Nerdcognito

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.   ----more----   ----...

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?   ----more--...

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 Adve...

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 tal...

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 hi...

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, "R...

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 Tid...

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 gam...

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 prepare...

This week, we revisit a classic segment that talks about a very serious topic... the unfortunate demise of the Friendly Local Gaming Store.  The FLGS has long been a cornerstone of the hobby, but they are fading into the ether.  After that classic segment, we rundown and skewer a "list."  This week: the alleged top 10 slasher flicks of the 1980s.  Not too shabby a show for being on vacation!   ---...

You have a new table of players, how do YOU handle starting from scratch with all new personalities?  The boys discuss this scenario, which of course spirals to include talk of safety tools, session zero, and other modern insanity.  Then, the news never ends as the gang goes deep into a couple of stories, ending with RD wanting to love "Lovecraftesque," but uncertain about fully buying in because...

Everyone seems to be having a moment about Rule Zero.  The fauxs and the bros are using it for posturing, but how does it really impact our gang?  Find out where each opinion falls on the subject.  This spirals into an encumbrance debate before the news.  After the week's word, David Silver of Silver Games stops in to (and you are not reading this incorrectly) talk the guys into playing "Ponyfinde...

Somewhere, a SparkleTroll is crying over the character that died four weeks ago at the table.  Hear the gang's thoughts on PC death in #TTRPGs.  The guys defend the #OSR philosophy on death and talk about how it needs to be handled.  The news includes some laughs at some new stuff and a trip to Japan.  After the news, the guys wax regarding if they had the power to revive a long-cancelled televisi...

Things return to normal for the gang as Kyle rebounds from his stint without power in time to talk about D&D and TTRPG Dungeon Crafting.  As usual, the boys get sidetracked and throw in a little "DM Screen?" talk before the news.  After this week's noteworthy morsels, the conversation turns to app-based board games and if they are a boon or bane to the scene.  A fun week of nerdy talk!   ----m...

Mother Nature has sidelined Kyle, so our friend and YouTube sensation Diversity & Dragons sits in as co-host!  Appropriately, the gang discusses the big news of Ryan being named the third host of Inappropriate Characters; he gets DD's blessing and words of wisdom.  The news brings an impromptu discussion of the solo gaming trend.  Lastly, the gang wraps up by talking about their own flavor pro...

He's a druid, not a bar-bear-ian!  We do more than the bare minimum as we paws to reflect on the news that barely influenced us to buy a game!  At least it doesn't last fur-ever, because we have some news to peruse.  After the news designer Richard Davis swings by to talk about Explorer's Guild's new Kickstarter, The Kobold Cookbook!  Can you bear the excitement?!?  (sorry) ----more----   The Kobo...

We need a break from the bad juju that was and a return to normalcy!  We do talk about the how last week put is into "reset" mode before loading up with laughs and the news.  After the news, the guys each tell the tale about how they were introduced to the hobby, and what they love about it!  This week is 100% drama free -- let the others continue the spin, we're back to the gal that brought us to...

This week, we welcome The RPGPundit to the show -- for the full hour, plus some!  Pundit discusses the OSR, from it's history and philosophy to its current representation and how growth and an influx of personalities has affected its identity.  Also, the anti-OSR movement, the BrOSR are examined, including where, when, and why this counterculture came to be.  Political trappings of a philosophical...

Randy from Biggus Geekus dropped in and the conversation went long -- so we HAD to release a Nano episode to fit it all in!  The chatter continues as RD, Kyle, Bert, and Randy talk about some video game themed cash grabs, er, cookbooks... that Bert stumbled upon!  What cuisines do YOU think the boys are partial to?   ----more---- Wretched Époque 2nd Edition is out!  Support the Red Room! ----more-...

Friend of the show Randy from Biggus Geekus sits in for the whole show, and the guys just shoot the breeze.  Everything from the current schism in our end of the hobby to milkshakes occupy the discussion.  Plus, evil, nasty talk, about the existence of "differences of opinion" and filthy 13th Age "story gamers" like Randy are among the banter.  We still like Randy, and he still likes us.  Go figur...

Another week of nerdy chatter begins with RD apologizing for rattling cages... not!  The guys clarify and reinforce their thoughts on the users and abusers "in the OSR" before digging into a review of the Dead by Daylight board game.  The news featuring Critical Role Zelda (!?!) is cut short as the boys would rather talk about obscure horror flicks and then run through Red Oaks Gaming's Spirals RP...

Ryan and Bert kick off the show with a heartfelt welcome to Kyle (you know him as @DyingBreedTT), our new co-host on Nerdcognito!  The trio then play the "let's make a new character" game, with a twist.  Then the guys dive deep into the tumultuous state of the OSR, specifically talking about infighting and angst from a growing segment of creators and influencers that are prostituting the hobby for...

The dudes open by discussing where they like it stacked -- in the front or 'round the back?  Dirty mind!  We're talking about TTRPG Character "wow" skills.  After some interesting and tasty news, the guys split the final segment.  First is their take on Rotten Tomatoes "John Carpenter" film rankings.  Last up is their look at the military in nerdy pop culture.  Can you guess which squad with which...

This week on Nerdcognito, the guys ran short on time and bumped this segment to a Nano release all of its own!  Bert unearthed a "Top 100 of all time" Horror Film list... and you know what happens from there.  The guys run through the top ten of this list.  See if the list was close or criminal -- and listen to RD wax about his favorite genre of film. ----more---- Buy a SparkleTroll Shirt: https:/...

With a bunch of silly things going on in pop media, the guys fall back to just talking about the happenings of the week in the nerd-o-sphere.  A nerdy news-filled potpourri episode that includes Wizards of the Coast new "D&D" network, a video game teaching the DoD's AI how to run a character, Gloomhaven slides, Monte Cook (twice!) and a plethora of new Kickstarters in the TTRPG and board game...