GoKawiilA quarter of a century ago, I gathered around a table with my middle school friends and made a 20-sided dice roll -- my first in a lifetime of Dungeons & Dragons games. Rolling dice is easy, but figuring out the litany of rules in tabletop roleplaying games takes time to master. It would have been a lot easier if I could've just watched Dungeon Masters, a new YouTube show made by the creators of D&D, Wizards of the Coast.
In recent years, online tabletop RPG shows like Critical Role and Dimension 20 have exploded in popularity. Viewers tune in to watch dungeon masters lead players on adventures happening in the theater of the mind, describing what happens when heroes attempt great feats, suffer setbacks and triumph over villains. It makes sense that Wizards of the Coast would want in on the success, especially since many of these shows use Dungeons & Dragons' rules (by far the most popular tabletop RPG system, though there are many others).
It's shrewd for Wizards of the Coast to start a show promoting its products (more on this later), but Dungeon Masters also goes out of its way to help newcomers. It's hard to catch if you're not a giant nerd like me who has watched and listened to other tabletop RPG shows and podcasts, which edit out a lot of the slower dice rolls and rules explanations to keep things moving.
In contrast, Dungeon Masters looks out for the new player, briefly explaining things like spells and conditions so folks watching at home can understand the rules behind the rolls.
I saw the first episode of Dungeon Masters at a media screening at the Universal Studios offices in Los Angeles, after which I got to chat with the cast. If you've watched Critical Role or any other tabletop RPG shows, you know how an energetic performer can elevate the game and immerse viewers in make-believe.
The cast of Dungeon Masters includes the players (in back, left to right): Devora Wilde, Neil Newbon, Mayanna Berrin and Christian Navarro, with the titular dungeon master Jasmine Bhullar seated in front. Wizards of the Coast
Dungeon Masters has a storied ensemble of actors from TV shows, video games and other tabletop RPG series. The four players include Neil Newbon (Astarion in Baldur's Gate III), Devora Wilde (Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate III), Christian Navarro (Tony Padilla in 13 Reasons Why, Critical Role) and Mayanna Berrin (Janelle / Coupé in Dispatch, StoryQuest). The titular dungeon master for this season of the show is Jasmine Bhullar (Dimension 20, DesiQuest).
Fans will be able to watch the first two episodes of this first season of Dungeon Masters streaming live on the official Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel at 6:30 p.m. PT on April 22, with additional episodes coming every Wednesday at the same time. Show details hint at guest appearances, though we'll all just have to watch to find out who they might be.
What I saw in the first episode was familiar to a D&D veteran, but promising in what it offers for newbies (or those who need refreshers on the rules every now and again).
Jasmine Bhullar, the titular dungeon master of the first season of the Dungeon Masters show. Wizards of the Coast
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