Dungeons and Dragons has become big business not only as a game, but also as entertainment.
Roperty featured in real plays, video gamesAnd performances. The newest way to experience a fantasy world without sitting at a table with dice and a character sheet is to take a trip to Plano, Texas to explore it. Dungeons & Dragons: an exciting quest.
“Our goal is to really be respectful of the tropes of D&D, but also make it appealing to a wider audience,” Eric Brouillet, president of Vibrant, the experiential marketing company behind The Immersive Quest, told Polygon in a Zoom interview. “It really is an experience for the whole family.”
Visitors begin their quest by assembling a party, choosing to play as a rogue, druid, fighter or wizard. You don't need to create a list of characters – your choice will simply be recorded on the RFID wristband along with which of the three difficulty levels you want for your adventure. This bracelet will track the tasks you complete during your visit and record them as experience points, which you can exchange for discounts on goods in the Waterdeep market after your adventure is over.
Once everyone has a character, he will enter into Yawning Portalan inn in Waterdeep that serves as the gateway to the notorious Undermountain dungeon. Costumed actors will introduce them to the quest to protect the city from the legendary red dragon. Ashardalonwho stole a sentient magical gem.
All impressions extend to six rooms. The largest is a dungeon with interactive stations where players will have a different experience depending on what class they are playing. For example, a druid can pet an owlbear hanging out in the middle of a dungeon, but the beast will simply growl at the fighter. The challenge comes in challenges such as dodging the roper's tentacles while playing a rhythm game similar to Dance Dance Revolution.
The adventure culminates in a battle with the dragon, which is depicted on a 30-foot projection screen. Players wave their hands to activate RFID to protect themselves from the dragon and attack it. The animation varies depending on your class and whether the dragon is in melee combat or not. The warrior will raise his shield or attack with a sword or bow and arrow, while the wizard can use a defensive spell or Frost Ray. The room also vibrates, depicting Ashardalon flapping his wings.
Bright took inspiration from Harry Potter: The Exhibitionwhere visitors earn points for their home by participating in challenges as they explore, and a live D&D adventure. Real dungeon. Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest launched in Toronto in 2024 and moved to Texas in October, where it will run until the end of January. Brouillet said they learned a lot from the initial experience and added elements they felt were missing, such as an adventure journal.
“At the end you will be able to get your own character sheet with your own characteristics that you can use in the game or not,” he said. “We can use your face and create a portrait of your character to make it very personalized.”
The entire experience takes about an hour. After completing the quest, players will be given a hero's welcome at the gift shop, where they can purchase custom clothing, dice, and figurines. There is an opportunity to take a photo with the actor playing the iconic paladin. strong heartand with Ashardalon, who is shackled and literally angry about his defeat. The market also sells themed food and drinks, such as Jell-O gelatin cubes and Rice Krispie Treats shaped like Intelligence Eaters.
While Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest is aimed at people with no D&D experience, Brouillet is testing features for players. It's possible to rent a game room where you can eat and play D&D pinball, and Brouillet believes it will be used for D&D sessions or Magic: Gathering tournament as part of The Immersive Quest's partnership with Wizards of the Coast. They're also working on combining this experience with D&D Beyond to try to bridge the gap between going to the game and actually playing it.
“Whether you play the game or not, it doesn’t matter,” Brouillet said. “We welcome you to this great universe.”
