Brilliant Gameologists

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Monday, December 29th, 2008
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Sode #30: Gifts for your Gamer Geek (Meta 07)

Thursday, December 18th, 2008
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News:

Nominations for 2008 Zeekies are still being accepted! Share your favorite holiday commercials, please! The field is looking grim.

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• We watched (and rewatched) The Lazy Town/ Lil John Mashup. Very NSFW! A lot of the show is in reference to this, so you’ll need to watch it!

Icebreaker:

What we want for Christmas

• Meg wants a new sound board and Brilliant Gameologists fanfic.
• Josh wants either Bacon of the Month or Stripper of the Month.
• Zeke wants Ham of the Month and will take Josh’s bacon.
• Meg wants fanfic! Board game fanfic and Brilliant Gameologists fanfic. Make this a very special Christmas and email her!

Gift Ideas:

Cheap:

• Dice
• Dicebag
• Personal Care Supplies
• Office Supplies
• Initiative Tracker “Kit”
  • White Board, Magnetic Trackers, Folder Tabs
• Make your own Dog game
  • Board image
• Savage Worlds Explorer’s Edition ($10)
• Coupon Books
• Make a CD of Podcasts
  • You Look Nice Today, Coverville, Hipster, Please!
• Cheap books- cookbooks, atlas, baby names
• Cheap DVD’s to use for inspiration
• Misspent Youth- paypal $12 directly to author Robert Bohl
• Story Games Name Project (we were wrong about price) $10.97

$20-$30

• Caper $21
• Burning Wheel
• Zombie Cinema
• Dread
• Primetime Adventures (pdf is $12)
• Spirit of the Century

Games People Should Have

Gateway Games- games to play with your non-gamer family/friends

• Bohnanza ($20)
• Modern Art ($25)
• Vegas Showdown ($45)
• Hollywood Blockbuster ($39.99)
• Poison ($15)
• Aquädukt ($27.99)
• Citadels ($25)
• Blokus ($35)

Party Games

• Apples to Apples ($20-$40)
• Word Blur ($20)
• Wits and Wagers ($30)

The Real-Nerd’s Essentials:

• Race for the Galaxy ($35)
  • Expansion ($25)
• Dominion ($45 and worth every penny)
• Pillars of the Earth ($49)
• Stone Age ($45)

High Price/ High Profile

• WiFi Printer
• Sultan Gaming Table
• Sex Ramps

Gaming Girl

• Apparel- Teeshirt Hell
• Pink Dice

Gaming Baby/ Pet

• Plushy Cthulhu
• Germs

Kits

Brilliant Gameologists Kit: CD of our shows, boob card, ShamWow, Crown Royale, Con shirt worn in protest, Hatorade, Burning Wheel with pages stuck together, Vampire Toilet paper, cake

Gifts to you!

• Hug Coupon from Josh and Smearless Hug Coupon from Zeke
• Boob Curve Cards

Miscellaney

1. The answer to last episode’s trivia question is contained! Think you know the answer to this week’s? Post on the thread about this episode here.
2. A challenge to next to V3 event. Many will enter. One will win.
3. Submit your board game fanfic to GM@BrilliantGameologists.com!

Shout-Outs

1. Podgecast and V3 event
2. Phil, friend of Podgecast and of The Gaming Grid
3. Myriad Games, our Friendly Local Professional Game Store. Support the show by buying game supplies online and say we sent you- more prizes to give away!

Reminders-

• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Lots of good stuff on our Facebook Page!
• Join our Facebook Group!
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Sode #29: Table Roles and Table Rules (System 06)

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
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News:

Nominations for 2008 Zeekies are now being accepted! Share your favorite holiday commercials.

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• We went back to our standard favorite: The ShamWow (real commercial)
• And then went on to find the greatest parody ever.
• Icky Thump by the White Stripes
• Did Jack White provide vocals for Electric 6?

Icebreaker:

Rules we have at the normal, day to day table.

• Meg hates forks on teeth.
• Josh gets uncomfortable seeing 2 girls kiss
• Zeke won’t repeat himself

Douchebag of the Week:

The Bait n’ Switcher

Table Roles and Table Rules

Part of our Jargon Series. Part 2 of Sode #24: Rule 0/ House Rules

Player Roles at the Table

A Real World Need

• Cupomancer
• Caterer
• Court Jester
• The Handler

An in game need:

• Initiative Tracker
• Quartermaster
• Scribe
• Encyclopedia

Table Rules

1. Dice Rolling
2. Everything Else
3. Take-Backs

Miscellaney

1) The answer to last episode’s trivia question is contained! Think you know the answer to this week’s? Post on the thread about this episode here.

Reminders-

• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Lots of good stuff on our Facebook Page!
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Sode #28: Overdone Payouts (System 05)

Sunday, November 30th, 2008
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News:

JiffyCon Lowell/ V3 is almost here! Sign up today! Or visit the event on its Facebook Page!

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T’s
• I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

Icebreaker:

Things we used to like that we overdid

Douchebag of the Week:

The Deflater

Overdone Payouts:

Part of our Jargon Series. Part 2 of 2.

What happens when someone gets their payouts at the expense of others at the table?

GNS Theory: Gamist, Narrativist and Simulationist.

1. Munchkins
2. Powergamers
3. Rigamarole Players
4. Simulation Turds
5. Stuck in a Fantasy World

Miscellaney

The upcoming Brilliant Gameologists’ game now includes:

• Captain Kangaroo
• The Moose
• Lee Marvin
• Fred Rogers
• Daniel the Cat
• Lady Elane Fairchild

Chicken wing on swords is a joke from You Look Nice Today’s Aunt Nancy episode. Hilarious.

Some additional info:

1) The answer to last episode’s trivia question is contained! Think you know the answer to this week’s? Post on the thread about this episode here.

Reminders-

• We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter, Josh’s Twitter and Zeke’s Twitter.
• Lots of good stuff on our Facebook Page!
• Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit. It is intended for adult audiences.

Sode #27: Payouts (System 04)

Monday, November 17th, 2008
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Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

Our warm up was entirely un-electronic. Zeke yelled at Meg’s neighbors and we had a heated discussion about some posters on our Message Boards.

Icebreaker:

Non RPG’s that we enjoy and the payouts that make us happy.

Race for the Galaxy– great game. Support a great Friendly Local Gaming Store and buy your copy today! With the expansion!

Douchebag of the Week:

The Novelist

Payouts:

Part of our Jargon Series. Part 1 or 2.

What do you like about role playing? What makes you excited? The Payout Model explains why people are different elements to use to fire up your game and players.

1. Character Payouts- Getting stuff for your character
2. Player Payouts- What do you enjoy at the table?
3. GM Payouts- GMs can have fun too!
4. Visceral Reaction Payouts- Gaming feels good!
5. Intellectual Payouts- Gamenugen
6. Creative Payouts- Dra-ma!
7. Scholarly Payouts- Meg loves her drumlins
8. Kinesthetic Payouts- Cosplay= ok. Furries = BAD

Some additional info:

1) This is our first shot at a Trivia Question of the Week.  Submit your answer in the thread about this episode on our message boards!

2) We lowered the quality again on this episode to try and keep the file size manageable.  Let us know if it went too far.

Reminders-

We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

Sode #26: Gender Bending and Playing What You Ain’t (Player 04)

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
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Happy Election Day!

Only a couple of days!

JiffyCon is this Saturday!! Enjoy new, indie games and play with the Gameologists! www.jiffycon.com

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

We’ve been watching a lot of Saturday Night Live clips…

• Gov. Palin and Senator Clinton
• Gov. Palin squares off with Couric
• Mark Wahlberg
• Fix it!

Dudes playing chicks/ Playing something you ain’t

1. Don’t be a douche
2. Be Sensitive
3. Just be the character
4. Don’t have it be the only interesting aspect of the character
5. Don’t constantly talk about being a _____
6. Sex is not the only decision a girl makes

Playing a girl- something different:

• Mother
• Old Lady
• Maiden
• Historical game stereotype
• Intrepid Girl Reporter
• Empty Nester

Other things you ain’t:

• Gays/ Straights
• Philosophically or ethically different
• Kids
• The “Other”
• Crazy
• Elderly
• Disabled
• Bromance

Getting Into Character

• Stanislavski’s System
  • What is your character’s goal?
  • Aspects of the character?
  • Use your memory “bag”

• Change your voice:
  • Pitch
  • Tone
  • Volume
  • Speed/ Pacing
  • Sayings
  • Laugh

Shout-Outs

Geek Girls Rule

• After we recorded and called Mickey etc. out for not putting out a show, they went and did. So yes, there is a more recent episode now.

Reminders-

We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

Sode #25: Horror Tropes (Setting 05)

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
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Note:

In celebration of our second “quarter” we are changing the format very slightly of the shows. Can you spot the difference?

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Walking on Air
• This is Halloween
  • In Japanese (stumbled on this one)
  • In Russian (we think this is the creepiest. Some of the voices are really scary, especially the creature under the stairs)

Our Fears

• Whale captured on video –Meg admits to her paranoia of whales. This video she had to watch through her fingers.
• Oarfish- They just shouldn’t be. Freaky.
• Parasites- Josh. He’s infected.
• Zombies- Zeke. He’s prepared, are you?

1. Cthulhonic

• Cthulhu Mythos
• Chaosium’s Call of Cthulu
• Meg’s fear of sea creatures comes in here.

2. The Undead

• Halloween (a poster on our forum)’s excellent post about “contrasting for horror”.
• 28 Days Later
• Cell by Stephen King
• Serenity
• Terminator

3. The Siren

• The Mythological Siren
• Dracula
• Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Little Shop of Horrors
• The Firm
• Star Wars

4. Sidhe

• The Celtic Sidhe
• The Borg
• The cenobites
• The Predator
• The Gripping Hand
• Ghosts

5. Nature

• Jaws
• Razorback
• The Perfect Storm
• Killer Bees
• Cujo
• The Happening totally sucked
• Those freaky whales!

6. Technological

• The Ring
• Security Systems gone awry
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Midnight Meat Train

7. Madness

• The Creepy Events Thread @ WOTC
• The Creepy Events Thread @ BG
• Possessions
• Sixth Sense
• Dogs in the Vineyard
• Werewolves

8. Odd

• Parallel Worlds
  • Sound of Thunder
  • Sliders
  • Knee Penises
• Stepford Wives
• The Matrix
• The Lottery
• Lost Boys

9. Primal Horror

• Jersey Devil
• Windigo
• Kelpie
• Spring-heeled Jack
• The Black Dog

Bonus!

• We each list our scariest creatures that weren’t mentioned.

Reminders-

We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

BG - Sode 024 - System 03 - Rule 0

Monday, October 13th, 2008
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Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• Probably the Funniest Cat Video You’ll Ever See –Hilarious. Thanks to Dan2 on our boards for linking it in this thread!

News:

• Couple of days left for the Secret Code Contest! Get your entries in by October 17th!
• We make an apology of sorts for one of the items listed in the “7 Things We Hate” episode.
• JiffyCon! We meant to have a news item about this and … oops. But at least it’s written! JiffyCon is almost here- we’re still looking for another GM or two, specializing in little known or Indie Games, and of course would love to see anyone who can make it to come! We’ll help you… nay… guarantee you’ll have a good time!

Icebreaker:

• Josh went to Providence Anime Conference and rubs it in our face. Won some cool (and sexy) prizes including one for being voted “Biggest Whore”

Douchebag of the Week:

• The Sycophant

Main Topic:

Rule Zero

• Rule 0 etymology and definition
• Oberoni Fallacy
• House Rules used to mean:
  • Game Design
  • Modding
  • World Building
  • House Rules
• Corner Cases
• Fudging Rolls
• GM= God?
• Cows… From… Space!

Commercial Break

The Brilliant Gameologists’ Message Boards are sure to cure whatever ails you!  Did you know we have areas for:

• Talking about the Show including giving ideas for future episodes
• Off-Topic Fun (including Media, Cons, and politics)
• Min/Maxing!
• Non- RPG tabletop games
• Mature Topics
• Play by Post

Almost better than Porn!

Random Plugs:

Oberoni Fallacy- as originally stated:

Originally posted by Oberoni on the D&D general board July 23, 2002:

This my my take on the issue

Let’s say Bob the board member makes the assertion:

“There is an inconsistency/loophole/mechanics issue with Rule X.”

Several correct replies can be given:

• “I agree, there is an inconsistency/loophole/mechanics issue with Rule X.”
• “I agree, and it is easily solvable by changing the following part of Rule X.”
• “I disagree, you’ve merely misinterpreted part of Rule X. If you reread this part of Rule X, you will see there is no inconsistency/loophole/mechanics issue.”

Okay, I hope you’re with me so far. There is, however, an incorrect reply:

• “There is no inconsistency/loophole/mechanics issue with Rule X, because you can always Rule 0 the inconsistency/loophole/mechanics issue.“

Now, this incorrect reply does not in truth agree with or dispute the original statement in any way, shape, or form. It actually contradicts itself–the first part of the statement says there is no problem, while the last part proposes a generic fix to the “non-problem.”

It doesn’t follow the rules of debate and discussion, and thus should never be used.

Simple enough.

Reminders-

We put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is tagged Explicit and is Not Work Safe. It is intended for adult audiences.

BG - Sode 022 - Bonus 03 - Drunk Cast Part 1

Sunday, October 5th, 2008
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NEWS: Reminder that the Secret Code Contest entries are due by October 17th!

Warm-Up:

This episode is our response to Radio Free Hipster’s “September is Drunken Podcasting Month”.  Therefore, our warm-up included:

• 4 22-oz beers
• Lots of Rumplemintz
• Several Meghan-tini’s
• Jagermeister
• Eagle Reserve Whiskey

We attempted to have this be Drunken Podcasting, not wasted Podcasting, but one of us utterly failed.  (Hint- it was Meg)

As a result, before listening, read the following warning:

This episode is NOT a normal episode.  There is actually VERY LITTLE gaming discussion and an overabundance of hanky-panky talk.  The subtitle of this episode should be “Jesus Likes Anal”.  If that turns you off, you may not want to listen.  Fair warning.

Also, this show has little editing.  We left in some of the mistakes and re-records on purpose.  A LOT was cut though.  Mostly because it was just TOO off topic but also a lot more that was far too sexual and personal.  We may put those clips together or the full thing for some secret bonus prize at some point.  If you’d like to hear the entire thing, let us know!

Icebreaker:

Our favorite fake holidays:

• Festivus
• Steak and BJ Day
• Feb 14th (Reimagined)
• Indian Fighting Day
• World Wide Wing Night

Before recording we had planned to talk about Talk Like a Pirate Day as it too was in September but … well… drunk, remember?

Main Topic:

Drinking while Gaming.  This is the first 1/10th  of the conversation.  We started to talk about drinking at conventions but didn’t really get anywhere with it.

Random Plugs:

• The Accidental Survivors. Sorry guys!
• The drunk thread Meghan was posting to while recording

Reminder- we put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!  She twittered while recording as well so go back and check them out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is explicit! It is NOT work safe.

BG - Sode 023 - Meta 06 - 7 Things We Hate About the Gameosphere

Sunday, September 28th, 2008
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This episode is part of the Secret Code Contest! Get your entries in by October 17th!

Warm-Up:

Each time we record, we watch a video or find a picture to get us in the mood for the episode. It doesn’t always have anything to do with the episode, but frames our minds, so we’re going to share so you can be appropriately framed as well.

• The Easter Bunny Hates You –Hilarious. Thanks to bhu on our boards for linking it in this thread!

Icebreaker:

• Since we’re doing a contest with 4 other podcasts, we thought it only appropriate to introduce you to them! And what better way to meet them than by a gameshow. Introducing the first episode of “Who Wants to Date a Gaming Podcaster?” with your host, Chaz!

Douchebag of the Week:

• The Boardtard

Main Topic: The 7 Things We Hate About the Gameosphere

1. Douchebaggery
2. Ed Greenwood
3. Video “Gamers”
4. World of Darkness
5. Gaming Reviews
6. Fear the Boot
7. … you’ll have to listen to find out!

Random Plugs:

• The Bad Astronomer debates Joe Rogan about the Moon landing
• This Modern Death

Reminder- we put show updates and random goodies on Meg’s Twitter. Don’t miss out!

Email us at GM@BrilliantGameologists.com

Discuss this episode on our Message Boards in THIS thread!

Warning: This episode is roughly PG-13′ish rated. Our usual episodes are Explicit but we tried to stay “clean” with this one, though it still may not be work safe.