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It was the early 1970s in Midwestern, USA, when the birth of a medieval combat simulator would grow to become what may arguably be the most important institution in gaming history: “Dungeons and Dragons.”
Over the next half-century, the influential Role Playing Game experienced a roller coaster of public media highs and lows, from the creation of its critically acclaimed animated television show in the 80s to the public outcry that seemingly took the nation by storm over the moral implications of a game that so heavily featured magic, which — ironically enough — also took place in the 80s.
Whether it was out of love, abject hate, or apathetic observation, everyone knew about “Dungeons and Dragons,” despite it being a peak example of niche entertainment. Now, four decades after its conception, the game that was so heavily associated with social undesirables rolling dice in basements, has finally stepped into the sunshine and into the general public’s good graces, albeit with a few changes. Now, those basements now come with state-of-the-art media set-ups, the dice are hand-crafted out of gemstones, and the “undesirables” come with millions of social media followers.
Yes, with the recent popularity of online gaming and streaming, the meek finally inherited the earth and found an ample platform to share their creativity with the masses, introducing hoards of new watchers to the game.
Where Do You Begin?
The beauty of “Dungeons and Dragons” is in its malleability. Since the game’s creation in 1974, hundreds of rulebooks have been published to allow players to expand their gameplay. The current iteration of the game, the 5th edition, has six core and supplemental rulebooks, seven campaign guides, fourteen stand-alone adventures, and dozens of compendiums meant to add depth and enrichment to published and original gameplay.
If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is! And, for those looking to start playing, the entry can be a bit of an investment, with materials like the official Player’s Handbook averaging around $30. Luckily, thanks to the power of technology, there are far more manageable options for newbies looking for a less formal introduction to the game — live streams.
Watching others play the game gives watchers a detailed overview of what it means to play the game, not just as a potential player, but as a Dungeon Master; it’s helpful for burgeoning adventurers to be able to grasp player interactions and gameplay mechanics, and watching professionals enjoy the game is much more palatable than memorizing pages and pages of detailed information.
While the concept of dedicated “Dungeons and Dragons” players sharing their playthroughs may not be completely novel, within the last few years, there has been a trend of video content creators adding D&D campaigns to their channels to a very positive reception. With so many great options now available, it may be difficult to figure out where to begin. Three fantastic places to start are OutsideXtra’s Oxventure Series, College Humor’s Dimension 20 Series, and Critical Role Campaigns, as each team produces quality content that can accommodate a variety of viewing preferences.
1. For The Uninitiated
For those who haven’t got a clue what “Dungeons and Dragons” is about and are simply looking for an entertaining introduction to the game, Youtube offers OutsideXtra’s Oxventure. OutsideXtra is the sister channel to popular UK-based gaming channel OutsideXtra. The combined channels began posting short game sessions back in September 2017, in response to numerous requests after reaching 2 million subscribers.
Tabletop Gaming Channel Dicebreaker’s Johnny Chiodini was recruited as their Dungeon Master for a three-part series that quickly turned into a fan-favorite staple for the channel. What makes the Oxventuring party so palatable to newcomers is that — other than the Dungeon Master — the entire cast was completely new to the game, allowing watchers the novel experience of learning the game alongside the players.
A key factor for many who are looking to familiarize themselves with D&D is time. The flexible narrative nature of the game means that there is no set ending — unless a very specific goal is set and met, no one can “win” “Dungeons and Dragons”. Therefore games can last a single session to years, depending on who’s playing and what the goal of the campaign is.
Oxventure offers a comedic episodal format with sessions lasting from around 30 minutes to an hour, allowing for short, easy-to-follow quests with an overarching plot that develops gradually over time, the complexity of the game increasing along with player’s experience with the game. This slower style of gameplay is advantageous for new watchers because the players level up slowly, giving watchers more time to learn how different abilities are utilized in different scenarios — essentially allowing viewers to learn in real-time, alongside the adventuring party!
2. For The Storytellers
Some say that a game of “Dungeons and Dragons” is only as good as the Dungeon Master. While that may just be hyperbole, it is true that DMs take the brunt of the work in a “Dungeons and Dragons” game — setting the scene for the adventure, wrangling wayward adventurers, and above all, making sure the players have a good time. For players who are interested in peering into the mind of a seasoned Game Master, as well as seeing some more technical game mechanics, College Humor’s Dropout.tv houses the complete library of their tabletop gaming team, Dimension 20.
Led by Brendan Lee Mulligan, Dimension 20 features familiar faces from College Humor’s sketch comedy-based media channel on YouTube. The majority of this cast includes experienced players and Dungeon Masters, allowing viewers to experience more technically advanced gameplay. As experienced actors, this group plays a roleplay-heavy game, which adds even more depth to Mulligan’s plot-rich storytelling.
If Oxventure plays like a sitcom, Dimension 20 is a Netflix series. Each campaign lasts roughly 2 hours per episode and runs around 20 episodes per season. Every season gets a new story, introducing a new setting, plot, and cast of characters.
Worldbuilding is a very large part of running a custom “Dungeons and Dragons” campaign and it’s a unique experience to have examples of so many different genres of storytelling, told with implicit detail, to completion in the way that Mulligan provides. From tales of medieval political intrigue to a modern take on the magic of New York City, watchers don’t get a single well-rounded story; they get a new one each season! This provides fans with the opportunity to become acquainted with a multitude of characters and abilities, introducing watchers to a wider range of gameplay.
Dimension 20’s format makes for intense gameplay. Since each campaign has a set timeframe, the Dimension 20 adventuring parties level up quickly in order to keep up with the quick plot. Leveling up allows the characters to gain new skills and abilities in nearly every episode.
While this makes for thrilling combat scenarios and hilarious hijinks, it also means that plenty of skills may not be utilized more than once or twice before being replaced by higher-powered skills. For players who aren’t as familiar with basic mechanics, this may not be the best place to learn. Even so, the cast of talented comedians ensures an entertaining watch!
3. For The Invested
A custom game of “Dungeons and Dragons” can be a labor of love, and that takes time; mapping unique landscapes, plotting intriguing quests, and crafting non-playable characters with distinct personalities and motives, ensuring that players receive an immersive narrative experience. There’s no better example of this dedicated storytelling than that of Critical Role.
Dungeon Master Matt Mercer crafts intricate chronicles, designed to last for 2 to 3 years per campaign. An experienced cast of players ensures creative diceplay, while the much slower pace of the campaign allows viewers an incredibly immersive gameplay experience. Longer episodes give the opportunity to see how each character’s actions impact the story and their environment on a long-term scale. The cast of talented actors gives a vibrant role-playing experience that makes the 3 to 5-hour episodes fly by! Critical Role showcases the creative fulfillment that can be gained from a well-crafted game. They’re a great example for fans to go out and create their adventures!
Game On!
“Dungeons and Dragons” is, above all else, a game of creativity. Whether a player is interested in crafting wholly unique tales or simply wants to create a character and embark on an adventure, the game is completely what one makes of it. For the many fans who find participating in a physical game to be impractical, the wide range of talented parties willing to share their adventures online makes experiencing “Dungeons and Dragons” far more accessible.
Oxventure, Dimension 20, and Critical Role are just three examples of a sea of exciting campaigns that may fit a burgeoning player’s needs. Whether it’s a sprawling saga of courtly intrigue or a quick pirate fight out on the open seas, there’s something out there for everyone in the world of D&D.
