Tag: D&D

DNA Podcast 134 – Brainstorming a Caravan Guards Story Setting

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 134 - Brainstorming a Caravan Guards Story Setting
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In this episode, Rob asks for Don’s help in brainstorming the setting for a story about caravan guards – the unspoken heroes of the fantasy world whose job it is to keep the goods flowing despite attacks by monster, bandits, and rats. Lots of rats. Along the way, the duo discuss real caravan guards in history, the importance of trade, and the tactics caravan guards would use to get their cargo to where it’s going. All this, and the importance of ox poop, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Caravans
Where There’s a Whip There’s a Way (from the Rankin Bass Return of the King)
Chinese Armed Escort Agencies
High Arctic Haulers
Vampire Hunter D
Merchant Marines
Azumi Manga
Hideyoshi’s Invasion of Korea
Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, 1978, Donald W. Engels
The Dragon, the Hero and the Courier Manga
Discworld
Sutler – definition
Earthshaker! D&D Module
Murder Hobos DNA Episode
Aubrey-Maturin Novels (Master and Commander)
Paid GMs
Empire of the Petal Throne
Talislanta
Prof. M.A.R. Barker

DNA Podcast 103 – Murder Hobos

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 103 - Murder Hobos
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In this episode, Don and Rob explore the concept of the “murder hobo” and how this approach to fantasy roleplaying connects with other parts of movies, games, and popular culture. The pair look deep into the roots of D&D, discuss how murder hobos reflect the fantasies of the audience, and the idea’s connections with Westerns. All this, and why Bridget Jones just might be a murder hobo, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Knight Errant
Ronin
OGRE Tabletop Wargame
Aaron Allston’s Strike Force (for Champions RPG)
Buckaroo Banzai
Ramayana
Unforgiven
The Boys
Into the Badlands
Deadlands
Death Wish Films
Fist of the North Star
Isekai

DNA Podcast 096 – Rules Heavy and Lite RPGs

August 23, 2019
DiscussionHistoricalPodcast EpisodesUncategorized
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 096 - Rules Heavy and Lite RPGs
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Image result for lasers and feelings

In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by their friend Jack Ward to discuss the difference between Role Playing Games that use detailed rules systems (rules heavy) versus those who use minimalist rules (rules lite) and how each affects gameplay. Along the way, the trio discuss lots of oldschool RPGs, Japanese vs. American RPGs, Console RPGs, and the direction that games are taking in general. All this, and slimes, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

What’s New With Phil and Dixie (Sex in D&D Joke)
Soft Sci-fi versus Hard Sci-fi
DNA Making the Biff Straker RPG with Jack Ward
Narrativist RPG
Advanced Dungeons and Dragons
Fallout IV
The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen (game)
CHAMPIONS RPG
Star Fleet Battles
Space Opera RPG
Traveller RPG
Star Frontiers RPG
Star Frontiers: Night Hawks
The World of Synnibarr RPG
X Minus 1 – Cold Equations
The Ninja Crusade RPG
Ninja HERO RPG
PC-98
Phantasy Star
Dragon Quest Console RPG
Japanese Dragon Quest Slimes
Chocobo Horsebirds
Elephant bird
Cosmic Patrol RPG
Amazon Women on the Moon
It Came from the Late, Late, Late Show
DNA Horror RPG Episode
Gundam RPG
Vampire the Masquarade
Cartoon Action Hour RPG
Shadowrun 5th Edition
Lasers and Feelings RPG
Love and Justice RPG
Lasers and Feelings Hacks (Holy crap there’s a lot of them)
D20 Modern

DNA Podcast 087 – Automating Tabletop Gaming with Brian Welcher

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 087 - Automating Tabletop Gaming with Brian Welcher







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In this episode, Don and Rob sit down with teacher, martial artist, and gamer Brian Welcher to discuss his project to automate some parts of tabletop gaming. The three discuss how Brian first got into gaming, and how his fascination with the RPG Pathfinder led him to look for ways to create scripts that would control the actions of absent players and NPCs. It’s a fascinating discussion that leads to questions about what games actually are, and the possibilities of players being able to work co-operatively in wargaming instead of against each other. All this, and the bard with the worst luck ever, is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:
Brian’s Email: sackvilledm@gmail.com
Dungeons and Dragons First Edition
Pathfinder
Palladium Fantasy
Robotech RPG
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles RPG
Warhammer
Panzer Leader
Avalon Hill Game Company
Dust 1947
Bolt Action
Flames of War
Battletech
Mekwars.org – Classic Battletech Campaign and Server (I was wrong, it isn’t solo, but just online play- Rob)
Thorn Battlemech
Fallout Tabletop Game
Albedo RPG
Call of Chthulu
The Walking Dead: All Out War Tabletop Game
Creative Commons

DNA Podcast 082 – Character Progression and Gamerisms in Media

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 082 - Character Progression and Gamerisms in Media







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In this episode Don and Rob discuss Don’s view that tabletop RPGs and video games have influenced the way people write and consume stories. Delving deep into the topic, the pair discuss Kung Fu movies, westerns, Isekai stories and (naturally) litRPGs. All this and a deep discussion into where Dr. Who went wrong and how it’s connected to sitcoms, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

The Lester Dent Pulp Formula
Michael Moorcock’s How to Write a Book in Three Days
White Box Dungeons and Dragons
The Hero’s Journey
Commando (movie)
The Shaw Brothers (That’s all you need to know….)
Horse Operas
The Rebel: Johnny Yuma
Shout Factory TV
Go (the game)
Where Eagles Dare
Die Hard
litRPGs
Dragonball Z
“It’s over 9000!”
Isekai
The Righteous Avenger Plot (from my blog)
Death Wish
WTF Happened to PG-13? (YouTube Video)
No Game No Life (Abridged Version)
Rocky (film)
All the Write Moves by R.A. Paterson
Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
The Kishotenketsu
Buffy The Vanpire Slayer
BLEACH Manga
Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star)
Two Broke Girls
How I Met Your Mother

DNA Podcast 042 – Dungeons and Dragons

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 042 - Dungeons and Dragons







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D&D

In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by fellow gamer Jack Ward to discuss the granddaddy of tabletop roleplaying- Dungeons and Dragons. The intrepid trio throw on their adventuring gear and delve deep into the many editions of D&D while sharing their thoughts on how D&D became a cultural fixture in our society.  All this, and why you need to roll for initiative right now!… are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Image Credits (Used under CC 2.0 License):
Galfragnog The Mighty DM by Scott Macleod

Things Discussed:

Chainmail
Dungeons and Dragons
1:1 Scale Gundam
Tolkien and Led Zepplin
The Crying Native by the Side of the Road
Hunter in the Dark Monica Hules
In Children’s Books Food replaces Sex
Greyhawk
Blackmoor
AD&D
Tunnels and Trolls
King of Kong
Dragonlance
Forgotten Realms
Stranger Things
12 Famous People Who Play D&D
Record of Lodoss War
Interview with Will Meugniot
Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon
Shannara
Dragon Riders of Pern
Wizards of the Coast
Red Wedding Reaction Videos
Ral Partha
D&D Toys
Strongheart and Warduke
Pathfinder
6 Best Editions of D&D
Ranked List of Best RPGS of All Time
Orc with a Pie D&D
Brandon Sanderson
Piers Anthony
Community D&D
Harmonquest

DNA Podcast 026 – Indie RPGs with Graham MacLean

October 8, 2016
CulturalDiscussionHistoricalPodcast Episodes
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 026 - Indie RPGs with Graham MacLean







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sorcerer_cover

In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by scholar and game designer Graham MacLean to talk about the Independent Tabletop RPG scene. The trio talk about the origins of Indie RPGs, why D&D was the first Indie RPG, and how the Fruitful Void can make you look at games in a new way. All this, and heaping helping of Paranoia are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

D&D 1st Edition
Empire of the Petal Throne
Bully Pulpit Games
Evil Hat Productions
Palladium Books
Apocalypse World
It Came from the Late Late Late Show
The Forge Indie RPG Community
Narrativist Theory
Over the Edge
Dogs in the Vineyard
Fruitful Void
Sorcerer
Mekton
Emily Care Boss
Story Games
Paranoia
Dog Eat Dog
Ron Edwards (game designer)
Do- Pilgrims of the Flying Temple
Polaris
Microscope
RPGNow
The Unstore
Robin D. Laws
Pelegrine Press
Legend of the Five Rings
Shotgun Diaries
Cosmic Patrol
TORG
Wushu
Feng Shui: Shadowfist
The Mountain Witch
Lady Blackbird
Fiasco
Castle Falkenstein
Old School Renaisance Games
Monster Hearts
Golden Sky Stories
Weapons of the Gods
401 Games in Toronto
Kingdom
Hetalia
Alternate Reality Games
Second Life

DNA Podcast Episode 004 – Satanic Panic

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast Episode 004 - Satanic Panic







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15607_sm-Artwork, Chaos, Copyright Games Workshop, Slaves To Darkness

Welcome Operatives! In today’s show, Rob and Don explore the Ritual Satanic Abuse panic that gripped America during the 1970s and 1980s and how the game Dungeons and Dragons became wrapped up in it. Then, in the second half of the show, the pair dig deep into the cinematic roots that laid the groundwork for Satanism’s grip over the American psyche of the period. All this and 2000 Maniacs are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Episode Show Notes:
Satanic Ritual Abuse
Michelle Remembers
The McMartin Preschool Trial
Mazes and Monsters (book)
Mazes and Monsters (video- full movie)
Dark Dungeons
Geraldo on Satanism (video)
Dungeon Master’s Guide
Dungeons and Dragons
Saturday Morning PSAs (video)
Reptilian Obama
Gary Gygax Biography
Bill Nye vs Ken Ham Debate (video)
High Schools Ban D&D
Villains and Vigilantes RPG
Champions RPG
Traveller RPG
Warhammer FRPG
Realms of Chaos Book
Judge Dredd
Ghostbusters RPG
Robotech RPG

Extra Discussion:
Rosemary’s Baby (video clip)
The Devil’s Hand (video- full movie)
Blood Feast (video, trailer, gory, we got the name backwards)
The Bright Young Things
Bonnie and Clyde
New Hollywood
Hayes Code
2000 Maniacs (video, trailer, gory)
American Grindhouse