DnD RAW Actual Play

DnD RAW stands for Rules As Written, and the podcast is built around a simple but distinctive premise: play D&D 5e while actually following the rules as they are printed. That might sound obvious, but anyone who has listened to other actual play shows knows that most groups bend, break, or straight-up ignore rules when it suits the story. This group leans the other direction, embracing the mechanics as part of the fun rather than an obstacle to it. The show features two separate adventuring parties -- Serviceable Plots and Rumble Squad -- which gives listeners variety in character dynamics and storytelling styles within the same podcast. New episodes drop every other Wednesday, and the two-party structure means the show stays fresh by alternating perspectives. Beyond the actual play episodes, the team produces a companion show called Rules As Written, where they invite other podcasters to debate and discuss the finer points of 5e rules. These discussion episodes dig into edge cases and mechanical interactions that most tables argue about for five minutes and then house-rule away. The show includes Unearthed Arcana material alongside the core rules, so you get to see playtest content in action. The community is active on Discord and Twitter (@RulesAsWritten), and the hosts clearly enjoy engaging with rules discussions beyond the table. If you have ever argued about whether a spell works a certain way or felt frustrated when a DM handwaves a mechanic, DnD RAW is the actual play podcast made for you.