TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

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...

Craig talked with Glenn Ford about his creative journey and two of his miniature-game designs. Pukeapocalypse Boarders and Black Flags Malifaux  Warlord 2000AD Reservoir Dogs Blackadder RoboCop Syd Meier's Pirate s Viewfinder Superliminal  Billion Suns Fantastic Four Dredd JoJo Rabbit   ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little...

Craig sat down with Maddie and Wheels to discuss their newest venture and recently released game. Just for Fun, Inc , Outgunned , ROOT , Call of Cthulhu , Delta Green , Ten Candles , Alice is Missing , SETI , Band of Blades , Warhammer , FREAKZ! , Dead Rising 2 , Raven's Watch , Numenera ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little...

Craig sat down with Asher, the new Head of Games at Kickstarter, to discuss his work there and his previous experience with Alchemy RPG VTT. Azul , Mancala , Alchemy RPG , Dungeon Slimes , The Creative Act - Rick Rubin , The Avett Brothers , May it Last , Ain't Slayed Nobody , Cosmic Dark ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little...

Craig talked with Garry Snow of Dieku Games about his RPG Bugbusters and podcast/YouTube channel. Bug Busters on Kickstarter Fang Dungeon Bestiary on Backerkit White Dwarf Magazine Ghostbusters D6 Game   Car Wars Savage Worlds Brindlewood Bay Tales from the Territories   Dark Winds No Country For Old Men Hell or High Water Wind River Killers of the Flower Moon ************************************...

Mikey Hamm talked with Craig about the new expansion zines for his award-winning RPG, Slugblaster. Get Slugblaster: Slime, Warp, and Solder HERE! Wildsea Vaesen Mothership Billion Suns Gaslands Mike Hutchinson Slugblaster Two-Hand Path Michael Elliott Punk Magic The Magpie's Cube Mechabellum ************************************ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show for as little...

John Harper talks with Craig about the Deep Cuts expansion book for Blades in the Dark. Blades in the Dark Deep Cuts Blades in the Dark Lady Blackbird Talislanta Delta Green Pagan Publishing How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way | Book by Stan Lee, John Buscema Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Watchmen Fate The Road - Cormac McCarthy The Proposition Understanding Comics - Scott McCloud Avatar: The Last A...

Graham Walmsley talks with Craig about the creative process behind Play Unsafe, Cthulhu Dark, and CosmicDark. Back Cosmic Dark Get Cthulhu Dark Get Play Unsafe Tunnels & Trolls Toon Golden Heroes Vampirethe Masquerade Trail of Cthulu The Quiet Year Ain't Slayed Nobody JG Ballard Trophy Dark DarkenedHill and Dale Midsommar Blood on Satan’s Claw WitchfinderGeneral WickerMan What Moves the De...