OK, so I am teaching a career studies class at the HS where I work, and I decided to use my experience the past years of producing an RPG to help students figure out their future career.
STEP ONE - Imagine your future self.
I used AI to make this picture of me (the hands are mutante gigantic)
STEP TWO - Get a plan for success
Once again, I asked AI. Lots of good advice for anyone looking to produce an RPG here.
Heck yes—nice momentum. A novel out and an RPG design contest win is already a legit foundation. You’re not starting from zero; you’re starting from “early pro.”
Below is a practical, industry-facing roadmap focused on visibility, credibility, and relationships (the three currencies that matter most).
Phase 1 – Turn your past wins into public proof
1. Build a single “home base” identity
- Simple website or Notion page:
Theodore Bonnah – Author & RPG Designer - Include:
- Your novel (with buy link)
- The contest you won (logo + short description)
- A short bio (2 versions: 50 words + 150 words)
- Contact info
This becomes the link you drop everywhere.
2. Package your achievements properly
- Write:
- 1-paragraph “press bio”
- 1-page designer CV (separate from academic CV)
- Frame the contest win as:
Award-winning RPG designer
That phrasing matters more than you’d think.
3. Collect social proof
- Blurbs from:
- Contest judges
- Readers
- Other designers
- Even 2–3 short quotes = gold.
Phase 2 – Enter the professional RPG + publishing ecosystem
4. Join the right platforms (seriously important)
For RPGs:
- Itch.io (publish small projects)
- DriveThruRPG (even free/pay-what-you-want)
- Discord servers:
- RPG Designers
- Indie Game Dev
- Specific systems (OSR, 5e, PBTA, etc.)
For fiction:
- Twitter/X (sadly still industry-central)
- Bluesky (growing fast for writers)
- Substack or blog (optional but powerful)
5. Become visible without being annoying
Post about:
- Your design process
- Lessons from the contest
- What you’re building
- Short threads like:
“3 mistakes I made designing my first RPG”
You’re signaling: peer, not fan.
Phase 3 – Strategic networking (the non-gross way)
6. Make a target list
Create 3 columns:
- Indie RPG publishers
- Small presses
- Established designers/authors you genuinely admire
Aim for 20–30 names.
7. Warm networking > cold pitching
Before pitching:
- Comment thoughtfully on their work
- Share their releases
- Ask smart questions
- Be human
After 1–2 months, you’re no longer a stranger.
8. Go where deals actually happen
If possible:
- Gen Con
- PAX Unplugged
- Breakout Con
- Local game design meetups
- Online conventions & jams
At cons:
Your goal is not selling.
It’s:
“I design RPGs and write fiction. What are you working on?”
That’s it.
Phase 4 – Position yourself as “bestselling-capable”
9. Collaborate
Fastest reputation builder:
- Co-design a small system
- Write a module for someone else’s game
- Contribute fiction to anthologies
Shared audiences = growth multiplier.
10. Get on podcasts & panels
Pitch yourself as:
Award-winning RPG designer and novelist working at the intersection of narrative and game design.
Niche + credibility = bookings.
11. Engineer a “breakout” product
Plan one project designed to:
- Be very specific
- Be easy to share
- Solve a problem players have
Example:
- “A one-session RPG for burned-out adults”
- “A cozy RPG for autistic players”
- “Narrative system for language learning”
Virality comes from clarity, not size.
Phase 5 – Publisher & agent path (optional but powerful)
12. Query with leverage
Your pitch becomes:
Previously published novelist and award-winning RPG designer seeking representation…
That line opens doors.
13. Attend pitch events
- Online agent pitch days
- Publisher open calls
- Game publisher submission periods
You’re already closer than most people who dream about this stuff. The next step is just making the industry aware you exist.
STEP THREE - Reflect on the plan and your performance
REFLECTIONS
Initial comments
I feel very encouraged to learn I am a starting pro and not starting at zero. Still, lots of work to be done while juggling family and the day job.
Phase 1 – I have done so so with this and need to turn this into a routine, as well as organize my presence better.
Phase 2 – Some great ideas here, such as what I learned from mistakes. Doing alright here, have to restart X even though I hate Elon Musk.
Phase 3 – I just started making connections so have to keep momentum up. Just did a live session at a game shop in Vancouver, but need to go to events. Still, I will avoid the USA for now.
Phase 4 – I’ve been on podcasts, need to package myself better.
Phase 5 – I’ve made some connections with industry, but seems hard to get into. I plan to publish independently first, but would be up for working for a game design company after that.
Overall, the advice is a solid A. My performance is B+, so I need to catch up!
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