Dimension 20

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This article is about the tabletop role-playing show. For n-dimensional mathematics, see Dimension § Additional dimensions.
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)
Chronology
Related showsThe Adventure Zone

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 fifteen or more episodes, and side quests, with rotating guests and lasting ten episodes or fewer.

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[]

Dimension 20 usually features its main cast as players (Ally Beardsley, Emily Axford, Lou Wilson, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, and Siobhan Thompson), but for alternating seasons nicknamed "side quests," the show invites guests to play for that season. As of June 2021, Dimension 20 has had four side quests: Escape from the Bloodkeep (featuring Matthew Mercer of Critical Role, and Erika Ishii of Vampire: The Masquerade- LA by Night), Tiny Heist (featuring the cast of The Adventure Zone), Pirates of Leviathan (featuring Marisha Ray of Critical Role, with Mercer returning), and Mice & Murder (featuring many CollegeHumor alum). Brennan Lee Mulligan is usually the Dungeon Master, but beginning with the ninth season, Misfits & Magic, the show adopted rotating Dungeon 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.

Campaign Episodes First aired Last aired Cast Description Ref.
Fantasy High 17 September 19, 2018 January 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

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 Bloodkeep 6 April 30, 2019 June 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

The show's first “side quest” season, a parody of 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 City 17 July 9, 2019 October 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

A modern-day campaign set in a magical version of 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 Year 20 October 16, 2019   April 3, 2020

See Fantasy High above

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 Heist 6 January 9, 2020 February 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 Candy 17 April 8, 2020 August 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
  • Zac Oyama as Lapin Cadbury & Cumulous Rocks

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 Leviathan 6 September 16, 2020 October 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

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 II 18 November 11, 2020 March 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

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 & Murder 10 April 7, 2021 June 9, 2021
  • Ally Beardsley as Lars Vandenchamp
  • 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

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 & Magic 4 June 30, 2021 July 21, 2021
  • Erika Ishii as Dream (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 Seven 10 August 18, 2021 October 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
 Dimension 20 returns to the Fantasy High setting with Mulligan as the DM; this campaign will focus on a teenage adventuring party who were "taken prisoner by the villains of Fantasy High: Freshman Year".[23] [23]
Shriek Week 4 November 10, 2021 December 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 Gabe Hicks. [24]
Misfits & Magic Holiday Special 1 December 15, 2021 N/A See Misfits & Magic above The Misfits & Magic cast returns in this one episode hoilday special. [25]
A Starstruck Odyssey 8 January 2022 TBA
  • Emily Axford
  • Brian Murphy
  • Ally Beardsley
  • Zac Oyama
  • Siobhan Thompson
  • Lou Wilson
 The main Dimension 20 cast returns in a campaign amongst the stars; the campaign will use TaleSpire to manage encounters and battles. The campaign will be set in the Starstruck universe, which was co-created by Elaine Lee (Mulligan's mother) and Michael Kaluta. [26][25]

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 after the episode was filmed.[27]

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]

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. ^ @dimension20show (16 June 2021). "✨Dimension 20: Misfits and Magic✨ Game Master: Aabria Iyengar (@quiddie) Cast: -Lou Wilson -Erika Ishii (…" (Tweet) – 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. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "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. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  9. ^ "Best D&D podcasts and web series, from Critical Role to High Rollers". Tech Radar. April 2, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Plante, Corey. "'Dimension 20' Season 3: Meet the D&D Cast of "Unsleeping City" (Exclusive)". Inverse. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  11. ^ "Dimension 20's The Unsleeping City Shows the Flexibility and Storytelling Power of Dungeons & Dragons". ComicBook.com. August 19, 2019. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  12. ^ "Queer Dungeons & Dragons Players Are Adventuring From Home". Advocate. 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. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  14. ^ "Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy shows the sweet and sour sides of nobility". The Peak. July 19, 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.
  16. ^ a b "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. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  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 2021-07-01.
  21. ^ "Dimension 20: Misfits and Magic Trailer". YouTube. Dimension 20. June 16, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  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" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ a b Good, Owen S. (2021-07-28). "Dimension 20 goes back to school with a new season this August". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  24. ^ a b Hall, Charlie (2021-10-27). "Dimension 20's next season is a 4-part series called Shriek Week". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
  25. ^ a b Dimension 20 [@dimension20show] (November 3, 2021). "Wanna know what Dimension 20 is bringing you this winter? Well, we have some good news... FAQ here: [link]" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ^ Dimension 20 [@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!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Dimension 20's Adventuring Party". Dropout.
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