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Explore every episode of the podcast Nerdcognito
Dive into the complete episode list for Nerdcognito. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 239: WotC Forces OneDND on EVERYONE Using D&D Beyond | 27 Aug 2024 | 01:04:05 | |
Well, Wizards of the Coast (with lots of Hasbro fingerprints) has stuck it to fans again -- this time, their 5e base. WotC has chosen to force the shift to OneDND and will auto convert all materials in D&D Beyond to the new platform, once again breaking their word about backwards compatibility. The SparkleTroll crowd is NOT happy. Can we utilize this move to save one or more 5e darlings and bolster our corner of the hobby? A detailed discussion between Ryan, Bert, and Kyle; and the stances the three take about saving (or not saving) the mainstream will surprise you!
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The News:
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven for your table! A complete forest town with NPCs, events, environments, shops, surroundings, and lots of random tables!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
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| Fudging: Barkeep's Banter with the Elven Maid Inn - #001 | 25 Aug 2024 | 00:13:44 | |
In the debut episode of the Elven Maid Inn's short-form show, she talks about Fudging and it's implications and impact on games and the hobby.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 230: WotC's Hideous, Woke, and Racist Art Drop | 25 Jun 2024 | 01:03:51 | |
Wizards of the Coast has dropped a bunch of the "New" Dungeons & Dragons art... and it is just as hideous, woke, and racist as you could hope for. The guys talk about some of the more outlandish pieces and discuss how art, generally, is important to the hobby and hooks players in each game. Are some of these pieces intentionally horrific? Then, after a trip to DnD Reddit, the news keeps us cool in a very unique way before ending up with some quality "modern journalism."
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 229: D&D, Influenced by It's Own Supplements! | 18 Jun 2024 | 01:04:14 | |
The "Dungeons and Dragons," TTRPG hobby has a boatload of influences... but is unique in the fact that it often influences.... itself. The guys talk about pivotal supplements that have shaped the hobby and how modern guidance continues to change our beloved passion. Plus everything from Critical Role to "ding dong" in the news! You won't want to miss this week's show!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 228: Gaming Group Meeting Failures; Unfathomable Board Game Revisited | 11 Jun 2024 | 01:02:51 | |
In this episode, the gang talk about the TTRPG curse older than time: Getting the group together. Inevitably, every group is going to ride the rocky road of scheduling. Why is this the killing blow for some groups? How can you pivot? Is it the end of the D&D World? Then after the news, as requested by the Nerdcognito Nation, the boys revisit, run down, and review the excellent co-op/traitor board game, Unfathomable!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 227: 40+ "Rules" for the TTRPG Table... (He's not wrong!) | 04 Jun 2024 | 00:59:48 | |
A frustrated Dungeon Master presented his players (do they play?) with a list of "rules" that were going to be implemented moving forward. While clearly frustrated with SparkleTroll and otherwise bad player behavior as we dig through his list we have to ask... "Is he wrong?" The guys discuss faux pas of players at the TTRPG table and how the DM can wrangle his DnD group back into reality. Plus, the news!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| NanoNerdcognito: "Accidental Overpowering" | 28 May 2024 | 00:38:57 | |
The holiday weekend in the States and a few too many life incidents have abbreviated this week's episode into a Nano! Fear not, though a touch shorter than usual, it is still packed with everything you'd expect -- Beginning with talk of how a DM can correct an "accidential overpowering" of a party and ending with news (from Reddit) RD and Bert squeeze a full show into a condensed timeline!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 226: Too Many Classes! (aka Less is More) | 21 May 2024 | 00:59:54 | |
With ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX OFFICIAL (you read that correctly) classes and subclasses in DnD 5e, it's time the gang evaluated class structures in TTRPGs. There are no surprises here -- the guys believe less is more. Add in some tales of characters gone by, bard mocking, and of course the news, and you have a full episode of nerdy goodness that you will love to listen to!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 225: From the Tabletop to the Screen! (and back!) | 14 May 2024 | 01:05:37 | |
Fallout... The Last of Us... Rings of Power... Castlevania... there are a LOT of game-inspired screen adaptations hitting lately, and the trend is not going to end. This week, the boys look at all of the players and talk about what TTRPG, video, and board game adaptations they would like to see! Plus, a newsy tribute to Roger Corman starts a banger of collection of weekly nerdy news.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 224: WotC's AI Art Dust Storm... plus The Dungeon Delver! | 07 May 2024 | 01:01:59 | |
This week, our good friend The Dungeon Delver drops in to chew the fat with the gang about the incredible nothingburger that was the Wizards of the Coast "AI art FAQ." There was a lot of internet noise, but is WotC doing... the right thing? The boys and Bill dig in deep to this offering insight, perspective, and opinion. Plus, the news will NOT disappoint!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 223: Grim Jim and the TTRPG Hobby's Toxic Cancel Culture | 30 Apr 2024 | 01:06:21 | |
Hot on the heels of Nerdcognito getting de-platformed on YouTube after an alleged cancel culture report strike -- and the RD having his personal account targeted and wiped as well -- we look at cancel culture in the hobby in general. Who better to bring in for this discussion but "Grim" James Desborough? Jim gives his perspective on the hobby and insight into targeted harassment campaigns as both a victim and an observer. Plus, Jim sits in for the remainder of the show to have some fun with the news!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 222: Cynthia Williams out at WotC, Modules!, Dystopian Dawn Time Warped | 23 Apr 2024 | 01:19:50 | |
Cynthia Williams has announced her departure from Wizards of the Coast! What does this mean? Listen to the guys give their takes on her exodus. Then, as promised, a lively deep dive into what makes a module and their role in the hobby. After the news, creator of Dystopian Dawn, Tony Garcia stops by to talk about his latest project and the gang briefly touches on woke Warhammer.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 238: Designers NEED To Insert... Identity Politics & Social Justice Themes?!? | 20 Aug 2024 | 00:59:30 | |
Continuing the 2-part show from last week, Grim Jim joins RD and Bert to talk about the discussion in the mainstream TTRPG/DnD hobby for the "need" for game designers to insert and address political themes, social justice, and "wrongs" of society in their games. Why is this a "need?" Answer: It is not. Plus, we begin the show laughing at some insanity in the pop media with the news and a trip to our favorite inmates-running-the-asylum online cesspool, Reddit.
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The News:
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven for your table! A complete forest town with NPCs, events, environments, shops, surroundings, and lots of random tables!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
----more---- Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 221: Can Tourists and SparkleTrolls be "Saved??" | 16 Apr 2024 | 01:04:43 | |
Can a SparkleTroll be saved? Is a tourist worth bringing to the table? Should we even bother? This week the gang tears into all things tourist -- from origins to Critical Role toxins to playstyles. Can we bring the hobby back from a fundamental and philosophical shift? Plus, the news has LOTS of TTRPG goodness that you won't want to miss! (...and Modules!)
----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
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The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 220: Player Requests, Suggestions, and DEMANDS?!? | 09 Apr 2024 | 01:00:06 | |
Players drop hints all the time. What happens when it is more than a friendly poke? How should you handle your group asking for in-game favors, dictating game/world events, demanding items, or throwing an X-card (just kidding, show the X'er the door!). Plus, the news, Ryan revives "Oriental" and shoves it back into the acceptable category, and tales from Reddit.
----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
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The News:
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| SPECIAL Nerdcognito - Episode 219: Discomfiting Dialogue with Daniel D. Fox (friend of the show?!?) | 02 Apr 2024 | 01:24:13 | |
Nerdcognito talks to... Daniel D. Fox?!? (yes, THAT Daniel D. Fox)
Uh oh.
"Infamous" RD and Kyle sit down with the "notorious" Daniel D. Fox, creator of Zweihander, alleged destructor of The Trove, and all around polarizing figure in the TTRPG space. Publicly politically misaligned with the guys AND potentially on the opposite end of the gaming spectrum, what odd cosmic alignment brought these two forces together? Tough questions will be asked, and hopefully answered. Could an impossible alliance be formed? Does someone storm out? Is there punch and pie?
Be sure to sit back and enjoy one of the very rare interviews given by the one and only Daniel D. Fox.
----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 218: "You Can't Play With THEM!" | 26 Mar 2024 | 00:59:00 | |
It happens -- a friend, a partner -- someone tells you "You can't play with THEM!" Maybe not you, but maybe that guy with the antisocial eye-rolling leftie girlfriend slowly exits from your table. Why and how do these ultimatums get made and how do they effect your table? Plus, the pros and cons of modules. Maybe. Probably not.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 217: TPKs and Near Total Party Kills in D&D/TTRPGs | 19 Mar 2024 | 01:02:23 | |
This week, the gang dives deep on the Total Party Kill. Talking about this unique situation that apparently makes SparkleTrolls weep, the boys look into it mechanically, from a story perspective, and through the eyes of both player and dungeon master. Of course, there are some great TPK stories thrown in there as well. This, combined with longer chatter around the news of the day fill out the week!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 216: Real Relationships at the Fake D&D Table; Arkham Files TTRPG! | 12 Mar 2024 | 01:01:13 | |
Ever play at a table with that cutsey-wootsey couple that just seems to always help each other? How about the BF DM that always give the right magic item to his boo? This week we talk about how real relationships can alter a table and give our thoughts on how to preserve the integrity of your game. Also, a positive news week spins into an exciting announcement regarding the Lovecraft mythos in the TTRPG world.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 215: RD admits "I was wrong!", Horror at the Table, Blister Critters | 05 Mar 2024 | 01:08:24 | |
This is a milestone episode: RD admits that he "was wrong" multiple times! First, the guys talk about introducing horror elements at the table. After the news, Anthony Grasso and Wythe Marschall drop by to talk about Blister Critters, their new Kickstarter game that originally was panned by Ryan before he did his homework only to be now praised based on the final product and a deep dive!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 214: Mythology, Folklore, and History in D&D, Creativity and Improv | 27 Feb 2024 | 01:05:44 | |
This episode, we look at how myth, legend, history, and tall tales have influenced Dungeons and Dragons specifically and the TTRPG world in general. Some folks claim this is a bad thing... but it's a great element that should be celebrated! The news includes RD doing a 180 after more details on a game he panned became available. After Ryan eats crow, the gang talks how important creativity and the ability to improvise are critical to the hobby.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 213: Backstories?!? Encounter Balance?!? Pfft!! | 20 Feb 2024 | 01:00:40 | |
Birthed from last week's "Session Zero" descriptions, we have TWO topics this week that make the show -- and our heads spin: Backstories... and Encounter Balance. Are they needed? Do they make an appearance at our tables? How have these elements impacted the TTRPG Hobby? As if that wasn't enough... of course there is some crazy news, with a stroll through a Reddit post for extra flavor. (Don't ask what flavor).
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND LAUNCHING THIS WEEK!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 212: Consequences and Death in Your TTRPG; Our Own "Session Zero" | 13 Feb 2024 | 01:02:35 | |
This week, the guys talk about consequences of action and PC death in TTRPGs. Why are these "horrible" things critical for your game? The news kicks around some nerdy developments on past stories and is highlighted by our "unnamed" hat tip on Reddit. Finally, Session Zero talk online has been rumbling again, so each of the gang describes what their "0" looks like!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED SOON!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 237: Play THIS! ...not OneDND! (with special guest host Grim Jim Desborough) | 13 Aug 2024 | 01:02:12 | |
OneDND has been set free by Wizards of the Coast. With WotC's "new" and "daring" upgrade now getting a lot of buzz, we take an ENTIRE episode talking about other games you can and should bring to your table! With Kyle out on vacation, our friend Grim Jim Desborough sits in and brings his unique perspective and two decades of professional game design experience to the conversation. Our picks span fantasy, horror, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and more.. the guys dive deep into their choices of TTRPGs for your crew.
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The News:
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven for your table! A complete forest town with NPCs, events, environments, shops, surroundings, and lots of random tables!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
----more---- Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 211: Nostalgia at your TTRPG table; Let's not make money! | 06 Feb 2024 | 01:02:48 | |
Last week was a barnburner, so we needed to pump the brakes and return to some good ol' nerdy chatter! We open with a discussion of nostalgia, and the role it plays at your table. After the news, the guys ask the question "When did making money become a secondary goal in business?" ...specifically in our hobby!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED 02/09/24 OR SOONER!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211 ----more----
The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 210: Grim Jim Desborough Co-Hosts and Digs Into #DungeonDrama | 30 Jan 2024 | 01:32:25 | |
When Grim Jim calls, we answer. A special, extended-length episode that details the revelations that should shock the TTRPG design world. The gang and Jim dig deep into the article, talk about their perspective, and offer a path forward for our corner of the hobby. #DungeonDrama
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more----
The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 209: Player Skill v. Character Ability; Tragedy at Taigon's Falls Review | 23 Jan 2024 | 00:59:26 | |
Dovetailing with last week's conversation about Power Gamers, the boys have a deep talk about how actual Player Skill vs. Character "Ability" can be balanced in a game. Where does a check fall as opposed to playing it out in the mind or at the table of the PC's creator? After the news, a look at the new OSR Adventure, The Tragedy at Taigon's Falls proves to be a positive way to close out the show!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more----
The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 208: Power Gamers and Meta Gamers be Damned!; World Building | 16 Jan 2024 | 01:04:56 | |
Power and meta gamers. Min-maxers. Those afflicted with main character syndrome. It's a real disease in the hobby and the guys have the cure. After a lively discussion about this abomination of a player, the news doesn't disappoint with everything from the Sopranos to the Tomb of Horrors. Lastly, world building comes up on the block and different styles of Kyle, RD, and Bert are all presented for your consideration when next constructing a realm!
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more----
The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 207: NPC Do’s and Don’ts; Names and TNK Preview | 09 Jan 2024 | 01:06:53 | |
The gang digs into NPCs this week! Talking about how to make effective and memorable characters, what to avoid in NPC creation, and how to sidestep tropes and the "predictable" nature of this important piece of the TTRPG/DnD puzzle. The news of the week tips off with us not touching the WotC AI piece, simply because it's all just conjecture at this point in time. After the news, the gang digs into The Navarro Knight, a preview of a new system by our Check Mark Hero, Cynnamander!
----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 206: Greenhaven is gold; DM Tips | 02 Jan 2024 | 01:07:22 | |
It's release week for The Village of Greenhaven! Hear Kyle and Bert dig in and ask RD about Greenhaven, learn about it's creation, and what the system-agnostic supplement can do for your table! There is a list in the news, and it involves the BEAR! Lastly, inspired by the rotten advice in the news for Dungeon Masters, the guys each give some advice for GMs to help smooth over some bumpy roads that every DM will encounter.
----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW!https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven ----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 205: 2023’s Past, Present, and Future in our Hobby! | 26 Dec 2023 | 01:02:05 | |
This week, the gang is haunted by three spirits! That's right -- 2023's Ghosts of Past, Present and Future frame the whole show. What were the personal touches, opinions, and events that shaped each? Plus, the "future" brings a glimpse of what each of the guys is hoping for and predicts in the coming year!
----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door!https://amzn.to/3R60vt3 ----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 204: The Hasbro Layoffs; Jumping Back Into Fantasy TTRPG! | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:58:10 | |
Well, unless you've been in the remote woods like Bert (and even he knew about it) you've heard about the WotC cuts. We talk about the human price of these cuts, each host having varying and predicable degrees of empathy. What does the future hold for Wizards? After the news, the guys discuss how the Nerdcognito core TTRPG group went back to the basics... high fantasy... and what a wonderful experience it was. How can you experience this bliss? The gang has some advice for your table!
----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door!https://amzn.to/3R60vt3 ----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 203: Appendix N Addons; Gamer Cancelled by TTRPG Creator? | 12 Dec 2023 | 01:08:27 | |
The boys try to cleanse the room and open the show by looking at the "Bro-holy" document that is Appendix N, and then each of the guys adds a line item to the list of required reading! The news presents everything from the huge MCDM kickoff to a quite chilly topic. After the news, Hunter aka Ultra-American TTRPGer stops in to tell his side of the Haunted Table story. Did Haunted Table act with cause or did they persecute Hunter for his political speech?
----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door! https://amzn.to/3R60vt3
----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 202: TTRPG Week of Woke; OD&D Reprint... Sort Of! | 05 Dec 2023 | 01:01:48 | |
Oh my goodness! What a week of woke! Starting with Wizards of the Coast redacting lore and modifying language to be less "problematic" and ending with Goodman Games caving to SparkleTroll diversity lunacy and destroying the Dungeon Crawl Classics base, it has been a wild ride. RD and Kyle talk about it all and try to bring some perspective into the cultural breakdown that we are witnessing. After the news, the duo break down the OD&D announcement from PAX and ponder the future of the franchise.
----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door! https://amzn.to/3R60vt3
----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 236: Dave Arneson RIPPED OFF at GenCon; ShadowDark Sweep! | 06 Aug 2024 | 00:57:08 | |
Did you know that Dave Arneson worked on a super-secret follow-up to Blackmoor with a nobody studio that no one has heard of? NEITHER DID THE ARNESON ESTATE. This disgusting grift really has RD and the boys upset, and they detail the situation for you. Plus, Kelsey and ShadowDark sweep the ENNIEs and a Reddit redemption story.
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The News:
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven for your table! A complete forest town with NPCs, events, environments, shops, surroundings, and lots of random tables!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
----more---- Episode Sponsors and Affiliates:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 201: Censorship in Play aka ”You Can’t Do THAT!”; Gaming Gift Ideas | 28 Nov 2023 | 01:04:24 | |
With major publishers now putting content restrictions in print about what subjects players may or may not talk about during the game, the guys examine how we got here and why or why not dictating content is acceptable. Hint: It's not. The news brings Bert another surreal not-quite-horse moment about how nuts some segments of the hobby have become. Lastly, the gang talks about what might make an excellent gift to "lure" a new player to the table!
----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door! https://amzn.to/3R60vt3
----more---- The News:
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 200: Celebrating 200 Episodes and Revisiting the Best from the Past! | 21 Nov 2023 | 01:22:04 | |
What a ride! THANK YOU ALL for allowing us into your ears each week! This episode we bring back the OG co-host, Just Mike (with his bad audio and all), and the entire gang strolls down memory lane and revisits topics from shows gone by. Everything including Brandi Braids, predicting WotC's fall from grace, safety tools, DTRPG ousting The Red Room, and the guys outlining their "perfect" game. You don't want to miss lots of laughs, good times, and clinking a pint with us in reverie!
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 199: Tropes in TTRPGs; Confirmation Bias and All of Us | 14 Nov 2023 | 01:01:21 | |
Who doesn't love the horny bard? The orphaned princess? The mad wizard? Answer: after thousands of iterations, everyone. This week the guys look at tropes in the TTRPG sphere and discuss both the good and the bad elements of their presence. Bert is surly, but that doesn't prevent the news from presenting yet another game that makes Kyle spin. After the news, the team has a frank conversation about confirmation bias and how it presents in the hobby -- among all of us! From the OSR to Fauxs to SparkleTrolls, it is baggage that we all must remember we bring to the table.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 198: The TTRPG/D&D Controversy Carousel; Racism in a New Group Finder App? | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:58:32 | |
Why do the same (lame) topics of "controversy" keep coming up in the TTRPG space? Because... it's the "Controversy Carousel!" The only way un-creatives can put themselves and their terrible ideology over! After a few go-rounds, the guys talk about a serious accusation and blowup in the OSR over potential reverse racism from a game group finding app. Lastly, the gang goes through the news and talks about sidestepping from a TTRPG to some other sort of nerdy goodness.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 197: Booting Horrible Players; Disturbing Monsters; Bad Horror Sequels | 31 Oct 2023 | 01:01:27 | |
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We've all had to do it -- whether we like it or not. Sometimes, THAT player has to GO. The guys discuss why and how you may need to remove a player from a gaming group. RD goes off the rails dreaming about Heather Graham during the news. After, the boys toss out a favorite, disturbing monster for your Halloween game and rattle of "worst" horror sequels (yes, there are a lot!).
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 196: Good v. Evil in TTRPGs; Media Influences on Your Game | 24 Oct 2023 | 01:00:03 | |
This week the trio reunites and kicks things off with the oldest existential battle... Good versus Evil. How do these two forces present and what do they represent in your TTRPG table? Then the news comes and goes, and Kyle and RD drop the new Planescape deets on Bert! Lastly, the gang kicks around the various places from which each draw inspiration for their games as DMs.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 195: Halloween Games, Message for Bert; Roll20 Dungeon Scrawl | 17 Oct 2023 | 01:14:01 | |
RD and Kyle open the show talking about their favorite spooky and Halloween titles to bring to your gaming table, both #TTRPGs and #boardgames. The news is followed by a special guest as "Randy Looney" drops some scathing criticism on Bert. Bert responds, then the attention gets focused on the #Roll20 acquisition of Dungeon Scrawl. How will this effect small creators and hobbyists?
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 194: WotC-Penguin Book De-Distribution; ACKS II & Alexander Macris | 10 Oct 2023 | 01:05:39 | |
Wizards of the Coast puts another nail in the coffin of physical book availability... or did they? We talk about the Penguin Random House divorce from WotC and how it will impact the hobby. The news is eclectic this week, spanning film photography to "slutty 7's." After the news, designer Alexander Macris stops in to talk about the evolution of a decade-young system, ACKS II and all things Adventurer Conqueror King System, and of course RD asks the BrOSR question: "Do you as a designer worry about the Bros attaching themselves to your property?" A great show all around!
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 193: Fill-In-The-Blank ”Core” TTRPGs; Cancel Culture w/ Crud Forge | 03 Oct 2023 | 01:00:43 | |
Wanna hop on the latest effortless TTRPG trend? Make a "-CORE!" That's right, the guys muse and mock this odd trend in non-roleplaying. The news strikes with a venomous bite this week, starting with the latest Leyline Press mental illness hug, Horse Girl and ending with Masters of the Universe, the movie. After the news, we invite William Dalebout of Crud Forge fka Incel Riot Studios in to talk about the rampant woke cancel culture in the tabletop board game world.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 192: Premium Undead Selections; (Another) WotC Conspiracy Theory | 26 Sep 2023 | 01:02:14 | |
Braaaaaiiinsss... There is more to undead than skeletons and zombies (although there isn't anything wrong with the former)! The guys pick their cold, dead favorites and talk about the subset of monsters. The news comes and goes, predictably with the highs and lows we have come to love. Wrapping up the show is RD's newest conspiracy theory about Wizards of the Coast and their practices... and his track record with WotC "theories" becoming reality is stunning.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 235: Hasbro's 2Q Earnings and WotC's Impact; New Ranger, Old Mindsets | 30 Jul 2024 | 01:06:14 | |
Hasbro's 2nd Quarter earnings have posted. WotC continues to bleed. Sales are down. BUT -- RD thinks the Q looks... good?!? An economics light discussion of why Hasbro may not be in as much peril as some in the hobby would like. Plus, Elder Gods and Woke Warriors in the news. After the news, the guys look at how Wizards of the Coast believes they are pandering to their SparkleTroll audience, but it may be backfiring based on response to the "new" Ranger class.
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Grab The Village of Greenhaven for your table! A complete forest town with NPCs, events, environments, shops, surroundings, and lots of random tables!
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 191: Safety Tools Dance, New v. Veteran TTRPG Players | 19 Sep 2023 | 01:00:42 | |
Despite our best efforts to avoid it, since it seemingly refuses to die and WotC is now promoting the tripe officially, the gang talks Safety Tools and identifies which tool, if forced to use one, each would implement. The news is upbeat and SparkleTroll-free for a change! Lastly, the boys talk about how a green player effects a table and a DM as compared to a grizzled old D&D vet. Plus, "Ryan's Torture Toolbox," coming soon? Nah.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 190: Swarms! Hordes! RD Channels Ginny Di’s ”Burnout!?!” | 12 Sep 2023 | 00:59:12 | |
The trio are reunited and they form up to take on swarms and hordes as monsters in TTRPGs! Why is the swarm not loved? How is a horde of 100s of somethings not used more often at the table? The news then makes RD almost stroke out. Seriously. After as he recovers, the guys help Ryan diagnose his gaming drought and make sure that it is not "burnout" akin to everyone's favorite SparkleTroll TiddyStreamer, Ginny Di.
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 189: Cliques in the TTRPG Hobby; ”Essential” DM Tips | 05 Sep 2023 | 01:19:40 | |
RD and Kyle start off this marathon show with a discussion of all the subgroups that comprise the TTRPG hobby. Spanning from SparkleTrolls to F̶a̶u̶x̶s̶ Tinkerers to BrOSRs and the OSR, clear definitions of play and philosophy are outlined. The news is a big week, which is followed by a bigger list of the alleged Top 10 Essential Tips for a DM. Of course, some of these tips will derail your game, but hey -- if you only play six sessions you won't notice!
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| Nerdcognito - Episode 188: Everybody’s Back!; Real-world Influences on Worldbuilding | 29 Aug 2023 | 01:19:29 | |
It's a BIG one -- making up for our vacay show last week. Everyone is back, Randy Nichols sits in, and we catch up on the scene! Lots of news happens since we were off for a week, which wasn't so bad in the grand scheme of things. After the news, everyone talks about how our unique real-world travel and experiences bleed into our TTRPG worldbuilding. Lots of fun and worth the wait! Be prepared, we go long this week!
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