RPG Roots

15 May

Are you looking for a podcast that digs deep into the games we play and the people who make them? Well, we are excited to welcome you to RPG Roots! Here's a small intro. #rpg #podcast #rpgroots #roleplayinggames #analoggames

A very intriguing - and very relevant - new game released by @jmstar.bsky.social : "Human Resources". Take a look - and check out the whole Analog Violence Game Jam.

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Jason spoke to us and will be featured in Season 1!

RPG Roots reposted

jess

@jessfrom.online

@rpgroots.bsky.social asked me some of the most interesting questions i've ever been asked about my work or games in general, and i am so SO excited for Season 1 to come out and to get to hear it in context of a bunch of other brilliant designers' thoughts!!

RPG Roots@rpgroots.bsky.social

Another guest for Season 1 is Jess Levine @jessfrom.online of @jumpgategames.itch.io, an award-winning TTRPG designer, writer, and AP performer based in the US. Among her games are "Going Rogue 2e”, “Planet FIST”, and “I Have the High Ground”, but also check out the viciously funny “Mild Libs”! 1/

We also discussed hope as a deliberate practice, games as tools of reflection in service (but not as a substitute to) the actual work of resistance and organizing, and what making games towards specific political ends would look like. A great interview!

jessfrom.onlineNewsletter — jess levinethe beacon, a newsletter for my creative work including my tabletop roleplaying games, cyberpunk and synthwave music, science fiction, editing, political non-fiction, and more

Here is Jess’ newsletter, where you can follow her thoughts and updates: jessfrom.online/newsletter And her Itch page: jumpgategames.itch.io #ttrpg #jesslevine #rpgroots #season1

We talked about being in the shoes of someone who sacrifices it all for a cause; about depicting disagreement in seemingly united fronts; about creating different facets of revolutionary movements that are both necessary but often in conflict; ...

... about shifting between enthusiastic idealism and cynicism; about collectively playing different sides through GMless gameplay and embracing painful complexity.

With Jess, we discussed playing through fantasies of overthrowing the system and how that relates to real-life matters of collective action and activism; she impressed us with her commitment and deep knowledge of both game design and collective action.

Another guest for Season 1 is Robert Bohl, a writer and the author of the TTRPG “Misspent Youth” and supplement “Sell Out with Me.” While Robert is not in the scene anymore, his games have had a lasting impact and came up often when talking to other designers. He kindly accepted to speak with us.

With Robert, we discussed punching capitalism in the face, punk aesthetics, weaving oppression in game settings, enacting rebellion as teenagers, directing and focusing the unavoidable violence in RPGs, and creating emotionally resonant work to shock people out of complacency and indifference.

fraggingunicorns.comMisspent Youth — Fragging Unicorns Games

Robert does not currently have a game-related presence online, but you can find his games in print and PDF here: www.fraggingunicorns.com/misspent-youth #ttrpg #robertbohl #rpgroots #season1

dukeupress.eduHow Dungeons & Dragons Changed the Way We Play

Also, one of our great speakers @aarontram.bsky.social has a new book out wiht @dukepress.bsky.social - go get a copy of "How Dungeons and Dragons Changed the Way We Play"! www.dukeupress.edu/how-dungeons...

Aaron Trammell@aarontram.bsky.social

♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️🔥♥️ ITS HERE!!!!! This book is about how game design on a whole, counterintuitively, became less imaginative because of Dungeons & Dragons. We often talk about Dungeons & Dragons as the ultimate fantasy. A pure domain of imagination where absolutely anything is possible.

Some of the organizing work behind Session 0, selecting and connecting snippet from @megueyb.bsky.social @guyintheblackhat.bsky.social and @aarontram.bsky.social. Session 0 will be already split into Part 1 (general intro) and Part 2 (Session 1 intro)... so many interesting ideas. Stay tuned!

Another guest for Season 1 is Sarah Doom @scorchadoom.bsky.social, a tabletop role-playing game designer, writer, layout artist, and visual artist based in the US. Among her games are Bluebeard’s Bride, In the Pines, The Maiden and the Rake, Savage Garden, and the upcoming Velvet Glove. 1 /

scorcha.netSarah DoomSarah Doom — tabletop game designer, writer, layout artist & illustrator.

... We also talked about vulnerability, complacency, and complicity, and how these themes connect and emerge in system, setting, and mechanics. Here is Sarah’s website: scorcha.net 3 /

patreon.comsarahdoom — games and stories with a dark witch metal sensibilityGet more from sarahdoom on Patreon. games and stories with a dark witch metal sensibility. Support sarahdoom and get exclusive access to their work.

Here is Sarah's Patreon, where you can follow her thoughts and updates: www.patreon.com/cw/sarahdoom And her Itch page: sarahdoom.itch.io #ttrpg #sarahdoom #rpgroots #season1

With Sarah, we discussed exploring femininity in all its forms - and how it connects to ferality, witchcraft, folklore, beauty, and horror - fighting against oppressive tropes that are culturally engrained, and subverting expected social roles. 2 /

RPG Roots reposted

Ksandra

@ksandrarpg.bsky.social

I had a great time discussing my game and ideas behind it when recording this. I can't wait to listen to the whole podcast and hear contributions of other guests! This is going to be brilliant.

RPG Roots@rpgroots.bsky.social

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Aleksandra Brokman @ksandrarpg.bsky.social - a Polish historian and TTRPG designer based in Scotland and author of Wise Women, a game about witchcraft, prejudice, and social norms inspired by Eastern European (plant) folklore. 1 /

linktr.eeksandra_rpg Official: Instagram, X, Twitch | LinktreeTtrpg creator, author of Ennie-nominated Wise Women and a beginner youtuber.

With Aleksandra, we discussed prejudice, community, and social norms - and what happens when people don’t conform but cannot easily leave. We talked about design informed by anger, crafting prejudice at the table, internalized forms of oppression that stem from unquestioned beliefs... 2 /

linktr.eeksandra_rpg Official: Instagram, X, Twitch | LinktreeTtrpg creator, author of Ennie-nominated Wise Women and a beginner youtuber.

... and the role of folklore in multifaceted collaborative storytelling. Here is Aleksandra’s website: linktr.ee/ksandra_rpg And her Itch page: ksandra.itch.io #ttrpg #aleksandrabokman #rpgroots #season1

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Dr. Gwendolyn Marshall @drgwenmarshall.bsky.social, a professor of philosophy and game designer working on products that challenge and supplement D&D, like award-winning Ancestry & Culture: An Alternative to Race in 5e... 1 /

drgwenmarshall.carrd.coDr. Gwendolyn MarshallI’m Gwen (she/her), a tenured professor of philosophy working on 17th C. Europe. I also write TTRPGs. I’m a lesbian trans woman. I like tabletop and video games, sci-fi/fantasy media, coffee, & punk. ...

... tackling bioessentialist elements in popular games, and the powerful act of reflecting on and changing the language we use when we make and play games (a theme that recurred throughout our speakers - we might have to do a whole episode about it!). 3 /

Here is Gwendolyn’s website: drgwenmarshall.carrd.co Here is her Itch page: drgwenmarshall.itch.io Follow and support! #ttrpg #gwendolynmarshall #rpgroots #season1

@thoughtfuldane.bsky.social

...as well as indie games to explore queer identity, chosen family, and classic adventuring themes. With Gwen, we discussed the many ways in which oppression shows up in TTRPGs, OSR and NSR as a model for resistance and reclaiming spaces within systemic constraints... 2 /

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Thoughtful Dane

1 Sept

I very much enjoyed my talk with Camilla and Set. Prepared questions and time to dig deep. It's an ambitious undertaking to interview such a large number of people and then to synthesise it into themes and topics. I very much look forward to listen to the result.

RPG Roots@rpgroots.bsky.social

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Frederik Jensen @thoughtfuldane.bsky.social, author of "Montsegur 1244", "Mars to Stay", "The City," and more TTRPGs and card games. Frederick is based in Sweden and publishes under the name Thoughtful Dane.

31 Aug

31 Aug

With Frederik, we discussed oppression in historical settings, designing play through extreme choices, adding constraints to focus the play experience, GMless games and how they redistribute authority and information at the table...

thoughtfuldane.comThoughtful DaneStories and games

31 Aug

... and the productive tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Here’s Frederik’s website: thoughtfuldane.com Here’s Frederick’s Itch page: frederik-jensen.itch.io

Two more guests that we interviewed together for Season 1 of RPG Roots are Vincent and Meguey Baker - @lumpley.bsky.social and @megueyb.bsky.social - the beloved authors of Apocalypse World, Under Hollow Hills, The King is Dead, and many more TTRPGs.

With them, we discussed elevating underrepresented voices, oppression as productivity, RPGs as spaces to reflect, play as permission to disrupt, and the necessity to weave people together inside and outside games.

lumpley.gameslumpley games – indie tabletop games

Here’s their website: lumpley.games Vincent’s Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/lumpley #ttrpg #vincentbaker #megueybaker #rpgroots #season1

Laurie O'Connel (is looking for ttrpg work (in Dublin))

Meguey will be with us for Session 0 too, but we also chatted with her and Vincent about their games in light of Narratives of Oppression and Resistance.

RPG Roots reposted

@laurieoc.bsky.social

This was one of my favourite conversations I've had with anybody this year; I was so lucky to be invited and it has informed a lot of the way I approached design this year! Very excited to relisten :)

RPG Roots@rpgroots.bsky.social

With Laurie, we discussed different forms of satire and resistance; games as overt or subtle critiques of systemic oppression; transforming mechanics and materials into a living and lived process; focusing on what creates tension; and ... 3/

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Laurie O’Connel, the award-winning designer of Litchcraft, Hieronymous, Death Game, To Honour and Obey, Full Send, and many more. 1/ #ttrpg #laurieoconnel #rpgroots #season1

laurieoconnel.comLaurie O'Connel - Tabletop Game Writer & EditorLaurie O'Connel: Tabletop game writer, editor, and accuracy reader.

Here’s Laurie’s website: laurieoconnel.com Here is where you can find Laurie’s games: twelvepinspress.com His Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/TwelvePin... And the new journal Playtest Materials: playtestmaterial.org

Tragically we forgot to tag @laurieoc.bsky.social in the first post. It would be great to have an edit button. Alas.

... the need for better tools and game literacy to create ways to explore collective action (spoiler alert: traditional games are not great at that). Laurie has a new solo investigative game coming out this month, “The Rat Line” - follow him for more updates on the release! 4/

Laurie is based in Dublin and publishes games under Twelve Pins Press; he is also a TTRPG editor and has recently started a new journal, Playtest Materials, that showcases critical writing on role-playing games. 2/

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Danielle Lewon, the award-winning co-designer of "Kagematsu" - another TTRPG that came up very frequently in our conversations with various authors! 1/

We feel incredibly fortunate to have spoken with Danielle, who was generous with her time and truly delightful to chat with. While there is no current public page for Danielle’s work and Kagematsu is out of print, we sincerely hope someone brings it back! 4/

blackarmada.comPointless mechanics that aren’t so pointlessI recently bought a copy of Kagematsu through the ever-wonderful Bundle of Holding (highly recommended if you haven’t come across it). Kagematsu is a game about the attempts by the women of a…

p.s. we like this analysis of "Kagematsu" by the excellent @armadajosh.bsky.social! blackarmada.com/pointless-me...

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Danielle Lewon, the award-winning co-designer of "Kagematsu" - another TTRPG that came up very frequently in our conversations with various authors! 1/

With Danielle, we discussed the origins of Kagematsu, its central question - "What does it feel like to be a woman?" - and the deliberate design choices meant to shift power dynamics at the table. 2/