What Makes Critical Role Special?

Рет қаралды 45,049

3 жыл бұрын

What makes Critical Role so special? Today, we're deep-diving the juggernaut of DND 5e and one of the largest Dungeons and Dragons streams there is: Critical Role.
More specifically, we're looking at what Critical Role does that makes it so special and helps it stand out against the crowd of hundreds of other DND streams. There's a lot to admire in them: their ability to voice act, their careers, the amount of work they put into the game...
But all of it is just the tip of the iceberg with these nerdy-ass voice actors and I come today to try and give my take on what is so special about them.
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Hello! My name is Jay, and I am a long-time veteran of storytelling and a semi-seasoned DM! I began playing Dungeons and Dragons roughly 5 years ago and began my first ever game as the DM. I figured things out by watching online games and fumbling my way through the rules, and never looked back! I've fallen in love with TTRPG's in general and want to share my experience and thoughts with the world and community I love so much. I currently DM two separate games regularly, and continue to learn every day.
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Play Your Role is a project with the intention of helping inspire and coach players and DM’s alike to add story beats and dramatic moments into their games through basic writing concepts, interesting player character inspirations, and discussions on how to effectively roleplay in a way that helps (not hinders) everyone else's roleplay at the table!
💡 TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO 💡
• Critical Role
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• What Is Critical Role
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• Dungeons & Dragons
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• DND
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• DND 5e
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🔎 SCRIPT EXCERPT: (This isn't important, just stuff for the algorithm) 🔎
Critical role is special because it trailblazers vulnerability and passion.
I can’t speak enough on how much the show has meant to me. These nerdy ass voice actors who I have never met, have been there for me in the lowest moments of my life. They’ve given me strength by showing an emotional vulnerability I’ve found myself unable to give and proving that it’s possible.
If they can do it on stream to so many viewers… I can do it for the few around me.
Critical Role is special because they care. They consistently give to the community in every way they can, and they constantly show that they are only humans, but they are humans who are doing their absolute damndest to prove to the world that they can make a difference. It’s that creativity, passion, drive, and care that makes so many people continue to want to return back every Thursday.

Пікірлер: 337

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

EDIT: Okay this video is blowing up far past anything I could have imagined, the algorithm and critter community are a hell of a thing. Thanks so much everyone for stopping by! I can guarantee more videos like this are coming! EDIT 2: I KNOW I FORGOT TO THANK LAURA AND I AM ABSOLUTELY LIVID AT MYSELF FOR DOING SO. I promise to somehow make it up, she is one of the best players I've ever seen and I know a lot of people came to this video after being recommended from a video talking about how great she is in the first place. Please forgive me :( Hey everyone! Seems the algorithm is picking up this video! I know 600 views isn't a lot, but this is by far the best performing video on my new channel! If you're interested please consider subscribing! I make regular DND content and plan on discussing Critical Role more in the future! Thanks so much for watching!

@bosunbones.8815 3 жыл бұрын

Critters rock! 🥰 Subbed!

@XavierBakunawa 3 жыл бұрын

Yo, you forgot to mention Laura during your 'off-chance moment'. :(

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

@@XavierBakunawa I KNOW people are pointing that out to me! I literally cannot believe I forgot her, I'll have to make an entirely new video just to thank her

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

@Håvard Rekdal VERY true. I wouldn't mind devoting a video to her! Her chaotic energy is something to be admired

@aydensauvageau9393 3 жыл бұрын

Lol... 600 veiws, nice try on those 11k

@traviswillingham2375 3 жыл бұрын

Damn, I see you. And thank you.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Hold on sir, is that actually you??? This might make me look really stupid but I distinctly remember this account commenting on Crit Gem Heroes video like, 2 years ago and they asked you the same question so I doubt I'll get an answer. Either way, if it ACTUALLY is you Travis: it means the absolute world to me that you've seen this video!!! Thanks for stopping by. Just please don't tell Laura I accidentally forgot her name in that last portion. I promise to make a video to make up for it. Keep being an awesome CEO!

@dig8634 2 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole Yup, it's the exact same channel. I just went and checked. It would be pretty funny if this was a fake account. If it is, they're doing an amazing job being sparse with the comments, which honestly makes it more believable. Actually think it is him personally

@deanhager5646 2 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole I kinda think he would have a verified account. Maybe? Hell of a job with the video.

@pgmr6304 2 жыл бұрын

@@deanhager5646 Nah he wouldn't as hes not a content creator in a typical sense he makes stuff and works at the company. but he doesnt create any of his own content and KZfaq verification comes with a sub minimum level if u go on the actual channel u can see its got a single video of a mocap demo reel which would make sense.

@tristinwhlr1112 2 жыл бұрын

Of course it's travis that sees it Man's the biggest critical role geek in the fandom lol

@adamhelesic4279 3 жыл бұрын

2:55 "Best thing we ever did." Oh, Liam, if you had any idea what it would mean.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Everytime I watch that video and see his excitement I cannot help but smile

@antipyrene 3 жыл бұрын

What makes Critical role special is simple...its table full of love, and they let you share in it

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Could not have said it better myself

@Raoul9753 3 жыл бұрын

also doesnt hurt that the whole cast is made up of professional actors, who are all on the same page, most likely speak about the general direction their adventure is going before every session at least.

@StarlitSunLight 3 жыл бұрын

I'm so excited for campaign 3. I started watching Critical Role from animatics on youtube, so I started in C2 and fell in love.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Ohhhh man there are some GREAT animatics and animations out there! I wish I had the talent those artists do

@JaayCeez 3 жыл бұрын

Haha, my first episode was literally the episode when they met Artagan in the Feywild for the first time 😂😂😂 and it was my first DnD live stream I watched like ever. I was, Mind blown! O.o

@dougvillegas8303 3 жыл бұрын

Welcome to our happy little cul-...family. Yes, our happy little family.

@derekpb6394 2 жыл бұрын

EU is starting out great and has some great characters, they did well in their choices.. That said I do hope the original cast are able to play relax and enjoy together in private or has another campaign

@TheMastermind729 2 жыл бұрын

Season three is the only thing I’m looking forward to in my life right now.

@Zephyrhawk17 3 жыл бұрын

That scene where Sam expresses himself made me tear up. Haven't seen that spot in the campaign yet, I'm pretty behind for C1, but wow, that was an emotional moment.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

I know for a fact it's an all time favorite for many, and it's real easy to see why. Sam really knows how to pull at those heart strings

@velocitywolf4899 2 жыл бұрын

I was about to comment this lol. I haven’t even started c1 but that hit me different

@amberthedragon 2 жыл бұрын

I feel like there are alot of good emotional moments in C1 but that one just always gets the tears rolling for me because of the emotional weight behind it. Just such a critical and emotional moment.

@KoNekoNoUta 2 жыл бұрын

That scanlan episode hurt me every time I watched it, but it is one of the most amazing episode ever.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Could not agree more

@annec8127 2 жыл бұрын

Me too. The payoff when Tary shows up is amazing, but it's so hard to listen to Scanlan's blowing up at the group.

@volcajohann 3 жыл бұрын

What I find the most amazing about them is, actually, that they can maintain a game going with their best friends. In my experience, close friend groups tend to be more about messing with each other than about the game itself, so seeing them getting off track but getting right back in is actually the one thing I find the most amazing.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

That's where their experience as actors comes in I'm sure. It can't hurt to have it after all!

@n3onvalkyrie936 2 жыл бұрын

Bard's Lament was the perfect moment to show there. This video is amazing and insanely accurate. Thank you!

@DaxRaider 3 жыл бұрын

i know so many people NEVER played d&d but watch cirtical role religious xD

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

It's crazy the reach it has! Glad people can enjoy these nerdy-ass voice actors without even needing to play the game honestly

@dma-rising8876 3 жыл бұрын

I think you are entirely right, and although only a sample size of 1. I have been to many RPG conventions, and have yet to see a CR fan there, yet I know the community of artists and cosplayers are huge, they really may just not be that into the gaming aspect for themselves. I imagine a lot of folks who much like PYR said had a first time experiencing this may be very hard pressed to find a game/DM they feel lives up to what they expect it to be

@artemrasputin1831 2 жыл бұрын

@@dma-rising8876 its not a good thing tho. Those expectations became a source of misery to a lot of GMs and players.

@dma-rising8876 2 жыл бұрын

Artem Rasputin oh I agree completely. I think CR has done potentially irreparable damage to D&D and TTRPGs, I think they have very little interest in playing or very little interesting in playing unless it's a CR clone, but they sure are loud about how the game and industry need to change to suit them

@artemrasputin1831 2 жыл бұрын

@@dma-rising8876 Right. If there's something i despise when it comes to CR - it would be the unsavory parts of the rabbid fan base that think Matt is a god and if you do not do things like matt does, you automatically can't play DND. Excuse me, but maybe play like the CR and be professional actors before denanding me to be Matt. Fuck's sake.

@deltablaze77 3 жыл бұрын

Is Love. :) (P.S> Your whole point about Marisha is I think spot on, people were jerks until in campaign two they found out they had underestimated Marisha from the start.)

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Marisha reminds me quite a bit of my wife, so I've always had a fondness for her characters and it brought me a lot of joy to see her achieve the recognition she deserved this past year. Thanks for watching!

@dma-rising8876 3 жыл бұрын

Though there is always something to be said for being the one of who lays down at night next to the DM. Not evening bashing Marisha in the least or saying Matt intentionally acts differently, but human nature is still human nature ;)

@SirAdeno 2 жыл бұрын

@@dma-rising8876 If you're insinuating that Matt has special treatment for Marisha in the game, I disagree. I'm not seeing any of that.

@TheUltimateUndead 2 жыл бұрын

Did you know that the Mercer Effect also goes the other way? Sure when I started DnD, I was expecting something like Critical Role. But I still had fun playing DnD the other ways, while I was resolved to be a Matt Mercer for others. I became a DM looking for a group of players like Laura, Travis, Marisha, Talesin, Liam and Sam. And it took me a while to realize that it is just as special to find players who actually want a DM like Matt (to follow the play style of Matt Mercer is more correct.)

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

GREAT point honestly. That's something I might try to touch on in the future.

@carlsmagicbicep9736 2 жыл бұрын

Definitely! The players really make the game!

@tee-py3zx 3 жыл бұрын

critical role was the reason why my high school friend group started playing dnd together, and those are still the most important people in my life. so not only have they given me two of my favorite stories and some of my favorite characters ever, they have given me my best friends.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

That's exactly the kind of reasons I love those nerdy ass voice actors! The communities they create

@BasalIntegral 2 жыл бұрын

I forgot how good and how much I loved the spoiler scene you showed. My gosh...

@ryanrhino2318 2 жыл бұрын

When you still get a tear in your eye from Scanlan years later it something special.

@loraleitourtillottwiehr2473 2 жыл бұрын

You nailed it! Matt's DM magic isn't the awesome maps and funny voices, it's creating a story and table where his friends are safe to explore and be vulnerable together.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! Player buy-in is half of a great GM

@TeddyMcgiggles 3 жыл бұрын

Leaving a comment to help the algorithm. I enjoyed the video. You can hear the respect and admiration you have for the cast of CR in your voice alone. Keep on making content that you are passionate about and people will eventually find it.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the encouragement! It means the absolute world to me!

@Dhorannis 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly? I started watching Critical Role pretty recently. I started with Mighty Nein and I am just a few episodes after they introduced Caduceus. And - without spoilering too much - the episodes before that were heartwrenching. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes because of how well these people played their characters and how well they could show the sadness and grief. The magic of these moments did not come from Matt. It came from the other players. Especially Marisha's portrayal of Beau who is a very impulsive and emotional character with all of her outbursts made me really feel the emotion of the moment. I hope that one day I can show that much emotion at the table. But first, I need my other players to be comfortable with it. My table is supposed to be a safe zone. Nobody should be pulled out of that just for my self-gratification.

@t.h.mcelroy6597 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent take. Critical Role is a gift, and I'm beyond grateful for it and the community built around it 💛

@oddfreaks6452 3 жыл бұрын

I’ve been watching these sessions since Quarantine. I got so invested in the story of The Mighty Nein, it motivated me to keep going when I thought the year was hopeless.

@madelynbright8524 3 жыл бұрын

glad you kept going friend.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

So glad they were there to help you move forward. They were there for me too, and it just speaks to the genuine care they give

@janchvatal1538 2 жыл бұрын

Im prety sure they will hear that, mate. They do check stuff about them and try to apretiate good stuff, and this is good stuff. I think you have hit it all through and through, including that attacks on Marisha. Well done. Was pleasure to hear it.

@TerraBarlow 3 жыл бұрын

You thanked 7 of them by name in the video but left out Laura... Jester is one of my All time favourite characters in fiction.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

I cannot BELIEVE I did not thank Laura!!!! She's even in my script. Oh my lord I don't know if I can forgive myself for that... I suddenly hope she never sees this video -.-

@Mariana-pp2zx Жыл бұрын

I just started Campaign 1, despite my doubts, and I'm loving every second of it. I've watched and cried to the animated show more times that I should be proud to say and the thing that I've found that I love the most, besides the creativity they all have, is then love they have for each other. If there's anything that I want, that they inspire me to get, is to become a better person, so I can have friends and people to love. And as well, I would really love to learn and play D&D. Amazing video!

@guyfromdubai 2 жыл бұрын

I was absolutely taken aback when Sam took Scanlan in that direction. Brilliant.

@cyanide7270 3 жыл бұрын

Love it or hate it, Critical Role is the best thing to happen to DnD. They and their success has single handedly brought more attention to the game, and built the foundations of success and confidence for other content creators like Arcadum, Dimension20 and helped blow up the plethora of other CCs out there whose niche is DnD. It is completely unfair to shit talk Critical Role, as i have heard plenty of times over the years, when realistically, theyve done nothing but good for it. They brought me into the game, theyve brought thousands upon thousands of others into the game, theyve helped spread interest and quash the nerdy stigma for a game that can help with peoples personal lives, its shown what amazing friendships you can make and incredible stories you can tell along the way and get out of it, the list goes on. At this point i just think the ones that complain about it are the basement dwelling neckbeards that dont want their precious game to be mainstream, like thats SOMEHOW going to make it a bad game, and is such an unfair opinion and attitude to take to it.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

It's impossible to ignore the influence it's had, and in my opinon, it's been a darn positive one!

@Goomyx1492 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly! Have some bad apples made their way into the D&D community? I mean, sure. But that's unavoidable when they are introducing D&D to SO MANY new potential players. It makes no sense to be upset about your hobbies becoming more mainstream imo. And I've always found the concept of the Matt Mercer Effect dumb. You never see people getting pissed off at professionals in any other profession because they exhibit "unattainable" quality. People dont give Tom Brady shit because high school students cant play as well as him. Being an expert in anything takes time and experience. Do some newcomers have unfair and unrealistic expectations? Yes. But the thing is, it's always a good idea to get expectations out of the way before sitting down at the table for the first time. People have completely different priorities and values when they play a game and it's good that everyone be on the same page ahead of time. This was important even before Critical Role and Matt Mercer.

@silverwolfe3636 2 жыл бұрын

I think you are conflating the profitable effect Critical Role has had for D&D as a franchise and Wizards as a company with the effect it has had on the TTRPG hobby itself. While this positive profits/detrimental development effect isn't new to D&D or unique to Critical Role (Two words: Drizzt Do'Urden), CR's effect is by far the largest. Just like R.A. Salvatore's novels, CR itself isn't actually bad in and of itself but instead the poison it brings is it's fanbase. D&D, and by extensions pen and paper gaming in general, is now closer to mainstream than it has ever been, but the new players shows like CR are bringing in are not good for the hobby. Take for example the "Matt Mercer Effect" brought up in the video and even discussed here in the comments. The MME isn't any fault of Matt Mercer himself, instead it is directly caused by the toxic fanbase that CR has built, the "critters." These new players are so closed minded and immature that they commonly complain that their tabletop experience isn't exactly like how Matt Mercer does it. How self entitled does a guy have to be to complain that a DM who has to actually work a full time job doesn't do all the voices, or have all the minis, or run the game the same way as a man who literally is making millions of dollars running said game? Most of us have to work, and a large amount of us more than 40 hours a week. Good GMs are taking hours of their precious personal time to put together and run a game they hope they players will enjoy only for some new player who doesn't even know how to run their character to complain that they aren't playing the game with the celebrities they formed a PARASOCIAL relationship with? That is not only an extremely shitty thing to do to that GM, but it's also an extremely shitty mindset coming into the game. Not even going to go into how any criticism of the cast is taken as a personal blood feud by the *positoxic* "critters" who will aggressively stalk twitter users whom disagree with them. "How can growing the hobby be bad?" you ask? Because now this is the new consumer base the company is catering to. Not even taking into account how poorly designed 5th edition was coming out of the gate after the strong showing that was the playtest beta of D&DNext, Wizards is now removing once staples of the genre such as racial stats and features to make every character more bland and samey. Their "streamlining" of D&D is not only catering to the lowest common denominator (which gets lower with a larger sample size ala growing the hobby just ask Marvel fans or Star Wars fans how happy they are their favorite thing went mainstream), it's also now forcing DMs to game design themselves for the many aspects of the game that WOTC was too lazy to design themselves. Skill ranks are too complicated, now everything is a proficiency bonus. Social encounters and factions, well let the DM completely make everything up on the fly for that. Exploration? Almost completely forgotten. Settings? Well I'm glad that WOTC published a setting book for Matt Mercer's Not Nentir Vale and Wizard's already owned IP Magic The Gathering and that Faerun is now the main setting. Meanwhile fuck Ravenloft, Dark Sun, Greyhawk, Dragonlance, Mystara, Planescape, Spell Jammer. Say what you will about the absolute corporate nazis at Games Workshop, but their copyright gatekeeping has at least prevented the same fate from befalling Warhammer and 40k despite their best efforts. Players who have been around longer are jumping ship from Dungeon and Dragons in absolute droves thanks to the "hobby growing" to other systems that don't survive on brand recognition and celebrity endorsement and instead focus designing an excellent and fun product. So I not only think it is fair to criticize Critical Role, I think it's almost overdue to criticize their *positoxic* fanbase. For instance, at no point during this long post have I flamed you at all. However from my anecdotal experience almost all critical role fans take criticism of CR itself as a personal attack, as such I wouldn't be terribly surprised if I get flamed in return. I've already been called a "junky crackhead" on a critical role video where I criticized the fandom before. So while I will most likely keep watching critical role myself as it is fairly enjoyable, I will also constantly repeat the mantra of /tg/, "Have you tried not playing D&D?"

@jertdw3646 2 жыл бұрын

@@silverwolfe3636 you're talking to wind over here. Anytime anyone says anything bad(and let's face it especially men) about possible bad long term effects of a nerdy thing going main stream. You are called a neckbeard and.... other things, you know the gist, you know the buzz words. There are bad people obviously, but every other person that gives criticisms is going to be put in the bundle of the actually bad people. It's just what it is.

@evandugas7888 2 жыл бұрын

@@silverwolfe3636 I think 5e is a complex game in its own right. Sure it's not 3 or 3.5 but lets face it they were a poorly designed mess. 4e was the version which stripped the spirit of D&D in a lot of ways. 5e has had a amazing rp focus, good story, and cool plot hooks.

@KKRDM 2 жыл бұрын

I rewatch this every so often. Usually when im feeling down about my own campaign or just when life sucks in general. Your take on CR is uplifting and I really appreciate your sincerity. I 100% agree with all you said and I also adore the CR crew. Just wanted to add (for what its worth) I'm proud of you and what you've created too. Its awesome watching your channel grow. Keep up the great content, man.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

I can't believe I happened to catch this comment, but thank you. Thank you so much. This was the video that started it all, and in the end, I will always be thankful it started with a single moment of genuine positivity. Comments like this are why I keep making videos. Thank you.

@josephine4s 2 жыл бұрын

The emotional vulnerability is powerful. I would like to shout out Fantasy High, particularly with Kristen Applebee’s and Sheldon. There were a handful of times with those characters where I was taken aback, and I thought “This is coming from someone [the cast members behind the characters] who’s been there [in real life].

@krimzonghost1987 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent review of a great show. I'm a new fan to the Critical Role thing, but I love it so much. I only just started playing DnD a few months ago. I picked this show up a few weeks ago and have been binge watching it every chance I get. These actors are truly talented. The humorous moments are gut wrenching and the dramatic ones are tear jerking. Watching them hatch insane plans that should NOT work is so enjoyable as well. Some how they manage to make insanity work in their favor... mostly.

@thefallenmyst 2 жыл бұрын

Great research and information here. And having not watched campaign 1 yet, Sam's performance in that clip around the 13-minute mark blew me away. A whole different side of him that I haven't seen in campaign 2 (at least not yet).

@raymondzulch9558 3 жыл бұрын

I completely agree! I used to watch my friends campaign before I started watching Critical Role, and my friends were all so close, and had been playing for so long, that when I started watching Critical role, it immediately gave me the same feeling from the show

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Watching people who are close create a story together is one of the most fulfilling things I can think of

@PJBest 3 жыл бұрын

Beautifully crafted video. From one Critter to another, thank you.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

And from one critter to another, thank you so much for coming and watching!

@cyanrosespirit 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video, glad it popped into my recommendations. Keep up the good work!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! The feedback is awesome!

@hectorlizato3767 2 жыл бұрын

That “Thank You” at 15:52 made my cry, thank you for the amazing video

@Deeomi 3 жыл бұрын

You summed this up beautifully, I love it so so much and you hit the nail on the head. I love them, their friendship and their games so much.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

It's impossible not to find them entirely encouraging. I love those nerdy ass voice actors!

@Explosive_Pineapple4124 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Just watching the end of Campaign 2 and seeing the pure emotion of the cast really made me realize how impactful and unique this experience is. Brought me to tears. Here's to campaign 3 and blowing up your video!

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers! I'll drink to that

@Explosive_Pineapple4124 2 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole Cheers! 🍻

@jmigoe75 2 жыл бұрын

Loved this video. While not new to RPGs, D&D came to me much later in life. First, through the Drinks and Dragons program in Philadelphia and, more recently, I was invited to join a group run by somebody I went to high school with. IRL I'm a paramedic who works for a busy metropolitan EMS system. During the pandemic, I really needed something to distract me as things seemed to only get worse and worse. I was bereft of my usual outlets for creativity and self expression and needed something. D&D was THAT thing. Even now I'm still gaming with that same group as we are well into our second campaign since I joined. I've only watched Critical Role here or there but I completely agree with you that they do what they do with amazing heart. They really invest themselves in their characters and the fictional universe in which all of this takes place. A very nice tribute video and yes, I'm the perpetual outcast and understand the pain that Sam seemed to be channeling. This really spoke to me. Thanks for putting it together.

@Bellathor 2 жыл бұрын

18:09 - absolutely. Fantastic video mate.

@randomwatcher6956 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Critical Role is so special and you did a lovely job trying to examine what it really means to us all. Love these people, more than anything else. Thank you!!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for stopping by to give encouragement! The reaction I've received from this video is amazing and gives me an even deeper respect for the Critical Role community

@Naxxiw 2 жыл бұрын

Dude...! Why have I not found you until now?! Wonderful content!

@QRzTallmidget 3 жыл бұрын

It's funny, how I'm a huge fan of Critical Role and I truly love D&D. But this wasn't always the case for me. Before my love for d&d, I was never into it because I don't know anything about it except the stereotype of what you imagine it is. And my first ever encounter with D&D was when my favorite KZfaq channel rooster teeth was doing D&D sessions. So when I started watching them doing sessions, I was starting to get a little interested. Here are these guys that are not really good at video games but are overall funny just having a fun time and what appears to be some imaginary make believe game. Now because of youtube algorithm, eventually it showed me an episode of Force Grey(I think the lost episode it's called) and from there is when I met Matt Mercer. I was amazed by his range voice acting, having never known who he was before. And the way he was narrating the story was actually really interesting. So once again KZfaq's algorithm recommended the first episode of critical role, to which I almost didn't want to watch because of the length of the episode. But I decided to watch, and it was from there that my love for critical role on D&D truly began. And it was funny because in the first episode and the many after it, my two favorite characters and favorite classes was Scanlan the bard and Grog the Barbarian. And not many years later here I am dming a campaign that's been going on for almost 2 years, caught up with both sessions and even watching the new spin-off Exandria Unlimited. Both Critical Role and D&D has impacted me in a great way

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Absolutely love that story! It's not too far off to how I got into Critical Role as well. Love how the community has people from all over!

@rantdmc 3 жыл бұрын

great analysis, i think you summed it up very well

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!! And thank you for taking the time to give feedback

@timothymathews2692 2 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more. These nerdy ass voice actors, though we have never met, have been my best friends. They have helped me get through the lowest moments of my life and still keep me company when I find myself so alone. Thank you Critical Role and all the critters out there. Don't forget to love each other and....is it Thursday yet?

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Thursday never comes fast enough if you ask me

@CCjr67 3 жыл бұрын

Long time critter here. Glad KZfaq suggested your video. You have summed up the CR phenomenon & DnD in general very well. Hope to see more videos with this same passion for what we share. Well done sir. Subscribed.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I hope not to disappoint in the future, never expected this video to take off like it has. Going to do my best to keep producing!

@vanytasticsone9071 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for everything in this superb video.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

And thank you so much for stopping by to watch!

@jcbass2u 3 жыл бұрын

Well done. This pretty much sums up what the community is, and how they have given back to it so many times and not allowed anything to compromise the integrity of their group and their friendship....it's about the love, not just for the characters, their relationship to one another, or so many more things, it's about the passion and love of what they have found around a game between friends and colleagues....hard to sum it up and boil it down to anything simpler than that. Thank you.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the encouraging words! It makes me happy to see so many people enjoy this!

@somedutchguy2265 2 жыл бұрын

great video and a good analysis of the show

@TheHiro1900 2 жыл бұрын

Got why people love CR so well cause a good story requires real emotion and stakes from all involved. Will be looking forward to more videos!

@coopergiroux4298 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! You totally hit the nail on the head.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you think so! Thanks so much for watching!

@godofdeathnotes5969 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video I'll have to rewatch it when I finish C1 as I'm only halfway through to truly feel the scene you're talking about (had to skip it cause spoilers). Regardless keep up the good work and i am definitely going to be checking out more from your channel.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! I appreciate you coming around!

@jamiem_glimmers 2 жыл бұрын

You've summed it up nicely! As another Critter I say thank you!

@racheldiniz1834 2 жыл бұрын

I love Critical Role so much, and I can't wait to see what they bring in the future. This video is amazing! :)

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I can't wait to see what Campaign 3 holds!

@leonember9234 3 жыл бұрын

Very good video and excellent analysis. Thank you!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the encouragement!

@WillowMistrider 3 жыл бұрын

Loved this! Well done

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Love your icon too, one of my favorite moments from their intro

@gatness 2 жыл бұрын

Most of the group I play with came up through Play by Post forums in our teenage years, collectively we started to get into more organised TTRPG systems around the same time CR started streaming, a couple of them started watching and decided they would start a dnd game themselves and a couple of us that had played with them and were friends on the forum games joined in, we've added some people over time and a massive blowout with a couple of people in the group lost us some people, but that core game that first started is still going now with 5 of us from the early days, and its for all the same reasons laid out about CR. we share with each other, our vulnerabilities and passions and we're a real tight knit group of friends in a large part because of our dnd adventures together. if it hadn't been for CR laying a template like it did I'm not sure our game would have followed the same course it did, and game aside, that would have been really unfortunate.

@mistaree8394 2 жыл бұрын

Who are you? You big beautiful bastard. Just found your channel and can't believe the following you got in such a short time. But I love what I've seen so it kinda makes sense. Please keep up the great videos.

@Lngbrdninjamasta 3 жыл бұрын

I could feel the emotional impact this group of nerdy @ss voice actors have had on u. I appreciate ur ability to share ur own vulnerability. So for once the algorithm did some good, u have gained another new loyal subscriber 😁💯

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! I owe it to them and will forever be thankful. Good to have you!

@BDTMack 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! Everything is very well put. Subscribed!

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the encouragement!

@Greglarr 3 жыл бұрын

Great video. I hadn't quite put my finger on what set CR apart from other DnD shows until now.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Of course! Thanks for coming by to watch!

@amberprice5475 2 жыл бұрын

I don't play D&D. I never have. The closest I have ever gotten to even creating a character is the character creation menu in Skyrim, but I still watch Critical Role. Those artists have made me laugh and cry and actually want to play someday. I can say with all honesty that I am thoroughly impressed ... and a little obsessed.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

If my video didn't make it a litttttle obvious, I'm a little obsessed with them too 😅

@angelofdusk13 2 жыл бұрын

I'd played a few games in high school, and had fun, but I wasn't interested because the group I played with were very focused on mechanics and damage dealing. I didn't realize there were different play styles until I watched Critical Role and I realized the storytelling possibilities. Fortunately, I was able to find a group with the same mindset, and we've been playing together for about four years. It's been amazing.

@nulllex0099 2 жыл бұрын

A friend of mine, DMing for me for the first time, sent me this video. I've never been able to really get into CR, but hearing everything you said... it's exactly like a different community I found. A community that felt that vulnerable connection to someone behind a character mask so deeply, that we attended her final concert, peaking at 492.000 people all seeing her sing her last and saying her final farewells to her friends, after a year of true revolution. I think what you just did with this video goes deeper than DnD, or my side. It shows why we gather around anything, why we come to care. Why we love. It's because we can connect, help each other. Be inspired to be better. This is beautiful.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

It truly warms my heart to know others are experiencing this wonderful kind of community. DND just has a way of... Letting us share, and I find that incredibly beautiful and anything that allows that vulnerability as well is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!

@nulllex0099 2 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole I really mean it. I've never seen you before, yet from what you said here, I just feel a happy sense of humble kinship. In the face of everything going on, and a plethora of issues, being this honest and open is just... I guess this is what they mean about carrying your heart on your sleeve. At any rate, amazing video. And take it from me, I know quite well what it's like to have this gratitude for people who'll never see you thank them. And that's why I can say, trust me, they know.

@louthelost 2 жыл бұрын

I sure was not expecting to cry about a critical role video today and yet here I am! Crying! Such a good video and so well said

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

This may sound so odd, but causing someone to cry is a big win for me. So glad you enjoyed the video!!! Hope you're having a fantastic day

@Madchef8u 2 жыл бұрын

I never thought that stumbling upon The Guild by Geek and Sundry would lead me to follow CR from their first episode posted. Such an amazing community and group of cast & crew!

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

It is easily one of the best communities to be a part of, and I am thrilled to be able to participate

@drakemurphy2129 3 жыл бұрын

It's amazing how far Dungeons and Dragons has come, when it started out with being called demon speech but now it is a game that Vin Diesel plays and MANY other actresses' and actors play its amazing that they were part of making it become so big.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more! How far it's come based off where it was is absolutely incredible and a littttttle funny too

@blackjack7207 2 жыл бұрын

I've never seen a full campaing of CR. But It made look for a campaing. This campaign made me meet the most important people I know to this day. It's been almost a year and, thanks to that will and curiosity of finding a D&D game, I've found my friend group who are people who I really care for and make me fell loved and relevant. Every game we play is a CR game. Not because of sound effects or streaming but because we're a bunch of friends who understand and care for each other playing som D&D. I love this video because I think it's really true. Thanks for this and thanks to Critial Role

@larvid9984 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video man!!

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for coming by!

@trystenrocchi 3 жыл бұрын

I love this video. Thank you!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@child_of_gaia1836 3 жыл бұрын

You have so hit the nail on the head I could not have said it better myself PEACE LOVE AND LIGHT.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

And don't forget to love each other!

@vincentwagner9233 2 жыл бұрын

Good video! Hope it continues to blow up for you :)

@bigtone4690 3 жыл бұрын

well put together vid. well done.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Thank you for interacting!

@kathleenwood3270 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you…very well expressed. You nailed it right on the head.

@HansHammertime 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, I was the like that turned 999 into 1k likes. I've never felt this honored

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

ALSO my first video to get to 1k! You are truly a celebrity

@januzzell8631 3 жыл бұрын

Yep - story telling, fun and heart - it's a magical mix - good video - thank you for sharing

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed it!

@januzzell8631 3 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole Absolutely ^*^

@SirZelean 2 жыл бұрын

I'm one to learn that lesson. I've been playing/DMing TTRPG since 2010, and I've always played it like a game, numbers and stats, builds and encounters, all that. Sure, I started to learn about how much more it could be, but I could never try it in practice then because I moved far away from where I lived and had no one to play with. Unimportant details aside, I finally got back into DMing and playing in parallel, and hell, I had my first heavy emotional scene a few sessions back. As I've mentioned in the previous video, I'm DMing a game in a Dragon Age style, in which the players can recruit some key NPCs to their cause. Some background: A pretty while back, they recruited Claire, a rune wizard who is unable to cast spells naturally, and can only "program" them through runes (she has no sheet, can't fit that in DnD easily). She managed to get high in the ADP's (think magic-scientific research organization) ranks by sheer brightness and dedication. Being as curious and devoted to learning as she is, she invited herself into the party because she wanted to study two curious (for the setting) cases in the party (both players): a boy who is undead but retains his full mental faculties (died during the campaign and was brought back when his friend shoved the kid's patron's crystal into his chest), and a talking, magic-wielding fox (a literal fox, not a fox-like race, which don't exist in Aequus). She stayed in the party for a while, trying to find out how the boy was alive and how the fox had a human mind. They eventually took both and Claire to the ADP, so they could get help from the headmaster, who is also Claire's parental figure. In a turn of events, both Dahkron (the kid) and Silver (the fox), turned suspicious of the headmaster and decided to leave without talking to her, getting Claire preeeetty mad for the unwarranted suspicion (in her eyes). From that day forward, Claire, who was already pretty isolated, started distancing more from the party, to the point she started questioning why she's staying with them. Some time later, Lloyce, the party's leader, decided to leave on his own to his home city to find some friends of old, who he broke ties with, to sort some things out that aren't important for this story. Thing is, Silver was pretty attached to him by then, often going around on Lloyce's shoulders. He was MAD when he found out Lloyce left without him, to the point he tried to fireball some important monuments in the town they were building a base in and had to be stopped. When Lloyce got back, Silver avoided him, but by coincidence, both tried to have a talk with Claire, since she was closer to both. Silver went first, and took a nap on her bed. Lloyce came later, but she didn't answer her door (Silver just teleported in xD). He waited outside, until late in the night, he saw her leaving the room, packed and ready to leave the party and go back to the capital. Exchanging a few words, Lloyce didn't stop her. But he did go inside her room, waking Silver up and they had an open-hearted talk about her leaving, abandonement, and how they felt. And them they got up, ran after her, and tried to talk to her in the middle of the street to convince her to stay. After a long chat about how she was feeling out of place in the party, how they think she is important to everyone and specially them... Well, we were 3 grownups crying by the end of that scene, because those were feelings we deal with in real life. It was the best. I guess I'm never going back to that game-y mentality I used to have. This is the real deal in RPGs. Now I'm just waiting for the moment we get to explore Garrett's (my "rogue done right") personal issues in the other game in playing in (same table, Lloyce's player is the DM). I made him for things like this, I can't wait.

@robinmoore1969 2 жыл бұрын

Holy F U C K I had forgotten that moment and I am now sitting here shaking, tears falling unbidden trying to chainmail on my lunch break. They are friends they have strong emotions and it’s one of the things I love with well cared about roleplay and larping.

@frankbenner5182 3 жыл бұрын

Very good summary. Being a Critter myself, I very much liked your video.

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

@Lethe_Rivers 3 жыл бұрын

I love these nerds, they inspired me to start playing myself and create characters My parents played D&D with their friends in college, now I'm playing with friends online, some of which have never picked up a d20 before It's awesome how much D&D and the passion of people can inspire someone to hop in and do it themself And for those that don't play the game, the Critter community loves you just as much as those who do play ❤

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Could NOT agree more! I absolutely love this hobby and everything it does

@Lethe_Rivers 3 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole Honestly same, it's so fun to create and play

@Snaitycake 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, totally agree!! I think one of the questions I'd have for CR is how they helped make the game nor feel like work for them since they do VA on top of everything else. :)

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

That's a fair point! They've had several interviews about it, I might make a video about it someday!

@thechosenjuan9804 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for putting it into words

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Of course! It was a genuine pleasure to work on!

@rockybastard9189 3 жыл бұрын

really cool vid and i like your voice definitely subscribing

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I've literally never had anyone compliment my voice before so that honestly hits pretty hard! Thanks so much!

@boywondamus 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful video

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! Cheers!

@Enn- 3 жыл бұрын

I'm just another Critter leaving a comment to appease the algorithm. If you enjoy D&D and want to encourage a small channel, leave a comment - doesn't even need to be words, just some text. (Disclaimer, I don't know the creator of this channel, and have never even seen the channel before today.)

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks a ton for helping out! It means the world to me. Keep being awesome!

@HexplorersDnD 2 жыл бұрын

I remember when it hit me. Liam/Vax, in C1 at the very beginning of the Briarwood Arc. He gives a monologue as he falls unconscious about his friends, Keleyth and then moves Laura to tears talking about his love for Vex. I was awestruck when I saw that. It changed the way I thought about DnD. The commitment to character, the vulnerability, the emotion. I was hooked. So happy now to be playing in a game with friends who share that same vulnerability at the table as well.

@RijackiTorment 2 жыл бұрын

Well said!

@1notdeadfred 3 жыл бұрын

I've Dm'd a bit in the past, but I honestly think this is a lot of why those ones didn't hold up over time. I have some friends who I hadn't considered running a game for until I watched this, and I think it has the best chance out of any game I've ever run to be a long-term way to connect with each other (and I haven't even started planning yet). Thank you for sharing this, it helps me understand why I love CR so much and I look up to Matt as someone to learn from, as well as how I am growing into the different DM style of Aabria. She's also pretty great, but it's a different flavor of DMing, and I'm excited to find out what I will learn from watching her DM ExU.

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

So glad you enjoyed! If you like Aabria, keep an eye out in the next hour. I've got a video for you!

@rinusdemeyer7688 2 жыл бұрын

The fact that i got a d&d beyond ad on this video is just perfect

@sydc3667 2 жыл бұрын

This video made me realize something about why I'm so drawn to Critical Role. I was (am?) part of an online RP community that ended up having a storyline somewhat similar to Bard's Lament back in 2015 and 2016. We watched a fun-loving character with a terminal illness die and be brought back to life against his will. Participating in this story was an absolutely heart-wrenching and amazing experience. But the players at the center of that storyline ended up being bullied off the platform by a group of self-righteous outsiders. They went from being beloved to dog-piled in like three weeks. So much hate for showing vulnerability. I guess my point is that I can... relate? somewhat? to the situation. It is scary putting your heart and soul into crafting something publicly. It's in danger of being torn down all the time. Sometimes all it takes is one negative comment to start it. So I commend CR for continuing to put themselves out there and give us great stories. It's not easy.

@nicholasjoldersma4138 3 жыл бұрын

Well done!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! That's awesome!!!

@GM_Darius 2 жыл бұрын

The roughest parts of the beginning weren't really the low audio/video quality for me (I'm re-listening to Season 1 at a new job) and I'm use to the players doing the whole "talking over one another" as a Forever DM. Really I think it was the kinda player Orion that got on my nerves that same way that some "Kick down the door" type players would. Nothing wrong with Kicking Down The Door, but there is a time and a place. And in the middle of a dwarven town IS NOT THE PLACE! >:( Still, well spoken and lots of good points!

@SeerOfTime577 3 жыл бұрын

Great video~

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@SeerOfTime577 3 жыл бұрын

@@PlayYourRole No problem~

@TheHangedRabbit 3 жыл бұрын

Fine video but not enough research done. Sam explains in the campaign recap (If I remember correctly) why Scanlan left the campaign. The outburst you clipped was all mostly improvised. There were real emotions but that moment was not from an "insecurity". A lot of people thought Sam himself was going through a drug problems when Scanlan's drug thing came up in the campaign and that was a complete bust of a theory. Otherwise quite nice video. I enjoyed it. Keep it up!!!

@ChargerBulldogs19 3 жыл бұрын

Out of curiosity, what was the reason given?

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, I had no idea! I can't believe I missed that! Thanks so much for pointing that out, I gotta go rewatch that now!

@TheHangedRabbit 3 жыл бұрын

@@ChargerBulldogs19 Instead of me poorly recapping it here is it in Sam's own words kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f8-kZMip28WqiXU.html

@rad007xbl 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, fellow critter!

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks fellow Critter!

@Wrzlprnft 2 жыл бұрын

Uh. Yeah. You are right. That last segment... That's why I am continually coming back to watching to CR.

@taothor 3 жыл бұрын

I really enjoy the first episodes, the first 40 (?) or so are my favourites of all time, there's something about them just playing without the concept of an audience that makes me like it more, and the first campaign is much more fantasy/classic dnd based so, thats a plus for me c:

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

It for sure has that 'classic DND' feel that's pretty much impossible to replicate!

@nunya5230 2 жыл бұрын

The fact your not on it I'm so sorry I just read the title and thumbnail and instantly thought of it😭😂

@flame3942 2 жыл бұрын

I bet hes not watching this but if your out there we love u same regal also great video pyr!

@TheLittleLizardMan12 3 жыл бұрын

How the hell is this video not more popular

@PlayYourRole 3 жыл бұрын

Quite honestly, it's easily my most popular video by far so I'm just thankful for the views it has received! Thanks so much for the encouragement!

@karlvincentdispo316 2 жыл бұрын

Might want to try looking at Arcadum. Nothing I want to spoil but might be fun to review. :)

@PlayYourRole 2 жыл бұрын

Hmmmmmm you might just get your wish, thank you for the suggestion!

@billberndtson 2 жыл бұрын

I agree with your points of view, here. It's my opinion that the main draw to CR is the ample evidence that they legitimately love each other. Friendships like theirs and all the cross-sections between... it's like the color-pie in MTG - except you can have up to an 8-color deck or any combo in between. The potential is endless as long as they WANT to work together. To extend the metaphor; they got a Jumpstart with few small dorks on the board from G&S, followed by Growing Rites of Critlimoc. Then, they Collected (a) Company for a few more on the endstep before their turn, start their own channel, tap us all for mana to cast the (Craterhoof) Behemoth that is The Legend of Vox Machina and dominate the fucking table! I love them because they love each other. They're the only people outside of my personal life that I would legitimately vouch for being good people. Or, it's a cult. Idk. If it is a cult, then at least all they ask of us dupes is to not forget to love each other. There are worse messages.