TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

Author: Craig Shipman Language: English Episodes: 100
Ever wonder how the games on your shelf actually came to be? TABLETOP TALK-Third Floor Wars pulls back the curtain on the entire world of tabletop gaming, moving beyond reviews and rules to explore the human stories behind the cardboard and miniatures. Host Craig Shipman invites designers, developers, artists, and writers into a conversation that feels more like a chat between friends than a formal interview. The focus here is on the creative journey itself-the initial spark of an idea, the messy middle of development, and the unique methods each creator uses to bring their vision to life. Each episode digs into the origins of beloved games, uncovering the personal inspirations and problem-solving processes that shape the hobbies we love. You’ll hear about the challenges of balancing a game’s mechanics, the narrative choices behind a compelling world, and the artistic decisions that give a game its distinct personality. This podcast is for anyone who’s ever looked at a beautifully crafted game and wondered about the people who built it from the ground up. Craig’s genuine curiosity drives these discussions, making each conversation a deep and engaging exploration of the passion that fuels the industry. Tune in for a regular dose of insight from the minds that shape your gaming table.
Episodes
Laurence Phillips (Il Fantasma del Giallo) ep. 279 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:50
Today we sit down with Laurence Philips of Hardy Roach Games, an independent designer who creates unique games that focus on themes that dive deeper than your average TTRPG. His one-page games are weird and exciting to p…
Ray Chou (Mythworks) ep. 278 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:02
Ray Chou is a comic book and TTRPG creator--one of the talents behind the amazing Mythworks team, known for some of the last few years' most anticipated games--Wildsea, Slugblaster, Pico, and a whole lot more. Their stud…
Craig Hatler (Shadowlight & Personae) ep. 277 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:27
Craig talked with Craig Hatler, the creator of the RPG Shadowlight & Personae. They discussed his creative process and the origins of the game's ideas.Get all of Craig's work HERE!TSR’s Marvel SuperheroesWerewolf: the Ap…
Em Acosta (Crescent, Exile) ep. 276 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:42
Today, we check in with Em Acosta, a game designer known for games like Exile and Crescent. They’re heavily involved in the industry, with a lot of writing credits on all sorts of games, and they’ve just started a blog.…
René-Pier Deshaies (Breathless: Frightmare Edition) ep. 275 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:06
I am joined by René-Pier, a TTRPG designer who’s committed to making the games and design accessible. He’s the author of Breathless (and the new Frightmare Edition), Boundless, and Stoneburner. One of the main things we…
Sam Sleney & Zach Cox (Orbital Blues) ep. 274 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:43
A lone harmonica rattling through a ship hull; a frontiersman whistles his sad song as he shoulders his laser rifle; an ad plays over the speakers of an empty outpost in a sandy desert, two suns glaring overhead. These a…
Ross Bryant and Cupp (Push the Roll) ep. 273 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:44
Cupp and Ross Bryant join us for an informative episode about the nature and specifics of roleplaying and podcasts. The pair dives into their experiences with role-playing games. The two of them are seasoned role-players…
Tim Denee (Blades '68) ep. 272 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:57
One of the great beauties of art is how different creators build upon their influences and contemporaries, creating layers that work together. We see it a lot in the TTRPG space, from shared mechanics, an influx of hacks…
Kickin’ The Tires with Sean Nittner (Evil Hat Productions) ep. 271 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:47
Sean is the Director of Projects at Evil Hat Productions, a game developer and TTRPG enthusiast who has played more games than almost anyone we know. He’s been part of the design team for great titles like Agon, Apocalyp…
Marc Majcher (The Empire Never Ended, Grackle Teeth) ep. 270 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:43
Craig and Marc discuss Marc's process for developing two of his games.Dragon MagazineTop SecretStar FrontierCall of CthuluParanoiaApocalypse WorldBlades in the DarkZombie WorldRiftsShadowrunDelicious in Dungeon**********…