Blizzard Watch posts
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Lore Watch Podcast: Jurassic World, and all the dinosaurs InGen made up along the way
This week's Lore Watch Podcast is just as majestic as the last, with even more discussion of the lore of Jurassic Park. This time, Joe, Matt, and special guest Eric O'Dea discuss the second set of Jurassic media, starting withJurassic World. They give a rundown of the plots of the newer movies, then move into analysis. While scientific hubris clearly has its role to play, perhaps the true villain here is capitalism. But whatever the allegory or moral, I think we can all agree that dinosa...
Tavern Watch Plays Rebel Scum, Episode 1: A hive of scum and villainy
This week we're playing a game ofRebel Scum, a game of anti-fascist space opera that seems a lot likeStar Wars -- so of course we just used it to play in theStar Wars universe! When an overwhelmingly powerful fascist Empire threatens those who want to see a better future for those around them and for the rest of the galaxy, what do you do? You fight back, you fight hard, and you don't stop until you win.Join GM Phil Ulrich as I take the crew of the Crew of the Furious Tooka through an ad...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: Hamilten
Hamilton turns ten this week, and Lin-Manuel Miranda announced that it would be coming to theaters in September, so I'm having a Hamilicious week. It's a good time to be a former theater kid.Let's not throw away our shot to look back at what happened this week, what we have to look forward to next week, plus some stuff you may have missed.What happened this week?Ghosts of K'aresh patch 11.2releases August 5HearthstoneBattlegrounds season 11begins August 5This week’sHearthstone ...
Blizzard Watch Podcast: As Ghosts of K'aresh releases, what's up next?
In the preshow, Liz went and saw some lighthouses. She also just started playingBaldur's Gate 3, which everyone was excited about, since it was so freaking good. This time she is determined to make it through Act 1 and into the rest of the game. Everyone else has opinions, but don't worry, there aren't any spoilers here -- no matter how excited Matt is about discussing the game. You can mosey on over to 35:04 to skip the preshow if you'd like.This week patch 11.2 finally released...
Lore Watch Podcast: Welcome to Jurassic Park: how it kicked off a cultural phenomenon
This week, Matt, Joe, and special guest Eric O'Dea dove into one of the most influential series for the 90s kids in the audience: Jurassic Park. From Michael Crichton's groundbreaking novels to the movies, dinosaurs were inescapable -- pun intended. Our hosts discuss the first few works in the series, how the books and movies differed, and just how wrong the science was.Jurassic Park influenced a generation of kids to be really into that dino DNA and spawned a ton of our favorite memes.T...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: dragging ourselves to the finish line
We're officially in back to school mode in our neck of the woods, which means that in addition to our regular activities, there's also a ton of additional orientation activities, plus summer wrap up parties, and shopping, and cleaning. It's always exciting to get a new year underway, but I always feel a little confused -- are my children eating their pencils over break? Where are their wired headphones? Why did I go to three different stores in a mad search for lined filler paper onl...
Blizzard Watch Podcast Uncut: The waiting room for patch 11.2
This week on the Blizzard Watch Podcast pre-show, Liz has concerns about how AI has affected, among other things, search traffic. Several news articles have confirmed what we've seen on our end from the analytics -- traffic is down because if people can just read an AI generated excerpt on Google itself, why go to the source? Even if their previous excerpt tech was hilariously incorrect a ton of the time, and because that excerpt was generated by scraping our content, there's no reason t...
Lore Watch Podcast: Answering listener questions from around the World of Warcraft
This week's Lore Watch Podcast featured three different listener questions, answered by our intrepid hosts Matt and Joe. First, they delved into some pop culture references in WoW, specifically focusing onFinal Fantasy(or possibly He-Man). The second question talks Quilboar and the Scourge -- what did the Scourge get out of working with the Quilboar anyway? Finally, we go cosmic with a question about the Titans, and what force the baby Titan Azeroth might control when she grows up.Thank you ...
Tavern Watch Podcast: Danger from Diamond Comic Distributors (and more tabletop news)
In this week's Tavern Watch Podcast, we dig into the disaster of Diamond Comic Distributors, which filed for bankruptcy in January and is now trying to claim books in its inventory are its property, to be sold to pay off creditors. This includes comics and books it was holding on consignment, to distribute for companies that aren't paid until the books are sold in retail stores — and the loss could be crushing for small press publishers who could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars w...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: Earworm Rabbit Hole
It started this week when Cory mentioned opera in his Queue, so of course I had to immediately go watch Diana Damrau sing the Queen of the Night aria -- and down the rabbit hole I went, listening to both analysis of the performance and even more opera I enjoy. Chuck Mangione's death brought me down another, as did Ozzy's earlier this week. And then somebody mentioned Lubalin earlier today and I'm just done for. Pack it in, folks, here we go again.I don't want to meet people, I do...
Blizzard Watch Podcast Uncut: The latest news on Mists of Pandaria Classic
We hope you like dinosaurs, because that's Matt's tangent of choice this week: there were a few new discoveries this week to discuss. Then, Joe and Liz talk standing desks and walking pads, and the quirks of these fallible human bodies that have aged and been conditioned in strange ways over time. Then -- Neuromancer, by William Gibson! If you'd like you can also jump forward to 30:49 to skip the preshow.If you're dipping your feet into the newly releasedMists of Pandaria Classic...
Lore Watch Podcast: Void Demon Hunters and other magical mixups
This week's Lore Watch Podcast features three different reader questions shoved into one podcast trenchcoat. First up, would it be possible to see a Void version of Demon Hunters, considering what we know now about Void as a magic source? Which of course, raises the question of, say, Light Demon Hunters or Arcane Demon Hunters. Then, we try to shove magic sources together, like Deathwing's Shadowflame (and why does this always seem to be a villainous move?). Lastly, game mechanics: do we...
Tavern Watch Plays Daggerheart, Episode 3: The hidden heart of the Motherboard
This week we continue our adventure of Daggerheart, as our crew becomes the first to enter the towering spire that is the Motherboard. While it's forbidden by the church, delving into these untouched halls may be the only way to save the Motherboard — and perhaps the entire Echo Vale. Let's see how it goes, shall we?Join GM Liz Harper as I attempt to guide a motley crew of adventurers through the Echo Vale! Here's our cast of characters:Joan as Lithyen of Redcanyon (Rogue), a faun ...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: Pizza Night!
I usually write this intro about what's sort of going on in my life at any given time. As such, it's Friday, end of the week, I'm tired and want to be a little bit of a trash goblin, so it seems like I've used this whole "pizza night" theme before. C'est la vie, and happy Friday.While I decide if I want the phenomenal pizza from the expensive place or the decent pizza from the less expensive place, let’s look back at what happened this week, what we have to look for...
Blizzard Watch Podcast Uncut: And now for even more player housing news
This week's preshow was mostly aboutD&D and tabletop gaming. Matt talked a bit about Blackmoor and its place inD&D history, which led to Critical Role and its place inD&D history. Also, there are a billion and a half hours (estimating) of Critical Role, so getting into it is a little intimidating. If the preshow has you intimidated, you can skip to 27:47 to avoid the preshow. How's that for a segue? Eh? Needs work.Player Housing was up first in the lineup of topics for this show, because...
Lore Watch Podcast: Storytelling in TTRPGs
Our hosts Joe and Matt were joined by frequent guest and DM for our Tavern Watch podcast, Phil Ulrich. Together they explored the storytelling aspect of TTRPGs. While they do enjoy the aspect of "math rocks go brrrr" TTRPGs bring to the table, the ability to tell a story collaboratively makes it more appealing to them than a typical game likeCatan or Monopoly, though certainly both those games have their own stories to tell. We recount some of our favorite story beats from our own gamepl...
Tavern Watch Plays Daggerheart, Episode 2: Ambushed! (But not very well.)
This week we continue our adventure of Daggerheart, as our crew walks away from the settlement surrounding the Motherboard and into a not entirely unexpected ambush. Or maybe it's a reverse ambush? Well, you'll have to listen to see all of that works out, as our party searches for a way into the hidden heart of the Motherboard herself.Join GM Liz Harper as I attempt to guide a motley crew of adventurers through this adventure! Here's our cast of characters:Joan as Lithyen of Redcanyo...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: vacation?
This week has been the most sedate so far this summer, and as such, it flew right by. Also I was working the whole time, and didn't really get to sleep in. But I did get to drink a lot of coffee, so at least being an adult has that going for it?While I see about Irishing up this cuppa, let’s look back at what happened this week, what we have to look forward to next week, plus some stuff you may have missed.What happened this week?Summer Games Done Quickstarts on Sunday and runs through Jul...
Blizzard Watch Podcast Uncut: Goodbye Warcraft Rumble
I might crack a corny joke from time to time about this podcast bearing resemblance to a plane crash, but this week's preshow is literally about plane crashes. Matt is very much into the documentary series Mayday. Then, speaking of corny plane crash jokes, the crew starts talking aboutStarfield. Heyo! If you want to skip the preshow you can skip ahead to 32:23, but I'll be here all night. Tip your waitress.Ghosts of K'aresh and its newly announced release date were the first topic in...
Lore Watch Podcast: Fragments of worlds and world souls
Two listener questions form bookends to an overarching concept this week on the Lore Watch Podcast. First, what is happening to Outland as it is now, 20 years after we visited? Is it still crumbling as it was, and what is becoming of the people and creatures still living there? Then, continuing on the theme, the next question asks, what if Azeroth's fate -- after burrowing Old Gods and Titan stabbing and 20 years of varied psychic abuse -- is already sealed, and our planet is doomed to crumb...
Tavern Watch Plays Daggerheart, Episode 1: An invitation to the Motherboard
This week we're playing a game of Daggerheart, largely because I was enchanted by the Motherboard setting in the book — a funny turn of phrase, since the setting has no magic! In the Echo Vale, civilization has been reborn in the ruins of the old world, repurposing the technology of people long gone. But the robotic creatures roaming the valley have been stirred into a wild fury, and the Prophet of the Motherboard thinks our party may be able to help.Join GM Liz Harper as I attempt to guid...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: loud noises!
I have a nine year old son and a fully grown husband so of course this is their favorite collective holiday. We’ve rounded the corner from sparklers being cool and fun to whipping snapits at each others feet — and then we found the snakes, and now the neighbors hate us.While we dodge roman candle fireballs, let’s look back at what happened this week, what we have to look forward to next week, plus some stuff you may have missed.What happened this week?Mists of Pandaria Classic: prepatch la...
Blizzard Watch Podcast: Too much transmog, too little time
It's Canada Day! Or was, rather, during this week's preshow. That led to a discussion of the Geneva Convention, and some atrocities in games that might qualify. If you're not sure you're up for a discussion of the BG3 Dark Urge campaign (spoiler light), you might want to skip the preshow by heading to timestamp 27:21, but then, are you complicit? May I suggest you read the short story The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas?This week's Blizzard Watch Podcast begins with a discussi...
Lore Watch Podcast: From class fantasy to (redacted) fantasy, we answer your gaming questions
This week's episode covers a lot of ground, because we're answering your burning listener questions (but you should still see a doctor). One involves modding and romance options in games like Fallout 4 or Cyberpunk 2077. The next question is all about class fantasy in WoW, and which our hosts think is defined the best. The final question is about the upcomingLegion Remix: what are our hosts looking forward to the most on the revisit? And what do they think might change, or be added. Afte...
Tavern Watch Podcast: Looking forward to playing Rebel Scum (but you can't buy it on DriveThruRPG)
It's a new week of drama in the TTRPG community, and we're here to dig into the latest news. We talk about the controversy surrounding the game Rebel Scum, a Star Wars-alike from 9th Level Games that was recently removed from DriveThruRPG after complaints about the game's political messaging. Surprise: Star Wars itself is pretty political, and the game takes it from there in what it calls an "antifascist space opera." (We may be checking the game out ourselves soon!) In other...
Blizzard Watch Weekly: Summer Sale
For those of you who enjoy following the escapades of my ridiculously overstuffed steam wishlist, I am here to report that during this Summer Sale, there are 75 items on it on sale at or above 80% off. It may be time to do a little pruning. Eh, let Future Anna handle it.While I deny that I have a problem with organization, let’s look back at what happened this week, what we have to look forward to next week, plus some stuff you may have missed.What happened this week?Overwatch 2 season 17 begi...
Blizzard Watch Podcast Uncut: Ghosts of K'aresh, from Tazavesh to Manaforge Omega
In this week's preshow, Liz and Phil met up with their guild and had a blast, and we are all happy for them and not dying of jealousy. They also went to various zoos, and Liz got to see Fiona the Hippo, and again we are just so glad she got to do that. Then, they all played Pigeons 11 together, and if you want to skip the preshow, you can jump to 26:46 (but not because you're jealous).Ghosts of K'aresh, the upcoming content update forWorld of Warcraft, is the lead news for the show t...
Lore Watch Podcast: Who are the Lorewalkers (and why do they know so much)?
With the new Lorewalking feature, it has some of us curious about the Lorewalkers. What is their history in the game, and why exactly do they know so much? A listener asked us just that -- somewhat suspiciously. As Matt and Joe discuss the Lorewalkers, it is evident that many are not your average NPC, empowered with longevity, or great memory. The path leads us to the Time Walkers and the dragonflights, and whether any of them can be trusted to tell the truth.Thanks so much for your support, and...
Tavern Watch Plays Masks, Episode 3: A blast from the past
This week on Masks, with the tip from Perseus Pyrite, the Mavericks are hot on the tail of -- presumably -- Silver Age villain Mirror Master, back and probably up to no good. But why did Mirror Master want Pyrite's shield, rumored to be able to open portals in time and space? Is he truly operating on his own? Is the past ever truly buried and behind us? Our teenage powerhouses are about to find out those answers -- for better or worse -- in an encounter that will test their mettle as heroes....
Blizzard Watch Weekly: Solstice
For a long time -- probably until I was older than I should admit -- I thought "solstice" and "eclipse" were synonyms. I thought there had to be some kind of awe-inspiring visible celestial event to go along with the earthly one, and an eclipse is one of the coolest ones out there. I know better now, but every time I'm reminded it's the solstice, I try to take a peek at the sky to see what kind of magic is in the air.And then I quickly turn away, because oh my god, stop l...
