Dimension 20’s Dungeons & Drag Queens: A cultural reset for queer nerds

dungeon and drag queen This is a gift to the geek and LGBTQ+ community and brings both groups closer together.

The latest season of Dimension 20 (the 18th season) is more than just a gimmicky celebrity Dungeons & Dragons stream. In true Dimension 20 fashion, everyone at the table (even if they don’t fully understand the rules yet) is committed to the story they tell together. The result is a perfect representation of the spirit of Dropout, the art of drugs, and the magic of playing the first tabletop roleplaying game.

Fans admire indie streamer Dropout’s comprehensive program, dungeon and drag queen We accept the LGBTQ+ community on clear terms. However, while many D&D players (and Dimension 20 fans) I know are queer, most queer people I know don’t play D&D. It is said that it is not suitable for humans like us. Up until the last decade, they weren’t wrong at all.

For most of its history, the D&D system itself has not been a safe place for queer people and people of color. Early guidebooks were written to speak exclusively to white, cisgender, and heterosexual men. The main purpose of early D&D was to plunder the ruins of ancient civilizations and destroy the strongholds of what is essentially an evil race. Over the past decade, the rise of real-life theatrical shows like Dimension 20 and Critical Rolls has put even more power behind the collective push to decolonize (to varying degrees of success) the D&D norm. But even before that, marginalized people were thriving and forming communities in TTRPGs, despite an actively repressive system. This is what we have experienced for centuries.

Today, in a time when the LGBTQ+ community is under constant attack, dungeon and drag queen It’s a geeky, quirky beacon of joy. Throughout the miniseries, each of the four queens (Jujube, monet x change, Alaska Thunderfuckand drag queen bob) Experience the range of emotions evoked by your first D&D campaign. The first awkwardness of role-playing, the chaotic choices and tangents of new players making real-time social contracts, and the emotional transcendence of surrendering to the game and telling stories with those you love.

“I know this isn’t real…” Jujubee opened up about her emotional journey during an episode of the Dimension 20 talkback show adventure party (Season 13, Episode 2 “Blood and the Basement”). “We’re just getting out there and having a good time, but there’s a real energy put into a game like this. […] We’re all lost and experiencing this little made-up board game, but we have a goal. And the goal is to fix something. And I think everyone can relate to that. ”

dungeon and drag queen provides an easy and fun access point for queer people who can’t safely enter D&D’s complex (and sometimes infuriating) world of rules, lore, and roleplay. You can watch these 4 episodes and the next few. adventure partyunderstand the basics of the game and walk away.

Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan assumes no prior knowledge of the show’s four legendary queens. Master on Her DM for New Players In her class, Mulligan creates invisible bumpers to guide players playing her D&D for the first time. He explains all the mechanics patiently, comedically, and most importantly, in a way that keeps the momentum going. This yes-and-play style encourages a player’s commitment to the bit while also teaching new viewers that making big (and sometimes consequential) choices makes the game more fun, even if they don’t know which numbers to add or which dice to roll.

Image: Dimension 20/Dropout TV

Conversely, experienced TTRPG players with little exposure to the world of drag will be able to appreciate how extremely talented, charismatic, and entertaining these four queens are, and in rarer spaces a veteran player can clearly understand and relate to them. Once you understand how it works, all four naturally fall for the rhythm of this new medium and kill.

dungeon and drag queen (name courtesy borrowed) Seattle Imperon live show) subtly blends two seemingly unrelated art forms: drugs and real play.that It turns out that the two communities have more in common than originally thought. Both rely on a dedicated exchange of energy from everyone in the room. Both have been targeted by a false moral panic. Both involve embodying new identities for collective experience. Mulligan has said many times that playing D&D is like playing yourself filtered through stained glass. “That’s what stories are about, isn’t it?” Mulligan said. adventure party. “here, felt safely. […] If you want catharsis, if you want to feel sad, if you want to feel angry, if you want to empathize with someone, come to this story. ”

As Dimension 20 embodies not just this season, but throughout its program, D&D should be a safe place to be yourself. As a transgender DM and player, embodying character at the table allowed me to explore my own gender dimension in a safe space with people I trusted.

dungeon and drag queen We welcome such quests with open arms. It’s easy to see how this season of Dimension 20 has made ripples through queer culture, inspiring waves of people to explore, explore, and create a world in which we not only belong, but celebrate.

first episode of dungeon and drag queen It premiered on June 28, and you can watch it for free below. Dimension 20 YouTube Channel. The fourth and final episodes will be broadcast exclusively on July 19th. dropout.tv.