Biggus Geekus

By Joe Hardin and Randy Nichols

Randy and Joe talk RPGs past and present, general roleplaying topics, gaming news, the occasional rant, RPG design and Worldbuilding.... more

3.7

1313 ratings

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FAQs about Biggus Geekus:

How many episodes does Biggus Geekus have?

The podcast currently has 212 episodes available.

Biggus Geekus episodes:

February 15, 2023Monster Mash Special - Homebrewed Monsters
Episode 126 Streamed Live Tuesday February 14, 2023

Nerdcognito: https://www.nerdcognito.com/
Weekly WoTC crap round up: State of the Hobby- the DnD movie, playing 5e & MtG, etc. Are most folks still that concerned about the issues?
Jenny Di - https://twitter.com/TheBasicExpert1/status/1623383430963810304?t=JBaz148u05SXj8vjG6-twg&s=01
DM’s not wanted https://youtu.be/yFaAHc8Qye4
Monster Mash Special: Homebrewed Monsters
With all the available monster books why would you bother?

Does changing one or two aspects make a beasts seem new

How careful should you be to keep verisimilitude, or does it matter?

Do homebrew monsters make the game better?

Do you prefer standard or homebrewed beasts?

How about a world where every creature is completely homebrewed?

What good and bad experiences have you had with homebrewed monsters?
Our Hobby: Ways we participate? And Why?
Playing games (mostly TTRPG’s), talking about playing games, watching/listening to youtube/podcasts about gaming, participating in media, attending conventions, or organizing your own, consuming other media related to our hobby: live plays, watching movies, watching videos, and reading books, talking about gaming, creating games and game products.
Random Geek-itude: Report from Big Geek Land
Shameless Plug Time: If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show.
Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 18min
February 08, 2023TTRPGs vs Other RPG-like Games
Episode 125 Streamed Live Tuesday February 7, 2023
Be sure to check out Nerdcognito: https://www.nerdcognito.com/
WoTC Trash Again x2
D&D Beyond shut down for a while this past weekend https://youtu.be/_n0zdSCzkB8

WotC’s Kyle Brink says White Men can’t leave the hobby fast enough
Diversity and Dragons: https://youtu.be/yVjRJdBXA4M
Mr. Max Boivin: https://youtu.be/UtywtAOWRLE

Done with WoTC
TTRPGs vs Other RPG-like Games With Special Guest: Patrick Demo of Pointy Hat Games
Board Games: Talisman, Heroquest (V1.0 and 2.)0, Descent, D&D Adventure System: (Wrath of Ashardalon, Castle Ravenloft etc), Runewars , Gloomhaven
Video Games: Goldbox Games, Legend of Zelda, Baldur’s Gate (original), Mass Effect, Skyrim
Card Games: Expedition(https://expeditiongame.com/), Pathfinder Adventure Card Game (https://paizo.com/pacg)
Do these games adequately re-create the TTRPG experience?
What audience do these serve?
Are they worth the effort when compared to a true TTRPG?
Do you want or need miniatures for any of them?
How well do you like them, ie, the categoriesof games?
Which are your favorites and why?
Random Geek-itude: Report from Big Geek Land
Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show, also we are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 7min
February 01, 2023Dm Blackwell and Horde Wars | WOTC and more OGL1.0a stuff
Episode 124 Streamed Live Tuesday January 31, 2023
Main Topic: DM Blackwall and Horde Wars D12 System
Questions/Comments Related to the Game
Where does the game fall on the OSR-Modern-Indie scale?

Is it simulationist/gamist/narrativist?

High/low Fantasy or grim gritty?

P.2 Rule zero without using rule zero is alive in this game it seems?

Why the d12? Auto success on a 12, but no auto fail?

The clockwise initiative system…why did you go with this?

What is the purpose of the Afflictions and its comparison to Hit Points? 1 Healing Potion per day…why this choice?

Death in 1d4 rounds once you hit zero hit points. I like it. Have you thought of not letting players know how long they have? That is, roll behind the screen…my preference.

Simplified Creature types, but more granular damage types. Why the difference?

Object Vulnerability Example of play P.11.

Seems you have some level of abstraction say with encumbrance and creative solutions seems to be encouraged in the way players might solve challenges.

Why level 12 cap?
OGL 1.0a, Yeah, we won!!!...so what now?
Lots of opinions by youtubers:
https://youtu.be/VUBinw9H2DA(Professor DM)
https://youtu.be/IlzdFy0vB8k(RPGpundit)
https://youtu.be/Df6K65pHO9Q(Tenkar)
https://youtu.be/URY3fhm6R18(Diversity & Dragons)
https://youtu.be/HX5iZ5r8hyE(the dungeon delver)...and many others.
In the end:
So what? Not enough? Back into their loving arms(should you?)
Is the creative commons going enough?
Folks like us aren’t going back.
I’m glad for the creators whose livelihood is saved but they should take the time to pivot
Random Geek-itude
Report from Big Geek Land
BGE,Dungeon 23, BGA or BGCon
Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show. We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email:[email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com
...more
1h 51min
January 25, 2023What do we want from a Dungeon?
Episode 123 Streamed Live Tuesday January 24, 2023
Tired of OGL stuff yet?
Recent news and thoughts:
DnD Shorts https://youtu.be/J4kGMsZSdbY

T-shirted Historian https://youtu.be/jP2JLWPX_LI

Done with WoTC so maybe we should just move

Dungeoncraft https://youtu.be/4oV9Fnkyyfc

Grim's Project: https://postmortemstudios.wordpress.com/2023/01/24/opendnd-public-domain-roleplaying-panza-draft-1-0
Main Topic: What do we want from a Dungeon?
We used Dungeons by Central Casting to inspire the creation of a dungeon
(Thanks to Ryan David @nerdcognito and Max @legion of myth for the suggestion)
From both player and DM perspective, what makes for a good dungeon?
Even with a Mad God, how random/funhouse before it loses its verisimilitude?

Random monsters: many? few? with a theme?

Traps and tricks: many? few?

Mega?

Past dungeon experience: successes/failures

Mapping the dungeon - details or broad strokes

Flavor text: more or less?

How do they fit in the campaign world?

Using Central Casting: Dungeon - not sure it’s my cup of tea
Random Geek-itude
Call Ins - One from John at Red Dice Diaries re: Hyperborea RPG (tech fail)
Joe’s Birthday he is 56 … the old geezer!
News for theEmporium

Giveaway 2.0- the Double Whammy Giveaway!
Guess the number of official3.5 game books by Wizards of the Coast that Randy currently owns in hardcopy. Consider: supplements, sourcebooks, or modules. (28)
Winner gets TWO of the following fabulous prizes:
C&C’s Monsters & Treasures by Troll Lord Games (the good guys)/5th printing

Cardboard heroes Castles- the Keep by SJ games (sorry)in the shrink

Legends & Lairs: Mythic Races – by Fantasy Flight Games

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG (BETA) by Fantasy Flight Games
Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show, also:
We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor: https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 13min
January 18, 2023Grim Jim and the Weasels of the Coast
Much Ado about D&D w/special guest Grim Jim
Episode 122 Streamed Live Tuesday January 17, 2022
Shout out to Nerdcognito! Twitter: @Nerdcognito, https://www.nerdcognito.com/
Merch at Big Geek Emporium! https://biggeekemporium.com/big-geek-merch/
Main Topic: Much Ado About D&D w/Special Guest- Grim Jim
Grim details his background from picking up Fighting Fantasy adventure books at the tender age of 8 to running his own independent game company Postmortem Studios: https://post-mort.com/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/XnrTdF8scX0
Blog: https://talesofgrim.wordpress.com/
Grim’s latest is Wightchester: Prison City of the Damned
PDF - https://tinyurl.com/ynan34m9
Print Book - https://tinyurl.com/35vvc2be
We then get into some history ofthe OGL and discuss the latest shenanigans at Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast.

Related Links:
OGL 1.1
Paizo Speaks
https://youtu.be/b4aTpzsU388
https://youtu.be/Jobead_Nq8A
DnD Beyond Post
https://youtu.be/LTXkxy2KjXU
https://youtu.be/51tZquziqF0
DnDBegone
Critical Role "Response"
https://youtu.be/7y-nITUilGM

Random Geek-itude
Dungeon 23 Report
Taigon’s Falls Update - Draft 1B sent to my editor!!!
Giveaway 2.0- the Double Whammy Giveaway! (thanks to the generosity of Martenson!)
The 2nd Giveaway of the Year Announcement…well sort of
You can win your choice of TWO of the following fabulous prizes:
C&C’s Monsters & Treasures by Troll Lord Games

Cardboard heroes Castles- the Keep by SJ games

Legends & Lairs: Mythic Races – (DnD 3e) by Fantasy Flight Games

Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG (BETA) by Fantasy Flight Games
Guess the number of official 3.5 roleplaying game books by Wizards of the Coast that Randy currently owns in print. Consider only: core books, supplements, sourcebooks, and modules.

Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show. We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.

Our Links
Website
Store
PayPal
Ko-Fi
...more
2h 34min
January 11, 2023 Dump Dungeons and Dragons
Episode 121 Streamed Live Tuesday January 10, 2023
Main Topic: Done with D&D
With the OGL 1.1 “leaked”, where does that leave the true fans and indie creators in our hobby? Where does that leave many traditional publishers who use OGL 1.0 for their works? It seems to us that we must look to new games and new ideas in the hobby and away from Wizards of the Coast whether or not the new “stance” pans out to be true or not. We cannot trust that WOTC will not pull the rug out from all of us to bolster their flagging profits.

DMDave – https://www.patreon.com/posts/76837590
ReferencedGizmodo link:
https://gizmodo.com/dnd-wizards-of-the-coast-ogl-1-1-open-gaming-license-1849950634

Many have tackled this topic:
Diversity & Dragons: https://youtu.be/4LYgW-tM0vgand https://youtu.be/PzoHOZ8Xt7k
RPGPundit: https://youtu.be/TJ1ZlGOV804
T-shirted Historian: https://youtu.be/k5347CLcq6M
Professor DM: https://youtu.be/yydxzM8p4RI
Tenkar: https://youtu.be/e6mTl6eInA4

Segment #3: Random Geek-itude
Report from Big Geek Land
BG Emporium News
Progress on Tragedy at Taigon’s Falls (BG Adventure)
Deadline to D.Gyull is Sunday January 29, 2023, God willing.
Deadline to BGE: February 30,2023
Rifts Session 2 REPORT

First Giveaway of the New Year! Guess the number of official Planescape products that Randy owns, and you can win your choice of one of the following fabulous prizes: Answer is 30

C&C’s Monsters & Treasures by Troll Lord Games /5th printing
Cardboard heroes Castles- the Keep by SJ games in the shrink
Legends & Lairs: Mythic Races – d20 supplement by Fantasy Flight Games
Star Wars: Edge of the Empire RPG (BETA) again by FFG
Winner: Martenson in chat

Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show, we are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.
Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email:[email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 10min
January 04, 2023Why Learn A New Game?!?!?!?
Episode 120 Streamed Live Tuesday, January 3 2023
Main Topic: Learning New Rpgs
This new years we plan on on covering more tabletop RPGs that aren’t Dungeons and Dragons
How many times do you play a game before you know if it is for you?
Do you prefer to
watch a ‘how to” video on Youtube or elsewhere?

be taught by an experienced play/gm?

dive in with friends and see what happens?

read it yourself and teach it to your fellows at the table?
Should everyone commit to buying the book after a few sessions?
The games on the list for 2023:
Rifts

Dungeons and Delvers

Castles and Crusades
Dungeons23 – Our Take
We hope to be using Dungeons by Central Casting to create a dungeon over many segments. (Thanks to Ryan David @nerdcognito and Max @legion of myth for the inspiration and suggestion)
Loose Background – The Mad God created this dungeon. The god’s name is unknown as is the reason why he made this dungeon in the first place. It is a dangerous place which attracts adventurers as well as its denizens. It also has a strange propensity to “acquire” rare treasures from across the world.
Random Geek-itude
Report from Big Geek Land
New happenings for the Emporium, Big Geek Con, and Randy’s adventure.
Randy will have an article posted in Mad Scribe Magazine - https://www.patreon.com/user?u=80594713
SJW staff writer for Troll Lord Gamesinsults OSR and twitter mob loses their collective mind at the game company’s response.
Related videos:
https://youtu.be/HzRgqrOjKLw Diversity & Dragons
https://youtu.be/3QeAu_B_LU8 more Diversity & Dragons
https://youtu.be/q-A0oixzbU0 RPGPundit
Shameless Plug Time:
If you would like to support our show, please like, subscribe, and share us where you are listening or viewing the show, also:
We are on all the socials, video and podcast places as well.

Cash Support
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email:[email protected]|
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 8min
December 30, 2022 2022 ... Year In Review
Year End Review
Episode 119 Streamed Live Thursday, December 29, 2022
Main Topic: Highlights Of The Year
Deep Dive into 13thage
Lots of Guests: Bruce Lombardo, T-Shirted Historian, Shadow of Shadow And Son, Legacy Gamemaster, Patrick (Potpourri with)
Monster Mash episodes began
Revisited some topics: Stats/Attributes, High Level, OSR, Alignment, Ending a Campaign
The Satanic Panic
Contests: 100th episode giveaway: Grimtooth’s Ultimate Trap Collection, Riddle of the Sphinx Old Skool- WEGS RPG
Episode 100
Controversies: The Woke, ONEDND, OGL 1.1, other WOTC mistakes
Comic Book Woes: sexuality changes, Isom #1, DC and Marvel missteps, few movies shows worth watching: Spider Man and Black Adam
Retro Reviews: White Plume Mountain, Ravenloft
Hopes for Next year
Biggus Geekus changes?
Big Geek Emporium
Big Geek Con
Random Geek-itude
Report from Big Geek Land
Red book Dungeons and Delvers from NerdCognito EP#154
Rifts Session 1: SSDI campaign/Rules questions
OGl 1.1 – Doomed? https://youtu.be/lKCOr6Ag0XA
Our Links:
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor: https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email:[email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 16min
December 21, 2022 Ten Words You Cannot Use In Gaming
We discuss at least ten words folks wag their fingers at. And why they are good for your game. In addition, we take a tour of other "problematic" nerd issues.

master, slave, barbarian, savage, oriental, exotic, race, species, gypsy, no

Links to resources discussed:
Articles:
https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-lore-changes-removed-dd-5e-why/
http://www.lisefrac.net/log/on-making-the-drow-less-problematic/
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-and-dragons-orcs-racist/
https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-dated-offensive-problematic-changes-update-alignment/
https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2022/10/warhammer-40k-what-really-went-down-with-female-space-marines.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20180708153619/http://www.dogwithdice.com/whitewolfaredead/
https://www.enworld.org/threads/deadlands-is-retconning-the-confederacy-away-they-lost-the-war-no-longer-playable.667444/

Videos:
https://youtu.be/fgWlPcyi34U?t=1078
https://youtu.be/Z146pflU3KU

Chronicles of Aeres: https://www.thechroniclesofaeres.com/
Nerdocognito: https://www.nerdcognito.com/

Our Links
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor: https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus

On the Web:
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 25min
December 15, 2022 Demons and Devils | Dungeons and Dragons Not Monetized Enough
Episode 117 Streamed Live Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Main Topic: Demons & Devils In Dungeons and Dragons
Mythological etymology:
Demons: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon
Devils: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil
Demons and Devils have been in Dungeons and Dragons since the beginning and continuing to the current edition. They have been forces of evil all along until the current edition, in which all creatures seem to have a human’s breadth of perspective. These creatures are mostly possessed of great supernatural powers and physical might, which make them fearsome foes to battle. Their appearance varies greatly, but they tend to be largegrotesque.

In myth demon and devil are interchangeable terms, but in DnD they are distinct creatures. Devils prefer order and to lure mortals to wickedness, while demons are unpredictable and prefer outright destruction. They also hail from different planes of existence, devils from The Nine Hells, demons the Abyss. However, mortals are not likely to think the difference very important.

Important Links:
https://www.kurry.fi/viki/index.php/Blood_war_(Planescape)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellbound:_The_Blood_War
https://screenrant.com/dungeons-dragons-satanism-controversy-demons-devils-tanarri-baatezu/
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_and_Dragons_Satanic_Panic
https://pelgranepress.com/2014/05/01/13th-sage-13-campaign-uses-for-devils/

Chat Spotlight: D&D is Undermonetized/barbarian is a dirty word
https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/wizards-of-the-coast-presidents-believes-dungeons-dragons-is-really-under-monetized/
Tenkar: https://youtu.be/k491Ex3MnH0
Venger: https://youtu.be/dReB-0ffHfw
OGGM: https://youtu.be/Vuzzc9MN8VE

Random Geekitude
Report from Big Geek Land
Total Party Skills:https://youtu.be/u48l56HZY9A
Randy played Rifts again

Our Links:
PayPal: https://paypal.me/biggusgeekus
Streamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/biggusgeekus1/tip
Anchor:https://www.anchor.fm/biggusgeekus
Ko-fi:https://ko-fi.com/biggusgeekus
Website: www.biggusgeekuspodcast.com
Email:[email protected]
Big Geek Emporium: https://biggeekemporium.com/
...more
2h 26min

FAQs about Biggus Geekus:

How many episodes does Biggus Geekus have?

The podcast currently has 212 episodes available.