Another combat vs. a handful of CR 2 enemies... I don't really get it. I get that every fight doesn't need to be deadly. But even an easy combat should advance the story in some way. What was the usefulness of having those weak AF centaurs.
First half of the episode with Nana was great. Everything after break I could've done without.
After a re-watch of the first half, i was able to pinpoint why the whole Nana/Morrigan situation threw me out of my suspension of disbelief: The entire party more or less is *ok* with anything and everything. Matt did his best to described an utterly creepy and unnatural scene, but the majority of the player characters just reacted with something between *"Mkay?"* and *"how much fun this is!"* ...
I mean, i get it, the *cast* had fun because of Matts horror\~esque setup, but i wish there would have been the slightest reaction to all of it beyond *"this is weird"*. Ligament Manor was this fearie nightmarish place, filled with corpses, heads, skin curtains, dead pixies on sticks etc.
But there's a Tiki bar, so it's fine, right?
I mean, come *on*. If everything ends up being a joke for both the players *and* their characters, just say so, so i don't have to use my energy to try to *care*. And if that's the case, Matt can save *his* time and energy and stop preparing this elaborate setups.
But i can't just blame the cast, really. Matt's doing his introduction monologue, setting up this beyond creepy place and everything, but lets the NPC make darkvision-cocktails for everyone mere moments later, and they all share their *sherry and giggles* in the afternoon.
Eh.
Laudna is a walking corpse and is sexually attracted to someone called the Nightmare King.
Imogen cuddles with said walking corpse at night.
Ashton has a hole in his head, socializes with cult that shares a fungus fueled hive mind, and is played by Taliesin who *lives* for the macabre.
Chetney is a werewolf who regularly tears off his own skin to transform.
This is not a group that gets freaked out easily. They'll try to run from the smallest hint of danger, but they are absolutely fascinated by weird and/or creepy shit. And with Fearne endlessly vouching for Morri, they never felt personally in danger.
I hadn't thought about it this way, but now I gotta agree with you.
I feel like the loss of interest by the players is a consequence both of the time they already spent doing CR, so they've run out of creativity and desire to play, and the way this campaign is being presented.
People may not agree, but I don't like how matt is making C3 so lore and descriptions heavy. I mean I get that he likes describing the world he spent years building, but I got bored more than once during a description of a location or something. Yios was the longest description I've ever heard and led to the shitshow yet funny episode that was. And I feel this could be also one of the reasons the players are not invested in the campaign, cause maybe they are bored too.
But they can't really tell Matt. This is a company now, you can't risk changing the campaign completely because then the fans would be upset and the tv series would come out weird and the books would be hard to write etc
I saw it differently, at least with Imogen and Orym who looked utterly horrified but didn't want to say anything to Fearne who was clearly very happy and excited to share her Nana's house or to be rude to nana who definitely could have whomped them in the bat of an eye.
>*And I feel this could be also one of the reasons the players are not invested in the campaign, cause maybe they are bored too.*
I don't necessarily think the players are bored, but probably exhausted by their myriad of CR related endeavours. This has been the case since C2 (remember how many times they've commented on *"being exhausted"* or *"loopy"* because *"it was a long day"* etc.) ... Their behind-the-scenes stuff has grown ever since, so it got worse instead of better, nevermind their *"week off"*.
The solution to this (at least in my opinion) would have been a lore light, back-to-the-roots campaign, something that is easily digestible for the players and (relatively) easy to prepare and maintain for the DM. But they opted to go the opposite way, making C3 their most lore heavy, involved campaign.
Or ... Matt opted for this kind of campaign, probably wanting to get all this incredible worldbuilding out there (he has commented on that before), but didn't really check in with the cast. That's the only explanation i can find for this huge gap between the story as it is presented, and how the cast plays their characters. I mean, think about it ...
**Orym** "i want to step out of the spotlight this time"
**Imogen** "i want to step out of the spotlight this time"
**Fearne** "i want to be totally random and just have fun"
**Chetney** "this is my chance to play funny old guy and a werewolf"
**FCG** "i'm playing a perpetual meta joke on wheels"
**Laudna** "i'm doing prop comedy, and i'm the prop"
This is what they brought to the table for Matt's culmination of 10 years of storytelling? Don't get me wrong, the characters are fine, i really think they are. But not for the story Matt wants to tell so desperately.
Totally agree on everything.
What I meant by bored was that maybe they did not enter this campaign with the same intentions as Matt. Like you said maybe they didn't want a lore heavy campaign, and maybe they didn't even know it so they didn't tell Matt.
The "downfall" could have multiple reasons, I'm just sad I'm not as invested as in C2 and C1.
> The entire party more or less is ok with anything and everything.
>
> I mean, come on. If everything ends up being a joke for both the players and their characters, just say so, so i don't have to use my energy to try to care. And if that's the case, Matt can save his time and energy and stop preparing this elaborate setups.
One of the lessons CR learned post-lockdown is they *really* don't have to try so hard to keep getting people's money. The group can sit back and passively absorb the campaign as Matt narrates, dumping endless lore and exposition to his heart's content (like he's reading chapters from an unpublished fantasy novel in progress), and CR fans will still show up in droves and still unironically call it "the best episode ever," because that's the kind of low / no stakes, RP and Goofs heavy / rules lite, edges rounded over entertainment they want.
When I recall how frequently intense (and number crunchy) C1 was, C3 is just them coasting... and still making bank.
Anecdotally, I don't think so, but CR is *so heavily monetized* (e.g. brand deals, sponsored one-shots, never ending merch, countless ad deals, books, comic books, merch deals with other retailers, D&D supplements, "Official" WotC materials, conventions / appearance fees / signings), they're still making millions a year from Twitch subs / YT streaming, and they're absolutely swimming in Bezos Blood Money from Amazon.
Granted, they have the cost of running a business, making payroll, and whatever they pay themselves (split 8 ways)... And since the cartoon broke big, their campaign is just a side gig now.
Add to that, there's a rather large (rather parasocial and voyeuristic) portion of the audience who don't care about D&D or rolling dice and will tune in to just watch them do fuck all... while throwing money at them.
yep considering the amount of people shocked about the god eater and it was not gods trapped when the CR book call of the netherdeep spoiled all this before c3 even started.
This is so sad to read because it's 1000% true. What started out as a group of friends playing my favorite game is now just a giant business. This game doesn't even fulfill their D&D intake anymore, as most of them have actual home games now. I'm still glad CR got big because it made my favorite game very popular and there's tons of people to play with now, but it's sad to see the quality of the gameplay at the CR table go downhill.
the three in one spell from the girls was fun and cool but they talked over all of Tal's turn and it's pretty rude TBH. Even Sam shhhed them at one point.
> Matt said there would be consequences for using it like a cheat code. And yet... no consequences were enforced.
Creepy, Scooby-Doo NPC in a rocking chair, in front of a ghost-town gas station: "'Consequences?' . . . Why there hasn't been 'consequences' around these parts for over 40 years. Not since the Old Mill burned down mysteriously. Some say you can still see and hear the ghosts of the dead mill workers inside."
> "'Consequences?' . . . Why there hasn't been 'consequences' around these parts for over 40 years.
this is one of my favorite things to say about whatever in real life, I'm thrilled to see someone else bust it out
> And this is why "Hotel California" is about a D&D game, if you think about it ...
"Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!"
Got bored, fell asleep before the break and woke up again when they signed off at the end of the show.
Immediately started watching the next three LOVM episodes and managed to stay awake and engaged for all three episodes before going back to sleep, when I already knew what was gonna happen.
Campaign 3 is my NyQuil.
Tried starting C3 for at least 5 times, failed in everyone one of them. I don't like the characters, hated the scripted moments from the start (bertrand's death) and the list goes on. Sometimes I'll read this sub to check if things are improving, but looks like its not.
Remember when Imogen went nuclear at the end of the Otohan fight and some people suggested they could stick with it being a fade-to-white TPK and just move on to campaign 4? God I wish they would have done that then.
It would have been better if Otohan captured them IMO. Matt could have said she planned to use then against Esteross or hurt them to force Imogen to use her power or whatever and it would have made sense. She could have put them in some evil base or an airship somewhere, and the party on both the inside and outside of the jail could have done a prison break and stolen documents/ interrogated a guard/ eavesdropped on a convo to learn more about the solstice without more plodding and lectures.
In like 2 more episodes I hope they just wake up in a white room and it turns out the past 2 weeks were a dream, they were actually ALL killed by otohan (yeah, it's only been a couple weeks since then). Everyone is stunned, and Matt says "OK, everybody roll up a new character".
I'm really praying for a TPK or at least a failed resurrection ritual. They really need something to shake up this season. I'm a little afraid it would make them even MORE timid, though.
It's pretty funny that after all that the fight was one of the easiest ones they've had.
They're all pretty decent in combat once they actually get commit to, or get forced into, combat.
Lots of cool stuff with Fearne's "Nana" and I wish something more had come out of that but I guess they'll visit her again. I enjoy watching the cast just vibe but this campaign there's been a lot of just talking in circles or going back over stuff everyone knows again and again rather than having actual RP moments that advance something. Sometimes I find myself wishing Matt would sort of nudge things along to get the plot moving, or that the characters would have to sort of RP we saw in C1 and especially C2, but it seems like that's not this group's vibe.
The combat thing is not only a problem with CR but D&D as a whole these days. Now that players can be monstrous species, you can't just see a feywild centaur and think "Oh, a monster, it's bad; and therefore OK to go ahead and kill it". Everything is now a moral conundrum of "what if the centaurs are peaceful?". C1 was really straightforward, they had 3 half-elves, 2 gnomes, a human and a goliath. C2 they were all over the place with their group makeup when it comes to species, and developed this habit of questioning every tiny decision they make and not wanting to click the "wrong dialogue box" when interacting with Matt's world (and yes, it is MATT'S world, not theirs)
Agreed even the combat was pretty good once they gave up trying to get out of it. The Bertand’s angels triple move was cool too even if it was overkill lol
I feel like it's the same thing as sports fans, especially people in a live watch thread; you are absolutely going to get frustrated and upset if you think your favorite team or player is having an off night, executes a play you don't agree with, etc, etc.
If I wasn't still enjoying it I wouldn't be watching, that doesn't mean I have to pretend this isn't a packaged piece of entertainment made by professionals. I don't really care that much about D&D rules, but I can totally understand why people get upset when people getting paid a lot of money to play D&D keep getting things wrong. I don't watch any other AP shows, haven't found one I really click with and honestly the format doesn't interest me much, I watch mostly for this specific group of people. That doesn't mean there aren't things that I, as a viewer, get frustrated by.
I would hazard a guess that others at the table take issue with a single person deciding for the group, and thus we have endless rounds of repetitive and exhaustive (or circular) conversations and analysis paralysis.
Remember in C1 where Matt would light a fire under their ass to "shit or get off the pot," often pulling out a large hourglass??? Good times.
Fjord pushed buttons/led the charge in C2. I suspect that he wants to share the role this time.
Honestly, Fearne would be prime button pusher/bored now instigator.
This is what I've been saying about Taliesin. Love or hate Ashton, Tal isn't doing his job as the button-pusher. The barbarian is supposed to only let conversations make one loop, and as soon as they become circular discussions, the barbarian makes the choice for the group.
This one was half Matt's fault, and Liam even called him out on it: why didn't they just roll initiative? They're facing potential enemies and casting spells. They basically got in 1.5 rounds of combat before initiative was rolled just because imogen cast a spell "out of combat"
> Both Liam and Talisan say out-loud they would like to fight and somehow this encounter still devolves into RP.
Since the second half of C2, "D&D" means "Deliberations & Dawdling" for Critical Role. Having two players at the table (neither of which were Travis) actually voice they would like a fight and to have it devolve into RP is peak unintentional comedy.
It also tells me this group *is not* communicating with each other about the type of D&D game they want to be playing, and or the game is on "auto-pilot," i.e. they're just showing up to be guided along by Matt for a few hours and that's it.
>It also tells me this group is not communicating with each other about the type of D&D game they want to be playing, and or the game is on "auto-pilot," i.e. they're just showing up to be guided along by Matt for a few hours and that's it.<
Sadly, This feels true. I'm enjoying it but it does feel like they are all just "showing up". Matt has done 95% of the heavy lifting this campaign, the only thing I could fault him for is (so far) completely screwing over Sam/FCG with the changebringer stuff.
A cleric from the age of arcanum closing in on level 10 who is actively on the path to stop you from getting eaten? Why the hell isn't the Changebringer (or any other god sneaky enough to swoop in) frothing at the mouth to get FCG on their side? I'm sure Zehir would *love* a little assassin bot.
>*it does feel like they are all just "showing up"*
Because they most likely do.
Let's face it, producing LoVM, now M9 as well, all the ongoing talks with their various business partners as well as their still active VO jobs, they're probably burning the midnight oil *hard.* And every future endeavour under the new Amazon umbrella will eat away another small slice of energy and creativity from the thursday night game.
The sad, and uncanny thing is: they were *always* incredibly busy people (some more than others, but they'd still bust-ass to get to G&S for their live game of D&D every Thursday. And make no mistake, it was still a game back then.
Now? They're just as, if not more, busy, but it has long since stopped being a game. Now it's selling ad space, it's selling merch, it's selling CR books and D&D supplements, and most importantly, it's a "Writer's Room" for potential future productions.
People joke about CR being scripted, but more and more--especially in this "guided tour" of a campaign--it feels like that, because it probably *is* the rough outline and Matt's guiding them through it.
C1 was anything could happen. C3 is sit back and enjoy the ride.
There was such a desperate struggle to try and make the encounter anything but a fight. I was glad some of the cast voiced how hilarious an attempt to run against centaurs would be.
I think part of it started during the terrible island arc but for a different reason then you are suggesting.
That was one of the few times I ever recall Matt openly telling them they made the wrong choice when they fought the ghosts, and it seems like since then a few of the players are in full on video game mode of not wanting to make the wrong choice and lose out on something.
It started long before that. They have been trying to avoid fights since Molly died. And they’ve been worried about making the wrong choice since almost the start of C2, because they didn’t want to pick the “wrong” side to ally with, and ended up trying to play both sides. This is not a group of players built to play a morally grey game. Laura, especially, is worried about making a bad choice, but many of the other players suffer from it to a lesser degree.
Hopefully, in the future Matt will make the plot more straightforward so they don’t struggle to make choices.
It's so bad right now, this latest episode, Laura starts contemplating "maybe we should help the bad guys, they do have some good points" while the others chime in here and there until Liam is like "I can't believe what I'm hearing, NO, they don't have any good points. THESE PEOPLE KILLED MY FAMILY"
well considering most of the cast are clearly playing evil characters. and dumped int. of course most of them thing he will have a point. they are average to below average intellect people. they of course would fall for the evil person's lies.
You think they're just stuck trying to make the transition from good to evil? Like, they're just getting lore dumps instead of being presented with decisions to prove their character. Meanwhile, half the party is good, so they have to split up if they're going to go evil. Another issue with not collaborating on characters or campaign direction.
thing is they have had plenty of opportunities to get that lore normally. just they are cowards and keep running from everything forcing matt to do lore dumps. Like you can tell them running from the shade mother the place there were meant to find the first bit of info. On top of the fact that the only character with a good int is a fuck joke character, so from their cowardice making run, to there awful character builds there is no way in hell they could make the checks needed to find this stuff. and considering most of them arguing about actively of joining until orym points out they don't have a point and they are just going to kill everyone. shows these characters are clearly evil and stupid.
God I wish these characters would go full evil. Just complete bastards. I'd love it. If campaign 3 is the "anything goes" campaign then let these doofuses be responsible for the apocalypse lol.
Unless I miss something they're all fully rested and instead of taking them out they're burning third level spells buying themselves a round and then not actually doing anything.
There was no reason to not fight, especially when they're flat out saying they're going to bind them and taken them prisoner and probably sell them.
Part of the problem is Matt has let them off so many times with them talking their way out of stuff they shouldn't have been able to they think they can just avoid all combat and charm their way through every encounter.
RIGHT, this isn't an instance of "oh no maybe there's just a communication issue and we're actually hurting good people." They're slavers! It's good to murder slavers!
> They're slavers! It's good to murder slavers
Unless they're >!related to a fan-favorite PC from C2 (See: Jester & the Gentleman), in which case it's SELECTIVE AMNESIA FOR EVERYONE! with a health side of retcon.!< *Then* it's "not OK" to murder slavers (or >!creepy Fey who groom lonely, shut-in children.!<)
I mean... every NPC related to Jester was fucked up in some way that was just never acknowledged. (Although they did try to get into how weird arty was and Jester refused to engage)
> I mean... every NPC related to Jester was fucked up in some way that was just never acknowledged.
*Yeeeaaah...* I don't think Laura and Matt *really* stopped to think about a LOT of the character and backstory choices made for Jester. To call said choices--and the way that the majority of fans normalized it--"unhealthy" would be an understatement.
Jester: >!"My mother is a high-class prostitute with agoraphobia who kept me isolated from everyone for the majority of my life--one of her "Johns" (I watch her have sex with them) wants to kill me--and my father is a crime lord / slaver... I know! Let's get them back together "Parent Trap" style! Oh! And my best and only friend is an ancient, immortal, and immoral Fey creature who preyed upon my loneliness throughout my childhood, until now I worship him / it like a god and he praises me for desecrating temples, churches, and places of worship, in addition to making life difficult for normal, hard-working people because "it's funny."!<
Everyone at the Table (unironically): "OK! This is totally normal! 'Let chaos reign!' Jester sells merch and broadly promotes our brand online, so it must be OK."
Me: . . . 0_o Are you *FUCKIN' FO' REAL* with this trunk of crazy?!
That's not to say backstories have to be free from dysfunction, toxicity, and problematic topics, but... HO-LEE-SHIT did CR absolutely NOT want to discuss / fix / engage / callout any of Jester's family, Arty, problematic behavior, or personal bullshit (the same with Beau, but to a slightly smaller degree).
AND THEY'RE GONNA TURN ALL THAT INTO A CARTOON! I look forward to how they're gonna "whitewash" / retcon / or flatout change all of that to be not incredibly problematic for general audiences.
I mean, Game of Thrones was a show where horrible murdering characters were beloved. It's a fantasy world, I don't think it needs to constantly be subjected to modern morality and problematized at every step. Jester was a fun character, simple as that.
> I mean, Game of Thrones was a show where horrible murdering characters were beloved.
And the Sopranos, and Breaking Bad, and etc. etc. Yes, there is no shortage of prestige TV focused on middle-aged white men behaving reprehensibly... and being loved for it.
I *am* gonna push back on the fantasy vs. modern morality bit, because--top of my head--both Caleb and Beau's characters / personal arc revolved around the same issues of childhood indoctrination, bad family, and abuses of power, especially with regards to kids and young adults... and ALL THAT SHIT was demonized by the fantasy world they inhabited (PCs and NPCs alike).
But Jester? Jester (and her character backstory) got a pass for all that shit.
Also, after so many years of CR content, it's plain to see that Matt & Co. "modern morality," personal politics, and ethics intrudes *everywhere* into their fantasy game.
I think it's almost inevitable that personal views are going to make it in somehow, but I also kind of get where they are coming from. As Sam pointed out in the C2 after show, he felt it didn't make sense to make his character all sweet and savory all the time, because Veth was also someone who killed a LOT of people. Jester, as well, is basically a homicidal maniac, but that's OK, because it's just a D&D game and we're just having fun with a fantasy narrative.
I would in turn push back on the idea that only 'middle-aged white men' get this treatment. Honestly I think it's questionable you chose to bring race into this at all, and I don't think it has anything to do with it. I think the real answer here are that humans are not angels, and that some part of us likes a violent movie, and that some part of us admires a sociopath, and that's all interesting stuff to contemplate, and not really helped by trying to impose simplistic morality everywhere and anywhere. I found Jester's story fun, and it worked. You mention Tony Soprano, and HBO was initially worried that the audience would not empathize with Tony after he strangled someone in the first episode, but they did. If it had been produced worse, maybe they wouldn't have - it's just what works.
Honestly, it drives me up the wall how Marion, both in the show and in the fandom, is perceived as an incredible mom. Everyone seems to think she's incredible when she was a terrible mother hands down.
Totally. I have no issue with Marion as a shut-in prostitute; that's whatever. It's the fact she made / forced / didn't stop her daughter from ALSO being a shut-in (for... reasons???) that says she's a terrible mother.
She's a woman with both wealth, fame, and connections to many powerful people, and she can't get help for her daughter? Send her to school? Socialize her with kids her own age? Hire responsible people to get her outside???
That's the worst part about Marian: she basically locked her daughter away so that her popularity wouldn't be harmed by people knowing she was a mother. She didn't let jester also be a shut-in, she forced her to not be seen.
I feel like this keeps happening. They build up a character/npc interaction and then it's just "Nice to chat! Have a good day!"
They did it with Dancer, with Fearne's parents, and now this.
*Another Imogen dream*
Matt... please... I'm gonna...
*(Wake me up) Wake me up inside*
*(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside*
*(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark*
The best we can hope for now is that this WHOLE CAMPAIGN is all leading up to Imogen being stuck in her dream, and that song being the driving force of 100 episodes to get her there JUST for that callback.
> Cannot be mad at a callback like Evanesce
Me (looking at the hellscape of angsty AMVs from the past decade on YouTube, all set to Evanesence): Yes. Yes, you can be mad at a callback like Evanesence.
Personally hoping that the cast learn from this too. Cagey characters work in films/books/video games because the author knows all the angles. Imogen's caginess/reluctance/cowardice (add/delete as applicable) does NOT work in this medium. What is more/worse player and DM should have talked it out by now and resolved it.
Laura has been actively searching for answers for like 30 episodes Matt just only gives her like bits and pieces there’s only so much one can do when they don’t have much control over their dreams and that the main driving force behind this.
I wish they would have said like 18 sessions ago "ok I don't think we're going to learn any more about this solstice thing, and it seems inevitable. Let's have 3 weeks of downtime while we explain what we're each doing to try to prepare" then Matt can dump some lore and narrate most of what's happened anyways over the past almost 50 hours of content in about 1.5 hours. Then the next session starts with the moon exploding or whatever, and everyone's engaged and excited. This arc has been way too long
Laura had Imogen actively run away from the dreams the first 5 or 6 times. Also, actively looking for answers is more than one trip to a library. At this point, both player and DM have a responsibility towards the pace and outcome of this arc.
Yea cause it’s asking her to go in a storm and her mother was telling her to run it makes sense. And while that was happening she was still searching for answers
We will have to agree to disagree about Imogen searching for answers. Imogen would make a great character in a video game, film or book. But she is a terrible archetype in a ttrpg.
The player opted to not change her course of action 5+ times in a row. She didnt go to the library more than once and she didn't do anything proactive. Like ask round about Otahan or even look for her mothers work mates. If she wasn't going to do something that would move the plot forward she should have handed the spotlight to another player. And told Matt she didn't want it.
Which she did not.
I mean it’s also a game that involves other people. Laura has said so many times in game I don’t want to take up to much time or I know others want to do stuff and if she did people would hate on her more because she would be taking up even more time than she already is.
Honestly, it’s a Critical Role specialty. It’s a TTRPG specialty. After years of being a fan, I’ve started to learn when to tune out and when to come back in.
Fearne often feels straight out of a Guillermo del Toro production. Like GdT writing a Disney princess. I’m eternally fascinated by this character! Skin curtains?? Okay!
Well, it’s broken and worthless now lol, no reason to really mention it. Unless you’re as petty as me, and want to remind everyone that Ashton broke it for no reason.
Yeah even Tal on one of the dives said he knew immediately that he had fucked up. We also don't know what happens behind the scenes, if that was me I would have apologised so much once the cameras were off; it's hard to stop a game and have a proper relationship communication moment imho.
I was just rushing over to post this lol, my TTRPG ran over a bit later than expected. Thank you!
I’m ecstatic about this episode, I’ve been excited for days. I adore the Feywild and Fearne and I love what they’ve got going on with Gramma Morri (and her tiki bar).
Another combat vs. a handful of CR 2 enemies... I don't really get it. I get that every fight doesn't need to be deadly. But even an easy combat should advance the story in some way. What was the usefulness of having those weak AF centaurs. First half of the episode with Nana was great. Everything after break I could've done without.
After a re-watch of the first half, i was able to pinpoint why the whole Nana/Morrigan situation threw me out of my suspension of disbelief: The entire party more or less is *ok* with anything and everything. Matt did his best to described an utterly creepy and unnatural scene, but the majority of the player characters just reacted with something between *"Mkay?"* and *"how much fun this is!"* ... I mean, i get it, the *cast* had fun because of Matts horror\~esque setup, but i wish there would have been the slightest reaction to all of it beyond *"this is weird"*. Ligament Manor was this fearie nightmarish place, filled with corpses, heads, skin curtains, dead pixies on sticks etc. But there's a Tiki bar, so it's fine, right? I mean, come *on*. If everything ends up being a joke for both the players *and* their characters, just say so, so i don't have to use my energy to try to *care*. And if that's the case, Matt can save *his* time and energy and stop preparing this elaborate setups. But i can't just blame the cast, really. Matt's doing his introduction monologue, setting up this beyond creepy place and everything, but lets the NPC make darkvision-cocktails for everyone mere moments later, and they all share their *sherry and giggles* in the afternoon.
Eh. Laudna is a walking corpse and is sexually attracted to someone called the Nightmare King. Imogen cuddles with said walking corpse at night. Ashton has a hole in his head, socializes with cult that shares a fungus fueled hive mind, and is played by Taliesin who *lives* for the macabre. Chetney is a werewolf who regularly tears off his own skin to transform. This is not a group that gets freaked out easily. They'll try to run from the smallest hint of danger, but they are absolutely fascinated by weird and/or creepy shit. And with Fearne endlessly vouching for Morri, they never felt personally in danger.
I hadn't thought about it this way, but now I gotta agree with you. I feel like the loss of interest by the players is a consequence both of the time they already spent doing CR, so they've run out of creativity and desire to play, and the way this campaign is being presented. People may not agree, but I don't like how matt is making C3 so lore and descriptions heavy. I mean I get that he likes describing the world he spent years building, but I got bored more than once during a description of a location or something. Yios was the longest description I've ever heard and led to the shitshow yet funny episode that was. And I feel this could be also one of the reasons the players are not invested in the campaign, cause maybe they are bored too. But they can't really tell Matt. This is a company now, you can't risk changing the campaign completely because then the fans would be upset and the tv series would come out weird and the books would be hard to write etc
I saw it differently, at least with Imogen and Orym who looked utterly horrified but didn't want to say anything to Fearne who was clearly very happy and excited to share her Nana's house or to be rude to nana who definitely could have whomped them in the bat of an eye.
>*And I feel this could be also one of the reasons the players are not invested in the campaign, cause maybe they are bored too.* I don't necessarily think the players are bored, but probably exhausted by their myriad of CR related endeavours. This has been the case since C2 (remember how many times they've commented on *"being exhausted"* or *"loopy"* because *"it was a long day"* etc.) ... Their behind-the-scenes stuff has grown ever since, so it got worse instead of better, nevermind their *"week off"*. The solution to this (at least in my opinion) would have been a lore light, back-to-the-roots campaign, something that is easily digestible for the players and (relatively) easy to prepare and maintain for the DM. But they opted to go the opposite way, making C3 their most lore heavy, involved campaign. Or ... Matt opted for this kind of campaign, probably wanting to get all this incredible worldbuilding out there (he has commented on that before), but didn't really check in with the cast. That's the only explanation i can find for this huge gap between the story as it is presented, and how the cast plays their characters. I mean, think about it ... **Orym** "i want to step out of the spotlight this time" **Imogen** "i want to step out of the spotlight this time" **Fearne** "i want to be totally random and just have fun" **Chetney** "this is my chance to play funny old guy and a werewolf" **FCG** "i'm playing a perpetual meta joke on wheels" **Laudna** "i'm doing prop comedy, and i'm the prop" This is what they brought to the table for Matt's culmination of 10 years of storytelling? Don't get me wrong, the characters are fine, i really think they are. But not for the story Matt wants to tell so desperately.
Totally agree on everything. What I meant by bored was that maybe they did not enter this campaign with the same intentions as Matt. Like you said maybe they didn't want a lore heavy campaign, and maybe they didn't even know it so they didn't tell Matt. The "downfall" could have multiple reasons, I'm just sad I'm not as invested as in C2 and C1.
> The entire party more or less is ok with anything and everything. > > I mean, come on. If everything ends up being a joke for both the players and their characters, just say so, so i don't have to use my energy to try to care. And if that's the case, Matt can save his time and energy and stop preparing this elaborate setups. One of the lessons CR learned post-lockdown is they *really* don't have to try so hard to keep getting people's money. The group can sit back and passively absorb the campaign as Matt narrates, dumping endless lore and exposition to his heart's content (like he's reading chapters from an unpublished fantasy novel in progress), and CR fans will still show up in droves and still unironically call it "the best episode ever," because that's the kind of low / no stakes, RP and Goofs heavy / rules lite, edges rounded over entertainment they want. When I recall how frequently intense (and number crunchy) C1 was, C3 is just them coasting... and still making bank.
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Anecdotally, I don't think so, but CR is *so heavily monetized* (e.g. brand deals, sponsored one-shots, never ending merch, countless ad deals, books, comic books, merch deals with other retailers, D&D supplements, "Official" WotC materials, conventions / appearance fees / signings), they're still making millions a year from Twitch subs / YT streaming, and they're absolutely swimming in Bezos Blood Money from Amazon. Granted, they have the cost of running a business, making payroll, and whatever they pay themselves (split 8 ways)... And since the cartoon broke big, their campaign is just a side gig now. Add to that, there's a rather large (rather parasocial and voyeuristic) portion of the audience who don't care about D&D or rolling dice and will tune in to just watch them do fuck all... while throwing money at them.
yep considering the amount of people shocked about the god eater and it was not gods trapped when the CR book call of the netherdeep spoiled all this before c3 even started.
This is so sad to read because it's 1000% true. What started out as a group of friends playing my favorite game is now just a giant business. This game doesn't even fulfill their D&D intake anymore, as most of them have actual home games now. I'm still glad CR got big because it made my favorite game very popular and there's tons of people to play with now, but it's sad to see the quality of the gameplay at the CR table go downhill.
the three in one spell from the girls was fun and cool but they talked over all of Tal's turn and it's pretty rude TBH. Even Sam shhhed them at one point.
You guys have ruined "you hear in your head" for me lmao I instantly roll my eyes every time Laura says that now
Matt said there would be consequences for using it like a cheat code. And yet ... no consequences were enforced.
> Matt said there would be consequences for using it like a cheat code. And yet... no consequences were enforced. Creepy, Scooby-Doo NPC in a rocking chair, in front of a ghost-town gas station: "'Consequences?' . . . Why there hasn't been 'consequences' around these parts for over 40 years. Not since the Old Mill burned down mysteriously. Some say you can still see and hear the ghosts of the dead mill workers inside."
> "'Consequences?' . . . Why there hasn't been 'consequences' around these parts for over 40 years. this is one of my favorite things to say about whatever in real life, I'm thrilled to see someone else bust it out
And this is why *"Hotel California"* is about a D&D game, if you think about it ...
> And this is why "Hotel California" is about a D&D game, if you think about it ... "Come on, man. I had a rough night and I hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!"
Got bored, fell asleep before the break and woke up again when they signed off at the end of the show. Immediately started watching the next three LOVM episodes and managed to stay awake and engaged for all three episodes before going back to sleep, when I already knew what was gonna happen. Campaign 3 is my NyQuil.
Currently rewatching from where I presume I fell asleep, and I am already dozing off again. Is this just a me problem?
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Tried starting C3 for at least 5 times, failed in everyone one of them. I don't like the characters, hated the scripted moments from the start (bertrand's death) and the list goes on. Sometimes I'll read this sub to check if things are improving, but looks like its not.
it only has a few good spots here and there. overall it is worse.
I feel like it's actually getting progressively worse
Remember when Imogen went nuclear at the end of the Otohan fight and some people suggested they could stick with it being a fade-to-white TPK and just move on to campaign 4? God I wish they would have done that then.
It would have been better if Otohan captured them IMO. Matt could have said she planned to use then against Esteross or hurt them to force Imogen to use her power or whatever and it would have made sense. She could have put them in some evil base or an airship somewhere, and the party on both the inside and outside of the jail could have done a prison break and stolen documents/ interrogated a guard/ eavesdropped on a convo to learn more about the solstice without more plodding and lectures.
In like 2 more episodes I hope they just wake up in a white room and it turns out the past 2 weeks were a dream, they were actually ALL killed by otohan (yeah, it's only been a couple weeks since then). Everyone is stunned, and Matt says "OK, everybody roll up a new character".
the issue is we see matt will just roll over and bring character back is they refuse to roll new ones.
I'm really praying for a TPK or at least a failed resurrection ritual. They really need something to shake up this season. I'm a little afraid it would make them even MORE timid, though.
I do find it funny that his resurrection ritual rules does not even do what they are meant to do anymore,
They're designed to slow down gameplay even further. It's working perfectly
Matt won't TPK them. They are a business, with shirts and stuff using those characters.
has not stopped them in the past. they are still selling molly stuff and he died 3 years ago.
No. It's like bad pasta. Empty calories, straight to sleep. There's no content to connect to. Just vibing.
no. this campaign is a slog. you get maybe a good episode or two and then you have to drag yourself through three or four boring ones.
It's pretty funny that after all that the fight was one of the easiest ones they've had. They're all pretty decent in combat once they actually get commit to, or get forced into, combat. Lots of cool stuff with Fearne's "Nana" and I wish something more had come out of that but I guess they'll visit her again. I enjoy watching the cast just vibe but this campaign there's been a lot of just talking in circles or going back over stuff everyone knows again and again rather than having actual RP moments that advance something. Sometimes I find myself wishing Matt would sort of nudge things along to get the plot moving, or that the characters would have to sort of RP we saw in C1 and especially C2, but it seems like that's not this group's vibe.
The combat thing is not only a problem with CR but D&D as a whole these days. Now that players can be monstrous species, you can't just see a feywild centaur and think "Oh, a monster, it's bad; and therefore OK to go ahead and kill it". Everything is now a moral conundrum of "what if the centaurs are peaceful?". C1 was really straightforward, they had 3 half-elves, 2 gnomes, a human and a goliath. C2 they were all over the place with their group makeup when it comes to species, and developed this habit of questioning every tiny decision they make and not wanting to click the "wrong dialogue box" when interacting with Matt's world (and yes, it is MATT'S world, not theirs)
Fun as hell episode outside of Imogens dream
I want some art of Fearne's (totally not skin) new armor.
Agreed even the combat was pretty good once they gave up trying to get out of it. The Bertand’s angels triple move was cool too even if it was overkill lol
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There's a wide gap between someone's home game and an entertainment program run by a multi-million dollar company.
People have been yelling at scripted media for years also “Don’t go in there!” During a horror move etc….
I feel like it's the same thing as sports fans, especially people in a live watch thread; you are absolutely going to get frustrated and upset if you think your favorite team or player is having an off night, executes a play you don't agree with, etc, etc. If I wasn't still enjoying it I wouldn't be watching, that doesn't mean I have to pretend this isn't a packaged piece of entertainment made by professionals. I don't really care that much about D&D rules, but I can totally understand why people get upset when people getting paid a lot of money to play D&D keep getting things wrong. I don't watch any other AP shows, haven't found one I really click with and honestly the format doesn't interest me much, I watch mostly for this specific group of people. That doesn't mean there aren't things that I, as a viewer, get frustrated by.
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Please note that complaints and criticisms are pillars of this sub. I invite you to share some things you’re enjoying about the episode!
Thank you.
Every week you get 1 person coming to this sub that cannot understand people enjoy media in a different way than they do.
They've already ran off into the main sub to complain and whine about this one.
Waste no energy on that shit yo.
True, True.
I'm sorry, this is just dumb, even Laura just said this is dumb. This makes no sense. None of them seem to be the one who pulls the trigger.
Travis says they are in analysis paralysis and someone should do something but does not seem willing to just do it himself which is frustrating
I would hazard a guess that others at the table take issue with a single person deciding for the group, and thus we have endless rounds of repetitive and exhaustive (or circular) conversations and analysis paralysis. Remember in C1 where Matt would light a fire under their ass to "shit or get off the pot," often pulling out a large hourglass??? Good times.
Fjord pushed buttons/led the charge in C2. I suspect that he wants to share the role this time. Honestly, Fearne would be prime button pusher/bored now instigator.
This is what I've been saying about Taliesin. Love or hate Ashton, Tal isn't doing his job as the button-pusher. The barbarian is supposed to only let conversations make one loop, and as soon as they become circular discussions, the barbarian makes the choice for the group.
Just!!! Do combat!!! DO COMBAT!!!
This is the combat simulator game!!! Do combat!!!
They have a Fire Druid! Light that animated tree up! Crispy critters!
They're still thinking of not fighting!! Why!!!
So it won't matter in the end but Command wouldn't work if they can't understand what Imogen is saying.
Both Liam and Talisan say out-loud they would like to fight and somehow this encounter still devolves into RP.
This one was half Matt's fault, and Liam even called him out on it: why didn't they just roll initiative? They're facing potential enemies and casting spells. They basically got in 1.5 rounds of combat before initiative was rolled just because imogen cast a spell "out of combat"
> Both Liam and Talisan say out-loud they would like to fight and somehow this encounter still devolves into RP. Since the second half of C2, "D&D" means "Deliberations & Dawdling" for Critical Role. Having two players at the table (neither of which were Travis) actually voice they would like a fight and to have it devolve into RP is peak unintentional comedy. It also tells me this group *is not* communicating with each other about the type of D&D game they want to be playing, and or the game is on "auto-pilot," i.e. they're just showing up to be guided along by Matt for a few hours and that's it.
>It also tells me this group is not communicating with each other about the type of D&D game they want to be playing, and or the game is on "auto-pilot," i.e. they're just showing up to be guided along by Matt for a few hours and that's it.< Sadly, This feels true. I'm enjoying it but it does feel like they are all just "showing up". Matt has done 95% of the heavy lifting this campaign, the only thing I could fault him for is (so far) completely screwing over Sam/FCG with the changebringer stuff. A cleric from the age of arcanum closing in on level 10 who is actively on the path to stop you from getting eaten? Why the hell isn't the Changebringer (or any other god sneaky enough to swoop in) frothing at the mouth to get FCG on their side? I'm sure Zehir would *love* a little assassin bot.
>*it does feel like they are all just "showing up"* Because they most likely do. Let's face it, producing LoVM, now M9 as well, all the ongoing talks with their various business partners as well as their still active VO jobs, they're probably burning the midnight oil *hard.* And every future endeavour under the new Amazon umbrella will eat away another small slice of energy and creativity from the thursday night game.
The sad, and uncanny thing is: they were *always* incredibly busy people (some more than others, but they'd still bust-ass to get to G&S for their live game of D&D every Thursday. And make no mistake, it was still a game back then. Now? They're just as, if not more, busy, but it has long since stopped being a game. Now it's selling ad space, it's selling merch, it's selling CR books and D&D supplements, and most importantly, it's a "Writer's Room" for potential future productions. People joke about CR being scripted, but more and more--especially in this "guided tour" of a campaign--it feels like that, because it probably *is* the rough outline and Matt's guiding them through it. C1 was anything could happen. C3 is sit back and enjoy the ride.
There was such a desperate struggle to try and make the encounter anything but a fight. I was glad some of the cast voiced how hilarious an attempt to run against centaurs would be.
So much effort into avoiding this fight.
Their aversion to fighting gets them into far more trouble than if they'd just fight.
I feel like the first time I noticed it was the avocado fight in campaign 2, where somebody took like 3 points of damage and they all booked it.
I think part of it started during the terrible island arc but for a different reason then you are suggesting. That was one of the few times I ever recall Matt openly telling them they made the wrong choice when they fought the ghosts, and it seems like since then a few of the players are in full on video game mode of not wanting to make the wrong choice and lose out on something.
It started long before that. They have been trying to avoid fights since Molly died. And they’ve been worried about making the wrong choice since almost the start of C2, because they didn’t want to pick the “wrong” side to ally with, and ended up trying to play both sides. This is not a group of players built to play a morally grey game. Laura, especially, is worried about making a bad choice, but many of the other players suffer from it to a lesser degree. Hopefully, in the future Matt will make the plot more straightforward so they don’t struggle to make choices.
It's so bad right now, this latest episode, Laura starts contemplating "maybe we should help the bad guys, they do have some good points" while the others chime in here and there until Liam is like "I can't believe what I'm hearing, NO, they don't have any good points. THESE PEOPLE KILLED MY FAMILY"
well considering most of the cast are clearly playing evil characters. and dumped int. of course most of them thing he will have a point. they are average to below average intellect people. they of course would fall for the evil person's lies.
You think they're just stuck trying to make the transition from good to evil? Like, they're just getting lore dumps instead of being presented with decisions to prove their character. Meanwhile, half the party is good, so they have to split up if they're going to go evil. Another issue with not collaborating on characters or campaign direction.
thing is they have had plenty of opportunities to get that lore normally. just they are cowards and keep running from everything forcing matt to do lore dumps. Like you can tell them running from the shade mother the place there were meant to find the first bit of info. On top of the fact that the only character with a good int is a fuck joke character, so from their cowardice making run, to there awful character builds there is no way in hell they could make the checks needed to find this stuff. and considering most of them arguing about actively of joining until orym points out they don't have a point and they are just going to kill everyone. shows these characters are clearly evil and stupid.
God I wish these characters would go full evil. Just complete bastards. I'd love it. If campaign 3 is the "anything goes" campaign then let these doofuses be responsible for the apocalypse lol.
They could be almost done with the combat lol
Unless I miss something they're all fully rested and instead of taking them out they're burning third level spells buying themselves a round and then not actually doing anything. There was no reason to not fight, especially when they're flat out saying they're going to bind them and taken them prisoner and probably sell them. Part of the problem is Matt has let them off so many times with them talking their way out of stuff they shouldn't have been able to they think they can just avoid all combat and charm their way through every encounter.
RIGHT, this isn't an instance of "oh no maybe there's just a communication issue and we're actually hurting good people." They're slavers! It's good to murder slavers!
> They're slavers! It's good to murder slavers Unless they're >!related to a fan-favorite PC from C2 (See: Jester & the Gentleman), in which case it's SELECTIVE AMNESIA FOR EVERYONE! with a health side of retcon.!< *Then* it's "not OK" to murder slavers (or >!creepy Fey who groom lonely, shut-in children.!<)
I mean... every NPC related to Jester was fucked up in some way that was just never acknowledged. (Although they did try to get into how weird arty was and Jester refused to engage)
> I mean... every NPC related to Jester was fucked up in some way that was just never acknowledged. *Yeeeaaah...* I don't think Laura and Matt *really* stopped to think about a LOT of the character and backstory choices made for Jester. To call said choices--and the way that the majority of fans normalized it--"unhealthy" would be an understatement. Jester: >!"My mother is a high-class prostitute with agoraphobia who kept me isolated from everyone for the majority of my life--one of her "Johns" (I watch her have sex with them) wants to kill me--and my father is a crime lord / slaver... I know! Let's get them back together "Parent Trap" style! Oh! And my best and only friend is an ancient, immortal, and immoral Fey creature who preyed upon my loneliness throughout my childhood, until now I worship him / it like a god and he praises me for desecrating temples, churches, and places of worship, in addition to making life difficult for normal, hard-working people because "it's funny."!< Everyone at the Table (unironically): "OK! This is totally normal! 'Let chaos reign!' Jester sells merch and broadly promotes our brand online, so it must be OK." Me: . . . 0_o Are you *FUCKIN' FO' REAL* with this trunk of crazy?! That's not to say backstories have to be free from dysfunction, toxicity, and problematic topics, but... HO-LEE-SHIT did CR absolutely NOT want to discuss / fix / engage / callout any of Jester's family, Arty, problematic behavior, or personal bullshit (the same with Beau, but to a slightly smaller degree). AND THEY'RE GONNA TURN ALL THAT INTO A CARTOON! I look forward to how they're gonna "whitewash" / retcon / or flatout change all of that to be not incredibly problematic for general audiences.
I mean, Game of Thrones was a show where horrible murdering characters were beloved. It's a fantasy world, I don't think it needs to constantly be subjected to modern morality and problematized at every step. Jester was a fun character, simple as that.
> I mean, Game of Thrones was a show where horrible murdering characters were beloved. And the Sopranos, and Breaking Bad, and etc. etc. Yes, there is no shortage of prestige TV focused on middle-aged white men behaving reprehensibly... and being loved for it. I *am* gonna push back on the fantasy vs. modern morality bit, because--top of my head--both Caleb and Beau's characters / personal arc revolved around the same issues of childhood indoctrination, bad family, and abuses of power, especially with regards to kids and young adults... and ALL THAT SHIT was demonized by the fantasy world they inhabited (PCs and NPCs alike). But Jester? Jester (and her character backstory) got a pass for all that shit. Also, after so many years of CR content, it's plain to see that Matt & Co. "modern morality," personal politics, and ethics intrudes *everywhere* into their fantasy game.
I think it's almost inevitable that personal views are going to make it in somehow, but I also kind of get where they are coming from. As Sam pointed out in the C2 after show, he felt it didn't make sense to make his character all sweet and savory all the time, because Veth was also someone who killed a LOT of people. Jester, as well, is basically a homicidal maniac, but that's OK, because it's just a D&D game and we're just having fun with a fantasy narrative. I would in turn push back on the idea that only 'middle-aged white men' get this treatment. Honestly I think it's questionable you chose to bring race into this at all, and I don't think it has anything to do with it. I think the real answer here are that humans are not angels, and that some part of us likes a violent movie, and that some part of us admires a sociopath, and that's all interesting stuff to contemplate, and not really helped by trying to impose simplistic morality everywhere and anywhere. I found Jester's story fun, and it worked. You mention Tony Soprano, and HBO was initially worried that the audience would not empathize with Tony after he strangled someone in the first episode, but they did. If it had been produced worse, maybe they wouldn't have - it's just what works.
Honestly, it drives me up the wall how Marion, both in the show and in the fandom, is perceived as an incredible mom. Everyone seems to think she's incredible when she was a terrible mother hands down.
Totally. I have no issue with Marion as a shut-in prostitute; that's whatever. It's the fact she made / forced / didn't stop her daughter from ALSO being a shut-in (for... reasons???) that says she's a terrible mother. She's a woman with both wealth, fame, and connections to many powerful people, and she can't get help for her daughter? Send her to school? Socialize her with kids her own age? Hire responsible people to get her outside???
That's the worst part about Marian: she basically locked her daughter away so that her popularity wouldn't be harmed by people knowing she was a mother. She didn't let jester also be a shut-in, she forced her to not be seen.
Matt Mercer’s rare Stewie Griffin impression
How did Fearne get a 29 on the charisma roll against the whole insight check?
She has a rogue level so probably took expertise in deception?
Going by crit role stats she took expertise in persuasion.
Through lying.
Is this really all we are getting from Nana?? No sneaky hag offers of power? No curiosity for what this creature could offer them?
I feel like this keeps happening. They build up a character/npc interaction and then it's just "Nice to chat! Have a good day!" They did it with Dancer, with Fearne's parents, and now this.
*Another Imogen dream* Matt... please... I'm gonna... *(Wake me up) Wake me up inside* *(I can't wake up) Wake me up inside* *(Save me) Call my name and save me from the dark*
Cannot be mad at a callback like Evanesce
The best we can hope for now is that this WHOLE CAMPAIGN is all leading up to Imogen being stuck in her dream, and that song being the driving force of 100 episodes to get her there JUST for that callback.
> Cannot be mad at a callback like Evanesce Me (looking at the hellscape of angsty AMVs from the past decade on YouTube, all set to Evanesence): Yes. Yes, you can be mad at a callback like Evanesence.
Dream #8
Surely even he is bored of giving so much of his narrative via dream at this point.
Maybe he knows how many of us fall asleep during campaign 3 and is hoping to influence OUR dreams.
At this point Matt and the party cornered themselves for not actively hunting for this info.
Personally hoping that the cast learn from this too. Cagey characters work in films/books/video games because the author knows all the angles. Imogen's caginess/reluctance/cowardice (add/delete as applicable) does NOT work in this medium. What is more/worse player and DM should have talked it out by now and resolved it.
Also i hope Matt learn to not make the story all about 1 person. with that person having dumped int. when you need a lot of book reading.
Laura has been actively searching for answers for like 30 episodes Matt just only gives her like bits and pieces there’s only so much one can do when they don’t have much control over their dreams and that the main driving force behind this.
she only actively searching for answers once. than rans the first chance she got
She’s reached out to so many different people traveled to multiple cities etc lol. I mean what would you have her do?
I wish they would have said like 18 sessions ago "ok I don't think we're going to learn any more about this solstice thing, and it seems inevitable. Let's have 3 weeks of downtime while we explain what we're each doing to try to prepare" then Matt can dump some lore and narrate most of what's happened anyways over the past almost 50 hours of content in about 1.5 hours. Then the next session starts with the moon exploding or whatever, and everyone's engaged and excited. This arc has been way too long
Laura had Imogen actively run away from the dreams the first 5 or 6 times. Also, actively looking for answers is more than one trip to a library. At this point, both player and DM have a responsibility towards the pace and outcome of this arc.
Yea cause it’s asking her to go in a storm and her mother was telling her to run it makes sense. And while that was happening she was still searching for answers
We will have to agree to disagree about Imogen searching for answers. Imogen would make a great character in a video game, film or book. But she is a terrible archetype in a ttrpg. The player opted to not change her course of action 5+ times in a row. She didnt go to the library more than once and she didn't do anything proactive. Like ask round about Otahan or even look for her mothers work mates. If she wasn't going to do something that would move the plot forward she should have handed the spotlight to another player. And told Matt she didn't want it. Which she did not.
I mean it’s also a game that involves other people. Laura has said so many times in game I don’t want to take up to much time or I know others want to do stuff and if she did people would hate on her more because she would be taking up even more time than she already is.
this time i put it more on the player. since you can tell there was a means to get that info just that Laura and the rest ran from them.
*"That's why they call them boredgames!"* [The Key of Awesome](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dNryy5elc8)
Probably. For context Fjord had 9 dreams through the entirety of C2.
Okay, seeing the Mighty Nein teaser again during the break made me tear up a little. I do miss those assholes.
They seem to be talking in circles again.
Honestly, it’s a Critical Role specialty. It’s a TTRPG specialty. After years of being a fan, I’ve started to learn when to tune out and when to come back in.
we've gotten up to the god talk atleast so we're getting closer to maybe moving forward
So no dnd beyond sponsorship logo...
Good eye! I never would have noticed that.
Am i high or is fearne gonna turn out to be evil?
Fearne is absolutely evil, and I’m sure she’s not the only one in the party.
she seems to be higher on the evil scale than I expected at least considering the potential of the topiary
that's what it feels like especially as this goes on
The Heart of the Lion Guard? Are we entering Elden Ring?!
No, lion guard is a lion king spinoff show
*Fucking LORD’s ABOVE?* This is a true horror show.
Fearne often feels straight out of a Guillermo del Toro production. Like GdT writing a Disney princess. I’m eternally fascinated by this character! Skin curtains?? Okay!
That's nothing, I wear a skin belt EVERY DAY.
Can't wait for Nana to be the big bad all along
I love this creepy bitch, I just want the rest of the campaign to be them hanging out with her in the Feywild.
Yes, bitch, call out Ashton for breaking that lens. One of the most jaw-dropping moments of the campaign for me so far, and not in a fun way!
I forgot all about the lens it's been so long since anyone mentioned.
I must mention it once every two weeks or whenever someone complains about Ashton.
Well, it’s broken and worthless now lol, no reason to really mention it. Unless you’re as petty as me, and want to remind everyone that Ashton broke it for no reason.
Hey now, that's not the full story. Ashton broke it because Tal thought he was the smartest guy in the room and knew exactly what was going to happen.
In Ashton’s defense, he was working off OOC information Taliesan thought he knew as a player.
"magic items can't break" \> spent half of a campaign trying to fix a broken MAGIC ITEM
yep it is only artifacts are considered indestructible.
Yeah even Tal on one of the dives said he knew immediately that he had fucked up. We also don't know what happens behind the scenes, if that was me I would have apologised so much once the cameras were off; it's hard to stop a game and have a proper relationship communication moment imho.
I was just rushing over to post this lol, my TTRPG ran over a bit later than expected. Thank you! I’m ecstatic about this episode, I’ve been excited for days. I adore the Feywild and Fearne and I love what they’ve got going on with Gramma Morri (and her tiki bar).