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!

Battle Bards Episode 16: Aion

Fresh off their Lunatic Lutes World Tour, the bards have decided to do one encore presentation (until the next show, that is).  The topic du jour?  It’s Aion, baby!  Your ears will thank us when this hour is over and you’ve experienced the exciting, lovely music that’s contained herein.

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• Episode 16 show page

Episode 16 show notes

• Introduction (including “The Still, Sad World” and “Solid State Battle”)
• “Utopia 3.0 main theme”
• “Tower of Eternity”
• “Song of Katalam / 4.0 login”
• “Fortress of Gods”
• “Death Waltz”
• “Steel Rake”
• “Canyon”
• Which one is our favorite?
• Mailbag
• Outro (“Marks of Dark Wound”)

Listen to episode 16 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 15: Tearjerkers

Can music make a battle-hardened bard cry?  That’s what we’re going to put to the test on today’s episode.  Syl came up with the theme of “tearjerkers,” and it’s up to a bewildered Syp and a stoic Steff to figure out what will fit the bill.  It’s a surprisingly lively hour of music and discussion across a wide range of MMOs.  Check it out!

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• Episode 15 show page

Episode 15 show notes

• Introduction (including “Tasca’s Demise” from Guild Wars and “Rule City” from Ultima X Odyssey)
• “Intro Cinematic” from Blade & Soul
• “Forgotten Sorrow (in-game piano version)” from Aion
• “Sorrowful Lamentations of a Rusty Heart” from Rusty Hearts
• “Ul’dah Town Theme at Night” from Final Fantasy XIV
• “The Sea of Sorrows” from Guild Wars 2
• “Shadow Kingdom” from Asheron’s Call 2
• “Arthas, My Son” from World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
• Outro (“Forgotten Sorrow” from Aion)

Listen to episode 15 now!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Battle Bards Episode 14: World of Warcraft

Sometimes the Battle Bards have to give attention to the “little MMOs” out there.  Maybe you’ve never heard of World of Warcraft, but you probably have played Warcraft: Orcs & Humans back in the day.  Well, this is the MMO that’s set in the same universe, and believe it or not, it’s got some great tunes.  Let’s give it a listen, why not?

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• Episode 14 show page

Episode 14 show notes

• Introduction (including “Main Theme” from World of Warcraft and “Howling Fjord” from Wrath of the Lich King)
• “A Call to Arms” from World of Warcraft
• “Elwynn Forest” from World of Warcraft
• “The Shaping of the World” from World of Warcraft
• “The Sin’dorei” from The Burning Crusade
• “Castaways” from Cataclysm
• “Mountains of Thunder” from Wrath of the Lich King
• “Stormstout Brew” from Mists of Pandaria
• Mailbag: Ian
• Outro (“Salty Sailor” from Taverns of Azeroth)

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!

Listen to episode 14 now!

Battle Bards Episode 13: Spirit of Adventure

What does adventure mean to you?  Everyone has their own definition, and the Battle Bards are bringing that question to the MMO music scene.  In this episode, each of the three co-hosts submit their own favorite “spirit of adventure” tracks for group discussion.  It’s a big world out there and we need the very best soundtrack if we’re going the journey through all of it!

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• Episode 13 show page

Episode 13 show notes

• Introduction (“Hearthstone Revealed” from Hearthstone)
• “Open Sea Music” from Pirates of the Burning Sea
• “Explorers and Artifacts” from Guild Wars 2
• “Spiritual Elysium” from Anarchy Online
• “Step to the Next World” from Aion
• “Talking Island” from Lineage II
• “Romulus Suite” from Star Trek Online
• “Breeland Jig” from Lord of the Rings Online
• Outro (“Hills of the Shire” from Lord of the Rings Online)

* Apologies for Steff’s sound toward the end of the show — Skype was being glitchy with us!

Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo!