Nerdcognito

There has been a lot of talk about metagaming in hobby circles as of late, with modern gaming going so far as to fully endorse it! Hear our thoughts about what may or may not be considered metagaming, when it may be acceptable, and generally why it is NOT well received at most tables.***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠D&D, TTRPG, DnD, Tabletop Roleplaying, Tabletop Role Playing, Nerd Culture, Nerdcognito, Critical Role, d20, DnDBeyond, podcast, OSR, Old School Renaissance, Old School, Podcast, Nerdcognito Podcast, Tabletop Podcast, RPG Podcast, Metagaming, Meta Gaming, Player Knowledge, Character Knowledge, Table Etiquette, RPG Etiquette, Game Master Advice, DM Tips, Player Behavior, Modern Gaming, Immersion, Table Culture, Unwritten Rules, Social Contract, Out of Character, In Character, Knowledge Checks, Power Gaming, Min Maxing, Session Zero, House Rules, Fair Play

A staple of the OSR, now finding new popularity at Classic Gaming tables and solo TTRPGers, the hexcrawl is often daunting for a new gamer to play, let alone create. This week, we throw our own modern gaming convert into the fire and have Siobhan take the lead on creating a hexmap and discuss the nuance of running this style of overland adventure at your table!***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Check out Strange Tales from New England on DriveThruRPG:https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/556832/strange-tales-of-new-england?affiliate_id=3908211Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%! Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja

Enjoy the second half of the conversation we had with Robert J. Kuntz, the last original Dungeons and Dragons creator! Rob wraps up his thoughts on WotC as custodians, we laugh about creative "helpers," and he shares wisdom for new (and old) nerds in the hobby!***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

Join us as we welcome Mr. Robert J. Kuntz, the literal last man standing among the original creators of Dungeons and Dragons, as we chat about his philosophies, perspectives, and hear some great stories about building the foundation of our beloved hobby. Rob is the last primary source from the early days of the hobby, and shoots straight about the distortion of history that we see happening in modern gaming today. ***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

What is the state of the indie and OSR TTRPG space now and in the future? The RPGPundit sits in and talks about the scene, the boons and banes we are seeing in the market, and his new Sci-Fi OSR game. A must listen for every Classic Gamer!***How much is too much for you as the DM/GM? Silliness, min/maxing, meta gaming, scheduling issues? Where do YOU draw the line? Hear our lines plus we chat about when you can forgive and when a player just might be best forgotten!***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesCheck out Bedrock Games!DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/7264/bedrock-games?keyword=bedrock%20games&affiliate_id=3908211httts://bedrockgames.net***We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%! Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja

Sure, we all likely started our journey in the hobby with D&D, but what alternative systems broadened your horizons? This week we talk OTHER games, historically and in the present indie-rich culture. The hobby is wide and deep!***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

So YOU want to be a TTRPG Designer? It's important that you understand "The Business of the Business!" This week, we invite 20+ year game designer, WotC alum, and recent Kickstarter success James Desborough to sit in and chat about the critical business end of D&D design and Indie Tabletop publishing. It's a must-listen if YOU are interested in how the orc sausages are made!***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

This week, grab your space helmet, pulse rifle, and enjoy the ride. See if the gang plus guest players Paladin Steve and Kyle can survive... something... aboard their research vessel! It's a Nerdcognito Actual Play of Mothership!***Get your shirts, swag, and merch here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

It's a fun time this week on Nerdcognito as Siobhan, who ONLY has experience running D&D 5e, steps up to the plate and drives character creation under Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition! Will there be complete characters by the end of the show?!?***It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite being cancelled by brigading keyboard warriors, it is AVAILABLE here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠

This week in an extended episode, the gang looks at updating the holy Appendix N based on their own personal influences in all forms of pop and nerdy media. Spanning print, film, television, and video games, hear the titles that get weaved into our gaming philosophy for Dungeons and Dragons, TTRPGs, and in general.***It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon! Despite being cancelled by brigading keyboard warriors, it is AVAILABLE here:⁠https://nerdcognito.printify.me/⁠***SUPPORT THE SHOW!Be a Check Mark Hero:⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA⁠***Episode Sponsors and AffiliatesWe earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you!Looking for dice?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%!Grab something from DriveThru!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja⁠