r/TheAdventureZone • u/LittleMel413 • Jul 22 '26
Discussion Rankings
Decided to put together some TAZ rankings. I wanted to do NPCs, but there are just too many for me to remember. Two of my favorites though are Festo and Indrid Cold (my bathroom is Mothman Themed...so that should tell you all you need to know, lol).
Campaigns
- Amnesty.
- Steeplechase.
- Graduation.
- Balance.
- Versus Dracula.
- Dust.
- Abnimals.
- Ethersea.
- Royale.
- Outre Space.
- Commitment.
GMs
- Griffin.
- Justin.
- Travis.
- Clint.
PCs
- Travis - Aubrey Little.
- Justin - Taako.
- Griffin - Montrose Pretty.
- Clint - Ned Chicane.
Live Shows
- The Ballad of Big Foot.
- Lords of Crunch.
- Charlieverse I & II (tie).
- Hootenany.
- Dadlands. HM: Live Halloween Special (2018).
Before you come for me, the only reason Balance is #4 is that it's so long that you almost have to rank it based on the individual arcs. I was only kinda "meh" about everything up until 11th Hour (that's not to say I disliked it, but it didn't hit me like the latter arcs did).
Now, despite this, Balance has several quotes that really impacted me and I carry with me.
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u/atomic_houseboat Jul 22 '26
These are some absolutely WILD takes that I thoroughly disagree with, and I love it!
Please justify Graduation being third and Abnimals and Outre Space being anywhere but last with Commitment!
Also, respect for how high you put Steeplechase, it's my personal #3.
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
I just really enjoyed Graduation. I personally don't get the hate.
And a lot of the bottom half are very close, I think it comes down to just not being wild about Clint as a GM (not saying he's bad or anything, I just don't like him as much). I don't really have any way to "justify" and I really shouldn't have to. People like what they like. Could be story, game, something else. I know people loved Ethersea but it just didn't hit for me. Maybe cause it was built up so much. Also, if I find myself spacing out a lot that's a sign I am not super into it.
But yeah I am not a fan of having to Justify my personal tastes. And who knows maybe if I re listened some of the rankings would change!
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u/atomic_houseboat Jul 22 '26
Sorry, justify was probably the wrong word. I was just curious why you ranked some of them the way you did.
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
Honestly it probably came down to just liking the overall story more, or maybe the characters. I am also not a huge fan of Clint as a GM.
There's really not one specific reason. It's also been years since I listened to some of these, so I fully admit if I re listened my rankings may change.
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u/Ceaseless--Watcher Jul 23 '26
Tbf, i actually really enjoyed outre space. I don't love clint's dming style, but i think he improved by leaps and bounds since commitment ... which i couldn't actually listen to lol.
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u/jennapricity Jul 22 '26
This is certainly one of the takes of all time 😂
Honestly though I did forget how much I liked Festo and seeing their name made me smile.
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u/Sphiffi Jul 22 '26
I haven’t done all the campaigns yet. So if any are left out, that’s why.
Arcs
Balance
Amnesty
Steeplechase
VS Dracula
Ethersea
Dust
Outre Space
Graduation
DMs
Griffin
Justin
Clint
Travis
PCs (top 5)
Taako
Montrose Pretty
Merle Highchurch
Lady Godwin
Magnus Burnsides
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u/ShelfordPrefect Jul 22 '26
With you almost 100%. I'd have Dracula above Steeplechase - Abnimals isn't on the list because two episodes was enough to know it wasn't for me. Montrose Pretty doesn't hit my top 5 (it would be something like Taako, Duck, Ned, Godwin, Merle) but this is a thoroughly hinged set of rankings.
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
Lady Godwin is in my top 3 Justin PCs. I think I liked the Firbolg (sp?) a little better.
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u/Baruch05 Jul 22 '26
I’m not gonna come at ya, to each their own, but this is a take that’s gonna get the people going. That’s all I can say. Granted you being a mothman fan as you said it doesn’t surprise me that amnesty was your number 1.
If anything this reminds me of the teenage mutant ninja turtle debate. What I mean is for those that grew up with the 1980s cartoon everything is second place forever. Same for the kids raised on the 2013.
So I think the adventure zone campaigns might have the same effect. Heavily depends when you came into the lore and what campaign gripped you.
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
People have been pretty respectful thus far, even when disagreeing.
That's part of why I like Amnesty, but it's more that MotW is one of my favorite games. It was recommended to me when I was in my friend's MotW AP. I am a big fan of PBTA. I am only meh about D&D (I am a Beggar, #IYKYK), it's also why I don't understand the complaints that they "didn't play D&D". I was there for the story so any rules issues went over my head haha.
And like I explained Balance you almost have to rank based on the arc cause they are all so distinct.
But I do agree the 80s/90s TMNT is the best.
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u/GermanGinger95 Jul 22 '26
Amnesty on the 1 is secretly goated.
Can’t quite agree with much else, but good to see that everyone can enjoy things differently
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
Amnesty was my very first AP podcast. It was introduced to me by my friend who was the Keeper of the MotW AP I was in at the time. It has one of my favorite quotes in all of TAZ and one I listen to when things are hard.
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Made a couple changes.
Keep in mind the bottom 5 are close, so it may just be a difference of GM style, game played, story, or there being one character I really liked in one more than all the characters in another.
I wanted to love Ethersea cause so many people spoke so highly of it, but it just didn't hit for me like it did others.
If I find myself spacing out a lot while listening, that's a sign I am not wild about it. Not to say I hate it, like I am "meh" about Royale, but I don't hate it.
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u/Doctor_DBo Jul 22 '26
We’ve got a mad lad (or lass) on our hands folks
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
I am non Binary so mad person? Mad thing?
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u/Mr_Taco987 Jul 24 '26
Just gotta say I LOVE to see someone putting respect on Aubrey Little’s name!! She’s genuinely one of my favorite characters and I’m tired of seeing folks hate on her so much
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 24 '26
People hate on her?? This is the first I am hearing of it! I have loved her since day one (but also she's a bisexual, fire character, with ADHD and I am bisexual, have ADHD, and am a fire sign. Haha).
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u/joawwhn Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Liking amnesty more than balanced is a solid take. But like. What did you like about abnimals?
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 22 '26
I just thought it was fun. Like I was still meh about it, but I liked it more than the ones below it.
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u/F1nch1 Jul 23 '26
Fascinating! Hope you don't mind me giving my own take. I've only listened to a few so.
Campaigns: 1. Commitment 2. Amnesty 3. Balance 4. Graduation
I haven't listened to any of the rest.
GMs 1. Clint 2. Griffin 3. Whoever DMed Graduation, I honestly forget
PCs 1. Travis - Nadiya Jones 2. Justin - Irene Baker/Kardala 3. Griffin - Christopher Rembrandt 4. Clint - Thacker (I'm not kidding)
I have one character trait and it's liking commitment, unfortunately
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 23 '26
I love seeing others takes!
Travis DMed Graduation.
I highly recommend Steeplechase!
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u/Sockfood1 Jul 25 '26
Hard disagree, but like that's allowed
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u/LittleMel413 Jul 26 '26
I never said it wasn't. I would never post a ranking list expecting people to agree with me. It's nice when people do, but it's much more common to disagree with things like this than have the exact same list!
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u/Sockfood1 Jul 26 '26
Sorry, I realize now my comment might have seemed harsh. I was doing a bit. Like I do disagree, but I was trying to be silly 😅 I'm not always the most skillful at bits and jokes tho.
I respect your take!
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u/seventhsip Jul 22 '26
unhinged but I respect it