Biggus Geekus

Its a Monster Mash this week as we talk about aberrations! Aberrations are creatures that cannot be easily grouped by physical description. These beings are often amorphous and alien. From the lowly mimic to the mighty beholder these nightmare creatures are often found underground or in the watery depths, seeking to devour or enslave. Sometimes both. Inspired in large part by the Cthulhu mythos, a...

This week we discuss many of the odd topics surrounding DnD spewing forth from the internet Big Geek Con 2024 tickets on sale: https://tabletop.events/conventions/big-geek-con-2024 Shameless Plug Time: If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show.  We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well. Cash Support Pa...

With the upcoming release of 6th Edition by WoTC and our ongoing desire for OUR DnD, we bring you some things you can to do to freshen up the old girl. This will be a recurring topic, offering new ideas or changes to previous ideas under this topic. This may (likely will) eventually depart from the old game and birth a new one. Big Geek Con 2024 tickets on sale: https://tabletop.events/conventions...

Episode 178 Streamed Live Tuesday February 13, 2024 Main Topic: Who is the true Dungeon Master…Gary or Dave? A review of two documentaries: 1.) Secrets of Blackmoor: A Tue History of Dungeons & Dragons https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9301886/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl 2.) The Dreams in Gary’s Basement https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10621206/ Both movies painted their respective subjects in a good l...

Tickets for Big Geek Con on sale: https://tabletop.events/conventions/big-geek-con-2024 This week we discuss situations when you may need multiple DMs. Also the supposed Tencent issue.

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Episode 175 Streamed Live Tuesday January 23, 2023 Main Topic: Divide -Divide-Divide The Hobby! https://youtu.be/L9pDhntGoVY?t=30 (sample of the song “Divide” by Disturbed) Bravo Mr. Boivin: https://youtu.be/u20Wuj5gMY0 What is wrong with just accepting the natural division of folks in the hobby? (i.e., BrOSR, 4D, Basic DD 1st-3rd level, 3.X epic tabletop skirmish, Sparkletroll Barista D&D, et...

Episode 174 streamed live Tuesday January 16, 2024 Main Topic: What are the OSR’s of today? Old School Renaissance or Old School Revival A little History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_School_Renaissance A couple of primers: A Quick Primer for Old School Gaming (Matt Finch and Mythmere Games 2008): https://ia601802.us.archive.org/28/items/a-quick-primer-for-old-school-gaming/A%20Quick%20Primer...

Episode 173 Streamed Live Tuesday January 9, 2024 Main Topic: What time is it? Timekeeping in D&D What is the value of time keeping? Is it worth the effort? Abstract or precise units of time? Which version of D&D does this in the way you most prefer? What game does this in the way you most prefer? Campaign Level View: events in the world/region/city/base town, Holy days for religious order...

This week we discuss a variety of topics, including New Year's Gaming Resolutions, with Patrick of Pointy Hat Games.

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Episode 170 Streamed Live Tuesday December 19, 2023 Main Topic: Horde Wars Basic and Beyond with Blackwall Games We discuss Horde Wars with Todd and Nate of Blackwall Games. Horde Wars is a fantasy tabletop RPG that leans into a medieval European tropes to inform its design. This is mixed with other influences to give it a unique feel. It also relies on a combination of classes and skills that giv...

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What makes a Challenging Game? Episode 167 Streamed Live Tuesday November 28, 2023 Main Topic: What makes a Challenging Game? CR vs random tables vs encounters to fit the ‘story’/adventure. When does challenging become a meat grinder? How can mechanics inform the challenge of a game? Some examples for comparison: DnD OSR : fairly random, expect that the ‘wilderness’ could produce almost any creatu...

Episode 166 Streamed Live Tuesday November 21, 2023 Main Topic: Combating Combat - Things to consider as you design a combat system for a fantasy TTRPG. What kinds of feel or experience do you want combat to give? Frenetic, fog of war, cinematic/heroic action, gritty blood-n-bone combat, other? Emulation vs. Simulation Need to decide if BALANCE is important, and HOW to handle it Complexity can oft...

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Episode 158 Streamed Live Tuesday September 26, 2023 Main Topic: Big Geek Con 1- Post Shenanigans Report People to thank Workers/helpers: A special nod goes to Randy’s wife & K. Scott Appreciation to Joe Hardin and His wife, L. Neumann, Martenson, Greg T., Larry E., and Fladey ( for donations to raffle) as well as David Guyll (donations for raffle- extreme number of miniatures). The GMs: Flade...

Episode 157 Streamed Live Tuesday September 19, 2023 Main Topic: Handling PC Death (a revisit) Should it be on the table at all? How much does it suck to have your PC to die mid-session? Types of Death? Fair (Player poor choices or fairly rolled combat deaths). VS Unfair (GM Fiat/unfair targeting of a PC/1 save or die) Classic D&D solution: Raise Dead/Resurrection Basket full of PCs (old schoo...