Dark Dice Podcast Review (No Spoilers)

I’m just going to say it: Dark Dice is a delight! How can a dark, brutal horror podcast be delightful? It boasts one of the most captivating casts and relentless GMs in the actual play DnD podcasting genre. Genuinely scary and disturbing, Dark Dice is a passion project from a talented group of people. Unfortunately, they only release one episode a month, leaving us devotees in a perpetual state of suspense.

Now with Jeff Goldblum

You might have heard about Dark Dice recently if you’re in the DnD community, since they have added Jeff Goldblum to the cast for the most recent season. There have been many articles gushing about how Goldblum wins at DnD...and he does. But I’m not going to sit here and gush about how funny and engaging Goldblum is on the show or the improvised musical number he sprung on the GM in the latest episode. I’m not (seriously). Because, while Goldblum is obviously a talented performer and a boon to the show, his joining the show has perhaps overshadowed the contribution of the rest of the cast. Eyϸór Viðarsson, playing Fr. Sindri Westpike, is a particular favorite of mine. Fr. Westpike is a bit of a boy scout but has had an interesting character arch that Viðarsson roleplays beautifully. Also, I’m not going to lie, as an American who is obsessed with other people’s accents, Viðarsson’s Icelandic accent brings an understated gravitas to his Dwarven Cleric.

An Amazing Cast and Crew

(Countdown to gushing about Jeff Goldblum in 10, 9, 8…) Everyone has their preference when it comes to an actual play podcast. Some prefer Critical Role’s style, with almost no editing or production, while others like shows that edit out all the table talk and add music and foley to create an immersive narrative. Dark Dice leans towards the latter, while leaving just enough table talk to add levity to a very intense, dark storyline. Travis Vengroff (GM and show creator), along with Steven Melin (composer) and Sarah Buchynski (dialogue editor), deliver a well-produced product that draws the listener into Vengroff’s homebrewed world of eldritch fantasy. David Ault and Peter Joseph Lewis, also heard on the popular No Sleep Podcast, lend their voices as players, along with a dozen other talented players in seasons one and two. Vengroff is not afraid to kill off players as the party travels through haunted woods, cursed ruins, and the infernal plane. His willingness to allow players to fail adds a delicious tension to the show. The only criticism I could give is that, given the intensity of the story, the backing track of tortured screams in some scenes, and the rawness of players’ in-game reactions, the show might be triggering for some listeners. Hem Cleveland, playing Rowena Granitepike, has some particularly brutal scenes, which she fully commits to role-playing. (7, 6, 5…)

Did I Mention…

While episodes are only released once a month, one can feel the time and effort that goes into them, with 30 person choirs, incredible soundscapes, and a fully fleshed-out game world. The show is worth the wait, and I greedily watch for the Spotify prompt that lets me know the new episode had dropped. (4, 3, 2…) The internet is flooded with actual play DnD podcasts, many of which are incredible. The reason I think you should give Dark Dice a try is that you can feel the love poured into every moment of the show. If you love horror and character-driven stories Dark Dice is a standout hit. (…1…) And, sweet Cesar’s teeth is Jeff Goldblum good at DnD! He gives other players room for role-playing but inevitably steals every scene with his easy charm and breezy characterization of Balmur, the Elven sorcerer/bard. It will be interesting to see how Balmur, whose levity and humor stand out from the other characters, will fold himself into the coming darkness, once the new season gets rolling.

So, dear reader, I have only one question for you: do you seek him?