You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon, the podcast with your Muhammad(s) Muhammad Tahir and Charlton Smit, and a special guest, Finlay Maclean.

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon the Podcast, we discuss: Gaming and Travel.

Segment 1 Scotland Muhammad: Welcome back. Today, we're looking at the weirdly thin line between the Scottish Highlands and the Lands Between from Elden Ring. Joining us is Finlay, who just got back from a trip through Scotland. Muhammad: It’s cool to have you here, bruh. I think everyone who plays open-world games has that moment where they see a photo of Scotland and think "Skyrim" or "Elden Ring," but was it actually like that for real?Finlay: "It’s funny you say that, because I went in looking for those 'epic gaming shots,' but the reality actually ruins the game for you a little bit.In a game, a mountain is usually a boundary or a waypoint—it's designed to be looked at. In Scotland, the mountains feel... heavier. When you’re standing in the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, you realize that a game engine literally couldn't handle the scale. The mist doesn't just sit there looking pretty; it moves at thirty miles an hour, it smells like wet earth, and it makes you lose your direction in seconds.

Charlton: (respond arrodingly ) ( possible response)In Scotland, the landscape is entirely indifferent to your presence. You mentioned the scale of the Quiraing; that’s not just 'big,' it’s a massive post-glacial landslip that is still actively shifting. When that mist hits, it’s not a graphical slider being turned down to save your frame rate. It’s a physical change in the atmosphere that can drop the temperature ten degrees in a minute. What’s one thing about the Highlands that you can't capture in a photo?"Finlay: "It’s exactly what I was saying about the mist. You can take a photo of a cloud, but you can’t capture the way the air actually wraps around you. It’s not just something you see; it’s something you feel on your skin. One minute you’re dry, and the next, the air is so heavy with moisture that your jacket is soaked and the temperature has plummeted. It’s a total shift in the environment that a camera just interprets as 'grey,' but your body interprets as a cold reality."

Muhammad ya, there's just something that a camera just can't capture Muhammad: But did you find any spots that felt like they had that specific level design? You know, where the terrain forces you into a certain pat,h like Limgrave, with all the hills and the greenery?Finlay: Glencoe is the obvious one. The mountains there are so steep and vertical that you feel trapped in a corridor, even though you're outside. It felt exactly like those legacy dungeons where you can see where you need to go, but the geography is just saying, "No, not yet." You have to find the intended path.Charlton: (respond arrodingly ) ( possible response)I’m curious about the ruins. Scotland is covered in them, but they aren't all "cool" castles. Some are just old foundations.Charlton: How did that compare to finding random broken shacks in the game?Finlay: It’s the storytelling. In the game, you find a ruined shack, and there’s a single item that tells you a depressed merchant lived there. In Scotland, you see these "clearance villages" where people were forced off the land. It’s a different kind of "shattered world" vibe. It’s not magical, it’s just heavy. It makes the world feel like it’s already ended, which is basically the plot of every Elden Ring zone, especially Calid with Milania letting off a nuke of rot when Radahn was letting her re-adjust her arm.Muhammad:(respond arrodingly ) ( possible response) It’s interesting how we use games to process real landscapes now. It’s like we have this new vocabulary for nature. Finlay: Exactly. I saw a lighthouse on a jagged cliff near Neist Point, and my first thought wasn't "navigation," it was "there is definitely a boss at the top of that." It changes how you interact with the world. You’re not just a tourist; you’re an explorer looking for mechanics.Charlton: Did it make you want to play more when you got home, or did it make you want to stay outside?Finlay: It actually made me want to play differently. I used to fast-travel everywhere. After walking those hills for real and feeling how long a mile actually is, I went back to the game and started just walking the roads. You notice so much more when you aren't just teleporting to the next objective. Segment 2:Cross over

Charlton: Welcome back to Vacation in the Dungeon, the podcast where we bridge the gap between the misty peaks of the Highlands and the Erdtree’s golden glow. I’m your host, Charlton Smit.

Muhammed: And I’m Muhammed "The Briar," your co-host and resident expert on why the Lands Between desperately needs a decent rain jacket.

Charlton: Right you are, Muhammed. Today, we’re asking the big questions: Is Limgrave basically just Aberdeenshire with more dragons?

Muhammed: (Laughs) Honestly, Charlton, the weather is about the same. Gray skies, constant threat of lightning, and if you wander too far into a bog, you’re never coming back. The only difference is that in Scotland, the giant crabs are usually on a dinner plate, not trying to snap you in half

finlay: Och, it’s remarkably similar, Muhammed! Back home, I spend my days looking for a "True and Stalwart Lord." Here, I just go to the local pub on a Tuesday night. Plenty of men who think they’re lords, usually after three pints, though they’ve less "Golden Lineage" and more "badly fitting tweed."

Charlton: We heard you had a bit of a run-in with a local farmer last week?

Guest: A misunderstanding! The man was trespassing on what I deemed to be "sovereign soil." I simply asked him to pledge his service to the Erdtree and help me clear out a few "pests" in the barn. He told me to "get tae," which I assume is a traditional Highland blessing of some sort.

Muhammed: Not exactly, bruh . But let's talk gear. We see you've swapped your gold-trimmed robes for... is that a Barbour jacket over a kilt?

finlay: It is! And I must say, the "pocket" situation is a revelation. I can fit three Flasks of Crimson Tears and a sausage roll in here. It’s the height of practical nobility. Though I will say, the local "Bloodhound Knights"—or "Sheepdogs," as you call them—are far more disciplined than the ones back in Liurnia.

Charlton: Lord Haight, before we let you go, any advice for a Tarnished venturing into the Scottish winter?

Finlay : Aye. If you see a fog door, it’s probably just the haar coming off the North Sea. Don't waste your spirit ashes on it.

Muhammed: He’s a bit much, isn’t he? "Sovereign soil," honestly. He tried to knight my Golden Retriever earlier.

Charlton: (Laughs) To be fair, Muhammad, that dog has more poise than most players I see in the Colosseum.

Muhammed: Fair point. Well, that’s all we have time for today. Next week, we’re looking at the "Caelid-fication" of Glasgow’s city center on a Friday night.

Charlton: It’s more similar than you’d think. Until next time, stay with the frenzied flame or you'll be maidenless

Segment 3: Elden RingIt’s been a long journey through the Lands Between, hasn’t it? Today, I wanted to take a moment to step back from the chaos of boss fights and rune farming to talk about something that hits close to home for me: the strange, beautiful, and often terrifying parallels between my homeland of Scotland and the fractured world of Elden Ring.Now, usually I’d have a guest here. But since I’m currently stuck in the Mountaintops of the Giants and the Wi-Fi is patchy at best, I thought I’d do a bit of a "self-interview." A check-in, if you will, between the man I was and the Lord I’m trying to become."So, Charlton, how are you finding the transition from the Highlands to the Lands Between?""Well, the scenery is familiar, but the inhabitants are a bit more... aggressive. Back home, if you meet a giant on a hill, it’s usually just a very large sheep or a hiker in a bright yellow jacket. Here, it’s a troll with a sword the size of a bus. But honestly? The wind feels the same. Cold, biting, and indifferent to your existence. It makes me feel right at home." "And what about the Elden Ring itself? Is it worth the struggle?" "Is it ever worth it? It’s like trying to climb Ben Nevis in the middle of January. You’re shivering, your legs are screaming, and you’re wondering why you didn't just stay in the pub with a warm pie. But then you reach the top. You see that golden glow over the horizon, and for a second, everything makes sense. The struggle is the point. The 'grind' isn't just about levels; it's about proving you can survive the storm."That’s the heart of it, I think. Whether you’re a Tarnished or just someone trying to get through a rainy Tuesday in Glasgow, we’re all just looking for a bit of Grace to guide us home.I’m going to huddle a bit closer to this fire now. If you're out there, wandering the fog, just remember: keep your shield up, keep your spirits high, and for the love of everything holy, don't pet the dogs in Caelid.I've been Charlton. This has been Vacation in the Dungeon. May you find your path, even if it's covered in mist.

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