Amazing Gamers was thrilled to welcome former colleague and Kirby enthusiast Rachel to the discussion this week.

Rachel works for a program that supports family caregivers, and we discussed the importance of Caring for the Caregiver—both the clinical sense and the sense of self care in a busy world. We also touched on:

• Kirby is just perfect sometimes
• Big Sis and the legendary console candy bar dispenser
• Rachel’s co-op games: It Takes Two, A Way Out (and me recommending Pikmin 3)
• Losing sleep over games; the Scruffy gateway to FNAF
• The best day on the calendar for a birthday (it’s just facts)
• My never-ending FF7 Rebirth and Trails from Zero playthrough

The Amazing Gamers podcast was an all-star edition today, with Nintendo Force staff writer Maggie Jones Lutey (Avenger Mags on social) and my original D&D buddy, Ed Hopkins, joining the chat.

Topics included:

• how we discovered RPGs
• our most infamous adventures
• when role playing gets a bit out of pocket
• that priceless moment I realizing just how off-the-mark our many expeditions to save Durin’s belt from Moria really were…

I also discussed the art of making counter-offers to a demanding four-year-old, loving Ravenloft, and how Ed’s fighter characters reminded me of Dunk, from the Dunk and Egg stories.

We also touched on Xenoblade Chronicles X, loving Borderlands, Talisman, FF7 Rebirth, and Trails from Zero.

The Amazing Gamers podcast welcomed an old friend into the chat this week, with longtime media pro and comic book expert Dana Forsythe. The discussion included:

• Transformers then and now
• Getting into the convention scene—when we met Frank Quitely
• Why fandom—and your local fandom scene-- matters
• Managing your fandom
• Great recommendations on where to buy comics in the Boston area
• Best of the Devil May Cry series
• Sharing what you loved with your kids—sometimes not exactly as you remembered it!

Random Nathan Stories:

• Voice actors we’ve met and follow/ my favorite bit of Frank Welker trivia
• Rankin Bass Hobbit > Peter Jackson Hobbit
• Sonic Comics real?
• Loving the Wii and Retro gaming

This was a great discussion. Looking forward to chatting with Dana again soon!