Lore is an intrinsic piece to any tcg! It is the glue that holds everything together: after all what would a video game be without a story.
This medium allows for such unique story telling, as you all have stated, each card acts as both narrative and game play piece! Thank you for bringing more attention onto such an important part of the game!

This is such a timely episode because my wife raised a concern regarding ludo-narrative dissonance the other day. Paraphrasing, she said "I like Flesh and Blood, but a lot of the time, I don't understand WHY these characters are fighting. Like I don't think Dorinthea would go out of her way to pick a fight with Dash, aren't they on the same side?"

She mused about having a TCG where the combat between characters felt heavier on the lore side of things and players had more of an impact on the overarching story of the game, which made us aware of Legend of the Five Rings and all the ways that the tourneys of that game actually changed the way that the game evolved.

Now, obviously, they are lofty heights to expect any game to reach, and FaB has always felt like way more of a competitive, mechanics first game. But if I was to compare it to something like a Fighting game (as tired as that comparison is), people are still drawn to characters based on their story, their personality, the way that they carry themselves outside of the fights. The grand lore of the game could probably do with some work, but I think that the characters themselves, when LSS actually puts the time and effort into designing them, can really leave an impact on people.

It's one of the reasons why I've never really liked the concept of "Date the hero, marry the class". I don't like Riptide cause he's a Ranger. I like him because he's Riptide. He's unique, both in gameplay and overall aesthetics. That resonated with me and kept me going back to him. Even now, I struggle to find a character (outside of maybe Lyath) who I like the overall art direction and story of more than Riptide, even though LSS has only ever written a single lore article for him.

41:04 Scillo is fighting his inner demons, PTSD nightmare fight, visiting daugobah or an attempted manipulation from the old ones(Step Between). Kayo got me interested in the lore because you can experience his story.

I feel like there are a lot more subtle narratives that you miss. One example is nebula blade.  If you look at how nebula blade works having to use a non-attack action before it comes to its full power, it's like charging it up. It's like using magic empowering the blade which follows with the story that viserai had because he also needs to use rune blade non-attack actions to generate his rune chants and power up

the lore of fab is one of the big things that have kept me into the game for 6 plus years now. Really wish they'd release another lore book or segment their website into stories based on each region and a TIMELINE.

This is the Best episode you’ve done so far.

you guys do such a phenomenal job

Somebody else mentioned it but this is probably one of your best episodes yet! Loved the topic, how in depth and focused you were.

So the astral bridge is the bridge to the auric keep. It no longer exists it disappeared after everyone crossed

Hey merchant and hard are sick! In UPF and PvE (fanmade) they are great support heroes who can coast it to the end game and use politics to their advantage. Magrar dosent help that much, mind you.though

In the story for gravy, I believe he sees puffins airship but they don't interact

Generally agree, just wish more cards had flavor text. Esp the MANY with the space for it....
Also reprint the damn lore book!! Make it paperback for all i care

I can't help but feel like the Zyggy was a perfect storm and just a "this is a completely new deck that no-one knows what it does" situation



What happens if you force them to discard / banish that GIAF?

Obviously I'm not downplaying the skill of the player, but it just feels a bit... 😅