

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

Apr 9, 2024 • 1h 47min
Watt (Cloud Empress: Life & Death) Interview: ep. 228
How do you expand a Nausicaä-inspired RPG that leans even more into the genre?
Enjoy this conversation with Watt, the creator of Cloud Empress. They discuss what they learned from their latest crowdfunding campaign and walk us through the creative process of bringing two expansions to life.
Ad-free because YOU are amazing!
Previous interview
Life & Death Kickstarter
Helldivers 2
Succession
Voidfall boardgame
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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:
Follow us on Facebook
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Mar 31, 2024 • 1h 25min
Ellinor DiLorenzo (Vaesen: Lost Mountain Saga) Interview: ep. 227
How does a first-time GM start a podcast that becomes the first campaign book for Free League's RPG Vaesen? Craig sat with Ellinor DiLorenzo to find out. She walks us through her process for producing the hit podcast and translating it into a campaign book.
Get the Lost Mountain Saga book and listen to the podcast HERE!
See everything Ellinor HERE!
Anatomy of a Fall
The English
Red Dead Redemption
Deadwood
Unforgiven
The Searchers
Seven Samurai
Magnificent Seven
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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:
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Mar 30, 2024 • 1h 17min
Nora Haynes & Iris Saintclaire (Perfect Draw! RPG) Interview: ep. 226
How do you capture the action and drama of toy anime like Yu-Gi-Oh!, Duel Masters, and CardFight! Vanguard? Craig sat down with Nora and Iris and learned their creative approach to answer that question - Perfect Draw! the RPG.
You can pre-order the game HERE!
************************************
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

Mar 24, 2024 • 59min
Kyle Tam (MORIAH) Interview: ep. 225
What would you sacrifice for the mercy of your god on the mountain? Listen as Craig talks with Kyle Tam about her RPG MORIAH. Kyle takes us through her creative journey and choices from idea to completed game.
Get MORIAH here!
Urania Games
Lisa the Painful
Soul Sacrifice
Twitter
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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:
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow on BlueSky

Mar 18, 2024 • 1h 51min
Mikey Hamm (Slugblaster, Two-Hand Path) Interview: ep. 224
Who are the only people dumb enough to ride into tridimensional portals to fight off dangers that threaten reality? Only skateboard kids, and they'll post it on their social media. Mikey and I talk about his riff on Blades in the Dark called Slugblaster. It is gonzo and pushes what a Forged in the Dark game can do.
Slugblaster
Two Hand Path RPG
Mikey on Twitter
Mikey’s Itch Page
Space Weirdos
A Billion Suns
Slow Horses
Marvel Snap
Air Land Sea
************************************
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

Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 39min
Chris Spivey (Harlem Unbound, Haunted West) Interview: ep. 223
What happens when history is mixed with horror?
Please enjoy my conversation with Chris Spivey of Darker Hue Studios. We discuss his approach to creating award-winning tabletop gaming greatness.
TwitterHaunted West
Website
Harlem Unbound
HarlemUnbounding
Ko-fi
CV
Genreless
************************************
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

Mar 1, 2024 • 1h 19min
Edoardo Buzzi (FEEL System, Pirates of the Stone Seas) Interview: ep. 222
What if the RPG you're about to play starts blank as you play the first scene?
Please enjoy my talk with Edoardo and his FEEL system - all the parts are familiar, but together, they make a unique RPG experience.
@BuzziEdoardo (X)
@BuzziEdoardo@dice.camp (Mastodon)
@buzziedoardo.bsky.social (BlueSky)
https://edoardo-buzzi.itch.io/
************************************
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

Feb 18, 2024 • 56min
Quintin Smith (Shut Up & Sit Down, Quinn's Quest) Interview: ep. 221
Step into the world of creativity and insight with Quintin Smith from the renowned Shut Up & Sit Down channel. Quintin's warmth, respect for game creators, and deep connection with his audience exceeded all expectations.
He delves into the intricacies of finding one's voice as a creator, offering invaluable insights and anecdotes. As a bonus, his breakdown of the profound impact of Manga is not to be missed. Join us for a captivating conversation that sheds light on the essence of creativity and the power of genuine connection.
People Make Games
Shut Up & Sit Down
Quinns Quest
Shonen Jump
Maison Ikkoku(book)
Maison Ikkoku (series)
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Parable Games Zine Quest
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

Feb 10, 2024 • 2h 4min
Matt Forbeck (Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game) Interview: ep. 220
What makes a game a MARVEL game? Craig talks with Matt Forbeck, the designer behind the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.
All of Matt’s work is in ONE place
Barbie Movie
The BearYakuza Video Game Franchise
Hard West 2
Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries
Parable Games Zine Quest
*********************
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

Feb 4, 2024 • 1h 28min
Shep Shepperson (Gaia Complex, Rectify) Interview: ep. 219
Your cyberpunk needs more vampires, and Gaia Complex is getting bigger. Craig sits down with Shep Shepperson, and they discuss the newest book coming out for the Cyberpunk RPG, Gaia Complex.
Check out Gaia Complex
Get the Free Quickstart!
Back the Kickstarter!
GKR Heavy Hitters
Terror in Meeplecity
Batman Gotham City Chronicles
Batman RPG
*********************
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


