Nerdcognito

Enjoy the second half of the conversation we had with Robert J. Kuntz, the last original Dungeons and Dragons creator! Rob wraps up his thoughts on WotC as custodians, we laugh about creative "helpers," and he shares wisdom for new (and old) nerds in the hobby! *** Get your shirts, swag, and merch here: ⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠ *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: ⁠https...

Join us as we welcome Mr. Robert J. Kuntz, the literal last man standing among the original creators of Dungeons and Dragons, as we chat about his philosophies, perspectives, and hear some great stories about building the foundation of our beloved hobby. Rob is the last primary source from the early days of the hobby, and shoots straight about the distortion of history that we see happening in mod...

What is the state of the indie and OSR TTRPG space now and in the future? The RPGPundit sits in and talks about the scene, the boons and banes we are seeing in the market, and his new Sci-Fi OSR game. A must listen for every Classic Gamer! *** How much is too much for you as the DM/GM? Silliness, min/maxing, meta gaming, scheduling issues? Where do YOU draw the line? Hear our lines plus we chat ab...

Sure, we all likely started our journey in the hobby with D&D, but what alternative systems broadened your horizons? This week we talk OTHER games, historically and in the present indie-rich culture. The hobby is wide and deep! *** Get your shirts, swag, and merch here: ⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠ *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_...

So YOU want to be a TTRPG Designer? It's important that you understand "The Business of the Business!" This week, we invite 20+ year game designer, WotC alum, and recent Kickstarter success James Desborough to sit in and chat about the critical business end of D&D design and Indie Tabletop publishing. It's a must-listen if YOU are interested in how the orc sausages are made!...

This week, grab your space helmet, pulse rifle, and enjoy the ride. See if the gang plus guest players Paladin Steve and Kyle can survive... something... aboard their research vessel! It's a Nerdcognito Actual Play of Mothership! *** Get your shirts, swag, and merch here: ⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠ *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: ⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_butto...

It's a fun time this week on Nerdcognito as Siobhan, who ONLY has experience running D&D 5e, steps up to the plate and drives character creation under Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition! Will there be complete characters by the end of the show?!? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite bein...

This week in an extended episode, the gang looks at updating the holy Appendix N based on their own personal influences in all forms of pop and nerdy media. Spanning print, film, television, and video games, hear the titles that get weaved into our gaming philosophy for Dungeons and Dragons, TTRPGs, and in general. *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt...

RD figured it out! Well, he at least found a missing piece of the puzzle. This week, he discusses his "a-ha!" moment where he believes he discovered a main reason for the disconnect between Classic Gamers, the OSR, and grognards when compared to the "modern gamer!" Do you think he is right?!? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt wit...

How much is too much for you as the DM/GM? Silliness, min/maxing, meta gaming, scheduling issues? Where do YOU draw the line? Hear our lines plus we chat about when you can forgive and when a player just might be best forgotten! *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite being cancelled by brigading keyboard warri...

Two is better than one? Sometimes! This week, we discuss co-GMs, how they can work in harmony, and the pitfalls to avoid when you share the chair behind the screen! Can it make your D&D/TTRPG experience better? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite being cancelled by brigading keyboard warriors, it is...

It's the BATTLE of the BACKSTORIES!!! Backstory is a controversial topic that his debated often online. It should be no suprise that we are split in our opinions of this hot potato! Hear all sides of the argument and make your own conclusion! *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite being cancelled by br...

Check out a preview of the upcoming Japanese TTRPG Stray Crows by James Desborough/Postmortem Studios! We talk to Grim Jim about the design, mechanics, inspiration, art, and more! Stray Crows is a new tabletop roleplaying game line inspired by the samurai cinema, historical drama and folklore of Japan’s Sengoku and early Edo periods. *** BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter! https://post-mort.com/produ...

With little news and a lot of negativity circling online, this week we look on the brighter side of the hobby and discuss the GREAT BENEFITS that gaming in general, be it D&D, other TTRPGs, and beyond brought to our lives! There's more than rolling dice and Mountain Dew to this thing of ours! *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn...

Symbiotic or Parasitic? There is no denying that D&D and TTRPGs heavily influenced early video game culture, but now what is their relationship? Is it to the benefit or detriment of one or the other, or both? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, ships free with Amazon Prime, and help keep us on the air! http...

"I'm a PROFESSIONAL DM." A virtue spewed by many online... but are they really? This week we talk about paid games, and have different opinions about the exchange of cash instead of Cheetos at the D&D table. Is this phenomenon destroying our beloved hobby? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, s...

This week was sparse for our corner of the TTRPG/D&D hobby, but bountiful with stupidity on Reddit! Listen as we flush some big logs down the chute from some of the most insane, but most vocal people in our hobby! *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, ships free with Amazon Prime, and help keep us on the air!...

Travel can be a cumbersome task to bring to your D&D/TTRPG table. Many folks just ~poof~ eliminate it from the game and the party "teleports" from Point A to B. This week, we discuss how to make travel meaningful AND interesting for your group! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates...

Monsters are not just for swords and fireballs. In your D&D or TTRPG game, monsters exist in your world... for various reasons and to serve both narrative and mechanical purposes. Why and how do we place monsters into our game realms and how can we adjust our thinking to get max value from our baddies? *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=...

How much prep is too much prep? From zero-prep to every-detail DMs, how can you streamline your game and keep the flow... well, flowing? We talk about game master cadence and preparation for D&D and TTRPGs so that you can have a great time without forcing plot or blowing a gasket! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Epis...

TTRPGs in general and D&D specifically typically have a party of heroes fighting against some Big Bad Evil Guy. On this week's episode, we talk about how to construct a BBEG, their motivations, and their presence in the world! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn a small commiss...

This week we welcome new co-host Michael (GraphPaper Architect) to the show and discuss monsters! Instead of talking favorite mobs or deadliest foes, we look at the baddies through the lens of game mechanics. What purpose do they serve and how do they impact your TTRPG/D&D game world? *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA ***...

RD, Siobhan, and Jack decide to sit down and create from start-to-finish a one-shot campaign that illustrates their creative process, hopefully showing you some tips and tricks that you can implement at your table! By the end of the show, they'll have a from-scratch adventure that you can pop in to any campaign or run as a one night special! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://...

Do we level up yet? This week, we take a dive into the different mechanical and philosophical reasons for various forms of character advancement. Delving through milestone, xp, and other forms of leveling... how can YOU better choose a method for your TTRPG/D&D game? *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors a...

There has been a steady influx of new Classic Gamers and castaways from Modern Gaming and D&D. Now more than ever and in greater numbers than ever, folks are discovering that there is more to the hobby than Wizards and Paizo. We talk about this wave of new blood, why they are here, and welcome them to our corner of the hobby! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/d...