Axe of the Blood God: An RPG Podcast
Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing video games! Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/bloodgodpod
info_outline
Sharlayan Dropouts: Blue Mage 101
03/09/2023
Sharlayan Dropouts: Blue Mage 101
We hurl halibut and homilize halitosis but by The Twelve we look good doing it on this episode of Sharlayan Dropouts. It’s all things Blue Mage this week with your hosts Victor Hunter, Nadia Oxford, and special guest Eric Van Allen. Where did the Blue Mage originate? What’s the appeal of its innately masochistic mechanics? And what does the future of Blue Mage look like for Final Fantasy XIV? We talk about all that and more including out hopes for The New World, breaking systems over your knee, and Blue Mage Fortnite! Spoiler Level Blue: And not just Level Blue for obvious reasons. I’m honestly insulted you’d think I’d make a joke that predictable. No, this episode is basically spoiler-free besides some early Blue Mage Job Quests and some discussion about elements we hope to see in later expansions. Unless I forgot something. In which case, sorry.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/26179350
info_outline
Final Fantasy XVI Preview w/ Ash Parrish and Michael Higham
03/06/2023
Final Fantasy XVI Preview w/ Ash Parrish and Michael Higham
Why do they call it "FINAL Fantasy" when there are sixteen--oh God please put the serrated knives away, I'm just joking. This week, we invited Verge's and freelance writer/regular guest to talk about their hands-on impressions of Final Fantasy XVI alongside our own Eric. How does it look? How does it play? How does it sound? And what about Producer Naoki Yoshida's controversial remarks about the term "JRPG?" We waddle right into it all, like a herd of Chocobos into a mud pit. Also in this episode: Octopath Traveler 2 rules As does Fire Emblem Engage Elden Ring DLC will get here when it gets here Re-examining Chrono Cross in the context of the Pantheon Bar Mitzvahs are crunk Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Heavensward title screen [Final Fantasy XIV] Awakening trailer music [Final Fantasy XVI] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Hopes and Dreams [Undertale]
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/26145597
info_outline
The Octopath Traveler 2 Review w/Jason Schreier
02/27/2023
The Octopath Traveler 2 Review w/Jason Schreier
All of life's paths intersect and intertwine, so it was inevitable the Axe of the Blood God would walk down Octopath Traveler 2's twisted roads. This week we're joined by Bloomberg's , who was less than enthused about the original Octopath Traveler. How does its sequel fare? Let's just say a game studio can learn a lot in five years. Also in this episode: The Last of Us on HBO will steal your emotions and make you its slave Nadia is watching a cat destroy the world (in Dragon Ball Super) Is Mass Effect still deserving of being in the Pantheon? Nadia's new saga: Sex, Death, and Zip Ties--the Life of a Pigeon Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Intro theme [Octopath Traveler 2] Partitio's theme [Octopath Traveler 2] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Partitio's theme 2 [Octopath Traveler 2]
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/26062230
info_outline
Rad RPG Recommendations w/Rebekah Valentine
02/20/2023
Rad RPG Recommendations w/Rebekah Valentine
Axe of the Blood God listeners often come to us for RPG recommendations, and we're happy to oblige (with help from ). We're especially happy when said recommendations are specific, even weirdly so. We'll admit up front that we sadly don't have a suggestion for anyone who likes RPGs featuring naked elves throwing Cool Whip at dragons, because we live in a stifled world. Need a PokeClone recommendation that you won't bounce from, though? We got you covered. Unlike the naked elf in our dream game. Also in this episode: A brief review of Like a Dragon: Ishin! Nadia's bopping along to Theatrhythm Final Bar Line Golden Sun rises again to enflame Reb's retro dreams This week's Pantheon revisit: Does Terranigma still deserve to be recognized as one of the greatest RPGs of all time? 1 "yes" = 1 dead goat husband Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Underside World [Terranigma]
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25991367
info_outline
Tears of the Kingdom + The Return of Baten Kaitos, Etrian Odyssey, and Level-5
02/13/2023
Tears of the Kingdom + The Return of Baten Kaitos, Etrian Odyssey, and Level-5
February is truly when the northern hemisphere gets winter-weary, so hurrah on Nintendo for lighting our lives with another Nintendo Direct presentation. And what an unexpected presentation it was. While we knew we were going to get another trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, we also got some real surprises in the mix. An Etrian Odyssey HD collection? A new Fantasy Life?? Game Boy games, Game Boy Colour games and Game Boy Advance games??? A veritable well of retro RPG goodness is now open for business. Kat, Nadia, and Eric discuss it all. Also in this episode: Baiten Kaidos re-releases are coming, too! Advance Wars Re-Boot Camp finally has a release date after being stalled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. War is truly over if you want it Does System Shock 2 still deserve to be ranked in the Pantheon of the greatest RPGs? Listen to us debate the topic, meat sack Oh no, wizard game discourse We have a very nice, very civilized conversation about powerful game music on the Nostalgia Nook. Nothing explodes. (Not while the mic is hot, anyway) Music used in this episode: Do Your Best! [Breath of Fire III] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] Forged in Crimson [Final Fantasy XIV]
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25917900
info_outline
Sharlayan Dropouts Valentione’s Day Special: FFXIV’s Top 12 Simpable Hotties
02/09/2023
Sharlayan Dropouts Valentione’s Day Special: FFXIV’s Top 12 Simpable Hotties
It’s the battle of the babes this month on Sharlayan Dropouts as we go wall-to-wall to figure out which hotties buff our hosts to max potency. That’s right, we’re ranking the Top 12 stone foxes, the veritable mamacitas, of Final Fantasy XIV. Listen as Victor Hunter, Nadia Oxford, Mike Williams, and Eric Van Allen tell on themselves for your enjoyment. Find out if your favs made the list! And if they didn’t, head on over to to get Discord access and yell at us about it there! Spoiler Level Orange: This is a scattershot discussion that touches upon a few elements from a several different storylines including Endwalker 6.3 and Save the Queen, though light on actual detail and context.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25877295
info_outline
Forsooth! This Way Madness Lies w/Robert Boyd
02/07/2023
Forsooth! This Way Madness Lies w/Robert Boyd
Madness? This...is...no, no, I'm not going to finish this. Drag me, I deserve it. Just make sure to eviscerate me while listening to our awesome conversation with Robert Boyd, the maker of . Do you like Shakespeare? Do you like PC Engine Magical Girl RPGs? Do you like Little Shop of Horrors references? This Way Madness Lies might just be your digital soulmate. Also in this episode: Jammin' with Noctis and the Boys in Final Fantasy Theatrhythm's demo Ike Fights for His Friends™ No Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft at E3 2023. Soooo... Pantheon of the Blood God revisits Final Fantasy 8. Is Squall still cool? !*!*!~wElc0mE to Da WAREZ Z0NE~!!!! Gr33ts go to my homies xxx_s0L1d_Sp1K3_xxx and +++CrashhMan_69+++!!!!!!!!!! Music used in the ep: Do Your Best [Breath of Fire 3] Title Screen [This Way Madness Lies] Transonic Gravity [Sayonara Wild Hearts] Torn from the Heavens [Final Fantasy XIV] A Curious Tale [Secret of Mana] The Man With the Machine Gun [Final Fantasy VIII]
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25850811
info_outline
Are We Past the Golden Age of RPGs? Or Are We Living In It?
01/30/2023
Are We Past the Golden Age of RPGs? Or Are We Living In It?
When you think of the "RPG Golden Age," what comes to mind? The SNES, certainly--who can deny the brilliance of Chrono Trigger? (Except for Eric Van Allen, who has been banished to the Naughty Step to think about what he said.) But what if we're living in the Golden Age of RPGs right here and right now? Between the Switch and PS4, RPG fans are feasting like never before. Special guest and valued Patron The Black Stones joins us this week as we weigh up both eras. Also in this episode: Oh no, BioWare :( Are you OK, bestie? Alcryst from Fire Emblem teaches us all to hate ourselves Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On brought us right back to the track Should Skies of Arcadia remain in the Pantheon? With apologies to Sesame Street
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25774443
info_outline
Fire Emblem Engage w/ Alyse Stanley
01/24/2023
Fire Emblem Engage w/ Alyse Stanley
Eric had to shoulder the entirety of the show last week because Kat went skiing and Nadia had the audacity to catch COVID, but the gang is well and truly back together this week! Writer and WaPo editor joins the crew to talk about Fire Emblem Engage, a.k.a Aquafresh Teen Dragon Force. Just kidding. The Blood God loves the toothpaste hero, and we love Fire Emblem Engage in general. How much? Plug this week's show into your ears and find out. Also in this episode: Yes, you can get married in Final Fantasy XIV Industry layoffs, oh God why Kat is playing Crisis Core. GONGAGA We re-visit Tales of Vesperia. Is it Pantheon material, or nah? That one time Nadia found a naked lady in her Super Nintendo game
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25705914
info_outline
Let's Talk About Chained Echoes w/ Austin Walker
01/16/2023
Let's Talk About Chained Echoes w/ Austin Walker
Kat and Nadia are both out this week, so Eric shifts into a different gear to chat about the mech-fantasy RPG Chained Echoes with Friends at the Table's Austin Walker! The pair discuss 2022's late-in-the-year surprise hit and why it's captured their hearts, as well as their Steam Decks. All that, plus: A primer on the ongoing Wizards of the Coast / OGL news Who would you want making a Hunter x Hunter game? A surprise end-of-pod guest appearance All that and more on this week's episode of Axe of the Blood God. Check it out!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25622994
info_outline
Sharlayan Dropouts, Episode 19: An Audio Tour of the Lost City of Amdapor
01/14/2023
Sharlayan Dropouts, Episode 19: An Audio Tour of the Lost City of Amdapor
Put on your Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts because it’s tourist season in Eorzea! In this episode of Sharlayan Dropouts we’re taking you on a guided tour. Either listen as a standalone episode or follow along in-game for the Ultimate Immersive Gameplay X-perience!™ This month we’re looking at the tragic history of The Lost City of Amdapor and the brain fungus, abstract liminal spaces, and fun facts about the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that await us there. Spoiler Level Green: Assuming you’ve made it the point where you can enter The Lost City of Amdapor (lvl 50) then you have nothing to fear but toxoplasmosis.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25604976
info_outline
Which Trends Will RPGs Adopt Most Over the Next 10 Years?
01/09/2023
Which Trends Will RPGs Adopt Most Over the Next 10 Years?
Not a single person is ready for 2023, but guess what! It's happening anyway! Time is kind of a dick like that. So Kat, Nadia, and Eric just steel themselves this week and take the full-bodied plunge back into work. That's why this week's episode is refreshing, but there's also a small chance it'll stop your heart. This week's main topic of discussion comes from one of the Blood God's most devout $50 Patreon tier disciples, Knot Hollow, who wants to know what the next decade of RPGs will look like. Well, the Blood God crew has takes, guesses, and ideas. More games like Disco Elysium? Perhaps. More games like Genshin Impact? Maybe. How about Elden Ring? Almost certainly. Come back in a decade for the opportunity to point and laugh about how wrong Kat, Nadia, and Eric were. Also in this episode: Fire Emblem: Engage isn't out yet, but it's already generating takes (and not just about the heroes' Aquafresh toothpaste hair) Pocket Card Jockey lives! It has not been put down like a spent racehorse after all! One billion years later, Nadia's finally watching Archer It's the birth of a new segment! The Blood God team goes back and re-evaluates former Pantheon entries and candidates! This week: Will Lufia 2 be granted mercy? Very special thanks to Knot Hollow for their support, and for the support of all the Blood God faithful out there!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25547913
info_outline
What to Expect From Axe of the Blood God in 2023!
01/02/2023
What to Expect From Axe of the Blood God in 2023!
Hello and welcome to Year 3 of the Axe of the Blood God! It's going to be an absolutely massive year for RPGs, and that means big things for the podcast. Here's just some of what we have planned as we move through 2023: An expansion to Youtube! We had a lot of success with our live show in 2022, and we'd love to expand that video component where possible. Expect more updates on this soon! Merch! We're working on a new store and a host of merch to go in it! We expect this to go live in February. The Pantheon Revisit! We'll be revisiting some of our most controversial Pantheon entries (and exclusions) from the first two years of the podcast to start 2023. It'll all culminate in a Pantheon revisit that will potentially see some RPGs make it in while others are removed. It should be chaotic! Axe of the Blood God Episode 400! Wow, it's almost here! PAX East panel! We're going to be at PAX East in March! Stay tuned for more info! Spring of Korra! We'll be diving into our watch of Legend of Korra just as soon as we finish off Winter of Wick! March Madness, charity streams, D&D, Sharlayan Dropouts, and more! Naturally you can expect all of our usual content, including a charity stream, another D&D episode, a March Madness bracket centered around western RPGs, and more! That's on top of all of our usual coverage in what should be a very busy year for RPGs. From Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Starfield to Baldur's Gate 3, we're going to have tons to discuss in 2023! Thank you as always for your generous support, and we look forward to another great year of podcasting on Axe of the Blood God!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25486644
info_outline
The Axe of the Blood God's Big Ol' 2023 RPG Preview
01/02/2023
The Axe of the Blood God's Big Ol' 2023 RPG Preview
Happy New Year! 2023's launch also marks the launch of new RPGs. Like, lots of RPGs. This is going to be a busy, busy year. Kat, Nadia, and Eric go over their most anticipated titles for the upcoming 365 days, and also take a few stabs at industry predictions. Take score while you listen, then throw every wrong prediction back in the team's face when the year comes to a close! It'll be fun! More fun than scrabbling around for edible rat bits, or whatever else waits for us this year. Thank you for your continued support of Axe of the Blood God! When it all goes downhill, you'll be the first ones we share our edible rat bits with.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25482048
info_outline
The RPG Year in Review 2022 w/ Mike and Victor
12/26/2022
The RPG Year in Review 2022 w/ Mike and Victor
The year is coming to a close, and so we're looking back on all the role-playing games 2022 delivered. Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by the Sharlayan Dropouts Mike and Victor to help break down all the happenings in the RPG world this year, including: Square Enix's fall blunderbuss of RPGs The magic of Elden Ring Can an RPG truly have it all in Xenoblade Chronicles 3? All this and more, including one last holiday Nostalgia Nook/Pit. We hope all our listeners and backers are having a wonderful holiday time, and we'll see you soon in the new year for a fresh batch of RPG goodness.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25434207
info_outline
The Games We Loved (But Weren't So Hot On Later)
12/19/2022
The Games We Loved (But Weren't So Hot On Later)
Kat has returned to the Axe of the Blood God, and all she got was a nasty cough. Well, that and memories that'll last a lifetime, or something like that. She's come back home just in time to enjoy a very chill episode of the show, which delves into reader mail. In other words…it's letter tiiime, it's letter tiiime! Kick back and listen as Kat, Nadia, and Eric answer questions about games they initially loved, then cooled down on (and vice versa), which games they regret not playing in 2022, what they're looking forward to in 2023, and lots more. Also in this episode: The Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters are coming to consoles! There's a deluxe box set! Aaaand it's gone Chained Echoes is pretty baller Dragon Quest Treasures has no idea what it's doing, but that's part of the fun If your Christmas party doesn't involve poisoning yourself with homemade bucket wine, don't call it a Christmas party In the Post Show The gang continues to chill as they discuss the movies Kat watched on the plane on her way home from Amsterdam. The discussion quickly slides into all-out movie discourse, which means a hot takes about Pixar movies and Christopher Nolan. God bless us, everyone.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25373379
info_outline
Sharlayan Dropouts: Hoplology 101 - The Veil of Wiyu
12/14/2022
Sharlayan Dropouts: Hoplology 101 - The Veil of Wiyu
Fans of Ivalice, the history of visual novels, and the works of Jean-Luc Godard might just find something to sink their teeth into this episode. Victor explores the many twists and turns in the surprisingly robust history behind Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’s Summoner weapon, The Veil of Wiyu in this first episode of a recurring series that aims to shed light on the real-world inspirations behind the weaponry of Final Fantasy XIV. If you want to see more dedicated episodes like this be sure to let us know at @SharlayanPod or @BloodGodPod on Twitter or on the official Axe of the Blood God Discord server available to $1 subscribers at patreon.com/bloodgodpod. SPOILER LEVEL GREEN: Not a spoiler to be seen. A few references to some contextless plot details for various games in the series but nothing to keep you from enjoying this episode regardless of where you are in your journey.Music: Down the Up Staircase - Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Save / Load Screen - Final Fantasy Tactics Protagonist’s Theme - Final Fantasy Tactics Trisection - Final Fantasy Tactics Not Alone Jazz Arrangement - JAZZ - FINAL FANTASY - Fear After - Final Fantasy Tactics Green Eyed Love - Mayer Hawthorne James Bond Theme (From Dr. No) - Monty Norman Under the Imperial Flag - Sakura Wars 3 I feel like I’ve heard that one before - Final Fantasy Tactics Sources: Marathon Gaming Retrospectives - Final Fantasy Wiki - Sound Novels - Oeilvert - Hardcore Gaming 101 - The Tale of Oeilvert - FFT Sound Novel Let’s Play by Nekomakine -
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25331400
info_outline
The 2022 Game Awards + This Year's Hidden Gem RPGs w/Lucas White
12/12/2022
The 2022 Game Awards + This Year's Hidden Gem RPGs w/Lucas White
The universe has survived another bout of Geoff Keighly's Game Awards, where the real awards are the memes mined from cynical adults' Twitter timelines. Does that work grammatically? Eh, whatever. Point is, Geoff Keighly threw a party and now there are new RPGs to talk about. Which Nadia and Eric do with the help of very special guest Another important topic of discussion: The overlooked RPG gems of 2022. A whole heap of games dropped way too late to get that sweet, sweet December recognition, and the Blood God crew does its best to give them a nice boost. Also in this episode: The real treasure in Dragon Quest Treasures are the Slime friends we made along the way. Holy crap! Hades II is coming! Holy crap! Chained Echoes is really good! A riveting tale of Sonic the Hedgehog and election fraud.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25296174
info_outline
The Year of Tactics 2022 Recap w/ Leana Hafer
12/05/2022
The Year of Tactics 2022 Recap w/ Leana Hafer
This week on Axe of the Blood God, friend of the pod joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they talk about one of this year's most popular RPG sub-genres: The strategy game. From turn-based to real time, from revision to brand-new IP, there was a lot going on with the strategy genre this year. And, uh, there still is! The year's not quite over! How does one find the time and money to love them all? Also in this episode: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Takes Speaking of strategy games, how's Marvel's Midnight Suns? World of Warcraft: Dragonflight is a pleasant flight so far What's the worst game you ever got as a gift? POST SHOW Len joins the Axe of the Blood God's weekly ride into hell via the post show. There's a hodgepodge of discourse this week, including "Hangovers suck," and how each of us would fix the Game Awards. Half the awards are currently belted out in the thirty seconds a nominated developer might theoretically get up to use the can, so maybe putting a stop to that kind of thing is a first step.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25227258
info_outline
Pantheon of the Blood God: Mass Effect
11/29/2022
Pantheon of the Blood God: Mass Effect
For the June 2021 edition of Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric take a deep dive into the first game of the Mass Effect series! They trace its origins as the follow-up to Knights of the Old Republic, delve into its soundtrack, and pick its five best moments. Then comes the big conversation: Is Mass Effect worthy of inclusion in the Pantheon of the Blood God? Pantheon of the Blood God is a series devoted to diving into the very best RPGs of all time. You can find full catalog on our Patreon at or on our website at !
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25156485
info_outline
Sharlayan Dropouts 2022 Thanksgiving Special w/ Aidan Moher
11/25/2022
Sharlayan Dropouts 2022 Thanksgiving Special w/ Aidan Moher
Hop on the airship back to your hometown and listen to your favourite Final Fantasy XIV podcast, now on the free feed! The Dropouts bring a very special guest to family dinner, author of Fight, Magic, Items, Aidan Moher, to discuss the impact FFXIV has had on the JRPG and MMO genres over the years. Plus it’s the first annual Holiday Gift Guide; our hosts give you the perfect gift ideas at any budget for the FFXIV fan in your life. And stick around for a very special segment that will no doubt be a recurring fan-favourite for years to come… SPOILER LEVEL GREEN: Rest easy, slowpokes, there’s not a spoiler to be found for malms. A perfect episode to jump into regardless of where you’re at in your journey!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25133571
info_outline
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Review w/ Reb Valentine
11/21/2022
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Review w/ Reb Valentine
This week on Axe of the Blood God, IGN's joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric as they step into Pokemon Heaven courtesy of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Wait a second. Maybe it's more like Pokemon Hell, since Scarlet and Violet are, uh, really buggy. Do the glitches, bugs, and body horror put a damper on what's otherwise the most ambitious and compelling Pokemon game to date? Well, no, but also yes. Also in this episode: Nadia and Reb talk farming with Harvestella Sonic creator Yuji Naka is in hot water with the law The next-gen Witcher 3 update is coming soon, bless Autumn of Avatar goes to the theatre POST SHOW Kat is forced to bail early on this week's post show. This is a good thing, as Nadia, Eric, and Reb immediately load up a random Pokemon generator and declare which Pokemon are good eating, and which are best not consumed. That means Kat's soul still has a chance to ascend to heaven, whereas the rest of the crew already has reserved seating in the pits of Gehenna. Available to the Stars of Destiny tier and above!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25086894
info_outline
Star Ocean: The Divine Force Review w/ John Linneman
11/14/2022
Star Ocean: The Divine Force Review w/ John Linneman
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Digital Foundry's joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric for a detailed discussion about Star Ocean: The Divine Force. It's been a Canis Major's age since Square Enix did anything with Star Ocean, and the Blood God crew is ashamedly not up-to-date on the series. That's why John is here. (Also, it's because he's cool). Is the new game everything Star Ocean fans have been waiting for? Find out. Also in this episode: Don't sleep on Harvestella, it's pretty dang good Mass Effect 5 exists Mazeltov to Ash Ketchum for becoming the Galar Region champion with the aid of a Pokemon that's too horrifying to exist Nadia made friends with some crows, then accidentally pissed them off with pistachios
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/25002888
info_outline
Final Fantasy XVI Controversy, Twitter's Implosion, and Other Messy Discourse
11/07/2022
Final Fantasy XVI Controversy, Twitter's Implosion, and Other Messy Discourse
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric lose themselves to chaos. The smash launch of Marvel Snap dang near caused something to snap in their brains, it seems. Or maybe they're just jumpy because Twitter—a major source of networking and promotion for countless writers and pocasters (ahem)—is now Satan's own toilet. It's a great show, regardless. Sometimes it's healthy to just sit back and see where the toboggan ride takes you. Also in this episode: Final Fantasy XVI has some…issues regarding racial diversity Harvestella is out, and by gosh, it's chill as heck Whispers on the wind speak of a new Deus Ex game in development Autumn of Avatar: No character voiced by Mark Hamill can possibly be evil
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24933525
info_outline
Class Conscious: Monks w/ Danielle Riendeau
11/01/2022
Class Conscious: Monks w/ Danielle Riendeau
This week on the Axe of the Blood God RPG podcast, Kat and Nadia have both gone out for cigarettes, which means that Eric is in charge. Our boy keeps his head on his shoulders and invites Mike Williams of Sharlayan Dropouts to talk about our next Class Conscious entry: Monks! You know, those fellows what pummel things with their fists and suplex trains. They're joined by martial artist , who has good advice for all you baby monks who're just starting your training: The pavement always wins. Also in this episode: We say goodbye to esteemed RPG architect Rieko Kodama, who sadly passed away earlier this year Marvel Snap is currently the most popular thing in the universe Mike loves him some Mario Rabbids. (Or is that "rabid Mario?") The gang dives head-first into the Fire Nation on this week's Autumn of Avatar POST SHOW Eric, Mike, and the Stars of Destiny throw down in the chat over a brand-new tier list: The Top Halloween Candies of All Time. It gets hot, folks. Hotter than a tamale. But only Canadian kids know the pain of getting by the handful. Who even likes those? They keep coming back. Smells like witchcraft.
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24865098
info_outline
Pantheon of the Blood God: Phantasy Star
10/28/2022
Pantheon of the Blood God: Phantasy Star
To honor the legacy of Rieko Kodama, who passed earlier this year, we are releasing this episode for free to all listeners. For the August 2021 edition of Pantheon of the Blood God, Kat and Nadia are joined by Shane Bettenhausen for an exploration of one of Sega's seminal RPGs -- Phantasy Star! The trio discuss the rough early days of the Sega Master System, how the team with Sega greats Rieko Kodama and Yuji Naka came together, and how it differed from other RPGs in the 1980s. They also delve into its five best moments, from the lavish opening to the battle with Dark Falz. Then the verdict: Is Phantasy Star worthy of inclusion in the Pantheon of the Blood God? Listen and find out! As always, a sincere thanks to our $10 and above Patrons for your support! Every month we pick a new RPG for the Pantheon, which is voted on by the community. Join the Discord and jump into our Monthly Game Club conversation!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24826644
info_outline
Talking P5 Royal, Mario + Rabbids, Trails From Zero + Kat's Steam Deck Apology w/ Scott White
10/24/2022
Talking P5 Royal, Mario + Rabbids, Trails From Zero + Kat's Steam Deck Apology w/ Scott White
The weather is truly colorful and crisp — provided you live in the northern hemisphere and aren't currently in the grip of a climate change-fueled heatwave. Either way, it's a good time to stay indoors and play the piles of RPGs that are currently available, including DioField Chronicles, Mario + Rabbids, Valkyrie Elysium, Persona 5 Royal, Nier Automata, and Trails from Zero. You could also go outside, but you might, like, see a bug or something. Ew. This week, Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by a very special writer friend, . Scott helps fill in the gang on some of the more important RPGs that have recently landed, including the excellent Trails from Zero, and the reasons why it's a great entry point for the Trails series. Also in this episode: Kat loves the Steam Deck now, we all saw her in the closet, kissing the Steam Deck Final Fantasy XVI is looking pretty dope—and pretty inspired by Final Fantasy VI. How's the new Mario and Rabbids game? "It's-a great! Woo hoo!" This week on Autumn of Avatar: Book 2 comes to a close, and the kids are not all right. In the Post Show Blood God pal Scott White sticks around for this week's Axe of the Blood God post-show, which is piled with morsels of great RPG talk. For starters, can anyone out there think of a Christmas-themed RPG? Anyone? Bueller? Also, Eric talks Texas. Yee haw, and etcetera! Available exclusively to members on the Stars of Destiny tier!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24786861
info_outline
Special: Tim Rogers on Boku no Natsuyasumi, Why PlayStation is the Best Console, Taco Tico, and More
10/20/2022
Special: Tim Rogers on Boku no Natsuyasumi, Why PlayStation is the Best Console, Taco Tico, and More
Following the release of , we welcome Tim Rogers to talk about this PS1 classic, which has plenty of connections to modern RPGs like Persona 5. Naturally, the conversation spreads out to hit many different topics within the realm of RPGs, including: Tim's rising appreciation for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Taco Tico, rats, and impromptu Nostalgia Pit Pondering Yuji Horii's successor This episode is currently available exclusively to our Patrons! You can find conversation timestamps below. Timestamps 0:00: Intro 11:00: Boku no Natsuyasumi and Taco Tico 23:55: The connections between Boku no Natsuyasumi and Earthbound 28:30: Rats, racoons and possums 38:50: Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Kingdom Hearts, and old developers 1:00:00: The PS1 is the best console ever 1:10:00: Sony's quest to make its own Dragon Quest 1:17:00: Reminiscing about Japan and Saizeriya 1:25:25: Dragon Quest and Mad Catz 1:34:50: Cyberpunk and Mighty Ducks 1:39:10: Who is the successor to Yuji Horii? 148:55: LA Noire and why games should be structured like a TV show 1:59:00: Outro
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24743481
info_outline
Pantheon Mini: Valkyria Chronicles
10/17/2022
Pantheon Mini: Valkyria Chronicles
War is hell. Unless you're talking about Valkyria Chronicles, the much-celebrated tactics RPG by Sega. See, war is still hell in Valkyria Chronicles, but it's also very pretty and fun to play. This week, very special guest and valued Blood God Patreon contributor Vivicomplex joins Kat, Nadia, and Eric to talk about World War Anime. Protip: Just send your scouts to the front line. Ain't nbodoy getting through those rifle-toting maniacs. Also in this episode: Eric can't talk about what he's been playing because of embargos, but that's alright because hahaha Chainsaw Man goes brrrrrr. Nadia maxed out her island paradise hideaway in FFXIV. Nobody is invited to visit. Suckers. This week on Autumn of Avatar: There ain't no war in Ba Sing Se, and there never was. In the Post Show Vivi sticks around after a spirited episode of Axe of the Blood God (aren't they all) to talk a bit more about what made her fall in love with Valkyria Chronicles in the first place. The gang also talks about how their Pokemon Black and White Pantheon playthroughs are going, and there's even a bit of talk about the band PUP. Wooo oooo ooooo, ooo oooo! Available exclusively to subscribers in our Stars of Destiny tier!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24711147
info_outline
Cyberpunk Sequel, Witcher Trilogy: Analyzing All of the CDPR Announcements
10/10/2022
Cyberpunk Sequel, Witcher Trilogy: Analyzing All of the CDPR Announcements
This week on Axe of the Blood God, Kat, Nadia, and Eric talk about CD Projekt Red's (overly?) optimistic road map for the future of Cyberpunk 2077 and the Witcher series. Looks like CD Projekt is working hard to repair Cyberpunk's tarnished reputation in addition to making new games set in worlds that lack indoor plumbing. It's a long and winding road that's sure to be full of challenges, and we salute CD Projekt for assuming we're still going to be here in a decade. Always look on the bright side of life! Also in this episode: We're really behind on the new batch of RPGs. Sorry, we're trying to fix it :( Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM is going through difficult times Autumn of Avatar continues as we delve deep into Book Two Nadia electrocuted a lemon to go see the 1993 Super Mario movie in theatres POST SHOW Hey, Paisanos! Nadia and Eric talk about the new Super Mario Bros. movie trailer. Seems this movie might be fun and charming after all, even if Chris Pratt's flat-tire voice still isn't a great choice for everyone's favorite feisty plumber. Eh, I think we're all in agreement that Jack Black's Bowser is going to carry the movie, anyway. Available exclusively to subscribers in our Stars of Destiny tier!
/episode/index/show/bloodgodpod/id/24645237