Author and Designer Kieron Gillen Talks Trauma, Metafiction, and Thematic Depth In DIE TTRPG
Kieron Gillen, the mind behind Image Comics' Phonogram, The Wicked and The Divine, and numerous Marvel comics, had a dilemma while developing DIE: The Roleplaying Game. When writing his comic of the same name, he was unsure whether the project would be a game or story first, resulting in «at least twice as much work.» That work paid dividends in the end, resulting in a comic and tabletop system unlike anything else, and fantasy fans have taken notice. The Kickstarter for DIE: The Roleplaying Game, which will be live until June 10,has raised over $450,000 on its $37,000 goal as of this writing.
Designed and authored by Gillen in collaboration with tabletop designer Grant Howitt, the DIE TTRPG asks players to adopt roles that are closer to home than most fantasy campaigns. Players take on the personas of fictional RPG players living in the real world, who are then thrust into the fictional fantasy world of their campaign. Affectionately described as «Goth Jumanji,» "Alice in Wonderland by way of Eberon," and «Nerd Isekai,» DIE takes gamers to an entirely new realm of role-playing. Game Rant spoke to Gillen and Howitt about designing a game around this complex idea.
Cyberpunk 2077 Should Have Taken More from the TTRPG
DIE's core premise may seem recursive, role-playing as a role-player. But much like Gillen's comic, the DIE TTRPG's postmodern hook acts as a mirror for the relationships between reality and fiction that might otherwise be invisible, or taken for granted.
«So with DIE, in comic and game, the key thing is that their fantasy selves externalize their true nature (for better or worse). They’re not changing who they are. They’re revealing a part of them they want to explore. It’s not just their own fantasy selves
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