

James Introcaso — Game Masters, the Rise of Indie RPGs and Showing Up for Luck (#81)
Mar 27, 2025
James Introcaso, an award-winning tabletop game designer and lead designer at MCDM Productions, shares his journey from childhood D&D fan to RPG innovator. He discusses the intersection of creativity and storytelling in games, the importance of hard work and luck in achieving success, and the evolving landscape of RPGs driven by competition and community. James also dives into innovative deck-building mechanics and how they enhance player engagement, along with collaborative ideation processes that involve the gaming audience.
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James's D&D Origin Story
- James Introcaso started playing D&D by joining his older brother's basement games when he was nine years old.
- He was initially relegated to the cleric role, which got him firmly involved in the RPG world early on.
Show Up to Get Lucky
- To get lucky in the game industry, you must show up and do the work consistently.
- Being in the right place at the right time is crucial, but you need a portfolio for others to notice you.
Pop Culture Boosts RPGs
- D&D's cultural phenoms like Critical Role and Stranger Things massively expanded its audience.
- These phenomena shifted D&D from niche to mainstream, increasing RPG exposure and adoption.