Description 

In this episode, hosts Dirk Knemeyer and David Heron sit down with Mikey Gilder, the Chief Creative Officer of Avantress Entertainment, known for their hit actual play show Legends of Avantress and the massively successful $9 million+ Kickstarter campaign for Neon Odyssey. The discussion explores the intersection of actual play performance and “crunchy” game design, examining how the rise of shows like Critical Role has fundamentally shifted the way players approach tabletop RPGs. Mikey shares candid insights into the transition from hobbyist to professional publisher, the painful lessons learned while creating The Crooked Moon, and the philosophy of “inverting the pyramid” to provide players with more mechanical “buttons to press” while maintaining narrative freedom. Listeners will find a deep dive into the realities of high-stakes crowdfunding, including how to balance expensive merchandising like plushies and minis with the core integrity of the RPG book.

Episode Outline

0:00 Beginning of Show

0:50 End of Intro

2:15 The Rocket Ship of Neon Odyssey – Mikey discusses the overwhelming success of their latest Kickstarter, exceeding all projections and fundamentally changing their 10-year business calculus

12:30 From Board Games to Narrative Play – A look at Mikey’s origins with Star Wars Epic Duels and how watching Matt Mercer in 2015 provided the “courage” to move beyond treating D&D like a board game

22:45 The Philosophy of the “Button” – The guest explains why Neon Odyssey provides numerous subclasses and feats, arguing that mechanical options provide an immediate touchpoint for player immersion in a broad space opera setting

34:10 Packaging the Actual Play Experience – A candid reflection on the “painful mistake” of trying to package the specific style of Avantress into a book, and the shift toward providing tools for tables to tell their own stories

47:20 The Economics of Merchandising – Addressing the “cynical” view of high-tier Kickstarter pledges, Mikey explains how optional premium accessories like plushies and specialized dice support the business while the “stunning and beautiful” books remain the core focus

56:45 Advice for Listeners

59:45 Outro

1:02:00 End of Show