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Critical Role - Twitch, YouTube and Podcast

Posted on 1/12/21 at 12:18 pm
Posted by LoveThatMoney
Who knows where?
Member since Jan 2008
12398 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 12:18 pm
Any other nerdy arse people watch or listen to these people play D&D? I don’t know why I find it enjoyable. I guess i have some nostalgia about D&D but they’re also just damn good at this game and make it enjoyable. The stories and acting just draw me in even though it should be a complete snooze fest in theory.
Posted by Sasquatch Smash
Member since Nov 2007
25848 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 12:23 pm to
Honestly, I've watched a lot of other folks play D&D or other table top RPGS, but I don't think I've watched a full Critical Role episode.

quote:

i have some nostalgia about D&D


Good time to get back into it. The 5th Edition rules are very accessible.
Posted by drexyl
Mingovia
Member since Sep 2005
23345 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 12:29 pm to
The adventure zone was the first time I had any exposure to D&D. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t like any of the subsequent campaigns they did and got a bit annoyed with the characters they created. The adventure zone is really fun but the McElroys are kinda douchey.

I wouldn’t mind playing but I don’t know if I could get a group up.

I’ll give Critical Role a shot.
This post was edited on 1/12/21 at 12:30 pm
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34483 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:01 pm to
quote:

The adventure zone was the first time I had any exposure to D&D. I really enjoyed it. I didn’t like any of the subsequent campaigns they did and got a bit annoyed with the characters they created. The adventure zone is really fun but the McElroys are kinda douchey.

I wouldn’t mind playing but I don’t know if I could get a group up.

I’ll give Critical Role a shot.


Some things to keep in mind.

Critical Role plays for much longer with zero editing, as opposed to The Adventure Zone which had shorter sessions and would edit out things like rule checks and such. So the Crit Role episodes are usually 3-4 hours long.

You also have a lot more players - Crit Role started with 7 players + Matt Mercer as the GM, then drop to 6 after episode 30 or so of the first season. They do have occasional guest stars though (but with Covid have not had any in the past 50 episodes of the current season).

You CAN start with Season 2 and not miss much, but some reveals won't be nearly as impactful. So it's up to you if you want to watch/listen to those first.

Everyone is a pure voice actor, so unlike The Adventure Zone you can tell. A lot of the sessions are character interactions as much as combat, so be prepared. I thoroughly enjoy it, but my commute is nearly an hour each way - gives me time to take in the podcasts.
Posted by Jcorye1
Tom Brady = GoAT
Member since Dec 2007
76373 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:06 pm to
I like Dragon Friends, but there is just way too much going on with the couple of episodes of Critical Role I tried.
Posted by crash1211
Houma
Member since May 2008
3635 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:16 pm to
I like Crit Faced. It's 5 authors that play. It's pretty good. I agree with the other guy about The Adventure Zone.
Posted by ZappBrannigan
Member since Jun 2015
7692 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:21 pm to
I'll be honest, I view Critical Role as both a boon and bane to the hobby.

It's great that it's just a giant Ad for D&D 5e.

But it's got two big cons against it.

The first:

People that feel they aren't living up to the Mercer and the Cast as GMs and Players kills a lot of natural growth for new players.

And 2) the big one

It suffers from the Harry Potter effect. D&D has always been the TTRPG bellweather, the better it does the healthier the hobby is. Buts it really a lot harder now to get people to explore other games better suited for different stories/adventures now.
Posted by BlacknGold
He Hate Me
Member since Mar 2009
12402 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:44 pm to
I used to watch. it's very entertaining and you really get to know them.

But 4hrs every week becomes A LOT very quickly.
Posted by LoveThatMoney
Who knows where?
Member since Jan 2008
12398 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 3:51 pm to
quote:

suffers from the Harry Potter effect. D&D has always been the TTRPG bellweather, the better it does the healthier the hobby is. Buts it really a lot harder now to get people to explore other games better suited for different stories/adventures now.


Yeah. I used to play all sorts of TTRPGs. AD&D, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Vampire the Masquerade, Star Wars, Exalted, Cyberpunk, Aberrant, and Twilight 2000. Seems like D&D is all anyone knows about right now. Which is still cool. My nerddom is getting a taste of what it once was and that’s kind of neat.

quote:

People that feel they aren't living up to the Mercer and the Cast as GMs and Players kills a lot of natural growth for new players.

Yeah. That Matt Mercer effect. It probably does set up false expectations for what a normal time can and more likely will be. Knowing the rules like he does and combining them with story elements and improvisations like he does are basically impossible for anyone who doesn’t eat, drink and sleep D&D.
Posted by Sasquatch Smash
Member since Nov 2007
25848 posts
Posted on 1/12/21 at 8:57 pm to
quote:

Yeah. I used to play all sorts of TTRPGs. AD&D, Werewolf the Apocalypse, Vampire the Masquerade, Star Wars, Exalted, Cyberpunk, Aberrant, and Twilight 2000. Seems like D&D is all anyone knows about right now.


Who’s going to put together and GM the Tigerdroppings game?

I expect Cyberpunk to get a bit of a boost. The video game just came out, as did a new edition of the table top game (Cyberpunk Red) that bridges the time gap between 2020 and 2077. Also, R. Talsorian Games acquired the table top rights to The Witcher as part of their video game collaboration. So, might get some additional looks by people looking for The Witcher.

The latest Conan the Barbarian ruleset is a pretty fun game.
Posted by LoveThatMoney
Who knows where?
Member since Jan 2008
12398 posts
Posted on 1/14/21 at 9:29 am to
quote:

Who’s going to put together and GM the Tigerdroppings game?

not this guy. 3 young kids and 60 hour a week job
Posted by skrayper
21-0 Asterisk Drive
Member since Nov 2012
34483 posts
Posted on 1/14/21 at 10:04 am to
quote:

Who’s going to put together and GM the Tigerdroppings game?


I could see that both potentially completely awesome and possibly wholly terrible

My personal favorites are Pathfinder 1st edition and Shadowrun 5th edition (PF is currently on 2nd and Shadowrun is currently on 6th).

I've played a ton of systems.
Recently: DCC, Dragon Age (Heroic Age System), Fate, Shadowrun 5th ed, Pathfinder 1st
Past: Every edition of D&D, Shadowrun 4th Ed, Gurps, Rifts (Paladium), Marvel FASERIP, DC, Mutants and Masterminds 1st ed (so broken ), Star Wars d6
This post was edited on 1/14/21 at 10:06 am
Posted by ZappBrannigan
Member since Jun 2015
7692 posts
Posted on 1/14/21 at 11:04 am to
Im tapped out in 3 different Pathfinder games.

Have a friend that wants to run the fallout tabletop.

And another friend wanting to play Kids on Bikes and also gave me a copy of Monster of the Week. Which actually seem pretty fun and GM light.
Posted by Sasquatch Smash
Member since Nov 2007
25848 posts
Posted on 1/26/21 at 9:39 am to
My reply nearly two weeks later....ha.


quote:

I could see that both potentially completely awesome and possibly wholly terrible


Yes, no doubt.

quote:

My personal favorites are Pathfinder 1st edition and Shadowrun 5th edition (PF is currently on 2nd and Shadowrun is currently on 6th).

I've played a ton of systems.
Recently: DCC, Dragon Age (Heroic Age System), Fate, Shadowrun 5th ed, Pathfinder 1st
Past: Every edition of D&D, Shadowrun 4th Ed, Gurps, Rifts (Paladium), Marvel FASERIP, DC, Mutants and Masterminds 1st ed (so broken ), Star Wars d6



My gaming career started on some AD&D 2nd edition back before I was a teen/into my early teens. Then I moved onto mostly the original World of Darkness games from White Wolf through high school and early college, with whatever editions of the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars were out in the early 2000s, and one session of MechWarrior.

Then I didn't play anything for nearly 15 years.

The last few years, though, I'm back to playing with an occasional DMing here and there. Mostly D&D 5E and Call of Cthulu. We've also done some Cyberpunk 2020, Modiphius' Conan the Barbarian game, Shadowrun using Fate rather than actual Shadworun rules, and a campaign using the rules/setting of the old Angel/Buffy game.

That Conan 2d20 game is pretty fun, which I've already said in this thread.

In regards to Shadowrun's editions, aren't they supporting both 5th and 6th with supplements?


Also, if anyone is interested, there's a group of guys from Louisiana that have put out a game called Tortured Earth, that looks to be between editions.
This post was edited on 1/26/21 at 9:42 am
Posted by Scuttle Buttin
Member since May 2020
449 posts
Posted on 1/26/21 at 9:55 am to
I'd get into a game. Have only been playing a few years. Have also got into making terrain and painting miniatures. 5e and a kind of homebrew for my 7yo. I have a Googledrive that I have been trying to pass around with tons of info. Also check sites like LINK
This post was edited on 1/26/21 at 9:59 am
Posted by poncho villa
DALLAS
Member since Jul 2010
18801 posts
Posted on 1/26/21 at 10:42 am to
I could DM for TD over roll 20 but it's been so long since I've been a player it would be nice to do that again.
Posted by Sasquatch Smash
Member since Nov 2007
25848 posts
Posted on 1/26/21 at 12:14 pm to
quote:

I could DM for TD over roll 20 but it's been so long since I've been a player it would be nice to do that again


That's why I DM the occasions I do, to give the usual DM a chance to relax and be a player. I'm nowhere near as good at it as he is, but that comes with practice and better preparation on my part.
Posted by LoveThatMoney
Who knows where?
Member since Jan 2008
12398 posts
Posted on 12/16/25 at 10:44 am to
With the start of Campaign 4, figured I’d bring this back to the fore.

Brennan Lee Mulligan as DM is amazing. I saw his stints as DM for Exandria Unlimited Calamity and his stuff on Dropout and his ability to juggle this giant fricking story while improving as well and as often as he does is stupefying.
Posted by sgallo3
Lake Charles
Member since Sep 2008
25357 posts
Posted on 12/16/25 at 12:13 pm to
Their shows on prime seem to be successful
Posted by ActusHumanus
St. George, Louisiana
Member since Sep 2025
752 posts
Posted on 12/16/25 at 12:17 pm to
quote:

Any other nerdy arse people watch or listen to these people play D&D? I don’t know why I find it enjoyable. I guess i have some nostalgia about D&D but they’re also just damn good at this game and make it enjoyable. The stories and acting just draw me in even though it should be a complete snooze fest in theory.


Stopped watching about halfway through C3. The storyline started to suck, too many guests, and Marisha Ray is just insufferable. Haven't tried C4. I watch for the main crew. All of these other folks are just not very good. Feels very B-team.
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