It's Christmastime and the gang is talking all aspects of the holiday! Hear what each of the guys would love to see under their tree and what they have planned for the season! Plus, all the news you could want (or not want)! Siobhan also invades a news segment with some "fan" insight to a story that carried over from the Speakeasy -- "Dungeons and Drag Queens." Top off your eggnog and strap in for a fun Christmas chat; dragons optional. *** The News: More Pop Gaming Media "Best Builds" Drag Quee...
Dec 24, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 266
Fan Fiction has always existed, but now, the lines between fanfic and canon are blurred. The barrier for entry of user created schlock into canon has all but been removed. Is this a good or a bad thing? How does this effect the hobby and your table? After the news, RD, Bert, and Kyle discuss holiday games at the TTRPG table. What role do these play and why do they exist? *** The News: RuneQuest Video Game Coming Up! "Best" Holiday Board Games Pamela Anderson's Reboots A Reading from Ryan's "Favo...
Dec 17, 2024•59 min•Ep. 265
RD has no voice and the gang pick up the slack! Drizzt Do'Urden is too "problematic" for Wizards of the Coast to produce in a TV show.. or possibly any "old Drizzt" materials according to the pop gaming media and your average SparkleTroll. The news features a story that makes RD vow to revisit it on the next Speakeasy. Lastly, the guys rattle off movies that are better Dungeons and Dragons movies than the existing DnD films. *** The News: DnD Christmas: Bah, Humbug! Asmodee Restructuring and Buy...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 264
With the TTRPG scene buzzing about Elon Musk potentially buying Hasbro and/or Wizards of the Coast, the guys weigh in with pros... AND cons of a possible Musk takeover. You might be surprised about who has apprehension! Then, after the news, the gang talks about a push in gaming to intentionally produce games as a mental health tool! But wait, it's worse! ...a mental health therapeutic designed for children . *** The News: New tech "changing" the way you play DnD? 9-year-old RD wants THAT Revisi...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 263
You do not need to check your glasses or rub your eyes... Ryan has invited BDubs of the #BrOSR to pop in to the big show. Never shying away from a conversation with anyone, this special episode does not disappoint! With the noticeable shift in power, poise, and presentation, RD had to find out the "State of the BroSR." BDubs does not disappoint talking about general bro theory, Brozer, and the perceived shift in power in this niche of our niche. Of course, "Where's Jeffro?" comes up and the guys...
Nov 26, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 262
We hop on the controversy carousel and FINALLY give our thoughts on the old argument about paladins. Which of the gang believes they must be Lawful Good (and human) and who is playing the tiefling holy warrior? Then, we tackle the news with pop gaming garbage that boggles the minds of each of the guys. Lastly, we take a trip to Reddit where a LOT of SparkleTrolls and NuGamers are bemoaning that "DnD is too hard!" Crunch is good! ----more---- The News: A Drizzt movie should NOT be a fantasy adven...
Nov 19, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 261
The whole gang is here and Ryan David leads the discussion around what "bones" are a must-have for the perfect fantasy role playing game? Spanning from philosophy to mechanics, the crew nominate elements that they simply couldn't exclude from their own "perfect D&D." The news is just one article -- but what an article it is! Do you know what your dice type tells the table about YOU? After that silliness, the guys discuss aberrations including personal favorites and weaker entries. ----more--...
Nov 12, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 260
Wizards of the Coast has further GUTTED 2024 Dungeons and Dragons. Thanks to a leak and preview materials, we review all of the options and play choices that new to the hobby players and 5e folks alike now have had erased! It's not just an attack on most current players and old school classic gamers, it's open season for anything that doesn't fit the VTT model. Ryan and Kyle dig into the most egregious deletions and wonder how the DMG can provide any insight to a new GM and/or group. ----more---...
Nov 05, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 259
Your Dungeon Master has no autonomy. Players can steamroll the table. PCs get a safe space where they are untouchable. The Wizards of the Coast 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide has codified safety tools and empowered the woke crybullies that run rampant in the hobby. Further accelerating the destruction of our hobby and bending the knee to the screaming social justice warriors, the 2024 DMG details have tricked out and the gang discusses some of the "finer" points. ----more---- The News: Grotesque an...
Oct 29, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 258
Randy dropped in and the gang just couldn't keep it to an hour! Listen to the overtime segment where the topic turns to the dark side... what happens when you have to remove a player from your group. The old kick to the curb is necessary and a part of the hobby, but how do you and your table handle this unpleasant task? Listen for insight, tales of those who got the boot, and more. ----more---- Episode Sponsors and Affiliates: Shop Amazon and Support the Show: https://amzn.to/3djotja *We earn a ...
Oct 28, 2024•28 min•Ep. 257
This week, friend of the show Randy Nichols sits in and talks with Ryan and Bert about preparations a player makes when tackling a new system, new table, or both. The boys talk their rituals and TTRPG "study habits." Of course, they get to talking and get caught up in the conversation -- so once the chat about the news finishes discussing the pop gaming media's grumblings, they have to table the final topic for the future. (Fear not, it will release as a bonus nano episode later this week!) ----...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 256
Extreme violence. Naughty bits. Gore. Uncomfortable situations. How much is too much at the table? Where is there a line? IS THERE a line? The gang weighs in. The news includes some surprising 2024 DND PHB information kicking off the week's update. After the news, the guys discuss player engagement and how to keep the focus on the table instead of on their tablets. ----more---- The News: Dungeons & Dragons 2024 PHB shocker Sea of Legends... deckbuilding?!? Monsters with "drops" Former Blizza...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 255
Ryan David does no prep. Bert does a lot. Kyle is in the middle. What session prep style is best, how does prep affect a game, and what ramifications does it have for your group at the table? Some interesting news with a new contender to dethrone the "horse." After, a DND DM is looking for an exit... but is he not enjoying the game because he isn't really playing it?!? ----more---- The News: "What a cute abomination!" LEGO meets a "real" board game Ghibli printable poster/game ----more---- Episo...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 254
The 2024 DND Players Handbook is the best selling Dungeons & Dragons supplement... EVER?!? Really? We dig into the numbers that are available and have some questions and commentary. This week we also welcome the Lost Lore Scholar, Jack into his seat as the newest host of Nerdcognito! After the news, all four of your friends, Ryan David, Bert, Jack, and Kyle discuss how #GatekeepingIsGood and why the mechanics of a system can actually vet your players. ----more---- The News: "New" Greyhawk ma...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 253
The show picks up where we left off last week -- talking about comedy TTRPGs. Can funny have legs? Is a long-term comedy campaign sustainable? Then, we get buried in the news this week starting with a deep discussion on 2024 DND's new "time out" cleric spell; the one that allows you to short rest during a combat. Plus, woke warriors are forming yet another sensitivity reader company to give game designers a big progressive thumbs up. SweetBaby for tabletop? ----more---- The News: Wizards of the ...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 252
The gang pivots from talking about WotC, woke, or faux warrior drama this week and puts on their player character hats. What mindset, procedure, and thought process go behind the making of a character for D&D or any other TTRPG? Three very different perspectives and practices that offer insight into their game -- and hopefully yours! Plus, an extended trip through the news means we have to bump talk about comedy games until a future show! ----more---- The News: DND licensed Dice Cups from a ...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 251
The Hero's Feast artwork from OneDND is the most Wizards of the Coast thing WotC has done... this week. We pick it apart, talk about "why?", and have a general good time because YouTube sensation The Dungeon Delver, Mr. Bill Silvey is guest hosting this week! This, plus one or two abysmal Reddit takes and the news makes for a great conversation about the hobby with lots of laughs! ----more---- The News: D&D Lifestyle Brand... Beer? "I want to autokill everything..." Cosplay at Universal Stud...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 250
Continuing the path of destruction and erasure of the OG creators of D&D, Wizards of the Coast has announced that the new DND 5.5/OneDND starter set will include a new version of B2: Keep on the Borderlands, but "updated for modern audiences." Why are they intentionally scrubbing or rewriting classic content that has no need for revision? Then, after the news which includes even MORE reimaginings, the gang talks about how you can build layers of intrigue, mystery, and engagement as a Dungeon...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 249
Well, Wizards of the Coast (with lots of Hasbro fingerprints) has stuck it to fans again -- this time, their 5e base. WotC has chosen to force the shift to OneDND and will auto convert all materials in D&D Beyond to the new platform, once again breaking their word about backwards compatibility. The SparkleTroll crowd is NOT happy. Can we utilize this move to save one or more 5e darlings and bolster our corner of the hobby? A detailed discussion between Ryan, Bert, and Kyle; and the stances t...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 248
In the debut episode of the Elven Maid Inn's short-form show, she talks about Fudging and it's implications and impact on games and the hobby. *** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL!! ...and go to your favorite podcast player or nerdcognito.com or to subscribe to the OG podcast, Nerdcognito! linktr.ee/nerdcognito
Aug 25, 2024•14 min•Ep. 247
Continuing the 2-part show from last week, Grim Jim joins RD and Bert to talk about the discussion in the mainstream TTRPG/DnD hobby for the "need" for game designers to insert and address political themes, social justice, and "wrongs" of society in their games. Why is this a "need?" Answer: It is not. Plus, we begin the show laughing at some insanity in the pop media with the news and a trip to our favorite inmates-running-the-asylum online cesspool, Reddit. ----more---- The News: Pop it! Milk ...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 246
OneDND has been set free by Wizards of the Coast. With WotC's "new" and "daring" upgrade now getting a lot of buzz, we take an ENTIRE episode talking about other games you can and should bring to your table! Our friend Grim Jim Desborough sits in and brings his unique perspective and two decades of professional game design experience to the conversation. Our picks span fantasy, horror, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and more.. the guys dive deep into their choices of TTRPGs for your crew. ----more---...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 245
Did you know that Dave Arneson worked on a super-secret follow-up to Blackmoor with a nobody studio that no one has heard of? NEITHER DID THE ARNESON ESTATE. This disgusting grift really has RD and the boys upset, and they detail the situation for you. Plus, Kelsey and ShadowDark sweep the ENNIEs and a Reddit redemption story. ----more---- The News: ENNIEs and ShadowDark Venger, Dungeon Master, and Nostalgia Mystery Board Game-Turned-TTRPG! A SparkleTroll wakes up! ----more---- Grab The Village ...
Aug 06, 2024•57 min•Ep. 244
Hasbro's 2nd Quarter earnings have posted. WotC continues to bleed. Sales are down. BUT -- RD thinks the Q looks... good?!? An economics light discussion of why Hasbro may not be in as much peril as some in the hobby would like. Plus, Elder Gods and Woke Warriors in the news. After the news, the guys look at how Wizards of the Coast believes they are pandering to their SparkleTroll audience, but it may be backfiring based on response to the "new" Ranger class. ----more---- The News: Arkham Horro...
Jul 30, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 243
Bert and RD sit down and talk about a request from a friend of the show: "What is your personal 'Appendix N-like' curated list of non-print inspiration?" Listen as the guys chronicle everything from Movies to TV to Video Games and more! How did these items impact their games and their creativity? The news this week is, well, exactly what you would expect during a week when Wizards of the Coast released a Rainbow Brite sorcerer. It's a fun discussion that pulls from all of the things we love! ---...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 242
Oh no! That giant just turned Bert's character into meat paste! What considerations are necessary and what must a player, a DM, and a gaming group do to pivot when a PC buys the farm? RD and Bert pontificate this point because, well, Bert's character was turned into meat paste at the last gaming session. After the news, the duo discuss what input, if any, is appropriate for players to have and what sway do they carry as it relates to world building. ----more---- The News: Pour a drink with this ...
Jul 16, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 241
Surprise, surprise: Wizards of the Coast continues to "re-imagine" Dungeons & Dragons... potentially into the grave. The "improvements" to crafting and the introduction of a hybrid "Minecraft" and "MMO" crafting system were released, and it looks like once again the game is getting fundamentally changed for the worse. The news makes us laugh as we ride the struggle bus through a Reddit post. Finally, we talk death in space with the fantastic horror/sci-fi TTRPG, Mothership. ----more---- The ...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 240
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 News: Check out the Headlights on Her! Lord of the Rings crushes modern box office Please, be a Power Game...
Jul 02, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 239
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 cool in a very unique way before ending up with some quality "modern journalism." ----more---- Grab The...
Jun 25, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 238
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 Village of Greenhaven NOW! PRINT ON DEMAND NOW AVAILABLE! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/465184/The-V...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 237
