Kansas City Chiefs Release Hour-Long D&D Actual Play Video

The Kansas City Chiefs posted an interesting video over the weekend, featuring six of their defensive players playing Dungeons & Dragons. The video, Dungeons & Defense, was posted over the weekend and has racked up over 29,000 views as of Monday morning. The video features Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, George Karlaftis, Derrick Nnadi, Mike Danna, and Ashton Gillotte in a session led by veteran Actual Play performer Anna Margaret in a homebrew session. The session itself follows typical D&D tropes - six adventurers enter a tavern and are tasked with retrieving a magical orb stolen from a sect of clerics. The full video can be found below.



The NFL and TTRPGs have had a series of recent crossovers. The Cleveland Browns had a well-documented game of D&D going for several years featuring defensive star Myles Garrett. The ringleader of that group, Johnny Stanton IV now produces tabletop RPG content. Additionally, former Dallas Cowboys player Travis Frederick co-founded Demiplane.

 

[GuyBoy]

I've never run in to the "D&D is Satanic" issue, probably due to being in the UK where it was never much of an issue. Personally, I always loved both D&D and playing rugby, and never had any problems doing both.
Great to see sporting role models, such as the Chiefs players, putting out D&D videos like this one (even if I follow the Giants, which hasn't been much fun for a while!)

 

[R_J_K75]

The intro was entertaining- have not watched all of it. "I'm playing a dragonborn palladium".

Curiosity got me so I watched about a half hour of the video. I dont know who Anna Margaret is or who she is affiliated with. One question I have is this supposed to be an ongoing series or a one-off and who initiated this, the Chiefs or Anna Margaret? I get the impression that these guys probably don't play on a regular basis, perhaps one or two or maybe they had played some previous edition when they were younger. The roleplaying amongst the group was good, and funny at times, and, they seemed to have a decent grasp on the rules, which surprised me. I did feel like they probably did a dry run before the actual video was filmed though.

 

[Von Ether]

I've fortunately never ran into the "D&D is satanic!" issue in any capacity. As a Gen X-er it was more folks thinking you were a stunted adult for playing kids games still. I think that view has greatly diminished with millennials and Gen Z.

One cool thing about sharing at a work an even older co-worker started sharing his Lego projects which he felt embarrassed to share before I started sharing my mini painting and 3D terrain printing. We have occasional chats now about what we are working on.

Same. Probably the most bizarre interaction I had in the 90s was during a summer job where an older lady assumed the only reason a grown man would run a game store would be because they were a pedophile. Yikes.

Oh, for sure!

The mainstreaming of D&D is wonderful for nerds like us. I don't look down on it at all. In fact I reference moments like this in my event because I want to show people that the world has more understanding of D&D and RPGs now than ever before.

The down side I've seen to the mainstreaming is a group of players who feel like they don't get the kudos or recognition they think they deserve for "keeping the flames of ttrpgs alive" (so to speak) until it got big.

 

[Meech17]

I still feel the Nerd Shame and wouldn't tell anyone at my work I play D&D......

That's a shame you have to hide it. Nerd Culture has become so mainstream that it seems like most people I've encountered are receptive to it as a "real" hobby now. I've found a lot of my coworkers to find it pretty interesting. My old manager was a bit of a drama lover, so she always got a kick out of some of the more egregious LGS stories I've experienced. Stuff about power-trippers or man-children throwing tantrums and the like. My current crew and I got derailed for a discussion about the craziness of the Pokemon card game.

I've fortunately never ran into the "D&D is satanic!" issue in any capacity. As a Gen X-er it was more folks thinking you were a stunted adult for playing kids games still. I think that view has greatly diminished with millennials and Gen Z.

One cool thing about sharing at a work an even older co-worker started sharing his Lego projects which he felt embarrassed to share before I started sharing my mini painting and 3D terrain printing. We have occasional chats now about what we are working on.

My bestfriend in highschool had a very religious mother. She even did the cliche of burning a couple books and all his character sheets and stuff. That was kind of mindblowing because we heard stories from some of the old-heads, but assumed that was a thing of the past, being in the early-mid 2000's. Luckily we were in band together so we had good excuses for him to come stay at my house. "No mom.. We quit playing the Devil's game.. We just have Low Brass practice in the morning and we're going to play video games and go in early together tomorrow."

Fortunately that was a one-off though. Never had any other issues re: Satanic Panic.

Curiosity got me so I watched about a half hour of the video. I dont know who Anna Margaret is or who she is affiliated with. One question I have is this supposed to be an ongoing series or a one-off and who initiated this, the Chiefs or Anna Margaret? I get the impression that these guys probably don't play on a regular basis, perhaps one or two or maybe they had played some previous edition when they were younger. The roleplaying amongst the group was good, and funny at times, and, they seemed to have a decent grasp on the rules, which surprised me. I did feel like they probably did a dry run before the actual video was filmed though.

I haven't watched yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is an official WOTC collab. Anna is an up and coming creator in the D&D and MTG space (I think she's also some sort of scientist by trade, which is neat) and she's done a lot of sponsored work with Wizards.

 

[Nylanfs]

I love it. D&D is surprisingly mainstream now. The group of folks I currently play with includes an investment banker and military brass.

TTRPG's have long been popular with the enlisted, some of those are transitioning the brass and some are coming in with existing experience.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Sadly in my workplace, it's still not safe for me. The subject of D&D came up and one coworker just quipped, "Oh. That's satanic." in a very matter of fact voice. No drama but also like it was just fact. Weird.

Don't read too much into that. Sounds like a bit of a bumpkin, just doesn't know any better. I wonder what would have happened if you had jumped in to say you play D&D? Folks, of any stripe, are way less likely to carry their tribal/echo chamber 'logic' when they actually speak with someone with a different viewpoint in my experience. Way harder to demonise an idea when a person espousing that idea is right in front of you, engaging with you as an equal, with kindness and respect. Sometimes people make comments like this out of reflex, not out of malice. It's surprising how much easier, kinder and generally more pleasant life is when you bridge divides instead of being fearful of other opinions.

Outside my workplace, I've found that being a ttrrpg gamer now makes me the hip old dude with some of the younger crowd. Never saw that coming.

I'll bet that can be true in other places.

In my personal life, my finance will never play it but she respects my hobbies (especially since ttrpgs bring in a few nickels and dimes.)

How is that? Are you a publisher?

And now she's found some modern board games she likes.

Nice. Board games have come a long way in the last couple of decades. What is she into?

 

[Sacrosanct]

I didn't for a long time. Particularly, when I was dating. A lot of the professional women would go icy cold when I told them I was a gamer. So, for a long time I played crouching cougar, hidden gamer. These days though im pretty open about it and my team finds it fascinating to hear my convention stories and see pictures. Its pretty cool and feels good.

I still feel weird telling people, and avoid it if I can. Maybe it's a generational thing, with us Gen Xers much less likely to admit we are gamers as well based on how our childhoods were?

When I was single several years back, I got the same "Ugh, weird!" feedback when they found out I was a gamer nerd that we did in the 80s. I'm guessing women in their 20s or 30s don't do that nearly as much, but then again, I am too old to be dating someone in their 20s

The military in general doesn't surprise me. There's been regular gaming going on for decades now. Nice to confirm it includes the brass now.

As a veteran from the 1990s, I can attest gamers are all over the place in the military. I never saw so many gamers as I did when I joined.

In my personal life, my finance will never play it but she respects my hobbies (especially since ttrpgs bring in a few nickels and dimes.) And now she's found some modern board games she likes.

My current wife does not play, and has no interest. But she's largely supportive. Especially for my indie publishing side.

 

[payn]

I still feel weird telling people, and avoid it if I can. Maybe it's a generational thing, with us Gen Xers much less likely to admit we are gamers as well based on how our childhoods were?

When I was single several years back, I got the same "Ugh, weird!" feedback when they found out I was a gamer nerd that we did in the 80s. I'm guessing women in their 20s or 30s don't do that nearly as much, but then again, I am too old to be dating someone in their 20s

I found younger women much more open. It was women my own age or slightly older that were hypercritical. Growing up I got the sense that kids were expected to become mature like adults ASAP. Then, be a serious adult the rest of your life. Fun was for kids, enjoy it while it lasts. Im glad that generational sentiment seems to have gone away.

 

[Von Ether]

Nice. Board games have come a long way in the last couple of decades. What is she into?

Ticket to Ride and Azul are her go tos. Love Letter once in a while. We are also diving into the "Murder mystery in a box" genre that's gotten pretty big at Barnes and Noble.

How is that? Are you a publisher?

Little indie guy who got very lucky with a fun IP. The artist is a joy to work with.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/498633/mystery-flesh-pit-national-park-the-rpg

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The biggest coup would be if Kelce and Taylor played. That can come later.

My workplace is various shades of nerds and folks there are open about all of their nerdy passions. We discussed when we'll play our next session of Heroes of the Borderlands at our holiday party a few weeks ago.