A Fusion Of Fun In Rolled & Told

by Vince Brusio

Associate Editor Christina 'Steenz' Stewart gave us 5 minutes out of her busy schedule to talk a bit about Lion Forge’s Rolled And Told #1 (JUL182008), an all-inclusive gaming experience that’s well ahead of the curve on roleplaying ingenuity. A fusion of fun is now headed to comic shops on September 26, and we’ve got a primer here in this PREVIEWSworld exclusive interview.

Rolled And Told #1 (JUL182008) is in comic shops September 26.

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Vince Brusio: Why has Lion Forge got into the business of publishing the RPG Rolled & Told? Or does referring to Rolled & Told as an RPG do it injustice? In any event, help us set the table for understanding why a comic book publisher is now “crossing over” to entertainment in the vein of gameplay.

Christina 'Steenz' Stewart: Lion Forge has always been a mission-driven publisher. And that mission is comics for everyone. That everyone includes comics fans that have an interest in gaming. Our newest imprint Quillion has many more games on the way, and Rolled & Told is just the beginning. I find that so many comics creators and readers have had a history with roleplaying games. Some may have played it in adolescence, or may have just now gotten into it since it has such a similar appeal of escape, imagination, and fantasy. Comics and gaming go together like peanut butter and jelly. Great in their own right; even better together.

Vince Brusio: Based on how retail store Game Stop is now in the early stages of a pilot program that brings comic books into their product mix, would you say based on that current event that Rolled & Told is ahead of the curve when it comes to crossing the streams?

Christina 'Steenz' Stewart: It’s always nice to feel like we’re ahead of the curve. But I think what’s really going on is that we have a staff, editors, and talent whose fingers are on the pulse of society. We see what people are looking for in their media, and we make it. You want authentic stories with inclusive characters? You got it. It was only a matter of time before a magazine like this came out, and I’m just excited that Lion Forge and I were able to be the ones to execute it.

Vince Brusio: Tell us about the writers and artists who are involved in this project. Why were they picked to bring Rolled & Told to life?

Christina 'Steenz' Stewart: So E.L. Thomas is our lead game designer for the project. He wrote a lot of the first few full adventures in the periodical. For later issues, we’ve added writers from all over the entertainment industry. Novelist Tristan Tarwater, comic writer Anne Toole, game designers Phil McClorey and Kat Kruger, and more. Most of the artists are from the comics industry. We have some popular names like Ben Passmore, M. Enger, Leila Del Duca, Naomi Franquiz, Miguel Valderrama but also newer artists looking to break into the industry. The articles are written by screenwriters, novelists, comic writers, game designers, and more. They were all chosen because they fit the style we’re going for in Rolled & Told and also understand and champion the mission of inclusivity in the gaming industry.

Vince Brusio: Who/what are some of the characters in Rolled & Told? Will we identify with them? Like them? Hate them? Want to cosplay like them during this year’s convention season?

Christina 'Steenz' Stewart: Our iconic characters are Vesska, Zella, Mugg, and Huck. Oh and also Vesska’s familiar (and my favorite character) Flake the owl. I think our readers will identify with them largely because of how different they all are. They’re all a team, but come from different walks of life. They reflect the reality around us and are a diverse cast! I hope to see some cosplayers this year! I’m very pro-cosplay.

Vince Brusio: What makes Rolled & Told a joyride, and how do you see it appealing to new and old game masters alike?

Christina 'Steenz' Stewart: I think what’s great about Rolled & Told is the sheer amount of content we’re providing. Every single issue gives you TWO adventures, comics and art to enjoy, and editorial articles that are sure to appeal to those who are looking for tips, as well as those who enjoy the writings of one DM to another. I’m working on making sure I include gamers who have been in the industry for many years, but also gamers who are just starting. We can always learn something from each other no matter how long we’ve been rolling dice and telling stories.

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.