Podcast cover

Why We Roll

The Stillfleet Studio
49 episodes   Last Updated: Apr 18, 25
Why We Roll is a streaming show and podcast about designing tabletop roleplaying games, hosted by Chris Pickett (Danse Macabre) and Wythe Marschall (Stillfleet). Chris and Wythe host in-depth conversations with professional game designers with a focus on contemporary indie TTRPGs. They also occasionally run actual-play sessions and offer behind-the-scenes looks at the games they’re developing. Topics covered to date include game-design inspirations and best practices, the politics of games, illustrating game concepts, cards as mechanics, character backstories, party formation, eco-catastrophes, epic powers and “boss fights,” espionage in games, faction rules, genres, “medieval” settings, hit points versus wounds, “madness” rules, safety at the table, solo RPGs, the OSR or even the NSR, what makes a game a game, what makes a system a system, product development, the business of indie RPGs, and so much more! Why We Roll is recorded in Brooklyn and Queens, NYC.

Episodes

On this episode of Why We Roll, we sit down with the elder statesman himself, Eric Silver of Multitude Productions and Join the Party to both play and discuss his new game, Model Our Nations: A TTRPG about words standing in the way of action! Pick up a copy of Model Our Nations from the Join the Party merch store HERE! If you're enjoying Why We Roll, consider supporting us at patreon.com/stillfleet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
!!! Last chance to back Enter the Nostalgitron, the new play-to-learn Stillfleet quick start! Make sure to back before April 3rd! As a special treat, here is Nostalgitron writer and illustrator, Michael J. Cohen chatting with Wythe about Alien: Romulus on his podcast, Perfect Ten! ———— On this episode we're joined by Wythe Marschall, creator of the tabletop roleplaying game, Stillfleet, to talk about his perfect ten movie, Alien: Romulus starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, and Isabela Merced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are joined by not one, but two extraordinary guests this week—Marco Serrano of Spicy Tuna RPG, and welcoming back Michael J. Cohen! The gang chats about Blackthorn, Spicy Tuna's Pocketopia 2025 entry, as well as writing pulp horror, camp, and intentionality with art... all culminating in a discussion of PUDDY MADNESS—the Blackthorn x Nostalgitron crossover for Pocketopia. It's getting spoopy and goopy on Why We Roll! Both Enter the Nostalgitron—the new Stillfleet learn-to-play quick start—and Blackthorn are funding on Backerkit as a part of Pocketopia right now, until April 3rd! Back both projects to unlock the Spicy Tuna x Stillfleet crossover. To support the production of Why We Roll, head on over to patreon.com/stillfleet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two episodes in one week? In this economy?! Wythe sits down to chat with illustrator, graphic designer, and TTRPG writer Michael J. Cohen to discuss their latest collaboration, Enter the NOSTALGITRON—now live on Backerkit as a part of Pocketopia 2025! Enter the NOSTALGITRON is a new 64-page quick start venture for Stillfleet, blending the dark corporate sci-fi of the original game with 1980's and 90's Saturday morning cartoon references. From Backerkit: In this action-packed romp, play as one of 4 totally radical “heroes” (read, corporate space marines working for the Worshipful Company of Stillfleeters) sent to investigate rumors of the Nostalgitron’s arrival on the spooky market-world of Ruguņ. Get the adventure plus all of the rules you need to try the world’s most infamously weird/smart sci-fi tabletop roleplaying game in one conveniently comic-sized book. Back the new quick start now at stillfleet.com/enter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wythe and Chris sit down to chat with designer, consultant, comrade, and collaborator—the inimitable Logan Dean. Tune in to listen in on Logan's insights around the politics and genre of corporate horror, inter-player tension, and practical advice on starting and administering an indie game business. Enjoying Why We Roll? Consider supporting the show by becoming a Stillfleet Patron! For as low as $3 a month, you gain early access to play testing material, our discord server, and more! patreon.com/stillfleet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wythe and Chris chat with Dr. Erica Bridges, scholar of ancient Greek and Latin, about language and crafting narratives. Erica shares insights about her upcoming TTRPG titled Nostos, as well as the use of ancient and medieval languages in fantasy gaming. If you enjoy Why We Roll, consider signing up for the Stillfleet Patreon at patreon.com/stillfleet - for as little as $3 a month, you can help produce Why We Roll and gain access to early sneak-peak materials for all of our genre-chainsawing games! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wythe and Chris chat with George Bickers of Three Sails Studios about their upcoming release, MAPPA MUNDI (now funding on Kickstarter!). Imagine your favorite monster hunting game, but without fighting or hunting, replaced by a deep reverence for nature! Topics range from radical ecology and revolutionary imaginaries to practical advice on starting and running a collective with left politics. If you enjoy Why We Roll, consider joining our Patreon to help us with production! For as little as $3 a month you gain early sneak peaks at all of the Stillfleet Studios games including Stillfleet, Danse Macabre, Blister Critters, and The Sometimes Kingdom! You also gain access to our Discord server, filled with braniacs like you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Why We Roll, Wythe and Chris are joined by TTRPG actual play and multimedia creators Fabian Lelay and Josephine Kim from Bad House RPG. The gang chats about post-colonial storytelling, adapting existing systems for actual play, and even some sound advice on how to get started in the AP space. If you enjoy Why We Roll and would like to support it's production, head over to patreon.com/stillfleet and become a patron today! For as little as $3 a month, you gain early access to all of the Stillfleet Studio's genre-chainsawing games, inside baseball about Why We Roll, and access to the Stillfleet Discord server. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Join Wythe and Chris as they chat with indie TTRPG creator WH Arthur about revolutionary politics in TTRPGS through his game May You Fish in Interesting Times which asks the pertinent question of what happens if the revolution fails? If you enjoy Why We Roll, consider joining us on Patreon at patreon.com/stillfleet – for just $3 a month, you gain access to early play test material, art, and our incredible Discord community! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
WWR 40 ☉ The Griffon's Saddlebag & SKELLIES w. Griffin Macaulay On this episode of Why We Roll, Wythe and Chris chat with the man who put the Griff in The Griffon's Saddlebag... Griffin Macaulay! Tune in to hear about Griff's design process and philosophy for The Griffon's Saddlebag (with books available from Hit Point Press) as well as his new game out for community playtesting, SKELLIES. Who doesn't want to be a skeletal thrall to an ancient lich? If you enjoy Why We Roll, then please give us a rating and help spread the love, or join us on Patreon. For as little as $3 a month, you gain early access to Stillfleet Studio game materials as well as our community discord! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices