René-Pier Deshaies (Breathless: Frightmare Edition) ep. 275

René-Pier Deshaies (Breathless: Frightmare Edition) ep. 275

Author: Craig Shipman April 13, 2026 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 focus on in the episode is the nature of open-source and free games, and why they’re such an important part of this growing community. RP dives deep into the current state of TTRPGs, licensing, and managing community expectations and your own artistic endeavors. We also dive deep into the creation and approach he takes to his games, with simple rules, deadly mechanics, and a really unique way dice can impact how a game functions. It’s a great conversation, and RP has such a clear understanding of how games work. 

Back the Frightmare Edition here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mythworks/breathless-frightmare-edition

If you want to play Breathless, download it for free here! https://farirpgs.com/breathless/

And Boundless: https://farirpgs.com/boundless/

Referenced Media: 

Fate

Blades in the Dark 

2400 SRD

Cairn

Into the Odd

Duskfall

Dark Souls

Pico

Mothership

DM GM Club

Mythworks

Frieren 

The Expanse

Dwarf Fortress

Project Hail Mary

Enola Homes

Knives Out

Star Wars

Conan

Indiana Jones

Stranger Things

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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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars
Podcast Episodes
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Andrew Peregrine (Dune, Dr Who, Opera House) Interview: ep. 180 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:49
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Even Footing Games (Babies & Broadswords) Interview: ep. 179 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:51
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Spencer Campbell (Slayers, RUNE, NOVA, LUMEN) Interview: ep. 178 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:21:56
A souls-like solo roleplaying game? A no-prep asymmetrical monster-hunter TTRPG? Yes, please! Craig sits with Spencer Campbell, and they talk about Spencer's unique approach to making games. KS: https://www.kickstarter.c…

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