Nerding Under The Influence

A very spoiler filled episode reviewing Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary. Light tabletalk, discussing West Marches Campaigns, Knife Theory, and our upcoming summer D&D get together. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Coffee Pedantics (0:00), Book Report - Project Hail Mary (12:53), Book Report - The Interdependency Series by John Scalzi (1:15:53), Tabletalk - West Marches Style Games (1:28:54), Tabletalk - Sharing Duties, July Get Together, Misc. Ramblings (2:13:42), Parting Gifts - Stated Clearly - Bacterial Flagella Evolution Series (2:19:44)

This is the shittiest episode ever. Literally, we spend way too much time talking about poop and butt stuff. Somehow, we also find time to talk about video games, books, and D&D. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Butt Stuff (0:00), More Butt Stuff (11:09), Grumpy Old Gamers - Yearning for the Old Days (21:43), Grumpy Old Gamers - Multiplayer Situationship (31:31), Grumpy Old Gamers - Looking Forward (52:31), Book Report - We're Discussing Project Hail Mary Next Episode (1:09:16), Tabletalk - Game Updates (1:16:25), Tabletalk - Crafting and Creativity (1:31:28), Parting Gifts - Dr. Hilary Agro (1:58:16)

After some accidential serious conversation, Shane and Telson talk about the potential Firefly animated series, their experiences sharing a (Satisfactory) sandbox, and catch eachother up on their ongoing D&D campaigns. Topics & Timestamps: Intro and Unscheduled Serious Talk (0:00), Firefly's Back… Maybe (25:40), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory Multiplayer Experience (54:16), Tabletalk - Game Updates and Discussion About Dungeons (1:22:08), Parting Gifts - Chef Zappi (2:02:26)

This episode was recorded back in early August. Some dicussions may be a tad out of date. Shane & Telson talk about the divisions being force fed by everyting in modern society, which somehow led to Shane ranting about Intel for way too long. Lots of Satisfactory, Telson said books are overrated, and Shane's ripping off Pitch Black for his D&D campaign. Topics & Timestamps: Intro & Golf Stuff (0:00), Serious Talk - Brand Tribalism & A Tangent About Cars (9:19), Serious Talk - Intel vs. AMD (21:15), Grumpy Old Gamers - Let's Game It Out & The Long Dark (43:46), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory Update (52:30), Book Report - Telson's Hot Take (1:23:00), Tabletalk - Monster Design (1:34:57), Parting Gifts - Nile Red, Robinson Foundry, No Dumb Questions Again (1:56:57)

It's been awhile since we had serious talk on an episode. Hopefully it wasn't a terrible mistake. Coping with the state of the world, cutting out negativity, and the need for everyone to watch more cat videos again, followed by lighter discussion about Satisfactory, and being a better dungeon master. Topics & Timestamps: Intro - The Ramblings of Two Broken Old Men (0:00), Serious Talk - The World Sucks (17:04), Serious Talk - Coping With -gestures broadly- (29:37), Serious Talk - Watch More Cat Videos (42:26), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory Update (55:10), Tabletalk - Being a Better DM (1:22:50), Book Report - Robert Heinlein (1:54:51), Parting Gifts - jij ~ Cat Jazz ~ (1:57:34)

To celebrate our 50th episode, Shane finally ruins Telson's life by buying him Satisfactory for his birthday. We're a Satisfactory podcast now. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory (9:58), Tabletalk - D&D Weekend at Telson's (1:00:16), Parting Gifts - ImKibitz (1:18:14)

Editor's Note from Shane: This episode was recorded back in early January. I swear, we'll get caught up and back on a roll this year. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), NUTI Cooking Show Tangent (5:34), The Nerdiest of Topics - Tom Bombadil (12:07), A Serious Chat About Work Culture & Employment Practices (32:07), Grumpy Old Gamers - Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen (47:34), Grumpy Old Gamers - Assassin's Creed Mirage (1:32:49), Tabletalk - Telson's Campaign Update (1:46:58), Tabletalk - Shane's Holiday One-Shot (1:49:12), Parting Gifts - Lindsay Nikole (2:03:18)

Editor's Note from Shane: This episode was recorded back in mid-November. I don't really know why it's taken almost 3 months for me to get this one edited and out, aside from <gestures broadly at the universe>. My bad. We've got a few more in the hopper that I'll try to get out in a more timely fashion. For those of you that listen, we're not going anywhere. We're not letting you off the hook that easily. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), That Time Telson Almost Got Arrested (3:48), Shane's Wife Starts a Podcast at 2:00 AM (11:38), Podcast About Podcasts (17:08), Grumpy Old Gamers - Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen (40:36), Book Report - The Expanse Series (1:09:04), Parting Gifts - Workshop Companion, Mr. Wizard, and New Yankee Workshop (1:33:09)

Shane has a concept of an idea about why we like retro, and what it might say about us and the times we live in. Telson finished Horizon: Forbidden West, and has started into the first book of The Expanse series. Also, Shane might be a filthy commie. Shocker. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Why Do We Like Retro? What Does it Mean? (6:59), Grumpy Old Gamers - The Last Time We Talk About Horizon: Forbidden West (58:11), Grumpy Old Gamers - Reply: An Everquest Tale (1:19:07), Grumpy Old Gamers - Bots!: A World of Warcraft Story (1:19:07), Book Report - Leviathan Wakes (1:34:30), Parting Gift - Second Thought (1:39:22)

Telson and Shane talk about admitting when you're wrong before moving into Horizon: Forbidden West for probably the last time, where they discuss whether or not Aloy is a Mary Sue. Also, Shane wants to make destination D&D a thing. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Why Can't Nerds Accept Fault When They're Wrong? (10:08), Grumpy Old Gamers - Is Aloy a Mary Sue? (23:27), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory 1.0 is Weird and Great (1:04:20), Tabletalk - Destination D&D (1:10:17), Tabletalk - Campaign Updates (1:24:54), Parting Gift - Zac Builds (2:01:54)

Sometimes it's just better not to ask. Telson & Shane discuss small town fairs and competitive pot-luck before jumping into conversation about Horizon: Forbidden West and their recent Left 4 Dead 2 game night. Some quick first impressions after session 1 of the new campaign, plus some thoughts on min-maxing and random encounters. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Horizon: Forbidden West (12:16), Grumpy Old Gamers - Co-Op Gone Wrong (39:08), Tabletalk - Campaign Session 1 (56:19), Tabletalk - Min-Maxing (1:14:58), Tabletalk - Random Encounters (1:29:46), Parting Gifts - Deerstalker Pictures (1:40:30)

Telson considers drinking the world's worst beer. Shane & Telson have both started playing Horizon: Forbidden West and have preliminary thoughts. Shane has the WoW Itch (sureley there's a cream for that). Telson's restarting his D&D campaign. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Horizon: Forbidden West (5:24), Grumpy Old Gamers - The World of Warcraft Itch (49:47), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory Hits 1.0 (58:38), Tabletalk - Campaign Restart (1:01:20), Tabletalk - D&D Capitalism and Shopping Sessions (1:07:37), Tabletalk - Our Session Zero (1:23:37), Parting Gifts - Jacques Ze Whipper (1:34:05), Parting Gifts - Blacktail Studio (1:35:29)

Shane's recovering from another plague, but the show, unhinged as it may be, must go on. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Listener Shoutout - Robbie (2:49), Yesterday's Internet Today (3:56), Old Men Yelling at Pumpkin Spice (26:40), Tabletalk - Writer's Block (32:04), Tabletalk - Ginny Di and Character Motivations (38:51), Tabletalk - Saying Yes and No to Players (47:44), Tabletalk - House Rules (1:08:43), Tabletalk - D&D Beyond / WotC Drama (1:25:30), Podbag - Quitting Social Media (1:39:07), Parting Gifts - dragonsfoot.org (1:46:24)

Shane and Telson discuss whether or not alcohol or other substances make you more creative. Telson hates "Um, Actually", and has stronger opinions about Monopoly. Shane's giving Assassin's Creed Origins a second chance and is enjoying it. We ran our long-delayed in-person D&D one-shot, and Meepo died again. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Does Alcohol Make Art Better? (3:33), Um, Actually… (14:44), Fuck Monopoly (28:45), Grumpy Old Gamers - Telson Hates Baldur's Gate 3 Now (32:51), Grumpy Old Gamers - Shane Doesn't Hate Assassin's Creed Origins Now (42:17), Book Report - 1630-Something-For-The-Last-Time (53:04), Tabletalk - We Ran Our In Person One-Shot (1:02:50), Parting Gifts - Reading Wikipedia, and Scott Galloway's TED Talk (1:11:30)

Shane and Telson trade thoughts about AI art and quitting coffee. Shane mourns the loss of a player, and Telson tries something different in his game. Xena, Hercules, and the challenge of divorcing trash human beings from their art. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Is AI Art Actually Art? (1:03), Quitting Coffee (28:18), Book Report - 1630-Something-Else (39:56), Tabletalk - Shane Lost a Player (47:57), Tangent - Xena, Hercules, and Divorcing and Artist From Their Art (38:05), Tabletalk - Telson's Side Quest (1:11:26), Parting Gifts - EXU Calamity (1:46:32)

Shane & Telson talk about how the way we use computers has changed over the years. Telson tries to explain Hawk Tuah before conversation shifts to video games and tabletop gaming. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Closing autoexec.bat and config.sys For The Last Time (3:32), Hawk Tuah On That Thang (17:30), Grumpy Old Gamers - Telson Replayed Portal (22:02), Grumpy Old Gamers - Satisfactory (32:15), Grumpy Old Gamers - Psychological Warfare in Baldur's Gate 3 (38:05), Book Report - 1630-Something (49:50), Tabletalk (57:13), Parting Gifts (1:46:32)

Shane & Telson have a chat about the morality of fiction that's way too serious for a noted golf podcast. Shane recommends Stardew Valley to Telson as a palate cleanser while Telson talks about falling down the speculative fiction rabbit hole. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Flexible Morality in Fiction (19:14), Golf Story (34:21), Grumpy Old Gamers - Stardew Valley (37:23), Turning The Difficulty Down (47:24), Book Report - 1632 (52:22), Tabletalk (1:03:42), Parting Gifts (1:28:57)

Of all the podcast episodes in the world, this is definitely one of them. After an unexpected delay in the production schedule, Shane & Telson kick things off with such nerd-centric topics as golf, and sleep! Eventually, conversation drifts to video games and tabletop. Telson even tries to make a funny. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Golf Segment of our Golf Podcast (4:05), Grumpy Old Gamers (18:16), More on Jedi Survivor (19:35), Tabletalk (39:10), Mini-Campaigns and Dimension 20 (51:39), Telson Tries to Tell Jokes (1:22:48), Parting Gifts (1:25:02)

Shane describes the trouble he's had with an Amazon order, Telson makes excuses for not playing video games, and Shane thinks he's too old to play Jedi: Survivor. Telson talks about planning for his D&D game, while Shane discusses punishing his players in fun ways for their inaction. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Amazon Ordeal (4:30), Grumpy Old Gamers (29:44), Tabletalk (45:24), Punish Your Players (49:30), Parting Gifts (1:09:21) Want to play D&D with us? Hit up our contact form!

Two middle aged dudes exchanging member berries about the early days of internet culture. It doesn't get more podcast than that. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Indiana Jones vs. Ms. Frizzle (9:56), Remembering Ancient Artifacts From The Early Internet (38:22)

It's another episode without a script. Shane & Telson talk videogames, tabletop, tv, movies, and crafting. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk (57:40), Parting Gift (1:25:55)

Listen… Sometimes you just need to talk, even if you don't have much to say. After a long and stressful week at work, Telson and Shane unwind with tangents, tabletalk, and more tangents. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk (7:02)

Shane & Telson talk about reading more, and their opinions on audiobooks as a format. Shane talks about the challenge of getting into character while recapping Telson's D&D campaign events and hooks thus far. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Book Report (1:52), Tabletalk (30:27)

Telson drives the podcast right off a cliff as Shane takes "Under The Influence" a little too literally. Eventually, Shane & Telson reach way back into the depths of time to talk about some of their favourite video games. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers (26:56)

Shane & Telson talk about the boundaries between tabletop players and game master, discuss Telson's overdue switch to FoundryVTT, and wave their fists in the air at Windows, Tim Hortons Roll Up Contests, and the new internet. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk (1:43), Old Men Yelling at Clouds (38:58)

NUTI's back after Telson's bout with the plague. Shane & Telson talk about the games they're playing, the upcoming PC release of Horizon Forbidden West, and continue their ongoing debate about stones vs. coins. Shane rambles on about his work in progress fantasy/campaign setting, and despite not wanting to get into the details, he gets into an abundance of detail. Topics & Timestamps: Intro & Grumpy Old Gamers (0:00), Tabletalk (40:55), Parting Gift (1:39:09)

New year, newish NUTI. Shane and Telson discuss minor changes to the show, chat about the games they've been playing over the holidays, interrogate a suspicious squirrel, and stir up some new beef about Baldur's Gate 3. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers (24:49), Tabletalk (57:27), Parting Gift (2:13:49)

The Baldur's Gate 3 livestream test went off the rails in spectacular fashion, and will likely never see the light of day. Shane and Telson briefly talk about side hustles before recapping last weekend's D&D session. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), NUTI Livestream Update (1:53), Side Hustles (16:37), Tabletalk - Session One Recap (51:02), The Podbag - Nerd Fashion (1:28:01), Parting Gift - LowSpecGamer (1:34:27), Addendum - Nerd Fights Update (1:36:02)

Telson and Shane announce that they'll soon be streaming under the influence, kicking things off with a Baldur's Gate 3 two player/no companion tactician playthrough. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), NUTI Livestream - Baldur's Gate 3 (6:29), Tabletalk - We're Getting The Band Back Together (34:04), The Podbag - Plebs Are Needed! (1:10:33), Parting Gift - Animated Knots by Grog (1:18:48)

If Telson's been lying to you about this, what else has he been lying to you about? Has he even played Baldur's Gate 3? Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Nerd Fights - Barding In Progress (2:31), Grumpy Old Gamers - Baldur's Gate 3 (9:26), Grumpy Old Gamers - Starfield (36:45), The Podbag - Teachers (49:36), Parting Gift - Behind The Bastards Podcast (58:04)

Telson and Shane discuss cinematic universe fatigue and the current state of TV and movies. Shane's Tuesday D&D group is starting back up, and he has questions about mid-campaign recaps. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Cinematic Universe Fatigue (11:41), Tabletalk - Recapping After a Hiatus (36:34), Tabletalk - DM Boundaries (49:26), Parting Gift - Warehouse Games (1:06:59)

Telson and Shane gush about The Princess Bride (1987). Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), The Princess Bride (4:13), The Podbag - A Single Phrase Heard By All (45:21), Parting Gift - Home Movie: The Princess Bride (52:24)

Telson and Shane tried to collaborate creatively, and it went sideways immediately. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Tabletalk - Campaign Setting Update, Collaboration, and Friction Between Friends (11:06), Tabletalk - Holiday Themed One Shots (41:53), The Podbag - Digital Nomads (53:35), Parting Gift - Girl Genius (1:07:40)

Telson & Shane wrap up the first round of Nerd Fights, and Shane suggests they become bards for the next round. Telson's still playing Baldur's Gate 3, while Shane's moved on, for better or worse, to Starfield. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Nerd Fights - Battle of the Bards (3:11), Grumpy Old Gamers - Baldur's Gate 3 (21:18), Grumpy Old Gamers - Starfield (27:39), Tabletalk (1:07:15), Parting Gift - Primitive Technology (1:35:08)

This entire episode is one long tangent. Telson is building a TTRPG setting and wants to rope Shane into helping him. Topics & Timestamps: Tangent (0:00)

Shane and Telson turn the show into sex podcast. It didn't last very long. Afterwards, they discuss when and where they'd like to explore if they had a machine that let them peer back into depths of history. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Time Machine Destinations (9:14), The Podbag - Hey Carlos! (1:01:50), Parting Gift - History Matters (1:07:07)

Telson and Shane shoot the shit about Baldur's Gate 3 some more before diving into some discussion about 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - Baldur's Gate 3 Update (6:35), Tabletalk - 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons (51:42), Parting Gift - Questionable Content (1:09:14)

Shane learned that his favourite nerdy author growing up was a terrible human being. The whole thing sucks. Shane's also been thinking about his TTRPG system and picks Telson's brain for a bit. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), F**k You David Eddings (5:48), Tabletalk - Discussion About Making a TTRPG System (26:12), The Podbag - Podcast Recommendations (1:10:22), Parting Gift - Let's Game It Out (1:21:39)

Shane and Telson try to briefly talk about where they are with their Baldur's Gate 3 playthroughs. It goes on for some time. They also discuss where their tabletop ideas come from, and open up about what gives them "the willies". Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grumpy Old Gamers - A Quick 50 Minute Baldur's Gate 3 Update (4:34), Tabletalk - Where Do Your Ideas Come From? (54:53), The Podbag - What Gives You The Willies? (1:16:18), Parting Gifts - XKCD (1:27:40)

Shane and Telson accuse eachother of cheating in the first round of Nerd Fights. Things go downhill from there, as discussion turns to examining the idea of celebrity, writing about women in literature, and the ideal hotdog. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Nerd Fights - Round 1 Recap (1:12), Incomprehensible Musings About Stuff & Things (37:26), The Podbag - Ideal Hotdogs (57:07), Gifts (1:07:18)

A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, two nerds decided they wanted to start a podcast, and they spent a few hours in a kitchen talking about Star Wars. But work is hard, they abandoned the idea, and here we are like 8 years later, talking about Star Wars on our podcast. We also discuss our approach to bad books, and cap off with a good laugh. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Star Wars - NUTI's Humbler Even Beginnings (2:40), The Podbag - Bad Books (1:06:44), Parting Gifts (1:19:48)

Telson finally started playing Baldur's Gate 3, so we talk about that for awhile. Again. Like for the third time really. It's a good game, okay? We also discuss an idea for a spin-off series. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), New Series - Nerd Fights! (5:16), Grumpy Old Gamers - Baldur's Gate 3 (13:42), The Podbag (49:21), Parting Gifts (59:21)

Shane and Telson review the second volume of The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. They also discuss Kangaroo boxing and Shane apologizes to Baldur's Gate 3. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Grandpa Gamer Stories - Baldur's Gate 3 (9:21), Book Report - The Wise Man's Fear (21:48), The Podbag - Kangaroo Boxing (1:15:17), Parting Gifts (1:25:15)

It's a tabletop heavy episode of NUTI. Shane and Telson talk about changes to the show, tabletop railroading, LARPing, and Telson's planning a cyberpunk vampire mini-campaign. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Changes to the Show (2:51), Tabletalk - Railroading (12:16), Tabletalk - Cyberpunk Vampire Mini-Campaign (34:01), Tabletalk - Teasing Our Homebrew Systems (45:06), The Podbag - LARPing (51:41), Parting Gifts (58:43)

Shane and Telson read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, and they both have things to say about it. All the things. Telson finally watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Shane goes hard on Baldur's Gate 3, dealing with a nuclear apocalypse, strange food pairings, plus some unplanned tabletop discussion. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Guardians of the Galaxy - Spoiler-Light (3:23), Guardians of the Galaxy - Spoilers (5:04), The Book Report - The Name of the Wind - Spoiler-Light (26:27), The Book Report - The Name of the Wind - Spoilers (1:02:01), Baldur's Gate 3 (1:21:49), The Podbag - Nuclear Apocalypse Survival (1:39:0), The Podbag - Unconventional Food Pairings (1:51:53), The Podbag - Unexpected Tabletalk (1:57:03), Parting Gifts (2:21:00)

We're off the edge of the map for this one. Without planned show topics, Shane and Telson see just how far tangents can take them (spoiler - not very far). Shane has minor gripes with the Oppenheimer movie, and we look back to the brief period when the internet was good. MP3 players, eReaders, a zombie apocalypse, and more. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Oppenheimer (2:01), Internet Tangents (22:15), Podbag (56:00), Parting Gifts (1:34:31)

Telson moved into his new place, which means he’s stuck with shoddy internet again. We push through the technical difficulties to reminisce about a time when tech was difficult. Rotor controls, mixtapes, demonic Teddy Ruxpin, and more. We also take a brief look toward the future of video gaming, and recap our weekend one-shot. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Old Everyday Technology (6:51), The Future of Video Gaming (1:00:49), Retro Replay (1:15:59), Tabletalk (1:31:04), Podbag (1:46:10) Parting Gifts (1:55:15)

What makes a good raid leader? Why do re-releases of retro games suck so much? And how much damage should lava really do? Join us for another tangent filled episode. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Retro Replay (29:12), Tabletalk (41:51), Podbag (1:21:22), Parting Gifts (1:57:28)

Join us in the ‘Super Rough’, as we try our best to revisit Fallout and Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf. Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Retro Replay (19:56), Tabletalk (1:03:38), Podbag (1:14:35), Parting Gifts (1:42:36)

We’re all over the place with this one. This episode’s tangents include video game selectile dysfunction, cringe fantasy from back in the day, bad JRPG localizations, planning tabletop one shots, and what we’d do with five million bucks (Canadian). Topics & Timestamps: Intro (0:00), Weird Video Game Selection Issues (7:40), Tabletalk (50:45), Podbag (1:37:52)