This week on The Proving Grounds, we dive deep into the labyrinth with a full retrospective on Etrian Odyssey—the classic DS-era blobber that brought hand-drawn maps and tactical survival back to the spotlight. I share my recent playthrough of the HD remaster, including what worked, what didn’t, and how I ended up breaking the game with a bard.

We also step away from the screen to talk about the joys and struggles of tabletop DMing, why I nearly quit recently, and how CRPG expectations are bleeding into live play. If you’ve ever burned out running a game or butted heads over house rules, you’ll want to hear this one.

Plus, we revisit last week’s Question of the Week: Which game best captured the feeling of tabletop RPGs? I reflect on my joystick-passing Gold Box days and give props (and critiques) to Solasta.

In the news? Caves of Qud is finally coming to Switch on August 15th!

🛡️ Join the discussion and share your thoughts:
👉 https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz

❓ Question of the Week:
Which party-building system do you prefer in classic RPGs—class-based, skill-based, or hybrid—and what makes it stand out for you?