As anyone who has visited a Meow Wolf knows — or at least the kinds of readers we have here at NoPro who have visited a Meow Wolf — each exhibit is part of a larger multiverse, with deep cut lore abounding for those who look.
It’s a story world with elaborate mythologiesand a host of characters and institutions who reappear from place to place. One that’s as involved as, well as any well stocked roleplaying game! Which leads us right into TAVERS: The Meow Wolf Roleplaying Game.
A collaboration between Meow Wolf, Exalted Funeral, and Genuine Entertainment, the new game is steaming away on an already successful Kickstarter that’s nearing the $200K mark on an initial goal of $50K.
With just over a week to go, and with the 12-page gameplay primer which features multiple character types and an overview of the Meow Wolf universe now available it’s the perfect time to check in with the creative team and see just what in a wormhole these weirdos (non-derogatory) are up to now.
And just what the heck is a Taver anyway?
We got answers from Michael J. Wilson, Production Director, Lore Keeper, and Contributing Writer for TAVERS at Meow Wolf and Cristin Kelley, Owner, Exalted Funeral Press!
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NO PROSCENIUM: Before we get too far into it, what the hell is a Taver?
Michael J. Wilson: Tavers are people and beings and even places that can harness raw creative energies to do really cool things. We call this energy Source. Tapping into that allows a Taver to travel the worlds through portals or even begin to alter reality itself. Everyone and anyone can be a Taver, you just have to find your path.
NP: Meow Wolf has been working on an elaborate multiverse for years, which surfaces in exhibits for those who look for it. How much of the lore of the game is building on what’s already there versus what’s new? Is this going to be what the original West End Games RPG was to Star Wars?
MJW: The Meow Wolf story is pretty new to a lot of folks, so Tavers is taking what you can find in exhibits and expanding a bit. Tavers isn’t a “lore” book so much as a sandbox. It’s the tools to create inside the Meow Wolf worlds. You get to choose how in the story that exists you want to be. It’s definitely more like the West End Star Wars than not. You CAN play as known characters in known places, but you can also create infinitely.
NP: What’s in this for gamers who have never been to a Meow Wolf?
MJW: At its core, Tavers is a rules light storytelling game that really leans into worldbuilding, character roleplay, and story making without huge lore dumps. Anyone can pick the game up with or without knowing what a Meow Wolf is. There is large “yes and” energy to the game and anyone can pick it up quickly.
NP: I’m enough of an RPG grognard that when someone says “multiverse” my brain instantly short circuits to RIFTS and its absolute jumble of realities. What kind of multiverse IS the Meow Wolf multiverse?
MJW: There is an inherent optimism to our universe. This isn’t a grimdark place. The Meow Wolf Universe or universes or worlds is chaotic and patchwork in the best of ways. There is a core to it — The Tave — a place that you must go through to get to anywhere else, and everything is connected through story and character. BUT, it is ever expanding and loose enough that anything and everything could show up, including OUR reality. Earth is part of the story. We’re a little SCP and a little Rick & Morty.
NP: Crowdfunding has been become a big part of the TTRPG world, what kinds of doors has it opened up for you?
Cristin Kelley: Exalted Funeral has been utilizing crowdfunding for TTRPGs since 2019 and in that time it has helped us to make some really great games! The great thing about crowdfunding is that it helps to create a sense of community around the game and allows backers to feel like they are part of the creation and development of it. Running crowdfunding campaigns has allowed us to work with some super talented creators and artists and helped us to contribute to the growth of the indie RPG community. We are so excited to have the opportunity to create the Meow Wolf Roleplaying Game and work with the amazing writers and artists they have as part of their team.
NP: Do you think this will lead to people LARPing their Tavers in Meow Wolf exhibits?
MJW: We really really really hope so. There is a small and very dedicated fanbase who already dress up to come to the exhibits. We want to see your original characters! We want to hear about the worlds you invent and the places you go.
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