📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗This week on Side Quests & Save Points, we welcome 🎙️ Sena Bryer - voice actor, writer, director, casting, and showrunner - best known as Wuk Lamat from Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail. We dive into their lifelong connection with Final Fantasy, behind-the-scenes VO stories, and the games that continue to inspire them. Expect chaos, heartfelt laughs, and deep RPG talk, it’s one for the Scions!

✨ In this Episode:🎮 Sena’s journey from Final Fantasy XI to voicing in XIV: Dawntrail🎙️ Vocal Theft Auto — which voices they’d steal for a day
🐉 Favorite Final Fantasy MMO memories & design philosophy📖 English major deep dives: narrative conflict in RPGs
🕹️ RPG Super Party picks & dream game roles
🎨 Sena’s own indie RPG project and pixel art adventure
💬 Critical Role, Baldur’s Gate 3, Tactics Ogre, and more RPG classics

🔗 My Links
🍻 Join 🍻The Tavern Discord🍺: https://discord.gg/73KfecTgEW
🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming
🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social

🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social

🎙️ Guest Links – Sena Bryer
🐦 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/senabryer.bsky.social
🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/squidsena

🧵 Threads of Fate
#SideQuestsAndSavePoints
#FFXIV
#WukLamat
#SenaBryer
#VoiceActing
#FinalFantasyDawntrail
#MMORPG
#RPGPodcast#NarrativeDesign#GamingCommunity

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗
Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 – the podcast where ignoring the main quest is half the fun and even the dialogue options go off-script.

This time, I’m back with Annie VanderMeer – narrative designer, writer, and world-builder whose resume runs from Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir to Guild Wars 2, Destiny, Unpacking and beyond.

We dive deep into the wild world of publishers vs. developers, behind-the-scenes chaos of canceled projects, lore drops that never made it into the final cut, and why old-school RPG mechanics still haunt our save files.

🎮 Episode Content Overview
📚 From Castlevania and childhood gaming memories to writing sequels for cult classics
🕹️ The unmade Taxi Driver game and how Hollywood IPs nearly broke the dev cycle
⚔️ Obsidian years: Neverwinter Nights 2, Alpha Protocol, and the canceled Aliens RPG
🐉 Building Guild Wars 2’s “personal story” and making choice matter in an MMO
💀 Lore drops that never saw daylight (Lyra the goddess of illusion lives… maybe)
🚪 Side quests that spiraled into chaos (Monkey Island insults, frog puns, and more)
🎲 What it’s really like working with publishers and IP holders behind the curtain
🌌 Dream RPG settings Annie would love to write for: Fallout and Star Wars

🔗 My Links
🍻 Join 🍻The Tavern Discord🍺: https://discord.gg/73KfecTgEW
🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming
🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social

🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social
📺 Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL59mESx4aCcWhq2l2P4YcYh9KLMfCDv6N

🎙️ Guest Links – Annie VanderMeer
🎧 Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@frienda_podcast🌐 Website: https://www.annievandermeer.com/

🧵 Threads of Fate#SideQuestsAndSavePoints
#GameWriting
#RPGPodcast#NarrativeDesign
#NeverwinterNights2
#GuildWars2
#DestinyGame
#UnpackingGame
#Fallout
#StarWarsGames

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗
Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 - the podcast where ignoring the main quest is half the fun and every great adventure starts with a side quest!

This time I’m joined by TheBroodles - world record Final Fantasy IX speedrunner, streamer, and professional breaker of games. From Sega childhoods to Pokémon as a first JRPG, to shaving dozens of hours off games most of us take months to beat, Broodles dives deep into how speedrunning works, the categories, the skips, and the chaos behind chasing world records.

🎮 Episode Content Overview⚡ Early gaming memories (Sonic, Mega Drive, and Pokémon as the first JRPG)⚔️ First steps into Final Fantasy IX and how speedrunning became an obsession⏱️ Excalibur II runs, failed attempts, and the addiction of retrying🌀 Explaining categories like Any%, 100%, and "No Slots" in FFVII & IX💥 Famous glitches, skips, and the genius (or madness) behind finding them🎲 Why FFIX speedrunning is “pure” chaos compared to FFVII & VIII🏆 Holding multiple world records, blindfold runs, and community races🔥 Unpopular RPG opinions & why FFVIII deserves more love

🔗 My Links🍻 Join 🍻The Tavern Discord🍺: https://discord.gg/73KfecTgEW🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast:🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social📺 Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL59mESx4aCcWhq2l2P4YcYh9KLMfCDv6N🎙️ Guest Links – The Broodles🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@broodoo01🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thebroodles🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/thebroodles🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thebroodles.bsky.social🧵 Threads of Fate
#SideQuestsAndSavePoints

#FinalFantasyIX

#FFIX

#Speedrunning

#JRPGPodcast

#TheBroodles

#GamingPodcast

#RPGCommunity

#FinalFantasySpeedrun

#FF9Remake

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗
Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 – the podcast where side quests aren’t distractions, they’re the real journey.

This time, I’m joined by Felix Klein – co-founder of Radical Fish Games and one of the minds behind CrossCode. We dive into the indie RPG that became a cult hit, the decade-long journey to get it made, and how Radical Fish is pushing things further with their upcoming project Alabaster Dawn.

From crowdfunding struggles to coding your own engine, we cover the highs, lows, and game design lessons only learned the hard way. Grab a drink, save at the nearest inn, and join us for a chat that proves some side quests are worth every hour.

🎮 Episode Content Overview
📖 Correcting Wikipedia with the real CrossCode story
🎯 How a Yoshi’s Island egg throw inspired the entire combat system
🕹️ The long grind of Early Access and why transparency matters
💸 Indie funding: crowdfunding, Game Pass deals, and government grants
⚔️ Why CrossCode was more puzzle-driven than story-driven – and how Alabaster Dawn changes that
🛠️ Rewriting their entire engine from scratch (and why Felix wanted to)
🏘️ Settlement growth inspired by Terranigma
🍲 Cooking systems designed to end “item hoarding” forever
🎵 Building the soundtrack with returning composer Dennis and new themes
👀 Hints at cameos, DLC plans, and story pacing improvements
🎮 RPGs Felix thinks deserve more love: Grandia, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile

🔗 My Links🍻 Join 🍻The Tavern Discord🍺: https://discord.gg/73KfecTgEW🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast:🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social🎙️ Guest Links – Felix Klein / Radical Fish Games🐟 CrossCode: https://www.instant-gaming.com/en/3948-buy-crosscode-pc-mac-game-steam/?igr=chefmonkey🕹️ Radical Fish Games: https://radicalfishgames.com/

🧵 Threads of Fate
#SideQuestsAndSavePoints
#CrossCode
#AlabasterDawn
#IndieRPG
#GameDesign
#RadicalFishGames
#Grandia
#ChronoTrigger
#ValkyrieProfile
#IndieDev
#GamingPodcast

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 - the podcast where nostalgia, bad chocobo mini-games, and hidden gems all share the same save file.

This week, I’m joined by Genesis VII - content creator, retro RPG expert, and a man who knows the pain of FFVII’s Guard Scorpion better than most. We dive deep into the golden age of JRPGs, celebrate underappreciated titles, and ask the most important question: is Donald Duck secretly a top-tier black mage?

From Ni no Kuni and Shadow Madness to Final Fantasy IX Remake speculation, platinum trophy grinds, and RPG systems that need a comeback, this episode is a tour through the highs, lows, and weird design choices that make the genre what it is.

So grab your memory card, save at the nearest moogle, and join us at the Tavern for another long rest.

🎮 Episode Content Overview🎯 First encounters with Final Fantasy (and rage quitting FFVII)
🦆 Donald Duck: top 3 black mage in Final Fantasy?!
📀 Underrated RPGs – Ni no Kuni and Shadow Madness
⚔️ Innovative RPG systems we miss (Golden Sun, FFXII Gambits)
🗺️ World maps, exploration, and the beauty of RPG freedom
🎮 RPG definitions – what makes a JRPG, really?
💡 Platinum trophies, hidden gems, and RPG recommendations
🔥 Hopes for Final Fantasy IX Remake and the Switch 2

🔗 My Links🍻 Join 🍻The Tavern Discord🍺: https://discord.gg/73KfecTgEW🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social

🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social

🎙️ Guest Links – Genesis VII🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/genesissvii🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GenesisVII🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/GenesissVII🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@genesissvii

🧵 Threads of Fate#SideQuestsAndSavePoints#GenesisVII
#FinalFantasyIX#JRPGPodcast#NiNoKuni#ShadowMadness#GoldenSun#RetroGaming#RPGCommunity#GamingPodcast

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗
Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 – the podcast where ignoring the main quest is half the fun and every great adventure starts with a side quest!
This time, I'm joined by the ever-chaotic Grimsabr – content creator, manga hoarder, professional Pokémon degenerate, and a man whose love for RPGs is only rivalled by his inability to stay on topic.

We cover anime. We cover JRPGs. We (barely) define what even counts as an RPG. It’s a wild ride across multiple media and genres – so grab a drink, double-check your Pokédex, and settle in for a conversation that derails harder than a chocobo on espresso.

🎮 Episode Content Overview
In this full-length tavern ramble, we unpack:

• Whether Pokémon is actually a JRPG (and yes, we have opinions)

• The crossover between anime, manga, and RPGs – and why it's basically inevitable

• Our shared childhood trauma over canceled anime MMOs and bad video game movies

• What makes a JRPG feel like a JRPG, and why instant gratification might be killing nuance

• What games deserve anime adaptations, and which animes deserve proper games (Monster Hunter fans, we’re talking to you)

• Party Make-Up picks, cursed NPC date nights, and the dream of one day fishing up Lovecraftian horrors in Dredge: The Anime

Plus: Zinogre mount fights, Monster Hunter addictions, VR fantasies, and a very firm stance on the sacred status of Gengar.

🔗 My Links
🍻 Join The Tavern Discord: https://discord.gg/TCnSdcq3w4
🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming
🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social
🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast:
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social

🎙️ Guest Links – Grimsabr
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@grimsabr
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@grimsabr
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grimsabr
🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/grimsabr

🧵 Threads of Fate
#SideQuestsAndSavePoints #JRPGPodcast #PokemonDebate #AnimeRPG #MonsterHunterAddict #GengarBestBoi #GamingNostalgia #PodcastWithTooManyTangents #TavernTalk

📜 Today’s Side Quest ❗

Welcome to 🎙️Side Quests & Save Points💾 – the podcast where ignoring the main quest is half the fun and every great adventure starts with a side quest!

Today, I’m joined by Joesephyr – content creator, RPG enthusiast, Final Fantasy XIV raider, and a man brave enough to dive headfirst into the Pokémon series for the first time as an adult.
Grab a drink, check your Pokédex, and get ready for a tavern chat full of RPG love, spicy opinions, and plenty of side quest detours.

🎮 Episode Content Overview

In this full-length adventure, we cover:

• First experiences with Pokémon, Final Fantasy, and the RPG genre

• Trying to define what actually makes an RPG an RPG

• Favourite JRPGs and hidden gems

• Opinions on DLCs, expansions, and monetisation trends

• Plenty of off-topic chaos, bad jokes, and new side quests we absolutely didn’t plan for

🔗 My Links

🍻 Join The Tavern Discord: https://discord.gg/TCnSdcq3w4

🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chefmonkeygaming
🐦 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ChefMonkeyGames
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmonkeygaming
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chefmonkeygaming
🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/chefmonkeygaming.bsky.social

🎙️ Follow Side Quests & Save Points Podcast:
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/sqsppodcast🌤️ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/sqsppodcast.bsky.social

🎙️ Guest Links – Joesephyr

🎮 Twitch: https://twitch.tv/Joesephyr
🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/joesephyr
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Joesephyr
📷 Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/joesephyr/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joesephyr
🍻 Discord Community: https://discord.gg/wwk795B

🧵 Threads of Fate

#SideQuestsAndSavePoints #RPGPodcast #GamingPodcast #FinalFantasyXIV #Pokemon #MMORPG #JRPGCommunity #GamingDiscussion #TavernTalk #PodcastAdventures