Worlds Beyond Number - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I legit had goosebumps twice in one episode. Not like “ooh, cool imagery” vibes but actual standing stock still in the middle of my kitchen with a dishrag just sobbing and hiccuping because the story was beautiful.

I admire Brennan and Aabria and Erika and Lou and I’ve followed them in all kinds of stories elsewhere but this feels like the kind of fantasy stories that make my inner child happy and comfort my adult me in a difficult year (decade?). Cannot speak highly enough of this production for so many reasons. These people have my heart in their hands and I feel safe there. God bless.

update: i have listened to all of the episodes and am desolate.

My friends love stories. Some of my friends love DND. Everyone to whom I recommended this podcast loves it and in the last episode alone, I laughed, cried, and pumped my fist. Rich characters, compelling themes, and an excellent soundtrack make this the best podcast I’ve ever heard.

Where to start? The cast and crew are masters in their ability to tell a good, long-form, improvised story. I sometimes forget that I'm listening to a "D&D/TTRPG game." Story-telling is the end game, and the dice rolls move the story forward. Brennan's brilliant use of narrative and our intrepid heroes' thoughtful (and sometimes not, lol) actions and dialog are brilliantly scored with music and sound effects that enhance the experience. I'm on my second listen-through as they come up on the end of this arc.
If you haven't already subscribed to the Patreon, DO IT. The fireside chats have on more than one occasion sent me back to the episode for another listen.

I am so emotionally invested in this story and it’s characters. Almost every episode is high stakes and gives me so much anxiety that sometimes I need to take a break, and I mean that in the best way possible. Starting off at level 0 with the children’s campaign is absolute creative genius. A shining golden example of why real play storytelling is here to stay.

I love the cast and subscribed to the Patreon before episode 1 even aired. I loved the children’s adventure.

The rest of the show I honestly cannot even enjoy listening to and I’ve tried through 30+ episodes. It is over sound edited which is distracting at best and irritating at worst.

I’ve seen each of these cast members play and dm great characters with great arcs. This show is not that. With the exception of Eursolon the characters don’t have any compelling conflict or personality.

It doesn’t feel like people playing dnd nor does it feel like people telling a compelling story. It feels like people trying to force a story to come out of moments that aren’t there.

When they do a new campaign I may try again but in an area as saturated as actual play, there are many other options I will listen to first.