Critical Role is a bunch of nerdy ass voice actors who play DnD....I've never heard of this. What is it?
I loved loved loved the first campaign to be honest, but I have actually found myself actually liking the second one better....Its low level DnD where shit is just crazy and silly and there arent "The fate of the world hangs in the balance" type scenarios going on
I wonder if Orion Acaba is kicking himself in the ass over being kind of a douche and getting himself kicked off.
A few weeks ago I decided to get back in to D&D (haven't played in years) and I have thrown myself in to learning as much about 5E as I can. I've purchased literally every official 5E book that's been printed and spent several dozen hours listening to D&D YouTube channels on 2x speed to refresh my DM chops. My first come-back session is next weekend and I'm really excited.
Now, to your post. It's no surprise that I discovered Critical Role while consuming the type/amount of D&D content that I have been, but there were so many episodes that I just selected Campaign 2, episode 23 and started from there. I think I'm on episode 34 now. I really enjoy it, but I've found I like listening to it rather than watching it. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes. Despite my enjoyment, I find myself more and more acutely aware of the total bullshit SJW rhetoric infesting the game. It didn't exist last I played. As much as I like Critical Role, I have played the game enough to know that their game is very A-typical of what D&D really looks like. Also, there is absolutely no question in my mind that aspects of it are scripted. There was one scene in particular that was so over-the-top obviously pre-planned, it really irritated me. However, those things I can look over because it's modeled to be entertainment and it is. What I can't stop doing is sneering at the pandering to the SJWs. Every time I hear Mercer reference a single character with "their eyes go wide," I want to vomit.
It's all just so fucking ridiculous. Even the core books are drenched in it. I got my PHB in the mail a few days ago and I remember opening it to look over the classes and thinking "Jesus fucking Christ, is ALL the class artwork of females?" Ya, pretty much. One of the MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSIVE reasons I completely abandoned Magic was because of WOTCs complete shift to mental illness, yet here I am supporting the same illness with a different name.
DnD has ALWAYS been incredibly inclusive in that respect. in the 70's, when gygax said there's no difference between male and female stat-wise, it was insane. and not a single person raised an eyebrow because it wasn't about an agenda other than "we just want people to be able to share their imagination with other people"
i've watched all of crit role (except the last few weeks), what parts are you thinking are scripted?
Dude, they are ALL professional actors and improvers...there is no script. Yes they communicate about the game even outside the game, so maybe Liam had asked Matt about a certain something and Matt had all the Lore / information prepared and read it to the group at large instead of just answering Liam. The only story beats are the back stories the players give to the DM that he then takes and incorporates into the game narrative.I can't remember what edition it was specifically, but I know for a fact one of the old hardback source books had two separate (male/female) tables for physical maximum stats.
As far as a the CR scripting, it was a few episodes ago maybe S2/30-32. I can't remember exactly, but Liam seemed to randomly ask Matt about some obscure lore and Matt conveniently had several paragraphs waiting to be read. Matt wasn't generating some lore on the fly or reciting it from his general interpretation of his world, you could see him reading it. It wasn't general knowledge, it was specific. Coincidence that Matt just happened to have what Liam was looking for and didn't miss a beat when Liam asked about it? Maaaaybe, but I'd wager the house against it. There have been a few other telltale signs, but nothing incredibly egregious. Generally speaking, the players are aware of specific plot beats they're supposed to hit to keep the story moving and interesting. There's just too much money involved now for them to risk losing viewers for there not to be. It's a fantasy soap opera now, and that's ok.
So I miss my DND days, don't have anyone nearby to play with. (Strangely some other sheriff deputies I heard play so maybe an in there) But I would say while our DM did try all the description stuff, most of us were playing more "tactically" and fairly minimal in the trying to voice act and otherwise like roleplay audibly. All of us heavy consumers of all things nerd, but I think we all drew the line at trying to be voice acting dorks.
I tried watching that S2:1 episode..... I just can't do it. I realize I'm just a jaded asshole probably. But Can't stand bitches that suddenly hoot etc. I can't take seriously for whatever reason the guy and his gnome voice or whatever the fuck. Guess It's why I was much bigger into stuff like warhammer 40k. Get all the scenery/lore/tactics/dice rolling, without the acting a fool parts. (Was really excited to try playing D20 modern, and some other battletech/sci fi RPG's but our group was falling apart after high school so never got much of a chance at them.)
Sam Riegel is who you're referring to. He plays a female goblin 'rogue.' Initially, I had a hard time taking him seriously as well, but I've come to really like him. Don't get me wrong, there are some cringe moments (for all of them), but his character is interesting and endearing. I'm like you in that I have a general dislike for the 'silly' spin some people portray with their characters. However, Sam does it well. He's a bit of comic relief, but he also knows how to play the game mechanically and does so pretty well.
The voice acting I like the least is Laura's cutesy cleric. She's basically a female version of Tasslehoff Burrfoot. You either loved or hated Tass and I found him to be exhausting. Also, Marisha's butch, lesbian monk is incredibly boring for me. Despite that, they work well together and it's very entertaining.
Sludig, try just listening instead of watching. It makes a huge difference.
If youre not into the RP aspect of it then yeah, CR might not be for you...as they are all VO actors. You might want to check out Matt Colvilles streaming campaign, hes more into the tactical from what I can gather (I havent watched his yet). I think (From what I have heard) that this is more akin to what a regular home game of DnD is...these guys are not actors but were just co workers who play togetherSo I miss my DND days, don't have anyone nearby to play with. (Strangely some other sheriff deputies I heard play so maybe an in there) But I would say while our DM did try all the description stuff, most of us were playing more "tactically" and fairly minimal in the trying to voice act and otherwise like roleplay audibly. All of us heavy consumers of all things nerd, but I think we all drew the line at trying to be voice acting dorks.
I tried watching that S2:1 episode..... I just can't do it. I realize I'm just a jaded asshole probably. But Can't stand bitches that suddenly hoot etc. I can't take seriously for whatever reason the guy and his gnome voice or whatever the fuck. Guess It's why I was much bigger into stuff like warhammer 40k. Get all the scenery/lore/tactics/dice rolling, without the acting a fool parts. (Was really excited to try playing D20 modern, and some other battletech/sci fi RPG's but our group was falling apart after high school so never got much of a chance at them.)