the Zendikar vs Eldrazi Duel Deck product listing.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 22

One of many examples from The Beckoning Dream.

A screenshot of a WIP text of The Beckoning Dream. The text reads:
Futureless Foes
Some Foes are born of simpler ideas. Identities so ubiquitous to our reality that it is easy to dismiss fully living, breathing people as being *just another one of **"them"***. Hold fast to your sonder, lest you inflict such beings upon your consciousness, whether waking or dreaming.

A screenshot of a WIP marginalia text of The Beckoning Dream. The ttext reads:
5 - Reduce a person to only this moment, and you ensure they despise you.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 21

Layout is part of the visual language of your book/game. It's as important as diction or artwork. Ex: One over-verbose and sometimes unfocused voice became 4 distinct, intentional, informative voices when The Beckoning Dream went from manuscript to layout.

A sample spread from The Beckoning Dream. The right page is a chapter title "Dreaming" with surreal artwork in a tarot card frame. The left page has primary text explaining tarot spreads with additional information in the margin.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 20

Gideon the Ninth was so fantastic. I love that I saw some elements coming a mile away, and yet others took me by total surprise. Absolutely fantastic book. My only complaint is that I must wait for my local bookstore to get the sequel in. Until then, I languish 😩 #books #reading

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 14

Getting close! Time to put all these little pieces into their places.

The model cyberpunk ally stands behind several miniature beer cans, bottles, food bowls, trash cans and bags, a cat, and a milk crate.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 13

If I ever run another "heavy prep" adventure I might. Although it's funny you talk about annotations, cuz this is maybe the cheat code I've found when it comes to writing my own games.

Sample page from The Beckoning Dream, showing primary text and marginalia text that expounds on the rules.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 13

In the three examples in your post, I prefer 2 out of the 3 to be in the bulleted format. The Armor section works better, for me, as simple prose. The reason is the same as why I quibble with the underlined text in this screenshot: RPG text isn't just prose, it's Reference Material.

A passage from the article has a sentence highlighted (marked in brackets[]) and several words red-underlined for emphasis (marked between asterisks **).
"As I alluded to earlier, there’s a reason humans don’t write most books like RPGs. When you intend your audience to read the words, you need to trust them to actually do so. [Bulleted lists and emphasized text may draw attention and look glamorous to those *who only skim*], but for the genuine reader, they prove more difficult. RPG books exist as books specifically because the written word allows imaginary spaces and situations, the stuff of which RPG play is made, to be conveyed in ways that are unique to the medium of text. The character of writing should be embraced as humans have written for millennia: in sentences and paragraphs, one after the other."

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 12

I grew up in PA before moving to TX, and while our basement wasn't a gaming haven (nor was I a tabletop gamer back then), I have fond memories of visiting friends houses where they had *this bad boy* across the whole thing. It was glorious.

A carpet depicting a small town in vibrant colors.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 10

Tiny beer can 💜

A tiny model beer can is held close to the camera by a pair of tweezers. The label says "NeoBliss". Several other unlabeled beer cans are out of focus on the table in the background.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 9

Just finished "Nonviolent Communication" by Rosenberg. Incredibly insightful and challenging book. I've been able to apply its lessons a few times already and there's a ton of value in how its shaped my understanding of empathy & communication.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 9

Roughly half way. Lots of little detail pieces to build yet, but I got the adorable stool and street menu done! (tweezer for scale)

A tiny model bar stool and street menu standing on a folding table with other model kit supplies out of focus on the background. A pair of tweezers lays in front to give a sense of scale. The sign says "Neo Ramen Specials".

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 8

Finally getting a chance to work on this book nook kit I got for Christmas. Very excited to see it taking shape.

One wall of the Neo Ramen mini alley book nook set. Cyberpunk doors, signs, wires, and air conditioning units are glued together to make a three dimensional art piece.

A power box, vending machine (body missing art panels), sign for a sex club, and air conditioner have all been assembled from their component pieces. They are arranged on a folding table so as to dry before being added to the scene.

Matt | Krasiph 🔜 GenCon@krasiph· Mar 4

I'm so excited to share this artwork with the world. And on a personal note, you should absolutely work with Jenn if you get the chance! Here's a side-by-side of my original sketch and the incredible final product. #ttrpg #art #tarot