February 9, 2023
Dungeons, Dragons, and Podcasts
If you ever wanted to experience the world of Dungeons and Dragons but haven’t had the opportunity to join a campaign, then listening to a D&D podcast might be the solution for you.For those of you who are new players:
Dumb-Dumbs & Dragons is a podcast hosted by Tom McGee who is also the dungeon master of the game. McGee takes three improvisers (Tyler Hewitt, Laura Hamstra, and Ryan LaPlante) who have never roleplayed before through a wild adventure. Although the humor may be cheesy, it never fails to make me smile or to blurt out a laugh. You never know where the roleplay story will go and how the improvisers will react to each situation, keeping you hooked in order to find out what happens next.Every so often, the team (DM and players) will add a special guest is added to the group to keep things fresh and interesting. It is fascinating watching the group respond to each new group member, as their chemistry makes you laugh along with them. Not only are the players learning the ways of D&D, but you are joining their journey and learning as well. The story and plot are easy to follow as well as the episodes being short and easy to digest. You can listen for free on Spotify watch them in video format on Youtube. I highly recommend you check them out.For those of you who are more experienced:
Critical Role is a podcast hosted by Matthew Mercer (the dungeon master or DM) who leads a team of fellow voice actors through fantastical D&D roleplay campaigns. The players draw you in with the unique and talented voices they give their characters. Each player has their backstory and why they are all united together in the first place..The characters (and the players) also have great chemistry and know how to work well together. Although the story can be a bit confusing as you watch because there are six players, it is still fascinating to see the individual stories unfold within the bigger plot of the campaign. The DM knows how to spin fascinating and compelling campaigns keeping you engaged through each episode. There are three different campaigns that are out at the moment, each one having their own unique set of characters and stories. Each campaign gets more and more chaotic and has the added bonus of an increase in the production value, such as microphone quality and sound effects. The podcast is free to listen to on Spotify or to watch on YouTube or live on Twitch as the third campaign is still ongoing.
—Emma Krueger, Podcast Editor