Rephonic
Artwork for Why We Roll
Tabletop Role-Playing Games
Game Design
Blister Critters
Game Mechanics
Indie Ttrpgs
Tabletop Roleplaying Games
Twice Rolled Tales
Competition
Community Dynamics
Indie Rpgs
Indie Games
Fantasy Genre
Indie Game Design
Espionage
Community-Driven Creativity
Magpie Games
Borough Bound
Music In Games
TTRPG Design
Kickstarter

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. Top... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes81Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesDesignLeisureArts

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Artwork for Why We Roll

Latest Episodes

Howdy, space cowboy! Welcome back to Why We Roll, where we're continuing our Orbital Blues Month series with module designer, adventure writer, and the brains behind Vaulted Pyramid, Josh Domanski. We cover Josh's impressive catalog of zines for Moth... more

Welcome back to Why We Roll, where even space cowgirls get the blues. Join us as we chat with Zach "Jelly Muppet" Cox (they/them) of SoulMuppet Publishing, one of three co-creators of the rules-lite space western RPG, Orbital Blues. We talk genre, th... more

On this episode we sit down with Arakauna Media's Federico Sohns to talk about their games Nibiru and Zephyr. Make sure to tune in as we discuss Nibiru's exploration of the bicameral mind through integrated mechanics, imagining economies beyond debt ... more

We're back for more Why We Roll in 2026! After a short break, we kick off our third season of Why We Roll talking about upcoming guests and episodes, ideas we're excited about in the world of TTRPGs, and even a sneak peak at both of our new projects ... more

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Recent Guests

Zach Cox
Z jelly Muppet, founder/owner of SoulMuppet Publishing
SoulMuppet Publishing
Episode: WWR 74 ☉ Orbital Blues Month w. Zach "Jelly Muppet" Cox
Federico Sohns
Argentinian TTRPG designer, Araukana Media
Araukana Media
Episode: WWR 73 ☉ Araukana Media w. Federico Sohns
Christopher Pickett
Artist, game designer, and creator of Danse Macabre Medieval Horror Roleplaying
Stillfleet Studio
Episode: WWR BONUS ☉ Perfect Ten x Why We Roll: Elden Ring
Moss Powers
Creator of Hellwhalers and various titles through Brewist
Brewist
Episode: WWR 71 ☉ HELLWHALERS with Moss Powers
Anthony Kurza
Educator and tabletop games creator, specializing in educational use of TTRPGs
Episode: WWR 70 ☉ TTRPGS & Education w. Anthony Kurza
John Boyle
Game designer at Bright Bard.
Bright Bard
Episode: WWR 69 ☉ On the floor at PAX Unplugged 2025
Mike Underwood
Game designer and narrative writer.
Darrington Press
Episode: WWR 69 ☉ On the floor at PAX Unplugged 2025
JD Clément
Game designer and creator of Hypermall Unlimited Violence.
Rat Bastard Games
Episode: WWR 68 ☉ HyperMall: Unlimited Violence w. JD Clément
Will Jobst
Creator of Plasmodics: Mutant Freaks in the Weird Future
Good Luck Press
Episode: WWR 67 ☉ Plasmodics w. Will Jobst

Hosts

Christopher Pickett
Co-hosts Why We Roll; designer/creator of Danse Macabre; extensive involvement in indie RPG development and podcast production
Wythe Marschall
Co-host of Why We Roll; game master; organizer and creator involved in Stillfleet and Dungeons and Drama Nerds projects

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • An overtly leftist platform ranting clumsily about how superior they are. Not great.

    Podcast Addict
    1
    saltylight
    2 years ago

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Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts
#165
Belgium/Leisure/Games

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

WWR 73 ☉ Araukana Media w. Federico Sohns
Q: How does Zephyr's token system reflect its anarchist, non-state worldbuilding?
Zephyr uses colored Zephyr tokens that form the players' bodies; you spend these tokens to push through dangers, which physically encodes ecology and interdependence, reinforcing the idea that social structures arise from collective action rather than centralized authority.
WWR 73 ☉ Araukana Media w. Federico Sohns
Q: What is Nibiru conceptually, and how does its world support the memory-focused mechanic?
Nibiru is a colossal space station with sections defined by gravity that influence the kinds of stories told—political in core areas, underclass struggles in other zones—while a memory pool fuels journaling-like memories that can grant bonuses or penalties, tying identity directly to memory mechanics.
WWR 71 ☉ HELLWHALERS with Moss Powers
Q: Can you walk us through what is Hellwhalers?
Moss provided an overview, explaining that Hellwhalers is a token-based game where players act as damned whalers in a nautical horror setting, seeking redemption and facing a leviathan.
WWR 71 ☉ HELLWHALERS with Moss Powers
Q: What's your history with tabletop role playing games?
Moss discusses starting with imagination games in childhood and his journey through various iterations of tabletop RPGs, highlighting significant games like D&D and Call of Cthulhu and how he transitioned into game design.
WWR 68 ☉ HyperMall: Unlimited Violence w. JD Clément
Q: JD, how did you get into tabletop roleplaying games?
I started playing tabletop roleplaying games when my babysitter introduced me to 3.5.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Why We Roll

What is Why We Roll about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A focused deep-dive show on designing tabletop roleplaying games, with host duo Chris Pickett and Wythe Marschall guiding conversations with professional indie designers. Episodes frequently center on game design philosophy, mechanics, world-building, and the business side of indie RPGs, often pairing design discussions with actual-play sessions or behind-the-scenes looks at new releases. Notable threads across episodes include innovative mechanics (duet rules, card-based or mutation systems), the role of narrative and safety in play, community-building through crowdfunding and live events, and the intersection of design with education, charity, and politics. The format consistently highlights practical insights for aspiring designers, publ... more

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1. Board Gamers Anonymous

How many episodes of Why We Roll are there?

Why We Roll launched 3 years ago and published 81 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Why We Roll?

Recent guests on Why We Roll include:

1. Zach Cox
2. Federico Sohns
3. Christopher Pickett
4. Moss Powers
5. Anthony Kurza
6. John Boyle
7. Mike Underwood
8. JD Clément

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