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.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

In theory, I've always wanted to get into an actual play show. In practice, no one has ever managed to hold my attention, and the best I could ask for was "throw it on my TV in the background while I work from home and occasionally pay attention when the players make noises like they're excited".

So I watched the first episode when it premiered but unfortunately fell asleep partway through the second, which to me is kind of "par for the course". I liked that we're revisiting Soth's old Ravenloft domain (though when they introduced a red wizard I was hoping we would go to Hazlan); I believe this show was pitched as also launching with maps or adventures to play through, have those been released? That being said, none of the characters really interested me; Wilde's character just came across as bland and I feel they didn't give her nor Newbon enough time to really let their acting chops show, which is odd as they're ostensibly the stars here, and instead there was a lot more of Bhullar vamping than I was interested in.

I did appreciate the highly produced "pop ups" during the game to explain rules or spells; personally once this season is over I think someone could edit this down to a supercut (maybe WotC itself) of short videos to explain how certain rules or conditions work in play. Say you are a new player and you don't really understand how "paralyzed" works; you can watch a 1 minute clip of this show where Newbon's character gets paralyzed and then they show the paraphrased rules text on screen.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Love a good soundtrack! David Arkenstone seems to be the perfect guy for this.

I found myself doing a lot of yoga to some of Arkenstone's new age compositions... and when I looked him up I also found out he did an assload of the World of Warcraft soundtrack that I listened to as a kid, so no wonder I jive with this stuff.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

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.

I want to touch on this a bit.

Bhullar is a known quantity in the D&D world. I'm not even going to legitimate the "fake geek girl" conversation, but some cursory googling says that she's been a streamer since 2015 and pretty much all of her professional highlights has been as a DM or in the TTRPG space in some capacity; it's not like she's some D-list actress who suddenly jumped on D&D to boost her career.

Then we have Newbon and Wilde; I don't think I need to explain to you that, yes, these people are professional actors. It was well-reported during BG3's production that Newbon was the only member of the main cast who had played D&D, and that he taught it to many of the other cast members during production. So don't question his bona-fides either, and we can tell exactly when and how Wilde got into it. It's very transparent to me that various forces- probably WotC and the actors' individual agents- have encouraged the BG3 cast to learn D&D and play it to help their careers, and some (Newbon, Wilde, Beart) have taken to it more readily than others (Downie, Solomon, English). The thing is; so what if they're playing D&D to help their careers? They're good at it, it's fun to watch them, many people have sentimental attachment to them... it's chocolate and peanut butter, two great tastes that go great together.

If an actor learned martial arts or an instrument for a role, and then that sparked a love of that discipline, would you get mad at them for embracing it, or would you be glad that your hobby now not only has a new player, but a new ambassador to bring others into it?

That leaves us with Navarro and Berrin. Navarro, I guess I can see why your hackles would raise; he's a professional "good looking" actor and most of his roles have been hunks in teen-oriented shows. But the dude also starred in and produced an award-winning actual play show. If he was just an actor who signed on, maybe you'd have a point, maybe he was just a pretty face who thought "I bet nerds would love me if I played D&D for them", but he produced it; it was clearly a passion project and a labor of love.

Berrin is, admittedly, a total unknown. I believe she has some connection to Bhullar, but she has been in an actual play show before, and I see no reason to believe that her interest in the medium is any less authentic than Bhullar's.

 

[Imaro]

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.

I always find this take a little weird...didnt the core of CR play ttrpg's before they ever streamed a single game? So is it the popularity, the money, the production values or something else that now makes them "actors playing people who are playing D&D"?

Because honestly I'd take an increase in any of those things in my home game and we'd still be a group playing D&D. Just feels a little like sour grapes and all.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I always find this take a little weird...didnt the core of CR play ttrpg's before they ever streamed a single game? So is it the popularity, the money, the production values or something else that now makes them "actors playing people who are playing D&D"?

Because honestly I'd take an increase in any of those things in my home game and we'd still be a group playing D&D. Just feels a little like sour grapes and all.

A lot of actors play D&D, it’s good for developing acting skills. Some people become actors because they played D&D and caught the bug.

 

[Mort]

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.

Critical Role came about because Felicia Day, was present at one of their real games. She thought it was so great that she convinced them to try streaming it, so calling them fake is kind of funny. You can actually find clips (from cell phones and the like) from their non stream early games, and they're enjoyable to watch even then.

Having watched a bit of the the WoTC stream so far, I actually really like this group. They're enthusiastic, fun and really vibe off each other. Plus the guy playing the ranger, would fit right into the power-gamers at one of my tables, it's almost eerie.

 

[wicked cool]

My guess is the Bg3 actors are in between gigs and all are getting paid. Prior to Bg3 some of those actors were living paycheck to paycheck (interviews with casts in YouTube)
Samantha beart was at a recent convention I attended so I wouldn’t be surprised if she was invited to this but had a conflict
Neil from what I’ve seen took his chance/fame as astarion and is running with it
there’s no script
The acting just like d&d is on the fly but they do it better than most d&d players. Heck some at that table are just better than others. Same goes with crit role as some are just better than others
Plus some of the creativity is truly outstanding
Doc brown as a gnome arcanist!
Talison on created a warlock patron out of a living mask
A halfling mother cursed as a goblin was
Reinventing Firbolg where wotc had to incorporate these changes
Killing off a. Character but then bringing him back as a pseudo guardian angel
Taking another dead character and turning them into a villian and then reborn as a new hero

I’m sorry but some of their ideas are better than many new dc/marvel characters etc and it’s part of why they have become icons. When I wear a crit role shirt strangers come up and talk to me. You font get that with much else even sports unless you are say in California wearing a Minnesota shirt and that stranger thinks your from Minnesota 2
I hope this group succeeds but I don’t see it lasting long. It’s funny they advertised it like crazy but then when I went to my subscriptions on YouTube the actual show was semi hidden

 

[Bravesteel25]

My guess is the Bg3 actors are in between gigs and all are getting paid. Prior to Bg3 some of those actors were living paycheck to paycheck (interviews with casts in YouTube)

Of course they are getting paid for a professional production they are a part of. Just because that professional production happens to be a D&D Actual Play doesn't mean they are doing it for free.

 

[Sulicius]

The play-long packed is live and free to pick up: Claim Dungeon Masters: Zombie Clot Play-Along Pack now! - D&D Beyond

The zombie clot got nerfed and deals 6 less damage on average with its multiattack.

We riot

But honestly, it’s a cute setup and encounter. It doesn’t make me want to preorder the book on DDB.

 

[Dire Bare]

A lot of actors play D&D, it’s good for developing acting skills. Some people become actors because they played D&D and caught the bug.

D&D has been popular in Hollywood for quite some time, for the reasons you mention (and others, I'm sure). The only change is now it's not considered career suicide to admit it openly in public, or better yet, get involved in an actual play podcast or something similar.