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.
I have mixed feelings about the return of Con season. This past weekend was Breakout Con. This upcoming weekend is San Diego Comic-Con. And in a few weeks, Gen Con is back. None of which I’ll be attending.
Breakout Con launched in 2016 and in just a few years seems to have finally seems to have established the a tabletop gaming convention in Canada. Hosted in Toronto, which listeners of Game Design Unboxed have probably caught on is a hotbed of board game design talent, many of which I’d love to see in person again. Breakout is also the only con of the three I’ve listed that I could attend without crossing a border, which would save me a logistical headache.
For the first time ever, I regret not attending San Diego Comic-Con. Renegade Game Studios is hosting a G.I. JOE RPG live event on Saturday in the Omni Hotel ballroom 4, featuring my Order From D.I.S.O.R.D.E.R costars Jason Charles Miller, Michelle Nguyen Bradley, Amanda McKnight, and Alicia Marie. Participating in that How To Play series and getting to game with these fun and creative players was a highlight of my year, and not getting to meet them in person and game with them again is a bummer.
Finally, we have Gen Con. Somehow, it’s three weeks away. I’ve been to about 10 Gen Cons, the last five or six of which were tied to my game design day job. Going back to taking time off work and booking my own trip is going to take some adjustment, but I’m sure I haven’t gone to my last Gen Con yet. This one just isn’t my latest Gen Con.
I’m happy for people who get to go back to conventions, but I’m not there yet. Immediately after PaizoCon and Star Wars Celebration earlier this year, I heard about friends who attended the conventions testing positive. Covid’s still a concern for me, especially if I risk having to quarantine in the States for an extra week. I’ll be paying attention to the positive case numbers among my social circles coming out of these cons.
On top of that, I am not springing out of my shell like a lot of people I know. I get wanting to get back to conventions ASAP now that they’re an option again. I see people calling it a return to normal. For me, this feels like another new normal, the third definition of normal in the last five years. I’m still getting used to it.
Hopefully this time next year I’ll feel comfortable enough to return to cons. None of which has to do with Know Direction Network Content.
Speaking of Know Direction Network Content, here’s a recap of the Know Direction Network content from last week:
Recap of July 11th to July 15th
What happened last week on knowdirectionpodcast.com and twitch.tv/knowdirection?
Monday, July 11th
Twitch
Know Direction 280 Live – Rise of the Eldamon
Luis and Vanessa talked with Stephen and Mark from Roll For Combat about all of their Rise of the Eldamon plans. And there are a lot of Rise of the Eldamon plans.
Podcast
Intrepid Heroes 090 – Save Yourselves
You know what sounds cool? Nanotech golems. You know what also sounds super adaptable and hard to hurt? Also nanotech golems!
Article
Now You Know – Edition Wars, My Old Nemesis
By Ryan Costello
I added my voice to the “don’t perpetuate the edition wars” rhetoric that, upon reflection, seems to be the current talking point perpetuating edition wars conversations at the moment.
Tuesday, July 12th
Podcast
Game Design Unboxed 41: Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall
In a rare RPG episode, Danielle talks to Banana Chan about Jiangshi: Blood in the Banquet Hall, an indi RPG built on Banana’s culture and family experience.
Article
Eldritch Excursion – The Other Red Wine
By Nate Wright
I said this on Twitter, but I’ve felt no interest in Book of the Dead. It’s the least I’ve ever cared about a Pathfinder hardcover. And then with this one article, Nate put me in the mood for a full on Pathfinder Vampire campaign.
Wednesday, July 13th
Podcast
Know Direction 280 – Rise of the Eldamon
I guess similar to Book of the Dead, I didn’t think Eldamon would be for me. Stephen and Mark not only sold me on how this would be a fun fit in a Pathfinder campaign, they got me especially excited about the Eldamon living card game they’re releasing to coincide with the RPG material.
Article
Behind The Screens – Why I Have Players Roll Easy Checks
By Ryan Costello
I strongly believe that the three points of the triforce of RPG storytelling are the people at the table, the rules in the books, and the rolls of the dice. More rolls makes my job as GM easier, makes my stories better, and make my players feel better about their characters.
Thursday, July 14th
Podcast
Digital Divination 061 – Playing Favorites
John and Jason look at a few of their favourite Starfinder things, from grenade drops on envoys to whiskers on skittens. Baby skittermanders are called skittens, right?
Friday, July 1st
Article
Hero Forge Fridays — Kitsune Bombardier
By Alex Auguna
After years of being exclusive to social media content, Alex brings Hero Forge Fridays to the network site, and adds a stat block to go with his original Hero Forge builds
Preview of July 18th to July 22nd
This is back to Block 2 of our 2-block schedule.
Monday, July 18th
Article
Now You Know – Cons A-Comin’
By Ryan Costello
Just some thoughts on the return of con season.
Tuesday, July 19th
Article
Fox’s Cunning
By Dustin Knight
Dustin offers expert insight and helpful tools to enhance your game.
Wednesday, July 20th
Podcast
Presenting: Leo Glass
John Godek chats with Paizo Managing Editor Leo Glass.
Thursday, July 21st
Podcast
Legend Lore 48 – Humans
Luis and Loren tackle the ancestry that’s so ubiquitous and familiar that they might not know what to say about them.
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.
Friday, July 22nd
Article
Hero Forge Fridays
By Alex Auguna
Iconic Designs meets Hero Forge Fridays as Alex Augunas creates a mini and stat block every week.
Now you know,
Ryan Costello
