Talk of the Table

Elliot and Brian sit down with Moss Powers of Brewist Tabletop to discuss Book of Leviathan, their new expansion to the religious horror TTRPG HELLWHALERS. We discuss what this game has to say about hope and religious trauma, why gambling with Sic Bo is the perfect mechanic for driving home these themes, and what players can expect from this new expansion.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.

Links:

Back Book of Leviathan

Buy HELLWHALERS

Follow Moss

More games...

Elliot and Brian sit down with Asher McClennahan, the new Head of Games at Kickstarter, to discuss new features built on community feedback, how TTRPG creators can most effectively use Kickstarter, and how he hopes to regain the trust of creators who have left the platform in recent years due to concerns over AI and more.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.

Links:

games@kickstarter.com

Kickstarter Learning Lab

Autonomica Campaign Page

Asher Recommends:

In this Talk of the Table Roundtable special, Brian & Elliot sit down with Ray Chou of Mythworks and Fred Hicks of Evil Hat for a frank discussion on the state of TTRPG publishing amidst uncertainty caused by tariffs and more.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Hear the rest of this Episode:

Talk of the Table on Patreon

Links:

Mythworks

Evil Hat

Many Sided Media Discord 

...

Elliot and Brian sit down with Jess Levine, designer of games like Planet FIST, I Have the High Ground, and Going Rogue—one half of the forthcoming two-game book with Riley Rethal’s Galactic. We discuss bringing this massive collaboration to life, the choice of working in GMless or GMed design, and why the best adaptational media is made with love and hate.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.

Links:

Back Galactic & Going Rogue

Follow Jess

Follow Jumpgate Games

The Many Sided Network is EXPANDING! And as a part of that expansion we are adding FIVE new affiliate shows to our network. 

In this episode you'll be getting a proper introduction to each of these phenomenal new shows from the creators themselves.

The Many Sided Network is dedicated to TTRPG and nerdy podcasts telling great stories in new and innovative ways and this first class of affiliate podcasts are doing just that.

Dice Exploder

Maia’s Game Room 

Tales Yet Told

Dorkspawn

Mage Hand High...

Elliot and Brian sit down with Daniel Kwan, designer of Wandering Blades to discuss the balance of OSR and storygame design sensibilities behind this new game, how he found inspiration in the beautiful violence of wuxia media, and what designers can learn by playing TCGs.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.

Links:

Back Wandering Blades

Follow Daniel 

Daniel’s wuxia & wuxia-esque Recommendations:

Come Drink With Me

Dragon Inn

New Dragon Gate Inn...

Elliot and Brian sit down with Zach Cox, founder and creative lead of SoulMuppet Publishing to discuss growing a business while hating capitalism, being a sicko about book production, and creating games that demand play.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty.

Links:

Back Mad As Hell on Kickstarter

Mad As Hell Quickstart

Mad As Hell - Radical’s Handbook

SoulMuppet Publishing

Zach on Bluesky

Zach Recommends:

Ne...

Elliot and Brian sit down with Andre Novoa of Games Omnivorous to discuss his latest game The Job and how it uses simple mechanics to elegantly recreate a heist movie for your gaming table. We also discuss what makes Games Omnivorous unique and touch on the TTRPG scene in Portugal. 

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

The Job on Backerkit

Games Omnivorous

Follow Games Omnivorous on Bluesky

Our Links:

Su...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Realis writer Austin Walker and Possible Worlds founder Tyler Crumrine for a discussion about their collaboration on this exciting new game. We dive into the sentence-based mechanics, how players might imagine their own version of Realis, and where this project fits into the large slate of upcoming Possible Worlds releases. 

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Realis Ashcan

Follow Austin Walker

Friends at the Table

Shelved by Genre

Follow Po...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Ben Costa and James Parks, co-designers of Land of Eem. We discuss their lifelong collaboration and how it led to the creation of this world that has spawned graphic novels, middle-grade fiction, and now a TTRPG that facilitates how Ben and James love to play games.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Land of Eem

Exalted Funeral

James Recommends:

Usagi Yojimbo

Ben Recommends:

Elliot and Brian are joined by Jason Morningstar, co-owner of Bully Pulpit games and designer of titles like Fiasco, Night Witches, and the upcoming Zhenya’s Wonder Tales. We discuss how to listen to a game when designing, the power of being curious, and why sometimes the best business is built on friendship.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Support Zhenya’s Wonder Tales

Bully Pulpit Games

Follow Jason

Jason Recommends:

SUPER BANDI...

BACK A LAND ONCE MAGIC

Elliot and Brian are joined by Viditya Voleti, award winning designer of Bloodbeam Badlands, Space Between Stars, and the currently crowdfunding A Land Once Magic (published by our own moreblueberries!). We discuss keeping a sketchbook of games, the love of worldbuilding, and why it’s never too late to bring one of your games to print.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Support A Land Once Magic

Follow Viditya

...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Brian Saliba, lead designer of Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme. Brian, Brian, and Elliot dive deep on writing a licensed TTRPG, the important distinction between a “Python” game and a comedy game, and why rolling a nat 20 means you’re taking everything way too seriously.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Pre-Order Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme

Crowbar Creative - Brian’s Company 

Brian Recommends:

Apollo 47 Technical Handbook

In the final Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers who are bringing their games to second editions. Adam Bell takes us through the royal court drama game Uneasy Lies the Head. Then, Aaron Lim tells us all about his TWO games Ithaca in the Cards & What Should We Have Tomorrow?.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty

Adam’s Links:

Support Uneasy Lies the Head

Follow Adam

Support A Perfect Rock

In the 3rd Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers who are getting meta with their projects. Graham Gentz tells us all about the “Hallmark-meets-Cabin-in-the-Woods” game Love for the Love Gods. Then, Jordan Dube takes us through his interdimensional podcast game Warped FM.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty

Graham’s Links:

Support Love for the Love Gods

Follow Graham

Support Mum Chums, Out of Orbit, & Against Time and Death

...

In the second Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers creating games perfect for before your next fantasy campaign. Ethan Yen tells us about his tactical storytelling game of heroic sacrifice Prequel. Then, Meghan Cross takes us through her game that reimagines the warlock-patron relationship O Patron Mine.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty

Ethan’s Links:

Support Prequel

Follow Ethan

Check out Lyla’s Newsletter

Support Out of Orbi...

In the first Talk of the Table Zine Month Special Episode, Elliot and Brian are joined by two designers creating comedy-forward TTRPGs. Tom Lavery takes us through his two-people-in-a-horse costume game Horse Majeure. Then, Stephen Hans shares his three-raccoons-in-a-trenchcoat spy comedy Mission: ImPAWsible.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty

Tom’s Links:

Support Horse Majeure

Follow Tom on Bluesky

tomlavery.com - Grab Horse Majeure for Free!

Support Caught in the Rain

Bonus - Watch Midsomer Mu...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Tony Vasinda, Chief Alchemist of PlusOneEXP and one of the organizers of Zine Month, for a practical deep dive on marketing, team formation, and fulfillment for designers this Zine Month.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

PlusOneEXP

Find Tony on Bluesky

Zine Club - Get Zines Every Month!

Marketing:

TONY’S PRESS KIT VIDEO

Rascal Announcement Section

Communities:

R...

In the first Talk of the Table Roundtable special, Brian & Elliot sit down with repeat guests Dr. Emily Friedman and Taylor Moore to break down the state of actual play, the big changes of the past year, and the challenges that we still have to overcome.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Hear the rest of this Episode:

Talk of the Table on Patreon

Links:

Dr. Emily Friedman

Taylor Moore

M...

In this special episode, Brian & Elliot sit down to discuss one full year of Talk of the Table. We take a look at what we’ve learned, how the show has changed, and how the tabletop industry has changed alongside it.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Support the Show:

Talk of the Table on Patreon

Leave a 5-star Review!

Tell a friend!

Many Sided Media Discord 

Twenty Sided Newsletter

Elliot and Brian are joined by Christopher Hastings, the DM of Rude Tales of Magic: NETHERMURK, to discuss his transition into the DM seat for a new campaign of a long running show, why splitting the party is actually good, and the tricky balance of parasociality in actual play. 

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Listen to Rude Tales of Magic: NETHERMURK

Find Chris online

Chris recommends:

The Sweatbox

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mi...

We're adding Talk of the Table bonus content to the Many Sided Media Patreon!

Go to patreon.com/manysidedmedia to learn more!

Elliot and Brian are joined by John Harper, designer of such games as Lasers & Feelings, Agon, and Blades in the Dark, to discuss his career in game design, the new Blades supplement Deep Cuts, and the important distinction between creative and business sustainability over a long artistic career.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Find John on Twitter & Bluesky

John’s Games

Evil Hat

Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts

Joh...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Kayla Dice, designer of Transgender Deathmatch Legend II, to discuss how she brought her wrestling history into this TTRPG, why trick taking is the perfect mechanic to represent hand-to-hand combat, and the power of specificity in the game’s themes and design.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Back Transgender Deathmatch Legend II

Find Kayla on social media

Kayla recommends:

The work of Laurie O’Connel

Findi...

In this special episode, Brian sits down with co-host Elliot Davis to discuss his latest game, The Time We Have. We talk about the journey to this tragic zombie duet TTRPG, why it is the culmination of lessons from previous games, and the best part of making bigger games with bigger teams.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Back The Time We Have

Listen to My First Dungeon’s The Time We Have Episode

E...

Elliot and Brian are joined by the co-GMs of Planet Arcana and co-designers of upcoming science-fantasy TTRPG A Fool’s Errand, J Strautman and B Marsollier, to discuss the journey from actual play to actual game, break down the tarot-powered mechanics and themes of this new game, and why you should get excited about making your own "Big Oops".

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Back A Fool’s Errand

Listen to Planet Arcana

Find J on Tw...

Elliot and Brian are joined by novelist, game designer, and youtuber Aaron Voigt, aka A. A. Voigt, to discuss his latest project that is both game and novel: Détente for the Ravenous. Along the way we learn about how he is applying the video essay format to TTRPGs, why the best writing lessons aren’t sexy, and what spicy ice cream can teach us about meaningful art.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Buy Détente for the Ravenous

Find Aaron...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Johan Nohr, the illustrator and graphic designer who has created iconic visual identities for games like MÖRK BORG, Into the Odd, and the upcoming Paint the Town Red. We discuss creating strong visual identities, what game designers can learn from traditions of graphic design, and why you should avoid perfection.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

MÖRK BORG

Art by Nohr

Johan’s Website

Johan recommends: 

T...

Elliot and Brian are joined by the mind behind beloved TTRPGs For The Queen and Star Crossed, Alex Roberts, to discuss how to design for out-of-box play, what we can learn from LARPs and classic card games, and what it means to see two of her games given new life.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

For The Queen 2E

Star Crossed: Love Letters

Support Alex on Patreon

Alex’s Links

Elliot and Brian are joined by game designer, publisher, and prolific TTRPG editor Will Jobst to discuss good collaboration, the balance of style and efficiency, and how to avoid burnout.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Support Plasmodics - Kickstarting Now

Will on Twitter

Good Luck Press

Will recommends: 

The Design Games Podcast

Finding a non-games hobby

Many Sided Media Discord 

T...

Cameron “Danger” Strittmatter (The Panic Table) interviews Elliot, Brian, Shenuque, and Abby from Many Sided Media about how to bring humor and horror to your games. 

Links:

WATCH THIS INTERVIEW (See our beautiful faces!)

BACK VOIDSTREAM

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Many Sided Media Discord 

Twenty Sided Newsletter

Elliot and Brian are joined by Quinns, host of the new review show Quinns Quest, to discuss the “why” behind his pivot to TTRPGs, what we can learn from cooking youtube, and whether we will ever be able to answer the question “What is a TTRPG?”. 

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Quinns Quest

People Make Games

Quinns recommends: 

Read The Pike

Many Sided Media Discord 

Twenty Sided Newsle...

Elliot and Brian are joined by Superdillin, new host of the One Shot Podcast, to talk about his work across actual play and game design, why he chooses projects with intention, and what he is learning from listening to as much actual play as he makes.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Support HUNT(er/ed)

Listen to One Shot

Listen to the Atomless

Buy Dillin’s Games

Follow Dillin on Socials

Elliot and Brian are joined by Jay Dragon, editorial director and co-founder of Possum Creek Games, to discuss the 5-year journey of Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast, the challenges and wonders of navigating this massive production, and how to maintain your love for a project after release.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Buy Yazeba’s Bed & Breakfast

Jay on Twitter

Jay on Tumblr

Possum Creek Patreon

jay@possumcreekgames.com

...

Title: Teamwork Over Toxic Masculinity (w/ Grant Howitt)

Elliot and Brian are joined by Grant Howitt, game designer and co-founder of Rowan, Rook & Decard. Grant discusses the journey to his latest project Hollows, how its design emulates souls-borns and MMOs, and why toxic masculinity and depression are at the core of this crunchy boss battle game.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Grant Howitt

Hollows on Backerkit

Rowan, Rook and Decard

Elliot and Brian are joined by tabletop journalist and actual play critic Rowan Zeoli to discuss how she thinks as both critic and fan, how this industry can carve a path forward, and what separates good from great in the medium. (NOTE: This was recorded in January before the launch of Rascal)

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

Rowan on Twitter

rascal.news

Check out:

Gudiya

Queens Court Games

Replay

Elliot and Brian are joined by Jasper William Cartwright to discuss how we can make actual plays and TTRPGs a more sustainable career. Jasper shares lessons about respecting the work, being open to new opportunities, and life after appearing on Dimension 20.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

@JW_Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok

jasperwcartwright.com

Three Black Halflings

Rotating Heroes

Check out:

Edward Spence

London Carlisle

Elliot and Brian are joined by Banana Chan for a chat about their work across TTRPGs, LARPs, and board games and the lessons on business, creativity, and collaboration that she has taken from each.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. 

Links:

@bananachangames

@readwritememory

Read Write Memory

Watch The Brothers Sun

Follow Triangle Agency

Play Rebuilding Seattle

Many Sided Media Discord 

Twenty Sided Newsletter

...

Elliot and Brian (along with special guest/host Shenuque Tissera) are joined by Bridgett Jeffries, Coordinator of Events and Outreach for Chaosium, to discuss her recent live show at Breakout Con and tips for GMing for a live audience, emotional horror, and setting yourself up for success.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty. This episode also featured Shenuque Tissera.

Links:

bridgett@chaosium.com

Symphony Entertainment

Read The Ruins by Scott Smith

Many Sided Media Discord 

Elliot and Brian are joined by Drakoniques, an actual play performer and producer known for their unique character designs and skill in securing sponsors for AP productions. Drak shares their tips and learnings for bringing money into the AP space through sponsorship, producing unique actual play series, and building memorable characters.

Talk of the Table is hosted by Elliot Davis and Brian Flaherty

Links:

Follow Drakoniques on Twitter

Hire Drak as a producer, performer, or game designer

Check out Drak’s work on: