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Posted every two weeks, this podcast looks at different aspects for RPG play and design. The hosts - a father/daughter team - then discuss how their RPG system will handle the topic in question. Episodes are ordered by the alphabet, so the first three episodes are Armor, Blood of Heroes, and Character Creation.
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SideQuests!

Epic Table Games

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Welcome to SideQuests, your high octane distraction from those other podcasts. We're a pen and paper RPG audio show featuring chatter about rules and how to master them, epic worldbuilding, player investment, and interviews with the people who make the games you love.Listen in as we trade tabletop war stories, make judgement calls on odd situations, and do everything we can to give you more RPG resources than you could dream of--all from a simple Sidequest! Support this podcast: https://podc ...
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Nerdcognito

INFAMOUS Media Group

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Nerds invite you into their world and chats about TTRPGs w/ OSR vibes, Board & Video Games, pop culture, & more! Listen and Subscribe for real, irreverent, yet relevant discussions, creator interviews, nerdy news, product reviews, and more!
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show series
 
Rob and Mike, the Paladins of Podcast sit down and talk about what resources they utilize to help run their games, keep track of information, and make sure to have everything they need to run a successful short-term game, or long-term campaign. Many of these resources can easily be found online through a quick google search, and while we talk about…
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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…
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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…
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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 g…
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Today we sit down with quite a few guests who have either worked their magic on kickstarter and have had a successful campaign. We ask question from a perspective of what it takes to plan a successful crowdfunding campaign, as well as how to plan and execute some of the finer details. However we have learned that one of the biggest things any campa…
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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 …
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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…
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Today we tackle the idea of improvisation techniques and preparing your games. We also have a few guests, Calamity Punk, and DM Seti join us as we talk about what it takes to prepare for sessions and what we do to help build our improve skills. The audio got a bit splotchy as not everyone's technology was 100%, and it actually took one of our guest…
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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,…
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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…
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In this episode of SideQuests!, Rob and Mike explore the powerful role tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) play in building vibrant communities, both in person and online. Discover how these games bring people together, fostering creativity and collaboration in ways that extend far beyond the gaming table. Rob and Mike highlight the benefits of cr…
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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 exten…
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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 abo…
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In this episode of SideQuests!, Rob and Mike, your trusted paladins of podcasting, dive deep into the essential topic of player feedback. Join them as they discuss the best times and methods for gathering player insights to enhance your games, ensuring everyone at the table has an amazing experience. Starting with Session Zero, Rob emphasizes the i…
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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, aft…
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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 th…
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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…
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In this episode of SideQuests!, we dive deeper into the world we began building in our previous episode. Focusing on one of the two cultures we defined, we start to flesh out the intricacies of how magic influences and operates within our desolate world, reminiscent of the dry, barren landscape of Dark Sun. Drawing inspiration from various sources,…
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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 insan…
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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 convers…
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In this exciting episode of SideQuests!, we embark on the creative journey of world building with a focus on the concept of 'Scorched Earth'. We delve into the process of determining the best method for constructing a captivating world: should we start with macro, large-scale ideas and work our way down to the granular details, or should we begin w…
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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…
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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 a…
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Today the Paladins of Podcast talk about the Ethical Considerations in the table top gaming space. Mike's bullet points really help us keep track of some of the biggest points within this topic, and we start out with one of the best considerations which is Consent and Safety Tools. While we understand that not all tables know what the are, or use t…
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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 …
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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, …
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The paladins are talking about the hobby space of tabletop role playing games being Mainstream now. From some long-humbled roots in obscurity such as Dungeon Majesty, a televised Public Access late night actual play that set the stage for today's format to WotC's own funded Acquisitions, INC being the groundfloor to how Critical Role has dominated …
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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 …
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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…
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In the latest episode of SideQuests!, Rob and Mike, the intrepid Paladins of Podcast, journey into the creative depths of storytelling with their newest member, Mike. Get ready to uncover the secrets behind Mike's storytelling prowess as he shares insights into his inspirations, creative process, and experiences crafting adventures for LootQuest. F…
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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, aft…
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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 mi…
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SideQuests! returns with a revamped lineup, introducing the newest podcast paladin, Mike Taylor (TaylorLyfe). Rob and Mike dive into Mike's intriguing journey from childhood adventures with HeroQuest and comic books to his distinguished military career and, surprisingly, his initial resistance to tabletop roleplaying games. Despite being drawn to t…
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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 d…
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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…
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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 sque…
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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 …
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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…
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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 dis…
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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 i…
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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 brie…
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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 M…
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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 tale…
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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 spec…
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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…
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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 ch…
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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 …
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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 bas…
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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 cro…
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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 …
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