GamingTrend had the pleasure of meeting with Derick Rodriguez of Grimdark Ohio at Origins 2026 this year where he were showcasing his flagship game, The Deep Between. We chatted with Derick after the show to get to know the creator behind the work, talked about game development, and learned more about The Deep Between.
(*Questions and answers edited for quality and clarity)
Gaming Trend (GT): Your Gamefound Campaign just went live! Before we jump into the full interview, what are your hopes and expectations with your Gamefound campaign?
Derick Rodriguez (DR): The Deep Between: Prologue is my attempt to bring the models to players early by providing a huge STL bundle of great sculpts and designs. There are add-ons for physical prints and a terrain pack from Saucermen Studios, a painting PDF from Don Suratos that will grow as the campaign grows, and secret rewards. This will let me learn the Gamefound system and do a crowdfunding campaign ahead of the full release of The Deep Between to help the full version go smoother. I’m avoiding stretch goals to keep things simple. I don’t have a huge goal set and honestly if I can learn to run a campaign and grow the number of playtesters to iron out wrinkles in the game, I call that a success. I think these designs and the sculpt quality speak for themselves so even if the game isn’t of interest this is 36 unique STL models plus game tokens for $50 USD! Considering the terrain pack, that’s about 60% of list price from Saucermen Studios and you have a ton of great stuff to print for RPGs or other model agnostic games. Obviously, I hope this campaign goes viral and I can do a to more on the full release but as long as Grimdark Ohio is a sustainable endeavor I’m content!
Gaming Trend (GT): Tell us a little bit about Grimdark Ohio and its origins.
Derick Rodriguez (DR): Grimdark Ohio is a miniatures and game company that officially started in August 2025. The first release, the Mercenary Breacher, was late in November last year. It started with an interest in getting back into the hobby more heavily as I was only doing some painting at the time. The company makes miniatures, has written lore for the setting, and a game in progress, The Deep Between. Tabletop gaming has been a love of mine for almost three decades and I have played so many games that I can’t even remember them all. The Deep Between is the skirmish game I always wanted.
I got a 3D printer (Uniformation GK two) earlier in 2025 and was hooked on printing. With a new hobby and getting immersed in the STLs from creators on MyMiniFactory I was considering a YouTube channel and or doing a print shop. The channel didn’t get far with schedules being tight and requiring things I was not great at, like recording and editing. My wife actually suggested that rather than spend the money on licenses and files, I just do my own thing since I was always into art and had done a few attempts at game design. So, we agreed I’d try and, in the worst case scenario, the kids could learn both the hobby and business.
I am a one-person show outside of sculpting and digital art. Sculpting has been done by a combination of Claudio Rosa, Sam Sales and Joao Jacinto. These guys have worked on One Page Rules, Archvillain Games, Loot Studios, and Eldfall Chronicles to name drop a few projects. My goal was to get the best and they delivered. For digital art the cover was done by Steven Yoyada who normally does T-shirts and albums for bands like Wo-Fat, Red Fang and Clutch. The cover had to pay homage to older sci-fi art and Steven nailed it! Digital art has been a combination of David “Arcvein” Simons, Joao Antunes Jr., and Dan Morison. These guys have worked on projects from a broad range of companies in video games, animation, and table top games.
Art by David “Arcvein” Simon
There are monthly lore, art and miniature releases. I do a drawing stream Tuesdays at 9pm EST on Instagram live, so folks can watch me bring these ideas to life. The goal is for a full release of The Deep Between sometime between Adepticon 2027 and the summer cons Origins/Gencon 2027. The upcoming Gamefound and my remaining cons this year will determine if that goal is possible or if it gets pushed into 2028.
GT: What is your history with writing and art? When do you first become interested in those things and gaming?
DR: I have always enjoyed art. I am exclusively a traditional artist, mostly pencil & inks or multimedia. Honestly, writing is something I do not do often, though I really enjoy it. Writing was something I put down because I didn’t think I was good at it, but I knew lore had to be part of the package I wanted to bring players, so I picked it back up. I’ve had an interest in the arts and games as far as I can remember. For the hobby specifically, Warhammer 40k 3rd edition was the first game I learned with some hand me down Orks from an older brother. Miniature gaming hit all the itches for me: It was toys/collectibles, painting, stories, and a game all wrapped together.
Art by Derick Rodriguez
GT: Who are some artists that inspire you?
DR: Visually, my favorite painter is Gerald Brom. Brom worked on every genre I enjoy and really had a fun style that I think will always hold up. Wayne Reynolds, Juan Gimenez, Karl Kopinski, Thomas Elliot, John Blanche, Paolo Parente, there's so many. Hyung Min-woo and his Priest manhwa had a big impact on my style and I studied his line work so much. Kim Jung Gi is the greatest at inks in my opinion and an artist’s artist. Gi was one of those that you have to draw to appreciate his work. One last one I can’t miss is Paul Bonner. Any piece he did for Confrontation or Mutant Chronicles is golden. Also, this guy did a ton of Oldhammer art and, for me, nailed the gritty dark but also ridiculous vibe GW had at the time.
GT: What was the first miniature game you remember playing and getting really into?
DR: Warhammer 40k was the first for me. I have fond memories of the game but I think Games Workshop (GW) does specialty or secondary games better than 40k now. I haven’t enjoyed a game of 40k in a very long time, but it absolutely devoured my time and funds as a teen and into my 20s.
GT: The Deep Between is your game. What is it about and was its inception?
DR: The Deep Between is a model-agnostic sci-fi skirmish game. Set in the future, a rift in time and space has opened up breaches between realms and dimensions in the universe. The space between those realms, and the battleground through which games are played, is called the Deep Between. I wanted model agnosticism to be part of the game's DNA, not just stapled on. Any game and any setting can be model agnostic but the best settings make you want to buy the minis and be in universe even if it’s a kit bash. So, I have the Primeline, which is the main timeline and universe Grimdark Ohio designs sit in, then The Deep Between which is the hub dimension/universe trope. So it’s this ever shifting dimension that sits at the center of all existence. You can go into The Deep Between but if you want to get back to your same time and place you have to leave the same way via a breach that led you there, and the breaches only last so long. This lets there be infinite space for players to make models of their own, to use any models they own, anything that fits the mold of the game's profiles. Just make sure the base size is right and the model sufficiently represents the profile! So, for the Mercenary Breachers for example, there is a story and unique features to them; they're basically just breach diving guns for hire and any space soldiers or mercenaries work. You can kit bash stuff or use models from other brands that fit the descriptions. My goal is to let players express themselves while also having an original overarching story that is new and engaging.
I have some preteens and teens (kids) and I wanted them to enjoy the hobby and play games with me. Many games just didn’t hit the right itch or felt too complicated for my kids. Also, costs can be prohibitive, and so I wanted something accessible, fast, but also high quality. The kids have been involved in designs and ideas and I have enjoyed that a whole lot! If this whole venture doesn’t work as planned they’ll have memories of building worlds, making characters and tons of hobby stuff learned along the way.
GT: What are some inspirations for The Deep Between? Visually, mechanically, etc.
DR: Well, even though the multiverse trope has worn a lot of people down, I love it! I’m a Michael Moorcock fan and consider his contributions to grimdark and so many tropes we play with today as foundational. Pulp-era fiction is also a huge influence on me; the cosmic horror, brooding protagonists and fast paced writing. While I enjoy deep concepts and great prose, often less is more, especially when kids and careers demand so much of our time.
Visually, I wanted to smash things I love together in a way that feels fresh. A goal of mine is to ride that familiarity enough that players can relate to the factions but stay away from things feeling derivative. The visual design should tell players what the models do, how tough they might be or their speed.
There have been so many games that inspired this it’s kind of like my own Frankenstein’s monster. I think Corvus Belli’s Infinity is the S-tier of sci-fi minis and I don’t think that will change. AMG (Atomic Mass Games) has some of the most fun rules (Marvel: Crisis Protocol and Star Wars: Legion). One Page Rules (OPR) is great for ease of play for new gamers. My favorite games of all time mechanically are probably Killteam (2018), Fantasy Flight Games' Imperial Assault, and early Warmahordes (Warmachine & Hordes). You can see the inspiration from these if you know where to look.
GT: What differentiates The Deep Between from other independent miniature games out there?
DR: Well, for one, the scale of the models is slightly larger and its true scale. Models are roughly 38mm from foot to eye on humans. That means that while the models are about 17% taller than 32mm heroic, the most common scale, they are leaner with standard proportions. I love 32mm for wargames but prefer my skirmish games to have larger figures. Another reason I wanted larger models is for detail. My art style has lots of bits and greebles, like wires and buttons and small ports, so I wanted that to show on the models.
Another thing that I believe sets The Deep Between apart is that I am mixing tropes and styles. I love the pulp-era pace, but really enjoy Grimdark themes. There was someone that called my game "Grimpulp" at a convention and I really think that nails it. It’s something that I hope is familiar enough players give it a shot but different enough they stick with it.
While the game itself is not narrative-focused, I want to tell a story so there is a narrative element. One thing I am excited to be doing is letting the community have agency in the game. For example, at CincyCon I will hold an event and the winner of that event will determine the fate of the protagonist, Sawyer, from the first three short stories I wrote. Each design will exist in the game but one will be the canon version of Sawyer. So, whether the Veiss Emissary character design is a non-character model or Sawyer, the Veiss Emissary or the other two optionswill be up it’s up to the winner. Other things like release order or larger narrative events may become community votes as I have done in the Discord.
Last thing I want to mention is the mechanic of snap actions. Models can use 2 action points on their activations. Models also have bold core stats, Offense, Defense, and Utility that allow snap actions which can be used as a pseudo 3rd action or as a reaction. You choose how to use the snap action allowing players to be aggressive and use their snaps on the activations but leave a model vulnerable to reactive play or hold it for defensive plays and tech. This also plays into priority, because of the snap phase. Activations alternate in The Deep Between and that carries into the snap phase. Players use any remaining snap actions alternating like the activations. In many skirmish games the player who is leading or has more models cannot get priority unless things are going wrong and they’ve lost models, creating a situation where the more elite player with less models gets priority, especially on turn 2 (which in most games is the most important turn.) So, with Snap actions and the snap phase being able to manipulate priority, players have to judge if they want reactive play with the risk of losing priority. There’s a ton more there but this mechanic is the engine of the game and understanding how to use it will be what determines success.
GT: A lot of companies are leaning into ‘grimdark’ these days. What does “Grimdark” mean to you?
DR: For me, "Grimdark" is about trying to make the best of a bad situation; one that cannot be fixed, it’s systemic, but you survive in it anyway. I embrace the theme more than the modern visual aesthetics of it. I’m not interested in shock factor or edgy nihilism. Worlds where there is only a better life than the alternative, is what makes it feel right to me. Everything is working against the inhabitants, whether it’s bureaucracy, fascism, singularity and artificial life, or existential threats they're beyond any reasonable chance to stop. Personally, if it's just nihilism there is no story to be told, so I prefer people holding on to whatever they have despite a setting that wants to strip it all away in its own indifference. For The Deep Between, it's a combination of elements.
Each of the Tri-bloc powers on earth represent broken systems that we can relate to. A later faction, Ancilia, is bound to the technology that was their salvation and a slave to their own liberation. The Deep Between itself is an unfathomable connection to endless realities and has factions that can’t be communicated with; so how do you broker a deal? The decay or loss of what was and knowing you will never get it back but the effort to try to preserve what's left or continue on in spite of it all, that is Grimdark to me! Also, a constant theme here is mistrust of institutions and those around you while also needing them to survive. We’ll see where this all goes. I know my view isn’t for everyone but I hope I explained it well enough and people engage with it.
GT: To capture that grimdark feel for your game, what terrain do you like to see on the table? What style do you think would help a player feel immersed in your universe on the tabletop?
DR: Personally, I use a ton of stuff from Saucermen Studios. The terrain prints well and I reached out to Alex early on to ask if I could use his terrain in photos so long as I gave him a shout out. That grew into a terrain pack add-on for the Gamefound and hopefully more like it in the future so players can get these great STLs that play well with The Deep Between. I have also used scratch-built terrain and some stuff from the bigger companies like GW, Mantic, AMG and Loot studios on the print side for playtesting, but my plan is for events to continue using Saucermen Studios terrain.
Saucermen Studios
The style is pretty broad given the setting with it really being up to the players. I try to find a balance between boxy hard angled terrain like crates, buildings, walls, and more organic pieces and unique shapes. Scratch build rocks and cliffs from XPS foam has and will always be an affordable way to get terrain down. The mix of shapes and having multiple elevations to get advantage and allow for players to snap away is important.
GT: With developing The Deep Between, you juggle a lot of elements. What part do you love the most? What’s the most challenging part?
DR: I do concept art, have painted most of the models shown, write rules, write lore, and manage all the parts of business, except what I commission out (sculpts and digital art.) My favorite part of this process is the concept art and game design. Coming up with new designs and building the world around them and how to express that on the table is by far my favorite part of what I do. The most challenging is a combination of the lore writing and keeping the schedule I have committed to. A lore segment every month plus releases on MyMiniFactory and working with the digital artists, a weekly stream, it’s tough.
GT: As an independent creator, what continues to give you drive with your work when you still have work/family/life you have to live.
DR: I try to give 1-2 hours a day to hobbies and the business. My biggest time block is after the kids go down for bed, though I will carve out portions of time in the afternoon to load up or tear down a printer. Small contributions add up and seeing those compounding results keeps me excited and motivated. Another thing that gets me motivated is seeing other creators achieve their dreams and reminding myself that they might have different things to juggle in life but they’re just as busy and distracted as me. Excuses are easy but they don’t amount to anything.
GT: When you work, do you like listening to any music/TV shows/podcasts etc.?
DR: When working on the game I listen to movie and game soundtracks, synthwave, and whatever is my current ear worm. On occasion, I will have a show on, but it’s rare and podcasts are even rarer for me. Normally it’s music so I can set a mood.
GT: What are some movies, music, and games that inspire you when working The Deep Between?
DR: The trinity of directors for me has been Denis Villeneuve, Gareth Edwards and Neill Blomkamp. While they’re modern directors, I think I could watch most of their movies for a while before getting bored, you got my personal favorite Star Wars movie (I’m a sucker for Rogue One, sorry), Godzilla, Blade Runner, Dune, and some of the most original gritty sci-fi with Elysium. I can turn it on in the background and try not to get distracted too much but, when you catch almost any shot in these movies it’s art.
Remnant 2 is one of my favorite video games, but XCOM 2 might be my most played game and I’m crawling out of my skin in anticipation for Star Wars Zero Company.
As for music, I am all over the place but when drawing, writing, or painting, OSTs and random Synth or EDM songs are on. I often kick off a start mix on YouTube music with “It’s Bucky!” right now cause it just gets me pumped. For Thunderbolts*, a bunch of friends and I took our kids and the kids' energy when Bucky showed up will never leave my subconscious.
GT: Since you paint your minis for the game, what paints do you like to use the most/recommend using for the Deep Between?
DR: My current favorite is AK Interactive. I can’t get enough of it and find myself using AK most. After AK, I mix it up with a few like Vallejo, Army Painter (especially their flesh tones), some Pro Acryl, and Citadel. I use Citadel it's a wash or contrast as I have almost completely abandoned their layer paints. Hobby brands like Americana get used for terrain and bases cause I don’t mind and almost prefer the thicker paint there and it’s cheaper!
GT: What game do you feel every miniature player should play at least once?
DR: Honestly One Page Rules is a great place to start for wargames. If they had a true skirmish game that was good this project might not even exist. I enjoy what they’re doing that much. It’s free and plays fast and has plenty of customization. To me that’s where I would start many players if models are available. If model count is an issue, Marvel Crisis Protocol is an easy number two. It has so many unique things you can do by interacting with terrain and throwing models around. MCP gives me the feeling early Warmahordes did and it’s tough to convey, you just have to play it.
GT: We always have to ask, but who is your favorite Glup Shitto character?
DR: So Unkar Plutt was one of my favorite characters to build around when Star Wars: Destiny was a thing. He has so much scummy energy and they nailed that in the game with cheating on resources. I have a soft spot for the guy even though he’s a jerk, and when I see him it makes me smile because of the nonsense from Destiny I was able to do with him.
GT: Thank you for chatting with us and telling us more about the person behind the game! How can people follow you and stay up to date with Grimdark Ohio and The Deep Between?
DR: You can follow Grimdark Ohio and the progress on The Deep Between on Instagram, which is my most active place. Patreon has monthly lore and art, and there is also a Facebook and YouTube, though those are less active. For the miniatures, MyMiniFactory is where the STLs are available to purchase and Strange Plastic has print on demand for some models that will be updated, as time permits.
Lastly, the Discord has all the current playtest rules and profiles so you can play with your models! I am always looking for feedback while trying to build the best game possible. After all, this is a community-made and supported game.
