Battle Bards Episode 25: Holiday Themes

It’s always a holiday somewhere, especially in MMOs, so don’t blink twice if you happen to hear the Battle Bards talking about Christmas, Halloween, and Arbor Day on this week’s episode!  After all, special occasions necessitate special music, and holiday themes can be quite memorable indeed.

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• Episode 25 show page

Episode 25 show notes

• Intro (including “Wintersday Bell Choir” from Guild Wars 2 and “Lifeday Celebration” from Star Wars Galaxies)
  
• “Winter Event” from Star Trek Online
• “Winter Home” from Lord of the Rings Online
• “Halloween Wonderland” from Rappelz
• “Happy Holidays” from Project Copernicus
• “Brewfest” from World of Warcraft
• “Starlight Celebration” from Final Fantasy XI
• “Missing Presumed Death” from RuneScape
• Which one did we like best?
• Outro (“Winter Event” from Star Trek Online)
  

Listen to episode 25 now!

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• Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 24: More World of Warcraft

We couldn’t stay away from Azeroth for long, and so the Bards have journeyed back to World of Warcraft for a second show dedicated to exploring our favorites from the soundtrack.

This episode is also notable in that it’s Battle Bards’ first anniversary — an entire year of bringing you MMO music commentary and opinions!  Stay tuned toward the end of the show to hear us share our favorite memories from the past 24 episodes.

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• Episode 24 show page

Episode 24 show notes

• Intro (including “Ebon Hold” and “Garden of Life”)
  
• Undercity (from World of Warcraft)
  
• Echoes of the Past (from World of Warcraft)
• Totems of the Grizzlemaw (from Wrath of the Lich King)
  
• Curse of the Worgen (from Cataclysm)
  
• Forged in Blood (from Wrath of the Lich King)
• Argent Tournament (from Wrath of the Lich King)
  
• Way of the Monk (from Mists of Pandaria)
  
• Which one did we like best?
• Our first anniversary!
• Outro (Argent Tournament intro)
  

Listen to episode 24 now!

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• Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Listen to Battle Bards on Player.FM!

There’s a new way to listen to the Battle Bards podcast, as the show is now included on Player.FM.

Go spread the word.  We’ll wait right here until you get back.

Battle Bards Episode 23: Epic Boss Battles

When the bards aren’t playing their tunes (or at least listening to them), they’re facing down the fiercest, biggest bad guys in all of MMOs.  It’s at this point of conflict that they raise a finger and say to the Undead Lord of Hell, “Oh hey, is this song included on the official soundtrack?”

That’s right, it’s an entire episode devoted to “epic” boss battles!  How epic is up to each of the hosts’ interpretation, but it’s pretty dang entertaining nevertheless.

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Episode 23 show notes

• Intro (including “Epic Boss Battle” from Elsword Online and “Boss Room 1″ from Atlantica Online)
• “Ragnaros/Molten Core” from World of Warcraft (comp. Jason Hayes, Tracy W. Bush, Derek Duke and Glenn Stafford)
• “Mutants of Delta Bunker” from Defiance (comp. Bear McCreary)
• “Wizard City Boss Tower” from Wizard101 (comp. Unknown)
• “Tough Battle” from Final Fantasy XI (comp. Naoshi Mizuta)
• “Romulan Battle Suite” from Star Trek Online (comp. Kevin Manthei)
• “King Toad” from Guild Wars 2 (comp. Maclaine Diemer and Leif Chappelle)
• “Epic Raid Boss 2 / Zod” from DC Universe Online (comp. Tracy W. Bush)
• Which one did we like most?
• Mailbag: Scott, Thuan, and Alyndale
• Outro (“Victory!” from Guild Wars 2)

Listen to episode 23 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 22: Guild Wars

A long time ago the Battle Bards gave their frank analysis of the immense Guild Wars 2 soundtrack.  While that podcast won several awards and is now being used as standard class curriculum in all primary schools, the original Guild Wars has remained untouched… until now.  Join the crew as they travel back to 2005 to see how the original OST stacks up against its sequel!

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• Episode 22 show page

Episode 22 show notes

• Introduction (including “Prophecies Theme” and “Resplendent Makuun”)
• “First Light”
• “Ashford Abbey”
• “Over the Shiverpeaks”
• “Under the Dark Span (Asura theme)”
• “Eye of the Storm”
• “Factions Theme”
• “Festival of Lyss”
• Which one did we like most?
• Mail: Joseph’s speakpipe (JVT Workshop)
• Mail: Rory’s speakpipe
• Mail: Doone
• Outro (“Alternate Theme”)

Composed by Jeremy Soule

Listen to episode 22 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 21: Moving

What MMO music truly moves us?  That’s the wide-open question that Steff asked the Battle Bards crew to tackle for today’s show.  While there’s a variety of answers and perspectives on this, what you’ll find is a ton of excellent music and heart-felt discussion!

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• Episode 21 show page

Episode 21 show notes

• Introduction (including “Flicker of Light” from Dragon’s Prophet and “A Story of Hope and Healing” from WildStar)
• “Alderaan, the Throne” from Star Wars: The Old Republic
• “Lovers Reunited/Heine theme” from Lineage II
• “Emei” from Age of Wushu
• “Epilogue: The Eternal Empire” from Age of Conan
• “Bluecoral Town” from Lime Odyssey
• “Autumn in Ascalon” from Guild Wars
• “Red Stone and Golden Leaves” from Lord of the Rings Online
• Which one did we like the best?
• Mail from Nick
• Speakpipe challenge!
• Outro (“Bluecoral Town”)

Listen to episode 21 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 20: Flyff

For the momentous occasion of our 20th episode, we Battle Bards have chosen to examine the epic music of… Flyff?  Seriously?  OK, who thought this was a good idea?  No, no, we’ll go ahead and do the show, we’re professionals.  But Flyff?

Yes.  Flyff.  More Flyff than you can handle!

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• Episode 20 show page

Episode 20 show notes

• Introduction (including “Title Screen” and “General”)
• “Flaris Town Theme”
• “Death”
• “Saint Morning”
• “Crisis/Darkon 1-2 Battle Theme”
• “General Theme (Flaris)”
• “Playground”
• “Darkon Forest Theme”
• Which one did we like the best?
• Mail from Rowan
• Mail from Dolnor
• Outro (“Playground”)

Listen to episode 20 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 19: Dead MMOs

The Battle Bards are welcoming 2014 with a heaping dose of DEATH!  Dead MMOs, that is.  Sit right back as we take you on a musical journey through sunsetted games.  Even though you can no longer play them, their ghosts live on through song!

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• Episode 19 show page

Episode 19 show notes

• Introduction (including “Karakorum” from Auto Assault and “World Map 2″ from The Sims Online)
• “Freedom Theme” from City of Heroes
• “Birth of a Player City” from Star Wars Galaxies
• “Little Girl / Guild Hall” from Meridian 59
• “LoadingH” from The Matrix Online
• “Blue Turns to Grey” from Tabula Rasa
• “Met With Honor” from Warhammer Online
• “Griddle Forest” from Glitch
• Which one was our favorite?
• Outro (“Rattle Tooth Theme” from Dungeon Runners)

Listen to episode 19 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 18: Vanguard

For their final podcast (of the year), the Battle Bards are singing the saga of heroes.  If that’s too vague, we’ll just be up-front.  It’s Vanguard.  We’re talking Vanguard’s OST.  It was a difficult soundtrack to review because it contained a paradox.  What is that paradox?  Listen, we’re not going to spoil everything here — just listen to the show!

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• Episode 18 show page

Episode 18 show notes

• Introduction (including “Main Theme”)
• “Brightwood Dells”
• “Celestial Hills”
• “Steppes of the Sunset”
• “Grotto of the Sea Hags”
• “Kaon Mage School”
• “Falgarholm”
• “Bamboo Forest”
• Which one was our favorite?
• Outro (“Bamboo Forest Combat”)

Listen to episode 18 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 17: Starter Zones

This week on Battle Bards, Steff, Syl, and Syp recall their first steps into MMOs — and the music that would be forever linked to those events.  Yup, it’s starter zone week on the show, so break out a big canister of nostalgia and join us!

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• Episode 17 show page

Episode 17 show notes

• Introduction (including “Silverwood Forest” from RIFT and “Autumn in Ascalon” from Guild Wars)
• “Freemarch” from RIFT
• “Elwynn Forest and Westfall Cataclysm” from World of Warcraft
• “Seascape” from Anarchy Online
• “Teldrassil” from World of Warcraft
• “Archet” from Lord of the Rings Online
• “Karana” from EverQuest
• “Tython the Wellspring” from Star Wars: The Old Republic
• Which one is our favorite?
• Mailbag
• Outro (“Freedom Court” from City of Heroes)

Listen to episode 17 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!