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.

 

[bedir than]

Honestly, I can't see any good argument for not taking Grubb's side on this.

We could introduce a new dude in a toga who loves to throw lightning bolts around and likes to cheat on his wife via shapechanging into animals and, no matter what we called him, he's still be Zeus at the end of the day.

nah, that's Jupiter

 

[Selas]

SO HEY what do people LIKE about this show?

I think Jasmine is doing a fantastic job. I love her voicework, but I also love the pitch shifting and other audio effects they do with her voice.

The new artificer is interesting. I feel like Neil is really working with all Crem's features. But I'm not seeing the other players really do things with their class features.

I really love it when Neil has a multi-step plan like he did with the wax monsters, activating lots of different features at once. I would love to see him combine more with the other players features.


I wish I understood more of what Wesley's subclass is, and what it brings. What is Zora's Hexblood sorcerer, and what does that do?

Does anyone know if they've released full character sheets for these characters?

I think part of it is that out of all of them, Neil is the most experienced playing D&D (before Alex showed up), so he knows his character well. Devora is the "total noob" of the series, so she's doesn't even have to pretend to be one. Wesley is a Grave Domain, updated from XGE, so it should be easy to figure out. Elohin is doing a better job, but he's playing a Ranger, and right now he's more focused on the "Dhampir' aspect of his character.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

nah, that's Jupiter

Don't make me smite you, by Jove.

 

[Mort]

SO HEY what do people LIKE about this show?

I think Jasmine is doing a fantastic job. I love her voicework, but I also love the pitch shifting and other audio effects they do with her voice.

I really like her DMing style. I like how she let's the players do their thing but also moves them along as necessary.

I also like that the players have fun bickering, but keep it at a level that's not disruptive. So it's fun without being irritating, at least for me.

The new artificer is interesting. I feel like Neil is really working with all Crem's features. But I'm not seeing the other players really do things with their class features.

I really love it when Neil has a multi-step plan like he did with the wax monsters, activating lots of different features at once. I would love to see him combine more with the other players features.

Yeah, he does a good job with the mad scientist schtick.

I wish I understood more of what Wesley's subclass is, and what it brings.

Yeah, as @Selas said, grave domain cleric with some 5.5 updates? Wonder if we'll see an updated version in print.

What is Zora's Hexblood sorcerer, and what does that do?

Hexblood is from Van Richten's originally, a race or lineage that has some disguise and hex abilities. I haven't broken down how hers is updated/changed.

Does anyone know if they've released full character sheets for these characters?

Not that I've seen.

 

[Mort]

What is Zora's Hexblood sorcerer, and what does that do?

So I just looked this up on the website. Zora is a hexblood (race from Van Richten's, probably updated in the be Ravenloft stuff) Shadow (5.0 subclass, maybe updated in the new stuff?) sorcerer.

 

[Selas]

Shadow Sorcerer was in the Horror UA, and is in the new book

 

[Mort]

Shadow Sorcerer was in the Horror UA, and is in the new book

Thanks! Looking at that UA.

So was the reanimator artificer and the grave cleric.

Winter Walker ranger was in Heroes of Faerun, so the odd one out.

 

[Selas]

Yep. That UA was pretty decent. As always, there were some things that needed slight tweaks, but for the most part it delivered IMO.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Then why were the other bridges needed? Is there not a god that rules all of the Rock place, actively; while Dragonlance gods left for a while.

Were they just trying to see what people would buy?

Buddy. We live under capitalism. All of D&D is a luxury good and entertainment. Human civilization got by without tabletop games for all but 50 years. None of this is "needed".

If you're asking "why was this created, if it was not necessary?" the answer is "because there was an audience who wanted to pay money for it."

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Winter Walker ranger was in Heroes of Faerun, so the odd one out.

Hm, you are right, I thought he was playing a Hollow Warden. I guess he is the most rules-savvy member of the group though, and Hollow Warden (as per UA) is very melee focused, and wouldn't be a good choice for an archer.

The character is a Damphr from the book though.