Since its humble beginnings on Gary Gygax's coffee table in the early 1970s, Dungeons and Dragons has grown into a universally known brand worth an estimated $15 billion. Some 50 million people play D&D now, and there's a whole community of influencers and content creators supporting the game.
Whether you're looking to get into playing or are already an experienced Dungeon Master looking to explore new facets of your dice habit, here is a list of nine of the most interesting DnD influencers worth following.
There’s no Dungeons and Dragon influencer more influential than Critical Role. The web series featuring a group of charismatic Los Angeles voice actors throwing dice changed the way just about everyone plays the game, with character-based improvisation and free-wheeling storytelling courtesy of (uber-GM Matt Mercer) taking over from D&D’s math-and-tactics roots. Since Critical Role started in 2015, it has earned over 2.4 million followers on YouTube and inspired countless wannabes to go down to hobby store on game night or pick up a starter kit and start casting magic missiles.
On the other side of the continuum from Critical Role lies Dingo Doodles, a quirky, homegrown YouTube channel created by someone who clearly loves the game. Dingo is a young illustrator/animator who has been regularly posting videos for the past six years featuring an ongoing episodic Dungeons and Dragons campaign called "Fool’s Gold," relatable videos about things like total party kills, and the occasional piece of advice for players and DMs, like how to do better improv.
Being a dungeon master is hard, but there's a ton of instructional content out there, like Bonus Action. This YouTube channel that goes way in-depth about the art of being a dungeon master, featuring countless videos that try to help DMs improv their game, covering topics like the most powerful phrases DMs use to hook players, how to create and play memorable NPCs, and how to create exciting combat. But rather than just give opinion, Bonus Action presents examples from some of the best DMs in the world to make the point. It's required viewing for DMs.
Sydney Based production company Deerstalker Pictures creates Dungeons and Dragons-based short comedy videos with impressive production values, talented and charismatic performers, and jokes that are (usually) funny. Deerstalker’s series 1 For All (DnD nerds will get the joke) is in its fifth season, and features an ongoing story that switches from the players at the table to their characters in world of the game, often with full musical production numbers. It's very impressive. Check out Battle of the Bards to see what I mean.
As the host of CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and the Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report before that, Stephen Colbert has actual influence in the real world, but he’s also a D&D player from way back. I’m using Colbert to represent all of Hollywood’s role-playing nerds, including Vin Diesel, Jon Favreau, Joseph Gordon Levitt, and many more. Anyway, check out Colbert playing a one-off game with Matt Mercer in the video above—the joy on his face is infectious.
People like Stephen Colbert and the cast of Critical Role play D&D, and that’s sort of nerdy, but they aren’t really nerds. Kelly McLaughlin and Monty Martin, the hosts of YouTube channel Dungeon Dudes, are the real thing: basement-dwelling, pale-skin-having, rules-lawyering, full-on D&D nerds. All hail! Their channel goes deep on subjects like new fifth edition subclasses, crafting magic items, the best cantrips, and way more.
For me, Dungeons and Dragons is half about the game and half about the jokes we make around the table, a spirit that Dungeons and Daddies embodies. It’s the funniest Dungeons and Dragons podcast in the world. This actual play series tells the story of a group of suburban dads who are transported to the Forgotten Realms. It’s a great concept and the cast of professional writers like Anthony Burch, Matt Arnold, and Will Campos, are quick-witted and down for every weird twist and ridiculous situation.
A lot of people who play Dungeons and Dragons are pricks—opinionated dickholes with no social skills. “Munchkins,” as we used to call them, are annoying, but they’re an important thread in the great tapestry of tabletop role-playing. I’m using XP to Level 3 to represent this sub-genre of gamers, but mainly because he looks the part. His videos capture some of the spirit of munchkin-ness, but he’s he’s probably not a bad dude. I’m sure he knows the rules better than I do, and I bet he has more miniatures too.
Ginny Di’s personality, style, and enthusiasm are infectious. She seems like the kind of person who didn't used to play D&D, but now that's it's more inclusive, she's an expert. Di's YouTube channel offers advice for both players and DMs alike, with videos like How to be a Dungeon Master when you have ADHD, How to Create a Wizard that isn’t Boring, and “5 backstory bad habits that drive your DM nuts” (which should be required viewing for every new player.)
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