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 ride the struggle bus through a Reddit post.  Finally, we talk death in space with the fantastic horror/sci-fi TTRPG, Mothership.
 

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 the Western in Hollywood.
 

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, after a trip to DnD Reddit, the news keeps us cool in a very unique way before ending up with some quality "modern journalism."
 

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 miss this week's show!
 

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 down, and review the excellent co-op/traitor board game, Unfathomable!
 

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 wrangle his DnD group back into reality.  Plus, the news!
 

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 squeeze a full show into a condensed timeline!
 

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 you will love to listen to!