Every week, Recall Knowledge recaps the Know Direction content of the past week, a preview of the Know Direction content of the week to come, and the director of operations, Ryan Costello, thoughts on the state of the network.

I’m going to keep these editorials short until Gen Con coverage is done. The recap and preview section of Recall Knowledge is supposed to be the easy part, but additional daily seminar releases, including weekend releases, plus two weeks of Randal’s APG review, doubled the time that section took. That, and it doubled the time I spent reading and listening to Know Direction content. If I’m having trouble keeping up, I know you must be too, so you don’t need my extended thoughts further taking up your time.

I do want to give a shout out to Randal for another Randal Reads. None of the KD staff is swimming in free time, and Randal has even less than usual thanks to a move up the coast. I am amazed he managed to find the extra time to read the entire APG and write thousands of extra words, and post them daily without missing a beat. If you enjoyed reading Randal’s thoughts on the APG, I encourage you to let him know. Do not underestimate the value of an encouraging word to your favourite content creators.

Speaking of content, here is the Know Direction Network content from last week:

Recap of August 10^th to August 16^th

What happened last week on knowdirectionpodcast.com and twitch.tv/knowdirection?

Monday, August 10^th

PODCAST

Stellar: 012 — Barter and Bandages

This episode is so much fun. Seriously, Stellar is a great combination of innovative GMing, fun characters, engaging roleplaying, and engaged players. The montage at the end of the episode exemplifies that perfectly.

Gen Con Online — Level Up: Building Characters with the Advanced Player’s Guide

If you are on the fence about the APG, or can’t get it yet but plan to, and would like insight into what the book offers, check this panel out. It’s also just nice to hear Logan Bonner, Mark Seifter, Lyz Liddell, and James Case alternate between geeky out about content they like and delving into content they’re proud of.

ARTICLE

Recall Knowledge – August 3rd to August 16th  

I teased that there might be some fun stuff coming to KD. I still feel bad about it. Also, I still can’t talk about the fun staff that’s coming to KD.

Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 4, 5, & 6 – Feats, Spells, & Items

I was pretty off when I predicted that Randal needed four more installments to finish reviewing the APG. He manages to cover the final three chapters in one packed review.

As I mentioned above, I marvel at Randall’s output for his Randal Reads series. Having a different take on the books we review on the show broadens the site’s perception and gives me something to read and look forward to.

Tuesday, August 11^th

PODCAST

Digital Divination 010 – Designing Starships

John, who is usually on the Q side of discussions about getting into freelancing and design work, gets to be on the A side, sharing his experience designing starships for the latest Starfinder hardcover, the Starships Operation Manual. I don’t know Starfinder enough to follow the rules details, but the conceptual side of his design ideas and reasoning behind his choices fascinated me.

Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with Designer Lyz Liddell

Hey, I’m in this one!

We packed a lot into this interview. There were a few times when I was sure we must be coming up on our hour and we still had 20, 30 minutes left. I guess the truncated Paizo Con interviews made me expect these Behind the Pages segments to be rushed.

ARTICLE

Burst of Insight—The Reboot Campaign
By Andrew Marlowe

Clever article on Andrew’s part. We replay video games. We replay favourite player characters. So why can’t we as GMs replay favourite campaigns? But if we’re going to do it, why not do like Hollywood reboots and make changes to freshen the campaign up, and add some twists?

Wednesday, August 12^th

TWITCH

Know Direction Live: Pathfinder Stuff with Director of Brand Strategy Mark Moreland

We knew we were going to talk about the collectibles, tie-in products, and peripherals for Pathfinder that involved Mark Moreland as Paizo’s Director of Brand Strategy. And we did, and it was fun and informative. We weren’t expecting the last half hour to veer off towards upcoming Pathfinder books like Secrets of Magic and unannounced Lost Omens books and Adventure Paths.

PATREON

Patron’s Private Sanctum 003

Perram and I  speculated on the upcoming 2e magus and summoner, talked about the next online conventions we’re looking forward to, and what entertainment we’re enjoying lately.

PODCAST

Gen Con Online — Pathfinder Adventure Overview

Ron Lundeen, Adam Daigle, Linda Zayas-Palmer, and Michael Sayre talk about everything adventure related from Adventure Paths to modules to scenarios to bounties. I am so excited about bounties.  

ARTICLE

Fox’s Cunning – Dazed and Confused
By Dustin Knight

I know I say this every time we talk about this article, but find the about face of Dustin covering all summoning options in the game followed by a thorough analysis of a single feat so amusing. That said, this is a solid article. Dustin doesn’t just express hesitation with Dazing Blow. He analyzes how fair his first impression is, shared his methodology, and explains his findings. Dustin’s a role model of reflection and analysis.

Phantasmal Killer— Filing Off the Serial Numbers
By Crystal Frasier

I’ve heard reskinning phrased as “filing off the serial numbers” before. I quite like the expression. But usually that’s where the advice begins and ends. Here, Crystal suggests multiple manners in which to reskin creatures. The advice starts as simple as possible, then ties up loose ends, before finally adding polish.

Then, as she does in every Phantasmal Killer, Crystal gives examples you can use in your game right now. Maybe her blog should be called Friendtasmal Helper.

Thursday, August 13^th

PODCAST

Know Direction 230: Interview with Paizo’s Mark Moreland

At Gen Con, Mark Moreland pointed out that it’s been a while since he’s been on the podcast. Shockingly, it seems his last appearance was on KD 95 – Golarion 101. Well we made up for lost time with this episode which is wall-to-wall Mark Moreland talking about more than you’d expect.

Gen Con Online — Inside the Newest Playtest: Nanocytes and Mechs

The new Starfinder playtest bit me with the “play more Starfinder” bug already, and hearing Joe Pacini, John Compton, and Thurston Hillman talk about the intent behind the nanocyte and mechs and the feedback they’ve received so far made me that itch that much itchier.

ARTICLE

Something Creates! – An Adventure (Quest #3)
By Andrew Sturtevant

I know this is the third time he’s done this, but every time Andrew posts the full quest, I have the same reaction. “Wait… that’s the whole quest! It’s the whole thing. He’s posted a whole quest for people to read or run.” I don’t know why it still surprises me, or how many more times I’ll be surprised by it.

Friday, August 14^th

PODCAST

Intrepid Heroes 041 – The Blind City

I’m on episode 31, so I need to hurry because as of this episode, Ron Lundeen takes over as GM. I’m excited to hear him GM, and to see how the players and characters react differently to the switch.

Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with The Starfinder Team

Just gonna get it out of the way that even though this didn’t have the same single guest focus of the other Behind The X seminars, it had the same feel. Perram directs the topic across all of Starfinder, covering the books that have been announced, like Alien Archive 4, as well as the upcoming Adventure Paths, and the ongoing playtests.

ARTICLE

Bend the Knee – Worlds Collide: Land
By Loren Sieg

I learned a lot from the latest Bend The Knee. Firstly, that if a purple worm attacks Milwaukee, call Tim Nightengale, Rob Pontious, and Tim Hager! Secondly, if I ever want to run a kaiju adventure, I need to reread Tim Nightengale’s answer here.

Valiant Profile #1: Ev’etaewayr
By Luis Loza

Last week, Luis officially announced his new actual play podcast, Valiant. This week, and every Friday going forward, he introduces us to one of the players and their PC, including their original art by network favourite artists Sheppi Rodriguez. First up, Rob Pontious’ elf wizard Ev’etaewayr.

Saturday, August 15^th

PODCAST

Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with Developer Luis Loza

We love every opportunity we get talk with Luis, and every opportunity we get to gush about the Lost Omens line. In this Gen Con Online seminar, we do both! :O

Sunday, August 16^th

PODCAST

Gen Con Online – The Age of Lost Omens: Pathfinder Society Guide

In 1e, if I was going to buy a Campaign Setting or Player’s Companion, it was based on whatever comes after Campaign Setting or Player’s Companion on the cover. In 2e, all it takes to get me excited about a hardcover is “Lost Omens” on the cover. But when whatever comes after “Lost Omens” is also something exciting, like, say, Pathfinder Society Guide. I’m super excited.

Preview of August 17^th to August 23^rd

This is back to Block 1 of our 2-block schedule.

Monday, August 17^th

PODCAST

Adventurous 0042 – Spoon!

Late, but worth it. This is an episode with a lot of moving parts, a shifting spotlight, and an update on what’s been happening in Stachys while we were away.

Gen Con Online — Delving Into Organized Play

This is a Behind the X by another name. Perram and I caught up with Tonya Woldridge about what’s happening with organized play at Gen Con Online and going forward.

ARTICLE

Recall Knowledge (also available now)

This preview for this article is coming from INSIDE THE ARTICLE!

Tuesday, August 18^th

PODCAST

Legend Lore 009 – Exploration Mode
When you’re not actively fighting anyone, but it’s not time to kick off your boots and relax, that’s exploration mode. How does it work? Where’s the fun in it? What should GMs and players be mindful of?

Gen Con Online — Behind the Products with Mark Moreland

I made sure to listen to this one before our interview with Mark to make sure they were complimentary, not redundant. There’s some overlap in the products we talk about, but Dustin and Vanessa approach those products from different angles than Perram and I did on KD.

ARTICLE

Groundbreaking by Randal Meyer

Wednesday, August 19^th

TWITCH

Geek Together

Dustin’s unboxing some minis. 

PODCAST

Presenting: Jacob W. Michaels

Jacob is a newspaper editor and freelance game designer.

Gen Con Online — Ask the Experts: Pathfinder RPG

The Pathfinder design team talks designing Pathfinder. I assume. I haven’t listened to this one yet.

ARTICLE

Guidance by Alex Augunas

Thursday, August 20^th

PODCAST

Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with Jason Bulmahn

Joson Bulmahn!

ARTICLE

Investing In by Rob Pontious

Rob tried Urban Shadows by Magpie Games at Gen Con Online and now he has thoughts.

Friday, August 21^st

PODCAST

Geek Together

What miniatures did Dustin find in the Pathfinder Battles brick he unboxed?

Gen Con Online — Building a Starship in the Starfinder RPG

Do you wanna build a starship?

ARTICLE

Valiant Profile #2: Sarna By Luis Loza

Luis previews Sarna from Valiant. But who is Sarna? And who plays them?

Saturday, August 22^nd

PODCAST

Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with John Compton

John Compton used to be a staple of KD interviews, but it’s been a while. I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say.  

Sunday, August 23^rd

PODCAST

Gen Con Online — Pathfinder Adventure Path: Agents of Edgewatch & Beyond

The story around Agents of Edgewatch overtook the original conversation about it. I’m curious to hear how that controversy is addressed here.

Now you know,
Ryan Costello