Listen people, I know that my tumblr following is basically non-existent , but if you are a TTRPG or actual play fan and you're seeing this post, I NEED you to start listening to Campaign: Skyjacks if you aren't already. I promise if you enjoy Critical Role, Dimension 20, Dungeons and Daddies, Worlds Beyond Number, NADDPOD, etc you WILL enjoy this podcast!
"But Samus, I get my actual play content from Youtube!" I have FANTASTIC news for you, they've started posting episodes to the One Shot Podcast YT channel right now, starting from Episode 1. There has never been a better time to start listening! Just put it on in the background while you're doing something else! And if that's not enough:
15 Reasons that You Should Become a Listener of Campaign: Skyjacks
Incredible anti-colonial themes & world building.
They've got dope ass skyships and the party is a crew of infamous sky pirates!
There are Queer folks and POC both at the table and involved in the world building of Spéir (the show's original setting.)
There's an incredibly haunted (/pos) deck of divination cards that shapes the narrative in fun, resonant, and heartbreaking ways!
Speaking of world building, however many people you think were involved with writing lore and other content for Spéir, it's more than that! Collaborative & diverse world building in the best way!
If you like shipping hotties, we've almost certainly got whatever you like in here somewhere.
If you're a fan of The Decemberists or Illimat, both of those things are baked DEEP into the DNA and setting of this show.
If you like plucky teen protagonists with too much responsibility, we've got that too!
I would describe the vibe of Spéir as folkpunk, which is a vibe that I think a lot of y'all are into, but isn't very visible or broadly popular. There's also some religious trauma in there (in a fun way?)
Arnie Parrot writes incredible original in-world music for this show, and all of it slaps!
There is a truly insane cast of lovable side characters to get attached to, and they sometimes matter way more to the plot (in a good way) than you might think.
It balances goofs and incredible storytelling just as well as any of the big Actual Play Shows do. Also they play something other than D&D! (Don't worry, it's very easy to follow along!)
There are big birds! They're called Griffins but they're literally just normal birds but 8.3 times bigger!
If you like the sound of the setting, but aren't clicking with the main show itself, there are two awesome spin-offs for you! Skyjoust! is a sports anime-type show about different youth teams competing in a Skyjoust tournament (they do cool shit on the birds.) There is also Skyjacks: Couriers Call, an all-ages Actual Play in the same setting surrounding three young people serving in a fleet of fantastical mail carriers! (That's right, the kids in your life can listen to this one!)
This is a show and setting that means a great deal to me, and I genuinely want nothing but the best for all the many people involved in making it. I wholeheartedly believe that they've made something just as good as the most popular shows in the genre, and they deserve every bit of recognition and signal boosting I can give them so that they can continue to make this show.
I know this post was long as hell, but I hope if you made it this far and you'd never heard of Skyjacks (or never thought of listening) before now that you will. I promise you won't regret it!
