Nerd And Son Podcast

Nerd And Son Podcast

The apple didn't fall far from the tree. Nerd (Ralph) and Son (Conner) discuss their shared passion for Tabletop Role-Playing Games. https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod

  1. 07/08/2024

    Episode #29 Lets Discuss Star Wars Combat System.

    Conner starts off a series about SWRP and Ralph learns along the way. Here we start off with Character Creation. Find all our links below: https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod Who are we? We are just a couple of nerds who enjoy the game. Ralph, who has been running games, and Conner, who has watched his father run the games and who has ventured out into the world to run some of his own. Together we talk about our passion for role playing and some of our adventures along the way. Please enjoy this journey with us. Notes: Released by Fantasy Flight Games in 2013 In 2020 it was discontinued and Asmodee subsidiary Edge Studios got the rights Began reprinting the original books and reselling the custom dice How do you play? Let’s make a character I want a generic smuggler Obligation is a check that helps the GM plan for the next session.Before each session, the GM rolls a percentile dice, if the check is equal to or lower than the group’s obligation score, then it triggers Im not a fan of how this is explained in the book. The chart makes it easier So, you put the individual ranges based on how much obligation a character has onto a percentile chart, then roll to see if they’re affected that session. I see this working well to help the GM come up with ideas for the story I’m going to choose bounty, and since we’re playing with a standard table of 4 players, I will start with 10 obligation, but I want to increase my odds of complications for the story, so I will add 10 starting XP in exchange for an additional 10 obligation So now we have 20 Obligation and 10 extra XP points They suggest using mechanical disadvantages for obligation (when it’s in effect) such as -2 strain threshold or a setback die, I like making it a roleplay/ story thing. Such as a bounty hunter showing up to capture a player. Generic smuggler means human Smuggler- Smugglers are a crafty, diverse bunch with core skills as follows: Coordination, Deception, Knowledge (Underworld), Perception, Piloting (Space), Skulduggery, Streetwise, and Vigilance. He automatically gains one rank in four of these skills (of his choosing) without spending experience, and He receives a discount when he spends experience to purchase ranks in any of these skills Scoundrel- His dynamic nature is spelled out in the Scoundrel's additional career skills: Charm, Cool, Deception,and Ranged (Light). If this is the character's starting Specialization, he may choose two of these skills and gain one free rank in each, without spending starting experience. Since deception was a double up, you can add a free rank in it I can’t remember if that was a house rule or if I read it, one issue with this book is that there’s A LOT of flavor text Vigilance is normally used in initiative, but can sometimes be swapped for cool if the situation depends on it. Generally, if the players are surprised, use vigilance, if the players are doing the surprising, use cool I choose Cool, Coordination, (already have one in deception), Piloting-space, skullduggery, Vigilance We have 120 exp to spend Increasing Characteristics costs ten times the rank (so increasing to 3 costs 30, increasing to 4 costs 40) We’re going to start with this, then invest the rest into skills Agility and cunning are feeding my main skills I’ve chosen, so I will increase them. This cost 60 XP. Skills cost 5 times the purchase rank you buy them at (plus 5 for non-career skills) Rank 1 5XP, Rank 2 10XP, … I bought a second rank of ranged-light for 10, a single rank of piloting-planetary for 10 (because it’s not a career skill), and a second rank of Cool for 10 Talents cost what they do on the tin, you go down your tree I bought Rapid Reaction for 5 and Quick strike for 10 You can buy additional specialization for ten times for your number of specializations you have (20 for your second, 30 for your third) with an additional ten added for a tree outside your career (30 for your second, 40 for your third)

    Episode #29 Lets Discuss Star Wars Combat System.
  2. 07/01/2024

    Episode #28 Star Wars Character Creation

    Conner starts off a series about SWRP and Ralph learns along the way. Here we start off with Character Creation. Find all our links below: https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod Who are we? We are just a couple of nerds who enjoy the game. Ralph, who has been running games, and Conner, who has watched his father run the games and who has ventured out into the world to run some of his own. Together we talk about our passion for role playing and some of our adventures along the way. Please enjoy this journey with us. Notes: Released by Fantasy Flight Games in 2013 In 2020 it was discontinued and Asmodee subsidiary Edge Studios got the rights Began reprinting the original books and reselling the custom dice How do you play? Let’s make a character I want a generic smuggler Obligation is a check that helps the GM plan for the next session.Before each session, the GM rolls a percentile dice, if the check is equal to or lower than the group’s obligation score, then it triggers Im not a fan of how this is explained in the book. The chart makes it easier So, you put the individual ranges based on how much obligation a character has onto a percentile chart, then roll to see if they’re affected that session. I see this working well to help the GM come up with ideas for the story I’m going to choose bounty, and since we’re playing with a standard table of 4 players, I will start with 10 obligation, but I want to increase my odds of complications for the story, so I will add 10 starting XP in exchange for an additional 10 obligation So now we have 20 Obligation and 10 extra XP points They suggest using mechanical disadvantages for obligation (when it’s in effect) such as -2 strain threshold or a setback die, I like making it a roleplay/ story thing. Such as a bounty hunter showing up to capture a player. Generic smuggler means human Smuggler- Smugglers are a crafty, diverse bunch with core skills as follows: Coordination, Deception, Knowledge (Underworld), Perception, Piloting (Space), Skulduggery, Streetwise, and Vigilance. He automatically gains one rank in four of these skills (of his choosing) without spending experience, and He receives a discount when he spends experience to purchase ranks in any of these skills Scoundrel- His dynamic nature is spelled out in the Scoundrel's additional career skills: Charm, Cool, Deception,and Ranged (Light). If this is the character's starting Specialization, he may choose two of these skills and gain one free rank in each, without spending starting experience. Since deception was a double up, you can add a free rank in it I can’t remember if that was a house rule or if I read it, one issue with this book is that there’s A LOT of flavor text Vigilance is normally used in initiative, but can sometimes be swapped for cool if the situation depends on it. Generally, if the players are surprised, use vigilance, if the players are doing the surprising, use cool I choose Cool, Coordination, (already have one in deception), Piloting-space, skullduggery, Vigilance We have 120 exp to spend Increasing Characteristics costs ten times the rank (so increasing to 3 costs 30, increasing to 4 costs 40) We’re going to start with this, then invest the rest into skills Agility and cunning are feeding my main skills I’ve chosen, so I will increase them. This cost 60 XP. Skills cost 5 times the purchase rank you buy them at (plus 5 for non-career skills) Rank 1 5XP, Rank 2 10XP, … I bought a second rank of ranged-light for 10, a single rank of piloting-planetary for 10 (because it’s not a career skill), and a second rank of Cool for 10 Talents cost what they do on the tin, you go down your tree I bought Rapid Reaction for 5 and Quick strike for 10 You can buy additional specialization for ten times for your number of specializations you have (20 for your second, 30 for your third) with an additional ten added for a tree outside your career (30 for your second, 40 for your third) Derived Attributes From Race Our wounds is 12 and our strain is 12 I had forgotten my racial bonus at this point, I picked Gunnery and Astrogation Determining Motivation They say that this is more for roleplay than obligation, but I feel asa this is intrinsic vs. extrinsic factors They suggest giving out additional XP for good roleplay with your motivation Gear and Appearance 500 credits (unless you add obligation) Blaster Pistol for 400, handheld comlink for 25, no armor (who needs it, we’ll talk our way out of combat and shoot first when we can’t) DE10 Ship It’s a little more expensive than the recommended starting price, but I like the YT-2400 https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2012/11/19/at-the-core/ https://www.swrpgcommunity.com/player-resources/character-sheets https://bastionkainssweote.blogspot.com/p/character-sheets.html https://donjon.bin.sh/scifi/name/star_wars.html

    Episode #28 Star Wars Character Creation
  3. 06/03/2024

    Episode #24 That's One Big Hole

    Episode 24 Part of our environmental series where we look into a different environment each week and see all the role playing options that can be had. In Scaling that Mountain we discuss the many adventures that can be had in this biome. We go over the many hazards and opportunities to run a game. We share out thought and notions of what we thought when searching a perch at the top of the world. Find all our links below: https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod Who are we? We are just a couple of nerds who enjoy the game. Ralph, who has been running games, and Conner, who has watched his father run the games and who has ventured out into the world to run some of his own. Together we talk about our passion for role playing and some of our adventures along the way. Please enjoy this journey with us. Lets talk about the world below our feet. Movies/Books Godzilla x Kong Land of the Lost Decent More??????? RPG Worlds Standard D&D Geography The Shallows - The Deep - The Echos - The Feywild and the Shadowfell, . These realms, called the Feydark and the Shadowdark, Empire of Madmess* - the Far Realm breaks through. Forgotten realms - Most of my knowledge Geography The Upperdark - The Upperdark extends from the surface to a depth of about 3 miles. The MiddleDark - The Middledark lies between 3 and 10 miles beneath the surface of Faerûn. The Lowerdark - No place on Toril is as strange and dangerous as the Lowerdark. This level of the Underdark extends from 10 miles below the surface to unfathomable depths and features a degree of strangeness that would drive some surface dwellers insane. Some of the creatures in the Lowerdark - intelligent or otherwise - aren't even aware of a surface world; others have heard of it but consider it a mythical place. Shadow Portals - At various depths in the Lowerdark (usually 15 miles or more); portals to the plane of Shadow become a new hazard for , travelers. Some sages theorize that the Underdark never ends; it simply becomes the Plane of Shadow at some immeasurable depth. This theory seems unlikely, although it is true that portals to the Plane of Shadow occur with increasing frequency the deeper explorers delve. Eberron Geogtraphy Khyber - Khyber is the area beneath Eberron and said to be the body of one of the three Progenitor Dragons that created the world of Eberron. It is a massive subterranean realm that is filled with fiends, aberrations, the daelkyr, bound Overlords, and other monsters.While the upper layers of Khyber are stone and dirt, the lower levels are a vast array of demiplanes with all sorts of strange contents. Environments Abysses - Very deep wide spaces or holes that seem to have no bottom Caves and caverns Dead or dry cave - no water Dungeons Gallery - mostly a horizontal chamber Gorges Lakes Live or wet caves - has water Ossuary - cave filled with bones Rifts Rivers Seas Shafts Springs Tunnels Valts Volcanoes Light - light source can be seen up to 20x its radiance Artificial Natural Lumienscent growth Molten rock Radiant crystal Reflective stone Magical Dealing with Complete Darkness Air - fresh air only close to surface entrances Poor Stale Depleted Gasses and fumes Irritating fumes / smells Poison gas Explosive gas Plants and Fungi Moss Lichen Mushrooms Food farms Make up your own bizzare - poisonous or non Animal Life Bats Fish Lizards Roth`e herd animals and one of the primary livestock of humans in Faerûn's northern areas and of the drow of the Underdark below. Hazards - Anything can kill you in the underdark Slimes and molds Spelunking Cramped spaces Climbing Direction - lost Access Magic Earth Nodes Depending on rating gives level bonus Garants spells while in area Traveling Long walks Caravan route through large area (not recommended) Portals Standard - usually guarded Impassable - windows Non-Living only - trade goods Transparent Random magic Resting and Trading Faerzress - FR

    Episode #24 That's One Big Hole
  4. 05/28/2024

    Episode #23 Crawling Through the City Streets

    Episode 23 Part of our environmental series where we look into a different environment each week and see all the role playing options that can be had. In Scaling that Mountain we discuss the many adventures that can be had in this biome. We go over the many hazards and opportunities to run a game. We share out thought and notions of what we thought when searching a perch at the top of the world. Find all our links below: https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod Who are we? We are just a couple of nerds who enjoy the game. Ralph, who has been running games, and Conner, who has watched his father run the games and who has ventured out into the world to run some of his own. Together we talk about our passion for role playing and some of our adventures along the way. Please enjoy this journey with us. News: DnD 5.2 SRD Will follow the release of the 5.2 Monster Manual in February 2025 They say Feb 18th, but I don’t believe that for a second PHB on 17SEP24, DMG on 12NOV24 Those dates have stayed true for the last three months, which makes me a little more hopeful Starfinder 2e Playtest Actual Playtest doesn’t release until August, but they're adding piecemeal content until then with slices of what to look for The first ‘Field test’ was looking at the soldier class, another is a combat encounter with zombies WITH GUNS IN SPACE Kobold Press Unveiled the Black Flag Reference Document, a 5e compatible rules update published under the Open Resource Community (ORC) license The ORC license is Paizo’s license as a response to the OGL debacle This is just before their RPG ‘Tales Of The Valiant’ releases next month Now, you’re probably thinking, what’s Kobold Press? Contributors include former WotC staff Did the Tyranny of Dragons AP for 5e, and did design work for Ghosts of Saltmarsh Several VERY successful campaigns for 5e sourcebooks (under the OGL) If you watch RPG youtube (especially DnD) you’ve definitely seen ads from these guys One specific book we can highlight is their Campaign Builder: Cities & Towns, because today we’re talking about: Cities: Travel is down from minutes to hours. Ask your PCs to make characters with strong ties to the city, or at least make your plot hook connected to your characters so they don’t want to leave Neighborhoods: Have different parts of the city be havens for fantasy races A goblin town Mind goblins ask about it Little Menzoberranzan For Drow who have escaped (mostly men) Since it’s mostly men that escape, the children and people who grew up here would be half-drow Rooftop village for Aaracockra Catacombs Sewers Climate: Whatever you want Hazards: Pollution Gangs Trash Animals: ROUSs (I don’t think they exist) Giant Ratking Sewer Gators Stray cats and dogs Plants: Planted trees Small patches of forest for parks? Crime and homeless camps there Plot hooks: Thieves Guild shenanigans Political intrigue You can do political intrigue anywhere, but in a population center you have more political people in one place Resources: Worldbuilding: The Demographics of Capital Matt Colville: Every DMs Uncle, even Dad’s (even though you’re the same age or thereabouts) Waterdeep: Dragon Heist Big module you can pull ideas from Monte Cook’s Ptolus Everyone kept recommending this, but it’s TOO pricey for me Sharn Eberron https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen/comments/bwtqod/120_urban_hooks/ Add yugioh monster sound when you choked on the chord Encounter Corner - Backgrounds make the encounter come alive.

    Episode #23 Crawling Through the City Streets

About

The apple didn't fall far from the tree. Nerd (Ralph) and Son (Conner) discuss their shared passion for Tabletop Role-Playing Games. https://linktr.ee/nerdandsonpod