Heather “ValyGirl” Ashcraft is an RPG creative w/ 25+ years of experience in Tabletop & Live Action RP design, storytelling, playtesting, Game Mastering, & management. She’s also an RPG freelancer, social media streamer, and video content creator.
She is a co-owner & creative at Pick Up & Go Games and Geeks Unplugged, cast member & GM for multiple streamed actual play groups, and an award-winning roleplayer.
Heather is a lifelong gamer, an advocate for education, diversity and inclusion, and a proud LGBTQIA+ neurodivergent human who fully believes that #GamingIsForEveryone.
She can be reached on Discord (@heather_valygirl) or via email at valygirldesigns@gmail.com
Streaming
Conventions
Tabletop RPGs
Live Action RPGs
Socials
Freelance Projects (TTRPG)
NASCRAG (National Society of Crazed Gamers)
"A Feast at Five Forks Mall: A Cautionary Tale of Feast and Food"
One-shot scenario for organized play at GenCon 2024
System: Call of Cthulhu 7e RPG / Pulp Cthulhu
Scenario designer, writer, and lead game master
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Miskatonic Repository In Production
"The Rose Elf"
System: Call of Cthulhu 7e RPG
Scenario designer and story
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Troll Lord Games In Production
System: Amazing Adventures (Reforged)
Scenario lead designer and story
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"Gold Rush of Doom"
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"Feast of Blood"
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"The Dark Pyramid"
AVAILABLE NOW
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Crypts & Creatures: simplified d20 roleplaying game system Contributing designer, writer, and playtester
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MicroAdventures: A full 4-person dungeon crawl in a mint tin Contributing developer + playtester
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Champions of Shaleria: Non-collectable, fully modular ttrpg adventure. Contributing developer + playtester
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IN PRODUCTION
Lead designer, narrative writer, and playtest game master
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Frygia: The Frozen Wastelands
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Theme kit
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"Of Snocones and Meat Popsicles" theme adventure
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Contributing designer, lead narrative writer, and playtest game master
HEADMASTERS RIDDLE CHALLENGE
Lead riddle writer
Co-designer of the challenge system
We have been offering the challenge at our vendor booth since 2021 with great success. I have now written upwards of 100 riddles for the challenge and have plans to release a book of riddles through Pick Up & Go Games in the not-too-distant future.
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One-shot adventures for various US-based conventions
Scenario designer, writer, and game master
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Star Trek Adventures by Modiphius
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Heckin' Good Doggos by Wet Ink Games
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Psychic Kids by Wet Ink Games
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The Walking Dead RPG by Free League Publishing
Actual Plays / Podcasts
LIGHTLESS BEACONS
Cast Member
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"The Dare" - Josephine "Jo" Delafano (The Tough)
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"The Moonchild" - Maggi Stern In Production
Keeper/GM
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"Slow Boat to China" Coming SPRING 2025
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MISKATONIC PLAYHOUSE
Cast Member
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"Chanting Sutra Network" - Neko Nakamura
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"Unremembered" - Martha Foster
Keeper/GM
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"All Part of the Game"
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"Pilgrim's Hope"
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"Christmas at the Sanatorium" Coming DECEMBER 2024
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"A Midsummer Night's Darkness" Coming MARCH 2025
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SYMPHONY ENTERTAINMENT
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Call of Cthulhu 7e
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"Alpaca in the Coffee" - Cast: Klara Nogacz
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"Friends of Dorothy" - Cast: Ensign Banks
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"Last Journey Home" - Cast: Liam O'Daily
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Pirate Borg: The Dark Caribbean - Cast: Cornelia "Dead Man" Talliour
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THE OLD WAYS PODCAST
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Call of Cthulhu 7e
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Masks of Nyarlathotep - Cast: Anastasia Edwina Fairchild (Stazi)
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Season 1
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Season 5
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RuneQuest: Glorantha
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"Six Seasons in Sartar" - Cast: Lysanna
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"A Day in the Stead" - Cast: Dianis Zhor
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Bluebeard's Bride - Cast: Animus
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Hunter the Reckoning - Cast: Josephine "Jo" Mackey​
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TROLL LORD GAMES
Castles & Crusades
"Jungles of Inklu-Naid" - Cast: Qibi Wanderluck
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ONYX PATH PUBLISHING
Curseborne - Cast: Cadwell (The Outcast)
At The Gates (Onyx Path Con AP) - Cast: Elias Grommet
Realms of Pugmire (Onyx Path Con AP) - Cast: Endy
Conventions and Live Events
I am open for online and in-person meetings throughout the year. I am also available for meetings, panels, live plays, and game mastering at the following conventions:
2024
No additional appearances scheduled
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2025
Philadelphia Area Game Expo (PAGE) - Special Industry Guest
Gary Con
Midwest Gaming Classic
Chaosium Con *tentative
Origins Game Fair *tentative
Gen Con *tentative
Egg Con - Special Industry Guest
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Additional conventions may be added based on requests and scheduling.
Video series focusing on games and gaming.
"ValyGirl and The Retro Knight geek out about games and gaming - collecting, conventions, creators, fellow enthusiasts, new finds, old treasures, and much, much more. We may even chat about geek movies & TV shows, comics, toys & merch, art, and whatever geekiness comes our way. New video every month! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok at @geeksunplugged, and at various in-person conventions in the Midwest such as Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee, WI, and R2V2 in Rockford, IL."
Socials
Bsky: @valygirlheather
FB: /valygirldesigns
IG: @valygirl_designs
TT: @valygirlheather​
TW: @valygirl_heather​
YT: @valygirldesigns
Discord: @heather_valygirl
Live Action Roleplaying (LARP)
Shaleria LARP (2008-2018)
Contributing designer (system mechanics)
Lead narrative writer
Lead organizational management
Lead costumes and props
Lead marketing and social media
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Legends' End (2001)
Designer, narrative writer, game master, organizational management, costumes and props, marketing and IT
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Karador's Realm (1992-2003)
System mechanics: contributing designer (1997-2001)
Narrative writer (lead: 1999-2001, contributor: 1997-1998)
Contributor: organizational management (1997-2001)
Contributor: costumes and props (1998-2001)
Lead marketing and IT (1998-2001)
Player: 1992-1997 + 2001-2003