Interview with Eloy Lasanta, creator of Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2nd Ed.

Interview with Eloy Lasanta of Third Eye Games, and Kickstarter for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2nd Ed.
Hello, Mr. Lasanta.  Thanks for taking the time to interview with us again and spotlighting your Kickstarter, Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2e.

Thanks for having me!

How did the Kickstarter for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2e come about?

Well, we released the first edition of Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. (API) almost six years ago. While the game line has been successful and is still picking up new fans all the time (mostly from conventions), we at Third Eye Games decided it was time to update the system to the caliber of our current design philosophy. Along with that, we decided to advance the timeline of the setting a bit as well and pump it full of  more awesomeness. It took a lot of thought to really decide if API would receive a second edition, but in the end we’re VERY happy with the stellar version of the game we’ll be releasing soon after the Kickstarter.

What are the major changes to Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. from 1st edition to 2nd edition?

Oh, I already started to touch on this in the last question. Essentially, we’ve taken the framework that existed mechanically for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. and rebuilt it. So, it’s essentially the same game, but fine-tuned to really deliver the best API experience that it can. Instead of generic Passions, we’ve now got company specific Reasons. Instead of lists of Skills and different skills working different ways, we’ve streamlined the mechanics so it all plays smoothly. Instead of hyper-strategic combat, we’ve reduced it to what will give the most strategy without as much math. Every decision made for API has been to make the gameplay better and root out the things that may have complicated the first edition.
Best part is that all of the new things we’ve created for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. 2nd Ed (API2E) will also be converted to Savage Worlds, so that our Savage fans can integrate these new additions into their games as well!
Beyond the elevator pitch, how would you describe Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. to a person that has never heard of it?
The elevator pitch, of course, being: “Action Horror RPG with a twist of humor.” It basically takes all my favorite things from media like Men in Black, Hellboy, Ghost Busters or Buffy the Vampire Slayer and mashes it all into a single RPG which is full of monsters to slay, negotiations to be made and laughs to be had in-between. You can play as one of 20 different races, from humans to giant fish demons to slime creatures. This game isn’t just about taking out bad guys, though. Sometimes, it’s just to maintain the piece or whatever else the company needs you to do (on a budget). There are a lot of different approaches to staying in the black, and it’s up to the agents to pick the correct route that will please the company the most.
What inspired you to create the world of Apocalypse Prevention, Inc.? 

Great question! I was honestly looking for a kind of game like this to play that appealed to my mechanical sensibilities. The closest was the Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG, which was great but carried a lot of baggage along with it that either made it harder to find players or to play outside of the established plot when you could. So, i started from scratch and took it a step further… “What if you were enlisted to help fight against and regulate demons on Earth, but what if it wasn’t a government thing? What if it was a company who also had to stay in business?” Then Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. was born (of course, that was a placeholder name that the playtesters loved, so we kept it).

Among other things, I think it was also my inability to run anything without a little bit of horror in it. The “twist of humor” part of Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. is just as important as the action or the horror parts, because it adds the kind of levity and fun into the game (and the setting) that I love. There are a lot of games out there to take themselves way too seriously, and API isn’t one of them. I wanted more than just “the latest dark monster hunting game.” I wanted something that was unique and really filled a niche that I could feel proud to put my name on.

What are you most proud of with respect to Apocalypse Prevention, Inc.?

I think I’m most proud of API’s longevity. Six years of sales is not by accident. I’ve seen a lot of games be released and then go out to pasture and not so for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. I think it strikes a chord with fans of twists on pop culture monsters and general humor hidden underneath all the horror of the game line. Along with the original corebook, we’ve released 5 sourcebooks for API (API Worldwide: Canada, Demon Codex: Lochs, API Worldwide: Europe, Demon Codex: Spectrals and API Worldwide: South America), each adding to the world in new and crazy ways. That’s why the current Kickstarter has goals to update these sourcebooks to both the new 2E rules, as well as Savage Worlds. It’s out biggest undertaking with a Kickstarter we’ve ever done, and I think Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. deserves the honor, being our first and long-running game line.

What is in the future for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. once this Kickstarter gets funded?

Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. will continue beyond the Kickstarter. After we get all of the current sourcebooks updated to both the API2E and Savage Worlds systems, it’ll be about continuing the game line with both systems going forward as well. The next book in the line, which already has a lot of material written for it, will be Demon Codex: Burners with API Worldwide: Japan to follow close behind. There are a lot of great things in API’s future once this Kickstarter is done.

Assuming you find time to play, what are you playing these days?

I do play on occasion, usually card/board games that I get to play with my kids. Been playing a lot of Sentinels of the Multiverse in that respect. Been playing some of the Firefly RPG from Margaret Weis Productions, which is pretty awesome, and I may be joining a group soon to play some 5E (haven’t gotten the chance to play that one yet). So, I’m doing pretty well with playing lately (which is a lot more gaming than I’ve gotten in the last year).

Thanks again for taking the time to talk with us.  Good luck with your Kickstarter.

Thanks a lot, Ron!