Welcome back to Pro-deux-er of the Months! We’re highlighting the so-called improv master of The Critshow: Brandon “Rev” Wentz. A group of friends have their lives turned upside down when they find themselves placed as the last line of defense between the everyday world and the things that go bump in the night. This actual play podcast uses Monster of the Week and other Powered by the Apocalypse games, all within the same dimension hopping narrative, to follow the Indiana Paranormal Task-force (IPT) as they are thrust into the front lines of a battle they didn’t know existed. It’s a smorgasbord of great TTRPG antics and creative use of a multi-system game, and Rev shared how his team makes it work.
When did you join Fable and Folly?
We joined the network in the Fall of 2020 – after working with both Sean and Russ on a few other projects, and discovering we had a good rapport with one another. They were looking to increase their TTRPG offerings – and we were happy to find a place that had so much focus on creators.
What part of making your show gets you the most excited?
I think it’s the shared laughter. Sitting at a table, playing a game with your friends – having a good laugh, and knowing that later one, we’re going to get to share that laughter with our listeners.
What is your favorite thing about audio fiction as a medium?
Timing. My background is in theatre – and my favorite stuff to do on stage is comedy, and I love, in an audio medium, to be able to adjust the silences before/in/after a moment to make them land just right. I actually remove most of the silence from our recordings – then add it back in as needed.
What’s a big, pipe-dream goal you have for your show?
I’ve always been a big fan of comic books, and my brain often works that way – in panels and splash pages. I’d love to turn our first story arc into a graphic novel!
What do you hope listeners take away from your show?
A feeling of companionship. I really wanted a listener to feel like they were in a seat at the table with us. Along with that, we also wanted to make sure that after listening to 3-4 eps on any game system we play in, you walk away knowing how to play without feeling like you were being taught.
In your opinion, what’s the most important part of a good in-universe ad?
We’re fortunate, because in our show the players are playing versions of themselves – so when we do ads, it can be them in their subterranean lair talking about what’s in the ad – and we can make a ton of in-world connections/jokes as we go through them.
