Dropout's biggest actual play series is leaving Dungeons & Dragons behind for its next season, and the destination is delicious. Dimension 20: City Council of Darkness will use Vampire: The Masquerade for the first time, premiering on April 8 with 14 episodes.
For the uninitiated, Vampire: The Masquerade is a tabletop RPG of gothic horror and political intrigue, where players portray vampires navigating secret undead factions while keeping their existence hidden from mortals. It could not be further from D&D's dungeon-crawling roots.
Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan leads the Intrepid Heroes (Emily Axford, Ally Beardsley, Brian Murphy, Zac Oyama, Siobhan Thompson, and Lou Wilson) as a coterie of flamboyant goth vampires exiled from their ancient castle and dumped into the sleepy town of Purpee, Oregon (population 18,000). Somehow, they end up running the local government. The trailer, released on March 19, promises zoning disputes, bloodthirsty urges, and mandatory bake sales. Fans are already calling it "What We Do in the Suburbs."
This is an official partnership between Dropout and White Wolf, the studio behind the World of Darkness franchise. It marks a meaningful moment for White Wolf too, coming after the departure of Jason Carl, who ran the Vampire: The Masquerade actual play series LA By Night. Mulligan himself made a guest appearance in that show, so he has some experience navigating the politics of the Kindred.
Dimension 20 has built a massive following over 27 seasons since 2018, mostly using D&D 5e. Swapping systems signals both confidence in the cast and a genuine interest in doing something different. For tabletop fans who have been curious about the World of Darkness but never had a way in, this could be the perfect introduction.
The series streams exclusively on Dropout, which costs $6.99 per month.
Sources: Bleeding Cool | TechRaptor | Paradox Interactive