Advertise on podcast: Nerdcognito

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates Check out Bedrock Games! DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/7264/bedrock-games?keyword=bedrock%20games&affiliate_id=3908211 httts://bedrockgames.net *** We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

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 Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

RD figured it out! Well, he at least found a missing piece of the puzzle. This week, he discusses his "a-ha!" moment where he believes he discovered a main reason for the disconnect between Classic Gamers, the OSR, and grognards when compared to the "modern gamer!" Do you think he is right?!? ***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 Affiliates BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grimjim/stray-crows-ronin *** 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=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja

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! *** 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 Affiliates BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grimjim/stray-crows-ronin Take a look at Sons of Lady 87 on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/415372/sons-of-lady-87-an-ogre-gate-campaign?affiliate_id=3908211 *** We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

Two is better than one? Sometimes! This week, we discuss co-GMs, how they can work in harmony, and the pitfalls to avoid when you share the chair behind the screen! Can it make your D&D/TTRPG experience better? *** 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 Affiliates BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grimjim/stray-crows-ronin Check out Aoethra and CritHeads on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/31439/critheads-gaming?affiliate_id=3908211 *** We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

It's the BATTLE of the BACKSTORIES!!! Backstory is a controversial topic that his debated often online. It should be no suprise that we are split in our opinions of this hot potato! Hear all sides of the argument and make your own conclusion! *** 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 Affiliates BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/grimjim/stray-crows-ronin Check out Aoethra and CritHeads on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/31439/critheads-gaming?affiliate_id=3908211 *** We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 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

Check out a preview of the upcoming Japanese TTRPG Stray Crows by James Desborough/Postmortem Studios! We talk to Grim Jim about the design, mechanics, inspiration, art, and more! Stray Crows is a new tabletop roleplaying game line inspired by the samurai cinema, historical drama and folklore of Japan’s Sengoku and early Edo periods. *** BACK Stray Crows on Kickstarter! https://post-mort.com/products/stray-crows-kickstarter-preview *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, ships free with Amazon Prime, and help keep us on the air! https://amzn.to/4w6KghL *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%! Grab something from DriveThru! ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get YOUR T-shirt!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3D5xr0z⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja

With little news and a lot of negativity circling online, this week we look on the brighter side of the hobby and discuss the GREAT BENEFITS that gaming in general, be it D&D, other TTRPGs, and beyond brought to our lives! There's more than rolling dice and Mountain Dew to this thing of ours! *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, ships free with Amazon Prime, and help keep us on the air! https://amzn.to/4w6KghL *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Check out Aoethra and CritHeads on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/31439/critheads-gaming?affiliate_id=3908211 Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%! Grab something from DriveThru! ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get YOUR T-shirt!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3D5xr0z⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja

Symbiotic or Parasitic? There is no denying that D&D and TTRPGs heavily influenced early video game culture, but now what is their relationship? Is it to the benefit or detriment of one or the other, or both? *** It's our annual fundraiser time! Get your 2026 GATEKEEPING IS GOOD t-shirt with hand drawn art by Rob Necronomicon, ships free with Amazon Prime, and help keep us on the air! https://amzn.to/4w6KghL *** SUPPORT THE SHOW! Be a Check Mark Hero: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=VREXR2J3E6GGA *** Episode Sponsors and Affiliates We earn a small commission for each purchase at no additional cost to you! Check out Aoethra and CritHeads on DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/31439/critheads-gaming?affiliate_id=3908211 Looking for dice? ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onlycrits.com/nerdcognito⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code NERDCOGNITO to save 15%! Grab something from DriveThru! ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://drivethrurpg.com/?affiliate_id=3908211⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get YOUR T-shirt!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3D5xr0z⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Amazon and Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3djotja