Dicebreaker

Dicebreaker is an English YouTube channel devoted to tabletop gaming hosted by Michael Whelan and Alexandra Lolies which is part of the Gamer Network.
==About==
Johnny Chiodini had spent over a decade as a video games journalist beginning in the industry in 2008,YouTube: Can a video game save a life? | Johnny Chiodini | TEDxOldham most notably working for Eurogamer between early 2014 and June 2019 when they announced they were leaving the channel,Eurogamer: Goodbye to Johnny, and congratulations to Aoife! and is also well known for being the DM for Outsidexbox's Dungeons & Dragons videos.
Michael Whelan, also known as Wheels, began working at the Gamer Network in July 2019,Twitter: @johnneh Absolutely delighted to say that it is @KubeWhelan's first day at Gamer Network, joining me on the (yet to be revealed) tabletop project! Please follow him on twitter as you'll be seeing him quite a bit in the future! having previously worked in the video games industry, most recently as a community manager at Creative Assembly and a host for their livestreams as well as the Total War: Live channel.YouTube: We tried traditional Japanese desserts! || Total War Bake Off Gamespot: Total War Dev Assures Fans It's Working On New Historical Title As Well As Warhammer
The channel also received a leg-up prior to its official launch courtesy of Outside Xtra, who posted a video on August 20th 2019 hosted by Johnny discussing how D&D players can derail their DM's plans, citing examples that have happened throughout the Oxventures, with Johnny promoting the channel in the video's outro,YouTube: 7 Ways D&D Players Destroy Their DM's Plans with the first videos being posted to Dicebreaker's channel on August 21st 2019.YouTube: Let's Play Tuki by Next Move Games - WE GOT OURSELVES A CROWDOWN
After the Let's Play Miremarsh Stream on the 5th of March 2020 all of the Dicebreaker Team 'Canonically' hatched from eggs and thus all have Cloacas YouTube:Let's Play Miremarsh board game - Dicebreaker Live!
On March 5th 2021, Johnny announced they would be stepping down as Head of Video.Twitter: @jonneh Some news! Next week will be my last as Head of Video for Dicebreaker. I'll always be proud of the work I've done to help found DB, but it's time for me to move on to the next chapter.
On 8th November 2021, it was announced that Alex Lolies would be leaving the channel.Twitter: @joindicebreaker We're absolutely gutted to announce that the ever fearless, and equally dangerous, board game afficionado @boardgameyogi is leaving us this week! Please join us in wishing her all the best in what's to come and for a special goodbye stream on Thursday https://dicebreaker.com/topics/dicebreaker/news/its-alex-lolies-last-week
===IGN Purchase & Closure===
In the wake of IGN purchasing Gamer Network, Wheels,Twitter: @KubeWhelan Cat's out of the bag now so might as well announce that I've also been made redundant. No idea what IGN will do with the brand in the future but if you haven't already been able to tell from the multiple lay offs and no posts, the Dicebreaker as you knew it is no more Matt,Twitter: @liquidmatt Hello! Unfortunately, I am being made redundant following the recent Gamer Network/IGN buyout and will no longer be EIC of @joindicebreaker after this week. The good news is that means I can come work for you! Full-time or freelance opps all of interest. for the rundown. and MeehanTwitter: @trashcrone As @liquidmatt has already spilled the beans, I am being made redundant from my role as senior staff writer for @joindicebreaker as of this week. It's devastatingly sad to say goodbye to the best stage of my life yet, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. all announced that they had been made redundant, while Liv stated the channel was dead.Twitter: @doesdarkmagic So @joindicebreaker is over. Making videos about my special interest was a dream, but unfortunately things went downhill. If anyone wants to throw some tabletop related work my way for my personal time I'd love that but please prioritise @liquidmatt, @trashcrone and @chasewrites
==Videos==
Dicebreaker's content so far breaks down into three types of videos: reviews of recently-released games, let's plays of recently-released games, and videos where previously-released games that viewers may not have played are discussed in length
===Games played===
*Blades in the Dark
*Blood on the Clock Tower
*Brawl
*Break the Code
*Cash n Guns
*Codenames
*Curios
*Cyberpunk Red
*Dice Academy
*Dog Rush
*Dragon's Breath: The Hatching
*Dread
*ERA: Medieval Age
*Fog of Love (featuring Wheel's actual real girlfriend Abi)
*Horrified
*House Flippers
*Icarus
*King's Dilemma
*Minecraft: Builders and Biomes
*Miremarsh
*Mysterium
*Paranormal Detectives
*Point Salad
*Reverse BeastMaster
*Runelords
*Skulk Hollow
*Slide Quest
*Stay Cool
*Sushi Roll
*Tuki
*Ultimate Werewolf
*Uxmal
*Villagers
*War with the Evil Power Master
*Watergate
===Games reviewed===
*Atellier: The Painter's Studio
*Bad Bones
*Band of Blades
*Black Angel
*Blood on the Clock Tower
*Divinity: Original Sin - The Boardgame
*Elder Scrolls: Call to Arms
*ERA: Medieval Age
*Extraordinary Adventures: Pirates!
*Icarus
*Kapow!
*Letter Jam
*Parks
*Passtally
*Sabotage
*Set a Watch
*Skulk Hollow
*Tapestry
*The Great Wall
*Valley of the Vikings
*Villagers
===Why you should play...===
*Azul
*Blades in the Dark
*Keyforge
*Scythe
==The Team==
In order to balance the aims of being both a YouTube channel and a website the Dicebreaker team began to grow in early October 2019, with the new members of the team beginning to appear in the channel's videos and livestreams to introduce them to the audience. So far the expanded team consists of:
*Matt Jarvis - Editor in ChiefYouTube: Meet Matt - Dicebreaker Editor in Chief
*Alex Meehan - Staff WriterYouTube: Let's Play Icarus Live! - With Wheels, Matt and Alex M
*Olivia Kennedy - Video ProducerDicebreaker: Welcome Liv, Dicebreaker’s new video producer!
*Maddie Cullen - Video ProducerDicebreaker: Say hi to Maddie, Dicebreaker’s new video producer!YouTube: Let's Play Plaid Hat's Ashes Reborn LIVE! | Introducing Maddie!
===Former Staff===
*Johnny Chiodini - Head of VideoTwitter: @Jonneh Well, there we have it. After nearly two years with @joindicebreaker and four and a half with @eurogamer, I have left Gamer Network / ReedPop. Cannot emphasise enough how life-changing it's been. Going to miss a LOT of people.
*Alex Lolies - Video ProducerYouTube: Meet Alex Lolies - Dicebreaker Video Producer and DicebakerYouTube: We made some Azul tile biscuits -Dicebaker board game baking
*Sara Elsam - Staff WriterYouTube: Meet Sara Elsam - Staff WriterDicebreaker: Farewell, Sara Elsam
==The Break Quest Club==
In January 2020 the first episode of The Break Quest Club, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign featuring members of the Dicebreaker and Eurogamer teams, was posted on Eurogamer's channel,YouTube: D&D The Break Quest Club: CON-VOY (Part 1 of 3) - A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure with Johnny once again assuming DM duties. In the first episode Johnny mentioned that the quest takes place in the kingdom of G'eth, the same location of the Oxventure, leading to a few comments wondering if there will ever be an Oxventure/Break Quest Club crossover.
===Etain===
Played by Aoife Wilson, a human cleric accompanied by her dire-cat companion Pangur Bán (Bán for short) who are in service to the god Pelor...when Etain isn't setting fire to things.
===Morrigan Manafort===
Played by Zoe Delahunty-Light, a tiefling war jester who likes to put on a show even when she happens to be running people through with her rapier.
===Robert O. Cop===
Played by Michael Whelan, a warforged artificer without jurisdiction who dispenses justice and, even though he has no nose, he can smell crime.
===Hel===
Played by Alex Lolies, a Shadar-kai rogue from a well-off family in Shadowfell who attempts to portray herself as being far edgier than she actually is.
===Goodbad the Badgood===
Played by Ian Higdon, a half-orc barbarian who seems more interested in having a fry-up in his golden skillet than he is in things such as battle or questing.
===Literally Everybody Else in the World===
Played by Johnny Chiodini, continuing their DM duties which they began with the Oxventure.
==Dungeonbreaker==
In February 2020 Dicebreaker began their own DnD campaign, with the whole team playing a campaign using the Eberron: Rising from the Last War sourcebook,YouTube: Dungeonbreaker: DINO-SCORE! D&D Episode one - a Dungeons and Dragons actual play adventure with Johnny once again assuming Dungeon Master duties for a band which they described as "a Gobbo, a cat-person, two megalomaniacs and a smack addict."
At the end of the third quest, the campaign ended on a cliffhanger with the majority of the party literally sent to hell, with the second season of Dungeonbreaker set to take place in the Descent Into Avernus sourcebook.YouTube: Dungeonbreaker: CRATE EXPECTATIONS! D&D (Episode 3/3) - a Dungeons and Dragons actual play adventure
The Dungeonbreaker campaign continued in Avernus, with Erik leaving the party, canonically due to finding a good pub and quickly gaining the affection of the denizens of Avernus, as left in his note to the rest of the party. Outside of the game context, Erik’s player had left the channel and, therefore, could not continue playing. However, Erik’s place was soon filled by Farid, the wood elf fighter, who lead to team through Avernus and ensured allies with the Gnolls and the demon lord Yeenoghu.
By the end of their trip in Avernus, the party had unlocked a gate to another dimension, letting them pass through to the Sword Coast. Farid left the group, as his player was, once more, unable to continue playing in the campaign. Unfortunately, it also let an army of bloodthirsty Gnolls pass through too. The party, somewhat unwillingly, helped the Sword Coast remain undestroyed, culminating in their battle in Waterdeep.
Finally, the group, sans Amelia, who decided to remain behind in Waterdeep, ventured into the Dungeon of Catharsis, a dungeon come up with by Johnny. At the end, all four adventurers were granted a wish, with one member wishing that the four of them would meet again one day. Perhaps that wish may come true and we will receive another season of Dungeonbreaker, but for now, the series has completed.
===Mist on the Mountain===
Played by Alex Lolies, Mist on the Mountain (or Mist for short) is a Tabaxi bard of the Hidden Shower clan who roams the land playing some tunes on their harp, listening to people's stories, and having their feline nature occasionally get in the way of the party making progress. As Lolies herself described Mist, they’re really friendly and a bit stupid but they mean well...although the "stupid" party usually overrules the "means well" part. Honestly is just a child.
===Fizz===
Played by Michael Whelan, a kenku wizard who previously worked on the lower rungs of the underworld until he happened upon a potion that restored his creativity which he soon became addicted to as it's the only way that he can feel whole again. Generally a bit of a selfish a-hole, but we love him for it.
===Morbos Gloombringer===
Played by Matt Jarvis, a tiefling cleric who believes himself to be the most powerful being in the universe with an attitude to match and a desire to prove that he is more evil than everyone else, who is adamant that somebody named Silven Goodheart is long dead and you should stop asking questions. While he acts like he is the best, most evilest cleric in all the realms, inside he is, in fact, a sweetheart who can’t cleric for the life of him. Genuinely cares about the party, but will NEVER admit it.
===Tim the Goblin===
Played by Alex Meehan, a 2ft tall goblin druid filled with a childlike innocence even when the rest of the party, excluding Mist, are being neither childlike nor innocent, although so far that hasn't dulled Tim's sense of wonder at experiencing the world outside of his swamp. Is pure baby boi.
===Erik Ihr Casellata===
Played by Sara Elsam, he is the half-elf, bastard son of a noble man, as you can see by the ears. He is shrouded in mystery other than the fact that he is rather rich, quite drunk, and mostly filled with hate. Currently in Avernus and living his best life. Or maybe afterlife?
===Farid===
Played by Dean Abdou, joining the party after Sara/Erik left the channel, a wood elf fighter who the party met in Avernus. It is unknown why he’s in Avernus in the first place, especially considering his elven nature. Flirted with Morbos throughout the time he was with the group and it was stated outright that Farid found Morbos attractive. Good friends with the demon lord Yeenoghu. Very fabulous. Enjoys coffee. 
==Channel milestones==
===Subscriber milestones===
*100,000 subscribers: August 19, 2023
==Trivia==
*Johnny has their own YouTube channel, albeit one which was rarely used.YouTube: Johnny Chiodini's channel Though they now use it as their main channel.
*Wheels courted a small amount of controversy on his departure from Creative Assembly, signing off from his final livestream by calling YouTuber Arch-Warhammer a "dickhead."PC Gamer: Total War community manager ends final stream by calling YouTuber a 'dickhead'Total War Center: Wheels Controversy
*Prior to signing up with the channel, Lolies worked for Big Potato Games, first as an events manager and later as a sales manager.Boardgame Yogi: My Journey into Board Games (as a Hobby & the Industry)
*Mist on the Mountain, from the Dungeonbreaker campaign, is of ambiguous gender due to having been referred to by all pronouns and no one knowing if one is correct or not. By the end of the series, Mist was regularly referred to as they/them by Lolies, as well as others.
==Gallery==
Dicebreaker hosts.jpg|Johnny and Wheels, from the channel's debut
Dicebreaker_full_team.jpg|The full team (clockwise from back left) Michael Whelan, Alex Lolies, Sara Elsam, Matt Jarvis, Johnny Chiodini, Alex Meehan
Full_dicebreaker_team.jpg|The full(ish) Dicebreaker team at EGX 2019 (l-r Alex Lolies, Johnny Chiodini, Alex Meehan, Michael Whelan, Matt Jarvis
==References==
Category:Gaming YouTubers
Category:Cooking YouTubers
Category:English YouTubers
Category:Irish YouTubers
Category:Users who joined in 2019