Shannon
she/her
Character(s) Played
Tessa Blackmoor (main)
Love is Eternal Like the Sky Filled with Stars as the Planets Swirl Above (Episode 13, “Kingdom pt. 1: Setup”; Episode 14, “Kingdom pt. 2: The Con”; Kingdom Game #2 – not yet aired)
A little about me…
I am a freelance journalist and editor from Knoxville, Tennessee. I do medieval re-enactment on the weekends, with a focus on archery. I love gaming (both tabletop and the other kind), reading scifi/fantasy novels, and doing fun stuff with my kiddo.
Where can you find me?
Interview Questions
How long have you been playing tabletop RPGs?
My first D&D campaign was in 1995, when my boyfriend at the time invited me to be “the girl” in his group of gamers, literally playing in the DM’s basement. That was 2nd Edition AD&D, complete with THAC0 (ugh).
What is your favorite type of character to play?
I have played a lot of character types, but I tend towards physical damage characters, like rangers and paladins.
What do you enjoy most about playing Tessa?
I love Tessa’s idealism and ironic awkwardness. She was groomed to be in the public eye, but when it comes to person-to-person interactions and relationships, she is feeling her way more than most. It makes her very endearing, I think. It is also a lot of fun to deal 40 damage in one turn, but in the end, the character stuff is more fulfilling.
When making a character, where do you generally start?
I start by thinking about what type of role I feel like playing in the party. Since I am the one playing the character, I have to feel good about being that person. What is the most fun I can have in combat? Would I rather take a secondary role? Once I have the class, I go straight to name. Once I have the character’s name, I get a better feel for what type of person they are.
Do you have any advice for people who might be interested in either gaming or podcasting (or both) but don’t know where to start?
Be sure you pick a good group that shares your values and goals, or just go with existing friends. Try not to be intimidated by the huge amount of rules. There are always people or online resources that can make things easier than the books, and remember that it is about having fun! If it stops being fun, or if it is making you feel bad about yourself, stop! Or find better people to game with.