Why We Game

Craig Campbell of NerdBurger Games discovered tabletop gaming as a freshman in college. The year? 1991. The place? Milwaukee WI. The game? 2nd Edition AD&D. It was fated. In 1999 he started writing for consumption outside his gaming group. Living Greyhawk needed content for its first year and Craig has been freelancing ever since. (FYI, that gaming group included fellow architecture student, Jason Bulmahn – the creator of Pathfinder). Craig Campbell is an architect, an award-winning RPG designer, freelance writer, and podcaster. He’s also pretty neat guy. nerdburgergames.com @nerdburgercraig on Twitter NerdBruger Games on DriveThruRPG CORRECTION: Cullen Bunn wrote The Damned

Louis Porter Jr. is a freelance writer, designer, and YouTuber. He’s an old school Gen-X gamer who is not shy with his opinions regarding the industry. We cover a lot and Louis is very candid. Topics include: the D20 abortion book, elves are Nazis, his lack of diversity, and the RPG industry’s secret cabal of cool kids. He and I spitball WOTC’s digital subscription model future, and we bond over Babylon 5. Plus, Louis drops atomic level shade on Indy… LPJ Design is the best way to find him in the metaverse.

I got to spend quality time venting to a couple of friends. EB Hunter is a Fear the Boot super fan and a good pal. He and his special lady friend, Justice – whom I like even more – stop by the studio. We talk about: The Slap, WWIII, the impending apocalypse, Intersectional Feminism, and Urban Exploration. Despite D&D 3E being his first RPG, EB failed his Save vs THACO. Justice and I bond over our mutual love of the movie Jersey Girl. EB gives us some of his 75-degree hot takes.

I make three predictions. The last of which I’m only about 30% certain on. https://www.patreon.com/whywegame

This episode I break down my experiences at WashingCon and in the city of DC. I rant about inconsistent and unenforced mask rules, and I marvel at a world that cannot see that social media is almost exclusively our only public forum. My Zombicide Chronicles RPG review link: youtube.com/watch?v=Mcfp4zlIz54

Desiree Vaughn is the founder of Dream Ultra Big LLC and the creator of the card game, Dub This! She was inspired by her passion of music and games to make something anyone who enjoys music can play. Desiree is a former elementary school teacher that advocates for parents to be their child’s first teacher, and who advocates that life is learning. We talk about wanting to do more in life and be haunted by an unfinished creative endeavor. We also talk about GAMA’s diversity initiative, the importance of access and opportunity, and the value of mentorship. She’s an example of why I love gaming and why I support GAMA. She does indeed dream Ultra Big. dubthisgame.com

Joell Palmer of Stronghold LARP Foam cut his teeth on Vampire the Masquerade 1E, and quickly delved into World of Darkness LARPing. From there Joell discovered foam fighting LARPs. He became a forger of foam weapons and a tutor to others. Since Indie’s first GenCon Joell has been there leading and hosting craft seminars centered around LARPing. Not just at GenCon, but conventions all over the Midwest. In fact, he needs volunteers. We talk the politics of LARP, polyamory in LARP, Cancel Culture, and the bullying of group think. Stronghold LARP Foam on Facebook

Pete Petrusha, Creative Director at Imagining Games, is back. We talk about their latest project, the most anticipated RPG of 2022, the foodie crime drama CHEW. Marinated in the Forged in the Dark system, CHEW brings us into a world of cooks, crooks, cannibals, and clairvoyants. Not to mention the occasional mutation that provides a bizarre food-based power. We dig in a bit to what sets it apart from other Forged games and we take a bite out of the CHEWniverse. Pete also teases what’s next for Imagining Games. https://www.imagininggames.com/ It’s not too late to preorder CHEW https://gamefound.com/projects/peteyp/chew-the-roleplaying-game?ref=search

CEO and Co-founder of Flying Leap Games, Molly Zeff designs games for people who enjoy debating ridiculous things and having a good laugh. Think of them as family friendly games that easily become NSFW. Molly recounts some of her experiences as a woman in the industry and discloses that sometimes you have to place your personal values against your professional needs. She’s the kind of person that wants to make it to cool not be a jerk. And she solves cancel culture. @flyingleapgames on Instagram flyingleapgames.com

Alex Yeager has worked in the hobby industry for decades. His resume includes a tenure at Steve Jackson Games, Mayfair Games, and now as COO at Amigo Games. And he’s seen a lot of industry firsts: the organized play team, the demo team, and gaming-related videos as a blend of tutorial and entertainment. We talked about so much. From the Disneyfication of the industry, to manufacturing in the US, and how Kickstarter has had less impact on publishers than one may think. Alex is an O.G. (Original Gamer) for whom I have great respect. And he kicks gamer apathy in the peen.

Episode 22 guest Jason Brick returns to discuss his new book There I Was When Nothing Happened, coming to Kickstarter February 22. The book is about defusing conflict and is filled with real world examples from the experts that lived them. We talk about how we can apply those lessons to gaming, and writing. Plus, we get into his recent Achtung Cthulhu 2D20 adventure release and a potential shift in the Steve Jackson Pyramid Magazine paradigm. Jason’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/SafestFamilyontheBlock There I Was Early Access https://mailchi.mp/safestfamilyontheblock/thereiwas?fbclid=IwAR3FvsfHm1_NYXhEGk_bHe_dyqVtwRJiitRnymd8sOdybo5MclJZP2hSSkA

Former special education instructor, Rico Corazon, preaches the value of tabletop roleplaying games as a therapeutic tool. Initially pitching Dungeons & Dragons as an after-school program, he nurtured many substantial relationships with students. When he left teaching, the kids, and the parents, wanted the game sessions to continue. Rico wanted to keep playing as well. Especially considering he felt he was accomplishing more with gaming as opposed to being in the classroom. But Rico still had to earn a living. Two years later he facilitates D&D professionally ten or more times a week. P.S. Dr. Megan Connell on Twitter     https://twitter.com/meganpsyd Game Board       https://lastgameboard.com/ Start Playing Games        https://startplaying.games/ P.S.S. Apologies for the notification chimes.

We talk forty years of the Fantasy Shop and some hot goss drops. Dave Wallace joins us to espouse the eternal importance of making new gamers. For the health of the hobby and its industry. And he persuades me away from the edge. CLARIFICATIONS / EDITS: We were not actually in public. But other people were around. Derian’s last name is Stennett. He’s been a guest on the show twice previously. Brett is actually dying more so than most.

Jon Cleaves is the CEO and Lead Designer of DGS Games. He was first exposed to the hobby with a classic chit and silhouette game well beyond his ken, Avalon Hill’s Panzer Blitz. Though Jon really cut his teeth on White Box D&D and En Garde! We reminisce about the early days of Kickstarter when it was used for its intended purpose, and lament when playtesting is overruled by production schedules. We also discuss play-tester bias and the future of concierge gaming. Check out Freeblades and the world of Faelon at https://dgsgames.com/ You can shop at https://shop.tabletopgameandhobby.com/

Jim Pinto is a twenty-year veteran of the gaming industry. He served several years as Art Director at Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) simultaneously overseeing collectible card games Doomtown, 7th Sea, and Legend of the Five Rings, in addition to their roleplaying games. Jim highlights the laborious nature of DMing and how it has increased relative with D&D’s evolution, and how tangible tools have been replaced by vague bullshit. He advocates giving players agency in greater measure than power. Jim may know where some bodies are buried.

John Perks, buyer and holistic manager of the Fantasy Shop Inc., is back. We talk supply chain impacts in gaming. Are they in the past or are we waiting for the other shoe? And we do a deep dive into the new moving parts in comic book distribution. Fair warning: we meander and we get sappy.

Alex Kammer does a lot. From writing legal documents, to freelance RPG writing, to being an owner of True Dungeon, and running muddy obstacle courses. He’s also one of the minds behind Gamehole Con, arguably the best kept secret in tabletop gaming. We talk D&D Adventure League, Red Wizards, and Alex enlightens me about the variety of things and places to explore in Thay. Also, we dabble at the intersection of gaming and IP law, and discuss how, like cocaine, nostalgia is a hell of a drug.

Morgan Weeks is a writer, a developer, and an editor, but his passion lies in design. Specifically, how a game’s mechanics are essential to communicating what that game is about. Morgan touches on Kickstarter psychology for setting stretch goals. Having backed over 700 projects personally, and contributed to many professionally, we get a peek behind the curtain obscuring stretch goals. He loves D&D 4E, cares little for 5E, and has a healthy distaste for New England. Plus, Masshole: Vehicular Death Cult.

Seppy Yoon is the chief game designer at Fight in a Box. They create titles that celebrate rambunctious fun. Seppy believes the purpose of games is bringing people together. He’s bright and charming, and our conversation goes all over the road. From the value of TikTok, to optimizing our remaining time on this earth, and eating platypus. That’s not a euphemism. I have to be honest, I kind of crushed on him.

This episode provides some cursory coverage of GameHole Con VIII. Admittedly I spent more time attending seminars than getting sound bites, so this episode is a little different than my previous convention content. I promise no singing. But there is a juicy toot.

Some highlights from Origins 2021. Part Two.

Some highlights from Origins 2021. Part One.

Some highlights from my GenCon 2021 trip. Featuring Keep by Amtgard. Check out this episode!

Please allow me to tell you about my character.

I fell in love.

John Perks is the Holistic Manager of The Fantasy Shop in St. Louis, overseeing the daily operations of their four area locations. A hippy and a hobbit, his hobby journey began at an early age with a family steeped in fantasy. Educated in the sacred halls of St. George the dragon slayer, and tutored in dungeoneering by his grandmother, John has overcome WOW addiction and self-doubt in great measure. I’m honored to call him colleague and friend.

I finally got off my ass and asked Fear the Boot’s Wayne Cole to join me. Wayne’s initiation to the tribe was unconventional. He started gaming in his late twenties and his first two years were spent playing exclusively homebrewed systems. In a short time, he went from new gamer to host on a popular RPG advice podcast. He’s now producing weekly flash fiction and working with a few others to make the Skies of Glass RPG a reality. The subject turns from BBQ to gaming at eight minutes thirty-three seconds. waynecole.net

Magic the Gathering subject matter expert Derian Stennett returns to discuss Modern Horizons 2, digital set remasters that trim the fat, the future of the Reserve List… and feces.

I’m 37? – Dante Hicks

Chad Wattler from Fear the Boot is back. He breaks down the RPG equation. Conflict plus tension and a healthy amount of failure are the bulk of every story. Chad explains how the dice are there to randomly introduce failure, and says that’s lazy. We stay topical until the Broney stuff at the end. Oh, Chad cheats when he GMs and doesn’t see the need for knowing the rules all that well. morningskye.com

Brett and Sean from Gaming and BS have over 330 episodes of their RPG podcast in the can. Brett’s an outdoors enthusiast, a hunter, and a former collegiate thespian. Sean is an avid swashbuckler who enables his paddock of poker pets. Gaming and BS is a sounding board where each host discusses their respective game group, play style, and tabletop taste. We discuss the relationships they’ve built around the hobby and the escape it offers. Brett and Sean marvel at the impact two knuckleheads from the Midwest can have on other gamers and the impact they experience in return. Find all the BS at gamingandbs.com

Gage Verronneau is the host of Gaming With Gage, an interview podcast focusing on the tabletop RPG hobby. Season 7 is out, and yours truly had the pleasure of being a guest. Plus, Gage was gracious enough to reciprocate. As avid devotees, we laud Savage World’s versatility and Gage distinguishes High Fantasy from D&D Fantasy. We discuss addiction, substance abuse, and genetic alcoholism. As fellow French-Canadians we were born and bred for dysfunction. WARNING: I shit on the French. More egregiously, I compliment them. For a more professional and family friendly version of what I do, visit sgadpod.com/gamingwithgage

Lynn Potyen is a dedicated mother who discovered board games while perusing speech therapy for her eldest child. While promoting games as not merely entertainment, but equipment for brain health, she realized she had a business, and Lynn was confident that she could do it better than her FLGS. Fifteen years and two recessions later, she still is. We discussed the value of integrating an online sales portal for your retail store, especially during a pandemic, and her innovative board game rental program. Plus, we touch on some of the reasons why a hobby professional may consider joining GAMA (The Game Manufacturer’s Association). You can meet her at GenCon this year in the vendor hall at The Game Board Pop-Up store. You can contact her at [email protected] Visit the-gameboard.com

Pro gamer Anne Richmond is everything I want to be when I grow up: brave, bright, creative, and rocks a killer work ethic. She sees a gaming group akin to a polyamorous relationship: communication is always open and conversations are never concluded. She understands the importance of the difficult conversations, and of handling them directly and maturely. Anne’s a brilliant spring of optimism with a healthy undercurrent of wisdom and sage advice. Doing it all from product reviews to cosplay, from RPG advice to jump scare videos, she’s an amazing voice with a fantastic voice. She may be happiest DMing D&D 5E, but as long I draw breath, she’s family among The Three Fivers. twitch.tv/hearthsingergames youtube.com/channel/UC3p72E6Jf8PtnVhiKjwgskA patreon.com/hearthsingergames

WARNING: We discuss Brett’s impending mortality… and I sing. Brett Condit is a manager, and veritable Jack-of-all-Trades, working the hobby retail chain The Fantasy Shop outside St. Louis. He’s a baby-faced child of the 90s that grew up an outsider. Brett’s first D&D character ever was killed by the camel he was trying to ride. He’s someone who sincerely values his life whose positivity is enviable. We talk customers versus visitors, how the retail hobby game is tougher than you may think, and we advocate leading by example. Who doesn’t want to be a superhero for a day? Please visit bethematch.org

I could say a lot about Eric Ausley, but I will say this. His formative years were spent in a sanctum of Choose Your Own Adventures, D&D, and publicly peddled porn. In this sanctum, a place of reverence was made for The Anarchist’s Cookbook. Eric’s a DM that won’t merely throw the book at your PC, he’ll hit them with it, until they’re forced to make death saves. Then hit them again. And again. GamersTable.com has RPG podcasts and well produced actual plays galore. Not to mention the awarding winning Resting Glitch Face. Watch him GM live on Twitch.tv/GamersTable

Chris Hussey is a freelance gaming writer, Actual Play producer, and podcaster. He first saw D&D in a Sears catalog, and his parents gave him the Red Box that Christmas. In high school, his art teacher hung the works of Frank Frazetta in her classroom, and his science teacher proudly displayed a model of Tiamat. The hobby permeated his life early on. We talk the murky waters of IP in your AP, what value Chris sees in consuming APs, and laud the brilliance and versatility of Savage Worlds. Also, getting paid to run games, and is Savage Pathfinder a good idea? youngandholt.com / gunnforhireap.com / ap.feartheboot.com / startplaying.games @TheHussman on Twitter

Derian Stennett is an MTG SME (Magic the Gathering Subject Matter Expert) for The Collector Store (collectorstore.com). We discuss the two current realities of Magic: competitive head-to-head digital play and casual multi-player in person table play. We delve into the etymology of the term “broken”, we shit on WOTC in a variety of ways, and we gush on 40K Ork Stompas. Plus, Derian gives us his hot take – Secret Lair: Twilight… No animals were shoved into orbs or forced to do battle during the recording of this episode.

Fear the Boot’s Dan Repperger is back to delve into his RPG creative method, espousing the importance of the group template and party interconnection from conception. Never creating a game in a vacuum as character creation spawns campaign inspiration. Instead, he follows a strict philosophy of making the game world a living thing, who’s internal consistence is paramount. Dan discusses one regret from his recently concluded Skies of Glass Actual Play, the deviation from its micro-setting concept and how that misrepresented the play style it suggests. And late in the episode we unpack Dan’s GM insecurity. Find Fear the Boot’s RPG resources at: feartheboot.com/ftb/index.php/resources

Ruben Smith-Zempel is a print designer who has been beautifying gaming-related word documents for the better part of two decades. He abhors a poorly formatted text.  That keen eye got him his first paying gaming gig while still in art school. Ruben may have been responsible for cutting an index or two from RPG books, and he adored D&D 4E… Ruben may be contacted via: 3D6design.com and /or Savevsdm.com PSA: The past tense of strive is either strove or strived, and the past participle is either striven or strived. The more you know!

Pete Petrusha is a game designer and an Indy RPG insider. He cut his teeth on MTG, JPRGs, and solely mechanics focused 2nd Ed AD&D. Despite his crunchy origins, Pete always craved something more immersive and narrative driven. This is certainly reflected in his game design, which is progressively more non-traditional. Ironically, he’s an avowed mechanics junky. We discuss some graphic design essentials from the perspectives of game a developer and a retailer. We drill down into some design decisions Pete made on his upcoming game release Rest In Pieces. Not to mention, Pete sets off the Grok meter twice, and I dump on Mork Borg. The best place to find Pete’s games is imagininggames.com

Chad Wattler is one of the original hosts of the RPG podcast Fear the Boot. As a child he juggled savage beatings from neighborhood bullies, both parents that worked very long hours, and a treasure trove of board games without friends with whom to play. Eventually Chad fought back, found the tribe, and discovered a lifelong friend in co-host Dan Repperger. He describes a high school role playing experience that sounds downright John Hughesian. Chad fails his Will save and gets emotional, plus he challenges me on my gaming related control issues. Find Chad’s games, for free, at morningskye.com The movie I mention is 1984’s Dreamscape with Dennis Quaid.

Danielle Reynolds is a game designer, a podcaster, and a brand-new member of the GPI Game Manufacturing team. She has been playing games since childhood, but in the past two years she has made herself a force in the hobby. As lead host of Game Design Unboxed: Inspiration to Publication, Danielle, and her co-hosts, get down to the specifics of a game with its designer.  So, I flip the script and we discuss her first design under contract with a publisher, Inn Keeper. Check out her games, her podcast, her blog, and more at DMRCreativeGroup.com Find Danielle on Instagram at TokenGaymer Also, DMR Creative Group on Facebook

Multi-class jock/geek, and freelance writer, Jason Brick is a lifelong gamer. Introduced to the hobby young by his uncle, and firmly rooted in it by his father, Jason immediately began running games for other kids. He learned to fight because his father made him join the wrestling team. He had to fight because he was a gamer in the 1980s. Having been encouraged to write his entire life, of course his first profession was martial arts instructor. Eventually, after having established himself with a few years of professional writing, he found his way into the gaming industry. Also, we salute General Rule: dangerous people are chill people. https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/4966017.Jason_Brick

Round 2 with Dave Wallace! I sat down again with The Fantasy Shop’s mastermind and we discussed: how private equity firms are screwing up the hobby industry, ACD Distribution’s chances of survival without being able to carry Wizards of the Coast products, and the importance of the Game Manufacturers Association. Now in their fortieth year of business, co-owners Dave and Kelli are in a position to hit the road again and manage their business from afar. Approaching retirement age, Dave expresses interest in finding a buyer for the company. Plus, I rant about the gaming industry’s new no-no word: gamer. #savegamer

Kathleen Mercury is a gifted educator teaching game design in the classroom. She formally served on the Geekway to the West board of directors, and currently serves on both the Meeples for Peeples and the GAMA Education Advisory boards. Did I mention that Kathleen is also a game designer with a game releasing next year from WizKids, and another possible 2021 release from Kolossal Games? She’s a remarkable person, even teaching online to an international audience. Kathleen even learned a valuable life lesson about perseverance… from a clown. Looking for resources to teach game design? kathleenmercury.com

Heath Aldrich is still the host of Hobby Time in the Murder Basement of YouTube. In part two of this crossover we discuss: The internet is a child and certainly acts as one, The Classics (i.e. Dead Baby Jokes), Heath reveals his practice of close-up magic, and I pitch my vision of the miniature future. Thanks for coming back. He paints miniatures and talks shop with a lot of talented folks at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo0mjQnk0TqHwfwYq6z5FYA

Heath Aldrich is the host of Hobby Time in the Murder Basement of YouTube. He’s only been involved with miniature gaming for a few short years, but already has far more hours logged painting figs than I have. Having a knack for creation, Heath has replaced an addiction to drinking with one to bringing miniatures to life with color. He cannot abide gate keeping, he’s an airbrush devotee, and he sold me on oil washing miniatures. He paints miniatures and talks shop with a lot of talented folks at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo0mjQnk0TqHwfwYq6z5FYA

Although a relatively recent member to the deep end of the hobby, Mindy Johnson is a cut above most of us. After being exposed to Catan at 33, she dove in head first. Five years later, she has both a collection, and an attitude to be envied. As one of the co-founders of the charity Meeples for Peeples, Mindy wants to bring the love of board games to everyone, but specifically those in need. She’s courageous, compassionate, and delightfully determined. Even if she cannot find her way out of Orgrimmar. Please support her charity; they are good people doing a good thing: meeplesforpeeples.com

Walker Fitzroy has been playing role playing games for over four decades. He hasn’t been selling them that entire time, but he has been selling them for a long time. Walker owns Game Nite, a seven thousand square foot gaming store in the St. Louis area.  We discuss the importance of play space in developing a hobby community and how his staff is managing events amid the virus.  Walker advocates for a hybridized model for the future of hobby retail, and has designs on moving toward a fuller entertainment experience. Need a safe place to play during the pandemic? Call Game Nite. https://www.gameniteshop.com