July 31, 2024: Questions Three: Will Schoonover

To die-hard Munchkin fans, kicking down doors and looting treasures may seem easy, but that's because a lot of folks work behind the scenes to make everything work (and play!) as well as possible. One such mastermind is Munchkin Line Editor Will Schoonover, whose name you've seen on countless projects at Steve Jackson Games, including Munchkin Snakes, Munchkin Rats, and Munchkin Pony Excess, to name a few from this year alone.

Will graciously took a few moments from plotting future mirth and mayhem to answer a few questions for this installment of Questions Three.

What's your favorite card/set/mechanic you've devised for Munchkin?

I've been a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 setting for more than 30 years. It was great to add something to the Munchkin side of the setting. As a bonus, my first set for the brand was a Dungeon set, so I got to add a pile of iconic planets to the game and figure out how their identities would manifest in a game of Munchkin.

Suppose someone is planning an evening of Munchkin and wants a thematic mix of sets or expansions. Any suggestions for a fun tour?

With the current buzz in the RPG space, a fun take on modern dungeon crawling would be to start with Munchkins & Mazes, then throw in Druids and a smattering of smaller animal-themed expansions like Squids, Rats, Snakes, and Pony Excess.

Do you have a favorite Munchkin moment/anecdote as a player?

My favorite Munchkin moment was not in a game I took part in, but I have never seen it topped. I came across a group playing at the first PAX West I attended. They were resolving a card that let the player who rolled the highest die choose something. After everyone else had rolled, the owner of the game rolled their die on top of the box lid and declared that since it was higher above the surface of the table, it was undeniably the "highest roll."

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Having revealed a moment so pure it nigh-stunned the humble interviewer, Will returned to his dungeon of devious designs, continuing to put in motion more opportunities for Munchkin players to enact perfidious plots and future fun.

-- Will Schoonover, interviewed by Steven Marsh