We're rounding out our last set of designer spotlights this week! Up next is CRYPTOBIOLOGY creators David Lombardo and Brian Stauffer - a score involving a velociraptor with an unexpected twist! Let's get into it...
1. What inspired your Pamphlets?
A combination of things mixed together in the blender that is my brain: Jurassic Park,
crypto scammers, Dr. Dinosaur from Atomic Robo, Sauron from Spider man (and the
very memed ‘I don’t want to cure caner, I want to turn people into dinosaurs’ quote).
Frankly things started with the double layer twist (1st: holy shit dinosaurs, 2nd: oh shit
we were hired by a dinosaur) and then things spun out from there. The first twist is
supposed to be immediately obvious, the second twist is supposed to creep up on the
players as they start connecting the dots.
2. Describe your Pamphlet in three words, then explain why you chose them.
Bombastic, dino, explosions.
It is simply impossible to take a gun toting, crypto-bro dinosaur seriously, so don’t try! It’s
deliberately over the top and I want GM and players to embrace that.
Dinosaurs abound!
Explosions! The scenario is designed so that things will escalate to an explosive finish
one way or another (unless the runners are very careful).
3. What’s a design element - either as part of your Pamphlet or otherwise - that you’re particularly proud of?
The Cyrpto-Saur himself! He’s the sort of character that’s a blast to play as a GM, and
getting to see how the player react when they finally meet face to face is always fun.
4. Do you have any advice for someone designing their first TTRPG or module?
Chase your bliss! Find the thing that you would want out of a module and write that. The
best way to follow through with starting and finishing a project like this is to make sure
you’re excited about it.
5. What’s your signature drink in the CBR+PNK universe—and what’s in it?
Cutting Edge
A sickly sweet, sometimes harsh cocktail favored by Runners immediately after a rough job to take the edge off. Careful you don't cut yourself on the crushed candy!
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15ml of Alcohol Concentrate (everclear)
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30ml oz water
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A dash of imitation vanilla extract
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One packet artificial sweetener (dealer's choice)
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A pinch of Citric Acid
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Hard Candy, Cherry Flavor
Water & everclear can be replaced by 45ml vodka
Crush the hard candy into small pieces. Moisten the rim of a small drinking vessel of your choosing and dip into the crushed candy.
Combine the remaining ingredients in the vessel and mix thoroughly, then place in a freezer until completely chilled. Serve.
This cocktail started as a joke, but after testing it turns out it’s genuinely pretty good. If you don’t personally live in a cyberpunk dystopia and plan to actually make this cocktail I recommend:
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Go easy on the vanilla extract, it’s easy to make it overpowering
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Use actual sugar or simple syrup instead of the listed artificial sweetener
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Adjust citric acid to taste, I liked a little more than a pinch. You could also use lemon or lime juice for some extra flavor.
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Serve on the rocks, rather than using a freezer to chill the cocktail
6. Any other projects or thing’s you’d like to plug?
Wizard Trash, Goblin Treasure
https://awkwardturtle.itch.io/wizard-trash-goblin-treasure
Writing by David, layout by Brian. A madcap fantasy adventure of summoned autonomous drones, resourceful goblins, and a down-on-his-luck wizard with a penchant for transdimensional retail therapy.
7. Where can people find you?
David: https://awkwardturtle.games/
Brian: https://brstf.games
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Thanks David and Brian! Don''t forget, CBR+PNK: OVERLOAD runs through the month of June 2025!