RJ’s Recommended Episodes of Realms & Nerds!
These are (to date), I think, the best episodes of my D&D podcast, Realms & Nerds. Be forewarned though, that as a serial series, nearly every episode (except maybe the specials) are best enjoyed by listening through the previous episodes, and obviously have spoilers for those previous episodes. But here is what I think are the cream of the crop (by order of release), and why I think they’re the best.
Prelude, Part 2: First a Demotion, and Now Uninvited Guests - Good early example of combat audio, without strong ties to the overarching narrative. Also good narrative role playing with fun moments.
Episode 5: Bysil Boss Battle - Same as the previous one, albeit with stronger ties to the story and higher stakes. The ending is also very interesting, with hints at future events. I’m also kinda proud of the music in this episode.
Episode 6: Reach For Help - Lots of good character and story development. Pretty proud of Jack’s theme.
Episode 12: Wedding Awry - Introduces the fifth member of our party. One of the more crazy scenarios the party finds themselves in. Lots of good story moments and really funny parts. Also proud of the music in this episode. (P.S., I also recommend episode 11, but I don’t think it’s quite on par for this list)
Halloween 2018 Special, Part 1: The Dark Downfall - While not strongly tied to the main campaign, it does fill in some of the history of main campaign events. It’s also a good blend of comedy and storytelling. The first half leans more on the comedic side, while the latter half of the episode has some strong action and drama.
Episode 16: Friends in High Places - Hands-down the funniest episode yet. Period. Probably (along with the next entry) my favorite episode on the list.
Halloween 2019 Special: Terror From Elmwood Cemetery - Possibly the most well-rounded (and, as far as this list goes, the best sound quality) episode yet. A great episode to listen to determine if you’d like the show. Has a bit of everything (storytelling, comedy, combat), and without need to listen to any prior episodes. It also has some of my favorite music compositions I’ve made to date.
