D20 Questions: Cas

D20 Questions:
Cas

^{Introduction

Life

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

At the Tabletop

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Gaming Off the Table

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Beyond Gaming

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Outroduction}

Article Archive

Time for another D20 Questions! Cas is an eldritch deity who does not enjoy being perceived, making this interview and our intact sanity coming out of it a gift. They’re also a TTRPG creator, collaborating with the Runic Press crew on titles like What’s My Motivation and Thimbleton Inksquire’s Runic Compendium, among other things. They write books to enhance your 5e experience, offering tips on leveling up your gameplay and GMing. They’re about to launch a Kickstarter on April 15th for a brand new project called Shiny Good, a $1 5e item supplement packed full of creative, original ideas for your table. Cas also contributes to Runic Press’s monthly magazine, RP, which you can get by subscribing to the Runic Press Patreon. In this series, we pick a member of Stonehome Games or the wider community and ask them random questions based on the roll of a die. The goal? To offer a closer look at some of your favorite creators and ask them things they might not hear anywhere else. It’s a fun way to connect with our peers and learn something new about the people shaping the spaces we love. For this second installment, we’re excited to bring you the complete interview. Now, let’s roll some dice and get started.

How it Works

Before the interview, our guest rolled a d20 twenty times to determine the questions, divided into four categories: Life, At the Tabletop, Gaming Off the Table, and Beyond Gaming. Rolls of 20 let the guest ask us a question, and rolling a double in the same category activates the Weighted Die, where we choose a question that isn’t on the list. We go through all the questions in order, with follow-ups as needed.

Full List of Questions

Life	Tabletop Gaming
What do you do for a living? Do you have any animals or pets? What’s a game or activity you enjoy most with friends or family? Best concert you’ve ever been to? What’s a small joy that always makes you smile? Can you share a moment when bravery really mattered to you? What’s a personal goal or milestone you’re proud of achieving? Have you ever had an experience you couldn’t explain? If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? What would your ideal day look like? Is there a cause or charity that’s close to your heart? Can you tell us about a time that really scared you? Where do you go when you need comfort or quiet? Are you more introverted or extroverted? What’s a skill you’d like to learn? What’s something most people don’t know about you? What’s an item on your bucket list? What’s a moment in your life that still makes you laugh? What’s a trait or quality you love about yourself? Where do you see yourself in ten years?	What kinds of characters do you find yourself playing the most? Do you have a favorite system or one you prefer to run or play in? What’s your go-to in-game item? How about out-of-game essentials? How many dice do you own, and do you have a favorite set? What’s your favorite spell to cast? What feat or ability is an absolute must-have for you? Do you have a favorite creature or monster? What’s your favorite genre of tabletop stories or campaigns? Have you ever felt genuinely scared at the table? How do you feel about solo TTRPGs? What’s a GMing mistake you learned from? What’s a mechanic or rule that stands out to you? Do you use any house rules? If so, what’s your favorite? What was your first experience with TTRPGs like? What do you appreciate most in the people you play with? Has technology made your gaming experiences better? How? Do you have a character or idea you’ve never gotten to play? What’s a character death that still sticks with you? What’s the best advice you’d give to someone new to TTRPGs? What’s a moment at the table you’ll never forget?

Gaming Off the Table	Beyond Gaming
What first got you into gaming? Do you have a favorite board game? What’s your favorite video game or series? What’s the gaming triumph you’ve more recently achieved? What’s a retro game or system you love? What’s your favorite genre of video games? Have you ever had a game make you cry? Do you prefer mouse and keyboard or controller? How do you feel about esports? What’s the most challenging game you’ve completed? What’s a phone game you find yourself playing often? How do you feel about virtual reality gaming? Have you ever played a game that completely surprised you? What’s a gaming moment you’ve shared with someone else that stands out? Do you have a dream game concept you wish existed? If you could step into the world of a game, which one would it be? Do you have a gaming setup you’re proud of? What’s your favorite tabletop or digital card game? What’s a game you always recommend to others? How do you balance gaming with your other hobbies?	What’s a hobby you enjoy outside of gaming? Are you a sports fan? If so, what’s your favorite team or game? What’s your favorite movie or show soundtrack? What kind of music do you love? Do you have a favorite book or author? What’s a creative project you’re most proud of? What’s a skill or craft you’ve always wanted to try? Do you have any collections you’re passionate about? How do you discover new hobbies or interests? What’s an activity you’ve tried that was outside your comfort zone? What’s the kindest feedback you’ve ever received about your work? What’s your favorite way to relax? Can you play any instruments? Do you have a story or memory that always inspires you? What’s your go-to way to connect with others outside of gaming? What’s a movie or show that deeply impacted you? Is there a creative medium you’d love to explore further? What’s a place you’ve been to that you’ll never forget? Who’s an artist, writer, or creator that inspires you? What’s a hobby or activity you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?

Table of Contents

Introduction
Life
At the Tabletop
Gaming Off the Table
Beyond Gaming
Outroduction

Check out the Shiny Good! Kickstarter, live April 15th, 2025!

Cas & Runic Press Links

Introduction

Runic Press Shoutouts?

Cas

Well, always my partner in crime Mymic, an illustrious artist and creative in their own right. We often praise their visual art, but a lot of conceptual stuff is theirs as well, and it's really nice to work with them to watch how it comes together. But everyone at Runic has been a major influence on my personal style, and we have come to be great friends! I find it silly to make anything without running the content by at least one of them. Literally as we're chatting right now, I sent a potential Shiny item over to Gethin (thewelshdm) for a quick check on it, as he's always making his own high-quality stuff and I value his input. I don't want to turn this into a multi-paragraph glazing session of my cocreators, but suffice it to say I take all of their input and influence into both active and passive consideration whenever I create content these days! And I love the shits as people, which helps a lot.

Angel of Solitude by Mymic/Kysmet

Life

What’s a trait or quality you love about yourself?

Cas

I love my skill in the kitchen and with anything edible! I'm a green thumb, a cook, and quite the mixologist! If it's tasty, it's my specialty ^_^

Best concert you’ve ever been to?

Cas

Actually, just last summer, Solshine Reverie! The music was top notch, and while I miss the more traditional Summer Camp festival, this was a nice change of pace.

Where do you go when you need comfort or quiet?

Cas

My bedroom is my solace from the outside world, and my garden is my solace from the online world.

Weighted Die Question

Cas

What cause or issue do you feel most passionate about, and why? DEINDUSTRIALIZATION! We have taken up far too many green spaces with our environment killing machines! We aren't above nature, we are part of it and its stewards! We should do better.

Check out Keep America Beautiful to help.

What’s a small joy that always makes you smile?

Cas

The first sip of coffee on a cold morning; the feeling of the warmth physically spreading throughout my body makes me feel alive.

At the Tabletop

What do you appreciate most in the people you play with?

Cas

Their patience to give any wild shenanigans I cook up for the week at least an earnest chance!

What was your first experience with TTRPGs like?

Cas

A GURPS Gundam campaign with people who secretly hated me! It was really fun until I learned about the second part, and so I was eager to try DND 3.5 when my friends who I KNEW liked me invited me for a game.

What’s your favorite genre of tabletop stories or campaigns?

Cas

"We can leave it better than we left it," true hero shit fantasy campaigns. I enjoy helping people, I enjoy saving the world in ways that my IRL self cannot.

What’s your favorite spell to cast?

Cas

5e? Plant growth. We love crowd control around here.

Do you use any house rules? If so, what’s your favorite?

Cas

Okay, so yes, my game is so homebrewed you can barely call it 5e anymore. My favourite one of my house rules is how we manage DM inspiration: At the beginning of every session, I ask for a recap. If the players don't miss a single beat, they get to add one Hero Point to the shared pool. This pool can be used by any player to reroll any d20 roll, and any one roll can be rerolled as many times as you have dice for! The catch is, the decision has to be unanimous.

GURPS Mecha

GURPS Mecha Back Cover

Gaming Off the Table

What’s the most challenging game you’ve completed?

Cas

Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. I did the grind to the level 9999 superboss at the end and haven't felt an achievement rush like that since.

What is your gaming setup like?

Cas

Two monitors, a brand-new keyboard, and a desk sized mousepad. I have a very nice lil' furniture piece it's all on, but I'm unsure how to describe it, so I'll just call it a "nice desk"!

If you could step into the world of a game, which one would it be?

Cas

Stardew Valley, get me gone.

What’s the gaming triumph you’ve more recently achieved?

Cas

I've been doing some Hazard 5 missions in Deep Rock Galactic if that counts?

Do you prefer a mouse and keyboard or a controller?

Cas

Mouse and keyboard as a rule, but there are a few games that are simply better played with the intended controller.

Disgea Hour of Darkness

Stardew Valley

Deep Rock Galactic

Beyond Gaming

Are you a sports fan? If so, what’s your favorite team or game?

Cas

No. I was a Patriots football fan for a bit, but Eagles fans made that unenjoyable. I was also a Mets baseball fan, but both Phillies fans and the Mets themselves made that unenjoyable. My favourite team is whoever beats Philly in literally any sport.

What’s the kindest feedback you’ve received about your work?

Cas

"This changed how I think about running my game". That's literally all I can ask; I want to provide content that changes how you run the game, not just stuff to slot in!

What’s your favorite way to relax?

Cas

Cooking and gardening! I'm one hell of a home chef, and am starting my serious venture into providing us with home grown produce! I toss on my music and get to work: hours pass!

Critical Hit Question

Cas

What was the turning point where you decided to share Dromaria with the world, rather than just your players?

Drew

I was tired of bad D&D websites and thought I could do a better job with Dromaria. That is how it started. There was a defunct Wiki that evolved into the website you are now on. It was when Chuck (Stonehomie) jumped on board, though, that things began to manifest.

Do you have a story or memory that always inspires you?

Cas

My trip to Yosemite with my aunt as a tot. I was 5 years old, climbing that mountain felt like my hero's journey, and looking over the park from the summit might as well have had theme music. I try my best to make my world at least that awe inspiring. I draw from that feeling a lot.

Greenman Punching the Phanatic

Mariposa Grove - Yosemite National Park

Outroduction

Before we pack up our dice, what quest are you on that the world should know about?

Cas

Less than 24 hours til Shiny Good!

I've never gotten one of those "funded in one minute" badges and I think that'd be really cool! If you think so too you should follow and be there at 12 PM EST tomorrow, April 15th! Just a buck for quality, human made content! One human's trash is a bird and cat's treasure! Get your hands on a collection of unusual and iconic Shiny items for 5e compatible TTRPGs!

Thank You

Our appreciation to Cas for taking the time to do this. We’re excited to see more of your work in the future! And a special thanks to you, the readers. We have several artists and creators in mind and look forward to featuring more soon. If you’d like to be our next guest, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Interview Conducted by Chuck & Drew
Cas's Avatar by Chocori.

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