We had the incredible opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with the talented author, James D’Amato, about his latest release, The RPG Campfire Card Deck. D’Amato, who is best known as the co-founder of the One Shot Podcast Network, as well as the host of the One Shot and Campaign: Skyjacks podcasts, has been using his expertise in TTRPG systems to introduce newcomers to the world of role-playing through his books.
His newest creation, The RPG Campfire Card Deck, takes a creative approach to character development and building camaraderie within a gaming party. We delved into D’Amato’s thoughts on the impact he hopes this unique resource will have on the tabletop gaming community.
BC: Hi James! It’s great to have you here. How has this year been treating you so far?
JD: I must admit, this year hasn’t exactly been my favorite. However, I am eagerly looking forward to some exciting things on the horizon.
BC: You’ve been working on the Ultimate RPG guide series, which has gained quite a following. Can you tell us about your experience creating this series?
JD: It has been quite an unexpected journey for me. As someone who is dyslexic and has ADHD, I never imagined myself as an author. This opportunity came about almost by accident. My editor at Adams Media, Rebecca, discovered my podcasting work and approached me to write a sample for The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide. Initially, I thought it was an anthology and happily agreed to contribute. It was only later that I realized they wanted me to write the entire book. I was initially intimidated by the prospect, but with the encouragement of my spouse and Rebecca, I decided to take the leap. Now, I am working on my fifth project in the series and loving every moment of it. The Ultimate RPG Guide series has allowed me to bring a fresh perspective to the genre and explore new possibilities through innovative mechanics and thought-provoking questions.
Last year, you released The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Expanded Genres Edition. How was the reception of this book?
JD: Interestingly enough, this particular book didn’t quite take off like we had hoped. We suspect it may have had something to do with the title. The expanded genres edition was meant to expand the scope beyond just fantasy, but some readers mistakenly believed it to be a revised edition of the first book with a few additional exercises. My editor, Rebecca, and I are currently brainstorming ways to clarify this misconception, perhaps by adding a “2” to the cover. Nonetheless, I am proud of the content in this book and believe that readers will thoroughly enjoy it.
Now, let’s talk about your most recent release, The RPG Campfire Card Deck. How did the idea for this unique resource come about?
JD: The concept of creating card-based gaming products had been on my mind for quite some time. I believe that cards offer a more approachable format for people who may be intimidated by traditional RPGs. In particular, I drew inspiration from a role-playing game called For the Queen, where players answer question prompts on cards to progress the game. This game is flexible in terms of group size and can be completed in a relatively shorter span of time compared to other RPGs. It has proven to be a fantastic gateway game for newcomers. Additionally, it challenges existing RPG players’ perceptions of what role-playing can be. Working with Adams Media, which has a wider reach in the market, provided an excellent opportunity to introduce games like For the Queen to a larger audience. However, card products were relatively new territory for this publisher, so convincing them to take a risk on their first role-playing game and card deck simultaneously was a bit challenging.
How did you decide on making a conversational deck?
JD: The idea of creating a conversational deck came to me when my spouse and I welcomed our first child. In those exhausting early days, we often found ourselves lacking the mental energy to come up with topics for conversation. To overcome this, our therapist suggested trying out conversation decks to prompt our discussions. However, I quickly realized that many of the available products were not well-designed. They often featured repetitive questions or ones that could potentially create conflict. As a game designer, I understand the importance of mechanics and how they influence gameplay. These conversation decks lacked a strong game design ethos. While they filled a necessary void, I saw an opportunity to apply game design principles to create a truly engaging and fun experience. Being an avid role-playing enthusiast, it wasn’t a stretch to adapt this concept to RPG characters. I studied various conversation decks, identifying their flaws and utilizing them to my advantage. In an RPG, introducing conflict between characters can actually enhance the gameplay experience. Ultimately, I developed a conversational deck that I believe will provide players with endless enjoyment.
What was your process like in determining the conversations to include in the deck?
JD: The main focus of the deck was to foster intimacy, curiosity, and connection among players. I wanted the questions to encourage players to delve into their character’s backstory, seek out information from each other, and develop new relationship dynamics. There are numerous ways to achieve these goals, but I wanted the process to be enjoyable, reminiscent of friends sharing stories around a campfire. Hence, the “campfire” aspect of the product. I envisioned the conversations to be like those one would have during a sleepover. To achieve this, I meticulously selected questions that would spark interest and fuel imagination.
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