Designer Diary #17 – Dice Drama!!
Hi everyone! Anne here, Sigfried’s wife and often the behind-the-scenes partner in all things SigTrent Games. I thought I’d give you my take on what’s got him all fired up this week, especially after watching his latest video.
Honestly, the biggest thing dominating the conversation around here has been the cover art for Shotgun Fantasy. He’s been practically bursting at the seams waiting to share it. I got a sneak peek a while ago, of course, but seeing his reaction to Frank’s final piece was pretty infectious. He truly believes in the power of that first impression, and I have to agree – Frank nailed it. You can tell how much Sigfried appreciates the artistry and how crucial he thinks it is for drawing people into the world he’s creating. Make sure you pop over to the Discord to see the full thing – he’s really proud of it.
It’s been interesting watching the writing process for Shotgun Fantasy unfold. He often talks through ideas with me, especially when he’s wrestling with mechanics or trying to nail down the flavor of something. This week, he was particularly focused on the spells and the backgrounds. I know he wants this game to feel both familiar enough for fantasy fans but also have that SigTrent Games twist that makes it easy to slide into an Everyday Heroes campaign. The whole “minimal but complete” approach to backgrounds makes a lot of sense, especially for folks who already have a treasure trove of ideas from Everyday Heroes.
I’m also really excited about the Hero Sheets marketing campaign I’ve been putting together. It’s been a fun challenge, and seeing Sigfried so supportive of it is great. We’re definitely learning a lot, and it’s all building towards the bigger launch of Shotgun Fantasy. He’s always thinking ahead, and seeing him analyze how other companies market their games is fascinating (and sometimes a little intimidating!).
The “Dice Drama” game design tip this week was pretty insightful, even for someone like me who’s more of an observer in the hardcore mechanics side of things. It makes sense that those moments of tension and excitement around a dice roll are key to a good TTRPG experience. His little tweak to the Bless spell sounds clever – anything that adds a bit more oomph to those crucial rolls seems like a win.
Outside of SigTrent Games, it’s been a typical busy week. My Myst stream on Twitch has been a lot of fun! It’s been great connecting with other fans of the series and tackling those brain-bending puzzles together. If you’re into puzzle games or just want some chill vibes in the background, come hang out sometime!
And yes, Sigfried has been completely lost in Stellaris again. When he says “nothing but Stellaris,” he means it! It’s his go-to for creative brainstorming and just unwinding. The crazy empires he comes up with always make me chuckle.
The upcoming visit with Eric from Evil Genius Games is something he’s been looking forward to. It’s so important to connect with people in person, especially after everything. And of course, any excuse to visit family up in Tacoma is always a good one.
Finally, the buzz around Daggerheart is definitely something we’ve been noticing. We’re both really curious to see what Critical Role has created and how it might influence the broader TTRPG landscape. Sigfried’s always looking for those sparks of inspiration, and I have no doubt he’ll be diving into that game soon.
So, that’s my peek into the world of SigTrent Games this week. It’s always a whirlwind, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see Sigfried’s passion and creativity at work. Make sure you check out his video for all the details, and maybe I’ll see you over on my Twitch stream sometime!
Talk soon,
Anne.
PS: Come hang out with us – we’d love to hear from you! Join the Sig Trent Games Discord and talk Shotgun Fantasy!
Also More links for today:
- Follow on Sigfried Plays Games on Facebook
- Get Requiem – Cryptids and Urban Legends from DriveThruRPG
- Grab your Hero Sheets!
- Anne’s Twitch Channel
