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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

With Sarah, we discussed exploring femininity in all its forms - and how it connects to ferality, witchcraft, folklore, beauty, and horror - fighting against oppressive tropes that are culturally engrained, and subverting expected social roles. 2 /

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Another guest for Season 1 is Sarah Doom @scorchadoom.bsky.social, a tabletop role-playing game designer, writer, layout artist, and visual artist based in the US. Among her games are Bluebeard’s Bride, In the Pines, The Maiden and the Rake, Savage Garden, and the upcoming Velvet Glove. 1 /

This poster features a picture of TTRPG author Sarah Doom, surrounded by the covers of some of her games: The Maiden and the Rake, Velvet Glove, Bluebeard's Bride, and In the Pines. Her name appears at the top.

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Ksandra @ksandrarpg.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I had a great time discussing my game and ideas behind it when recording this. I can't wait to listen to the whole podcast and hear contributions of other guests! This is going to be brilliant.

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

... and the role of folklore in multifaceted collaborative storytelling. Here is Aleksandra’s website: linktr.ee/ksandra_rpg And her Itch page: ksandra.itch.io #ttrpg #aleksandrabokman #rpgroots #season1

linktr.ee

ksandra_rpg Official: Instagram, X, Twitch | Linktree

Ttrpg creator, author of Ennie-nominated Wise Women and a beginner youtuber.

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

With Aleksandra, we discussed prejudice, community, and social norms - and what happens when people don’t conform but cannot easily leave. We talked about design informed by anger, crafting prejudice at the table, internalized forms of oppression that stem from unquestioned beliefs... 2 /

linktr.ee

ksandra_rpg Official: Instagram, X, Twitch | Linktree

Ttrpg creator, author of Ennie-nominated Wise Women and a beginner youtuber.

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Aleksandra Brokman @ksandrarpg.bsky.social - a Polish historian and TTRPG designer based in Scotland and author of Wise Women, a game about witchcraft, prejudice, and social norms inspired by Eastern European (plant) folklore. 1 /

In this poster there is a picture of Aleksandra Brokman in the forefront, and two covers from her game Wise Women in the back. He name appears at the top.

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Thank you for sharing! Just a note, this is coming later in the Fall! :)

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I’m Gwen (she/her), a tenured professor of philosophy working on 17th C. Europe. I also write TTRPGs. I’m a lesbian trans woman. I like tabletop and video games, sci-fi/fantasy media, coffee, & punk. ...

... tackling bioessentialist elements in popular games, and the powerful act of reflecting on and changing the language we use when we make and play games (a theme that recurred throughout our speakers - we might have to do a whole episode about it!). 3 /

drgwenmarshall.carrd.co

Dr. Gwendolyn Marshall

...as well as indie games to explore queer identity, chosen family, and classic adventuring themes. With Gwen, we discussed the many ways in which oppression shows up in TTRPGs, OSR and NSR as a model for resistance and reclaiming spaces within systemic constraints... 2 /

drgwenmarshall.carrd.co

Dr. Gwendolyn Marshall

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Thoughtful Dane @thoughtfuldane.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Dr. Gwendolyn Marshall @drgwenmarshall.bsky.social, a professor of philosophy and game designer working on products that challenge and supplement D&D, like award-winning Ancestry & Culture: An Alternative to Race in 5e... 1 /

This is a poster featuring a picture of Dr. Gwendolyn Marshall and the covers of three of her books and games: "The Spiritual Automaton", "Ancestry and Culture - An Alternative to Race in 5e", and "Eldritch High".

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I very much enjoyed my talk with Camilla and Set. Prepared questions and time to dig deep. It's an ambitious undertaking to interview such a large number of people and then to synthesise it into themes and topics. I very much look forward to listen to the result.

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This is so cool! We are glad that we'll be able to put your words in conversation with Frederik's, Tim's, and Evan's! Also very cool that there is kindness and support in the scene. :) Thanks for sharing!

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... and the productive tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Here’s Frederik’s website: thoughtfuldane.com Here’s Frederick’s Itch page: frederik-jensen.itch.io

thoughtfuldane.com

Thoughtful Dane

Stories and games

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With Frederik, we discussed oppression in historical settings, designing play through extreme choices, adding constraints to focus the play experience, GMless games and how they redistribute authority and information at the table...

RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Frederik Jensen @thoughtfuldane.bsky.social, author of "Montsegur 1244", "Mars to Stay", "The City," and more TTRPGs and card games. Frederick is based in Sweden and publishes under the name Thoughtful Dane.

In this poster, there is a picture of game designer Frederik Jensen in the foreground, and three pictures of the covers of his story games in the background: Montsegur 1244, Mars to Stay, and The City.

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With them, we discussed elevating underrepresented voices, oppression as productivity, RPGs as spaces to reflect, play as permission to disrupt, and the necessity to weave people together inside and outside games.

RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Meguey will be with us for Session 0 too, but we also chatted with her and Vincent about their games in light of Narratives of Oppression and Resistance.

RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Two more guests that we interviewed together for Season 1 of RPG Roots are Vincent and Meguey Baker - @lumpley.bsky.social and @megueyb.bsky.social - the beloved authors of Apocalypse World, Under Hollow Hills, The King is Dead, and many more TTRPGs.

In this poster, there are pictures of Vincent and Meguey Baker in the front, and covers of three of their games in the back: Under Hollow Hills, The King is Dead, Apocalypse World. Their names are written at the top, and the background is dark gray.

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Laurie O'Connel (is looking for ttrpg work (in Dublin)) @laurieoc.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

This was one of my favourite conversations I've had with anybody this year; I was so lucky to be invited and it has informed a lot of the way I approached design this year! Very excited to relisten :)

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RPG Roots @rpgroots.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Thank you for your kind words, and likewise! 👏

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Tragically we forgot to tag @laurieoc.bsky.social in the first post. It would be great to have an edit button. Alas.

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Laurie O'Connel - Tabletop Game Writer & Editor

Here’s Laurie’s website: laurieoconnel.com Here is where you can find Laurie’s games: twelvepinspress.com His Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/TwelvePin... And the new journal Playtest Materials: playtestmaterial.org

laurieoconnel.com

Laurie O'Connel: Tabletop game writer, editor, and accuracy reader.

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... the need for better tools and game literacy to create ways to explore collective action (spoiler alert: traditional games are not great at that). Laurie has a new solo investigative game coming out this month, “The Rat Line” - follow him for more updates on the release! 4/

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With Laurie, we discussed different forms of satire and resistance; games as overt or subtle critiques of systemic oppression; transforming mechanics and materials into a living and lived process; focusing on what creates tension; and ... 3/

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Laurie is based in Dublin and publishes games under Twelve Pins Press; he is also a TTRPG editor and has recently started a new journal, Playtest Materials, that showcases critical writing on role-playing games. 2/

Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Laurie O’Connel, the award-winning designer of Litchcraft, Hieronymous, Death Game, To Honour and Obey, Full Send, and many more. 1/ #ttrpg #laurieoconnel #rpgroots #season1

A poster showing a picture of game designer Laurie O'Connel against a gray background, surrounded by the covers of four of his TTRPGs: To Honour and Obey, Hieronymous, Litchcraft, and Death Game.

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We feel incredibly fortunate to have spoken with Danielle, who was generous with her time and truly delightful to chat with. While there is no current public page for Danielle’s work and Kagematsu is out of print, we sincerely hope someone brings it back! 4/

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We also covered the game's intense reception, TTRPGs as vehicles for small epiphanies, the indie scene of the early 2000s, and how restricting player agency can actually give players permission to explore something new. 3/

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With Danielle, we discussed the origins of Kagematsu, its central question - "What does it feel like to be a woman?" - and the deliberate design choices meant to shift power dynamics at the table. 2/

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Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Danielle Lewon, the award-winning co-designer of "Kagematsu" - another TTRPG that came up very frequently in our conversations with various authors! 1/

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Bull Press Conversational Games

Oh, and Tim also told us about this great project, Bullpress.org, which brings storygames to inmates - so take a look: bullpress.org/library/

bullpress.org

#1 internet web page

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thousandyearoldvampire.com

Here’s Tim’s website: thousandyearoldvampire.com His "infrequent" newsletter: thousandyearoldvampire.com/pages/newsle... #rpgroots #timhutchings

Tim Hutchings Makes Games

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Tim is also the editor for the book series "Art & System: Games for Expanded Play" for Central Michigan University Press @cmichpress.bsky.social ! It was a true delight to interview Tim, who was very generous with his time and came back twice!

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With Tim we discussed TYOV, "Dear Leader", and "A Guide to Depression-Era...", as well as operating outside commercial norms, the “procedural rhetoric” of games, TTRPGs as postmodern models, consensus vs. conflict dynamics, and the “negative scaffolding” that hegemonic games at times create.

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Another guest for Season 1 of RPG Roots is Tim Hutchings @timhutchings.bsky.social, an artist and award-winning game designer based in the US. Hutching’s games include "Thousand year Old Vampire", "A Sargasso Sea of Space", "A Collection of Improving Exercises", "Old Morris Cave", and many more...

A poster showing a picture of Tim Hutchings, a game designer and artist, surrounded by some of his games: Thousand Year Old Vampire, Dear leader, A Guide to Depression-Era Soap Carving Competitions - all against a dark gray background.

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Dog Eat Dog: A Game of Imperialism and Assimilation on the Pacific Islands is a multiplayer tabletop role-playing game which places players in the midst of a struggle between a colonizing Occupatio…

We cannot wait to see the new edition of Dog Eat Dog! Here is the Central Michigan University Press page, where you can find the new edition of Dog Eat Dog: cmichpress.com/product/dog-...

cmichpress.com

Dog Eat Dog

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With Liam, we discussed embedding contemptuous power relations in RPGs, abstraction, the complex dynamic of colonizer/ed, and the legacy of games that leave a mark.

“Dog Eat Dog” is the RPG that absolutely everyone mentioned when we were recording our interviews, so we were thrilled and thankful when Liam agreed to talk to us about its creation and development.