Interview with the autors of the Combat Book 3

On the occasion of the release of the brand new Combat Book 3 - the third volume of the Combat Book series with purely fantasy role-playing game settings - we have a chat with the three people who conceived it to get to the heart of the project.

For those who do not yet know us well or for our wargamers who are also interested in role-playing games, before going straight to the interview, it is only right to make a premise about Combat Books to better understand what we are talking about.

Combat Books are volumes of rewritable, fantasy and sci-fi style combat maps where role-players can set their own battles. The Combat Books are characterised by the variety of scenarios (with a 1-inch grid) that allow them to range in fantasy and the type of battle to be waged, which is why they are so popular with every master.

And now we come to our interview, divided into 10 questions focused on the role-playing game and the Combat Book line. We start with Paolo Bertoncini, CEO and creative director of Pwork Wargames, and continue with Mattia Rocca - graphic designer of Pwork Wargames - and Giulia Tonon, freelancer illustrator who collaborated with us and created the cover of Combat Book 3.

1) First of all, why a Combat Book3?

Paolo - With the first Combat Book in 2019, we inaugurated the line of rewritable books for gdr with a fantasy setting, followed by Combat Book2 with a sci-fi setting. The third could only be fantasy again. Many have been waiting for it, and I hope they will be as pleased with it as we are.

2) Question of course: do you role-play?

Mattia - Sure, I have been role-playing since primary school, where I was introduced by the typical older brother of a classmate. And I never stopped.

Paolo - Of course, old school, I master, I played and I play. Entered that world with the legendary Lone Wolf books, D&D and then... everything!

Giulia - Indeed yes! I have been role-playing for several years now, both as a player and as a dungeon master.

3) How do you know which maps to make?

Paolo - is a more complex process than it seems: we always try to make our maps stimulating for the Dungeon Master, with cues and details, but at the same time practical and versatile. In Combat Book 3 we have tried to introduce new environments and situations typical for RPGs, such as the ship, the forest villages, the temple... and we always think about what we would like to have and be able to use ourselves as players in the first place.

4) What are the differences between Combat Book 1 and Combat Book 3?

Mattia - There are many differences: not only in the maps (which is obvious), but with Paolo we have endeavoured to create a path, a common thread that accompanies you through the maps.

Paolo - Very true. Also, I would say that Combat Book 3 has some more specific but still versatile maps. In Combat Book 1 we had the camp in the woods, here you can find a clearing near a waterfall.

5) What is the map you are most proud of?

Paolo - The dark temple...

Mattia - The hanging bridge!

6) The map that made you struggle the most?

Mattia - The fishermen's village...

Paolo - The coastal road. I did a lot of variations, but they had something I was not satisfied with, then finally I saw the light.

7) Giulia, you did the illustration for the cover of Combat Book 3. Did you already know the first volume?

Yes, I have known and used Combat Book 1 for several years now, in fact it was a great honour for me to be able to work on the cover illustration for this new edition and I was very excited to collaborate on the project precisely because it is a product that I have always loved!

8) What was your source of inspiration for the characters and the fight scene?

Giulia - My source of inspiration for the characters was undoubtedly the imagery of role-playing games, I wanted to try to render as best I could those scenes that arise in the minds of the players from the game board during combat, trying to give a distinct characterisation to the two characters.

9) Did you have an idea or a story in your head to create the protagonists you drew on the cover? Tell us more!

While drawing I always pause to think about the narrative I would like to convey through the final illustration. Here on the cover in particular I imagined the two adventurers probably ending up in the hunting territory of this large desert snake camouflaged with its surroundings (hence also the choice of colours of creature and environment) and ready to ambush its next prey... Often, the inspiration for certain illustrations and settings or atmospheres comes from the imagery created during game nights.

10) Would you recommend a Combat Book to a group of role-players?

Yes, I would absolutely recommend it, I find it a very convenient and practical product. It allows you to have a lot of maps with different settings in a handy format to carry around or place on the game table, plus the possibility to draw and write on them. I admit that I use it all the time when I play with my groups!