Chances are you have heard of “Dungeons & Dragons.” Whether it is because you or your family have been playing for years, or you encountered it on the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things,” D&D, as it is known, has become somewhat of a household name. Last year, the epic game received it’s own streaming channel, and with it, a new breed of television program.
While livestreaming of games has been on the internet for quite some time, actual playthoughs in that format have been geared towards the players in the game, and didn’t leave much room for novices to get into the action on screen. Not so with “Encounter Party.” From the moment the show starts, the production is all about the enjoyment of the person watching at home. The show’s premise lies on bringing something watchable to screen with talented actors with D&D knowledge joining each other in an adventure as six strangers. The opening episode starts with an epic battle, bringing you into the action immediately.
Beyond the talent of the cast, the show has a gorgeous set design, lighting, and music. Edited to show the audience the most vital parts of gameplay, “Encounter Party” does not waste the viewer’s time with side conversations or interludes. Many of the actions are explained with text on screen to help the novice understand what is going on without distracting from the action. Players interact in character, bringing their personalities to the six adventurers we can follow for 22 episodes. The action is quick, and the stunning miniature worlds and figurines help us see the adventure as it unfolds. The play sets for this show were amazing, and while the adventurers are played by actors, their reactions are real.
Dungeon Master Brian David Judkins begins the first episode by describing a horrific scene, a terrible foe, and tells the players to “roll intiative!” Signaling the beginning of combat, the cast is visibly shocked. They immediately launch into action, throwing everything they have at the lurking monstrosity. We have two characters down, four strangers fighting for their lives and a glimpse of what is to come for the 22-episode run.
“Encounter Party” succeeds where internet streams have come up short by treating the game as watchable television. This is a show for the entire family. While you might hear the occasional utterance of “dragonscat,” the cast keeps dialogue family-friendly. The focus is more on character arcs and how the rolls affect the action. You can become invested in what the characters do because they people playing them are playing from the heart, with dramatic effect.
Rounding out the cast are actors Sarah Babe, Ned Donovan, Landree Fleming, David Lee Huynh, Andrew Krug and Khary Payton. Six of these actors have been doing this as part of a podcast for three seasons in another game, so they mesh well with their new D&D campaign. Newcomer to the group, Khary plays a young barbarian seeking adventure, and goes with the flow from the beginning. These actors play in real time and react accordingly, so sometimes they are just as surprised as the audience when a dramatic turn looms.
If you’ve ever been curious about role playing games or already love them, give “Encounter Party” a watch. All episodes are streaming on the Plex app for smart TVs or via the Plex link at encounterparty.com.