In Dungeons and Dragons, you can dream up worlds, characters and narratives galore. Whether it's swinging a sword or flinging a fireball, your quest of battling foes and earning ultimate glory can have many turns, and with them, emergent stories come to life. But what if, say, you could SEE the fireball being cast? That's the question Dimension 20 sought to answer, and in a more grandiose way than many expected, as they took over Madison Square Garden for their Gauntlet at the Garden live play. What resulted was an engrossing and unforgettable experience that had fans roaring in triumph, bringing to life what usually would be relegated to the "Theater of the Mind".

The cast and crew of Dimension 20 are no strangers to the live experience, given that the show is broadcast as a podcast and web series (referred to as an "actual play" or a "live play.") Hosted by Brendan Lee Mulligan, a regular cast member on the streaming network Dropout TV, the cast of Dimension 20 have been successfully innovating on the explosive growth of actual plays over the past decade. Building on their already-distinctive geodesic dome, the crew brought that and more to the floor of Madison Square Garden, giving fans the chance to not only watch daring endeavors unfold, but to also participate in them.

Credit: Kristy Puchko

Unique to the Gauntlet at the Garden, audience members had the chance to roll the iconic D20 dice on their phones, determining outcomes taking place in the game itself. As they rolled, the results would be displayed on one of the octagonally-arranged LED displays situated above the players, eliciting a chorus of cheers or groans, based on how the rolls turned out. A ring of LED triangles reminiscent of the iconic geodesic dome surrounded the players, changing color as the party encountered dangerous confrontations and critical decision points.

The players themselves were just as much of a feature as the literal ring of fire concentrically placed around their table, striking the moments of peak drama with the hallmarks of each of their characters, while even bringing in some well-loved names from previous campaigns. Even at the show's intermission, the players launched into a brief wrestling match out of the game, taking full advantage of the prominent stage they had so fervently occupied in the first half. Audience members celebrated the occasion with near-universal praise, finding validation in what once had been a niche hobby.

With three more live shows planned for 2025, taking place between Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas, the show is nowhere near over. The incredible success of Gauntlet at the Garden represents the realization of a huge potential, one built up over the course of production experiences and imaginative iteration. As new audience-centric formats rise in popularity, live experience designers can and should continue exploring the art of crafting unique interactions based on their substance. Even better if it results in a wrestling match!