I am DM who love Critical Role, and really love the way Matthew run his games. That being said, I don't have 20 plus years of experience running games, and my players know that. I believe the Mercer effect only happens because players expect a grand DM but aren't great players themselves. If people want to play a game like CR its going to take hard work, and everyone has to be there to elevate each other.
My personal theory is that the only people who think CR is scripted are those who haven’t played the game themselves. The idea of collaborative storytelling on the spot seems foreign and impossible until you have experienced it yourself.
Yeah, or people who have only watched CR in clips or highlights. It seems pretty clear (to me at least) after watching enough episodes that they are constantly surprising each other
Nope. Been playing for years and years and I still think there’s a loose storytelling structure going on there. It’s not all just random. Not scripted necessarily but guided
@@jessebourbeau1616 a guided narrative is still very D&D though and not the same as scripted. Prep, static events that are happening in the world, and communication between the DM and players results in a consistent game and a good use of game time. That just seems like responsible playing, and nothing wrong with it. I don't see how anyone could have a problem with that.
@@user-jt1js5mr3f I don’t agree with folks who think it is completely scripted or fake, but since it’s a show and an entertaining one at that, I do believe they are knowingly or not colluding on the guided narrative
@@jessebourbeau1616 I would agree, it's the same way my players and I agree to not go off the rails when running a one shot. Due to the nature of that game, we all agree on the goals and work to achieve them, but that's different from being scripted and it seems a lot of people don't see it that way, oddly.
11 หลายเดือนก่อน +12
it really grinds my gears that people pronunce it critical roll and not critical role
Holy Molly dude, I just got into D&D and didn't realise it was you, cam, at first. Perfect voice, perfect video edit, good info, thanks man keep it up.
Got into D&D from a friend, got more into it from CR, and then later D20. Their energy is electric. Some say to stay away from them if you want a "true to life" campaign, but that's wrong. True to life is only what you and the others bring to the table, some are shy and are borderline incapable of social interaction in RP sense, but that's fine. Just some groups work, some don't. If you want a cinematic campaign, you'll need experienced people all around bare minimum, and they'll all need to be on the same page, but a regular campaign between friends can be just as good if the vibe is achieved and everyone is having fun
Funny enough, I have never seen an episode of Critical Role but I know so many characters because it's super popular in the cosplay scene. There isn't a convention without at least 5 CR cosplayers running around 😂 I love the character designs ! Back when Overwatch released, Cassidy was my favorite hero to play and therefore I was a huge Matt Mercer fan, that was how I first heard of Critical Role :D
I think my discovery of Critical Role was thanks to Ashley Johnson, personally! It was around the time of The Last of Us 2's release, well, a few months before that really, where I regained interest in the series so I was looking up interview of the cast (which includes a lot from Ashley, since she's voicing Ellie), streamed gameplays of the first game, that kind of stuff. At the same time, I was big into D&D so I was looking up my fair share of D&D videos, from Puffin Forest to Dingo Doodles. I think that, eventually, the algorithm saw those two interests of mine and just started recommending Critical Role for me! Had the time I didn't have much interest for it: Those videos are 4 hours long, goddamit! :p But I started seeing shorter highlights and all, looked those up, and eventually I got hooked! :) So that's my story on how I got into Critical Role!
They generate so much income. That a West March campaign with 10 DMs and 50 players could be accomplished. There could be extensive record keeping for all the players, their hirelings, henchmen, and followers. A group of writers could do dungeon designs. Players decide on a location. DMs conduct the hex crawl, and the location of interest. There would be so many sessions. People may only follow certain groups of players. However, these players shape the world. DMs could be assigned different regions of the world.
Hey man just wanted to say I think your videos are great! You're definitely going to keep growing really quicky, but just be careful about burning out. I used to upload twice a week, but I eventually found that trying to commit to that I was ignoring other important things in my life (even D&D haha) to keep it up, and it was stressing me out more than bringing me any joy. Keep being awesome 👍
Thank you! Yeah, I am definitely going to make sure I don't do too much, too fast. I have no issue with taking a break if need be. Thanks for the kind words ❤
You just have to understand what you can steal from critical role for your own games and what only works on their show, and if people dont like it either you make a comprimise or they/you find a new dnd group.
Honestly, I am not a fan of Critical Role, it has always seemed too daunting of a show to get into given it's length. However, that does not mean I don't appreciate everything they have done for the community. Critical Role has inspired thousands and I think that is amazing
The only thing I think is "scripted" is how often guest players got the killing blow on monsters throughout the seasons, but that's probably worth it for how excited they are every time.
The Mercer Effect exists for a valid reason. Some simply cannot comprehend that your Bozo DM you´ve found randomly on the internet isn´t a critically acclaimed voice actor with a team of writers AND "lorekeepers" that are paid to consume every tidbit mentioned on a weekly basis. There´s a big difference between a bunch of bozos playing DnD and being the BIGGEST DND STREAM (and highest gross earner of twitch) that exists on the internet. So is CR bad for DnD? Probably not. It´s practically the Olympics of DND Storytelling and worldbuilding with talented actors and a big budget. Nobody would blame you if you cannot lift weights or run 100m races like athletes right? Doesn´t mean you cannot learn something from watching their techniques tho. It´s important to keep in mind that these guys are fundamentally people that get PAID to play DnD and fill stadiums doing so. So don´t expect your player or DMs to do the same.
The only aspect of CR that I've ever noticed, that one could see as proof it's scripted, is an event that occurred as the third episode of campaign 3 came to a close. Spoilers ahead if anyone hasn't seen or heard about this already. So there's a character death that occurs at the end of this episode, and it's one that the player, Travis, seemingly walked into intentionally, and that he had no chance of escaping, as very few dice were rolled, and all of them were rolled by Matt. This was in fact an event that Travis and Matt planned together. Travis has gone on record saying he wanted to bring Bertrand back for a time, and kill him off early in the campaign with no hope of revival. How and when it would occur wasn't laid out or scripted, but Travis did know Matt would have a scenario crop up that would leave Bertrand dead. This doesn't really count as scripting to me. This is something I have done in my home games with friends, to sunset a character in an interesting way and allow the player to bring in something different. This just feels like the player and the DM devising a fun story beat to be introduced when possible, just like a player and DM formulating a character's backstory together so that it can be tied into the game when possible. It's not something that's going to be done at every table, but it's common enough that plenty of people have seen a pre-planned PC death in their own games.
I mean, yeah, that's not "scripted" at all! I mean, another example would be when, in the first campaign, Sam had Scanlan leaves the group and, in the very same episode, introduced Taryon Darrington! If you rewatch that episode you can notice that, at first, Matt is the one describing the new guy, THEN Sam starts voicing him, to everyone else's surprise!!! But, I mean, that's D&D! Sometimes if there's a way you want your character's story to go you just communicate with the GM and you collaborate in making it happen! One of my player in my game, once, wanted to make a new character because he felt his current one wasn't "fitting" well with the rest of the group. So he told me that, and I found a way to write off his old character and introduce his new one as quickly as I could. Then, also, you know, as DM, there is stuff happening, bad guys have plans and they are putting it in motion. My campaign revolved around a cabal of wizards working in the shadow of an empire trying to take over the continent! And their main way of doing that, they were trying to reach one of the Elemental Planes, find a Genie, and get it to grant them a Wish! And, see, from the very first game of my campaign that was their mission, even if my players don't realize it. So in a sense, it was "scripted" because I already knew what the wizards were doing and why. But that's different from the way some people claim Critical Role is "scripted"
@@ChevaliersEmeraude even then, Sam wasn't aware Matt was doing it right then and there, he was caught off guard a bit. That's also just good communication between the DM and player based on the player's wish, so that doesn't count as scripted.
I can’t get behind critical roll. No shade on Matt personally, but I don’t find it fun to listen in to. That said, I don’t think they’ve been good for the community. I don’t see DMs trying to be more like Matt as a bad thing; it’d vivid storytelling. But I see enough players coming in thinking that they can just play ripoffs or that they’re going to be catered to. I also know that the critical role cast has engaged in some level of politics that I just cannot abide by and find distasteful. A lot of the people coming into the game feel like they’ve got MCS. The ones I’ve met anyways. And a big influx of people into the most hand holding version of D&D; 5e; just encouraged Wotc to keep going in a direction of watering down the game. But hey maybe my hate for 5E specifically taints my view.
I have mates that hate CR TBBH. Its ok. Its cool for most part and great that DnD is now far more accepted than before. But ther are fair few things that irk me to the point I no longer watch it.
Critical Role is to D&D, what p0rn is to s3x... Its not what you should expect from the real thing, they are performers, and you shouldn't try to do that...for many reasons...atleast not with asking first! I have MANY issues with Critical Role, but I couldn't care less anymore, as Iv been able to escape the clasps of D&D for better TTRPG's... Cypher System for my new Homegame... Call of Cthulhu for Halloween games... Dragon Age for one-shots, or when people want a break from the normal game... FFG's Star Wars for when we're feeling adventurous... Shadowrun for when someone says "Cyberpunk, but fantasy, too!"... ...End of the World was our previous Halloween game, but CoC has been more the group's style... So...yeah...try some new games, peeps... there's better ones out there... Fantasy AGE, in every way, is better then D&D 5E...
If you look as someone who is excellent at what they do and then complain that they ruined it for you, that is like blaming Michael Jordon for ruining basketball because you can be him. Here's the reality. Be better. Period. Improve or shut the hell up.
I am DM who love Critical Role, and really love the way Matthew run his games. That being said, I don't have 20 plus years of experience running games, and my players know that. I believe the Mercer effect only happens because players expect a grand DM but aren't great players themselves. If people want to play a game like CR its going to take hard work, and everyone has to be there to elevate each other.
Absolutely! I saw a funny comment that said "don't expect your DM to be Matt Mercer, if you're not as good a player as Liam O'Brien" 😂
@@RoguesRollCall-Cam precisely. My players don't expect me to be matt mercer and I don't expect them to be Sam or Liam.
My personal theory is that the only people who think CR is scripted are those who haven’t played the game themselves. The idea of collaborative storytelling on the spot seems foreign and impossible until you have experienced it yourself.
Yeah, or people who have only watched CR in clips or highlights. It seems pretty clear (to me at least) after watching enough episodes that they are constantly surprising each other
Nope. Been playing for years and years and I still think there’s a loose storytelling structure going on there. It’s not all just random. Not scripted necessarily but guided
@@jessebourbeau1616 a guided narrative is still very D&D though and not the same as scripted. Prep, static events that are happening in the world, and communication between the DM and players results in a consistent game and a good use of game time. That just seems like responsible playing, and nothing wrong with it. I don't see how anyone could have a problem with that.
@@user-jt1js5mr3f I don’t agree with folks who think it is completely scripted or fake, but since it’s a show and an entertaining one at that, I do believe they are knowingly or not colluding on the guided narrative
@@jessebourbeau1616 I would agree, it's the same way my players and I agree to not go off the rails when running a one shot. Due to the nature of that game, we all agree on the goals and work to achieve them, but that's different from being scripted and it seems a lot of people don't see it that way, oddly.
it really grinds my gears that people pronunce it critical roll and not critical role
😂 I had to think about this for a while haha
Holy Molly dude, I just got into D&D and didn't realise it was you, cam, at first. Perfect voice, perfect video edit, good info, thanks man keep it up.
Oh wow haha, there's a familiar face. Thanks man, I really appreciate that :) Have fun with your D&D game!
Got into D&D from a friend, got more into it from CR, and then later D20. Their energy is electric. Some say to stay away from them if you want a "true to life" campaign, but that's wrong. True to life is only what you and the others bring to the table, some are shy and are borderline incapable of social interaction in RP sense, but that's fine. Just some groups work, some don't. If you want a cinematic campaign, you'll need experienced people all around bare minimum, and they'll all need to be on the same page, but a regular campaign between friends can be just as good if the vibe is achieved and everyone is having fun
Very well said mate 👏
Funny enough, I have never seen an episode of Critical Role but I know so many characters because it's super popular in the cosplay scene. There isn't a convention without at least 5 CR cosplayers running around 😂 I love the character designs !
Back when Overwatch released, Cassidy was my favorite hero to play and therefore I was a huge Matt Mercer fan, that was how I first heard of Critical Role :D
I think my discovery of Critical Role was thanks to Ashley Johnson, personally! It was around the time of The Last of Us 2's release, well, a few months before that really, where I regained interest in the series so I was looking up interview of the cast (which includes a lot from Ashley, since she's voicing Ellie), streamed gameplays of the first game, that kind of stuff. At the same time, I was big into D&D so I was looking up my fair share of D&D videos, from Puffin Forest to Dingo Doodles. I think that, eventually, the algorithm saw those two interests of mine and just started recommending Critical Role for me! Had the time I didn't have much interest for it: Those videos are 4 hours long, goddamit! :p But I started seeing shorter highlights and all, looked those up, and eventually I got hooked! :)
So that's my story on how I got into Critical Role!
It's funny, I watched Attack on Titan dubbed (travesty I know) for a long time before I even realised it was Matt voicing Levi 😂
@@RoguesRollCall-Cam I didn't know that either before the video 😂 Maybe it's time to watch the first episode !
I just don’t see how critical role could ever be a problem dnd wise when it’s the people who expect that level of polish that are the problem
They generate so much income. That a West March campaign with 10 DMs and 50 players could be accomplished. There could be extensive record keeping for all the players, their hirelings, henchmen, and followers. A group of writers could do dungeon designs. Players decide on a location. DMs conduct the hex crawl, and the location of interest. There would be so many sessions. People may only follow certain groups of players. However, these players shape the world. DMs could be assigned different regions of the world.
That's definitely an interesting idea!
Isn't there already a discord for that but instead of 50 people, it's like 500 or 600, but it's also pay to play I believe
love your videos! Your editing is really nice and the style in general is really watchable.
That's really nice of you to say, thanks!
Hey man just wanted to say I think your videos are great! You're definitely going to keep growing really quicky, but just be careful about burning out. I used to upload twice a week, but I eventually found that trying to commit to that I was ignoring other important things in my life (even D&D haha) to keep it up, and it was stressing me out more than bringing me any joy. Keep being awesome 👍
Thank you! Yeah, I am definitely going to make sure I don't do too much, too fast. I have no issue with taking a break if need be. Thanks for the kind words ❤
A great video. Subscribed!
Thanks!
CR is the reason why DnD became popular. Long story short, fuck Hasbro and WotC
You just have to understand what you can steal from critical role for your own games and what only works on their show, and if people dont like it either you make a comprimise or they/you find a new dnd group.
yeah, well said 👏
Honestly, I am not a fan of Critical Role, it has always seemed too daunting of a show to get into given it's length. However, that does not mean I don't appreciate everything they have done for the community. Critical Role has inspired thousands and I think that is amazing
That's completely understandable, their huge catalog can be pretty intimidating. It took me a fair while to finally dive in
Vids are crisp love your work keep it up. Haven’t seen many Australian (assuming from the accent) d&d channels.
Thanks mate, I appreciate that!
The only thing I think is "scripted" is how often guest players got the killing blow on monsters throughout the seasons, but that's probably worth it for how excited they are every time.
It's certainly possible that Matt is doing a few fudge rolls behind the screen to give guests that special moment, good point 🤔
My thoughts on the Matt Mercer Effect: Yeah. Okay. Crack on.
This comment is for the Algorithm.
The Mercer Effect exists for a valid reason. Some simply cannot comprehend that your Bozo DM you´ve found randomly on the internet isn´t a critically acclaimed voice actor with a team of writers AND "lorekeepers" that are paid to consume every tidbit mentioned on a weekly basis. There´s a big difference between a bunch of bozos playing DnD and being the BIGGEST DND STREAM (and highest gross earner of twitch) that exists on the internet.
So is CR bad for DnD? Probably not. It´s practically the Olympics of DND Storytelling and worldbuilding with talented actors and a big budget. Nobody would blame you if you cannot lift weights or run 100m races like athletes right? Doesn´t mean you cannot learn something from watching their techniques tho.
It´s important to keep in mind that these guys are fundamentally people that get PAID to play DnD and fill stadiums doing so. So don´t expect your player or DMs to do the same.
Yeah, I agree. Expecting the level of Critical Role from a home game just doesn't seem realistic
The only aspect of CR that I've ever noticed, that one could see as proof it's scripted, is an event that occurred as the third episode of campaign 3 came to a close. Spoilers ahead if anyone hasn't seen or heard about this already.
So there's a character death that occurs at the end of this episode, and it's one that the player, Travis, seemingly walked into intentionally, and that he had no chance of escaping, as very few dice were rolled, and all of them were rolled by Matt. This was in fact an event that Travis and Matt planned together. Travis has gone on record saying he wanted to bring Bertrand back for a time, and kill him off early in the campaign with no hope of revival. How and when it would occur wasn't laid out or scripted, but Travis did know Matt would have a scenario crop up that would leave Bertrand dead.
This doesn't really count as scripting to me. This is something I have done in my home games with friends, to sunset a character in an interesting way and allow the player to bring in something different. This just feels like the player and the DM devising a fun story beat to be introduced when possible, just like a player and DM formulating a character's backstory together so that it can be tied into the game when possible. It's not something that's going to be done at every table, but it's common enough that plenty of people have seen a pre-planned PC death in their own games.
I mean, yeah, that's not "scripted" at all! I mean, another example would be when, in the first campaign, Sam had Scanlan leaves the group and, in the very same episode, introduced Taryon Darrington! If you rewatch that episode you can notice that, at first, Matt is the one describing the new guy, THEN Sam starts voicing him, to everyone else's surprise!!!
But, I mean, that's D&D! Sometimes if there's a way you want your character's story to go you just communicate with the GM and you collaborate in making it happen! One of my player in my game, once, wanted to make a new character because he felt his current one wasn't "fitting" well with the rest of the group. So he told me that, and I found a way to write off his old character and introduce his new one as quickly as I could.
Then, also, you know, as DM, there is stuff happening, bad guys have plans and they are putting it in motion. My campaign revolved around a cabal of wizards working in the shadow of an empire trying to take over the continent! And their main way of doing that, they were trying to reach one of the Elemental Planes, find a Genie, and get it to grant them a Wish! And, see, from the very first game of my campaign that was their mission, even if my players don't realize it. So in a sense, it was "scripted" because I already knew what the wizards were doing and why. But that's different from the way some people claim Critical Role is "scripted"
Oh for sure, I think those rare moments are definitely pre-planned, moreso to ensure a clean transition for a new character. Thanks for watching!
@@ChevaliersEmeraude even then, Sam wasn't aware Matt was doing it right then and there, he was caught off guard a bit.
That's also just good communication between the DM and player based on the player's wish, so that doesn't count as scripted.
I can’t get behind critical roll. No shade on Matt personally, but I don’t find it fun to listen in to.
That said, I don’t think they’ve been good for the community. I don’t see DMs trying to be more like Matt as a bad thing; it’d vivid storytelling. But I see enough players coming in thinking that they can just play ripoffs or that they’re going to be catered to. I also know that the critical role cast has engaged in some level of politics that I just cannot abide by and find distasteful.
A lot of the people coming into the game feel like they’ve got MCS. The ones I’ve met anyways. And a big influx of people into the most hand holding version of D&D; 5e; just encouraged Wotc to keep going in a direction of watering down the game. But hey maybe my hate for 5E specifically taints my view.
I have mates that hate CR TBBH. Its ok. Its cool for most part and great that DnD is now far more accepted than before. But ther are fair few things that irk me to the point I no longer watch it.
Another great video Rogue! Keep up the good work!
Thank you! ❤
Critical Role is to D&D, what p0rn is to s3x...
Its not what you should expect from the real thing, they are performers, and you shouldn't try to do that...for many reasons...atleast not with asking first!
I have MANY issues with Critical Role, but I couldn't care less anymore, as Iv been able to escape the clasps of D&D for better TTRPG's...
Cypher System for my new Homegame...
Call of Cthulhu for Halloween games...
Dragon Age for one-shots, or when people want a break from the normal game...
FFG's Star Wars for when we're feeling adventurous...
Shadowrun for when someone says "Cyberpunk, but fantasy, too!"...
...End of the World was our previous Halloween game, but CoC has been more the group's style...
So...yeah...try some new games, peeps... there's better ones out there...
Fantasy AGE, in every way, is better then D&D 5E...
haha 😂 that's definitely one way to put it. Thanks for watching!
My new obsession is The One Ring for games in Middle Earth.
If you look as someone who is excellent at what they do and then complain that they ruined it for you, that is like blaming Michael Jordon for ruining basketball because you can be him. Here's the reality. Be better. Period. Improve or shut the hell up.
No
That was the answer I came to as well 😀
I think theyre good for the hobby, personally. They seem like nice people. I dont think the show is good though, it's a pretty bad actual play, IMO.
That's fair enough, they certainly aren't for everyone. Thanks for watching 😀