Swords & Spellbookmarks Turns Gold!

Lester

The Bookmark No HP RPG is proving to be the “Little Engine That Could,” in that it just keeps chugging along with best-sellers. Most recently, the Swords & Spellbookmarks! setting hit Gold Best-Seller status on DriveThruRPG.

This despite the fact that I haven’t had much chance to pay existing settings the attention they deserve. I hope to rectify that soon with some three-act adventures in the various genres, and a few solo adventure cards are already underway.

In any case, thank you to everyone who has taken a shining to this little system.

Bookmark the Apocalypse Turns Silver!

Lester

I’m happy to report that the Bookmark the Apocalypse! sourcebookmark is now a DriveThruRPG Silver Best-Seller! This sourcebookmark adds a Humanity Attribute to character creation, and exciting vehicle chase scene rules, along with game host suggestions for defining your apocalypse and randomizing three-act adventure seeds.

Additionally, the Children of the Elder Sign and King of Elfland’s Daughter sourcebookmarks are now available there in printed playing card format. The Children of the Elder Sign setting puts players in the roles of half-human/half-monstrous offspring of Lovecraftian gods or monstrosities, fighting to maintain their humanity in an inimical world. The King of Elfland’s Daughter setting is based on Lord Dunsany’s classic fantasy about longing and magic on the boundaries between Earth and Elfland.

You can get all three on the cheap as part of the Compleat Bookmark No HP RPG bundle in either Print+PDF or PDF-only format.

 

To a House Mouse

Lester

I had to kill a tiny mouse today. Yesterday it kept scrambling across the back of my desk, peeking out from around my monitor, and I could hear it gnawing on things it shouldn’t be gnawing on.

I hate snuffing out their little lives, or adding any measure of suffering to this world. But left alone, they leave droppings all over and can gnaw through a home’s electrical wiring.

This one was too small for a quick-kill trap, so I had to set out a glue trap overnight, and this morning take the stuck, panicking little thing outside for execution. And I’m left grieving its short, innocent time on this earth.

This is not how I would make a world. If there’s an intelligent design behind it, I’m unimpressed.

As an elegy, let me borrow some words from Robert Burns:

“But Mousie, thou art no thy-lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!

“Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But Och! I backward cast my e’e,
On prospects drear!
An’ forward tho’ I canna see,
I guess an’ fear!”

Con-Quest Comic Con 2026!

Lester

If you’re anywhere near Waterloo, Iowa this weekend, come check out Con-Quest 2026.

And if you do, be sure to look me up and say “Hi.”

I’ll be attending several panels, running two games, and hanging out at a signing booth in the Vendor’s Hall, with some Fanged Smileys dice sets and ultra-premium D13 RPG books for sale, along with a few other things.

Specifically, you can find me at these events:

Friday 7-8 pm: Gaming Through The Ages. “From early tabletop games to modern RPG systems, gaming culture has evolved dramatically. Panelists explore how the hobby has grown and where it may go next.” Brian Berg (Moderating), Lester Smith, David Sklenicka, Casey W. Christofferson. Meeting Room 1

Saturday 9:15-10:15 am: – Meet the Guests: Lightning Round. “Meet Con-Quest’s celebrities, artists, creatives, and guests of honor! Enjoy a lightning round of Q&A followed by time for audience questions.” Kamuela Kaneshiro (Moderating), Aaron Rosenberg,  Lester Smith, Casey W. Christofferson, Knightmage. Main Stage

Saturday 10 am-2 pm: Lester Smith Gamemasters! “Join TTRPG Creator and Celebrity Gamemaster Lester Smith as he leads you in a TTRPG – Gamemaster’s Choice & Your Surprise!” Meeting Room 3

Saturday 4 pm-6 pm: Lester Smith Gamemasters! “Join TTRPG Creator and Celebrity Gamemaster Lester Smith as he leads you in a TTRPG – Gamemaster’s Choice & Your Surprise!” Meeting Room 3

Sunday noon-1 pm: Running A TTRPG Session Zero. “Session Zero sets the foundation for a successful campaign. Learn how Game Masters establish tone, expectations, safety tools, and character connections before the first adventure begins.” Dimitri Del Castillo (Moderating), Lester Smith, Toni Winslow-Brill, Casey W Christofferson, David Sklenicka. Meeting Room 4

Sunday 3-4 pm: Game Mechanics 101. Game mechanics shape how players interact with a game world. This panel explores the basics of designing clear, engaging rules that support storytelling, challenge players, and keep gameplay flowing smoothly. Brian Berg (Panel Moderator), Lester Smith, Toni Winslow-Brill, Guy Martelle. Meeting Room 4

And at Signing Table L2 in the Vendor Hall.

I do hope to see you there!