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/traitor board game, Unfathomable! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILAB...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 236
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 news! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www....
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 235
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! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.co...
May 28, 2024•39 min•Ep. 234
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 The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/46518...
May 21, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 233
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---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/prod...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 232
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 Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Gr...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 231
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 both a victim and an observer. Plus, Jim sits in for the remainder of the show to have some fun with the ...
Apr 30, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 230
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---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/46...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 229
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 of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Gr...
Apr 16, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 228
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 Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 227
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 forces together? Tough questions will be asked, and hopefully answered. Could an impossible allianc...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 226
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 DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211...
Mar 26, 2024•59 min•Ep. 225
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 week! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivet...
Mar 19, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 224
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 the TTRPG world. ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https:...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 223
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! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/...
Mar 05, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 222
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 the ability to improvise are critical to the hobby. ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PR...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 221
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't ask what flavor). ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND LAUNCHING THIS WEEK!...
Feb 20, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 220
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 Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND ANTICIPATED SOON! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Vi...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 219
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 02/09/24 OR SOONER! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Village-of-Greenhaven?affiliate_id=3908211...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 218
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-Greenhaven ----more---- The News: Tarrasque what? CMON Kickstarter Bailout Palworld vs. Pokemon ----more---- Epi...
Jan 30, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 217
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 show! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-Vi...
Jan 23, 2024•59 min•Ep. 216
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 for your consideration when next constructing a realm! ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! ...
Jan 16, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 215
The gang digs into NPCs this week! Talking about how to make effective and memorable characters, what to avoid in NPC creation, and how to sidestep tropes and the "predictable" nature of this important piece of the TTRPG/DnD puzzle. The news of the week tips off with us not touching the WotC AI piece, simply because it's all just conjecture at this point in time. After the news, the gang digs into The Navarro Knight, a preview of a new system by our Check Mark Hero, Cynnamander! ----more---- Gra...
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 214
It's release week for The Village of Greenhaven! Hear Kyle and Bert dig in and ask RD about Greenhaven, learn about it's creation, and what the system-agnostic supplement can do for your table! There is a list in the news, and it involves the BEAR! Lastly, inspired by the rotten advice in the news for Dungeon Masters, the guys each give some advice for GMs to help smooth over some bumpy roads that every DM will encounter. ----more---- Grab The Village of Greenhaven NOW! https://www.drivethrurpg....
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 213
This week, the gang is haunted by three spirits! That's right -- 2023's Ghosts of Past, Present and Future frame the whole show. What were the personal touches, opinions, and events that shaped each? Plus, the "future" brings a glimpse of what each of the guys is hoping for and predicts in the coming year! ----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping Is Good shirt on Amazon! Support the show and hold that door! https://amzn.to/3R60vt3 ----more---- The News: Cavill-Warhammer Correction Octop...
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 212
Well, unless you've been in the remote woods like Bert (and even he knew about it) you've heard about the WotC cuts. We talk about the human price of these cuts, each host having varying and predicable degrees of empathy. What does the future hold for Wizards? After the news, the guys discuss how the Nerdcognito core TTRPG group went back to the basics... high fantasy... and what a wonderful experience it was. How can you experience this bliss? The gang has some advice for your table! ----more--...
Dec 19, 2023•58 min•Ep. 211
The boys try to cleanse the room and open the show by looking at the "Bro-holy" document that is Appendix N, and then each of the guys adds a line item to the list of required reading! The news presents everything from the huge MCDM kickoff to a quite chilly topic. After the news, Hunter aka Ultra-American TTRPGer stops in to tell his side of the Haunted Table story. Did Haunted Table act with cause or did they persecute Hunter for his political speech? ----more---- Don't forget to get your Gate...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 210
Oh my goodness! What a week of woke! Starting with Wizards of the Coast redacting lore and modifying language to be less "problematic" and ending with Goodman Games caving to SparkleTroll diversity lunacy and destroying the Dungeon Crawl Classics base, it has been a wild ride. RD and Kyle talk about it all and try to bring some perspective into the cultural breakdown that we are witnessing. After the news, the duo break down the OD&D announcement from PAX and ponder the future of the franchi...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 209
With major publishers now putting content restrictions in print about what subjects players may or may not talk about during the game, the guys examine how we got here and why or why not dictating content is acceptable. Hint: It's not. The news brings Bert another surreal not-quite-horse moment about how nuts some segments of the hobby have become. Lastly, the gang talks about what might make an excellent gift to "lure" a new player to the table! ----more---- Don't forget to get your Gatekeeping...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 208
What a ride! THANK YOU ALL for allowing us into your ears each week! This episode we bring back the OG co-host, Just Mike (with his bad audio and all), and the entire gang strolls down memory lane and revisits topics from shows gone by. Everything including Brandi Braids, predicting WotC's fall from grace, safety tools, DTRPG ousting The Red Room, and the guys outlining their "perfect" game. You don't want to miss lots of laughs, good times, and clinking a pint with us in reverie! ----more---- D...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 207
