If you’re like me, you love a good actual-play RPG show.
But first, a crash course: an actual-play RPG show is a podcast, Twitch stream, or otherwise recorded content of people playing a role-playing game (usually, because it is the biggest and most popular, Dungeons and dragons a.k.a. D&D). There may be some editing to keep things moving, but in general it is just a group of friends playing D&D, whether they be nerdy-ass voice actors, brothers with their dad, or a bunch of sketch and improv all-stars gathering around a lushly designed set.
In recent years, actual play RPG shows have really taken off, led by shows like Critical Role and podcasts like The Adventure Zone, not to mention countless other podcasts and streams in which people band together to fight dragons, explore dungeons, and revel in the power of friendship.
A standout of the genre that should grab your attention if you are at all interested in the idea of watching people pretend to be goblin rogues or elven wizards is Dimension 20, the flagship show of CollegeHumor’s paid subscription service Dropout, and an exemplary example of its kind.
The show is divided into main seasons, with a recurring cast starring Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, Siobhan Thompson, and Lou Wilson, while interstitial mini-seasons bring in big names in the world of actual play RPGs, like Matt Mercer (DM of Critical Role) or the entire McElroy family (of The Adventure Zone fame). These seasons are usually shorter, and could, in theory, be watched in one sitting.
Unlike many other actual plays, which can span years while going through an entire campaign, one benefit of Dimension 20 is that each season spans either 6 or 17 episodes, roughly 2 hours in length for each episode.
Leading all of the mayhem of every season of Dimension 20 is the humble Dungeon Master, Brennan Lee Mulligan. While Brennan may be humble, I will just say that it is inspiring to watch Brennan do his thing behind the DM screen in each episode. The love he has for the game is matched only by the love he clearly has for his players and their characters. Brennan is clearly committed to good storytelling, but because Dimension 20 emerged from CollegeHumor, it is no surprise that there are a lot of laughs to be had in any given episode, along with the requisite drama and even tears! It has everything!
Emily Axford is chaotic neutral in games and we love it.
In addition to Dimension 20, Brennan has also hosted a chat show with other D&D-famous people, as well as the cast of Dimension 20, called Adventuring Academy that is chock full of great advice for DMs and just people playing D&D. When one of the players in my long-running home game decided to start an academy for adventurers, I knew who would be her 2nd in command, none other than Brennan Lee Mulligan. That’s right. He’s just a person in this world, and he’s the best vice principal any adventurer could ask for.
Also, much could and should be said about the set design and miniatures by Rick Perry, which goes above and beyond to help bring the worlds of Dimension 20 to life. If not for the little minis, how would we know that the corn cuties are so darn cute?
Ultimately, what continues to draw me to Dimension 20--and what has made it one of my favorite actual play shows--are the people behind it. The players are uniformly great at portraying these characters in realistic ways while still managing to be hilarious, and Brennan does a great job guiding the story so that there is never a dull moment. Plus, the ideas behind each season are incredible. This is not just, The adventurers meet in a tavern. Oh no. Instead, you have plot hooks like this: What if John Hughes directed your D&D campaign? What if we watched The Lord of the Rings from the perspective of the bad guys? What if Game of Thrones took place in Candyland? All of these ideas are rich with comedic potential, but the amazing thing is the way that the cast continually pushes beyond the simple punchline to reveal something deeper and more real.
In each season there are deeper themes that are at play, like what it means to be a person forged by war, or less fantasy-specific ideas like What do I do if my parents suck? How do I handle anxiety? What kind of person do I want to be? These are universal themes and they really help the show rise to the top of actual play shows.
If you are unsure of where to start with Dimension 20, try the first episode of Fantasy High, which you can stream on Youtube in its entirety, or Escape from the Bloodkeep, also on Youtube. The other seasons, including Sophomore Year of Fantasy High, are available to stream on Dropout.
Brennan Lee Mulligan