Critical Role

[Finarvyn]

I've been seeing a lot of stuff about Critical Role recently, so I thought I'd watch an episode to see what the fuss was about. It's kind of strange to sit and watch a D&D session for three hours. The actors are somewhat entertaining, and it seems that they are all "voice actors" and I assume they use their career skills to ham up the action.

It's a little strange watching someone else's campaign, and overall seems like the comments those players make are not that different from those that my players might make. An odd mix of adventure and joking around, except these are professional actors and do better voices than I do.

I'd like to avoid Critical Role bashing and I'm curious if anyone on these boards follows this program (Looks like there are a couple hundred episodes!) so if you do follow it maybe you will make some comments. (If you do NOT watch, I don't really need to know why you don't like it.)

Is it worth tracking down any of the resources for their campaign?
Is it worth watching more episodes.
Are there parts of their campaign worth stealing for a home game?

[spellslingsellsword]

From what I've read online, the 2nd season is a better jumping off point for new watchers. I don't watch their live play show, but I did back their Kickstarter to get an animated series based on the campaign. I'm pretty excited to see the animated series when it is finished.

[kaiqueo]

Watched a half a dozen episodes and stoped, though I can see the appeal. I find more interesting to read the plot on a Critical Role Wiki to see if there's a nice idea worth stealing.

The Wildemount book for 5e seems to be very good in terms of presentation and adventure ideas.

[mrmanowar]

As for me, I was made aware of Critical Role when players who are not part of my main gaming group as well as my nephews(!) wanting me to comment on them. The players were people who playtested stuff I ran at various Gamehole conventions and my nephews watched the YouTube stuff convinced Matt Mercer was the coolest and I as their crazy DM uncle was now second best. I watched some of the videos but as stated they do have a lot of content now which I don't have time to watch. I did meet Matt in the past as well as his wife briefly and while the conversation between his wife (who is a player on those) was very short and Matt commented on my Manowar shirt we spent more time talking about Manowar and metal bands rather than gaming I must say they both were very nice very personable people who I have nothing but kind things to say about.

As far as their content goes, they seem to be a lucky or fortunate group who gets their storyline officially published in a capacity. I did buy the Wildemount for my nephews to play, but since I run my own campaign setting for my kids and them in a 5E setting (we only play about three times a year due to travel, etc.) it was something exciting for them. It's a unique thing in that for them they can watch YouTube videos and playthroughs of this Wildemount setting whereas I tinker around in my own world. I don't have anything negative to say as it's how "Critical Role plays", BUT I remind my players I don't have a post production team producing video segues and shots dynamically showing terrain and minis as that takes me 5-10 minutes to set up those things. I do utilize "voices" when possible to keep NPC's memorable (I hope), but that is just part of the fun.

In the end, they have their niche and it's growing. However, they also have sponsor dollars and post production values to make this more of a "show" rather than a "game representation". Once that distinction is made, I tell everyone, enjoy Matt's story or Critical Role for what it is: the high end representation of a theatrical showcase of D&D, not necessarily how D&D in any of its editions or particular DM's may run it based on how much they can spend either time or money. Just look at it for pure entertainment value and that's where I think Critical Role succeeds based on who is watching. Watching, not playing.

In the end, the spark of imagination must be held. The desire to continue playing whether it's a story based game, a dungeon crawl, investigative spree, open world sandbox must be enjoyed... heck even a railroad based game. Are the players AND the DM having fun? Fun cannot be quantified based on just watching a YouTube video. It must be experienced in my opinion. Critical Role is offering one option of fun, not all options of fun. I would encourage everyone to maintain all avenues of fun, not just one. If this stuff inspires you to play a certain way, go for it. Just don't expect every game you play to be a mold of this exact style of play and then opine your reviews of D&D based on the video.

It takes all kinds to have fun. The more fun had by all, the better!

[Piper]

To be frank? This is the first I've heard of it when I read your post. I'll check it out if I can find it.

[Finarvyn]

Piper here is where I found the first episodes.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-p9lWIhcLQ&list=PL1tiwbzkOjQz7D0l_eLJGAISVtcL7oRu_&index=1

Interesting to hear that I might want to start with the 2nd season instead of the 1st. I "watched" for nearly an hour, which is to say that I was listening in the background while I was getting work done and would occasionally flip over to watch a few minutes and then get back to work. I guess I didn't really watch, then, as at the moment I can't recall what they were doing. They did seem to be having fun, however. Looks like season #1 is 121 episodes, if I read that correctly, and I can't imagine this holding my attention for 300+ hours. (Heck, there are very few things in life that can hold my attention for 300+ hours.) I started to skim the comments at the video site, then saw one which said that posters keep putting up spoilers so one shouldn't read the comments, so I stopped just in case.

The Wildemount book does look interesting, so I guess they have some neat ideas. My game store also has a book talking about the players and the characters, so I guess these guys are becoming celebrity D&D players. Who would have thought.

Anyway, I appreciate the info so far. I may give Critical Role another shot, maybe back up and try to actually watch instead of multitask.

[tdenmark]

Matt Mercer reminds me of my 7th grade science teacher who used to run D&D for us at lunchtime. Not only do they look very similar, but they're both really good DM's. Entertaining, funny, smart, creative. The difference is Matt Mercer being a voice actor does a great job of creating NPC voices.

I'm not wholly into the radio-theater style play and always feel self conscious when I do too much voice acting during play, but I don't mind it like some people who seem to absolutely loath it. Which I don't understand. The RPG Pundit typifies those who hate that kind of play, as did Gary Gygax from what I understand.

Then again, I prefer audiobooks with narrators who have a deep articulate voice and don't overly dramatize. I can barely listen to audiobooks that are dramatized versions.

[talysman]

I haven't seen Critical Role, but I have listened to something similar (The Adventure Zone, starring the McElroy family. I guess you could call them professional voice actors.) I could probably nitpick what I like or don't like about their playstyle, but the real reason I gave up after 5 to 10 episodes was because I don't want to devote that much time to something like that. I barely listen to podcasts as it is.

[captainjapan]

   Finarvyn

I've only seen two episodes of Critical Role. The dm was so d**n handsome, it started making me self concious. On the otherhand, I've seen two seasons worth of HarmonQuest. It's recorded live and, then, animated.



They have celebrity guest players, too, like Aubry Plaza from Parks & Rec, Nathan Fillion from Firefly, Patton Oswalt from (just about) everything. Here's the synopsis for season 3:

The world has been destroyed by the demon helling! To make things worse, Fondue ( Harmon) is dead, and his spirit is trapped inside a sword. It’s now up to Buer (McGathy), Boneweevil (Davis) and a mysterious newcomer to find a way to undo the damage done and repair the mistakes that led to the end of the world (and were like, definitely their fault). Seeking the “Beast of Beginning” to reset their past, our heroes traverse time and space to set the world right, but run into increasingly dangerous complications caused by trying to alter the fabric of reality itself.

I should get back to that. It was fun watch.

[Dohojar]

I have watched up to episode 7 of the first campaign. Overall I rather enjoy it. TV has so much crap on it these days that I would rather watch others playing a game I love. It makes me want to play more lol. It is also cool to see how other people play D&D outside of my group. The players may be voice actors but they come up with some really hair-brained ideas just like group. It also encouraged me to add a bit more flair when I DM. I am no voice actor but I have gotten more dramatic with my descriptions (or at least try to). It won't be for everyone but I get enjoyment out of it (especially after 3 or 4 beers).

[Deleted]

I love playing and refereeing D&D but I can't enjoy watching other people do it for some reason. They're a talented and attractive group of people so I see the appeal, for some.

[arkansan]

Honestly can't say I've watched it, though I'm not opposed to giving it a try.

[tkdco2]

Oct 31, 2020 16:17:40 GMT -6 @ampleframework said:

I love playing and refereeing D&D but I can't enjoy watching other people do it for some reason. They're a talented and attractive group of people so I see the appeal, for some.

Ditto. The only time I watch other folks playing a game is when I'm trying to see how a certain system plays. Same thing with LOTRO: I generally only watch gameplay if I'm stuck on a quest and need to find answers to a problem I've encountered.

[flailsnail75]

I wouldn’t be able to watch the episodes but I’ve listened to them on my commute several times. He’s a great DM if you can overlook the 5e aspects.

[dicebro]

Nov 5, 2020 10:25:57 GMT -6 flailsnail75 said:

I wouldn’t be able to watch the episodes but I’ve listened to them on my commute several times. He’s a great DM if you can overlook the 5e aspects.

Yep, I would need to be focusing on something else too. I just can’t watch most other folks play for very long. But that might be the Ref in me.

[muddy]

I've watched a little of CR and a few other similar things. I don't find it that interesting to watch. HarmonQuest, on the other hand, I found very entertaining.