Nerdcognito

Spinning out of a conversation from last week, the gang talks about the title and role of the Dungeon Master in DnD.  Is "referee" appropriate?  What level of separation must the DM have with the group and the world?  After this fun debate, with each of the guys having a distinct opinion, we tackle the news before saddling up to talk the resurgence of the Western in Hollywood.   ----more---- The N...

Wizards of the Coast has dropped a bunch of the "New" Dungeons & Dragons art... and it is just as hideous, woke, and racist as you could hope for.  The guys talk about some of the more outlandish pieces and discuss how art, generally, is important to the hobby and hooks players in each game.  Are some of these pieces intentionally horrific?  Then, after a trip to DnD Reddit, the news keeps us...

The "Dungeons and Dragons," TTRPG hobby has a boatload of influences... but is unique in the fact that it often influences.... itself.  The guys talk about pivotal supplements that have shaped the hobby and how modern guidance continues to change our beloved passion.  Plus everything from Critical Role to "ding dong" in the news!  You won't want to miss this week's show!   ----more---- Grab The Vi...

In this episode, the gang talk about the TTRPG curse older than time: Getting the group together.  Inevitably, every group is going to ride the rocky road of scheduling.  Why is this the killing blow for some groups?  How can you pivot?  Is it the end of the D&D World?  Then after the news, as requested by the Nerdcognito Nation, the boys revisit, run down, and review the excellent co-op/trait...

A frustrated Dungeon Master presented his players (do they play?) with a list of "rules" that were going to be implemented moving forward.  While clearly frustrated with SparkleTroll and otherwise bad player behavior as we dig through his list we have to ask... "Is he wrong?"  The guys discuss faux pas of players at the TTRPG table and how the DM can wrangle his DnD group back into reality.  Plus,...

The holiday weekend in the States and a few too many life incidents have abbreviated this week's episode into a Nano!  Fear not, though a touch shorter than usual, it is still packed with everything you'd expect -- Beginning with talk of how a DM can correct an "accidential overpowering" of a party and ending with news (from Reddit) RD and Bert squeeze a full show into a condensed timeline!   ----...

With ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX OFFICIAL (you read that correctly) classes and subclasses in DnD 5e, it's time the gang evaluated class structures in TTRPGs.  There are no surprises here -- the guys believe less is more.  Add in some tales of characters gone by, bard mocking, and of course the news, and you have a full episode of nerdy goodness that you will love to listen to!   ----more---- Grab...

Fallout... The Last of Us... Rings of Power... Castlevania... there are a LOT of game-inspired screen adaptations hitting lately, and the trend is not going to end.  This week, the boys look at all of the players and talk about what TTRPG, video, and board game adaptations they would like to see!  Plus, a newsy tribute to Roger Corman starts a banger of collection of weekly nerdy news.   ----more-...

This week, our good friend The Dungeon Delver drops in to chew the fat with the gang about the incredible nothingburger that was the Wizards of the Coast "AI art FAQ."  There was a lot of internet noise, but is WotC doing... the right thing?  The boys and Bill dig in deep to this offering insight, perspective, and opinion.  Plus, the news will NOT disappoint!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Gre...

Hot on the heels of Nerdcognito getting de-platformed on YouTube after an alleged cancel culture report strike -- and the RD having his personal account targeted and wiped as well -- we look at cancel culture in the hobby in general.  Who better to bring in for this discussion but "Grim" James Desborough?  Jim gives his perspective on the hobby and insight into targeted harassment campaigns as bot...

Cynthia Williams has announced her departure from Wizards of the Coast!  What does this mean?  Listen to the guys give their takes on her exodus.  Then, as promised, a lively deep dive into what makes a module and their role in the hobby.  After the news, creator of Dystopian Dawn, Tony Garcia stops by to talk about his latest project and the gang briefly touches on woke Warhammer.   ----more----...

Can a SparkleTroll be saved?  Is a tourist worth bringing to the table?  Should we even bother?  This week the gang tears into all things tourist -- from origins to Critical Role toxins to playstyles.  Can we bring the hobby back from a fundamental and philosophical shift?  Plus, the news has LOTS of TTRPG goodness that you won't want to miss!  (...and Modules!)     ----more---- Grab The Village o...

Players drop hints all the time.  What happens when it is more than a friendly poke?  How should you handle your group asking for in-game favors, dictating game/world events, demanding items, or throwing an X-card (just kidding, show the X'er the door!).  Plus, the news, Ryan revives "Oriental" and shoves it back into the acceptable category, and tales from Reddit.     ----more---- Grab The Villag...

Nerdcognito talks to... Daniel D. Fox?!? (yes, THAT Daniel D. Fox) Uh oh. "Infamous" RD and Kyle sit down with the "notorious" Daniel D. Fox, creator of Zweihander, alleged destructor of The Trove, and all around polarizing figure in the TTRPG space. Publicly politically misaligned with the guys AND potentially on the opposite end of the gaming spectrum, what odd cosmic alignment brought these two...

It happens -- a friend, a partner -- someone tells you "You can't play with THEM!"  Maybe not you, but maybe that guy with the antisocial eye-rolling leftie girlfriend slowly exits from your table.  Why and how do these ultimatums get made and how do they effect your table?  Plus, the pros and cons of modules.  Maybe.  Probably not.   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAN...

This week, the gang dives deep on the Total Party Kill.  Talking about this unique situation that apparently makes SparkleTrolls weep, the boys look into it mechanically, from a story perspective, and through the eyes of both player and dungeon master.  Of course, there are some great TPK stories thrown in there as well.  This, combined with longer chatter around the news of the day fill out the w...

Ever play at a table with that cutsey-wootsey couple that just seems to always help each other?  How about the BF DM that always give the right magic item to his boo?  This week we talk about how real relationships can alter a table and give our thoughts on how to preserve the integrity of your game.  Also, a positive news week spins into an exciting announcement regarding the Lovecraft mythos in...

This is a milestone episode: RD admits that he "was wrong" multiple times!  First, the guys talk about introducing horror elements at the table.  After the news, Anthony Grasso and Wythe Marschall drop by to talk about Blister Critters, their new Kickstarter game that originally was panned by Ryan before he did his homework only to be now praised based on the final product and a deep dive!   ----m...

This episode, we look at how myth, legend, history, and tall tales have influenced Dungeons and Dragons specifically and the TTRPG world in general.  Some folks claim this is a bad thing... but it's a great element that should be celebrated!  The news includes RD doing a 180 after more details on a game he panned became available.  After Ryan eats crow, the gang talks how important creativity and...

Birthed from last week's "Session Zero" descriptions, we have TWO topics this week that make the show -- and our heads spin: Backstories... and Encounter Balance.  Are they needed?  Do they make an appearance at our tables?  How have these elements impacted the TTRPG Hobby?  As if that wasn't enough... of course there is some crazy news, with a stroll through a Reddit post for extra flavor.  (Don'...

This week, the guys talk about consequences of action and PC death in TTRPGs.  Why are these "horrible" things critical for your game?  The news kicks around some nerdy developments on past stories and is highlighted by our "unnamed" hat tip on Reddit.  Finally, Session Zero talk online has been rumbling again, so each of the gang describes what their "0" looks like!   ----more---- Grab The Villag...

Last week was a barnburner, so we needed to pump the brakes and return to some good ol' nerdy chatter!  We open with a discussion of nostalgia, and the role it plays at your table.  After the news, the guys ask the question "When did making money become a secondary goal in business?" ...specifically in our hobby!   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED 02/09/...

When Grim Jim calls, we answer.  A special, extended-length episode that details the revelations that should shock the TTRPG design world.  The gang and Jim dig deep into the article, talk about their perspective, and offer a path forward for our corner of the hobby.  #DungeonDrama   ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenha...

Dovetailing with last week's conversation about Power Gamers, the boys have a deep talk about how actual Player Skill vs. Character "Ability" can be balanced in a game.  Where does a check fall as opposed to playing it out in the mind or at the table of the PC's creator?  After the news, a look at the new OSR Adventure, The Tragedy at Taigon's Falls proves to be a positive way to close out the sho...

Power and meta gamers.  Min-maxers.  Those afflicted with main character syndrome.  It's a real disease in the hobby and the guys have the cure.  After a lively discussion about this abomination of a player, the news doesn't disappoint with everything from the Sopranos to the Tomb of Horrors.  Lastly, world building comes up on the block and different styles of Kyle, RD, and Bert are all presented...