Most actual play shows tend towards comedy, with series like Acquisitions Inc, Critical Role, and the One Shot Podcast leading the pack. And while I certainly enjoy those shows, sometimes I want a series with a more dramatic focus.
You Don’t Meet In An Inn certainly has its fair share of laughs, but it’s the sort of humour that naturally evolves out of any gaming session: little side remarks or unexpected slips of the tongue that send the whole table into a fit of laughter. These moments are often made funnier because they come as a contrast to very serious storylines.
One of the most striking aspects of the podcast is the dynamic between players and game master. While Austin Ramsay takes the regular role of game master, player Christine Blight feels like the true host of the show. While her voiceover on the intro and outro is quiet and brief, it definitely cements her as the central personality of the podcast. That, and her voice evokes the feeling of having a particularly fluffy kitten frolicking in your ear canal.
This has the interesting effect of shifting the listener’s attention more fully to the players, with game master Austin Ramsay fading into the background to paint the setting and supply the supporting cast. So much so, that it’s easy to overlook just how *good* Ramsay is at what he does.
The podcast generally goes in for small campaign arcs lasting two to four sessions, giving Ramsay a lot of time to slowly build up the setting, and a stable of supporting NPCs, letting you really get immersed in the world. Over the next few sessions, you’ll really come to like that supporting cast.
At which point, Austin will murder beloved NPCs with the kind of carefree glee one normally expects from Joss Whedon. And you will feel terrible. Or maybe you’ll just take perverse glee in hearing Christine feel terrible.
That’s really what makes You Don’t Meet In An Inn such a great listen. The stories have ups and downs, to the point where you’re never quite sure if the next scene will end in a punchline or a gut punch.
