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.
Who likes TEASES?
No one?
Oh…
Due to illness, an Adventurous recording session last Friday was cancelled. It freed up a few members of the Know Direction staff for an informal chat that turned into a super productive meeting.
It might surprise you that we don’t have calls like this that often. We’ve used a variety of text channels to organize and communicate. But we got enough done in this one call that I’d like to find a may to make it a regular thing.
I’ve been thinking about what big project to focus our energy on now that Gen Con Online is done (the coverage of which is coming out daily from now until August 25th, thanks Vanessa). After that call, I have a better sense of where to direct my energy and what we can accomplish together.
Short editorial this week (all tease, sorry). Between Gen Con coverage, Randal Meyer’s amazing in-depth review of the APD series, and having more information about this week’s content settled than usual, the rest of today’s Recall Knowledge took me longer than usual to write. Which means it’ll take you longer than usual to read, so you don’t need a long editorial taking up all your time.
Here’s a recap of what you might have missed last week from the Know Direction Network:
Recap of August 3rd to August 9th
What happened last week on knowdirectionpodcast.com and twitch.tv/knowdirection?
Monday, August 3rd
ARTICLE
Recall Knowledge – July 27th to August 7th
According to this blog, I was going to dive into the Gen Con Online content that I missed. To my surprise, this wasn’t as easy as I expected. I couldn’t even find the Beadle & Grimm’s Pathfinder panel from the Saturday (a panel we weren’t in charge of recording).
If there are any Gen Con panels you enjoyed outside of the ones Know Direction streamed for Paizo, let me know what they are and where I can check them out.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 2 – Classes (part 1)
by Randal Meyer
Randal covers the investigator and the oracle, reviewing the mechanics and flavour of the classes then laying out the direction he foresees going in with his first character of that class.
Tuesday, August 4th
PODCAST
Legend Lore with Luis and Loren 008 — Wizard
I was going to say that the wizard is one of the classes I am least likely to play, but upon reflection, I can’t think of a class I am less likely to play. Yes, I would even sooner give the 2e fighter a shot. The wizard plays contrary to my style and what I enjoy about RPGs. That said, I really enjoyed Luis and Loren’s analysis of the class, and particularly enjoyed their sample builds this time around.
ARTICLE
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 2 – Classes (part 2)
by Randal Meyer
Randal moves onto the swashbuckler and witch, throwing in a reference I appreciated to the 90s Disney adaptation of The Three Musketeers.
Wednesday, August 5th
PODCAST
James Abendroth was not a name I was at all familiar with, which is rare when it comes to Paizo freelancers. Even rarer is a name as distinct as James Abendroth that I can’t find information about online. So last week when I wanted to write a blurb about what to expect from this interview, I listened to the episode ahead of time, something I rarely do. As a result, I learned about a self-published novelist and long time contributor to RPGs with an impressive churn rate of content. If, like me, you haven’t heard the name James Abendroth, take the 45 minutes to listen to this episode of Presenting.
ARTICLE
Fox’s Cunning – Summon-Dex Part 4
By Dustin Knight
As I’ve mentioned, Alex took Dustin’s spot last week to give Dustin time to complete him Summon-Dex, uninterrupted. In part 4, he covers fiends and undead you can summon, as well as the summoning options opened up by the Advanced Player’s Guide.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 2 – Classes (part 3)
by Randal Meyer
As I mentioned in our breakdown of the Advanced Player’s Guide, the Classes chapter truly wowed me. Not for the four new classes, but for the 12 sections expanding on the Core Rulebook classes. Randal covers the first eight of those sections here.
Thursday, August 6th
ARTICLE
Investing In: Gen Con Online Recap
by Rob Pontious
Last Investing In, Rob expressed why he was excited about Gen Con Online. This Investing In, he shares how the con went and what about the best four days in gaming of 2020 left an impression.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 2 – Classes (part 4)
by Randal Meyer
Randal rounds out the last four sections that expand on the Core Rulebook classes, then covers familiars and animal companions.
Friday, August 7th
PODCAST
Know Direction: Beyond 49 – Starship Operations Manual Breakdown
Alex, Vanessa, and Owen each contributed to the new Starfinder hardcover in a big way. Together, they break down the parts they worked on and even those they didn’t.
The jokes and sci-fi references flying fast throughout the episode, making it is as fun as it is insightful.
Gen Con Online — Paizo 2020 and Beyond
The Know Direction Network’s annual coverage of Paizo’s Gen Con seminars kicks off with Paizo 2020 and Beyond, hosted by publisher Erik Mona.
Whether you plan on cherrypicking the seminars that most interest you or consuming the complete collection, I recommend you start here. Erik catches everyone up on the newest releases and the big product announcements up till now, contextualizing what to expect from the rest of the weekend of seminars.
ARTICLE
Introducing Valiant
By Luis Loza
Surprise! Instead of a new monster this week, Luis expands on his so-far-only-hinted-at upcoming actual play podcast, Valiant.
For months, Luis has fine tuned this podcast for launch. I know he’s excited for it. Apparently our fans are as well. This announcement saw a lot of social media shares, above average for network posts. Like you all, I’m looking forward to the launch of Valiant.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 3 – Archetypes (part 1)
by Randal Meyer
It was around the writing of the first part of the archetypes chapter that Randal messaged me about how much bigger this review has turned out to be. If you get the chance, let Randal know what you think of Randal Reads The APG. He’s written thousands of words on it and hasn’t missed a day.
Saturday, August 8th
ARTICLE
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 3 – Archetypes (part 2)
by Randal Meyer
He’s even working weekends!
Sunday, August 9th
PODCAST
Gen Con Online — Paizo Preview Q and A
This seminar is a big hard to sum up. Basically, Erik Mona, Jason Bulmahn, James Jacobs, and Rob McCreary answer fan questions about the business of Paizo, Pathfinder rules, the Pathfinder setting, and Starfinder rules and setting, respectively. They cover a wide variety of ground, some of the more interesting bits include the status of Pathfinder: Absalom, City Of Lost Omens, and how a line from Lost Omens: Legends relates to Starfinder.
ARTICLE
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 3 – Archetypes (part 3)
by Randal Meyer
In three posts, Randal reviews every archetype in the APG. This is the advantage of the Randal Reads format. I’m not sure its sustainable for every hardcover options book, but I appreciate that he’s somehow found the time for the APG and the Core Rulebook before it.
Preview of August 10th to August 16th
This is Block 2 of our 2-block schedule.
Monday, August 10th
PODCAST
TIL Aira’s an amateur surgeon.
Level Up: Building Characters with the Advanced Player’s Guide
Designers Logan Bonner, Mark Seifter, Lyz Liddell, and editor James Case show off character the Advanced Player’s Guide’s options by making a character.
ARTICLE
Recall Knowledge (available now)
Here I am! Rocking you like hurricane.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 4 – Feats By Randal Meyer
Randal estimates all of the new general feats will fit into this one blog post.
Tuesday, August 11th
PODCAST
Digital Divination with John and Ron 010
Update: John and Ron will be recording DD episode 10 tonight!
Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with Designer Lyz Liddell
Perram and I have a great conversation with Lyz Liddell about the APG, the upcoming Bestiary 3, and the just-announced Secrets of Magic.
ARTICLE
Burst of Insight by Andrew Marlowe
Andrew looks at reimagining familiar campaign concepts, like a rebooted TV show or movie.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 5 – Spells (part 1) by Randal Meyer
Randal told me he could review the spells in one post. I am so confident he’ll need two that I’m previewing two. Join us Tuesday, August 11th to find out who’s right!
Wednesday, August 12th
TWITCH
Know Direction Live – All The Stuff with Mark Moreland
There’s so much cool stuff coming out for Pathfinder and Starfinder! It’s like they’re more than just games, they’re brands. That’s why we’re talking with Paizo’s Director of Brand Strategy, Mark Moreland.
PODCAST
Gen Con Online — Pathfinder Adventure Overview
Pathfinder is as known for its adventures as it is for its setting and rules. Listen to Ron Lundeen, Adam Daigle, Linda Zayas-Palmer, and Michael Sayre talk about the next adventures you’ll be going on.
ARTICLE
Fox’s Cunning by Dustin Knight
Dustin went from a series on all summoning options in the game, to a whole post dedicated to a single feat: Dazing Blow from Advanced Player’s Guide. I’m really looking forward to how deeply Dustin mines this one option.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 5 – Spells (part 2) by Randal Meyer
Randal continues to cover the spells chapter of the APG. Or does he?
Thursday, August 13th
PODCAST
Know Direction – All The Stuff with Mark Moreland
I think this will be fun.
Gen Con Online — Inside the Newest Playtest: Nanocytes and Mechs
If you haven’t had a chance to try the new Starfinder rules being playtested, this is a great source for the information you need to dive into a mech, or dive into a nanocyte class.
ARTICLE
Something Creates – An Adventure (Quest #3) by Andrew Sturtevant
Andrew writes the quest he outlined in the previous installment, the third in his 5-part series.
Randal Reads APG 2e: Ch 6 – Items by Randal Meyer
This is either the first day Randal has off, the last day before he closes the book on the APG, or part one of his look at the last chapter of the Advanced Player’s Guide.
Friday, August 14th
PODCAST
This is the episode that kicks off Dawn of Flame book 4 – The Blind City. As it is written by Intrepid Hero player Ron Lundeen, he and John are switching chairs. John will be a player and Ron takes over as GM.
I’m up to episode 30! Catching up on Intrepid Heroes, here I come!
Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with The Starfinder Team
These Behind the X seminars were, for the most part, an opportunity for members of the KD Con Team to really get to know a Paizo staff member. This one was the exception, where KD members (in this case, just Perram) were outnumbered four to one by Paizo staff (Rob McCreary, Jason Tondro, Joe Pacini, and Jason Keeley, who counts as Paizo staff and not KD cast in this case).
Nonetheless, it’s a solid Starfinder seminar.
ARTICLE
Tim “Wayfinder” Nightengale, Tim “Timstagram” Hager, and Rob “Tim” Pontious, deal with a worm. A big one. Like “call the cops” big.
Saturday, August 15th
PODCAST
Gen Con Online — Behind the Pages with Developer Luis Loza
Hey, it’s Luis! We love that guy! And all the things he does on the Lost Omens line.
Saturday, August 16th
PODCAST
Gen Con Online — The Age of Lost Omens: Pathfinder Society Guide
Every Lost Omens hardcover is exciting, but you know one entirely dedicated to the Pathfinder Society is going to something extra.
Now you know,
Ryan Costello
