The Adventure Zone

152 Episodes

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Ep. 1: Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter One

2014-12-0301:56:34494

In this, the pilot episode of The Adventure Zone, the McElroys create the characters with which they'll build a new -- and hopefuly very, very lucrative -- fantasy fiction franchise. Join in the campaign as Justin (Taako), Travis (Magnus) and Clint (Merle), led by Dungeon Master Griffin, take their first steps into the unknown.

Ep. 1.5: Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter One (Super Cut)

2014-12-0300:52:57118

Ep. 2. Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter Two

2014-12-0401:09:02205

Our heroes’ first job is not going especially well. Taako, Merle and Magnus are hot on the trail of their employer’s kidnappers, leading them into a perilous gerblin den. Will they discover the fate of Gundren and his ward, Barry Bluejeans? Or will they find themselves held up by complicated gerblin office politics?

Ep. 3. Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter Three

2014-12-1801:16:22166

With one half of their former employers effectively rescued, our party begins the hunt for Gundren Rockseeker in earnest. There are just a few things standing in their way: They don't know where he is, they're all Level Clown-Shoes, and also, a jelly monster.

Ep. 4. Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter Four

2015-01-0101:05:58192

After solving a particularly difficult jelly puzzle, our heroes journey ever deeper into Wave Echo Cave. Taako meets a kindred spirit, Merle does some missionary work and Magnus does some really cool stuff with some chains.

Ep. 5. Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter Five

2015-01-1500:58:53133

Merle, Taako and Magnus complete their rescue mission, but then completely fail an entirely new, far more important mission. Taako acquires a powerful artifact, and doesn't seem so stoked about it.

Ep. 6. Here There Be Gerblins - Chapter Six

2015-01-2900:57:31121

In this, the thrilling conclusion to our first Adventure, Merle, Taako and Magnus pursue their engulfed employer into the heart of Phandalin. Will they be able to douse him before things get out of hand? Also, are you going to finish that Luna Bar?

Ep. 7. Moonlighting - Chapter One

2015-02-1201:05:50129

In this interlude chapter to the Adventure Zone saga, the mysteries of the universe are revealed to our heroes. Magnus has a good cry to some elevator music. Taako further unravels The Eldritch Riddle. It's about to get super weal up in here.

Ep. 8. Moonlighting - Chapter Two

2015-02-2601:13:06124

Now that they can finally understand like, anything that anybody important is saying, our heroes seek employment in the Bureau of Balance. Merle brags about how smart he is. Taako accidentally encounters some life-changing intel. Magnus does horrible, horrible things to an automaton.

Ep. 9. Moonlighting - Chapter Three

2015-03-1201:05:54119

Having passed the Bureau of Balance's punishing test of initiation, our heroes stock up on supplies and learn abilities that will help them immeasurably in the future. Merle finds a new god. Taako has a difficult encounter with a coin slot. Magnus advocates for moon-dogs.

Ep. 10. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter One

2015-03-1901:06:40142

Our heroes are sent out on their first mission as Reclaimers for the Bureau of Balance. Their initial task is an impossible one: Do they possess the competence required to be on time for a train? The answer may surprise you, but — no, actually, it probably won’t.

Ep. 11. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Two

2015-03-2601:03:17125

Our heroes attempt to make the best out of a swampy situation, and race to Rockport before they miss a fateful train. They also meet a beloved radio personality and spokesperson, and hold him ransom for MaxFunDrive donations. Magnus exhibits his upper body strength. Taako gets charming. Merle takes a stink-bath.

Ep. 12. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Three

2015-04-1600:59:12140

Our heroes board their fateful train to Neverwinter, and are rude to just about every single person aboard. Merle strikes out at evangelism. Magnus learns that he may not, in fact, have the biggest muscles. Taako just wrecks some baby carrots.

Ep. 13. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Four

2015-04-2300:57:02107

As you might have guessed from the title of the past few episodes, our heroes' journey isn't going to be an especially calm one. Because of all the murder, I mean. Taako mourns the dead. Merle finally plays his part. Magnus does one of the absolute coolest punches ever.

Ep. 14. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Five

2015-05-0701:00:13106

The game is afoot! The game of murder-solving, I mean. The game of Dungeons & Dragons has been afoot for a while. Magnus finds unorthodox uses for furniture. Taako practices his interrogation techinques. Merle becomes a robot mom.

Ep. 15. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Six

2015-05-2101:01:0188

In this penultimate chapter in the Rockport Limited murder fiasco, our players deduce the true culprit of the titular heinous crime. Merle runs out of magic. Taako finds more creative applications for Levitation. Magnus gets some fresh air.

Ep. 16. Murder on the Rockport Limited - Chapter Seven

2015-06-0401:02:17111

In the final chapter in the Rockport Limited story arc, our heroes have little time to stop their runaway train from colliding with Neverwinter, potentially ruining some other group's D&D session. Magnus takes a tumble. Merle channels Gary Sinise. Taako does some pretty dope magical stuff.

Ep. 17. Lunar Interlude I: Carnival Chaos

2015-06-1801:10:24115

In this brief interlude between adventures, our heroes attend an office party — well, a carnival — at the Bureau of Balance’s lunar headquarters. They also hit up the Fantasy Costco, where they must match wits with their most fearsome mercantile foe yet. Taako makes a discrete trade. Merle tries on some cool-ass slippies. Magnus finally finds a friend.

Ep. 18. Petals to the Metal - Chapter One

2015-07-0201:00:38105

In this first chapter in a new Adventure Zone story, Merle, Taako and Magnus are in hot pursuit of a master criminal in the metropolitan city of Goldcliff. Can they stop The Raven before her crime spree tears the town apart? I don't know, because we haven't finished playing this part of the campaign yet. Magnus does some chopping. Taako learns to Nightcrawl. Merle has a genuinely upsetting encounter with some vines.

Ep. 19. Petals to the Metal - Chapter Two

2015-07-1600:55:36111

Our heroes attempt to reconcile with Trent the Treant; a task made difficult by the fact that one of them just cut him in half. After that, buckle up y'all, because it's ELEVATOR TIME. YEEEEAAAAHHHHHH ELEVATORS. Merle befriends a crowbar. Taako does a rope trick. Magnus holds on for dear lives.

Comments (1331)

podcast fanatic

I love how Justin and Travis said "oh god D:" at the same time lol

Jan 18th

Andreas Gustavsson

When Barry said "kill me before I forget" I broke. As someone who's relatives have gone through dementia this hit home hard.

Jan 17th

Ryan Darcy

I woke up today just dying to hear one mcelroy explain equity to another mcelroy said no one ever

Alex Gulino

5 stars. Absolutely love TAZ(along with pretty much everything else the brothers do). It was the first dnd cast I listened to which opened up the whole category to me. After listening to many other play podcasts, it is so frustrating they only do about 2 hours a month as their target length. took them literally 2 months to put out the content Critical Role does in 1 night(which they do every week as Mathew Mercer is a DM cyborg created by Wizards of the Coast using his extensive vo career as a cover). I know they're dad's and busy with the other 100 podcasts they do but man it's frustrating when you enjoy it a bunch but it takes so long to produce. Got spoiled bc I started listening kinda close to the end of Balance. I stop listening for what feels like forever so I get what should be a nice backlog to enjoy in bigger chunks but I still fly through it in 1 day. I recommend this to anyone who hasn't tried it out. You're incredibly lucky to have 100s of enjoyable hours ahead of you before you catch up.

Jan 14th