Podcast

Battle Bards Episode 187: Sewers and swamps

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Oh yeah, this is destined to be our most-downloaded show ever, because the Battle Bards are bringing the THRILLS of sewer systems and the EXCITEMENT of swamps right to your eardrums! Decaying organic matter and waste disposal are always fun times in the music department! Syp, Steff, and Syl comb through their MMO soundtrack archives to see what intriguing specimens they could pull out. It’s gonna be gross, people.

Episode 186 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Freeport Sewers” from EverQuest II, “Marsh of Peril” from Vanguard, and “Swamp of Silence” from Aion)
  • “Dalaran Sewers” from World of Warcraft
  • “Purple Lotus Swamp” from Age of Conan
  • “Wetlands” from World of Warcraft
  • “Swamplands” from EverQuest Online Adventures 
  • “Battle in the Swamp” from Star Wars: The Old Republic 
  • “Swamp of No Hope” from EverQuest II 
  • “Empyrea Zanadu Sewers” from Wizard101
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Landing Zone” from Chex Quest, “Bastion” from Spellforce 3, and “Day 10” from Viva Pinata
  • Outro (feat. “Swamp” from The 4th Coming)

Battle Bards Episode 186: Lineage

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While Lineage II is one of the absolute favorite soundtracks of the Battle Bards, the first game in this series has been shamefully overlooked on the show. No longer! In today’s episode, Syl, Steff, and Syp dig into this rather lovely and expressive score for an MMO that’s been around longer than some of their listeners have been alive. From the sappy to the sublime, Lineage has more than a few surprises in store for the adventurous listener!

Episode 186 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “The Fog of Dawnlight,” “Before Sunset,” and “Town Market Stargaze”)
  • “Against Odds”
  • “Phantasmal Island” 
  • “Across the Sea”
  • “Eternally”
  • “The Adventure of Racoon” 
  • “Take a Rest Here”
  • “Waltz on the Cloud”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from R. Ellen Ferare
  • Jukebox picks: “Learn Step Turn” from Creaks, “Quicksilver” from Super Burnout, and “Main Theme” to Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Outro (feat. “Singing of Shepherd”)

Battle Bards Episode 185: Taking Flight

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Flying has always been both beloved and controversial in MMORPGs, but no matter what your stance on it, at least you can agree that when you slip the surly bonds of earth, you need an amazing soundtrack for that moment. Thankfully, captain Steff, co-pilot Syl, and navigator Syp are here to point out some of the best flying-themed tunes found in online games. So raise your tray tables to their locked position, because this episode’s about to take off!

Episode 185 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Boundless” from Final Fantasy XIV, “Skybound” from Entropia Universe, and “Gryphons Soar in the Sun” from Elder Scrolls Online)
  • “Main Theme” from World of Warplanes
  • “Eagle Flight” from Guild Wars 2
  • “A Glorious Flight” from War Thunder
  • “Adventure” from Guns of Icarus
  • “Fly into the Sky” from Blade and Soul
  • “Flying Sky” from Trove
  • “Flying” from Flyff
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Bullwraith
  • Jukebox picks: “Main Theme” from Star Wars Squadrons, “Menu Theme” from Medieval Dynasty, and “Salutations” from Subnautica
  • Outro (feat. )

Battle Bards Episode 184: MapleStory 2

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Nexon’s late, doomed MapleStory 2 gets a resurrection of sorts, as the Battle Bards salvage the soundtrack and deliver it, shining and sparkly, to you. It’s a surprisingly good score with lots of interesting themes, and as such, Steff, Syl, and Syp are excited to talk about it. So rest in peace, MapleStory 2, we think you left behind a delightful musical legacy.

Episode 184 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Rune Blader Cave,” “Black Star,” and “Ice Age Field”)
  • “Knight Theme”
  • “Perion Field 1”
  • “Tria”
  • “Dream”
  • “Dungeon”
  • “Lapenta”
  • “Historic Desert”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Flying in the Sky” from Super Robot Wars F, “Rey’s Theme” from Sims 4: Journey to Batuu, and “Volcano” from Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
  • Outro (feat. “Wizard Theme”)

Battle Bards Episode 183: Theme parks

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This episode is your ticket to the greatest amusement park experience known to gamers! With cotton candy and ride tickets in hand, the Battle Bards rush into the gates of their favorite theme parks — and theme parks WITHIN theme park MMOs! So what do amusement parks sound like in online roleplaying games? Find out in this fantastic spectacle of an episode!

Episode 183 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Shopping Arcade 1” from MapleStory 2, “Nar Shadda” from SWTOR, and “Dream Carnival” from Hello Kitty Online)
  • “Themepark Overture” from Lineage 2
  • “Mudskipper Calliope” from RuneScape
  • “Darkmoon Faire Hero” from World of Warcraft
  • “Fantastic Theme Park” from MapleStory 
  • “Blizzard World” from Overwatch
  • “Carnival of Death” from The Secret World
  • “Gold Saucer” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “A Sit By the Water” from A Monster’s Expedition, “Forest” from The Smurfs (NES), and 
  • Outro (feat. “Fairie Funland Trailer Theme” from Revelation Online)

Battle Bards Episode 182: Last Oasis

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What does the apocalypse sound like? That’s the burning question, so to speak, that the Battle Bards are investigating this week as they dive into the soundtrack to Last Oasis. Michał Korniewicz’s unique score is a haunting experience that must be heard to be believed. But at the end of it all, will it be enough to endure?

Episode 182 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Seven Pieces of the Moon,” “Before the Reckoning,” and “Against All Odds”)
  • “Beast from Beneath” 
  • “Growth”
  • “Woodpunk”
  • “The Old Ways”
  • “The Flotillans”
  • “Big Red”
  • “Chase the Bard”
  • Which one did we like the best?
  • Listener notes from Mika, Minimalistway, and Bullwraith
  • Jukebox picks: “Out of the North” from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, “Main Theme Part 3” from Baldur’s Gate 3, and “Super Sonic” from Sonic Mania
  • Outro (feat. )

Battle Bards Episode 181: Around the world

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Stuck at home? Denied a vacation this year? The Battle Bards are here to help! In seven songs, the cross-continental crew travel all around the world with one pick per continent. Can MMORPGs take us on across the globe with their music alone? Indeed they can!

Episode 181 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “American Sea” from Uncharted Waters Online, “Mission Mayan 1” from Pirates of the Burning Sea, and “Four Corners” from A Tale in the Desert)
  • Australia: “Untamed Outback” from Elsword Online
  • North America: “Main Theme” from Outlaws of the Old West 
  • Europe: “Eulmore 1” from Final Fantasy XIV
  • South America: “Mayan Lobby Theme” from SMITE
  • Asia: “Main Theme” from Silkroad Online
  • Africa: “Akhet” from Age of Conan
  • Antarctica: “Arcterra” from WildStar
  • Which one did we like the best?
  • Listener notes: Grilledcheese28 and Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Maki Ya” from Scott Pilgrim: The Game, “Through the Roof of the World” from World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, and “Chasing the Torrents” from Genshin Impact
  • Outro (feat. “Sunnyside” from Granado Espada)

Battle Bards Episode 180: Moonlight Blade

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While Moonlight Blade is not yet a known quantity over here in the west, its soundtrack has gone before it and landed right into the laps of Steff, Syl, and Syp — otherwise known as the Battle Bards! In this contentious episode, the three dance, flow, and fly through this big and distinct score.

Episode 180 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Time,” “Thunder,” and “Jiuhua Battle Music”)
  • “Main Theme”
  • “Character Creation” 
  • “Game Anniversary Theme – Day” 
  • “Jinghu Day”
  • “Cloud” 
  • “Saddle”
  • “Rain”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Dug
  • Jukebox picks: “A Short Flight” from A Short Hike, “Whaaarrgarrrbl” from Desktop Dungeons, and “Isle of Siptah Main Theme” from Conan Exiles
  • Outro (feat. “Mid-Autumn Festival Day”)

Battle Bards Episode 179: Arrr pirates!

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Shiver me timbers — the Battle Bards are coming aboard and demanding that all capable musicians appear on the poop deck and blast out a few shanties and jigs for their pleasure! In today’s episode, this motley crew examines the pirate themes that sail across many-a-MMO. Will they find rich booty — or only a few pieces o’ eight? Find out!

Episode 179 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “Salty Sailor” from World of Warcraft, “The Adventure Begins” from Tales of Pirates, “The Redmoon Marauders” from WildStar, and “Driftwood Island Combat” from Pirates of the Caribbean Online)
  • “Pirate Ship” from MapleStory 2
  • “We Shall Sail Together” from Sea of Thieves
  • “Freeport Theme” from Atlas
  • “Pirates” from Ashen Empires
  • “Port Theme” from Florensia
  • “Randy Dandy Oh” from The Legend of Pirates Online
  • “San Juan” from Pirates of the Burning Sea
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener note from Katriana
  • Jukebox picks: “Credits” from Flashback CD, “Hero Approaches” from Port Royale 4, and “The Time Traveller” from Luna: The Shadow Dust.
  • Outro (“Bay Theme” from Cloud Pirates)

Battle Bards Episode 178: The Division 2

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Washington D.C. has fallen to the plague, curiously well-armed agents are everywhere, and intriguing music floats. The Division 2 features a tense and action-packed synth score that distinguishes itself among online games — and is worth an investigation by the Battle Bards. Suit up, because today we’re going to the musical dark zone!

Episode 178 show notes (show page, direct download)

  • Intro (feat. “The Beginning is the End,” “Rocket Science,” and “Ballroom”)
  • “Prologue 2”
  • “Steps”
  • “Saint”
  • “Dock Wrecks”
  • “Keates”
  • “Hyena Hunt”
  • “Rooftops”
  • Which one did we like best?
  • Listener notes from Zinn
  • Jukebox picks: “Sanctuary 3” from Borderlands 3, “Ronda’s Diner” from Unforeseen Incidents, and “Bushroot” from Darkwing Duck NES
  • Outro (feat. “Junior”)