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PODCAST

Dungeons + Drama Nerds

Dungeons + Drama Nerds

Dungeons + Drama Nerds is a podcast produced by Todd Brian Backus, Percy Hornak, and Nicholas Orvis, three dramaturgs interested in the intersection of theatre and tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGS). Episodes release weekly alternating between Actual Play and Commentary episodes investigating a certain TTRPG system. Season 2 will feature: Blades in the Dark, Bluebeard"s Bride, Kids on Bikes, Oh Dang! Bigfoot Stole My Car With My Best Friend"s Birthday Present Inside!, and Lancer. Season 1

leisure games

All Episodes

66:53

“Not Just Anarchist Shitposting”: Leftist TTRPGs with...

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/11/19

This week, Percy and Nick sit down to discuss the politics of games and the different ways that TTRPGs have engaged with leftist and antifascist themes with a special guest: scholar of analog games PB Berge. You can see more work by our guest PB Berge at https://persephone.blue/ and https://gravesnail.itch.io/. You can read PB and Percy’s recent co-authored article in the Analog Game Studies journal! Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was

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78:46

So Long and Thanks for all the Piss

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/11/12

The voidminers return to the Escheresque under orders to neutralize the fearful Void Elves, but they find that their enemies’ ship is of a nature they never expected - and bears power that they could never have imagined. But access to that power comes at a terrible price… Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced, mixed, and edited by Ben Ferber. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean,

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68:23

Any Other Lies We Wanna Go Over?

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/11/05

The voidminers return to Spindle to report to their supervisors at the Worshipful Company. Surely there’s a way to turn their failures into a string of sparkling successes…and avoid the Rebranding Hall? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced, mixed, and edited by Ben Ferber. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana

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87:53

Whistling Is Not a Skill: Modes of Character Creation

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/10/22

Nick and Percy sit down with ensemble member Christopher Diercksen to talk about different methods of creating characters in TTRPGs and how those methods affect the kinds of storytelling each game affords. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana

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63:16

They Will Find You and Kill You

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/10/15

Far from home on a strange planet, our heroes(?) are faced with a daunting new foe: a flying saucer full of horrifying Void Elves! Even worse: they’re artists. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced, mixed, and edited by Ben Ferber. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Jon Jon Johnson, CJ Linton, C

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52:53

Escheresque Nausea

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/10/08

With their charge disappeared into a box of phony ballots and the threat of a lost payday hanging over them, the voidminers descend (for the most part reluctantly) into the Escheresque. But once you go into that other dimension, you never know where you’ll come out… Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced, mixed, and edited by Ben Ferber. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher

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61:33

Imagining Future Worlds Together: an Interview with...

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/09/24

Percy and Nick sit down to chat with Wythe Marschall, designer of Stillfleet and founder of Stillfleet Studio, about politics, science fiction, and, of course, games. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Jon Jon Johnson, CJ Linton, C

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62:05

I'm a Skinfluencer

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/09/17

On the planet Darasan, the intrepid team of voidminers works to get every vote counted (even the fishy ones) - but when a third party intervenes, they’re forced to take a stand for one of their own. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced, mixed, and edited by Ben Ferber. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana

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59:04

Take Me Offworld, Hotboy

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/09/10

In the kick-off episode to our Stillfleet campaign, we meet a ragtag crew of voidminers working for the Worshipful Company of Stillfleeters. They’re tasked with a simple transport mission of utmost importance to democracy on a distant planet and, more importantly, the Co.’s business prospects there. There surely couldn’t be anything nefarious, underhanded, or skullduggerous involved…right? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was co-produced,

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28:30

Stillfleet Explainer

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/09/10

Welcome back, drama nerds! In this episode, Percy and Nick sit down to introduce and discuss our next actual play campaign: Stillfleet, a far-future science fiction game by Wythe Marschall, published by Stillfleet Studio. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamaño, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess

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01:08:08

It Always Comes Back to Vibes: TTRPGs and Adaptation...

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/04/30

Nick and Percy chat with writer and game designer Dominique Dickey about all things adaptation: what counts as an adaptation? Why do we as consumers of media enjoy adaptations? What makes a bad adaptation? See more of Dom’s work at: https://dominiquedickey.com/ Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Our core ensemble is

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45:04

Watercolors and Whittling with Caro Asercion

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2025/02/19

Our Dark Time series makes a triumphant return as Nick and Percy sit down with dramaturg and game designer Caro Asercion to talk about the overlap between those disciplines and what dramaturgy for tabletop games can look like. Check out Caro’s work: https://seaexcursion.itch.io/ Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our theme music is by Anthony Sertel Dean, and our logo art is by Todd Brian Backus. Our

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54:04

Our Haunt Campaign Debrief

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/12/11

Nick sits down with the cast of Our Haunt - Percy, Leo, Tristan, and Kory - to talk about the game, the dead, the living, and their feelings about it all. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Jon Jon Johnson, CJ Linton, C. “Meaks” Meaker,

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01:15:06

12:02

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/12/04

In the finale of our campaign of Our Haunt, Mackenzie’s coven attempts to open a pathway between this world and the world beyond so that Trinket and the other ghosts can leave the haunt, taking advantage of the rumored disruptions Y2K will bring as the clock strikes 12 and brings us into the year 2000. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony

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01:02:06

But It Should Be

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/11/27

Jules ventures down to the basement and picks a fight over Prosper and Romeo’s recent battle with the television in the attic. They get caught by a vengeful spirit inside the washing machine, and only a certain Granny can help… Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia,

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01:29:58

You're My Number One Baby

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/11/13

In the continuation of our campaign of Our Haunt, Jules visits the hungry flowers in the garden, Dale confesses his feelings, and Prosper and Romeo settle in front of the television. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Jon Jon Johnson, CJ

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01:14:38

An Engine for Participatory Dramaturgy, with Mike Sell

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/11/06

Percy and Nick meet with Dr. Mike Sell, scholar of playful literatures, to discuss the ways that TTRPGs function to create participatory dramaturgies between the designers, GMs, players, and audiences. You can learn more about our guest, Dr. Mike Sell, at his website: https://www.iup.edu/languageliteraturewriting/faculty/sell-mike.html Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd

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01:00:00

The Sinister Nine

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/10/30

Prosper convenes a meeting of the gang of ghost cats that depend on him. They meet someone new and unexpected in the depths of the basement and find something … unexpected. The answer to his lingering questions, or something more sinister? Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores,

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57:21

Do You Believe in Magic?

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/10/16

In the continuation of our Our Haunt campaign, Romeo tries to bring Caleb and Adrian closer together, but in the process he catches the eye of someone (or something) else. Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher Diercksen, Ben Ferber, Kory Flores, Mieko Gavia, Tess Huth, Romana Isabella, Jon Jon Johnson, CJ Linton, C

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01:06:27

All Plays Are Memory Plays: Collective Memory in Art,...

Dungeons + Drama Nerds ·

2024/10/09

Nick and Todd sit down with public humanities scholar and performance historian Dr. Beka Bryer to discuss the ways we make memories: as individuals and societies, in life and in art. You can learn more about our guest, Dr. Beka Bryer, at her website: https://rmbryer.com/ Dungeons and Drama Nerds is produced by Percival Hornak and Nicholas Orvis, and this episode was mixed and edited by Percival Hornak. Our core ensemble are Todd Brian Backus, Jovane Caamano, Anthony Sertel Dean, Christopher

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176 results

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