Episode 3 of ASN – Pull Up a Chair turned into an honest, wide-ranging conversation about how tabletop sports gaming impacts our mental health — both in positive ways and in ways we don’t always talk about. What started as a planned episode became a two-hour live discussion fueled by community participation, reflection, and shared experiences. We talked about why gaming can be grounding, when it can become draining, how burnout shows up in the hobby, and why giving ourselves permission to pause matters. This episode is about balance, awareness, and remembering why we play in the first place — together.

Episode 2 of ASN – Pull Up a Chair was exactly what this show is meant to be — a relaxed, thoughtful conversation that went well beyond the outline and into the heart of tabletop sports gaming.

Joined by Grant Fines (49 Games), Tom Abbott, and Michael Canestrari III, the discussion covered everything from replay philosophy and long-term projects to game design, realism, and what actually keeps people coming back to the table year after year.

We talked about:

• Why tabletop sports games still matter in a digital-first world

• The appeal of season replays, deep dives, and “what-if” scenarios

• How gamers approach replays differently — and why that’s a strength

• Developer perspective vs. player perspective, and where they overlap

• Community, creativity, and the stories that emerge once the dice start rolling

What started as a structured conversation quickly turned into an organic roundtable — the kind you’d expect when experienced gamers and a developer pull up a chair and just start talking shop.

If you enjoy tabletop sports, replay gaming, and thoughtful conversation that respects both the hobby and the people in it, this episode delivers.

Episode 2 of ASN – Pull Up a Chair was exactly what this show is meant to be — a relaxed, thoughtful conversation that went well beyond the outline and into the heart of tabletop sports gaming.

Joined by Grant Fines (49 Games), Tom Abbott, and Michael Canestrari III, the discussion covered everything from replay philosophy and long-term projects to game design, realism, and what actually keeps people coming back to the table year after year.

We talked about:

• Why tabletop sports games still matter in a digital-first world

• The appeal of season replays, deep dives, and “what-if” scenarios

• How gamers approach replays differently — and why that’s a strength

• Developer perspective vs. player perspective, and where they overlap

• Community, creativity, and the stories that emerge once the dice start rolling

What started as a structured conversation quickly turned into an organic roundtable — the kind you’d expect when experienced gamers and a developer pull up a chair and just start talking shop.

If you enjoy tabletop sports, replay gaming, and thoughtful conversation that respects both the hobby and the people in it, this episode delivers.