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!

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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 Mind

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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

John recommends:

Dropout.tv

Improv for Gamers

Play Unsafe

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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

Finding her and Laurie at Dragonmeet

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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:

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

Elliot recommends:

Backing A Fool's Errand

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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:

Listen to Planet Arcana

Find J on Twitter

Find B on Twitter or Instagram 

B recommends:

The Arkham Horror Living Card Game

J recommends: 

Playing with a first-time TTRPG player

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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:

YouTube, Twitter, Bluesky, Tumblr

We discussed:

Journey of 1000 Zips

Helvetia

Good Writers Are Perverts

Aaron recommends: 

Watch Hessan’s County

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Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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: 

True Grit Texture Supply

YouWorkForThem

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Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media

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

Alex recommends: 

The work of Julia Bond Ellingboe

Steal Away Jordan

Tales of the Fisherman’s Wife

Many Sided Media Discord 

Twenty Sided Newsletter

Credits:

Edited by Elliot Davis

Produced by Many Sided Media