Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast - podcast cover

Nerd’s RPG Variety Cast

Twice a month (nominally) podcast about tabletop role playing games, exploitation movies, board games, miniature war games, and whatever else attracts my interest. Callers can use my Speakpipe account https://www.speakpipe.com/NerdsRPGVarietyCast you can also send an email to nerdsrpgvarietycast 'at' gmail 'dot' com or find me on a variety of discords including the Audio Dungeon Discord. Ray Otus provided the coffee cup clip art and TJ provides my music.
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Episodes

Prelude to a Hard Rain

A narrative opening to my upcoming Cyberpunk 2020 game in response to episode 258 of Joe Richter’s Hindsightless where he gives his character’s backstory. We’ll return to our regular content and format next episode. Joe’s episode https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/episodes/258-A-Hard-Rain-Will-Fall-e17l602

Sep 22, 20214 min

253 Listener Revolt!

Lessons learned from recent games and calls from people taking me to task! Julz on multiple PCs https://anchor.fm/jewelsfromnz/episodes/12-RPG-A-DAY---Think-e15qi10 Hashbrown RichterCon 202X Calls from Arlen (Live from Pellam’s Wasteland) https://anchor.fm/pellamswasteland BJ (The Arcane Alienist) https://anchor.fm/arcanealienist Brian (Have to Look That Up) https://anchor.fm/havetolookthatup Joe (Biggus Geekus) https://anchor.fm/biggusgeekus Julz (Jewels From NZ) https://anchor.fm/jewelsfromnz ...

Sep 20, 202159 minSeason 1Ep. 253

252 Ahoy Mateys with the Dread Pirate Daniel

It is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and I answer calls from the Dread Pirate Daniel Norton. Hashbrown RichterCon 202X Calls from Daniel (Bandit’s Keep) International Talk Like a Pirate Day http://talklikeapirate.com/wordpress/ TSR Conan Retroclone https://sites.google.com/site/zefrsrpg/ Forgotten Angels Florida https://www.forgottenangelsflorida.org/ Forgotten Angels Charity Raffle: https://rafflecreator.com/pages/47938/road-king-kong-raffle#payment-form You can leave me a message here on...

Sep 19, 202137 minSeason 1Ep. 252

251 Jumping back in the deep end

Interview with Paul (Heptalemma on discord). We talk about his return to gaming and a whirlwind round of GMing new systems. Also listener calls! Hashbrown RichterCon 202X Joe’s podcast responding to Arlen https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9/episodes/252-Here-There-Be-Monsters-e176uh7 Five Geek Social Fallacies https://plausiblydeniable.com/five-geek-social-fallacies/ OtakuGeneration Podcast http://otakugeneration.net/ Calls from Brian (Have to Look That Up) https://anchor.fm/havetolookthatup Che (Rol...

Sep 13, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 251

250 State of the Podcast

Big episode today! We have my future plans, some unboxings, non spoiler plugs for Cobra Kai and Ash vs The Evil Dead. Speaking of spoilers we discuss spoilers in movies, books and RPGs. We talk about the RPGs Mork Borg & Cyberpunk 2020. Board games Arkham Horror, Talisman, Warhammer Quest, & Shadows of Brimstone. Two Hour Wargames 5150 Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/atzguy/5150-new-beginnings-sci-fi-rpg Video about Daniel being the bully in The Karate Kid https://youtu....

Sep 11, 20211 hr 27 minSeason 1Ep. 250

249 Session recaps are back on the menu

Session recaps for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea and Raven God Games upcoming Sword & Sorcery RPG REAVER! I also field calls on a variety of subjects. Metal cover of James Bond theme https://youtu.be/FSa3ZDvwYlc a very Metal actual play over at Sub-Class Act https://anchor.fm/sub-class-act/episodes/One-Shot---Against-the-Scourge-e16dnm4 Stuart Fillingham’s video on speed limiters and black boxes https://youtu.be/5hY2HaR4K5c Calls from Arlen (Live from Pellam’s Wasteland...

Sep 09, 20211 hr 26 minSeason 1Ep. 249

248 Cyberpunk 2020 character creation with Joe Richter

Special episode where Joe Richter joins me to create a Cyberpunk 2020 character. Back to the normal format next episode. Mike Pondsmith running Cyberpunk Red (actual play) part 1 https://youtu.be/ruIl56IKRFo part 2 https://youtu.be/wq-feVfZDoo Seth Skorkowsky Cyberpunk 2020 review https://youtu.be/tmdMnYm1zno Joe’s podcast https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9

Sep 07, 20211 hr 15 minSeason 1Ep. 248

247 Metal Up!

Calls on Viking Death Squad result in a special “how to be a Metal DM” segment. Also discussed Runehammer’s Pirate’s Crown card game, the Lowlife zine, spoilers in games, Cyberpunk 2020, & The Morrow Project. Vulcan Dairies start at 53:12 minute mark. Daniel’s Home Brew Magic System https://youtu.be/vvkgbmrmqbQ Metal Family Tree Karl mentions at bottom of this page https://metalrulz.com/metal-family-tree/ Regulator Letter to CSX https://www.reuters.com/article/us-csx-regulator-idUSKBN1AD266 ...

Sep 05, 20211 hr 23 minSeason 1Ep. 247

246 Cyberpunk System Beimo or Why Do The Scottish Drink?

I talk about recent games, what I’ve watched (primarily The Paper Tigers & Major Payne), unbox Wizard Funk 3, answer listener calls. There is also a short Vulcan Dairies segment (starting 52 minutes into the episode) on trains, helmets and speed limiters. Karl’s session recaps https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez/episodes/The-GMologist-Presents---Fraction-e16g6mh & https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez/episodes/The-GMologist-Presents---System-e16il94 Arlen’s session recaps https://anchor.fm/pella...

Sep 01, 20211 hr 7 minSeason 1Ep. 246

245 ICRPG Master Edition & Viking Death Squad are here!

I give my first impressions on the new Index Card RPG Master Edition & Viking Death Squad which are being published as a collaboration between Runehammer and Modiphius. US preorder site will be live mid-September, European preorder live now! https://www.modiphius.net/collections/runehammer Runehammer’s YouTube https://youtube.com/c/DrunkensDragonsPlayDDLikeaBadass YouTube ICRPG playlist https://youtu.be/FrbE8-B9_K8 Loco Ludus VDS interview https://anchor.fm/loco-ludus/episodes/Viking-Death-S...

Aug 30, 20211 hr 14 minSeason 1Ep. 245

Tune in Monday for my 1st Impressions on ICRPG Master Edition & Viking Death Squad

This episode is just a commercial for my first impressions review of Runehammer Games Index Card RPG Master Edition & Viking Death Squad that will be released on Monday night, 30 August 2021. We’ll be back to my regular format with calls, recaps and shenanigans on Wednesday 1 September 2021. US preorder site will be live mid-September, European preorder live now! https://www.modiphius.net/collections/runehammer

Aug 28, 202147 sec

244 Daniel Norton Messes With Texas!

All listener calls all the time! Roleplay Rescue Che Webster interviews Steve Jackson https://anchor.fm/rpgrescue/episodes/Talking-To-Steve-Jackson-eck40n The Grognard Files https://thegrognardfiles.com/ Article on the evolution of King Shark: https://ew.com/books/king-shark-evolution-the-suicide-squad/ CAF B-17 don’t mess with Texas commercial https://youtu.be/XlFD0Zyl_f0 Commemorative Air Force website https://commemorativeairforce.org/ Calls from new caller Paul (AKA heptalemma) Joe (Hindsigh...

Aug 25, 20211 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 244

243 Goodbye Sonny Chiba

Born Sadaho Maeda, better known in the west as Sonny Chiba, January 1939 – 19 August 2021. Star of The Street Fighter series, The Bodyguard, Golgo 13: Assignment Kowloon, Wolfguy: Enraged Lycanthrope, Shogun’s Samurai, G.I. Samurai, Doberman Cop, and The Storm Riders just to name a few. Name pronunciation clip from this video https://youtu.be/LlAcFCKblmo

Aug 23, 202114 minSeason 1Ep. 243

242 The Death of Beer?

RPGs be damned, Karl is worried about the future of beer! After answering that harrowing question I do a RPG session recap, discuss Joe Richter’s fake dad challenge, and play some listener calls. Witch House Magazine https://witchhousemag.blogspot.com/2021/08/witch-house-issue-1-now-available.html?m=1 Article on the rise of hard seltzer https://www.businessofbusiness.com/amp/articles/history-of-hard-seltzer-white-claw-truly-bud-light-cacti-comparison-travis-scott-constellation/ Calls from Karl (...

Aug 23, 20211 hr 7 minSeason 1Ep. 242

241 Happy Birthday Mr. Lovecraft?

“I AM PROVIDENCE” Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born August 20th 1890. He died at 46 after living what was generally a miserably life. What is it about Lovecraft’s literature that allows people to love the work but not the man?

Aug 20, 202110 minSeason 1Ep. 241

240 Twilight 2000 session report

Twilight 2000 session recap, some wonderful calls on troupe play and Daniel continues our discussion on the future of transportation. Clip of politician wanting to ‘turn the screws’ on seniors with fixed incomes https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/02/05/baker-climate-official-blasted-for-comments-to-break-your-will-over-emissionsvideo/ Calls from Colin (Spikepit) https://anchor.fm/spikepit B.J. (The Arcane Alienist) https://anchor.fm/arcanealienist Karl (The GMologist Presents) https://anchor.fm/k...

Aug 18, 20211 hr 14 minSeason 1Ep. 240

239 Froth’s 12v12 First Impressions

We start with apologies to Menion (AKA Rob) and Colin Green then move onto a discussion of troupe play, a session recap, an initial take on Froth’s 12v12 RPG and a slew of call ins. The documentary mentioned at the end is 1971’s On Any Sunday. Julz on multiple PCs https://anchor.fm/jewelsfromnz/episodes/12-RPG-A-DAY---Think-e15qi10 Froth’s 12v12 game https://thoughteater.itch.io/12v12 Rob Rules of Gaming start 53 minutes into this episode: https://anchor.fm/rob-c/episodes/Call-in-Bonanza-22--Plu...

Aug 15, 20211 hr 17 minSeason 1Ep. 239

238 ASSH and Karl on being a good GM

Gaming recap, podcast recommendations, spoiler free thoughts on MotU & Batman, and unboxing. If you aren’t interested in the Vulcan Dairies you can stop listening 44 minutes in. Kevin (The Redcaps Podcast) https://anchor.fm/theredcaps Karl (The GMologist Presents) https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez Daniel (Bandit’s Keep) https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton Menion’s discussion of Rule 0 starts about the 40:00 minute mark https://anchor.fm/menion/episodes/Unexpected-5e-Evaluation--New-Gaming-Horizon...

Aug 11, 20211 hr 7 minSeason 1Ep. 238

237 No to notes and bad wrong ways of rolling dice

Alternate D&D combat, hidden rolls, unboxings plus calls from Spencer (Keep Off The Borderlands) https://anchor.fm/free-thrall Joe (Hindsightless) https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9 Kevin (The Redcaps Podcast) https://anchor.fm/theredcaps Amy & Karl (The GMologist Presents) https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez B.J. (The Arcane Alienist) https://anchor.fm/arcanealienist Arlen (Live From Pellam’s Wasteland) https://anchor.fm/pellamswasteland Colin (Spikepit) https://anchor.fm/spikepit Daniel (Band...

Aug 08, 20211 hr 24 minSeason 1Ep. 237

236 Throwing Stuff At The Wall

Short segments on: player engagement, a Twilight 2000 4K session recap, and RPG-A-Day month. Calls from Amy’s husband Karl (The GMologist Presents) https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez Randy (Biggus Geekus) https://anchor.fm/biggusgeekus Taylor (Clerics Wear Ringmail) https://anchor.fm/clerics-wear-ringmail Kevin (The Redcaps Podcast) https://anchor.fm/theredcaps Daniel (Bandit’s Keep) https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton Taking notes and keeping players engaged discussion about 1 hour 15 minutes into th...

Aug 04, 202137 minSeason 1Ep. 236

235 The Strange RPG starring Nic Cage

WotC’s statement on canon, The Strange session recap, character creation in The One Ring 2E and calls from Joe & Karl Rodriguez (only one of which is Amy’s husband) Rule 0 video by Bandit’s Keep https://youtu.be/9hQXCnI1WmA Hindsightless: https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9 The GMologist Presents: https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez

Aug 01, 202138 minSeason 1Ep. 235

234 The way forward and an unboxing

Unboxing of Breaker Press Games’ The Precipice of Corruption & The Tome of Debasement for DCC. Calls from Karl (The GMologist Presents) https://anchor.fm/karl-rodriguez Daniel (The Bandit’s Keep) https://anchor.fm/daniel-norton and Kevin (The Redcaps Podcast) https://anchor.fm/theredcaps help define how I hope to tackle contentious topics in the future. Also mentioned during the podcast: Spikepit https://anchor.fm/spikepit/episodes/390-Anchorite-Amnesty-Appeal-e157j6s Confessions of a Wee Ti...

Jul 30, 202124 minSeason 1Ep. 234

233 Rule 0 Discussion Finale

Discussion over, for now. Calls from Joe, Daniel and Arlen. If you want more ‘what is D&D’ discussion check out my Episode 186 TSR D&D vs WotC D&D. If you want more Rule 0 content check out Barry’s Shadow of the GM podcast Episode 8 From OD&D Rule Zero to Hero-o https://anchor.fm/gmsshadow/episodes/Episode-8-From-ODD-Rule-Zero-to-Here-o-eak8pb as well as Talking Rule Zero with Todd from Hexed Press on the Bandits Keep YouTube https://youtu.be/9hQXCnI1WmA and Jon Peterson’s Playin...

Jul 29, 202124 minSeason 1Ep. 233

232 Call in Bonanza

Calls about Joe Richter, rule zero and the X card. Proper show notes at the end of the week, calls from Daniel of Bandit’s Keep, Karl from The GMologist Presents, Taylor from Clerics Wear Ringmail, Paul (Heptalemma), BJ from The Arcane Alienist, Arlen of Live from Pellam’s Wasteland. Listen to the end before calling in responses!

Jul 28, 202140 minSeason 1Ep. 232

231 Troika Open Mike Night

I talk about preparing to play in The Strange and Bonecrunch plus give a session report on Troika! Listener feedback on Rule 0 and the X Card next episode.

Jul 27, 202125 minSeason 1Ep. 231

230 Yet more Rule Zero & Arlen Walker joins me

Listener feed back about Rule Zero from Kevin, Joe, and Karl, plus a talk with Arlen Walker, will additional cans of worms be opened by all these dynamic podcasters? Plus stay tuned for The Blind Rat's Rap at the end! Arlen Live from Pellam's Wasteland podcast https://anchor.fm/pellamswasteland Arlen Live from Pellam's Wasteland YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHLoibMx57Anui2T4-zVBsQ Joe Hindsightless https://anchor.fm/joe-richter9 Joe Weal or Woe https://www.wealorwoe.com/ Karl The GMo...

Jul 26, 202156 minSeason 1Ep. 230

229 More on Rule Zero plus a talk with Menion

Menion and I talk about Joe Richter, Robin Hood, Pendragon, Rule Zero, Rulings over Rules, the Rule of Cool, and published adventures. Also calls from Arlen, Barney, Daniel, Joey and Rob C.! Adventures Dark and Deep creator's blog https://www.greyhawkgrognard.com/ Adventures Dark and Deep rule books https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/3728/BRW-Games Adventures Dark and Deep Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brwgames/book-of-lost-lore-and-book-of-lost-beasts Arlen Walker Live f...

Jul 24, 20211 hr 52 minSeason 1Ep. 228

228 Sinbad of the Seven Seas

I discuss a contender for the best Dungeons & Dragons movie, Lou Ferrigno’s Italian Sinbad movie! Also unboxings and calls from Amy, Amy’s husband Karl & Arlen.

Jul 23, 202136 minSeason 1Ep. 228

227 Is Rule Zero Abusive DMing?

In this week’s episode Mary tries to keep Lester from finding out that one of Sandra’s boyfriends tried to pick up Brenda. Whoops, wrong 227! Actually I do a session recap for a recent Twilight 2000 game, talk about Arlen Walker’s opinion that Rule 0 is bad (with Menion's help) and Barney & Arlen call in to talk more about Failing Forward. Live From Pellam’s Wasteland podcast episodes discussed 2.125 Callins and Bone Crunching! 15 July, 2021 & 2.128 Callins on Crunch and Staycation Ends ...

Jul 22, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 1Ep. 227

226 More bad movie shenanigans

Calls from Joe, Randy, and Arlen regarding bad movies. Minimum RPG content in this one folks although there is an unboxing and a little on systems for bad Robin Hood movies.

Jul 21, 202124 minSeason 1Ep. 226
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