Ok so I have been doing quite a bit of work lately and my playlist has gotten stale, so I have been listening to the various DDO podcast out there.
After spending hours listening to these shows, I got to thinking of how each show’s differences and their similarities, and then thought what if I rated these shows? Or better yet made a post on the forums and get as many people here to rate them.

So here is the format, on a 1 to 10 scale with 10 being “this is the best DDO podcast ever” and 1 being “saying this sucks is too nice” how would you rate the following podcast and if you want say why.

BTY, to the producers of these podcast, this in no way is either a personal attack or an attempt to suck up, it is simple my opinion and the opinion of whom ever else post in this thread.

DDOCast: 8

The first DDO podcast that I am aware of with 174 episodes at the time of this post. DDOCast is at its heart a news style show with attempts at some humor, which sometimes are very funny at others no so much. My only real complaint about this show is that at times it tends toward giving Turbine more credit than they deserve and at times, whether they mean to be or not, it seems that DDOCast comes across as the glass is always ¾ the way full whenever Turbine does something that is questionable. Since past history shows that DDOCast has the ability to talk one on one with Turbine employees I personally would like to hear a few harder hitting questions during those interviews, granted I am not involved in the show so maybe it is stated up front that if they where to ask those types of questions then they would lose that access.

All in all DDOCast is a good show and I look forward to listening to each episode and hopefully one day soon my schedule will let me join in the show chat stream. If you have not listened check it out: http://www.ddocast.com/

Cocktail Hour: 8

Cocktail Hour is the lighter side of DDO and beyond, with 19 podcast, this show is a bit silly; however, it is a fun listen though at times it borders on absurd. The interviews are funny yet most of them are insightful. I really cannot say much more about this show as it is what it is.

A good show and one of my guilty pleasures. Check it out here: http://ddococktailhour.com/

Yak Cast: 7

Yak Cast is a show that covers quite a bit more than just DDO, it has 26 episodes to date, this show tends towards the serious side of DDO and other games, its host gives his opinions and does not pull any punches. The only real problem, is this show does not really pull me in, I find the host to be rather well informed and his opinions more often than not mirror my own. I guess it is the fact that the host covers more than what I am interested is my problem. As for a show that has good sound, great guest, and is informative about the world of MMOs, Yak Cast is hard to beat.

Check it out and see what you think: http://www.yak.mmosmacktalk.com/

DDO Source: 5

DDO Source is a new show with only 2 episodes, so its rating may go up as time goes on. My complaints about this show are three things, one is the digs at other DDO podcast, is really necessary to say how you are different (better) than the other shows out there? It is one thing to state your opinion, it is after all the host’s show, it is another to state incorrect information. Finally, with three people on the show it would be nice to hear from the other two, one has mic problems and the other barely speaks.
Now the good things about this show, they call things as they see them, the host does admit when he is wrong, when it is pointed out to him, and the attitude they bring is very different and frankly refreshing in many ways (though it would be nice if they directed more of that attitude a bit more).

I am going to give this show a few more episodes before casting it in stone of what they are, but for now I rate them as I hear them. I invite you to hear them for yourself: http://ddosource.com/

PsYcho The Da' Angry Drow & The Rant Squad: 4

Another new show, The Rant Squad has 2 episodes and a few standalone skits. This show focuses on everything and anything wrong with DDO, it is informative and at times insightful; however, the host of this show are rough, it is definitely a NC17 and above style show, with cursing at times just for the sake of cursing. The reason for the lower than average ranking here is not the language (though they should tone it down a bit if they want a larger audience) rather it is the sound issues the show has, show one is very difficult to listen to, and while better, show two has mic problems as well as having issues with some people on the show are too loud while others you can barely hear. If the technical issues are addressed this show may evolve into a darker version of the Cocktail Hour, funny, informative, with more of a rant style.
I like this show and will listen to more episodes, I just have to remember my headphones and, for now at least, have a quick finger on the volume control. Check them out, but remember your headphones if you have anyone around you that gets offended by four letter words: http://www.rashonx.com/psycho/

Looking over the list you may notice that the older shows for the most part got higher ranking from me than the newer ones, this was not intentional, and as I said I will continue to listen to the newer shows and revisit the ranking for them after they get seven or eight episodes under their belts. Also, there are other podcast out there but I did not include them because they are not primarily DDO related, if anyone knows of one I missed please let me know I would love to hear it.
One last thing, to everyone that is involved in any one of these podcast, thank you for taking the time to do them and I look forward to listening to you guys for a long time.
And remember, those that can, do, those that can’t, teach, and those that can’t teach, write reviews.