Space Penguin Ink Launch!
A look at a new publisher that's very important to LIMINAL HORROR, and a peak at what the goblin has been watching/playing/reading.
SPACE PENGUIN INK
I have the great pleasure to share my excitement for a new publisher on the scene. They hit it out of the park with their launch lineup, and this is a space you will need to keep an eye on if you are a LIMINAL HORROR fan.
Website Link: https://spacepenguin.ink/
Space Penguin Ink: equity for creators, one weird game book at a time.
I remember sitting in my car, doing a video call with Jarrett after a long day of work, when he told me about his dream of how Space Penguin. Hearing him talk about his vision for Space Penguin, striving to shift ttrpg publishing to truly be collaborative and uplifting space. I couldn’t help but remember back to a very similar call I had with him a month after I put out the LIMINAL HORROR.
Even if you don’t know Jarrett, you have one of his books on his shelf. He is perhaps one of the most prolific figures in indie ttrpgs. His knowledge, insight, and enthusiasm for games helps make great things even better. Jarrett was one of the first people who really helped me see what LH was capable of. After Zach1, he is the longest collaborator I have had through my ttrpg journey. Jarrett was a sounding board through every idea, concept, vision, attempt, and step I’ve taken on this journey.
I’m excited he’s taken the jump to heading his own “thing” and with a vision of equity and partnership, it’s something I am fully behind.
Follow along for the ride. I have no doubt that Space Penguin will be a ttrpg staple for a long time to come.
WHAT I’M RUNNING
After wrapping up The Bloom2 with my group, we were hit with a desire for a shift into fantasy, so we decided to go back to OSE and run some old school goodness.
This was the perfect excuse to finally pick up print copies of some of Brad Kerr’s3 work and bring Hideous Daylight to the table. I did a write up of the session here.
WHAT I’M READING
Last Days by Brian Evenson
I’ve been thinking a lot about what types of things I want to include in the Horrors of Americana project4. One of them revolves around the cults/religions that would pop up around different monsters/beings. Often something with power would be seen to some to be a type of god. In my head currently they’re given the dual name of Dead Gods/False Gods (monsters or things touched by the weird that are worshiped by cultists as a god). Currently in my notes app I have
Dead Gods (false gods): prophets, saints, heralds, churches, secret places of worship, domains, prayer signs. Rituals, sacrifices, offerings.
Monday night as I got ready for bed I couldn’t stop thinking about what this could look like in play. I had watched Evil Dead (2013)5 the weekend before and there was a moment that stuck with me where a character gives an offering of their own flesh. So as I got ready for bed I decided to finally crack open Last Day’s. Needless to say I got a lot of inspiration for how one could structure a faction for HOA.
It’s also worth noting I read it in one sitting. Its been a long time since I stayed up through the night to read.
WHAT I’M READING (TTRPG)
Wolves on the Coast (Grand Campaign) by Luke Gearing
Because everything Luke does is amazing and it has been bouncing around in my head as inspiration for HOA.
Down the Road Local Situation Design by Deeper in the Game6
Ghosts of the Sierra Verde Grand Campaign by Sivad's Sanctum
Tomb Robbers of the Crystal Frontier by Ratking Productions
WHAT I’M WORKING ON
The Bloom: Josh is doing layout on this right now. I just did a draft of the caves (on lined paper, hand drawn, black and white scanned/copied). We’re approaching the final product (and print).
LIMINAL HORROR deluxe edition: Work is beginning in earnest on this project, the outline is completed and drafting has begun.
Arcane Exercise: I just finished doing layout/design/editing for my friend Tyler Welch’s exercise/fitness through a ttrpg lens series Arcane Exercise. I’ll do a more in depth write up soon!
Dead Horse 001 LH Conversions: Dead Horse is still up for pre-order. You’ll find dozens of pieces of art, fiction, horror, ttrpg, and more (including an interview with me). To celebrate I’m trying to write some LH conversion material for all the pieces inside.
Plant Based Baking zine: I’m doing layout for a vegan/plant based baking zine with my wife.
Horrors of Americana: Still just a wisp of an idea…but its growing.
Zach Hazard Vaupen created the cover for LIMINAL HORROR and was my first ttrpg collaborator (and has worked on every first party LH project.
I did a write-up of session 1 of The Bloom here. I audio-recorded the next two sessions to help with writing up (eventually) and to start and build an audio archive of play (much like Vi Huntsman does for their own games).
Brad is the co-host for the phenomenal ttrpg podcast Between Two Cairns.
An idea I’ve had to collect different published works, horror seeds, NPCs, locations, monsters, etc into a map of the US. I collected some musings on different aspects here. Inspired by Wolves of the Coast.
The original Evil Dead series was extremely important to me growing up and I’ve been excited to be exploring the 2013 (and 2023’s Evil Dead Rise). They started me on the path of creative pursuits (the originals made me want to be a filmmaker) and now they are continuing to inspire my ttrpg writing.
Big fan of Wolves on the Coast. That Luke Gearing fellow sure knows how to put words in order.
If you haven't yet, I recommend reading his bestiary "Monsters &". It's the bestiary for Wolves, and might be good inspiration for HoA. It recreates classic fantasy monsters in that signature Luke Gearing style.
My favorites are "Orcs" and "Dragon." You'll love it.