Battle Bards

By popular demand -- which you should read as "Syl's imperial fiat" -- the Battle Bards are returning to the fertile musical landscape of spooky and magical tunes. From undead taverns to fairy courts, the bards explore all manner of sparkly, moody themes. So turn the lights down low, brew your favorite beverage, and enjoy! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 73 show notes Intro (feat. "Comfort" from Forsaken World and "Quiet Place" from Ragnarok 2) "Undead Tavern" from World of Warcraft "Magiteknical Difficulties" from Final Fantasy XIV "Old History Area Theme" from Angels Online "The Ghost Ship Navislamia" from Rappelz "All's Fairy in Love and War" from RuneScape "White Forest" from ArcheAge "The Falls of Nimrodel" from Lord of the Rings Online Which one did we like best? Jukebox: "Little Girl, Gen" from Child of Light, "Dodging Bullets" from Quantum Break, and "Harvest Hazards" from Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze Outro (feat. "The M

Can you believe it -- it's the third anniversary of Battle Bards already! Three years ago, Steff, Syp, and Syl joined forces to create the world's first, best, and only MMORPG music podcast. It's been an incredible ride, and for the show's birthday the Bards have invited our listeners to contribute more of their favorite tracks for a listeners request show! It's a plus-sized show, so enjoy - and thanks everyone for sticking with us through 72 episodes! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 72 show notes Intro (feat. "The Hollin Gate" from Lord of the Rings Online and "Invincible" from World of Warcraft) "Tokyo 2" from The Secret World (submitted by Gryph) "The Chosen" from Revelation Online (submitted by Thoroughmas) "Nym's Property" from Star Wars Galaxies by (submitted by Bree) "...But Still We Go On" from EVE Online (submitted by Galactrix) "Embers in the Storm" from Bless (submitted by Jaedia) "The Land Will Weep" from World of Warcraft

Let's get this out of the way up front: No, Ragnarok Online 2 isn't the type of game that you'd think would have a terrific soundtrack, and yes, it totally has a terrific soundtrack. On this episode, the Battle Bards skip through renowned Japanese composer Yoko Kanno's score, picking out their favorite tracks from this fantasy MMO. Will they convince you that this is a hidden gem? Listen and see! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 71 show notes Intro (feat. "Beginners" and "Misha") "EverLand (Instrumental)" "Yoru (Violin)" "Small Dungeon" "Clap and Walk" "Din Don Dan Dan" "Afternoon" "Stone Music" Which one did we like best? Jukebox picks (feat. "Sinister Euphoria" from Aura Kingdom, "A Writer's Dream" from Alan Wake, and "The Battle of Lil' Slugger" from Super Meat Boy) Outro (feat. "Boss Battle [Karaoke]") Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Net

While loud and brash music might be what often grabs our attention, the astute soundhound will keep an ear out for beautiful low-key pieces that weave through MMORPGs. Today the Battle Bards crew dials it back to look at tracks that exude ambience in all of its forms. From Final Fantasy XIV to Chronicles of Spellborn, interesting and noteworthy ambient tracks were unearthed, dissected, and returned to the soil for future blossoming. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 70 show notes Intro (feat. "Ambient Track" from EverQuest and "Helm's Hold Ambient" from Neverwinter) "In Golden Light" from The Secret World "Snowcloak" from FFXIV "Meditation of the Oracle" from Chronicles of Spellborn "Smoke from Down Below" from EVE Online "Vashj'ir" from World of Warcraft "Spore Me" from Myst Uru "Devidians Ambient" from Star Trek Online Which one did we like the best? Jukebox picks (feat. "Edge and Flight" from Mirror's Edge, "Overture" from Stargate Wor

Today, the Battle Bards are back for a special update and podcast episode! First things first, for all those of you who frequent twitter and would like to receive regular updates on our shows as well as MMO music in general, you can now follow us via our official twitter feed @battlebardscast. Don't hesitate to contact us there or leave feedback or suggestions on twitter in the future - we love to hear from you! As some of you know, Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network, a free collaboration of independent gaming and geekery related podcasts bringing news, discussion and shenanigans to audiences since 2014. TGEN also hosts a quarterly round-table show, the TGEN Tribunal, across all our podcasts which is hosted by a different member every time in order to spread some linklove across all our shows and make discovery easier for our individual audiences. For this fourth episode of the Tribunal, it was our turn with Syl doing the honors on behalf of Battle Bards.  TGEN Tribunal Episode 04 s

The Battle Bards are taking an airship back to Eorzea to cover the soundtrack to the first expansion to Final Fantasy XIV, Heavensward. How does the expansion's score stack up to the original? How does it connect to Final Fantasies of the past? And will Syl spoil the plot for Syp? So many questions... so many mini-rants. It's a great show! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 69 show notes Intro (feat. “Main Menu Theme” and "Alexander Boss Theme") "Ishgard Pillars Day" "Heroic Moments Theme" "Aetherochemical Research Facility Theme" "Fractal Continuum Theme" "Matoya's Cave" "Idyllshire Night Theme" "Ravana" Which one did we like the best? Mail from WS_Dandelion about Dawngate Jukebox (feat. "Oakvale" from Fable 2, "Stage One" from XCOM 2, and "A Place to Call Home" from FFIX) Outro (feat. "Pharos Sirius Hard Mode Theme") Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entert

When an MMO player gets cozy in his or her in-game home, the sound is as essential to the ambiance as the decor. Not every game creates special music for player housing, but enough do that it's attracted the Battle Bards to take a closer look at the topic. Housing music and collectible tracks? It's starting to pick up momentum in MMOs, and Battle Bards is on the forefront of the revolution! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 68 show notes Intro (feat. "Free 2 Party" from WildStar and "Chrono Trigger's Millenial Fair" from Trove) "A Golden Field (Exile's Housing Theme)" from WildStar "Karazhan Music Roll" from World of Warcraft "Pernon Residential" from Aion "Autumn Ale" from Lord of the Rings Online "Home Sweet Home" from RuneScape "Where the Hearth Is" from FFXIV "Hammerknell Fortress Music Box" from RIFT Jukebox (feat. "Echoes of a Zephyr" from FFXI, "Seaskape" from Splatoon, "Exploration" from Star Trek Online) Outro Email the Battle

Before they were podcasters, the Battle Bards trained in sacred monestaries deep in the Chinese mountains, where they learned martial arts and life without wifi. As they tackle the Age of Wushu soundtrack this week, memories flood back of their life as kung fu artists who drifted from town to town, setting right what once was wrong. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 67 show notes Intro (feat. "Martial Instance" and "Youyunshiliuzhou") "Main Theme" "Chengdu" "Luoyang" "Zhouz" "Lingxiaocheng" "Scholars" "Saibeicaoyuan" Jukebox (feat. "Explore" from Aliens: Colonial Marines, "The Swindle Title" from The Swindle, "Episode 1, Track 1" from Life is Strange) Outro Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts

What is this madness? The Battle Bards are taking a daring field trip out of the boundaries of MMO soundtracks to look at some music from MOBAs. Can these battle arenas hold a candle to the sublime scores of their kissing cousins? They can indeed, as this episode proves! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 66 show notes Intro (feat. "Demacia Rising" from League of Legends and "Class 5 Leviathan" from Infinite Crisis) "Tidecaller" from League of Legends "Promise (Gaslight Batman's Theme)" from Infinite Crisis "The Battle Begins" from Heroes of the Storm "Quinn and Valor" from League of Legends "This Fight is Mine" from Infinite Crisis "Norse Theme" from SMITE "Lulu and Shaco's Quirky Encounter" from League of Legends Which one did we like best? Jukebox (feat. "Meet Tiki and Mermaid" from Dragon's Crown, "Main Theme" from Arkham City, and "Player Music 1" from Asheron's Call 2) Outro (feat. "The Curse of the Sad Mummy" from League of Legends)

Welcome to the musical apocalypse! In this week's episode, the Battle Bards get their Mad Max on with a trip to the premiere post-apocalyptic MMO, Fallen Earth. It's a combination of western, action, and... "other." What does the wasteland sound like? Find out in this episode! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 65 show notes Intro (featuring "Last Call" and "Renewal") "Escape from Hoover Dam" "Blood-Soaked Sunrise (Welcome to the Apocalypse)" "Scouting the Wastes" "Risen Moon" "Thwarting Alec Masters" "Pathfinding" "Survival (They Always Come Back)" Which one did we like best? Mail: Ironweakness: what's a cost effective starting point for collecting MMO soundtrack music? Jukebox (featuring "Almere Valley -- Sunlit Forest 3" from Project Copernicus,  "Horseplay" from Red Dead Redemption, "Waiting for Fire" from There Came an Echo) Outro Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The

While not every MMO has specific musical cues for its factions and races, many do, and today on Battle Bards the crew shares some of their favorites from over the years! Additionally, the co-hosts will share their favorite races and why Final Fantasy XI is the creepiest MMO everr! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 64 show notes Intro (featuring "Capital City (Celtic)" from Age of Empires Online and "Gibberlings" from Allods Online) "The Noble Tauren" from World of Warcraft "Tarutaru Male" from Final Fantasy XI "Cutely Grotesque and Certifiably Insane (Chua Theme)" from WildStar "The Bird God Wakes (Chaos)" from Warhammer Online "Baraka Theme" from TERA "Terran Main Theme" from Earth & Beyond "New Conglomerate Theme" from PlanetSide 2 Which one did we like best? Jukebox (featuring "Patience Point" from World of Warcraft, "Laidback Thrills" from Battleblock Theater, and "Spring Cleaning" from Don't Starve: Reign of Giants) Outro ("Spore

With a new World of Warcraft expansion on the horizon, the Battle Bards turn their attention to Warlords of Draenor to see how it stacks up to the rest of the series. The answer? For at least one of the bards, it's the best WoW soundtrack ever. Crank up the volume and get your Orc on, for it's time to go on the musical warpath! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 63 show notes Intro (featuring "Malach" and "Shadowmoon Valley") "Wolf at the Gates" "Chieftans Gather" "Family" "Last Light (A Hero's Sacrifice)" "Man Down" "T's Have It" "A Light in the Darkness" Which one did we like best? Jukebox (featuring "Abadis Forest" from Dust: An Elysian Tail, "Main Theme" from Fallout 4, "EverLand" from Ragnarok Online 2) Outro Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts

Right after the main theme of an MMO, typically the first piece of in-game score you'll hear is a lengthy character creation piece. Today the Battle Bards reroll characters to hear these tunes all over again and decide which of them kept them on those screens a few more minutes than they strictly needed to. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 62 show notes Intro (featuring "Character Creation" from DDO and "Into the Unknown" from WildStar) "Character Creation" from Ultima Online "Character Selection" from ArcheAge "Asmodian Theme" from Aion "Character Creation" from Shadowbane "Criminal Theme" from APB "Character Creation" from Black Desert "Character Creation" from Elder Scrolls Online Which one did we like best? Jukebox (featuring "Main Theme" from Assassin's Creed 3, "Sunset Tracer" from Tree of Savior,  and "Disco Descent" from Crypt of the Necromancer) Outro (“Disband Deed” from Wurm Online) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to

Catapulting themselves into the far future, the Battle Bards survey the post-apocalyptic scene in Firefall and find it... groovy. This week we take a look at Red 5's MMO shooter and its electronic soundtrack to see if there's a future worth hoping for in here or one that has lost all musical taste. Which will it be? You'll have to listen to find out! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 61 show notes Intro (featuring "Login Theme 3" and "Tutorial Theme") "Login Theme" "Kanaloa" "Trans-Hub Incursion" "Blackwater Harvester Combat" "Copacabana" "Login Theme 1" "Rescue Mission 4" Which one did we like best? Jukebox: Undertale ("Once Upon a Time"), Assasin's Creed ("Black Flag Shanties"), 8/16-bit soundtracks ("Jungle Fight" from Contra) Outro (“Disband Deed” from Wurm Online) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts

For our whopping 60th episode, we explore the endless journey of MMOs! So wait, what is this theme really about? According to Syl, "it is all about the rich, multi-faceted, multi-part tracks that tell a story, come with transitions or surprises and have a certain length to allow for that to happen." Tall order? Sure, but the Battle Bards have never shirked a musical challenge! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 60 show notes Intro (including "Blackburrow" from EverQuest 2 and "Along the Broken Ridge" from Wurm Online) "Oriel Residential" from Aion "Roaming Free" from Lord of the Rings Online "Peace, the Jedi Consular" from Star Wars: The Old Republic "After the Storm" from Lineage II "Combat Hymn" from Anarchy Online "Alas, the Dragon Shall Break" from Elder Scrolls Online "Path of Tears" from World of Warcraft Which one did we like best? Jukebox: Final Fantasy XI ("Autumn Footfalls"), Dear Esther ("Ascension"), Ori and the Blind Forest (

Haven't played The Crew? You're not alone! Haven't listened to The Crew's soundtrack? Shame on you! Today the Battle Bards take on this driving MMO's score to see if it causes them to put their pedals to the metal... or their heads to their pillows. Also we got another speakpipe challenge for our regular listeners at the end of this episode - be the first to claim the prize! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 59 show notes Intro (featuring "Takedown" and "Game Over") "Leadfoot" "Backalleys" "Heavy as a Feather" "Introductions" "Outrun" "Dayton" "On Point" Which one did we like best? Jukebox - "Honor for All" from Dishonored, "Tiny Masterpiece of Evil" from League of Legends, and "Alderaan" from SWTOR Speakpipe Challenge! Outro (“Disband Deed” from Wurm Online) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts

Today, the Battle Bards are bringing the beat! It's a whole show about percussion-heavy MMO soundtracks, with far more variety than you would have thought possible. So turn your volume up to 11 and get ready to air drum your heart out! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 58 show notes Intro (featuring “Snowjade Palace” from Blade & Soul and “Rattle Tooth Theme” from Dungeon Runners) "The Warmind" from Destiny "Grand Slam" from WildStar "Manduri Village" from Aion "Secret Garden/The Rap" from Dark Age of Camelot "Crimson Hills" from Aion "March of the Allied Forces" from Final Fantasy XI "Martial Instance" from Age of Wushu Which one did we like best? Jukebox: Infinite Crisis ("Promise"), Portal ("Still Alive"), Parodius Da! ("Oh! Japanism") Outro ("Disband Deed" from Wurm Online) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts

Syl finally realizes a long-held dream to cover Blade & Soul on Battle Bards. Truly, this is the highlight of her life, the apex of her existence, and the sunshine beams through her kitchen window. It's pretty groovy for the rest of the bards, too, as the threesome enjoy this Asian soundtrack and vie for their favorite picks. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 57 show notes Intro (featuring “Main Theme” and “Cheerful Festival") "Silverfrost Mountain/Main Theme" "Little Shepherd" "Boss Gorilla" "Black Pirates" "Shadow in the Sunset" "Kun Theme/Character Creation" "The Pot Thief" What one did we like best? Mail from Rory: Taylor Davis Jukebox: Destiny ("Excerpt from Hope"), The Sims ("Verisimilitude"), SWTOR II ("The Final Battle") Outro (featuring “Fly Into the Sky”) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts    

Fifty-five shows later and the Battle Bards are returning to the topic of main themes! That's right, it's an episode about nothing but MMO themes, from the loud and brash to the quiet and sublime. There's some new, some old, and some not even released yet -- so chances are you'll find something here to love! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 56 show notes Intro (featuring "Main Theme" from Darkfall and "Main Theme" from LEGO Universe) "Original Main Theme" from City of Heroes "Login Theme" from ArcheAge "Kariela's Song" from Shroud of the Avatar "LOTRO Legacy" from Lord of the Rings Online "Login Theme 2" from Firefall "Main Theme" from Landmark "Rise of a Hero" from Dragon's Prophet What one did we like best? Jukebox: Ni No Kuni (Wrath of the White Witch), Dragon Age Inquisition, Ragnarok Online 1 & 2 Outro (featuring "Legends of Azeroth" from World of Warcraft) Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, three Battle Bards decided to give Star Wars: The Old Republic its own show (finally). While we've talked about SWTOR many times before on the podcast, this week we'll go full-on space opera with our look into what made this soundtrack both memorable and maddening! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player.FM Episode 55 show notes Intro (featuring "Star Wars Main Theme" and "Peace, the Jedi Consular") "Main Theme (Clash of Destiny)" "Shapa Keesay (Shape-Shifter)" "Romance" "Tatooine, the Desert Sands" "The Occupation of Balmorra" "Revan's Theme" "Bravado, the Smuggler" Which one did we like best? Jukebox: The Witcher 3, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot, Dragon Quest X Outro (featuring "Yesterday's Jawa") Email the Battle Bards! Special thanks to Tesh for the Battle Bards logo! Battle Bards is part of The Gaming and Entertainment Network of podcasts