The Vintage RPG Podcast

Sickest Witch

Mar 24, 2025
Justin Sirois, creator of the Sickest Witch RPG, dives into the dark yet playful world of his folk horror game. He shares how players harvest body parts for magic, drawing inspiration from a mix of old board games and RPGs. The podcast discusses the unique mechanics of a D20-based system that combines horror with storytelling, as well as the importance of collaboration in RPG design. Sirois highlights the vibrant DIY community supporting independent creators and invites listeners to check out the Kickstarter for Sickest Witch.
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ANECDOTE

Severed Books Origin

  • Justin Sirois started Severed Books in 2012 to publish fiction.
  • Tabletop RPGs transformed his creative life after his first child was born.
INSIGHT

Sickest Witch Core Mechanics

  • Sickest Witch is a rules-light, d20-based, folk horror RPG where magic relies on harvesting and salting enemy organs.
  • This system serves as a metaphor for the commodification of bodies under capitalism.
ANECDOTE

From Board Game to RPG

  • Sickest Witch originated as a card game and later evolved into an RPG.
  • The witches were initially NPCs in Justin's earlier RPG, Beneath the Inverted Church.
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