Just Be You: Mr. Tarrasque on Building a TTRPG Brand Without Playing the Algorithm Game
Some content creators start with a plan. Others stumble into it by accident—and end up building something remarkable. That’s exactly the story of the creator behind Mr. Tarrasque, a passionate voice in the TTRPG community whose YouTube journey began not with a business strategy, but with a pile of RPG books and a bit of curiosity.
What started as a modest review channel for older D&D modules has since evolved into a full-fledged platform for showcasing indie RPGs, third-party content, and original designs. Today, their YouTube channel not only fuels a thriving community, but also acts as the foundation for successful crowdfunding campaigns - proving that authenticity, consistency, and love for the craft still matter.
In this interview, we dive into how that journey unfolded: from navigating the grind of early content creation to launching a Kickstarter-funded game system built for accessibility and fun. We explore what it takes to build a niche audience, how to approach marketing when you’re not a marketing expert, and why the power of a small, engaged community often outweighs the biggest follower counts.
Whether you're a TTRPG fan, a YouTuber in the making, or a game designer eyeing your first campaign, this conversation is filled with candid insights, practical advice, and plenty of passion for the world of tabletop roleplaying.
Let’s jump in.
Can you introduce yourself and explain how you started your YouTube channel?
I started my channel purely out of boredom. This was about seven years ago, back when I had a small YouTube channel focused on Sea of Thieves—which, at the time, hadn’t even been released yet. But the closer it got to launch, the less interested I became.
There just wasn’t much going on in the game. So one day, I glanced over at my (then still pretty modest) RPG book collection and thought, Why not review these instead? I launched a new channel, named it after my current Fighter character, and the rest is history.
What inspired you to create content about TTRPGs, and how has your channel evolved over time?
RPGs—mainly D&D at the time—were my passion. I absolutely loved them, more than anything else. So shifting my focus to just talking about something I was genuinely excited about felt like a natural move.
I'm really glad I made that jump, because now the channel covers all sorts of RPGs and third-party publications I had never even heard of back then.
What were the biggest challenges in establishing yourself as a content creator in the TTRPG space?
The grind. Do not ever underestimate it. Making videos is a lot of fun—don’t get me wrong—but those first few years? You’re not getting much back besides a handful of cool comments and maybe some new online friendships.
Reaching the point where your channel actually pays the bills? That takes serious time, consistency, and hard work.
How do you decide which TTRPG modules or systems to review?
I didn’t have a big collection when I started. In fact, the first modules I reviewed were old 3.5e adventures—even though 5e was already out and pretty much everyone had moved on to it. But I was all about showing how those older adventures could still be perfectly playable in 5e.
From there, things just kind of evolved naturally. Once I hit my first 500 subscribers, publishers started reaching out and sending me books to review. Honestly, aside from the Midgard World Book, I haven’t spent a dime of my own money on my (now massive) collection. And trust me—it’s big.
What role does community feedback play in shaping your content?
Honestly, my community has never dictated the kind of content I make. I rarely dive into analytics or chase what performs best. I’ve always just focused on creating the kind of content I would want to watch.
That approach has led to a small but incredibly friendly and tight-knit community. My subscribers are people who all share the same passion: third-party RPG content.
You’ve previously launched a new campaign—what lessons did you learn from that experience?
A community is a strong force. I’m SO grateful for that.
How did you approach marketing and outreach for your Kickstarter campaign?
All of it grew purely organically. Just me posting on my socials and sending out the occasional newsletter. It’s a small project compared to some of my other work, but I’ve loved every second of designing this TTRPG. It was never meant to be the next big thing—and that’s totally fine with me.
What challenges did you face in planning and funding your project, and how did you overcome them?
None, I was only looking for 1000 euros and I got ‘m. That’s about it.
Can you share any insights on collaborating with JVC Parry and how that process worked?
He’s the best. And I don’t say that just because we became friends—he really is the best TTRPG designer and writer out there, period. I can only hope to be half as good as he is someday. Honestly, he’s a big part of why my own products have any level of quality to them.
What I admire most is that he doesn’t keep secrets. He shares his knowledge freely and never holds back his honest—sometimes brutally honest—opinions. I respect that so much.
What makes The S.I.M.P.L.E System unique, and how do you plan to position it in the TTRPG market?
It’s the RPG I always wanted to make for myself. It’s built for people who have friends that are curious about RPGs but don’t want to spend a ton of time or energy learning the rules. It’s the kind of game you can break out at a family gathering and play with your nephews, while still offering enough depth and freedom for more experienced players to really dig into character building. I feel like I really nailed that balance—and I’m super proud of it.
How do you build awareness for your projects before launching them?
Newsletters, socials, and a small amount of ads—that’s pretty much been my approach. Asking questions and actually engaging with people goes a long way. And offering a free preview? That’s been surprisingly effective.
It gives folks a taste of what they’re getting, and if the product’s good, they stick around. Also I don’t ask questions purly for commercial reasons, I really want to know what people think on a macroscopical level.
Which social media platforms have been the most effective in growing your audience and why?
YouTube Community posts, for sure! The great thing about them is that while they don’t always get clicks right away, they stick around. I’ve had people engaging with a post three or four days after it went live.
It’s a slower burn, but honestly, one of the most effective ways to grow a YouTube channel. It’s easy to get hooked on the endorfine rush a twitter like gives you, but in the long run? Community posts on Youtube.
At the end of the day, my main income comes from Kickstarter—but that audience largely comes through my channel. So in a lot of ways, the channel is the backbone of my whole “business.”
Have you worked with other content creators or influencers to promote your work? What strategies have worked best?
Only the ones that are actively involved in my projects. I can say that WallyDM has become a good friend of mine over the years. We are now working on The Quintessential Guide to Urban Encounters together. Which you can still late pledge to by the way.
What marketing techniques have been most successful for engaging the TTRPG audience?
Just being me, honestly. Sending out cool projects through my newsletter, being my enthusiastic self about a product…. I am not the marketing genius that other Youtubers are.
What advice would you give to other TTRPG creators looking to grow their audience and promote their work?
Focus on the quality of your followers, not just the numbers. I’d take 50 engaged subscribers over 200 who watch a couple videos and disappear any day. Never underestimate the power of a small, active community. That kind of core audience is what truly sustains a channel—and keeps it fun.
Every now and then I need to tell my family and friends NOT to subscribe to my channel. It only hurts if they do that and never watch. Even if they mean well.
How do you see the role of independent TTRPG creators evolving in the next few years?
Man, if only I knew. It’s been a lot of ups and downs.
What do you think about the increasing use of AI in TTRPG content creation?
AI as a tool—for spell checks, grammar fixes, even calculating taxes? I’m all for it. But when it comes to creativity, that’s a human thing. If it’s not made by people, it’s not creative. Period.
I have a pretty firm rule: I won’t review any books that use AI-generated art (at least not knowingly). I just don’t want to live in a timeline where AI handles the art, and we’re left doing the grind work. It should be the other way around.
Are there any upcoming TTRPG projects, creators, or trends that excite you?
I’ve got a pile of books waiting to be covered on the channel—it’s honestly growing faster than I can make videos. So yeah… a ton!
Big shoutout to WallyDM, by the way. He just released a new puzzle book that's absolutely worth checking out: WallyDM’s Journal of Puzzle Encounters II. If you're into creative encounters and clever challenges, don’t sleep on it.
If you could collaborate with any game designer or content creator, who would it be and why?
Great question. I was lucky enough that every Idol of mine has said yes in the past. I worked with some great people like JVC Parry, Dot Steverson, WallyDM, DungeonDad, …
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, expansions, or new creative directions?
I’m working hard on The Quintessential Guide to Urban Encounters, which is the second book in a series. Super excited to roll that out once it’s finished. Also want to put at least the first version of the SIMPLE SYSTEM out before the summer.
Thank you!
