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

Bravesteel25 · 2026-04-19T19:55:26+0100

I believe CR has stated that they are aware of large story beats ahead of time, but that's so they can keep the game moving forward. It is certainly not scripted.

bedir than · 2026-04-19T20:16:32+0100

If Actual Plays were scripted we'd see leaked scripts regularly. Because there are 100s of people involved in profitable APs. CR and Darrington might be at a 100 total current employees with many 100s more of former workers. D20 and DropOut are a similar size. Both of played at venues with tens of thousands of live attendees.

People who believe that APs are scripted are insisting that the NDAs and secrecy around people playing RPGs for small amounts of money are better at keeping secrets and NDAs than the CIA, MI6, Russia, OpenAI, Boeing and every other nation-state or corporation in the world.

abazaba · 2026-04-19T20:24:49+0100

bedir than said:
People who believe that APs are scripted are insisting that the NDAs and secrecy around people playing RPGs for small amounts of money are better at keeping secrets and NDAs than the CIA, MI6, Russia, OpenAI, Boeing and every other nation-state or corporation in the world.

But it's all true man ! The Earth is Flat, we never landed on the moon, 'space' does not even exist, and lizard space aliens are secretly controlling the entire planet, all under control of the CIA who - under the premise of a 'pandemic' - injected us all with not 'vaccines' but mind controlling nano-bots !

Mournblade94 · 2026-04-19T20:37:05+0100

abazaba said:
But it's all true man ! The Earth is Flat, we never landed on the moon, 'space' does not even exist, and lizard space aliens are secretly controlling the entire planet, all under control of the CIA who - under the premise of a 'pandemic' - injected us all with not 'vaccines' but mind controlling nano-bots !

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.

abazaba · 2026-04-19T20:42:20+0100

Mournblade94 said:
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.

I'm so sorry, and after re-reading my post, fully expect to be permanently banned now.

I was trying to be 'funny', and can now see I fully failed in that attempt.

Sorry again.

Mournblade94 · 2026-04-19T20:45:08+0100

bedir than said:
If Actual Plays were scripted we'd see leaked scripts regularly. Because there are 100s of people involved in profitable APs. CR and Darrington might be at a 100 total current employees with many 100s more of former workers. D20 and DropOut are a similar size. Both of played at venues with tens of thousands of live attendees.

People who believe that APs are scripted are insisting that the NDAs and secrecy around people playing RPGs for small amounts of money are better at keeping secrets and NDAs than the CIA, MI6, Russia, OpenAI, Boeing and every other nation-state or corporation in the world.

I never viewed as if they were hiding it at all. Its like an open secret that nobody cares about. If they're making millions and selling out stadiums it DOESN'T matter if its scripted. Its making money like any other performace. I honestly didn't think people that watched it even cared if it was scripted one way or the other, they're there for the show not the game. There's no crime in it being scripted. I don't get into it because it very much looked scripted to me and I see nothing to convince me otherwise.

abazaba · 2026-04-19T20:46:16+0100

Mournblade94 said:
I'm not about to suggest that AP's are a good source for new players to understand how the game works.

But for what it's worth: I fully agree with that part.

Mournblade94 · 2026-04-19T20:48:12+0100

abazaba said:
I'm so sorry, and after re-reading my post, fully expect to be permanently banned now.

I was trying to be 'funny', and can now see I fully failed in that attempt.

Sorry again.

Sorry my technical compulsions often get in the way of me seeing that things were humorous. I missed your first line.

bedir than · 2026-04-19T20:49:21+0100

Mournblade94 said:
I never viewed as if they were hiding it at all. Its like an open secret that nobody cares about. If they're making millions and selling out stadiums it DOESN'T matter if its scripted. Its making money like any other performace. There's no crime in it being scripted. I don't get into it because it very much looked scripted to me and I see nothing to convince me otherwise.

So why doesn't a single script exist?
How hasn't a single script been left behind at a venue similar how to musician contracts with absurd riders get made public?
How hasn't a single disgruntled former employee not leaked a single script?

AlViking · 2026-04-19T20:49:54+0100

Whizbang Dustyboots said:
What an extremely weird and inaccurate take.

DriveThruRPG offers POD for probably thousands of short adventures.

POD is not at all the same as a magazine printed and sent out to hobby stores and subscribers. There are more sources of game related advice and columns available now than before the internet, it's just in a different format.