The Perfect Stack of Pancakes is the fourth episode of season 3 of Adventuring Party, which features the main cast. They answer fan questions following the fifth episode of The Unsleeping City: Chapter II.
Guests[]
Cast[]
Highlights[]
The discussion centres on a particularly surprising moment in the episode when the Questing Blade chooses the wildly unsuitable Cody instead of Ricky. This sparks a lively debate about the characters' personalities, the comedic impact of this choice, and the nature of representation in storytelling, particularly concerning the introduction of a Native American character, JJ. The episode concludes with a light-hearted conversation about various personal preferences, such as desert island albums and New York pizza toppings.
Questions Asked[]
From Poltergeist: "What went through everyone's heads when the Questing Blade chose Cody? Brennan, how did it feel to pull that? Especially so early in an episode?"
Brennan reveals that this event was planned in collaboration with Zac as a prank on Murph. Only Murph was genuinely surprised by the outcome, highlighting the element of surprise as a key factor in the humour of the situation.
Several factors contributed to this scene's comedic success:
- The Questing Blade choosing Cody completely subverts the audience's expectations, as Ricky's connection to the blade was a significant part of his character in season one. This unexpected twist creates a comedic dissonance, making the moment both surprising and inherently funny.
- Despite its unexpected nature, the moment feels oddly fitting once it occurs. This is because Cody, as the "new guy," is positioned perfectly for such a comedic twist. His naivety and often clueless nature make him an unlikely but hilarious recipient of the powerful Questing Blade.
- The humour is further amplified by the contrasting reactions of the characters involved.
- Zac's portrayal of Ricky's stunned silence and barely contained frustration adds depth to the joke.
- Murph's enthusiastic and oblivious acceptance of the Questing Blade contrasts sharply with Ricky's despondency, creating further comedic tension.
- Sofia’s blunt assessment of Cody's worthiness ("He’s a piece of shit and he doesn’t deserve your sword.") adds another layer of humour.
- The diverse reactions of the players, ranging from open laughter to stunned silence, reflect the multifaceted nature of the joke. Some players were unsure if it was appropriate to laugh, highlighting the unique blend of surprise, humour, and potential awkwardness created by the situation.
Brennan describes the moment as one of the funniest things that has happened in a season of Dimension 20, and the audience reaction, both in-game and online, supports this sentiment. The Questing Blade choosing Cody serves as a prime example of how unexpected twists, strong character dynamics, and a willingness to embrace the absurd can create memorable comedic moments within a narrative.
From Mary Poppin' Daddies: "Why is the Jersey devil that way? Why are all the devils messed up hybrid zoo animals? Note, I love it but these are some nasty, weird devils."
- Brennan highlights that the Jersey Devil is a genuine cryptid from the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a creature rooted in American folklore. Old wood etchings depict the Jersey Devil with a camel-like head, a detail incorporated into its depiction in the game. This suggests a conscious decision to ground the game's portrayal of the Jersey Devil in its folkloric origins.
- Brennan further explains that the concept of devils as hybrid creatures is deeply embedded in historical depictions of demonology. Medieval grimoires and religious texts often describe demons and devils as horrifying amalgamations of animal parts, showcasing a fascination with the grotesque and monstrous. The sources suggest that "The Unsleeping City" embraces and exaggerates this tradition, using the established trope of hybrid devils as a foundation for its own unique and often comedic interpretations.
- While drawing inspiration from traditional depictions, "The Unsleeping City" injects a contemporary twist into its portrayal of devils. The Jersey Shore aesthetic, with its emphasis on tanning, partying, and vaping, is humorously juxtaposed with the traditional image of a monstrous devil. This blend of the familiar and the absurd creates a unique and memorable visual that resonates with modern audiences.
- The collaborative process between Brennan and Kendra Wells, the artist responsible for the character portraits and combat tokens, is central to the design of the devils. The email exchanges detailing the specific visual elements of the Jersey Shore Devils highlight the attention to detail and the shared vision that went into creating these memorable characters.
From Elwood: "Another very cool battle. Love Sofia diving into through the car, Kingston's Tesla strategy, et cetera. And ending the episode without the battle concluded. Love how this season's able to be a little more freeform than previous ones. Everything feels a little more unpredictable and exciting and as though pretty much anything can happen. How did the players feel about having a more unpredictable format for this campaign?"
- Brennan acknowledges the change in format, noting the cliffhanger ending before the battle's conclusion and the deviation from the strict roleplay-combat structure of previous seasons. Ally expresses their enjoyment of the change, comparing it to a real home game where anything can happen.
- Zac further expands on this, suggesting that the more freeform approach allows Brennan to improvise and create situations organically, leading to a more unpredictable experience for the players. He compares it to Brennan using a map and markers to dynamically guide the story.
- Ally even expresses interest in a completely formless season in the future, highlighting their appreciation for the added danger and unpredictability it brings from a player's perspective. They compare the feeling to being in therapy and noticing the session nearing its end, generating a sense of urgency and anticipation.
- Brennan acknowledges the benefits of the freeform style, particularly the ability to explore realistic combat scenarios that wouldn't require a full battle set and the freedom to focus on specific conflicts organically without feeling constrained by pre-determined structures.
- Lou also highlights the excitement of the unpredictable format, emphasizing the thrill of not knowing what's coming next and the potential for discovering new and unexpected storylines.
From Meredith: "I am so glad to be back in the Unsleeping City. Chapter one of the Unsleeping City was my introduction to Dimension 20 so it will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a question for Lou. At the end of the Unsleeping City chapter one, Kingston and Liz were only spending Sundays together. How do you imagine this progressed into their current relationship? Also is there a story to when and where they got Bruce? You all are so talented and wonderful and thank you for making such great content."
- Lou imagines their relationship progressed organically over time. He explains that Kingston and Liz started by spending Sundays together, but gradually began to spend more time together as they enjoyed each other's company. This eventually led to them spending every day of the week together, ultimately deciding to move in together.
- There isn't any specific information in the episode or the live play about when or how they got their dog Bruce.
From Ronnie D: "Caught that reference to the rez, is JJ native? What's his tribal affiliation background? What inspired you to include a Native character this season?"
- JJ's tribal affiliation is Seminole. This detail was suggested by Riana Elliott (DIYferret on Twitter), a Native American consultant who worked with the show's creators on JJ's characterization.
- The inspiration for JJ came from discussions with another Native American cultural consultant during a previous season's pre-production. The consultant highlighted the lack of representation of Native Americans in media and the harmful stereotypes often associated with existing portrayals. Two key points emerged from this conversation:
- Invisibility: The lack of Native American characters contributes to a sense of invisibility and erasure of their experiences and perspectives.
- Anachronism: A harmful trope in storytelling is portraying Native Americans as exclusively belonging to the past.
These discussions led to the creation of JJ, a modern-day Native American character who challenges those stereotypes. JJ is a technomancer, a wizard who uses technology to innovate within magic. He is a physics and time particles student who moved to New York City with academic ambitions, embodying the aspirations and experiences of a contemporary individual. This characterization purposefully places JJ in a modern setting, breaking free from the limiting trope of Native Americans solely existing in the past and reflecting the consultant's desire to see Native representation in diverse settings, including the "bridge of a starship".
Brennan emphasizes his enthusiasm for having JJ as part of "The Unsleeping City" cast, highlighting his unique skillset and his journey as someone new to the city who discovers the world of magic.
From Sandy F: "Do you have a pre-recording ritual to get you mentally and physically ready to RP for a long stretch?"
The cast members offer a range of lighthearted and humorous responses:
- Ally, Siobhan and Lou joke that he yells "tits" multiple times.
- Siobhan says the cast giggles a lot.
- Lou eats a meal that he didn't pay for, typically snacks left for him.
- Lou checks the starting lineup for the New York Islanders, in case he needs to confidently discuss the roster.
This suggests that the cast doesn't have any specific or structured pre-recording rituals. Instead, they seem to focus on creating a relaxed and playful atmosphere before filming.
- Siobhan adds that they sometimes "talk shit to each other" as a warm-up. They also played a "kink questionnaire" once, although Murph declined to participate.
- Brennan, on the other hand, focuses on "furiously consulting [his] notes" as his primary pre-recording ritual. The cast jokes that this involves "crushing half a pack of Camels".
- The cast answers highlight the contrast between Brennan's more serious and focused approach to preparation and the cast's more casual and fun-loving pre-recording activities. This difference in approach likely reflects their distinct roles within the show. As the Dungeon Master, Brennan has the responsibility of crafting the narrative and guiding the story, demanding a higher degree of preparation and focus. The cast, on the other hand, can embrace a more relaxed and improvisational approach, allowing for spontaneity and unexpected moments of humour.
From Meredith: "You've talked bagels and coffee, what makes the perfect New York pizza toppings?”
- Brennan suggests a "solid pepperoni pie from like an unpretentious [place]", recommending establishments like Fat Sal's or Original Ray's. This implies a preference for traditional, no-frills pizza that focuses on quality ingredients and simple flavours.
- A significant portion of the conversation centres on Artichoke Pizza, a New York institution known for its creamy, artichoke-based topping. While Lou expresses a deep love for this unique style, even taking an Uber to satisfy his craving , Siobhan considers it an "abomination".
- Despite their enthusiasm for pizza, the cast doesn't arrive at a consensus on a single "best" topping or pizzeria.
From Bon Mot Joe: "What would each of the PCs and their players have as their desert island album?"
- Kingston: Lou chose "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis for Kingston. Lou acknowledges it's a "contentious" choice but stands by it.
- Ricky: Zac picked "Jock Jams" for Ricky. He humorously describes it as a "loose" CD Ricky received for his birthday in the fourth grade and has cherished ever since.
- Iga: Siobhan opted for a double CD of Christmas music for Iga.
- Pete: Ally chose "The Prodigy" for Pete.
- Lou: Lou chose "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West for himself. He notes that it is a "contentious" choice, especially in the current climate.
- Siobhan: Siobhan chose "Blue" by Joni Mitchell for herself, after initially considering "Graceland" by Paul Simon.
- Zac: Zac had difficulty selecting an album but ultimately landed on "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire. He acknowledges that it was an album he listened to extensively at a specific time in his life, but isn't sure if it would be his choice now.
- Ally: Ally chose "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac for themself.
- Brennan: Brennan chose "Talking Book" by Stevie Wonder. He explains that he considers it a good morale booster for difficult times.
Brennan also suggests that Alejandro would have similar music taste to Kingston, gravitating towards classic jazz. He specifically mentions Celia Cruz as a likely addition to Alejandro's playlist.
For Esther, Brennan suggests either "ArchAndroid" by Janelle Monáe or "Blue" by Joni Mitchell. He explains that Esther's "complex relationship to sadness" makes these albums resonate with her character.
From: Small Time Tommy: “A few of us online noticed that the art for Tony Simos seems to at least have been inspired by "Survivor" winner, Tony Vlachos. Was he the visual inspiration for the character and if so, did he influence the character’s personality at all?”
- Brennan clarifies that Tony Simos's design predates his introduction to Tony Vlachos. However, he acknowledges that there are unavoidable similarities, describing both as "extremely muscular, sunburnt New York area [guys] with tribal tattoos".
- Brennan explains that Tony Simos is modelled after a specific "type" he's encountered in real life: "shorter [men] with a] brick house build [and] intense energy". This archetype is also reflected in Tony Vlachos, according to Brennan.
- Siobhan offers her own comedic take on this "type", describing an individual she met in an improv class who fit the description.
- While Tony Vlachos wasn't the direct inspiration for the character, Brennan acknowledges that Tony Simos embodies a familiar archetype that Vlachos also exemplifies.