Encounter Party: Six Way Split
May 18, 2024 12:34 PM - Season 1, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Each character heads off alone into the city of Baldur's Gate. Some return home. Some are on the hunt. Some look to new beginnings. Yet the vision remains unsolved and their lives may be more connected than they could ever suspect.
Just a quick note in passing before I gather my thoughts for a full comment:
Yes, the minis and models make me SO jealous (the most bad-ass one is coming up in a few eps, IIRC). It reminds me of toy commercials for GI Joe and the like when I was a kid in the 80s: kids playing with their toys on these custom manicured terrains with little hills and forests and sand dunes and lakes and waterfalls and stuff, just perfectly scaled for the toys. Who are these lucky kids with amazing backyards to play in? That's not fair!!!! Ah, to have a budget for set design...
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:57 AM on May 20
Yes, the minis and models make me SO jealous (the most bad-ass one is coming up in a few eps, IIRC). It reminds me of toy commercials for GI Joe and the like when I was a kid in the 80s: kids playing with their toys on these custom manicured terrains with little hills and forests and sand dunes and lakes and waterfalls and stuff, just perfectly scaled for the toys. Who are these lucky kids with amazing backyards to play in? That's not fair!!!! Ah, to have a budget for set design...
posted by Saxon Kane at 11:57 AM on May 20
Lovely character moments this episode: Vinh's homecoming, Asher & Dryddian getting to know one another, and of course, Ulavina and Tolo, who are the best character duo I think. I especially loved Khary/Tolo's heartfelt monologue and how emotionally invested everyone, especially Sarah, was! I was tearing up a bit myself. I also very much appreciated how Landree played Asher's conversation with the innkeeper because she leaned into her character's personality even though it made things more difficult in-game. Yay to playing your character and not meta-gaming!
I really just love how much room DM Brian gives all of the players to stretch creatively with their characters' actions, thoughts, behaviors, backstories, etc. I haven't seen a lot of DMs who give so much control of the narrative over to the players, but it works great with this group, and I also think it is really smart for a TV series -- gives the audience more time with each player/character, rather than everything dominated by the DM.
So. I've watched all but the very final episode of this season; I don't know how everything turns out, but I do know some MAJOR spoilers for later episodes, and I don't want to give away too much to anyone who may watch the show in the future.
So let me just say that knowing what I know about later developments, some of the things that have happened over these early episodes put me in mind of this recent post about using misdirection in RPGs.... It is a sticky wicket, as the English say, and something that has to be handled very carefully, so I'm definitely curious about how everything will look in retrospect once we've gone through the campaign...
posted by Saxon Kane at 4:01 PM on May 23
I really just love how much room DM Brian gives all of the players to stretch creatively with their characters' actions, thoughts, behaviors, backstories, etc. I haven't seen a lot of DMs who give so much control of the narrative over to the players, but it works great with this group, and I also think it is really smart for a TV series -- gives the audience more time with each player/character, rather than everything dominated by the DM.
So. I've watched all but the very final episode of this season; I don't know how everything turns out, but I do know some MAJOR spoilers for later episodes, and I don't want to give away too much to anyone who may watch the show in the future.
So let me just say that knowing what I know about later developments, some of the things that have happened over these early episodes put me in mind of this recent post about using misdirection in RPGs.... It is a sticky wicket, as the English say, and something that has to be handled very carefully, so I'm definitely curious about how everything will look in retrospect once we've gone through the campaign...
posted by Saxon Kane at 4:01 PM on May 23
I also think it is really smart for a TV series -- gives the audience more time with each player/character, rather than everything dominated by the DM.
Yeah, once I'm done with the show I'm going to head straight to their podcast, and I'll be curious whether there are differences that I can pinpoint as decisions made for the TV medium, or if this group's play/narrative style was already established like this.
So let me just say that knowing what I know about later developments, some of the things that have happened over these early episodes put me in mind of this recent post about using misdirection in RPGs....
I've actually only seen up to episode 16 -- then your posts came along and I decided to start rewatching. It's been well worth it, but I may be missing out on things that are rewarded later in the season. I'll just have to re-rewatch. :) But once we get to the point in these posts where it'll no longer be a spoiler, I'll be curious about what you're referencing!
posted by thataway at 7:55 PM on May 31
Yeah, once I'm done with the show I'm going to head straight to their podcast, and I'll be curious whether there are differences that I can pinpoint as decisions made for the TV medium, or if this group's play/narrative style was already established like this.
So let me just say that knowing what I know about later developments, some of the things that have happened over these early episodes put me in mind of this recent post about using misdirection in RPGs....
I've actually only seen up to episode 16 -- then your posts came along and I decided to start rewatching. It's been well worth it, but I may be missing out on things that are rewarded later in the season. I'll just have to re-rewatch. :) But once we get to the point in these posts where it'll no longer be a spoiler, I'll be curious about what you're referencing!
posted by thataway at 7:55 PM on May 31
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Vinh: Oof, what a homecoming. The Claudius comment is spot-on. But happy to see DM Brian's glasses used in another capacity! Cardabelle is adorable.
Dryddian & Asher: Asher is not the savviest negotiator, I see. But we got to see her vulnerable side here by learning about her search for her sister. Dryddian's less forthcoming about his personal motives, although we do get to learn a bit about his people.
Ulavina: Who could ask for a better apprentice? Eager to learn, cheerful, wanting to help people. And a good reason for Tolo to stick around.
Tolo: I hadn't expected the orange blossom honey to lead him to Ulavina's same destination! His story was so moving, and to have Medigus Karina not even remember him was wrenching.
Special mention to that tabletop terrain. I mean, production values across the board for this show are really just stunning.
posted by thataway at 10:20 PM on May 19