April 2020 - Outtakes, Chat, and Q&A

> "*Thanks again for listening Thanks for backing the show whether it's with a munchly... munchly?*"
> ― DM Matt (blooper)
>
>

**April 2020 - Q&A** is a bonus episode of Queens of Adventure. It is the first of a new series of monthly behind the scenes chats with the creators, released to Patreon backers.

## Summary

The episode begins with a couple minutes of outtakes and bloopers, before transitioning into the main episode.

### Around the Mic:

* DM Matt
* DM James

### April Reflections

After briefly discussing a pasta recipe, the DMs discuss the first full month of the new patreon reward structure. For the future, they plan to have the queens join them, but it wasn't possible this month due to covid-19. These rewards included birthday shoutouts in the show, and the first Tavern of Trinket created item: the Glitter Bomb. The next two items are already made, and there is a poll online for backers to choose the next. Other rewards will be rolling out as the covid-19 situation allows.

They look back over the last two months of shows. In the main podcast: the ritual in the vault, Barb's machinations, Londyn's interruption and taking them to the ethereal plane. The newest episode starts a flashback to Irene's past in Glamalala with Bosco (previously seen in the Gnomenguarde Adventure). They hope this arc could be a good jumping on point for new listeners, and will last six to seven episodes. They also launched Queens of Adventure: Legends. Eleven episodes are out now. New ones are being previewed in the Bonus Episodes feed.

They transition to all of their original plans for March. Since late summer 2019, they thought March would be a great time to release the second podcast, and make a thing of it with lots of live events, and start releasing physical merchandise. Then covid-19 hit. For weeks before, they were struggling with promotion, feeling unsure if they should have shows. It was this fear which led to cancelling the shows. In addition to the worry for the audience, it could be financially disastrous for the cast. While they don't know when they will be able to do live shows again, they are looking forward to bringing these shows to audiences someday.

Moving forward, they need to figure out when and how they can start recording again, as bringing the cast together to record feels irresponsible still. They may look into remote recordings (James has trouble with audio quality). In the meantime, they promote Arson, Fraya, and Londyn streaming on Twitch (links on the queen's pages).

### QoA

**"How many cantrips does Fraya know?"** From DiceRefgemlin (who was here for a guest episode recording, the final recording before quarantine): Frostbite, Light, mending, shape water, spare the dying. They gave her tempest cleric build frostbite (and ice knife) from the Xanthar's Guide expansion, that matched her water powers.

**"What is your process for mixing/matching audio feeds?"** - They discuss ways they try to isolate the tracks (and dreams of building more isolated booths) and the various passes to polish up each person's voice, removing pauses and filler time, before adding sound effects and music tracks.

**"How much is preplanned?"** They have the basic conflicts and island factions planned out, and they the Kracken is due to attack at the full moon, but they don't have plot beats mapped out. They discuss several examples including the Kracken Priest Heart in the Portable Party altar, Barb's plan to take the island to hell, and the presence of the song Baby Shark. Mostly it is that they figure out what an item's parameters, or a character's motivations are, and see what the queens do with it. They do praise their friend John's 'Rosemary's Baby Shark' version of the song. They admit that Jo Ramshackle is not a figure that was planned to be so deeply important. There is more to Jo and Belfry that could be explored though.

**"Will Harlotte O'Scara return again?"** - No current plans for her to return.

**"What has been your greatest success since starting the podcast?"** - For Matt: It is the live show and having the audience help shape the events. They also plan to put this question to the queens.

**"Any reason why James is DMing?" (the Danger Rangers arc)** - When they discussed the backstory plan, Matt was already quite busy with the the main show, the live shows, and his other day jobs. James stepped in to not overburden Matt. Matt also thinks it is a great chance to show off James's DMing skills. Regarding the backstory eps, which they plan to do with all of the cast, is to bring in someone each queen knows well to play a role, so they have such strong chemistry with them. The other backstories will explore other areas of the world outside Fire Island.

They promise more main story will happen, once they can find a way to record.

### Coming Up:

In May: More of the Irene/Bosco backstory. Legends will continue to release the NeoScum crossover episodes. And next up in the Bonus episode feed will be the Chicago live show.