Written by: Kaitlin Anderson
One of my favorite aspects of storytelling is the diverse forms it can take. Books, shows, movies, art, and video games are all mediums that have allowed me to connect with entertaining narratives. However, there is one method of story consumption that I have always struggled with: audiobooks.
I completely understand their popularity. There are plenty of instances where my eyes are too busy to read words on a page or watch characters on a screen. Wouldn’t it be so nice to listen to a story while driving, cooking, working out, or washing the dishes? However, my previous attempts at listening to audiobooks have only left me inattentive, bored, and unable to stay immersed in the fictional world. I’ve come to accept the fact that audiobooks are just not for me, but the idea of listening to a story is still so compelling.
A little over a year ago, I discovered a Dungeons & Dragons podcast called Just Roll With It. I was completely unfamiliar with how D&D was played, but I knew it involved fantasy — my favorite genre. I decided to try listening to one of their episodes, the first in a campaign titled Wonderlust.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Wonderlust follows four main characters: a steamsledder named Troy, a young genius named Runt, a courier named Blink, and a mechanic named WD (a later addition to the cast). Their adventures take place in Wonder, a wintery island home to a thriving steampunk society. Unbeknownst to most of its members is the existence of Reclaim, a vast underground city populated by animal-human hybrids repurposing all of the Uplanders’ trash. Brought together by chance and guided by different motivations, the four companions set out to find a mysterious inventor before any of the island’s competing factions get to him first.
The campaign is first and foremost hilarious; in the words of Troy, “The hijinks are ceaseless.” I never once experienced the boredom I had come to expect from listening to audiobooks. The players are not afraid to break the fourth wall, and it definitely feels more like a group of friends playing a game than anything strictly scripted. Their investment in the story is contagious, and their reactions only make the episodes more engaging to listen to.
Witnessing the characters develop one improvised decision at a time was fascinating. Their arcs spanned across episodes, leading to climactic scenes of radical growth and achievement. The voice acting in these moments sometimes caught me off guard. Despite comedy and chance being woven throughout the campaign, the stakes and tensions of the story were still palpable, and the players were able to produce several heart-wrenching performances.
My immersion into the story was further helped along by the use of ambient background noise for different locations and plentiful sound effects. The show even boasts an original soundtrack composed by an artist named Luis Humanoide.
Listening to a D&D podcast opened my eyes (and ears) to a new and engaging form of storytelling unlike anything else I’ve experienced before; a form with the convenience of an audiobook and soundscapes inaccessible in a physical text. The improvisation of the characters makes them seem more realistic at times and creates a story both riveting and wildly entertaining. Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of audiobooks or know a single thing about D&D, I would wholeheartedly recommend picking up Wonderlust. I am personally looking forward to listening to the other campaigns from Just Roll With It and investigating other podcasts in the future!
Featured Image Caption: What is it like to listen to a story built on improvisation and chance?