Above & Below: Haunted Interview with Ryan Laukat | Ep24

Roll & Reflect Podcast

On today's episode, Mark interviews Ryan Laukat of Red Raven Games about his enchanting worlds and game design adventures. We’ll explore his creative journey, discuss the innovative mechanics of his games and hear more about the process of designing games like Above and Below: Haunted.

Reflection Question:
What has been the most rewarding part of your board game career so far? How will it impact future projects as you continue your board game journey?

⌛ Timestamps:
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0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Reflection Question
4:19 - Tell us about your newest campaign for Above & Below: Haunted.
7:23 - What new elements are in this version compared to the original Above & Below?
8:54 - What drew you to the spooky theme?
10:18 - What has been the response thus far to this newest campaign?
11:15 - Do you like Gamefound more than Kickstarter?
12:27 - What is your favorite aspect of Above & Below: Haunted?
13:18 - Because you’re so well known for design and illustration, how do you balance the creative process between game mechanics and the art direction?
14:16 - What would you say is the biggest challenge in designing games that combine both exploration and deep narrative?
15:38 - How do you find inspiration for your worlds that you create and the characters in the games?
16:40 - How do you keep your creative ideas fresh across multiple games and different universes that you’ve created?
17:45 - Do you have a particular favorite world or game that you’ve designed? Why does it stand out to you?
18:46 - Aside from your own games, what are some of your favorites to play?
20:39 - How do you ensure that your strategy within the game and the story itself don’t overshadow each other during the development process?
22:26 - In designing your games, what are some elements that ended up completely different from what you initially envisioned? What were some key turning points in the development?
24:18 - What is some of your favorite art from your games? Do you have a piece of art or a series that you are especially proud of?
26:09 - Who are some artists and artwork that inspire you for your games, but also your art in general?
27:01 - Looking forward, what excites you about the future of board game design? Are there any new trends you’re particularly interested in exploring?
27:59 - What are your feelings around apps in board games?
30:03 - The Beyond
34:21 - Call-to-Action

🔗 Links:
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https://www.redravengames.com/
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/red-raven-games/above-and-below-haunted

📃 Credits:
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Mark Streed - Co-host
Ryan Laukat - Special Guest
Phong Nguyen - Reflection Question