Kelsey Dionne is a new and old-school TTRPG designer who founded The Arcane Library in 2017. Her modernized take on OSR gaming, Shadowdark RPG, funded for $1.3 million on Kickstarter in March 2023.

I couldn't believe when I saw Kelsey at Gen Con, just walking through the Exhibitor's Hall like the rest of us mortals! And when I talked to her she knew who I was and about my work. She is incredible, really. One of the kindest people I've meet, and even though she is now a Dark Lady of the hobby, she keeps doing good!

Since the meteor that was Shadowdark hit me earlier this year with its slick rules, real time mechanics, cool AF art (including art from the incredible Brazilian artist, Yuri Perkowski Domingos), tons of tables to help you keep the game going, I have been learning more and more about Kelsey's work, following the development of the game, and its vibrant and welcoming community. I hope the Shadowdarkers out there know they have a treasure at their hands!

We obviously talked about Kelsey's masterpiece, its influences, the weirdest and coolest things in it, about her journey through games, how she explores different kind of games and learn from each of them, how she approaches her work, her routines, and so on.

But we talked about things beyond Shadowdark, of course. We talked about being weird, how it was then and how it is now. How her life completely changed this year after the Kickstarter. We talk about love, relationship and we even give relationship advice (we can, we are people too!).

We talk about music, art, artists, nightmares, horror, ghosts, aliens, spirituality, how atheists and theists have quite a lot in common, and a lot more. And after all that, almost 2 hours of great talk, we say good bye with the impression that only 45 minutes passed. I loved it!

Check out Kelsey's Links!

Arcane Library Website: https://www.thearcanelibrary.com

Thank you for listening!

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You can also support me buy buying one of my games!

Kosmosaurs just got released in print, and it is my new RPG inspired by Saturday morning cartoons about Space Dinosaur Rangers defending the galaxy from evildoers!  

Get your copy right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/kosmosaurs⁠ ⁠

Stuff mentioned in the Episode:

You Made It Weird: https://open.spotify.com/show/7bgRTVlU1rafqCEdXe71Jo

Bo Burnham - Inside: https://www.netflix.com/br-en/title/81289483

Hiroshi Nagai - Vaporwave: https://www.instagram.com/hiroshipenguinjoe/

Dread: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/83854/Dread

The Skeletons: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/177596/The-Skeletons

Tommy Tomlinson: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0866829/

Alien: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film)

Bird Box: https://www.netflix.com/title/80196789