Dungeons + Drama Nerds is a podcast produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percy Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, three dramaturgs interested in the intersection of theatre and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGS). Episodes release weekly alternating between Actual Play and Commentary episodes investigating a certain TTRPG system. Season 2 will feature: Blades in the Dark, Bluebeard's Bride, Kids on Bikes, Oh Dang! Bigfoot Stole My Car With My Best Friend's Birthday Present Inside!, and Lancer. Season 1 ...
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Prosper convenes a meeting of the gang of ghost cats that depend on him. They meet someone new and unexpected in the depths of the basement and find something … unexpected. The answer to his lingering questions, or something more sinister? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edi…
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In the continuation of our Our Haunt campaign, Romeo tries to bring Caleb and Adrian closer together, but in the process he catches the eye of someone (or something) else. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jov…
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All Plays Are Memory Plays: Collective Memory in Art, with Beka Bryer
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Nick and Todd sit down with public humanities scholar and performance historian Dr. Beka Bryer to discuss the ways we make memories: as individuals and societies, in life and in art. You can learn more about our guest, Dr. Beka Bryer, at her website: https://rmbryer.com/ Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, an…
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In the aftermath of Orphan’s Yule, Prosper and Trinket attempt to resolve their differences. The moon shines bright. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen…
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We return to our campaign of Our Haunt: Mackenzie gives Trinket a tarot reading, Caleb and Adrian say goodnight, and the ghosts of our Haunt convene for Orphan’s Yule. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane …
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We Are the Living, Featuring Heather Kelley and Kaylee Rowena
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On this episode, Nick and Percy chat with special guests Heather Kelley and Kaylee Rowena about ghosts, haunted houses, and the roles that these stories play in our culture. Heather Kelley is a theater artist and scholar whose work focuses on hauntings, the supernatural, and dark tourism; learn more about her here: https://www.colorado.edu/wgst/hea…
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The residents of Our Haunt, both Living and ghostly, prepare for an end-of-semester open mic night. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kor…
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Our campaign of Our Haunt continues: Dale and Mackenzie go out for slushies, Prosper and Romeo share a dance, and Jules takes a moment in the great outdoors. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, A…
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Nick and Percy are joined by game designer Jay Dragon, here to talk about Belonging Outside Belonging games: their origin, their evolution over time, and their relationship to other TTRPG traditions. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensembl…
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Join Nick and Percy for a brief explanation of how Our Haunt works and meet our player characters before diving into the campaign! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christo…
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In the first episode of our Our Haunt campaign, the Living residents of the haunt study for finals while our family of ghosts contends with a cantankerous television and pulls a prank on a stray cat. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensembl…
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This month, we're bringing an episode of our Patreon-exclusive show, Skitbash!, out from behind the paywall! Each month, our ensemble rolls on a table for a random play and a random TTRPG system and try to kitbash them together. In this episode of Skitbash!, Ben, Tess, Percy, and Nick tackle a mashup of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion (and/or the b…
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Dark Time: Actual Plays as Art
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Nick and Percy are joined by ensemble members Chris Diercksen and Ben Ferber to talk all things TTRPG actual play: what draws us to particular shows, how these shows serve as entry points to playing TTRPGS, and what one must consider while recording and producing actual play shows. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nichola…
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Dark Time: Everyone in Barovia is Usually Sad, or, Location-Based Horror
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Our Dark Time series continues with this conversation between Percy and ensemble member C "Meaks" Meaker about the role of location in horror storytelling. They look at two plays and two TTRPG games/settings to examine the importance of specificity about location in how we make art in the horror genre, with a focus on the way anxiety, metaphor, and…
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Dark Time: Collaborative Worldbuilding in Theatre and TTRPGs
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In the first episode of our new Dark Time series between actual-play campaigns, Nick, Percy, and ensemble member Leo Mock talk collaborative worldbuilding in TTRPGs and devising, focusing on a definition of worldbuilding as the tangible ways we shape the spaces in which we're making theatre or playing games together. They discuss what works about e…
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Percy, Todd, and Nick here with some announcements about the show’s format and our next actual-play campaign! See you soon with more Dungeons + Drama Nerds. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel De…
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There’s Always Room For More Boyfriends: an ARC Debrief
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Percy sits down with the ARC cast to chat about their experiences with playing this game, things they wish they had had time to explore, and what it was like to race against the Doom Clock! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our th…
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Aided by an unexpected ally, our heroes contend with the arrival of Yok Edije and attempt to save Startide Hollow from an impending Doom. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo ar…
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Doing vs Having: Rituals in ARC
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Percy, Chris, Todd, and Nick gather to talk about the way rituals that recharge spells and techniques in ARC blend real life and the game's fiction, and what opportunities that blurring of the magic circle's boundary opens up. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed …
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With a dark ritual complete, our heroes fight on against Kuzbahn’s minions on the City Council - and against the poison they’ve been dosed with! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our …
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Turtling is a Very Specific Process
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Hot on Kuzbahn’s trail, our heroes learn of a sinister plot afoot and race to the edge of Startide Hollow in an attempt to avert disaster. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo a…
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Finesse in the Chaos: an Interview with the New York Neo-Futurists
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Todd and Chris sit down with our beloved contributor Anthony Sertel Dean as well as Rob Neill, Co-Artistic Director of the New York Neo-Futurists, to talk about their show The Infinite Wrench, a theatrical race against the clock akin to the mechanics of ARC. Check out the New York Neo-Futurists: https://www.nyneofuturists.org/ https://www.nyneofutu…
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After Silt's vision of the approaching Doom, a creature of legend called Yok Edije, spurs the crew to action, Gorm, Deniz, Twili, Silt, and Lemon Sprinkle continue their investigation of the ongoing turtle-fication of Startide Hollow at City Hall. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and th…
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Meet the heroes of our ARC campaign as they prepare for the upcoming martial arts tournament and investigate the disappearance of one of its potential champions! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Todd Brian Backus. Our theme music is by Anthony Se…
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We kick off our campaign of momatoes' ARC with Chris, Percy, Todd, and Nick as they sit down to go over how to play the game and what they're most excited about in this TTRPG system. Tune in next week for the kickoff to our campaign, and head over to our Patreon for early episode releases and to hear our Session 0 for the game! Dungeons and Drama N…
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All-Female Hamlet: A Brindlewood Bay Debrief
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Nick sits down with the cast and Keeper of our Brindlewood Bay campaign to talk about their experience playing this system, reflect on the campaign, and hypothesize about all the possible deleted scenes they could have played out. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited…
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Bowled Over By Death: Part 2
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In a thrilling finale, our Mavens confront the Midwives of the Fragrant Void and solve the final mystery as they attempt to stop the imminent ritual. Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Dierc…
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Bowled Over by Death: Part 1
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Having received an invitation to the re-opening of Beauregard's Bar, the Mavens prepare to face off against the Midwives of the Fragrant Void and unravel the conspiracy once and for all. Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features…
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Everything is Data: Magic Circles in Play and Performance
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Percy, Nick, and ensemble member Jon Jon talk about the concept of the magic circle and how we can use it as a tool in TTRPGs and in performance, touching on the exploratory power of play, consent and intimacy choreography, and the question of who defines the magic circle in the first place. Works Cited:- Germaine - “The Magic Circle as Occult Tech…
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Amicable Autumnal Abbatoir: Part 4
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The Mavens continue their investigation of the murder of The Great Grievous and the looming presence of the Midwives of the Fragrant Void that overshadows their efforts. Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions fr…
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Amicable Autumnal Abbatoir: Part 3
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The Mavens begin to investigate the murder of the Great Grievous and sink ever deeper into the broader conspiracies at work in Brindlewood Bay. But first, brunch! Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Chri…
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Brindlewood Bay and Aging as Performance
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Nick, Todd, and Percy talk about the intersection of ageism and sexism in theatre and in media, how it limits the kinds of stories we see about older women, and the intervention Brindlewood Bay makes in its centering of characters who are elderly women. Works referenced: - Diane Riggins - "Gender in Fiction: An Autoethnographic Approach to J.R.R. T…
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Amicable Autumnal Abattoir: Part 2
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Shaken by their encounter with the new District Attorney, the Mavens head to the Autumn fair at Brindlewood Bay Community College and attend a magic show, uncertain what new horrors might be hidden among the magician's tricks. Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by An…
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Amicable Autumnal Abattoir: Part 1
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The Mavens regroup and recover after investigating their friend Teddy's disappearance, then stop by the new District Attorney's office for a quick meeting on the way to an autumn festival at Brindlewood Bay Community College, where nothing could possibly go wrong ... right? Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, a…
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Jessica Fletcher is a Gay Icon: An Interview with Jason Cordova and Joel B. New
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Percy and Todd sit down to chat with composer Joel B. New and TTRPG designer Jason Cordova about New's EP, Cabot Cove, and Cordova's game Brindlewood Bay. They talk about what inspired their respective works in conversation with Murder She Wrote, their connections to the show, and why Jessica Fletcher is a gay icon. Joel’s website: https://joelbnew…
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Our Mavens theorize just who is behind Hamlet's murder at the local community theatre, and go on a quest to find their missing acquaintance, Teddy... Dungeons + Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Christopher Dierc…
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Our Mavens continue their investigation of a murder at the local community theatre, uncovering more and more clues and facing the creeping dangers of the void... Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Chr…
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Spooky and Safe: Coziness and the Murder Mystery Genre
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Nick and ensemble member Leo Mock chat about coziness in theatre and in TTRPGs - what makes something cozy? What's the value of coziness? How can we embrace spookiness and the benefits of scary play in both mediums? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Ser…
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After a tragic death at the invited dress rehearsal for the local community theater production of Hamlet, the Mavens look around for clues, demonstrate their expertise in lighting fixtures, and try to figure out who murdered the production's lead. Just as a heads up, for the rest of our Brindlewood Bay campaign, we'll be bringing you back to back e…
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To Be, Or Not To Be Dead: Part 1
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After a few weeks of downtime, the Mavens come together once again to attend an invited dress rehearsal of a high-concept community theatre production of Hamlet put on by the Brindlewood Bay Bravados, but they encounter a death that isn't in the script... Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis…
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A Fried Fish Filleted: Part 2
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The Murder Mavens gossip, meddle, and confront the villainous rich in the thrilling conclusion to our first Brindlewood Bay mystery: A Fried Fish Filleted! CONTENT WARNING: There is a moment of eye-related horror at the very end of the episode. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mi…
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It’s All About Community: An Interview with C. Meaks Meaker
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Nick sits down with the Keeper for our game of Brindlewood Bay, C. Meaks Meaker, to talk about their relationship to the horror genre, the intersection of theatre and TTRPGs in their work, and The Walking Dead. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel D…
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A Fried Fish Filleted: Part 1
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Meet our group of Murder Mavens as they live their lives, drive corporations out of their scenic New England town, and encounter their first mystery in the first episode of our campaign of Jason Cordova's Brindlewood Bay! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Antho…
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Brindlewood Bay, Population: Decreasing
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Nick, Todd, and Percy talk through the rules of Brindlewood Bay, their favorite Maven Moves, and what excites them most about the game and our upcoming campaign! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Season Three features contributions from Chr…
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Todd interviews the cast of our Thirsty Sword Lesbians game about their experience with this game system, things they wish they could have explored further, and, of course, their OTP from the campaign! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Anthony Sertel Dean. Seas…
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Patreon Teaser: Interview with Christopher Diercksen
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As a treat, we're bringing you a clip from our Patreon series of collaborator interviews, featuring Christopher Diercksen from our games of Dungeons & Dragons and Oh Dang, Bigfoot Stole My Car With My Friend's Birthday Present Inside! To listen to the full interview, join us on Patreon at the link below. If you’d like to help us continue exploring …
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In the finale of our Thirsty Sword Lesbians game, the crew faces Kell Enterprises' security force, experiences an unseen world, and faces off against a Toxic Power. What will happen when Nymeria comes face to face with her father's company? Will Coney and Adelaide stay together? Can Malta Regina overcome her past? Will Ru keep their oath? Listen to…
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The Make it Gay Ethos: An Interview with April Kit Walsh
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Nick, Todd, and Kory sit down with April Kit Walsh, designer of Thirsty Sword Lesbians, to chat about the process of designing the game, rehearsing revolution through playing games, and upcoming projects April is working on! You can find her here: https://prilkit.itch.io/ https://twitter.com/gayspaceshipgms And pick up Thirsty Sword Lesbians here: …
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Our Thirsty Sword Lesbians head towards a strange circular clearing amid the wilderness of the Untamed astride the giant beast who just moments ago was menacing their small village - what will they discover at its center? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is mixed and edited by Antho…
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Tongues Out, Swords Out: Queerness and Villainy
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Todd and Percy are joined by Kory Flores to talk about the longstanding link between queerness and villainy in media, queer-coded villains, and how villainy manifests in Thirsty Sword Lesbians. They conclude by asking: what makes a good villain? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percival Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, and is m…
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