AggroChat: Tales of the Aggronaut Podcast
This is the official podcast of the Tales of the Aggronaut blog and Stalwart gaming community. Join Ammo, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo and Thalen as they talk about the pc and console video games they have been playing.
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AggroChat #470 - The Impact of Epoch
03/17/2024
AggroChat #470 - The Impact of Epoch
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks we’re back! Sorry for the week off but we return with a full docket of topics. We start off with some more discussion of Last Epoch and how everyone is still enjoying the game. Bel dinged 100 for the first time and we talked a bit about buildcraft and approachability. From there Bel talks about Dwarven Realms an ARPG of a sort that has gained traction this week amongst some of the streamers that is just “big dumb fun”. From there Ash goes down a list of Roguelikes that he has been enjoying lately namely Astral Ascent, Spiritfall, and Balatro. Tam revisits his topic surrounding the ambitious process of remaking Final Fantasy VII and his thoughts after having played a good deal of the second part. Finally, Bel uses volatile reversal and brings us back to the topic of Last Epoch and namely the impact it seems to be having on the ARPG genre as a whole. Topics Discussed: Last Epoch Bel Dings 100 Buildcraft Discussion Approachability Dwarven Realms So Dumb So Good Roguelike Lightning Round Astral Ascent Spiritfall Balatro Final Fantasy VII Remake Thoughts Entirely remaking a classic The Impact of Last Epoch
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AggroChat #469 - Explosion Specialist
03/03/2024
AggroChat #469 - Explosion Specialist
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Tonight we are back with the whole crew. We start off the show talking about how Secrets of Grindea, a game that we did an early gameclub show about… has FINALLY launched out of Early Access. From there we talk about Last Epoch some more as Kodra was out last week and has much to say about explosions. We also discussed building different characters and how the game rewards them. Bel attempts a Tier list but gets shut down as he is the only one who still prefers Path of Exile. Finally, Tam and Ammo share their early thoughts about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Topics Discussed: Secrets of Grindea Launched Last Epoch Kodra Returns and Has Thoughts The joy of building new characters Bel’s Tier Ranking Gets Shut Down Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
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AggroChat #468 - Accessible Design is Important
02/25/2024
AggroChat #468 - Accessible Design is Important
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are back after taking a break last week due to the limited number of folks available. This week we start off with a topic that has bounced around a bit on our docket. Namely, we marvel at just how balanced City of Heroes/City of Villians is and what a pinnacle of system design it really is. Bel spent a bit of time playing Nightingale now that is available in early access, and talks about the mess of a game that it is. Finally, we dive into our primary topic this week and talk about the Last Epoch 1.0 launch and how phenomenal the game feels right now despite all of the server-side woes. Topics Discussed City of Heroes/City of Villains How is the design so balanced? Nightingale Not a Bad Game, but Not a Great One Either Last Epoch The 1.0 Launch Woes The Massive Graphical Overhaul Why we love the game Accessible Design Matters
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AggroChat #467 - Bombardier Falcon
02/11/2024
AggroChat #467 - Bombardier Falcon
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! This week we have a sick Bel that is trying to hold on during the show and a very long-distance Kodra, but it all works out in the end. We start off with some discussion about Marvel reprinting the Godzilla comic run that has been out of print for decades. From there Bel and Grace talk a bit about some recent experiences with Enshrouded and playing it multiplayer. Bel also talks a bit about the endgame and its strengths and weaknesses. From there we talk quite a bit about Last Epoch and the reveal of the Falconer and the upcoming 1.0 release. We discuss our plans for the first “cycle” and how we seem to all be favoring the magic find faction. Lastly, we get into a discussion about how the spoiler-averse culture that we find ourselves in makes it very hard to discuss narrative games. Topics Discussed: Godzilla Marvel Comic Enshrouded Some Multiplayer Gameplay Discussing the strengths and weaknesses Last Epoch Falconer Reveal Looking forward to 1.0 Spoiler Aversion How it is hard to discuss narrative games
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AggroChat #466 - When Crowd Control Mattered
02/04/2024
AggroChat #466 - When Crowd Control Mattered
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! It has been a few weeks since we recorded a normal show and I think we had a bunch of conversation in us waiting to get out. As a result, we recorded a bit longer than we should have but that is okay! We talk about Celeste 64 and that sort of gameplay translates to a very Mario 64 inspired game. From there Kodra shares his experiences with Songs of Conquest a game that is very much a nostalgic continuation of the Heroes of Might and Magic Series. Bel and Kodra talk about their experiences with the other new survival early access game Enshrouded and how it is shockingly complete, and really just needs polish. From there we dive into the main topic of the show where we discuss City of Heroes and how it is this perfect snapshot of the best of MMORPGs before World of Warcraft changed everything. Finally, Bel actually completes his four voidstones in Path of Exile and talks about what a difference a dedicated bosser makes. Topics Discussed: Celeste 64 Songs of Conquest Enshrouded When Crowd Control Mattered City of Heroes The World before Warcraft No Daily Chores is Refreshing What a Difference a Bosser Makes Bel Kills POE Bosses
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AggroChat #465 - 2023 Games of the Year Show - Part Two
01/28/2024
AggroChat #465 - 2023 Games of the Year Show - Part Two
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! It is that time again, time for our yearly Games of the Year show. Last year we learned that it was far better to record two weeks in a row instead of creating a marathon three-plus hour long show and cutting it in half. This week we dive into the second half of the show covering the final eleven games. These are games that were important to us this year and may or may not have actually been released this calendar year. A lot of them were, but I just wanted to set the expectations. This year we did not have a lot of overlap, which is to be expected given that the seven of us have some wildly different tastes. It was a big year and I am sure there are a lot of games that you think might need to be on this list that we did not choose. Hopefully, you enjoy our thoughts all the same. Games Discussed: I Was a Teenage Exocoloist Super Mario RPG Remake Boltgun Star Ocrean 2nd Story R Jedi Survivor City of Heroes Everspace 2 Alan Wake II Super Mario Wonder Honkai Star Rail Baldur’s Gate III
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AggroChat #464 - 2023 Games of the Year Show - Part One
01/21/2024
AggroChat #464 - 2023 Games of the Year Show - Part One
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! It is that time again, time for our yearly Games of the Year show. Last year we learned that it was far better to record two weeks in a row instead of creating a marathon three-plus hour long show and cutting it in half. So this week I bring you the first part covering fourteen games and for those who have not listened to one of these before… these are games that were important to us this year and may or may not have actually been released this calendar year. A lot of them were, but I just wanted to set the expectations. This year we did not have a lot of overlap, which is to be expected given that the seven of us have some wildly different tastes. It was a big year and I am sure there are a lot of games that you think might need to be on this list that we did not choose. Hopefully, you enjoy our thoughts all the same. Games Discussed: Risk of Rain Returns Risk of Rain 2 Celeste: Strawberry Jam Last Epoch Path of Exile System Shock Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed Hi-Fi Rush Dredge Dave the Diver Armored Core VI New World Fire Emblem Engage Final Fantasy XVI
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AggroChat #463 - Paragon City Returns
01/14/2024
AggroChat #463 - Paragon City Returns
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! Hopefully, everyone is staying warm this week with the big cold snap hitting the center of the country and more specifically impacting Bel and Thalen. This week we start off talking about the Rogue Trader CRPG and how it is doing a pretty solid job of moving the bar forward. From there we talk a bit about the upcoming Granblue Fantasy Action RPG and how we have been waiting for it since 2017. In shocking news, we talk about the City of Heroes Homecoming server and how it is officially licensed and we believe it is the first fan run emulator server project to achieve that status. Last Epoch is nearing its official 1.0 launch and with it a bunch more information about the Trade system came out this week so we dive into it for a bit and contrast it with our experiences from Path of Exile. Peglin has released a bunch of updates and we talk a bit more about that phenomenal puzzle combat game. Thalen shares some information about how Dungeons and Dragons Online is apparently just giving away a ton of content and selling a bunch of mission packs for cheap on top of it. Tam finishes out the show talking about how it has taken him the better part of a year but he finally understands Star Trek Online. Topics Discussed: Rogue Trader CRPG Granblue Fantasy Relink City of Heroes Last Epoch and Trade System More Peglin! DDO Giving Content Away Understanding Star Trek Online
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AggroChat #462 - Copying Homework
01/07/2024
AggroChat #462 - Copying Homework
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, and Thalen Hey Folks! Happy New Year! We are back after the holiday break and are delaying our Games of the Year Show until a bit later in the month. This week we talk about the Dave the Diver Dredge Crossover, Super Mario RPG and Thalen’s child plotting an interesting course through the game, and a return to Monster Hunter World. With Bobby Kotick leaving ActiBlizz, Bel has stepped back into World of Warcraft and talks a bit about his thoughts so far and the inspirations taken from Guild Wars 2. From there we talk a bit about missing trade league despite how much of a capitalist nightmare it is and how it makes the players focus entirely on short-term gains. Bel talks a bit about how he has shifted his Chieftain into Righteous Fire and how it is a reasonable replacement for RF Juggernaut. Finally, some breaking news while we are recording… we talk a bit about the new FFXIV job Pictomancer, and the new limited job Beastmaster. Topics Discussed: Dave the Diver Dredge Crossover Super Mario RPG Remake Monster Hunter World World of Warcraft after 3 Years Away Influences from Guild Wars 2 Path of Exile The line goes up, and financialization of everything in another inflation league Righteous Fire Chieftain Missing Trade League Final Fantasy XIV New Dawntrail News Pictomancer Beastmaster OrcaCon
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AggroChat #461 - Respecs Should Be Free
12/17/2023
AggroChat #461 - Respecs Should Be Free
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, and Tamrielo Hey Folks! This is potentially our last show of the year because the next few weeks and the holidays within them… are going to make it very hard to gather a quorum. This week we are going to be brutally honest and tell you that if you have no interest in Path of Exile, then this might be a show for your to skip. While we have a very brief conversation about Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Kodra saving the day and being the big kid rescuing a stranded party, the show is mostly diving into the “Bel League” private league thusfar. So yeah we talk about Path of Exile for an hour and a half and if that is not your thing, then that is totally cool. Topics Discussed Pokemon Mystery Dungeon ---- Making Memories, Saving Wiped Teams Path of Exile -- Affliction League One Week In -- How Our Builds are Going -- What happens when you follow a bait build ---- How much better the game would be with free respecs
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AggroChat #460 - Spoopy Forest Friends
12/10/2023
AggroChat #460 - Spoopy Forest Friends
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are back with everyone and it is weird how long it has been since we have done a full seven-person show! Tonight we discuss the Game Awards and some of the negative reception surrounding it. We talked for a bit about the Monarch television show and the larger Legacy Pictures Monsterverse. Tam talks about The Exit 8 and the liminal weirdness of an ever-shifting train station. Then we dive into the Path of Exile Affliction League and more specifically our private “Bel League” and how that has been going so far. Topics Discussed – The Game Awards 2023 – Monarch and the Legacy Pictures Monsterverse – The Exit 8 – Path of Exile \-- Bel League \-- Progress so far \-- Affliction League Mechanic
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AggroChat #459 - An Elegy for Pohx
12/03/2023
AggroChat #459 - An Elegy for Pohx
Featuring: Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are down basically the front half of the alphabet for this show, but the remaining four of us end up recording a deceptively long episode. Path of Exile revealed the details of the Affliction League and we had an awful lot to say about that. We talk through one of the biggest meta-shakeups in the game’s history. Bel also picks a fight with Kodra apparently when he called Guild Wars 2 more of an ARPG than an MMO. It all resolves peacefully however as we realize those judgments are based on different points of reference. We close out the show with Tam talking about some of the interesting choices being forced in Star Citizen. Topics Discussed: Path of Exile Affliction League Meta Shake-Up Death of Righteous Fire Ultimatum Returns Goodbye Metamorph Guild Wars 2 as ARPG Kodra wants to fight Bel Different points of reference Star Citizen Forcing Interesting Choices
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AggroChat #458 - Muddied Waters
11/26/2023
AggroChat #458 - Muddied Waters
Hey Folks! This week we start off with a topic about in game events, and how wildly different they can be between various games. Specifically this topic was inspired by the Star Citizen IAE 2953 event but we give into many different game events. Ash gets around to playing Armored Core 6 and talks about how awful the intro to the game is. Bel laments how sometimes maybe being a more Open World experience makes a game worse. Specifically this is inspired by Jedi Survivor and how it is a much less tight game than Fallen Order. Shocking to no one we dive into another Path of Exile topic and more specifically how Kodra and Bel completed some dumb Trial of the Ancestors achievements. Bel has finished Alan Wake II and gives the game another hard plug and then talks a bit about how Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure is really good. Topics Discussed: In Game Festival Events Star Citizen IAE 2953 Final Fantasy events Other Game Holidays Armored Core 6 Why is the intro so awful? Sometimes Open World Makes Games Worse Jedi Survivor Muddied Waters Path of Exile Doing Dumb things with Totems Lament of why Multiplayer is needlessly punishing Kodra knocking out achievements Alan Wake II - After Credit Roll Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure is good
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AggroChat #457 - Complex Payoffs
11/19/2023
AggroChat #457 - Complex Payoffs
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We start off with a topic that has been bumped for time a few weeks in row as we discuss how complex video games can stick the landing with their denouement. Bel has been playing Alan Wake 2 and talks about how Remedy finally has achieved seamless integration of FMV and rendered gameplay. We talked a bit about Risk of Rain 2 and the buildcraft surrounding the game. Kodra has officially gone further in Path of Exile than the rest of us and talks about his adventures in bossing. We wrap up the show discussing how Path of Exile does a poor job of telling its story in spite of actually having a very good one compared to other ARPGs. Topics Discussed: The Ending Payoffs for Complex Games How to stick the landing Alan Wake 2 is Great Risk of Rain 2 Buildcraft Kodra Kills Against the Bosses ARPGs attempting to tell stories
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AggroChat #456 - Kalandra Redemption Arc
11/12/2023
AggroChat #456 - Kalandra Redemption Arc
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We start off the show with a bit of a reprisal from last week. Namely, Grace and Bel thought that all of the announcements at BlizzCon were universally good, but it seems that at least for some WoW Pundits they were a bit disappointed. Ash talks about the remake of Risk of Rain called Risk of Rain Returns and how it improves upon the original. We talk about the Blast from the Past League in Path of Exile and how Lake of Kalandra is getting a bit of a redemption arc. From there we talk some more about Cities Skylines 2 and Bel opines that he just really wants a prettier version of Simcity 2000. Tam talks a bit about BOKURA a multiplayer puzzle game where both players are seemingly wildly different things, but need to solve puzzles together. Bel talks a bit about the death of the Draft Booster and what the changes surrounding the “Play Booster” mean for Magic the Gathering. Finally, we wrap up with a few very short topics, and Bel talks about how good Bookshops & Bonedust the sequel to Legends & Lattes was. Topics Discussed WoW Pundits and War Within Risk of Rain Returns Path of Exile Blast from the Past League Cities Skylines 2 BOKURA Magic the Gathering Death of the Draft Booster Bookshops and Bonedust is Great
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AggroChat #455 - Getting Krangled
11/05/2023
AggroChat #455 - Getting Krangled
Featuring: Ammosart, Belghast, Grace, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are down essentially our entire Seattle contingency for assorted reasons that I don’t believe are actually connected. So we carry forward with our Central and Eastern Timezone folks and talk a bit about BlizzCon and how there was a wildly different energy surrounding the event. It feels like a new chapter for Blizzard is opening that may or may not have anything to do with the Microsoft acquisition. From there we talk a bit about the Krangled event and how bizarre it is to play with a randomized passive tree. Bel talks about the situation at Bungie and the general sense of dire straights for the Destiny franchise. Bel also talks a bit about easing back into Final Fantasy XIV and catching up on the post-Endwalker content. He has also been playing New World a bit and going through the expansion content while leveling to 65 and farming some new gear. Finally, we drive off into a discussion about the books that we have been reading and float the idea of a “Books of the Year” show similar to our “Games of the Year” show we often do. Topics Discussed: BlizzCon 2023 Overwatch Diablo World of Warcraft Three Expansion Cycle The War Within Features A New Feeling Blizzard Path of Exile Krangled Event is Strange Like Bad Sealed Magic Bel League Discussion Kodra is Super Serious The Bungie Situation Easing back into FFXIV New World Expansion Book Talk
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AggroChat #454 - World of Wonder
10/29/2023
AggroChat #454 - World of Wonder
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are back but still down several members of our crew. This week we start off with some discussion about Diablo IV Season 2 and whether or not the game is good now. From there we talk a lot about the events of the Star Citizen CitizenCon. Super Mario Wonder has come out and we talk about the experiences with the game so far. Tam talks a bit about Endless Dungeon and how it might actually be fun in multiplayer. Kodra shares some news about an upcoming SudokuCon Fundraiser stream he is going to be part of this week. Finally, we talk a bit about Cities: Skylines 2 and the changes it brings to the genre. Topics Discussed: Diablo IV is Good Now? Season of Blood Review CitizenCon Did you hold the line? Super Mario Wonder Endless Dungeon SudokuCon Fundraiser Stream Cities: Skylines 2
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AggroChat #453 - Keeping Up With The Cardassians
10/15/2023
AggroChat #453 - Keeping Up With The Cardassians
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! This week we start off the show with some discussion about the most recent Honkai Star Rail patch and how it does a Pokemans. From there we dive into the Stellaris offshoot Star Trek Infinite and how it is more than just a reskin. This leads into a long winding conversation about how games feel wildly different once you tweak a few variables. All of that takes a brief detour into how frustrating it is that the Sea of Thieves PVE mode has some limitations. Bel goes into a bit of a rant about how all live service releases are awful until they have a year or two under their belt and how “the vision” show be burned to a crisp. We talked a bit about the Microsoft Deal for ActiBlizz finally closing and the possibility of World of Warcraft for Gamepass. Finally, we get moored in a discussion of Path of Exile as we always seem to lately and talk a bit about Kodra clearing his first two voidstones. Topics Discussed: Honkai Star Rail does a Pokemans Star Trek Infinite How it is more than just a reskin of Stellaris How Games Change when you Tweak a few Variables Frustrations of Sea of Thieves PVE limitations Microsoft Deal Finalized World of Warcraft on Gamepass When? Path of Exile Kodra Clears Gets some Voidstones
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AggroChat #452 - Cyberpunk Redemption Arc
10/08/2023
AggroChat #452 - Cyberpunk Redemption Arc
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, and Tamrielo Hey Folks! We are down a Grace and a Thalen this weekend so we floundered a bit on the topics we were going to talk about. While we questioned if we had enough for a show, we still wound up going over by about fourteen minutes. We start off with some discussion about GeekGirlCon 2023 which all of our Seattle contingency attended this weekend. From there Bel talks a bit about a new Switch device that he picked up called the CRKD Nitro Deck that makes the Switch a bit beefer and feel like a Steam Deck. Tam has been diving back into Cyberpunk 2077 with the release of the 2.0 update and Phantom Libery expansion. Finally, we wind around to Path of Exile that Ash, Kodra, and Bel are still deeply engaged with this league. We talk a bit more about the birth of the “Bel League” private league concept. Topics Discussed GeekGirlCon 2023 CRKD Nitro Deck Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Path of Exile Bel League Gaining Traction Random Path of Exile nonsense
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AggroChat #451 - Scour League
10/01/2023
AggroChat #451 - Scour League
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen I promise no books were burned during the making of this episode. We start off the show with a discussion about Warhammer Fantasy and more specifically the latest rendition of Cities of Sigmar. Tam talks about how Warhammer finally makes humans in a fantasy setting interesting. From there Bel talks about his weekend adventure in the Toucan Treasure League, a private Path of Exile league where everything drops scoured and you start with 25% resistance in the hole. This leads to a discussion about how overpowered the new Guardian is, and Kodra’s adventures with Hex Blast Mines. Kodra talks about the forming of a Sudoku Convention and how he is helping to organize it. Finally, we wrap up with some discussion about what is keeping Tam interested in Armored Core 6 even though he has beaten it several times in a row now. Topics Discussed: Warhammer Fantasy Cities of Sigmar Path of Exile Toucan Treasure League Law of the Wilds Overpowered Guardian Ascendancy Hexblast Miner Sudoku-Con Armored Core 6 What is keeping Tam engaged?
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AggroChat #450 - Arrrchivists Be Praised
09/24/2023
AggroChat #450 - Arrrchivists Be Praised
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We start the show by discussing Diablo 3 Season 29, and how it Visions of Enmity are shockingly good. We praise the Arrrchivists who have somehow managed to make Marvel Heroes private servers a reality… just currently feature-limited. Kodra and Ash talk about their experiences recently with the Furvana seaside Furry Convention. Tam begins a discussion about narrative structures and how New Game Plus functions in different games. Kodra talks about a brand new skip method in Mario 64 and how it essentially branched out of a long-running meme in the speed-running community. He also talks about playing the Mice and Mystics board game with his kiddo. Finally, we wrap things up with some discussion of the newly announced Bluey Video Game. Topics Discussed Diablo 3 Season 29 Visions of Enmity Marvel Heroes Returns… Sorta Furvana Comparing Narrative Structures and New Game Plus Don’t let your memes be dreams Mario 64 new skip Mice and Mystics Bluey the Video Game
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AggroChat #449 - The Magic Analogy
09/17/2023
AggroChat #449 - The Magic Analogy
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! Sorry we missed last week but we were down over half of our show members. This week Bel faceplants the intro and is urged by the entire crew to keep going. We start off with some discussion about the Honkai Star Rail Swarm Disaster event and a bit of idle gameplay with Chillquarium. From there we dive into some Path of Exile talk as Kodra is now beginning become infected with our madness. He presents the Magic the Gathering draft analogy and we discuss using that as a way of learning Path of Exile as a whole. We talk a bit about Unity's corporate failure speedrun by burning off absolutely every bit of their goodwill with some dumb service changes. From there we talk about a game with a very long and contorted name that promises to give you access to all those weird mobile game ads that don’t actually exist. Lastly, we talk a little bit about the return of Wizardry and how it is the birthplace of the modern JRPG. Topics Discussed Honkai Star Rail Swarm Disaster Chillquarium Path of Exile The Magic the Gathering Analogy Guardian SRS is Amazing Unity Speedrunning Corporate Failure YEAH! YOU WANT “THOSE GAMES,” RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET’S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM! Does Twitch Viewership Matter to Game Success? Wizardry Returns
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AggroChat #448 - NASApunk Adventures
09/03/2023
AggroChat #448 - NASApunk Adventures
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We start this week with the fact that Bel cannot distinguish a 6 from an 8 when looking at it from the corner of his eye. We dive into a discussion of Goodbye Volcano High that Kodra has been playing. From there we talk a bit about what is happening at PAX West this year and this leads into a discussion of all of the games. We talk a bit about some of our first impressions of Starfield in as spoiler-free a manner as we can. Finally, Tam talks about rolling the credits on Armored Core 6 and his final thoughts. Topics Discussed: Bel Can’t Read Goodbye Volcano High PAX West 2023 So Many New Games Starfield First Impressions Rolling the Credits on Armored Core 6
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AggroChat #447 - Giant Robot Souls
08/27/2023
AggroChat #447 - Giant Robot Souls
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen This week we start off the show with some continued Path of Exile Trials of the Ancestor league discussion. From there we talk briefly about the new Guild Wars 2 expansion. Tam has spent some time playing Pseudoregalia and has thoughts about that, which leads into a discussion about our impressions of game generations shifting over time. Tam also spends some time playing Banished Vault and has some things to say about it. This week Armored Core 6 launched and we talk a bit about a Giant Robot game from a developer who has become mostly known for Dark Souls. Finally, we close things out with some more nonsense related to the Path of Exile league. Topics Discussed: Path of Exile Trials of the Ancestor League - First Week Guild Wars 2 Secrets of the Obscure Weaponmastery system Pseudoregalia How our perception of games changes over time. Armored Core 6 Further Path of Exile League Nonsense
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AggroChat #446 - Hanging with Navali
08/20/2023
AggroChat #446 - Hanging with Navali
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! Sorry, we were out last week but we ended up with too few folks to feel like it was worth recording a show. This week we are back and talk about the launch of the Trial of the Ancestors League in Path of Exile. Grace talks a bit about their adventures in Genshin Impact and exploring the realm of the Hydro Archon. Kodra gets featured again on Cracking the Cryptic with a Sudoku and then talks about his adventures at GenCon. Finally, we wrap up the show with an attempt at a spoiler-free discussion of Baldur’s Gate 3. Topics Discussed: Path of Exile Trial of the Ancestors League Start So Far Grace goes SSF Genshin Impact Visiting the Hydro Archon Cracking the Cryptic Kodra was featured again Kodra’s GenCon Adventures Some Spoiler-Free Baldur’s Gate 3 Discussion
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Aggronaut #445 - Mushroom Go Boom
08/06/2023
Aggronaut #445 - Mushroom Go Boom
Featuring: Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, and Tamrielo We have a pretty small group this week as we are down a Kodra, Ammo, and Thalen for various assorted reasons. We start off the show with Tam talking about Viewfinder a bit which winds its way to Bel talking about the coin pusher indie Clockwork Owl. Grace has been playing a lot of XVI and we talk about the Giant Kaiju Battles that take place when two Eikons fight. Bel got into the Palia beta this week and he talks a bit about what feels like Stardew Valley the MMO. Many of us stopped playing whatever we were playing this week with the launch of Baldur’s Gate III, so we spend a bit talking about that game in largely general terms. This leads to a discussion of JRPGs and CRPGs and how they are generally telling stories in very different ways. We close out with a few topics and Bel shares that he no longer has concerns about Path of Exile II. Topics Discussed Viewfinder Clockwork Owl FFXVI Giant Kaiju Battles Palia Beta Baldurs Gate III JRPGs vs CRPGS/WRPGS Path of Exile II Updates
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AggroChat #444 - Graha Discovers Taco
07/30/2023
AggroChat #444 - Graha Discovers Taco
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen We start off the show with Ash talking about playing through Wandersong. From there Thalen talks about his experience with Lost Words, and Tam dives into a discussion about how Far Cry does a shockingly good job with its cultural experience. From there we talk about Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest and the announcement for the Dawntrail Expansion. Then we talk a bit about the news coming out of ExileCon with Path of Exile II. We also talk a bit about the changes coming to the first game with 3.22 and the Trail of the Ancestors League. Finally, we wrap things up with a discussion about Dave the Diver again and how it is this weird showcase for how to make a good mobile game… even though it isn’t one. Topics Discussed: Wandersong Lost Words Far Cry 6 How it gets culture right Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail WOL Goes on Vacation Path of Exile II Path of Exile 3.22 Trial of the Ancestors Dave the Diver Good Mobile Game
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AggroChat #443 - Even Immortality Ends
07/23/2023
AggroChat #443 - Even Immortality Ends
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! This week we have the entire crew and can finally talk some more about Nimona and how much we love this movie. From there Bel talks about the Diablo 4 Season 1 Patch, and how it might be the worst live service patch ever. We get that everyone is tired of talking about this game but the hits keep coming. This week Honkai Star Rail released the next batch of stories with its 1.2 patch, and we talk about some of the events and ramifications. Thalen was gone last week because he spent nearly an entire weekend playing one game of Twilight Imperium so we talk a bit about that. Thalen also talks a bit about playing Kabuto Sumo and how it is very kid friendly. Finally, we wrap things up with Kodra talking about using the Steam Deck as a second monitor in his streaming rig. Topics Discussed: Nimona is Great You Should Watch It Again Diablo 4 Season 1 Maybe the Worst Live Service Patch Maybe as bad as the Champions Online Day One Patch Honkai Star Rail Immortality Ends 1.2 Patch Twilight Imperium Do you have a free weekend? Kabuto Sumo Steamdeck Streaming Rig
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AggroChat #442 - Cute Fish and Eldritch Horror
07/16/2023
AggroChat #442 - Cute Fish and Eldritch Horror
Featuring: Ammosart, Ashgar, Belghast, Grace, Kodra, and Tamrielo Hey Folks! This week we are down a Thalen which bumps a topic that we bumped last week, but whatever we have more! Bel starts off the show with a discussion about Blaugust coming soon and how the changes in the social media landscape are introducing it to more people. From there we talk about the One of One Ring search being over, which dives into a discussion about whether or not the Sol Ring being an auto-include is good or not. Kodra has been using the SteamDeck as a primary travel computer and this works shockingly well. We talk about the weird game that is Dave the Diver and then branch off into a discussion about whether or not Pizza Tower is actually good. Tam shares some nostalgia for revisiting the Battlezone ‘98 Remaster and how it is a type of RTS that never really had its day. Finally, Kodra and Ash share some of their progress in Four Job Fiesta as it is nearing the end of that event. Topics Discussed: Blaugust is Coming 2 Million Dollar Card Found Debate about Magic the Gathering “Auto Includes” SteamDeck as a Primary Machine Dave the Diver Pizza Tower is Good? Battlezone ‘98 Four Job Fiesta
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AggroChat #441 - Shackled by Tradition
07/09/2023
AggroChat #441 - Shackled by Tradition
Featuring: Belghast, Grace, Kodra, Tamrielo, and Thalen Hey Folks! We are down Ash and Ammo but carry on with what we originally thought would be a short show. The curse of saying that means that without a doubt we end up going over. We start off talking about Tam’s new toy, the PlayDate Console, and some of the interesting design choices it presents. From there Bel talks about the Diablo 4 reveal trailer and the weak reception. This leads to a larger discussion about issues with Blizzard as a whole and how everything somewhat feels like short-sighted decision-making. Bel and Tam talk about Trinity Fusion a game that feels like a halfway point between Deadcells and Hades that Bel stumbled upon through Mastodon. We dive into a large topic about how games end up shackled by specific traditions and how they have limited various designs. Then we get into a few shorter topics like Gamepad.Club is a lovely community if you are looking for a place to land on Mastodon. Then we all give you a plea to watch Nimona. We are likely going to talk about that movie in a full spoiler sense next week. Topics Discussed The PlayDate Console Interesting Design Ideas Diablo 4 Season 1 Reveal Weak Reception Problems at Blizzard in General Trinity Fusion Deadcells meets Hades Shackled by Tradition Join Gamepad.club Watch Nimona
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