TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

Anthony Boyed ( Runeslinger ) and I sat down with our friend Ivan ( Ivanmike68 ) to discuss Ben Milton's "Play Style Survey". Links (courtesy of Anthothy's video) The Survey Video from Ben Milton Stargazer's World The Silent Majority post on Casting Shadows Tequila Sunrise trailer High Fidelity trailer Alien RPG playlist: What Comes Home to Roost Blade Runner RPG playlist: Up...

A New Age of Heroes with Paul Vermeren Our guest today is Paul Vermeren. Paul is an avid player of all sorts of great RPGs and the creator of Gridshock, a unique approach to the superhero genre that prioritizes vigilante play and brings a fresh face to the superhero TTRPG Genre.  Today's episode focuses on the experience of making the game, subgenres in the gaming community, and the challenges...

At the end of the day, TTRPGs share one thing in common —they tell a story. The writers, the players, the DM: everyone is there to tell a story, feel something, and have fun. Gene Koo approaches game creation differently than most of the creators you'll hear about. His games all stem from deep connections in his life, his own childhood, his daughter, things with real weight. This comes through...

Matthew Nevers is an avid game designer and illustrator who has been playing for 25 years and has run games for 6 of those years. He publishes under Coffee All Night Games, and has created unique games like Nope! and The Winter Door. He loves horror, and his games reflect that. His new game, The Decay, is a toolbox for crafting uncanny survival horror narratives. It's perfect for adapting horr...

Dr Emily Friedman is a scholar whose work centers on storytelling. For the past few years, one of those focuses has been on TTRPGs and the vibrant communities that have developed over the decades. Her work looks at both the long and understudied early history of the medium and its modern popularity boom, and looks ahead to the future. It also highlights the community's traditions and structure...

Elliott Davis is making really interesting games. His focus isn't on following the usual standards — he's trying to make content that makes you feel and think. And he's absolutely killing it.  We talk about how he got into game development, actual plays, and the community at large, and we dive deep into some of his most compelling games and what makes them work.  Elliot is behind games...

I am joined by Dillin Apelyan and James D'Amato. If you listen to the One Shot Podcast, you've probably heard of both of them, and if you're a fan of the actual play scene, you've seen their work all over. And now, they've come on to the show to discuss their brand new book. Dillin's been featured on Dropout, Critical Role, and podcasts across the space. They've designe...

Anthony “Runeslinger” (Casting Shadows) and I discuss what makes “good players” buy into horror roleplaying and, specifically, why characters would investigate terrifying situations and keep returning after trauma. They explore common answers, such as belonging to an organization (e.g., Delta Green), and why that only starts the conversation, contrasting player motivation (“otherwise we don’t play...

Today we sit down with Laurence Philips of Hardy Roach Games, an independent designer who creates unique games that focus on themes that dive deeper than your average TTRPG.  His one-page games are weird and exciting to play, and now he discusses his brand-new game, Il Fantasmo del Giallo.  Step into the world of Giallo, a 20th-century Italian film genre that focuses on switchbacks, misdirection,...

Ray Chou is a comic book and TTRPG creator--one of the talents behind the amazing Mythworks team, known for some of the last few years' most anticipated games--Wildsea, Slugblaster, Pico, and a whole lot more. Their studio defines the modern age of TTRPG development, and he walked us through his experience and process, offering a lot of insight into how it all works. Today’s episode focuses on...

Craig talked with Craig Hatler, the creator of the RPG Shadowlight & Personae. They discussed his creative process and the origins of the game's ideas. Get all of Craig's work HERE ! TSR’s Marvel Superheroes Werewolf: the Apocalypse Shadowrun Star Wars RPG Dungeons and Dragons Second Edition Daggerheart Amazing Stories Twilight Zone Love + Robots House of Leaves The Discovery of Witche...

Today, we check in with Em Acosta, a game designer known for games like Exile and Crescent. They’re heavily involved in the industry, with a lot of writing credits on all sorts of games, and they’ve just started a blog.  Our focus is on the process of game-making. There are so many factors that go into making anything creative, and especially so in the TTRPG space. Em talks about how their process...

I am joined by René-Pier, a TTRPG designer who’s committed to making the games and design accessible. He’s the author of Breathless (and the new Frightmare Edition), Boundless, and Stoneburner.  One of the main things we focus on in the episode is the nature of open-source and free games, and why they’re such an important part of this growing community. RP dives deep into the current state of TTRP...

A lone harmonica rattling through a ship hull; a frontiersman whistles his sad song as he shoulders his laser rifle; an ad plays over the speakers of an empty outpost in a sandy desert, two suns glaring overhead. These are the scenes of Orbital Blues, a lo-fi, sci-fi romp through the furthest frontier imaginable.  Today, we sat down with Sam and Zach, the co-creators of the game, to discuss their...

Cupp and Ross Bryant join us for an informative episode about the nature and specifics of roleplaying and podcasts. The pair dives into their experiences with role-playing games. The two of them are seasoned role-players and understand more than most what the impact of throwing a microphone in front of your face has on the way you approach sessions.  The highlights of this episode focus on how GMs...

One of the great beauties of art is how different creators build upon their influences and contemporaries, creating layers that work together. We see it a lot in the TTRPG space, from shared mechanics, an influx of hacks and shared IPs, and so much cross-creation between mediums, be it books, video games, board games, and films.  Tim Denee joins us today to talk about Blades ’68, but the conversat...

Sean is the Director of Projects at Evil Hat Productions, a game developer and TTRPG enthusiast who has played more games than almost anyone we know.  He’s been part of the design team for great titles like Agon, Apocalypse Galactica, Blades in the Dark, Dead World, and Stone Dragon Mountain. He adds a refreshing energy and commitment to the world of TTRPG’s—he’s been doing it for decades.  In tod...

Craig and Marc discuss Marc's process for developing two of his games. Dragon Magazine Top Secret Star Frontier Call of Cthulu Paranoia Apocalypse World Blades in the Dark Zombie World Rifts Shadowrun Delicious in Dungeon ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Craig spoke with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan about his creative process, writing horror without being a big fan of the genre, and more. GURPS Gumshoe One Ring Trail of Cthulu Fear Itself  House of Leaves The Ring (movie) Brindlewood Bay   ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Craig spoke with Keith, author of several books on making enemies, places, and combats in your games feel more real. Check out Keith's extensive library Shadowrun GURPS Cypher System League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Knave Court of Blades Blades in the Dark Balder’s Gate Dragon Age: Veilguard Dragon Age: Inquisition Alien RPG ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Craig sat down with Dean and discussed their newest game, Trenchcoat Raccoons! ⁠Trenchcoat Raccoons Preorder⁠ ⁠Trenchcoat Raccoons Free Quickstart⁠ ⁠Terry Pratchett⁠ ⁠Risus⁠ ⁠Lady Blackbird⁠ ⁠Dungeon Crawl Carl⁠ ⁠Penny Dreadful⁠ ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Craig talked with Steven about the RPG he is crowdfunding in a week. A discussion about Westerns as a genre and how his game came to be. Huckelberry on Backerkit Huckleberry website Free League Publishing Alien Forbidden Lands Bladerunner Marvel Superheroes   Adventures in Lollygagging Deadlands Haunted West Savage Worlds Bone Tomahawk Cowboys and Aliens Unforgiven the Shootist The Aching God by M...

Craig spoke with Federico about two of their provocative TTRPGs, where they originated, and the process of bringing them from idea to a game that can be played. ************************************ Nibiru Zephyr Warhammer World of Darkness Ten Candles Dread Dialect Azul Gloomhaven   Dawn of Everything by David Graber and David Wingrow Debt: The First Five Thousand Years — David Graber Seeing like...

Craig talked with Takuma about their big indie hit Stewpot: Tales from a Fantasy Tavern. They discuss the origins of the idea and the process from concept to release. ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to...

Craig sat down with Cam Banks, a prolific RPG creator who has worked on many of the games on your RPG shelf. ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little as $1 a month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145 Example: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https...