The Proving Grounds

JCServant

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Welcome to The Proving Grounds, a gaming club that focuses on the RPG genres that started it all. We cover CRPGs, Blobbers, and Traditional Roguelikes from the 1980s through today! Brought to you by Phil (JCServant), a DM of nearly four decades, we discuss the game design, mechanics, and more that make these genres so fun and addictive!

02/11/2025

Ep 23: The 2nd Foe May Be The Charm

Episode 23 – “The 2nd Foe May Be The Charm” Welcome back to The Proving Grounds, the game club where we delve deep into the worlds of CRPGs, blobbers, and roguelikes with insight, detail, and a little chaos. In this episode, JCServant takes on Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard — exploring how Atlus refined its labyrinth-crawling formula from the first game and sharing a personal journey through the punishing floors of Yggdrasil. From ice puzzles to cherry blossoms, from victory to burnout, it’s a full climb. We also spotlight Dr. Zeus’s unique control-focused party — a study in battlefield manipulation and probability — and cover recent RPG news, including the Avernum 4 remaster, the sci-fi dungeon crawler Descent of Lunaris, and the new demo for The Secret of Weepstone. To close, we touch on the legendary Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition expansions, grand strategy storytelling in Crusader Kings III, and creative empire-building in Age of Wonders 4. Join the discussion on Discord, share your Question of the Week thoughts, and help us celebrate the enduring art of dungeon design. Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz Question of the Week: How do you feel about FOE puzzles that require items or movement tricks to progress — satisfying challenge or pacing killer?
17/10/2025

Ep 22: Divinity's Not-So-Original Sin

Ep 22 — “Divinity’s Not-So-Original Sin”We crack open Divinity: Original Sin and talk history, story, tactical combat, and why our Game of the Month fizzled for the club even though the game helped revive the CRPG genre. We read your takes, dig into modern reviews, and close with a look at DOS1’s lasting legacy on DOS2 and BG3. Plus: quick RPG news and what we’ve been playing. Join the community on Discord to share your answer to the Question of the Week:Do you like elemental and environmental combat systems?Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz Legends of Amberland III Demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3823520/Legends_of_Amberland_III_The_Crimson_Tower/ Heroes of the Seven Islands: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3010290/Heroes_of_the_Seven_Islands/
03/10/2025

Ep 21: Sharing About Shiren

Ep 21 – Sharing About ShirenIn this episode of The Proving Grounds, we shine the spotlight on Shiren the Wanderer, one of the most enduring (and punishing) roguelike RPG series around. We cover its origins in the Mystery Dungeon franchise, the core gameplay that keeps fans hooked, and how the series hit USA shores back in the days of the Wii, up to 2024’s Serpentcoil Island. We’ll also break down some of Shiren’s unique mechanics, like the rescue system, the infamous jars, and the way risk vs. reward drives every single dungeon run. Along the way, we talk CRPG news, share your community feedback, and dig into our Question of the Week. Whether you’re a long-time fan of roguelikes, or you’re just curious what makes these games so addictive, this is a great jumping-in point to discover why Shiren remains such a beloved cult classic. 🎧 Join the Proving Grounds community on Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz📧 Email: jcservant316 at gmail dot com • Discord: JCServant
18/09/2025

Ep 20: Delving Into Azure Bonds

Episode 20: Delving into Azure BondsWe dive into SSI’s 1989 classic Curse of the Azure Bonds: how TSR and SSI built a novel–module–CRPG trifecta, why the Gold Box tactics still shine, and the delightful peripherals like the Adventurer’s Journal, the code wheel, and that old-school hint book. I share why it’s a 4/4, Complete It, Repeat It. We also read your Elminage Original takes and discuss guides versus discovery, then spotlight World of Warcraft’s Delves, what they are, who they serve, and why I'm hooked on them. In news, first impressions of Dual Eclipse, plus a Legends of Amberland III update. Question of the Week: Are you willing to play games with a Japanese, manga-style art direction, do you enjoy it, or just tolerate it for the gameplay? Join the community chat and play along: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
11/09/2025

Ep 19: Elminage Barrage

Ep 19 – “Elminage Barrage” (09/11/2025)We dive into Elminage Original, a hardcore Wizardry-style dungeon crawler with old-school charm and sharp edges. I cover party building, dungeon exploration, brutal difficulty spikes, spell systems, and why stat gains and losses on rest can make or break a run. You’ll hear community takes, including a spotlight review from Pizzaboy, plus quick hits on what we’ve been playing, from modern WoW delves to Satisfactory. We wrap with this week’s Q&A and a new listener question: Do you use FAQs to plan your party in CRPGs, blobbers, or traditional roguelikes, and why or why not? Join the discussion on Discord, share your builds and favorite dungeons, and help pick future games for the club: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz Email: jcservant316 at gmail dot comDiscord: JCServant
01/09/2025

Ep 18: The Ultimate CRPG of 1981

Episode 18 – Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness In this episode of The Proving Grounds, we dive into the history of Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness, the groundbreaking start of Richard Garriott’s legendary RPG series. We explore its origins, gameplay innovations, and lasting influence on both CRPGs and blobbers. Along the way, we touch on Legends of Amberland as a modern callback to the classic grid-based style, and I also take a moment to issue an apology regarding some information from the last podcast — an error introduced through AI use. Whether you’re here for nostalgia, history, or insight into how these games shaped the genre, this episode connects the past to the present in CRPGs. 🎧 Join the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
29/08/2025

Ep 17: A Golden Coffee Roguelike

🎙️ The Proving Grounds Podcast – Episode 17 In this episode, we sink our teeth into Golden Krone Hotel, a gothic roguelike where light and darkness, humans and vampires, all clash in fast, tactical runs. We break down its unique mechanics, the disguise system, and why it might be one of the best entry points for new roguelike players. We also share listener answers to the Question of the Week — do you prefer turn-based combat or real-time with pause? — and wrap up with a quick look at Star Wars: The Old Republic, exploring why it’s still worth checking out today as a CRPG-adjacent experience. 💬 Join the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
23/08/2025

Ep 16: The Original Mighty Magical Blobber

Episode 16 – The Original Mighty Magical Blobber Step back to 1986 as we dive into Might and Magic I: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum, Jon Van Caneghem’s ambitious solo project that helped define the CRPG genre. We explore its origins, the massive world it created, its unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi, and how it stood apart from contemporaries like Wizardry and Ultima. We also take a look at the curious NES port that brought the game to console players in the early ‘90s. Plus, we share a more personal side of the conversation: everyone’s favorite comfort game—the ones we turn to when we need a familiar adventure to relax with. Join the discussion in our community here: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz

Welcome to The Proving Grounds, a gaming club that focuses on the RPG genres that started it all. We cover CRPGs, Blobbers, and Traditional Roguelikes from the 1980s through today! Brought to you by Phil (JCServant), a DM of nearly four decades, we discuss the game design, mechanics, and more that make these genres so fun and addictive!

Creado por

JCServant
Años en activo

2025
Episodios

24
Clasificación

Apto
Derechos de autor

© JCServant
Sitio web del podcast

The Proving Grounds