Andrew Medeiros, Mark Diaz Truman

Andrew Medeiros and Mark Diaz Truman are tabletop role-playing game designers who collaborate on urban fantasy and supernatural horror games. They co-created Urban Shadows, a role-playing game that uses the Powered by the Apocalypse system to explore political intrigue and supernatural factions in modern city settings. Medeiros brings experience in game mechanics and narrative design to their partnership. Truman contributes expertise in world-building and faction-based storytelling systems. Their collaborative approach focuses on creating games that emphasize character relationships and political maneuvering over traditional combat mechanics. The duo's work centers on urban fantasy themes, particularly the intersection of supernatural creatures and human politics. Their games typically feature vampires, werewolves, wizards, and other supernatural beings navigating power structures within metropolitan environments. They design systems that encourage players to engage with complex social dynamics and moral ambiguity. Their design philosophy emphasizes player agency in shaping narrative outcomes through mechanical choices. The games they create prioritize character development through relationships and political allegiances rather than traditional advancement through combat experience.

Readers praise Urban Shadows for its faction system and political intrigue mechanics. Many reviewers highlight how the game creates tension between different supernatural groups while maintaining focus on character relationships. Players appreciate the corruption mechanics that force moral choices and character development. The Powered by the Apocalypse framework receives positive feedback for its accessibility and narrative focus. Readers note that the system supports long-term campaign play through its debt and faction mechanics. Game masters report that the political structure provides clear guidelines for creating ongoing conflicts and storylines. Some readers find the faction relationships complex to manage during gameplay. A few reviewers mention that the corruption system can feel punitive to players who prefer heroic characters. Others note that the urban setting requirements may limit campaign variety compared to more flexible fantasy settings. Players frequently mention the game's success in creating noir atmosphere and morally complex situations. Several reviews emphasize how the debt mechanics create ongoing character motivations and inter-party dynamics that drive story development.