Actual Play

What is actual play?

TTRPGs played for an audience

Actual play series are those in which a group plays a TTRPG for an audience. Typically, one player acts as the dungeon master (DM) and host for the series, while the others role-play a group of heroic adventurers. Most actual play series include a combination of drama, comedy, and OOC moments, in which the players discuss rules and/or goof on each other.

While actual play series have been around since the early 2000s, they grew in popularity in the mid-2010s, with the debut of web series Critical Role and podcast The Adventure Zone (TAZ). Most actual play video series are published via YouTube or Twitch, while podcasts are typically available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast apps.

Some other popular actual play series include:

  • Acquisitions Incorporated
  • HarmonQuest
  • Dungeons & Daddies
  • Spout Lore

Example

What's your favorite actual play? I'm still a TAZ stan
A Redditor searching for a good horror actual play
A Redditor searching for a good horror actual play

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Updated September 1, 2022

Actual play definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Actual play" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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