Hello, and welcome back to another edition of Creator Spotlight. If you recall, back in March, we ventured into the Dragon’s Den with Illustrator Marie Foxy. Now, we venture back into the realm of Tabletop Gaming with our Dungeon Guide, Lenny Gotter, The Founder and Chief Creative Officer of 1985 Games.
In today’s interview, we will discuss the inspiration behind the business, how Wizard of the Coast’s announcement regarding the OGL Change (before it was stopped), and more.
Red: What was the Inspiration Behind Creating 1985 Games?
Lenny: I met Jeremiah thru a mutual friend and he had an idea and sketches of a 2D terrain set, pre-made buildings, trees, and dungeons. He also knew an artist that could draw all the art. I immediately knew that if print costs were acceptable we had a viable product to launch. We got started with a Kickstarter and went from there.
Red: What Kind Of Games Does Your Company Produce?
Lenny: We produce a line of TTRPG accessories. 2D terrain sets, story building decks, DnD 5E journals, maps and miniatures.
Red: When Wizards of The Coast First Announced Changes to the Open Game License in late 2022, how did this affect your business?
Lenny: Our journals fall under the OGL, but our other products are generic and hence system agnostic. A tree is just a tree.
Red: What is the most difficult challenge you have faced in producing Tabletop Games?
Lenny: Marketing and getting in front of potential customers. Digital marketing gets harder and more expensive every year and so we are now pushing to get our products into local game stores.
Red: Do you have any advice for people who are wanting to work in the Tabletop Gaming Industry?
Lenny: If you want to produce your product, start working on a social media presence now. We get emails all the time from gamers who have spent years developing something but have no way to market their product. Marketing is the single biggest obstacle, so get started on that while you work on your ideas.
Thanks to Lenny for the opportunity to interview him and for learning more about his business, please be sure to check out the links below to support him and 1985 Games. Also, for past interviews, head over to Creator Spotlight. Let’s continue to support and empower Creators and Artists!
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