Oral History of TTRPGs with Jared Sorensen – From the Red Box to Indie Innovation

Show Notes:
In this episode of The Jaunty Mantis, Jesse interviews Jared Sorensen, one of the most influential voices in indie RPG design. Jared discusses his upbringing in Maine, his first encounters with RPGs, and the evolution of his design style—making games about something specific rather than chasing universality.

Highlights include:

• Jared’s introduction to RPGs through the D&D Red Box and Ghostbusters.

• How Over the Edge transformed his view of what RPGs could be.

• Building communities through LARPs, The Forge, and independent publishing.

• His blunt views on D&D, Hasbro, and streaming culture.

• Current projects: Black Lipstick, Schism, and more.

About Jared Sorensen
Jared Sorensen is the designer of innovative indie RPGs like Inspectres, Lacuna, octaNe, and the Parsley series. With over two decades in the hobby, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of tabletop storytelling, focusing on unique, tightly defined play experiences.

Learn more at Memento Mori Theatricks.