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TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

Do you love tabletop gaming? This is your podcast. Who are the creatives behind your favorite games and content? How do they approach their work? I sit with designers, developers, artists, writers, and creators and learn how they approach their work. I try to understand their process, inspiration, and methods for crafting their creations. Craig digs deep into the work and uncovers the origins of your favorite tabletop games and the creative process that brought them to life.

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Elliot Davis (The Time We Have) ep 282

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 like Project…

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Dillin Apelyan & James D’Amato (One Shot Podcast, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide) ep 281

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 designed a bunch of great games,…

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Why do we go into the basement? ep. 280

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…

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Laurence Phillips (Il Fantasma del Giallo) ep. 279

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,…

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Ray Chou (Mythworks) ep. 278

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…

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Craig Hatler (Shadowlight & Personae) ep. 277

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 Witches Watchmen…

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Em Acosta (Crescent, Exile) ep. 276

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…

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René-Pier Deshaies (Breathless: Frightmare Edition) ep. 275

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…

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Sam Sleney & Zach Cox (Orbital Blues) ep. 274

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…

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Ross Bryant and Cupp (Push the Roll) ep. 273

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…

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