Dungeons & Dragons, once a niche game played by stereotypically nerdy boys, has recently transformed into a popular form of spectator entertainment. Known as "actual play," this phenomenon has attracted millions of online viewers. D&D shows have been held in theaters and stadiums, exemplified when Dimension 20 sold out Madison Square Garden with 20,000 fans. Despite its increased visibility, D&D remains an analog tabletop game at its core, with creative storytelling and dice rolling still integral to the experience. D&D's growth is contributing to a golden age of the game, including its enjoyment among friends at home.
Roughly 20,000 fans showed up to watch seven comedians perform D&D, with a few rock show flourishes like gouts of butane fire around the stage to simulate the wrath of the dragon Kalvaxis.
The makers of D&D themselves say that actual play and its diverse audiences are helping to fuel a broader golden age of D&D right now including the kind played by friends at home.
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