I've gotta say tho, these recent few episodes, while interesting in terms of worldbuilding, have been kind of a snooze for me. There's very little tension. That said, the last bit of the most recent one kinda redeemed it all.
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DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder) Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
I would have to agree. The 100-year thing is interesting, but I feel like they could have condensed it down to two episodes. It is still better than other D&D shows that I love.
Last night I finally got fully caught up, and I feel kind of lucky that it happened to coincide with the release of the third episode of Stolen Century.
The arrival of Lucretia's painting at the end really made it feel like I had come a long way with these characters.
I'm a little sad that I came into TAZ so close to the end of the Balance arc, but at the same time, it feels like the timing worked out in a nice way as well. Now the long wait begins...
I think that Clint's contributions to Adventure Zone are subtle but great. It's so interesting to listen to a father play a game like this with his grown sons.
Clint is one of my favorite parts. My wife and I have a 5-year old son and it hits me right in the dad feels when they call him "daddy". I got a little choked up in the Adventure Zone Zone episode when he took a moment to tell Griffin how proud of him he was for how he's been running the game and the story. I've been introducing our son to the game bit-by-bit over the last year and slowly working toward playing a full game together - I'm really looking forward to being able to sit down at a table and do what Clint is doing with Justin, Travis, and Griffin.
This newest episode of the Stolen Century is interesting - I'm definitely ready for it to kick into the last arc though.
I just finished the Eleventh hour today, and I just love this podcast to much! Gave me all the DM feels and it helped me decide to try and get some groups together again. I will catch up eventually!
I just finished the Eleventh hour today, and I just love this podcast to much! Gave me all the DM feels and it helped me decide to try and get some groups together again. I will catch up eventually!
I'm just starting The Suffering Game myself (literally listening to their Boston live show as we speak type) and I can't even express how pumped I am to still have so many episodes to go through despite the first campaign being over (it's been hell avoiding spoilers tho lmao)
I just finished the Eleventh hour today, and I just love this podcast to much! Gave me all the DM feels and it helped me decide to try and get some groups together again. I will catch up eventually!
I'm just starting The Suffering Game myself (literally listening to their Boston live show as we speak type) and I can't even express how pumped I am to still have so many episodes to go through despite the first campaign being over (it's been hell avoiding spoilers tho lmao)
Same, avoiding spoilers has been hell cause all the art is super nice and so many of my favorite artists draw for this. I just finished the suffering game (so many life things getting in my podcast way) this podcast honestly helped me get back into D&D after a very long absence.
It was a great run (I’ve been listening since the beginning). Sad that it’s over now, except the occasional one-shot at live shows. Will be curious to see how they carry on with the podcast.
I can't wait for them to settle on which experiment they go with for a full campaign (or if they don't go with any of them and do something different than the experiments they're running) because I THIRST for another major campaign arc from these McElboys, in any setting/system.
Mine was from the point where Griffin asked Travis, "How does Magnus die?" To basically the end. That hit me really hard, I was bawling
Exact same for me. My partner and I were listening in bed, and she had fallen asleep by that point. I really can't believe I didn't wake her up with my (loud sobbing).
w/r/t whatever is coming next: I'm actually really, really nervous. I hope I don't have to be; I'm just worried that nothing is going to live up to that first arc, and that the others aren't going to be the kinds of powerful, gifted storytellers that Griffin is.
At least if Clint is GMing a game it'll mean he has to learn the rules lol
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DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder) Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
I discovered TAZ early last fall and binged the entire run in about 2.5 months. As someone with 3 (soon to be 4) kids who doesn't get to play D&D very often, I came in just looking for something that gave me a vicarious D&D experience. But what the McElroys ended up creating is so much more than that, and really the D&D is almost incidental. Like others, I cried like a baby in that last episode when
Magnus rushes in for the last time.
And got choked up a few times before that. It is just such a funny, exhilarating and ultimately deeply affecting world they created. I'm jealous of those who have yet to experience it.
I will also say, I was nervous about the short/experimental arcs up until the most recent episode of Amnesty, which has hooked me. It's certainly possible that having Griffin run things is the key (I haven't heard any of the "After Dark" episodes where Travis DMs, but will probably donate and circle back to those soon). But it gives me hope for the future, whether they continue to do short arcs and/or ultimately reinvest in a new, longform campaign/season.
TAZ Nights is pretty good. Travis doesn't have the DM chops that Ditto does, but tbf Griffin took a while to really get there too. The other thing is that Griffin has this really naturally compelling charisma that makes for an excellent DM.
I liked Clint's arc okay, but I think FATE was the wrong system to use. iirc Travis is going to use the PbtA/*World system which so far seems to be a good fit. I'm pretty excited for Justin's arc too, since he's designing his own system apparently.
I would love to see Amnesty become "season two" tho.
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DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder) Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
TAZ Nights is pretty good. Travis doesn't have the DM chops that Ditto does, but tbf Griffin took a while to really get there too. The other thing is that Griffin has this really naturally compelling charisma that makes for an excellent DM.
I liked Clint's arc okay, but I think FATE was the wrong system to use. iirc Travis is going to use the PbtA/*World system which so far seems to be a good fit. I'm pretty excited for Justin's arc too, since he's designing his own system apparently.
I would love to see Amnesty become "season two" tho.
Agreed on pretty much all points. I'm not sure if they're using these arcs as tryouts for a longer season or if they are committed to keeping them self-contained, but I think Amnesty definitely has legs. It may be blasphemous to say this, but I think even after only two eps, it seems like Clint's character is a more natural fit for him than Merle was (FTR, I think Merle's best moments in Balance were his conversations with The Hunger/John).
Since you went Ditto, I'll ask: Were you a MBMBaM fan and then rolled into TAZ, or vice versa? For some reason, while I binged TAZ *HARD*, I set MBMBaM aside and only this week started listening to four or five of the most recent episodes. It is, of course, utterly charming. Now deciding if I should I listen in reverse or go back to 2010 and just start hammering away. ;)
Have been trying to figure out how to indoctrinate my wife in TAZ and the whole McElroy diaspora generally because I suspect she'd love it if I could get her invested. She is what I would call nerd-compatible, though not a classic nerd herself (Harry Potter is her fandom of choice and she shares my Disney nerdery. Has never played D&D, and though supportive of my recent return to the game, so far has shown no interest in playing herself). She loves Lin Manuel Miranda (who doesn't?), so I thought I might use that as a point of entry...
They've referred to these arcs as "pilots" more than once so I think they're part experiments/part potential new ongoing campaign.
I tried listening to MBMBAM a long time ago. I got into Max Fun through Judge John Hodgman, and then started checking out the other podcasts on the network. I checked out MBMBAM bc a lot of people recommended it, but I tried starting from the beginning and, well, those first episodes are bad and have a lot of gross jokes and I figured it wasn't for me.
And then I got into TAZ, and I fell hard for it. That inspired me to give MBMBAM another chance and I've been a proud MBMBaMbino ever since.
Sawbones might be a good point of entry, depending on her interests. It's pretty breezy compared to MBMBAM or TAZ, and Justin and Sydnee's relationship is adorable. Wonderful is the most wholesome thing ever, so maybe that could be a starting point too? My partner and I listen to that one in bed before going to sleep and it's just so many good feelings.
PS go in reverse, bc those first eps are of questionable quality imo. Somewhere between 103 and 123 would be my recommend starting point otherwise, and 201 is also a good introduction bc it's a "best of"
I've gotta say tho, these recent few episodes, while interesting in terms of worldbuilding, have been kind of a snooze for me. There's very little tension. That said, the last bit of the most recent one kinda redeemed it all.
DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder)
Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
I would have to agree. The 100-year thing is interesting, but I feel like they could have condensed it down to two episodes. It is still better than other D&D shows that I love.
Last night I finally got fully caught up, and I feel kind of lucky that it happened to coincide with the release of the third episode of Stolen Century.
The arrival of Lucretia's painting at the end really made it feel like I had come a long way with these characters.
I'm a little sad that I came into TAZ so close to the end of the Balance arc, but at the same time, it feels like the timing worked out in a nice way as well. Now the long wait begins...
I just finished the Eleventh hour today, and I just love this podcast to much! Gave me all the DM feels and it helped me decide to try and get some groups together again. I will catch up eventually!
Anyone catch the last episode?? Felt way too many emotions ha. Might have sealed it as my favorite DnD show.
speaktype) and I can't even express how pumped I am to still have so many episodes to go through despite the first campaign being over (it's been hell avoiding spoilers tho lmao)Same, i just finished
It was a great run (I’ve been listening since the beginning). Sad that it’s over now, except the occasional one-shot at live shows. Will be curious to see how they carry on with the podcast.
Ditto
Finally listened to the finale and 😭😭😭😭
DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder)
Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
I can't wait for them to settle on which experiment they go with for a full campaign (or if they don't go with any of them and do something different than the experiments they're running) because I THIRST for another major campaign arc from these McElboys, in any setting/system.
What part in the finally made you the saddest?
Mine was from the point where Griffin asked Travis, "How does Magnus die?" To basically the end. That hit me really hard, I was bawling
DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder)
Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
i'm still catching up. i just started listening again. im on episode 18.
I discovered TAZ early last fall and binged the entire run in about 2.5 months. As someone with 3 (soon to be 4) kids who doesn't get to play D&D very often, I came in just looking for something that gave me a vicarious D&D experience. But what the McElroys ended up creating is so much more than that, and really the D&D is almost incidental. Like others, I cried like a baby in that last episode when
Magnus rushes in for the last time.
And got choked up a few times before that. It is just such a funny, exhilarating and ultimately deeply affecting world they created. I'm jealous of those who have yet to experience it.
I will also say, I was nervous about the short/experimental arcs up until the most recent episode of Amnesty, which has hooked me. It's certainly possible that having Griffin run things is the key (I haven't heard any of the "After Dark" episodes where Travis DMs, but will probably donate and circle back to those soon). But it gives me hope for the future, whether they continue to do short arcs and/or ultimately reinvest in a new, longform campaign/season.
TAZ Nights is pretty good. Travis doesn't have the DM chops that Ditto does, but tbf Griffin took a while to really get there too. The other thing is that Griffin has this really naturally compelling charisma that makes for an excellent DM.
I liked Clint's arc okay, but I think FATE was the wrong system to use. iirc Travis is going to use the PbtA/*World system which so far seems to be a good fit. I'm pretty excited for Justin's arc too, since he's designing his own system apparently.
I would love to see Amnesty become "season two" tho.
DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder)
Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)
They've referred to these arcs as "pilots" more than once so I think they're part experiments/part potential new ongoing campaign.
I tried listening to MBMBAM a long time ago. I got into Max Fun through Judge John Hodgman, and then started checking out the other podcasts on the network. I checked out MBMBAM bc a lot of people recommended it, but I tried starting from the beginning and, well, those first episodes are bad and have a lot of gross jokes and I figured it wasn't for me.
And then I got into TAZ, and I fell hard for it. That inspired me to give MBMBAM another chance and I've been a proud MBMBaMbino ever since.
Sawbones might be a good point of entry, depending on her interests. It's pretty breezy compared to MBMBAM or TAZ, and Justin and Sydnee's relationship is adorable. Wonderful is the most wholesome thing ever, so maybe that could be a starting point too? My partner and I listen to that one in bed before going to sleep and it's just so many good feelings.
PS go in reverse, bc those first eps are of questionable quality imo. Somewhere between 103 and 123 would be my recommend starting point otherwise, and 201 is also a good introduction bc it's a "best of"
DM: The Cult of the Crystal Spider (Currently playing Storm King's Thunder)
Player: The Knuckles of Arth - Lemire (Tiefling Rogue 5/Fighter 1)