Tag: Fantasy

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 112 – Science in Popular Culture

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 112 - Science in Popular Culture
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In this episode, Rob and Don explore the ways that science is presented in popular culture, for better and worse. Along the way they discuss what science is, how our views of it have shaped society (and how our society has shaped science), and the shifting view of science in the United States. All this, and statistics on who is more scientifically literate republicans or democrats (the answer may surprise you), is waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:
Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Edward Bernays (or this link.)
Terrorists Take Action Figure Hostage
The Movie Titanic Changed the Constellations
Startalk Podcast
Dr. Stone
Shonen JUMP
MacGyver
The Deadly London Fog
PEW Research Poll on the Public and Science
Granny Weatherwax

DNA Podcast 095 – Fantasy Tropes People Love with Jack Ward

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 095 - Fantasy Tropes People Love with Jack Ward







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In this episode, Don and Rob are joined by Jack Ward to discuss a recent Reddit survey on fantasy tropes people love. They discuss how people might be misusing the word and idea of tropes, and then go through people’s top choices for fantasy tropes, from the heroic last stand to the plucky young hero, and discuss why each trope is there and people like them so much. All this, and a whole pile of dragons and swords, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Reddit Thread on Fantasy Tropes
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Phantom Lady
Trope
TVtropes.org
Bathos (your new word of the episode)
What Writers Should Learn from Wonder Woman (video)
The Hunt for the Wilder People
What We Do in Shadows
The Karate Kid Crane Kick
ARIEL (anime)
Bildungsroman
Horatio Alger
Horatio Hornblower
The Count of Monte Christo
The Count of Monte Christo 2002 Film
Mu (Lost Continent)
Atlantis
The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis
Indigenous Taiwanese and Maori Are Linked
Dinotopia
Reign of Fire
Laid Back Camp
Bakuman
The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell
The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler

DNA Podcast 094 – Gaming Tropes

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 094 - Gaming Tropes







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In this episode, Rob and Don dig into the concept of tropes and discuss how they connect with tabletop RPG gaming. Few people think about how Hit Points are actually an artificial idea created by games, and how they affect the way we think about games- this is an example of a gaming trope. Don and Rob also discuss many popular games like CHILL, TOON, and TORG, and how these genre-simulating games play on the tropes of other media. All this, and why the DC Heroes RPG was the best game 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

DC HEROES RPG (Mayfair)
Call of Chthulhu RPG
Ninja Crusade
Champions RPG
Villains and Vigilantes
Superworld
Superhero 2044
GURPS:Supers
Chill RPG
Hammer House of Horror
TOON RPG
MAGE RPG
It Came from the Late Late Late Show RPG
TORG
Cabin the Woods (movie)
William Castle (B-Horror Movie maker, Don calls him Frank Castle by accident. Frank is The Punsher, William is the Tingler!)
The Magician’s Podcast #97 – Teller
litRPGs

DNA Podcast 093 – Death to Evil Overlords!

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 093 - Death to Evil Overlords!







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In this episode, Don listens as Rob goes on a tear about one of his pet peeves- Evil Overlords in Fantasy and Science Fiction. The pair discuss the origins of the Evil Overlord trope, why is exists, and what the problems are with it. Along they way, they discuss “Villains who say Bah!”, the Asian versus western approach to Evil, and how to avoid the Evil Overlord trope. All this, and why Skeletor is the most cuddly Evil Overlord 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

The Wheel of Time
The Way of Kings
Mistborne
Don’t Ask for DC Heroes RPG
Oscorp
The Venture Brothers
The Guild of Calamitous Intent Training Video
Edge of Tomorrow
Marvel Star Wars Comics (Originals)
Rules for Rulers (Video about power)
The Very Complete, Very Extended, Printer Friendly, Evil Overlord List
The Eternals
Journey to the West (the Monkey King)
Ushio and Tora
Starscream
Centurions
Bionic Six
Dungeons and Dragons Ford Commercial
Dungeons and Dragons cartoon Ending Youtube Video
Skeletor

DNA Podcast 091 – tReading the Path of Heaven

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 091 - tReading the Path of Heaven







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In this episode, Rob and Don sit down with Jonathan Kinney and Richard Curtissmith from the tReading the Path of Heaven podcast to talk about Asian Light Novels and webnovels. The four of them discuss the differences between Japanese, Korean, and Chinese webnovels, some of their favorites, and what makes webnovels characters unique. All this, and why being merciful to your enemies is being merciless to yourself, is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Treading the Path of Heaven Podcast
Wuxiaworld.com
Novelupdates.com
Light Novel Bastion
QiDian-Webnovel.com
SPCNET.tv Forums
Shalvation Translations
Gravity Tales
Coiling Dragon
Readlightnovel.org
RE:Monster
Jin Yong
Gu Long
Haruhi Suzumiya
Sword Art Online
Arifureta
Escaflowne
Truck-kun
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Rising of the Shield Hero
So I’m a Spider, so what?
Dungeon Defense
MMORPGs
Isekai
Overgeared
Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
Seoul Station’s Necromancer
Everyone Else is a Returnee
Dimensional Sovereign
Murim
I Level Alone/Solo Leveling
Tales of Demons and Gods
New Game Plus
I Shall Seal the Heavens
DNA Interview with Deathblade
The King’s Avatar
Against the Gods
Desolate Era
The Deathmage Who Doesn’t Want a Fourth Time
Martial God Asura
Nine Star Hegemon Body Art
The Dao Heart
Martial World
Gurren Lagann
Hunter x Hunter
Tenchi Muyo!
High School DxD
The Tutorial is Too Hard!
Rainbow Turtle

DNA Podcast 080 – J-Novel Club with Sam Pinansky

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 080 - J-Novel Club with Sam Pinansky







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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by J-Novel club founder Sam Pinansky. J-Novel club is the largest online seller of translated Japanese Light Novels, and one of the pioneers in bringing these Japanese works to English readers. During this great interview, the trio discuss Sam’s journey to becoming a publisher, the nature of the English Light Novel market, and why Light Novels are exploding in popularity in English right now. All this, and the challenges of translating Japanese Light Novel names into English, are waiting for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed

J-Novel Club Website
String Theory
Quantum Field Theory
Quantum Entanglement
Light Novels
Sword Art Online
Konosuba
Goblin Slayer
In Another World with My Smartphone
Tezuka Productions
Hobby Japan
Overlap
Media Factory
Kodansha
Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash
How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
Last and First Idol
Doujinshi (he called them Doujin)
Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon
JK Haru is a Sex Worker in Another World
An Archdemon’s Dilmmea: How to Love Your Elf Bride
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord
Arifuretta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
Me? A Genius? I’ve been Reincarnated into Another World But I Think They’ve Got the Wrong Idea!
Apprently It’s My Fault My Husband Has the Head of a Beast!
My Next Life as a Villianess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
I Can’t Believe My Little Sister is This Cute!
Invaders of the Rokujoma
Chuunibyo
Record of Lodoss War
The Light Novel Review YouTube Channel
Shosetsu ni Naro! (I Want to Become a Novelist) Website

DNA Podcast 61 – What is Fantasy?

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 61 - What is Fantasy?







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In this episode, Don and Rob take a look at the Fantasy genre and explore some of their favorite Fantasy RPGs. Along the way, they discuss Don’s five types of Fantasy, look at how RPGs have redefined what Fantasy is, and debate the difference between magic and theology. All this, and the great debate over whether Star Wars is fantasy or science fiction, are waiting for you to decide in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt

Things Discussed:

Fantasy
Alternate World Fiction
Warhammer 40K
Conan the Barbarian
Dungeons and Dragons
The Monkey King
Apocalyptic RPG Episode
Nanotechnology
The Force
Midichlorians
Psionics
Wuxia
Taoism
Abelard Snazz
Visionaries (toys)
MAGE: The Ascension RPG
MAGE (The Comic) by Matt Wagner
The World of Darkness
Warhammer RPG
Weapons of the Gods RPG
Exalted RPG
Auspicious Beginnings (Weapons of the Gods Intro Adventure)
Airship Pirates RPG
Abney Park (band)
RIFTS RPG
Shadowrun RPG
Victoriana RPG
Runequest RPG
Mouseguard RPG
Bunnies and Burrows RPG
The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Crushed D20 Supplement
So I’m a Spider! So What? (Light Novel)
No Game, No Life! (Light Novel)
No Game No Life in 7 Minutes (Video)
In Another World with My Cell Phone (Light Novel)
Dragon Quest RPG
One Piece
My Little Pony RPG

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