Every week, Now You Know recaps the Know Direction content of the past week, previews the Know Direction content of the week to come, and shares the thoughts on the state of the network from the director of operations, Ryan Costello.

Next Monday is December 26th, and I’m fairly confident I won’t have time to write a Now You Know over Christmas weekend. Just in case that makes this my last post of the year, I thought I’d share some of my hopes for the next 12 days of 2022, and what I’m looking forward to in 2023.

2022

There are a few more podcasts I’d like to release before the end of the year, although how I’ll manage them all if uncertain:

• Holiday Special: Every year since 2019,  we’ve released a Know Direction Holiday Special. Not only is this an opportunity for fans to catch up with the network staff, in some cases it’s the only time the staff chats live. I enjoy hearing about all of the awesome opportunities the staff earned themselves over the last year, and knowing what to look forward to in the future.
• Dwarfed: In Patron’s Private Sanctum 0052, I promised Alex that I would release a collected edition of the Know Direction original audio drama Dwarfed before the end of the year. I believe that’s an easy enough edit, hopefully I’m able to keep that promise.
• Adventurous: After a hot streak of releasing the episodes on time, I hit a snag in November and never recovered. They’re all recorded, and I’d like to get one more episode edited and released before the end of the year to get back on track to wrap up this arc.

2023

We have some new network content coming out in the new year, but I don’t want to talk about it yet. Instead, I’ll talk about the RPG releases I’m looking forward to:

• Pathfinder: So far we know about the Treasure Vault and Rage of Elements for the Pathfinder 2e RPG line, and Highhelm and Firebrands for the Lost Omens line. I wouldn’t have guessed this a few years ago, but I’m most excited about Highhelm. As much as I loved Mwangi Expanse on the whole, far and away my favourite part of the book is the section on the dwarves on the Quest For Sky who didn’t recognize sky when they saw it and so dug their way into the Plane of Air. That skyrocketed my interest in Golarion’s dwarves, and I cant’ wait for the first major sourcebook dedicated to them. I’d say my interest in the other three books is more functional, although I expect Rage of Elements to be my favourite. If it makes the elements as fleshed out and fascinating as Secrets of Magic did for magic, it might end up my favourite book of the year.
• Essence20: I’ve worked on so many unreleased and even unannounced Essence20 sourcebooks at this point, I sometimes forget that each setting only has a book or two on the shelves. Most of the other books I worked on will be released or announced in 2023, two of which I’m especially excited to see the reaction to. I might need to get back to Gen Con next year to talk about these books in person.

Speaking of things coming out, here’s a recap of the Know Direction Network podcasts and articles that released last week:

Recap of December 12th to December 16th

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

Monday, December 12th

Podcast

Intrepid Heroes 101 – Robot Attack

When fighting a robot threat so dangerous, it makes a probably human mystic wish they’d gone technomancer, the last thing our Intrepid Heroes want to roll is a Highlander (only ones).

Article

Now You Know – No, You Don’t

You don’t know what projects we’re working on, but you do know that I jumped the gun with the Christmas banner.

Tuesday, December 13th

Podcast

Game Design Unboxed 52 – The Wolves

You know it’s a good Game Design Unboxed when throughout the episode I find myself saying “I need to get this game”.

Article

Eldritch Excursion – Polyarmory
By Nate Wright

Even though Pathfinder 2e overflows with exciting ancestry options (am I the only one who thinks that sounds alliterative even though the three words start with different letters?), I think my next character will use Nate’s awakened adventuring gear ancestry.

Thursday, December 15th

Podcast

Digital Divination 072 – Our Favorite Starfinder Spells

John and Jason’s latest Top 5 list looks at their favourite spells. I appreciate that it’s not the “best” spells, but the spells they enjoy (even though they both admit they don’t play casters primarily).

Also, this is the first episode where they’re at odds about the format of their Top 5s. Jason counts down, but John counts up. Whose side are you on?

Friday, December 16th

Podcast

Upshift 008 – Memories

I like mixing up the target audience of Upshift topics, so this one was heavily focused on nostalgia for the Essence20 brands.

Preview of December 19th to December 23rd

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

Monday, December 19th

Article

Now You Know – Out With The 2022, In With The 2023
By Ryan Costello

Will I get my 2022 podcasting done in time?

Tuesday, December 20th

Podcast

Young and Adventurous 014

Scott D Young runs the Adventurous crew through an original adventure, following up on the modified version of Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-17: Lost Maid of Anactoria that he previously ran.

Note: This week’s episode isn’t edited yet, again, and I’m still not sure I’ll have the time to tonight.

Wednesday, December 21st

Podcast

Presenting: Shan Wolf

John chats with Shan Wolf, a Pathfinder 2e freelancer, and member of the Paizo forums since 2009.

Thursday, December 22nd

Article

Investing In
By Rob Pontious

Rob shares what he loves about the RPGs he’s been playing lately, and why you should check them out.

 

Now you know,
Ryan Costello