TABLETOP TALK - Third Floor Wars
Craig Shipman
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 your favorite tabletop games and the creative process that brought them to life.
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 your favorite tabletop games and the creative process that brought them to life.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 11, 2025 • 1h 45min
Cam Banks (Dragonlance, Cortex Prime) ep. 263
Craig sat down with Cam Banks, a prolific RPG creator who has worked on many of the games on your RPG shelf.************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
Aug 1, 2025 • 2h 3min
Glenn Ford (Pukeapocalypse, Boarders and Black Flags) ep. 262
Craig talked with Glenn Ford about his creative journey and two of his miniature-game designs.PukeapocalypseBoarders and Black FlagsMalifaux Warlord 2000ADReservoir DogsBlackadderRoboCopSyd Meier's PiratesViewfinderSuperliminal Billion SunsFantastic FourDreddJoJo Rabbit ************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 45min
Maddie & Wheels (Dicebreaker, Just for Fun Inc) ep. 261
Craig sat down with Maddie and Wheels to discuss their newest venture and recently released game.Just for Fun, Inc, Outgunned, ROOT, Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green, Ten Candles, Alice is Missing, SETI, Band of Blades, Warhammer, FREAKZ!, Dead Rising 2, Raven's Watch, Numenera************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
Jul 6, 2025 • 1h 3min
Asher McClennahan (Kickstarter, Alchemy VTT) ep. 260
Craig sat down with Asher, the new Head of Games at Kickstarter, to discuss his work there and his previous experience with Alchemy RPG VTT.Azul, Mancala, Alchemy RPG, Dungeon Slimes, The Creative Act - Rick Rubin, The Avett Brothers, May it Last, Ain't Slayed Nobody, Cosmic Dark************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
Jun 24, 2025 • 1h 51min
Garry Snow (Bugbusters, Dieku Podcast) ep. 259
Craig talked with Garry Snow of Dieku Games about his RPG Bugbusters and podcast/YouTube channel.Bug Busters on KickstarterFang Dungeon Bestiary on BackerkitWhite Dwarf MagazineGhostbusters D6 Game Car WarsSavage WorldsBrindlewood BayTales from the Territories Dark WindsNo Country For Old MenHell or High WaterWind RiverKillers of the Flower Moon************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 3min
Mikey Hamm (Slugblaster: Slime, Warp, and Solder) ep. 258
Mikey Hamm talked with Craig about the new expansion zines for his award-winning RPG, Slugblaster.Get Slugblaster: Slime, Warp, and Solder HERE!WildseaVaesenMothershipBillion SunsGaslandsMike HutchinsonSlugblasterTwo-Hand PathMichael ElliottPunk MagicThe Magpie's CubeMechabellum************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
May 26, 2025 • 1h 48min
John Harper (Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts) ep. 257
John Harper talks with Craig about the Deep Cuts expansion book for Blades in the Dark.Blades in the Dark Deep CutsBlades in the DarkLady BlackbirdTalislantaDelta GreenPagan PublishingHow To Draw Comics The Marvel Way | Book by Stan Lee, John BuscemaAdvanced Dungeons and DragonsWatchmenFateThe Road - Cormac McCarthyThe PropositionUnderstanding Comics - Scott McCloudAvatar: The Last AirbenderAlien: RomulusMoblandSuccessionA Thousand BlowsPrevious interviews with JohnEpisode 192Episode 164Episode 108************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
May 19, 2025 • 1h 55min
Graham Walmsley (Play Unsafe, Cosmic Dark, Cthulhu Dark) ep. 256
Graham Walmsley talks with Craig about the creative process behind Play Unsafe, Cthulhu Dark, and CosmicDark.Back Cosmic DarkGet Cthulhu DarkGet Play UnsafeTunnels & TrollsToonGolden HeroesVampirethe MasqueradeTrail of CthuluThe Quiet YearAin't Slayed NobodyJG BallardTrophy DarkDarkenedHill and DaleMidsommarBlood on Satan’s ClawWitchfinderGeneralWickerManWhat Moves the Dead byT King FisherFall of the House of UsherBetweenTwo FiresWhite LotusSuccession************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145Example: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook, Follow on BlueSky
May 6, 2025 • 1h 15min
J Strautman & B Marsollier (Fool's Errand) ep. 255
I talk with J and B about their newest game, Fool's Errand. A Fool’s Errand is a tarot-fueled science fantasy game set in a vibrant post-calamity world of Androids, Humans, and those in between. Fools, go forth and explore realms both waking and subconscious. Beware: the Gods are watching, ready to manifest their love and rage as boons and calamities.Back Fool's Errand HEREStarfinderHoney HeistUpriver, DownriverTangled BlessingsMonster of the WeekPowered by the ApocalypsePlanet Arcana PodcastPathfinderFinal Fantasy 7Anamnesis************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145For example https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook Follow on BlueSky
Apr 16, 2025 • 1h 44min
Mike Hutchinson (Gaslands, Space Gits) ep. 254
Craig sits down with Mike Hutchinson of Planet Smasher Games and talks about the creative process behind his new miniatures game, Space Gits. We also discuss a new version of A Billion Suns and his RPG, The Crawling Chaos.Space Gits, Gaslands, Billion Suns, Hobgoblin, The Crawling Chaos, Daily Rituals by Mason Curry, The Infinite Game - Simon Syneck, Bushido, Vampire: The Masquerade, The Dunwich Horror, Tour de Lovecraft: The Tales -- Kenneth Hite, Bluebeard's Bride, Everyone is John, For the Queen, Nosferatu, The Witch, Swamp Thing, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, Dark Knight Returns, Maus, Citizen Sleeper, Scum and Villainy, Blades in the Dark************************************Support the show for as little as $1 a month: Add this to the end of your link on DriveThruRPG to support the show: ?affiliate_id=1044145For example https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397612/Court-of-Blades--Scandal-Forged-in-the-Dark?affiliate_id=1044145Check out our live-streaming content on Twitch Don't miss our RPG Actual Plays, tutorials, and gaming content on YouTube Listen to an excellent board game podcast Go to the Writer's Room for 7th Sea Adventures!Check out the great games from A Couple of Drakes:Listen to Tales of the ManticoreFollow us on Facebook Follow on BlueSky
