The Proving Grounds

Episode 23 – “The 2nd Foe May Be The Charm”
Welcome back to The Proving Grounds, the game club where we delve deep into the worlds of CRPGs, blobbers, and roguelikes with insight, detail, and a little chaos. In this episode, JCServant takes on Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard — exploring how Atlus refined its labyrinth-crawling formula from the first game and sharing a personal journey through the punishing floors of Yggdrasil. From ice puzzles to cherry blossoms, from victory to burnout, it’s a full climb.
We also spotlight Dr. Zeus’s unique control-focused party — a study in battlefield manipulation and probability — and cover recent RPG news, including the Avernum 4 remaster, the sci-fi dungeon crawler Descent of Lunaris, and the new demo for The Secret of Weepstone.
To close, we touch on the legendary Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition expansions, grand strategy storytelling in Crusader Kings III, and creative empire-building in Age of Wonders 4.
Join the discussion on Discord, share your Question of the Week thoughts, and help us celebrate the enduring art of dungeon design.
Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
Question of the Week:
How do you feel about FOE puzzles that require items or movement tricks to progress — satisfying challenge or pacing killer?

Ep 22 — “Divinity’s Not-So-Original Sin”
We crack open Divinity: Original Sin and talk history, story, tactical combat, and why our Game of the Month fizzled for the club even though the game helped revive the CRPG genre. We read your takes, dig into modern reviews, and close with a look at DOS1’s lasting legacy on DOS2 and BG3. Plus: quick RPG news and what we’ve been playing.
Join the community on Discord to share your answer to the Question of the Week:
Do you like elemental and environmental combat systems?
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
Legends of Amberland III Demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3823520/Legends_of_Amberland_III_The_Crimson_Tower/
Heroes of the Seven Islands: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3010290/Heroes_of_the_Seven_Islands/

Ep 21 – Sharing About Shiren
In this episode of The Proving Grounds, we shine the spotlight on Shiren the Wanderer, one of the most enduring (and punishing) roguelike RPG series around. We cover its origins in the Mystery Dungeon franchise, the core gameplay that keeps fans hooked, and how the series hit USA shores back in the days of the Wii, up to 2024’s Serpentcoil Island.
We’ll also break down some of Shiren’s unique mechanics, like the rescue system, the infamous jars, and the way risk vs. reward drives every single dungeon run. Along the way, we talk CRPG news, share your community feedback, and dig into our Question of the Week.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of roguelikes, or you’re just curious what makes these games so addictive, this is a great jumping-in point to discover why Shiren remains such a beloved cult classic.
🎧 Join the Proving Grounds community on Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
📧 Email: jcservant316 at gmail dot com • Discord: JCServant

Episode 20: Delving into Azure Bonds
We dive into SSI’s 1989 classic Curse of the Azure Bonds: how TSR and SSI built a novel–module–CRPG trifecta, why the Gold Box tactics still shine, and the delightful peripherals like the Adventurer’s Journal, the code wheel, and that old-school hint book. I share why it’s a 4/4, Complete It, Repeat It. We also read your Elminage Original takes and discuss guides versus discovery, then spotlight World of Warcraft’s Delves, what they are, who they serve, and why I'm hooked on them. In news, first impressions of Dual Eclipse, plus a Legends of Amberland III update.
Question of the Week: Are you willing to play games with a Japanese, manga-style art direction, do you enjoy it, or just tolerate it for the gameplay?
Join the community chat and play along: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz

Ep 19 – “Elminage Barrage” (09/11/2025)
We dive into Elminage Original, a hardcore Wizardry-style dungeon crawler with old-school charm and sharp edges. I cover party building, dungeon exploration, brutal difficulty spikes, spell systems, and why stat gains and losses on rest can make or break a run. You’ll hear community takes, including a spotlight review from Pizzaboy, plus quick hits on what we’ve been playing, from modern WoW delves to Satisfactory. We wrap with this week’s Q&A and a new listener question: Do you use FAQs to plan your party in CRPGs, blobbers, or traditional roguelikes, and why or why not?
Join the discussion on Discord, share your builds and favorite dungeons, and help pick future games for the club: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz
Email: jcservant316 at gmail dot com
Discord: JCServant