RDTN Episode 173 Pairs a Keep-Forever Top Five With Imperial Settlers Roll & Write

Episode 173 builds its discussion around a useful distinction for collectors: a game only qualifies for the hosts’ Top 5 if they own a physical copy. That rule makes the list a snapshot of what has earned shelf space, rather than a ranking of every game they’ve enjoyed. The episode also brings Vanessa back to the microphone to review Imperial Settlers Roll and Write, with the host flagging its relationship between actions and resources as the part players may need time to grasp.

A top five with a clear ownership test

The hosts are changing their usual format to name five games they would not get rid of. The eligibility rule is straightforward: each pick must be in the speaker’s own collection. A game at a friend’s house doesn’t count, and neither does a title they’ve played and liked without buying a copy.

That boundary gives the conversation a particular focus. A shelf-based list asks what a game has done to earn a lasting place in someone’s collection, not just what made a good impression during a play. Ownership doesn’t prove a game is the best choice for every group, of course. It does make the list personal in a concrete way: these are titles the hosts have chosen to keep close at hand.

The distinction also leaves room for games that are harder to find. The source notes that some of the picks are out of print, while others remain easy to obtain. It doesn’t identify the five games in the article text, so listeners looking for the full list will need the episode itself. Even without the names, the format gives the segment a clear premise: each choice has to stand up as part of a collection, rather than as a fond memory of a single play.

For listeners, that’s a handy way to hear a personal ranking. When someone names a favorite game, it can be useful to know whether they own it, have played it elsewhere or are judging it from a limited encounter. Here, the hosts make that distinction part of the rules from the start. It keeps the list grounded in the games they can actually bring to the table.

Imperial Settlers Roll and Write puts a wrinkle in the decision loop

Vanessa returns to the show to review the new Imperial Settlers Roll and Write game alongside Marty. The host’s main observation is about how actions and resources fit together: after playing, they expect some people may find that relationship challenging at first, but say it should click after a couple of rolls.

That’s a useful point to listen for in a roll-and-write review. Rolling may be the most visible part of a game in that format, but the central decision often comes from working out what a result lets you do and what you need to spend or collect to make that action worthwhile. If those pieces take a few turns to connect, the early learning curve may feel different from the rhythm players settle into later. The episode’s comment suggests that patience through those opening rolls matters.

The source doesn’t detail the game’s turn sequence, player count, play time or specific rules, so those particulars are best left to the review rather than guessed at. What it does offer is a focused expectation: players may need a little time to understand the action-and-resource demands, and the reviewer expects repetition to help. For a game group deciding whether to try it, that’s a practical question to keep in mind. Are players comfortable learning a decision system over the first few turns, or do they prefer a game whose choices make immediate sense?

Vanessa’s return is also part of the episode’s appeal. The host says she’s a joy to have on the show, and the review gives her and Marty room to discuss the title together. Their segment starts at 30:50, following the top five discussion, which begins at 11:50.

The rest of the episode’s table

Tiny Towns appears at 39:30, after a segment linking to Portal Games at 38:15. The source gives no description of the Tiny Towns discussion, so there’s no basis here for claiming what the hosts say about its rules or play. Its place in the rundown does show that Episode 173 moves on from the featured review to another game before turning to a documentary project and game table.

At 44:55, the schedule points to the Game Designers Documentary. The Outburst Game Table follows at 49:30, and The Broken Token link appears at 54:25. Earlier in the episode, listeners can find a Miniature Market segment at 10:55. These timestamps offer a quick route through an episode with several distinct stops: a personal collection list, a roll-and-write review and further game-related segments.

The hosts close the preview by looking ahead to the next episode, where Marty plans to share his Greatest Hits from Origins. That gives the series a natural next listening point, while Episode 173 stands on its own for players interested in how the hosts define a keeper. Start with the ownership rule, then listen for how Vanessa and Marty explain the learning curve in Imperial Settlers Roll and Write.