Merely a Setback: A Podcast about Storytelling in the World of Warcraft

By Brad Archer

What's Merely a Setback: A Podcast about Storytelling in the World of Warcraft about?

Merely a Setback is a show dedicated to the story of World of Warcraft. Join us weekly for a panel discussion about our favourite game, from the finer points of lore to the way in which Blizzard tells the story of Azeroth.

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Merely a Setback: A Podcast about Storytelling in the World of Warcraft episodes:

05.17.2021
130 - Turning the Page
05.12.2021
Episode 129 - The Beginning of the End
This week we have a sad announcement, but join us for a lore discussion as well!
04.27.2021
128 - So, About That Dungeon Journal...
Join Jared and Jessie as they discuss Warcraft Lore!
04.19.2021
127 - Sorry, Jared...
This week, Sharku and Jessie are probably too mean to Jared about a botched prediction, but all's well that ends well! enjoy our lore discussion about patch 9.1!
03.27.2021
125 - Death Claims Us All
This week, Jessie, Jared , and Sharku discuss the mechanism of death and what it might look like at the end of the Shadowlands expansion.
03.20.2021
124 - Contextual Garroshing
Join Jessie and Jared as they discuss WoW Lore
03.14.2021
123 - Too Buff to Fight
Join Jared and Jessie as they discuss Warcraft lore!
03.14.2021
Beerisfall 3
They're at it again! Enjoy our round table discussion!
03.05.2021
122 - But(t) Service
This week, the loremasters look into differences ans similarities between Anduin and Arthas.
02.27.2021
121- BlizzCon-line Post Con Special
Jessie, Sharku, and Jared talk about all the con things!
02.18.2021
120 - Skedoosh
This week, Sharku and Jessie discuss their predictions for Blizzcon(line).
02.11.2021
119 - Mechatorque is a Bad Guy
Join Jessie, Shaku, and Jared as they discuss lore from World of Warcraft!
02.04.2021
118 - Helya's Up to Something, Right?
Jessie and Jared are joined by special guest, Crescent Raven, to discuss the goings on in the Shadowlands.
01.29.2021
117 - Let the Tears Flow Forth
Join Jessie and Jared, along with special guest Manny, as they discuss World of Warcraft lore!
01.15.2021
116 - The End of the Beginning
Join us as Loremasters Jessie, Sharku, and Jared discuss the storytelling in the covenant system in Shadowlands and begin to speculate where our story will be taking us in the future.
01.08.2021
115 - Choices
This week, the Loremasters discuss the true motivation behind Sylvanas' choices, and what that means for Anduin.
12.19.2020
114 - The Last One of 2020
Join the Lorewalkers as we answer listener questions and discuss the newest WoW short story, We Ride Forth, in all its death knight glory!
12.11.2020
113 - New Blood
Our new co-host, Jessie, joins Jared and Sharku as we discuss lore from shadowlands and answer listener questions!
12.04.2020
112 - This One's Too Long
Sharku and Jared talk for HOURS about a bunch of new lore bits in the shadowlands expansion. Buckle in, you'll be here a while.
11.19.2020
111 - Shipped
This week Jared and Shaku discuss one of the latest short stories to drop from blizzard, Terror by Torchlight written by Christie Golden.
11.12.2020
110 - I Bet We Talk About Sylvanas
This week we talk a lot about the new pre-patch, and completely ignore Jared's deep dive... oops!
10.30.2020
109 - Bootsy Strikes Back
This week, Shoeboots rejoins the loremasters for more bad puns and dad jokes. We discuss some news about what Chris Metzen is up to and announce a special patreon giveaway. We also FINALLY talk about the Greymane short story.
10.15.2020
108 - We Sowwy
Join us for a silly look into the recent news from blizzard. Jared and Sharku are in rare form as we giggle through this episode.
10.03.2020
107 - Jared Did it All by Himself
In this episode, I honestly don't know what happens. I've been working 16 hour days all week and I can barely remember my name. it's Sharky I think... something like that. Jared did this one all himself. Good Luck!
09.26.2020
106 - Eat the Rich
This week Jared and Sharku get excited about the upcoming pre-patch, give up on complaining about covenants (sort of), and Talk about a little Revendreth.
09.17.2020
105 - Mustache Twirling Bad
This week, Jared and Sharku are joined by returning guest host, Manny. We discuss possitble pre-patch dates, Argue about Sylvanas (of course), and get into the newest afterlives video about Ardenweld.
09.10.2020
104 - RIP Chord
This wee, guest host Ali from Dungeon Fables to try to help us fill our Shoeboots-sized void. We talk about news (covenants... sorry...) get into the Maldraxxis video, and answer some listener email. Come hang out with us!
09.03.2020
103 - Big Beefy Jaina
It's Shoeboots last week as an official co-host of Merely a Setback... so we did an extra long episode (mostly because I didn't want it to end). Join us for discussions about changes in the shadowlands release, the first Afterlives video,...
08.27.2020
102 - Full Circle Urckle
Join this week as we discuss the new videos put out by blizzard. Also, Shoeboots has some bad news.
08.06.2020
101 - Black and White
Join us as we discuss new developments in the beta build, answer some listener emails, and discuss the nature of "grey morality" in video game storytelling.
08.03.2020
Special Episode - Council of Berrisfall - Ep. 2
Join our podcaster round table as we join other content creators and talk about nerd stuff!
07.30.2020
100 -Shadows Rising Shadows
Join the loremasters for a very special 100th episode where we are joined by Madeleine Roux, author of the new Shadows Rising Warcraft Novel as we analyze and discuss this newest addition to the Warcraft literary collection.
07.23.2020
99 - Merely a Setback - The Great One
Join us as the loremasters discuss some current news, as well as dive into a heated discussion about how the covenant system effects the story and lore experience in the game.
07.17.2020
98 - Merely a Setback - What's in a Name
This week, the loremasters talk about the newly released Shadowlands beta. They also discuss an interview with Warcraft story developer, Steve Danueser.
07.09.2020
97 - Merely a Setback - Madeleine Roux
On this very special episode, the Loremasters are joined by New York Times' best-selling author Madeleine Roux, who wrote the new Warcraft novel, Shadows Rising, available in bookstores and audiobook on July 14th!
07.02.2020
96 - Merely a Setback - Straight to the Maw, Fam
The Setback Loremasters come together again to discuss The latest WoW news and talk about how the story in the alpha build is shaping up so far!
06.29.2020
95 - Merely a Setback - Everything's Fine
This week we start off on a sober note, but then get right into some alpha news, and exciting announcement, and discussion of a new short story!
06.12.2020
94 - Merely a Setback - Redemption
This week, Jared and Sharku attempt to do the show without Shoeboots while he prepares for lil' boots to enter the world. We discuss some of this weeks news, and get caught in a redemption arc.
05.30.2020
93 - Merely a Setback - Getting High, Elf
Sharku gets uncomfortable because there's too much elf talk this seek. The loremasters discuss adding high elves as playable characters, Blizzcon woes, and our next short story deep dive!
05.22.2020
92 - Merely a Setback - Fake News
Sharku, Shoeboots and Jared descend into madness while discussing the recently unearthed Scarlet Brotherhood manifesto.
05.17.2020
91- Merely a Setback - Don't Rain on my Crusade
Join us this week as the loremasters discuss deep dive into the history of the Scarlet Crusade.
05.02.2020
90 - Merely a Setback - Sleep Deproved
This week, stumble along with Sharku as he attempts to adjust to working during the day. The Loremasters discuss new developments in the Shadowlands alpha.
04.17.2020
89 - Merely a Setback - The Final Fantasy 7 Edisode
Bear with us as we talk a little bit about a game Sharku has been waiting for for over a decade, then we dive into more new data mining from the Shadowlands alpha!
04.09.2020
88 - Merely a Setback - Frostmourne DDOS'd the Arbiter
This week join us along with special guest, Manny from For Azeroth, as we delve into the newly data-mined alpha build for Shadowlands.
03.26.2020
87 - Merely a Setback - How Many Dwarves Does it Take
This week join us as we discuss the short story: Council of the Three Hammers: Iron and Blood.
03.24.2020
86 - Merely a Setback - Voluntary Self Isolation
This week the Loremasters discuss a fantastic article about what goes into creating story for World of Warcraft.
03.02.2020
Special Episode - Council of Beerisfall Episode 1
Join our podcaster round table as we join other content creators and talk about nerd stuff!
03.02.2020
85 - Merely a Setback - Shoeboots is Old
This week we celebrate Shoeboots being over the hill with a special celebrity guest, and we talk about Warcraft and stuff too!
02.14.2020
84 - Merely a Setback - Jared Gets Another Promotion
This week we let Jared host the show and everything goes smooooooothly. We discuss the new novelization announced to be released this summer and talk about the Tyrande and Malfurion short story.
02.07.2020
83 - Merely a Setback - Insert Clickbait Title
This week, we forget to talk about the Tyrande and Malf story like we were supposed to, because Shoeboots and Sharku argue about Warcraft III for the entire show!

What's Merely a Setback: A Podcast about Storytelling in the World of Warcraft about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Merely a Setback: A Podcast about Storytelling in the World of Warcraft episodes:

130 - Turning the Page

Episode 129 - The Beginning of the End

128 - So, About That Dungeon Journal...

127 - Sorry, Jared...

125 - Death Claims Us All

124 - Contextual Garroshing

123 - Too Buff to Fight

Beerisfall 3

122 - But(t) Service

121- BlizzCon-line Post Con Special

120 - Skedoosh

119 - Mechatorque is a Bad Guy

118 - Helya's Up to Something, Right?

117 - Let the Tears Flow Forth

116 - The End of the Beginning

115 - Choices

114 - The Last One of 2020

113 - New Blood

112 - This One's Too Long

111 - Shipped

110 - I Bet We Talk About Sylvanas

109 - Bootsy Strikes Back

108 - We Sowwy

107 - Jared Did it All by Himself

106 - Eat the Rich

105 - Mustache Twirling Bad

104 - RIP Chord

103 - Big Beefy Jaina

102 - Full Circle Urckle

101 - Black and White

Special Episode - Council of Berrisfall - Ep. 2

100 -Shadows Rising Shadows

99 - Merely a Setback - The Great One

98 - Merely a Setback - What's in a Name

97 - Merely a Setback - Madeleine Roux

96 - Merely a Setback - Straight to the Maw, Fam

95 - Merely a Setback - Everything's Fine

94 - Merely a Setback - Redemption

93 - Merely a Setback - Getting High, Elf

92 - Merely a Setback - Fake News

91- Merely a Setback - Don't Rain on my Crusade

90 - Merely a Setback - Sleep Deproved

89 - Merely a Setback - The Final Fantasy 7 Edisode

88 - Merely a Setback - Frostmourne DDOS'd the Arbiter

87 - Merely a Setback - How Many Dwarves Does it Take

86 - Merely a Setback - Voluntary Self Isolation

Special Episode - Council of Beerisfall Episode 1

85 - Merely a Setback - Shoeboots is Old

84 - Merely a Setback - Jared Gets Another Promotion

83 - Merely a Setback - Insert Clickbait Title