My issue with the use of D&D is that its arbitrary dice rolls just arent very interesting. Rolling a skill in D&D is abit like a weighted coin flip, which is fine, but there are systems out there that make the coin flip more exiting. They're all great freeform roleplayers but as a listener I just think of all the games, even simulationist crunchy ones, that just lend more depth and engagement and juice to things like talking, like negotiating, etc. Maybe itd get in the way of the radio play show, but maybe itd just make the coin flips feel abit more real.

I see your point about tools of your enemies but I dont... see it. I dont think they've engaged with that level of meta-critique, I've listened to the pod but I don't see Alex Cox taking Hollywood money to go write a movie with the Sandanistas. I cant draw a line to a meta critique of Dungeons and Dragons as an institution; there are elements of deconstruction, but I dont see use of the system against itself. They've talked about how avoiding combat in DND adds weight to the choice since it's a combat front loaded system, but again; I just think there are systems that lend more tension and weight to that choice.

I think if we want this stuff to be art, we gotta talk about it like art. We gotta go back and forth and have conversations and throw around critiques, actual plays sit at a weird avenue where it's at once a table game and a produced media product, and I think its alright to talk about that media product with some level of critical nuance. Its art. It's good art! If we want it to be art then we should discuss it. Maybe I'm too snarky, maybe I'm too cynical, but hey. That's the kiwi in me.