Episode 7

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Published on:

10th Oct 2024

E07. Unboxing TBR lists, games & plans

Episode seven of Rolling Into Fantasy dives into the world of fantasy literature and gaming, featuring a vibrant discussion on our short to-be-read lists alongside a selection of intriguing titles. We explore three books each, highlighting Patrick Ness's "A Monster Calls," Samantha Shannon's "The Bone Season," and Christopher Paolini's "Eragon." The episode also includes an exciting segment on recent unboxings of tabletop RPG and card game products, including a special surprise reveal of Magic: The Gathering cards inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. We tease a potential first guest appearance, an experienced DM, who will bring expert insights to future episodes. With a focus on popular tabletop RPGs and card games, this episode is packed with recommendations and a commitment to engage with the fantasy genre.

Takeaways:

  • Noor & Laurent discussed their short TBR lists, featuring books like 'A Monster Calls' and 'Aragon'.
  • They plan to read at least one book each by the next episode.
  • The episode introduced an exciting unboxing segment with Magic: The Gathering cards and a special box.
  • The podcast aims to invite expert guests to discuss various fantasy games and literature.
  • They highlighted the importance of music playlists for enhancing role-playing game experiences.
  • The episode concluded with insights into popular tabletop RPGs, including D&D and Pathfinder.
Transcript
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Okay.

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And welcome to episode seven of rolling into fantasy.

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And it's been only two weeks since our last episode, but we have already a full program yet again.

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Oh, hell yeah.

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Yeah.

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And this time we'll talk about tales from the tome and we'll be discussing about some books that we really want to read on a very short notice.

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So by, let's say, at least one book by next episode.

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Yes.

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And on top of that, we're gonna exchange a book to one another.

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We'll be talking about lore bound there.

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We might be doing some unboxing.

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Or at least you're gonna hear about an unboxing.

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We might also announce a first guest to the show.

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Very exciting.

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All right.

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And then we'll also talk about the currently most popular fantasy tabletop RPG's and card games.

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Yes, we've already discussed one.

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Oh yeah, we did already.

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Well, actually two.

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We did cover d and D and magic.

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Is magic on the list?

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I didn't.

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Magic wasn't on the list.

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Well, not on this list, but at least we did discuss them.

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It's not on the list.

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So from the list, we've discussed one from the list.

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Indeed, indeed.

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But more about that just in a few moments.

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And then we'll wrap it up with a very short section of Bart's ballad.

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But with no further ado, let's dive into it.

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I'm still a Ron.

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And I'm still Mahiro.

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All right, well, why don't you start off with tales from the tome and your very, very short to be read list.

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Alright, so we each have three books with us from our very short TBR.

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There is more on it, but we just selected three.

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We have to make choices.

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Yep.

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The first one I have with me is a monster calls by Patrick Ness.

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It's about a boy called Connor and he has the same dream every night ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatment that don't quite seem to be working.

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But then one night it's a little bit different because that night he wakes and there is a visitor at his window.

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It's described as ancient, elemental, a force of nature.

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And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Connor.

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He wants the truth.

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Ooh, nice.

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It's a story about family and grief with a know magic elements to it.

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Nice.

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And the reason why I put it on my shortlist TBR, is because a good friend of mine also has it on her bookshelves while I was visiting and she hardly recommended that I read it because it's a very good book.

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And she really likes that author overall.

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So I was like, why don't I give it a try?

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All right.

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The second book on my TBR is the one I know the least about.

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Okay.

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It's the bone season by Samantha Shannon.

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That's all I know, really.

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But to give you a summary, it's clairvoyance in all its forms has been decreed a criminal offense, and those who practice it are viciously punished.

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Forest underground.

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A clairvoyant underworld has developed, combating persecution and evading capture.

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Paige Mahoney, a powerful dreamwalker operating in the seven dials district of London, leads a double life using her unnaturalness illegally while hiding her gift from her father, who works for the Zion regime.

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Regime.

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All right, all right.

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And then the last book I have with me is a classic, and I've been putting it out for a very long time, so I think it's about time that I picked it up overdue.

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So the last one is Aragon from Christopher Biolini Baulini.

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I butchered name so badly.

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That's okay.

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All I know is that there are dragons in it.

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That's all you need to know.

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Yeah, it's all I need to know.

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It's medieval fantasy and it's about a boy, I think.

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Yep.

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And he finds a polished blue stone in the forest and he thinks that it's a lucky discovery for a poor farm boy, but perhaps that it perhaps will buy meat for his family during the winter.

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But then it turns out that the stone brings a dragon hatchling.

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Yep.

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That's basically it.

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That's basically it.

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All right, cool.

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I've read all.

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Well, actually, I did read one of them.

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Aragon, I'm assuming.

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Yeah, I did enjoy it.

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I read it many years ago.

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But it's the first of, I think it's four books.

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Yeah, I know it's a series.

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I don't know how many books exactly are in there for, if I'm not mistaken.

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Okay.

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All right.

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Okay.

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And on my very short to be read list, or at least the three books that I've put aside from the TBR list, I start with one, which is also considered to be a classic, which is Earthsea.

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And it's the first tome of that.

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Series, if I'm not mistaken, because Earthsea does ring a bell.

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I think one of the movies from Studio Ghibli is based off of one of the later books of that series.

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Yep, that is correct.

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Tales from Earthsea from Studio Ghibli.

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That is one of the books.

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It is, yeah.

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In that series.

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It is.

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And this home.

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So the first one is called wizard of Earthsea.

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And I mean, as I said, I still need to read it.

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And it's the first one of the series.

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Bye.

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Ursula.

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Que le guin.

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I'm pronouncing it.

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I butcher names as well, and I'm just reading it.

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It has a french sound to it.

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I mean, it's Le Guin.

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Otherwise it sounds very silly if I were to pronounce it in English.

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But anyway, this series of books has sold millions of copies worldwide, and it's really considered as a treasured place on the shelves of many fantasy lovers.

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So what's it about?

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I mean, just reading it from the back cover.

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So get was the greatest sorcerer in all earth sea, but he was once called Sparrow Hulk, a reckless youth hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world.

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So this is a tale of his testing how he mastered the mighty word of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed deaths threshold to restore the balance.

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So that's basically what's it about.

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So I don't think that's not bad at all.

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And then a second book that I picked from the shelf is called, this is a more recent one by Emma Torres, or Terz, I think, Emma Turs.

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And it's called ink blood Sister scribe.

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And I did like it.

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Sounds very sinister from the title alone.

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It really captured me, because even from the back cover, just in two lines, it already intrigued me.

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And I'll just read the two lines from the back cover.

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So deep in the woods of Vermont is a house nobody can find.

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A house where Joanna Kayla toy lives alone, protecting a collection of rare books.

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These are just the two first sentences.

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I mean, the description goes further, and, I mean, I won't read the whole thing, but just these two sentences really capture me.

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So it's a person who is fleeing, I would say.

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And she has rare books.

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And, I mean, these are not ordinary books.

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They contain ancient magic, and the spells written in the books are written in blood.

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So there you go.

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So I'm really intrigued about this one.

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And then my third book, which I actually started reading, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

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But you're like, what, 50 pages?

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Oh, yeah, I'm just in.

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Let me just.

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It's not even no, 37, so, I mean, I just dove into it.

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Well, I'm happy that you've all already enjoyed it thus far.

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Yep.

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And it's called perilous times by Thomas D.

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Lee.

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And it might make it a little bridge to the last literature genre that we discussed last time being a more comical, more comical approach to fantasy.

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And I'll just read a brief few sentences from the back cover.

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I mean, it starts off like this.

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In perilous times like these, the realm doesn't just need a hero, it needs a knight in shining armor.

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And this knight in shining armor is Sir Kay.

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And Sir Kay and his fellow knights awake from their mystical slumber whenever Britain has need of them.

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They fought at Agincourt and the Somme.

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But in these perilous modern times, the realm is more divided than ever.

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A dragon has been seen for the first time in centuries, and k is not the only ancient and terrible thing to come crawling up out of the ground.

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And, you know, having read just about 37 ish pages, it's really funny.

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You know what vibes it gave me just from that description alone.

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Yeah.

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Monthly Python and the Holy Grail.

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I mean, exactly, because these are.

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I mean, that's also the vibe that I had starting off with this book, because it.

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It tells you about the knights of a roundtable, but not like you would, you know, picture them or would remember them from the original books because they're even divided.

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And even the nights themselves are quite different than what you would expect.

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But then, yeah, setting them in a modern context is quite funny.

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Yeah, it is funny.

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So, okay.

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Only 37 pages into it, but really enjoying it.

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So there you have it.

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Our first three books on the very short to be read list, but we also made an extra fourth book to one another.

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These exchanged books.

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Yep.

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And you gave me a copy of Piranesi by Susanna Clark, and I know you've.

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Well, it was one of my top five, so I thought, you really need to read it.

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It's an experience.

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All right.

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So if you read it and it's in your top five very shortly, what's it about?

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Oh, boy.

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So it's about this character called Piranesi, who lives in this very strange White House.

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Okay.

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And there are a few figures who come and go and kind of disrupt his daily routine, and some secrets get unveiled, but in, like, a very poetic manner.

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Okay.

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Okay.

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And it's.

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It's.

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I mean, it's not a big brick of a book, so.

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No, it's a standalone, and it's, like, 300 pages, max.

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All right, excellent.

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And I did recommend you one book.

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It's one book, of course, that I read.

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Okay.

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But, yeah, so it's the last witch.

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Last.

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Sorry, the last wish by Andre Andres Sapkowski.

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More or less, yeah, more or less.

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Apologies.

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For that, just look it up.

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Just look up the name, please.

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And if it doesn't ring a bell, perhaps you might want to read what's it about?

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So I'll read the back for you.

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And I think the name will instantly ring a bell.

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Geralt was always going to stand out with his white hair and piercing eyes, his cynicism and lack of respect for authority, but he is a far more than his striking appearance.

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He is a witcher with powers that make him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin.

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And his targets are the vile friends that ravage the land.

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As guardian of the innocent, Geralt meets incestuous kings with undead daughters, vengeful djinns, shrieking harpies, lovelorn vampires, and despondent ghouls.

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Many are pernicious, some are wicked, and none are quite as they appear.

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Well, there you go.

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So, yes, it is a novel which inspired the Witcher, if you haven't caught on yet.

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Yeah, exactly.

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And it's his first book in that series.

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I have only read the first one.

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Okay, so how did you find it?

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Well, perhaps I'll give you my feedback after you've read it so I won't spoil anything.

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So you just go in blind?

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Well, blind, yes and no.

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I mean, you've seen the series.

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I've seen the Witcher.

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Yeah, I've seen the series.

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Exactly.

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So I know kind of what it's about.

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Yeah.

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And that's also very dangerous because I had the same thing with other books that have been, you know, adapted to either tv series or even movies, depending on which one you experience the first, either, you know, the movie or the tv series or the book.

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Your experience of the latter one will always be different.

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Yes.

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And this was the same, so.

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But I won't spoil anything, so I'll let you read it.

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So our commitment is to have this book read by next time.

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That's two books we're committing ourselves to.

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Well, yeah, I mean, they are not that thick.

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No, they're not that thick.

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So just pick the smallest one of the RTBR.

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That was the idea.

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I wasn't gonna pick the thickest of the bunch.

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Yeah, that's for sure.

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All right.

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Okay, so that's for tales from the tome.

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Yes.

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And diving into Lurbaun and you've been watching these unopened little boxes that we've had on our table.

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My dad has so many unopened magic boxes, and it is stressing me out because all I want to do is open them and they are just sitting there but I can't open them because they're not mine.

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And to make matters even worse, I received, a week or two ago, a big box from lone wolf.

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And, I mean, I've talked about this on previous shows, and it marks the 40th anniversary of the Kai Lords and this one being lone wolf.

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And, I mean, this is part of, you know, the Kickstarter projects that they did way, way back ago.

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And you could sign up, you know, to either have just a book or something extra.

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You could add some stuff.

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And I went for the full box, of course.

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Of course.

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So what's in it?

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What's in the box?

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Well, I did open that one, and I didn't need to tear anything open, so that's always nice when you don't have to tear anything open and destroy stuff.

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And in this box, it has a huge, very, very soft blanket.

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It's so soft.

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I know.

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It's very soft.

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And it has the full map of Magnemund, which is the world in which all those adventures of the kylords and lone wolf occur or get unraveled.

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Very nicely done.

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I mean, it's the same as in the books, but now in full color, and it's a quite big blanket.

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So it's a big map, which is very, very nice.

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What's in it?

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There's also a little pouch for putting your dice in it.

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And it has one die already printed with the logo of lone wolf.

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And there's a poster with some art of the ancient books also in there.

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And I think.

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And the box itself, which is quite big box in very sturdy cardboard, which is nicely printed, which has the same or at least a fragment of the map printed on it.

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And actually, I think it'll be a very nice box to put the first, I don't know, first ten books of the series in them.

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So, I mean, it serves several purposes, but really happy to have that one.

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And we'll share pictures of that on our socials and our website.

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But you're just eyeing those little magic boxes, aren't you?

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Yes, I am.

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Yes, I am.

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So, luckily, we did take pictures of them still closed, so we might want to open.

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I mean, they contain just a few cards.

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And just to be very clear, these are envelopes, let's say, of the gathering, right, so.

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By wizards of the coast.

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And they're called secret lair.

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And these are drop series, so they.

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They include very special cards, but, you know, not many.

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And I have three.

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No.

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Yeah, three.

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No, two envelopes and one box.

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All of them are the magic, the gathering cards from secret lair, but with a crossover with dungeons and dragons.

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Yes.

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So they all have art of dungeons and dragons inspired.

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That's the idea.

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So rip it up.

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Go ahead.

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I'll do the same.

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There you go.

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Live unboxing.

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Oh, and this is nice because it has little text.

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You might want to read the text first.

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Oh, yeah.

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Do I read first or.

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Yeah, go ahead.

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Go ahead.

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These bizarre creatures are possessed of alien intelligence, inhuman forms of perception, and the ability to shape reality through force of will, or even by their mere presence.

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Oh, dear.

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All right, well, what did you get?

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First there is a thank you card.

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Oh, nice.

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That's always nice to be thanked, you know, for spending a lot of money.

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And then you have a packet of cards, multiple cards.

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Okay, so let me get.

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Oh, they're still wrapped in a separate.

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I'm allowed to open.

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Yeah, go ahead.

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Just don't bend the cards.

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No.

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Okay, first we have Xenothar Guild, Kingspin, which has a art of something that resembles a beholder.

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Oh, nice.

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And.

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Oh, very nice card.

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Oh, yeah.

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We'll upload pictures as well.

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Very cool.

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How many cards are there actually in the envelope?

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2345.

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And they're all different artworks of a beholder, but a different magic card.

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Okay, so we have Zenithar, which is a legendary creature.

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Then we have a sorcery, and it's called beholders charm ray.

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Okay, this is what it looks like.

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Okay, well, at least I'm seeing it.

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My dad is seeing it, but we'll share the images as well.

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Very cool.

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Then we have an instant.

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Okay.

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And this is called beholders sleep Ray.

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It's looking real creepy.

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Ooh, yeah.

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I love how, like, the art style is so different on each card.

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Okay.

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You'll definitely see on the next one.

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It's a completely different style.

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Okay.

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And this is an.

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Also an instant.

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And it's called beholders slowing Ray.

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Okay.

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Oh, yeah.

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Very different.

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Now that.

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The big question is, of course, once you've opened it, are we gonna put it in a deck?

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Are we gonna build a deck around it?

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Are we gonna include it in an existing deck?

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Or are we just gonna put it in a pouch to protect and just.

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Watch it put it in a deck?

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You put it in a deck, you.

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Can show it off to your friends, obviously, but we still have three more to go ahead.

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Then we have a sorcery called beholders petrification ray.

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Oh, that sounds lovely.

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Okay, nice.

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And then we have an instant again, and it's called beholders fear Ray.

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All right.

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Ooh, yeah.

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Very different imagery.

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As well.

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Exactly.

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Nice.

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And this one is by far my favorite.

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Okay, so the last one.

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Okay.

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Yeah.

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In art style, it's an elemental creature, and it's called zorn.

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Okay.

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I don't think it is a beholder, but I might be wrong.

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Okay, share the card.

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Ooh, very nice.

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It's very dark.

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Yeah, I like it.

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Very nice.

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Again, we'll show where we'll share the images, obviously, so.

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And the envelope I just opened has an inside little text which reads, aggressive, hateful, and greedy.

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These aberration dismiss all other creatures as lesser beings, toying with them or destroying them as they choose.

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Okay, so you have the.

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Is it a dragon?

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I don't know.

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I'm gonna open it.

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So there is a thank you card as well.

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And then little plastic pouch.

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Let's see which card.

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So I'm expecting seven cards as well.

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Yes.

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Let's see.

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Let's count them.

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1st.

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-:

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And very similar to yours.

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I mean, they're very colorful.

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If they share.

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One aspect is that they are very colorful.

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All of the cards are very colorful, but they have, like, different kind of styles.

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Okay, so I'll share the images again later on, but I'll just read.

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So the first one is a legendary creature, and it's the beholder Karazika.

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Oh, more beholders.

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Yeah.

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Eye tyrant.

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Show me.

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Here you go.

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Okay.

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Okay, that looks real nice.

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And then you have an incense which is called beholder's death ray.

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There's a lot of rays.

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He has a lot of rays.

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There you go.

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Okay.

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Okay.

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And then you have another instance, which is beholders enervation ray.

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Okay.

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Wow, that looks so sick.

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Yeah.

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And then you have an enchantment, which is called beholders paralyzing ray.

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Okay.

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It has this very vintage, old style vibe.

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A lot of, if you come and see the cards that I have in detail, a lot of them have that very vintage look, in my opinion.

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Yeah.

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And another, actually, two more instance.

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One is called beholders telekinetic ray.

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And again, very vintage comic style.

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So vintage comic style.

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Yeah, I see it.

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And then the last instant is the beholder disintegration ray.

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Very cool as well.

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Oh, I really like that one.

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Yeah.

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And this one actually comes as a surprise because it's very colorful, but not in the same design style.

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Let's say this is actually a creature and it's a halfling citizen, and it's the prosperous innkeeper.

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And this will ring a bell because it's about a specific inn.

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Tales from the, from us.

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Is that from fuck.

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No, no, no.

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We have a campaign.

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We have a campaign on this.

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It's behind you.

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The books are just behind you.

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Waterdeep.

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No, no, no, Marsh.

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No, it's not from there.

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The book is.

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Just read the books.

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I'll share it later.

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I won't spoil it.

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But it's a very famous innkeeper.

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Let's say he has his own book.

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Salt march.

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No, it's not.

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No, no.

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This was one of the campaigns that we did.

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Oh, it's not from the campaign that we did.

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I thought he looked familiar, but, I.

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Mean, I didn't expect this one coming, but, yeah, very cool cards.

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So I'm gonna put them back in the big envelope.

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But it's very nice that it has a very sturdy thank you card.

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I appreciate that.

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So, yes, we'll most probably try to fit them in a deck.

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And then.

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Oh, there's more.

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There's a bigger box.

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Yes, open it.

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Okay, here it goes.

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I'm sure you can hear it there.

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And once you open it, there's a text which reads, rules for fantastic medieval war games campaigns, playable with paper and pencil and miniature figures.

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Okay.

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Okay.

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So you open it up, and then you have a little box and a red box, and it reads, secret lair, dungeons and dragons, an exhibition of adventure.

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I'm so excited.

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We're gonna take pictures.

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Oh, look at this.

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Look at this.

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Yeah, nobody's seeing it, but it looks like a miniature book.

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Very cool.

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It's so cute.

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And then you open it.

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I mean, this is like Matrushka.

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It gets smaller and smaller, but it's very fancy and it has cards in it.

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Okay, maybe it has, like, all the cards that you need to build.

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Oh, man, I'm not gonna open this.

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I mean, I'm gonna share it, but it looks so cool.

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It has a different pouch with what seems to black and white cards, and on the backside it has color cards.

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Okay, so you're not sharing it with the class.

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Ah, okay.

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But, I mean, I'm gonna share it with the glass.

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Let me just try to open it because.

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Oh, dear.

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It seems like it's been stapled or glued.

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It's glued to the inner box.

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So let's open the first plastic pouch, and I'll make sure to share all the cool images because this is quite special, I have to admit.

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That looks so nice.

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Just don't mind me being very.

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Ooh.

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So the first card is black and white fel the mighty.

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It's a sorcery, but very cool.

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Very, very old style drawing.

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Then faithless looting, which is a sorcery, and again, very different imagery.

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It has this vintage, like seventies style.

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So we have sorcery, faithless looting.

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We have gold span dragon.

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It's a creature, a dragon.

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And we have reality shift, which is an instant monster manual, an artifact ponder sorcery.

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And the arch lichen, legendary creature, a zombie wizard.

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So very, very cool.

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So that's the first pouch of cards.

:

I'm reaching over to you.

:

There you go.

:

Yep.

:

Thank you.

:

Then the second pouch, which is included.

:

Oh, I think it's just one card.

:

So I assume this is a very, very special card, most probably to have it wrapped up in just a separate little pouch.

:

These are so pretty.

:

Yeah, aren't they?

:

The reality shift.

:

Yeah.

:

The colors of are amazing.

:

And then this card is a sorcery card, which is called dark deal.

:

Very dark indeed.

:

So cool.

:

So, yeah, we'll be.

:

We'll exchange.

:

We'll exchange.

:

Yeah.

:

There you go.

:

Thank you.

:

Okay.

:

Yep.

:

Really enjoyed these unboxing.

:

Absolutely.

:

It's pretty.

:

All right, well, there you go.

:

So we did finally open.

:

Finally.

:

Only had to wait like a few.

:

Months, but there you go.

:

We'll make sure, again to share the pictures.

:

Okay.

:

So that was our first topic of lore bound.

:

And, well, as mentioned in the introduction, we had the idea of inviting other people.

:

Not because all of a sudden we have people queuing up to be part of the show.

:

No, but because in all honesty, I just want people to share their opinion.

:

Especially if they're experienced people in a certain field.

:

That's the point, because, I mean, we talk about stuff that we really enjoy, have read, enjoyed, have seen or played.

:

But we're no experts.

:

We're no experts.

:

Right, exactly.

:

And I just wanted to have some expert insights, you know, experience, tips, thoughts.

:

And one of.

:

One of the first, or actually the first guest is a very seasoned DM in DND who has, I think, not shy of 20 years experience as a DM.

:

And he has some very strong opinions of the game itself, and I'm sure that he will be very happy to share that.

:

Well, actually already confirmed.

:

So this will be for one of the upcoming episodes.

:

I'm really looking forward to it.

:

Me too.

:

And we won't stop there.

:

We'll be inviting, or at least trying to invite other people that might be crazy enough to join our show, and we'll discover other games or even other books or perhaps other podcasts through, who might say.

:

But it's definitely something that we want to set up as a recurrent element or segment in our show.

:

Yes.

:

Okay.

:

And then a third section in this segment of lorebound is that we wanted to go back to the games that we already discussed being D and D and Magic, but focusing on what is currently the most popular fantasy tabletop rpg's and or card games.

:

And I mean, there are some out there that we already know and some that we don't.

:

And some that we don't.

:

Exactly.

:

So here's just a top ten in most popular, most popular, currently most popular games.

:

And.

:

Well, let's just start off.

:

The first one is one that we already covered, which is D and D.

:

So I mean, it's still reigning as the most widely played fantasy rpg.

:

And D and D is, quote unquote, the gold standard for tabletop role playing games.

:

You know, we talked about.

:

About its flexibility, the robust community support, but also the wide array of resources.

:

I mean, it definitely makes a top choice for both new and veteran players.

:

And on that last note, yes, we will be sharing our views of the new hand or the new handbook for players.

:

Right, the new.

:

Once you've actually used it.

:

Once I've actually used it, yes, indeed.

:

Because, I mean, I did purchase it and I've been asked to dm another game, which will be, I think it'll be in January.

:

But yeah, as mentioned in previous episodes, it does require a lot of preparation.

:

So I'm happy.

:

It really does.

:

Yeah, I'm happy it's for January, so I'll be diving into it.

:

And most probably even during this weekend, I'll start sketching up and drawing up the campaign from scratch.

:

But I will be using the player handbook.

:

The new.

:

The new one?

:

Yeah, because the DM one comes out in November, which I will also use for the game in January.

:

But at least in the upcoming episode, I'll be able to share some.

:

Because you do need to make like, pre made character sheets sometimes for like a one shot.

:

Yes.

:

You do need the player's handbook anyways.

:

Absolutely.

:

Absolutely.

:

I mean, I went through it, but I have not really a specific opinion just yet because I haven't used it.

:

I've heard about certain changes that I just.

:

Which I do not agree with.

:

Okay.

:

But we can cover that as well.

:

And we'll make sure.

:

We'll make sure to do that.

:

All right, so next one.

:

Next one is called 13th Age, and this is a high fantasy rpg.

:

And it combines narrative driven elements with a tactical combat.

:

And it is actually created by former D and D designers.

:

Okay.

:

And it's currently a second edition, which.

:

Is coming out next year.

:

Yeah, it's coming out next year.

:

So you can only play the first edition right now, but there's a second edition coming out which will further refine the game.

:

Yep.

:

Personally, I have never heard of this before.

:

Seriously?

:

No.

:

Okay.

:

No, but that's fine.

:

See, we told you.

:

We are no experts.

:

Never played it before.

:

Never heard of it.

:

So it's the first time that I hear of this one.

:

All right, then a third one is called, and this is a really big box.

:

I mean, we have it as well.

:

We still need to play it.

:

We still need to play it.

:

I know.

:

Which is called Gloomhaven.

:

I mean, and it has already won several prizes.

:

It's quite known, but it's a massive, massive box.

:

It's so big.

:

I want to play it.

:

Yeah, it's daunting.

:

It's intimidating.

:

Recently set up another rpg game.

:

Okay.

:

That is four boxes, actually.

:

Oh, dear.

:

Combined, it would be, I think, a little bit bigger than Gloomhaven.

:

And I think it took us like.

:

2 hours to set up, which is still fine, though.

:

2 hours long.

:

I know, but I mean, I think.

:

Like, the minimum was 2 hours that it took us to set it up.

:

But with all four boxes.

:

Combined with all four boxes.

:

Okay, well, that's.

:

Okay.

:

And so Gloom haven, which has, I think that the last or the most recent installment of the game is called Frosthaven.

:

And I mean, these are epic legacy board games with rpg elements and both.

:

So, Gloomhaven and Frosthaven, they both feature intricate card based, diceless combat, and they allow players to shape the world through their choices.

:

And the most recent addition, Frosthaven.

:

So the new release offers even more depth and refined mechanics.

:

So if the first bug wasn't intimidating, well, I'm sure that the second one will be.

:

Anyway, moving on.

:

The next one is called Pathfinder, which is it?

:

Currently in its second edition.

:

And this is kind of similar to D and D, I would say.

:

So.

:

The main difference being that it has way more options when it comes to character creation and it goes more into tactical depth.

:

Okay.

:

It's definitely seen as a strong D and D alternative.

:

I personally have never played it before, but a lot of my D and D friends constantly recommend it and say that it's a very good alternative and that they sometimes even prefer it to D and D because it has so many more options when you create a character.

:

Because I do have to admit, with D and D, you're very limited when it comes to the classes you can choose from.

:

Pathfinder has way more classes and sub classes and races, etcetera, so you have way you have more options when it comes to creating your character, which I agree can be very daunting if you're a first time player.

:

Yep.

:

So I would say maybe if you get into D and D first, and then.

:

And if you like it, maybe switch over to Pathfinder once you've gotten used to most of the.

:

So if you say moving on to Pathfinder, does that mean that Pathfinder is.

:

Or at least according to your friends who have played it, is it a little bit more, even more complicated, more mechanics?

:

From what I've heard, it sounds more complicated than D and DA, at least when it comes, because it is.

:

It has more of a focus on the tactical stuff.

:

Okay.

:

So I'm going to assume it's more complex and also just from the thing that there are more options when it comes to character creation, mostly means that it will be more complex because you have more options.

:

Okay.

:

So you have more stuff to read through and more choices to make.

:

Okay, fair enough.

:

All right, next one.

:

Okay, then moving on.

:

The next one is Arkham Horror, which is a card game based rpg.

:

And it is set in this lovecraftian horror world.

:

And what really stands out with this game is the storytelling where you, as player, your choices will influence the future scenarios.

:

And it's based off of deck, so everyone has a deck.

:

Oh, okay.

:

Whereas, you know, Pathfinder and D and D are very alike.

:

Arkham horror, it has a very board game feel to it.

:

Okay.

:

You're practically playing a board game, but every person is playing a character with a deck that is for that character made for that character.

:

Okay.

:

It.

:

It reminds me a bit of board, again, that we played recently.

:

Call of the Cthulhu or Cthulhu.

:

Yeah.

:

It kind of has the same vibe, but.

:

Okay.

:

It's completely different.

:

It has completely different mechanics.

:

But I do see why it reminds me of Call of Cthulhu.

:

Okay.

:

I mean, it is Lovecraft and horror.

:

Yeah, exactly.

:

It does have that same feel to it, but the mechanics are different.

:

Okay, nice.

:

Yeah.

:

Then next one.

:

This is one of my all time favorite, which they, you know, they reissued.

:

It's called hero Quest.

:

I mean, and this is really a classic dungeon crawling board game.

:

And it was even when it came out, and we're talking about, I think, late eighties, beginning nineties, I used to have, and I still have the box, the original box.

:

And it was really celebrated for its miniature and just straightforward mechanics, which was also something very special about this game is that at least the box that I owned back at that time, it was compatible for solo play.

:

Oh, okay.

:

And that was something, you know, that I really enjoyed being an only child.

:

Definitely.

:

I can imagine.

:

And now, I mean, I, it's really made for nostalgic favorite, you know?

:

It's a nostalgic favorite, sorry.

:

For many rpg fans.

:

So I'm still wondering what the upgrades or the updates are that they apply to the original game.

:

So I just wonder.

:

Okay, next one.

:

Next one is called Shadow of the Weird wizard.

:

It's one of the newer ones.

:

And this rpg is kind of built on the success of the Shadow of the Demon Lord.

:

Okay.

:

I've never heard of either, so I wouldn't be able to tell you what the shadow of the Demon Lord is about.

:

But this one, in this world, the players explore a world filled with corruption and danger.

:

It's ideal for fans of the Warhammer universe, which is actually the next point.

:

Excellent.

:

Okay, so Warhammer is also a fantasy role playing game.

:

And this rpg combines grimdark fantasy with brutal combat.

:

So think D and D, but more extreme with the miniatures.

:

I work at a board game cafe and every Thursday the Warhammer club comes to play in the back.

:

And every time we have to bring drinks in the back, you have like four tables, like multiple tables put together to lay out their scenery and all their miniatures.

:

And it's basically like at least two, sometimes three or four people fighting against each other.

:

And, yeah, like I said, they're very big on the miniatures that portray the battlefield, basically.

:

Okay.

:

And I've wanted to get into it, but it looks like such an expensive hobby.

:

So I was like, but it is because you have the miniatures, you have the paint, you have the brushes, and then you haven't even played anything.

:

But I think it's part of the, the charm, I would say.

:

I mean, this has been one of those games that has been around for decades.

:

And I mean, I used to have a colleague who was really fond of this game and really hooked and he would always bring some of this miniature to work just to show.

:

And the detailing is just insane.

:

But that's also one of the things that put me off because I know my limits and I just cannot, I.

:

Cannot do that painting miniatures because this is also why?

:

Because one of my friends plays Warhammer and recently my boyfriend 3D printed some figures for me.

:

Oh, cool.

:

And so I just asked her, yo, can I give you these miniatures and can you paint them for me?

:

Because I sure can't.

:

No.

:

And she's so talented when it comes to painting these miniatures.

:

It's when I see the work that these people do in the back every night, and then they come back with miniatures that are, like, huge.

:

And it is expensive.

:

It's so expensive.

:

Yeah, it's very expensive.

:

I have sold so many of these things to the Warhammer club, and it's expensive.

:

Sometimes I wonder, where do you get the money?

:

Because these are so expensive.

:

Yeah.

:

And that's the second reason why I'm not getting into that.

:

I mean, I'm very love watching it, but I ain't getting into it because, buddy, it's expensive.

:

Yep.

:

All right, moving on.

:

This one is called fatecore.

:

And I have to be honest, I don't know it.

:

Me neither.

:

So, I mean, I know the name, but not really more than its brief description, which is, you know, Fadecore is a narrative focused rpg system, and it allows players to shape the story and world more directly than many other systems.

:

So, I mean, it's appealing to those who prioritize storytelling over combat mechanics.

:

And that is something that might intrigue me.

:

I mean, that because the combat mechanics is one thing that in the beginning did put me off, starting with DND and then.

:

Okay, I do like the roleplay elements from D and D more than the combat elements.

:

And depending on DM, you can either go heavily RP based or heavily combat based.

:

That really depends from DM to DMDH.

:

Yep.

:

But I do appreciate the role play more.

:

Yeah, I mean, same here.

:

When I'm dming, I prefer to let.

:

The story have a lot of interactions.

:

Exactly.

:

You know, for me, it's really story based and less on rules during combat and exceptions.

:

And then you have to start to count.

:

No, it takes the momentum away of the story.

:

Right.

:

I mean, that's at least my point of view.

:

I mean, the combat is also part of the story, but I don't want it to, like, overtake everything.

:

Yeah.

:

No, no, true.

:

And then at number ten.

:

So the last one of the top ten list is the one ring, the second edition of that game, which is.

:

So it's based off of Lord of the Rings.

:

Absolutely.

:

Yeah.

:

This rpg immerses players exactly into the world of Tolkien's Middle earth, and it blends exploration, combat, social interaction.

:

So it's really perfect, as you said, for fans of Lord of the Rings.

:

And I think actually we do have.

:

I think it's a translated version, not from the second edition, but for the first edition, we have it somewhere in one of the cupboards.

:

But it's somewhere.

:

Yeah, yeah, somewhere.

:

Sure.

:

I'll believe you with how many books we have lying around.

:

That might be the case.

:

Yep.

:

So that's it.

:

And the idea is, or at least that's the idea that we had, is to see if we can take a little more of a deeper dive in one of these games in each upcoming episode.

:

Right.

:

And we'll see which one we'll pick.

:

We'll pick in our next one.

:

We'll see.

:

It'll be most probably also a new experience and something new for ourselves.

:

Right?

:

Definitely.

:

All right.

:

And, well, we told you the last segment would be Bart's ballad, and here we want to talk about perhaps some more, let's say, very specific little elements in this segment.

:

You want to talk about a specific podcast?

:

Yes.

:

Do tell.

:

I found this podcast through a friend of mine, and I wanted to talk about it because I found the idea behind it very unique, at least.

:

I've never really heard anything like it before.

:

Do tell.

:

So the podcast is called the Magnus Archives, and it is producted by the Rusty Quill.

:

Oh, the Rusty Quillenne.

:

Yes.

:

So what is the Magnus archives?

:

Like I said, it's a podcast.

:

And in this podcast, you follow the head archivist of the Magnus Institute.

:

So it's narrated.

:

It's narrated.

:

It's like a story, and it happens in London.

:

nk the first season starts in:

:

Oh, okay.

:

So it's modern time.

:

Modern time.

:

And the Magnus institute deals in the supernatural.

:

So people come and make a statement, and then they go and investigate.

:

Okay, now the previous head archivist just died, and they left the place in disarray.

:

Okay.

:

So in the first season, you hear the head archivist rearranging all the statements.

:

So each episode is like a short story, basically of a statement.

:

And there are currently five seasons out, but the last, the final season, season six, is getting released somewhere soon.

:

I've started listening, like, two weeks ago, and I am currently in season four.

:

Each episode is about, like, 20 to 30 minutes max.

:

Okay.

:

So it doesn't take a long time to listen to one episode, and it's like listening to a story.

:

And it progresses throughout each season.

:

The story gets wilder every season.

:

And does it have, like, one narrator or.

:

Well, in season one, you mainly follow the head archivist, John Sims, and he is a reoccurring character throughout the entire show.

:

Throughout the entire podcast.

:

But with each progressing season, you get to learn more about other characters, and they narrate more as well.

:

So hear them after a while as well.

:

Okay, cool.

:

Well, it does sound very intriguing.

:

I might have to give it a shot.

:

You really should listen to it.

:

I highly recommend it all right.

:

And yeah, just to wrap things up, I had just one little mention that I wanted to make, and it is actually the fantasy playlist.

:

I mean, this is very specific.

:

As an example.

:

Within Spotify, obviously you can find the same or similar playlist in any other audio platform.

:

But the ones that I'm using are embedded in, or at least you can find them in Spotify.

:

And these are the fantasy playlists, do use them for several purposes.

:

I mean, you even, you type in fantasy and you go get so much and you get.

:

And you just click on playlists, you get so much.

:

And that's exactly what I wanted to mention.

:

It's not only music that might be tied directly to either books or shows or whatever, but it is ambient music, you know, if you want to write.

:

So create a campaign.

:

You know, it puts you right.

:

It puts you in the right mood.

:

Right.

:

It sets the vibe.

:

Exactly.

:

But even, I mean, there's one called fantasy music for writing, literally.

:

And once, no one or two that I did use already is, I think that was, I did use it even in our first dm or me dming, our first campaign is background music, background music, background noises even.

:

It really helps to set the mood, especially in a d and D campaign.

:

It makes the scenery come to life and really puts you in the right mood to play.

:

Yep, absolutely.

:

So I highly recommend it.

:

You know, just dive in there, either, you know, to get some resources for your rpg games that you might want to play or just if you want to relax and have that ambient music.

:

Or there's another one which is called literately, and I found this one really fun, whereas POV, you're in a fantasy.

:

Novel, I mean, you have so many.

:

Like, you have so many.

:

And for me, it's something quite special.

:

And I'm just really glad that it is so easy to find on Spotify.

:

And I'm sure it's the same on any other audio platform.

:

So that's it.

:

What we have for this episode, as mentioned, next episode, we'll definitely give our feedback, our review of the books that we will have to read now.

:

So that's one.

:

And give our opinion, obviously.

:

Hopefully we'll be able to make a deep dive in one of the ten mentioned game games in the top ten.

:

And perhaps we might have our first guest.

:

But no strings attached, no promises made, but it's definitely coming to rolling into fantasy.

:

So that's about it.

:

This concludes our episode.

:

So until next time, stay enchanted, stay.

:

Curious, and keep the fantasy alive.

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About the Podcast

Rolling Into Fantasy
Where Fantasy Finds Its Voice
Welcome to "Rolling into Fantasy," a bi-weekly podcast where a father-daughter duo, both avid Fantasy enthusiasts spanning over more than 30 years of love for Fantasy, delve into the enchanting world of Fantasy. With an inter-generational approach, we explore Fantasy literature, games, pop culture, music, series & movies. Each episode connects different aspects of Fantasy, rolling seamlessly from one topic to another. Join us every fortnight on Thursdays as we discuss the origins of Fantasy, current news, and exciting things to come in the realm of Fantasy. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the genre, "Rolling into Fantasy" has something magical for everyone.

Get notified & don't miss an episode; subscribe to our list: https://tinyurl.com/35eakx6x !

About your hosts

Laurent Bettens

Profile picture for Laurent Bettens
At the age of 6, I took my first steps into the world of fantasy, specifically science fiction, when Star Wars made its debut on the big screen. From that moment, this universe forever shaped my love for fantasy. The surge of fantasy and adventure movies in the eighties only deepened my passion for the genre. However, my true love for fantasy stories ignited with the discovery of the English Fighting Fantasy gamebook series by Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson, as well as the Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever.

With a strong interest in medieval history and literature, I have always been drawn to that era, which provides a bottomless source of inspiration for all types of fantasy stories and games. Now, several decades later, the fantasy genre has expanded into numerous sub-genres of literature, games, and merchandise, becoming a way of life for many.

I am fortunate to have been able to pass on my love for fantasy literature and games to my daughters and son. Together with my eldest daughter, Marie-Noor, we want to share our passion for fantasy with others and explore new horizons. This led to the idea of launching our co-hosted podcast, "Rolling Into Fantasy," where fantasy finds its voice. This will be an adventure of our own, and needless to say, we are both excited and a bit scared.

Marie-Noor Bettens

Profile picture for Marie-Noor Bettens
My journey into the world of fantasy began as a child with the Harry Potter series. The adventures of Harry and his friends at Hogwarts captivated my imagination, sparking a deep love for both reading and writing. This early fascination with fantasy was the push I needed to explore other fantasy literature.

As I grew older, my taste in fantasy evolved. I discovered the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and my father introduced me to Game of Thrones. These stories made it clear I have a preference for the medieval and epic fantasy subgenre.

In high school, I found another outlet for my love of fantasy through role-playing games and Dungeons & Dragons. This hobby quickly became one of my favourites, allowing me to actively participate in creating and exploring fantasy realms. The collaborative storytelling and endless possibilities of DnD have further fueled my passion for fantasy, making it an integral part of my life.