Let's Rank the DMs

[Mister_Peace]

Recently I turned DM audio back on while playing the new quests. I've left it on, and here are my impressions:

8: Dave
I understand why he's in the game, but man his voice is annoying. It doesn't sound like he's invested in the quest at all, and he's just reading boxed text someone else wrote.

7: Gary
Same as above, but less annoying.

6: Kiwi man DM
I don't remember anything about this guy.

5: Orchard woman DM
She sounds like an ordinary person talking to you. This would be sufficient for a home game, but not exceptional.

4: Default man DM
This guy does a decent job, especially seeing as how he voices SO MANY QUESTS! He has some skills at voicing, but occasionally really screws up (cry for help, coal chamber).

3: Droaam woman DM
The newest hire, she sounds like your grandmother telling you a bedtime story - if your grandmother was Julie Andrews. Good narration, but never punched up.

2: Korthos man DM
Some people have complained that he gets TOO emotional about mundane stories. I say there are no mundane stories in Dungeons & Dragons.

1: Carnival/Madness man DM
My favorite. The only downside, if it is a downside, is he sounds like a professional voice actor, not one of your friends running a home game.

Droaam woman and Madness man get an unfair advantage because they use other people to do the NPC voices - something Default Man could only afford once. Perhaps WB has provided more funding or larger talent pool for voice acting, or simply encouraged Turbine to take it more seriously.

[Goldeneye]

I'd have to say the default guy is my favorite, followed by the Korthos DM. Everyone else I just think "what happened to the original guy?" - is he raiding my fridge for mountain dew or something?

...even though I like the original guy, that still wouldn't stop me for smacking him for making me go through coal chamber... assuming he's a real DM, and not just reading.

[TheDearLeader]

Dave and Gary... meh. Neat the first time through.

I'm partial to the two women DMs. Listening to them actually entertains me.

Korthos guy also entertains me - "That traitorous Jacoby Drexelhand!"

Default DM guy... yeah. He's good at talking I suppose - easy to understand, even voice. But get him outside of his comfort zone, like Cry for Help/Reaver's Fate, and it's just painfularious (that's hilariously painful, btw).

As I voiced in a prior thread, I'd still like to see Betty White DM for us. That sexy voice would be worth 10 bucks/month.

[Milfeulle]

I have no idea who's Dave and Kiwi, can you specify any quests with their voice? My favorite is Orchard woman DM.

Oh well, looks like it's time for us to get a kobold as our new DM for update 11.

[TheDearLeader]

I have no idea who's Dave and Kiwi, can you specify any quests with their voice?

It's time for us to get a kobold as our new DM for update 11.

Dave.

He does the Threnal Series.

[DoctorWhofan]

I like the original guy. THey used him on LotRO too, he's the voice of Gandalf, among other things. His mistakes became catchphrases (TangleFOOT!), the way he said strange new words was awesome (SC, Gianthold), and we all remember "Free ARLOS! And gather your party..."

Sometimes he tries too hard, which is awesome!

I love Dave, hate his voice. I don't want them to replace it, but I do turn off the narration in Thernal.

[Milfeulle]

Dave.

He does the Threnal Series.

Ahh thanks, I only done Threnal once so I thought he's Gygax.

[DoctorWhofan]

As I voiced in a prior thread, I'd still like to see Betty White DM for us. That sexy voice would be worth 10 bucks/month.

Or Sean Connery.

You would be able to recognize the women players by the quests they run, and never complete cuz we would be swooning!


On an unrelated note, we need an emote /swoon.

[DoctorWhofan]

Ahh thanks, I only done Threnal once so I thought he's Gygax.

Gygax is Delera's

[apsuman]

i seem to hear a different voice when I'm running IQ he is my number 1

[Arctik]

Not sure which one it is but The Last Stand DM...
STOP THOSE SAHUAGIN!

Cracks me up every time .

teh lulz

[sirgog]

#1 snippit in the game: "Release the scrags" (in a crazy witch voice) then "she booms" in a normal one. Highly recommend shouting it in party chat, preferably while in the middle of an unrelated raid.

Worst overall DM - Inspired Quarter. Ugh. The lighthearted voice works sometimes, but should not have been maintained for everything he says. It's great in I Dream of Jeets, but the line "But first, you must protect your will from the attackers" is awful.

Best overall DM - Probably Orchard woman.

[Antheal]

I don't know who the Lordsmarch Plaza quest chain DM is, but her voice is the reason I bought the pack.

It's so... sultry.

[Arctik]

I forgot to add, the one who does the kobolds in the Crystal Cove...

[Xenostrata]

Madness pack DM gets first place.

Second goes to Sentinels DM, IMO.

[Rinnaldo]

My favorite is the Lordsmarch Woman DM. Something about the way she speaks makes the quests more entertaining.

My least favorite is I think the one you're calling the Default DM (slightly British guy). For most things, he's fine, but there are about 5 different places where he says "wafts," and pronounces it wrong. Or, it might be the British way it is said, but I find it annoying. He also says it differently in a couple places, and it's clearly the same guy! In one of the newer content spots, he actually pronounces it correctly, so I think Turbine must have reset his enhancements or something.

[Doomcrew]

Short wishlist for new DM voices, Morgan Freeman or James
Earl Jones.

Cry for Help and C-Chamber have the games best voice moments IMO.

[mournbladereigns]

I don't know who the Lordsmarch Plaza quest chain DM is, but her voice is the reason I bought the pack.

It's so... sultry.

It's the way she says ..."tunnel!"


Also, "it doesn't take a kalashtar to know.."that Sorrowdusk isle guy pwns.

[Aphion]

It's the way she says ..."tunnel!"


Also, "it doesn't take a kalashtar to know.."that Sorrowdusk isle guy pwns.

"That HUGE explosion blocked off the rest of the tunnel!"

"It doesn't take a kalashtar to know the ogres want you to go in."

Those comments always make me grin from ear to ear. Itd definitely get my vote. I also enjoy the music in some of those Lordsmarch quests.

[MrCow]

DM Narrators and Voiceovers I like:

• The Recent Narrator (circa U5, U6, U9, U10) - He performs the voicing in a manner that fits well with the character and situation. He is capable of doing many different voices quite well, including Brawnpits, Yaulthoon, Belashyrra, and the Mimic. I love the mimic. It does help the narrator that some sound modifications are being made after the voice acting to help create these other characters.
• The Original Narrator (Circa Start to Module 7) - It may be that we all started with him, but his voice is a kind of soothing storyteller's voice. The blatantly strained female voices he does also adds a charm in his favor.
• Jeets - Good delivery of some great lines.
• Celimas - In a way I seem to love to hate her, being it is the stereotype zealous Lawful Good female. Her lines are clear and fit, much better than the placeholders they had at first.
• Droaam Narrator (circa U7, U8) - Little to say other than she does fits the theme. Her subtle raspiness and "hissing" bits are also great flavor being she did medusa and hag heavy content.

DM Narrators and Voiceovers I don't mind

• Necropolis Narrator (Circa Cursed Crypt and Orchard Series) - While not a powerful delivery, there is little I can say that I hate about the way she carries her lines. It blends into the background a bit, which is better than being obstructively noticeable.
• Eldorudo (Devil Assault and Arraetrikos) - Former DDO staff member who worked heavily on the Marketplace destruction event. It was only fitting they gave him Devil Assault and Arraetrikos. You can tell he is NOT a voice actor by his Devil Assault lines, but he doesn't do horribly at them.
• Heyton - Not bad, but not much that is memorable, other than his one-hit wonder.
• Talbron Tewn - For some reason, I never cared much for the delivery of this Warforged.
• Gary - He may be a bit overly dramatic and perhaps a bit louder than he should be, but considering his tabletop roots it endears you that style.
• Tolero (Redone voicing for The Black Abbot) - I'll cope... A bit of nostalgia from former Merlask videos may help with the coping.
• Inspired Narrator - To be honest, I used to despise the voice-work of him, but I no longer feel for or against it. The way he does some of his lines are quite nice.

DM Narrators and Voiceovers I could do without

• Kobold - Sadly, while the lines are nice, they are high pitched in the annoying way, not the endearing way.
• Dave - No offense to the man, but his voicing delivery is drab.
• Post-Original Narrator (circa Module 8, Module 9, Sharn Syndicate) - His voice makes me a bit sleepy, rather than attempting to engage me more into what is occurring. Also, his pronuncation of some words could use some work. I still consider any of the lines that he re-recorded over the Original Narrator to be a travesty.
• Eberron Unlimited Narrator (circa Update 4 and any re-records between Update 1-4) - Sorry, no. The voice is either unenthusiastic and full of "meh", or over-pronunciation at the wrong time. I wish I had an old copy of the Original Narrator doing the way into Khyber, to show the disparity.