When I first envisioned
this series of articles, I had just finished listening to episode 28 of
Deepstrike Radio and I was so impressed with their two most recent episodes
that I just had to sit down and write a detailed review to get the word out
about a Podcast that had really kicked it into overdrive and was producing a
very high quality show. However, I was behind on my Podcasts due to a recent
plethora of audio books and dramas I had acquired and by the time I had written
my review, episode 29 had dropped. After listening to episode 29 I was ready to
just scrap the whole idea. Much like the dreaded second album of a fantastic
new band, episode 29 was a massive step backwards for a Podcast that I truly
felt was making great positive gains forward. After several days of wrangling
with myself, I decided to go ahead and move forward with my review; however,
much like Deepstrike radio’s recent Podcasts, my review will have a split
personality. On one hand we have my initial glowing review of episodes 27 and
28 and then we have my rather harsh criticism of episode 29.
Making the Big Time:
Wow, just wow! I do not
know how else to describe the last two episodes of Deepstrike Radio. While this
show has had its bumps and bruises, it has been steadily making progress in
terms of quality and production. However, with episodes 27 and 28, this show
has made a tremendous leap forward. I have been a long time listener of the
show and during that time I enjoyed the Librarius; I like listening to the crews’
perspective on a particular army or event from 40K. However, with their two
most recent episodes (27 and 28), the crew has hit a home run with not only the
Librarius, but from start to finish.
For those not familiar
with Deepstrike Radio, it is a Podcast that focus on the lore and background of
40K and how to bring that lore alive on the table top. It is easily labeled as
a fluffy Podcast, but I tend to thing of it as a hobby Podcast. Each week the
crew delves into an army or action of note in the 40K universe and after
sharing the kernels of knowledge they have gleamed from the data slates, they
make an army list focusing on that particular army, faction, or event. Not
content to sit on their proverbial laurels, the crew then discusses how to make
that army a reality on the table top with discussions on paint schemes, add on
kits and bits, and basing to really get the feel of the army or event
represented on the gaming table.
Episodes 27 and 28 were
pure gold. The crew smoothly covered both the Blood Ravens and the Gothic War
in these episodes. They not only provided a detailed background for each topic,
but they also detailed out each topics timeline in a succinct manner that stay
focused and provide a wealth of knowledge. The Podcast goodness continued into
The Armory section wherein Chris and Big Jim deliver army lists that really
highlight and expanded upon the chosen topic. To me the boys really went all
out trying to really pick an army that “fit the fluff” and yet remained
competitive.
To be fair and balanced,
every review needs to have either a negative or something that could have been
better. In this case, I would really like to see the boys of Deepstrike Radio
provide some sort of transitional music or sound bite between the various
segments.
All in all, I give
episodes 27 and 28 a solid Leadership 9 Stubborn rating. Keep up the great work
guys!
Three Steps Forward and then Two Back:
After the previous two
Podcasts, I strongly felt that this Podcast was on the verge of joining the
proverbial pantheon of Podcasts with the 11th Company, 40KUK, and
the Independent Characters. How things can change with just one episode. The
most recent episode (episode 29) has dragged the crew of Deepstrike radio back
to the ranks of airwave mediocrity. Unlike the previous two episodes, episode 29
lacked any form of cohesion heard in the previous two Podcasts episodes;
episodes in which the crew played off of each other and smoothly flowed from
one idea or concept to another. Two things in this episode were particular
jarring: the Librarius and host interaction.
The Librarius after
episodes 27 and 28 had become one of my favorite segments of the show. I
enjoyed the hosts’ overview of the various armies, their walk through time as
they detailed out the armies actions of note. All of that was missing in
episode 29. Unlike the previous two episodes, the coverage of Ulthwe felt
unfinished, unfocused, and above all superficial. This is not only a long
standing Craftworld in 40K lore, but it also has the birth place of one of the
galaxies most notorious psychic meddlers. As a long time Eldar player, I was
really looking forward to this segment. Instead, this segment left a bitter
taste in my mouth as it barely highlighted an Eldar Craftworld that has been in
more codices than any other, with such notable appearances as the Eye of Terror
book and Craftworld Eldar.
Unlike episodes 27 and 28,
in which the hosts played off one another to improve the flow of the show, the
listener could almost feel the tension that was evident in the audio of this broadcast.
This tension was not unnoticed by the cast; first one, then another of the
members alternated taking turns at playing peace keeper to head off rising
tensions. Tensions that were very obvious to a long time listener of the show;
tensions that in my opinion dragged the entire episode down from start to
finish, and caused the shows previous harmonious flow to falter and then just
fall down.
I do not know how to fix
the problem, but I can locate the source of my dissatisfaction: Chase. In one
episode since his reintroduction to the Podcast, Chase’s juvenile antics have
not only stopped Deepstrike Radio’s forward progress, but they have actually
dragged down an informative and narrative Podcast. Of particular scorn worthy
attention is Chase’s list for The Armory section, which had nothing to do with
the fluff of Ulthwe; for a Podcast that prides itself on bringing the lore of
40K alive on the tabletop, this was the proverbial sore thumb. While both of
the other cast members made lists that prominently featured Guardians and
limited Aspect warriors, Chase’s list was simply an amalgamation of units he
liked or thought would do well on the table top. In my opinion, this show was
both better in both informative and production quality when it was a two man show
with just Big Jim and Chris; how I yearn for the days of episode 27 and 28.
