The Adventure Zone: The Adventure Zone Versus Dracula - Episode 1

January 12, 2024 10:24 AM

Dracula has spread chaos in the realm of Angrave for too long, casting a dark shadow over the city of Lumineaux. Can a semi-retired monster hunter, a man of the cloth, and a muscled high-society woman team up to take him down? 

Additional Music in this Episode: "Trio for Piano Violin and Viola" and "Erik Satie: Gymnopedie No 3" by Kevin MacLeod: https://incompetech.com/; and "Celosia" by sawsquarenoise: http://rolemusic.sawsquarenoise.com/;

posted by The corpse in the library (8 comments total)

This episode was hilarious, and leaves me feeling optimistic about the arc. I could follow the action and the characters were clearly defined. I love the setting. A good amount of planning obviously had happened, but it still felt like an improvised game.

(I almost always trail off on TAZ arcs, so if anyone else feels like posting future episodes: feel free! I do not claim it.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 10:26 AM on January 12

man this was so much fun! I appreciate that they're going full-on Goof City after the already-extremely-funny game run by Justin
posted by DoctorFedora at 4:03 AM on January 13 [1 favorite]

I had fallen off after finishing TAZ Amnesty, just as a matter of my own preference, but this is exactly what I loved about TAZ in the first place. If I could guess why, I think it's because they let the fun lead and the story come as it will (subject to Griffin's extensive planning, of course). It's a great follow-up for the Re: Dracula podcast.
posted by Countess Elena at 7:55 AM on January 13

Did Travis seriously think he was going to get away with that "family heirloom" weapon?
posted by meese at 12:48 PM on January 13 [4 favorites]

I've still got half an hour to go, but it's super fun so far. Mostly though I wanted to say: damn, the new version of the theme song absolutely slaps.
posted by yasaman at 5:01 PM on January 15

Mostly though I wanted to say: damn, the new version of the theme song absolutely slaps.

It's strongly vibing off the various Castlevania scores - the closing sting is a callback to the legendary main track, Vampire Killer.
posted by FatherDagon at 12:33 AM on January 16

Travis always thinks he's going to get away with his things, and almost never does. Justin never thinks he's going to get away with things, and usually can. It's a fun dynamic IMO.

I'll need to listen to this one again once the second one comes out to see if I'm really pulled in, or if it's going to fall to the back like the Marvel arc was. Gotta say, I respect the boys' need to change up the format, but I personally am bouncing hard off the shorter stories just because I don't have as much time to get invested.
posted by Night_owl at 10:03 AM on January 17

I haven't finished the episode, but I'm already super excited by it. That cold open with the late reveal of the dead driver and wagon on fire was amazing.
posted by Rock Steady at 1:23 PM on January 19 [1 favorite]