Hi - we're on Tumblr now!

I'm sorry, who are you?

We're @sashasienna​ and @jonnywaistcoat​, and we make tabletop RPGs as MacGuffin & Co.!

Tabletop what-nows?

Immersive storytelling games where you and your friends can dive into weird worlds, play fascinating characters and have harrowing adventures!

What, like Dungeons & Dragons?

*sigh* Yeah. Like Dungeons & Dragons

Ok, so what have you made?

Well, we've got a collection of system neutral micro-settings called Odd Jobs - it's eleven small and fascinating worlds to play games in, each with a campaign you can play through in a month. They're not designed for any particular system, so you can play them with whatever game you like!

Oh, and it won the 2022 UK Games Expo award for Best Adventure and was nominated for Ennie Product of the Year. Just sayin'.

We've just released a tarot-themed magical river game called Upriver, Downriver with our dear friend Ella Watts, in which you play the crew of a ship sailing the Great River, either travelling upriver to the mythical Source with it's magic and revelation; or downriver towards the unending Sea with it's freedom and horizon.

We have KER-SPLAT! - a high-chaos, full nonsense cartoon RPG we wrote with Ross Barlow, where the players can't die and the GM can't stop them in a hilarious cascade of silly jokes. Also, not to brag, but this is the funniest RPG rulebook you'll ever read.

We also have smaller games, such as Zero Void - a no-prep one-shot zine game, where you play a bunch of desperate space criminals trying to escape a space station before the law arrives.

Is there any way to keep up with what you do?

Well, following our Tumblr is a great start. We also have a monthly mailing list you can sign up to from our website that will keep you updated on what we do.

We also have a Patreon.

What was that? You're mumbling!

Yeah, like all creators trying to eke out a living, we have a Patreon. If you sign up you get behind -the-scenes updates, small or prototype games, RPG resources, new micro-settings and our monthly TTRPG Gamesmasterclass, where we use our 35(!) combined years of GMing experience to help you run the best games ever.

But what if I want to see your faces?

Then I have great news! We stream boardgames and RPGs every Sunday at twitch.tv/macguffinandco! Jonny also streams videogames every Friday at twitch.tv/jonnywaistcoat, and Sasha steams their Jane Austen Bookclub every Monday at twitch.tv/sashasienna

Sounds cool - where can I find out more?

macguffinandcompany.com, baby!

Wait, so why are you on Tumblr?

Because social media is a nightmare hellscape and it's weirdly the chillest one left. We are on other social sites as well - you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - but this is our favourite.

Hi Jonny! 🦇 I've heard mention of a discord server and I was curious if it's a closed server or if there's a way to obtain the link. Thank you!

If it's when we're streaming, it refers to a private Discord me and Sash maintain with our stream mods, where they send through messages from chat (and sometimes give me advice if I'm stuck on a game).

The idea of being in any way responsible for any sort of public or semi-public discord server makes me break out in a cold sweat.

I don't often talk about MacGuffin stuff on here (not sure why) but Jonny and I have been running these masterclass streams for our patrons and I'm really proud of them! This week's is about running your first game (ever or of a new campaign) and we'll talk a lot about the principles of structuring a session and engaging players, but also a bit about practicalities and figuring out your own GMing style. I think these streams (and accompanying VODs) are really good, so maybe check out our patreon if they seem like your kind of thing.

Me: Hey, you should listen to the magnus archives! It's really good!

Brother: No, I don't listen to podcasts

Me: damn

...

Me: Hey, you should listen to this band, the Mechanisms, they're really good.

Brother: I listened to them and they're not really my thing

Me: fuck

Me:...

Me: Hey, you know how you like tabletop games....

I was looking for something to watch while going to bed and decided on some of Jonny and Sashas rp stuff on the Macguffin and Co. channel and was jumpscared by the voice of gp Tim. Like ik theyre friends and shit but i was not ready

This looks very exciting! Here is the whole thread so you can see some of the other very cool-looking stories that will be coming in the podcast https://twitter.com/TheRustyQuill/status/1547249500120526848?s=20&t=VJT97wnKnnTDp2pJbLffSQ.

[Image description: Two images featuring tweets from Twitter user Rusty Quill @/therustyquill. The first reads: ‘Introducing a new anthology podcast: Neon Inkwell, releasing in October 2022. #NeonInkwell is a home for short-form audiodrama, introducing listeners to new and underrepresented creators (as well as a few familiar faces). (1/7)’. Also in the tweet is an image of the show artwork for Neon Inkwell. The background has a frosted glass effect, with many colours ranging from purples to yellows and reds. In the centre is a diamond shape, with two faces. In white, stylised capital letters are the words ‘Neon Inkwell’.

The second tweet reads ‘Firstly, ‘Of That Colossal Wreck’, science fiction with a horror twist, by some familiar names for fans of The Magnus Archives: @SiennaSasha and @/jonnywaistcoat. On a space ship, long after the extinction of humanity, five people awaken - but they may not be alone… (3/7)’ Under the tweet is an image that is a social media card for Neon Inkwell. The background has a frosted glass effect, with colours ranging from purples to greens. On the left-hand side is the Neon Inkwell show artwork. On the right is text with two photographs of Jonny Sims and Sasha Sienna underneath. Text reads: ‘Of That Colossal Wreck’. When five artificially grown people awaken on an abandoned space station long after the extinction of humanity, they must confront their purpose, their future and the carnivorous alien beings which have taken over the facility. Created by Jonathan Sims (he/him) and Sasha Sienna (he/she/they)’. End ID]

I wanted to do something other than squares for a while so I decided to try my hand at something new, filet crochet. This was a gift to MacGuffin & Co, who me and my friends hired to run a TTRPG for us. We'd been run through a game online by @jonnywaistcoat before, which was a blast, and this time we had @sashasienna as our GM in real life, and I wanted to do something back for them for all the awesome stuff they do.

ID: a vertical filet crochet (a sort crochet pixel art by creating empty and filled boxes as needed) piece done in old rose pink of combined elements of the MacGuffin & Company logo, pinned on a white sheet for blocking. At the top is a simplified diamond with small elements above it indicating shine. Beneath that is in a fancy, semi attached font the text: MacGuffin & company. Below the word MacGuffin is a curved line that curls up on the right next to the n, and curls down on the left before the & symbol. End ID

ben has ‘unliked’ the tweet about the article, but his retweet of the article is still up. i think it’s very brave of him to retweet it given the situation, and I hope he’s not being bullied rn

I hope none of them are! The article specifically asked people not to harass or "cancel" any of the creatives - or even RQ.

Please, everyone who's reading this, do not pile into people's mentions or inboxes to ask them about the article. If the claims are true, they won't be allowed to corroborate any of it. If the claims aren't true and they say so, it might seem untrustworthy in light of the claim of a gag order.

Do not put your favourite creatives in that position. They'll be having a bad enough time at the moment already.

Support those who you know have been affected negatively in any way - like Autumn and Maddy who were let go, or Anil whose poetry is still being published as "Martin's Poetry" as patreon bonus content, even though Anil himself left RQ months ago - or support those whose creations you enjoy directly - like The Brothers Meredith, MacGuffin & Co., We Talk of Dreams, etc.

"I shall support [Pride] in my own way, by killing skeletons while bisexual." Jonny Sims is a Mood.

Episode one is out!!! We're playing PITCRAWLER this week where you can meet Rocks McGee! An engineer by profession and acrobat at heart, who embarks on an adventure with their best friend Turnip in a quest to retrieve their 15 lost pennies to be able to get into wizard school. (Don't tell them it's impossible.) You can find us on Acast, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio and PlayerFM or search for Roll of the Dice on your podcatcher of choice!

We hope you enjoy! <3

Pitcrawler digital is here!

Behold! The digital edition of Pitcrawler is here!

...if you backed it on IndieGoGo, at least. The rest of you will have to wait another month or two to Behold! it, I'm afraid.

It's been a real labour of love this last year to get it all ready for folks, and we're so happy to be sharing it. If you backed the campaign, you should have it in a Backerkit email that came through to you inbox (or your spam if your computer's suspicious) last week. If you haven't had it, let us know.

And for everybody else, here's a little tast of what's to come after we've sorted printing and it goes public.

hi, i'm considering the different pledge rewards for the TMA RPG crowdfunder and saw there's a version at the highest pledge level that will be autographed by you and Monte Cook. i was wondering - will the autographs be printed or hand-signed?

i thought it'd be the latter? but wanted to check. thanks!

They'll be hand-signed, though obviously due to the international nature, I believe for some of them we'll be signing bookplates/stickers that will be put inside the books (so MCG don't have to ship thousands of copies to my tiny house and then out to the rest of the world!) Regardless, all signatures will come from our own flesh-and-blood hands.

[id : a simple drawing of brie o’malley, sasha sienna’s character from macguffin&co’s pitcrawler streams, standing with one hand on her hip, the other holding a short bow and her foot resting on a stone. she is a white woman with light hair worn in a single messy plait, and freckles on her face, neck and hands, alongside some scars. she’s wearing some sort of stereotypical, old fashioned farm outfit that’s been damaged and adapted to better suit the life of a pitcrawler. there are stains of dirt on her clothes and skin, patches on her dress, one side of her skirt is worn higher on her thigh, and she’s wearing bracers and high boots. a quiver, a pouch and a rustic blowing horn are hanging from her belt. /end id.]

little brie o’malley, there. enjoy your retirement queen, and may stabbo the bold make you proud (he probably won’t)

Two more sticker commissions being shipped Monday, this time they’re @palvanic ‘s OCs whom I love and adore and torment via rp. 

tim meredith absolutely ruining my brain once again

assorted thoughts on DA: Absolution -

IMDB from a month ago was right

it looks good, I'm excited

stacked voice cast

diverse voice cast & characters

Cassandra my beloved

I hope there will be a Season 2

Qwydion 🥺 Vashoth?

the fact that it's been built in close collaboration with BioWare’s creative team (including head writers and lead creative directors), and that it was a big passion project for the show creator, who spent weeks immersed in DA lore to prepare and said they want to make something fans could be proud of.. 👌

"PS: if you’ve read this far, see you on Dragon Age Day. Or maybe sooner" hellooo what does THIS mean 👁️ you have the attention of each one of my many Pride demon eyeballs. another Absolution trailer, episode one or something of Absolution dropping early as a preview, or something like Absolution character profiles or behind-the-scenes/making of reels on or before DA Day? or something for DA:D?

Lords of Fortune once again prominent, again I'm guessing they have a role to play in DA:D

Evariste Lemarque is the latest minor character to ascend in DA's time-honored tradition of Ascended Extras. he was a neat side NPC, I'm looking forwards to seeing his expanded backstory/characterization etc, I love it when DA side characters get some spotlight & fleshing out tbh. he makes sense as a group leader given his history leading the Watcher's Reach refugees. given his appearance in the scene with Cass and Leli and the fact that he can be recruited in DAI as an Inquisition Agent, I guess he is the group's Inquisition contact and that the group are being sent on this quest on behalf of/at the behest of the Inquisition (or Inquisition remnants timeperiod depending). it reminds me a bit of Bull's Charger's, Sutherland's Company, Vaea and co, and the adventuring group questing on behalf of the Inquisition in Genetivi Dies in the End. like a show about an Inquisition War Table mission :) very cool!! the world feels more alive and dynamic when we have the sense that lots of things are happening in the background off-screen around the games

3 fighters, 2 mages and Miriam/a thief, sounds like the classic DA and RPG party with a team leader setup.

the Cass and Leli scene reads like the Inquisition briefing our group on their assigned quest

Miriam's childhood looks like what Fenris' must have been like :( I wonder if the other child in the flashback is her sibling. I wonder if something happened to the other child at the hands of the woman who enslaved Miriam or because of Rezaren, contributing to Miriam's trauma :(

I am once again wondering if, given the heist and thieves plotline, some ideas and aspects from Joplin (with its "spies and heists, secret heroes nobody knows about" vision) were rolled into Absolution. I am also once again thinking about the Magrallen. so our latest macguffin is an extremely dangerous likely Tevinter magical artifact fuelled by blood magic, while the Magrallen was a Tevinter magical device also powered by blood magic which dates back to ancient times, the time of the Dreamers. Titus was using the Magrallen to augment his power, with the intent of restoring Tevinter's greatness using his augmented Dreamer powers to do mind control and brainwashing. he talked about how the ancient Dreamers commanded the fade, "mages sculpting dreams. Dreams sculpting reality". Rezaren also seems to want to build some kind of new, better, grand future for Tevinter regardless of the cost, albeit one that's more righteous and better for everyone involved not just those in power (and the question posed then is: is it ok to fix Tevinter, and create a better future for everyone in it from all parts of the society, if the cost of that is mindcontrolling everyone or whatever else? reminds me a bit of the questions posed by the Control and Synthesis endings in ME). maybe the Circulum Infinitus is a small, mobile/portable version of the Magrallen? it presumably does something similar or adjacent at least. blood magic (and Rezaren appears to be a blood mage) already allows for mind control. With a portable macguffin that boosts blood magic powers, a blood mage could probably mind control many, many people, maybe even a nation or the whole magocracy (all those in power in Tevinter)

the hooded figure with many eyes is tied to the Pride Demon I'm sure

seen a few folks wonder if the horned silhouette is Iron Bull, I don't think this is the case, I think it's the dragon skull/dead dragon from 0:12 in the Absolution teaser trailer

maybe Rezaren and possibly also Tassia are the children of the woman who enslaved Miriam before? Rezaren and the woman's hairstyles and clothes look kind of similar, and that could explain why he's (if it's him) the man at the heart of Miriam's misery. and isn't the flaming sword symbol on Tassia's hammer a version of the Templar symbol? the Imperial Templar Order falls under the authority of the Magisters and the Tevinter Circle of Magi. so for Tassia, as she's dutiful and hardworking, as a dutiful Imperial Templar that could be why she's aiding Rezaren, and her character's personal conflict will be about how much she's willing to stand by and let happen for 'the good of Tevinter', and where exactly she draws the line. if they're siblings, she'd be a non-magic scion of a noble magic house (if Rezaren being born into privilege is anything to go by), and therefore perhaps feel duty-bound to contribute towards the greatness of her house and country in her own, non-magical way, in lieu of being a mage herself.

it threw me for a loop a bit that Matt Mercer isn't voicing the character that looks like Matt Mercer hh

with the way Rezaren sees himself, and the prideful notion he has that he should be the one to build a better Tevinter.. he sounds like precisely the kind of person who would be susceptible to a Pride demon. haha we in danger

what could Hira's secret be? maybe she is a blood mage, that learned the power in order to help her crusade? with her crusade against Tevinter, I wonder if she has crossed paths with Dorian, Mae and the Lucerni

the most powerful man in Tevinter: the Archon? the Black Divine? Rezaren? I wonder if our group are stealing the Circulum from Rezaren or if both they and Rezaren are opposing forces both trying to steal it at the same time from the most powerful man in Tevinter.