“It’s like inviting people to go swing” – Neil Newbon shares his love of role-playing games

In a podcast that’s sure to make you laugh, Newbon takes on the role of Dungeon Master guiding a group of dramatic actors, unwillingly thrust into a fantastical realm, as they weave an improvised comedy tale through the lens of Dungeons & Dragons gameplay and dice rolls.

Actually, it’s interesting to note that Newbon’s connection with D&D predates both their collaborative ventures. This association can be traced as far back as his school days.

In our chat with Neil Newbon during ‘Arcade Hang’, we picked up a wealth of knowledge. You can catch the condensed version on YouTube, or listen to the entire discussion in the podcast episode on TopMob Gaming’s feed.

According to Newbon, he recalls that when he was around eight years old, his good friend Will Crosby entered their classroom.

A furry-haired being entered, taking a seat beside me. It was calm, almost to a point of silence, yet remarkably astute and attentive towards people. I suspect during our first pause, it took out a book, and that book happened to be ‘Dragon Warriors’.

I asked, ‘What is that?’ He replied, ‘It’s role-play.’ I didn’t understand, so I asked again. And then, we became good friends. Straight away, I began playing Dragon Warriors with him, likely not very well. It was probably quite poor, the way we played it. But yes, at the age of eight, I started engaging in role-playing games.

Later on, Newbon found himself immersed in a variety of tabletop games, including Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. Interestingly, the project that came across his desk as Drachenfels, later known as Baldur’s Gate 3, initially sparked thoughts of Warhammer in his mind.

According to Newbon’s memory, he initially believed it was a Warhammer role-playing game, which filled him with enthusiasm. Later on, he discovered it was Dungeons & Dragons instead, leaving him exclaiming, “Wow, that’s amazing!” or simply “Amazing!”.

As I stepped into the gaming world, I found myself taking on the role of Astarion, earning applause and accolades from gamers everywhere. Backstage, I contributed to the motion capture production, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience for all players.

Newbon admitted that none of them anticipated how massive a hit BG3 would become (“We didn’t realize just how big it would be”), and he expressed his desire to explore his charming vampire character, Astarion, once more (“I truly hope I get another chance to play him again in some capacity”).

To provide entertainment for his followers during the wait, Newbon has developed “Dungeons & Dragons & Dramas,” a serialized podcast where he directs and leads several well-known figures through an original Dungeons & Dragons adventure.

This idea stemmed from Newbon’s own love of the material, which has continued into adulthood.

Newbon mentions: “At some point, I grew up and found myself in a situation where my friends weren’t around anymore. The ones I knew, I asked, ‘Do you want to role-play?’ It was as if I were asking them to join me for a game of swing or something similar.

Eventually, Newbon discovered companions who shared similar interests, and he initiated a Warhammer role-play streaming series titled ‘The Vagabonds’ during the COVID-19 outbreak. Now, his upcoming public role-play endeavor is being materialized in the form of the ‘D3’ podcast.

For a period, we engaged in an activity at school. After regular hours, around 5:30 PM or so, we were still involved with our after-school role-play club. At this time, those who excelled in sports, much like modern-day jocks, lined up and began to taunt us from a window. They made fun of us, laughing at our activities without any real interaction.

He notes: “It’s fantastic to be able to create a spontaneous podcast filled with fun and laughter on a whim. The ability to return and say, ‘Wow, I get to do this again,’ but now with a purpose, makes the experience even more incredible. Previously, I was just enjoying myself, but now I can help others and earn a living from it – that’s truly extraordinary.

From its very beginning, supporters through Patreon have consistently backed Dungeons & Dragons & Dramas, and an abundance of fan artwork has already been produced.

Newbon makes it clear to anyone tuning in for the first time, “Our show doesn’t require you to have an interest in role-play.

As a fellow comedy enthusiast, if you appreciate a good chuckle and enjoy the nostalgic charm of radio plays, then join me! We’ve got an array of side-splitting tales lined up that will have you laughing out loud together.

The game we’re offering is essentially a beginner-friendly version of Dungeons & Dragons, much like there’s a “Dummies” guide for many things. You don’t need to be an expert in D&D or role-playing to grasp the mechanics of our game. We explain it in a straightforward manner, and we’re flexible with the rules. It’s more about creating compelling characters, crafting engaging stories, and having fun together.

As a gamer diving headfirst into the initial installments of D3, I’ve got to say, this is one heck of an immersive journey! Buckle up for lots of chuckles and shocking twists that’ll keep you guessing.

Dungeons & Dragons & Dramas is available now on Patreon.