Dungeon Master for Dropout’s Dimension 20Opens in a new tab, Brennan Lee Mulligan, recently participated in WIRED’s Tech Support series. He answered everyone’s burning questions on Dungeons & Dragons, effectively becoming D&D Support. Mulligan goes through over 30 of the internet’s most burning questions, from interesting D&D lore to how to play as a newbie. You can watch the video in its entirety below.
Have you ever wondered what D&D‘s most iconic monster is? In Mulligan’s opinion, it has to be a mimic, a monster disguised as a treasure chest because of how many adventurers are fooled by its appearance, hoping for loot instead of instead of a scary mouth. However, this is in opposition to Mulligan’s favorite monster, which is the Owlbear. “Why would you mix an owl and a bear together? Bears are more dangerous than owls. Just have a regular bear, but no, we made them half-owl,” joked Mulligan.
Also interesting is a Reddit user asking what pop culture representation of D&D has been best in movies or TV. Mulligan shouted out Stranger Things as one of them for showing people how D&D is “inherently social.” Additionally, the video game series, Baldur’s Gate, that takes place in the Forgotten Realms D&D campaign was a big eye-opener to those who don’t play the table top RPG on the nature of the game. Of course, no discussion of D&D pop culture is finished without mentioning Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which Mulligan says was good at highlighting the more goofy nature of a real D&D game.
Another question highlight: What is the golden rule for D&D or any TTRPG? Mulligan’s answer: “You’re playing with other human beings at the table. Stay tapped into what their experience is. Are they having fun? Are you all telling a story together? That is the measure of a great tabletop game.” I would have to agree and say that that advice extends past TTRPGs to all games you play with others.
Mulligan answers a variety of other questions in the video that he explains in depth, for example, the difference between a critical roll and nat 20. He also shouts out his new Dimension 20 show, Dungeons and Drag QueensOpens in a new tab, which recently concluded its second season. For more of Mulligan, check out his new series premiering April 2, Dimension 20: Titan TakedownOpens in a new tab, where four WWE wrestlers play a campaign with Mulligan at the helm.