INDEPENDENT TTRPG SOUND CREATOR: My Sound Delve - Chris Borchert

The Tabletop Roleplay Play Game hobby is one that for all the community is one that is always done out of love, with very few ever able to be able to make a living from it.  For some of us, its time, writing modules or creating systems, for others, relaxing creating art whether its making items for your table or creating diorama's for the players to move thier characters through.  

For Chris Borchert its creating an app of sounds to be used by the community to help add atmosphere for the players at a DM's table which was launched in 2020.  Here we were lucky enough to get some time with Christian during his busy schedule to find out more... 

Totally Pawsome:  When was the business launched and how did you pick its name?

Christian Borchert:  I reserved the URL in 2011 for both Evening Huddle Enterprises and My Sound Delve but didn’t form the business until 2017. It’s a play on my children- Hudson and Evelyn, but it also reflects when we typically play our games- huddled around a table at night. I launched the app Friday the 13th of November, 2020 at the MACE gaming convention in Charlotte, NC.

TP:  What is your business best known for?

CB:  We are best known for the soundboard app, currently mobile only, but have expansion plans to include a web version. 

TP:  Why the TTRPG space?

CB:  I’m a forever GM & put my players to use in my games. I also wanted to add more immersive qualities at our sessions. I build terrain and use miniatures, but something was still missing. Ambient music didn’t quite fill the gap. I started searching for an app that would give my players and I an audio match to what our characters and creatures were doing for encounters. Because everything is built for GMs, I decided to create one player-centric.

TP:  What is your favourite product that you produce?

CB:  I only have one product, but have multiple sound effects. I organize them in our audio galleries as Weapons (melee & ranged), Spells (Arcane, Divine, Druidic & Tech), Critical & Fumble, Phrases and Foley. The under utilization of verbal components in game play while nearly every spell requires it was a huge motivator for making this app. Working with the quality voice actors & writing 3 magic languages puts Verbal Components (Spell Action sounds in the app) at the top of my favorites list. 

TP:  How do you see the business developing in the next five years?

CB:  Well, I must confess, while the concept of MSD is player-centric, the monetization strategy fits more for the GM. Free or Subscribe is the current model. Even the $2.99/mo is too much for players. So, I’m working with my developers to improve the UI and alter the way users can access the sounds. Still wanting a free pathway, I’ll be offering users an ability to watch an ad for coin credit. That credit can purchase the unlocking of a sound. 

Today, users must put in their credit card to access a 3-day sampling of all our 3,400+ sounds. In the new version, all sounds will be sample-able for 5 times before locking up. 

Currently all our sounds are downloaded on the users’ device. That eats up too much space. The new version will accommodate a synch option that will be much appreciated by our users. 

In 2.0, we’ll have sounds that are linked to shorten the time in making scenarios (when an Action sound is chosen a default Hit and Miss will auto fill). We’ll alsi allow for multiple sounds, too. That way, even the player won’t know what sound combination will play.

I’ll introduce gamification and a rewards system for users who really use & recommend the app.

I also want a web version as that will be better for streamers and pod casters to use our sounds real-time in their sessions. 

I’ll continue to collaborate with Kickstarters and fellow creators bringing sounds from their worlds to the community.

I’ll be packaging our sounds into thematic packs for users to purchase. I’ve started this process and will be publishing them in the VTT space mid-2023. 

TP:  How do you decide which products to create and sell?

CB:  Again, with one product, I’ll address this question differently. When first launched, I thought about what sounds are missing and made thematic sound packs (different from the ones mentioned above).

 I looked through the Open Gaming License to know which specific creature or spell names I could use.  I put out 24 such themes like Undead, Comedic Release, Sci-fi 1.0 and 2.0, Aberrations, Way of the Monk. I even consulted a sensitivity consultant who helped me with two Disability releases.

For 2023, I’m only doing four releases based around the four main elements- air, water, earth and fire. I’ve teamed up with Bolwerk Publishing and their geomorphic dungeons. So, while elemental, they also support their dungeons, too.

Lastly, in 2021, I was invited to play in a Yuletide one-shot hosted by Mike from 19 Hits the Dragon. That experience inspired me to make a Yuletide release of 65 sounds. For 2 years now, I’ve made those sounds free for about 6 weeks. It’s a seasonal gift to the community of users. 

TP:  Whilst you do take commissions, what guidelines do you have in place?

CB:  I don’t take commissions. I’ll take suggestions and I’ll take inspiration from the community. Each inspired sounds goes into the free sound bucket, though. 

TP:  If you were given the time and opportunity to develop something unique for yourselves, what would it be and why?

CB:  Oh, this is easy. While I don’t LARP, I would love to make an investment in my app to support that niche group. If used via a device like an Apple Watch & a linked BT speaker, players could hear the success or failure of their actions quite well. That would be quite spectacular in my opinion. Why? Because it furthers the immersive essence, which is my goal for MSD and the user community.

TP:  What do you think are the best services you offer to others in the TTRPG space and why?

CB:  I am a solo sound engineer. With our new platform, I’d love to have other creators publish on our future e-commerce site so that our app sounds can interface with others for even greater uniqueness. 

I will continue to find collaborators willing to add audio to their work. All because audio as a foreground sound vs background sound really enhances the game experience- especially when huddled around the gaming table. I’ve seen late night players dozing only to be surprised when a Critical Hit is played. It’s great fun and brings the table closer. 

TP:  Competition between independent business is at an all time high, as a small business what makes you unique that you feel helps show customers why they should do business with you?

CB:  True. I can only say that in our super niche space, we are the only player-centric soundboard app that has the largest ttrpg sound effect library. I spend all subscription revenue (at this time) supporting fellow creators- artists, musicians and voice actors primarily. Other than development and sound licensing, nearly $10K has stayed in our ttrpg family since our start. That’s unique and should be appreciated by our community.