Transcript
Alex Roberts, designer of Star Crossed and For the Queen, joins me to talk about pity points from Kagematsu, a mechanic that doesn't actually do anything itself beyond evoke a particular feeling when put in opposition to love points.
This episode is what I always dreamed Dice Exploder could be. We start from a simple game mechanic, but we get into power dynamics at the table in the past and the future, how people treat you when you’re disabled, cultural appropriation, my personal techniques for flirting, details of a new game Alex is working on, and of course “what is the true nature of love?”
Happy day after Valentine’s Day.
Further Reading
Kagematsu is no longer available in print or online
Kagematsu actual play, featuring Alex, on the One Shot podcast
What Dice Do blogpost by Graham Walmsley
The Quiet Year by Avery Alder
Alex’s finished podcast Backstory
Star Crossed by Alex Roberts
For the Queen, second edition coming May 14th from Darrington Press
Socials
Alex’s personal carrd page
Sam on Bluesky and itch.
The Dice Exploder blog is at diceexploder.com
Our logo was designed by sporgory, our theme song is Sunset Bridge by Purely Grey, and our ad music is Lily Pads by my boi Travis Tessmer.
Join the Dice Exploder Discord to talk about the show!
Designer Commentary: Space Fam
Game Exploder Jam Roundup
Everyone Adds a Detail (Stewpot) with Lee Conrads
Playlists (Ribbon Drive) with Takuma Okada
Fan Mail (Primetime Adventures) with Meguey Baker
Playbooks and Communication with Moe Poplar
Exploding Dice with Mikey Hamm
Innovation in Game Design with James Wallis
Lyrical Ludology: A New Show About Lyric Games
Solo Game Prompts with Seb Pines
Character Sheets with Emanoel Melo
Third Party License (Mork Borg) with Strega Wolf van den Berg
Rumor Tables (Lorn Song of the Bachelor) with Nova
The Risk Sheet (Psi*Run) with John Harper
Dice Exploder: Season 3 Trailer
2023 Year End Bonanza
Designer Commentary: i know the end
Accessibility and Graphic Design (Mork Borg) with Marc Muszynski
Customizing Games for Your Table with Nychelle Schneider
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dear Alice | Interior Design
99% Invisible
The John Clay Wolfe Show
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Federalist Papers
How to Decorate
The Messy City Podcast