Players as the DM: Inside Archmage Press’s DM-Less Design

For most of us, “no DM” still sounds like a contradiction — like ordering a symphony without a conductor and hoping the brass won’t revolt. And yet Archmage Press has turned that contradiction into a product category: DM-Less 5E campaigns that play like “proper D&D” at the

AI, Imagination, and the Limits of Automation in Tabletop Gaming: Kirk Wiebe on the Future of TTRPG Tech

Since picking up Dungeons & Dragons around 2010, Kirk Wiebe—better known as PhD20—has watched tabletop gaming evolve alongside the tools that support it. From early YouTube content in the hobby’s formative digital years to his current work writing thoughtful articles and resources for game masters, he has

Why the First 48 Hours Matter: Bob World builder on Kickstarter and Trust

Bob World Builder has spent years breaking down tabletop design on YouTube with a rare mix of clarity, pragmatism, and healthy skepticism toward hype—whether it’s about mechanics, Kickstarter myths, or the role of AI in creative work. But alongside the videos, Bob has quietly been building a growing

Beyond the Woods: Bringing Irish Storytelling to the RPG Table

This interview is about much more than mechanics or setting design. It’s a conversation about culture, memory, and the act of storytelling itself—and how all three shape the way tabletop role-playing games are created. Emmet Byrne, founder of Old Oak Games, has spent over seven years working

This Dungeon Can Kill You: Agis Angelomatis on Nostalgia, Risk, and Baba Yaga

Before retro nostalgia became a trend and long before “weird fantasy” returned to the spotlight, Agis Angelomatis and his team were already quietly building tools, worlds, and ideas that grew out of genuine love for tabletop role-playing games. What began as a “side quest” in the most literal sense—

Why Long-Form Still Matters: Mike Shea on Writing, RPGs, and Resisting the Algorithm

For more than a quarter of a century, Mike Shea has been doing one thing with remarkable consistency: helping Game Masters run better games. As the creator of Sly Flourish, author of Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master, blogger, YouTuber, and publisher, Shea has become one of the most recognizable

Reliability Over Hype: Russ Morrissey on Running an RPG Publishing Company

For more than 25 years, Russ Morrissey has been a constant presence in the tabletop RPG world—often behind the scenes, sometimes at the center of major conversations, but almost always doing the unglamorous, long-term work of building infrastructure for the hobby. As the founder of EN World and

Not Just Pretty Maps: How Natwuns Became a Table-Tested TTRPG Brand

From a single, practical need at the table to a recognizable creative brand with multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns, Natwuns is a story of growth rooted firmly in play. What began as a hand-drawn map made to replace a generic Roll20 background quickly turned into something bigger—not because of

Building a TTRPG for Unlikely Alliances: The Philosophy Behind Human No More

Cultic Games was born out of a filmmaker’s refusal to stay on the sidelines. Before founding the studio, Can Oral was already leading a film collective, used to building teams and telling stories through images. When his lifelong fascination with interactive narratives pushed him toward game development, he applied

Back to the Dungeon: How Jon Torres Revived the Spirit of Old-School Play

In the world of tabletop RPGs, one question keeps resurfacing: what does it really mean to play “old school”? Is the OSR (Old School Renaissance) simply nostalgia for yellowed rulebooks and pencil-scribbled character sheets, or is it a conscious rebellion against the narrative-driven, commercially polished design of modern

Building an Anime Multiverse: The Vision Behind Gates of Krystalia

When anime collides with tabletop role-playing, the result can be pure chaos—or pure magic. Gates of Krystalia is one of those rare projects that dares to blend both. Created by Alberto Dianin and Andrea, this TTJRPG draws inspiration from the emotional depth and visual dynamism of anime while

From Teasers to Lifelong Fans – How DRS Publishing Builds Worlds and Runs Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns?

Crowdfunding in the TTRPG industry is about more than raising money – it’s an art of community building, storytelling, and generating momentum long before launch day. In our conversation with Dream Realm Storytellers, we explore their marketing philosophy: from early teaser posts and pre-launch mailing list campaigns, to engaging