Mythic Gaming Interviews
Hercules: Greetings Charles! I thank you for granting us this interview and
sharing the tale of your creative journey.
Charles: Absolutely! It is indeed an honor to speak with you. Thanks for this
opportunity!
Hercules: When did your love of games first manifest?
Charles:
When
I was 16, I had a friend bring the Expert box set of D&D to
school. I quickly fell in love. That was 30 years ago and I have been
gaming ever since.
Hercules: What was it about RPGs that captured your imagination?
Charles:
It
was the ability to create your own story and be in that story. It was
also the fact that the story was different each time you
played.
Hercules: Before entering the gaming industry arena, what other vocations did
you explore or consider?
Charles:
Like
most people in tabletop gaming, publishing and writing isn’t my
primary job. I really wish it was. What I do know is work for an
organization that recovers solid organs (heart, lungs, etc.) for
transplant. My role is as a liaison between our organization and
several hospitals in our service area. I’ve done that for over 16
years.
Hercules: How did you enter the gaming industry professionally?
Charles:
I
have always been a fan of RPGs set in a modern times, but could never
find any modern floorplans. I turned to my wife, who is a
professional interior designer and an architectural drafter, to see
if she could create some. The rest is history.
Hercules: What are the pluses and minuses of being a gamer versus a gaming
professional?
Charles:
The
pluses are being able to work with some amazing people and have an
amazing creative outlet. The biggest minus is not having time to
game. It is hard to squeeze in gaming when you are essentially
working two jobs.
Hercules: Can you please share your career path within the industry?
Charles:
We
floated the idea of creating modern floorplans to a few people. The
problem was presentation and packaging. Finally a good friend of ours
took a look at our stuff and suggested that we reach out to
12ToMidnight. The guys really liked what we were doing and allowed us
to publish under them. Once they were absorbed by Pinnacle
Entertainment Group, the creators of Savage Worlds, then we broke
away and became independent. From there we decided to also launch
some modules along with our floorplans.
Hercules: It is awesome that you and your wife have pooled your talents on this
venture!
Charles:
It
really is! Krista is incredibly talented. She also does graphic
design and other forms of art. Since she isn’t a gamer, it is nice
to have this connection point.
Hercules: I am impressed by your Award Winning Modern Maps!
Charles:
Thanks!
There is quite a bit of detail and realism that goes into each floor
plan. Krista researches all of them and put quite a bit of time into
them before she even begins to draw anything.
Hercules: Do you create fantasy maps as well?
Charles:
No.
There are so many people that create those that we wanted to focus on
modern maps.
Hercules: Please tell us more about your Blueprint for Imagination
Line
Charles:
Blueprint
for Imagination was born from the desire to give gamers something
that they could use with their floorplans. Once we became a Savage
Worlds Licensee, we wanted to produce short adventures that could be
played in roughly a 4 hour time frame.
Hercules: And I understand that you has a service that provides maps to gamers
at conventions...
Charles: We do! We can’t be in all places at the same time, so this is our way of both supporting gamers in other locations and also getting the word out about our product. Any GM that is running a game at a convention or other event can get a digital copy of one of our maps simply by emailing us and giving us the details of the event where they are Gming.
Hercules: What Fabled Environments products can we expect to see in the near
future?
Charles:
We
will continue to create more floorplans, craft more short modules and
release modules and supplements in support of Olympus, Inc
Hercules: What is your ultimate vision for Fabled Environments?
Charles:
I’d
love to see us grow and bring on staff. I want to see us turn into a
true publishing house with multiple lines along with one-shot modules
and great modern floorplans!
Hercules: How can folks best learn about your products and new
releases?
Charles:
The
best way is to follow us on Facebook. We also have a Facebook page
specifically for Olympus Inc We are also on G+
Hercules: Beyond Fabled Environments, what are some of your other interests and
preferred activities?
Charles:
I
love
to read. I am also an avid fan of history. I love spending time with
my family as well.
Hercules: And what's next in the unfolding epic of Charles White?
Charles:
That
is a great question. Too bad I can’t travel to Delphi and ask for a
cryptic glance at my future.
Hercules:
LOL,
I like that answer! How
can your fans contact you or follow your career?
Charles:
Folks
can always contact us through our website or via Facebook.
INTERMEZZO
We take a break to enjoy the meal and the customary dance number or two (a staple in the Sword & Sandal Paradise we dwell in. Aaron is still stealthfully skulking around and occasionally hiding behind pillars. Gilbert has a large circle of admirers and seems to be signing copies of his games. Afterwards we are rejoined by Charles and our interview continues...
Part II: Olympus, Inc
Hercules: What inspired Olympus, Inc?
Charles:
It
was a combination of things. I am a huge Percy Jackson Fan. I am also
a huge Shadowrun fan as well the Dresden series. What made things
click was looking through the Mythos book and thinking what modern
Greek demigods could look like in a modern setting.
Hercules:
How
does it connect with the larger Mythos universe?
Charles:
It
really doesn’t. It really stands along. Mythos does a brilliant job
allowing folks to play classic demigods. Olympus, Inc is a different
animal.
Hercules:I enjoy interacting with Gilbert. He is creative, knowledgeable,
passionate, focused, and lots of fun. How was he to work
with?
Charles:
He
is amazing! We had such fun exploring this world and working through
the nuts and bolts of how we saw things working. It was such fun just
thinking through potential problems with our story and bringing
things to life.
Hercules:On your website you described your mutual journey as a 'labor of
love'...
Charles:
It
really has been. It hasn’t felt that much like work. I have been
excited to see where things were going.
Hercules:As I was exploring your selection of Modern Maps I could not resist
the temptation of weaving possible scenarios for Olympus,
Inc..
Charles:
That
is easy to do! Since this is predominately an urban setting, the
floorplans can serve as a canvas for various adventure
ideas.
Hercules:When will Olympus, Inc be commercially available?..
Charles:
Very
soon.I just got the first proof of the layout.
Hercules:What products are planned to accompany the launch?
Charles:
We
will release a few adventures, a free character sheet and several
supplement books that detail the remaining major Olympians along with
some of the minor gods.
Hercules:And what can we look forward to for 2017?
Charles:
More
products in the Olympus Inc line, more floorplans and more stand
alone modules. WE are also looking at publishing one or two different
setting books as well
Hercules:Are there any Mythos/Olympus, Inc crossovers planned?
Charles:
Not
as of yet. Not sure how that would work.
Hercules:What is your ultimate vision for Olympus, Inc?
Charles:
I’d
love to see this become a popular setting in the Savage Worlds
community. It has been fun to create and hopefully fans will enjoy
playing within the setting.
Hercules:It is rumored that people can gain a glimpse of what is to come...
How can they access this information?
Charles:
We
have a preview document up on DrivethruRPG. It will give you a taste
of what is to come!
Hercules:And how can we best follow the journey of Olympus, Inc and learn of
new releases?
Charles:
Through
our website, www.fabledenvironments.com,
or via Facebook
Hercules:Thank you very much Charles! I greatly appreciate your granting this
interview, and wish both you and your wife the greatest success with
Olympus, Inc, all the other fine Fabled Environments products, and in
all things you attempt!
Epilogue:
Gilbert
Gallo, Charles White and Aaron T. Huss are escorted to Gilbert's Sun-Chariot and all the Olympians at our gathering wave at them as they depart and openly express their desire that our recent visitors all soon return.
Onwards!
Hercules Invictus
Charles White
Larger Than Life Living in the World Today
1975-2017 Hercules Invictus