Episode 55 - Role

Tracy joins Ben this week to converse about the word role!  From jobs, to theatre, to games, the word role plays important… um… role in our day to day lives.  However, these two love games, so this conversation revolves mostly around tabletop games and RPGs.  Discussion topics include: acting, the now defunct Pathfinder Adventure Card Game (by Paizo), Betrayal at House on the Hill (2004 Avalon Hill / 2010 Hasbro), Among Us, going to conventions, the new game Stray, and Disco Elysium.

00:02:20 - The word is role (not roll), NQ, and “what’s the deal with all the hats?”
00:06:22 - Tracy’s acting experiences, and Ben’s missed extra opportunity 
00:10:31 - We know no French, the origin of role, and manual vs computer assisted games
00:13:07 - Tracy’s experiences playing the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game remotely
00:18:29 - How much actual playing a role is involved in Pathfinder?
00:21:15 - The battle axe, the inclusive nature of some games, and rescuing Kevin
00:25:59 - What is the “replay value” of the Pathfinder ACG?
00:29:22 - “Closing the Wound of the World,” and how much strategy is involved
00:33:02 - The board game Betrayal at House on the Hill and its similarities to Among Us 
00:37:41 - Finding new board games on Boing Boing, and Ben’s memories of Games magazine
00:39:44 - The Penny Arcade Expo, conventions, and gaming in a “post-pandemic” world
00:45:50 - Ben’s playing the role of a cat helping a robot, and Tracy says, “SIGN ME UP!”
00:49:29 - Tracy talks enthusiastically about her Disco Elysium play through
00:55:16 - Why is Ben having trouble immersing himself in the world of Disco Elysium?
00:57:32 - Tracy has an excellent suggestion… focus on the “redemption arc”
01:02:29 - Tracy’s final thoughts on the word role, and Ben has one last question for her
01:05:21 - Tracy’s answer reminds Ben of some interesting Disco Elysium history
01:09:18 - Mapping the old fashioned way, and closing with Ben’s old D&D pickup line