D&D General Actual Play Television: Article on WotC's "Adventuring Party"

[Clint_L]

Interesting read - pretty well reported.

Hollywood is going to come for D&D actual plays sooner or later — will they survive?

Can everything that makes the form great survive a mainstream transition?

www.polygon.com

 

[payn]

Im not really up to date on this stuff, but I really hope it doesn't go in some competition reality TV direction (if it hasnt already).

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Shouldn't think have the D&D movie/tv tag?

 

[bedir than]

Interesting read - pretty well reported.

Hollywood is going to come for D&D actual plays sooner or later — will they survive?

Can everything that makes the form great survive a mainstream transition?

www.polygon.com

They skipped over the fact that this isn't the first official D&D show on television. We had a season of Invitation to Party before the leadership of G4TV decided to shut down, again

 

[Reynard]

Im not really up to date on this stuff, but I really hope it doesn't go in some competition reality TV direction (if it hasnt already).

You know, that hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it I would be VERY surprised if this wasn't the format Hollywood chose.

 

[bedir than]

You know, that hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it I would be VERY surprised if this wasn't the format Hollywood chose.

The Purple Worm show that's coming out is closer to a competitive format. In it they declare a winner -- the PC that lives the longest.

But also, competitive D&D started as soon as the game did. Gygax regularly ran tournament dungeons. If one of the shows is competitive that's not a big deal.

And, again, Polygon ignores that this isn't the first attempt at Hollywood and D&D. They didn't change it then and they're unlikely to change it now. Competitive reality TV doesn't save money over non-competitive reality TV. Plus, we know millions of people will watch Actual Plays that are good.

 

[Reynard]

The Purple Worm show that's coming out is closer to a competitive format. In it they declare a winner -- the PC that lives the longest.

But also, competitive D&D started as soon as the game did. Gygax regularly ran tournament dungeons. If one of the shows is competitive that's not a big deal.

And, again, Polygon ignores that this isn't the first attempt at Hollywood and D&D. They didn't change it then and they're unlikely to change it now. Competitive reality TV doesn't save money over non-competitive reality TV. Plus, we know millions of people will watch Actual Plays that are good.

That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about a reality TV competition show. Basically, The Voice for a actual play cast.

 

[payn]

That is not what we are talking about. We are talking about a reality TV competition show. Basically, The Voice for a actual play cast.

Even worse, a show with a pack of dinks treating each other awfully for viewer rubbernecking.

 

[Reynard]

Even worse, a show with a pack of dinks treating each other awfully for viewer rubbernecking.

I don't feel like you watch a lot of modern skill based competition reality shows. Most of them do not focus on that Survivor style BS. They focus very much on the actual thing -- cooking, singing, whatever.

 

[payn]

I don't feel like you watch a lot of modern skill based competition reality shows. Most of them do not focus on that Survivor style BS. They focus very much on the actual thing -- cooking, singing, whatever.

Even with skill based focus, I still dislike the competitive nature. I think its a bad direction of focus of many a hobby and craft. YMMV.