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Side Quest with Dvalin

Dvalin

Welcome to Side Quest with Dvalin, a weekly gaming video podcast covering the wild landscape of MMORPGs, upcoming releases, and variety gaming. Tune in every week for a relaxed, late-night take on the industry's biggest news, deep dives into upcoming titles, and honest conversations about the state of gaming. Grab a seat at the desk as we break down the massive hype, the frustrating delays, and everything in between.

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  • 14 episodes
  • Avg 30 min
  • English

Episodes 14

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  • S1 · E8
    Today · 1 hr 2 min

    WoW Forever is the Classic+ We Always Wanted (ft. Elphiee)

    For the very first guest episode of Side Quest with Dvalin, we are joined by full-time Twitch streamer and WoW content creator, Elphiee! Elphiee just got back from BlizzCon, and she is giving us the ultimate behind-the-scenes rundown. We cover how to dodge the massive badge queues, the reality of the infamous "BlizzCon Flu," and the incredibly inclusive, hype-filled energy on the convention floor when World of Warcraft: Forever was officially revealed. We also share our honest reactions to the massive timeline announcements, including Diablo 5's massive 2029 release date. Then, we dive deep into everything coming to World of Warcraft: Forever. We break down why Blizzard’s new "horizontal progression" model is the ultimate game-changer that respects your time, dubbed the perfect "retirement home" for gamers who want epic loot to actually last. We also discuss the controversial lore changes like Undead Paladins and the brand-new blue "Skyborne" race, the massive cross-faction serverless communities, and the built-in native controller support that changes how we play. Finally, we reveal our launch plans! Will Elphiee stick to her Stormwind roots with a dual-wielding Gnome Fury Warrior, or will the Horde call her name? And am I really abandoning the Paladin for a Skyborne Shaman? #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • Saturday · 19 min

    Enhancement Shaman Endgame Build & Theorycraft: World of Warcraft: Forever

    Enhancement Shamans have received a massive overhaul in World of Warcraft: Forever, transforming the specialization into a true two-handed battlemage. Historic mana issues have been fixed, and the damage rotation is far more dynamic and engaging. In this theorycrafting and build guide, we dive into the level 60 endgame setup for a two-handed Enhancement Shaman. We break down the core talent tree, focusing on game-changing additions like Maelstrom Weapon for instant Lightning Bolt casts and Rage of the Farseer, which acts as a personal Bloodlust to increase your attack and casting speed. We also explore the synergy between Ancestral Knowledge, Mental Dexterity, and Mental Quickness, which converts your Intellect directly into Attack Power, spell damage, and healing, making Intellect a massive priority for your gear. Next, we look at the rotation and mechanical changes. We cover how to drop all four totems at once using Call of the Elements, how to weave your Earth and Flame Shocks, and the importance of keeping the Windfury enchant active on a slow two-handed weapon. We also detail the reworked Stormstrike, which now has an 8-second cooldown, buffs your next nature damage spell, and can have its cooldown completely reset on dodges and parries via Improved Stormstrike. Finally, we discuss the crucial 9% hit cap against raid bosses and offer two sub-tree variations. For players gearing up, dipping into the Restoration tree provides 5% hit from Nature's Guidance. For those already hit-capped from gear, the Elemental sub-tree offers massive burst potential through Elemental Focus and Elemental Fury. 00:00 - Introduction & Overview of Enhancement Shaman 01:12 - Key Baseline Changes & 2-Hander Focus 01:46 - Core Enhancement Talent Tree 02:15 - Stat Priority: Intellect, Agility & Strength Scaling 03:22 - Key Enhancement Talents (Stormstrike, Flurry, Maelstrom Weapon) 08:26 - Rage of the Farseer & Leveling Utility Talents 09:28 - Hit Cap Strategy & Restoration Sub-Tree (Hit Rating Option) 11:28 - Elemental Devastation & Max Damage Sub-Tree 12:54 - Elemental Fury & Clearcasting Burst 15:30 - Enhancement Shaman vs. Retribution Paladin 16:13 - DPS Priority & Combat Rotation 18:24 - Final Thoughts & Guild Details #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • Saturday · 23 min

    Retribution Paladin Endgame Build & Theorycraft: World of Warcraft: Forever

    Retribution Paladins are no longer a meme spec. In World of Warcraft: Forever, the spec has received massive reworks, fixing historic mana starvation, and reworking how seals and judgments interact in endgame PvE. In this theorycrafting and build guide, we dive into full talent trees and mechanical breakdowns for level 60 endgame content. We cover the primary meta build centered around Seal of Command, Holy Strike, and the Sacred Arbiter talent, which allows Holy Strike to refresh your Judgments so you never have to waste global cooldowns re-applying them on boss encounters. We also explore the Twist of Light mechanics, breaking down how seal-swapping creates an echo effect on your next melee attack, when to weave seals without draining your mana pool, and how the core rotation flows. Next, we look at gearing and stat priorities. We cover how your Intellect converts directly into spell damage, making hybrid raid gear exceptionally strong. We also break down the critical 9% hit cap against level 63 raid bosses, explaining why taking the Precision talent in the Protection tree leaves you only needing 6% from gear. Finally, for players who prefer to avoid seal-swapping entirely, we break down an alternative Shockadin hybrid build utilizing Holy Shock for instant ranged burst, simplified rotations, and emergency off-healing. 00:00 – Introduction & Ret Paladin Overview 01:10 – Stat Priorities & Mechanics Changes (Mana & Intellect) 02:32 – Retribution Talent Tree Breakdown 04:48 – Core Seals & Judgment Mechanics 06:27 – Sacred Avatar & Priority Abilities 08:02 – Mid/Late Talents (Champion of Light & Threat Reduction) 10:12 – Twist of Light & Seal Twisting Strategy 13:44 – Mana Management & Twisting in Raids vs. PvP 15:32 – Protection Tree Talents & The Hit Cap Requirement 17:26 – Finishing the Core Retribution Build 18:32 – Alternative "Shockadin" / Holy Shock Build 21:44 – Final Thoughts & Outro #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • Saturday · 9 min

    How to Install World of Warcraft: Forever on Steam Deck

    World of Warcraft: Forever runs beautifully on the Steam Deck thanks to the game's brand-new native controller support. In this guide, I will walk you through the entire installation process from start to finish so you can play natively on the go. We cover switching to Desktop Mode to download the BattleNet installer, adding it as a non-Steam game, and forcing Proton Experimental compatibility. I also walk you through the trickiest part of the process: navigating the hidden compatdata folders to update the launcher file path so BattleNet boots perfectly when you return to Gaming Mode. Finally, we boot up the game to enable the Gamepad UI in the Options menu and adjust the graphics settings, including capping the frame rate to 60 FPS (or 30 FPS) to heavily improve your Steam Deck's battery life. 0:00 – Introduction 0:23 – Switching to Desktop Mode & Downloading BattleNet 1:27 – Adding BattleNet Installer to Steam & Proton Setup 2:18 – Running Setup & Choosing Installation Folder 3:58 – Adding Installed BattleNet Launcher to Steam 4:26 – Returning to Gaming Mode & Setting Compatibility 5:03 – Logging into BattleNet & Installing WoW 6:00 – Enabling Native Controller / Gamepad Support 6:43 – Recommended Steam Deck Settings & 60 FPS Optimization 8:20 – Wrap-up & Controller Guide Mention #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • Saturday · 30 min

    Complete Controller Guide for World of Warcraft: Forever

    Welcome to a comprehensive guide on how to play World of Warcraft: Forever using a controller. With the game launching into beta on September 17 and officially releasing on November 4, Blizzard has introduced native controller support, meaning you no longer need any third-party addons to play from your couch or on a handheld device. In this video, we cover everything from the initial setup, navigating to the Options menu to enable Gamepad Alpha and turning on the Gamepad UI, to advanced combat mechanics. We break down how to utilize the Left and Right Triggers as modifiers to access up to 28 different action bar slots across three pages, and how the game natively supports both Xbox and PlayStation button layouts. We also dive into the trickier aspects of console-style MMO gameplay. You will learn how to hold the Start button to turn your Right Stick into a virtual mouse for managing party frames, interacting with vendors, and selling items. We also cover how to seamlessly use quest items via the D-pad, manage ground-targeted AoE spells, and even a reliable workaround for fishing with a controller. 00:00 Intro & Native Controller Support Overview 00:39 Enabling Gamepad UI & Shifting the Issue Reporter 02:27 Action Bars, Trigger Modifiers & Keybindings 08:27 Movement, Camera Control & Crosshair Targeting 11:00 Radial Menus & Virtual Mouse Navigation 12:19 Using Quest Items with the D-Pad 13:45 Interacting, Inspecting & Inviting Players 15:05 Group Management & Party Frames 16:46 Fixing Gamepad vs. Classic PC UI Conflicts 17:54 How to Fish With a Controller 20:01 Advanced Controller Options (Deadzones & Invert Y) 24:11 Interacting with NPCs & Selling Items in Bags 25:25 Combat Mechanics, Auto-Targeting & AoE Spells 28:22 Outro & Guild Info #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • Saturday · 12 min

    How to Set Up Controller Support in World of Warcraft: Forever

    Update: My first controller guide got way more questions than expected, so I put together a full 30-minute breakdown answering everything: managing multiple action bar pages, healing allies, backpedaling settings, using quest items, interacting with NPCs, and even how fishing works. check it out here: https://youtu.be/kLvx3WdwC2U World of Warcraft: Forever has officially added native controller support, allowing you to play the entire game on a gamepad or handheld like the Steam Deck without relying on third-party addons. In this guide, we walk through the quick setup process, keybindings, targeting systems, and recommended settings for a seamless console-style experience. We cover how to navigate the Options menu to locate Gamepad Alpha and activate the native Gamepad UI. We explore how the cross-hotbar system functions, using the Right Trigger (RT) and Left Trigger (LT) as modifiers to smoothly swap between full sets of abilities right from your D-pad and face buttons. We also break down essential settings like enabling Input Prompts and Input Legends, navigating in-game menus using the Start button's radial wheel, and utilizing the Follow Camera setting for an action-RPG feel. Finally, we cover combat navigation and targeting mechanics: cycling friendly allies with the Left Bumper (essential for healers), cycling enemies with the Right Bumper, holding target buttons to open directional targeting wheels, pinging, and mapping auto-run. 00:00 – Intro & Handheld/Controller Support 00:30 – How to Enable Gamepad UI 01:15 – Action Bars & Trigger Keybinds 02:37 – Recommended Gamepad Settings 03:18 – Navigating Menus & Wheels 03:53 – Targeting System (Allies vs. Enemies) 05:13 – Combat & Movement Gameplay 06:42 – Pinging, Auto Run & Targeting Options 08:04 – Character Select & Main Menu Support 09:02 – Enabling Controller UI from Login Screen 10:05 – Follow Camera Feature (Action RPG Mode) 11:15 – Quick Menus & Emotes 11:50 – Outro & Final Thoughts #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #mmo #mmorpg #gaming

  • September 16 · 19 min

    What is World of Warcraft: Forever? Everything You Need to Know

    World of Warcraft: Forever is officially on the horizon, but what actually is it, and how does it differ from both Classic and Retail? In this video, we break down every core feature, mechanical shift, and design philosophy behind Blizzard’s massive new parallel World of Warcraft experience. We cover the essential facts, from beta access on September 17 to the global November 4 launch, and dive deep into why this game is built around a permanent level 60 cap with pure horizontal progression. Discover how the "time bubble" philosophy keeps your gear and accomplishments permanently relevant in year-one Azeroth without continuous gear resets. We also explore the world expansion, including over 1,000 brand-new quests, 9 new dungeons distributed across leveling brackets, 10/20/40-player flexible raid tiers, and previously inaccessible zones like Mount Hyjal, Cyphras Isle, and Riverglade. Finally, we break down the account-wide Legacy system, the Skyborne Elves, new faction-class combinations like Undead Paladins and Dwarf Shamans, native controller support, the 15v15 Darkspear Island battleground, and how the regional megaserver architecture replaces traditional realms with four distinct rulesets. 00:00 – Introduction & Overview 00:28 – Beta Access & Release Date 01:00 – Level 60 Cap & Content Focus 01:27 – Horizontal Progression Explained 03:01 – Core Philosophy & World Setting 04:58 – Alt-Friendly Legacy System 05:51 – New & Expanded Zones (Mount Hyjal, Caiphus Isle, Riverglade) 07:22 – 1,000+ New Quests & 9 New Dungeons 08:52 – Flexible Sizing Raids (10, 20 & 40-Player) 09:27 – New Race: Skyborn Elves & Racials 11:28 – New Class/Race Combinations & Talent Overhauls 13:19 – New PvP Battleground (Darkspear Islands) & Honor System 15:06 – Native Controller Support 16:00 – LFG Tool & Community-First Design 17:06 – Server Structure & Rule Sets 18:23 – Outro & Upcoming Guides

  • S1 · E7
    September 15 · 57 min

    World of Warcraft: Forever is Real | Everything Announced at BlizzCon 2026

    Welcome to Episode 7 of Side Quest with Dvalin. BlizzCon 2026 is officially in the books, and Blizzard completely flipped the script with game-changing announcements across every single franchise. Today, we are breaking down every major reveal, expansion, and surprise release so you don't miss a thing. Our biggest highlight is the reveal of World of Warcraft: Forever, Blizzard's official answer to "Classic+." We dive into everything this new parallel game offers, from a permanent level 60 cap with horizontal progression to 1,000 brand-new quests, 9 new leveling/endgame dungeons, 2 raids, and a single regional megaserver featuring four distinct ruleset layers. We also cover new race/class combinations like Undead Paladins, Dwarf Shamans, and Skyborne Elves, alongside the new 15v15 three-lane Darkspear Island battleground and the visual toggle between classic and modern HD graphics. Beyond WoW Forever, we break down all the other massive announcements from the show: - World of Warcraft Retail & The Last Titan: The "Eclipse" patch concluding Midnight with Xal'atath in The Worldcore raid, lifting armor-type transmog restrictions, and returning to a revamped Northrend in The Last Titan (2027). - Warcraft 3: Reforged Campaign Shadowdrop: The surprise release of "Forsaken Kingdom", a brand-new 30-hour story campaign following Sylvanas that bridges the gap between Warcraft 3 and vanilla WoW, complete with an updated engine overhaul and a new Forsaken Paladin tavern hero. - Heroes of the Storm Revived: Johanna Faries taking the stage to announce Xal'atath as the first new hero added to the Nexus in six years. - StarCraft Open-World Shooter: Dan Hay's narrative-driven open-world shooter set 70 years after Legacy of the Void, officially targeting a 2030 release. - Diablo 5 Announced: The unexpected reveal of Diablo 5 for 2029 where Sanctuary has completely fallen, introducing a mobile caravan camp mechanic and the new Plague Knight class. - Diablo 4 & Other Franchises: Season of Hell's Legacy, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, the Amazon class arrival in 2027, Hearthstone's Monk class, Overwatch's new techno-vampire support hero Doctrine, and the official Diablo animated series coming to Netflix. 00:00 - Intro & BlizzCon Overview 00:24 - World of Warcraft: Forever (Classic+) 04:16 - WoW Forever: Leveling, New Dungeons & Raids 05:46 - New Zones & Expanding the Azeroth Map 07:04 - Skyborn Elves & New Class Combinations 08:32 - New 15v15 Battleground (Darkspear Island) 09:34 - Graphic Upgrades & SD/HD Toggle 10:39 - WoW Forever Release Date & Beta Access 12:00 - Megaserver System, Rule Sets & Guild Plans 14:43 - WoW Retail: Midnight "Eclipse" & The World Core Raid 19:30 - WoW Retail: The Last Titan Expansion Tease (2027) 21:25 - Warcraft III: Reforged - Forsaken Kingdom Campaign 25:09 - Heroes of the Storm: Xal'atath Reveal 29:19 - StarCraft: Open-World Shooter Announcement (2030) 35:10 - Diablo V Revealed (2029) 42:10 - Diablo IV: Season of Hell's Legacy & Amazon Class 47:38 - Hearthstone: Reign of the Black Empire & Monk Class 50:30 - Overwatch: New Hero "Doctrine" & Season 5 Updates 52:33 - Netflix Diablo Animated Series Announcement 55:45 - Outro & What’s Coming Next #worldofwarcraft #warcraft #gaming #gamingpodcast #podcast

  • S1 · E6
    September 11 · 33 min

    Will BlizzCon 2026 Deliver a StarCraft FPS and WoW 2?

    Welcome to Episode 6 of Side Quest with Dvalin! We are just two days away from BlizzCon 2026, and the hype is off the charts. Today, we are laying our cards on the table with our official predictions for the Opening Ceremony and weekend panels, ranking the biggest rumors into tiers ranging from "Absolute Locks" to pure "Copium." We dive into the loudest rumor on the floor: the highly anticipated StarCraft FPS reportedly led by former Far Cry developer Dan Hay. We debate whether it will be a tactical extraction shooter or a narrative-driven campaign. We also tackle the massive World of Warcraft Classic+ hype, breaking down why a permanent Classic+ holds a 75% probability compared to the near-zero chance of a complete WoW 2.0 engine rebuild during the active Worldsoul Saga roadmap. Plus, we cover strong contenders like a Hearthstone Monk class and a fast-paced Shadowlands Remix, alongside the guaranteed locks: a new Overwatch hero and the next Diablo IV expansion to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary. We even dig into the wildcards, including potential Microsoft-pushed Netflix adaptations (Overwatch anime or Diablo dark fantasy?), new WoW specs, and the copium-fueled dreams of a Diablo 1 Remake, Heroes of the Storm Reborn, or a brand new Warcraft RTS. 00:00 Podcast Intro 01:07 Diablo 1 Remake? 02:39 New StarCraft FPS Game? 04:48 WoW 2.0 or Classic Plus? 07:57 Hearthstone Monk Class? 08:57 Heroes of the Storm 3.0? 11:00 Warcraft Forever? 13:41 New Overwatch Hero? 14:33 Netflix Series? 17:35 Next Retail WoW Expansion? 19:11 Shadowlands Remix? 20:32 New Warcraft RTS? 22:46 Next Diablo IV Expansion? 30:38 Outro #blizzcon #blizzcon2026 #gaming #gamingpodcast #podcast

  • S1 · E5
    September 1 · 51 min

    The 8 Biggest Game Reveals from Gamescom 2026

    Welcome to Episode 5 of Side Quest with Dvalin. Today, we are sitting down for a massive 50-minute deep dive covering the absolute best game reveals, gameplay demos, and floor announcements from Gamescom 2026 and Opening Night Live. From surprise AAA announcements to massive genre shifts, we break down all 8 major titles that stole the spotlight: - Nodus Fall: HoYoverse breaks away from anime gacha into a gritty, Unreal Engine 5 dark fantasy co-op monster hunting action RPG with gameplay-unlocked rosters. - Gears of War: E-Day: The prequel taking Marcus and Dom back to Emergence Day with survival-horror pacing, fluid sliding/jumping movement, and ray-traced visuals. - Ananta: The high-speed urban superhero open-world RPG featuring Spider-Man-style skyscraper swinging, dynamic 4-character tag combat, and zero stamina gates. - Game of Thrones: War for Westeros: PlaySide Studios' epic PC RTS featuring Stark, Lannister, Targaryen, and White Walker faction warfare with controllable heroes and dragons. - Aion 2: NCSoft's Unreal Engine 5 MMORPG showcasing seamless 3D aerial combat, 100v100 Abyss sieges, and a PC-native Western rollout. - LEGO Skylines: Paradox Interactive and Iceflake Studios combining deep city simulation infrastructure with unlimited, instruction-free LEGO brick building. - Total War: Warhammer 40,000: The Gamescom "Best PC Game" winner bringing squad tactics, orbital drop pods, an army painter, and a groundbreaking PlayStation console launch. - Path of Exile 2: The 1.0 launch breakdown detailing the newly revealed Duelist class, dual-stance sword combat (Blood & Sand), active parrying, and hybrid scaling. 00:00 Gamescom 2026 Recap & Intro 01:20 Nodus Fall (Hoyoverse) Co-op Dark Fantasy 08:13 Gears of War: E-Day Prequel Roots 12:48 Ananta (Project Mugen) Urban Open World RPG 17:14 Game of Thrones: War of Westeros RTS Strategy 24:50 Aion 2 Next-Gen MMORPG & PvP Focus 31:29 LEGO Skylines Creative City Building 35:55 Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Strategy Shift 42:47 Path of Exile 2 Launch & New Combat 48:00 Outro & Future Podcast Plans

  • S1 · E4
    August 28 · 35 min

    Will Aion 2 Be the Ultimate MMORPG Revival?

    Welcome to Episode 4 of Side Quest with Dvalin. This week, we are taking a deep dive into the highly anticipated global launch of Aion 2. Will this massive Unreal Engine 5 title be the ultimate MMORPG revival? We are breaking down everything you need to know about NCSOFT's newest release, featuring a seamless open world that is 36 times larger than the original game with zero instanced loading screens. We explore the massive lore shift set after the collapse of the Tower of Eternity, where you awaken as the prophesied Arch-Daeva to fight the Balaur and their new soul-trapping Fafnite technology. Plus, we cover the 8 launch classes, including the brand-new, high-mobility Monk spec, and the evolution of PvPvE combat with massive 100v100 Abyss War sieges and unrestricted 3D flight. Finally, we discuss the Western release strategy. NCSOFT has decoupled the Western launch from mobile to focus purely on a high-fidelity PC experience and is dropping the controversial two-tier Eastern monetization model. The game will be free-to-play with a cosmetic-only cash shop, an optional battle pass, and an optional $15/month subscription. 00:00 Intro to Aion 2 & Western Launch 00:46 Eastern Market Revenue & Success 01:36 Twitch Streams & Steam Details 02:02 PvE & PvP 50/50 Balance 02:28 Early Access vs Free-to-Play Dates 03:04 PC Focus & Scrapped Mobile Version 03:32 Consoles & Controller Support 04:41 Open World Scale & Exploration 05:23 Core Loop & Territorial Contests 06:09 3D Flight & Aerial Combat 07:03 Playable Classes Overview 07:52 Melee: Templar, Gladiator, Assassin, Monk 09:55 Ranged: Ranger & Sorcerer 10:55 Support: Spiritmaster, Chanter, Cleric 13:21 Abyss War: 100v100 Faction Battles 14:54 PvE Endgame & Dungeon Tiers 16:11 Combat Power & Talent Trees 18:00 Structured PvP: 1v1, 4v4 & Arenas 20:02 Abyss Conflict & PvP Resilience Gear 21:54 Spacetime Rifts & Invasions 23:48 100-Player Battle Royale Mode 25:05 Lore: Tower of Eternity & Balaur 28:01 Your Character's Origin Story 29:27 Western Free-to-Play Business Model 31:27 Final Platform Strategy Recap 33:53 Outro & Gamescom Teaser

  • S1 · E3
    August 21 · 24 min

    Minecraft Dungeons 2 Might Be the Best ARPG of 2026

    Welcome to Episode 3 of Side Quest with Dvalin. Today, we are shifting gears from MMORPGs to take a deep dive into one of the most surprising upcoming releases of the year: Minecraft Dungeons II. Launching globally for Windows and home consoles on September 29, 2026, this sequel is completely overhauling the formula. We break down how Mojang and Double Eleven are adding a new jump ability, expanding build crafting by splitting armor into four individual pieces, and introducing talismans that provide passive effects. From the game originally leaking as "Project Spicewood" to the brand-new story focused on threats from the Deep Dark and Ancient Cities, we cover everything you need to know. We also discuss how this family-friendly dungeon crawler could potentially beat titans like Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2. Is this primed to take over your living room and become the best ARPG of 2026? 00:00 Intro to Minecraft Dungeons 2 01:10 Development & Spicewood Leaks 04:30 Reveal & Release Date Info 05:55 Platforms & Cross-play Details 06:55 Pre-orders & Game Pass Info 08:22 Open World vs. Instances 10:05 Verticality & Jump Attacks 11:22 Gear & Armor Customization 12:24 New Artifacts & Talismans 13:42 Co-op Changes & Friendly Fire 14:48 Storyline & The New Threat 16:40 Endgame Boss: Twisted Warden 18:50 Corrupted Worlds & Empowered Mobs 20:57 Lego Set & Pre-order Rewards 22:28 Final Thoughts & Channel Update

  • S1 · E2
    August 14 · 30 min

    Will the Riot Games MMO Dethrone WoW, or Is It False Hope?

    Welcome to Episode 2 of Side Quest with Dvalin. We are keeping the momentum going by breaking down the most anticipated upcoming MMOs in the industry. Today, we are tackling the giant in the room: the highly anticipated League of Legends MMORPG by Riot Games, often referred to as the Runeterra MMO. We are analyzing the entire development timeline, from the initial 2020 announcement with Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street to the massive 2024 project reset led by Marc Merrill. We discuss Riot's ambitions to dethrone World of Warcraft, the recent hiring of heavy-hitting Blizzard veterans, and how the rich lore of Runeterra, alongside Arcane and 160+ champions, will translate into a living, breathing world. We also dive into release date predictions, combat expectations, and why Riot refuses to release a traditional MMO clone. 00:00 Introduction to the Riot MMO 01:23 Development History & Key Personnel 03:03 Platforms & Initial Announcement 03:56 The 2024 Project Reset 06:45 Why Riot Scrapped 4 Years of Work 08:04 Evolving the MMO Genre 09:48 Predicted Release Window 11:30 LoL 2.0 & Announcement Strategy 13:54 New Hires: The Blizzard Dream Team 17:46 World Building & Arcane Connections 21:40 Music & Audio Pedigree 25:00 Gameplay: Champions as NPCs 28:07 Future Episodes & Upcoming MMOs 28:57 Outro & Podcast Info

  • S1 · E1
    August 12 · 22 min

    Guild Wars 3 is Changing the MMO Genre

    Welcome to the very first episode of A Side Quest with Dvalin. In this new podcast series, we explore the biggest upcoming MMOs in the gaming world. For Episode 1, we are diving deep into ArenaNet's newly announced Guild Wars 3. We cover everything you need to know from the Summer Game Fest reveal, including the massive shift to include PlayStation 5, the transition to an action-RPG combat framework, and the lore behind the Vaelwarden role set 1,200 years before the original game. We also discuss the upcoming Fall 2027 beta, the strict buy-to-play model, and why the developers are officially skipping the battle pass system. 00:00 Welcome to Side Quest with Dvalin 00:30 Why Start with Guild Wars 3? 01:00 Future of Guild Wars: What We Know 01:38 What is Guild Wars 3? 02:12 Well Wardens & World Exploration 02:34 Combat & Movement Evolution 04:03 Action Adventure vs Traditional MMOs 05:08 Platforms: PS5 & Steam 06:28 Controller Support & Cross-Save 08:10 Beta Testing & Launch Predictions 10:10 The Future of Guild Wars 1 & 2 10:41 Cross-Progression: Hall of Momentum 11:12 Monetization: No Subscriptions 12:38 Lore: 1,200 Years in the Past 13:50 Transitioning to Action Combat 15:54 Playable Races & Future Species 18:33 Dvalin 2.0: New Channel Direction 21:33 Wrap Up & Riot MMO Teaser

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