Big Gay Nerds

BGN 300: (Shinobigami 3.3) Nov 12, 2024

For our three hundredth episode, we have almost three hours of intrigue and conflict both supernatural and interpersonal! There's almost too much to really summarize it, just rest assured that this really is one of our biggest, gayest, and nerdiest episodes yet. And this is coming from the person who ran MASKS, so the bar is pretty high. Content warning for character death, toxic gas, gun violence, explosives, sinking ship, paralyzation, surgical scars, cut throat, bodily control, rats, maybe some others this is a BIG episode and all these ninja are trying to kill each other. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

BGN 299: Ninja Fights and Frought Nights (Shinobigami 3.2) Oct 30, 2024

As the clandestine cruise gets underway, the ninja of the Shadow War begin to clash, with tenuous alliances and deadly rivalries forming in instants. Blood will be drawn, secrets will be revealed, and the phrase "platonically cucked" will be uttered. Listen, things take a turn, I don't really know how to explain it without context, you'll just have to listen. Content warning for body disposal, toxic gas, gun violence, and surveillance. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

BGN 298: Three's a Cruise (Shinobigami 3.1) Oct 21, 2024

We return to the Shadow War of modern Japan, where rival factions of ninja struggle for control of temporal and supernatural power. A symbol of both these things has fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous foreign businessman, and he wants to auction it to the highest bidder... on his personal cruise ship! Now, alongside countless criminals, mystics, and general-purpose freaks, our two familiar ninja rivals converge and cross paths with a third! That's right, Saturn's joining Genny and Jonix as Elly takes the helm once more! Set sail for INTRIGUE! Content warning for surveillance, references to stabbing and decapitation, and police. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

BGN 297: Evicted! (Masks Epilogue) Aug 28, 2024

Our Masks campaign may have reached its conclusion, but the stories of our four young heroes have only just begun! For this episode we're squarely in Freeform Mode as we explore the immediate and long-term futures of our cast. What kind of hero will Pate become with her newfound powers? Will Luka be able to have some normality? Which ties will Juno cut, and which will she cherish? Who's going to stop Pipa from recruiting every quirky robot they meet for a workplace sitcom? Where will any of them live if their landlords aren't cool with cop-punching for some reason? And can you believe it's been FOUR YEARS since we started this game??? Content warning for housing eviction, piercing weapons, and discussion of parental death. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 296: Back to Where It All Began (Masks 6.23) Aug 22, 2024

It's time for the final episode of Masks: a New Generation! At least for now. Just how big of a bang will it go out with? Will the New Wave become ascendant torch-bearers for superheroism or a bunch of vilified outlaws? What move will Agent Tan pull next? And what about that freaky robot? Forget all that, what the hell is a skrull? Listen on to find out, dear big gay nerds! Content warning for police and gun violence, stabbing, and melting humanoid figures. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 295: This Retirement Party's Getting Crazy! (Masks 6.22) Aug 08, 2024

The dust has barely begun to settle after the New Wave's averted implosion when their reaffirmed comradery is threatened by an outside force: AEGIS! Did you really expect this campaign to end without us picking another fight with the cops? In this thrilling throw-down of an episode, Pate flexes her timeskip development, Juno is a friend 'til the end, Pipa shows off yet another cool bike trick, and Luke crosses a point of no return. Content warning for threats of police and gun violence, helicopter near-crash, brief suicide reference. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 294: The Kids Aren't Alright (Masks 6.21) Aug 01, 2024

Now I know what you're wondering: is the title referencing the Offspring song, or the Fall Out Boy song? The answer is both, really. Unfortunately that's all I can say about this episode without spoiling things, but if you guessed you were in for some PVP you were right! Content warning for discussion of parental death, death threats, suicidal language, and multiple personalities. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 293: (Don't) Turn the Page (Masks 6.20) Jul 27, 2024

Well, things are looking pretty shaky over in Halcyon City. Juno is flickering on the edge of a meltdown and ready to go on the warpath, Pipa is struggling just to get back in the loop, Pate realizes just how many loose ends she has to tie, and Luke is... mostly okay, but confronting a lot about where his(?) principals have led him(?). But hey, don't worry, because Your New New Favorite Character is here to fill the Briar-shaped hole in your hearts. Content warning for discussion of parental death and vehicle crashes. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 292: Father, Brother, Mother (Masks 6.19) Jul 18, 2024

Hooboy, things sure are messy for our rookie heroes! Luke has blood(?) on his(?) hands for the first time, Pate has to deal with an overbearing patriarch she thought she'd left behind, Pipa is fighting for her life with her cyber-assassin sibling, and Juno... Juno's got a lot on her shoulders and there's about to be a LOT more. Listen on for one of the biggest twists in Masks! Content warning for sci-fi gun violence, fantastical dismemberment, paralyzing injury, building collapse, and discussion of parental death. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 291: Wedding Bells and Wrecking Balls (Masks 6.18) Jul 11, 2024

Things are getting increasingly dire with our split narrative! In Halcyon City, the confrontation of Lady Photon gets hairy as Le Chat enters the arena; can Juno prevent more harm than she causes, and just what does Pipa have up her sleeves? Meanwhile, Under the Hill, Pate devises a cunning plan to foil Prince Briar's wedding plans, and Luke is the key component; will it buy their freedom or just get them both in deeper trouble? It's a messy situation, and folks, it's going to end messier than our Masks campaign has ever been before. Content warning for imprisonment, arranged engagement, firearms, fantastical dismemberment and bodily destruction, building collapse, and character death. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 290: Maybe We Can Talk This Out? (Masks 6.17) Jul 04, 2024

In this episode, the New Wave's two couples find themselves in surprisingly similar situations despite being in other dimensions; both are facing down an antagonistic force in said force's home turf, and are doing their damnedest to Diplomacy and Deception their respective ways out of the problem. The difference is that Juno and Pipa are high-stakes urban exploring while Pate and Luke are getting Disney Princessed. Content warning for imprisonment and arranged engagement. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 289: Sucked Down to the Fae Realm (Masks 6.16) Jun 13, 2024

The party is more split than ever before, in terms of both geography and individual goals! Pipa and Juno find themselves inside AEGIS HQ yet again, but this time there's more to contend with than simple threats; what comes first, team loyalty or not wanting your girlfriend to get assassinated? Meanwhile, Luke and Pate find themselves in Prince Briar's domain and in his debt; can they tolerate his arrogant affections long enough to find a way back? Stakes and tensions are high on both sides of the veil! Content warning for coercion and arranged engagement. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 288: Crashing the Party (Masks 6.15) Jun 07, 2024

The chaos of Burnheart's Day comes to a head as Pate and Luke try to find a way to get out of all this without anyone getting thrown into superprison. Is Luke willing to put himself on the line for Luka's sake, and just how far will Pate go to protect her Love? And will Pipa answer her damn phone already?!? Content warning for state surveillance, arrest at gunpoint, and fantastical bodily destruction. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 287: Burnheart-to-Heart (Masks 6.14) May 30, 2024

As the Burnheart's Day Saga continues, Luke confronts Lady Photon about her origins and plans for the future while Pate stands guard, both keenly aware that they have stepped into a carefully-constructed trap... meanwhile, Pipa and Juno have some tasty street food! Content warning for state surveillance, discussion of transphobia Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 286: AND BURNHEART DAY'S TODAY! (Masks 6.13) May 23, 2024

Look, stuff like corporate partnerships, faerie curses, revolutionary praxis, and shadowy deals are important, I guess, but that's nothing compared to trying to have a nice date in your city's weird regional Valentine's Day variant! Which is what this episode is about. I'd blabber more but I wouldn't want to spoil all the romantic surprises, or the fact that Pate is goth now. Wait forget that last part. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 285: AND BURNHEART DAY'S TOMORROW! (Masks 6.12) May 14, 2024

As we jump from one out-of-date holiday season to another, it's time for some more Love Letters to see how everyone fares with their personal goals! Juno wins hearts and minds at the cost of her sanity, Pate does some research for one, Luke learns some more about Luka's role model, and Pipa makes a deal of the most devilish kind! Content warning for arranged marriage proposal. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

BGN 284: Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Briar (Masks 6.11) May 01, 2024

Hey look, our episodes have titles now! And that's not the only thing that's new: it's time to introduce your new favorite Masks character! He sucks really bad. Content warning for arranged marriage engagement. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds Sampler Packet 2024 Apr 24, 2024

If you wanted an easy way to pitch Big Gay Nerds to friends and/or family, we've got just the thing for you! Our founder/editor gives you an overview of what BGN is all about, and backs it up with two prime examples of the kind of stuff we get up to. Clips are taken from Big Gay Nerds Episodes 255 and 260. Content warning for brief drugging mention and alcohol.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 283 (Masks 6.10) Feb 29, 2024

Three big fights come to a head! Luke is doing his damnedest to foil his father-figure's assassination, but is Le Chat just too much robot catboy to handle? Meanwhile, Juno's on the scene with Pipa and Luca, but the situation's only going to get messier, especially for Pipa. And of course, what will happen when Pate finds herself locked in combat with someone who's just plain stronger than her? In this episode, things are going to change... Content warning for prisons, bullet wounds, urban collateral damage, bodily transformation, and execution imagery. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 282 (Masks 6.9) Feb 22, 2024

Things are poppin' off in many places at once as a solid 75% of the New Wave find themselves facing off against deadly adversaries! Pate has a close-quarters tangle with Bodach, for once unsure if she should stand her ground or try to get away; Pipa has to deal with Lady Photon's surprise attack, with Agent Tan as either an unexpected ally or a serious liability; and Luke must defend his jerk-ass adoptive dad from Le Chat, despite the fact that he's got an anti-speedster payload. Surely Juno will be able to help tip the scales... assuming she doesn't butt heads with another hero on the way over. But why would I even say that? Content warnings for brief suicidal ideation, gunfire and gun injury, and prisons. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 281 (Masks 6.8) Feb 15, 2024

Our plucky young heroes are about to enter some very high-stakes situations with some very suboptimal positioning. Juno cuts some boardroom deals, Luke argues with the man whose life he's trying to save, Pate gets some answers she didn't want, and Pipa finds herself in quite the pickle. Content warning for prisons, arrests, breaking glass, and sniper fire. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 280 (Masks 6.7) Feb 09, 2024

Everyone in New Wave has their own issues to deal with, whether it's evil parallel selves, constant threats to their autonomy, or a mysterious past that overlaps unexpectedly with an uncertain present. Now, they're going to have opportunities to resolve those issues... and to really screw themselves over with some of the worst rolls we've ever witnessed on this podcast! Content warning for mild transphobia Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 279 (Masks 6.6) Jan 26, 2024

Our young heroes have a lot to struggle with, whether it's their future selves, less-than-cooperative superheroes, concerned parental figures, or evil boys made out of cloud-stuff. Plenty happens in this episode but that's all I can think to say about it, so you've just gotta listen to learn more. Content warning for suffocation by gas Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 278 (Masks 6.5) Jan 19, 2024

Just because we're over halfway through January IRL doesn't mean we can't keep the Christmas content rolling! The New Wave should be preparing to spend the big day together, but unfortunately, they're superheroes. That means they have to deal with annoying hassles like foiling cloudy criminals, inventing sci-fi doodads, tracking down their evil future self, and dealing with unwanted fame. Content warning for suffocation by gas Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 277 (Masks 6.4) Jan 05, 2024

As the dust settles, sparks fly! Pipa may have put an end to Scratch's rampage, but her... question means have landed her soundly on Juno's bad side! How far will she go to try and make things right? Meanwhile, Luke is dedicated to giving his team some Christmas spirit no matter what violations of trust they may have endured/caused, and Pate tries to bring her Big Sis energy to bear. Will any of it be enough? Listen to find out! Content warning for urban destruction, discussion of bodily control, and memory alteration. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 276 (Masks 6.3) Dec 29, 2023

Folks, it's another episode where I really can't say much without spoiling everything, which in my book always means it's a real humdinger of an episode. As Mark Four continues to rampage, Pipa gets in place to enact her master plan, but she's not letting anyone else in on what that actually is... Content warning for urban destruction, industrial machinery, explosions, bodily control, and character death (kinda). Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 275 (Masks 6.2) Dec 22, 2023

Holiday preparations are disrupted when Ninelives Mark Four, also known as Scratch, makes landfall at Halcyon City! Pipa, naturally, has plans to take down her kaiju-sized older sibling, but it will be up to everyone else to make sure it doesn't flatten everything before that plan can be executed! How will our heroes fare against their biggest foe yet? Stay tuned! Content warning for urban destruction, civilian endangerment, and falling rubble. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 274 (Masks 6.1) Dec 15, 2023

Guess who's back for... a HOLIDAY SPECIAL? The rookie superheroes of Halcyon city still have loads on their plates--supervillains at large that may or may not be parallel versions of you, government agencies just waiting for you to slip up, rocky relationships and "will they won't they" dance numbers--but the stresses of the holiday season aren't going to hold back on that account! Also, do you hear something menacing in the distance? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 273 (Shinobigami 2.5) Dec 01, 2023

It all comes down to this! A three-way battle becomes a two-way battle, and that's when things get Interesting. Who's walking away with the prize... and who's walking away at all? Content warning for bodily control, hallucinations, toxic gas, hospitalization, decapitation, and the undead. The Watanabe Drive is a Shinobigami scenario by Chris Longhurst and can be downloaded here: https://potatocubed.itch.io/the-watanabe-drive Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 272 (Shinobigami 2.4) Nov 23, 2023

The final battle begins! After one of the NPCs--I won't spoil which--manages to secure both halves of the prize, the only thing to do is come together for one big ninja throwdown! Will Seiko and Jiro be able to work together long enough to take out the competition, even when said competition is a samurai biker and a witch who can summon giant skeletons? Content warning for hallucinations, decapitation, toxic gas, and bodily control. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 271 (Shinobigami 2.3) Nov 16, 2023

It's an episode chock-full of ninja combat as the NPCs strike back against our rival shinobi! A rooftop motorcycle duel, followed by a magical ambush of terrifying proportions! Will Jiro or Seiko be able to come out on top? Listen to find out! Content warning for falling from rooftops and the undead. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode 270 (Shinobigami 2.2) Nov 10, 2023

Our tale of supernatural intrigue continues as characters start uncovering each others' secrets and finally making moves to secure the prize of esoteric ninja lore for themselves. Motorcycles, garrote-whips, shadow crows, and stink bombs will fly as the cold war heats up! Also, unrelated to that, the podcast founder transed her dang gender. Content warning for stalking, poison gas, and explosives. Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 269 (Shinobigami 2.1) Oct 26, 2023

It's time to backflip back into the shadowy, mystical world of Shinobigami! Jiro and Seiko are unwittingly put back onto converging paths as they both investigate a black-market auction of ancient texts. But they aren't the only ones; two other ninja clans are represented by their own mysterious eccentrics, and as different parties start taking stock of their competition, it becomes apparent how quickly things might escalate... Content warning for discovery of a desiccated body, and captive animal death. Shinobigami is a game by Toichiro Kawashima and can be purchased here: shinobigami.com/ Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 268 (Strike Force Omega 1.6) Oct 17, 2023

In the aftermath of their daring and destructive liberation of Kronos, the strikers have some fleeting downtime; a chance to clean up after themselves, try and new look, and maybe even build some mutual trust. Then, with the mission fully wrapped up, we take the time to give some in-depth thoughts about this funky new system! A Backerkit campaign is up for Strike Force Omega's print run until 10/30/23 https://www.backerkit.com/c/chris-longhurst/strike-force-omega-print-run Music is "Raid" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 267 (Strike Force Omega 1.5) Oct 11, 2023

It's time for a boss fight! The strikers are one unethical scientist away from liberating Kronos, but it seems like he's a real piece of work; do they have what it takes to tackle a space warlock, especially when some of them are still limping after their last battle? Will even a trio of posthuman warriors find themselves outmatched when they're in a den of unholy magitech? Listen and find out in this nail-biting climax! Content warning for possession, body horror, mention of human experimentation, and some gore. Music is "Raid" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 266 (Strike Force Omega 1.4) Sep 29, 2023

There's gonna be a firefight! Things get heavy when our strikers have to deal with the Immortal Caesar's less-incompetent troops, and a sample of the destructive science his goons have been whipping up here on Kronos. With the group in a tighter spot and starting off less than pristine, this will have to be a dirty fight in all directions. Content warning for head trauma (kind of). Music is "Raid" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 265 (Strike Force Omega 1.3) Sep 19, 2023

With their foots firmly in Kronos's door, the strikers must plan their route through this city-sized space station full of weird science and armed occupiers. Will they be able to stealth their way through this one, or are just just too cool and powerful to go unnoticed? Contact explores some vents, Theo shows off his latest horrible power, and Quinn finds their true role as the party face. Content warning for binding and gagging a prisoner, and vomiting (kind of). Music is "Raid" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 264 (Strike Force Omega 1.2) Sep 14, 2023

Our trio of renegade Strikers begin their first capital-m Mission to liberate the Amarat system from the Immortal Caesar! They're headed to the research station Kronos, which has been turned into a den of unethical experimentation by the Caesar's personal R&D team; seems like it's time to shove some evil dorks into lockers! Stay tuned for a dive into SFO's combat rules, some fast-paced action, and several unauthorized celebrity cameos! Clock icons referenced were "Blades in the Dark Clocks" by Tim Denee. Content warning for extreme blood loss, military occupation of a civilian settlement, and armed hostage-taking. Music is "Raid" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 263 (Strike Force Omega 1.1) Aug 31, 2023

In the grim darkness of an unspecified future time, the Imperial Core gluts itself on conquest of the stars and exploitation of its own people. Out on the Fringe, people have to make due with what they have, but it's a damn sight better than being directly under the empire's heel. At least, that's what Quinn, Theovore, and Contact Zero-One--a trio of weird and mysterious badasses--seem to think. But when their adopted home system gets invaded, could their mysterious connections to the Core be just what's needed to keep that freedom? Content warnings for reference to medical dissection and human experimentation, undead, and armed violence (the latter will likely apply to most of this system). Strike Force Omega is a game by Chris Longhurst and can be bought here: https://potatocubed.itch.io/strike-force-omega The ship map/token I rambled about can be bought here: https://2minutetabletop.com/product/diver-class-scout-ship/ Music is "Raid" by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-l4yZGZRZc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 262 (Shinobigami 1.3) Aug 15, 2023

We've had stealth, seduction, secret plans upon secret plan, but now there's no more skirting around it: it's time for the climactic ninja battle to determine who's going home with the scary ancient dagger! Will it be the straight-laced Jiro, the free-spirited Seiko, or the mercenary Mina? There's no backing out, and any one of them might just be forced to use... *that technique*! Content warning for gunfire in a public establishment, bodily control, and stabbing. Shinobigami is a game by Toichiro Kawashima and can be purchased here: shinobigami.com/ Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 261 (Shinobigami 1.2) Aug 03, 2023

Having made their initial moves in the secret conflict over an ancient, maybe-divinely-magical dagger, our modern-day ninja set larger plans into motion. As the mercenary Mina attempts to cozy up with both of her opponents, Jiro and Seiko dig for dirt on each other... but what will they do with the information they find? Also, there's a high-tempo fight in an alley! Ooo! Content warning for combat with bladed weapons. Shinobigami is a game by Toichiro Kawashima and can be purchased here: shinobigami.com/ Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 260 (Shinobigami 1.1) Jul 27, 2023

It's time for intrigue, drama, and maybe a throwing star or two with Shinobigami! Elly inducts Owen and Jonix into a world of ninja warfare in the shadow of modern-day Japan as we get the hang of an RPG from overseas. Meet two very different ninja with one common goal: get their hands on a really cool knife. Shinobigami is a game by Toichiro Kawashima and can be purchased here: https://shinobigami.com/ Music is "Cyber_Noir" by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vtxrVyaHuc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 259 (The Creature Comes for Us 1.2) Jul 19, 2023

Well, the name of the game said a creature would come for us, so there wasn't any getting around it. It's one canal-city of rodent people against a giant, fiery, bioengineered relic of the past, with three underdogs poised to step in as heroes--tragic or otherwise. Will they beat the odds or be utterly destroyed? The answer... may surprise you! Content warnings for character death, burning, flooding, and the destruction of an urban center. The Creature Comes for Us is by Orion Barker and can be purchased here: orionqk.itch.io/creature Music is "Foreboding" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6wV9oPGxrM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 258 (The Creature Comes for Us 1.1) Jul 13, 2023

Owen, Jonix, and Elly gather 'round to play a GM-less game about procedurally building some people, their home, and a dangerous beast that threatens both! By grabbing onto seemingly disconnected concepts, we wind up with a post-apocalyptic canal city of technologically advanced rodents! What--or who--could possibly want to destroy their funny little society, and how could they possibly defend themselves? The answers to both lie in the cards... Content warning for discussion of urban flooding. The Creature Comes for Us is by Orion Barker and can be purchased here: https://orionqk.itch.io/creature Music is "Foreboding" by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6wV9oPGxrM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 257 (Masks 5.6) Jun 02, 2023

Even with their party split, the New Wave is collectively in a fraught situation! While Pate finds herself going from hero to victim while combatting the Crime Wave, her allies struggle to get an upper hand against Terashima Aiko as she leverages her grappling prowess! Can any of them come out on top, let alone looking good? Listen to find out! Content warning for tidal waves, armed hostage-taking, unconsciousness resulting from head trauma, and prosthesis removal. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 256 (Masks 5.5) May 25, 2023

The New Wave have put one of the longest and most stressful nights of their lives behind them, but the dust never truly settles in Halcyon City! Pate finds herself thrust into the deep end of the superheroism pool as she struggles to help the Immortal save the day; meanwhile, her friends face a much smaller-scale threat who threatens to punch above their weight class! Tune in for an action-packed episode! Content warning for tidal waves and armed hostage-taking. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 255 (Masks 5.4) May 10, 2023

In the wake of last episode's shocking end, three quarters of the New Wave make their way home with a lot on their minds. When Juno's foster-family reaches out, could it be a welcome boon, or a situation so socially awkward that your body just shuts down and dies? Listen on to find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 254 (Masks 5.3) Apr 26, 2023

Having escaped the clutches of one organization of authority figures, the New Wave must now make a desperate bid for the support of another one--the Exemplars, Halcyon City's preeminent superhero team! But before they even begin to explain themselves, they have to reach Exemplar headquarters without getting caught! Can they achieve either task? Will they split the party? And WHAT big twist is waiting for you at the very end? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 253 (Masks 5.2) Apr 19, 2023

Locked in a featureless room by shady authority figures, the New Wave decide that they're not going to stick around and find out what happens next! But can they escape without just getting themselves deeper in trouble? Listen on and find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 252 (Masks 5.1) Apr 13, 2023

The New Wave are back on Earth, but the worst of their troubles may not yet be behind them! The agents of A.E.G.I.S. are very curious about just what transpired up in that spaceship, and they don't seem to fond of our young heroes' independent streak. They may have fought themselves out of seemingly impossible odds, but can they talk themselves out of some pointed questions? Read on! Content warning for detainment by law enforcement. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 251 (Henshin! 1.4) Feb 08, 2023

As this block's capstone, we've got one satisfyingly self-contained episode as the Reading Rangers--yes, that's what they've been called the whole time--have their HQ shenanigans interrupted by an attack on Sylvan Beach's biggest attraction: the beach! As Rowan rushes in, Cy calculates a plan, and Jackie gets creative (for good or for ill), will they be able to withstand... THE SANDMAN? Content warning for immersion in sand. Music is "Kenkegi" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3GMGIO4fM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 250 (Henshin! 1.3) Jan 25, 2023

Our color-coded motorcyclists are really in it now! The egotistical Prince Harming, the giant Golden Goose, and even the bumbling Booklice are out in force, and Sylvan Beach's heroes... well, they're not quite as collected as they'd like to be. As Rowan gets in over his head, Cy struggles to win by using his head, and Jackie just does whatever pops into their head, will they manage to combine forces, or will the Evil Queen's minions get their way? Listen and find out! Content warning for brief mention of toppling buildings, threat of being crushed. Music is "Kenkegi" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3GMGIO4fM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 249 (Henshin! 1.2) Jan 16, 2023

It seems like a normal day at Sylvan Beach, where the only troubles are house arrest anklets, unrequited crushes, and noisy dirt bikes; however, true evil is about to rear its head once again, and three color-coded bikers will be there to step in! Time to join Rowan, Cy, and Jackie in their battle against evil... this story's just getting started! Content warning for kidnapping, dangerous driving, and vehicular peril. Music is "Kenkegi" by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3GMGIO4fM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 248 (Henshin! 1.1) Jan 12, 2023

Returning guest Elliot introduces us to Henshin!, a game about flashy but flawed heroes who fight monsters in color-coded and toyetic costumes! Listen as he, Owen, Elly, and Jonix lovingly cobble disparate themes together for their team, their team's enemies, and the unsuspecting town that they fight in. Who's ready to explore the magic of beloved childhood fables... ON MOTORCYCLES? Content warning for discussion of insects. Music is "Kenkegi" by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az3GMGIO4fM under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 247 (Pigsmoke 4.4) Jan 04, 2023

This episode is something of a training montage from the other side; as their plans move from one stage to another, the professors of Pigsmoke must arm their Chosen ward with whatever advantage they can offer. Divino gives a side-quest, Liam exposes a sinister mastermind, Simone gives some life advice, and Corvina unearths an unsettling secret. Content warning for government conspiracies and supernaturally copying someone's memories Music is Folk_Dance by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 246 (Pigsmoke 4.3) Dec 23, 2022

With a plan underway to set Chad on the path to heroism, Corvina--played by returning Big Gay Nerd Pixie--has to catch up as best she can, relying on her often-disheartening prognostication and her not-girlfriend Simone to identify the best course of action. Meanwhile, Divino seeks out an old acquaintance in an attempt to find the ultimate prize (cool sword), and Liam looks for a way to arm Chad with something even more important: knowledge (of cool sword)! Content warning for nonlethal impalement Music is Folk_Dance by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 245 (Pigsmoke 4.2) Dec 14, 2022

The Pigsmoke professors have turned their attention to Chad Blackwood, the Chosen One, and the fact that he doesn't seem to have been Chosen to do anything in particular. Extra-curricular heroism is in order, but what challenge can they throw at the lad without getting him hurt... or, more importantly, them in trouble? Simone's departmental pickle may be just the thing, but something's up between one of the key players and Divino, and meanwhile Liam's situation hasn't gotten any less complicated. Music is Folk_Dance by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 244 (Pigsmoke 4.1) Dec 07, 2022

After far too long we're back at the hallowed halls of Pigsmoke, America's premier place of arcane higher learning! As we get reacquainted with the setting, system, and story, we watch three of our magical professors just tryin' to get by: Simone Solomon and Liam Webb research their specialist topics with wildly varying degrees of success, while Divino Cristobal grapples with teaching after a recent... "lifestyle change," as it were. Content warning for implied ritual suicide resulting in undeath. Music is Folk_Dance by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 243 (Strike Down Vader 1.4) Dec 01, 2022

As our scruffy-looking protagonists flee the hospital, they find an unexpected stowaway in their camper van of a starship. Is she friend, foe, or some tantalizing middle ground? And whatever the answer to that may be, what does she want? Find out in the conclusion to our latest block! Music is Demise by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 242 (Strike Down Vader 1.3) Nov 16, 2022

Having plundered the tomb of General Grevious, our would-be assassins are bound for the Empire's overdeveloped nucleus: Coruscant! In order to find medical droids with first-hand knowledge of Vader's extensive augmentations, they'll need to seek out uneasy allies, traverse the social strata of a planet-city, and put themselves in some morally compromised positions. Will it pay off, or will the law catch them before they can even face their masked foe? Content warnings: "car" chases, mention of medical experimentation, explosives and violence in a hospital. Music is Demise by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 241 (Strike Down Vader 1.2) Nov 09, 2022

Our three would-be assassins have a long way to go before they can Strike Down Vader, and their first stop is the planet Utapau. This formerly contested planet is now firmly under Imperial control, but its governor may have a relic of the past that contains valuable information. Can the misfits talk their way in and out of one of the most secure locations on the planet, even if it means... hanging out with a self-important faux-intellectual colonialist asshole? Content warnings: racism towards fictional cultures, brief mind control, display of a dead body. Music is Demise by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 240 (Strike Down Vader 1.1) Nov 03, 2022

Five years before a new hope enters the galactic stage, three beings have gathered to accomplish an impossible task. They have no fated lineage, no higher ideals, no hope for a better future; the only thing driving them is the burning need to STRIKE DOWN VADER! Led by Jonix, we enter a new game set in the world of Star Wars and find out if three scruffy-looking misfits can somehow gain an upper hand over an evil cyborg space wizard. Contains one spoiler for the first half of Andor Season One. You can download Strike Down Vader here: https://wesdance.itch.io/strike-down-vader Music is Demise by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 239 (2400 1) Sep 24, 2022

It's not Beam Saber, it's not the Forget-Me-Nots, it's not even the same time and place; we're taking a one-shot detour to watch three Dragonteeth operatives heist their way through a orbital-elevator casino. Will the charming Sweetheart, the burly Hammer, and the chromed-out Shadow be able to get the goods and escape with their lives, and how does this connect to what's happening in our main campaign? We're about to find out, while playing the simple and engaging 2400 system by Jason Tucci! 2400 and The Venusian Job can be found here: https://jasontocci.itch.io/2400 Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 238 (Beam Saber 3.5) Sep 06, 2022

It's time for downtime again, and the Forget-Me-Nots are swimming in resources thanks to their new connections and flawless victory, TOTALLY not just because of a lucky roll. Gabrielle does her best to maintain her increasingly overtaxed mech, Pfeffer celebrates and takes a trip down memory lane, and Arabella keeps poking at the past... Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 237 (Beam Saber 3.4) Aug 30, 2022

Having made the most of a sloppy opening and taken out one of four mini-squads, the Forget-Me-Nots get stuck in! But even as the tide turns in their favor--with both Vicious ladies showing their teeth and Boss showing some tactical insight--can they take on a heavily-armed religious extremist who was once their former teammate's Rival? Listen on for thrills, chills, and spills! Content warning: the threat of a mech self-destructing, implied impalement Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 236 (Beam Saber 3.3) Aug 24, 2022

The Forget-Me-Not's first open combat mission (or rather, first intentional open combat mission) is off to a rocky start thanks to a bad engagement roll and an all-too-eager young ally. Can they salvage the situation and look good in the process? Pfeffer wrangles with his own upgrades, Arabella shows off her mech's wild side, and Gabrielle goes spearfishing. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 235 (Beam Saber 3.2) Aug 17, 2022

It's time for the Forget-Me-Nots to receive a new mission, and perhaps more importantly, meet the new boss... who DEFINITELY isn't same as the old boss! Tasked with completely (and stylishly) defeating a dangerous foe, how can they stack the deck in their favor to make sure it goes off with minimal hitches? Tune in to find out! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 234 (Beam Saber 3.1) Aug 12, 2022

After a month's hiatus we're BACK with more Beam Saber! In the wake of a mission that went disastrously awry (even considering that it was a trap to begin with), the Forget-Me-Nots find themselves temporarily furloughed. With extra time on their hands, a lot of emotions to process, and various in-game resources to cash in, this is going to be a significant downtime. Full disclosure, this episode's been tweaked a little more in post than usual, so you may notice an unusual cut or two, but it's all in the name of DRAMA! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 233 (Masks 4.9) Jun 21, 2022

This is it, the grand finale of the Gorox Arc! As if being trapped in a deadly space-arena mirror match wasn't bad enough, the New Wave now have to deal with their most powerful member seemingly losing control of her powers! Will Juno recover in time to spare her friends? Will Pate's brawn stand up against alien tech and cosmic forces? Will Luke be able to work alongside Lady Photon without being pulled into her agenda? Will Pipa be forced to hurt the person she cares about the most? Listen on and find out! Content warning for personality/mental agency shift, brief firearm violence Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 232 (Masks 4.8) Jun 16, 2022

It's here! Gorox the Vanquisher has summoned the New Wave for the climactic stage of their Hero Review, but it won't be the straightforward rematch they were expecting! Once again I have almost nothing to say that wouldn't give away the best bits, so let me be frustratingly vague: prepare for new and familiar faces, surprisingly easy victories and shockingly major setbacks, and at least one French accent! Content warning for personality/mental agency shift Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 231 (Masks 4.7) Jun 01, 2022

With their foes defeated--through very different methods--our heroes find themselves regrouping when one half's mentor meetup overlaps with the other half's emergency phone call. With some fresh cuts and a lot on their minds, will a helping hand from senior heroes be just what they need, or an embarrassing distraction? Also, a tangent that leads up to that time Superman saved Joseph Stalin's life. Content warning for some description of stab wounds (mostly on a synthetic person). Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 230 (Masks 4.6) May 25, 2022

When we last left our heroes, the split party was faced with a two-pronged attack sent by their extraterrestrial reviewer! Juno and Pate are up against a synthetic shape, but when their all-you-have-is-a-hammer approach to conflict proves fruitless, can they get inside the head of a Platonic solid? Meanwhile, Pipa and Luke's foe is much more is much more straightforward, but her bloodthristy fighting style may be too much for an injury-prone Brain and a punch-pulling Innocent! Can either duo come out on top, and at what cost? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 229 (Masks 4.5) May 18, 2022

The New Wave decides to prepare for Gorox's return by gearing up and splitting up, with Luke and Pipa street-testing new equipment while Juno and Pate look to elder heroes for advice. However, both duos soon learn that there's more peril to a Hero Review than the final confrontation... first, they'll have to face the cowed champions of far-flung worlds! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 228 (Masks 4.4) May 10, 2022

The freshly-named NEW WAVE are staring down the barrel of a hero review that could spell death, or at least interstellar embarrassment, if they don't get their act together; however, they've always struggled to train without heavy property and/or emotional damage. Will a little help from Asterion be just what they need, or are the vibes unsalvageable? Juno tries to play nice, Pate gets tactical, Pipa gets hands-on, and Luke makes it weird. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 227 (Masks 4.3) May 04, 2022

We're jumping back in post-cliffhanger! Pipa has been Taken Out by the extraterrestrial warlord Gorox the Vanquisher; what could possibly come next? Well there's next to nothing I can say about it that isn't a spoiler, so LISTEN AND FIND OUT, TRUE BELIEVERS! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 226 (Masks 4.2) Apr 28, 2022

Our heroes are all back in one place again, but after the events of our last block they're not very happy about it. Not even the allure of professional football in their literal backyard can ease the tension... but when the pigskin-tossing is interrupted by a formidable invader, bad vibes must be cast aside in the name of justice! Can a troubled and uncoordinated team stand a chance against... GOROX THE VANQUISHER? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 225 (Masks 4.1) Apr 21, 2022

We're back in the present day of Masks, and what a day it is! After the close calls and crossed lines of the last block, our young heroes have briefly parted ways to pursue their own goals. Luke tries out a new perspective with new presentation, Pate reaches out rather than lashing out, Pipa wrangles an overbearing ally, and Juno fights for her independence! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 224 (See Issue X 1.2) Apr 13, 2022

In the second half of our Scarlet Macaw continuity deep-dive, we see how his early life of vigilantism on Cathedral Street quickly escalated when his do-gooding earned him the wrath of an established criminal enterprise! When the mob's boss learns too much about his secret identity and starts hitting where it hurts, our hero will have to make some shadowy allies and learn what it means to truly embody his own ideals. To learn more... See Issue X! Note: Levi had some unexpected audio hardware problems that we were not fully aware of until after recording. I apologize for this oversight, and have done my best to make their funny and clever dialog more legible. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 223 (See Issue X 1.1) Apr 09, 2022

We're back in Halcyon City... WAY BACK! Because it's time to explore the early career of one Scarlet Macaw, our modern-day heroes' masked caseworker and collective father figure. In order to simulate the tangled narrative thread that only decades of serial publication can create, we're using Chris Longhurst's journaling game See Issue X! Listen in to find out how our tired gay dad first entered the life of costumed vigilantism! https://potatocubed.itch.io/see-issue-x Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 222 (Die Laughing 2.2) Mar 02, 2022

With the first act behind them, it seems as if our hapless heroes have no means of fending off the giant irradiated centipede... granted, punching it seems to work pretty well as a stopgap, but we need long-term solutions and not everyone is as ripped as Biff Jackson! Who, if anyone, can survive if the monster is allowed to rampage unchecked? Watch on to find out... if you dare! Also, just for the record, we didn't know the Stray Cats were an actual band when we recorded this. Content warning for character death and a brief hypothetical gag about infants and pesticides. Music is Spook5 by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySANjE2HEfc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 221 (Die Laughing 2.1) Feb 23, 2022

It's The Revenge of Die Laughing! Elliot returns with Saturn, Levi, Owen, and Sara to explore a new side of horror-comedy: the kind that isn't intentionally comedic but was made on a shoestring budget in 1953 and is thus the funniest thing imaginable. When a giant irradiated insect stalks down the main street of a small town, can a gaggle of townsfolk band together and survive? Or will they just scream at the camera as an unconvincing prop looms over them? Music is Spook5 by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySANjE2HEfc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 220 (Beam Saber 2.10) Feb 17, 2022

With their latest mission gone horribly south and resolved as well as they can hope for, the Forget-Me-Nots prepare to cut their losses and live to negotiate another day. However, one of their number has had a change of plans: Giuseppe "Golden Boy" Finch, having met a mysterious woman with a shocking amount in common with him, seems to have a chance at knowledge and revenge that simply climbing the ladder at Royal Blue could not afford him. Will he follow through with this plan, and will he survive to do it? And can his still-loyal squad mates do anything to change what happens next? Find out in the thrilling conclusion to this block of Beam Saber with the Big Gay Nerds! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 219 (Beam Saber 2.9) Feb 10, 2022

With the situation at the Ironbreaker Mechforge reaching a volatile head, the Forget-Me-Nots must pull out all the stops to get out alive, let alone succeed in their mission! Will getting messy pay off, or just get them in deeper trouble? Arabella makes a big distraction, Gabrielle goes for the throat, Pfeffer plays his trump card, and Guiseppe... has a talk and makes a decision. Content warning for gun violence, digit loss, and a large explosion. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 218 (Beam Saber 2.8) Feb 03, 2022

As the Forget-Me-Nots once again find their party split and the circumstances desperate, only quick thinking can save the day. Incidentally, remember that time Pfeffer managed to fast-talk his way past a whole squad of mechs? Good times, good times. Not mentioning this for any reason, just... nostalgic. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 217 (Beam Saber 2.7) Jan 27, 2022

With pre-mission prep behind them, the Forget-Me-Nots must choose a plan of "attack" for their diplomatic mission with a potentially dangerous and duplicitous labor strike. As they deploy, once again splitting the party, it quickly becomes apparent that a risky situation is even more so than expected. In the process, we get a pretty good example of how just a handful of rolls and a few points of Stress can really define a mission in Forged in the Dark games. Hope that's ominous enough for ya! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 216 (Beam Saber 2.6) Dec 23, 2021

The Forget-Me-Nots have a new mission... and it's a delicate one! A labor strike has struck at the chief Tychonian mech factory, and they seem more focused on arming themselves than negotiating terms. Will our robot-riding diplomats be able to diffuse the situation? Maybe if their do their homework! Pfeffer and Arabella both meet up with old acquaintances (with varying results), Gabrielle goes snooping as usual, and Guiseppe does some tactical bar-diving. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 215 (Beam Saber 2.5) Dec 17, 2021

With their mission completed, our newly Tier One heroes return home to recuperate and make the most of their time. However, they'll soon learn that their victory has earned them more trouble than expected, and the threat of retaliation now hangs over the Humboldt estate... Meanwhile, Arabella rolls up her sleeves, Gabrielle gets a hand, Giuseppe turns on the charm, and Pfeffer buys dinner. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 214 (Beam Saber 2.4) Dec 09, 2021

The orbital auction reaches its second, extra-juicy half as the Forget-Me-Nots find themselves in a tight spot, with half their members in a perilous (but lucrative) situation and a quarter of their members getting actively whaled on. But they have money in the bank and an idea of where to put it... the question is, can they outsmart their competition without breaking the bank or missing golden opportunities? Find out in the conclusion to our latest Beam Saber mission! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 213 (Die Laughing 1.2) Dec 01, 2021

It's the second half of our holiday-travel-horror special, and things are not going well for this gaggle of hapless victims! No one's died just yet, but guards are low and Brian's goals are still unknown. What will happen when an actual confrontation comes? Will Derek's paternal drive, Harold's second sight, Albie's off-kilter genius, and Beef's... (checks notes) heart, I guess, be enough to save any one of them? Or will these qualities only make their deaths more darkly comical? Content warning for violence with sharp objects and identity death. Music is Spook5 by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySANjE2HEfc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 212 (Die Laughing 1.1) Nov 24, 2021

As a delayed holiday special that still turned out to be seasonal, it's time to DIE LAUGHING with Saturn, Levi, Pixie... and our special guest star, Elliot! Listen as they concoct four doomed oddballs, stranded in a crowded airport with a malicious force known only as BRIAN. Who will live, who will die, and just how funny will it be when they die? Content warning for a scene containing human viscera Music is Spook5 by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySANjE2HEfc under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 211 (Beam Saber 2.3) Oct 28, 2021

Things heat up in the orbital auction as more high-tech surplus is put up for grabs and the competition becomes increasingly personal. Gabrielle mingles with some new faces (and one uncomfortably familiar one), Pfeffer draws aggro, Arabella falls in love with danger, and Guiseppe does some high-stakes flirting. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 210 (Beam Saber 2.2) Oct 20, 2021

On their latest mission, the Forget-Me-Nots are sent into high orbit, where battles are fought not with giant robots, but with giant bank accounts! Can they bring home glamorous prizes from this ADVERSE auction without breaking their budget, and will the other attendees give them valuable information, or just grief? Listen to find out! Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 209 (Beam Saber 2.1) Oct 06, 2021

We're jumping back into Beam Saber exactly where we left off, as the Forget-Me-Nots recuperate from their messy last mission and see what they can do with the spoils of cold war. Featuring: an employee performance review, the difficulties of finding a good mechanic, a jetsetting doctor, even more deep cuts, and a whole lot of awkward talks with hostages. Also featuring occasional cicada sounds, because when Brood X is outside your window there's only so much you can edit. Content warning for a minor in captivity. Music is TaishoRoman_Battle by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-LuS7oVHY under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 208 (Masks 3.6) Aug 26, 2021

After a rough fight with an awkward resolution, our heroes need to step up their game, and what better way to do that than some old-fashioned training? However, some friendly sparring could turn unfriendly in a hurry when the heat of mock battle brings out some repressed feelings. The team has survived many challenges, but can it survive infighting? Tune in and find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 207 (Masks 3.5) Aug 18, 2021

As the team's second mall throwdown continues, they quickly realize that they could be in over their heads. Luke leaps into peril, Pipa pulls off an awkward rescue, Pate looks for common ground, and Juno tries out some new moves. Will their wits and tenacity be enough, and what state will the mall be in when they're done? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 206 (Masks 3.4) Aug 10, 2021

A supervillain threatens the nearby, shockingly-alive mall, and they're a lot more of a threat than the Alternatives were! How will our heroes respond--especially since one of them is on the clock at her civilian job when it happens? Tune in to find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 205 (Masks 3.3) Jul 28, 2021

It's time to find out just how much trouble our heroes can get up to while separated! How will they fare without the power of Friendship to save their terrible rolls? Luke goes looking for answers, Juno and Pipa escalate their situation, and Pate learns the hurdles of office life. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 204 (Masks 3.2) Jul 23, 2021

As the dust of their latest brush with high-concept miscreancy settles, our heroes set about their own personal agendas. Juno and Pipa join forces, as the former abides by her corporate caretakers' wishes to distract from the latter's unsanctioned investigations. Meanwhile, Pate is... what IS Pate doing, and why's she being so secretive about it? Find out in this big new episode! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 203 (Masks 3.1) Jul 01, 2021

And we're back, with our still-unnamed team of superheroic young adults! Turns out they've been up to some things while we haven't been looking, and I know catching up on canon can be a real hassle for some people, but let's see if we can't smooth out the process! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 202 (Dueling Fops of Vindamere 1.3) Jun 23, 2021

The calendar is ticking down until the big fencing tournament, and our fops have to make sure they're as prepared as possible to gain glory for themselves and their respective schools... but there are always more important things to focus on, like mysterious love letters and drunken confrontations! Who will come out on top? Who will have their life destroyed by heartbreak and overpriced gin? Who's to say you can't do both at once? It's all game in the big finale! Music is Tea Party by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ32CPa_KZ4 under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 201 (Dueling Fops of Vindamere 1.2) Jun 16, 2021

We return to our quartet of rival foppish duelists to see how they handle themselves in more... random circumstances. What shall they do when, say, the proletariat gets sick of them? Or when their inadvisable love affairs don't play out nice and tidy? Listen on for tales of daring deeds, opportunistic mischief, and getting lucky in some private corner of the Tyrant's estate! Music is Tea Party by Peritune www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ32CPa_KZ4 under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 200 (Dueling Fops of Vindamere 1.1) Jun 04, 2021

It's a BGN Bicentennial! For our 200th episode, friend of the show (and of the RPG world at large) Greg Stolze has provided us with an exclusive advance (and we mean ADVANCE) copy of his newest game! Watch as we roll up a handful of sword-wielding nobs and set them loose upon high society and each other. Music is Tea Party by Peritune https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ32CPa_KZ4 under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 199 (Cage of Sand 2.7) May 18, 2021

Armed with an awareness of the time loop and the vaguest sense of what's causing it, July the undertaker has one last shot at saving the town of Bitter Branch from endlessly recurring destruction! But can she overcome the conflicting interests of its heterogeneous townsfolk, let alone the dangerous forces behind this vicious cycle? And just what would breaking the cycle mean? There's only one place to find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 198 (Cage of Sand 2.6) May 12, 2021

Things heat up as July becomes more aware of the time loop! But what extreme measures will she have to take to uncover the murderous mystery at the loop's core, and how much progress can she make before everyone dies yet again? Listen on to find out! Content warning for more corpses, body horror, and desecration of a grave.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 197 (Cage of Sand 2.5) May 05, 2021

As July the undertaker enters her fourth consecutive loop of murder and mystery, she's finally gained enough awareness to tell that things ARE repeating... but will that be enough to save her friends, loved ones, and unfriendly acquaintances from a terrible fate? Could ignorance be better if there's no way to change things? Content warning: more dead bodies, but not nearly as gruesome this time.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 196 (Cage of Sand 2.4) Apr 21, 2021

As we enter our third loop, things are looking up for a lot of people in Bitter Branch! July's relationship with Nim has taken a new step, the community's pillars seem as stable as ever, and even Donny Brook is doing well for himself. Then the killing starts, again, and this time the cause is both hauntingly clear and chillingly strange... Content warning for more description of bodies.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 195 (Cage of Sand 2.3) Apr 13, 2021

Now that we've done one round of murder and mystery in the town of Bitter Branch, it's time to reset the clock and see how things play out... spoiler alert, it's more murder and mystery. This time, the murders are a little more mysterious... Content warning for ritual murder scenes (as in the scenes of prior murders, not scenes depicting murder) and some indirect body horror.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 194 (Cage of Sand 2.2) Apr 08, 2021

As July the undertaker's day begins, she's surrounded by familiar people, places, and things... but something sinister is about to begin. Let's see what the cards have in store for this desert-planet town, and our hapless avatar, as we draw from the deck and see where some ancient imagery takes us! Spoiler warning: one place it takes us is the impact of industrial capitalism on rural communities and geographies. Content warning for discussion of partially mutilated bodies.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 193 (Cage of Sand 2.1) Mar 31, 2021

We're playing Cage of Sand, but... it's so familiar, as if we've done this before... Oh well! In this loop, we're following the local undertaker of a down-on-its-luck frontier town. In space! But they're not the only unique character here, because the cards have laid out an entire colorful cast for us, including a corporate benefactor, a grave-digging robot, and one very moist boy.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 192 (Masks 2.6) Mar 12, 2021

Luke and Pate have found some modern entertainment they should both enjoy: two dudes slamming each other around! But will their date go smoothly when Luke's past resurfaces in unexpected ways, and will Pate's brash approach to everything help or hinder their relationship? Meanwhile, Pipa and Juno have to confront the consequences of their actions... some more recent than others. Can either of them open up about what's really important? Find out in this conclusion to the latest arc of Masks! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 191 (Masks 2.5) Mar 03, 2021

Danger often strikes when it is least expected... and where it is least wanted. Our heroes are awoken by an intruder in their own headquarters; who or what could it be, why is it here, and are they prepared to deal with it? Pate does what she does best, Juno tries something new and dangerous, Luke runs to the rescue, and Pipa makes... some decisions. The Beam Saber bundle mentioned in our intro can be found here, for the next month: https://itch.io/b/799/beam-saber-supply-drop-bundle Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 190 (Masks 2.4) Feb 24, 2021

In the aftermath of the Burnheart Memorial Festival battle, our team of young misfits are left to grapple with some complicated feelings. Pipa reclaims assets from "his" sordid past, Juno opens her heart to a loved one, and Luke and Pate look for advice about... each other. Also featuring a series of increasingly obscure references ranging from electromagnetic shielding technology to New Hampshire urban landscapes. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 189 (Masks 2.3) Feb 17, 2021

The battle for the Burnheart Memorial Festival rages on between our young heroes and Lady Photon! As Photon Boy struggles to find common ground with his future self, Pipa runs his mouth, Starcross tries to do the right thing, and Pate keeps punching above her weight! Will they be able to stop this antihero rampage and, more importantly, have the time to feel a little holiday spirit? Listen on and find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 188 (Masks 2.2) Feb 10, 2021

It's a shockingly well-timed Big Gay Nerds Valentine's Day Special! In Halcyon City, they celebrate in a slightly different way--having a street fair to memorialize a redeemed supervillain--but that's no reason for our young heroes to not spend it enjoying themselves and spreading love! No, the reason they can't do that is because Lady Photon is in town and undoubtedly hatching some deadly plot. Can the gang save the holiday, or will hearts (and worse) get broken? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 187 (Masks 2.1) Jan 27, 2021

Our young heroes return, only to face the most frightening foe this roleplaying system has to offer: the opinions of others! Can the team survive getting fashioned police? Who will stand their ground, and who will try to reinvent themselves? And how will their complete lack of budget effect this? Listen on to find out! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 186 (Under Hollow Hills 1.5) Jan 20, 2021

It's time for these circus performers to finally do some performing! But what sorts of acts will entertain an entire market of goblins and other faeries? Along the way we'll get to swing the spotlight towards some other members of the troupe, make and then correct some rules fumbles, experience the highs and lows of PbtA-style dice rolls, and bring everything to a finale that literally none of us saw coming.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 185 (Under Hollow Hills 1.4) Jan 13, 2021

The big, noisy mess of the Goblin Market gets even more complicated as our performers meet more of its denizens. Peer Moontide comes on strong to a totally normal faerie woman while Sinead and Scurvy continue to squabble, but these matters fall to the wayside when all three find themselves on the wrong side of the Market's laws... Will the show be able to go on with all of these challenges thrown at its stars?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 184 (Under Hollow Hills 1.3) Jan 06, 2021

After their somewhat awkward arrival, the Circus's star performers have set about trying to understand their market venue better. Just what kind of show will be a hit with goblin merchants and their myriad customers? Peer Moontide makes an unexpected enemy, Scurvy stumbles into a heated dispute, and Sinead discovers something precious.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 183 (Under Hollow Hills 1.2) Dec 29, 2020

It's time to get properly acquainted with our performers and their Arcadian venue! The circus has been summoned to perform for royalty, but a bustling marketplace full of goblins isn't quite the same as a king's court. Listen on as Peer Moontide has a near-death experience with criticism, Sinead makes himself useful and law-abiding, and Scurvy turns her supernatural talents towards marketing. You can support Under Hollow Hills' creators and get access to the 2020 prerelease document here: https://www.patreon.com/lumpley/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 182 (Under Hollow Hills 1.1) Dec 16, 2020

The capricious, immortal denizens of Faerie love entertainment as much as the next person--perhaps even more than the next person--and when there are no hapless mortals to prank and/or kidnap, how can they stave off boredom? By attending the travelling circus, of course! It's time to assemble a troupe of performers to tour Under Hollow Hills, and they're bound to be unique, even by Faerie's eccentric standards... Under Hollow Hills can be found here: https://lumpley.games/under-hollow-hills-about-the-game/ Our intro and outro music is from Aesop Rock's The Blob.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 181 (Cage of Sand 1) Dec 10, 2020

Greetings, travelers! You're just in time for Hallowe--what? Oh. Well, delayed editing aside, prepare for a chilling tale of an underdog in an underground kingdom, a royal heir locked in their tower, and a bloody tragedy that enacts itself again and again... all told through the power of the tarot and collaborative storytelling! Cage of Sand is by Luciella Elisabeth Scarlett and can be purchased here: https://luciellaes.itch.io/cage-of-sand Cards were provided by this program: https://orphalese.net/ Our intro and outro music is by Aesop Rock's beat collection The Blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 180 (Beam Saber 1.7) Dec 02, 2020

Our second mission comes to a close in a flurry of bullets, blades, and bullshitting, with the dice swinging in all directions to make things as chaotic as possible! Boss doubles down on a shaky strategy, Red lets her instincts take the wheel and vice versa, Golden Boy utilizes the synergy of Web 2.0, and Stiletto gets stuck in.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 179 (Beam Saber 1.6) Nov 25, 2020

Things kick off in the Forget-Me-Nots' second mission when Boss's genius plan to split the party somehow complicates things! Both halves of the squad are now face-to-face with ADVERSE/PR0XY mechs while they try to transport precious cargo. Can they talk and/or fight their respective ways out of this one? Listen to find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 178 (Beam Saber 1.5) Nov 11, 2020

The Forget-Me-Nots have a new job on their hands, and while it's not as immediately dire as a hostage situation, the chain of command has put them out of their element: escorting a team of scientists and their confidential experiment away from a potential ambush. This is complicated by the fact that 1. the scientists don't like the FMNs because they want their experimental dog-mech, 2. the ambushers are teenage mercenaries from Stiletto's alma mater, and 3. this is all happening adjacent to some very fragile marine animals. Will a little advance planning be enough for whatever their enemies (and allies) have in mind?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 177 (Beam Saber 1.4) Nov 04, 2020

Having successfully completed their mission--though not quite the way they were supposed to--the Forget-Me-Nots retire to the Humboldt Estate to lick their wounds, look into personal affairs, and prepare for their next assignment. For some reason or other, a solid 33% of this involves trying to employ a furry doctor with a secret history of homicide. Listen on to find out what the hell I'm talking about!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 176 (Beam Saber 1.3) Oct 28, 2020

As the Forget-Me-Nots' hostage negotiation with the Honeybee pirates progresses, complications begin to arise. Boss keeps pressure on their leader while Golden Boy and Stiletto attempt to mingle with the crew, and meanwhile Red finds herself in a game of cat (or, more appropriately, dog) and mouse. The only thing that could make things more tense would be if a deadly rival from someone's past were to arrive, but luckily that's impossible.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 175 (Beam Saber 1.2) Oct 21, 2020

The Forget-Me-Nots have been assigned their first mission, and it's a tense one! A squad of Royal Blue pilots have been taken captive by Dragonteeth pirates, and it will take trained diplomats to secure their safe release! Of course, if diplomacy doesn't work... we DO have giant robots. Can this fresh team negotiate with what little leverage they have, and is there more to this situation than meets the eye?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 174 (Beam Saber 1.1) Oct 14, 2020

Almost two thousand years after the Resurrectionists pulled off their final score, a new collection of misfits with tragic pasts gather... That's right: we're playing a sequel to our Blades in the Dark campaign, with a system that builds on BitD by adding giant robots to it! Can a squad of spies and diplomats employed by an embattled monarchy make a difference in the War, or at least reach their own disparate goals? More importantly, can they settle on a name? We know it's a big timeskip, so here's a handy setting guide by our beloved Saturn: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pmQ2YqTi-Hwzol25LR0jTmYtcx7fRaVsjbbSrSzwytI/edit Beam Saber is a game by Austin Ramsay and can be bought here: https://austin-ramsay.itch.io/beamsaber Intro/outro music from Aesop Rock's The Blob

Big Gay Nerds Listening Guide (October 2020) Oct 06, 2020

Big Gay Nerds has been recording actual-play episodes for almost four years(!), and because we jump between systems so often, it can be hard to know where to start or where to go next. So, we've put together a short guide to summarize our whole deal and point you towards some of our biggest and most popular campaigns! Also, here are a few links to places where you can support us, chat with us, and generally see what we're up to: Patreon: https://patreon.com/biggaynerds Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/biggaynerds Discord: https://discordapp.com/invite/2UQfrRH Twitter: https://twitter.com/biggaynerdscast Tumblr: https://biggaynerds.tumblr.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/biggaynerdspodcast/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 173 (Masks 1.6) Oct 02, 2020

Despite a technical error that silenced one of our players, I have done my best to bring you this annotated conclusion to our first Masks block. The young heroes, deciding that there are fates worse than death, set out to ask the Fringe Fighters for sponsorship... but their commute is cut short by subterranean villainy! Luke makes good use of teamwork, Pipa lends a hand or two, Pate tries to use her muscles peacefully, and Juno does some helpful new tricks! Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 172 (Masks 1.5) Sep 23, 2020

While hunting for someone to sponsor their team, Juno and Pipa find some more experienced heroes who want to give the next generation a leg up. But when this sweet deal proves laden with awkwardness, could that outweigh all the upsides? Also: Pate learns about hot dogs, Luke wants to meet some dads, Pipa calls the shots, Juno makes a call, and my cultural references get increasingly niche. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 171 (Masks 1.4) Sep 16, 2020

After a big day of mall brawls and super-finger-wagging, our young heroes must focus on other matters. For Pate and Luke, that means mandatory counseling sessions for the temporally displaced; for Juno and Pipa, it means hemming and hawing over their job search. Featuring: a tour of two very different Halcyon City neighborhoods, anglophobia, a moment of vulnerability, a brief architecture lesson, and creepin'. Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 170 (Masks 1.3) Sep 09, 2020

After busting some criminals, our young heroes have themselves been busted for busting up an otherwise thriving and profitable shopping mall! When faced with judgement by the Exemplars--the biggest-deal heroes in Halcyon--will they make good impressions or just make the situation worse? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 169 (Masks 1.2) Sep 02, 2020

Our Masks campaign kicks off in the most bustling, vibrant part of any American city: the shopping mall! When our young heroes are witness to a crime, of course they'll spring into action... but could a simple robbery by some punks prove to be more of a challenge than they expect? Music by Perennial Sounds LLC

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 168 (Masks 1.1) Aug 28, 2020

Here we go! It's a campaign years in the making with Masks: a New Generation! Join Owen, Levi, Saturn, Sara, and Jo as they dive into a world of superheroics and young-adult drama! Meet a brash Celtic warrior, a super-charged corporate orphan, an antihero's past self, and a genius robot catboy. Together, can they become Halycon City's new champions, or at least well-adjusted adults? Featuring new music by Perennial Sounds LLC: http://perennialsounds.com/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 167 (Sports are Just Numerology) Aug 19, 2020

Out of all the competitors in the long and sometimes messy history of Giant Robot Derby League, Princess Catamount of the Royal Standard and Alpha of the Chrome Crushers may not have the most impressive statistics... but the story those numbers tell is one worth hearing. Join Owen and Sara in this GM-less, non-linear, conversation-based game about athletes, relationships, and numbers! Sports are Just Numerology is written by Ben Roswell and can be found here: https://roswellian.itch.io/sports-are-just-numerology

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 166 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 7) Jul 30, 2020

It all comes down to this. The Resurrectionists have one of the two things they came for, but can they find closure and still escape the Heavensent? It's time to say goodbye. Visual aid: https://imgur.com/a/ZdxGDGP Our intro and outro music is sampled from Aesop Rock's The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 165 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 6) Jul 22, 2020

As we hurtle towards the climax of the Resurrectionists' final, sea-train-based heist, the situation escalates rapidly and our antiheroes have to think fast! But even when their goals are tantalizingly in reach, changes and revelations--both internal and external--threaten to shift priorities! What happens when you become something else to get what you want?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 164 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 5) Jul 15, 2020

Having uncovered a secret that only raises more questions, the Resurrectionists get to work, grilling suspects and consolidating allies. I can't really say much more for fear of spoilers, except that at one point I make what may be the inverse of a Freudian slip.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 163 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 4) Jul 01, 2020

After their first day on the Heavensent ended in a shocking revelation, the Resurrectionists stop to get their bearings and finally grill the Azure Rose for everything it knows about the Sun Shard and the man who so desperately wants it. After that, things quickly escalate as this train mystery is graced by the one element it was missing: MURDER! Ira steals valor, Blondie steals a full-grown man, Flint reconnects with an acquaintance, and Thalia just goes from one shocking revelation to the next!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 162 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 3) Jun 24, 2020

Wooee, it's one of those LONG episodes! There's a little too much to sum up here, but for the sake of tantalizing: Blondie lives out the true tourist experience, Ira has a date, Flint snoops his way into a surprise, and Thalia sticks her spectral nose where it doesn't belong. Visual aid: https://imgur.com/a/ZdxGDGP

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 161 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 2) Jun 16, 2020

As we settle into the train heist's unique system of time management, the gang starts sinking their teeth into the mission. With two targets, likely disguised and/or hidden, what's the best way to find them (let alone secure them) in three days? Ira and Thalia chat up NPCs while Blondie and Flint get up to some sneaky business. Visual aid: https://imgur.com/a/ZdxGDGP

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 160 (Blades in the Dark FINAL SCORE: Part 1) Jun 09, 2020

All aboard the Resurrectionists' last score! Once a month, the double-decked locomotive known as the Heavensent takes a three-day journey from Doskvol to Grand Tycheria, crossing over the inky sea. This month, Adelaide Phroaig hopes to clandestinely flee the city, escaping both Imperial assassins and her double-crossed allies, the Resurrectionists. Presumably, she is taking the mysterious Sun Shard--the source of so much infamy--with her. Our antiheroes must use the next three days to find the noblewoman and her treasure if they want any hope of retiring with peace of mind, but will they throw away their lives in the process? It's the beginning of the end, and it starts with a goodbye. The referenced visual aid can be seen here: https://imgur.com/YyIbxTA

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 159 (Blades in the Dark 5.9) Jun 03, 2020

With their last big score--infiltrating an sea train in search of revenge and some kind of magic stone--looming in front of them, the Resurrectionists consolidate what resources they have in preparation. Blondie sticks to what he knows, Flint makes some prosperous gambles, Ira seeks creature comforts, and Thalia looks after her husband. At the back of everyone's minds: will it be enough?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 158 (Blades in the Dark 5.8) May 27, 2020

With the action of their rescue mission having rapidly escalated, the Resurrectionists have to act fast to get their man and get out before this becomes another fight to the death. Can Blondie use his brawn smarter, not harder? Can Shade resist using her scary ghost power? Can Silver really talk their way out of anything? And can Flint use all of this to find out what's up with Sweet Winter?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 157 (Blades in the Dark 5.7) May 20, 2020

Amidst everything else, Thalia's husband has gone missing under (cough cough) mysterious circumstances, and only the demonic Blue Rose knows where he is. Of course, its knowledge isn't free. Paying off the Resurrectionists' supernatural informant means saving an unexpected figure from Flint's past, and THAT means the crew has a whole lot of scheming to do. (Apologies for some brief audio trouble near the start; Fern has had to switch his recording equipment.)

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 156 (Blades in the Dark 5.6) May 13, 2020

With one of their most harrowing scores behind them, the Resurrectionists have some time to breathe. However, none of them can afford to take their eyes off of their next big goal: revenge and, if they're very lucky, getting an Imperial enemy off of their backs. When the stakes are this high, can they resist the Blue Rose's offers? Blondie has a heart-to-heart while getting stitched up, Ira keeps making new friends, Flint struggles to find class solidarity, and Arden has a reunion.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 155 (Blades in the Dark 5.5) May 06, 2020

No time for introductions; this episode starts with the coldest open in the podcast so far! Our scrappy antiheroes have always punched above their weight, but now that they know just who wants them dead and who's on their payroll, their chances of survival seem lower than ever! Will they escape this death trap, and if so, at what cost? Find out in this thrilling and chilling episode of Big Gay Nerds! Content warning for gore.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 154 (Blades in the Dark 5.4) Apr 29, 2020

We pick up from our last horrifying cliffhanger to find the Resurrectionists in one of their tensest and most mysterious situations to date! Trapped in a fineries shop with a corpse, at least one killer, and some strangely cagey employees, their goals quickly shift from revenge and profit to survival and escape! Ira tries to keep the peace, Arden and Blondie go hunting, and Flint pulls some tactical slight-of-hand. Content warning: some gore, a hostage situation.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 153 (Blades in the Dark 5.3) Apr 22, 2020

Last time, the Resurrectionists discovered that they had been double-crossed by their oldest ally! Now they're out to take revenge the only way they know: robbing the upper-middle-class quasi-Victorian equivalent of a Burlington Coat Factory. Things start off smooth, with thorough information gathering and the return of Arden "the Pebble", the gang's long-incapacitated Lurk! However, there might be more sinister going on here... Content warning: depiction of an elderly person exhibiting memory loss and delirium, brief gore.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 152 (Blades in the Dark 5.2) Apr 08, 2020

After defending their turf, the Resurrectionists are left with bolstered resources, a mysterious hostage, and, in one case, lasting psychological damage! It's time for them to lick their wounds and take stock of what's on their plates; in other words, classic downtime activities! Content warning: Interrogation of a captive.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 151 Apr 01, 2020

It's April 1st, and while everyone else is joking around, we've been stuck with a very serious scheduling conflict. There's only one thing to do: another Talky Episode. Waiting for Godot, the Role-Playing Game, and many other RPGs by Jared Sinclair can be found here: https://s-jared.itch.io/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 150 (Blades in the Dark 5.1) Mar 24, 2020

The Resurrectionists are back from the dead in a big way: one extra-long episode featuring a score so exciting we could only stand to do it all in one go! We left our antiheroes with a cliffhanger: their sewer-travelling rivals, the Capillariat, have finally declared open war after a long history of violent exchanges! With the gang's gambling den overrun, they'll have to mount a counterattack quickly or lose a valuable resource! Can they do it without spilling enough blood to make the law's retribution even worse? Can the rookie Ira talk their way through a deadly situation? Can Thalia finally put her magical research to full use? Can Blondie solve problems without creating ghosts? Can Flint keep himself unexploded? Find out all that and more in this spectacular return to Blades in the Dark!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 149 (World Wide Wrestling 2.4) Mar 11, 2020

In this episode... oooh, I don't want to spoil it! But rest assured you'll see some fierce cyborg wrestling rivalries, romance with varying degrees of requital, surprise arrivals galore, and one huge celebrity cameo! So don't delay, act now, supplies are running out...

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 148 (World Wide Wrestling 2.3) Mar 04, 2020

After last episode's little ultraviolent intermission, it's time to step back and get a feel for who these underground cyborg wrestlers REALLY are. For example, did you know that Krunk the Barbarian is more comfortable in graphic tees than armor made out of car tires? Or that Wage Slave has a real estate business? Or that Clout Strife's real name is... Clout Strife? And what about all those other wrestlers on the card? Listen on to learn more about these unique individuals, and then hear them beat each other up.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 147 (CYBER//PUNK 1.1) Feb 26, 2020

In the futuristic dystopia of 1999, while the masses are placated by the spectacle of professional wrestling, there exists a turbulent underground of freelance operatives who break the law and risk their necks in search of fortune. Tonight, a fresh team of these "runners" will take on the forces of... well, professional wrestling. It's Saturn running a variant of our favorite one-stat system, and it's up to us to save their own WWW character! Content warning: This turns into kind of a bloodbath, though most of it isn't graphic. CYBER//PUNK was written by David Brunell-Brutman and can be found here: https://dbb-8.itch.io/cyberpunk Our outro music is sampled from Aesop Rock's The Blob https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 146 (World Wide Wrestling 2.2) Feb 13, 2020

Alright chummers, flick on your holo-vids (or, if you're a Premium subscriber, wink your left eye to activate your implanted display) for the latest episode of Underground Cyborg Wrestling! We've got a flashbang show for you tonight, because some of our best talent--Wage Slave, Fashbasher, Krunk the Barbarian, and Clout Strife--are in the squared circle, and almost all of them have bad blood with each other!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 145 (World Wide Wrestling 2.1) Feb 05, 2020

We're going back to the future in more ways than one! The year is 1999, and our technologically-advanced society is plagued by injustice and corruption. The masses need a distraction from their lives of corporate-mandated drudgery... and there's no better solution than watching a bunch of beefed-up caricatures pretend to hurt each other! With Levi guiding the way, Owen, Saturn, Snapper, and Fern will assemble a roster of cyberpunk combatants with enough gimmicks, grudges, and deeply silly names to get the whole audience chanting. WWW can be found here: https://ndpdesign.com/wwwrpg

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 144 (Edge of the Empire 1.5) Jan 22, 2020

Our first adventure in a galaxy far, far away comes to a head in the shadowy slave-pits of Hell, where our heroes are closer than ever to freeing themselves... and to being captured by the Baron's security! Everyone will need to contribute their unique skills--Manwe Ba's smooth salesmanship, Jaci's flashy heroism, and Jay's brutal cunning--to come out ahead!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 143 (Edge of the Empire 1.4) Jan 15, 2020

Having ditched their tour guide and made contact with other would-be escapees, our rough-and-tumble heroes are out to break the literal grip that Hell has on its people and, more importantly, our heroes' ship. Can they make their way to Transit without drawing undue attention to themselves? Of course not, but hopefully they can still get what they're after. Jaci does some drifting, Jay runs into a colleague, and Manwe Ba makes an important detour.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 142 (Edge of the Empire 1.3) Jan 08, 2020

Our ragtag band of space explorers have discovered a highly developed, prosperous world with extremely welcoming inhabitants, but something feels a little off... could it be that there's something BAD about the planet Hell? Well, no matter what secrets this big red tourist trap holds, we'll unearth them and find some way to turn it all into profit.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 141 (Edge of the Empire 1.2) Jan 01, 2020

Our adventure in a wild corner of a galaxy far, far away begins! As dozens of ships gather in search of untold treasures, will the Darter and its ragtag crew of outlaws be able to pull ahead? They will if all these funky multicolored dice come up with the right weird symbols. Join Jay Faytonni, Jaci Argona, and Manwe Ba as they're thrown directly into some high-stakes space action!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 140 (Edge of the Empire 1.1) Dec 18, 2019

Today we're dipping our toes into an esoteric little property known as "Star Wars." It's this whole sci-fi setting with aliens and robots but there's actually some fantasy elements if you dig into the lore. It might not have the most mainstream popularity, but we like to bring niche projects like this into the spotlight now and then. Star Wars: Edge of the Empire is published by Fantasy Flight Games https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/star-wars-edge-of-the-empire/ Intro/outro music sampled from The Blob by Aesop Rock https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 139 (Monster of the Week 1.4) Dec 05, 2019

Last episode ended with our brave monster-hunters stuffing their half-dead quarry in the trunk of their car and taking off before the cops arrived. Now, all they have to do is figure out where it took its teenage victim and how to free them. Will this fairy tale have a happy ending, or is it one of those dark ones? It's all in the hands of this ragtag gang and their esoteric arsenal!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 138 (Monster of the Week 1.3) Nov 28, 2019

Things really kick off in this session. Oh, it starts tame enough with clandestine pocket-watch communication, a decorative horseshoe heist, and first aid through dark magic, but then things get weird. Inhuman music gets in your head, innocent bystanders are threatened (but not by the monster), and a whole lot of ass gets kicked. In a fight between an unearthly abductor and four mismatched vigilantes, who comes out on top? Find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 137 (Monster of the Week 1.2) Nov 20, 2019

Alright gang, it's time to solve a mystery! A teenager has gone missing in upstate New York, and their neighbor says that a strange flying light is to blame. Is this the work of extraterrestrials, or something even stranger? In order to properly hunt this monster (or monsters), our heroes will have to intimidate a newspaper reporter, bluff their way past a stern mother, roll dice (in and out of character), and chat up some drunks. Standard monster-hunting protocol.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 136 (Monster of the Week 1.1) Nov 13, 2019

It's time to gear up and investigate a new system: Monster of the Week! It's a PbtA game about modern-day slayers and the abominations they fight, and Levi, Pixie, Snapper, and Jonix are ready to whip up some colorful characters, What unique monster-fighting skills will they bring to the table, how will their dark pasts complicate the mission, and which (if not all) of them are related to each other? Listen to find out! Monster of the Week can be found here: https://www.evilhat.com/home/monster-of-the-week/ Our intro/outro music is by Aesop Rock: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 135 (Pigsmoke 3.4) Nov 07, 2019

The situation at Pigsmoke comes to a head when the newest professor's ambitious-but-amoral plan begins to draw his peers in. When the chips are down, who will take the route that's best for their careers and who will try to just be a decent human being? It's a clash of teaching styles backed up by big egos and magical power, so you won't want to miss it!

Episode 134 (Happy Anniversary) Oct 24, 2019

Less of an episode than an announcement: we just turned three years old, and this time I didn't commemorate it with a terrible baby voice! It's time to look back at our accomplishments, and forward at a future of warring feudal states. Don't worry, I'll explain everything. Remember to check out our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/biggaynerds and our Discord server https://t.co/zMoHt6MCeL

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 133 (Pigsmoke 3.3) Oct 16, 2019

This is an episode about people in compromising situations digging themselves even deeper for the sake of advancing their goals... Admittedly, a LOT of our episodes are about that, but this one has a real laser-focused theme. Divino looks to recruit the Chosen One himself, despite the kid's suspicions. Corvina actually musters up some effort and does some research. Simone buddies up to the people she's currently most scared of... and winds up on the wrong end of a waaacky misunderstanding!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 132 (Pigsmoke 3.2) Oct 09, 2019

This new term at Pigsmoke seems to come with an extra helping of intrigue, especially now that Liam (played by Levi) has rejoined the party just in time to get tangled up in the Mindbending Department's latest scandal-in-the-making. Can he avoid reprisal from the Dean's office AND revenge from his colleagues? Meanwhile, Divino seems to be having some popularity issues, and Simone and Corvina wind up bumping into the wrong kind of people.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 131 (Pigsmoke 3.1) Oct 01, 2019

Pigsmoke College is back in session, and the professors are just as excited to be back as their students. The Dean has recruited a mysterious figure--played by Jonix!--to join its hand-picked mentors of Chad Blackwood, the Chosen One. Is this downright villainous-looking necromancer one of those evil professors we keep hearing about, or just kind of creepy and sad? Can Simone keep bluffing her students and peers into thinking she has magic? Will Corvina ever catch a break? Listen on to find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 130 (What We Were 1.2) Aug 28, 2019

Our ragtag magicians have finally found their goblin... or, more accurately, he has found them and taunted them as a disembodied voice, ushering them towards a "guessing game" that seems a little more dangerous than Twenty Questions. Will Gin's carefree spirit and skeleton butler carry him above danger? Will Batu survive against the very "true magic" he's been looking for? Will Agnes's swamp-witchery help in this swamp? Listen on to find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 129 (Bleak Spirit 2.2) Aug 14, 2019

As Echo traverses the ruined city, climbing ever higher and encountering ever stranger products of wild magic, the changes they have undergone become more apparent. What will they be by the time they reach their goal? What IS their goal? And what will they have for lunch at the food court? Content Warning: Some body horror.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 128 (Bleak Spirit 2.1) Aug 07, 2019

We're back at it with... well, technically, this is from before we left Bleak Spirit to begin with. But now you can listen to the system played with a new crew--Owen, Sara, Pixie, and Jonix--in an entirely new setting where a world much like our own has been warped by the emergence of untamed magic. What will the helmed wanderer Echo encounter as they progress through the ruined city, and what will change as a result? We don't know yet!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 127 (What We Were 1.1) Aug 01, 2019

We're jumping right into yet another Kickstarter campaign tie-in, this time with What We Were by Freddie Taylor Bell! It's a setting-agnostic system that focuses on personalized character arcs, and Jonix is using it to showcase his unique fantasy world! Three young mages (an apprentice-turned-trapper, a noble-turned-necromancer, and a barmaid-turned-witch) try to find a place in a world where people have only recently learned to harness the world's magic. The first step: see a goblin. You can back What We Were here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/drunkwizard/what-we-were-tabletop-roleplaying-system And our new intro/outro music is, as always, sampled from Aesop Rock's The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 126 (Bleak Spirit 1.2) Jul 24, 2019

Nicks's journey reaches its thrilling climax and chilling conclusion! As he ventures deeper into the abbey in search of treasure, he will find more and more hints at the horrific events that led to its abandonment and the terrifying truths of its current state... and we'll find out just how truly roguish he is. Content Warning for some brief gore and desecration of corpses.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 125 (Bleak Spirit 1.1) Jul 17, 2019

We're delving into the pre-release version of a game from the creator of Pigsmoke: Bleak Spirit, a game about a stranger in a strange land where no one knows for sure what the real story is. Owen, Levi, Fern, and Vanessa share control of a roguish skink and the swamped abbey he's exploring; what kind of narrative could emerge from this? It's anyone's guess, but our money isn't on a sunshiny one. Content Warning: Brief description of some nasty corpses.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 124 (Blades in the Dark 4.5) Jul 03, 2019

Having recruited a new member, secured some privacy, and shifted their inter-gang alliances, the Resurrectionists settle in for a week of recuperation. Blondie hob-nobs over tea, Flint sticks his nose around, Thalia dances like no one's watching, and Ira makes some friends. However, the factions of Doskvol are never at rest in their struggle for supremacy, and unseen clocks tick towards midnight...

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 123 (Blades in the Dark 4.4) Jun 26, 2019

The Resurrectionists have welcomed Ira Glasgow the Slide into their ranks, but they find themselves in a familiar situation when Ira's prior... ahem, associate isn't eager to let them move on. Can a band of rogues, used to getting what they want through deception and violence, find peaceful resolution with a ruthless and paranoid gang leader? Or will someone get a knife thrown into their shoulder? Whoops, that was probably way too specific.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 122 (Blades in the Dark 4.3) Jun 19, 2019

The Resurrectionists set out to find their next score, but quickly discover that political powderkegs with underlying hints of conspiracy are, in fact, complicated. Short on leads, they stumble into one person with the skills and contacts to help them navigate this web of conflict and intrigue... and immediately antagonize them. Featuring the return of Fern, previously heard in our Maid RPG adventures!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 121 (Blades in the Dark 4.2) Jun 12, 2019

With their latest wins and losses behind them, the Resurrectionists settle in for a little downtime. Franz recovers from the (ahem) licking he got, Thalia reflects a little on her home life, and Kristov makes an unexpected breakthrough. Then it's time to contemplate their next move, with a little guidance from new allies, though not all sources are equally trustworthy...

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 120 (Blades in the Dark 4.1) Jun 05, 2019

The Resurrectionists are back, as their name would imply! We return to Doskvol after a long hiatus to see our favorite pseudo-Victorian rogues finish what they started: tracking down and killing a masked assassin in order to pay off a criminal organization for poaching their shark-woman fence. Franz/Blondie hits up an old contact who hits back, Thalia/Shade follows some spectral clues, Kristov/Flint puts a little English on the metaphorical ball, and Crowl/Club's clock ticks.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 119 (Fate 1.11) May 22, 2019

After an explosive end to the last episode, the united champions of Jorl push forward to end the invasion in the Fomorians' own mothership! Though they have determination and unexpected allies on their side, can they hope to sever the head of an otherworldly army? Find out in the finale of our first Fate Core adventure! Knights of Invasion is a World of Adventure by Richard Bellingham https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/179613/Knights-of-Invasion-o-A-World-of-Adventure-for-Fate-Core Our intro and outro music is sampled from Aesop Rock's The Blob https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 118 (Fate 1.10) May 16, 2019

The Battle of Smyden continues as our knights converge on the aliens' entry point! Zeno keeps up the wrestlemania, Geoffrey has a lucky streak, Agrippa plays diplomatic hardball, and Prim has her best bad idea yet.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 117 (Fate 1.9) May 08, 2019

The Invasion that these Knights are Of, apparently, finally kicks off! When the volcano that once split Jorl in two becomes the beachhead for a hostile force, can our ragtag heroes and their hurried coalition stand against it? Geoffrey puts his jousting skills to use, Prim uses some urban combat tactics, Zeno braves the fire, and Agrippa fights as dirtily as possible. Content Warning: Some gore, mostly inflicted upon big evil aliens.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 116 (Maid 2.2) May 01, 2019

It's time for more M.A.I.D. action! Fern joins us with Daisy, a maid who... well, to use a certain turn of phrase, she wears a lot more hats than the little maid doily thing. She, Princess Hekatom, and Darwin Barkley are assigned to protect an important human diplomat in the heart of spider territory. Will they succeed despite their impulsiveness, unwillingness to utilize backup, and pitiful Affection scores? Listen to find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 115 (Lasers & Feelings 2) Apr 24, 2019

Back by popular demand, it's Lasers & Feelings, the one-page, one-stat RPG! All of your favorite Raptor crewmates are here: Robin the Savvy Pilot, Chumbo, Dizzy the Hotshot Explorer, fan-favorite Chumbo, Logos the Android Doctor, I think Chumbo's in this one too, Bit the Dangerous-and-or-Sexy Engineer, and who could forget... the Star Dreadnought.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 114 (Fate 1.8) Apr 10, 2019

The united knights of Jorl make their last push to prepare for the coming invasion! Agrippa proves that shame works, Geoffrey makes an uncertain promise, Zeno writes two letters, and Sara completely derails our podcast for a good couple minutes, cementing 100% canon details into another character's backstory by sheer force of will. Also featuring a Patreon shoutout!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 113 (Fate 1.7) Apr 04, 2019

Listen, usually I put a lot of thought into these descriptions, but this time... there's a point in this episode where someone says "betrothed by the Squatchmaster General" and I just can't top that. Come listen to this to hear that line if nothing else. The rest is also good, just not better than "betrothed by the Squatchmaster General."

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 112 (Fate 1.6) Mar 27, 2019

After a slight detour, we're back in Knights of Invasion, with the newly-organized party taking it upon themselves to rally their countrymen towards a unified defense! First off, we've got to meet the rest of Agrippa's family, and see if we can warm up a big gruff Dreamworks Dad. Then, Prim has Schemes to set up, Zeno has a Message to send, and Geoffrey has Regrets to dwell on. Also, many silly asides.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 111 (Maid 2.1) Mar 20, 2019

That's right, Maid is back! But it's not the charmingly mundane Maid focused on the world-jumping Hawksmore fortress and its frilly agents of conquest; this is M.A.I,D., a futuristic task force of super-powered peacekeepers! Unfortunately, a recording hiccup prevented us from showing you the random character creation, so: PLEASE believe me when I say that the bondage themes were selected by dice rolls, I didn't--Mom, if you're reading this, it was all the dice, NOT ME. Content Warning: A few deaths by explosion, one self-inflicted.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 110 (Fate 1.5) Mar 06, 2019

With the tournament over and cosmically larger problems heaped onto their collective plate, the knights of Jorl reassemble their blown minds and take stock of the situation. Both King Karl and Queen Kelda agree that the situation is dire, but is life or death enough to make them cooperate? And, now that they're not being flung together by the spirit of competition, will our beloved knights find a reason to hang out together? I hope so, or my job's about to get way harder.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 109 (Fate 1.4) Feb 27, 2019

The tournament comes to a head when all four of our knights--and two that aren't ours so much as mine, being NPCs--wade into an all-out melee! This plays out as what may be the longest single combat scene in Big Gay Nerds history, one full of fleeting alliances and desperate gambits. When the dust settles, who will be the sole victor? Also: there's a twist ending! So you'd better be pretty enticed by all of this.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 108 (Fate 1.3) Feb 19, 2019

It's time to tilt! We've got a real strong bracket for this jousting tournament, folks, with Ser Zeno the handsome foreign heir starting on one side and Ser Geoffery the handsome horse-whisperer on the other! Who will overcome some unexpected opposition and earn the Big Prize? And while that's happening, what will Agrippa and Prim do to prepare for their upcoming competitions? Most importantly, do any of us fully understand the rules yet?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 107 (Fate 1.2) Feb 13, 2019

No occasion bigger than Queen Kelda's 30th birthday could bring the courts of Jorl together for civil competition, making this a fantastic opportunity for knights to win glory... or a political advantage for their kingdoms. Among these gathered tournamenteers are a handsome heir from overseas, a small-but-bold second child, a horse-whispering country boy, a representative of a reclusive house who's definitely who she says, and... a green-clad outsider who no one can make sense of. Hmm.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 106 (Fate 1.1) Feb 06, 2019

Here we go, with an adventure that I think I've wanted to run since the show's inception, if not earlier! It's the enticingly open-ended Fate system, where the little personality quirks setting your character apart are the most mechanically important things about them. We're using it to play a game of chivalry and conflict, set on a fictional island divided between two kingdoms. With knighthood as a baseline, what kinds of misfits will the party develop to fit into their armor? https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 105 (Termination Shock 1.3) Jan 16, 2019

The crew of the Australia is ready to meet with a mysterious contact... and get some shore leave in the meantime! Or station-leave, to be precise. If shores are planets in this metaphor than I guess a space station would be... a bundle of docks in the middle of the water, like in Flapjack. Anyway, X aims to regain some social standing, Eva sings, Craig logs in, and Nat shakes on it.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 104 (Termination Shock 1.2) Jan 09, 2019

A handful of prisoners and backwater settlers are given the chance for a fresh start for themselves and humanity as a whole... once they get their hands on some prohibitively rare fuel for their mining-barge-turned-interstellar-ark. It's also uncertain if a gun-toting revolutionary, a disorganized hacker/pilot, a neon-faced failed guard, and a bodybuilding farmer are even capable of keeping their fellow humans (and one methane-filled companion) focused on the same goal. Includes discussion of post-scarcity interior decoration, alien hula girls, art majors, and elder millennials. Note: almost everyone experienced technical difficulties at the tail end of the recording, which is why they suddenly go quiet, but luckily nothing was lost.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 103 (Termination Shock 1.1) Jan 02, 2019

The Big Gay Nerds are boldly going where only playtesters have gone before: the universe of Termination Shock! Join Owen, Saturn, Snapper, and newcomers Nick and Vanessa as they brush up on timelines, get acquainted with multicolored dice, and set their sights on a new home for humanity. Includes discussion of Space Australia, amicable exes, Elan Sleazebaggano, reverse-Les Miserables, and personalized Death Stars.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 102 (Pigsmoke 2.3) Dec 25, 2018

The holiday celebration is winding down, but many questions are left unanswered. Will Simone's entirely nonmagical charms work on a professional mindbender? Will Liam's dedicated campaign of kissing up protect him from repercussions? Will Corvina have any reason to regret making a pact with a known cultist? Will Albert be able to ditch his new friend before he becomes part of the main cast? And will anyone learn what nondenominational winter gatherings are really all about?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 101 (Pigsmoke 2.2) Dec 19, 2018

Now that this celebration is properly underway, it's time to get into the holiday spirit with some shady political maneuvering! Good will toward man is all well and good, but when everyone either wants you pushed out of their way or dragged into their schemes, you need to take precautions. Albert learns a lot about a pesky subject, Liam tries to buddy up to an eldritch being, Simone stands up for her friend, and Corvina makes the worst possible decision.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 100 (Pigsmoke 2.1) Dec 12, 2018

December is a month full of celebration for many different faiths and cultures, but there's one event that everyone can appreciate: the end of the fall semester! But for the faculty of America's #1 magical college, there's still one last test. It's the Dean's holiday retreat, where nog-fueled hobnobbing is more powerful--and risky--than any spell. Can our untenured heroes come out on top of a social free-for-all?

Big Gay News: Termination Shock Dec 10, 2018

We're doing another Kickstarter tie-in! But this time, our episodes are being hosted on the designer's channel. You can listen to me, Saturn, Snapper, and two new Big Gay Nerds here https://soundcloud.com/greg-stolze/big-gay-nerds-presents-termination-shock-part-1 and help get the full game published here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gregstolze/termination-shock-the-print-version . Hope you enjoy!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 99 (Blades in the Dark 3.7) Dec 05, 2018

The Resurrectionists have found a skilled (and gilled) smuggler who can help them move ill-gotten goods, but there's one problem: she's already contracted to another gang. Our scoundrels have stolen, killed, and sabotaged their way to victory before, but how will they fare when the simplest solution is asking nicely? Especially since their smoothest talker is also their least trustworthy member?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 98 (Blades in the Dark 3.6) Nov 28, 2018

It's another planning-focused episode as the Resurrectionists consider their options in the wake of a city-shaking disaster that they, for once, are not directly linked to. Is it time to seek profit in tragedy like the opportunistic scavengers they are, or hole up and look out for number one like the opportunistic scavengers they are? Also featured: matters of political praxis, the dangers of promotion, Thalia's hazing, and Victorian jazz.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 97 (Blades in the Dark 3.5) Nov 21, 2018

In the aftermath of their daring and damaging scavenger hunt, the Resurrectionists still aren't out of the woods, as the consequences for their actions are nipping at their heels. Blondie takes one for the team, Arden tries to patch things up, Crowle runs interference, Flint does his thing, and a mysterious new figure extends a greeting! Also appearing: three different pets, and some brief awkwardness due to software problems.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 96 (Blades in the Dark 3.4) Nov 07, 2018

After searching desperately through the Lost District, the Resurrectionists finally close in on their priceless target... at the same time as their heavily-armed competition! They say that no plan survives contact with the enemy, but hopefully the planners do.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 95 (Thousand Year Old Vampire) Oct 31, 2018

It's Halloween, so it's time to roll out some scares! But how can we top our regular content, which is already chock-full of ghosts and ghouls? The answer is to get EXISTENTIAL with it! Owen and Pixie play Thousand Year Old Vampire, a game currently on Kickstarter, to watch a noble Norman squire descend into an eternity of alienation, loss, and bad decisions. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/timh/thousand-year-old-vampire-a-roleplaying-game

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 94 (Blades in the Dark 3.3) Oct 24, 2018

It's the 2nd anniversary of Big Gay Nerds' first episode, and to celebrate I make everyone really mad. Then we move on to the matter at hand: sneaking the Resurrectionists into a walled-off city district that's brimming with ghosts so we can find a demonic artifact before our opposition can use it to pin us for a crime we sorta committed. Luckily, Crowle/"The Club" is back to help us with his steel-trap mind and waaacky disguises!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 93 (Blades in the Dark 3.2) Oct 17, 2018

Blondie, Flint, and Pebble kick off their latest heist: extracting a cadaver from the Spirit Wardens' morgue. Their plan to get in: disguise Flint as a dead person. Their plan to get out: doesn't exist yet. Oh man, what if they prop the body up between them and put some dark glasses on it and pretend it's just really drunk or something? That would be hilarious. Hey, you could make a movie out of that idea. I gotta find a producer!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 92 (Blades in the Dark 3.1) Oct 10, 2018

Blades in the Dark is back! After their last two heists, the Resurrectionists have started going up in the underworld, which means increased membership! Unfortunately, it also means catching the eye of other criminal organizations, and even positive attention can mean trouble when it comes from the wrong people. Blondie makes some gains, Pebble has relationship troubles, and Flint learns a new game.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 91 (Maid 1.3) Oct 03, 2018

Scientists said it couldn't be done, but the misadventures of the Hawksmore maids continue to escalate! But first, a new face rolls her way into the group, as played by the returning Fern! Watch as the new quartet struggles with breakfast, demonic admirers, unintentional alchemy, romance routes, the challenge of the forest, and each other.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 90 (Maid 1.2) Sep 19, 2018

The maids' adventure continues when everyone discovers mysterious presents left in the night, but none is more mysterious than the one Lord Hawksmore receives! How will these combat-ready custodians deal with giant vermin, demonic doppelgangers, beach episodes, and really hokey naming conventions? With their usual poise and grace.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 89 (Maid 1.1) Sep 12, 2018

Snapper's behind the BGN wheel for the first time, and he's driving us straight into Maid RPG, an INCREDIBLY Japanese game that simulates the world of domestic service with painstaking realism (or so I'm told). This world consists of two Pure Heroines and one Sexy Cool, randomly-generated plot points, the conquest of Heaven, tennis, and an unreasonable number of Metal Gear Solid references. Maid RPG can be found here: http://www.maidrpg.com/index.shtml And our music is, as always, from Aesop Rock's The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 88 (Monsterhearts SEASON FINALE: Part 2) Aug 25, 2018

Here it is: the biggest episode of Big Gay Nerds yet, the one that we've been building towards since this podcast began! When a murderous gangster and her vampire girlfriend face off against a mind-controlling college dean, Mater Dolorosa becomes the staging ground for a war. Can a conflicted bargain-maker, an opportunistic werewolf, a scheming cult leader, and a confused goth possibly come out alive, let alone on top? Only the dice can tell! Monsterhearts is by Avery Alder: https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Our theme music is by Aesop Rock: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 87 (Monsterhearts SEASON FINALE: PART 1) Aug 15, 2018

You read right: the Season Finale is so big, it won't fit in one episode, even a long one like this! When Cardinal comes back to town with more on her mind than bootleg DVDs, how will the students of Mater Dolorosa react? Charlotte steps into the spotlight, Bishop sets up a meeting with some unexpected guests, Mark discovers the consequences of backtalk, and Pennyworth proposes an alliance.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 86 (Monsterhearts 7.11) Aug 08, 2018

The clash at Pennyworth's house comes to a head in the penultimate--yes, you heard that right--episode of Monsterhearts! Jessamine is back and badder than ever, Bishop has to choose between bloodthirstiness and cowardice, Pennyworth gets his leash tugged on, and Mark does his best to make sure things don't get worse. Who or what will push the story over the edge, tumbling towards an explosive finale? Listen and find out!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 85 (Monsterhearts 7.10) Aug 01, 2018

So, this is kind of a weird episode, because it wasn't originally intended to be an episode: it was going to be the second half of the previous episode. It's a little short, but trust me, it's action-packed! How could it not be, when all four player characters wind up in the same place at the same time? That's right folks, we have a real Royal Rumble on our hands, and it's anyone's game!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 84 (Monsterhearts 7.9) Jul 24, 2018

The Master of Ceremonies might have lost his favorite ceremony-mastering seat, but the show must go on! Jessamine comforts Pennyworth, Mark contacts his new ally, and all three confront each other about all the bullshit they've been pulling lately. These kids are awful at keeping secrets, let me tell you. Meanwhile, the shadow that is Bishop looms ever closer.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 83 (Monsterhearts 7.8) Jul 12, 2018

In this episode you're finally going to find out what happened in the forest, as Pennyworth barges back into the spotlight, leaving a trail of chaos behind him! Meanwhile, Mark gets an unusual assignment from Ol' Nick that he actually wants to do this time, and Bishop prepares for a final confrontation with style. It's all building towards one of the biggest messes in this big messy campaign, so stay tuned!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 82 (Monsterhearts 7.7) Jul 04, 2018

With Pennyworth's conflicts still in the background, things continue to escalate on campus as the characters' personal affairs intersect. Can Jessamine keep Charlotte's trust without lying to her? Can Mark reconcile his responsibilities with his values? And, as always, can Bishop get away with just being the biggest bastard possible despite the people breathing down their neck?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 81 (Monsterhearts 7.6) Jun 27, 2018

While Pennyworth confronts his pursuers--presumably, we're down a player again--and Bishop relaxes after a job well done, Jessamine tries to walk away from her latest feeding like it never happened. Meanwhile, Mark embarks on his first nighttime patrol as a Crusader, scouring the campus for monsters. Looks like they're on a collision course with drama! Warning: may contain background dog barks.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 80 (Monsterhearts 7.5) Jun 20, 2018

Mark gets some quality education and starts planning for his future while Pennyworth decides who his real friends are and promptly tells them what's what, but Jessamine is the star of this episode. Watch as she squirms out of one awkward social situation into another and takes advantage of someone else's thirst to quench her own!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 79 (Monsterhearts 7.4) Jun 13, 2018

New faces continue to leap onto the dogpile of complications forming over our protagonists. Jessamine meets a handsome stranger who might know more than he lets on, Pennyworth has a vulnerable moment and makes a chain of bad decisions, and Bishop struggles to find guidance before taking matters into their own hands.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 78 (Monsterhearts 7.3) Jun 06, 2018

The immediate fallout after the Big Night has more or less died away, but even "normal life" has become a lot more complicated for everyone at Mater Dolorosa. While Mark is off doing who-knows-what for who-knows-who, Pennyworth turns to old connections to help with new circumstances, Jessamine tries to feed while hiding from both loved ones and enemies, and Bishop has new responsibilities to match their latest revelations.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 77 (Monsterhearts 7.2) May 30, 2018

Each of the main characters stand at their own crossroads, confronted with shifting paradigms and uncomfortable obligations. Bishop fights snitching with snitching, Mark struggles to shield his friends, Pennyworth learns about his new role, and Jessamine tries to be a good girlfriend.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 76 (Monsterhearts 7.1) May 23, 2018

Monsterhearts is back in a big way! Unless it all ends catastrophically here and now, which is extra likely after the drama bomb of last session. With the status quo of Mater Dolorosa College shaken in one night of bloody terror, will the supernatural students try to reclaim some normalcy or push things in strange new directions? Jessamine gets some smelly band merch, Mark becomes a narc, and Bishop does a little reflecting. As always, our intro and outro music is courtesy of Aesop Rock: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 75 (Warhammer Fantasy 1.4) May 16, 2018

Though Johann has been called away on a higher duty, the remaining deputies must investigate the sewers to find the origin of the mutant menace. A simple matter of trap-dodging and corpse-looting turns into the biggest challenge they've faced yet! Will Alfred, Kerran, and Vine overcome the monstrous horrors within, or be torn limb by randomly-selected limb? Find out in this climactic climax!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 74 (Warhammer Fantasy 1.3) May 09, 2018

After their grueling battle with the sewer mutants, our main characters have a little chat with the police and wind up with more responsibility and authority than any of them have handled before. Kerran and Vine hit the streets (and some walls) in search of information. Meanwhile, Johann and Alfred nurse their wounds and gain some insight into deeper machinations!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 73 (Warhammer Fantasy 1.2) Apr 25, 2018

A dying knight issues a sacred quest, and an untrained but enthused youth accepts it, beginning a journey that will change his life forever. Meanwhile, a malnourished jester misdelivers some satire, a sewer-hunter becomes the sewer-hunted, and an unemployed bodyguard (played by a surprise guest!) drinks her cares away. What could bring these disparate nobodies together? The answer, as always, is mutants.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 72 (Warhammer Fantasy 1.1) Apr 11, 2018

What system are we gaying up next? Oh, it's Warhammer Fantasy, 2nd Edition! What manner of characters will Owen, Saturn, and Snapper be casting into this world of grim darkness? Whatever the dice decide, because for the first time on this podcast, we're doing RANDOMIZED CHARACTER CREATION! So grab your d100 and see if you'll have a career in wizardry, thievery, or charcoal-burning.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 71 (The Tragedy of GJ237b 1.1) Apr 04, 2018

To celebrate over twenty thousand plays on Soundcloud, we're trying out our most unique system yet: "a role-playing game for no players."

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 70 (Lasers & Feelings 1) Mar 28, 2018

Here's something we've never done before: an actual self-contained one-shot, with a system so simple it all fits on one page! With Saturn at the helm, and guest stars Snapper and Pixie filling in for Ian and Sara, we join the intrepid crew of the Raptor as they hack, pilot, swashbuckle, and seduce their way into and out of danger in this space-opera thriller! Lasers & Feelings, by John Harper: http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 69 (Spell 1.4) Mar 22, 2018

In the climax of our Spell adventure, the Cahokia Carnies have infiltrated the magically oppressed railroad town and decide to use some direct action. I'd do my usual character-by-character teasers, but I want to leave some things a surprise. But I will tell you this: we learn a lot about how Spelling can go wrong.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 68 (Spell 1.3) Mar 14, 2018

The Cahokia Carnies have escaped peril and arrived in the big city, where they can lay low to resupply before heading straight on to their destination! Nothing can slow them down, especially not an old-timey peep sh--oh come on guys, really? The whole damn episode? Government agents are actively tracking you, and you... fine, okay. But you'd better not have any slapstick hijinks, I swear to God.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 67 (Spell 1.2) Mar 07, 2018

In this episode, things kick off with chaotic action and that pretty much sets the tone for the remaining hour. Our lovable miscreants show some style, show some leg, have a little qar trouble, meet someone stranger than them, and make a buzz, all with the help of some randomly-generated letters. If you're listening to this as it airs, there's still time to back Spell's Kickstarter and push for some stretch goals! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/whimsymachine/make-100-spell-the-rpg-and-spellbook-engraved-wood

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 66 (Spell 1.1) Feb 28, 2018

Today we start Spell: The RPG, a game in the process of being Kickstarted that we have been offered a sneak peek at! Oats leads us into the end of the Gilded Age, where three colorful outlaws are making names for themselves. Listen as Fabulous Ferdinand rocks a zoot suit and makes a speech, Dizzy McAllister plays the piano and instigates confrontations, and Runabout Ray schemes up a plan and casts the only actual spell in this episode. Spell Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/whimsymachine/make-100-spell-the-rpg-and-spellbook-engraved-wood Intro and outro music is, once again, from Aesop Rock's The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 65 (Blades in the Dark 2.5) Feb 21, 2018

The Resurrectionists rappel directly into a tense stand-off with a guest-star celebrity (lookalike) villain! Luckily, he's willing to give them a sporting chance with a game of chance, and Flint is all too eager to accept the challenge. Meanwhile, Pebble struggles with the one thing she's best at, Club gets flirty, and Blondie waits patiently for his time to shine.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 64 (Blades in the Dark 2.4) Feb 14, 2018

With the Clarion House back in their sights and their past failures firmly in mind, the Resurrectionists decide that a little information-gathering would not be amiss. To this end, they make a friend who proves more helpful than expected in some ways and much less helpful than expected in others, and Crowl reunites with a resourceful but less-than-friendly acquaintance. But will it all be enough to stop them from barging into the worst possible situation?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 63 (Blades in the Dark 2.3) Feb 08, 2018

In this episode, the Resurrectionists realize that they might be in over their heads, and have to make some tough decisions in a hurry. Sometimes, discretion is the better part of valor, especially if you're not valorous to begin with. Blondie makes some observations on the art of killing, Club's inner weasel comes to the surface, Flint does hardcore ghostbusting, and Pebble plays the social game.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 62 (Blades in the Dark 2.2) Jan 31, 2018

Now that they're all rested up--or at least as rested as career criminals in a haunted city can hope to be--the Resurrectionists take some time to pick their next score and settle on driving out local competition. If they could steal a huge gem from one of the most zealously-guarded buildings in Duskvol, driving out some squatters should be a walk in the park, right? Well, it might be, if the dice weren't out for our blood.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 61 (Blades in the Dark 2.1) Jan 24, 2018

We finally return to Duskvol and the Resurrectionists! After their daring heist in the last session, our characters' bones and egos have seen better days, and on top of that the law's on their tails, so it's time to lay low and recuperate. Blondie makes conversation with some pleasant older ladies, Pebble has a very memorable date, the Club is very good at being a crooked cop, and Flint gets medical attention from a patriotic blood-dealer. (Also, I want to remind everyone that our intro/outro music is from The Blob by Aesop Rock.)

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 60 (Monsterhearts 6.5) Jan 17, 2018

The last episode of this session ends with a really big bang, and no I'm not going for a cheap sex pun. Pennyworth (now Worthy) goes on a proper rampage and blows away the opposition... until he doesn't. Jessamine is forced to choose between love and hate. Mark busts out a new trick in a moment of desperation. Bishop meets their most daunting adversary yet.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 59 (Monsterhearts 6.4) Jan 10, 2018

This episode mostly revolves around Pennyworth, who we left stuck in a bad situation; and Jessamine, who has finally emerged from her smoke-filled dorm room. They're both looking to get back at the people who've been giving them a hard time, and both discover that payback is never easy or clean. Then shit pops off. Content warning: The next two episodes are a little more violent than usual, and this one features a car crash. Just a heads-up.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 58 (Monsterhearts 6.3) Jan 03, 2018

The first Big Gay Nerds episode of 2018 comes in strong, though not without some sickness-induced complications. While Jessamine lays low and gets high, Bishop takes on yet more obligations in exchange for power, Mark immediately gets hit in the face by the consequences of his actions, and Pennyworth experiences terrifying clarity.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 57 (Monsterhearts 6.2) Dec 27, 2017

Mark tries to carry out the plan he hatched at the end of the last episode. Technically, in terms of pure quantity, not much happens in this recording. But what DOES happen is pretty damn big, and it happens VERY MUCH. A good episode to end 2017 with, I think.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 56 (Monsterhearts 6.1) Dec 19, 2017

After some scheduling mishaps, we're back to Mater Dolorosa College just in time to see it spiral even deeper into the sexy abyss. Jessamine cleans up, Pennyworth provides moral support for immoral deeds, Mark faces an ultimatum, and Bishop gets back to their roots.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 55 (The Quiet Year 1.2) Nov 29, 2017

Summer comes to our quiet, nameless little mesa, and as the heat rises so do the ambitions of its inhabitants. They begin to devise grand projects to secure more resources and better defend the few they already have. Results are, predictably, mixed. At the same time, outside threats begin to make themselves known... and some of them may already be inside.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 54 (The Quiet Year 1.1) Nov 22, 2017

It's that time of year when we reflect on how our ancestors faced hardships, like stinky water and the hippocabra, but overcame them to share the bounty of their harvests, like magnets and petrified wood. Wait, am I confusing our session of The Quiet Year with American history again? I must be, because I don't remember the pilgrims having YET ANOTHER SPECIAL GUEST STAR! We're thankful to Avery Alder for this game https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/the-quiet-year/ , and Aesop Rock for our intro/outro music https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob .

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 53 (Pigsmoke 1.5) Nov 15, 2017

Faced with a true challenge to their abilities as wizards and teachers--a Chosen One who would be better off chosen for a football draft or his dad's car dealership--the professors of Pigsmoke finally devise a plan of action: just do nothing and hope it sorts itself out. But even on the weekend, can these arcane academics hope to escape their duties? Find out in this thrilling conclusion to our first adventure with Pigsmoke!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 52 (Pigsmoke 1.4) Nov 08, 2017

It's time for the professors of Pigsmoke (or at least the ones we care about) to get a proper introduction to Chad Blackwood, the Dean's Chosen One. Can this seemingly average student live up to expectations? Well, it depends on what your expectations were, now doesn't it?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 51 (Pigsmoke 1.3) Oct 31, 2017

Here's a Halloween scare for you: acadeeemiaaa! Pigsmoke's professors may have a Dean-given task looming over their heads, but that doesn't mean they don't have everyday business to take care of. Albert has a frank discussion about stitching together dead bodies, Liam blows some minds (intentionally and otherwise), Simone gets pressured into striking a bargain, and Corvina combines doomsaying with dissing.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 50 (Pigsmoke 1.2) Oct 25, 2017

It's the start of a new year at Pigsmoke College, and four professors have been summoned to the Dean's office to assist in its enigmatic machinations. Could this be the start of a magical journey that will save the world and change it forever... or is it a misguided attempt at academic one-upmanship? Why can't it be both? Whatever the case, Professors Addams, Blake, Webb, and Solomon are just the underpaid educators for the job!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 49 (Pigsmoke 1.1) Oct 18, 2017

After a month away from the recording booth (just kidding we can't afford one) the Big Gay Nerds join forces with a new old friend to get theirs hands on Pigsmoke: a Roleplaying Game of Sorcerous Academia. You've seen them as jackass college students with supernatural powers, now see them as jackass college PROFESSORS with supernatural powers! Well, one of them isn't that supernatural, but I'm sure she'll make up for it in the jackass department. http://www.certain-death.com/pigsmoke/

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 48 (Monsterhearts 5.5) Oct 16, 2017

Another chapter of Monsterhearts comes to a close. Bishop formally throws their hat in with Shady Business while the rest of Mater Dolorosa's "gifted" students have one more sleepover and ponder the state of their relationships. Meanwhile, the powers that be have a plan to put and end to all this drama... (We actually lost the last twenty minutes or so of Ian's recording, thus robbing us of some great pizza-based bits, but I think that it's been edited into something passable.)

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 47 (Monsterhearts 5.4) Sep 27, 2017

Lines have been crossed, and while no one's looking back, no one's entirely sure what's ahead either. Bishop takes some advice from their big sister. Pennyworth decides who his real friends are. Mark gets a glimpse of the truth. Jessamine makes her big comeback.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 46 (Monsterhearts 5.3) Sep 20, 2017

Mark and Pennyworth go to the comic shop.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 45 (Monsterhearts 5.2) Sep 13, 2017

It's been said that you can't really know someone until you fight them; if that's true, then Jessamine, Mark, Pennyworth, and the mysterious helmed swordsperson who has been lurking campus after dark are about to become a lot more intimate. Bishop, meanwhile, finds inspiration in an unexpected place and starts down a path to somewhere literally and metaphorically dark.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 44 (Monsterhearts 5.1) Sep 06, 2017

September's here, so it's time to go back to school and catch up with all your old friends! What have the students at Mater Dolorosa College been up to? Well, Bishop's been doing the lion's share of work on a group project, Pennyworth has been struggling to juggle two social circles, Mark's been learning how much a relationship can change people, and Jessamine has been studying for a test that may come sooner than she expects. Oh, and me? I've been taking Sinister Innuendo 101 and I think it's really paying off.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 43 (Dungeons & Dragons 2.3) Aug 30, 2017

I'm gonna put this in the front: if bugs freak you out this isn't going to be the episode for you, unless you're looking to get freaked out, in which case you're in luck! The party is so close to the lost bounty of the abandoned mines, but will they be able to comprehend, let alone survive, whatever inhabits the lower chambers? This episode also features a guest appearance by Sara's dogs, who are roughhousing in the background for the first ten minutes.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 42 (Dungeons & Dragons 2.2) Aug 23, 2017

After delivering a humiliating defeat to the abandoned mine's first monster, the gang ventures deeper into progressively more unsettling rooms. The next on their list is full of fungus and skeletons, and you'll never guess what--oh, you guess that they'll be animate and aggressive? Well, uh, you might still be wrong about that! You'll never know unless you listen to this episode!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 41 (Dungeons & Dragons 2.1) Aug 16, 2017

Feodora, Gull, Myra, and George are back and ready to solve the world's problems, provided that those problems can be solved by killing things underground. Luckily, it looks like they've stumbled onto yet another situation that fits the bill! But will they find the time to do their jobs in between just being complete jackasses? Read on with your ears!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 40 (Blades in the Dark 1.5) Aug 09, 2017

The Resurrectionists stagger into the final step of their daring heist, half-dead (some moreso than others) and just really stressed the hell out. Will they escape with the Sunshard, their lives, and their dignity? And will one of the crew's really awkward romantic history come into play somehow? Given how I just worded that, the answer is probably yes!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 39 (Blades in the Dark 1.4) Aug 02, 2017

Elevators. We all see them as we go about our day-to-day lives. Sometimes we even ride them when the stairwell would be too much of a hassle. Simple, safe, and convenient, right? Well today, the Resurrectionists learn what true peril is, in what I'm officially tentatively dubbing: THE GREAT ELEVATOR FIGHT! Note: Though this isn't technically our most violent episode, I'd say it gets a little more visceral than usual, so be warned.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 38 (Blades in the Dark 1.3) Jul 26, 2017

The Resurrectionists are all mingled out and ready to put their plan into action! Granted, "steal the gem" isn't so much a PLAN as it is a GOAL, but they're good at improvisation. Listen to them sneak, drug, get-yelled-at-about-art, and choke their way past the mansion's defenses!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 37 (Blades in the Dark 1.2) Jul 19, 2017

The campaign kicks off fast when the Resurrectionists' high-society friend points them towards the biggest, riskiest heist of their burgeoning careers: stealing a giant gem from the ruler of the city itself! To do it they'll have to... go undercover at a fancy party? Oh HELL YEAH, it's one of THOSE missions! But will they survive awkward small talk, or even worse, running into people they hate? Also: we all try some Voices, with questionable results.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 36 (Blades in the Dark 1.1) Jul 12, 2017

In this extra-long episode, Saturn leads us into the steampunky, horrorish, post-fantasy-apocalypse city of Doskvol. There we meet four new friends, all of whom are fallen from grace in one way or another and ready to cash in on a dishonest night's work. Watch your step, it's dark as hell and someone left all these blades lying around. http://www.evilhat.com/home/blades-in-the-dark/ Intro and outro samples are, as usual, courtesy of Aesop Rock's The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 35 (Patreon) Jul 05, 2017

HEY CHECK IT OUT: https://www.patreon.com/biggaynerds

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 34 (Monsterhearts 4.5) Jun 21, 2017

This episode is mostly defined by characters doing very unwise things on the basis that they sound cool at the time, and in the process they holistically recreate a scene from every horror movie. Pennyworth learns about the secret conflict that defines the supernatural threats he keeps brushing up against. Bishop expands their power base in true Monsterhearts fashion. Content Warning: A little more of last episode’s spiciness and brief mention of self-harm.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 33 (Monsterhearts 4.4) Jun 14, 2017

This episode... look, I was trying to think of ways to be all coy about this, but let's just get it out in the open. This is the episode where Sex Moves finally come into play. Don't act like you didn't see it coming. Don't worry, we keep it tasteful, or at least as tasteful as everything else in this podcast. This episode also features awkward elevator encounters, a talk with Bishop's cool sister, awkward burger encounters, and Pennyworth being the raddest dude he can be. Content Warning: See above.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 32 (Monsterhearts 4.3) Jun 07, 2017

The last thunderstorm of summer has passed, but the floodwaters of mystery haven't gone down just yet. The students of Mater Dolorosa College start their weekend with a lot of unanswered questions, mostly relating to each other. Jessamine and Pennyworth make plans and fashion mistakes together, Bishop gets some fatherly advice, and Mark has his most harrowing experience yet.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 31 (Monsterhearts 4.2) May 30, 2017

It's a dark and stormy night at Mater Dolorosa College... and, eerily enough, real life! While Bishop and Mark scramble awkwardly through the fallout of their actions, Pennyworth and Jessamine continue to uphold their tradition of having the bejeezus spooked outta 'em.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 30 (Monsterhearts 4.1) May 23, 2017

It's time to jump right back into the action at Mater Dolorosa College! The Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority has all but declared war on the Anime Club, and now Bishop is ready to bring their wrath to bear. They're also ready to bring Mark, who's just excited to be here. Will they come out on top? And what's so sinister about these girls anyway? Find out in this roller coaster of an episode!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 29 (World Wide Wrestling 1.3) May 16, 2017

We’ve got time for one more episode of World Wide Wrestling before Chrisley Knows Best comes on. This time, we meet a couple NPWs (non-player wrestlers) who don’t care for our up-and-coming roster at all; could they be even rougher and weirder than us? No, but not for lack of trying. Also, Billy Crystal and Alexandros have their friendship and bodies put on the line in their gnarliest match yet!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 28 (World Wide Wrestling 1.2) May 09, 2017

The feud between Billy Crystal and Reverend Greyskull rages on, dragging pro-athlete Alexandros and enigmatic Kitten Is Angry into a tag-team match! Which fighting duo will emerge victorious? Only time and/or the writers who booked the match will tell!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 27 (World Wide Wrestling 1.1) May 02, 2017

Levi leads Owen, Saturn, Ian, and newcomer James into the wide wrestling world of World Wide Wrestling! When the rough-and-tumble Billy Crystal is pitted against the fallen rising star Reverend Greyskull, an intense rivalry instantly forms, and no one will emerge unscathed! https://ndpdesign.com/wwwrpg/ Intro and outro music courtesy of Aesop Rock and his free track, The Blob: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 26 (Monsterhearts 3.5) Apr 25, 2017

It's our halfiversary here at Big Gay Nerds! In this episode, Bishop finds themself out of their element and faced with ever-more startling revelations. Pennyworth plays host, Jessamine plays the voice of relative reason, and Mark plays it cool.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 25 (Monsterhearts 3.4) Apr 18, 2017

In the aftermath of Mark's rampage, Bishop vows to find out more about their mysterious peers. Meanwhile, Jessamine eyes the menu and Mark gets his shit together for long enough to drop some arcane lore. Also, there were some technical issues with our audio tracks; everything should be presentable, but let us know if anything stands out.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 24 (Monsterhearts 3.3) Apr 11, 2017

In this episode of Monsterhearts things get real messy, like HBO messy. Alcohol? Check. Drugs? Check. Violence? Most definitely check. Mean words? Check. Sex? Checkish, I mean it’s mostly just implied but... Anyway, cannibalism? Half-check I guess, it’s almost a given at this point. Consider yourself warned/tantalized.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 23 (Monsterhearts 3.2) Apr 04, 2017

This Monsterhearts episode is about relationships. Jessamine and Pennyworth form a cautious alliance. Mark's new friendship gets taken in a new direction. Bishop reconnects with family.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 22 (Monsterhearts 3.1) Mar 28, 2017

Class is back in session at Mater Dolorosa College! Jessamine and Pennyworth try to tidy up some loose ends from our last session, and Bishop starts doing some research when their peers' business becomes family business. Mark, meanwhile, hangs out with a cute boy and supports local vendors. Our intro and outro music is STILL courtesy of Aesop Rock (https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob) and Monsterhearts is STILL by Avery Alder (https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts/).

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 21 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.7) Mar 21, 2017

In the final—for now—Dungeons & Dragons episode, the party weighs their options, plays to their strengths, and exploits unusual routes to try out advanced tactics instead of just running into things uncoordinated. The result is, as you would expect, much… oh. Well. Just how attached to these characters are you?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 20 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.6) Mar 14, 2017

We start this episode by celebrating a milestone and making a promise that we ultimately fail to keep; listen all the way through to discover which! Then the party storms a bandit-infested tower; which will win out, their complete disregard for tactics or their sheer murderous intent?

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 19 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.5) Mar 07, 2017

The heroes return to the caverns and very quickly remember why they left. Myra is attacked by '90s Nickelodeon nostalgia. Gull threatens to get Too Hot for Soundcloud. Feodora gets a little too eager for elf-slaying. George reconnects with some distant relatives. Levi tosses several pages of lovingly-crafted adventure notes out the window.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 18 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.4) Mar 01, 2017

After braving the creepy caverns, the adventurers reap the rewards of their do-gooding! First, we take some time to level them up and review the new tricks up their sleeves. Then, they kick back at the local pub to bond over moonshine and religious discourse. Also, if you haven't already, check out our Tumblr http://biggaynerds.tumblr.com/ for more material, including fanart!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 17 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.3) Feb 21, 2017

Our heroes—yeah, let’s go with heroes—descend further into the caverns and encounter: holes within holes! Peril after peril! Two dogs stapled together! Watch as they get walloped to death’s door and back (again), poke some gross cave stuff with sticks (again), and laugh at each other’s misfortune (again)!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 16 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.2) Feb 14, 2017

It's St. Valentine's Day, and what better way to celebrate than to descend into an unlit cave complex in search of dead bodies? George the bugbear, Gull the tiefling, Feodora the dwarf, and Myra the half-elf kick off their adventuring career and learn that everything's a threat when you're Level 1. This episode was made possible by https://roll20.net/ but not in a sponsorship way (yet).

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 15 (Dungeons & Dragons 1.1) Feb 07, 2017

Levi leads us into the latest iteration of Dungeons & Dragons, the biggest name in tabletop roleplaying! We navigate character creation, noting the improvements that Fifth Edition brings to the table, and assemble a team with magical powers and checkered pasts. EDIT: Whoops, I forgot the music! Our intro and outro beats are still courtesy of Aesop Rock's The Blob, available here: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 14 (Monsterhearts 2.4) Jan 31, 2017

Another Monsterhearts session wraps up with ominous cliffhangers! I think that means we’re doing it right. With a strange new threat and personal secrets revealed, the students of MDC are left vulnerable and confused, but make a last-minute push to obliterate your sympathy for them.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 13 (Monsterhearts 2.3) Jan 25, 2017

Mark faces consequences for his... wait, I read that wrong, he faces consequences for Bishop's actions. Meanwhile, what started out as a wholesome ritual sacrifice goes awry when a mysterious force manifests in the forest. Also, all those Hot and Cold rolls pay off with two game-changing Advances in one episode!

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 12 (Monsterhearts 2.2) Jan 10, 2017

This week in Monsterhearts, everyone sticks their nose into each others' business and makes way too many anime references! Pennyworth shows Mark what smooth moves really look like; Jessamine engages Bishop in a sinister-charisma-off.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 11 (Monsterhearts 2.1) Jan 03, 2017

We return to Mater Dolorosa College! In the wake of last week's party, everyone has personal business to address. A new friend meets a new threat, Mark gets a pep-talk from his boss, Bishop has a family heart-to-heart, and Jessamine navigates her relationship with tact and finesse.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 10 Dec 28, 2016

The holidays are here and the year is almost over, so the Big Gay Nerds gather to talk about tabletop games of the past, present, and yet to come. (To all you Sara fans, she was enjoying an ACTUAL holiday gathering at the time of recording.)

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 9 (Ring of Fire 1.4) Dec 20, 2016

The Ring of Fire session comes to its thrilling conclusion! Rio attempts to solve a problem without violence! Seimei and Oshiro escalate the situation without really knowing what the situation is! Mori encounters our most marketable foe yet! Will the misfit heroes foil a regicidal plot, or literally shoot themselves in their collective feet? There's also a brief reflection after everything's wrapped up, so no standalone postmortem episode for this arc.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 8 (Ring of Fire 1.3) Dec 15, 2016

After the last episode's revelations, our heroes leap into action with a plan to reap fame and fortune from the dire situation! Witness hard-boiled investigation, barroom combat, equestrian heisting, and an unexpected reunion under the worst circumstances possible.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 7 (Ring of Fire 1.2) Dec 08, 2016

Rio, Oshiro, Mori, and Seimei kick off their new misadventures in the Ring of Fire by cashing in on their earlier, undocumented misadventures. Then they're invited to the lavish estate of an eccentric but loving friend of the family! Then the game ends because everyone's happy and no one's previous actions have come back to haunt them. Content warning: brief suicide mention.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 6 (Ring of Fire 1.1) Dec 02, 2016

A new big gay nerd joins the team! Ian's here with a character-driven, easily-modified game called Lady Blackbird (http://www.onesevendesign.com/ladyblackbird/) and a genre-splicing setting of his own creation. Owen, Sara, and Levi revisit some old characters, and Saturn starts to devise a new one. If you were hoping for Lawful Good PCs... well, you might have to temper your expectations for this podcast as a whole. Heads up: we had some technical hiccups in this recording, which is why Ian is only in the right-hand speakers for the first half.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 5 (Monsterhearts 1.5) Nov 29, 2016

With the first Monsterhearts session over, we reflect on... whoa! Oh boy, this one starts out pretty heavy. But seriously though, we talk about what makes this game so much fun for us. I promise that Levi didn't get disappeared at the end. There's also a VERY belated endorsement for Monsterhearts 2, which as I type has a day and a half left on Kickstarter, so if you wanna push for some last-minute stretch goals: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/averyalder/monsterhearts-2

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 4 (Monsterhearts 1.4) Nov 15, 2016

Our first session of Monsterhearts draws to a conclusion! Bishop steals away with more than family photos. Jessamine gets her fill and earns a reputation. Mark... Mark's got a real mixed bag of a situation, folks. We think you're gonna like this one.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 3 Nov 09, 2016

Let's get this party started! Our band of young monsters arrives at their first-ever college party to mingle with their peers... and advance their dark agendas. Jessamine sinks her claws into Jake, Bishop and their minions start a heist, and Mark gets some mixed signals.

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 2 Nov 02, 2016

Class is in session at Mater Dolorosa College! Not that any of the students care. Bishop, Jessamine, and Mark are too busy chasing money, blood, family heirlooms, and the cheapest beer they can illegally obtain. Intro and outro music courtesy of Aesop Rock: https://soundcloud.com/rhymesayers/aesop-rock-the-blob

Big Gay Nerds: Episode 1 Oct 25, 2016

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Big Gay Nerds, an LGBT RPG podcast! Join Owen, Levi, Sara, and Saturn as they discuss and play tabletop roleplaying games. Today we're getting started with Monsterhearts, a game about young adults in paranormal romance. Three strange figures emerge from the swirling mists, and it turns out they're all petty jerks. Content warning: explicit language, Sex Moves.

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