Battle Bards

A small online RPG proves to have a big musical heart with Wayfinder, as Syp, Steff, and Syl discover! These consummate professionals chew through this soundtrack and ask for seconds, only to be denied because they made such a mess along the way. Also, we are the only people in the world who dislike Baldur's Gate 3. Episode 232 show notes "Call of the Void," "Echoes of the Fallen,""Skylight""Awakening""Wayfinder""Deepwood Holt""In the Beacon's Light""Kragan Highlands""Blood in the Wood""Fillmore" "The Apostle Myrkul""Death's Door" "Raven's Shadow" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Returning to the fertile soundtrack of Caravan Stories, Syl and Syp are rejoined by Steff to give us a fresh take! It's another journey through a charming and laid-back MMO landscapes. Episode 231 show notes "Entrust a Will," "Toasting Dance,""Open the Map""Foothills of Carvendel""Enigma Rips the Sky""Folka Village""Baldu Pipe Town""Slapstick Castanet""Glenmore Fault Valley""Graphorn Ride" "To the Heroes of the Light" "Subterra" "Outpouring of Armaments" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Ready to get your cozy on? Syp and Syl take you into the relatively new life sim Palia to explore its down-home-on-the-player-farm tunes. Is this a little TOO laid-back and boring, or is there a rural charm to this soundtrack? We’ll be the judge of that. Episode 230 show notes “Home Sweet Home,” “Palia’s Kilima Village Daytime Theme,” “The Creation”“Daiya Farm Badruu’s Melody”“Main Theme”“Chapaa Chase”“Einar’s Cave”“Daydreams, Sunsets”“Maji Market”“Not Tomorrow”“Lost in Random” Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Come along for a trundling trip through the countryside with Caravan Stories, a 2017-era MMO that charmed Syl so much that she demanded they do a two-part show on its soundtrack! Bring your sympathy for Syp, who has to put up with this nonsense! Episode 229 show notes "Dubious Person," "In Trials," "Rallying Man""Caravan Trip""Eastern Part of Denon Hill""Free City of Nero""Arlosa Mine""Polka""Mad Cow Brewery"“Chef Saltbaker”“Save Room Theme”"Sailing to the City of Freedom - Elf" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Not every dungeon has to be a drab and dour affair -- a fact which sent the Battle Bards searching for the cheeriest tunes from MMO instances! Join Syp and Syl as they recount a good half-dozen upbeat tracks from online RPG dungeons. If you've got to loot... loot with a smile. Episode 228 show notes “Commence to Jiggin'”“Brawler's Trial”“Daring Dalliances”"Den of Secrets" from Free Realms "Dohn Mheg" from FFXIV "Balzack’s Bachelor Boogie" from Dungeon Runners "Ellinia Forest Dungeon" from MapleStory "The Motherlode" from World of Warcraft "Math Dungeon" from Mabinogi Which one did we like best? “The Streets Suburbia”"Summer Breeze"“Boom Box Beat” Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Syp and Syp return to the vast library of NCsoft's MMO soundtracks, with games like Aion, Lineage, and Blade & Soul to keep our ears happy for decades now. With so much new music coming out of this studio on a regular basis, there's always something fresh to experience! Episode 227 show notes "Glimmer of Hope""A Tropical Getaway""Coastline""Corridor of Awakening" from Blade and Soul 2 "The Labyrinth in the Garden" from Lineage II "The Recluse" from Lineage "Greenhollow" from Blade and Soul "Darkened Land" from Aion "Cormans" from Tabula Rasa Which one did we like best? "NCsoft Playlist""Shamburger""SissiRat Theme" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

It’s always highly bittersweet when MMO fans sit back and consider the games that never were — the projects that got far along in development but, for various reasons, didn’t cross the finish line. But some left behind a melodic footprint that’s very much worth examining, which is what our intrepid Battle Bards do today! Episode 226 show notes “Overture”“Sentience”“Ancestral Lands”“Town” from Peria Chronicles “Alpha 6” from EverQuest Landmark “Roobrik and Balzare” from Glitch “Barren Plains” from Ultima X Odyssey “Sunlit Forest 2” from Project Copernicus “West Tumbara Day” from Lime Odyssey Which one did we like best? Jukebox Picks: “The Way Home” from Terranigma (SNES) and “Main Theme” from Timerborn “Zingo’s Faire” Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

One of the newer MMOs on the market, Embers Adrift leaned hard into tougher PvE gameplay and the darkest of dark nights. But how does its music support this fantasy game world? Syl and Syp investigate the "living soundtrack" of this hardcore title. Episode 225 show notes "Adventures Adrift," "Gardens and Ruins,""Into the Trees""Meadowlands Melody""Newhaven" "Newhaven City Theme" "Hunted in the Dark" "Sojourn in the Mist" "Wanderer" Which one did we like best? Jukebox Picks: "Pizza Deluxe" from Pizza Tower and "Staff Roll" from Super Soccer "Enigmatic Echoes" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

It's been an almost egregiously long time since the Battle Bards turned their attention to the EverQuest II soundtrack -- but now that wait is over. Join Syp and Syl as they comb through the expansions for all sorts of delightful musical morsels to enjoy! Episode 224 show notes "Main Theme," "Landing Zone,""Darkpaw""Artisan Theme" "Qeynos Rises" "Stonewood" "Dreadcutter" "Visions of Vetrovia" "Enchanted Lands" Which one did we like best? Jukebox Picks: "Big Apple 3PM" from TMNT Shredder's Revenge and "A New Land Awaits" from Going Medieval “Gnomeland Security Headquarters” Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

The steely gaze and pointy ears of the Battle Bards turns to 2009's Dragonica -- also known as Dragon Saga -- to see what musical treasures might be stashed in this beast's lair. Syl and Syp descend into this all-too-cute realm to find tracks of whimsy and madness awaiting. Listener beware! Episode 223 show notes "Sky City," "Ferell,""Haruka's Sushi Restaurant""Title Screen" "Swamp Area" "Traitor's Ridge" "Port of Winds" "Odelia" "Pinecone Hill" Which one did we like best? Thanks to MMO Bomb for featuring us on its Top 10 MMO podcasts you should be listening to! Listener notes: Bill Champagne, Katriana Jukebox Picks: "The House Cup" from Hogwarts Legacy and "Content" from Age of Mythology "My Home" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Will our fascination with giant, skyfaring, flame-belching lizards subside? World of Warcraft bets not, as it's currently soaring through its Dragonflight expansion. Will the music also ascend to lofty realms or fall to the earth with a dud? You'll have to listen to the Battle Bards as they figure out the answer to that question! Episode 222 show notes "The Dragon's Hoard," "Riverbends,""The Isles Awaken""Take to the Skies""Giants of the Span""Windsong""Tyrhold""Ramparts of Valdrakken""Gardens of Unity""Encounter Elite""Jubilife Village Theme""Density" "Life Pools" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

The power of the One Ring doesn't just rule them all -- it also brings Steff back from retirement! All three Battle Bards are here today to talk about Lord of the Rings Online's enormous Before the Shadow soundtrack. From Hobbits to swans to everything in between, our radio dial is stuck on Middle-earth for now. Episode 221 show notes "The Silver Bastion," "Valor of Yore,""Hidden Hearths""Before the Shadow" "Cranny and Nook" "Mark of the White Hand" "The Waiting Night" "The Stoors Abode" "The Shadow Rises" Zinn"Sunset Breakfast""Lichdragon Fortissax""San Francisco Escape By Day""A History Not Forgotten" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

On this week’s episode, Bree and Justin talk about roadmaps, roadmaps, and more roadmaps! Elder Scrolls Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Diablo Immortal, and Villagers and Heroes all laid out plans for 2023, along with a delightful launch announcement from Gloria Victis. It’s the Massively OP Podcast, an action-packed hour of news, tales, opinions, and gamer emails! And remember, if you’d like to send in your question to the show, use this link or call in to our voicemail at (734)...

Whether or not you like dragons, you have to admit that Guild Wars 2 certainly ended them in style! Join Syl and Syp as they rewind to last winter's End of Dragons and its incredible bounty of soundtrack goodness. Episode 220 show notes "Daigo Ward""Mist Connections""A Future Carved in Jade""A New Era of Heroes""I'm Home""The Petrified Forest""Captain of the Aetherblades""Stroll in the Night Markets""Crystal Garden" "Knucklebones" "The Empire of Dragons" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

If anyone's ever told you to "take a chill pill," then the Battle Bards have your full dosage in today's episode. Exploring peaceful and serene tracks from MMORPGs, Syl and Syp find their inner calm -- before the inevitable slaughter. Episode 218 show notes "A Farmer's Life""Dream of Peace""Silverfrost Mountain""Aro to the Sun" from Runes of Magic "Settler's Campsite" from Aion "Serenity" from TERA "Ammon Vale" from World of Warcraft "Shire Nights" from LOTRO "Aquarium" from RuneScape "Be'elze Territory""Closing Medley""Fishing" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Rock out with your mace out as the Battle Bards crank up the soundtrack to Dungeon Fighter Online. Have we been missing out on the vast bounty of action setpieces? Is there a delightful orchestral soundtrack tucked inside all of this synth noise? Tune in and find out! Episode 218 show notes "Main Theme," "Tower of Despair,""Adios Verrickt""The Seatrain""Character Select"“White Night” “Forgotten Forest Boss” “We Are Desperado”“Alfhlyra Post”"High Score""Trichroma Sunset""Helix Powerstation" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Chances are you've never heard of today's featured MMO -- or its quirky little soundtrack! So why not come along with Syp and Syl to explore Legend of Edda, a now-defunct RPG set in a realm of Greek Mythology? Episode 217 show notes “Ballack's Castle”“Cybele Garden”“Title Theme" "Frigid Valley""Gaiyan Town""Wailing Wall""Kobalos Mines""Silver Lake"“Millick Meadows (Night)”“Drug Store”“Boreas Temple” Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

While Final Fantasy XIV players won't shut up about A Realm Reborn, it's not often you hear people speaking fondly of the original 1.0 edition. Yet in this episode of Battle Bards, Syp and Syl find something to praise from this era: the Before Meteor soundtrack. Let's rewind the clock and hear the O.G. Eorzea tunes! Episode 216 show notes "Canticle," "Promise of Plunder,""The Rider's Boon""When a Tree Falls" "Navigator's Glory" "Born of the Boughs" "Desert Moon Defied" "Eorzea de Chocobo" "Dreams Aloft" "Stage 2" "The Fallen Kingdom" "To the Fore" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

Maybe you've never heard of Lineage W, a 2021 spin-off of NCsoft's long-running franchise. But after today's Battle Bards episode, you'll have heard it's sweet tunes! Join Syl and Syp as they explore this fantasy soundtrack to see how it stacks up against its amazing ancestors. Episode 215 show notes "Against Odds," "Moment of Peace,""Woodbeck Village""Main Theme" "Elven Forest Village" "Lone Wanderer" "Atoning Elf" "Knight of Faith" "Magician in the Nightmare" "The Crown" "Golden Forest""Man of Honor" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!

You may never see them coming, but when the Battle Bards strike out of the shadows, you'll either find your pocket picked, your fluffy best friend kidnapped, or your life's blood stolen. After all, they learned from the best thieves and rogues in the world! And what kind of music would these robbers identify with? Find out on today's show! Episode 214 show notes "Rogue" "The Holy Land of Assassins""Rogues""The Call of Cyrodiil" from Elder Scrolls Online "Thief Theme" from MapleStory 2 "Two Rogues, One Mark" from Hearthstone "Golden Thief" from Ragnarok Online 2 "Thieves" from EverQuest "Dark Brethren" from Sea of Thieves "Seashell Strut""Honor and Thieves" "Band of Robbers" Talk to the Battle Bards on Twitter!Follow Battle Bards on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Google Play, iHeartRadio, and Pocket Casts!