Penny Arcade: The Cuckening
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Definitely. Acq. Inc. ruined me for D&D podcasts. I've never found another I enjoy as much as prime AI.
It sucks that the best DnD podcast was AI in 4th edition. It basically peaked when Pat replacing Wil. Nothing really compares to it and I'm honestly embarrassed by the following of Critical Role and the other big ones. Mainly because the actual gameplay execution is so sloppy and scripted.
I'm a 4e supremacist, but I think 4e is the ideal edition for podcasts. Describing turn by turn tactics is true theater of the mind and if combat is played legit, it's genuinely unpredictable.
I understand why the PAX shows moved to big set pieces and largely made combat symbolic. I don't understand why livestreamed shows, without the time constraints of a PAX, do the same.
I have my issues with 4th, but I respect it for what it does well and many of the core design ideas it has. It's really solid in many ways, I just really how option starved I ended up in games. I also know 5e is not good, it's just easy. And 3.5/PF1 aren't great either. I'm preparing to switch permanently to anything but DnD.
I just am disappointed that DnD podcasts haven't been able to come close to 4e AI. They really make basically everything else unwatchable.
There are lots of great systems out there. As much as I love 4e, tactics games don't play well online. I use 13th Age for that. It's got some silly narrative mechanics that I think you're better off dropping, but I love the core character rules, especially the background/skill system.
Strike! is a little game that tries to fix 4e ,but keep it a tactics game. It splits up class and role as two different choices.
I haven't played it, but there is a generic fantasy version of Fantasy Flight's Star Wars RPG, the one with the dice pools. That's on my list.
Shadow of the Demon Lord is supposed to be good and also vaguely in the group of 4e descendants. I haven't played that one yet either.
Definitely don't stick with D&D if you can help it. It's a fantastic place to start, but 5e is shallow. Hell, if you want interesting, try AD&D. Not the best game, but full of interesting design.