Nerdcognito

Bert and Ryan chime in on "Consent Sheets" and checklists that are the rage from the progressive members of the TTRPG and D&D Communities right now. While the idea of open communication is welcomed by both of the boys, they are reluctant (Ryan especially so) to slap a checklist on their parties.  Ryan tells Bert about a tweet of his that went viral and set the extreme members of the hobby into...

The buzz landed on our table, and after this week's Nerdy News, we give a comprehensive look and review of Ark Nova!  Plus, in the first half, the bros talk about wanting to play Zelda: The Ocarina of Time in HD, but not wanting to pirate the ROM and cost Jose the janitor his job.  After a moral dilemma seems to be resolved, Bert and Ryan run through a list of the "best" Dungeons and Dragons potio...

RD gets tossed in Facebook Jail, after Facebook says he should not be in jail.  This spirals into a discussion of social media in general and the fashionable trend to hate RD... so follow him: @IHateRyanDavid and spew your love everywhere!  After a diverse cross-section of nerdy news, the guys talk about their early experiences in the role of Dungeon Master.  Some great DM tricks and relection get...

Bert and Ryan Review Windward, the Board Game and sail the high seas, er, atmosphere hunting whales, er, Crestors.  Once the review is over, the guys read a ridiculous list of "Monsters in Dungeons & Dragons That Need to Go."  RD composes himself after his brain nearly melts reading the list enough to make it through the news.  Finally, after two weeks of hype, Bert brings the questions that a...

We.  F**ked.  Up. Due to a technical glitch that produced some terrible audio this week, we originally were NOT going to release the episode.  Your emails, messages, and voicemails persuaded us to release the Nerdy News as a NanoNerdcognito episode for you to enjoy, with the audio as cleaned up as possible.  Thanks always for your support! The News: Betrayal at House on the Hill, 3rd Edition?!? Is...

A trip down 16-bit Memory Lane has Ryan and Bert prattling through the best SNES games, ever.  Is your favorite going to make the list?  Per usual, the news does not disappoint spanning from new release games to reheating pizza.  After you eat your (cold) slice, it gets serious as the guys discuss "how much is too much" when it comes to questioning a Dungeon Master's call or sovereignty.  Where is...

The gang has failed to properly play the board game Barrage twice, and they still love it!  Listen to Ryan and Bert run down their Barrage experience... good and bad.  After the guys blast through a few quality news items from the week, they are joined by author Denton Salle.  Denton stops by to talk about all of his works, and specifically, a recent revelation that one of his short stories was, i...

Bert's "Coming to a Nerdy Stream Near You" List includes upcoming Star Trek and Star Wars TV, Halo TV, The Orville, Resident Evil, Lord of the Rings, and Blade Runner.  Which upcoming shows have the dudes hot and bothered versus which are left calling a cab at closing time?  This list spun into a chat about aging Hollywood peeps knowing when to hang it up and icon legacies (Harrison Ford and Ridle...

It all started with a conversation about DM Privilege... and if it still exists according to the hivemind.  Trying to discuss the benefits of character flaws, player and DM autonomy, and Dungeon Master responsibilities in Dungeons and Dragons opens up an old would for Bert, who lets RD know exactly how he feels.  The guys kiss and make up and then continue to talk about the importance of vetting p...

Ryan and Bert bounce all over the nerddom this week.  Bert has a new title, "Mr. Terraforming Mars!" and both the guys are impressed with the upcoming "Tales from the Loop" board game.  This leads into a chinwag about preordering and kickstarting games in general.  Later, the guys develop a plan to replace the new D&D campaign with an Alien (you bitch!) adventure, Ryan tells stories of his ove...

This week, the bros rundown their experience playing one of the biggest names in the current board game hotness, Merchant's Cove.  After a quick lesson in "what is Public Domain?" Mike "thinks" he has a character concept for the upcoming D&D/TTRPG while Ryan's "parents" pop-in with their inappropriate boomer-esque quips.  After the news, Ryan graduates to the next step.... denial: he just may...

All of the nerds talk about their Ghostbusters: Afterlife experience. The full crew is here!  Mike and Ryan are yawning, since they had a late night out at the casino last night while Bert hangs in there through the news until all of the guys talk about the "most played" video games of their adult lives.  How well do you know the boys?  Match the game with the dude: Dragon Quest XI, Skyrim: Specia...

Bert joins Ryan for a focused NanoNerdcognito discussion of their playthrough of the board game Otys.  Listen to the buds chatter about the components, the price point (under $20!), the actual gameplay -- and their final decision -- should you pick up this little clearance bin box? Stuff to buy: Otys -- under $20 at drop time!!! : https://amzn.to/3eihnsE   This Episode's Hosts: Ryan David Bert

Just as Just Mike and Ryan David begin recording, the news of the death of Bob Saget breaks.  The boys remember Bobby Blue before they tackle the trope of the "modern" (read oversexed) bard in tabletop roleplaying, especially D&D.  Discussion of the last gaming session includes some new games that hit the table, not all of them hits.  All this plus Ryan busts Mike's balls about the horrible ba...

This week, RD, Just Mike, and a little bit of Bert talk about ringing in the new year, Discuss their thoughts of The Witcher Season 2, Figure out if the gaming group has made a decision on a tabletop roleplaying system, and listen to Ryan "not" get sucked into buying He-Man and the Masters of the Universe action figures. All this, and the news make for a jam packed 1st episode of 2022! The News: R...

With Just Mike out on assignment, Bert sits in and shoots striaght with RD.  They discuss (semi) nerdy xmas traditions, unique tabletop RPG characters in recent memory, Every (to date) cancelled-in-2021 Netflix show, the recent influx of foreign fandoms in pop culture, the news, Iron Chef 24/365, which system should the gang's next campaign run, and of course we "don't" talk about the continuing s...

Mike tries to talk down Ryan from axing 5e from the gaming table as Wizards of the Coast / D&D doubles down on their politically correct "corrections," the excellent board game Otys can be had for cheap, and we give you some Horror for your Holiday as the guys discuss if any of the "flicks to watch over Christmas" whet their appetites.  This, plus the nerdy news (pizza, anyone?) and a lot of s...

The Bros talk about Midnight Mass on Netflix (now that Ryan forced Mike to watch it), woke Dungeons & Dragons striking again, Heroquest Expansions, and Ryan David getting unfriended.  Following the news, and saving this train wreck of an episode, is Sci-Fi / Specutulative Fiction author Roger Ley.  Roger swoops in and discusses Chronoscape, the first book in his latest anthology, as well as hi...

A very ill Ryan David and a just fine Just Mike apparently want to talk about food -- it keeps creeping back into this week's episode!  We give advice about lugging around a hoard of gold in Dungeons and Dragons, destroy the mainstream media perception of the best games, talk about our favorite fantasy race/class combos, try to figure out what to get our parents for their holiday gifts, visit Ryan...

Just Mike figures out that he has to turn ON his mic for the world to hear him and then joins Ryan David in a chat about Thanksgiving, Gatekeeping in the hobby, and bringing children to the gaming table.   The boys also talk about sex scenes in video games, Mike quizzes Ry's "dating lingo" prowess, the news, and they "don't" talk about board games and the current hotness! SHOW LINKS: Support the s...

It's 2x board game night where Ryan David and a hungover Just Mike tackle both the new Cthulhu mythos reimagining of Battlestar Galactica, Unfathomable and finally blab about Abomination. The guys get blasted for their thoughts from last week about Forza, talk about defunct strip clubs, & dive into the news. Yes, we know Mike's audio blows whale winkie.  More on this next episode. Stuff to buy...

Just Mike and Ryan David shoot the shit. Sticking to the bowl this week was Pornstar Brandi Braids, computer woes, a Roll Player Adventures board game review, nerdy news featuring cancel culture, and TV talk highlighting "Alaska survivor," The Expanse, Narcos, and Midnight Mass. Stuff to Buy: Roll Player Adventures: https://amzn.to/3FnKHcD 13th Age: https://amzn.to/32gZzvf This Episode's Hosts: Ry...

Just Mike and Ryan David talk about their experience with Dune Imperium the board game, Dungeons & Dragons and playing tabletop games online, the nerdy news, and what they are playing with a controller. Show notes: View "the map": https://imgur.com/98Cctxa Stuff to buy: Dune Imperium: https://amzn.to/3C2xSlJ   This Episode's Hosts: Ryan David Just Mike