Clayton
@explorersdesign.bsky.social
Pronunciation: "Klay-tun Note-Styne" Designer. Writer. Educator. Tabletop games. Explorers Design. Pro-union and cooperatives. He/Him.
The challenge that pretty much every secular designer has not overcome is that religion is rarely, and only temporarily, top-down. It is maintained, cultivated, and shaped by its believers.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 3h agoA short musing today about religion in fantasy worlds, childhood, statues, fish trophies, The Chicago Bulls, pancake breakfasts, and a dog named Scott. Hope you like this break from the usual. www.explorersdesign.com/religious-by...
A short musing today about religion in fantasy worlds, childhood, statues, fish trophies, The Chicago Bulls, pancake breakfasts, and a dog named Scott. Hope you like this break from the usual. www.explorersdesign.com/religious-by...
Religious by Design
Religion in fantasy worlds, games, and walleye trophies.
explorersdesign.com
For the weekdays-only crew.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 4d agoWoke up hungover after winning gold at The Ennies for Best Kiss. Anyway, here’s this month’s Explorateur. Only the freshest links from July. Two really fun reviews. My new favorite podcast. And three thoughts on layout from me in the upfront. www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
Fully recommend starting with the all-time classic workhorse fonts and branching out from there. Garamond has survived for centuries for a reason. Have a fancy header font as a treat.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 4d agoWoke up hungover after winning gold at The Ennies for Best Kiss. Anyway, here’s this month’s Explorateur. Only the freshest links from July. Two really fun reviews. My new favorite podcast. And three thoughts on layout from me in the upfront. www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
I wish I had read Clayton's introductory advice 7 years ago. And there are some great posts again this month. Check out the pieces by Valeria Loves and To Be Resolved. Plus, incidental companion pieces about play by Murkdice and myself.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 4d agoWoke up hungover after winning gold at The Ennies for Best Kiss. Anyway, here’s this month’s Explorateur. Only the freshest links from July. Two really fun reviews. My new favorite podcast. And three thoughts on layout from me in the upfront. www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
the ennies were never designed (see @explorersdesign.bsky.social for more on this www.explorersdesign.com/ennies-3/) but have been playtested for over 20 years. if tweaks aren’t enough to fix consistent problems, at a point you need to admit your game isn’t for everyone—it favors a specific audience
Possible Worlds Games@possibleworlds.bsky.social · 4d agoindustry awards are a net good for the material difference they make in artists’ lives—especially in a culture that doesn’t value creative labor nearly enough—but the persistent voting and logistical issues the ennies face (or invite) each year necessitate change beyond adding or editing categories
Woke up hungover after winning gold at The Ennies for Best Kiss. Anyway, here’s this month’s Explorateur. Only the freshest links from July. Two really fun reviews. My new favorite podcast. And three thoughts on layout from me in the upfront. www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
The Explorateur: Issue #22
Monthly jams, critique, theory, and resources for rpg designers.
explorersdesign.com
I like any dungeon crawler that makes having a torch fun. That's my litmus test. Does this feel like a Swiss Army Knife? No? It's probably not for me.
An argument for human connection masquerading as a book review. valerialoves.com/why-didnt-si...
Why Didn't Silent Titans Change the World?
Apprehension is worth the effort
valerialoves.com
It's always cool to hear one of my old posts resurface! www.explorersdesign.com/turn-the-she... Character sheet's looking great!
Turn the Character Sheet Sideways
Tips & tricks for designing character sheets.
explorersdesign.com
Eliot Miller | he/they 🏳️🌈@itszebulon.bsky.social · last wk.Okay the advice of "just turn the character sheet landscape" and "you can leave empty space for your players to write/draw/make notes how they want to" did a lot to improve this design. Thanks @explorersdesign.bsky.social for your tips!
This is in a coupla hours! Am gonna talk about my playtest of Seven Part Pact a while back, playing a wizard who absolutely *refused* to be a magical freak, and was murdered by the magical freaks around him! (He deserved it.)
Plus One Exp @ 🔜 GenCon Booth 449@plusoneexp.bsky.social · 2w agoIT'S WIZARD WEEK!!!! Today we discuss beasts, storms & sea as we explore the Mariner! Join us today at 9p et as sultans of the salt & surf @zedecksiew.bsky.social & Jenn from @funcityventures.bsky.social join Tony & @jdragsky.bsky.social to talk about trade & tide Youtube.com/plusoneexp 10/x
Back when I started Explorers, I probably had a readership of about 50 people a month. This post is from then. It's a list of common mistakes disguised as theory. If your readers are getting confused, these laws might explain why. www.explorersdesign.com/gestalt-laws/
Gestalt Laws for RPG Design
If the design principles were a glossary, the Gestalt Laws are a survival guide.
explorersdesign.com
I think this is less a wild take and simply a good one. I recommend making your running headers hyperlinks, but why stop there? Page numbers are a good thing to leverage as well, and if you're using master pages, it's one of the easier techniques to execute.
Mike Martens | Clear Keep@clearkeep.bsky.social · 2w agoAnother post thoughtful post from Clayton means another wild take from me: Consider hyperlinking your running page numbers to the table of contents.
Another post thoughtful post from Clayton means another wild take from me: Consider hyperlinking your running page numbers to the table of contents.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 2w agoA short piece on the power of hyperlinks this week. If you're designing for digital and not using them, you're leaving one of your format's greatest strengths on the table. www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-hyper...
A short piece on the power of hyperlinks this week. If you're designing for digital and not using them, you're leaving one of your format's greatest strengths on the table. www.explorersdesign.com/how-to-hyper...
How to Design with Hyperlinks
User-friendly definitions, rules, and hacks for your next rpg pdf.
explorersdesign.com
Well this blog post was nominated for a @critawards.bsky.social... so that is freaking rad graftbound.com/2026/01/20/g...
How to Deliver your Game Copy to a Layout Designer - Graftbound
Make layout design faster, more efficient, and less prone to mistakes with tips for TTRPG writers on delivering your manuscript to your layout designer.
graftbound.com
Good Luck Press is up for 2 CRIT AWARDS! for best solo game, please follow the link and vote for @smolghost.bsky.social's subterranean solitary freakout UNDERNEATH. for best multiplayer ;) game, vote for seb and I's anthology of intimate, sensual games for bodies BETWEEN THE COVERS
CRIT Awards@critawards.bsky.social · 2w agoLinks for Voting and Finalist List with reference attachments can be found on linktr.ee/CRITAwards which is listed on all socials. Additional information can be found on our website: critawards.org Voting is open July19th - August 23rd
Bernie Sanders meme, except this time I'm asking for your vote in The Crit Awards for my newsletter, The Explorateur. A monthly newsletter of links, tools, and inspiration for tabletop rpg designers. Guaranteed to raise your design WIS and INT scores. www.explorersdesign.com/tag/explorat...
I'm not participating in this year's Appx. N Jam, but if you're bored and want to look at some old pulp/pulp-adjacent covers, I have a Cosmos board with 300+ images. www.cosmos.so/explorersdes... Be prepared for some premium schlock, shock, and yeesh.
Pulp Covers — by @explorersdesign
363 elements
cosmos.so
Clayton's blog is a treasure trove of resources for RPG creators and this post is no exception.
Clayton@explorersdesign.bsky.social · 3w agoPublic Domain Art is the lifeblood of small tabletop rpgs, but it can be a nightmare trying to find the right art and license. This week, I’ve re-uploaded my old list from 2020 (with updates) of public domain websites. That's 500,000+ public domain paintings, photos, maps, and film. Link below 🔗👇
Public Domain Art is the lifeblood of small tabletop rpgs, but it can be a nightmare trying to find the right art and license. This week, I’ve re-uploaded my old list from 2020 (with updates) of public domain websites. That's 500,000+ public domain paintings, photos, maps, and film. Link below 🔗👇
Hey I'm Emily, a graphic layout designer for TTRPGs. I've worked with MCDM, Wet Ink Games, Hatchlings Games, Bright Bard Games, and am the Creative Director at @graftbound.bsky.social 💼: emilyentner.com ✉️: emily.e.entner@gmail.com #PortfolioDay
Happy #portfolioday I'm a Game & Graphic Designer just trying to make it through the hellscape we call home. ❤️ Checkout the games I have in Print so far at www.mimicpublishing.com We're trying to do some fun stuff as we facilitate simulations from Elseware™. Let's play some #boardgames
Hello, #PortfolioDay! I'm Lone Archivist, a games and graphic designer that specializes in brand & visual identity and editorial layout. Here is some of my past work and I'd love if you checked out my full portfolio at lonearchivist.com. Need help on a project? Hit the CONTACT button!
If you're not tempted to eat your board game's pieces, they're only half as good as they should be.
Chase Taylor-Carter@chasecarter.bsky.social · 3w agoSince @explorersdesign.bsky.social has experienced both sides of the ENNIEs process, I invited him onto the podcast to discuss the weird phenomenon of awards and their equally weird effects. Also, generative AI bullshit, playing genre straight, and why game piece mouthfeel is a valid metric.
Explorers Design has been nominated for Best Online Content in The Ennies 2026! Not sure who to vote for? Let me win you over. Today's post is a special edition of The Explorateur. It features my favorite nominees and a long list of non-rpg design links. 🍻🎉 www.explorersdesign.com/explorateur-...
The Explorateur: Ennies Special
The Ennie Awards, my campaign pitch, and the best graphic design links so far.
explorersdesign.com
Thank you for including my dog Kash. He’s a great project manager. Terrible typist though.
sam “genial conversationalist” sorensen@samsorensen.bsky.social · 4w agoBEST ONLINE CONTENT again, very weird that this is a category. but these all seem actually somewhat reasonable if you’re into the broader hobby of RPGs. I vote for Explorer’s Design followed by Molten Sulfur, with the remaining as dealer’s choices
It appears voting in the awards has started. I'll share a full rundown later this weekend, until then, I would love your #1, #2, or #3 vote for Best Online Content. (Designing Dungeons & Molten Sulfur are others I'd love to see win.) Ballot: vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2026/
Awards Submission
Welcome to Explorers Design! I'm Clayton Notestine, and this is Explorers Design—my virtual design studio and label for all things game, product, and graphic design. This page is a curation of my web...
explorersdesign.com
Voting for the 2026 ENNIE Awards is live! I’m one of the candidates to be a judge next year, and I’m asking for your vote! In this thread I’ll explain what that means, why you should vote for me, and where you can read more of my thoughts on tabletop games. vote.ennie-awards.com/vote/2026/ 1/
vote.ennie-awards.com
Congrat to Matt and the Mausritter community for creating this awesome megadungeon!
ENNIE NOMINATED ManaDawn Tabletop Games (Matthew Morris)@manarampmatt.bsky.social · 4w agoTomb of a Thousand Doors has been nominated for TWO ENNIE Awards! 🏆 Best Long-Form Adventure 🏆 Best Cartography (@salvaterra.bsky.social) What began as a wild Mausritter community megadungeon experiment became a massive campaign setting!
