Welcome to Tavern Talk Thursday! This is a weekly column where we chat with a member of the TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) community to learn more about how they found themselves at the table, what they love about tabletop gaming, and other fun things. Think of it as a little sneak peeks into the minds of our fellow players and DMs.

Settle in and relax with another fireside chat. This week we sat down with Tom of Homie and The Dude. He is the co-founder and Bodhi‘s co-pilot, who manages the group’s marketing side of things. His OCD is both a gift and a curse to the team, but it has led to some incredible ideas at the table and in other aspects of their business. Tom’s most recent excitement centers around the group’s upcoming Kickstarter for Sky Zephyrs. Keep reading to check out how he found himself at the table and some of his favorite things within the TTRPG community.

RELATED: Check out more Tavern Talk Thursdays!

Tom of Homie and The Dude

Julia Roth: Let’s chat your TTRPG backstory! How did you find yourself at the table?

Tom: I watched Acquisitions Inc on YouTube and told Bodhi about it. Bodhi was leading our family group to play Lost Mine of Phandelver about a week later.

JR: Favorite world to adventure in?

T: Our actual play, The Sky Realm. I love the depth of our characters, the places and the lore.

JR: Favorite one-shot adventure?

T: I’m not a big fan of one-shots. As I prefer RP, the general shallowness of the lore and character backstories of one-shots make them less appealing to me.

JR: Backstory or class first?

T: Always backstory. I’m the captain of team RP.

RELATED: Homie and The Dude Chat Upcoming Sky Zephyrs Kickstarter

JR: Favorite spell and why?

T: Love having Revivify in my back pocket to save a fellow PC or an awesome NPC from prematurely leaving our game.

JR: Who has been your favorite character to play?

T: Sir Gio Shelby. My character in The Sky Realm. His combination of being mostly vulnerable mixed with occasional moments of strength and bravery has been super fun to play. I love his emotional arc.

JR: Do you have a particular race/class you enjoy?

T: Tortle, Cleric.

JR: Is there something that you build into every character? A fun trait or a special item?

T: Not so much a repeatable trait or item, but a reference to someone I know IRL. Could be someone I went to school with. A relative. Or an old boss. I think of how they talk and their gestures and try to build a character around those behaviors.

RELATED: The Velvet Lodge TTRPG Actual Play Is Filled With Horror and Mystery

JR: What is your favorite system to play within?

T: Currently love Orbital Blue. It’s more RP based, and the feel is gritty, a la Cowboy Bebop.

JR: Tell us about the wildest adventure you have been on?

T: Our party had to take out a gargantuan worm (akin to a purple worm). Each person on our team had a different position and role. Super dangerous. It turns out I died in this combat, but one member of our team rescued my dead corpse on a flying motorcycle (the equivalent of Star Wars speeder bikes). When we got to safety, they revivified me (another reason I like Revivify).

JR: What has been your most impactful moment at a table?

T: We awaken to a pirate ship grappled to our airship. My character actually dies (again!) in combat, but I meet an important NPC (dare I say the most important NPC in our world) who tells me it’s not my time to leave this world. I come back a different player. Super emotional.

JR: Favorite dice to use?

T: Ones that are rolling hooooottt!

JR: Would you rather face off against an entire dungeon of undead or charm your way through a royal court?

T: Maybe neither? Maybe a combination of both?

RELATED: Deny Trudel of 12 Parsecs Designs Chats Upcoming Little Worlds Dice Kickstarter and TTRPGs

JR: Favorite TTRPG Monster?

T: We created a Rose Panther that drops rose petals behind it as it prowls.

JR: Good luck charms or rituals before a game?

T: Snacks and beverages at the table

JR: Who is sitting at your dream table?

T: Well, let’s see –

JR: What are you most looking forward to within the TTRPG world?

T: Our Sky Zephyrs overlay for Dungeons and Dragons 5e and launch of our shipbuilder website app. With the builder app, you’ll be able to select from over 200 parts to create your own custom-built airship. Once you’ve selected your ship parts, click a button, and the app will automatically generate a ship stat block and in-game invoice for the cost of building the ship. The future possibilities are super exciting! Woop!

Tavern Talk Thursday: BODHI of Homie and The Dude

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