Steve Arnott

It's much more fun. Yeah, like, you know, we're just not playing that game anymore. So I guess, yeah, it needs a lot more stress testing from that perspective. So there are lots of differences, and we've touched on a few. But what would you say is similar? What are the overlaps you've both experienced when designing board games and designing tabletop RPGs? What's the same?

It's much more fun. Yeah, like, you know, we're just not playing that game anymore. So I guess, yeah, it needs a lot more stress testing from that perspective. So there are lots of differences, and we've touched on a few. But what would you say is similar? What are the overlaps you've both experienced when designing board games and designing tabletop RPGs? What's the same?

Okay, but you'd say it's going to be as a board game opposed to be as an RPG system.

Okay, but you'd say it's going to be as a board game opposed to be as an RPG system.

Yeah, so it's fair to say that all your RPG experience has really heavily influenced your board game design because it's very much in that framework.

Yeah, so it's fair to say that all your RPG experience has really heavily influenced your board game design because it's very much in that framework.

Yeah, but Mark, what's similar for you? So we're wandering into a different question, which is what's the difference between board game and RPG? But let's stay on topic. So what's similar for you, Mark, when you're designing board games versus RPGs?

Yeah, but Mark, what's similar for you? So we're wandering into a different question, which is what's the difference between board game and RPG? But let's stay on topic. So what's similar for you, Mark, when you're designing board games versus RPGs?

No, I see what you mean. I mean, for me, I'm not as fussy about RPG system. Like you say, it's more about the people I'm sharing a table with. But for me, I feel there's more pressure on a tabletop experience because there's more commitment from me, even as a player. I know I'm going to sit down, even to do a one-shot, this is going to be about four hours.

No, I see what you mean. I mean, for me, I'm not as fussy about RPG system. Like you say, it's more about the people I'm sharing a table with. But for me, I feel there's more pressure on a tabletop experience because there's more commitment from me, even as a player. I know I'm going to sit down, even to do a one-shot, this is going to be about four hours.

And of course, there are board games that last four hours. There's some that last like eight to 12 hours. But... A lot of board games now are like, you get ones that are between like 30 minutes and two hours, and that's generally what a lot of board games I play are.

And of course, there are board games that last four hours. There's some that last like eight to 12 hours. But... A lot of board games now are like, you get ones that are between like 30 minutes and two hours, and that's generally what a lot of board games I play are.

And so that kind of takes the pressure off the experience for me, especially if it's something like Split the Horde that's like 20, 30 minutes. I'm like, okay, well, even if I don't like this, it's not a lot of my time. But for an RPG, if I'm worried that I'm not going to like something, I'm like, I've got to commit and sit there for four hours. It feels... I don't know. That's another difference.

And so that kind of takes the pressure off the experience for me, especially if it's something like Split the Horde that's like 20, 30 minutes. I'm like, okay, well, even if I don't like this, it's not a lot of my time. But for an RPG, if I'm worried that I'm not going to like something, I'm like, I've got to commit and sit there for four hours. It feels... I don't know. That's another difference.

Fair enough, fair enough. I'm going to rope us back though to that problematic question, just so we can start a flame war on the internet, about what defines the difference between an RPG and a board game. Because I've heard, it seems people have some interesting discussions about that. And some of those very obvious ones, like Dungeons and Dragons is an RPG, chess is more of like a board game.

Fair enough, fair enough. I'm going to rope us back though to that problematic question, just so we can start a flame war on the internet, about what defines the difference between an RPG and a board game. Because I've heard, it seems people have some interesting discussions about that. And some of those very obvious ones, like Dungeons and Dragons is an RPG, chess is more of like a board game.

But I've seen some people talking about different games, like There are some board games that are very narratively led, like Above and Below or Gloomhaven, HeroQuest. And I've had some people discuss that they believe that Gloomhaven or HeroQuest are RPGs, whereas I tend to think of them as board games.

But I've seen some people talking about different games, like There are some board games that are very narratively led, like Above and Below or Gloomhaven, HeroQuest. And I've had some people discuss that they believe that Gloomhaven or HeroQuest are RPGs, whereas I tend to think of them as board games.

What's one of those? It's going to start arguments.

What's one of those? It's going to start arguments.