Lore Watch Podcast

This week Joe and Matt are answering another listener question, this time concerning Paladins, and how they serve as an intersection between the divine Light, and the Titans who shaped Azeroth. As you might imagine, the answer will span the cosmos, and go completely off the rails in the process. Paladins in particular serve as a mash-up between some Light power and Titanic power -- does that mean a Titan of the Void could occur? There's a lot of ground to cover, some of which will take us into Midnight and what may happen as we start to make our way toward the final act of this trilogy.But you can count on one thing: an Odyn mention means he gets called a jerk again. We don't make the rules.If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week by special listener request, Matt and Joe are delving into Icewind Dale -- perhaps literally, because it involves the iconic character Drizzt Do'Urden, the Drow Ranger. Icewind Dale began simply as a region in Dungeons and Dragons, and then became the title of a series of three novels penned by R. A. Salvatore, with the first published in 1988 and the last in 1990, and then a video game in 2000 set in the region. As such, there is a ton of lore to discuss, including its roots, which begin -- like almost every work in modern fantasy fiction -- back with Tolkien, and its use as a setting in D&D. Join us as we discuss one of the most beloved series in the D&D oeuvre.If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Because it's Christmas, and on Christmas you get a little treat, Joe and Matt are discussing all the ways crossovers are used in comics. From KISS to that one time Doctor Doom was Santa, to more mundane crossovers, adding a different set of characters to an existing comic can add new life to a stale plot. This episode has it all, from Archie to Transformers, perhaps both at the same time, and maybe in the Spiderverse. The sky's the limit when it comes to mashing up pop culture!If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since Paladins were announced as the next class to join the roster in Diablo 4 in its next expansion Lord of Hatred -- and already playable with preorder -- Matt and Joe sat down this week to chat about both, but mostly Paladins and their history within the franchise. First, they dive into the place of Paladins within the franchise as contrasted by other classes. Blizzard seems to be cribbing heavily from Diablo 2, with almost all the classes from that game now available in D4. They touch on Paladins from D2, their famous fall, and how that led to the Crusaders from Diablo 3.The story we see in the cinematic also has our Paladin facing off against Mephisto while he inhabits Akarat's body, which he possessed at the end of the previous expansion, Vessel of Hatred. Akarat being one of the founders of the faith the Paladin belongs to, this is a deeply interesting contrast -- as well as a personal religious crisis in the making. If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this birthday episode of Lore Watch, Joe gave Matt a gift, and let Matt talk about whatever called to him -- and that was the lore of The Outer Worlds. They discussed everyone's favorite Gilded Age throwback with minimal spoilers, talking about how the world itself is setup and constructed in this alternate version of earth. In this version of history, the robber baron tycoons who brought you public works like Carnegie Hall and Rockefeller Center so they wouldn't be guillotined felt as though they wouldn't have to do such a thing -- McKinley wasn't shot by an anarchist, and thus his Vice President Teddy Roosevelt, who was known for rooting out corruption in the NYPD, just stayed Vice President. As such, inequality remained rampant and worsened, while that Gilded Age aesthetic continued to reign supreme.Led by Matt, they discuss how that has affected the world of The Outer Worlds, from the job market to the cuisine. They run down some of the more significant characters and their roles within that world. And of course, there are diversions galore, from Futurama to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Though, we're thinking the oompa loompas probably know a thing or two about working a crummy job at unfair wages.If you enjoy the show, please support us on Patreon, where you can get these episodes early and ad-free! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.