The Adventure Zone: Ethersea - Episode 11

October 8, 2021 5:22 PM

The Infinite Clam: Part Five The crew of the Coriolis approach the anomaly that has trapped them in their current bivalve environ. Amber takes a dive. Devo exercises surprising restraint. Zoox experiences a metaphysical identity crisis.
posted by ardgedee (12 comments total)

At this point it feels like there's a specific thing that the adventurers are supposed to discover or intuit to unlock the mystery of the clam, and they aren't getting it, so they continue bashing about in spite of their best intentions. Or maybe it's just that Zoox's mind meld experience doesn't seem to have lead to anything for all the time they spent on it.
posted by ardgedee at 5:28 PM on October 8, 2021

Explicitly saying “Okay I’m going to retcon this basic fact about the environment [that you can now talk to each other remotely] so you can get through this encounter” is a big red flag that something isn’t working right. I think that’s mostly on the PCs. Make some insight and investigation rolls, the mechanic is there for a reason.

This season, where it’s not just “generic fantasy setting”, is really exposing Griffin’s shortcomings describing an environment and Justin’s inability to pay attention.

Don’t get me wrong— Still more enjoyable than Graduation.
posted by supercres at 6:07 PM on October 8, 2021 [1 favorite]

I have to say, most of the time I really struggle to envision what Griffin is trying to lay out.
posted by PussKillian at 7:32 PM on October 8, 2021

Yeah, I'm also completely baffled on how this could get resolved. But it's not my adventure, not my puzzle.
posted by ardgedee at 5:01 AM on October 9, 2021

I thought it was going to be spelled Xoox...
posted by esker at 8:10 AM on October 9, 2021

Zukes
Zucs
Czuukzes
posted by ardgedee at 8:41 AM on October 10, 2021

Oh man, I listened to this whole thing not 12 hours ago and I can't remember much of anything about it. Definitely having a hard time getting into this season
posted by coriolisdave at 4:54 PM on October 11, 2021

You know, maybe the Mcelroys need to take a leaf from the Dimension 20/Critical Role playbook, and just hand the reins over to Abria for a season.

Shake that shit up.
posted by coriolisdave at 4:56 PM on October 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Well.. Shit. I guess I got my wish.
posted by coriolisdave at 8:31 PM on November 5, 2021 [3 favorites]

Not sure what you mean by that. What happened?
posted by ardgedee at 5:50 AM on November 7, 2021

Abria is going to DM a three episode run for the McElroys with them playing their Balance characters.
posted by PussKillian at 10:53 AM on November 7, 2021

Announcement on YT.. I found this particular moment of the announcement very.. apt.

I hope the boys respect her enough to actually.. play the fucking game.
posted by coriolisdave at 2:49 PM on November 8, 2021