D&D General D&D TV Series Coming This Fall From G4

G4, the company which partnered with WotC for some of their streamed events this year, has announced that it is bringing a limited-run Dungeons & Dragons television series to screens this fall. They describe themselves as a ‘digital first network’.

”Dungeons & Dragons Limited Series: Coming off the immense success of D&D Live 2021 featuring notable celebrities like Jack Black, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Smith, and DrLupo, G4 will continue its partnership with Wizards of the Coast with an all-new, limited-run series to premiere on G4 this Fall. The series will follow four campaigns with a mix of G4 talent, veteran D&D players, and celebrities for a new generation of D&D fans.”

It sounds like the show will be a mix of several live games.

G4 is coming to TV and streaming services on November 16th, via Verizon Fios, Cox, and Xfinity TV, as well as streaming services like Twitch.

G4TV

G4TV

g4tv.com

 

[Ath-kethin]

Huh. From the title I was hoping for something like Disenchanted but maybe more kid-friendly.

Oh well.

 

[Von Ether]

Being non scripted show and how that gets around SAG rules means tiny paychecks for the talent, like a regular reality show, and thus it’s being made on the super cheap.

While this doesn’t bug me for self produced live plays or D&D promotion, this maybe the show that gets into a more gray area for me.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I thought it would be a cartoon serie, like Critical Role: the Legend of Vox Machine, but Hasbro has got its own media studios (cartoons and action-live) and the partnership with Paramount hasn't ended yet.

I don't dislike the idea, but today there are lots of rivals, and they should offer something, for example a virtual tabletop on the screen, with virtual avatars.

 

[aco175]

I can see it now, an announcer doing a play-by-play in a hushed voice standing in the shadows behind the players during the game.

"It's looking bad for Nerds-at-Play, The group is in serious trouble, having bitten off more than they can chew in this fight with the Balor, a demon modeled on Tolkien's Balrog. With the rest of the party down, it's up to Shady the rogue. He was able to hide last turn so this is a tense moment. Does he run? Try to finish off the badly wounded Balor?"

The camera pans in to a closeup of Jane, Shady's player as she looks down at the map in front of her and back to her character sheet. Dead quiet, she picks up a pair of D20s and a handful of D6's.

"This is a tense moment here, it looks like Shady is going for the attack. I gotta say, it's a gutsy move because if he misses it's all over for Nerds-at-Play. It looks like she's going with her lucky green die and the translucent blue, another favorite."

Once again, the camera zooms in, this time on Jane's dice tray as she rolls all of her dice. The dice roll, slowly come to a stop.

"She's done it! A critical hit on a sneak attack! Double checking damage now ... it's going to be close ... and THE BALROG GOES DOWN! THE BALROG GOES DOWN!"

Now I want to watch this. Although I do watch golf, partially to nap though.

 

[NotAYakk]

If you want to upgrade "Actual Play" to top tier content, you could do a parallel animation of what is going on the game, cutting back to the actual play moments.

Naturally, you'd want to reshoot some of the "actual play" moments after the fact to maximize drama, like how "reality TV" works.

 

[Osgood]

I guess I am officially transitioning to an old curmudgeon! I just don't get what the kids are into these days... I've never been able to watch more than 10 minutes or so of any of these actual play shows without getting bored to tears. But that's at least twice as much time as I've ever been able to stand any reality show or sporting event.

 

[Leatherhead]

If you want to upgrade "Actual Play" to top tier content, you could do a parallel animation of what is going on the game, cutting back to the actual play moments.

Naturally, you'd want to reshoot some of the "actual play" moments after the fact to maximize drama, like how "reality TV" works.

That's what they did for HarmonQuest.

Which I still maintain is possibly the best "Tabletop game as a show" viewing experience.

 

[Deset Gled]

If you want to upgrade "Actual Play" to top tier content, you could do a parallel animation of what is going on the game, cutting back to the actual play moments.

Animation parallel to the live "actual play" sounds like it would be a terrible strain on the animators.

 

[jinnetics]

G4? I demand you bring back X-Play and Screen Savers if you want me to watch a new D&D show.

Also, as a tech/nerd based network, these guys are pathetically far behind on providing an easy access VOD/streaming service. A cable partnership is a step to the past, not the future.

Xplay is back

 

[ProfessorDetective]

I feel like we’re entering the era where we’ll get D&D games with poker / MtG / golf commentators using faux-hushed voice-over narration to explain what’s happening to the general audience.

Didn't that second Rick & Morty vs D&D comic make this exact joke?