The hit actual-play podcast The Adventure Zone is right in the middle of its third campaign, Graduation, with the players gearing up for a big heist that may take them into the end game. However, even though Graduation hasn't yet concluded, the McElroy family is already preparing for what comes next.
In an interview with Dimension 20's Brennan Lee Mulligan for Adventuring Academy, Griffin McElroy discussed some of the preparations underway for the fourth campaign. Here's everything that's been shared so far about the next season of The Adventure Zone, including what listeners can expect.
The fourth main campaign will return the McElroy family once again to the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition system. The current story also uses D&D, as did the first Balance campaign, but the second arc relied on the Powered by the Apocalypse system. Smaller, experimental campaigns and one-shot live and bonus shows have also brought other roleplaying systems into the Adventure Zone universe, but the McElroys seem to have found success and comfort with D&D.
It also looks as if Griffin will return to his role as Dungeon Master for the next campaign. Each player has taken their turn at the helm, with Travis as the current DM and even the reluctant Justin leading games of Four Sherlock Holmes and a Vampire (Who Is Also One of the Aforementioned Sherlock Holmes). Getting a chance to see the different styles of the brothers and their dad, Clint, has brought a lot of joy and variety to the show. Still, it seems that -- just as the family has grown comfortable with Dungeons & Dragons, they also appreciate the familiarity of Griffin's DM style.
Less is known about the setting of the fourth season. Griffin has mentioned in the podcast Wonderful! that he's been researching deep sea exploration for a project he's working on, which could be this next Adventure Zone campaign. In his interview with Mulligan, Griffin discussed add-on modules he's been working on to include ships in the next season, drawing from "The Dogfighter's Handbook," Uncharted Worlds and other rule systems with modifications to be less rules-heavy. It seems likely that the McElroy family is looking at a high seas adventure, including ship mechanics and, probably some underwater monsters.
One new feature Griffin has mentioned is the possibility of collaborative worldbuilding. Rather than coming to the beginning of the story with entirely pre-conceived worlds, Griffin mentioned using a game like Avery Alder's The Quiet Year to create the world together with his family. Not only does this help give the other players agency in the creation of the world and, therefore, more investment in its stories, The Quiet Year is also just a great game and it would be a delight to see the McElroy family get to play it.
With a return to D&D and Griffin as DM, the fourth season of The Adventure Zone is shaping up to be a new take on the original version of the podcast. In addition to a new setting and worldbuilding style, Griffin mentioned leaning on random, video game-style random events. He talks excitedly about the challenge of playing a game with such stochastic elements, and why randomness may provide the way forward to moments ideal for an improv comedy podcast. Griffin knows the genre and tone of the season, but randomness and collaboration will make for a whole new experience for listeners.