Big Gay Nerds

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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

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