Nerdcognito

What would the #TTRPG scene be like if someone forgot to virtue signal for just a week?  Thankfully, Leylines (who?) tried, got called on it, and failed miserably this week.  Instead of accepting it, they doubled down and went to a place no biz ever should.  Of course, after that, the news seems like a good transition for the guys who end the show talking about the good time they had bringing the...

Wizards of the Coast has even more new D&D Announcements, oh joy!  These unearth a sore spot for RD, and he unloads on what he calls "FauxSR" OSR "influencers."  To calm him down, the topic shifts to what's on the gaming table this week and eventually transitions into the news.  After headlines and a frozen-treat list, the guys welcome indie comic author Jason Sandberg to the show.  The gang d...

Just when you thought Wizards of the Coast couldn't do anything more self-destructive... they call in the Pinkertons (yes, THOSE Pinkerton thugs) on a MtG fan that was accidently shipped an unreleased product.  Is Hasbro trying to de-value and dump WotC?  The news starts with the biggest board game in the last ten years and ends with... Hello Kitty?!?  Lastly, the guys run down and review standalo...

Ryan and Bert start the show with some Auras dev banter before digging in to the question of "What does your group do when your DM goes on hiatus?"  That convo gets clipped when the news rolls -- along with our eyes!  After the news, RD has a proposal for a "new-to-him" TTRPG/City Builder hybrid to get to the table with the Nerdcognito group!  A solid week of nerd speak!   ----more---- Buy "The Qu...

There was a great schism among the talking heads of the OSR -- regarding OBS / DriveThruRPG this week.  Ryan is very conflicted and tries to put everything in perspective so that we can all get back to playing games!  The news spans genres, as always, and finishes with a powerbomb announcement.  After the news, the guys run down and review the new solo board game hotness, Final Girl.   ----more---...

Ah Wizards of the Coast, you never fail to provide entertainment.  With the recent DnDdirect event hyped to the moon, WotC barely gets off the ground with their "amazing reveals." Ryan drools at the end of the news.  Hint: pleather.  After the cleanup, Tony Garcia swings by to talk his now-crowdfunded Dystopian Dawn Sci-Fi Fantasy RPG.   ----more---- #SparkleTroll Shirts Supporting Nerdcognito htt...

The boys throw the format out the window this week!  RD and Bert begin by talking about the different methods and philosophies in the world of TTRPG character advancement.  Then the news gets disjointed, and the guys turn entire shorts into mini-segments!  Finally, the show gets back on track with a review of The Braunhaven Campaign Setting for Old School Essentials. ----more---- The News: Little...

Friend of the show Aaron aka Immortal Rising sits in for "the full hour!"  We get a preview and chat about his upcoming comic book; an insider peek at the Castlevania-meets-Final Fantasy extravaganza!  Immortal also gets to experience the news just before Bert and Ryan blow the dust off of the Lost Ruins of Arnak board game! Buy Arnak: https://amzn.to/3yZ1gug ----more---- The News: Aethermancer -...

A benign week in the nerd-o-sphere brings a welcome lighthearted episode!  The boys open talking about premium accessories and pimping out your gaming experience.  After the news, the boys reminisce about some obscure, but well loved, video games that they would like to see make a comeback.  Here's to hoping the sky doesn't fall next week! The News: Picard S3 is... good Break! TTRPG "Hey Butt Head...

RD is losing his voice!  SparkleTrolls rejoice!  This week the guys talk about the abnormal situation that is ShadowDark -- from concept, to performance, to outrage.  Then, before the news, Ryan leaks that instead of a pledge drive, the "first edition" of the SparkleTroll T-shirt will debut!  After the news, the guys run down and review CMON's minis dungeon crawler, Massive Darkness 2! The News: C...

Bert is back just in time for a double shot of Wizards nonsense.  Hear what they (predictably) did to correct a lore issue with the D&D movie and listen to Kyle call a classic "problematic."  Then we dig into the news before talking about the most serious subject ever tackled in the gaming podcast world: snacks at the table.  Wipe those Cheeto fingers clean and enjoy! The News: New #1 Board Ga...

The Red Room, Miguel and Silvia Ribeiro, give insight and their perspective to DriveThruRPG de-platforming the entirety of their work.  Hear from them, in their own words, their account of the events which took place and is threatening to destroy an independent publisher.  Plus, Erik Jensen sits in as co-host this week and is tortured with the news instead of Bert.  Lastly, Erik and RD talk about...

Happy VD!  Ew.  But seriously, what are some hidden nerd "loves" of the guys?  Find out some hidden nerd "loves" of the boys.  There are some deep geek reveals here!  After the news, it's the moment you've all been waiting for (yeah right).  Wizards just keeps doing stupid stuff, and King Kyle spouts racist bile which the boys will walk trough, so you don's have to! The News: RD is a neologist!  T...

You read that title correctly!  The SparkleTrolls have quickly fallen back in step with Wizards... forgetting the atrocity that was the OGL "update" and even going so far as defending the action.  Other RPG Options litter the news since YOU SHOULD be finding something else to play.  Lastly, the boys finally got the hot Kickstarter "My Father's Work" to the board game table this week; they rundown...

Wizards backpedals on the OGL, but why?  The guys update you and give their thoughts on WotC's walk back of the statements that destroyed their fanbase.  The news this week includes some long gone fat foods plus the standard fare.  After the news, Venger Satanis sits in to talk about the follow-up to his original "how to" guide: "Advanced Game Mastering Like a F**king Boss."  And Cha'alt.  Of cour...

This week, the guys each give a "classic" and "modern" system for you to bring to your table in lieu of D&D.  Lots of folks are looking to boycott everything WotC including their rulesets, and the boys are here to help!  A short news cycle leads into the update of the state of the hobby and the OGL/ORC debacle.  Stay vigilant and up to date on the facts and our opinions about this week's progr...

The Nerdcognito guys are joined by guest co-host The T-Shirted Historian this week as they discuss the WotC response to the OGL leak.  The gang then dives into the positives and potential negatives of Paizo's ORC.  T-shirted makes it through the news, then Bert and Ryan rundown and review The Red Room's unique setting and ruleset set in early 1900's Paris, Wretched Époque. ----more---- The News: A...

Hasbro / Wizards of the Coast's alleged Open Game License 1.1 has leaked, crippling content creators, "revoking" an irrevocable document, and intending to collect royalties, among other egregious restrictions, and the entire hobby is stunned.  As these dark clouds roll over the land, the council was forced to convene once again to discuss the potential impact of this draconian document through the...

The SparkleTrolls are at it again, this time targeting "Castles & Crusades," one of the standard bearers in the OSR gaming community.  The guys talk about how Troll Lord Games and their admirable effort to remain neutral on the political front now has them in the cancellation crosshairs.  After the news, the boys run down some titles that they are looking forward to in 2023 in the TTRPG, Board...

Wizards of the Coast is at it again -- this time introducing a "new" Open Game License that seems to be anything but open.  Is WotC intentionally trying to suppress indie content creation ahead of OneD&D?  The news has some 2022 casualty talk, and one resurrection.  Lastly, the guys are blown away by OSR Core Book, Dungeons & Delvers by David and Melissa Guyll.  They tear through and give...

In this shorter pre Christmas episode, Ryan and Bert talk about a range of all things nerdy.  Predator 2 (yes, really) and WotC replacing the original Minsc voice actor, Jim Cummings, with Matt "The Harbinger of D&Death" Mercer get the treatment first.  Then the boys move on to a news segment that is all over the place before talking about the trials and tribulations for Hollywood Head Nerd He...

This week, Bert talks about a big (and obscure, yet specific) request to run a game.  Hasbro and Wizards shout about how "under monetized" Dungeons and Dragons is; the guys ponder if this is another nail in the coffin of the brand.  Next, the news is full of video game updates.  Finally, Ryan recounts the joy he found creating a dungeon the old school way (which led to an entire OSR adventure) --w...

This turkey-coma induced episode begins with the guys talking about gobble-day, Black Friday shopping and the perceived woes lying ahead for WotC and D&D.  They then dig into the news (with a list!) before talking about spinoffs of all kinds.  From television, to TTRPGs like Dragonlance and Spelljammer, to Doctor Mario?!?  Tune in! ----more---- The News: Defunct Game Developers Warhammer and D...

"It's. Not. A. Video. Game!"  RD has been saying it a while, but the guys notice and discuss how the pop gaming "media" has been pumping trash content out which seems to be counterproductive to supporting "roleplaying games."  Once they chew through that toughness, they tackle the news, as always.  Finally, as cliché as it may be, the boys share some of their top "thankfuls" with you, our friends...

How many gaming groups is too many gaming groups?  If you answered "seven," don't tell Bert!  The guys talk gaming saturation and then dive into a chinwaggle where they end up throwing out some great board game recommendations -- all under fifty bucks.  The news comes and goes, with a little help from our Cenobite friends and does not disappoint.  Finally, our "better-late-than-never" rundown and...