Late-Night Spectacle at Universal Studios: colossal Dungeons & Dragons Puppets take center stage
Ready for a magical adventure, Dungeons & Dragons fans? Universal Studios Hollywood's Fan Fest Nights is about to transport you into the heart of your favorite tabletop RPG! From this Friday, you'll have the chance to dive into an immersive, after-dark theme park event, where you can live out your own D&D story alongside a group of fellow adventurers.
Think of it as a less-scary version of Halloween Horror Nights, but with a fantasy twist and a whole lot more role-playing. You'll embark on a walk-through, scaled-up version of Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep, and immerse yourselves in experiences inspired by One Piece, Star Trek, and Back to the Future.
Recently, io9 was privileged to witness the construction of the fantasy forests and ruins within Waterdeep, guided by Stephen Siercks, Director of Entertainment Production at Universal Studios Hollywood. The collaboration between Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, and Universal Studios Hollywood presents an alternative take on interactive RPGs.
During the event, you'll become part of the Harpers' quest, a heroic spy network on a mission to take down the legendary beholder Xanathar, relieving the city of Waterdeep from impending doom. As you navigate the adventure, you'll embody your character class, engaging in gameplay elements that incorporate the unpredictability of dice rolls.
The climax of the adventure involves coming face-to-face with Xanathar, the beholder himself. With Xanathar's monumental presence, think of it as Audrey II's final form from Little Shop of Horrors or, for you Horror Nights enthusiasts, the Alien Queen from the Alien vs. Predator house.
What sets this Xanathar apart from your typical animatronic is that he's not just a pre-programmed robot. Instead, he comes to life through the skillful performance of a puppeteer, creating a captivating and immersive gaming experience.
"Xanathar has mouth movement, eye movement, and it fully lights up, so it is quite impressive to work with," Siercks explained during our behind-the-scenes tour. "We'll have something that obscures the visual here, so all of our focus goes in that direction, and then in that surprise moment, and we all turn around and there he is."
The attention to detail does not stop there. The event is filled with Easter eggs, intricate character interactions, and plot twists that will speak to dedicated D&D fans. Siercks puts it best: "We're doing a great job of setting up moments like [where we] can introduce [guests to] Xanathar at the very beginning as the person you're ultimately looking to see and then when you find them you're able to connect that dot."
For fans of the D&D universe, this is a dream come true – an event created with them in mind. As Siercks explained, "We wanted to create that fan-first experience in the fantasy genre. Dungeons & Dragons just raised to the surface in terms of one that we could both develop an amazing story around and develop an amazing experience, and bring to life those environments to drop our guests into. That's also something that we knew that guests wanted as well."
So gear up, D&D fans! Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights begins this Friday at Universal Studios Hollywood and will run select nights through May 18. Tickets are now available, so grab yours and prepare for an unforgettable adventure!
- At Universal Studios Hollywood's Fan Fest Nights, you'll experience a futuristic blend of technology and lifestyle, immersing yourself in an iconic tabletop RPG, Dungeons & Dragons.
- Io9 had the privilege of witnessing the construction of the fantasy world within Waterdeep, a collaboration between Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast, and Universal Studios Hollywood, revolutionizing the concept of participatory RPGs.
- During the event, you'll be part of the Harpers' quest, navigating a scaled-up version of Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep, with experiences inspired by One Piece, Star Trek, and Back to the Future.
- The climax of the adventure involves face-to-face encounters with Xanathar, the beholder himself, brought to life through skilled puppeteering, creating an awe-inspiring and immersive gaming experience.
- Gizmodo enthusiasts will appreciate the intricate character interactions, plot twists, and Easter eggs throughout the event, speaking to dedicated Dungeons & Dragons fans.
- In a participatory, entertainment-driven environment, Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights offers Dungeons & Dragons fans a dream come true, transporting them into the heart of their favorite RPG, with tickets now available for select nights from this Friday through May 18.
