Into the Depths: Caves of Qud (Sidequests Special)

In this bonus installment of our current Into the Depths series, we continue diving into Caves of Qud. This sprawling open-world roguelike has been in development since 2007 and Early Access since 2015. Doug and Rob - joined by special guest host Star St. Germain - chat about sidequests with one of the game’s narrative designers, Caelyn Sandel. This episode we talk about the Servidian Meadow, the Hindren, Bey Lah, the integration of political and cultural commentary into worldbuilding, writing workflows, Mamon Souldrinker, Warden Une, Fraying Favorites, Many Eyes, Caelen Sandshell, _, and the cyclical nature of influence on Qud’s world. Don't forget to join our Discord and play along with the series!  Audio edited by Dylan Shumway. Show Notes: Buy Caves of Qud on itch.io: https://freeholdgames.itch.io/cavesofqud  Caves of Qud soundtrack: https://freeholdgames.itch.io/caves-of-qud-soundtrack  The Qud Survival Guide: https://ectafoole.itch.io/the-qud-survival-guide Star on bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisisstar.bsky.social  Star on itch: thisisstar.itch.io Star’s website: https://www.thisisstar.com/  Caelyn on bsky:  https://bsky.app/profile/ectafoole.bsky.social  Caelyn’s Fiction work ectafoole.itch.io https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Trent Kusters (League of Geeks), John Axon (Capybara Games), and Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok) to discuss Lords of Diskonia, the 41st game in the UFO 50 collection. “War has come to Land of Disks, and the red and blue armies are on a collision course!” Next week: Night Manor Audio edited by Dylan Shumway   Discussed in this episode: I Tried Cycling the Length of Japan: 3,000km and 27 Days on the Road | Long Way North https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpH8vt5WLV0  Carrom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrom  Crokinole https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/521/crokinole  How Tabletop Design Helped Shape ‘UFO 50’ https://gdcvault.com/play/1035154/How-Tabletop-Design-Helped-Shape  JTolmar - Disks Rogue https://noisyowl.com/disksrogue/  Crossbows and Catapults https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2129/crossbows-and-catapults  Catacombs (Third Edition) https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/195137/catacombs-third-edition  Beast Breaker https://vodeo.games/bb  Designing ‘MARVEL SNAP’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjhsY2Zuo-c  Into the Breach https://subsetgames.com/itb.html  Air, Land, and Sea https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/247367/air-land-and-sea  Hot Streak https://www.cmyk.games/products/hot-streak  BALL X PIT https://www.ballxpit.com/  Storytelling through Systems (requires GDC Vault membership) https://gdcvault.com/browse?keyword=storytelling+through+systems#    https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Stephanie Boluk (UC Davis), Patrick LeMieux (UC Davis), and Trent Kusters (League of Geeks) to discuss Grimstone, the 40th game in the UFO 50 collection. “Praise Biggan, the four of you survived the saloon fire. But somethin' tells me this story's just gettin' started...” Next week: Lords of Diskonia Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode: Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster https://finalfantasypixelremaster.square-enix-games.com/en_US/  SaGa Frontier Remastered https://saga-franchise.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/saga-frontier-remastered  Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake https://dragonquest.square-enix-games.com/games/en-us/dragon-quest-1-2-hd2d-remake/  Super Mario RPG  https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/super-mario-rpg-switch/  Undertale  https://undertale.com/  Final Fantasy VIII Remastered https://www.square-enix-games.com/games/final-fantasy-viii-remastered  Mother 3  https://mother3.fobby.net/  Final Fantasy VII  https://finalfantasyviipc.square-enix-games.com/en  Tales of Symphonia Remastered  https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/tales-of/tales-of-symphonia-remastered  Hylics  https://mason-lindroth.itch.io/hylics  Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians https://vimeo.com/ondemand/huicholesfilm The Road to Dragon Quest  https://archive.org/details/road-to-dragon-quest Space Funeral  https://thecatamites.itch.io/space-funeral  Yume Nikki  https://store.steampowered.com/app/650700/Yume_Nikki/  The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Lin https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tom-lin/the-thousand-crimes-of-ming-tsu/9780316542173/?lens=little-brown Game Maker’s Notebook - XCOM Creator Julian Gollop Shares Game Design Tips , Dev Stories and More  https://gamemakersnotebook.libsyn.com/xcom-creator-julian-gollop-shares-game-design-tips-dev-stories-and-more    Stephanie's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/chouxsalad.bsky.social Patrick's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/alt254.bsky.social Trent's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/trentkusters.bsky.social A Year of UFO 50 - Mortol II https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mortol-ii  A Year of UFO 50 - Rock On! Island  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-rock-on-island  A Year of UFO 50 - Mortol  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-mortol  A Year of UFO 50 - Fist Hell  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-fist-hell  A Year of UFO 50 - Vainger  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-vainger  A Year of UFO 50 - Porgy  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-porgy  A Year of UFO 50 - Bushido Ball  https://eggplant.show/ep-a-year-of-ufo-50-bushido-ball  Into the Depths: Kentucky Route Zero - Part 1  https://eggplant.show/into-the-depths-kentucky-route-zero-part-1      https://bsky.app/profile/eggplantshow.bsky.social https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Jay Ma (Into the Breach), Steve Gillham (OzymandiasAV), Adam Dolin (God of War: Ragnarok), and Zatoichi (Juggler/UFO 50 Enthusiast) to discuss Star Waspir, the 39th game in the UFO 50 collection. “You are an elite member of the Star Wasps. Pilot your ship and battle the incoming swarm!” Next week: Grimstone Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: ZeroRanger https://se-made.com/ (steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/809020/ZeroRanger/) Ikaruga (Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/253750/Ikaruga/) (Switch https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/ikaruga-switch/)  Stephen’s Sausage Roll https://www.stephenssausageroll.com/  Jay Ma on bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/jarmustard.bsky.social  Fulcrum Defender (Jay Ma’s new game on PlayDate) https://play.date/games/fulcrum-defender/  Abnormal Mapping https://www.abnormalmapping.com/  Canonfire.net piece on ZeroRanger https://canonfire.net/post/743721139224838144/041-zeroranger  The Alters https://altersthegame.com/  Zatoichi’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Zatoichi1962-m6v  Ikaruga video essay (not discussed on the episode but recommended by Dylan!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbfZoDQhK_8 https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Tonda Ros (Blue Prince) and doseone (Enter the Gungeon) to discuss Rakshasa, the 38th game in the UFO 50 collection. “Even death won't stop Jangi from avenging the destruction of his village by demons!” Next week: Star Waspir Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: The Resurrection of Doseone https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/doseone-backwoodz-studioz-all-portrait-no-chorus-interview Gainsworthy’s spoiler tagged guide for Rakshasa https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1286352161357299795/1380363338420060321 Connected map of Rakshasa’s levels (spoilers!) https://discord.com/channels/690388280767807518/1286352161357299795/1381399766855843891 Never’s End https://www.neversendgame.com/ Escape Academy 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3296060/Escape_Academy_2_Back_2_School/ SAMURAI GUNN 2 https://samuraigunn2.com/  Enter the Gungeon 2 https://www.devolverdigital.com/games/enter-the-gungeon-2 Baby Steps https://www.babystepsgame.com/   https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Carolyn Petit (Kotaku), Xanagear (youtube.com/xanagear), and Glove (UFO 50 Historian/ska podcaster) to discuss Valbrace, the 37th game in the UFO 50 collection. “No knight has ever survived the journey into Gnothrok Keep. What makes you think you'll be any different?” Next week: Rakshasa Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: My Perfect Console Ep. 119: Bennett Foddy, philosopher, game designer (QWOP, GIRP, Getting Over It) https://shows.acast.com/my-perfect-console/episodes/bennett-foddy-game-designer-musician-philosopher-qwop-girp-g  Odd Object Game Studio https://oddobject.zone/  Hot Streak https://www.cmyk.games/products/hot-streak  Carolyn on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/carolynmichelle.bsky.social  Scott on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/impossible.bsky.social  Oak & Yarrow Web Design Studio https://oakyarrow.com/  Xanagear on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/xanagear.com  UFO 50 Fan Discord 50games.fans  Cherry Rush (UFO 50 Speedrunning Charity Event) https://www.cherry-rush.org/  The Rude Boys ska podcast https://www.youtube.com/@rudeboyspodcast   https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're joined by Scott Anderson (Unity), Alfredo Barraza (Riot Games), and Alex Jaffe (Riot Games) to discuss Hyper Contender, the 36th game in the UFO 50 collection. “The daring, desperate, and indebted fight for money in the pits of Phogon.” Next week: Valbrace Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode:   Towerfall https://store.steampowered.com/app/251470/TowerFall_Ascension/    Rivals of Aether https://store.steampowered.com/app/383980/Rivals_of_Aether/    Rivals of Aether II https://store.steampowered.com/app/2217000/Rivals_of_Aether_II/    Brawlhalla https://store.steampowered.com/app/291550/Brawlhalla/    Multiversus https://store.steampowered.com/app/1818750/MultiVersus/  Samurai GUNN https://store.steampowered.com/app/239090/Samurai_GUNN/    Samurai GUNN 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1397790/Samurai_GUNN_2/?curator_clanid=38580399    Nidhogg https://store.steampowered.com/app/94400/Nidhogg/    Nidhogg 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/535520/Nidhogg_2/    Scott’s itch page https://impossible.itch.io/    Shuffle Tactics https://store.steampowered.com/app/2186580/Shuffle_Tactics/    Focused Space https://www.focused.space/    https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

Rob, Nick, Doug, and Andy chat with Jeff Dubbin, a lawyer and (at the time of recording and publication) Board Game Arena’s top-ranked international player of Reiner Knizia’s Lost Cities. Lost Cities is a two-player card game about staking bets and unearthing archaeological treasures. We discuss the tactics behind high-level play, the ins and outs of Elo leaderboard systems, and the emotional impact of striving to be the best in the world.  Audio edited by Dylan Shumway Discussed in this episode: Board Game Arena - Lost Cities (scroll down for leaderboards, toggle to “All Time”) https://en.boardgamearena.com/gamepanel?game=lostcities  Board Game Geek - Lost Cities https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/50/lost-cities Lost Cities Card Game https://store.thamesandkosmos.com/collections/lost-cities/products/lost-cities-card-game-with-6th-expedition    https://eggplant.show/  https://discord.gg/eggplant  https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow 

We're joined by Liz Ryerson (musician, writer, podcaster), Russ Frushtick (The Besties), and Xanagear (youtube.com/xanagear) to discuss Campanella 2, the 35th game in the UFO 50 collection. “Pilot's gone missing on a giant space station and his sister Isabell is determined to find him!” Next week: Hyper Contender Audio edited by Dylan Shumway.   Discussed in this episode: Post Games Patreon https://www.patreon.com/PostGames  Post Games podcast announcement https://postgame.substack.com/p/sneak-preview-of-post-games-and-early  Great Art https://www.mostancient.com/shop/great-art  The Besties https://www.themcelroy.family/podcasts/besties/    https://www.youtube.com/eggplantshow  http://discord.gg/eggplant https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow

We're recapping the 2025 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 13).  Laura, Jey, and Doug break down Episode 9 (reunion) and try to rank and contextualize the season. Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the episodes, and more. Links: Ep 122: Finding Decency in Reality with Gilles De Coster (De Mol) https://eggplant.show/122-finding-decency-in-reality-with-gilles-de-coster-de-mol Eggplant's De Mol 2024 recap series, including live finale interviews: https://www.patreon.com/eggplantshow Eggplant Discord http://discord.gg/eggplant