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Artwork for TABLETOP TALK

TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars

Craig Shipman
Tabletop Gaming
Role-Playing Games
Game Design
Dungeons and Dragons
Tabletop Rpgs
Dungeons & Dragons
Blades In the Dark
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Game Mechanics
Horror
Crowdfunding
Tabletop Games
Slugblaster
Call Of Cthulhu
Dice Exploder
Sam Dunnewold
Northfield
Ion Heart
Shiver
One-Shot Play

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 y... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes298Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesLeisure

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for TABLETOP TALK

Latest Episodes

Anthony Boyed (Runeslinger) and I sat down with our friend Ivan (Ivanmike68) to discuss Ben Milton's "Play Style Survey".

Links (courtesy of Anthothy's video)

The Survey Video from Ben Milton

Stargazer's World

The Silent Majority post on Casting ... more

YouTube

A New Age of Heroes with Paul Vermeren

Our guest today is Paul Vermeren. Paul is an avid player of all sorts of great RPGs and the creator of Gridshock, a unique approach to the superhero genre that prioritizes vigilante play and brings a fresh face... more

YouTube

At the end of the day, TTRPGs share one thing in common —they tell a story. The writers, the players, the DM: everyone is there to tell a story, feel something, and have fun. Gene Koo approaches game creation differently than most of the creators you... more

YouTube

Matthew Nevers is an avid game designer and illustrator who has been playing for 25 years and has run games for 6 of those years. He publishes under Coffee All Night Games, and has created unique games like Nope! and The Winter Door. He loves horror,... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ben Milton
Creator of Questing Beast Play Style Survey
Questing Beast
Episode: Discussing Play Style (Questing Beast Survey) ep 287
Paul Vermeren
Co-creator of VX2, designer of Gridshock Zero Edition
VX2
Episode: Paul Vermeren (Gridshock: Zero Edition) ep 286
Gene Koo
Designer, Sticker Doodle Games; creator of Bonsai Diary and co-designer of Color Jam
Sticker Doodle Games
Episode: Gene Koo (Color Jam) ep 285
Matthew Nevers
Game and graphic designer, illustrator
Coffee All Night Games
Episode: Matthew Nevers (Decay, Nope!) ep 284
Emily Friedman
Scholar and critic focused on actual play and TTRPG history
MIT Press (author of forthcoming Actual Play book)
Episode: Dr. Emily Friedman ep 283
Elliot Davis
Brooklyn-based game designer, podcaster and artist
Many-Sided Media
Episode: Elliot Davis (The Time We Have) ep 282
Dillin Apelyan
Current host of One Shot Podcast; co-creative lead on villain book
One Shot Podcast, Third Floor Wars
Episode: Dillin Apelyan & James D’Amato (One Shot Podcast, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide) ep 281
James D'Amato
Co-author; longtime host/creative lead on One Shot
One Shot Podcast
Episode: Dillin Apelyan & James D’Amato (One Shot Podcast, The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide) ep 281
Laurence Phillips
Writer and designer focused on tabletop and video games
Hardy Roach Games
Episode: Laurence Phillips (Il Fantasma del Giallo) ep. 279

Hosts

Craig Shipman
Host coordinating interviews and guiding conversations across episodes
Claire Shortino
Co-host/ interviewer with focus on interview rhythm and guests

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • Take me to the Third Floor

    Craig’s interviews are fantastic. He focused on his guests and their inspirations, giving all of us insight into their process and what drove them. Give it a listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SeanNittner
    United States8 months ago
  • Best interviewer in the biz

    No one else in the industry is as good at asking questions as Craig. He does an excellent job at getting creators to mine their own experiences for interesting tidbits that will be useful to the rest of us!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    becuzitsbitter
    United Statesa year ago
  • By Crom!

    I discovered the POD via Matt John posting about it. Was a great listen, felt like I was sitting round a table listening in o mates talking shiy and having a beer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rikdog72
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Craig walks the walk

    My favourite online GM- Seriously.

    I have found Forbidden Lands, Symbaroum and now Vaesen through Craig.

    Listen to his 7 tips episode. I had already subconsciously adopted many of them from watching Third Floor’s play through’s on You Tube.

    He has definitely made me a better GM.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MojoPorter
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Addictive listening

    Just a fantastic insight into tabletop roleplaying game creatives. Fascinating, and a brilliantly relaxed and entertaining listen. My new must-listen in gaming podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    David F Chapman
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive: professional, high-quality production and deep-dive interviews.
Positive: strong questions that draw out guests' processes and inspirations.
Positive: consistent emphasis on indie design and publishing insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#140
United Kingdom/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#232
New Zealand/Leisure/Games
Apple Podcasts
#249
Denmark/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Paul Vermeren (Gridshock: Zero Edition) ep 286
Q: How do you balance homage and originality in Gridshock's world-building?
Paul discusses pulling from iconic influences like Rifts, 2000 AD, and Appleseed, then blending them with a unique setting where power dynamics and regional antagonists drive exploration, so it feels familiar yet distinctly his own, avoiding direct copies of existing franchises.
Paul Vermeren (Gridshock: Zero Edition) ep 286
Q: Why move away from Palladium or a pure XX-system toward Year Zero?
He explains the need for a flexible system capable of handling varied power levels and character archetypes, something superhero games often struggle with; the Year Zero Engine offers a good balance of fast combat flow and narrative flexibility, allowing Gridshock to support diverse characters while maintaining a core feel.
Gene Koo (Color Jam) ep 285
Q: When did you realize you didn't have to run everything behind the screen?
I realized it during the indie community immersion and actual play, where observing how players contribute and react showed me that I could share control and still have a coherent, engaging game.
Matthew Nevers (Decay, Nope!) ep 284
Q: What sparked the Decay's development and its survival horror focus?
It grew from an evolution of earlier games using the Breathless system and the idea of decaying dice; I wanted a chassis and a big toolbox of optional rules to support modular, story-driven horror.
Matthew Nevers (Decay, Nope!) ep 284
Q: When did you first realize you were a game designer, not just tinkering for friends?
I realized it around 2016-2017 when I completed a full game and published it; prior to that it was a collection of notes, but that project finally felt like a real game.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About TABLETOP TALK

What is TABLETOP TALK about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Insightful interviews with tabletop designers, writers, and publishers who shape indie RPGs, board games, and related media. Conversations commonly explore design processes, collaborative workflows, crowdfunding journeys, and the intersection of narrative craft with game mechanics. Listeners get behind-the-scenes looks at how creators iterate from concept to published product, including playtesting, open licensing, and community-building. A notable pattern is the emphasis on practical guidance for aspiring guests and publishers, from world-building and system design to marketing, timing, and partnerships. This mix of deep design dives and real-world publishing experiences makes it useful for creators and PR teams looking to understand who's... more

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Which podcasts are similar to TABLETOP TALK?

These podcasts share a similar audience with TABLETOP TALK:

1. Dice Exploder
2. Ludonarrative Dissidents
3. Talk of the Table
4. Rascal News
5. Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff

How many episodes of TABLETOP TALK are there?

TABLETOP TALK launched 8 years ago and published 298 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact TABLETOP TALK?

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What guests have appeared on TABLETOP TALK?

Recent guests on TABLETOP TALK include:

1. Ben Milton
2. Paul Vermeren
3. Gene Koo
4. Matthew Nevers
5. Emily Friedman
6. Elliot Davis
7. Dillin Apelyan
8. James D'Amato

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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