ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
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willmthompson.bsky.social
ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
@willmthompson.bsky.social
710 followers 160 following 310 posts
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/941694206/mirror-agents

Game Designer, Co-Owner of Absurdist Productions, Instructional Designer, ᏥᏣᎳᎩ
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willmthompson.bsky.social
ᏫᎵ Will Thompson @willmthompson.bsky.social · Nov 21
I haven't seen a starter pack for indigenous folks in the tabletop industry, so I made one. I know I don't have everyone in here. Who do I need to add?

go.bsky.app/KwVc8tX
willmthompson.bsky.social
Look what showed up!
Winter Rabbit game with Origins Award trophy
September 24, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
kennaalexander.bsky.social
Yay! I can finally tell everyone! I'm going to be working with the amazing folks at @montecookgames.com to help bring the Between Earth & Sky series by Rebecca Roanhorse to the tabletop roleplaying world! Please follow along, share, and let folks know! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/m...
Between Earth and Sky: the Roleplaying Game
Get notified when Between Earth and Sky: the Roleplaying Game launches on BackerKit!
www.backerkit.com
July 15, 2026 at 10:43 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
We've launched the landing page for my new RPG. I've been working on this one for a while, and I'm really excited to start sharing more.

www.backerkit.com/call_to_acti...
Get Ready for 1000 Generations - Role Playing In a Time Before Empires
From Absurdist Productions - Get Ready for 1000 Generations - Role Playing In a Time Before Empires
www.backerkit.com
July 14, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
colewehrle.bsky.social
This is a great watch. Stop thinking about games. Start thinking about play. 🧵
itsquinns.bsky.social Quinns @itsquinns.bsky.social · Jul 9
New video! Last month I was invited to Spain's Guadalindie game convention to do a talk of my choice.

I ended up giving an angry polemic about how the culture of games is failing designers left and right, because there is no games industry. There's just "play"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Xm...
Why We're Doing Journalism Differently: The Future isn't Games, it's Play - PMG | Guadalindie 2026
YouTube video by MálagaJam
www.youtube.com
July 9, 2026 at 5:04 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
It's incredible to have my game win an award at this level. I'm honestly not sure what to say, which is part of why I haven't posted about it much. But I am incredibly grateful to all the people who made this happen. I hope that never sounds cliche.
Winter Rabbit game box with the Origins Award seal
July 3, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
With Riposte! And Cellblock 18 moving towards production, let's talk about our next games. David has been working on a 2+ player game. Each player has 8 double ended Path cards and a character card. Currently it's loosely WW2 aerial combat, but what other themes would you folks find interesting?
Photo of a prototype for a 2 player card game involving programmed path building and aerial combat. Two paths of cards converge as the players plane cards try to shoot each other down.
June 11, 2026 at 4:06 AM
willmthompson.bsky.social
We've got just about 8 hours left in the campaign, and I'm stoked that we have 470 people backing these cool little games.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 28, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
Shout out to @asmeesh.bsky.social whose amazing graphic design is what makes Riposte! and Cellblock 18 look so amazing. From the cards to the packaging, she knocked them both out of the park.
Render of the packaging for Cellblock 18, an 18-card game from Absurdist Productions designed by David Thomas. The packaging graphic design was done by A. Giroux. It features contrasting teal and yellow boxes filled with icons depicting imagery related to an old prison. Keys and a lock, tally marks, tools, and a guard with a truncheon. Render of the packaging for Riposte!, an 18-card game from Absurdist Productions designed by Will Thompson. The packaging graphic design was done by A. Giroux. It features contrasting blue, orange, and white squares, each filled with abstract images of fencing swords and fencers.
May 20, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
We are only a handful of backers away from funding our Backerkit campaign for Riposte! and Cellblock 18. So excited, and thank you to everyone who has backed already!

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 18, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
We have made it to $4500, and just need $1500 more to fund on the Riposte! and Cellblock 18 Backerkit campaign. if you like tight 2-player 18-card games, you should check them out.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 14, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
While we are of course tring to get Riposte! and Cellblock 18 funded, there are also a number of other really cool games up as part of Poketopia, and specifcally the Card Games Banner we are under.

www.backerkit.com/c/collection...
Card Games - BackerKit
Back projects you want to see in the world.
www.backerkit.com
May 14, 2026 at 6:52 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
Proud to be the 54th backer 😎 on @BackerKit Crowdfunding for Gnome Squad! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/g...
Gnome Squad
A pocket sized squad battle game. Draft the strongest team of Gnomes from a random draw, balancing unique abilities & color synergies, then pit them against your opponent's squad one by one until all ...
www.backerkit.com
May 13, 2026 at 8:23 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
So right now we are running a campaign on Backerkit. It's an experiment in a few ways. For one thing, this is our first time to have no stretch goals. The game is simple and doesn't really need them, so we are going without.

What do other creators think: do stretch goals still motivate backers?
May 12, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
tentagil.bsky.social
Have I mentioned today yet that I have a campaign going on Backerkit right now? Two great 18-card games!

Play as Warden vs Prisoner in an attempted jailbreak in Cellblock 18, or face off as dueling fencers in Riposte!

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 12, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
salamandergames.bsky.social
Come see @salamandergames.bsky.social out at Geekway to the West this weekend, May 14-17th in St Charles, Missouri! We will be showing off our upcoming game releases and prototypes! We will have our available titles and a fun assortment of Salamander Soft-ees for sale also!
May 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
We are on day 5 of our Backerkit for Cellblock 18 and Riposte!, and while we haven't funded yet, we are doing well. But things are slowing down. If you are interested in the games, please give us a pledge. We really want to make these happen.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
rericreuss.bsky.social
I know the folks at Absurdist Productions, so got a chance to try these at PAXU last December! They're quick, tight games where you can really get into the other player's head... or just mess around and see how things play out, if that's more your jam. Just backed, hoping it funds.
May 9, 2026 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
tentagil.bsky.social
We got the video of the Cellblock 18 playthrough up on YouTube, so it's easier to share. I'm really proud of this one. Asymmetric play and language-independent cards. Plus, the art came out great.

youtu.be/GXsCkujYfNE?...
Cell Block 18 Playthrough
YouTube video by Absurdist Productions
youtu.be
May 8, 2026 at 5:10 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
My new mini-card game is live on Backerkit. If you like pocket-sized games that are quick to learn and play, then come check it out.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! card game
May 8, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
tentagil.bsky.social
My new game, Cellblock 18, along with Riposte! by my partner @willmthompson.bsky.social, have launched on Backerkit.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cel...
www.backerkit.com
May 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
absurdistprod.bsky.social
We go live on BackerKit with Cellblock 18 and Riposte! tomorrow morning.

www.backerkit.com/c/projects/a...
Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games Launch Party
Get excited about Riposte! and Cell Block 18 - Micro Card Games on BackerKit - come join!
www.backerkit.com
May 6, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by ᏫᎵ Will Thompson
asmeesh.bsky.social
Two really neat two-player games I worked on for absurdistprod.bsky.com! You should go follow them for more info 🧡
April 28, 2026 at 4:53 PM
willmthompson.bsky.social
Well, I'm about to leave the most beautiful place I've ever been. I could have spent so much more time here. #argentina #patagonia
Bariloche Argentina
April 21, 2026 at 10:44 AM
willmthompson.bsky.social
Mirror Agents is a great game, but we definitely failed to find our audience. It's humbling to cancel a crowdfunding campaign, but I'm glad we are in a place where we can put this one on hold without the company collapsing. We continue to live, learn, and move forward with other projects.
absurdistprod.bsky.social Absurdist Productions ➡️ 🎆 SkasdiCon 🎇 @absurdistprod.bsky.social · Apr 16
We've spent the last week collecting data from backers, and non-backers on our mailing list to work out what went wrong with Mirror Agents campaign. As expected, the biggest issue for many was the economy. The game price was okay, but folks are saving their money for other things.
April 16, 2026 at 8:11 PM