Nerdcognito

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...

EVIL exists in the world. It should clearly exist in your D&D World too. This week, R.H. Snow sits in as we discuss why morally grey "evil" is the bees knees according to the modern gaming audience. "Capital E" evil needs to have a prominent place in, and makes your TTRPG session a better game. *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hoste...

Everyone (not Classic Gaming!) wants to be like Matt Mercer and the scripted actors at Critical Role, including Wizards of the Coast! This week we take a look at their new "actual" play and laugh. When we just can't take any more, we run their enhancement "adventure" and it turns into OUR first actual play! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/...

Wizards of the Coast just last month sent out an open "community" survey to help them allegedly steer the ship for Dungeons & Dragons' future... did it mean anything? Not likely since they now sent a NEW, targeted "secret" survey to select D&D Beyond members. We tear down what they are looking for... and why. *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.p...

Modern Gamers have just unearthed the Dungeon Turn, aka the Exploration or Game Turn and they think it is the TTRPG/D&D discovery of the milleniu millennium! We detail WHAT, WHY, and HOW the Dungeon Turn historically has always been a part of the game, and why it should be used by more tables! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E...

Low Level play is very polarizing, even in our corner of the hobby. Some hate it, both as players and DMs! Others find it the most rewarding play in a campaign. Where does the crew fit in and how do they think Low Level play should be approached? *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn a s...

We went long this week, and we promised a bonus episode to take you on a trip to the cesspool! Say you find a dollhouse, some spray paint, and a political cause that you want to push at your table. Here. We. Go! *** 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 commission for each purchase a...

This week, hot on the heels of possibly the most boneheaded statement made by a rep of modern gaming, we tell the folks that think rules get in the way to learn it, live it, and love it! Plus, a CondorDM update and the news! *** 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 commission for ea...

You know them. You are them. Dungeon Masters and DMing all fall into certain archetypes; today we breakdown the different categories -- good and bad -- and talk about how each impacts the table. It's a great conversation with RD, Kyle, Grim, and Siobhan! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates...

We have heard the cries from the modern gamer about the "unfair" lethality of Classic Gaming and the OSR... but is it REALLY any more dangerous than 5.5e? This week we take a look into what makes a lethal game, and the differences between the old school and modern gaming. *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode...

This week, Wizards of the Coast "admitted" that 2024 D&D is really just 5.5e, after professing for years that it was not. Plus, Daniel from Driving and Dragons sits in (yes, you read that correctly), wades through the news, and talks with us about his upcoming pulp! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Check out...

Ginny Di released a roundup of romance supplements and provided her "special" brand of commentary on each. We are required to EFAP this and provide some logical and non-mentally challenged commentary of our own. Can we survive her whole video or do we dump to the news?!? *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors a...

On this episode of Nerdcognito, we continue to chronicle some "lost arts" of TTRPG game mastering, specifically taking a look at treasure. We talk about the purpose both in game and mechanically treasure serves, how to best manage it, and even answer the question: "Why did that rat have 3gp?" *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_butt...

This week we sample a little bit of all the trash that was set alight in our nerdosphere. Ed Greenwood and Tracy Hickman to 6e? Aabria's meltdown! CMON money laundering?!? Molly's musings... and more! *** 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 commission for each purchase at n...

Why did we struggle making a 2024 D&D character? Because, according to the pop gaming media, we did it wrong. Today, we look to correct this "error" and follow their lead while creating a character. We were right all along. *** 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 comm...

This week, Bill Silvey The Dungeon Delver sits in and joins us as we discuss classic settings and how settings play a part of your campaign. It's a great talk about not only where your party is, but why those worlds look and act the way they do! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn...

Environments play a huge role in Dungeons & Dragons and Tabletop Roleplaying Games... this week we discuss how to make sure it is not just a background, but an interactive, innovative, and sometimes deadly part of your game! Check for traps, baby! *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We ear...