Dimension 20

Dimension 20 is a tabletop role-playing game show produced by CollegeHumor, and generally hosted by Brennan Lee Mulligan as the show's regular Dungeon Master. Most of the games use Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition. Seasons of the show alternate between major campaigns, featuring a returning cast of players with seventeen or more episodes, and side quests with rotating guests lasting ten episodes or fewer.

This article is about the tabletop role-playing show. For n-dimensional mathematics, see Dimension § Additional dimensions.
"Fantasy High" redirects here. For the subgenre, see High Fantasy.
Not to be confused with d20 System.

Dimension 20
Genre
Created byBrennan Lee Mulligan
Based onDungeons & Dragons 5th edition
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes117
Production
Running timec. 60–180 minutes
Production companyCollegeHumor
Release
Original networkDropout
Original releaseSeptember 19, 2018 (2018-09-19) –
present (present)

History

Dimension 20 originated as a production for Dropout, a streaming service aimed at delivering content with R-rated material or unusual formatting which launched in 2018. Dimension 20 was among the shows listed for the service when it was first unveiled.[1] Mulligan cited a number of existing tabletop shows as inspiration for Dimension 20, including NADDPOD (Not Another D&D Podcast), The Adventure Zone and Critical Role. The format for the show, with distinct arcs based on different settings, was determined early on in the show's development.[2]

The show debuted in 2018 with Fantasy High as the first campaign presented. The strong fan response from the first season resulted in Fantasy High being renewed for a live season, known as Fantasy High: Sophomore Year. Episodes of Fantasy High: Sophomore Year were streamed live on Twitch, as opposed to pre-recorded, edited, and uploaded to YouTube. The season concluded with a two-part finale titled “Spring Break! I Believe in You!”, which was streamed remotely. Through social media, the Dimension 20 team confirmed that they have plans to continue the story of “The Bad Kids” with a third season in the Fantasy High series.

In January 2020, major layoffs took place at CollegeHumor, including much of the cast. The show nevertheless continued production remotely as California’s Stay at Home orders were put into effect.[3] On May 24, 2021, Brennan Lee Mulligan announced in a video on Dropout that Dimension 20 and other CollegeHumor projects would resume production in-person and in-studio, adhering to COVID safety guidelines set by SAG-AFTRA and other film guilds and production unions.

Format

With some notable exceptions, each season of Dimension 20 presents its own adventure or “campaign” with its own unique world and characters. Most seasons feature a core cast known by fans as the “Intrepid Heroes” (Ally Beardsley, Emily Axford, Lou Wilson, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, and Siobhan Thompson), but for alternating seasons nicknamed "side quests," the show invites guest players, generally other members of CollegeHumor or figures from the TTRPG community. As of October 2022, Dimension 20 has had nine side quests: Escape from the Bloodkeep (featuring Matthew Mercer of Critical Role, and Erika Ishii of L.A. by Night), Tiny Heist (featuring the cast of The Adventure Zone), Pirates of Leviathan (featuring Marisha Ray of Critical Role, with Mercer returning), Mice & Murder (featuring many CollegeHumor alum), Misfits and Magic (the first campaign to feature a guest DM, Aabria Iyengar, with Brennan Lee Mulligan as a player), The Seven, Shriek Week, Coffin Run, and A Court of Fey and Flowers. Brennan Lee Mulligan is usually the Dungeon Master, but beginning with the ninth season, Misfits & Magic, the show adopted rotating Game Masters. The change was announced via a trailer with an attached FAQ document.[4][5]

Campaigns

The campaigns use the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition system with Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master (DM) unless otherwise stated. The DM also creates house rules that make the game run differently from the normal system.

CampaignEpisodesFirst airedLast airedCastDescriptionRef.
Fantasy High17September 19, 2018January 9, 2019
  • Emily Axford as Figueroth "Fig" Faeth
  • Zac Oyama as Gorgug Thistlespring
  • Siobhan Thompson as Adaine Abernant
  • Lou Wilson as Fabian Aramais Seacaster
  • Ally Beardsley as Kristen Applebees
  • Brian Murphy as Riz "The Ball" Gukgak
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

Set in the town of Elmville, an odd, anachronistic town resembling a high-fantasy John Hughes movie, "The Bad Kids" attend the Aguefort Adventuring Academy, a fictional high school designed to teach people how to become adventurers.

 [6][7]
Escape from the Bloodkeep6April 30, 2019June 4, 2019
  • Rekha Shankar as Maggie
  • Matt Mercer as Kraz-Thun / Leiland
  • Amy Vorpahl as Efink Murderdeath
  • Mike Trapp as Sokhbarr
  • Erika Ishii as Lilith
  • Ify Nwadiwe as Markus St. Vincent
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

The show's first “side quest” season, a parody of The Lord of the Rings. A cast of villains try to hide the death of their Sauron-esque leader from the rest of his evil armies.

[8][9]
The Unsleeping City17July 9, 2019October 29, 2019
  • Zac Oyama as Ricky Matsui
  • Emily Axford as Sofia Lee
  • Lou Wilson as Kingston Brown
  • Siobhan Thompson as Misty Moore
  • Brian Murphy as Kugrash
  • Ally Beardsley as Pete "the Plug" Conlan
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

A campaign set in a magical version of modern-day New York City. A group of people protect New York residents from knowing about the underlying magic in their city.

 [10][11][12]
Fantasy High: Sophomore Year20October 16, 2019April 3, 2020
  • Emily Axford as Figueroth "Fig" Faeth
  • Zac Oyama as Gorgug Thistlespring
  • Siobhan Thompson as Adaine Abernant
  • Lou Wilson as Fabian Aramais Seacaster
  • Ally Beardsley as Kristen Applebees
  • Brian Murphy as Riz "The Ball" Gukgak
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

A continuation of the original Fantasy High campaign. The Bad Kids travel outside of Elmville to retrieve the missing Crown of The Nightmare King in order to earn 60% of their final grade. Originally streamed live on Twitch as “Dimension 20 LIVE” and then edited for Dropout. This was the first campaign to not have battle minis or sets, relying on “theater of the mind”. The two-part finale was recorded remotely as in-person production had been halted by California’s Stay at Home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tiny Heist6January 9, 2020February 13, 2020

A set of "tiny people" (i.e., bugs, living toys, etc.) attempt to pull off a successful heist. The full cast of The Adventure Zone are present as guest players.

 [13]
A Crown of Candy17April 8, 2020August 5, 2020
  • Ally Beardsley as Liam Wilhelmina
  • Brian Murphy as Sir Theobald Gumbar
  • Emily Axford as Princess Jet Rocks & Queen Saccharina
  • Siobhan Thompson as Princess Ruby Rocks
  • Lou Wilson as King Amethar Rocks
  • Zac Oyama as Lapin Cadbury & Cumulous Rocks
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

Set in a Candy Land-inspired kingdom of Candia in a Game of Thrones-inspired setting of violence and political intrigue. Pre-recorded episodes, followed by a new live after-show with the cast (known as Adventuring Party) were released every Wednesday until the season finale on August 5, 2020.

 [14][15]
Pirates of Leviathan6September 16, 2020October 21, 2020
  • Marisha Ray as Sunny Biscotto
  • Krystina Arielle as Barbarella "Bob" Sasparilla Gainglynn
  • Carlos Luna as Cheese Stormcrank
  • Aabria Iyengar as Myrtle
  • Matt Mercer as "Unlucky" Jack Brakkow
  • B. Dave Walters as Marcid the Typhoon
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

The campaign is set in the same universe as Fantasy High, on the floating pirate city of Leviathan. This was the first full campaign to be completely recorded remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 [16][17]
The Unsleeping City: Chapter II18November 11, 2020March 10, 2021
  • Zac Oyama as Ricky Matsui
  • Emily Axford as Sofia Lee
  • Lou Wilson as Kingston Brown
  • Siobhan Thompson as Iga Lisowski & Rowan Berry
  • Brian Murphy as Cody "Night Angel" Walsh & Kugrash
  • Ally Beardsley as Pete Conlan
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

A continuation of The Unsleeping City. Taking place three years after the original campaign, The Dream Team reunites, along with two new members, to stop the internet-based media corporation Gladiator from destroying the balance between the Dream and Waking Worlds. This was the first remotely recorded campaign to use the program Roll20, which digitizes dice rolls and utilizes digital maps instead of battle sets and mini figures.

 [18]
Mice & Murder10April 7, 2021June 9, 2021
  • Ally Beardsley as Lars Vandenchomp
  • Sam Reich as Buckster $ Boyd
  • Katie Marovitch as Gangie Green
  • Raphael Chestang as Vicar Ian Prescott
  • Rekha Shankar as Daisy D'umpstaire
  • Grant O'Brien as Detective Sylvester Cross
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master

An Edwardian murder mystery campaign inspired by Sherlock Holmes, set in a world where characters are anthropomorphic animals, in the same vein as Wind in the Willows, attending the birthday party of a wealthy estate owner.

[19]
Misfits & Magic4June 30, 2021July 21, 2021
  • Erika Ishii as Dream / K (a.k.a. Karen Keiko Tanaka)
  • Danielle Radford as Sam Black
  • Lou Wilson as Whitney Jammer
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as Evan Kelmp
  • Aabria Iyengar as the Game Master
 A campaign set in a British magical academy where the characters are four teenage American exchange students. The campaign uses the Kids on Brooms role-playing system. This is the first campaign to feature a guest Game Master, and the first to be recorded in studio following the COVID-19 pandemic. [20][21][22]
The Seven10August 18, 2021October 20, 2021
  • Aabria Iyengar as Antiope Jones
  • Erika Ishii as Danielle Barkstock
  • Rekha Shankar as Katja Cleaver
  • Persephone Valentine as Sam Nightingale
  • Becca Scott as Penny Luckstone
  • Isabella Roland as Ostentatia Wallace
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as Zelda Donovan and the Dungeon Master
 Dimension 20 returns to the Fantasy High setting with Mulligan as the DM; this campaign focuses on a teenage adventuring party who were "taken prisoner by the villains of Fantasy High: Freshman Year".[23] [23]
Shriek Week4November 10, 2021December 1, 2021
  • Ify Nwadiwe as Terry Talbo
  • Dani Fernandez as Seven
  • Lily Du as Tuti IV
  • Ally Beardsley as Megan Mirror
  • Gabe Hicks as the Game Master
 A campaign set at the haunted Bram University where the characters are the monstrous "children of horror icons".[24] The campaign uses the Mythic role-playing system created by guest Game Master Gabe Hicks. [24]
Misfits & Magic Holiday Special1December 15, 2021See Misfits & Magic above The Misfits & Magic cast returns in this one episode holiday special. [25]
A Starstruck Odyssey18January 12, 2022May 11, 2022
  • Emily Axford as Sundry Sidney
  • Brian Murphy as Big Barry Syx
  • Ally Beardsley as Margaret Encino
  • Zac Oyama as Captain Norman "the Skipper" Takamori / "Skip"
  • Siobhan Thompson as Riva
  • Lou Wilson as Gunthrie "Gunnie" Miggles-Rashbax
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as the Dungeon Master
 The main Dimension 20 cast returns in a campaign amongst the stars; the campaign uses TaleSpire to manage encounters and battles and the Star Wars 5e role-playing system. The campaign is set in the Starstruck universe, which was co-created by Elaine Lee (Mulligan's mother) and Michael Kaluta. [26][25][27]
Coffin Run6June 8, 2022July 13, 2022
  • Zac Oyama as Squing
  • Izzy Roland as Aleksandr Astrovsky
  • Erika Ishii as May Wong
  • Carlos Luna as Wetzel
  • Jasmine Bhullar as the Game Master
 A comedic vampire road trip where Dracula's entourage must return a nearly dead Dracula to Transylvania – otherwise, they all die. The game uses a modified version of D&D 5th Edition; it is the third game to feature a Game Master other than Brennan Lee Mulligan. [28]
A Court of Fey and Flowers10August 3, 2022October 5, 2022
  • Emily Axford as Lady Chirp Featherfowl
  • Surena Marie as Gwyndolin Thistle-hop
  • Oscar Montoya as Delloso de la Rue
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as Captain K.P. Hob
  • Omar Najam as Andhera
  • Lou Wilson as Lord Squak Airavis
  • Aabria Iyengar as Game Master
 Several of the Fae realm's most prestigious aristocrats attend an event known as the Bloom. It utilizes 5e and Good Society game systems, with Aabria Iyengar returning as Game Master. [29]
Neverafter20November 30, 2022April 12, 2023
Marketed as "the horror season," featuring classic fairy tale characters whose stories have become twisted and violent as their land, the Neverafter, is corrupted by dark forces.
The Ravening War6May 10, 2023TBD
  • Anjali Bhimani as Lady Amangeaux Epicée du Peche
  • Aabria Iyengar as Karna Solara
  • Brennan Lee Mulligan as Bishop Raphaniel Charlock
  • Lou Wilson as Thane Delissandro Katzon
  • Zac Oyama as Colin Provolone
  • Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master
 A prequel to the previous campaign "A Crown of Candy" set 20 years earlier during the Ravening War. [30][31]

Supplementary shows

CollegeHumor publishes additional videos that discuss elements of role-playing (Adventuring Academy)[7] or specifics about the first season (Dimension 20 Fantasy High Extra Credit). These are released via YouTube.

Dropout also features a Q&A and talkback show tied to various seasons of Dimension 20 called Adventuring Party. The first four seasons centered around A Crown of Candy, Pirates of Leviathan, The Unsleeping City: Chapter II, and Mice and Murder were all filmed remotely and aired live following the release of the episode of Dimension 20 aired that week, where fans submit questions that Mulligan and the cast will answer. Once filming resumed in The Dome, however, the format changed to that of a commentary talkback show pre-recorded immediately after the filming of the previous episode.[32]

One-Shots

Dropout has released multiple one-shot adventures in addition to their full-length campaigns, such as Dimension 20: Fantasy High! Live! at The Bell House[33], Fantasy High LIVE at RTX Austin,[34] Boys' Night! (Roll20Con),[35] and College Visit (RTX @ Home Live).[36]

Reception

Comic Book Resources warmly received the show, describing it as "among the best of its kind". The review highlighted the arc based format, which keeps the story fast paced and allows the rotation of new players and voices in the space.[16] The show has also been praised for its positive LGBTQ representation, with multiple characters exploring their sexualities during the two seasons of Fantasy High.[7]

Glen Weldon, for NPR in 2021, wrote: "Mulligan is such a good DM and he's got so many improv skills. He's such a close and responsive listener that no matter what the players throw at him, he can always roll with it, without breaking the game. And that is a very rare skill, so it's terrific stuff".[37] Weldon compared the show to Critical Role and highlighted that the cast is "sketch and improv comedians. While the folks at Critical Role are often very funny, they're actors. [...] At Dimension 20, if they can go for a joke, they're going to go for the joke, and that might line up closer to my sensibility".[37]

Justin Carter, in a review of A Starstruck Odyssey for Gizmodo, stated that "the consistency with which Dimension 20 shakes things up has helped give it a different kind of longevity compared to some of its fellow Actual Play titans, and each season [...] is able to feel like a natural part of the franchise while also its own distinct thing".[38] Carter highlighted that "several of the season’s best events are too good to spoil, but every episode has at least two moments of incredible, often hilarious roleplaying from the cast. [...] Starstruck’s blend of strange humor and character drama feels a little bit more reined in than some earlier seasons and not prone to bits that could admittedly go on a little longer than necessary".[38] Carter commented that this season has an infectious joy to it and that it takes the "fun to new, cosmic heights".[38]

References
  1. "CollegeHumor Launches Brand New Comedy Subscription Service, DROPOUT". pastemagazine.com. September 26, 2018.
  2. Sheehan, Gavin (December 17, 2018). "INTERVIEW: CollegeHumor's Dimension 20: Fantasy High". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.
  3. Stephen, Bijan (January 8, 2020). "Almost everyone at CollegeHumor is fired as new owner asks the internet for help". The Verge.
  4. Dimension 20 🎲 [@dimension20show] (June 16, 2021). "✨Dimension 20: Misfits and Magic✨ Game Master: Aabria Iyengar (@quiddie) Cast: -Lou Wilson -Erika Ishii (@erikaishii) -Danielle Radford (@danielleradford) -Brennan Lee Mulligan (@BrennanLM) A 4 episode event launching June 30th on @dropout. FAQ here: t.co/Oj38aL2DgF t.co/MS5HB8aSvf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. "DIMENSION 20 Brings Aabria Iyengar in to GM MISFITS AND MAGIC Releasing This Month". GeekTyrant.
  6. "Dimension 20: Fantasy High – Lord of the Rings Meets John Hughes On College Humor". Bleeding Cool. March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. "Dungeons & Dragons: How Actual-Play Shows Are Boosting LGBTQ Representation". CBR. June 14, 2020.
  8. "CollegeHumor's Dimension 20 Prepares For New Season of 'Dungeons & Dragons' Madness". ComicBook.com. May 2, 2019. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. "Best D&D podcasts and web series, from Critical Role to High Rollers". Tech Radar. April 2, 2021. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. Plante, Corey. "'Dimension 20' Season 3: Meet the D&D Cast of "Unsleeping City" (Exclusive)". Inverse. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  11. "Dimension 20's The Unsleeping City Shows the Flexibility and Storytelling Power of Dungeons & Dragons". ComicBook.com. August 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. "Queer Dungeons & Dragons Players Are Adventuring From Home". Advocate. February 23, 2021. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  13. "Dimension 20 Teams Up With the McElroys for Next Dungeons & Dragons Campaign". ComicBook.com. October 7, 2019. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. "Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy shows the sweet and sour sides of nobility". The Peak. July 19, 2020. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  15. "DIMENSION 20: A CROWN OF CANDY Is and Isn't What You'd Expect from a Mix of D&D, CANDY LAND, and DROPOUT". Geek Tyrant. June 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. "Dungeons & Dragons: Dimension 20 Is a TOTALLY Different Take On Actual-Play". CBR. October 8, 2020.
  17. "Pirates of Leviathan Continues to Push the Boundaries of Dungeons & Dragons". ComicBook.com. October 12, 2020. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  18. Sheehan, Gavin (October 30, 2020). "Dimension 20 Announces The Unsleeping City Season Two". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors.
  19. "INTERVIEW: Dimension 20 - Brennan Lee Mulligan Unravels the Mystery of Mice & Murder". CBR. April 8, 2021.
  20. "DIMENSION 20 Brings Aabria Iyengar in to GM MISFITS AND MAGIC Releasing This Month". GeekTyrant. June 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. Dimension 20: Misfits and Magic Trailer. Dimension 20. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via YouTube.
  22. Dimension 20 🎲 [@dimension20show] (June 17, 2021). "Kids on Brooms is such a truly fun and wonderful system. If you haven't seen it in action before, Misfits and Magic will help you out. t.co/PFcNhUrJua" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  23. Good, Owen S. (July 28, 2021). "Dimension 20 goes back to school with a new season this August". Polygon. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  24. Hall, Charlie (October 27, 2021). "Dimension 20's next season is a 4-part series called Shriek Week". Polygon. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  25. Dimension 20 🎲 [@dimension20show] (November 3, 2021). "❄️Wanna know what Dimension 20 is bringing you this winter? 🗓️Well, we have some good news...🧛✨🪐 🤔FAQ here: t.co/4cGyklhRk6 #Dimension20 t.co/zr9wIhLwLM" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. Lee, Elaine [@DeEeLee] (November 3, 2021). "Big Announcement! A new season of Dimension 20, the D&D actual play series created by my son, Brennan Lee Mulligan, will be set in the Starstruck Multiverse! A STARSTRUCK ODYSSEY will air in January on DropoutTV! Check out part 3 of this teaser below! t.co/9Mu66dqAQb" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  27. "Watch the Trailer for the New DIMENSION 20: A STARSTRUCK ODYSSEY Based on the STARSTRUCK Comics". GeekTyrant. January 8, 2022.
  28. "Dimension 20: Coffin Run is Next Season of Dropout TTRPG Show". Gizmodo. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  29. "Dimension 20: A Court of Fey & Flowers Trailer". Dropout. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  30. Hall, Charlie (April 19, 2023). "Critical Role's Matt Mercer will lead Dimension 20's Crown of Candy prequel". Polygon. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  31. "Dimension 20 and Critical Role's Matthew Mercer Unite in Ravening War". Gizmodo. April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  32. "Dimension 20's Adventuring Party". Dropout. (subscription required)
  33. doNYC (June 24, 2019). "Dimension 20: Fantasy High! Live! at The Bell House". doNYC.
  34. Brennan Lee Mulligan [@BrennanLM] (July 2, 2019). "Dimension 20 LIVE returns this Friday at #RTX in Austin! Get ready for a new adventure in the world of Fantasy High with @eaxford, @chmurph, @vornietom, @ZacOyama, @agbeardsley and special guest @griffinmcelroy as FICUS!! t.co/XiS35QdM9M" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  35. Dimension 20 🎲 [@dimension20show] (October 24, 2020). "The VOD of Fantasy High: Boys' Night will be available on t.co/YSmV3KNPwM shortly! We'll update you when it's on the platform!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  36. Dimension 20 🎲 [@dimension20show] (September 29, 2020). "The live Fantasy High one-shot from @RTXEvent is now live on @dropout! The Bad Kids visit the adventuring college of Astral Sea University! Check it out! t.co/VTbwp0E9tE" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  37. Weldon, Glen; Rosario, Daisy; Searles, Jourdain; Klimek, Chris; Holmes, Linda (October 8, 2021). "What's making us happy: A guide for your weekend watching, listening and reading". NPR. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  38. "Dimension 20 Gets Its Sci-Fi Heist On with A Starstruck Odyssey". Gizmodo. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.