The folks at Zeal Zaddy have a new streaming show that goes beyond a RPG actual play, it’s a game show! You can get the details here, but we asked Scott from Zeal Zaddy all about it.
Hey, thanks for talking to us. Your latest project, PaperBag is really unique – a TTRPG game show! Where did this idea come from? How did it develop?
It’s been an idea for about two years—and actively worked on for a year. Initially I wanted to do a really big charity stream—something I still hope to do when the logistics can be worked out. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. So I started imaging what could be done like a one shot but emphasizing the parts of TTRPGs that I love most: roleplaying, skill checks, drama and tension unrelated to combat. As I was interviewing people for StoryTalk I kept thinking these folks are so great live. And then I was in a hotel watching TV and I started wondering why there are no game shows for TTRPGs. That set off the chain-reaction that became the show. I knew for a game show to work, it needed prizes, and that required sponsors. So I put together a pitch deck and prepared to discuss the show with game companies and dice producers.
I reached out to Zack Applewhite (@applewhitegames.bsky.social), who consults on TTRPG business ideas and got some feedback on the pitch dec and the show idea. I also got a reality check on fees for sponsorships. That’s when I knew this needed time to grow an audience, so I decided I only wanted product prizes from sponsors in the charter year.
Once I had the concept write-up, and the pitch deck ready to show, I reached out to my friend Nekola the Druid (@nekolathedruid.bsky.social) (whom I worked on the previous failed big stream event) and pitched the idea. They were onboard immediately and knew this one could be done logistically as well as practically. I decided to go forward with the entire year as a charity effort with Diversity Saves (with whom Nekola works), a 501(c)(3) non-profit who amplifies the voices of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Neurodivergent, and Disabled TTRPG Creators, Actors, and Fans).
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I was also inspired a little by Rachel Kordell (@RachelKordell.bsky.social). She is an actor and TTRPG performer with RP Jesters (@rpjesters.bsky.social). Her StoryTalk interview at Pax Unplugged reminded me how much I love the performance part of TTRPGs, and how many potentially terrific performers are not playing TTRPGs yet, because they are actors who haven’t given TTRPGs a try yet. While I was already working on PaperBag, I considered this as a way to ease actors into TTRPGs without making it heavy on the mechanics (with it initially being mechanics-less).
Do you have a rotating cast or a group of regulars? Who are some of the people involved?
The cast is different every episode, but is nothing like a one-shot. First it has two gamemasters and three players. There is no storyline, just individual scenes played through with different character and NPCs each time. All the players get equal time (the rules enforce it).
As for those involved, the aforementioned Nekola has been a rock on the production side. She is the Producer of the show. The Assistant Producer is Natalie Chenard (aka @ghostcandle), and we had some assistance with scene editing by Allison of @insightchecked.bsky.social.
How does this show fit with the other shows that ZealZaddy produces? Where can people find your shows?
It’s nothing like our other shows. As a matter of fact I don’t think it’s like anyone’s other shows. The show airs bimonthly Tuesdays at 8 PM Eastern time. The VODs drop to YouTube on the Monday following the show.
Our other shows generally consist of mini-campaigns (8-18 episodes) in different systems, settings, and genres, and with different casts. The one exception coming up is we will soon begin a longer Daggerheart campaign that will be on Thursday nights at 9 PM Eastern time).
The only other show we have is StoryTalk, our TTRPG talk show that is set to begin it’s new season again in a few weeks (and late in the year due to the time needed getting PaperBag ready to start). StoryTalk episodes are on various topics, but each episode is focused on one topic, and we interview in a roundtable format people in the TTRPG space that are connected to the topic. We have interviewed people as disparate as GMs, players, cosplayers, performers, publishers, marketers, sensitivity readers, streamers, cartographers, artists, and more. I usually look for topics I don’t know much (which is most topics) and try to find experts that are interested in taking on the topic in-depth. People who like to teach as well as learn.
We livestream to Twitch and put VODs on YouTube. Here’s our Linktree, which has links to everything: https://linktr.ee/zealzaddy
Our readers will be really excited about this. How can they get involved?
This is one of my favorite parts. There are four ways to be involved:
1. As a viewer, you get to vote on the performances of the players. You give them a 1-5 star rating. The star ratings are tallied up for each performance and at the end of the show the highest combined score wins the grand prize. All participants win prizes (usually digital games from one of the sponsors).
2. As a GM. GMs don’t compete, but instead guide the players to their best performances. GMs get to give a 1-5 star rating on each player performance. Their ratings are part of the total tally at the end of the show—although chat’s is more heavily weighted.
3. As a player, competing for prizes, giving their best roleplaying performances and really challenging themselves through the improvised scenes in random genres.
GM or Player Casting form: https://bit.ly/PB-Casting
4. As a Scene Contributor. To me, this is the most unique aspect of the show. Initially I wrote all the scenes so we could test the show (and there are a few still in the genre wheel (aka, the “Dice of Destiny”)). But from the beginning I knew I wanted the scenes to come from outside ZealZaddy—from actualplay GMs and players, game publishers, writers and editors, and those more tangentially related to the TTRPG space.
Because discoverability is such a difficult (and usually disappointing) aspect of running an actualplay, we set out for PaperBag to give back to the community. They can submit scenes to our Google form, and if it is selected during a show, they get a live shout-out, and a link to their show or channel in chat and in the VOD description on YouTube.
Scene Contribution form: https://bit.ly/PB-Scenes
You’ve got sponsors for this show, I think that’s great. How does that work, for our readers who might be working on their own streaming channels?
For the first year we just wanted TTRPG products to give as prizes. So, for instance, the grand prize winner gets a $50 gift certificate to the Monte Cook Games online store and a $50 gift certificate to the Only Crits Dice online store.
In future seasons, as we have a better understanding of the audience and growth, we will look for sponsor fees, too. But we’re not there yet.
Do you have plans for the show in the future? Will the formula change?
The big one is adding in dice rolls—that’s coming very soon. At the moment the show only has the roleplaying aspects built in, but there are coming skill checks, magic, items, etc. And those aspects are not far off, but we really wanted to get the format set and ensure that roleplay remains the central conceit.
ZealZaddy does more than streaming, can you let us in on any other projects you’ve worked on? What are you thinking about in the future?
ZealZaddy is also a publisher on DriveThruRPG (drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/21010/zealzaddy/?affiliate_id=426364). We initially began as third-party D&D5e creators, but moved to Cypher and never looked back. We will soon be adding Daggerheart products to the mix.
Outside of our own products, I am the designer for Paradigm Concepts products and have done graphic design for companies like Mayfair Games and Tarancon Board Games. If time permits, I may expand some of that, too.
I am developing D&D5.5e and Cypher InDesign templates that will be available on DriveThru RPG. They will feature a robust set of GREP styles to automate a lot of the tedious work involved in the creation of products for the systems.
What are some of your favorite TTRPGs? Do you have any favorite board, card or video games? Do you draw inspiration from these for your shows?
I have weird and eclectic tastes. I love Cypher-based TTRPGs, especially Monte Cook Games’ horror podcast-based products: Old Gods of Appalachia and The Magnus Archives. Invisible Sun is also a marvel of a game. Nothing is like it and it will likely remain in its own category forever.
Others that have held my heart at certain points in my life:
I love Over the Edge by Atlas Games—what a crazy setting and backstory.
The Tales from the Loop series (also including Things from the Flood and The Electric State) by Free League are some of my all-time favorites, too. I really appreciate the nostalgic details, the simple play, the quiet, dark, underbelly to the rich worldbuilding and art by Simon Stålenhag. I think Tales is a perfect one-shot or mini-campaign system and setting combination.
Jason Cordova’s Brindlewood Bay by is sooo much fun. Renegade’s Alice is Missing is a fantastically original game. Ink by Snowbright Studios is a beautiful and powerful way for a TTRPG to facilitate discussion of death with kids. As a lover of all things map, Beak Feather + Bone is a great little GM-less game by Possible Worlds. Triangle Agency by Haunted Table really commits to the d4 bit. Blue Planet by Biohazard Games is a beautiful premise and a fulfilled promise in a TTRPG. Nobilis by Jenna Moran is an amazing concept that I want to explore deeper with the right cast.
Then there’s my new conceptual muse: the recently funded Eternal Ruins by Mythworks. It isn’t out yet, but I’m already very invested in it spiritually. I’ve been thinking about running a campaign with myself and one player. Collaborate on a quiet, introspective, story. This game is incredibly intriguing to my soul.
What else would you like our readers to know about that we haven’t asked yet?
I am an open book with whatever I know. I don’t believe in cloistering knowledge or paths to getting things done, so whenever and whatever I can teach or explain or guide, I will. Hit me up and let’s talk about TTRPG publishing, art direction, graphic design, book layout, building great digital products, marketing, business & budgeting, streaming, running actualplays, building overlays, etc. I hope to listen and learn as much as I can while giving you as much as you want.
While you’re thinking about all this stuff, come watch an episode of PaperBag: The Roleplaying Game Show and if you can, donate to Diversity Saves. It really is a great cause.
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