Reading D&D Aloud Is Delta Green Happening in the Real World? A conversation with Dennis Detwiller & Ross Payton. Ep. 107
Jul 20, 2026
Ross Payton, longtime podcaster and RPG designer behind Base Raiders and The Night Clerk, and Dennis Detwiller, co-creator of Delta Green and modern Cthulhu stalwart, dive into Delta Green’s realist horror. They trade stories about controversial art, anti-fascist themes, fandom bleeding into real-world conspiracy narratives, recent UAP echoes, and upcoming Delta Green releases and scenarios.
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The Controversial Nazi Cover Story
- Dennis says the original Countdown cover art with Nazi imagery repeatedly caused trouble but was intended to target Nazis, not celebrate them.
- He recounts Blair Reynolds painting a horrific image of John Tynes in front of a swastika that prompted controversy and TSR pushback.
Huizinga And Gaming's Anti‑Nazi Lineage
- Ben cites Johan Huizinga's Homo Ludens and connects scholarly play theory to gaming's lineage and anti-Nazi resistance.
- He highlights Huizinga shutting down a student conference when he discovered a Nazi delegate, then suffering under occupation.
How Countdown Hooked A Podcaster
- Ross describes discovering Countdown in the 2000s, paying secondary market prices, and how its Haster/Hastur material crystallized his taste for horror.
- He recounts playing a Gen Con playtest where his character fell to his death after failed dex checks but still loved the experience.
