

TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars
Craig Shipman
Do you love tabletop gaming? This is your podcast.
Who are the creatives behind your favorite games and content? How do they approach their work?
I sit with designers, developers, artists, writers, and creators and learn how they approach their work. I try to understand their process, inspiration, and methods for crafting their creations.
Craig digs deep into the work and uncovers the origins of your favorite tabletop games and the creative process that brought them to life.
Who are the creatives behind your favorite games and content? How do they approach their work?
I sit with designers, developers, artists, writers, and creators and learn how they approach their work. I try to understand their process, inspiration, and methods for crafting their creations.
Craig digs deep into the work and uncovers the origins of your favorite tabletop games and the creative process that brought them to life.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 27, 2024 • 1h 25min
Ross Bryant (Glass Cannon Network, Stream of Blood, The Good Place) Interview: ep. 238
Ross Bryant shares his creative process as a performer and a player. He reveals the skills that make for a great player and GM. We dig into the crossover from being an actor and comedian and playing in an RPG.
Ross on Instagram
Ross on Twitter
Ross on IMDB
Early Ross the player on Steam of Blood
Recent Ross on Glass Cannon
Twin Masks LARP
Season 1 of Adventure Zone
Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus
Gun Crazy
Targets
The Conversation
Carnival of Souls
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Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

May 25, 2024 • 33min
WF Smith (Barkeep on the Borderlands) Interview: ep. 237
WF Smith discusses his Ennie-winning book, Barkeep on the Borderlands. Craig asks about the idea's origin and the creative decisions that brought the book to life.
Prismatic Wasteland
Barkeep on the Borderlands
Prismatic’s Itch
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

May 25, 2024 • 1h 54min
Jim & Raychel (Tabula Sono 3D VTT) Interview: ep. 236
Craig talks with the sibling duo behind the innovative browser-based virtual tabletop Tabula Sono. They discuss how the idea emerged and the design pillars that guide their development.
The VTT
We playing HEDGE on the VTT
My Q&A on their YT channel
Wheel of Time
Elantris
Warbreaker
Stormlight Archive
Outlander Book Series
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City, 1)
Mythcreants
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

May 24, 2024 • 58min
Joel Vrugdenhil (Star & City, Heaven or Hell) Interview: ep. 235
Craig talks with Joel about two of his games, Star & City and Heaven or Hell. Joel reveals the influences he's had from video and board games. They discuss when to recognize a game isn't working and what to do next.
Joel’s Twitter
Joel’s Itch
Joel’s Twitch
Project Moon Games
Battlecon Board Game
Blue Lock
Call of the Night
Street Fighter 6
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Listen to Tales of the Manticore
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

May 5, 2024 • 1h 2min
Addison Goff (Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy) Interview: ep. 234
Craig talks with Addison Goff about his game, where the investigative system came from, and how he believes it solves some of the issues he sees in other games like Call of Cthulhu and the Gumshoe system,
AMIN website
Their Patreon
Their Itch
Their Ko-fi
Eureka Kickstarter
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

May 5, 2024 • 2h 1min
James D’Amato (One Shot Podcast Network, Campaign: Skyjacks) Interview: ep. 233
Craig and James discuss James' creative approach to making actual plays, writing books, and creating the new Oh Captain, My Captain RPG.
One-Shot Podcast
Oh Captain, My Captain!
Skyjacks
The Ultimate RPG Guide Series
Illimat Card Game
The Decemberists
Wyrd Sisters
EarthBound video game
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Apr 30, 2024 • 1h 16min
Guy Milner (Unconventional GMs, Burn after Running) Interview: ep. 232
How do you run a one-shot in three hours that everyone loves? Enjoy this discussion with Guy Milner about how he prepares and runs one-shot sessions. He shares practical tips and makes the case for playing and running games at conventions.
Burn After Running RPG One-Shots Blog
Unconventional GMs YouTube Channel
Fabula Ultima JRPG
Assassin’s Creed
Nailed It TV Show
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Apr 29, 2024 • 56min
Stoo Goff (Aegean, The Gaslight Club) Interview: ep. 231
Craig talks with Stoo Goff about his creative approach. Stoo is the creator behind the RPGs Aegean and The Gaslight Club and is the publisher of WILD by David Chapman.
We Evolve website
Stoo Goff website
Aegean RPG
WILD RPG
Gaslight Club
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Apr 28, 2024 • 1h 22min
David Chapman (Dr. Who, Conspiracy X 2.0, Wild) Interview: ep. 230
Listen as Craig talks with David about his process for bringing games like Dr. Who and Conspiracy X 2.0 to life.
Laundry 2nd Edition
Conspiracy x 2.0
Doctor Who: The Roleplaying Game Second Edition
WILD RPG
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game
Aegean Adventures
Masks of Nyarlathotep
Tales from the Loop
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Marginal Words KS
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Apr 10, 2024 • 1h 28min
Fleur & Chelsea Sciortino (Flabbergasted!, Mystified!) Interview: ep. 229
What if Jeeves and Wooster or Fawlty Towers had mysteries to solve? Craig talks with the Sciortino sisters about the newest expansion for their award-winning RPG. They reveal their creative process and inspirations.
Previous Interview
Mystified Backerkit
Flabbergasted
Baulder's Gate 3
Brandon Sanderson books
************************************
Support the show for as little as $1 month:
Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145
For example
https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145
Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch
Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube
Listen to an excellent boardgame podcast
Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!
Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky


