Episode 6 is up! Dreadfort Betrayal and some new guests!

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Weeping Water....that is the answer to the question of "why do some non-character cards have the House Bolton trait". Clearly we all brainfarted on this

Yea. It's especially sad that when we were playing right after recording I was going on and on about Weeping Water. Apparently I just couldn't think of it when it really mattered.

Wow, so many views, so little commentary.

Kennon said:

Honestly, this was not the best episode. The discussion felt underprepared – as if a group of friends were sitting around playing cards and then suddenly decided “hey, let’s record our conversation.” A big factor was that most of the episode was just people reading the card text from the newest chapter pack, and then offering initial reactions. The problem with this is that all of your listeners already have access to the spoilers…so reading the card text alone is not really interesting without analysis and/or very entertaining discussion (which takes preparation and can’t be faked). Since the analysis was extremely superficial this time around, the discussion wasn’t as interesting from an intellectual side; on the other hand, the conversations rambled, and there seemed to be much more profanity than true wit for entertainment value.

It would definitely help if, rather than reading through EVERY card, you picked several cards in the newest chapter pack and explained why they were important. There was some of this discussion, but not nearly enough. I would have loved to hear more thoughts (Greg touched on this) about the plot’s (1) possible impact on the environment, (2) which houses/decks would be most likely to play it, (3) any special combinations that might be useful with it, etc. In short, you guys probably have to spend a bit more time preparing and/or editing. I know that’s a lot of work (I’ve worked on radio/podcasts before), but if you want a quality show, you have to prepare.

Separately, Kennon asked what people would like to hear about (which questions to address) in the future. Several people commented, but nobody even mentioned these in the podcast. I find it strange that you spend 7+ minutes on “props and slops” about subjects that few listeners really care about, but can’t fit in mention of the things people are actually interested in. Again, this makes the show seem less prepared.

On the profanity in particular, I felt that it was overused. Throughout the show, certain people used profanity as a poor substitute when other adjectives would have been more specific and appropriate. I’m not looking for a G-rated podcast or anything, but in this case the rambling and language took away from the actual content.

Sorry if this review seems a bit harsh. I’ve really enjoyed your show up until now. I was looking forward to this episode and was thus disappointed when it turned out to be a dud.

Completely separate note: I'm also a fan of Flea Bottom. It's a 0-cost setup card that throws guys into play. In this format, as was true in CCG, there are a ton of guys (vengeful, season-related, and those with great abilities) that are incredibly useful even if they come into play knelt. If you're going to bring up a card and spend 30 seconds talking about it, then it might be worthwhile to say something substantive (why it is/isn't useful, etc.)...otherwise it just adds to the "rambling" feel of the discussion.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with much of Twn2dn's assessment. I listed to the podcast last night and wasn't impressed. I even stopped ~55% in, then again at ~80% and decided later I might as well finish it off. The structure was just very loose and unprepared. I'm sure you guys had fun, and you guys definitely should have fun doing this, but there was too much personal/non-thrones dialogue (aka banter) and much of the thrones dialogue (although not all) lacked depth and insight.

I believe it was Kennon who asked me why I found the first half of the 5th episode a bit slow. It had much less to do with bantering than it did with unpreparedness or at least the perception of it. When covering the FAQ there was too much, "Why did they do this...I don't get that...What was the point of this..." I certainly understand that many players would have those questions, but it's one thing to ask them for your audience; it's a completely separate thing to be asking them for yourself. It seemed to me that the questions were being asked out of personal confusion rather than for "educational" content. I would hope in the future that doesn't happen again, and that everyone has their personal queries answered beforehand. Please bring the questions up again if you think a lot of people would have that same question, but make sure everyone already knows the answer (or the consensus answer). It will make the show go a lot faster for all your discussions.

A perfect example being the second half of the 5th episode where you all discuss the Top 10 of 2010. I didn't agree with all the choices on the list (particularly the first few introduced, and a few left out), but the list was well thought out and consequently led to a much smoother conversation. Much less time was spent on, "Um, well, I guess the next card would be....I don't get it...etc" and more of it on the list, what cards belonged on it, and why. I know that Dobbler and IA didn't know what was on the list, but it seemed to me they had both given some thought what would be on their top 10 if they had to create one.

There were also a couple of unrelated mini-rants in the first half of the 5th episode. I think there was one ~60 second segment that somehow connected the terms spell check, ebay, mom, english major, working at home, and german all together. None of which had anything to do with the FAQ. 10-20 seconds of jokes here and there are ok, but anything past that is pushing it and getting off topic.

In short, the more prepared everyone is for the podcast, the better it will be.

I don't really want to pile on the negative comments in this thread, as I really like what you guys are doing

However, one thing that's a little annoying is how you guys interrupt each other and get really loud every now and then. It's impossible to hear what you're saying anyway, while those outbursts are going on, and it makes it really difficult to set a decent listening volume for the cast. I also think listening to those outbursts on headphones would be painfully loud.

A compression filter may do the trick from a technical standpoint. Otherwise, I guess you'd just have to be more disciplined when talking.

Anyway, keep up the good work!

Thanks for the feedback!

I will say that one of the discussions we had when we first started the podcast centered around the argument of "informative vs humor" nature of the podcast. Do we make it an all about information, which can end up being dry and boring? Or do we try to make it funny and light, but can lead to it feeling like one big inside jokefest. We are trying to find the line between the two, and I appreciate your thoughts on it.

All feedback is good, so don't feel guilty for sharing something that might be viewed as negative.

As well, I would like to share that if you have given some topic suggestions that we haven't made it to yet, please don't feel that we're ignoring you. We're receiving input from several places, as well as running into some time sensitive issues (ie, attempting to discuss the FAQ and the latest chapter pack as close to their release as possible) so there winds up being some lag. For instance, the suggestion that we discuss what Greyjoy and Targaryen need to be competitive is on my list of topics for recording this coming Saturday, which means at the earliest, you'll hear it next Friday.

I like what you guys are doing, but I also agree that this episode was a bit of a dud. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe there was too many people involved. I really liked the episode that included the Combo segment; it was well structured and a joy to listen to. Also, the episode where you discussed 'Of Sand and Snakes' seemed more informative than this one. I don't mind the humor, I enjoy a podcast when I feel the people involved are having a good time, but I don't need to hear about anybody's dating life

I'm still relatively new to the game, so I love hearing about anything concerning deck building, from general themes and strategies to specific combos. Hope to hear more in the future.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to the next episode,

Over 3 years ago I started a thread called Dobbler's Day off. Somehow the thread made it several pages deep, and I even had some prominent FFG employees tell me they read it and found it so enjoyable they wanted me to make another thread like it. Since my dating life is such a cause for continual laughter around here, we created a bit called Dobbler's Dating Disasters in the same vein as Dobbler's Day off. If it isn't funny or at least a healthy mode of mocking me, then we shall delete it.

Shall it?

.

Dobbler said:

Hmmm...I think (as Dobbler said) that the whole thing is supposed to be at least 50% off-topic, friends sitting around talking and flipping crap back and forth. That is usually what works to both keep people interested and keep the producers happy and having fun so they come back for episode #7.

For sure it could use a little more structure, but don't overthink it too much. While aGoT is the main subject matter, it has never been 'sold' as 100% informative (or ever 75% informative). *shrug*

The overall champ of this in my opinion is The Sports Guy on ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/simmons/index He talks sports, but mixes it HEAVILY with pop culture references, personal experiences (his article on when he lost his dog was one of the top 10 articles I have ever read), and the such. *sidenote* you might want to shamelessly steal one of his bits and do a 'chat' where people post questions for you to answer (hopefully in a humorous and entertaining way). Maybe ahead of time here, or via e-mail/PM so we don't start answering it here.

Things can always be improved (I especially agree with the statement that sometimes 8 different voices seem to be hitting me at once), but overall I enjoyed it! To be honest, the part I least enjoyed was going through card by card (theoretically, the 'substance' of the podcast). Talking about irrelevant cards is worse (IMHO of course) than hearing about funny anacdotes.

Maybe it is since I know the guys, so that probably messes up my point of view. I have spent many a evenings being part of that banter (and maybe some of the drinking). But, thankfully, it wasn't recorded.

rings said:

I love Bill Simmons and have read his articles for close to a decade now. I've listened to his podcasts and in many ways, his "off the cuff" feel was a model I tried to emulate...informative (sometimes) but yet entertaining. However, when I consider the reality of the situation, he wrote an online article for so many years that was often more funny than it was informative, and attracted a following that likely expected more humor than serious discussion, and thus people specifically listen to his podcasts for humorous anecdotes. I'm guessing that more of our listeners are wanting to hear discrete information on AGOT as opposed to table-side banter, or at least that is what most of the feedback has indicated (despite your feelings Rings). This is part of the line we are trying to walk. We don't want to be so serious that we are "lecturing" people on aGoT for an hour each week, but clearly people don't want to hear a few dudes just shooting the breeze mixing in a few aGoT discussions from time to time.

Will and I talked last night, and I can tell you we are going to change the nature of "chapter pack dissection episode". Instead of going over each card, we are going to choose the 5 "Reason you buy the Chapter pack cards" and the 5 "Never see the light of day cards".

Ultimately, you can't please everyone all the time, so make sure it stays fun for you guys. The flavor of episodes will always shift from recording to recording, (which is a good thing, over all). I'll take friendly banter over robotic "professionalism" any day; just need to make sure it doesn't stray too far, at times.

I like Dobbler's Dating bit. I don't know you guys, but I think now he may be the only voice that I can actively identify on the podcast. Too many people who I don't know and you might as well all be the same person as far as my ability to identify you by voice.

I would prefer the podcast to be about 60% AGoT specific information, 20% off topic humor, and 20% relatively relational information (Thrones on HBO, next book speculation, other geek related things that someone who reads the books and or plays the game may also find interesting). There should truly be plenty of funny things that happens when you are discussing the AGoT stuff, as well as other things geek related, so it would keep it from being dry, but what pulls us in, what we all have in common, is AGoT, that needs to be the meat and potatoes. Off topic-humor is what makes it feel like we are all friends hanging out... but when it is all in-jokes it makes it seem like you guys are hanging out and I'm just hanging around. Get the difference?

In-jokes for you listeners will develop over time but pulling and repeating in-jokes unique to your meta or your friends just doesn't interest me because I don't get them so they don't seem funny.

I did enjoy the show overall and did truly LOL once or twice, but I also felt that the show seemed a bit disjointed, rambling, and under-prepared. Seriously, think about editing. That show could easily have been made better by editing about ten minutes off it. IF you refuse to edit then you need to, as a group, practice some discipline about how long a segment is going to run, who is going to pipe up and how often, and still make sure everything you want to cover is.

I've listened to all 6 episodes now. I like the fact that each episode has it's own unique structure. I like the bantering back and forth. i even like the chapter pack card-by-card "analysis". I'm not really looking for a professionally produced podcast, I listen to alot of them already. I like the fact that it feels like I'm hanging at the local game shop with a bunch of guys who play thrones, some who I know more than others.

Just listened to Ep 6.

~Introducing Darryl and alcohol in one show? You guys have guts!

I think the show was fun, even if you guys did wander off topic a bit more than usual. I think the reading of the cards in general is helpful (I usually can't remember want cards do by their names), but given the more casual style of this episode, it slowed the tempo down. Maybe not something to do every time, depending the feel of the show?

Either way, it's fun to listen to and thanks!

Yeah, I'll admit that adding Darryl+Alcohol+John all in the same show might have been a bit much. We'll stick to one out of the three at a time from now on.