#actual game design

[lateral-games-journalism]

In a world where tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs) and PC games rarely break bread, The Shitpost TTRPG Game Jam strides boldly onto the scene like an uninvited bard at a funeral. It’s not just a game jam—it’s an absurdist call to arms for game designers, writers, and meme enthusiasts to embrace the raw, chaotic energy of internet culture and channel it into analog gaming. Forget polished mechanics and meticulously balanced stats. This isn’t about the art of the game—it’s about the sheer audacity of the bit.

So what exactly is the Shitpost TTRPG Game Jam? At its heart, it’s a celebration of the silly, the nonsensical, and the downright ridiculous. You’re not here to make the next Dungeons & Dragons. (Frankly, Wizards of the Coast already has that lane covered, for better or worse.) Instead, this jam invites you to make something that might be unplayable, illogical, or inspired by the unfiltered glory of a late-night shitpost. Does your game involve rolling dice to determine which flavor of LaCroix bestows magical powers? Perfect. Is it an earnest attempt to simulate the horrors of IKEA through LARPing as disgruntled customers? Even better.

The Rules: A Shitposter’s Creed

Let’s set the tone: this isn’t your average “make something fun and functional” game jam. No, this is a space where aesthetic failure is often the goal. Here’s the gist:

• Analog Only: The jam is strictly for tabletop games, board games, and LARPs (though virtual tabletops count if you really must involve the internet). This is sacred physical gaming ground, even if your game is written on a coffee-stained napkin.

• Safety First: Sure, you’re making an unserious game, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have serious intentions about inclusivity and player safety. The TTRPG Safety Toolkit is a recommended companion for anyone navigating these waters.

• Bigots Not Welcome: There’s a firm line drawn here—shitty mechanics are fine; shitty people are not. Punch up with your humor and steer clear of jokes at the expense of marginalized communities.

• No Judging, No Prizes: This jam is about creating for the sake of creating. Your reward is the joy of making something ridiculous, not some imaginary trophy.

A Collision of Cultures: Tabletop vs. PC Gaming

For those from the PC gaming side of the fence, this jam may look like a fever dream. “Why would anyone make a game that’s supposed to be broken or borderline unplayable?” the pixel-pushing purists might ask. But in the tabletop world, where a single player’s chaotic improv can derail an entire campaign, the idea of embracing unpolished, messy creativity is practically a cornerstone of the genre.

This is where TTRPGs and memes find their common ground. Memes, much like a good TTRPG session, thrive on the unpredictable. They’re collaborative. They take root in shared experiences. And above all, they’re fleeting—designed to exist for the bit rather than for eternity.

PC gamers, you’re invited to join in too—if you can stomach it. Sure, you won’t have a pristine UI or ray-traced graphics, but you will have the chance to sit around a table (or a Discord call) and laugh until your ribs hurt. And isn’t that the point of gaming in the first place?

Why This Matters

It’s easy to dismiss the Shitpost TTRPG Game Jam as a joke—and to be fair, it absolutely is. But it’s also a reminder of why we play games to begin with: for the joy of creation, the thrill of experimentation, and the sheer pleasure of making something that maybe shouldn’t exist.

This jam is as much about community as it is about comedy. It’s a space where everyone—from veteran designers to clueless amateurs—can revel in the shared absurdity of making a game where the mechanics are secondary to the laughs. You don’t need a fancy dice set or encyclopedic knowledge of TTRPG lore to participate. All you need is an idea (the stupider, the better) and the willingness to see it through.

So grab your pencils, fire up that half-baked meme you’ve been sitting on, and dive into the #ShitpostJam. Whether your game ends up as an unplayable monstrosity or a surprising masterpiece, one thing’s for certain: you’ll have a blast creating it. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

[chloesimaginationthings]

The day FNAF Charlie Emily was shut out..

[oooocleo]

hmm hmmmmm hmmm

[beebeedibapbeediboop]

I dreamt of a character that would be obsessed with keys and who could open doors wherever he was as long as there was a wall... Thought I might draw him!

[maggie44paint]

apollo and hyacinthus if they were in hercules cuz hhhhh i love them

(i know apollo has a canonical hercules design but it reminds me too much of the abomination that is lore olympus so i used the hades one which I also like way more okay byeeeeee-)

[alabasterpickles]

I’m back with more extremely specific content that I’m extraordinarily late to enjoy!! Anyway — my sister got me into the Arcana last month and I’ve been really enjoying it (never got into it when it was releasing for some reason)

I’m very slow to make art these days and I have some other drawings of my faves in process still, but I figured I’d share some recent sketches with you all for the hell of it (I’m impatient)

[deklo]

cat+laila<3

[bastardlybonkers]

feetman

[ineed-to-sleep]

Blacked out in front of my tablet and woke up with sketches of my Touchstarved mc + Kuras my beloved. woops

[funsizedcrow]

Link is Hylia's specialist little boy (this is not a good thing for him)

(stills under the cut)

[wiltkingart]

admit it - you thought i wouldn't come back, gwynbleidd

[hiort]

dreamers discuss their shared fate

[chloesimaginationthings]

Michael has a hard time retelling FNAF sister location

[ravenmoodle]

Inscryption design doodle while i work on otha thangs.

[heartorbit]

i just wanted to draw the ave mujica outfits .

[radioroxx]

i hate them sm

(not very far into the game atm but i couldnt help myself lol. no spoilers pls!!)