Nerding Under The Influence

Shane thinks there's cause for Canadian Optimism. Telson's starting a Substack. Subnautica 2 early access is great so far. Also a spoiler-filled review of The Interdependency Series by John Scalzi. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Serious Talk - Accidental Canadian Optimism (18:45), Grumpy Old Gamers - Subnautica 2 Early Access (56:40), Book Report - The Interdependency Series by John Scalzi...

A very spoiler filled episode reviewing Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary. Light tabletalk, discussing West Marches Campaigns, Knife Theory, and our upcoming summer D&D get together. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Coffee Pedantics (0:00), Book Report - Project Hail Mary (12:53), Book Report - The Interdependency Series by John Scalzi (1:15:53), Tabletalk - West Marches Style Games (1:28:54), T...

This is the shittiest episode ever. Literally, we spend way too much time talking about poop and butt stuff. Somehow, we also find time to talk about video games, books, and D&D. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Butt Stuff (0:00), More Butt Stuff (11:09), Grumpy Old Gamers - Yearning for the Old Days (21:43), Grumpy Old Gamers - Multiplayer Situationship (31:31), Grumpy Old Gamers - Looking...

After some accidential serious conversation, Shane and Telson talk about the potential Firefly animated series, their experiences sharing a (Satisfactory) sandbox, and catch eachother up on their ongoing D&D campaigns. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Unscheduled Serious Talk (0:00), Firefly's Back… Maybe (25:40), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory Multiplayer Experience (54:16), Tabletalk - G...

This episode was recorded back in early August. Some dicussions may be a tad out of date. Shane & Telson talk about the divisions being force fed by everyting in modern society, which somehow led to Shane ranting about Intel for way too long. Lots of Satisfactory, Telson said books are overrated, and Shane's ripping off Pitch Black for his D&D campaign. Topics & Timestamps: Intro &...

It's been awhile since we had serious talk on an episode. Hopefully it wasn't a terrible mistake. Coping with the state of the world, cutting out negativity, and the need for everyone to watch more cat videos again, followed by lighter discussion about Satisfactory, and being a better dungeon master. Topics & Timestamps: Intro - The Ramblings of Two Broken Old Men (0:00), Serious Talk - The Wo...

To celebrate our 50th episode, Shane finally ruins Telson's life by buying him Satisfactory for his birthday. We're a Satisfactory podcast now. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory (9:58), Tabletalk - D&D Weekend at Telson's (1:00:16), Parting Gifts - ImKibitz (1:18:14)

Editor's Note from Shane: This episode was recorded back in early January. I swear, we'll get caught up and back on a roll this year. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), NUTI Cooking Show Tangent (5:34), The Nerdiest of Topics - Tom Bombadil (12:07), A Serious Chat About Work Culture & Employment Practices (32:07), Grumpy Old Gamers - Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen (47:34), Grumpy Old Gamers...

Editor's Note from Shane: This episode was recorded back in mid-November. I don't really know why it's taken almost 3 months for me to get this one edited and out, aside from <gestures broadly at the universe> . My bad. We've got a few more in the hopper that I'll try to get out in a more timely fashion. For those of you that listen, we're not going anywhere. We're not letting you off the hook...

Shane has a concept of an idea about why we like retro, and what it might say about us and the times we live in. Telson finished Horizon: Forbidden West, and has started into the first book of The Expanse series. Also, Shane might be a filthy commie. Shocker. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Why Do We Like Retro? What Does it Mean? (6:59), Grumpy Old Gamers - The Last Time We Talk About Hori...

Telson and Shane talk about admitting when you're wrong before moving into Horizon: Forbidden West for probably the last time, where they discuss whether or not Aloy is a Mary Sue. Also, Shane wants to make destination D&D a thing. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Why Can't Nerds Accept Fault When They're Wrong? (10:08), Grumpy Old Gamers - Is Aloy a Mary Sue? (23:27), Grumpy Old Gamers...

Sometimes it's just better not to ask. Telson & Shane discuss small town fairs and competitive pot-luck before jumping into conversation about Horizon: Forbidden West and their recent Left 4 Dead 2 game night. Some quick first impressions after session 1 of the new campaign, plus some thoughts on min-maxing and random encounters. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Horiz...

Telson considers drinking the world's worst beer. Shane & Telson have both started playing Horizon: Forbidden West and have preliminary thoughts. Shane has the WoW Itch (sureley there's a cream for that). Telson's restarting his D&D campaign. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Horizon: Forbidden West (5:24), Grumpy Old Gamers - The World of Warcraft Itch (49:47), Gr...

Shane's recovering from another plague, but the show, unhinged as it may be, must go on. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Listener Shoutout - Robbie (2:49), Yesterday's Internet Today (3:56), Old Men Yelling at Pumpkin Spice (26:40), Tabletalk - Writer's Block (32:04), Tabletalk - Ginny Di and Character Motivations (38:51), Tabletalk - Saying Yes and No to Players (47:44), Tabletalk - House...

Shane and Telson discuss whether or not alcohol or other substances make you more creative. Telson hates "Um, Actually", and has stronger opinions about Monopoly. Shane's giving Assassin's Creed Origins a second chance and is enjoying it. We ran our long-delayed in-person D&D one-shot, and Meepo died again. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Does Alcohol Make Art Better? (3:33), Um, Actual...

Shane and Telson trade thoughts about AI art and quitting coffee. Shane mourns the loss of a player, and Telson tries something different in his game. Xena, Hercules, and the challenge of divorcing trash human beings from their art. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Is AI Art Actually Art? (1:03), Quitting Coffee (28:18), Book Report - 1630-Something-Else (39:56), Tabletalk - Shane Lost a Pla...

Shane & Telson talk about how the way we use computers has changed over the years. Telson tries to explain Hawk Tuah before conversation shifts to video games and tabletop gaming. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Closing autoexec.bat and config.sys For The Last Time (3:32), Hawk Tuah On That Thang (17:30), Grumpy Old Gamers - Telson Replayed Portal (22:02), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfacto...

Shane & Telson have a chat about the morality of fiction that's way too serious for a noted golf podcast. Shane recommends Stardew Valley to Telson as a palate cleanser while Telson talks about falling down the speculative fiction rabbit hole. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Flexible Morality in Fiction (19:14), Golf Story (34:21), Grumpy Old Gamers - Stardew Valley (37:23), Turning The...

Of all the podcast episodes in the world, this is definitely one of them. After an unexpected delay in the production schedule, Shane & Telson kick things off with such nerd-centric topics as golf, and sleep! Eventually, conversation drifts to video games and tabletop. Telson even tries to make a funny. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Golf Segment of our Golf Podcast (4:05), Grumpy...

Shane describes the trouble he's had with an Amazon order, Telson makes excuses for not playing video games, and Shane thinks he's too old to play Jedi: Survivor. Telson talks about planning for his D&D game, while Shane discusses punishing his players in fun ways for their inaction. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Amazon Ordeal (4:30), Grumpy Old Gamers (29:44), Tabletalk (45:24),...

Two middle aged dudes exchanging member berries about the early days of internet culture. It doesn't get more podcast than that. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Indiana Jones vs. Ms. Frizzle (9:56), Remembering Ancient Artifacts From The Early Internet (38:22)

It's another episode without a script. Shane & Telson talk videogames, tabletop, tv, movies, and crafting. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk (57:40), Parting Gift (1:25:55)

Listen… Sometimes you just need to talk, even if you don't have much to say. After a long and stressful week at work, Telson and Shane unwind with tangents, tabletalk, and more tangents. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk (7:02)

Shane & Telson talk about reading more, and their opinions on audiobooks as a format. Shane talks about the challenge of getting into character while recapping Telson's D&D campaign events and hooks thus far. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Book Report (1:52), Tabletalk (30:27)

Telson drives the podcast right off a cliff as Shane takes "Under The Influence" a little too literally. Eventually, Shane & Telson reach way back into the depths of time to talk about some of their favourite video games. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers (26:56)