Death2Divinity is an all queer, all fat D&D show – here’s why that matters
If you’re into Dungeons and Dragons, you’ll probably have heard of Critical Role, Rivals of Waterdeep, and Dimension 20. Death2Divinity is an upcoming D&D show too, but the difference between these three shows is simple and wonderful: every cast member is queer, fat, and ready to cause some chaos in a homebrew adventure that has the players fighting divinity itself.
The show is set to take a different spin on the Feywilds, but while we do love a good story and premise that has us on tenterhooks… We’re actually more interested in the creators behind the show, as well as the cast that’ll embody the characters in Death2Divinity.
It involves prominent Twitch streamers and D&D newbies and veterans alike. Jude aka MermaidRoyal on Twitch and Twitter is producing the show, but they’ll also be a player, alongside Samantha Puc (theverbalthing on Twitter and Twitch), Molly Schafer (bearzerky on Twitter and DiceNNice on Twitch), Keda (Kedapalooza on Twitter and Twitch), Lyrica (LookItsLyrica on Twitter and Twitch). Katie Mae (OKKatieMae on Twitter and Twitch) is also producing the show alongside Jude, but will be leading these adventurers through the campaign as the Dungeon Master.
Indeed, Death2Divinity stands out in many different ways but the most revolutionary is that everyone working on making this show happen to be both queer and fat. That isn’t a coincidence, and the desire to create something that involves only hot, fat, and queer babes originated through producer Jude. They saw a lack of size diversity and decided to reach out through social to see if people would be interested. The reaction was electric.
Fast forward and Death2Divinity is happening with a cast like no other in the TTRPG space. It’s a show where body diversity and liberation isn’t just celebrated, but is openly conveyed through the players’ characters all being fat and queer as well.
As with all things that go against the status quo, there’s no doubt some will wonder why a show like Death2Divinity matters in the first place.
“The intersectionality of being fat and queer is a really important intersection.” Jude tells us. “The queer community is still incredibly anti-fat, because we live in a fatphobic society. So having a show that is about fat and queer heroes where they are allowed to be openly desired, allowed to be heroes, allowed to be the protagonists feels incredibly liberating.”
It’s true that not only do we live in a fatphobic society that actively celebrates thinness to the extreme, but when fat characters and creators are included in something, their fatness is often used to demean them in ways that cause serious harm. Fat people are almost never allowed to be the princess or the knight or someone with actual meaningful development outside of losing weight and being bullied for being fat.
For player Keda, Death2Divinity allows them to step away from these stereotypes that is so apparent in media and allow them to be who they want to be. “Fat, queer people are capable of being badass witches, strong and powerful barbarians, celestial goddesses that shape their entire universe. We are capable of telling our own love stories, and not catering to heteronormative tropes and storylines that we’re so used to seeing all the time literally everywhere.” She continues, “Death2Divinity in the name alone calls for the death of things that no longer serve us. Having a table that is populated by fat, queer babes is shining light on talent that has always been there but overlooked, calling for an end to a lack of body diversity queer representation in not just the TTRPG space, but all spaces.”
With the success of Critical Role, Dungeons and Dragons has shot into the limelight and gained the love and adoration of many budding TTRPG enthusiasts out there. What was once a game that was labelled ‘satanic’ by ignorant people around the globe has now become a safe space for many to use characters and settings to truly be themselves amongst friends and loved ones.
However, with change comes gatekeepers who want to silence those who are genuinely changing the TTRPG space for good. “A vocal contingent of the TTRPG community is violently against inclusion and safety in these games.” Samantha tells us. “It’s not just that the “old guard” is frequently anti-queer; they also hate when players introduce accessibility features, like Sara Thompson’s combat wheelchair, or when players create heroes who aren’t thin and/or super-fit. Racism and misogyny are also rampant in this space.” With the creation of Death2Divinity, the team hopes to establish new norms, particularly for players who feel like they don’t fit in alongside their thin peers.
And frankly, Death2Divinity offers something to players that not even Wizards of the Coast can: a Dungeons and Dragons adventure where fat people aren’t just center stage, but are desirable too. There have been very little, if any, fat characters in D&D that convey them as both competent and sexy. In their strides to reflect the diversity of their player base, fat people have seemingly been left at the starting point. Again.
Despite D&D’s slackness in fat inclusion, it is also a game that is well-known and it makes sense to make this big step forward in this setting. Though, as dungeon master Katie Mae makes clear, if other publishers like Paizo want some hot, fat and queer babes to be sent to space in Starfinder then you’ll know where to find them.
Ultimately, Death2Divinity is going to help change the perception of just who can play TTRPGs. The answer is, of course, everyone. But the show is actively taking the steps to show that non-white, fat and queer folks are here to stay, and create fabulous, meaningful stories too.
Death2Divinity – an all queer and all fat – D&D show (if you need the reminder) premieres today at 8pm EST on Twitch.
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