Wizards of the Coast launches official Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play show

Wizards of the Coast is getting back into the Actual Play game. Today, Wizards announced via Variety that they are launching a new Actual Play show called Dungeon Masters, starring Jasmine Bhullar as the Dungeon Master along with players Mayanna Berrin, Christian Navarro, Neil Newbon and Devora Wilde. Wilde and Newbon are veterans of Baldur's Gate 3, a smash hit for the Dungeons & Dragons IP. However, both actors will be playing new characters and not their Baldur's Gate 3 characters.

Of note is that the show will feature "official, unreleased D&D content" which will be put up for sale on D&D Beyond following every episode. The first arc takes place in Ravenloft and will feature content from Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. New episodes will be released weekly on YouTube, starting on April 22nd.

Wizards of the Coast previously produced several official D&D Actual Play series, including Dice, Camera, Action and Force Grey. Dice, Camera, Action was their flagship D&D program for years until it unceremoniously ended due to a scandal involving two of its players.

 

[Clint_L]

Yes because seeing that AP's are scripted are JUST like people denying scientific fact. Maybe the protests are too much. Earth Being Round is undeniable. Vaccines working undeniable. Landing on the moon undeniable.

The very minor thing of AP's being scripted? Entirely Plausible. I used to defend WWE when i was in middle school because enjoying it relied on my believing it was real. I haven't been into Wrestling since. The Players of these headliner AP's barely know the rules. I haven't watched one except for the 1st season of Vox Machina in the last 4 years. Maybe they changed, but I'm not about to suggest that AP's are a good source for new players to understand how the game works.

So your evidence is…your feelings?

Since you brought up science, it seems to me like you have advanced a testable hypothesis. Now, the most parsimonious explanation would seem to be the simplest and the one that matches all the available evidence: these people are actually playing the games that I see them playing. So can you provide even one piece of testable evidence to back up your accusation that an entire industry of people are all lying? And implying that the rest of us are no smarter than you as a child?

Because I feel like if I was going to impugn and insult that many people I’d want to have something pretty strong to back me up.

 

[WhatTheEyeSees]

I am not sure how important Actual Play was to the growth of 5e, but by the time Critical Role came around 5e was already a cultural touchstone. The live play that was there in the formative years was Acq Inc.

Also worth noting that the Community episode predated 5e, D&D as pop culture exists outside of whatever the current edition is.

 

[Reynard]

I am not sure how important Actual Play was to the growth of 5e, but by the time Critical Role came around 5e was already a cultural touchstone. The live play that was there in the formative years was Acq Inc.

This is a dubious statement. D&D has been a "cultural touchstone." I have never seen any evidence that 5E was a touchstone anywhere outside the industry and D&D fandom prior to its explosion of popularity following CR, ST and covid.

 

[Nobleshield]

The fact that they are calling them "Cast Members" like it's freaking Disney and not "Players" like they're actually playing a game makes me think this will be more fake Critical Role-esque "actors playing people who are playing D&D" junk rather than a real actual play.

 

[Reynard]

The fact that they are calling them "Cast Members" like it's freaking Disney and not "Players" like they're actually playing a game makes me think this will be more fake Critical Role-esque "actors playing people who are playing D&D" junk rather than a real actual play.

What, in your mind, is a "real" actual play?

 

[Clint_L]

The fact that they are calling them "Cast Members" like it's freaking Disney and not "Players" like they're actually playing a game makes me think this will be more fake Critical Role-esque "actors playing people who are playing D&D" junk rather than a real actual play.

That’s some strong evidence!

Can anyone claiming that actual plays are a giant conspiracy actually cite anything other than their personal feelings?

 

[BrokenTwin]

As long as there's not too much executive meddling I could see this working out well. Actual Plays are a stupidly crowded field to try to break into, but the official branding and known talent should help.

 

[Maxperson]

The fact that they are calling them "Cast Members" like it's freaking Disney and not "Players" like they're actually playing a game makes me think this will be more fake Critical Role-esque "actors playing people who are playing D&D" junk rather than a real actual play.

The Disneyland park janitor is also a "cast member."

 

[Bravesteel25]

That’s some strong evidence!

Can anyone claiming that actual plays are a giant conspiracy actually cite anything other than their personal feelings?

I don't think there is. Nothing that isn't built on hearsay or downright misinformation.

I did some digging and I found the article I remember where Mercer says:

I’ll usually beat out the general arc… and develop the in-between on a more immediate basis.

So, I misremembered that Mercer shared the main story beats with the players* (he didn't), he leaves the "how they get there" open to how the player characters react in the games.

Just like a real game of D&D! gasp

*Even my claim of sharing the main beats was no where near insinuating that the games are scripted, rather that they kept the games moving towards a cohesive goal.

 

[Dire Bare]

I don't think there is. Nothing that isn't built on hearsay or downright misinformation.

I did some digging and I found the article I remember where Mercer says:



So, I misremembered that Mercer shared the main story beats with the players*, he leaves the "how they get there" open to how the player characters react in the games.

Just like a real game of D&D! gasp

*Even my claim of sharing the main beats was no where near insinuating that the games are scripted, rather that they kept the games moving towards a cohesive goal.

That Mercer quote doesn't say he's sharing the main beats with his players, only that he's planning them out ahead of time . . . like many DM's do.

Of course, there could be more to the interview you are quoting from, or from other interviews . . .