Another spotlight today for you today Runners - this time from HACKY RACES designer Luigi Calistrato! This one is done in collaboration with DNGN CLUB - so let's get ready to RACE!
1. What inspired your Pamphlets?
It wasn't a specific situation, but a mixture of influences from my childhood - cartoons like Wacky Races, Tom & Jerry (and others from Hanna Barbera) and also racing games like Crash Team Racing, Mario Kart, Rock n Roll Racing e others - in which impossible things somehow made total sense. This, combined with the idea of entering a virtual world, has always marked me. I grew up playing MMORPGs, and I always felt like I was entering one of those little worlds.
But if there's one movie that really captures the spirit of Hacky Races, it's REDLINE by MADHOUSE.
2. Describe your Pamphlet in three words, then explain why you chose them.
Do Not Brake - although mastering the brakes in real life is not advisable in Hacky Races, if you have to, cut through the path, make your way, and blow everyone up to win!
3. What’s a design element - either as part of your Pamphlet or otherwise - that you’re particularly proud of?
Wow, I really love everything I put into it—the enemies and their traps, the start of the race, the possible twists along the way, and especially the ending, which has a touch inspired by a real racing event!
But I think the part that excites me the most is knowing that people can play the audio I carefully produced to make their gameplay even more immersive.
Yeah, I might be biased—after all, I’m a sound designer by profession, hahaha!
4. Do you have any advice for someone designing their first TTRPG or module?
Create, test, but most importantly—have fun doing it!
Use your favorite references and, of course, if you ever get stuck, go back and rewatch them to find new inspiration and fresh perspectives!
It also helps to look for new references you might’ve missed the first time around—this includes existing RPGs, movies and series!
5. What’s your signature drink in the CBR+PNK universe—and what’s in it?
Oh, that’s an easy one! The drink called Brain Hemorrhage—it’s colorful, fun to look at, and absolutely delicious to drink!
The variations are gorgeous too, especially the Alien Brain Hemorrhage!
https://tipsybartender.com/recipe/brain-hemorrhage
6. Any other projects or thing’s you’d like to plug?
In case you haven’t heard it yet — I created audio for CBR+PNK: Mind the Gap!
They’re meant to be played during gameplay.
Check it out here: https://www.luigicalistrato.com.br/services/games/cbr-pnk
7. Where can people find you?
https://luigicalistrato.itch.io/
https://www.instagram.com/luigicalistrato/
luigicalistrato@gmail.com
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Don''t forget, CBR+PNK: OVERLOAD runs through the month of June 2025!