Podcast
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.
- Episodes
- 299
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 1 hr 18 min
- On air since
- 2019
- Latest episode
- 14 hours ago
Episodes
299 episodes, newest first
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1 hr 58 min
Ben Robbins (Microscope 2nd ed, This Means War) ep 288
Season 1, Episode 288
Show notes
War Never Changes. And yet, most games still haven't figured out how to make it actually...fun.
Ben Robbins makes great games. His unique approach to mechanics and world-building makes many of his games — like Microscope, Kingdom, and In This World —ideal places to dive deeper into world-building and scratch an itch you usually can't get in games.
He joins us today to discuss his upcoming game This Means War, touch on Microscope, and, most importantly, talk about his unique approach to mechanics and how they can create worlds far vaster and more controlled than the players themselves. He also dives deep into the most interesting element of This Means War... the mysterious Waracle that controls the game as players struggle within its constraints. It's a long, truly interesting episode and a fun listen.Check out the Microscope 2nd Edition Kickstarter, which is wrapping up soon, and keep an eye out for This Means War!
Microscope Second Edition: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lamemage/microscope?ref=profile_created&category_id=34
This Means War Playtest: https://lamemage.itch.io/this-means-war-playtest
Other Games by Ben! https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/lamemage/created?ref=project_creator_tab
Episode Mentions:
Microscope: Chronicle
GURPS
Little's Narrative Dice System
Edge of Empire
Age of Rebellion
For the Queen
Fiasco
Master and Commander
The True Believer Eric HofferDTF St Louis
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2 hr 27 min
Discussing Play Style (Questing Beast Survey) ep 287
Season 1, Episode 287
Show notes
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
The Silent Majority poston Casting Shadows
Tequila Sunrise trailer
High Fidelity trailer
Alien RPG playlist: What Comes Home to Roost
Blade Runner RPG playlist: Uptown Murder https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZfuKgeD5fl4jx8qu7bJGl0eq2lZ4skjQ
On the Medium of Roleplaying Games
On Imagination in Roleplaying Games
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1 hr 19 min
Paul Vermeren (Gridshock: Zero Edition) ep 286
Season 1, Episode 286
Show notes
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 of crowdfunding. It is an in-depth look at variable approaches to gaming and the differences across rulesets, mechanics, and subgenres.
Go support GRIDSHOCK on Gamefound!
Mentioned Today:
AD&D
Robin of Sherwood
PalladiumRobotech
World of Darkness
Street Fighter
Marvel
Rifts
20XX
Icons
Invincible
RPG Party
Gamefound
Days of Future Past
GTA 5
2000 ADGridshock
Nausicaä and the Valley of the Wind
Appleseed
Dragonbane
Forbidden Lands
Alien
Decay - Godflesh
Armor Trooper Votoms
Rockford Files
Magnum PI
Columbo***********************************
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1 hr 11 min
Gene Koo (Color Jam) ep 285
Season 1, Episode 285
Show notes
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 in every game, from careful, well-placed mechanics to emotional narrative storytelling.
Today's episode focuses on player agency, emotional storytelling, and the unique mechanics that bring it all together. Gene talks to us about Color Jam, his newest game that is unique, exciting, and very much its own thing. We also talk in depth about Bonsai Diary, an amazing game that he gives a lot of insight into.
Follow Gene on Bluesky!
https://bsky.app/profile/stickydoodler.bsky.socialBack Color Jam on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunarpunkgames/colorjamThemes: Unique Mechanics, Player Agency, Emotional StorytellingMENTIONS:
Candy LandThe Hobbit
Dungeons and Dragons Red Box
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Legend of the Elements
Plus One Forward
Lego
The Quiet Year
Stardew Valley
DIE: RPG
Poetry Foundation Podcast
Lyrical Ludology
Links: Color Jam
The Bonsai Diary
Legend of the Elements, a PBTA game inspired by Avatar: The Last Airbender
PeopleCon 3, a Designed in the DMV event
These Games Are Not For Sale (we keep it so real we don't even have a webpage)
Lyrical Ludology podcast***********************************
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1 hr 4 min
Matthew Nevers (Decay, Nope!) ep 284
Season 1, Episode 284
Show notes
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 horror classics like Silent Hill or SCP, and its unique mechanical structures punish players and lead to horrifying twists during sessions. It's a truly unique game, and the free QuickStart guide is already available! Links below.
Today's episode is a blast, centering on the horror genre and all the fun there is to unpack within it. We talk in depth about our favorite titles, why they were so impactful, and how they relate to The Decay. We discuss some of the exciting mechanics present in his games and his unique approach to game design. His other games, like Nope! and Winter Door, are similar in that they explore mechanical and narrative crossover and how they build tension within the genre.
Check out the Kickstarter today! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coffeeallnight/the-decay-survival-horror-roleplaying
And if you want to get started now, here's the FREE QuickStart guide: https://coffeeallnight.itch.io/fresh-decay
Oh, and here are his other great games: https://coffeeallnight.itch.io/
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1 hr 45 min
Dr. Emily Friedman ep 283
Season 1, Episode 283
Show notes
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 structures, and how they’re changing.
Today’s conversation is one of the most interesting we’ve had recently, giving us a chance to dive into the industry's meta and the community that bolsters it. The conversation dives into a wide range of lenses and analyses of how TTRPGs and their players have changed over time. She shares great stories and analysis from her years of work, and it was a blast asking questions and hearing her perspective on the community.
Check out Emily’s Website, YouTube, and Instagram.
Show Notes for The Episode!
Dungeons and Dragons
White Wolf
Steve Jackson Games
Vampyre
In Nomine
I Hit It with My Axe
Chaosium
Gamechangers
Manners TTRPG
All About Love by Bell Hooks
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1 hr 12 min
Elliot Davis (The Time We Have) ep 282
Season 1, Episode 282
Show notes
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 ECCO, Rom Com Drama Bomb, and The Time We Have. He's also a player, host, and GM on My First Dungeon and Talk of the Table.
- Pathfinder
- Blades in the Dark
- Catan
- Honey Heist
- Kids on Bikes
- Scurry
- Orbital Blues
- Portal at Hill House
- Thursday
- Yazeba's Bed and Breakfast
- For the Queen
- Widow's Bay
- Pluribus
- This Album May Contain Hope - Reye
- Bullet Train
- Expedition
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1 hr 10 min
Dillin Apelyan & James D’Amato (One Shot Podcast, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide) ep 281
Season 1, Episode 281
Show notes
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, including the HUNT(er/ed) and Neverland: The Impossible Island. You can find out more about Superdillin here.
James has been working in both the comedy and TTRPG scene for years. He's the creator of the One Shot Network and the author of the Ultimate RPG book series, which is an absolute masterclass in breaking down the genre for players and Game Masters alike.You can find his books here!
The pair are more than just integral parts of the community today — they're good friends and even better podcast guests. The episode was a blast, breaking down their experiences and talking in depth about their new book, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide. They dive deep about gaming culture, their GMing experiences, and provide a lot of insight as to how you can build better NPCs and characters.
REFERENCES:
Adams Media
World of Darkness
Dungeons and Dragons
Vampyre: The Masquarade
Hunter/Hunted
James' Favorite Villains: Lex Luthor - Doctor Doom - The Joker
Dillon's Favorite Villains: Charles Vane (Blacksails), Jubal Early (Firefly), Kenneth Marshall (Mickey 17), Erik Northman (True Blood)
Star vs The Forces of Evil
Pokemon
Witch Hat Atelier
Fetch Philips Archives
Microscope
In This World************************************
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1 hr 11 min
Why do we go into the basement? ep. 280
Season 1, Episode 280
Show notes
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 the game”) with believable character motivation. Anthony emphasizes building motivations through bonds, community ties, and mirrored player/character connections—what he calls “unity of perspective”—rather than removing agency by trapping characters. Using examples from their long Call of Cthulhu and Trail of Cthulhu campaigns, they examine active versus passive buy-in, GM/player collaboration, table communication, and how differing play styles and feedback help sustain engaging horror play.
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1 hr 16 min
Laurence Phillips (Il Fantasma del Giallo) ep. 279
Season 1, Episode 279
Show notes
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, and mile-high stakes. Il Fantasmo del Giallo is a cinematic, dark, brooding game that focuses on narratives and scenes more than a traditional dice-roller. Drama, Mystery, and Mortality are the main words of the game, and it’s an excellent example of the doors that have opened in modern roleplaying. Trauma decks, scene work, and avant-garde lenses to play make for a new take on an old genre.
Il Fantasmo del Giallo Kickstarter
Mentions
Star Wars Visual Magazine
Call of Cthulu
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Bird with the Crystal Plumage
Blood and Black Legs
Lovecraftesque by Black Armada
Suspiria
Halloween
Giallo Genre
Sherlock Holmes
Vangers: One For the Road
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1 hr 29 min
Ray Chou (Mythworks) ep. 278
Season 1, Episode 278
Show notes
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 Ray’s unique experiences breaking into the industry and a close look into what it means to work in the high-level indie space. Ray broke into game writing at a pivotal point in the industry. It was before the medium really blew up, but recently enough to ride the wave of Kickstarter just as it was beginning. We also talked in depth about Mythworks and how it operates as an organization, leveraging the team's creative strengths to create indie work that feels like blockbuster TTRPG gaming.
You can find Mythworks here: https://www.myth.works/products
And follow Ray on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/theraychou/
Mentions:
Tower Defense
DOTA
Dungeons and Dragons
Neverwinter Knights
Blades in the Dark
Pathfinder
CBR+PNK
The Wilds
Punchbowl
Farewell, My Concubine
Vikings
Starfall
DTF St Louis
Rashomon
Seventh Samurai
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55 min
Craig Hatler (Shadowlight & Personae) ep. 277
Season 1, Episode 277
Show notes
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
Downton Abbey
Matthew Goode
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1 hr 30 min
Em Acosta (Crescent, Exile) ep. 276
Season 1, Episode 276
Show notes
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 https://itch.io/
Check out their Bluesky!
And their new blog!
Show Mentions:
Bluebeard’s Bride
Dungeon World
Powered By the Apocalypse
Girl By Moonlight
Blades in the Dark
Neverland
Quest
DIE RPG
Practical Anarchism - Shuli Branson
1000-Year-Old Vampire
Ion Heart
Pluribus
Paradise
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1 hr 39 min
René-Pier Deshaies (Breathless: Frightmare Edition) ep. 275
Season 1, Episode 275
Show notes
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-edition
If you want to play Breathless, download it for free here! https://farirpgs.com/breathless/
And Boundless: https://farirpgs.com/boundless/
Referenced Media:
Fate
Blades in the Dark
2400 SRD
Cairn
Into the Odd
Duskfall
Dark Souls
Pico
Mothership
DM GM Club
Mythworks
Frieren
The Expanse
Dwarf Fortress
Project Hail Mary
Enola Homes
Knives Out
Star Wars
Conan
Indiana Jones
Stranger Things
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1 hr 5 min
Sam Sleney & Zach Cox (Orbital Blues) ep. 274
Season 1, Episode 274
Show notes
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-blues
And 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-page
Don't miss Orbital Blues Month here: https://www.backerkit.com/c/collections/orbital-blues-month
See more from Zach on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jellymuppet.bsky.social
The Titles We Mentioned:
Paint the Town Red
Inevitable
Best Left Buried
Orbital Blues
Sins
Beneath the Missing Sea
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying
Blades in the Dark
Maze Rats
Burning Wheel
Fantasy Flights: Only War
Exalted
Cyberpunk 2020
Mausritter
Mork Borg
Mordhau
Necropolis
Hobgoblin
Necromunda
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1 hr 31 min
Ross Bryant and Cupp (Push the Roll) ep. 273
Season 1, Episode 273
Show notes
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.com/
and sign up to their Patreon! https://members.pushtheroll.com/?synced=1
Listen to Ain’t Slayed Nobody: https://aintslayednobody.com/
Follow Ross on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossbb/
and Cuppycup: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:5olaqsnnyq7hqxxjr2qhtds7
SHOW NOTES:
The Victorians and Ancient Greece by Richard Jenkyns
Alien: The Cold Forge by Alex White
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1 hr 18 min
Tim Denee (Blades '68) ep. 272
Season 1, Episode 272
Show notes
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:
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2 hr 9 min
Kickin’ The Tires with Sean Nittner (Evil Hat Productions) ep. 271
Season 1, Episode 271
Show notes
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.
Visit the amazing titles sold by Evil Hat Productions
Titles and subjects we reference:
Spell and Blade
Tiān Dēng: Tales of the Immortal God Ship
Shadows of Truth
Tomb Raider
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1 hr 32 min
Marc Majcher (The Empire Never Ended, Grackle Teeth) ep. 270
Season 1, Episode 270
Show notes
Craig and Marc discuss Marc's process for developing two of his games.
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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://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
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Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
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1 hr 26 min
Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan (Dracula Dossier, Fear Itself, Adventures in Middle-Earth) ep. 269
Season 1, Episode 269
Show notes
Craig spoke with Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan about his creative process, writing horror without being a big fan of the genre, and more.
************************************
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://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
Follow on BlueSky
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