Nerdcognito

The 2025 Monster Manual is out!  The changes are woke!  And crippling!  And lore erasing (literally!)  The gang goes through the most egregious of these changes and discusses the future of these monsters and Dungeons and Dragons in general.  Although they expected it to be bad, they did not expect it to be this dramatic of a change.  What does this mean for the future of the hobby?   ***   The New...

"There was no satanic panic." Ok, pal. The gang deep dives into an apparent X engagement grab and examines what they believe to be the root cause of the campaign against D&D, Heavy Metal, and more in the 1980s. The triple-six discussion is capped off with a trip into the news of the week! *** The News: Kaiju! Alien! Reddit? *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show:...

After spending some time in the Nerdcognito Nation... Jack asks the forbidden question, "What is Horse Girl?"  Well, he finds out.  Then we take a trip into the news with a dip in the Reddit cesspool!  After the news, former BrOSR, Joel Peterson drops in to talk about his bro journey as well as his video and tabletop games development.  Suck it, Cuppa!   ***   The News: 2025 Anticipated Board Game...

Ryan, Jack, and Bert dig into the details of the 2025 Monster Manual.  It's great... if you listen to the pop gaming media.  We have other opinions.  After slogging through the news, the gang each throw out the name of their personal "favorite" TTRPG monster book.   ***   The News: You leveled up twice doing what? An classic board game "updated for modern audiences" "The new books" in TTRPG-land t...

A prominent and previously politically benign designer gets political and then blasted for talking down to you about "Anticolonialism" in your TTRPG game.  The guys have some very pointed opinions, as expected.  The news delves into more DnD "lifestyle brand" announcements.  After the gang survives another week of news, they share a list of the "best" nerdy vacation and holiday spots.  Of course,...

Nerdcognito LIVE! This special dual-broadcast episode kicks off with the gang talking about what makes the "quintessential DnD party."  What group of characters is almost a must-have for a TTRPG campaign of adventure?  The news highlights a pondering that makes people scratch their heads, likely because of the source.  After the news, what media -- across all mediums -- should NEVER be "remade, re...

It's Christmastime and the gang is talking all aspects of the holiday!  Hear what each of the guys would love to see under their tree and what they have planned for the season!  Plus, all the news you could want (or not want)!  Siobhan also invades a news segment with some "fan" insight to a story that carried over from the Speakeasy -- "Dungeons and Drag Queens."  Top off your eggnog and strap in...

Fan Fiction has always existed, but now, the lines between fanfic and canon are blurred.  The barrier for entry of user created schlock into canon has all but been removed.  Is this a good or a bad thing?  How does this effect the hobby and your table?  After the news, RD, Bert, and Kyle discuss holiday games at the TTRPG table.  What role do these play and why do they exist? *** The News: RuneQue...

RD has no voice and the gang pick up the slack!  Drizzt Do'Urden is too "problematic" for Wizards of the Coast to produce in a TV show.. or possibly any "old Drizzt" materials according to the pop gaming media and your average SparkleTroll.  The news features a story that makes RD vow to revisit it on the next Speakeasy.  Lastly, the guys rattle off movies that are better Dungeons and Dragons movi...

With the TTRPG scene buzzing about Elon Musk potentially buying Hasbro and/or Wizards of the Coast, the guys weigh in with pros... AND cons of a possible Musk takeover.  You might be surprised about who has apprehension!  Then, after the news, the gang talks about a push in gaming to intentionally produce games as a mental health tool!  But wait, it's worse!  ...a mental health therapeutic designe...

You do not need to check your glasses or rub your eyes... Ryan has invited BDubs of the #BrOSR to pop in to the big show.  Never shying away from a conversation with anyone, this special episode does not disappoint!  With the noticeable shift in power, poise, and presentation, RD had to find out the "State of the BroSR."  BDubs does not disappoint talking about general bro theory, Brozer, and the...

We hop on the controversy carousel and FINALLY give our thoughts on the old argument about paladins.  Which of the gang believes they must be Lawful Good (and human) and who is playing the tiefling holy warrior?  Then, we tackle the news with pop gaming garbage that boggles the minds of each of the guys.  Lastly, we take a trip to Reddit where a LOT of SparkleTrolls and NuGamers are bemoaning that...

The whole gang is here and Ryan David leads the discussion around what "bones" are a must-have for the perfect fantasy role playing game?  Spanning from philosophy to mechanics, the crew nominate elements that they simply couldn't exclude from their own "perfect D&D."  The news is just one article -- but what an article it is!  Do you know what your dice type tells the table about YOU?  After...

Wizards of the Coast has further GUTTED 2024 Dungeons and Dragons.  Thanks to a leak and preview materials, we review all of the options and play choices that new to the hobby players and 5e folks alike now have had erased!  It's not just an attack on most current players and old school classic gamers, it's open season for anything that doesn't fit the VTT model.  Ryan and Kyle dig into the most e...

Your Dungeon Master has no autonomy.  Players can steamroll the table.  PCs get a safe space where they are untouchable.  The Wizards of the Coast 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide has codified safety tools and empowered the woke crybullies that run rampant in the hobby.  Further accelerating the destruction of our hobby and bending the knee to the screaming social justice warriors, the 2024 DMG details...

Randy dropped in and the gang just couldn't keep it to an hour!  Listen to the overtime segment where the topic turns to the dark side... what happens when you have to remove a player from your group.  The old kick to the curb is necessary and a part of the hobby, but how do you and your table handle this unpleasant task?  Listen for insight, tales of those who got the boot, and more.   ----more--...

This week, friend of the show Randy Nichols sits in and talks with Ryan and Bert about preparations a player makes when tackling a new system, new table, or both.  The boys talk their rituals and TTRPG "study habits."  Of course, they get to talking and get caught up in the conversation -- so once the chat about the news finishes discussing the pop gaming media's grumblings, they have to table the...

Extreme violence.  Naughty bits.  Gore.  Uncomfortable situations.  How much is too much at the table?  Where is there a line?  IS THERE a line?  The gang weighs in.  The news includes some surprising 2024 DND PHB information kicking off the week's update.  After the news, the guys discuss player engagement and how to keep the focus on the table instead of on their tablets.   ----more---- The News...

Ryan David does no prep.  Bert does a lot.  Kyle is in the middle.  What session prep style is best, how does prep affect a game, and what ramifications does it have for your group at the table?  Some interesting news with a new contender to dethrone the "horse."  After, a DND DM is looking for an exit... but is he not enjoying the game because he isn't really playing it?!? ----more---- The News:...

The 2024 DND Players Handbook is the best selling Dungeons & Dragons supplement... EVER?!?  Really?  We dig into the numbers that are available and have some questions and commentary.  This week we also welcome the Lost Lore Scholar, Jack into his seat as the newest host of Nerdcognito!  After the news, all four of your friends, Ryan David, Bert, Jack, and Kyle discuss how #GatekeepingIsGood a...

The show picks up where we left off last week -- talking about comedy TTRPGs.  Can funny have legs?  Is a long-term comedy campaign sustainable?  Then, we get buried in the news this week starting with a deep discussion on 2024 DND's new "time out" cleric spell; the one that allows you to short rest during a combat.  Plus, woke warriors are forming yet another sensitivity reader company to give ga...

The gang pivots from talking about WotC, woke, or faux warrior drama this week and puts on their player character hats.  What mindset, procedure, and thought process go behind the making of a character for D&D or any other TTRPG?  Three very different perspectives and practices that offer insight into their game -- and hopefully yours!  Plus, an extended trip through the news means we have to...

The Hero's Feast artwork from OneDND is the most Wizards of the Coast thing WotC has done... this week.  We pick it apart, talk about "why?", and have a general good time because YouTube sensation The Dungeon Delver, Mr. Bill Silvey is guest hosting this week!  This, plus one or two abysmal Reddit takes and the news makes for a great conversation about the hobby with lots of laughs!   ----more----...

Continuing the path of destruction and erasure of the OG creators of D&D, Wizards of the Coast has announced that the new DND 5.5/OneDND starter set will include a new version of B2: Keep on the Borderlands, but "updated for modern audiences."  Why are they intentionally scrubbing or rewriting classic content that has no need for revision?  Then, after the news which includes even MORE reimagi...

Well, Wizards of the Coast (with lots of Hasbro fingerprints) has stuck it to fans again -- this time, their 5e base.  WotC has chosen to force the shift to OneDND and will auto convert all materials in D&D Beyond to the new platform, once again breaking their word about backwards compatibility.  The SparkleTroll crowd is NOT happy.  Can we utilize this move to save one or more 5e darlings and...