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 state of the network from the director of operations, Ryan Costello.
Heading into the 7th through 12th days of Christmas (it’s a 12 day countdown, right?), holiday plans will start overlapping network content. For the next two weeks, network staff know that contribution is optional. Even if I preview content in a Now You Know between now and New Year’s Day, the only way to know for sure what’s posting when is by checking the site. Sorry for the inconvenience, but the staff works hard getting dozens of blog posts and podcast episodes up every year, and they deserve a break when the nights get long and the days cold.
Since I won’t be podcasting this week and our holiday special only airs on the 29th, let me take the time to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Whether or not you celebrate this year, I hope the season treats you well and you enjoy joyous days.
Come January, the site redirection begins. Over first month of 2022, we’ll find new homes for familiar content to make room for incoming Essence20 content, and changes to the Know Direction network. We announced the new hosts of Know Direction to staff and patrons in November, but the planned public announcements kept getting derailed. Hopefully we find another opportunity before Perram and company record the first Know Direction episode of the new era. Around the same time, we’ll be recording the first episode of Upshift, the Know Direction Network’s Essence20 news, previews, and interviews podcast. I’m looking forward to it, and to all of the Essence20 content 2022 promises to bring.
Speaking of content, here’s a recap of the content from last week at the Know Direction Network:
Recap of December 13th to December 17th
What happened last week on knowdirectionpodcast.com and twitch.tv/knowdirection?
Monday, December 13th
Article
Now You Know – PAX Withdrawal
By Ryan Costello
Perram and Rob’s PAX Unplugged adventures hit home harder than usual that it’s been a long time since I’ve been to a convention, or seen anyone from the network in person.
Tuesday, December 14th
Podcast
Digital Divination 045 – Preparing for High Level Play
With Intrepid Heroes about to record the first Devastation Ark session, John and Ron have 13th-level characters on their minds. They discuss the challenges and advantages of starting a Starfinder campaign at high level.
Article
Eldritch Excursion – Death, Denied
By Nate Wright
Nate weighs in on PC death and storytelling alternatives to saying good-bye to a beloved character.
Wednesday, December 15th
Twitch
Know Direction 265 Live – Hero Forge Spotlight
Teagan Morrison, CEO of Hero Forge, joined us to talk about the companies past, present, and future.
Podcast
Game Design Unboxed 26: Raccoon Tycoon
Raccoon Tycoon is more than just a catchy name. Glenn Drover, owner of Forbidden Games and designer of Raccoon Tycoon, shares how he designed a marketable game, and how he marketed a well designed game.
Article
More Lore: From Backstory to Campaign
By Scott D Young
You know how lately the MCU’s been a mishmash of genres, where street-level heroes reflect on fighting aliens, and the psychology of disappearing for 5 years gets explored often and from different angles? And you know how it’s easy to follow because we took the journey with those heroes?
That’s why Scott’s latest article really spoke to me. As a kitchen sink setting, you can create any backstory and still fit into Golarion. But Scott points out that a character who’s circled the drain of that kitchen sink has a blended experience of the world different from a local who never left home. It’s a clever article, with advice I’m going to implement in the future.
Thursday, December 16th
Podcast
Know Direction 265 – The Future and History of Hero Forge® with Teagan Morrison, CEO
I’m not sure why Teagan Morrison doesn’t do more interviews, we had an absolute blast talking to him both as longtime fans of Hero Forge, and as fellow gamers. Plus, he previewed some features coming to Hero Forge that haven’t been talked about publicly yet.
Article
Something Creates – A Special Weapon Trick
by Andrew Sturtevant
Speaking of the MCU (earlier), Andrew points out how lackluster Starfinders options are for archers. Who cares if it’s impractical, it’s a trope! Are you going to tell Chewbacca his bowcaster is impractical?
Friday, December 17th
Patreon
Patron’s Private Sanctum 34
The big topic Perram, Dustin, and I discussed is an idea I had last year for Know Direction Academy, a series of game design and game hobby skillcrafting classes hosted by members of the Know Direction Network. The idea got shelved pretty soon after I came up with it, but our Familiars who joined us live liked the idea.
Podcast
Intrepid Heroes 075 – Close Encounters
Someone on a sun hails the Intrepid crew.
Preview of December 20th to 24th
This is back to Block 2 of our 2-block schedule.
Monday, December 20th
Article
Now You Know – Holiday Hiat-ish
By Ryan Costello
Another title I’m quite happy with, thank you.
Tuesday, December 21st
Podcast
Legend Lore 038
Luis and Loren talk Pathfinder 2e. I’m 99% certain they’re not releasing an episode this week, actually. But I’ll keep the preview up in case they surprise me.
Article
Fox’s Cunning
By Dustin Knight
Dustin offers expert insight and helpful tools to enhance your game..
Wednesday, December 22nd
Twitch
Geek Together
Perram and I speculated that we’d record a painting evening, but my family delivers presents to a less fortunate family every year, and this year we chose the evening of the 22nd, so I’m probably not available.
Podcast
Presenting – Ivis K. Flanagan
John Godek talks with freelancer and author of Starfinder Society’s first holiday scenario – 4-12: A Festive Operation, which just released last week.
Article
Behind The Screens
By Ryan Costello
So I had an idea inspired by the latest 99% Invisible podcast, about how and why Slovenia developed three Santas. At one point, a new dictator didn’t want to promote the Christian saint version, but also knew there’d be backlash if he cancelled December gift-giving. Competing propaganda in a changing political climate lead to continued changes in tradition and lore around the holiday.
I thought an article about how the different gods might bride citizens of Golarion with their own versions of Santa might be fun. I’m undecided.
Thursday, December 23rd
Podcast
Valiant Episode 29
Our Valiant heroes continue to explore the Temple of the Whisperer. Or do they?
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. Or does he?
Friday, December 24th
Podcast
Geek Together
We’re all geeks. We should geek together. Or should we?
Now you know,
Ryan Costello
