Battle Bards

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 Playe...

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...

It might be the middle of the summer in the northern hemisphere, but it's never too early to start getting ready for the cold! On this episode of Battle Bards, the crew takes on the theme of bitter, desolate, and beautiful winter soundscapes from a wide range of MMO scores. Winter is, after all, coming. Let's prepare! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bard...

It was the first big superhero MMO, and for at least one Bard, it was the entry point into MMO gaming. Today we'll be looking at the late, great City of Heroes and its strange, lovable, and often baffling soundtrack, as well as trying to explain to Syl why superheroes are totally cool. Pull on those tights and prepare to soar up, up and away into a score like no other on today's show! Follow Battl...

Syp will need to apologize for his uncharacteristically grumpy attitude during this week's recording, as he did not fully understand the teacher's homework assignment and apparently hates good music. That said, it's a whirlwind hour of dreamy, thoughtful, and touching music as the Battle Bards tackle the theme of "introspective" tunes in MMOs! Also, Syl uses the line, "Dancing naked in the forest...

Feel the power! Feel the burn! Feel the... Vindictus ! When a game is made up of insane frantic combat, what will its score sound like? The Battle Bards are keen to find out with their journey through this particular game's soundtrack. It's wild, it's bombastic, and it's (as always) divisive! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 51...

For our grand 50th episode spectacular, we looked to the MMO music community for inspiration. What we found were dozens of talented and interesting covers of some of our favorite game soundtracks! Celebrate with us as we give props to those who love MMO tunes almost as much as we do! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 50 show not...

From the mind of Inon Zur to the ears of the Battle Bards comes the soundtrack to RIFT. And while the Bards may have a positive past with the game, their reaction to the score is a rocky ride indeed. What treasures and traps will they pull out of this music? Find out as they welcome Steff back into the fold after her long absence! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follo...

Did you know that the Battle Bards have a time machine? Well they do, and this week they're setting it all the way back to the 1990s! With the help of guest host Scott ( Ramblings of a MMO Gamer Guy ), the crew examines music from an oft-overlooked era of MMO gaming (and soundtracks). Just because it's older doesn't mean it's ancient! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher F...

When Steff's away, the Bards will play... Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, that is! The current beloved MMO of bloggers and gamers alike, FFXIV's rebooted soundtrack has made us take notice. With the help of guest host Scott ( Ramblings of a MMO Gamer Guy ), we tackle the highlights of this impressive score while trying to ignore the smell of chocobo poo. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Bat...

It's been 10 incredible years since EverQuest II launched and players not only stepped into this version of Norrath but first heard the tunes of composer Laura Karpman . Join the Battle Bards for a special interview with Laura, who knows just so, so, so much more about music than the rest of us. We also had several audio glitches in this cast, so bear with us! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow...

This week the Bards have invited long-time friend and listener Belghast to join them -- and to pick the topic for the show! Bel picked a fun and unusual theme: Rocking out with electric guitars. Do MMOs and rock mix? On this particular episode they do! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 45 show notes Intro (featuring "Blue Turns...

With Steff out of action for a few shows, Syp and Syl are left floating adrift in a sea of TERA tunes.  This week the Battle Bards will be treading the waters of this high-fantasy MMO soundtrack, finding the best and most interesting picks to discuss.  And then they drown.  The end. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 44 show note...

This week is an... unusual episode for the Battle Bards, but a fun one nonetheless!  The challenge was sent out for each of the bards to pick one song apiece for his or her co-hosts.  Will they like them?  What do these picks say about how the bards see each other?  Will there be a throw-down before all is said and done?  Find out! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Foll...

Talk about a challenge!  How do you pick a handful of tracks to represent a game that's been around for so long that it has over 1,000 pieces of original music in it?  Fortunately, the Bards are up to the challenge as they tackle RuneScape, that free-to-play game that probably deserves more respect than it gets. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on P...

It's the end of the world as we know it -- but it's the beginning of the music revolution as we hear it!  In this episode, the Battle Bards don their best Mad Max costumes and tackle MMO music that comes straight from the many apocalypses that game designers have imagined.  Surprising enough, it's not that bleak! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on...

While we did a Wildstar episode back in show #6 , we felt as though we didn't do that soundtrack justice (not the least of which was the fact that we didn't have access to the full OST yet!).  Now that the Bards have listened to almost 200 WildStar tracks, it's time to pull their favorites and discuss this wild, zany musical romp! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follo...

It's going to be impossible to keep from tapping your toes during this week's show!  The Battle Bards bust out all manner of lively jigs and shanties for the enjoyment of all, and even their past feuds are set aside to dosey-do in front of the tavern fireplace.  We also tick off accordian players across the globe. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on...

The Elder Scrolls soundtracks have a legendary reputation in the video game community, but when you take Jeremy Soule (mostly) out of the mix, can the MMO score stand up to this legacy?  The Battle Bards investigate in an exploration of this massive OST of one of the new MMOs of 2014. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 38 show no...

Pack  your coin purse, for the Battle Bards are off to the market!  In this episode, we'll examine music not only from MMO marketplaces, but tracks that inspire the feeling and atmosphere of bustling towns, harbors with ships being unloaded, and merchants selling exotic wares.  It's so much happy and uplifting music that you'll forget to be an internet cynic for at least two days! Follow Battle Ba...

This week we welcome Composer Tracy W. Bush onto the show to talk about his vast experience in the MMO industry.  His body of work includes World of Warcraft, DCUO, Dungeon Runners, Tabula Rasa, Free Realms, and City of Heroes.  He's also quite the talker, so if you want to get some insight into how the creative process works on a deadline, this will be the episode for you!  Also, you'll hear Trac...

A good D&D session doesn't only need character sheets and an abudance of 20-sided dice, but atmospheric tunes as well.  What kind of soundtrack does the long-running Dungeons & Dragons Online have?  The Battle Bards investigate DDO's score this week, in particular contrasting the old tracks with the newer expansion ones.  As usual, Syp stands mostly alone. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Batt...

While many soundtrack pieces are a collaboration between an entire orchestra, once in a while a single instrument will take the forefront and steal the spotlight.  Those tracks are the theme of today's show, in which the faithful Bards choose seven MMO songs that feature a dominant instrument.  Also, there is much whining because that is what we do best. Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle...

As we've proven before on Battle Bards, free-to-play and foreign doesn't mean that the soundtrack is going to be lame.  On the contrary, scores like Allods Online is what gets us out of bed in the morning, pumped for another day of listening to excellent MMO music!  We've got several great tracks from Allods today, so put on your listening ears and uncover your tapping toes. Follow Battle Bards on...

It's the show that Syl's been dreading for almost eight episodes now: The Secret World!  Between conspiracies, zombies, ancient myths, and present-day cabals, is there actually music in this game -- and is it any good?  The bards investigate in this creepy, kooky, mysterious, and ooky show! Follow Battle Bards on iTunes Follow Battle Bards on Stitcher Follow Battle Bards on Player. FM Episode 32 s...