u/obax17

And to be clear, there was no actual crying, my brain was just so utterly blasted by the horror and intensity, I don't think I could have. I think these crying updates are really just me squeeing and fan-girling about how thoroughly impressed I am with this production, how incredibly enjoyable I'm finding the story, and how intensely I care about these characters and this world. And I'm ok with that.

That opening. The reading of the museum plaque for the Epiphany written decades after its decommissioning. The fact that Steel's flagship is called the Epiphany and why. I know I've said this before, but Brennan's narration just keeps surpassing my previous proclamations, I should probably know better than to make another one, but never have I felt such cold, heavy dread. The juxtaposition of that cheery, clinical description with the ending of the previous episode when the Epiphany appears through the clouds and starts blasting Dreadnoughts, and the anticipation of the horror to come: chef's kiss, 15/10, not only do I have no notes, I am also taking notes for myself and my own writing and games.

And then the Saving Private Ryan of it all. The awe-inspiring, mind-splitting horror of a war fought by two arcane powers. The expansive chaotic horror of the big picture, the intimate, heartbreaking horror of the individual (that 17 year old soldier under the effects of the Enlarge spell, the group of soldiers just buried alive by the impact of one of the airship guns): oh my heart, oh my brain, oh my adrenal glands. I listen to these while going for stupid little walks for my stupid mental health, and it's been quite some time since I've walked such a quick kilometer. I was actually breathless as they navigated the battlefiled to try to find the other tunnel opening.

And the Dreadnoughts! The Fireside Chat only made them more horrifying, I hate them and love them so much.

And then all the other little horrors: the dispelling agent smelling like Ghost; the children in the cage and the soldier deciding to kill them in his panic; Steel just casually deleting an entire bloodline from the face of the earth. These episodes were just perfection.

On a related note, I absolutely love Steel as a character (I've seen people here say they don't like her and I want to clarify that I love her as a character, if I knew her in real life I would probably dislike her as a person, and would definitely be terrified of her). Also, caveat that I'm saying this with 4 or 5 episodes still left, so there's still time for my opinion to change.

She makes an actual appearance so seldom but she just looms in the background the entire time. Looming over Suvi's story in particular, and therefore the whole story. I'm so glad we got to see her moreso in an intimate, personal role as Suvi's surrogate mother than as the ruthless warrior she is in her public life. It makes the moments she lives up to her name in every way so much more impactful, so much more horrifying and heartbreaking. She's capable of such love and devotion to Suvi, and such ruthlessness towards the enemies of the Citadel, and that juxtaposition is so delightfully discordant. And I do think that love and devotion would turn to that same ruthlessness if she ever came to believe Suvi had become an enemy to the Citadel (which I'm thinking may happen in these last few episodes), I don't know if the former would be enough to save Suvi from the latter, but I also think it would break Steel's heart to have to do it. This may come in the episode after Pt 2, I'm relistening to these episodes because I was just so enthralled I'm sure I missed a lot, but at one point Steel jokes about executing her daughter to some other wizards, then later tells Suvi that if the Citadel found out what she'd done they would make her execute her own daughter, and it's clear that not only is that 100% true, but that she would do it without hesitation, but that it would also kill a part of her to do it. That she said it so matter-of-factly, and that Suvi just accepts that as a self-evident truth - I feel like I'm using the word heartbreaking too much but that's the only word for it. My heart breaks for them both. Steel really is a masterclass on characterization and I'm so here for it.

And that is all for now. I feel like I may post again when I'm done the whole thing, unless something really gobsmacking is still to come before the end, and I do think I will cry again at some point, so y'all might just get a true Crying Update yet.

Part 1

Part 2

My interests and hyperfixations tend to wax and wane, and it's been a while since I listened. I don't even remember exactly where I left off, but I decided to listen to WWW - Interlude #2, which is where YouTube says I left off and I know for sure I haven't listened to it yet.

I'm enjoying the whole thing, getting Princess Mononoke vibes, had a moment of slight tears at the Crowned Panther's commitment and fate. Very much enjoying Brennan's narration and the tone and feel of the whole story, an excellent study in ambition and hubris, well done everyone.

And then the ending. Those very last few lines.

No tears this time. I probably wouldn't have cried for Aidan anyway, but I was too stunned to cry even if I was so inclined. I'm still staring into the void.

Ye gods, the lore this man has in his head. I'm endlessly impressed by this production and these players. Absolutely incredible.

I posted this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/WorldsBeyondNumber/s/SjB5wGvRCW

a few days ago after listening to episode 20. I'm now just starting episode 23, just after Ame returned to the cottage and Ursulon jumped in the hole and Suvi stood and waited, and I don't know what I thought would happen but this is not it at all.

I'm still 100% certain Imma cry, and probably soon, but the crying is the only thing I'm certain of any more. What a ride. I love this story so much.

I mean, I've already cried a fair few times now, but I'm really going to lose it, aren't I? Also, please no one answer that in any kind of detail, I'm still catching up. I'm just the only person I know IRL who listens to this and needed to say this out loud to someone who will understand.

TL;DR: god I love this podcast, and god I love the cast, and god I love Brennan's ability to manipulate my emotions and tell a good story.

I've come back to WWW after listening to the first 15 or so episodes around the time they were first released. I just finished Episode 20 where they met Hannah and Suvi had a realization, and then Steel and her fleet of airships came looming over the horizon.

I loved Steel from the moment she was introduced. I've been certain for just about as long that she's going to break my heart, in one way or another, and I really don't want it to happen. I don't know, obviously, I've managed to almost entirely avoid spoilers, but I can feel it in my bones. It's gonna happen, I know this, but please, Brennan, no!!

I don't think it's as simple as her being a secret bad guy, but I do suspect she will choose the Citadel over Suvi and become some sort of villain, or Suvi will see her for who and what she is to the world beyond the apartments she grew up in and it'll break her. She's the Sword of the Citadel, after all, how can she be anything other than the iron fist of the dominant power? It's gonna hurt all that much more knowing she's also Suvi's loving surrogate mother and friend of Grandmother Wren.

Whatever it's going to be, whenever it's going to happen, I felt the deepest, coldest dread at Brennan's description of the fleet, particularly when he described Steel's flagship leading the armada. It feels like this just might be the beginning of the heartbreak...

I have no idea if I'm right, or even on the right track, and I don't want to know. I'll either enjoy the slow, creeping dread of discovering I'm right or the horrible surprise of learning I'm entirely wrong, but either way, I'm so in for it. Good thing I have a Costco sized box of Kleenex in my bathroom...

I started listening close to when it first started, then let it fall by the wayside, and am now catching up (I've gotten to episode 18, so please try to avoid major story spoilers beyond that). I know some of the homebrew from this has been released, and in fact downloaded the Matchstick and magic ring items from the first arc at some point. I also remember the Witch class being released for playtesting, and feel like I've seen stuff about some other subclasses being released, but am not sure if it's official or unofficial, nor do I remember where I saw it.

Question is, where can I find the officially released homebrew? Is there a single source for it? I imagine I can find it on the Patreon, but I don't want to go combing through all their posts if it's easily found elsewhere. I looked on the website and didn't see it there, and figured I'd ask before I start a major search.

Related, I'm interested in some other homebrew, specifically the Tamori, which would fit well into my homebrew world. I feel like I could probably work something similar out on my own, but if anything official has been released, why reinvent the wheel? Even if nothing like a statblock has been released, is there anywhere it's been talked about in more detail?

I do have access to the Fireside Chats, but haven't been listening to them as I go, so even references to specific episodes would be much appreciated!

I'm playing a Gloomstalker Ranger, and as one of my Ranger spells I took Alarm. When I look it up in the PHB it indicates it can be cast ritually, but on my character sheet on D&D Beyond there's no indication it's a ritual spell. Is it not a ritual spell for Rangers? Because I've definitely been using it that way... Or is this just a weird quirk of Beyond?