Eliza Tudor
August 30, 2023
•
10 min read
Welcome back to our special Q&A series with Old Iron Press authors.
We are thrilled to present Playing Authors contributors, Daphne Fauber and Hank Krutulis.
Daphne Fauber (she/her) is a writer, artist, and microbiologist based out of West Lafayette, Indiana. When not reading books or agar plates, she can be found playing games and writing horror reviews. She can be found @daphne.writes on Instagram. Hank Krutulis (he/him) is a software engineer, and game master with a penchant for silliness. He and Daphne both try to keep their household together while their scrappy terrier and stinky cat do their best to tear it apart.
Welcome Daphne and Hank!
Q.01:
At OIP, we love the fact that everyone has their own set of “classics” (i.e., books, songs, recipes, comics, food, objects, movies, shows, etc. that shaped you). What were some of your favorite childhood classics?
Hank:
For me The Simpsons and Futurama were staples of my childhood. I can probably give you an iconic quote from almost every Futurama episode. But I also had a huge amount of inspiration from the big series of my childhood, the absolute biggest being Star Wars. For a long time all I would read were young reader Star Wars books, and I grew up with them in abundance at our local Borders (RIP).
Daphne:
Classics for me were all about video games. Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic I & II, X-Men Legends, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance are all ingrained in my psyche and bring back fond memories of sitting on the floor way too close to the TV battling my enemies with my brother. Even now, my fondest video game experiences are couch co-op games with a wide variety of character choices and playstyles. I also watched way too much Bones and CSI as a kid, and that also haunts my brain, but is less comforting than the experience of returning to old video game favorites.
Q.02:
What inspired your piece for Playing Authors?
Daphne:
Hank and I are both big into the table-top roleplaying game (TTRPG) scene, and love trying out new systems. The one-page RPG is popular with independent publishers and usually serves as a low-commitment, goofy romp into a particular concept. We were caught up in the idea of literally playing authors, and were very fond of the concept of creating a game that could be played casually at a party (especially one full of goofy creatives).
Hank:
A big inspiration for me are the party games that used to be staples at my house as a kid. I grew up with siblings who were significantly older than me, so games like Balderdash or Guesstures which had a creative, crowd-sourcing component were very common ways for us to hang out when my siblings and their friends were around. Other than that, Daphne and I have played a few micro-RPG’s and wanted to follow the pattern of channeling categoric creativity into fun dialogue and conversation, which is one of the best ways to get everyone involved, regardless of their predisposition to role-playing.
Q.03:
Where would your adventure be set: underwater or in space?
Hank:
Why not both? There’s something to be said about combining genres in interesting ways, which is usually what I go for in games and stories. I like fantasy that explores lost empires with advanced technology that is now considered magic. I like space operas with the logic of the rich civilizations that derive from some fantasy tropes, like a personified world or a “magic” system. To quote Futurama: “How many atmospheres can the ship withstand?” “Well it’s a spaceship, so I’d say anywhere between zero and one.”
Q.04:
What are some of your favorite tools-of-the-trade?
Daphne:
One of my favorite items I own is my standing desk! I absolutely adore using it and having a space that is mine to customize and also flexible. As I say this, my standing desk has been in sitting mode for quite a while, but I blame graduate school and my weak body for that.
Q.05:
Any recommendations for the OIP community? What have you been enjoying lately?
Hank:
I listen to a lot of podcasts in my free time. My all time favorite is Mission to Zyxx which truly has something for all Sci-fi fans. Right now I listen to a lot of Hey Riddle Riddle. Check out Funhaus as well, they’re in a weird transition period and their back catalogue is rich and hilarious. For RPG stuff, Matt Colville’s business MCDM has been a huge inspiration to me in expanding my RPG horizons and staying active in the hobby even through my own mental barriers. They’re working on an as-yet unnamed RPG this year and I highly recommend you check out some of the stuff as it comes out.
Daphne:
In March we started a podcast called Procedural Veneration, an untrue crime podcast where we watch and rate crime procedurals based off information we find on the IMDB pages. It’s pretty goofy and we have mini-games with all sorts of weird trivia. It’s a lot of fun! I suggest checking it out wherever you get your podcasts! Other than self-plugs I would encourage people to reach out and support their local LGBTQ+ creators and makers! Especially in Indiana (and a lot of other states) it can be difficult for some to feel affirmed and loved with the influx of harmful and irresponsible policy. So reach out, make community, and support each other!
Thank you so much, Daphne and Hank!
We love what you make, and we’re so excited to publish your work.
Find more on Instagram @daphne.writes. Follow @procedural.veneration and take a listen. Check out more at Daphne & Hank Get Creative.
This fall, you can find Daphne Fauber and Hank Krutulis's work in Old Iron Press’s inaugural anthology, Playing Authors!
