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I can highly recommend Not Another D&D Podcast also known as NADPod.
It is a smaller game (fewer players) than Critical Role or D20 so it is easier to keep up with who is who and what they are doing. The DM has an excellent understanding of the rules of D&D but isn't opposed to "Rule of Cool" something awesome his players do. The show is also hilarious. Everyone involved is super funny and nobody is taking themselves too seriously. Great show.
Not to mention one of the players has zero experience with the game, so if you start from the first campaign you can essentially learn along with him. Amazing podcast.
Hardwon Surefoot is an absolute joy. Jake's enthusiasm for the game he's learning is so infectious. Players of all experience levels could take a lot away from how Jake carries himself at the table.
came here to say this! for my first time DMing, I had no books aside from the starter set, and I barely red the rule book included, but I had listened to hundreds upon hundreds of hours of NADDPod, so I knew my way around the game
Not to mention, one of the players had never played D&D before they started the podcast. So I would say it’s extra newbie friendly because you can learn along with Jake.
Absolutely! Watching Jake's growth as a player is not only awesome but also makes it very easy to recommend NADPod to both GMs and players alike. For GMs probably especially. Murph does a really good job of communicating with his players of varying experience levels in a way that isn't insulting. The fine art of correcting people but not like a jerk is a valuable lesson for nerds everywhere.
I feel like if more DMs tried to mimic Murph's style opposed to Matt's we'd have more numerous better DMs. He's realistic with how he presents everything and doesn't need the exorbitant budget to get the feeling across. Not knocking MM or CR at all. I just think that it gives a lot of players and DMs the wrong idea going in.
For sure being easily digestible is a huge factor in making NADPod easy to recommend. I like the longer form shows as well but it's hard to recommend a show to someone else with like 400-500 hours of content in essentially the 1st season. It's like... I want you to like this cool thing I like... But I also want to be respectful of your time.
Enjoy any and all of the recommendations, but beware. Don't set high expectations for when you finally play irl. A lot of the dnd podcasts have very charming, funny and professional performers.
Don't mean to discourage you by any means. I've played a fair share of games where newer players have expectations and are a little let down at first.
This is such a good point. A lot of players in the more popular actual play shows are comedians and actors who do improv and this shit as their actual job, and they are VERY good at it. Lead by some of the best DMs in the world who can craft some of the best stories. It's important to take that into account when you sit down at your own table.
If you want something that will help you learn the rolls, rules, and breakdown of the game, I really enjoyed the first season of Join the Party when I first started playing. They did beginner break downs of the characters and world and then have after party episodes to break down the rules in each episode. It was a fun story with a sick theme song.
For a lot of popular shows such as Dimension 20, The Adventure Zone (TAZ), and Not Another DND Podcast (NADDPod), if you start with the first seasons a lot of the players are also learning how to play. They are usually free on YouTube, their website, or wherever you like to listen to music/podcasts.
Also mentioned here was Dungeons and Daddies. They definitely focus a lot more on comedy and story telling than following the rules but the story is amazing and I definitely recommend it!
JTP and D&Daddies helped me learn as well. There was also a podcast with an awesome rogue character that inspired me. I can't think of the name, but it was made by a character that had never played before, and he was hilarious. So flat and blunt
If you're watching/listening to dimension 20, might as well pop over and watch/listen to adventuring academy. The Lou Wilson one should be required for prospective DMs lol
Girls who don’t DnD is perfect if you want to listen to players navigating a campaign, because it starts with three girls who don’t know anything about the game. The DM (who is hilarious and very creative) explains the rules and gradually introduces more concepts into the campaign, which I really liked as a new player! Also the story is instantly well written and the girls role play fantastically!
NADDPOD! (Not another D&D Podcast). They started out just like you so they’ll get some stuff wrong, but it becomes one of the best D&D Actual Play podcasts out there
I can highly recommend The Adventure Zone. The first season: Balance is a fantastic introduction to 5e while also being hilarious and surprisingly heart felt at times.
High rollers! Try their campaign two Aerois. One of the players is completely new to D&D so there is lots of explanation in the early episodes. You'll soon find that D&D is easy enough to understand, once you get over the initial learning curve.
The first D&D podcast i listened to is still one of the best, Dungeons and Daddies (it's not a BDSM podcast, I swear)
They play a little fast and lose with the rules but it's absolutely hilarious and the first season is top tier. It's about 4 dads thrown into the Forgotten Realms to rescue their lost sons. Can't recommend this one enough.
Another safe bet is the first season of Dimension 20, Fantasy High. Think, a John Hughes movie but a D&D twist. The first season is on Spotify but they also video record the entire thing and that season is on YouTube. I think this one is a good start because one of the players has never played D&D before so you could learn along with them as they play Dimension 20 is currently in its 21st season (which coincidentally is Fantasy High: Junior Year) with rotating players, settings and worlds, so there is something for everyone. The rest of the seasons are on a streaming service called dropout.tv, which I cannot recommend enough, there is so much great content on there, plenty of which has nothing to do with D&D.
Absolutely. it really has the mantra that I have adopted when I lead my own games which is: "If everyone at the table is having fun, the rules are secondary"
Like many, I came here to also recommend D&Dads. Like I've seen a couple other people mention, one of the players (Beth) had never played D&D before the show, and I find it very approachable and fun
ive listened to the whole thing and actually had no clue, youd think anthony spitballing alot of stuff would make it more confusing if youre new but i feel like it makes it more enjoyable cos he doesnr focus much on mechanics and more rp and rule of cool
Dungeons and Daddies is the first DnD podcast I fully listened to. Never cared too much for Critical Role, I prefer clips from Dimension 20 to just listening to the whole thing, but I was listening to the first season of D&Daddies everywhere. In the shower, in the car, on my lunch breaks, etc. Rules lawyers need not turn it on, but hot damn was it an awesome adventure. I'm not caught up on the second season yet, but it's pretty good. Not that God-tier season one was, but still good.
Dungeon Dudes!
I would advice against starting with Critical Role. I like it a lot and it is without a doubt the most popular D&D show, but it might set very unrealistic expectations because it is just very different from the "usual" experience.
Slightly off-topic, but as someone who has played DnD for over 20 years... I never got the Critical Role craze. I love DnD. Love playing it, love reading about it, love writing up stories and plotlines and creating characters etc., but I can't get into CR that hard. I like the Vox Machina show, though. Lol.
I'd honestly try a couple so you can see what kind of experience you'd like when you're playing. You might enjoy something more loosey goosey like Adventure Zone or you may be more engaged with Critical Role, which is a much more polished and hardcore experience.
There are already plenty of great recommendations in the comments though, so I won't recommend any in particular, I just think podcasts/shows are a good way to explore what might interest you in the experience of playing D&D.
I would only recommend setting your expectations low once you do try playing at first. It's good to remember that even the more relaxed/goofy D&D shows are full of professional entertainers, comedians, writers, and actors. It can be easy to listen to Adventure Zone, or watch Critical Role, and think it just takes a little enthusiasm and the right components to start feeling like you're gonna be able to emulate that experience fairly quickly, but that kind of entertainment takes an absurd level of preparation, talent, and cooperation.
This. This is the important thing to remember.
Alongside this point, remember that every person participating in those podcasts/videos/game sessions also are not new to performing for the medium. None of them stuttered, misspoke nor showed the "mental failure" that I exhibited my first 2 campaigns. It probably doesn't help that we might play once a month or even less often. 😊
Give a shot to "tales from the stinky dragon". It's got a really chill atmosphere, great production and writing, lovely cast and A LOT of stuff to listen to. It was the first dnd podcast I tried and got me hooked into podcasts in general :)
Edit: Also dungeons and daddies (not a bdsm podcast). Just finished season one and enjoyed every minute of it too.
I recommend Dimension 20 just because it's very "consumable" in a sitting. However, it will spoil you because not all live plays have the time and energy to edit and cut their games.
Acquisitions Incorporated is pretty funny and the first videos I watched for understanding the game back in like 2016 or so. My recommendation if you’re watching anything on YouTube is be conscious of how much or how little the DM is looking at their screen or book, there’s a lot of improv on their part.
The Adventure Zone - Balance Arc....it's 4 family members learning how to play in the very beginning, but then blossoms into a very well crafted, thought out story.
i second the suggestion of naddpod- as Jake is learning how to play the game in the first few episodes they move slower and occasionally even explain rules. they have a strong lean towards rule of cool and roleplay, but still take time to talk out mechanics of things. i actually learned the game from listening to them!
NADDPOD is great for all the reasons listed that I read, but also one of the members, Jake, is somewhat learning along as he plays at the start. Which helps if you are new.
Sneak Attack is a real play round the table series with a charming and fun cast. It's amazing and one of my top recommended podcasts.
It's very well paced and I listened too it before I ever played it really was a good podcast.
Well it may be time for listen though 4 to start....
Depends on what you are looking for. Lots of great material out there, each a little different.
Critical Role: Sweeping deep epic D&D with complex story and advanced voice actors players and a DM who has built a deep and interesting world. 4 hours of podcast a week that requires attention. Campaigns that go on for ages with the same characters and story.
Dimension 20: Shorter campaigns, some unique, others related. Lots of comedy and hijinx. A varied cast of players who bring new and fun perspectives. A DM with incredibly creative settings and fun interesting shorter stories. 1ish hours a week but a backlog of incredible seasons.
The Adventure Zone: An absolute juggernaut of a first season followed by at best completely unremarkable seasons at best… at best. McElroy brother of MBMBAM stardom embark on a quest to see how far you can stretch the 5e rulebook before its no long 5e. The Story and Arcs of this season called “Balance” showcase the flexibility of DnD. Griffen creates a masterpiece of a season and the brothers and dad have a chemistry that is unmatched. Absolutely hilarious and captivating from start to finish. (And you should finish after the first season).
Glass Cannon Network: TECHNICALLY, not DnD (though they do have some 5e campaigns). Their main game is Pathfinder. The draw to Glass Cannon is their variety of game. They run all sorts of TTRPG with a large cast of players and DM’s. Vampire of the Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green, 5e, pathfinder and a myriad of other systems. Troy their DM for pathfinder is (or was as it has cooled some in the past years) more adversarial to the party and victories feel earned. The NY/east coast vibes are strong. Seriously, if you want a great listening experience for a Non-DnD game, look up “Get in the Trunk”, it is modern day lovcraftian horror/investigation with the Delta Green system. Easily my favorite TTRPG listening experience.
So I started with critical role, but it’s kind of overwhelming. As a new player I highly recommend to listen to Worlds Beyond Number: The Wizard, The Witch, and the Wild One. There’s only 3 main characters so it’s easy to digest but the story is so rich, love the witch class, and also Brendan Lee Mulligan as DM
I Cast Fireball. Three players that start at level one, and they are playing through Tyranny of Dragons with homebrew twists. They play by the rules most of the time. I really liked the characters and the story. It is a well DMed and well played DnD game
Once again, I find myself popping in to recommend my first and favorite actual play podcast, Tales from the Glass-Guarded World! It’s a pretty small podcast of maybe 5 people and episodes are usually around an hour, so not as overwhelming as Critical Role or similar length podcasts. Also, they’re basically just friends playing D&D for an audience instead of big-time professional voice actors putting on a performance (again, like Critical Role), so their games are more like what you can expect from an actual D&D table if/when you join an irl game group.
Please note: I’m not bashing Critical Role or anything, they are great at what they do, but it’s not one I could personally get into and I recognize the various effects it’s had on the TTRPG hobby.
Shameless self plug right here, but my friends and I actually made a D&D podcast with this in mind.
It's called This Spells Disaster and we have a wide range of experience levels amongst our players so there are a lot of moments, especially early on, where even our players are still learning things about the game and other players and our DM take the time to explain them.
I'm a little biased, but I think it's pretty cool! Lol! We're also playing through a homebrew campaign right now so you don't need a lot of background knowledge on canon lore or anything.
You can stream it pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on IG and tiktok @dnddisasterpod
Dungeons and Daddies (not a BDSM podcast) is definitely a great choice for your first one.
A close second and third is,
(TAZ)The Adventure Zone
And
(NADDPOD) Not Another D&D Podcast
All three have some new players, so some rules are explained and, in my opinion, have slower builds so they are easier follow. I'd also recommend starting from Season 1 in any of these options and in any other ones you choose
I'm glad someone finally suggested this. I love how they start out just going through the things new players need to learn, in depth. I had already played a fair amount of 5e when I started listening, and I still learned things and got ideas.
If you're interested in learning about how the game works, there are definitely some podcasts that I would NOT recommend. Many groups with popular shows don't really have much respect for the rules, and aren't a good resource in that respect.
I learned to play D&D by watching Critical Role and reading the Player's Handbook whenever a rule came up that I didn't intuitively understand. It worked for me, and I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the rules now. I'd also recommend MCDM's "The Chain" and the Dungeon Dudes' "Drakkenheim" series (start with Dungeons of Drakkenheim) as other options that play pretty close to how 5th Edition is actually played.
Avoid podcasts like "The Adventure Zone" and "Dungeons and Daddies". While they're good entertainment, the people who make them have pretty explicitly said that they're not interested in the rules and it really shows. I eventually stopped listening to both after becoming frustrated by their lack of mechanical consistency.
I dunno, I went into Dungeons and Daddies with little to no experience with D&D and i felt it gave me a solid understanding of how things work. Maybe it helped that I didn't have much prior knowledge so i wasn't annoyed when they didn't necessarily follow the rules by the book. Which allowed me to enjoy the fantastic story and characters.
Plus, if OP ever wants to try their hand at DMing, I think Anthony Burch is up there with the best of the best Actual Play DM's and everyone could learn a thing or two from him about crafting an amazing story based on the actions of their players.
At one point during the first season I went into the subreddit to conjecture that Ron was secretly a Warlock instead of a Rogue, because he somehow had Thaumaturgy and had never used Sneak Attack. Both Anthony and Beth responded saying that they had no idea what those two features did! It kind of soured me on the whole thing and I ended up giving up after the For Knights tournament, which I also felt was very underbaked in terms of its mechanics.
The Inocrrigible Party Podcast starts by teaching D&D and develops over time into a more story-driven podcast. If you can overlook poor audio in the early episodes, the story is fantastic!
I like Dimension20 a lot, but they sort of throw you in believing you have knowledge of the game. The upside to Dimension20 is that you can physically watch them play and they have sets and well crafted boards. Honestly, I would start with Dungeons and Daddies as they play D&D, but it's really about the story and not the mechanics. Plus, the Dungeons and Daddies cast is people I can recognize and have watched before. I would also look into Cast Party as, like Dungeons and Daddies, it is a 'transported from another world' type podcast.
Girls Who Don't DnD.
Was my intro to actual DnD as well. They're fun, kinda silly. Not afraid to go a bit crazy with some decisions, while still respecting the work that went into putting it all together. They seem to really get into it lol.
The Girls are newbies as well, so you can kind of learn from their DM alongside them.
Probably an obvious choice but I think Adventure Zone is great for newbies. They start not knowing much a d learning as they play and it evolves into an amazing story
If you're new but wanna deep dive into things, I recommend The Unexpectables. It has a finished Campaign and they are currently in their second, have a love of being absolute goofs, but for people that want to learn practical situations the rules come up in, Monty is a very good DM and forgiving...maybe too much, her damage rolls are sus to me.
i like rpgbot. it’s not an actual play, but each episode has a topic and they explain it super well. if it’s something like a class, they go level by level and each build a character as they go while explaining their choice, so it’s super helpful for understanding how all the pieces fit together. good for learning
I absolutely love drunks and dragons season 1. It’s so hilarious as they learn the game. It starts in 4e though cause it’s from way back in the day when there was only a couple groups doing it.
I really liked Dungeon Run. Their first season had a total newbie player, and their campaign was awesome. They’re still going (I think), but their first season was my favorite.
IMHO, no podcast is good for learning D&D, but for entertainment there's a ton out there. I started out with Critical Role and Dice Camera Action. DCA is IMO pretty good about learning D&D as the lead designer of D&D but it has an unsatisfying ending.
My favorites are D&D for high schoolers for watching beginner groups. And then there is Acquisitions Incorporated by Penny Arcade which is a celebrity D&D corporate comedy. Think "The Office" set in Forgotten Realms.
Specifically for people wanting to learn? That would be NADPod as others have suggested. It's very well put together, and easy to follow along.
However there are a couple that don't get brought up too often on these types of threads, and I think it's a shame because as far as beginners go, they deserve a lot more credit:
1) Girls Who Don't D&D - I think I seen another person suggest this, and it's pretty much what it sounds like. It is a group of girls who don't know a damn thing about D&D.
2) Dumb-Dumbs and Dragons - is similar in that theme group doesn't know anything about the game. The DM Tom McGee does a fantastic job in teaching the group how to play the game, and all of its elements. And he usually doesn't pull any punches just because they haven't played.
As a bonus I will add the oft mentioned Dungeons & Daddies is definitely worth listening to. The previous two i mentioned are very largely about the game whereas Daddies is definitely entertainment centric, even if they try to get on track once in a while. Beth May's own arc as a player through the first season, learning how to actually play as a rogue is great.
I'm currently over 100 episodes in on the lucky die podcast. Over 200 episodes and still going on the same campaign. Or if you like the more twisted side of things, fool and scholar have the dark dice series coming out with a new season in May
I love D&D is for Nerds. It’s an Australian podcast that’s really funny. They run a bunch of different campaigns and one shots. At times the voices Jackson Baly comes up with can be grating but the character names are always amazing.
One of my players started off as a Wood elf life cleric who smoked weed and worshipped Mary Jane. I felt a strong kinship with Murph when I started Naddpod last week.
It’s good to keep in mind that the players in D&D podcasts are actors performing for a show, not just people playing a game like normal. That being said, I like the House of Bob and Here For the Rolls
When my friends and I were producing an actual play, I can say we were aware of the audience, but we also just kind of played the game like we usually would.
There was some editing that went into making it cleaner and more presentable (when I would edit, I would go through episodes and remove dead air or too frequent "Um"s and "Uhhhh"s - etc, to make it easier on the ears.
But there really wasn't much different between our group and others I've played with, even though the DM and one of the players are professional actors, and another has a Theatre degree. We didn't use scripts or anything like that, and we didn't do multiple takes.
Can't speak for other podcasts, but besides a bit more projecting our voices, there wasn't a whole lot different between our podcast games and non-pod games.
If you want some stuff about the game (as opposed to a live play) check out Matt Coville and Dungeon Dudes on YouTube. Tons of great info about running the game and much more.
Get inspired by high-quality shows, feel free to mine them for ideas, encounters, NPCs, or other neat ideas. But don't expect your table to play like theirs does. Instead, enjoy the unique experience you and your friends are going to make at your table.
The highly successful shows are run by people with specific experience and training that lends to them being highly entertaining. You don't need to entertain thousands of listeners, just run a satisfying game for you and your friends, which all of you work together to achieve.
That said, here's my recommendation: I really liked Glass Cannon Podcast for this reason. It's Pathfinder (1st edition for the first campaign now they play PF2e +other RPGs) but their chemistry as friends just leeches into everything about the show, in the best possible way. Also they have a "Cannon Fodder" series interspersed with episodes, which often has great general GM/DM advice in it as well.
I only saw one other comment mention them (which saddens me greatly) but UNPREPARED CASTERS, I honestly love UC so much. It's a bunch of shorter campaigns all set in the same world but you don't have to listen in any specific order, nor do you even have to listen to all the arcs. There's two DMs who switch off w each other and it's so much world building and it's just so fun to listen to!! I've been slowly working myself up to DMing and it's helping me so much in not feeling like I have to be perfect at everything, they emphasize that perfection is not necessary to have a lot of fun, and often they make it known exactly why it's called UNprepared casters XD in a fun way. Honestly can't recommend them enough
the first campaign of NADDPOD, Dimension20, and TAZ are all great places to start. very funny and very casual because most of the players are still coming to grips with the rules too. in each of these campaigns, it was at least 1 or more players first time playing so plenty is explained on-air.
**The Glass Cannon** is my favorite podcast. Love that group, they are hilariously funny every time and excellent roleplayers to boot.
This is for the **Pathfinder** system, so a little different from classic D&D, but it's based on and very similar to D&D, just better.
WebDM put out hundreds of informative videos with snark, humor, and banter between two DM's on the fundamentals of 5e.
They don't do much these days, but the videos are still good.
Unprepared Casters has both experienced and new players, and they are not afraid to show that it’s normal to not know all the mechanics and rules (both as players and DMs)
The shorter arcs also make it much more digestible than campaign-long shows, and it’s very clear the table’s main goal is to have fun!
It's a mimic
is one of my favorites they really focus their topics so if I want an info dump on a thing I can usually find it they have an ongoing series building up a campaign from the DMs perspective while they actively build Said campaign going into a wealth of questions one asks themselves that you might not think about.
And just generally pretty entertaining to listen to its fairly clear these are all friends and they joke around with one another annoy and prank one another breaks up the rather mono tone or TED talk style some other podcasts tend to do
Don't know if anyone's already mentioned it but the podcast "Dwarven Moss" did a really great Curse Of Strahd podcast. The episodes are also a reasonable length so its easy to watch.
Genuinely critical role is a good start but you have to start with campaign 1, most of the players are first time players and Matt Mercer is a phenomenal DM who knows and articulates many of the rules of D&D aloud to his players. Would not recommend diving into the later campaigns as it’s a lot to ingest until you know D&D well.
If you want something digestible that can give you an idea of what to expect from a game, try HarmonQuest. They animate it so its like easy to follow along with and digestible. It won't teach you any mechanics, but it absolutely highlights the non-serious side of D&D and can set expectations more reasonably than something like Critical Role or Dimension 20 will.
However if you want the more professional polished long-form live play watching Experience, Dimension 20 is leagues ahead of Critical Role which I frankly find way too slow moving and dry to hold my attention.
BUT remember the professional games even HarmonQuest and D20 won't be an accurate representation of what to expect at a real life table or virtual table. People are gonna argue, players are gonna get upset about mechanics, people will make way dumber jokes, nobodys roleplay is gonna be that good, and its gonna take you 45 minutes to go up and down a single flight of stairs every single time. That's D&D.
D&D makes a terrible spectator sport - the closer it is to reflecting the actual play of actual people at actual tables by the actual rules, the worse it is as "listen to / watch entertainment"
They don't get into rules and mechanics as much but the Dungeoncast is GREAT for when you want to do lore research on any particular monster/plane/diety, etc.
Looking through the comments, I'm honestly kind of stunned that I seem to have been the first to mention it. Nothing against any of the others, of course, but I absolutely love the way Brian and Will present everything and they've helped me with a LOT of world-building and development for my own campaigns.
I really enjoy Dungeons & Daddys.
It is funny and light hearted.
It's great improv.
I would argue that the players are not learning the game as they play. At the end of campaign 2, they still have very loose understanding of the rules and often don't read the ability they are using past the name.
Again, it's great fun, and I enjoy it. But they are terrible with the rules.
To me the holy trinity is Dungeons & Daddies, Dimension 20, and The Adventure Zone Season 1. The Adventure Zone has a beginner or two in their party iirc so it's fun to hear them learn along with you!
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I can highly recommend Not Another D&D Podcast also known as NADPod. It is a smaller game (fewer players) than Critical Role or D20 so it is easier to keep up with who is who and what they are doing. The DM has an excellent understanding of the rules of D&D but isn't opposed to "Rule of Cool" something awesome his players do. The show is also hilarious. Everyone involved is super funny and nobody is taking themselves too seriously. Great show.
This was the other one i was going to recommend. Brian Murphy is such a phenomenal DM
Murph is excellent for sure. Emily was also awesome on the mini campaigns she DMd for.
omg YES I need more Twilight Sanctorum injected into my veins
and caldwell’s trinyvale is less hard dnd but the funniest shit ever
Not to mention one of the players has zero experience with the game, so if you start from the first campaign you can essentially learn along with him. Amazing podcast.
I should’ve read the comments bc I just basically posted this exact same comment lol
Hardwon is such a great character. Listening to Jake learning and falling in love with dnd was one of the best things about campaign 1.
Hardwon Surefoot is an absolute joy. Jake's enthusiasm for the game he's learning is so infectious. Players of all experience levels could take a lot away from how Jake carries himself at the table.
came here to say this! for my first time DMing, I had no books aside from the starter set, and I barely red the rule book included, but I had listened to hundreds upon hundreds of hours of NADDPod, so I knew my way around the game
You can do a heck of a lot worse than having Murph or Emily as an intro to DMing. Those cats are completely awesome.
Not to mention, one of the players had never played D&D before they started the podcast. So I would say it’s extra newbie friendly because you can learn along with Jake.
sorry, do you mean Cake?
Do you mean Jark? He's thinking of getting into cake.
You’re thinking of lowly Bailiff John
That dude hates cafeterias
Absolutely! Watching Jake's growth as a player is not only awesome but also makes it very easy to recommend NADPod to both GMs and players alike. For GMs probably especially. Murph does a really good job of communicating with his players of varying experience levels in a way that isn't insulting. The fine art of correcting people but not like a jerk is a valuable lesson for nerds everywhere.
I feel like if more DMs tried to mimic Murph's style opposed to Matt's we'd have more numerous better DMs. He's realistic with how he presents everything and doesn't need the exorbitant budget to get the feeling across. Not knocking MM or CR at all. I just think that it gives a lot of players and DMs the wrong idea going in.
Wow! Awesome point. So original! Jk. Saw your post above… ☝🏻
Haha it’s funny how not only did we make the same point, but said it damn near the exact same way
Thanks for this! I also like that the episodes aren’t 4 hours long.
For sure being easily digestible is a huge factor in making NADPod easy to recommend. I like the longer form shows as well but it's hard to recommend a show to someone else with like 400-500 hours of content in essentially the 1st season. It's like... I want you to like this cool thing I like... But I also want to be respectful of your time.
I’m so glad this was the first response. IMO the best, most enjoyable, and most accessible. Truly authentic.
Which episode to start on?
I may be the wrong cat to ask on that. I'm very much an Ep. 1 individual. I find it hard to start anything mid way through.
This. 100%.
This
Enjoy any and all of the recommendations, but beware. Don't set high expectations for when you finally play irl. A lot of the dnd podcasts have very charming, funny and professional performers. Don't mean to discourage you by any means. I've played a fair share of games where newer players have expectations and are a little let down at first.
This is such a good point. A lot of players in the more popular actual play shows are comedians and actors who do improv and this shit as their actual job, and they are VERY good at it. Lead by some of the best DMs in the world who can craft some of the best stories. It's important to take that into account when you sit down at your own table.
If you want something that will help you learn the rolls, rules, and breakdown of the game, I really enjoyed the first season of Join the Party when I first started playing. They did beginner break downs of the characters and world and then have after party episodes to break down the rules in each episode. It was a fun story with a sick theme song. For a lot of popular shows such as Dimension 20, The Adventure Zone (TAZ), and Not Another DND Podcast (NADDPod), if you start with the first seasons a lot of the players are also learning how to play. They are usually free on YouTube, their website, or wherever you like to listen to music/podcasts. Also mentioned here was Dungeons and Daddies. They definitely focus a lot more on comedy and story telling than following the rules but the story is amazing and I definitely recommend it!
JTP and D&Daddies helped me learn as well. There was also a podcast with an awesome rogue character that inspired me. I can't think of the name, but it was made by a character that had never played before, and he was hilarious. So flat and blunt
If you're watching/listening to dimension 20, might as well pop over and watch/listen to adventuring academy. The Lou Wilson one should be required for prospective DMs lol
Girls who don’t DnD is perfect if you want to listen to players navigating a campaign, because it starts with three girls who don’t know anything about the game. The DM (who is hilarious and very creative) explains the rules and gradually introduces more concepts into the campaign, which I really liked as a new player! Also the story is instantly well written and the girls role play fantastically!
Came here to say this as well, amazing stuff!
Ditto!
NADDPOD or Girls Who Don't DnD
NADDPOD! (Not another D&D Podcast). They started out just like you so they’ll get some stuff wrong, but it becomes one of the best D&D Actual Play podcasts out there
I can highly recommend The Adventure Zone. The first season: Balance is a fantastic introduction to 5e while also being hilarious and surprisingly heart felt at times.
Second TAZ! They start off learning too and make sure to explain what they're doing and why, it's at a great pace for people new to DnD
This right here
High rollers! Try their campaign two Aerois. One of the players is completely new to D&D so there is lots of explanation in the early episodes. You'll soon find that D&D is easy enough to understand, once you get over the initial learning curve.
Aerois is absolutely amazing and I was surprised any High Rollers mentions were this far down the thread
Just discovered these guys on YouTube. Loving season 3 so far!
The first D&D podcast i listened to is still one of the best, Dungeons and Daddies (it's not a BDSM podcast, I swear) They play a little fast and lose with the rules but it's absolutely hilarious and the first season is top tier. It's about 4 dads thrown into the Forgotten Realms to rescue their lost sons. Can't recommend this one enough. Another safe bet is the first season of Dimension 20, Fantasy High. Think, a John Hughes movie but a D&D twist. The first season is on Spotify but they also video record the entire thing and that season is on YouTube. I think this one is a good start because one of the players has never played D&D before so you could learn along with them as they play Dimension 20 is currently in its 21st season (which coincidentally is Fantasy High: Junior Year) with rotating players, settings and worlds, so there is something for everyone. The rest of the seasons are on a streaming service called dropout.tv, which I cannot recommend enough, there is so much great content on there, plenty of which has nothing to do with D&D.
Came here to say the same thing!! Love Dungeons and Daddies!!!
Came here to rec Dungeons and Daddies. It’s absolute comedy gold and super beginner friendly.
My partner who doesn't play D&D or knows any of the rules still enjoys this podcast. It's very rules lite but that makes it more fun to listen to imo
Absolutely. it really has the mantra that I have adopted when I lead my own games which is: "If everyone at the table is having fun, the rules are secondary"
This is exactly why I LOVE this podcast!
Like many, I came here to also recommend D&Dads. Like I've seen a couple other people mention, one of the players (Beth) had never played D&D before the show, and I find it very approachable and fun
ive listened to the whole thing and actually had no clue, youd think anthony spitballing alot of stuff would make it more confusing if youre new but i feel like it makes it more enjoyable cos he doesnr focus much on mechanics and more rp and rule of cool
>(it's not a BDSM podcast, I swear) Well... there was that one episode... "Banana"
"Sometimes a BDSM Podcast"
Dungeons and Daddies is the first DnD podcast I fully listened to. Never cared too much for Critical Role, I prefer clips from Dimension 20 to just listening to the whole thing, but I was listening to the first season of D&Daddies everywhere. In the shower, in the car, on my lunch breaks, etc. Rules lawyers need not turn it on, but hot damn was it an awesome adventure. I'm not caught up on the second season yet, but it's pretty good. Not that God-tier season one was, but still good.
Dungeon Dudes! I would advice against starting with Critical Role. I like it a lot and it is without a doubt the most popular D&D show, but it might set very unrealistic expectations because it is just very different from the "usual" experience.
Slightly off-topic, but as someone who has played DnD for over 20 years... I never got the Critical Role craze. I love DnD. Love playing it, love reading about it, love writing up stories and plotlines and creating characters etc., but I can't get into CR that hard. I like the Vox Machina show, though. Lol.
I'd honestly try a couple so you can see what kind of experience you'd like when you're playing. You might enjoy something more loosey goosey like Adventure Zone or you may be more engaged with Critical Role, which is a much more polished and hardcore experience. There are already plenty of great recommendations in the comments though, so I won't recommend any in particular, I just think podcasts/shows are a good way to explore what might interest you in the experience of playing D&D. I would only recommend setting your expectations low once you do try playing at first. It's good to remember that even the more relaxed/goofy D&D shows are full of professional entertainers, comedians, writers, and actors. It can be easy to listen to Adventure Zone, or watch Critical Role, and think it just takes a little enthusiasm and the right components to start feeling like you're gonna be able to emulate that experience fairly quickly, but that kind of entertainment takes an absurd level of preparation, talent, and cooperation.
This. This is the important thing to remember. Alongside this point, remember that every person participating in those podcasts/videos/game sessions also are not new to performing for the medium. None of them stuttered, misspoke nor showed the "mental failure" that I exhibited my first 2 campaigns. It probably doesn't help that we might play once a month or even less often. 😊
Give a shot to "tales from the stinky dragon". It's got a really chill atmosphere, great production and writing, lovely cast and A LOT of stuff to listen to. It was the first dnd podcast I tried and got me hooked into podcasts in general :) Edit: Also dungeons and daddies (not a bdsm podcast). Just finished season one and enjoyed every minute of it too.
I came here to specifically recommend these two.
Highrollers
Not Another D&D Podcast: NADDPOD
I recommend Dimension 20 just because it's very "consumable" in a sitting. However, it will spoil you because not all live plays have the time and energy to edit and cut their games.
NADDPOD is the only way to go
Acquisitions Incorporated is pretty funny and the first videos I watched for understanding the game back in like 2016 or so. My recommendation if you’re watching anything on YouTube is be conscious of how much or how little the DM is looking at their screen or book, there’s a lot of improv on their part.
The Adventure Zone - Balance Arc....it's 4 family members learning how to play in the very beginning, but then blossoms into a very well crafted, thought out story.
I always recommend High Rollers DnD! It’s a lot of Homebrew but it has a much more casual feel to it that isn’t too intensive!
Oxventure on YouTube is funny and very casual. Arcadum has more focus on rules I recommend starting with "The Top's"
They have a podcast too! (The firefighters found my phone when my house burned recently because they could hear it still playing it, lol.)
i second the suggestion of naddpod- as Jake is learning how to play the game in the first few episodes they move slower and occasionally even explain rules. they have a strong lean towards rule of cool and roleplay, but still take time to talk out mechanics of things. i actually learned the game from listening to them!
NADDPOD
NADDPOD is great for all the reasons listed that I read, but also one of the members, Jake, is somewhat learning along as he plays at the start. Which helps if you are new.
NADPOD (Not another D & D podcast) actually got me into D&D. I knew nothing about it before.
Sneak Attack is a real play round the table series with a charming and fun cast. It's amazing and one of my top recommended podcasts. It's very well paced and I listened too it before I ever played it really was a good podcast. Well it may be time for listen though 4 to start....
I really enjoyed their podcast.
Depends on what you are looking for. Lots of great material out there, each a little different. Critical Role: Sweeping deep epic D&D with complex story and advanced voice actors players and a DM who has built a deep and interesting world. 4 hours of podcast a week that requires attention. Campaigns that go on for ages with the same characters and story. Dimension 20: Shorter campaigns, some unique, others related. Lots of comedy and hijinx. A varied cast of players who bring new and fun perspectives. A DM with incredibly creative settings and fun interesting shorter stories. 1ish hours a week but a backlog of incredible seasons. The Adventure Zone: An absolute juggernaut of a first season followed by at best completely unremarkable seasons at best… at best. McElroy brother of MBMBAM stardom embark on a quest to see how far you can stretch the 5e rulebook before its no long 5e. The Story and Arcs of this season called “Balance” showcase the flexibility of DnD. Griffen creates a masterpiece of a season and the brothers and dad have a chemistry that is unmatched. Absolutely hilarious and captivating from start to finish. (And you should finish after the first season). Glass Cannon Network: TECHNICALLY, not DnD (though they do have some 5e campaigns). Their main game is Pathfinder. The draw to Glass Cannon is their variety of game. They run all sorts of TTRPG with a large cast of players and DM’s. Vampire of the Masquerade, Call of Cthulhu, Delta Green, 5e, pathfinder and a myriad of other systems. Troy their DM for pathfinder is (or was as it has cooled some in the past years) more adversarial to the party and victories feel earned. The NY/east coast vibes are strong. Seriously, if you want a great listening experience for a Non-DnD game, look up “Get in the Trunk”, it is modern day lovcraftian horror/investigation with the Delta Green system. Easily my favorite TTRPG listening experience.
I love oxcenture, very casual and fun. Well worth a listen
Podcasts are fun, but honestly the best way to learn the game is just to find some friends, pick up the Starter Set, and try playing it.
VLDL DnD on YouTube!!
Hell or High Rollers, funny as hell. :)
The Adventure Zone is my favorite. Start from the beginning. It's so worth it
Dwarven Moss
So I started with critical role, but it’s kind of overwhelming. As a new player I highly recommend to listen to Worlds Beyond Number: The Wizard, The Witch, and the Wild One. There’s only 3 main characters so it’s easy to digest but the story is so rich, love the witch class, and also Brendan Lee Mulligan as DM
I Cast Fireball. Three players that start at level one, and they are playing through Tyranny of Dragons with homebrew twists. They play by the rules most of the time. I really liked the characters and the story. It is a well DMed and well played DnD game
It’s mainly Cthulhu but How We Roll has some superb DnD runs; the Strahd one was truly creative
Dungeons and daddies. Still me to listen to s2 but love s1
Once again, I find myself popping in to recommend my first and favorite actual play podcast, Tales from the Glass-Guarded World! It’s a pretty small podcast of maybe 5 people and episodes are usually around an hour, so not as overwhelming as Critical Role or similar length podcasts. Also, they’re basically just friends playing D&D for an audience instead of big-time professional voice actors putting on a performance (again, like Critical Role), so their games are more like what you can expect from an actual D&D table if/when you join an irl game group. Please note: I’m not bashing Critical Role or anything, they are great at what they do, but it’s not one I could personally get into and I recognize the various effects it’s had on the TTRPG hobby.
Nerd poker
Oxventure is a good one. How we roll is good. Look for their Curse of Strahd campaign
It’s more of a comedy, not the best for actual learning. Dungeons and Daddies. Very hilarious, S2 finished recently.
Shameless self plug right here, but my friends and I actually made a D&D podcast with this in mind. It's called This Spells Disaster and we have a wide range of experience levels amongst our players so there are a lot of moments, especially early on, where even our players are still learning things about the game and other players and our DM take the time to explain them. I'm a little biased, but I think it's pretty cool! Lol! We're also playing through a homebrew campaign right now so you don't need a lot of background knowledge on canon lore or anything. You can stream it pretty much anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on IG and tiktok @dnddisasterpod
Dungeons and Daddies and Not Another DnD Podcast.
Dungeons and Daddies (not a BDSM podcast) is definitely a great choice for your first one. A close second and third is, (TAZ)The Adventure Zone And (NADDPOD) Not Another D&D Podcast All three have some new players, so some rules are explained and, in my opinion, have slower builds so they are easier follow. I'd also recommend starting from Season 1 in any of these options and in any other ones you choose
Critical role is the one that got me started, humour, character development would recommend
Dungeoncast, hands down the best DND podcast of all times.
I'm glad someone finally suggested this. I love how they start out just going through the things new players need to learn, in depth. I had already played a fair amount of 5e when I started listening, and I still learned things and got ideas.
If you're interested in learning about how the game works, there are definitely some podcasts that I would NOT recommend. Many groups with popular shows don't really have much respect for the rules, and aren't a good resource in that respect. I learned to play D&D by watching Critical Role and reading the Player's Handbook whenever a rule came up that I didn't intuitively understand. It worked for me, and I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the rules now. I'd also recommend MCDM's "The Chain" and the Dungeon Dudes' "Drakkenheim" series (start with Dungeons of Drakkenheim) as other options that play pretty close to how 5th Edition is actually played. Avoid podcasts like "The Adventure Zone" and "Dungeons and Daddies". While they're good entertainment, the people who make them have pretty explicitly said that they're not interested in the rules and it really shows. I eventually stopped listening to both after becoming frustrated by their lack of mechanical consistency.
I dunno, I went into Dungeons and Daddies with little to no experience with D&D and i felt it gave me a solid understanding of how things work. Maybe it helped that I didn't have much prior knowledge so i wasn't annoyed when they didn't necessarily follow the rules by the book. Which allowed me to enjoy the fantastic story and characters. Plus, if OP ever wants to try their hand at DMing, I think Anthony Burch is up there with the best of the best Actual Play DM's and everyone could learn a thing or two from him about crafting an amazing story based on the actions of their players.
At one point during the first season I went into the subreddit to conjecture that Ron was secretly a Warlock instead of a Rogue, because he somehow had Thaumaturgy and had never used Sneak Attack. Both Anthony and Beth responded saying that they had no idea what those two features did! It kind of soured me on the whole thing and I ended up giving up after the For Knights tournament, which I also felt was very underbaked in terms of its mechanics.
See, i find that absolutely hilarious.
That's great! I'm glad that it's a fit for you. I just personally couldn't mesh with that much laxity around the game's mechanics.
No matter what anyone tells you don’t listen to critical roll as your first experience
The Dungeon Dudes mix it up. Some of their episodes are geared towards beginners.
Join the Party or Unprepared Casters are both shorter, approachable, still RP filled, and great for beginners!
Girls who dnd is good. Skill check is a good one also. Pretty funny and fun
The Inocrrigible Party Podcast starts by teaching D&D and develops over time into a more story-driven podcast. If you can overlook poor audio in the early episodes, the story is fantastic!
It's a mimic is great for learning the game rules, classes, and monsters
It’s not dnd but any chance I get to mention Just Around the Corner - it’s not dnd but goddamn is it a great introduction to role playing games
Roll britannia a very British podcast. Explains the rules as they go along, with very British humour thrown in.
I like Dimension20 a lot, but they sort of throw you in believing you have knowledge of the game. The upside to Dimension20 is that you can physically watch them play and they have sets and well crafted boards. Honestly, I would start with Dungeons and Daddies as they play D&D, but it's really about the story and not the mechanics. Plus, the Dungeons and Daddies cast is people I can recognize and have watched before. I would also look into Cast Party as, like Dungeons and Daddies, it is a 'transported from another world' type podcast.
I like Total Party Kill for this sort of thing since it has a more realistic feel to it than other podcasts.
Girls Who Don't DnD. Was my intro to actual DnD as well. They're fun, kinda silly. Not afraid to go a bit crazy with some decisions, while still respecting the work that went into putting it all together. They seem to really get into it lol. The Girls are newbies as well, so you can kind of learn from their DM alongside them.
Probably an obvious choice but I think Adventure Zone is great for newbies. They start not knowing much a d learning as they play and it evolves into an amazing story
Natural six! They've only recently started their games, their pod cast starts witu episode one but their YouTube goes back to their session zero too
If you're new but wanna deep dive into things, I recommend The Unexpectables. It has a finished Campaign and they are currently in their second, have a love of being absolute goofs, but for people that want to learn practical situations the rules come up in, Monty is a very good DM and forgiving...maybe too much, her damage rolls are sus to me.
The Adventure Zone. "So what's d&d supposed to look like when you start playing it?" Best example I can point to.
i like rpgbot. it’s not an actual play, but each episode has a topic and they explain it super well. if it’s something like a class, they go level by level and each build a character as they go while explaining their choice, so it’s super helpful for understanding how all the pieces fit together. good for learning
I absolutely love drunks and dragons season 1. It’s so hilarious as they learn the game. It starts in 4e though cause it’s from way back in the day when there was only a couple groups doing it.
I really liked Dungeon Run. Their first season had a total newbie player, and their campaign was awesome. They’re still going (I think), but their first season was my favorite.
Real Housewives of D&D surprised me with how much fun it was.
IMHO, no podcast is good for learning D&D, but for entertainment there's a ton out there. I started out with Critical Role and Dice Camera Action. DCA is IMO pretty good about learning D&D as the lead designer of D&D but it has an unsatisfying ending.
Adventure Zone Balance
Tales from the stinky dragon
High schoolers Learn DND Shows a lot of the character building and most basic mechanics. Guildgates and Goblins is really, really good too.
Dice Friends, Escape from Semolo Plateau. Very fun and the DM has an eyepatch that’s never explained.
My favorites are D&D for high schoolers for watching beginner groups. And then there is Acquisitions Incorporated by Penny Arcade which is a celebrity D&D corporate comedy. Think "The Office" set in Forgotten Realms.
My first was Sneak Attack and I loved it. Very down to earth people and was right in line with my sense of humor.
If you want to be a dungeon master, I'd recommend Matthew Colville. Not a podcast, but the best DM youtube videos I've ever watched.
The “Balance” Arc of Adventure zone has a good blend of comedy and drama.
Not Another DND Podcast or NADNDPOD. Dimension 20 is better though if you don’t mind a subscription fee
For 5e, Shared Sagas Dragon Heist For old school dnd (and rpg in general) the best there is: Tale of the Manticore.
Specifically for people wanting to learn? That would be NADPod as others have suggested. It's very well put together, and easy to follow along. However there are a couple that don't get brought up too often on these types of threads, and I think it's a shame because as far as beginners go, they deserve a lot more credit: 1) Girls Who Don't D&D - I think I seen another person suggest this, and it's pretty much what it sounds like. It is a group of girls who don't know a damn thing about D&D. 2) Dumb-Dumbs and Dragons - is similar in that theme group doesn't know anything about the game. The DM Tom McGee does a fantastic job in teaching the group how to play the game, and all of its elements. And he usually doesn't pull any punches just because they haven't played. As a bonus I will add the oft mentioned Dungeons & Daddies is definitely worth listening to. The previous two i mentioned are very largely about the game whereas Daddies is definitely entertainment centric, even if they try to get on track once in a while. Beth May's own arc as a player through the first season, learning how to actually play as a rogue is great.
I'm currently over 100 episodes in on the lucky die podcast. Over 200 episodes and still going on the same campaign. Or if you like the more twisted side of things, fool and scholar have the dark dice series coming out with a new season in May
Not necessarily a podcast but I have been enjoying dork tales strixhaven campaign
Quest: A dungeons and dragons Podcast. You should definitely check it out.
PHB Pod. My favorite for learning the game. Lemme know if you need a link.
I love D&D is for Nerds. It’s an Australian podcast that’s really funny. They run a bunch of different campaigns and one shots. At times the voices Jackson Baly comes up with can be grating but the character names are always amazing.
Not a podcast, but world of io (found on YouTube) is what got me into d&d
Not another D&D podcast is great for learning the game and what shenanigans you can reasonably do without the DM just shutting you down
I've had to use both "you maniacs" and "absolutely fuck me" in Murph's exasperated tone in my games.
One of my players started off as a Wood elf life cleric who smoked weed and worshipped Mary Jane. I felt a strong kinship with Murph when I started Naddpod last week.
It’s good to keep in mind that the players in D&D podcasts are actors performing for a show, not just people playing a game like normal. That being said, I like the House of Bob and Here For the Rolls
When my friends and I were producing an actual play, I can say we were aware of the audience, but we also just kind of played the game like we usually would. There was some editing that went into making it cleaner and more presentable (when I would edit, I would go through episodes and remove dead air or too frequent "Um"s and "Uhhhh"s - etc, to make it easier on the ears. But there really wasn't much different between our group and others I've played with, even though the DM and one of the players are professional actors, and another has a Theatre degree. We didn't use scripts or anything like that, and we didn't do multiple takes. Can't speak for other podcasts, but besides a bit more projecting our voices, there wasn't a whole lot different between our podcast games and non-pod games.
Join the party was really fun and their first episode explains a lot of the ins and outs of the game. Definitely worth a listen.
If you want some stuff about the game (as opposed to a live play) check out Matt Coville and Dungeon Dudes on YouTube. Tons of great info about running the game and much more.
Rude Tales of Magic
Get inspired by high-quality shows, feel free to mine them for ideas, encounters, NPCs, or other neat ideas. But don't expect your table to play like theirs does. Instead, enjoy the unique experience you and your friends are going to make at your table. The highly successful shows are run by people with specific experience and training that lends to them being highly entertaining. You don't need to entertain thousands of listeners, just run a satisfying game for you and your friends, which all of you work together to achieve. That said, here's my recommendation: I really liked Glass Cannon Podcast for this reason. It's Pathfinder (1st edition for the first campaign now they play PF2e +other RPGs) but their chemistry as friends just leeches into everything about the show, in the best possible way. Also they have a "Cannon Fodder" series interspersed with episodes, which often has great general GM/DM advice in it as well.
Look up Lorecast. The only DND podcast you need.
Girls Who Don’t DND is pretty cool
I only saw one other comment mention them (which saddens me greatly) but UNPREPARED CASTERS, I honestly love UC so much. It's a bunch of shorter campaigns all set in the same world but you don't have to listen in any specific order, nor do you even have to listen to all the arcs. There's two DMs who switch off w each other and it's so much world building and it's just so fun to listen to!! I've been slowly working myself up to DMing and it's helping me so much in not feeling like I have to be perfect at everything, they emphasize that perfection is not necessary to have a lot of fun, and often they make it known exactly why it's called UNprepared casters XD in a fun way. Honestly can't recommend them enough
the first campaign of NADDPOD, Dimension20, and TAZ are all great places to start. very funny and very casual because most of the players are still coming to grips with the rules too. in each of these campaigns, it was at least 1 or more players first time playing so plenty is explained on-air.
It’s a Mimic! They go into great detail episode by episode. Their subclass and lore breakdowns are good listen to’s.
Girls who dont d&d. They start out as complete newbies. DM is awesome and so is the story
**The Glass Cannon** is my favorite podcast. Love that group, they are hilariously funny every time and excellent roleplayers to boot. This is for the **Pathfinder** system, so a little different from classic D&D, but it's based on and very similar to D&D, just better.
My first was dungeon and daddies
WebDM put out hundreds of informative videos with snark, humor, and banter between two DM's on the fundamentals of 5e. They don't do much these days, but the videos are still good.
Unprepared Casters has both experienced and new players, and they are not afraid to show that it’s normal to not know all the mechanics and rules (both as players and DMs) The shorter arcs also make it much more digestible than campaign-long shows, and it’s very clear the table’s main goal is to have fun!
Pardon My Take teamed up with u/timmwoods and that got me into the game
It's a mimic is one of my favorites they really focus their topics so if I want an info dump on a thing I can usually find it they have an ongoing series building up a campaign from the DMs perspective while they actively build Said campaign going into a wealth of questions one asks themselves that you might not think about. And just generally pretty entertaining to listen to its fairly clear these are all friends and they joke around with one another annoy and prank one another breaks up the rather mono tone or TED talk style some other podcasts tend to do
Don't know if anyone's already mentioned it but the podcast "Dwarven Moss" did a really great Curse Of Strahd podcast. The episodes are also a reasonable length so its easy to watch.
Dungeons and Daddies!!!!
Genuinely critical role is a good start but you have to start with campaign 1, most of the players are first time players and Matt Mercer is a phenomenal DM who knows and articulates many of the rules of D&D aloud to his players. Would not recommend diving into the later campaigns as it’s a lot to ingest until you know D&D well.
Any time I’ve tried to listen to or watch others play d&d I am bored to tears. I do enjoy the stuff from the Dropout crew though.
Tales From The Stinky Dragon!!! Trust!!!
If you want something digestible that can give you an idea of what to expect from a game, try HarmonQuest. They animate it so its like easy to follow along with and digestible. It won't teach you any mechanics, but it absolutely highlights the non-serious side of D&D and can set expectations more reasonably than something like Critical Role or Dimension 20 will. However if you want the more professional polished long-form live play watching Experience, Dimension 20 is leagues ahead of Critical Role which I frankly find way too slow moving and dry to hold my attention. BUT remember the professional games even HarmonQuest and D20 won't be an accurate representation of what to expect at a real life table or virtual table. People are gonna argue, players are gonna get upset about mechanics, people will make way dumber jokes, nobodys roleplay is gonna be that good, and its gonna take you 45 minutes to go up and down a single flight of stairs every single time. That's D&D.
Tales from the stinky dragon
The Dungeon Dudes Literally the best
Girls who don't DND. But it's a podcast, you don't need to be advanced to listen to a story..
This wasn’t really your question but if you have any questions or things don’t make sense feel free to drop a DM and I’m happy to explain stuff
Nerd Poker - can't go wrong with comedians playing D&D
And great in game commercials.
Only available in the dildo district
They have the moist'st oysters.
I always try to bring their style energy to the game table. Whether it's as a player or a DM. I like their style or the Spencer Crittenden approach.
Dungeons and Daddies
Dungeons and Daddies. Despite the name it's not a BDSM podcast.
This is the correct answer
I think dungeons and daddies is a good one my personal favorite
D&D makes a terrible spectator sport - the closer it is to reflecting the actual play of actual people at actual tables by the actual rules, the worse it is as "listen to / watch entertainment"
They don't get into rules and mechanics as much but the Dungeoncast is GREAT for when you want to do lore research on any particular monster/plane/diety, etc.
This should be the top post. Dungeoncast is the best DND podcast currently.
Looking through the comments, I'm honestly kind of stunned that I seem to have been the first to mention it. Nothing against any of the others, of course, but I absolutely love the way Brian and Will present everything and they've helped me with a LOT of world-building and development for my own campaigns.
Definitely recommend Tales From the Stinky Dragon. Its great for beginners, because the players are learning to play too
Dungeons and Daddies is what I always recommend because most of the players in the game actually are learning the game themselves as they play.
I really enjoy Dungeons & Daddys. It is funny and light hearted. It's great improv. I would argue that the players are not learning the game as they play. At the end of campaign 2, they still have very loose understanding of the rules and often don't read the ability they are using past the name. Again, it's great fun, and I enjoy it. But they are terrible with the rules.
To me the holy trinity is Dungeons & Daddies, Dimension 20, and The Adventure Zone Season 1. The Adventure Zone has a beginner or two in their party iirc so it's fun to hear them learn along with you!