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TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Craig Shipman
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- 2 weeks ago1h 29m
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 has changed over the years, the importance and complexity of playtesting and interacting with public space, and unique ways to play and consume relationships in gaming. It’s a personal and engaging interview that touches on the larger processes of game writing. Check out Em Acosta at the links below:Buy their books on Mythworks or Itch.ioCheck out their Bluesky!And their new blog! Show Mentions:Bluebeard’s BrideDungeon WorldPowered By the Apocalypse Girl By MoonlightBlades in the DarkNeverlandQuestDIE RPGPractical Anarchism - Shuli Branson1000-Year-Old VampireIon Heart PluribusParadise************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
- Apr 13, 20261h 39m
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 TTRPGs, licensing, and managing community expectations and your own artistic endeavors. We also dive deep into the creation and approach he takes to his games, with simple rules, deadly mechanics, and a really unique way dice can impact how a game functions. It’s a great conversation, and RP has such a clear understanding of how games work. Back the Frightmare Edition here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythworks/breathless-frightmare-editionIf you want to play Breathless, download it for free here! https://farirpgs.com/breathless/And Boundless: https://farirpgs.com/boundless/Referenced Media: FateBlades in the Dark 2400 SRDCairnInto the OddDuskfallDark SoulsPicoMothershipDM GM ClubMythworksFrieren The ExpanseDwarf FortressProject Hail MaryEnola HomesKnives OutStar WarsConanIndiana JonesStranger Things************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
- Apr 11, 20261h 4m
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 relationship, the conversations and execution that led to the game’s development, and all the nitty-gritty of how these games are getting made. We talk about their unique approach to writing, the beautiful design decisions they make, and how they involve the community. They also talk about Outlaws and Corporations, their new expansion that’s hitting shelves now. To find Orbital Blues, Afterburn, and all their other great work, check out their website: https://usa.soulmuppet-store.co.uk/pages/orbital-bluesAnd if you wanna back the Outlaws and Corporations Kickstarter, check it out! https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/soulmuppet/orbital-blues-outlaws-and-corporations?ref=home-pageDon't miss Orbital Blues Month here: https://www.backerkit.com/c/collections/orbital-blues-monthSee more from Zach on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jellymuppet.bsky.socialThe Titles We Mentioned: Paint the Town RedInevitableBest Left BuriedOrbital BluesSinsBeneath the Missing SeaWarhammer Fantasy RoleplayingBlades in the DarkMaze RatsBurning WheelFantasy Flights: Only WarExaltedCyberpunk 2020MausritterMork BorgMordhauNecropolisHobgoblinNecromunda************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
- Mar 17, 20261h 30m
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 can make the experience more visual and cinematic, and on the power of improvisation and fluidly moving through the session with your players. We discuss horror as a genre, so if you're into getting spooked during the session, it’s good listen. Check out Push the Roll here: https://pushtheroll.comand sign up to their Patreon! https://members.pushtheroll.com/?synced=1Listen to Ain’t Slayed Nobody: https://aintslayednobody.comFollow Ross on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossbb/and Cuppycup: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:5olaqsnnyq7hqxxjr2qhtds7SHOW NOTES:Blades ’68Glass Cannon NetworkDropout TVKids on BikesCall of CthuluFall (film) Bout of RadnessThe Victorians and Ancient Greece by Richard JenkynsAlien: The Cold Forge by Alex WhiteThe Traitors (TV)************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
- Mar 2, 20261h 17m
Tim Denee (Blades '68) ep. 272
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 conversation turns to adaptations and interweaving that any avid RPG lover can learn from. He discusses how Blades ’68 transports the universe of Blades in the Dark into a new era, playing on how our world could look like a science-fiction fantasy realm of its own, and he straddled the source material with his own personal approach. We’re at a point where TTRPG’s aren’t being developed in a vacuum—the genre is sprawling and interweaving in ways that give creators, DMs, and players a lot of room to grow and play. It’s a great inside look at how the most cutting-edge developers are working together to forge bigger and better universes than ever. Tim Denee is a designer who works on all sorts of projects, from book covers to websites and TTRPGs! He’s well known for the acclaimed Deathmatch Island, and has a lot of great games in development outside of Blades ’68, like Bloodred Clouds in the Western Sky and Unit-X. His highly stylized games blend genre and period perfectly to create really exciting games. REFERENCES:Band of BladesMythic BastionlandDeathloopDishonoredPeaky BlindersWavelengthMonikersMagical AthleteMagic: The GatheringFactorioSatisfactoryAlchemy Factory************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales
- Feb 10, 20262h 8m
Kickin’ The Tires with Sean Nittner (Evil Hat Productions) ep. 271
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 today’s episode, we break down different gameplay styles and the realities of various mechanics, how they affect the flow of play, and how players interact with the world. It’s a deep dive into how game hacking and open-source development work, and it's great for homebrewers and developers alike. Sean discusses what makes for a robust mechanical structure and how best to integrate a game's structure and story into an evocative product. He explores how to deliver mechanics to your audience, how to tell more enticing stories, red and green flags in game-making, and details his awesome experiences in the field over This conversation was a blast, running nearly two hours. A true deep dive, there’s a lot to learn here.Check out Sean’s websiteVisit the amazing titles sold by Evil Hat ProductionsTitles and subjects we reference: OSR MothershipPBTA Forged in the DarkCall of Cthulu KnaveMythic BastionlandWhite Hack & Black HackScum and VillainyProject PERSEUSBand of BladesSpell and BladeDraw SteelApocalypse WorldTiān Dēng: Tales of the Immortal God ShipOutgunnedShadows of TruthTomb RaiderBlades in the Dark Apocalypse KeysWork CleanLittle OraclesShadowdarkPluribusTed Lasso************************************Support the
- Feb 8, 20261h 31m
Marc Majcher (The Empire Never Ended, Grackle Teeth) ep. 270
Craig and Marc discuss Marc's process for developing two of his games.Dragon MagazineTop SecretStar FrontierCall of CthuluParanoiaApocalypse WorldBlades in the DarkZombie WorldRiftsShadowrunDelicious in Dungeon************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
- Jan 15, 20261h 26m
Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan (Dracula Dossier, Fear Itself, Adventures in Middle-Earth) ep. 269
Craig spoke with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan about his creative process, writing horror without being a big fan of the genre, and more.GURPSGumshoeOne RingTrail of CthuluFear Itself House of LeavesThe Ring (movie)Brindlewood Bay ************************************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=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
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About 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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