This is where places like Escape Plan Games comes to the fore, with their latest book, Tavern Tales, which gives the GM, a whole host of quests for their players to embark upon to keep the central hub of any community alive and breathing.
We grabbed a pint of the local brew, sat down and started chatting with Michael Pisani, one of the creative minds behind this latest release...
Michael Pisani: The earliest inspiration for Tavern Tales was a need to buy myself extra time as a DM for my home games. I was working a very demanding work schedule, around 12-14 hours a day. During that time I was also running a weekly campaign for some of my friends. Trying to find the time to homebrew content for them became very tricky. I started to turn to the DM's Guild and DrivethruRPG to supply adventures to kind of fill the gaps when I didn't have time to put something together. The problem I found with that was that there often was no through line in any of the adventures, so I was back to trying to come up with some way to interconnect everything and make it seem natural. That's when I started to conceive of the idea of having a tavern that the players could return to over and over again with a bunch of colorful regulars they could interact with and even get quests from.
TP: What would you say is the best selling point of your TTRPG's?
MP: I think the best thing about our products is that we really try to include a number of different voices in the creation process. I'm a firm believer that the inclusion of outside voices only helps to elevate a project. I know I'm not good at everything I'm trying to do in a project and leaning on someone that is stronger at a particular aspect of writing or design only serves to elevate the project all together.
TP: Why the TTRPG space?
MP: I think it offers a level of person to person interaction and shared experience that is unique in the gaming space.
TP: What is your favourite product that you produce and why?
MP: Well so far we've only released our first product Tavern Tales, but we've got a few others in the pipeline. I'd have to say right now that I'm most excited for the pirate themed campaign we're working on. We've managed to get some really beautiful art and are already working with some fantastic people. That said, Tavern Tales will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the product I needed as a DM and hopefully something that alleviates those issues for others.
TP: What is your current work in progress and what can you tell us about it?
MP: We are currently working on a card game, a 5e D&D campaign, and a board game. What I can say about the 5e campaign is that we're going to work very hard to give you a ship as customize-able as your character and a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the dramatic conclusion.
TP: Who do you think would love to play your TTRPG's and why?
MP: I think anyone who needs a tavern for their campaign world that feels like a living, breathing place would find a use for Tavern Tales. It can also be played as a campaign as there is a range of levels to the adventures offered in the book. I also think if you just need a location to send your players for one or two sessions A Trip Away Inn is a great place to spend some time on your campaing. As far as our next project, I think anyone interested in a tradition swashbuckling pirate adventure with a heroic fantasy twist will love what we've got coming.
TP: Where do you see your TTRPG writing career taking you in 5 years?
MP: I will be happy with anywhere I end up in this business as long as I'm able to add value to someone's game.
TP: If you were given the time and opportunity to develop something unique, what would it be and why?
MP: I think I would try to develop some form of TTRPG MMO. I think it's a complex problem that could be solved with the right time, money, and talent.
TP: Who do you admire in the Independent TTRPG writing space and why?
MP: I am in awe of so many of the writers and creators in this space. Lynne M. Meyer taught me some important lessons about using existing mechanics and creatures to create atmosphere and effects. Kailey Bray always floors me with her ability to have an endless well of whimsical storytelling with interesting and quirky characters. I think Matt Coleville and MCDM have done an incredible service to the hobby and industry by really demystifying the role of the DM and now game design. Jessica Marcrum taught me that sometimes putting the players in the middle of two powerful entities and their conflicts can be just as interesting as making them face their personal conflicts. This is just a small list of the people that I have learned and continue to learn from.
TP: What got you into TTRPG's in the first place?
MP: I originally fell into the TTRPG space out of a need to keep contact with friends back home after moving from upstate New York to Chicago. It was a way for me to keep in contact with family and friends and also a way to keep a social life alive during a period of time when I was still meeting new people and making friends. At the time I would DM a game for a bunch of players back home over skype. They would all assemble at my cousin's house and then I would DM for them. It will always remain some of the most memorable roleplay I ever experienced and really changed the course of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment