Author Archives: rogertravisjr

About rogertravisjr

Classicist, game critic, game educator.

Symposium 2 February 2023: The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game (redux)

Posted on January 30, 2023 by rogertravisjr

For this month’s symposium, I’d like to revisit LOTRTCG through the lens of our experiences playing it over the last few months. In particular, how does the experience of playing a cooperative adventure card game influence our understanding of any … Continue reading →

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Symposium 1 September: Marvel Continuity

Posted on August 28, 2022 by rogertravisjr

When Chris Claremont gave us Giant-Size X–Men #1, did he — whether literally or metaphorically speaking — change the game of Marvel continuity, repurposing the moribund Uncanny X-Men to tell a new kind of story? Or did the game actually … Continue reading →

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Symposium 5 May 2022: Elden Ring

Posted on May 2, 2022 by rogertravisjr

Really I just want to hear everyone else talk about any/all of the following: What specific characteristics of the game set it up for discussion as “the greatest video game of all time”? Is the lore intentionally impenetrable? What comparisons … Continue reading →

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Symposium, 6 January 2022

Posted on January 2, 2022 by rogertravisjr

I’m going to continue on with my symposium series about what I call the cooperative adventure card game. This time around, I’m hoping to zoom in on The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game, though with the usual call … Continue reading →

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Symposium, 2 September 2021: The Cooperative Adventure Card Game

Posted on August 28, 2021 by rogertravisjr

“Cooperative Adventure Card Game” (CACG) is my term for the genre that includes the LCGs I’ve been bringing to my last few symposia. What is it, though? Clearly the genre comprises not only The Lord of the Rings: The Card … Continue reading →

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Symposium, 5 August 2021: Super Metroid

Posted on August 3, 2021 by rogertravisjr

For this month’s symposium, new moderator Captain Quasar will lead our discussion on this classic. He writes: Thank you for allowing me to lead this symposium, especially for a game I love so much. Super Metroid is considered one of … Continue reading →

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Symposium and Playversation, 1 April 2021: Marvel Champions: The Card Game

Posted on March 29, 2021 by rogertravisjr

We’ll continue exploring the Fantasy Flight Games cooperative Living Card Game (LCG) as a rogue-like epic occasion on Thursday, with a playversation streamed on my Twitch channel, if I can get it going. Here’s a post-series (follow back from the … Continue reading →

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Symposium playversation: Arkham Horror: The Card Game, part 2, 1 December 2020

Posted on November 29, 2020 by rogertravisjr

In my first foray into playversing about AHLCG, I think I managed to make clear how the basic mechanics of the LCG genre provide a fascinating platform for blended linear and emergent storytelling. Above all, the confrontation of player deck … Continue reading →

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Symposium Playversation: Arkham Horror: The Card Game, 4 June 2020

Posted on May 29, 2020 by rogertravisjr

I’m fascinated by the co-op LCG genre, so I’ll want to talk about how its mix of deck-building, narrative, and co-op mechanics create its particular style of immersion. When we dabbled in the digital version of Lord of the Rings: … Continue reading →

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Symposium Playversation, 5 December 2019: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Posted on December 1, 2019 by rogertravisjr

Can playing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic save civilization? We’re going to find out! We’ll discuss the question on Discord, from several different perspectives, as I play the classic RPG this Thursday at 8:30pm EDT / 5:30pm PDT. … Continue reading →

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