Claw into Cataclysm, a roleplaying game all about cats!

Claw into Cataclysm: A Roleplaying Game All About Cats!

Since the launch of Dungeons and Dragons in 1974, tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) have surged in popularity. In these games, players act as fictional characters who work cooperatively to achieve goals in a story. Recently, cat enthusiasts have been motivated to develop games centered around their feline friends.

One example is Cataclysm, a tabletop RPG in which each player takes on the role of an adventuring cat in a fantasy setting. Akinji Entertainment, the company that produces Cataclysm, loves felines so much that they have a ‘business cat’ named Mumbo Whiskermug, who is also the main character in Cataclysm’s story.

To learn more about the cat-centric game, we interviewed Brent Logan, lead author of the Cataclysm RPG.

What inspired the creation of the game?

I had a dream about cats dressed as wizards and knights and then thought, why isn’t there a game like this? So I pitched it to Shiraz (Akinji’s co-owner) and he reluctantly agreed to make it. Though, now he is far more into the Cataclysm franchise than I would have ever thought.

How would you describe the cat characters in Cataclysm?

The cats in the game are just like your cat at home. However, they decided one day that they would stand on two legs and swing axes into the faces of rats, toads, and frogs. The cats still act like cats. For example, if a plush bed is in the sunlight beam and you don't nap... you're not playing Cataclysm. This is the most important piece of Cataclysm in my opinion.

What aspects of Cataclysm teach players about cats?

During the planning phases of this game, I researched cats extensively. I always end up in a disagreement with someone at the table saying, “My Maine Coon hates water” or “My Egyptian Mau is very lazy,” but generally speaking, the traits we included in the game are what the breeds are best known for.

What is your favorite part of being involved with the production of Cataclysm?

Both Shiraz and I are storytellers. So any aspect of storytelling would be my favourite.

Do you have a fun memory about leading a game session that you’d like to share?

I played with a boy and his dad at a Gen Con once. The boy was very into the game. He says, “I am a cat, right?” I say, “Yes” He says, “So I act like a cat... like I don’t do anything I don’t want to do...” I say, “Yes...” He says, “Then I do not go on this adventure, I instead take a nap...” The kid literally “napped” the entire three-hour session.

Do you have plans for future Cataclysm-related products?

We have several expansions coming out that will make rules more robust and increase the longevity of campaigns.

Follow Akinji Entertainment and their line of Cataclysm games on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter for pawtastic gameplay and upcoming product announcements.

Meta: Inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, cat lovers have developed roleplaying games (RPGs) centered around their feline friends. One example is Cataclysm, in which each player takes on the role of an adventuring cat in a fantasy setting. To learn more, we interviewed Brent Logan, lead author of the Cataclysm RPG.

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