Why We Roll

The Stillfleet Studio

Details

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.

Recent Episodes

OCT 1, 2026
WWR 100 ☉ Episode 100! w. Lauren Bilanko, Daniel Kwan, Sam Sorenson, & Arthur Wells
Join us for a very special Episode 100 of the roleplaying game podcast Why We Roll! Wythe Marschall (Stillfleet, PICARO!) chats about the future of indie RPGs with judges from the Grit System Game Jam: Daniel Kwan, Arthur Wells, Sam Sorensen, and Lauren Bilanko. (Dear Rollers, don't worry: we'll host a whole separate retrospective with cohost Christopher Pickett of Danse Macabre!) Thanks to everyone who's joined us and shared their wisdom and creativity on 100 numbered and a dozen-odd bonus episodes. Real talk—YOU are Why We Roll! ☉ Sam Sorensen's blog is full of that deep stuff https://samsorensen.blot.im/ ☉ Daniel Kwan has written a ton of game books https://danielhkwan.carrd.co/ ☉ Daniel's podcast, Asians Represent, is rad https://aznsrepresent.carrd.co/ ☉ Arthur Wells is an amazing AP performer and designs games https://wherewolf.itch.io/ ☉ Lauren Bilanko runs the belovèd Twenty Sided Store https://twentysidedstore.com/ ☉ Lauren is also working on a game, Mystic Aether https://bilanko.com/blogs/mystic-aeth... Shouting out our friends at Plus One Exp, we at Stillfleet Studio have two relevant projects to plug: ☉ For Appndx N Jam, we made “The Weird of the Winter Worm” https://stillfleet.itch.io/the-weird-... ☉ With our greater Stillfleet and Danse Macabre community, we've developed a new game—ULTRADELVE https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/... ☉ Join the conversation: https://discord.stillfleet.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
79 MIN
SEP 10, 2026
WWR 97 ☉ All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions w. Benjamen Eastman
On this episode of WWR, Benjamin L. Eastman (A Lease on Art, All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions) joins Christopher Pickett (Danse Macabre) and Wythe Marschall (Stillfleet, PICARO!) to chat about Ben's (and Quarex's!) podcast All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions (AYIDAGC), steps towards getting freelance writing work in TTRPGs, adventure writing for cons and beyond, and more! ☉ Connect with All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions: https://linktr.ee/dreamaboutgamingconventions ☉ Find AYIDAGC events: https://linktr.ee/rageevents Ben Eastman's TTRPG adventure writing and game design: ☉"Flickering Hope in Fusang" for Appndx N Jam 2026: https://eastmabl.itch.io/flickering-h... — N.B., you can also get Wythe and Tony Grasso's Appndx N Jam entry: https://stillfleet.itch.io/the-weird-... ☉A Lease on Art (RPG Zine Club, Plus One Experience): https://plusoneexp.com/products/a-lea... ☉Defenestration of the Fell Queen on RPG Trader: https://rpg-trader.com/products/7520/... ☉Hastening Doom (Kobold Press): https://koboldpress.com/kpstore/produ... ☉Join the playtest for Risk & Roll at Gamehole Con: https://www.gameholecon.com/events/ev... ☉Stay tuned for Ben's adventure for Return to Dark Tower Fantasy Roleplaying (9th Level Games): https://9thlevel.com/products/return-... ☉Join the conversation on the Stillfleet Studio Discord: https://discord.stillfleet.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
66 MIN