The Legend of Vox Machina has now delighted Critters for two glorious seasons. And happily, season three of the animated series will be heading to our screens soon. But that’s not all there is to get excited about. The Legend of Vox Machina is based on Critical Role‘s first roleplaying campaign, of course. And if there’s one thing that Dungeons & Dragons fans love, it’s getting to take a closer look at the details and nuances of a world. Roll for perception, please! The Legend of Vox Machina is getting a gorgeous “making of” art book, The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina. Anyone who has so much as glimpsed the show knows that this art-filled tome will be a pleasing treat for the eyes (and minds) of fans everywhere.

You can take a look at the cover art of The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina below.

This New The Legend of Vox Machina Art Book Celebrates the Creation of the Series

Dark Horse Books and Amazon MGM Studios are bringing The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina to life. This hardcover art book will delve deep into the making of seasons one and two of the animated show. For fans who want to truly immerse themselves in the world, it’s a must-have. The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina will take fans behind the scenes of the incredible animated television series and offer “never-before-seen concept art and commentary on the show’s creation.” This art book offers a brand-new way to explore Exandria and learn more about Vex’ahlia, Vax’ilda, Keyleth, Percy de Rolo, Scanlan Shorthalt, Pike Trickfoot, and Grog Strongjaw. We bet this The Legend of Vox Machina art book holds some tantalizing trivia about your favorite character in its pages.

The Art of the Legend of Vox Machina is written by Meredith Kecskemety (The Legend of Vox Machina, Midnight Gospel) and includes the work of various interior artists from Titmouse Animation. Additionally, The Art of the Legend of Vox Machina features cover art originally sketched by Sung Jin Ahn, characters by Phil Bourassa, background by Howard Chen, and colors by Arthur Loftis.

The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina Deluxe Edition Celebrates Shaun Gilmore

For the ultimate Critter, though, Dark Horse Books and Amazon MGM Studios have a special item waiting in their merchant shop. They’d like to invite you to stop by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods for something truly sumptuous. The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina will also be available in a deluxe edition, perfect for the member of your party with exceptionally discerning tastes.

The deluxe edition will have packaging inspired by Matthew Mercer’s fan-favorite NPC, Shaun Gilmore. It will feature a purple and gold color scheme with holographic foiling and ribbing on the spine. All of this will come together to make it feel like a fantasy tome plucked right from the world of The Legend of Vox Machina. The deluxe edition will also include a slipcase, a ribbon bookmark, and a lithograph print. Truly, The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina Deluxe Edition will be a glorious addition to any superfan’s collection.

You can check out concept art for the deluxe edition of The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina above.

The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina Release Date, Price, and Other Details

For those who are already preparing a space for The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina on their bookshelves, here’s some information you’ll want to know about the book and its release. Firstly, The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina and its deluxe edition will release in bookstores on December 10, 2024, and in comic shops on December 11, 2024. The art book is now available to pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, TFAW, and your local comic shop.

The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina will cost $49.99. Meanwhile, The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina Deluxe Edition will cost $99.99. Both versions of the book will be printed in hardcover and contain 192 pages. The dimensions of the book are 9.5×13”.

For more announcements and updates on The Art of The Legend of Vox Machina and other exciting titles, be sure to follow Dark Horse Comics on social media and check out its website, www.darkhorse.com.

And, of course, be sure to tune in when season three of The Legend of Vox Machina premieres on Prime Video on October 3.

The post THE ART OF THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA Book Gives Fans a Gorgeous Inside Look at the Series’ Creation appeared first on Nerdist.

Update as of 4/29/2024: The Boy and the Heron will be released July 9 on 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray + DVD, and in a Limited Edition Steelbook which includes 4K UHD + Blu-ray. The latter will feature Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos. The film will also be released in HD on all major on-demand digital platforms, as well as in 4K with Dolby Vision/Dolby Atmos on June 25.

These versions will be in its original Japanese language with English subtitles, as well as in the new English-language version with actors Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. It is available for pre-order on GKIDS.com, Shoutfactory.com, Apple, Amazon, and VUDU/Fandango.

Previous: From Oscar-winner excitements to cool new releases and more, here are some of our favorite odds and ends of entertainment news.

• The Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024
• Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & Dragons
• A24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster Movie
• Sam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series
• The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen Soon
• Pokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the Show
• AMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink Cup
• Music Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits Trailer
• Netflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology
• Star Trek Is Heading to Wondercon
• A Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is Coming

The Boy and the Heron Will Return to Theaters on March 22, Movie Will Arrive on Max in 2024

The Boy and the Heron is now an Oscar-winning movie. And to celebrate, the Miyazaki film will return to theaters on March 22. It will return in both the English-dub and sub versions. The re-release will also include “exclusive bonus content featuring an introduction from the film’s composer Joe Hisaishi, who received a Golden Globe nod for his work on the film, and a recorded drawing session with supervising animator Takeshi Honda.”

Additionally, The Boy and the Heron will stream on Max later this year. Max has also extended its contract to stream Studio Ghibli films with a new “multiyear agreement.” So it looks like Max will remain the home for Miyazaki movies for the foreseeable future.

Read our review here:

Daggerheart Is Critical Role‘s Answer to Dungeons & Dragons

Something new is coming to the world of tabletop roleplaying games, and that’s Critical Role‘s answer to Dungeons & Dragons, Daggerheart. Critical Role shares, “Daggerheart [is] our contribution to the world of high-fantasy tabletop roleplaying games. Daggerheart is a game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.”

As far as game mechanics go, in Daggerheart will “players roll one HOPE die and one FEAR die (both 12-sided dice), which will ultimately impact the outcome for your characters. This duality between the forces of hope and fear on every hero drives the unique character-focused narratives in Daggerheart.” The game will also involve a card system that “makes it easy to get started and satisfying to grow your abilities by bringing your characters’ background and capabilities to your fingertips. Ancestry and Community cards describe where you come from and how your experience shapes your customs and values. Meanwhile, your Subclass and Domain cards grant your character plenty of tantalizing abilities to choose from as your character evolves.”

Daggerheart Open Beta Playtest has now launched globally.

A Dungeons & Dragons RPG life-sim game is also coming soon.

A24’s Eddington Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and More in Ari Aster Movie

A24 is eyeing its next star-studded, surreal turn from director Ari Aster. Eddington features a cast that includes Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Deirdre O’Connell, Micheal Ward, and Clifton Collins Jr. Aster will write, direct, and produce the movie, which Variety shares  “follows a small-town New Mexico sheriff with higher aspirations.”

Here’s our review of A24’s latest film, Love Lies Bleeding.

Sam Rockwell Will Help Adapt Hello From The Magic Tavern Podcast Into Animated Series

Fans of the Hello From the Magic Tavern will be thrilled to hear that Sam Rockwell and Mark Berger’s Play Hooky Productions and Starburns Industries will adapt the podcast into an animated series. The series will tell a fantastical tale of the denizens of the land of Foon. Deadline reveals that “The animated series will follow the unlikely friends, Arnie Niekamp, Usidore the Blue (Young), and Chunt the Talking Badger (Rifai) on adventures throughout the fantastical land of Foon and beyond.”

The more fantasy adventures, the merrier.

The Mandalorian Season 4 Update Indicates Season Unlikely to Happen Soon

Brendan Wayne, the actor who serves to bring Din Djarin’s to life physically on The Mandalorian, recently shared that it didn’t seem like a season four of the show was on the way. Wayne noted to The Chatooine Show, which we saw via Den of Geek, “I know that we’re doing a movie for sure.” But when asked if there were any plans brewing for season four of The Mandalorian, Wayne simply said, “No.” We suppose it makes sense to focus on one thing at a time. And a movie will surely be good. But fans of the series do hope to see it return to its original form at some point. Finger crossed!

Here are all the new Star Wars movies in the works.

Pokémon Creators Say Ash Could Return to the Show

Fans of the Pokémon series recently said goodbye to Ash and Pikachu as the series shifted to its new heroes. But don’t count Ash out just yet. Speaking to Variety, The Pokémon Company’s Andy Gose, senior director of media production, and Taito Okiura, vice president of marketing, kept a little hope alive that we might run into our favorite trainer again someday.

Gose shared, “We’ve said farewell. Ash is still in the world. Anything is possible, I suppose. In the world of Pokémon, there’s so many possibilities.” And Okiura noted, “We hope Ash and Pikachu continue in their journey. Their journey is ongoing somewhere in the Pokémon world. It’s totally up to our fans’ imagination. For the time being, we would love to focus on the new story of the Liko and Roy. “Horizons” invites a new beginning.”

Liko and Roy’s adventures have finally arrived in the United States.

AMC Theaters Reveals Cool Ghostbusters Popcorn Bucket and Adorable Drink Cup

If you want to enjoy the movies and bust ghosts all at once, then AMC’s new Ghost Trap vessel and Mini-Puft Man Sipper are perfect for you. These fun products, which celebrate the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, will hold all your favorite theater snacks in style.

A release shares, “The Ghost Trap vessel appears to be plucked right out of the movie, complete with warning stickers and LED lights, available in theatres March 21. The colorful trap is designed to maximize the amount of popcorn you can carry to your seat from the concession stand — and then transform it into a movie experience keepsake to take home, display and enjoy. The light-up vessel is available for just $39.99 and includes a large popcorn.”

Additionally, “Guests can also mallow out with a collectible Mini-Puft Man Sipper (just $19.99 and includes a large drink) exclusively available only at AMC Theatres in theatre and online here while supplies last.”

Personally, I am obsessed with the Mini-Puft Man Sipper. Could it be any cuter?

Take a look at the trailer for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Music Will Literally Make You Time Travel in The Greatest Hits Trailer

Music can sometimes take you back to a specific place and time. But in the cast of The Greatest Hits, it will do so literally. You can check out the trailer for the romantic time-travel movie with a twist above. Its synopsis shares:

Harriet (Lucy Boynton) finds art imitating life when she discovers certain songs can transport her back in time – literally. While she relives thepast through romantic memories of her former boyfriend (David Corenswet), her time traveling collides with a burgeoning new love interest in the present (Justin H. Min). As she takes her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, she wonders – even if she could change thepast, should she?

Netflix Releases Three New Roald Dahl Shorts in Wes Anderson Anthology

Wes Anderson recently won an Oscar for his incredible work on The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. Anyone who enjoyed that short can rejoice because three more like it are coming as part of Wes Anderson’s collaboration with Netflix on Roald Dahl-inspired pieces. A release notes, “Four spellbinding tales unfold in writer-director Wes Anderson’s anthology of short films adapted from Roald Dahl’s beloved stories.” These shorts, of course, feature an all-star cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, and more.

Here’s the list of all the recent Oscar winners.

Star Trek Is Heading to Wondercon

If you’re heading to WonderCon, don’t miss out on its exciting Star Trek offerings! First, you can participate in a Star Trek sing-along screening of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ musical episode. What could be better than that? Secondly, you can be one of the first people to watch the premiere episode of Star Trek: Discovery‘s final season. That’s not something to miss out on. Full panel details are below.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 – 8:00pm – 9:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS – “Subspace Rhapsody” Sing-Along 

CBS Studios and Paramount+ invite you to join them for the first ever Star Trek sing-along screening of the “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” musical episode, “Subspace Rhapsody” followed by a moderated Q&A with songwriters Tom Polce and Kay Hanley, also of Letters to Cleo fame, where they will discuss writing the songs for Star Trek’s first ever musical episode. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 – 3:30pm – 5:00pm   [Room North 200A]

STAR TREK: DISCOVERY – Final Season Premiere Screening 

Be one of the first to see the premiere episode of the final season of “Star Trek: Discovery” followed by a moderated Q&A with Michelle Paradise (EP/Showrunner) and Olatunde Osunsanmi (EP/Director) where they will discuss working on the exciting final season and tease what’s to come.

Check out the trailer for the final season of Star Trek: Discovery:

A Willy Wonka Experience Musical Is Coming

The failed Willy Wonka experience in Scotland brought some levity to all our lives. And now, a musical based on the viral hit is on the way from producer Richard Kraft.

A release shares more about Willy Fest: A Musical Parody:

A team of top award-winning film, television and stage songwriters are joining forces to create a musical satire, “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” inspired by the recent, ill-fated Willy Wonka knock-off fiasco that quickly became a social media phenomenon.

As breathlessly covered in worldwide press, this misguided event morphed into a viral nightmare a la Fyre Fest, where guests were greeted by a creepy warehouse, overpriced tickets and sad Oompa Loompa wannabes. Children were reportedly left in tears, the police were called, and the debacle was ultimately canceled, leaving organizers and guests with a bitter taste in their mouths and wallets.

We can’t wait to see it in song. “Willy Fest: A Musical Parody” is targeted for a late 2024 launch.

A movie about the experience is also on the way.

Originally published March 15, 2024.

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It’s always a wild ride in the world of entertainment. In recent history, Nerdist had the pleasure of speaking to The Marvels‘ Iman Vellani, we saw some potential Fantastic Four casting news, and we got our first good look at Madame Web. But that’s not all that took place.

Here are some of our favorite pop-culture news odds & ends from this week.

Odds & Ends in Recent Entertainment News

Jump to:

• First Look at Completed Coyote vs. Acme, Movie Canceled and then Uncanceled By Warner Bros.
• Harley Quinn Renewed for Season Five on Max
• Yes, Frozen 4 Is in the Works Even Though Frozen 3 Has Not Released Yet
• It’s Ranch Time: Ranch Popcorn Arrives at AMC, and a Double-Headed Ranch Bottle Can Soon Be Yours
• Welcome to Wrexham Renewed for Season Three
• Blumhouse’s Imaginary Brings Us a Killer Teddy Bear
• Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection Will Launch on Digital
• Critical Role Prequel Novel for Bells Hells Campaign to Release in 2024
• Dr Pepper Reveals Spicy New Flavor, Dr Pepper Hot Take
• Central Perk Coffeehouse, a Modern Take on Friends Location, Now Open in Boston

First Look at Completed Coyote vs. Acme, Movie Canceled and then Uncanceled By Warner Bros. Discovery

It’s a messy time in the entertainment industry. Fully completed movies and series are being unceremoniously canceled for tax break purposes, and that should be illegal, literally. The latest finished movie to almost get canceled is Coyote vs. Acme, starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor. Warner Bros. Discovery even announced its cancellation but was met with great public outcry from fans and creators alike. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the studio has since reversed course and will now allow director Dave Green to try to sell the movie instead. Potential buyers include Amazon. It’s still not a great situation, but it’s better.

Eric Bauza, the voice actor of Wile E. Coyote in the movie, certainly seems to be looking on the bright side, though. He recently shared the first image from Coyote vs. Acme and seemed to tease the movie might arrive in 2024. However, we have not yet received any official confirmation of the movie’s fate.

Unfortunately, more and more streamers are canceling finished products. But happily, some of them, like The Spiderwick Chronicles, are getting saved.

Harley Quinn Renewed for Season Five on Max

A show renewal, especially on Max, is cause for great celebration these days. And we’re definitely cheering on Harley Quinn, which will receive a season five on Max. Five seasons is no easy feat for any series, but this fabulously queer show definitely deserves them. As a release from Max shares, Harley Quinn is full of “hilarious, heartwarming, and deranged stories with our lovable group of DC misfits.”

Harley Quinn is also heading to the Joker sequel, Folie á Deux

Yes, Frozen 4 Is in the Works Even Though Frozen 3 Has Not Released Yet

“Let it go, let it go!” These lyrics made Frozen‘s Elsa famous. But it seems like Disney is certainly not ready to let go of Frozen, Anna, or Elsa. Although Frozen 3 has not even begun to become a reality, it turns out Frozen 4 is already in the works. Per Variety, Disney’s CEO recently shared, “Frozen 3 is in the works, and there might be a Frozen 4 in the works too… [Director] Jenn Lee, who created the original Frozen and Frozen 2, is hard at work with her team at Disney animation on not one but actually two stories.”

Remember when Disney sequels went direct to VHS?

In the meantime, check out our review of Disney’s latest animated film.

It’s Ranch Time: Ranch Popcorn Arrives at AMC, and a Double-Headed Ranch Bottle Can Soon Be Yours

‘Tis the season, it turns out, for ranch. First up, Hidden Valley Ranch is bringing ranch dressing to AMC theaters with a brand-new Hidden Valley Ranch gourmet popcorn flavor. A release shares this movie theater treat will offer the “right balance of tangy Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning with AMC’s perfectly popped popcorn.” Yum! Hidden Valley Ranch movie theater popcorn is now available at select AMC theaters.

Additionally, for the top ranch aficionados, Hidden Valley Ranch has created “Double Ranch, the ranchiest ranch yet. Double the herbs. Double the spices. Double the flavor. Double the bottles.” You have our attention.

This double-headed Ranch bottle will “be available nationwide through a Snapchat lens on Saturday, November 18, while supplies last. The custom Snapchat lens will recognize any “X” that users come across, prompting the Double Ranch bottle to appear on the screen and providing a Swipe Up feature to purchase.” 222 bottles of this double-headed ranch monster will be available.

This isn’t the weirdest ranch has gotten; it once turned into a diamond ring.

Welcome to Wrexham Renewed for Season Three

Our favorite feel-good docuseries will return once again. Welcome to Wrexham has been renewed for a third season by FX, and it will arrive in spring 2024. That means Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds, and the Wrexham AFC team will all be back for more football fun before we know it. We expect season three will make us cry and then laugh, and we can’t wait. In the meantime, we’ll enjoy watching back through Welcome to Wrexham‘s now-completed first couple of seasons.

If you haven’t yet, check out all the fun of Welcome to Wrexham season two.

Blumhouse’s Imaginary Brings Us a Killer Teddy Bear

Obviously, one thing missing from our lives is a new horror movie about a killer teddy bear. So thank god that Blumhouse’s Imaginary trailer is here to bring us what we need. This movie offers a dark take on the notion of imaginary friends.

You don’t want to cross these angry spirits, and you certainly don’t want to ever leave them behind. Or else, they’ll possess stuffed animals and come for you. Better watch out for how you treat your teddy bears.

We don’t know how this movie will turn out yet, but these are our favorite final scenes from horror movies.

Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection Will Launch on Digital

Want to relive the magic of a whole trove of classing Jurassic Park video games? Well, you’re in luck because a collection of them is launching on digital on November 22.

A release shares, “The 8-and 16-bit era of Jurassic Park games has returned. This nostalgic release includes a lineup of classic titles and adds new features, including save states for each game, new in-game maps, and various quality-of-life fixes that bring these titles into the modern era of gaming.”

The Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection includes seven games that were originally released across NES, Game Boy, SNES, and the SEGA Genesis:

• Jurassic Park (NES)
• Jurassic Park (SNES)
• Jurassic Park (Game Boy)
• Jurassic Park (Genesis)
• Jurassic Park: The Chaos Continues (SNES)
• Jurassic Park: The Chaos Continues (Game Boy)
• Jurassic Park: Rampage Edition (Genesis)

You can pre-order the collection now.

Did you know dinosaurs may have been cuddly?

Critical Role Prequel Novel for Bells Hells Campaign to Release in 2024

Critical Role‘s current campaign Bells Hells is getting a prequel novel titled Critical Role: Bells Hells—What Doesn’t Break. This new book will “[chronicle] the unexplored years before fan-favorite character Laudna joins up with the crew of Bells Hells, following her departure from Whitestone and her solo adventures on the road toward Jrusar.” Sounds like it will be an epic adventure! This Critical Role novel will be written by Cassandra Khaw and release on July 24, 2024.

Experience more Bells Hells with this animated opening sequence from the campaign.

Dr Pepper Reveals Spicy New Flavor Dr Pepper Hot Take

Get ready for a spicy new flavor of Dr Pepper, Dr Pepper Hot Take. A release shares, “Dr Pepper has harnessed the bold and blistering flavor of spicy peppers to create the limited-edition flavor. It’s the iconic Dr Pepper taste fans know and love, but with a zesty, fiery kick.” That’s hot. The flavor is available exclusively through “Pepper Perks” and can either be won in a game of scratch-and-win or purchased for 3,000 points. We must admit, we feel very curious about it.

You think that’s hot? Check out this IRL lightsaber.

Central Perk Coffeehouse, a Modern Take on Friends Location, Now Open in Boston

Our favorite Friends location is coming to life with a modern twist. Central Perk Coffeehouse opened in Boston on November 14. According to People, the “2,600-square-foot venue, a collaboration between Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and CenPer, is filled with Friends-inspired memorabilia and subtle nods to the show’s characters and plot lines. And of course, it features an oversized orange couch. There are also coffee cup sleeves featuring iconic quotes from each of the six Friends.”

This location will be permanent. On its opening day, the cafe honored the late Matthew Perry.

We’ll never forget Chandler Bing or his impact on the TV world.

Originally published on November 17, 2023.

Feature Image: Warner Bros. Discovery

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‘Tis the season to have sweet treats and sprawling feasts on your mind. Whatever holiday you celebrate, it very likely involves some kind of gathering with loved ones. That probably means food—lots of food. Preparing meals for others is one way to express love and gratitude for them. And if you and your festive fellows happen to be Critical Role fans, we have a whole holiday feast menu planned for you. The pages of Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role have piles of recipes inspired by the world of Critical Role. It’s easy to pair dishes for a spread, and we’re happy to share such a meal. This Critical Role holiday feast features Spire by Fire’s Beer-Braised Brisket, Heartmoor Harvest, High Summer Honey Polenta, and Black Moss Cupcakes.

First up, Spire by Fire’s Beer-Braised Brisket.

Spire by Fire’s Beer-Braised Brisket

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

PREP TIME: 20 minutes

COOK TIME: 4 hours 30 minutes

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked

One 4-pound / 1.8kg untrimmed flat-cut beef brisket

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1½ cups / 210g diced yellow onion (from about 1 large onion)

3 large celery ribs, cut into 1½-inch / 2.5cm chunks (about 2 cups / 150g)

2 large carrots, peeled, halved, and cut into 1-inch / 2.5cm chunks (about 2 cups / 230g)

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves (from about 2 sprigs)

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves (from about 10 sprigs)

24 ounces / 710ml beer such as porter, stout, or pale ale (see Note)

2 cups / 475ml unsalted beef stock

One 28-ounce / 794g can crushed tomatoes

2 dried bay leaves

Crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or polenta, for serving (optional)

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 teaspoon of pepper, the garlic powder, and paprika. Pat the brisket dry with paper towels and rub the spice mixture evenly over the entire surface. Transfer to a large plate or baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.

Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 300°F / 150°C. In a large Dutch oven or oven-safe heavy-bottomed pot with a lid, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the brisket and sear until dark brown, 4 to 6 minutes. (It’s okay if the brisket is slightly too large for the pot and the edges come up the sides; it will shrink while cooking.) Flip the brisket and sear on the other side until dark brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a large plate and set aside.

Add the onion to the pot and continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring often, until lightly browned and softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, garlic, rosemary, and thyme and continue cooking, stirring often, until very fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the beer, beef stock, and crushed tomatoes and stir together while scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any brown bits. Return the brisket to the pot, fat side up, and nestle it into the vegetables. Add the bay leaves, cover with a lid, and carefully transfer to the oven. Cook until the meat can easily be torn apart with a fork, 3 to 3½ hours. If the meat still feels tough, cook for an additional 30 minutes and check it again.

Transfer the brisket to a large cutting board and tent with foil. Strain the braising liquid through a fine-mesh strainer and discard the solids. Return the strained braising liquid to the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and reduced by about half, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Thinly slice the brisket against the grain and arrange on a large serving platter. Top the brisket with a few ladles of the braising liquid and serve the remainder on the side. Serve with crusty bread, mashed potatoes, or polenta, if desired.

NOTE: Just about any beer can be used in this recipe. Pale ales will provide a brighter, more hoppy flavor, while darker beers like stouts will give the sauce a richer, more gravy-like flavor. Just avoid using any flavored beers or beers brewed with fruit.

Reprinted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Every entrée needs sides, so how about some High Summer Honey Polenta?

Highsummer Honey Polenta

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOK TIME: 1 hour 15 minutes

4 ears fresh yellow corn, shucked

4 cups / 950ml water

One 14-ounce / 403ml can unsweetened coconut milk

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 tablespoons / 55g unsalted butter

1 cup / 175g coarsely ground yellow polenta

1 large shallot, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

Spicy Citrus Honey (recipe follows), for drizzling

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Cut the kernels away from the corn cobs (about 4 cups / 600g) and set the kernels aside. Use a spoon or the back of a butter knife to scrape the “corn milk” off of the cobs and into a large saucepan. Break the scraped cobs in half and place in the saucepan along with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then lower to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the cobs and discard. Measure out the corn stock; you should have 2½ cups / 590ml. If you have less, add water to get to that amount; if you have more, ladle out the extra stock and reserve to thin out the polenta later (if needed).

Return the corn stock to the saucepan and stir in the coconut milk, 2 teaspoons salt, and several large grinds of black pepper. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally so the coconut milk doesn’t scorch. Slowly whisk in the polenta, then lower the heat slightly to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, whisking frequently, until the polenta is tender and thick, about 20 minutes. If the polenta gets too thick before it is tender, whisk in a little bit of hot water (or extra corn stock if you have it). Whisk in 2 tablespoons of the butter, then remove from the heat. Cover the saucepan with a lid to keep the polenta warm and set aside.

In a large skillet set over just below medium-high heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the reserved corn kernels, season with salt and pepper, and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until the corn is crisp-tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

Stir half of the sautéed corn into the hot polenta and season with additional salt and pepper. If needed, adjust the consistency of the polenta with additional hot water (or corn stock if you have it). It should be thick but pourable. Divide the polenta among four to six bowls, then top with the remaining sautéed corn, drizzle with some Spicy Citrus Honey, and garnish with the scallions. Serve immediately.

SPICY CITRUS HONEY

MAKES ABOUT 1 CUP / 240ML

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOK TIME: 20 minutes

1 to 3 (depending on your spice preference) Fresno chiles, thinly sliced

3 long strips of orange rind (4 to 5 inches / 10 to 13cm long)

¾ cup / 175ml clover honey

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the chiles, orange rind, and honey and slowly bring almost to a simmer, swirling the saucepan occasionally. This should take close to 20 minutes (if not longer, depending on your stovetop). Once it comes to almost a simmer, immediately remove from the heat and cool the infused honey completely in the saucepan at room temperature. Transfer to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Reprinted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Let’s not forget our greens!

Heartmoor Harvest

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS

PREP TIME: 25 minutes

COOK TIME: 25 minutes

1½ pounds / 680g small blue potatoes, scrubbed (see Notes)

½ cup / 120ml extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 cups / 480g multicolored cherry tomatoes, halved

⅓ cup / 80ml white wine vinegar

1 small bunch radishes with nice green leafy tops (see Notes)

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons honey

 ½ cup / 10g fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, lightly packed

1 cup / 15g torn fresh dill

1 ounce / 30g shaved Parmesan cheese (about ¾ cup)

2 cups / 40g baby arugula, lightly packed

Preheat the oven to 425°F / 220°C.

In a large bowl, combine the blue potatoes and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, then spread the potatoes out on a small rimmed baking sheet (reserve the bowl). Roast in the oven until the potatoes are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes, stirring the potatoes once halfway through the cooking time. Let the potatoes cool slightly.

Meanwhile, in the same bowl that you used to season the potatoes, combine the cherry tomatoes, 2 tablespoons of the vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature while the potatoes roast, about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Cut away the green tops from the radishes. Hand-tear the leaves into large pieces and set aside. Thinly slice half of the radishes and cut the other half into small wedges. Set aside, keeping the green tops and cut radishes separate.

Use a slotted spoon to scoop the marinated tomatoes into a medium bowl, then pour the marinade into a blender. Add one-fourth of the marinated tomatoes and the mustard, honey, and remaining 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and blend until smooth. Remove the cap from the blender lid and with the blender running at low speed, slowly drizzle in the remaining 5 tablespoons of olive oil. The dressing should have the consistency of a creamy vinaigrette that drizzles easily off the back of a spoon. If it is too thick, add a splash or two of water and blend it again.

In the same large bowl that the tomatoes were marinated in, combine the roasted potatoes, radish slices and wedges, and the remaining marinated tomatoes. Toss gently to combine. Reserve a bit of the parsley, dill, and Parmesan cheese to use for a garnish, then add the rest to the bowl along with the baby arugula and radish greens. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss to combine. Transfer half of the salad to a large platter and drizzle with some of the tomato vinaigrette. Top with the remaining salad and drizzle with more of the tomato vinaigrette. Garnish with the reserved parsley, dill, and Parmesan. Serve immediately with any extra vinaigrette on the side.

NOTES: Small blue potatoes work well in this salad because they resemble small stones, but you can substitute red-skinned or baby Yukon Gold potatoes if needed. If your potatoes are on the larger side, slice them in half before you roast them.

If your radishes do not have nice green leafy tops, you can substitute 11/2 cups / 30g of additional baby arugula instead.

If you have any leftover vinaigrette, transfer it to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reprinted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Last but not least, it’s time for dessert!

Black Moss Cupcakes

MAKES 12 CUPCAKES

PREP TIME: 30 minutes

COOK TIME: 20 minutes

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

1 cup / 140g all-purpose flour

¾ cup / 150g granulated sugar

⅓ cup / 25g unsweetened natural cocoa powder

¾ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 large egg

⅔ cup / 80ml whole milk

⅓ cup / 80g sour cream

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 or 3 drops black food coloring (optional)

Chocolate-Matcha Frosting

4 tablespoons / 55g unsalted butter, softened

2 ounces / 55g full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature

1⅓ cups / 160g confectioners’ sugar

¼ cup / 20g unsweetened natural cocoa powder

½ teaspoon matcha powder

1 tablespoon whole milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pinch of kosher salt

Moss Cookie Crunchies

¾ cup / 40g vanilla wafer cookies such as Nilla Wafers

1½ teaspoons light brown sugar

1½ teaspoons matcha powder

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

To make the dark chocolate cupcakes: Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 325°F / 165°C. Line the cups of a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a second large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, sour cream, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and black food coloring (if using) until no streaks of egg yolk remain. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix with a rubber spatula just until a smooth batter forms and no pockets of dry flour remain.

Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full. Bake, rotating the pan front to back halfway through baking, 16 to 19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let cool slightly, then transfer the cupcakes onto a cooling rack and let cool completely.

To make the chocolate-matcha frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, matcha powder, milk, vanilla, and salt. (Alternatively, use a large mixing bowl and electric handheld mixer.) Mix on low speed just until the ingredients are combined, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, 1½ to 2½ minutes. Transfer the frosting into a large piping bag fitted with a straight tip, or a zip-top bag with one corner snipped off.

To make the moss cookie crunchies: Place the vanilla wafer cookies in the bowl of a food processor and process until they are the texture of fine sand, 15 to 25 seconds. (Alternatively, place the cookies in a large zip top bag and smash with a rolling pin or skillet.) Transfer the crushed cookies to a large mixing bowl and add the brown sugar and matcha powder. Toss until the cookie crumbs are evenly coated in the matcha powder. Add the melted butter and mix, using your hands, until the crumbs are evenly moistened. Frost the cupcakes by piping an even, generous layer of frosting on top of each. Working with one cupcake at a time, invert the cupcake and gently press the frosted top into the bowl of cookie crunchies, rotating so the moss sticks to the sides of the frosting, until the top is evenly coated. Repeat this process with the remaining cupcakes.

Adapted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Make this feast and many others inspired by the world of Critical Role. Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role is available now from wherever you buy books.

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The Halloween 2023 episode of Critical Role brought joy to the hearts of many fans, as it featured a brand new title sequence. Fans were surprised to see the Bells Hells adventuring party, now rendered in stunning animation. We learned (via Comic Book Resources) that the new title sequence paid homage in different ways to each of the character’s backstories, and had shout-outs to current campaigns. You can watch the full title sequence for the Halloween episode of Critical Role below. After the title sequence ends, you can see the Critical Role cast actually react to seeing it for the first time.

In this year’s Halloween episode, the Critical Role cast wore costumes based on the Lord of the Rings characters. In the actual episode, we witnessed the Bells Hells return to Whitestone. There, they crossed paths with several iconic Vox Machina characters. The special animated credits came courtesy of Kamille Areopagita, Kevin Areopagita, Mark Adams, and Peggy Shi. Critical Role’s Mighty Nein campaign also showcased a fan-favorite animated intro. And ever since, Critical Role fans have wanted to see the Bells Hells get some animated love too. And now, their wish has come true.

This latest version of Campaign 3’s opening title sequence is the third one overall. And so far, every version has had the theme song “It’s Thursday Night,” sung by the cast, in some form. One version of Campaign 3’s opening introduction had the cast dressing up as explorers. Versions without all the fantasy trappings. Meanwhile, another had Bells Hells rotoscoped in watercolor style. We highly doubt the Halloween episode of Critical Role is the last time we’ll see an animated opening sequence. The Bells Hells will return in both their animated and live-action character forms on Thursdays in November at 7 PT, on Twitch and YouTube.

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Critical Role launched its original horror tabletop roleplaying game Candela Obscura in May. The story, set in the Fairelands, centered on an order of investigators solving otherworldly mysteries. To go with the first chapter, Critical Role’s publishing arm, Darrington Press, released a Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide so everyone can get into the world and play. And now might be an excellent time to dig in, because Critical Role just released the trailer for Candela Obscura‘s second chapter, “The Circle of Needle and Thread.” The footage teases an intense story.

The gothic horror will continue later in August. The description for the trailer says:

The fight against the otherworldly evils plaguing The Fairelands shall continue with a new three episode chapter that includes a new circle, a new gamemaster, and a whole new set of magickal foes.

This chapter of Candela Obscura will include investigators Travis Willingham, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Zehra Fazal, Luis Carazo, and Marisha Ray, alongside our Gamemaster and lead designer for Candela Obscura, Spenser Starke. Taliesin Jaffe will also be returning to continue his role as our Lightkeeper.

Candela Obscura‘s second chapter premieres on August 31 at 7pm Pacific on Critical Role’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Select Cinemark theaters in the US will simulcast the show live. The second chapter has three episodes and will air on the last Thursday of the month. The VOD and podcast versions of the episode will be available two weeks after the premiere.

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You never know who, or what, you’ll meet in Exandria. Maybe a fearsome creature. Perhaps a shady noble. Or if you’re lucky, the Shadow Baker. The Critical Role elf pastry baker, whose name is actually Ephred, is wildly charismatic and smells of baked goods. He keeps a number of pastry options tucked away in the inner pockets of his cloak. Give this strong connection to food, it was probably a given that Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role would include a Shadow Baker recipe. We have an exclusive peek at the Shadow Baker’s pocket muffins and blackberry compound butter. We’re drooling.

Introduced in Critical Role‘s third campaign, the Shadow Baker is an NPC voiced by Matthew Mercer. This recipe is just one of 60 from the book. The Official Cookbook of Critical Role is written by Liz Marsham with recipes by Jesse Szewczyk, Susan Vu, and Amanda Yee, and a foreword by Quyen Tran and Sam Riegel. In its pages you’ll find food and drinks from across Exandria.

Muffins of the Shadow Baker

The Lantern Spire is the first stop for many visitors to Jrusar, being the only way into the city on foot. Once there, you’ll find crowded streets winding up and around the spire toward the ever-burning light of the Prakash Pyre that gives the spire its name. If you ignore those streets, though, and find a way inside the spire, you could find yourself at the Elder’s Post grey market.* If you are lucky, you might come across Ephred, the master pastry chef known as the Shadow Baker. And if you are very lucky, the pockets of his cloak might still contain some delightful treats to buy.

Few among us are so lucky,** so we have attempted to re-create two of the Shadow Baker’s muffins for the home cook. Beginning with the same batter, they then diverge into savory and sweet options. The savory muffin has sausage and potato, while the sweet is topped with cinnamon sugar crumble and served with the Shadow Baker’s signature blackberry citrus butter.

*You could also find yourself extremely disoriented or extremely robbed. Proceed with caution.

**But if you are, please say hi for us! We are big Shadow Baker fans here at Exquisite Exandria.

Shadow Baker’s Pocket Muffins

MAKES 24 MUFFINS
PREP TIME: 40 minutes
COOK TIME: 25 minutes

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
½ cup / 70g flour
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g cold unsalted butter, grated
¼ cup / 50g packed light brown sugar
¼ cup / 50g granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Corn Muffin Batter
1 cup / 140g all-purpose flour
1 cup / 140g fine-grain cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup / 240ml buttermilk
2 eggs
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g unsalted butter, melted
⅓ cup / 65g granulated sugar

Savory Breakfast Muffins
4 ounces / 115g breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
8 small purple potatoes, small diced and parboiled (see Note)
1 cup / 128g shredded Cheddar cheese
Blackberry Compound Butter (recipe follows), for serving

Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C and line two twelve-cup muffin pans with muffin liners.

To make the cinnamon and brown sugar streusel topping: In a medium bowl, add the flour, grated butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Using your hands, scrunch the ingredients together until crumbles form. Do not scrunch too long, or the butter will melt. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Prepare the corn muffin batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and granulated sugar until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and stir until a thick batter forms.

Scoop half of the batter evenly into 12 of the muffin liners and top with the streusel.

To make the Savory Breakfast Muffins: Mix the sausage, potatoes, and ½ cup of the shredded cheese into the remaining corn batter and scoop into the remaining 12 muffin liners. Top these savory muffins with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the batter is completely cooked and the cheese is brown and bubbly around the edges of the savory muffins. Serve the muffins with the Blackberry Compound Butter alongside.

NOTE: To parboil potatoes, boil them in salted water until they are no longer crunchy, but still a bit firm in the center, 5 to 6 minutes.

Blackberry Compound Butter
MAKES ½ CUP
½ cup (1 stick) / 113g unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoons blackberry jam
Zest of 1 small orange

To make the blackberry compound butter: While the muffins are cooking, add the butter, blackberry jam, and orange zest to a small bowl. Using an electric or handheld mixer, mix on low until well incorporated and the butter takes on a purplish hue, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small serving dish and serve with the streusel muffins.

Reprinted from Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role. © 2023 by Gilmore’s Glorious Goods LLC. Published by Random House Worlds, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

Illustration by Adrián Ibarra Lugo.

Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role arrives on shelves on August 29. You can place a preorder now.

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Intimidating and powerful, the sphinx Osysa had quite the run-in with Vox Machina in season two of The Legend of Vox Machina. Based on Critical Role‘s first campaign, the show follows the unlikely group of adventurers as they quest around Exandria. Osysa puts the heroes to the test, but she eventually sets them on an interesting path. And when Vox Machina encounters Osysa’s mate, Kamaljiori, Scanlan plays him a song about Osysa. Listen to the exclusive track premiere of “Song for Osysa” from The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 2 Soundtrack below.

Sam Riegel (Scanlan) performs with Alanna Ubach (Osysa) and Mr. Fantastic. It’s a beautiful song—a rare one from Scanlan that doesn’t turn into something more ribald.

The album features the score by Neal Acree along with several Scanlan originals. Riegel said in a statement:

Season Two of The Legend of Vox Machina took everything to the next level – so we knew the music had to match. From wild road songs to epic love ballads and face-melting thrash metal, the Scanlan tracks were so much fun to write. And I’m so happy we got to include vocals from other members of the cast. Turns out Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, and even Travis Willingham can sing!

The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 2 Soundtrack track list is as follows:

1. Lemme Catch You Up – Sam Riegel, Mr. Fantastic
2. Dragonfall – Neal Acree
3. The Fall of Emon – Neal Acree
4. To Vasselheim – Neal Acree
5. The Wrath of the Chroma Conclave – Neal Acree
6. The Outhouse (End Credits) – Sam Riegel, Mr. Fantastic
7. Vasselheim – Neal Acree
8. Temple of the Stormlord – Neal Acree
9. The Slayer’s Take – Neal Acree
10. Where Do You Find Your Strength? – Neal Acree
11. Makin’ My Way – Sam Riegel, Ashley Johnson, Mr. Fantastic
12. Do Not Go Far From Me – Neal Acree
13. The Matron of Ravens – Neal Acree
14. Hail The New Champion – Neal Acree
15. Road, Road – Ashley Johnson, Travis Willingham
16. Wind – Neal Acree
17. Pass Through Fire – Neal Acree
18. The Blessing of Pyrah – Neal Acree
19. Song For Osysa – Sam Riegel, Alanna Ubach, Mr. Fantastic
20. Song For Osysa (End Credits) – Mr. Fantastic
21. Spore Trip – Neal Acree
22. The Herd of Storms – Neal Acree
23. I Would Like To Rage – Neal Acree
24. We All Rage – Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, Mr. Fantastic
25. Finishing Move – Neal Acree
26. Strongjaw – Neal Acree
27. When The Bald Man Cries (End Credits) – Sam Riegel, Aisling Franciosi, Mr. Fantastic
28. Leia – Neal Acree
29. Threads of Fate – Neal Acree
30. Lightning In Your Face! – Sam Riegel, Mr. Fantastic
31. Leap of Faith – Neal Acree
32. The Hope Devourer – Neal Acree
33. Scanlan’s Destiny – Neal Acree
34. Epilogue – Neal Acree
35. Makin’ My Way (End Credits) – Laura Bailey, Mr. Fantastic

The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 2 Soundtrack is available digitally on June 2 from Lakeshore Records.

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Critical Role is branching into a new, spooky direction. The company announced an original horror tabletop roleplaying game: Candela Obscura. Premiering at the end of May, the game brings together investigators with a mission. Running on Darrington Press’ (Critical Role’s publishing arm) Illuminated Worlds System, Candela Obscura has a cast full of your favorites. Watch the trailer:

Created by Taliesin Jaffe and Chris Lockey, with Spenser Starke and Rowan Hall serving as lead designers and writers, and Steve Failows and Maxwell James as producers, Candela Obscura is a new ongoing show. Critical Role keeps bringing us different settings to explore, and we’re not mad about it. Related, they’ve shared a free Candela Obscura Quickstart Guide. You can download everything as PDFs (the full rulebook will be out later this year). The system is built on 6-sided dice and focuses on “narrative, arc-driven play.”

Candela Obscura‘s synopsis is as follows:

Set in a fictional turn-of-the-century inspired region known as the Fairelands, Candela Obscura follows an esoteric order of investigators as they use centuries of knowledge to fight back against a mysterious source of corruption and bleed. At the beginning of each episode, an inciting incident occurs, prompting a team (or “circle”) of investigators to uncover and solve the mystery at hand. The general public is unaware of the otherworldly truths of these paranormal phenomena, and the organization known as Candela Obscura works to maintain that secrecy and keep the world safe.

The cast includes Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, Robbie Daymond, and Anjali Bhimani. Matthew Mercer joins as the first chapter’s game master. The first chapter of Candela Obscura premieres on May 25 at 7:00 p.m. PT. You can watch it on Critical Role’s Twitch and YouTube channels. New episodes will drop on the last Thursday of the month.

Originally published on May 9, 2023.

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Darrington Press, the publishing arm of Critical Role, previewed its 2023 projects on Thursday. In its first “State of the Press” update, Matthew Mercer and Mica Burton announced Darrington Press will be at Gen Con in August. There, the company will have playable demos for its three new titles. Those new Darrington Press games include a deck-building board game and two RPG systems. While Critical Role mostly spends its time in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the company’s Darrington Press imprint continues to explore and invent in the world of tabletop games.

Darrington Press’ announcements include Queen by Midnight, Illuminated Worlds, and Daggerheart. Here’s what we know about each game:

Queen by Midnight

Launching this summer in the Critical Role shops, Darrington Press Guild stores, and other friendly local game stores, Queen by Midnight is a battle royale deck-building game by Kyle Shire, where you play as powerful princesses battling it out in a magical free for all! When the clock strikes midnight, the most powerful princess left standing will be crowned the next Midnight Queen. Each princess has their own unique vibe and playstyle, so there’s a little something for everyone, whether you’re familiar with deck-building games or not.

Illuminated Worlds

Created by Stras Ascimovic and Layla Alderman, the Illuminated Worlds System is a d6 dice pool and is designed for much shorter, arc-driven campaigns and flexible enough to be used with any type of setting. More information on Illuminated Worlds will be available soon.

Daggerheart

A fun and fresh update to the fantasy genre of RPGs, Daggerheart has been designed for long-term campaign play and character progression. More information on Daggerheart will be made at a later date.

I’m particularly excited about Daggerheart, even with scant details. Illuminated World intrigues me, too. I know long campaigns aren’t for everyone’s schedules. It sounds like this system could be an excellent option for those short on free time.

Keep an eye on Darrington Press for further updates on these new games and previously announced titles.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves overflows with many things: adventure, magic, and several Easter eggs. One of our favorite Easter eggs—in addition to the adventuring group dressed like the classic D&D cartoon characters—is a subtle Critical Role reference. When Edgin (Chris Pine) and Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) locate the sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith), Simon is performing his magic tricks for an audience. His tricks don’t exactly impress, but he performs as a distraction so he can steal from the audience. That’s where the Critical Role Easter egg comes in.

Simon throws out some sensory effects in an effort to keep the crowd’s attention. One of them is making the air smell like fresh cut grass. And yes, that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves moment is a nod (and quite the clever Easter egg) to the character Fresh Cut Grass in Critical Role. Sam Riegel voices Fresh Cut Grass, a.k.a. FCG, in Critical Role‘s currently airing third campaign. Fresh Cut Grass is an aeormaton (robot) cleric. His one-time associate bestowed the name Fresh Cut Grass upon him because she named all her creations after her favorite smells.

Riegel himself confirmed the connection to his character on TikTok. I love that the Dungeons & Dragons movie included a Critical Role Easter egg. I love it even more for not being super obvious. And for it to be a nod to FCG, maybe my favorite member of Bells Hells? Perfection.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is playing in theaters now.

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Roleplaying tips abound in Critical Role. If you’ve seen every episode, or only one, then you’ve witnessed myriad roleplay techniques, whether you noticed them or not. So if you enjoy immersing yourself into the heart and soul of your Dungeons & Dragons characters, or if you want to learn how to do so, here are some Critical Role-inspired D&D roleplaying tips just for you.

Detail Your Character

Giving your character plenty of details is an important way of bolstering your roleplaying. Adding details, from the obvious physical ones to the private cerebral ones, will build a solid base from which your character can grow. The 5th edition D&D Player’s Handbook puts it this way: “Your character is a combination of game statistics, roleplaying hooks, and your imagination… [you] invent the personality, appearance, and backstory of your character.”

A sterling example is Vox Machina’s backstory and development. Each is an example of how characters are so much more than race, class, a list of stats, or a walking pile of weapons and equipment. Think about your personal characteristics and how they present in your daily life. Now, think about how you want your in-game avatar to experience and affect the world. Give them characteristics that will allow them to do that.

Play Your Character

As mentioned earlier, your character as a whole is greater than the sum of its individual characteristics or pieces of equipment. However, those things are all still a vital part of your character. Make sure you play them in game to fully support and reflect your character’s personality, both in and out of combat.

For example, think about Vax’ildan’s signature attack involving his Boots of Haste combined with his daggers. Average pieces of equipment, for the most part. Yet, how integrated with Vax has this simple attack method become? So much so that it has its own catchphrase: “Dagger, dagger, dagger.” I’ve been playing D&D many years, in hundreds of games with hundreds of other people, and I’ve never heard “dagger, dagger, dagger” used. Liam O’Brien does it with such flair, that I will forever associate that phrase with Vax, and no one else. That, folks, is how you play your character.

Interact

As much as D&D is a roleplaying game, it is also a game of interactive storytelling, which raises the experience to another level. The 5th edition Player’s Handbook describes these interactions neatly under the phrase “social interactions” (pg. 185), and categorizes them into two styles: descriptive approach and active approach.

Descriptive approach is when “you describe your character’s words and actions to the DM and the other players.” Active approach is when “you speak with your character’s voice, like an actor taking on a role,” even going so far as to physically display “your character’s movements and body language.”

My favorite Critical Role example of interacting can be found in “Episode 14: Shopping and Shipping.” This episode is highly notable for its top quality interactive roleplaying, but also shows that D&D can be hella fun even without getting into combat. Oh, and Vox Machina make a trip to Gilmore’s Glorious Goods. Gilmore!

Role the Dice

Yes, “role” the dice. Three participants make up a standard D&D game: the DM, the players, and the dice. The dice have as great a part to play in the interactive storytelling as the DM and players do.

So what does “role” the dice mean? It’s the difference between saying “you take 10 HP damage” and saying “you take 10 HP damage as the kobold deftly finds an opening in your defense, surprising you with a sword cut to the ribs.”

Critical Role DM Matthew Mercer does this exceptionally well. The best example comes with that phrase we all know and love, “How do you wanna do this?” Instead of merely spouting a bunch of combat numbers and ending at that, he instead gives the last die roll over to the player and has them roleplay how their chracter ends a fight. That is powerful stuff, my friends.

Avid Critical Role watchers may have also witnessed how much importance Mercer gives to role-ing the dice. More than a few times he has rolled a die on some critical event, and then Instagrammed a photo of that die roll. That act shows tremendous honesty, and also shows the value he places on letting die rolls have their role in game.

And if you need more convincing, click over and watch the ritual skill challenge (starting at 4:19:45) Mercer puts Vox Machina through in “Episode 44: The Sunken Tomb,” as they attempt to save a fallen Vex. That is, if you can bring yourself to experience the feels again.

Let It Flow

Finally, don’t try to force your roleplaying into play. Allow it to develop and flow with the game, and as you interact with your fellow players. Vox Machina were a D&D group for years, even before Critical Role. And they, have been real life friends for many years more than that. They know each other very well, both as people and as players. The quality of interactive roleplaying they have together has been nourished and grown over those years. Don’t compare yourself to them!

Originally published on June 14, 2016.

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Player resurrection in the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition typically comes in the form of a few spells. Revivify, Resurrection, and Raise Dead are just some of the options for bringing a fallen player character back to life. These spells, however, cost money and components to cast. As players advance, many adventurers find death doesn’t hold the same fear or meaning when there are quick spells to bring them back to life. Critical Role does something different with resurrection.

Critical Role Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer modified 5th Edition’s basic spells with optional and adjustable rules to give death more meaning in the narrative. With these modified rules, a player’s allies play a much more important role in bringing them back from the afterlife. There’s even a chance their efforts may be unsuccessful. And for each successful return to life, the DC (difficulty class) for subsequent resurrections increases by 1.

You can increase the DC in the rules below by 2 instead of just 1 for every successful attempt if you want to add even more challenge to your campaign. But, Mercer warned on Reddit, an increase of 2 may punish low level players. “With many games involving death often at lower levels, it could easily become too daunting,” says Mercer.

Here are the additional Critical Role resurrection rules, written in full by Matthew Mercer, for use in your own Dungeons & Dragons or other roleplaying campaign.

The Fading Spirit – Alternative Resurrection Rules

Character death can often prove to become a minor inconvenience in some campaigns once the adventuring party reaches a certain level, with spells being available to return fallen comrades from the afterlife with temporary setbacks, robbing a small element of danger, and threat to future conflicts and challenges within the story. If you wish to elevate the gravity of character death, you can introduce this optional rule.

If a character is dead, and a resurrection is attempted by a spell or spell effect with longer than a 1 action casting time, a Resurrection Challenge is initiated. Up to three members of the adventuring party can offer to contribute to the ritual via a Contribution Skill Check. The DM asks them each to make a skill check based on their form of contribution, with the DC of the check adjusting to how helpful/impactful the DM feels the contribution would be.

For example, praying to the god of the devout, fallen character may require an Intelligence (Religion) check at an easy to medium difficulty, where loudly demanding the soul of the fallen to return from the aether may require a Charisma (Intimidation) check at a very hard or nearly impossible difficulty. Advantage and disadvantage can apply here based on how perfect, or off base, the contribution offered is.

After all contributions are completed, the DM then rolls a single, final Resurrection success check with no modifier. The base DC for the final resurrection check is 10, increasing by 1 for each previous successful resurrection the character has undergone (signifying the slow erosion of the soul’s connection to this world). For each successful contribution skill check, this DC is decreased by 3, whereas each failed contribution skill check increases the DC by 1.

Upon a successful resurrection check, the player’s soul (should it be willing) will be returned to the body, and the ritual succeeded. On a failed check, the soul does not return and the character is lost.

Only the strongest of magical incantations can bypass this resurrection challenge, in the form of the True Resurrection or Wish spells. These spells can also restore a character to life who was lost due to a failed resurrection ritual.

If a spell with a casting time of 1 action is used to attempt to restore life (via the Revivify spell or similar effects), no contribution skill checks are allowed. The character casting the spell makes a Rapid Resurrection check, rolling a d20 and adding their spellcasting ability modifier. The DC is 10, increasing by 1 for each previous successful resurrection the character has undergone. On a failure, the character’s soul is not lost, but the resurrection fails and increases any future Resurrection checks’ DC by 1. No further attempts can be made to restore this character to life until a resurrection spell with a casting time higher than 1 action is attempted.

Originally published on February 1, 2017.

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The Legend of Vox Machina, based on Critical Role‘s first campaign, recently premiered its second season on Prime Video. The animated series already has season three in the works, too. And soon, more Critical Role content will join it. Amazon Studios announced today that it has entered a multiyear exclusive overall television and first-look film deal with Critical Role. The first project under this agreement is Mighty Nein. The animated series will adapt Critical Role‘s wildly popular second campaign.

Mighty Nein features the Critical Role cast as a new group of adventurers. According to Amazon, it follows: “a group of criminals and misfits who are the only ones that can prevent the kingdom from plunging into chaos when an arcane artifact capable of reshaping reality falls into the wrong hands.”

In the campaign, the cast was as follows:

• Laura Bailey – Jester Lavorre
• Taliesin Jaffe – Mollymauk “Molly” Tealeaf
• Ashley Johnson – Yasha Nydoorin
• Liam O’Brien – Caleb Widogast
• Marisha Ray – Beauregard “Beau” Lionett
• Travis Willingham – Fjord
• Sam Riegel – Nott the Brave and Veth Brenatto

They’ll begin production soon and Mighty Nein will premiere on Prime Video. Executive producers include Tasha Huo, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham alongside Metapigeon and Amazon Studios. Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Antonio Canobbio, and Ben Kalina at Titmouse will also executive produce.

As for the overall deal, it will see Critical Role develop original TV series, films, and content. Their production company, Metapigeon, will also work with creatives on new projects in and outside of the Critical Role universe, too.

Travis Willingham, co-founder and CEO of Critical Role said in a statement.

Critical Role‘s livestream campaigns are the spark that lit the flame for our worldwide audience. Seeing the stories and characters from our first campaign come to life in The Legend of Vox Machina was a dream realized, and we are absolutely buzzing with excitement to do it again with Mighty Nein. But with today’s announcement, we’re confident that the stories we tell will keep expanding into realms of entertainment beyond what we can even imagine.

Until we get Mighty Nein, catch new episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina on Fridays on Prime Video.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Editor-in-Chief for Nerdist and the author of Star Wars: Women of the Galaxy, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, The Jedi Mind, and more. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Critical Role has explored several corners of Exandria in its campaigns. The world Matt Mercer created for his Dungeons & Dragons games has grown and expanded over the years. Exandria has a rich history, full of juicy worldbuilding details and entertaining NPCs. And now Critical Role has announced a mini-series that will bring even more to the table: Exandria Unlimited: Calamity. This four-part mini-series goes back in time and takes place during the final moments of the Age of Arcanum. The trailer hints at what’s ahead.

Exandria Unlimited: Calamity‘s synopsis adds to the excitement.

Game Master Brennan Lee Mulligan guides players Luis Carazo, Aabria Iyengar, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Travis Willingham, and Lou Wilson as six distinguished heroes from the Age of Arcanum uncover an insidious corruption beneath a city that they’ve sworn to protect. This is a story where Exandria’s greatest heroes could not – or would not – see the truth before it was too late… as an inevitable CALAMITY nears.

That all sounds quite dramatic. As the second age of Exandria, the Age of Arcanum is set about 1,500 years before the events of Critical Role. So they’re digging way back into the world’s past. Legends about this era speak of a battle whose effects mark Exandria to this very day. So, we can’t wait to see what this exploration uncovers and we also can’t wait to meet this new group of heroes. Even if it does mean taking a little time away from Critical Role‘s currently ongoing third campaign.

Exandria Unlimited: Calamity is a four part mini-series. It premieres on May 26 at 7:00 p.m. PT on Twitch and YouTube. Subsequent episodes will air weekly on Thursdays.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Stephen Colbert and the Critical Role cast headed on another adventure together. The Late Show host joined the show for a special Red Nose Day Dungeons & Dragons campaign; Red Nose Day is a campaign fighting child poverty. The one-shot is titled Choose Stephen Colbert’s Adventure… Again. The talk show host previously joined Dungeon Master Matt Mercer for a one-on-one adventure back in 2019. That, too, for Red Nose Day. But for their latest campaign, other Critical Role cast members will join Colbert and Mercer. And like the last time Colbert and Critical Role united in the name of charity, donors picked various aspects of the adventure.

While the one-shot debuted on April 28 on Critical Role‘s Twitch channel, the full thing is available to watch on YouTube.

The newest one-shot, called Dignity, saw Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, and Sam Riegel join Mercer and Colbert. Throughout the last week of March, fans donating to Critical Role‘s Red Nose Day fundraiser answered poll questions. The winning answer from each poll question dictated an aspect of the one-shot, like Colbert’s familiar, a magical item, and even a spell that might help him out of a tricky situation.

Colbert’s first foray into the world of Critical Role for the previous Red Nose Day was a delight. During the nearly hour-long adventure, Mercer guided Colbert through the Menagerie Coast in Wildemount. Mercer and Colbert reminisced about their Dungeons & Dragons journeys along the way. And it was a bit of a coming home for Colbert, who shared that he hadn’t played in decades but played regularly through his teens and early twenties. In fact, he embarked on his first campaign back in 1977.

We love seeing Colbert boast about his D&D cred. After all, he is a D&D OG. He attended Gen Con when The Dungeon Master’s Guide released in 1979 and walked away with a Gary Gygax-signed copy. (Which he may have stolen from a friend.) Given how much fun it was seeing Colbert play with Mercer the first time, we loved seeing him with even more of the Critical Role crew. Here’s hoping this isn’t their last adventure.

As of this posting, the Critical Role Foundation’s Red Nose Day campaign has raised $191,000. You can donate here.

Originally published on March 23, 2022.

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Raise your hand if you miss Prime Video’s The Legend of the Vox Machina. My hand is definitely up. The animated series that brings adventures from Critical Role to the screen in an all-new way wrapped its first season on February 18. And we will get a second season with more episodes soon. But until then, it’s easy to get your Vox Machina fix. Critical Role has hours upon hours of videos. As someone just falling into this fandom, I immediately wanted more. Luckily, the rabbit hole stretches on and on. The cast of Critical Role is currently playing their third campaign. The Vox Machina campaign alone has over 100 episodes. So if you’re wondering how to get more of Vox Machina, here’s where to watch those Critical Role episodes.

Critical Role started as a group of voice actor friends playing Dungeons & Dragons. Geek & Sundry started streaming their gameplay in 2015. The group was in the midst of playing their first campaign at the time. That first campaign featured the heroic group known as Vox Machina that we see in the animated series: Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey), Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brien), Keyleth (Marisha Ray), Pike (Ashley Johnson), Grog (Travis Willingham), Percy (Taliesin Jaffe), and Scanlan (Sam Riegel). Matthew Mercer ran the game (and runs all the Critical Role games).

Though it’s not tied directly to the plot of The Legend of Vox Machina (aside from featuring the characters), I recommend watching the very first streamed session to kick things off.

I’m slowly working my way through the campaign in order because I’m a completionist. This playlist on Geek & Sundry‘s YouTube collects all of Critical Role‘s Vox Machina campaign. If you’d like to dip into right into The Legend of Vox Machina finale and watch the session with the Briarwoods and the wild ziggurat situation, here you go:

You can also take in episodes leading to that finale with “The Path to Whitestone” and “The Sun Tree.” But truly, the Briarwoods have a large role in the first campaign. Remember they’re adapting 22 minute episodes from dozens (hundreds, really) hours of gameplay. So if you just want more time with the Vox Machina crew and need to hear more of Scanlan’s songs and feel more of Grog and Pike’s adorable friendship, start working through the playlist for the Vox Machina campaign. When you’re ready to dive into even more Critical Role or if you want to jump ahead to the third campaign, visit their YouTube channel.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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You never know who Vox Machina will run into next. The animated series based on Critical Role puts the adventuring, mischievous group front and center. And as the heroes investigate mysteries and go on adventures, they stumble into all kinds of characters. Also, they always find drama. Always. It’s a remarkable talent. Anyway! Nerdist has an exclusive clip from episode seven of The Legend of Vox Machina, “Scanbo,” featuring Archibald Desnay. None other than Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings, Lost) voices the character.

Archibald seems happy to see a de Rolo back in Whitestone. He all but agrees to help Percy rescue his sister Cassandra. Plus he seems optimistic about Whitestone becoming a livable town once again. The episode’s official synopsis says:

As Vox Machina discovers more about a revenge pact Percy made years ago, Keyleth tries to magically connect with the Sun Tree. She senses its pain as well as a dark force deep below the city of Whitestone. Feeling underappreciated, Scanlan volunteers to infiltrate Duke Vedmire’s mansion as a distraction while Vox Machina attempts to rescue Percy’s sister Cassandra.

I’m sure it will all go exactly to plan. Nothing ever goes wrong when Vox Machina crafts an intricate plot. And none of the members ever get distracted.

Monaghan isn’t the only performer lending a voice to The Legend of Vox Machina for a guest role. The series has guest stars such as Tony Hale, David Tennant, Stephanie Beatriz, and many more. If you’re wondering about those voices and more Easter eggs, be sure to to watch Dan Casey break down all the details on Nerdist News.

New episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina arrive on Prime Video on Fridays.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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Start preparing for an adventure because with the Critical Role crew, you never know what endearing shenanigans are to come. And things are about to get animated big time in The Legend of Vox Machina. The upcoming Critical Role animated series for Prime Video is just a month away. The official red band trailer is nothing short of a delight.

The series is based on the Critical Role’s first live-streamed RPG campaign back in 2015. In 2019, the group launched a Kickstarter to make a 22-minute animated special based on the Vox Machina adventures. Critical met their backing goal in minutes and later expanded the special into a 10-episode season. When Amazon Studios got on board, they expanded it even further. So now we have 24 episodes of The Legend of Vox Machina to look forward to. The episodes are divided into two 12-episode seasons. And the first season drops in just a few weeks.

Here’s the synopsis from Prime Video:

The Legend of Vox Machina is an animated fantasy-adventure series for adults that follows Vox Machina, a band of misfits with a fondness for boozing and brawling. In a desperate attempt to pay off their mounting bar tab, these unlikely heroes end up on a quest to save the realm of Exandria from dark magical forces. From a sinister necromancer to a powerful curse, the group confronts a variety of obstacles that not only test their skills, but also the strength of their bond.

Naturally, it wouldn’t be a Critical Role project without its beloved creators and cast. Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham all reprise their roles for Vox Machina and serve as executive producers. Brandon Auman, Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, and Ben Kalina are also executive producing.

Plus, the series has a stacked guest voice cast:

• Stephanie Beatriz as Lady Kima
• Anjali Bhimani as Head Cleric
• Eugene Byrd as Jarrett
• Esmé Creed-Miles as Cassandra de Rolo
• Felicia Day as Captain of Emon
• Darin De Paul as Kerrion Stonefell
• Grey Griffin as Delilah Briarwood
• Tony Hale as Sir Fince
• Bobby Hall aka Logic as Palace Guard
• Kelly Hu as Dr. Anna Ripley
• Sunil Malhotra as Gilmore
• Rory McCann as Duke Vedmire
• Max Mittelman as Desmond
• Dominic Monaghan as Archibald Desnay
• Khary Payton as Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei
• Mason Alexander Park as the Tavern Keeper
• Stacey Raymond as Bryn
• Stephen Root as Professor Anders
• David Tennant as General Krieg
• Tracie Thoms as the Everlight
• Gina Torres as Keeper Yennen
• Indira Varma as Lady Allura Vysoren

The 12-episode first season debuts on January 28, with three episodes dropping every week.

Originally published January 12, 2022.

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Get excited Critters, an official Critical Role campaign from the publishers of Dungeons & Dragons is on the way. Wizards of the Coast and Critical Role are partnering on a brand new book, Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep.

Critical Role‘s live play series serves as the inspiration for this new collaboration. DM Matthew Mercer helped with the design of the game. This campaign will make the first big adventure to take place in the world of Exandria.

“Getting to bring a direct adventure book within Exandria to life is really such an exciting thing, especially exploring ideas and elements I’ve never been able to bring to a campaign myself yet,” Mercer shared. “Working with such a talented team to develop and craft a tale like this is an absolute honor, and I cannot wait for folks to step into the unique mysteries and dark challenges that Call of the Netherdeep invites.”

Wizards of the Coast

The release offers even more insight into the gameplay of this Critical Role Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

Beginning in the Wastes of Xhorhas, Call of the Netherdeep leads adventurers to the glimmering oasis-city of Ank’Harel on the continent of Marquet, and from there into a sunken realm of gloom, corruption, and sorrow known as the Netherdeep—a terrifying cross between the Far Realm and the deep ocean. Above it all, the red moon of Ruidus watches, twisting the fates of those who have the power to shape the course of history. Fans will discover that the greed of mortals has awakened a powerful entity long thought destroyed, a mighty champion of the gods that has been imprisoned in the darkest depths of Exandria for eons, with his name and heroic deeds forgotten. Languishing in despair, he calls out for new heroes to save him.

An oasis city, a sunken real of gloom, a hero in need of saving? Sounds like a lot of fun to us. The book will contain seven chapters and will share new creatures, new items, and new mechanics. The campaign will also feature many thematic tie-ins to previous Critical Role campaigns. With an animated series on the way and now this excitement, it’s a great time to love Critical Role. 

Call of the Netherdeep will release on March 15, 2022, for $49.95. In the meanwhile, we have to think about our characters. We need super special ones for this Critical Role D&D campaign.

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Amazon

Critical Role shared the first glimpse at their upcoming animated show’s characters. The heroic group made its debut during the latest installment in Critical Role‘s behind-the-scenes digital series. They also revealed Phil Bourassa (Young Justice, Batman: Bad Blood, Justice League) will serve as the lead character designer on The Legend of Vox Machina.

Fans of Bourassa’s work can see how he has translated his style to Critical Role‘s D&D universe.

The series will give the show’s loyal fanbase a chance to see their favorite performers’ characters in action. In a story that will feature some—ahem—deadly foes. Here’s the show’s official synopsis:

“The Legend of Vox Machina follows a group of second-rate adventurers on a quest to save the realm from terrifying monsters and dark magical forces. Throughout the first season, our characters will face undead giants, overthrow a sinister necromancer, and confront a powerful curse that has taken root inside their own group. Through it all, they learn how to function as a team, and discover they’re much more than that: they’re family.”

Stars Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Matthew Mercer, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Travis Willingham will reprise their roles on the show. They will also serve as executive producers. As will Brandon Auman (Star Wars Resistance) and Chris Prynoski (Metalocalypse). Sung Jin Ahn (Niko and the Sword of Light) joins the series as supervising director. Titmouse studio serves as co-producers on the series, which will air exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

The series follows the group’s successful 2019 Kickstarter for a 22-minute The Legend of Vox Machina animated special. What followed was “the most-funded TV, film or animated project in Kickstarter history.” The campaign raised over $11.3 million. Enough for 24 episodes and two seasons.

We already know how they can guarantee funding for a third season: sell posters of this character art. Critical Role fans would love to hear that.

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Watching shows like Vampire the Masquerade: L.A. by Night sometimes make our home games seem… bland. Chances are we are lacking a crew of amazingly talented voice actors and theater people. Even with amazing role-players at the table, the kind who can fully immerse themselves, players get off easy. They only have to worry about roleplaying one character. Storytellers need to act out, narrate, and engage in witty repartee from a variety of NPC’s—often without any warning.

Often, this leads to some poor unfortunate soul butchering every known accent on the planet. Every dwarf becomes Scottish or Irish, humans find themselves hailing from eastern Europe, and near every vampire is inexplicably British (there’s a story there). Don’t deny yourself the amazing storyteller tool if you’re one of the talented folks who can pull off accents. If you’re mono-linguistic bloke who can’t mimic anyone well, just let that dream die my friends. There are better ways to improve your range of NPC voices without being a walking trope machine.

Save Random Business Cards

Inspiration for NPC’s can come from a variety of movie and television sources, but chances are your friends have also seen those same pop culture references. While that makes it easy to establish a quick connection, not every dwarf in the world can be Gimli. I’ve found collecting business cards and saving them for NPC’s is a veritable gold mine of voices and personalities. Each card contains a name, a title, some little logo, and perhaps even a memory associated with it.

When your party runs into a random soldier and strikes up a conversation, slide a card out behind your screen. A sun logo for the company might make them a follower of a sun god, change the name to fit your campaign, and use any location given to determine the NPC’s personal house. Perhaps this soldier follows the sun goddess because he lives in a rather run down area of the empire where gnomes throw their trash out and the once blue ponds; are now a slimy green and covered with alchemical concoctions. Having such a quick method to generate NPC’s that have depth to them will reflect in the manner you roleplay them.

Use Your Hands

Since not everyone can use saucy accents, we’ve to find other ways for NPC diversity. Gestures, posture, sitting or standing, leaning in or lounging back are all ways to achieve exactly that. Your voice, tone, and mannerisms will all change naturally by physically changing your posture and it’s a trick many actors all use. Hugging yourself while talking softly can portray vulnerability while pulling your shoulder blades together and speaking with volume portrays confidence. Making eye contact with players, or fixing on the wall behind them (as strange as that sounds) can quickly identify if that NPC is actually interested in engagement.

There are smaller mannerisms or ticks, you can assign to each repeat NPC. Perhaps the local guardsman always taps his fingers on the table when he speaks, or the grand arch wizard always has something stuck in his teeth. These little physical quirks can seem eccentric or downright humourous, but they will leave an impact on your players. Small quirks also equate to physical memory for us storytellers! When you have quirks for your NPC’s you naturally jog your body and voice into the various roles—allowing you to shift between NPC’s easier and have variety at the table.

Create Conflict

NPC’s without conflict are often bland NPC’s. Nobody exists in a vacuum, and while some gamers espouse themselves as masters of the logical—emotions rule us all. Before your next game session, write down the 7 Dwarves (Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy… etc) or the 7 Deadly Sins (Wrath, Gluttony, etc) and use these as a framework for conflict. When that character is interacting with the players, imagine what life event caused their condition. When your tire blows out on an expressway and you’ve had a shitty day, that will impact your attitude, and the same should be said for the NPCs. Hilariously, I’ve had players sometimes remember the conflicted event, rather than the NPC’s name. “That one shopkeeper… the one whose horse broke their leg.”

Conflict can also be externally facing to the players themselves. Wide and eccentric emotions, irrational, or heartfelt can all be brought down upon the characters with little-to-no-explanation. One moment they are at a tavern gathering information, and the next thing the bartender is sobbing on their shoulder about forlorn love. Checking into an inn can be mundane, or a precocious seer knows that the players bring bad news and death with them—and openly calls them out on it. Taking a conflicted emotion or condition is even more important for recurring NPCs as their lives need to change and alter as the characters campaign.

What tricks do you use for NPC variety? Let us know what worked for you in the comments below!

MORE RPG GOODNESS

• Try A New RPG This Year With These Starter Sets.
• CRITICAL ROLE Cosplay Gallery of 2018!
• Kids (And Grown-Ups) Get To Be Dinosaur Princesses In This RPG

Featured Image by: Bunions by Hugo Cardenas. Art and animations at: Takayuuki.deviantart.com and Youtube

Image Credits: Hugo Cardenas, Critical Role

Rick Heinz is the author of The Seventh Age: Dawn, and a storyteller with a focus on LARPs, Wraith: The Oblivion, Eclipse Phase, and many more. You can follow game or urban fantasy related thingies on Twitter or Facebook.

The post Improve Your Range of NPC Voices With These GM Tips appeared first on Nerdist.

Great Dungeons & Dragons moments inspire great Dungeons & Dragons art. From landscape paintings of sweeping plains, to colorful character portraits, to dragons in search of their latest prey, artwork from fans and players highlights the dramatic storytelling the game can evoke. But +1 Pen of Smiting is a master at reminding us that D&D creates some comedic moments as well! Their hilarious cartoons feature some of the funniest scenes from D&D livestreams, and are sure to preserve your favorite moments in comic form.

The anonymous illustrator behind +1 Pen of Smiting (“Pen”) tells Geek & Sundry that they started drawing cartoons simply because they love to make people smile. Their doodles during their own D&D games often did just that, they recall. “Those were memories that I could share with my friends for years,” Pen recalls. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t playing in any games [one summer], so I thought I’d tune into other people’s games and capture their golden moments. Drawing along with RPG podcasts became my summer obsession… that’s continued into 2019.”

Pen has been inspired by D&D actual play livestreams big and small, from Critical Role to The Adventure Zone to Loot+Dagger and Hit Dice.

“Posting cartoons became a way I could say ‘thank you’ to GMs and players and let them know that they were being heard and appreciated,” they say. “I also became part of a larger community of fans and introduced new listeners to stories and characters they may not have known.”

Pen’s work is influenced by classic comic strips and cartoons like Cathy and illustrator Sandra Boynton. They draw quickly with pen and ink while watching or listening to a campaign to perfectly capture the energy of the moment. “The joy and laughter, the naughty innuendo, the drama and heartbreak and triumph happening right now,” Pen says. “I draw very quickly, capturing a good quote or exchange in seconds, creating dozens of cartoons per episode. It’s messy and slapdash, but also pure. It recaptures what it feels like to be right at the table, laughing along.”

Take a look at the gallery below for more cartoons from your favorite D&D podcasts and livestreams.

+1 Pen of Smiting has tuned in to over 130 actual play RPG podcasts, so they know a thing or two about what’s out there. Their D&D favorites include The Adventure Zone, Fate and the Fablemaidens, Loot+Dagger, Hit Dice, High Rollers, The Broadswords, and many more. (Definitely send them a message if you’re looking for a new podcast to try!)

“What I love best is in the interplay between characters and players and GM and friends,” says Pen. “The best moments are the ones when people truly shine. If I can capture that, I’m happy.”

WANT MORE D&D?

• Check out our predictions for D&D in 2019!
• D&D superfan Joe Manganiello taught patients at Pittburgh’s Children’s Hospital how to play.
• Tune into Starter Kit: D&D.

All Images: +1 Pen of Smiting

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Critical Role is a live Dungeons & Dragons show featuring Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer and his troupe of fellow voice actors. Catch them every Thursday night at 7:00 PM PT on the Geek & Sundry Twitch channel and on Alpha.

At large gaming conventions, fans of Critical Role can’t wait to lay their eyes on the cast or check out everyone’s Mighty Nein cosplay. But at PAX Unplugged 2018, student filmmaker Deanna Amoia had her eyes on the Critters themselves. She worked up the courage to ask a few bystanders at the Critical Role meetup some questions about the fandom, and the result is actual movie magic.

Deanna has been a fan of the show since the second campaign started last year. “I was instantly hooked (like most people!) and started watching the first season while waiting for episodes from season 2,” she tells Geek & Sundry. She finished the first campaign quickly.

While the cast themselves are endlessly charming with fascinating tales to tell, as we discovered through “Between the Sheets,” it was the Critters that caught Deanna’s attention when the time came to create the final project in her documentary course.

“The show is great, but what makes it so unique are the people around it,” she says. “Here’s a community that is amazing to each other, supportive of creative pursuits, super talented, and has members all around the world! Why wouldn’t someone want to explore such a positive group?

“It was also a perfect way for me to give something back to the show and to the rest of the Critters. Seeing how everyone lifts each other up in the community was so inspiring and I felt like it needed to be showcased somewhere.”

Deanna had originally planned to film longer interviews with Critical Role fans in her area, but she found it difficult to sync up schedules and willing subjects. When PAX Unplugged rolled around, she took a gamble that fans at the convention might be more in the mood to talk.

“When the meet ups finally came around and I announced to the crowd what I was doing, the response was amazing,” she recalls. “As soon as I finished with one person, there’d be another waiting their turn. The stories I heard were incredible! I even had to ask a friend to be my assistant during the biggest rush!

“Everyone was excited to be a part of my project, just like they are excited to be part of the community – it was an amazing experience.”

Deanna has other projects in the works, like an autobiographical documentary and a film about renaissance faire communities, but she also plans to return to the Critter community for a longer piece.

“I’ve spent the last month or so putting together a crew to make a more feature-length video,” she says. “We’re having our first in-person meeting in a few weeks and I can’t wait to take a deep dive into the DnD community.”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign or keep up with the second with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

All Images: Deanna Amoia 

The post This Mini Documentary Turns The Lens on the Critter Community appeared first on Nerdist.

Every week, the adventures of The Mighty Nein play like a cinematic experience in our imaginations. Talented composer and Critical Role fan Jack Graham Thomas has taken that idea a step further, turning Jason Charles Miller’s original theme into a sweeping orchestral suite that would sound right at home in an epic fantasy film.

Jack’s origin tale as a Critter is a little more unusual than the typical Critical Role fan. During a YouTube binge a few years ago, he randomly stumbled upon the first few episodes. As a composer for theatrical productions in the UK and a fan of live storytelling, Jack gave Critical Role a try.

“I think something about those original episodes, the ones before the show moved into a dedicated set, had a chaotic charm that reminded me of [improv’s] amazing collaborative atmosphere, where literally anything can and will happen,” he tells Geek & Sundry. “It stuck with me and I was hooked.”

Not only was the live improv feel of the show appealing to Jack, he loved the scale of the world Matthew Mercer created. The narrative is “almost operatic in scope,” he says, and the world of Exandria and its inhabitants inspired Jack to eventually compose an orchestral suite.

“The characters we all love start out from such small places and grow to become great heroes, and we witness both their successes and failures along the way. It’s epic, and intimate at the same time,” he says. “On a personal level, I wanted to give something back in appreciation for the amazing storytelling and adventures that the Critical Role cast has given us, and no doubt will keep giving us for some time yet.”

Once Jack began composing the music, it only took a few days to complete. You might be surprised to learn it’s entirely computer generated. “The easy bit is the music side,” Jack says. “The melodies and harmonies. The hard and time-consuming bit is making sure it doesn’t sound like an old 8-bit video game soundtrack, especially when its supposed to sound like real musicians in an orchestra! It’s probably 10% creative music making and 90% tweaking and fixing afterwards.”

Astute Critters have already picked up on the piece’s musical influences like John Williams, Howard Shore, and James Horner. Jack reveals that growing up with some of their now-classic movie scores in the 1990s-2000s had a huge impact on his work.

“Most important really was that Jason’s theme is wonderfully malleable, and could be at times expressive, menacing, and heroic,” he adds. “It’s a great theme to play with stylistically.”

If he could pick one scene to write the score for in the Critical Role movie of our dreams, it would be the final one, he tells us. (Minor spoilers for the first campaign follow.)

“Matt’s description of the final moments with Keyleth are so beautiful and vivid,” says Jack. “For all the battles and adventure, the beating heart of Critical Role is in those quiet moments where we are with the characters. It’s a brilliant scene, filled with emotion, and highly cinematic. ”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Image: Sedona

Vox Machina Illustration: Georgia

The post In the Critical Role Movie of Our Dreams, The Score Would Sound Like This appeared first on Nerdist.

Let’s set the scene: The Icepick Kuklinski sat in his 1970s beater with multiple DEA agents bearing down on the party. A suspicious package from an unsavory source had just been dropped in the trunk, and in an attempt to avoid arrest, the Icepick hits the gas and slams face first into the nearest SUV. I botched.

We didn’t just botch once mind you, it felt as if we had multiple successive botches that led to this scenario our heroines found themselves in. Contemplating an entirely lethal shootout we stared down the barrel of the total-party-kill when our storyteller remarked that he’s never known any group of players to give up. Everyone rides or dies.

The statement was a simple truth, one I’ve witnessed time-and-time again with players, and I’m sure every GM has seen at least once. When the chips are down and the critical fails have come, characters become berserker heros ready to sacrifice themselves in the name of their gods (like Jeff the God of Biscuits). Perhaps it’s the separation between player and character, or the solemn realization that their end may be at hand, but they suddenly push forward into the craziest actions regardless of consequences.

So, what’s a storyteller to do when faced with cursed dice? How do we handle a sequence of botches that you can’t hide behind a GM screen? Here are some GM tips for these scenarios.

Get Gruesome

Sometimes, a character just needs to be maimed. You’ve got a choice when a PC botches on how badly the scenario unfolds and if it’s a lethal case—remove an eye. Getting a hand chopped off in a trap or having their membership card to a faction revoked for a social faux pas are fair play for player botches. These arguably, are no different from any GM would already do, but it’s always worth mentioning again. Every roll of the dice should always enhance the story; for better or worse. Rather than default to the “you shoot your friend” again, have the bow string snap and break a few fingers instead.

If you really want to take it home, tell the player their action succeeds and carry on with the scene, treating the critical fail as a success. The player will know there is a pendulum hanging and the ever mounting sense of dread will begin to creep in. This is particularly effective when the botch happens on something like a perception check, or a knowledge check. Surely nothing can go wrong when you botch your knowledge nature check! When the disease hits a few days later… the players know why and you’ve got a new story to tell.

The Absurd Escape

Another way to “let them off the hook” without feeling like a big major NPC came to save the day is to let them fail the adventure. Instead of letting their bodies pile up in the dungeon though, make it clear they’ve to run and escape—and they aren’t coming back. Turning the adventure on its head and having the monsters then hunt and chase the players looking to loot THEM can continue for many game sessions on end. After a string of critical botches, players tend to expect that they will take some hit point damage or face some death—but they’ve gotten smug and soft over the years thanks to resurrection spells and healing magic.

Use the critical botches as an excuse to strip those abilities away… like they dropped their material components down an infinite hole. Let the bad luck pile up and then turn your adventure around. Hijinks will ensue as the characters race to escape the encounter with their lives—and we don’t stop there. Chase them for days, weeks, on end. Make it an almost act of comedy that some kobold or low level cop is putting a warrant and bounty out for their arrest. The Absurd Escape is a particularly effective method for social botches in court when someone critically fails that all-too-important diplomacy check.

Take It All The Way

At the end, if your players are just cursed (not the characters, the players) to always botch every critical die roll you’ve got no choice as a GM. Remember Rule #1: Your players are the protagonists. Somehow, someway, they’ve got to win the fight. They may lose a few limbs, their best friend may die, and they may end up in crippling debt to the nearest archmage but dang it—victory is theirs. A string of bad luck should not be a reason to tank your story and start a new campaign, it should unfold new stories.

Gamers may cringe when storytellers put a little fiat in to save the players at the last minute, so there are other ways to ride botch-streaks till the end. Have the villain or antagonist take something important rather than kill them, or perhaps the monster decides to lay eggs in the characters after knocking them out. The dice giveth, and the dice taketh. After they’ve survived their botch streak (with your help of course) let them panic to undo what happened and—reward them gloriously when they get a crit streak. It’s bound to happen someday, and if we want to have fun when they botch, we’ve gotta be equally ham to re-balance the scales when they crit.

Someone here has to have an epic botch streak story! Let us know in the comments below!

MORE RPG GOODNESS

• GMs: These Awesome Accessories Will Help Make Your RPG Sessions Epic
• Our Impressions of the New LEGEND OF FIVE RINGS RPG
• GMs: Set the Mood For Your RPG Sessions With Smart Lights

Featured Image by: Metallic Dragons by Ralph Horsely for Wizards of the Coast

Image Credits: Spell Contortion by Wayne Reynolds for Wizards Of The Coast, Dragon Crash by Grafitart

Rick Heinz is the author of The Seventh Age: Dawn, and a storyteller with a focus on LARPs, Wraith: The Oblivion, Eclipse Phase, and many more. You can follow game or urban fantasy related thingies on Twitter or Facebook.

The post Ride Or Die: Turning Botches Into Wins With These GM Tips appeared first on Nerdist.

You couldn’t find a pair of friends more different than Caleb Widogast and Mollymauk Tealeaf. One is the quiet and studious one, the other has all the flair and panache of a peacock. One remembers everything, one remembers nothing. But they’re both firebrands–in their own ways. A trio of Critters (and some new friends they picked up along the way!) paid tribute to the two strong-willed members of the Mighty Nein in that time-honored tradition of an EPIC AF RAP BATTLE.

The trio of friends behind the fan video are Danny Dourado (Caleb Widogast), Gemma Murcott (Mollymauk Tealeaf/Nott the Brave), and Kieran Burling (composer/audio editing). Danny wrote the lyrics and performed the rap, and Gemma created the incredible costumes. They chatted with us about making the video and what it’s been like seeing the reactions from the Critical Role cast and community. (Spoiler alert: Wunderbar!)

Danny has been a fan of the show since the first campaign. In fact, a certain gnome inspired his own D&D character (pun intended). Danny tells us that while he’s unable to sing, he played a bard his own way while paying homage to Scanlan Shorthalt. “Inspired by Sam Riegel, my first PC was a tone-deaf halfling bard,” Danny says. “I can’t sing, so I wrote inspiring raps for six months.”

Gemma started watching Critical Role as the second campaign began after hearing Danny relay all the highs and lows of Vox Machina. “I was dying to get into it, so when Campaign 2 began it felt like a great place to jump in, so I did and was instantly obsessed!” she says.

Gemma and Danny are friends who live in different countries, so when the opportunity came for Danny to travel to Australia for PAX Australia and Supanova, they decided to make the most of it and film a video together. Gemma had already decided to cosplay Mollymauk.

“Molly was love at first sight for me, I was fascinated by his carnival aesthetic, the whole blood hunter class, the idea of tieflings – everything!” she says. “He’s a cosplayer’s dream/nightmare at the same time with all that colour and plumage (cheers Taliesin!).”

With Mollymauk set, it was time for Danny to choose his opponent.  “The decision ultimately was just who we could pull off. I actually started writing Mollymauk vs. Fjord thinking he was easier to dress me up as. Until Gemma pointed out the leather armour and body paint…”

The video began with Danny and Kieron putting together the music before leaving on his trip. “Kieran and I recorded my vocals over three evenings. He would come home from teaching Beethoven and Mozart on violin to record a D&D rap in his bedroom,” Danny says. He wasn’t happy with his first version of Molly’s accent, but with Gemma’s encouragement he tried again until both Caleb and Molly’s voices sounded perfect.

“Kieran mixed the song back in England over a couple of weeks,” Danny recalls. “It was his first attempt at rap/hip-hop and he NAILED it. Every sound, the pauses for a good burn, the major key for Molly and the minor key for Caleb. That grungy 90s feel. He is a gift.”

Gemma and Danny originally expected it would be a quick video shoot, but the chaos of two major conventions had a bigger effect than they anticipated. But out of the craziness, they found new friends and unexpected help with the video.

“The amazing cosplayers you see, Caduceus, Beau and the two Jesters, we met for the first time at the conventions,” says Danny. “They all agreed to be in the video on spur of the moment!”

The rap battle debuted shortly after, and a wave of cheers and laughs greeted the surprised Danny and Gemma, not just from the Critical Role community–but from the cast as well.

This is one of the greatest things this community has ever created for us. Pure fire. ?@nerdbynight2 @Rapping_Bard, you guys are basically gods.https://t.co/AyrH34NiYk#CriticalRole

— Liam O’Brien (@VoiceOfOBrien) November 9, 2018

Everything was worth it for this. https://t.co/DsxvnVFy16

— Taliesin Jaffe (@executivegoth) November 9, 2018

Sincerely…I have been non-stop laughing at this for 30 minutes. SO GOOD. https://t.co/alWUtYSF93

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) November 9, 2018

“Every day we are treated to a flurry of compliments from amazing Critters,” Danny says. “It’s especially fun seeing Kieran, someone outside Critical Role, in constant awe at the appreciation storm that has taken over from this community! Critters are the best fans in the world.”

“I don’t think we ever could’ve predicted such an overwhelmingly positive response,” says Gemma. “It’s wonderful. The cast have given us all so much entertainment and inspiration, it’s the least we can do to try to give a little back!”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Image: Photographer – Silavon Photography, Caduceus Clay – Avery, Caleb – Danny, and Mollymauk – Gemma

The post This Critical Role Rap Battle Is More Epic Than a Fight With Vecna appeared first on Nerdist.

No matter the holiday you celebrate this time of year, every day can feel like Winter’s Crest in Whitestone when you pick the perfect present for the Critical Role fan in your life! Critters are obviously big fans of the show, so you might think they’re easy to shop for thanks to the incredible merchandise available on the CritRole.com store. But we’ve also got some ideas that go beyond official merchandise to put a personal touch on the gifts you give to your fellow Critters this year.

Officially Good Gifts

That’s not to say you shouldn’t get some official merchandise, of course! The CritRole.com store now has updated How Do You Want To Do This? hoodies in stock, so if you or your friends missed your chance, you can now get your hands on the soft sweatshirt. While you’re there, pre-order the new The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. 2 art book, which should begin shipping near the end of November.

And if your friends dutifully enter the Wyrmwood Gaming giveaway during every live episode, you can make their dreams come true by ordering a dice vault. Dice vault prices begin at $25.00 and increase with the rarity of the wood, so you’ll be able to find just the right Wyrmwood piece without breaking the bank.

And then there’s new friend and occasional sponsor of Critical Role, The Rook and the Raven! While the new Far Traveler’s Notebook isn’t yet available, there are campaign diary notebooks for both players and DMs keeping notes during their D&D sessions that also make great gifts.

Last and certainly not least, if you’ve been waiting for just the right moment to get your friends into playing D&D and going on your own adventures together, splurge on the new D&D Core Rules Gift Set from Wizards of the Coast! The beautiful tomes–Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual–and the Dungeon Master’s screen all feature a one-of-a-kind limited edition design. Luckiest. Friends. Ever.

Gifts for the Magnificent Mansion

Your Critter buddies will love inviting The Mighty Nein into their homes for the holidays with unofficial goodies inspired by Critical Role. Here are just a few of our favorites.

Fans of Nott the Brave will love having a comically large metal flask of their very own, just like the one Sam Riegel wields every week.

If a trip with Caleb Widogast to the library sounds like a dream come true, Cantrip Candles makes it easy to close your eyes and pretend you’re right there with their Library Scriptorium candle. Cantrip Candles offers a variety of scents to improve your D&D experiences during a session, from a mossy chapel to a bustling tavern. (Orders resume shipping December 1.)

You can also find Mighty Nein-inspired candles and scents from Etsy seller Melted Mythos; Jester’s Pastries sounds like a mouth-watering scent the little blue tiefling would adore.

Speaking of lovely scents, give your best Critter friends the gift of a bath and hot tea, and they’ll be your best friends forever. Critical Baths offers a “Winter in Wildemount” bath bomb set that even comes with a Tusk Love ornament! And over at Friday Afternoon Tea, which has a storefront in Seattle, WA, you will find RPG class inspired tea blends to add even more coziness to a winter’s night.

And finally, if the Critter on your shopping list could use a familiar, you don’t have to work too hard to summon one. These glass cat paperweights from Uncommon Goods are a wink to Frumpkin and will be constant companions on a Critter’s desk.

Stocking Stuffers

A gift doesn’t have to be big to be thoughtful! Jewelry pieces inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Critical Role, or even just a small stocking stuffer, can give your recipient a big smile as well.

Kiri Sticker Sheets from Black Ash Creations guarantee a laugh for anyone who’s a fan of the adorable kenku.

Small jewelry can make a big impact, like these officially licensed Beholder Stud Earrings from Han Cholo. If you’ve had your eye on Taliesin Jaffe’s D&D ampersand necklace, you’ll also find it at Han Cholo, along with a Mimic pendant, enamel pins, an epic Beholder ring, and much more.

If the Critter on your list prefers something a little more minimalistic but no less personal and meaningful, visit Paola’s Pixels for gorgeous class enamel pins and other D&D inspired accessories.

And finally, we know we said “small,” but this is a BIG d20 die from Kraken Dice just perfect for the Goliath in your life–or a friend who wants to roll like Grog Strongjaw.

Make a Donation In Their Name

If you’d love to get the cast of Critical Role something to celebrate the holidays this year, or your friends prefer charity donations to gifts, here’s a list of the cast’s preferred charities for your financial support or your time:

• Sam Riegel: Pablove Foundation
• Liam O’Brien: The Planetary Society
• Marisha Ray: The Nature Conservancy
• Matthew Mercer: First Book
• Taliesin Jaffe: First Place for Youth
• Travis Willingham: Operation Supply Drop
• Laura Bailey: My Friend’s Place
• Ashley Johnson: Amnesty‎
• Brian W. Foster: InsideOUT Writers

What’s on your Critmas list this year? Tell us in the comments.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Photo: Geek & Sundry / Critical Role

Other Images: The Rook and the Raven, Wizards of the Coast, Cantrip Candles, Uncommon Goods, Han Cholo, and Paola’s Pixels

The post Gifts For The Critical Role Fan In Your Life appeared first on Nerdist.

Ginny Di‘s take on the Mighty Nein’s little blue tiefling Jester Lavorre may be the closest we’ll get to seeing Laura Bailey‘s beloved character come to life. Not only is Ginny’s costume incredibly detailed and well-crafted, she’s also been perfecting her Nicodranas accent to mimic Laura’s own. The result is unmistakably Jester.

“Jester is funny, but she’s so much more than that!” Ginny tells Geek & Sundry. “I don’t normally do much ‘in character’ acting with cosplay, but Jester as a character is so easy for me to tap into, and playing her is unbelievably fun. The more photos and videos and music I create to celebrate Jester, the more I want to create!”

And create she did, composing and performing a sweet song in tribute of Jester’s mother, the Ruby of the Sea.

It was the Ruby’s recent appearance in game that inspired Ginny to sing her tale.

“[Because] of Jester’s (hilarious) improvised lines about the Ruby of the Sea being ‘the best lay ever,’ most of the music being written [about the Ruby] was fairly comic, and had a bawdy sea shanty feel,” Ginny says. “In contrast, when I imagined songs about Marion, I was picturing something sweeter and more wistful. I drafted the song and then stepped away from it, but when the characters actually met the Ruby of the Sea in the game, it confirmed everything I’d been thinking when I wrote it! That was when I knew I had to move forward and finish the song.”

Ginny originally had no experience with Dungeons & Dragons, but after her friends continued to recommend Critical Role, she finally took their advice and played the podcast. She is hooked, she says.

“I enjoyed campaign one, but it wasn’t until I decided to switch to campaign two that I really fell hard! Now I’m full-on obsessed and it’s practically the only thing I think about. I think at this point I’m listening to two to four hours of Critical Role content every single day!”

Jester in particular caught her attention and held it.

“Every single Critical Role character is lovable, but Jester is in another league for me,” Ginny says. “Her character is so perfectly crystalized, and Laura Bailey does an absolutely incredible job bringing her to life with her accent, her improvisation, and her subtle hints at Jester’s character depth that we as viewers are only just starting to see.”

Lucky for us, Ginny’s creative wheels are spinning furiously with even more Critical Role-inspired content to come.

“I have two more songs in progress (although who knows if they’ll end up working out),” she says, “I have some fun video plans coming up with Jester, and I’m trying to pick my next Critical Role cosplay (although it’s really hard!!) Ninety percent of my ideas these days are Critical Role themed, so it’s always somewhere in the back of my mind.”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

All Photos: Ginny Di

The post This “Ruby of the Sea” Song Is the Best Play Ever appeared first on Nerdist.

“It’s a visual history,” Michael Witwer said of the book on Dragon Talk, “of the entire brand of Dungeons & Dragons from the very beginning all the way to present day. It covers the brand as told by its visuals, i.e. its art, its ephemera, its advertising, and beyond.”

The team of four writers brought lifetimes of experience with the game, said Kyle Newman. “This book wouldn’t have been what it is without all of our different perspectives.”

Take a look at the gallery below for more images from Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana.

And if you’re a Critter considering picking up this book to learn more about the game you love to watch every week, there’s even some familiar faces inside sure to give you a smile every time you crack open the spine.

Something quite brilliant just arrived in the mail… a brilliant tome by the likes of @kyle_newman, @SamWitwer, and other fine folk, that visually recounts the history of D&D. It’s even got a fun cameo! 😉 pic.twitter.com/ykTvmL4Xb1

— Matthew Mercer (@matthewmercer) October 13, 2018

Hundreds of pages of art and the story behind the game make Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana the definitive history of Dungeons & Dragons. The book goes on sale October 23, 2018 on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Powells.com, IndieBound.org, and other online book retailers.

Images reprinted with permission from Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana: A Visual History, by Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson and Sam Witwer, © 2018. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Images copyright © by Wizards of the Coast LLC

Featured Photo: Kelly Knox (Stream of Many Eyes)

The post Get A Sneak Peek at DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ART & ARCANA appeared first on Nerdist.

There’s no member of the Mighty Nein better suited for a Halloween homage than Caduceus Clay, grave cleric in service of The Wildmother who first meets the hapless heroes in a spooky graveyard. (But he might argue that his lichen-covered house isn’t spooky at all.) Clay calls the Blooming Grove–also known as the Bone Orchard–and its gravestones home.

“From what you know, [the Blooming Grove] is this strange, ancient gravesite that’s been on the outskirts of town, a few miles out, since before the town was built,” Matt Mercer described.

Reap a pumpkin that looks straight out of the Blooming Grove with just a craft pumpkin, plastic succulents, and of course, lichen as green as the foliage that covers Caduceus’ temple home.

What You’ll Need

• Small black craft pumpkin
• Pumpkin carving knife
• Plastic succulents and Halloween greenery
• Preserved green moss
• Pink glitter (optional)
• Floral foam
• Grey spray paint and black and pink acrylic paint
• Air-dry modeling clay
• Toothpicks
• Paint brush

Get Started!

Begin by spray painting some or all of the succulents grey. You can paint the others black or pink, if desired, or add either color as accents once dry. You can also sprinkle pink glitter on any wet paint. Let all paint dry.

Remove the top part of the pumpkin by carving a small circle around the stem. Use the black paint on the carved edges and let dry.

Shape the air-dry clay into mushrooms, pushing the toothpick into the stems before the clay is dry. Let the clay dry, preferably overnight, and then paint them as desired.

Cut the floral foam to fit and slide it into the pumpkin.

Begin by adding the succulents first, and then the clay mushrooms and Halloween greenery. Fill in any empty spots where the floral foam shows through with the preserved green moss.

Once all plants and greenery are added, your Caduceus-inspired pumpkin is complete!

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

All Photos: Kelly Knox

Caduceus Character Portrait: Ariana Orner

The post DIY: Reap a Pumpkin From Caduceus Clay’s Blooming Grove This Halloween appeared first on Nerdist.

Nott the Brave knows how to find a good hiding spot, and this Halloween, she’ll be the one jumping out of the shadows to surprise your trick-or-treaters! Carve a Critical Role pumpkin for when the littlest Critters come knocking on Halloween night with this template and how-to.

What You Need

• A pumpkin!
• Printed Nott the Brave carving template
• Pumpkin carving tools
• Battery-powered pumpkin light
• Preserved Spanish moss
• Black plastic trash bag
• Green craft foam
• White tape or medical tape/bandages
• Hot glue gun
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Tape
• Pushpin

Get Started!

Step One: Begin by carving out the pumpkin, making sure to scrape the sides to get the stringy bits cleared out as well as you can.

Step Two: Cut widely around the printed template with the scissors. Tape it to the front of the pumpkin; as you attach it, you’ll need to fold it against the side of the pumpkin. Line up the printed edges as well as you can as you fold and tape.

Step Three: Trace the grey edges of the design by pressing the pushpin firmly into the pumpkin. (If you push too gently, you’ll have a hard time seeing the dots later.) Trace every edge of Nott’s face, and remove the paper.

Step Four: Carve the shapes of Nott’s face using the dots you pressed into the pumpkin as a guide.

Step Five: Draw two ears shapes in the green craft foam and cut them out. Wrap them with medical tape (or simply use strips of white paper) to make Nott’s bandages.

Step Six: Place the battery-powered light inside the pumpkin.

Note: Because you’ll be placing the moss and hood on top of the jack o’ lantern, do not use a lit candle.

Step Seven: Place the Spanish moss on top of the pumpkin as Nott’s hair.

Step Eight: Cut off the top of the black trash bag and wrap it around the Nott O’ Lantern as a hood. Hot glue the two craft foam ears on either side, and your Critical Role jack o’ lantern is complete!

Are you carving a Critical Role jack o’ lantern this year? Show us in the comments or on Twitter!

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Nott the Brave Illustration: Ariana Orner

All Photos: Kelly Knox

The post Hide a Nott O’Lantern in the Shadows This Halloween appeared first on Nerdist.

The first completed Critical Role miniature from Steamforged Games, a 28mm limited edition Vax’ildan, is beginning to make its way into Critters’ eager hands. The resin “vault” mini was released at Gen Con 2018 and has started shipping worldwide. Not only did the painting masters at Steamforged show off their completed Vax at Gen Gon, but excited Critters have been sharing their happy little minis as well.

Take a look at the gallery below for Critters’ mini masterpieces.

Armed with Vestiges of Divergence and a wry smile, Steamforged perfectly plucked the Raven Queen’s champion out of our imaginations and onto the game table. Interestingly, the design of the little rogue came from a number of sources.

“I used art curated by Liam [O’Brien], plus chatting with him, for the model,” reveals Steamforged Games’ Lead Sculptor Russ Charles. “Though, the Kit [Buss] art was used for the ‘non-wing’ version we based him off, plus descriptions of things like the snake belt.”

Tips to Get Started

Ready to get started on your mini rogue? You can paint your own version of Vax just how you always pictured him, or take a look at the official end-of-campaign character portrait of Vax for color inspiration. If you’re too nervous to take a paintbrush to the detailed mini just yet, Critter David Powell (@MiniPainterDave), whose Vax is in the gallery below, made a tutorial with tips and tricks just for you.

Latest progress on #Vax. There’s more than one way to paint black. I’ll post about 3 of them in tomorrow’s tutorial update. ? #CriticalRoleArt #minipainting https://t.co/lUb7iYlNXM pic.twitter.com/UvhYyzyZlS

— David Powell (@MiniPainterDave) September 17, 2018

Need even more tips? There’s even a detailed painting guide for painting all of the Critical Role minis in a new series recently posted by Painting & Polygons.

While the Winged Vax mini is no longer available for purchase, Steamforged has a lot of plans for more Critical Role minis to grace your table on game night. Keep an eye on their website more mini news and even a chance to vote for the next mini you’d like to see!

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Photo: Steamforged Games (Background by Kit Buss)

Painted Mini Photos: Steamforged Games (Painted by Mat Hart)

The post Community Gallery: Vax’ildan Minis From Steamforged Games Get Painted appeared first on Nerdist.

If you’re a Dungeon Master and you want your Critter players to feel right at home at your table, you might try adding some familiar music to set the scene. Whether it’s the driving beat of “Welcome to Wildemount” or the peaceful background melody for some of Critical Role‘s most pivotal scenes that you’re looking for, we’re here to help you find the perfect musical cue–with the generous help of Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer.

Playlist Setup

Matt recommends creating playlists based on moods or locations, rather than artist or album, to help you set just the right atmosphere at the speed of your players’ decisions.

“I have a playlist for small battles,” he revealed on Game Master Tips, “one for big battles, one for boss battles. I have a playlist for ‘creepy,’ I have a playlist for REALLY creepy areas, I have a playlist for a mysterious scenario, for when it’s peaceful… That way it’s just really easy for me to just click any one of these playlists for a specific moment.”

Matt also took a moment to share screenshots of those playlists in 2016; while they’re not updated for the current campaign, they seem to be relatively unchanged, and can give you some hints for how to set up your own campaign music. He also recommends using other video game background music or your favorite fantasy movie soundtracks if you’re playing at home.

Find Your Favorites From Critical Role

Looking just to click and download your favorites from both the Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein campaigns, even if you’re not a Dungeon Master? We’ve got you covered with a few picks you can buy right now.

• Critical Role Theme – The original theme by Jason Charles Miller and the groovy remix can get game night started right.
• “Welcome to Wildemount” – A fan-written tribute to the second campaign currently heard every week in the fan art reel, composed by Colm McGuinness.
• “Twin Elms” / Pillars of Eternity soundtrack – The music previously used in the fan art reel, and a cornerstone of the Peaceful playlist.
• Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Often used for Peaceful/Town and Creepy playlists, particularly during the second campaign.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Music from this video game series is used often, although “Silver For Monsters” — also known as the “lelelelelele” song — is a particular favorite of both the cast and the Twitch chat during combat.
• Plate Mail Games – Music for your campaign including “Dread” and “Madness” from Matt’s Big Creepy/Creepy playlists.
• Midnight Syndicate – More music for your creepier moments, including “Darkness Descends.”
• Kevin McCleod – Set the stage for combat with “Prelude and Action”  and “Volatile Reaction,” which immediately brings some of Vox Machina’s biggest battles to mind.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Image: TheArtingAce

Jester/Caleb Illustration: sonschmarn.tumblr.com 

The post The Sounds of Critical Role Are Music To Your Players’ Ears appeared first on Nerdist.

Do you need even more Critical Role in your life? Of course you do! If you just can’t wait for Thursdays to see more of your favorite nerdy-ass voice actors, you can follow their real-life adventures on and off-stream thanks to Instagram.

You’ll find official accounts to follow (in addition to the Geek & Sundry Instagram, which you’re already following, right?) and a few unofficial fan accounts in the list below.

Official Accounts

A post shared by Talks Machina (@talksmachina) on Jun 20, 2018 at 12:50pm PDT

Talks Machina – The official Instagram account to follow for all the behind-the-scenes photos you need, you’ll also find the Fan Art of the Week on this account run by Brian W. Foster and team.

The great @KharyPayton meeting his miniature just before Critical Role live.

A post shared by voiceofobrien (@voiceofobrien) on Aug 11, 2018 at 10:36am PDT

The Cast – You’ll also find all of the cast on Instagram, from adorable family photos to more behind-the-scenes fun you won’t find anywhere else:

• Ashley Johnson
• Brian W. Foster
• Laura Bailey
• Liam O’Brien
• Marisha Ray
• Matthew Mercer
• Sam Riegel
• Taliesin Jaffe
• Travis Willingham

Dungeons & Dragons – The official account run by Wizards of the Coast occasionally features some familiar faces during their incredible streaming events.

Wyrmwood – The official account for this longtime friend of the show is a peek into what the talented team is working on.

Matt Mercer, Peter Adkison’s jaws drop at the Forest Reveal! They played a great game! Wow they are great players! #terrain #gencon #dwarvenforge #cavernsdeep #KS6 #dnd #rpg #miniatureforests #outdoorterrain #miniaturetrees

A post shared by Dwarven Forge (@dwarvenforgeofficial) on Aug 5, 2018 at 5:20pm PDT

Dwarven Forge – If you’re a fan of the incredible terrain and maps seen on Critical Role, you’ll love getting a sneak peek at what’s coming up from Dwarven Forge on their official Instagram.

Fan Accounts

A post shared by Petrea✨ (@the_mighty_fine) on Aug 4, 2018 at 9:57am PDT

The Mighty Fine – While this is a new account with just a few photos shared so far, The Mighty Fine showcases gorgeous makeup designs inspired by The Mighty Nein.

Crit Role Closet – If you’ve ever watched the stream or even a convention panel and wondered where the cast found that T-shirt or jacket, this is the fan Instagram for you. (And that includes Sam’s unforgettable ensemble at the Gen Con live show this year!)

Jester by @chiaroscurocos Nott by @marienaslater Photo by @schylera.photo . #criticalrolecosplay #criticalrole #cosplay #themightynein #jester #nottthebrave

A post shared by Critical Role Cosplay (@criticalrolecosplay) on Apr 19, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

Critical Role Cosplay – This is a collection of reposted Critter cosplay from conventions and photography sessions, each one breathtaking.

Don’t forget to search the Critical Role hashtag on Instagram for even more amazing images, including fan art and cosplay of The Mighty Nein and Vox Machina.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one, with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into the official aftershow, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

Featured Photo: Chris Lockey / Critical Role (Talks Machina Instagram)

The post Bonus Action: Follow These Critical Role Instagram Accounts appeared first on Nerdist.

When most people think of their retirement years, those thoughts are of idle gardening or watching grandkids rumble around the house. There might be a bit of travel involved or even a move to a warmer climate for health or comfort. But one grandma, inspired by her family’s new-found love of Dungeons & Dragons, decides to spend her twilight years dodging traps, defeating monsters and stashing some magic items in her retirement account. She’s playing Millie the Halfling Lore Bard, warming hearts across the Internet by chronicling her first RPG experience on Twitter as DnDGrandma.

The day that the DnD Grandma first learned how to play. That’s her daughter-in-law going over her character sheet with her. #nevertooold pic.twitter.com/XVxUX29wr8

— V&V Productions (@DndGrandma) May 18, 2018

“My son was running a game for his wife, his sister, her husband and his wife’s sister,” she said.  “They thought it would be a nice idea to get me involved.  With much trepidation, I agreed. I tried it on a lark, thinking it would just be a one-night thing, but I fell in love with it and haven’t looked back.”

Her biggest challenge is one that a lot of new D&D players face; the rules. But it paid off in a spectacular moment featuring a pirate attack. “So…many…rules,” she said. “I have a hard time keeping everything straight sometimes, but I have a great group that helps me a lot. The first time Mellie used fireball was on a pirate ship that was on their way to attack the ship we were on.  Mellie lit them up when they were still 50 feet out.  Between that and Olenna (our Ranger) sniping with her longbow, no pirates made it aboard!”

DnDGrandma – “I would like to cast Fireball on the pirates.” DN – “Ok. Just so you know, their ship is wooden.” DnDGrandma – “I didn’t ask about the ship. I said ‘Fireball!’ “ #actualgamequote #dndgrandma #nevertooold #alwayslearning #alwaysgrowing #dungeonsanddragons #dnd5e

— V&V Productions (@DndGrandma) May 23, 2018

Getting into the game is a direct result of her GM. “I started gaming almost four years ago,” said her son, Vince, who runs the campaign and the DnDGrandma Twitter account.  “I was always curious about D&D but never knew a group that I wanted to join.  About 4 years ago, several of my close friends were talking about getting a game together and I figured it was the perfect time to try it. I’ve only ever played D&D 5e.  This campaign with my family that we are wrapping up next month is the 3rd campaign that I’ve run and by far the longest.  The party also includes my wife (Elf Cleric), my sister (Dwarf Ranger), her husband (Half-Orc Fighter) and my wife’s sister (Tiefling Druid.)  I am turning the reigns over to her next month and joining the party as a player so I’m very excited about getting to be on the other side of the DM screen!”

Groups that reach out to new players are what keeps the hobby moving forward. Vince was inspired by our own show Critical Role to start up a group of his own. Matt Mercer’s storytelling style inspired him to tell his own stories and he found a great group of participants in his own family.

“My main inspiration came from the Tal’Dorei Campaign Guide, the first Critical Role and a comic book series called Fables, specifically Volume 4 ‘March of the Wooden Soldiers’,” said Vince.  “The first chapter titled ‘The Last Castle’ is one of my favorite comic book stories ever. They are phenomenal role players and Matt Mercer is one of the best storytellers I have ever seen.  If I ever become 1/5 of the DM he is I will die a happy man.”

“Next month Vince is going to run an epilogue for our characters which is supposed to take about an hour,” DnDGrandma said. “Then he turns over the reigns to his sister-in-law! Mellie’s story is coming to an end. She will be retired. On this new journey, I will be playing Bree – a Halfling Rogue.”

“Yes, I like halflings,” she added. “What can I say?”

Do you have an awesome story of turning someone into a D&D player? Tell us about it in the comments!

More D&D Goodness!

• This Girls Middle School D&D Club Is a Font of Inspiration
• How Watching Critical Role Made Me Better At D&D
• Introduce Your Friends to the Magic of D&D

Images Credits: DnDGrandma

Rob Wieland is an author, game designer and professional nerd. He’s worked on dozens of different tabletop games ranging from Star Wars and Firefly to his own creations like CAMELOT Trigger. He can be hired as a professional Dungeon Master for in-person or remote games. His Twitter is here. You can watch him livestream RPGs here. His meat body can be found in scenic Milwaukee, WI.

The post The “DnD Grandma” Shows You’re Never Too Old To Start Slaying Orcs appeared first on Nerdist.

Ethan Schoonover is the Technical Director at the Lake Washington Girls Middle School (LWGMS) in Seattle. He’s also the Dungeon Master of a very special after-school club we all wish we could have belonged in—the official D&D Club at LWGMS.

Originally inspired by Stranger Things and the Dungeon Master prowess of Matthew Mercer, D&D Club has expanded into a D&D elective class and an upcoming summer camp for these passionate girls, all thanks to the hard work of Mr. E.

Ethan is a lifelong Dungeons & Dragons fan, starting during a childhood straight out of Stranger Things, he says, with dirt bikes and walkie talkies and D&D games with his friends. Life got in the way for a while, and he didn’t begin playing regularly again until 2016.

He decided to DM for his own kids, but thought he could use a little help before getting started. “In that search I came across the GM Tips video series with Matt Mercer and later Satine Phoenix,” Ethan says, “and just consumed them in quantity. Matt and Satine prove that nice people can DM and still be funny and witty.”

His busy schedule doesn’t allow for regular viewing, but he does catch an episode of Critical Role here and there when he can. “The cast is great, but let’s be honest, I’m watching Matt like a hawk and picking up ideas for my own games,” Ethan says. “Pure gold.”

Starting a Girls D&D Club

Now in his second year at LWGMS, Ethan had floated the idea of a D&D Club after a student fell in love with the idea of playing the game, thanks to watching Stranger Things. “For the next three weeks,” he recalls, “there was a daily check in from her: ‘Mr. E, have you started the D&D club yet?’ So when we rolled over our club roster I made sure we had a Friday night slot set aside for D&D, and we’ve been going strong ever since.”

With not a lot of time to prepare—Ethan is also in charge of tech and programming classes, AV Club, and Photo Club—the first session was more than a little nervewracking. “I. Was. Super. Nervous,” he says. “I don’t rattle easily, but I was SO concerned that they have an awesome first experience with D&D that I was really anxious.”

Rather than focus on classes and character sheets, Ethan had another plan. “I started the girls as level zero villagers (so: pick a race, no class, roll stats, let’s play), and I introduced immediate peril in the game–an invasion of ‘wolf riders’ which aren’t what you think,” he says. “This immediately plunged the girls into high action and didn’t burden us with much of the class related details, so I could get them comfortable rolling dice, role playing, thinking about how to interact with the world, etc.”

He had a couple of rules from the get-go, including no evil characters and trust between the group already established so that everyone felt included. “Additionally, middle school is a time of identity exploration, so I avoid asking for gender of characters, and instead just ask for a pronoun (he, she, or they), and let the girls provide any other details that they wish to.”

The club is still going strong, and when an elective period opened up during the year, a dean approached Ethan with the idea of making it a Dungeons & Dragons class. There are now two groups of adventurers exploring the game at LWGMS.

“Initially, I focused on getting the girls comfortable playing, which has its own inherent social-emotional benefits,” he says. “I’ve been building in more math and other subjects that can hang off the engagement that D&D provides.”

Learning While Playing

Other than the social benefits, Ethan also focuses on math as supplemental learning to the creative aspects of the game. “One math example is that we don’t use the modifier table, and instead the students have to learn the equation m=(a-10)/2 and calculate it in their head when they roll a check,” Ethan says.

“Another example is that I have them calculate area of chambers based on size, and even had them work out the volume of mist in a chamber based on size and depth of the fog itself. I awarded inspiration points based on who calculated it correctly.”

(Inspiration awarded for math skills is rather brilliant. Scanlan would approve.)

Ethan also sees the potential in tying other subjects to a D&D game, like history, ecology, creative writing, art, political science. The girls have also learned how to organize not only their game materials, but their group and its interactions, he says.

“They problem solve in game and problem solve ‘meta-game’ interpersonal conflicts when they arise. The tabletop game skills translate directly to interpersonal skills. Many of the girls are fast friends now, and this crosses grade levels, which is unusual in middle school. Girls that were quiet and shy are now leaders at the gaming table, and I can’t be more proud.”

A Visit From Some Wizards

The D&D Club’s efforts and enthusiasm haven’t gone unnoticed. Thanks to the delightful pictures he’s shared on social media, it’s obvious the genuine joy the game brings to everyone involved. Wizards of the Coast designers Jeremy Crawford and Kate Welch even stopped by recently for a “D&D Café” to answer questions about game design.

“When I saw Ethan Schoonover’s tweets and photos about his D&D club and elective class, I had to meet these amazing girls,” says Kate. “They blew me away–they’re brilliant and funny, and I hope we get to visit them again and maybe play some D&D!”

Start Your Own D&D Club

If you’re inspired to help start a club at a local middle or high school, or just running a game for tweens and teens, Ethan suggests keeping it simple to start. “Keep the first games with new students a little bit ‘on rails,'” he advises. “It’s okay to not fill out the whole character sheet right away! Consider starting as villagers and build up to level 1.”

He also encourages using the old school standby of raising a hand to speak when someone really wants the group’s full attention; this helps players who might be feeling lost in the group chitchat.

“My overriding principle is that I want these girls to have a sense of ownership of the game,” Ethan says. “D&D is theirs now. It’s up to me to make that happen.”

What inspiring community gaming story should we showcase next? Tell us about it on social media via Twitter or Facebook, or leave it in the comments below!

WANT MORE RPG GOODNESS?

• You can binge GM Tips now on Alpha.
• Catch up on The Mighty Nein’s adventures you missed with the Critical Role podcast.
• Don’t miss an episode of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Photos: Ethan Schoonover / Lake Washington Girls Middle School

The post This Girls Middle School D&D Club Is a Font of Inspiration appeared first on Nerdist.

As Critical Role‘s Mighty Nein make their first forays in Wildemount, they’re already meeting fascinating new people who can help them on their journey. None have made quite the impression as Pumat Sol, the unusual merchant and proprietor of The Invulnerable Vagrant, portrayed by Matt Mercer.

Pumat Sol is a firbolg, which is a type of giant, and a skilled enchanter. He’s capable of making copies of himself to run the shop, create enchantments, and answer the Mighty Nein’s numerous questions—all at the same time.

Now you can make your own Pumat Sol to keep you company as a bookmark, stick on the fridge, or keep anywhere you like! Based on a classic Japanese origami of a mask, you can keep it simple to honor tradition, or grab some markers to really make it look like the quirky firbolg.

And best of all, you can make as many Pumats as you want—just like Pumat Prime does.

This how-to is adapted from the directions for the traditional mask in Essential Origami by Megumi and Steve Biddle (1991).

What You’ll Need

• Medium-sized light grey origami paper
• Brown, black, and light pink markers
• White cardstock paper
• Black enamel dot stickers
• Hole punch
• Glue

Get Started!

Begin by placing the paper on the table, white side up. Fold it in half diagonally, and unfold it. Fold the top and bottom edges to meet in the middle, creating a diamond shape.

Fold the right point behind the shape, meeting the two points in the back.

Slide your finger under the top flap and fold it so that the edge is against the middle fold line, and press flat. You should create a completely grey triangle.

Repeat on the bottom flap.

Rotate the shape so that the shorter triangle shapes are at the top. Fold the two small triangles shapes at the top down, and unfold.

Gently pull open the right flap and slide your finger into the top.

Open it and press down, flattening the shape with the triangle on the flap pointing to the right.

Fold the left side of the diamond over, and repeat the above steps on the left side.

Next, fold the bottom point of the top flap up between the two points on the side, and then fold it down to create a pleat. Unfold the paper.

Gently fold the bottom crease you just made under the top crease. This will be Pumat’s eyebrows, so it doesn’t have to be pressed completely flat.

Fold the bottom point of the smaller triangle you just created as far up as it will go; this will be Pumat’s nose.

Fold the bottom point of the larger triangle up, meeting the tip of the triangle you just created.

Fold the bottom flap down again, making a small pleat in the paper, to create Pumat’s jaw.

Fold another pleat, this time in the nose triangle, to create Pumat’s nostrils. (Fold it close to the bottom to make the wide nose firblogs are known for.)

Flip the face over.

Lift the “chin” and gently open the point, folding it down and out to flatten it. This should create a jaw shape.

Still on the back side of the face, fold the bottom point of the chin in half to make a square jaw.

Finally, fold the ears down, making a straight line across the top.

The folding is complete! If you prefer a more traditional or subtle look for Pumat Sol, you can consider your origami finished.

If you’d like to add more details, you’ll need the markers, glue, black enamel dots, white paper, and hole punch.

Color some brown hair and a beard with the brown marker, and use the light pink on his nostrils and inside his ears.

Next, stick two medium-sized enamel dot stickers for his eyes. (You can also use the black marker if you don’t have the dot stickers.)

Punch two small circles from the white cardstock paper.

Place two small dots of glue on either side of Pumat’s nose, and glue the two circles to make his glasses.

Let the glue dry, then use the black marker to draw the bridge of the glasses.

Pumat Sol is complete!

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Find out more about the cast’s fundraising campaign for 826LA.
• Catch up from the very beginning of the first campaign, and keep up with the new one with the Critical Role Podcast.
• Tune into our official after show, Talks Machina, live on Alpha and Twitch, Tuesdays at 7pm PT.
• And don’t miss new episodes of Critical Role LIVE on Alpha and Twitch, Thursdays at 7pm PT.

All Photos: Kelly Knox

Pumat Sol Illustration: Anna Landin

The post Critical Role-igami – Fold Your Own Copy of Pumat Sol appeared first on Nerdist.

While there’s still much to be learned about The Mighty Nein’s histories and personalities, it’s not hard to see a little bit of ourselves in each of the Critical Role adventurers. Have you ever wondered who you’re most like? We’re here to help with a personality quiz!

Take the quiz below to find out which member of The Mighty Nein you would be if you lived in Wildemount.

Who did you get? Be sure to tell us in the comments!

Special thanks to the Critter artists featured in the quiz questions.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Take a look at these incredible dice designs inspired by the cast.
• Catch up on The Mighty Nein’s adventures you missed with the Critical Role podcast.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Geek & Sundry / Ariana Orner

The post QUIZ: Which Member of The Mighty Nein Are You? appeared first on Nerdist.

If we’ve learned anything from the last three years of Critical Role, it’s that selecting the dice you’ll be rolling is a very, very important decision.

Critical Role fan and mechanical engineer Carolyn of Majestic Trinkets can make that choice a little easier on you with her intricate and unique 3D printed metal dice—and one special design is even inspired by the cast of the show themselves.

She’s been a fan of the show for two years, starting with an incredible binge marathon. “I started from the beginning and binged it with almost zero knowledge as to how D&D was played,” Carolyn recalls. “It was on basically 24/7 in my house for a couple weeks straight.”

Before Critical Role, Carolyn had never played Dungeons & Dragons, but the show soon inspired her to join a group and get in the game herself. “My D&D group is actually what got me started designing dice,” she says. “Last Christmas, I gifted each member of my party with a D20 based on them or their character.”

Carolyn put her day job to good use when she decided to try her hand at die designing. “I’ve been working as a mechanical engineer as my day job for almost a decade, including designing for our lab 3D printer,” she says. “When I learned about 3D printed dice on Shapeways, I knew it was something I needed to try myself. Designing dice has become my creative outlet for designing things that aren’t just functional, but fun and interesting, too.”

While she doesn’t call herself an artist, her designs are breathtaking mini works of art.

If you can’t admire the gorgeous designs without also wondering in the back of your mind if the die is balanced, Carolyn has that covered, too. “Each 3D printed die has its own personality, from design to design, but also from die to die. Because I design each one in a CAD program, the weight distribution is easy to determine through the software. From there, I add or remove material within the center of the hollow die.”

Her tiefling d20 design was inspired directly by Critical Role‘s second campaign—and two players in particular. “Before Campaign 2 started, I knew I wanted to design something to celebrate the occasion,” Carolyn says, “and the person who would probably appreciate a pretty new trinket would be Dice Queen Laura.

“When both she and Taliesin were revealed to be tieflings, what could be more fitting than a D20 made of horns? It could have been a much different design if she had introduced the Spiritual Lollipop in Episode 1…”

You can order these magnificent dice for yourself from the Majestic Trinkets shop on Shapeways. A few dice are also available on Etsy if you’re in more of a hurry to get just the right ones for a big game coming up soon.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• GALLERY: Crafty Critters Create Crazy Cool Critical Role Crafts
• Catch up on Vox Machina’s adventures you missed with the Critical Role podcast.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

All Images: Majestic Trinkets

The post These Critical Role-Inspired Dice Are Truly Majestic appeared first on Nerdist.

Caleb Widogast’s familiar Frumpkin is every bit a member of The Mighty Nein as the group’s human (and non-human) members. Familiars may be magical creatures, but even they need a little time to play now and then. While Caleb might scowl at Frumpkin batting around his precious spellbooks, you can make a soft felt book packed with catnip to make your familiar feel just as loved as Frumpkin.

It’s even okay if this Critical Role inspired DIY toy gets dirty—it just adds authenticity!

What You Need

• Brown and off-white felt
• Loose catnip
• Large craft jewel
• Gold glitter fabric paint
• Thin ribbon
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Paintbrush

Get Started!

Step One: Begin by cutting one piece of brown felt, approximately 4 inches wide and 8 inches long. Next, cut two pieces of the off-white felt, just slightly smaller than the brown piece you cut.

Step Two: Take one piece of the off-white felt and gently shake a small amount of catnip on the right side of it. Hot glue around the right edges, and fold the felt piece in half to make the first pages.

Step Three: Line up the “pages” of the piece you just glued with the right edge of the other white piece of felt. Hot glue the folded piece on to the unfolded piece of white felt, and let cool.

Step Four: Cut the thin ribbon a few inches long, and then hot glue the ribbon on the other side of the open felt.

Step Five: Place a little more catnip on the felt, and fold it over and hot glue like you did the pages earlier. Make sure you glue all of the page edges completely or the catnip will fall out of the toy.

Step Six: Line the folded pages just alongside the right side of the brown felt, leaving room all around the sides to make it look like the cover of a book. Glue the pages to the brown felt.

Step Seven: Next, squeeze some hot glue on the off-white felt, and fold over the brown felt to complete the book. Trim the felt as needed.

Step Eight: Paint small triangles on each corner of the book’s front cover with the gold glitter fabric paint. Let dry completely. (None of the glitter should fall off if you use fabric paint; be careful using glitter glue or plain glue with glitter as it may irritate your cat’s eyes and mouth.)

Step Nine: Place a large circle of the gold fabric paint in the middle of the cover, and gently place the jewel in the middle. Gently press and move it around to make sure all of the edges of the jewel are covered in paint. Let dry completely.

Step Ten: Flip the book over and paint the same triangles on the corners, and let dry completely.

Your spellbook is complete! Give it a good shake to make sure none of the catnip falls out, and then it’s ready to work its magic on your feline familiar.

(Be sure to supervise your cat while they play with the toy to make sure they don’t remove the jewel or ribbon.)

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Catch up on Vox Machina’s adventures you missed with the Critical Role podcast.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Bianca Bickford

All Other Photos: Kelly Knox

The post This Critical Role Inspired Cat Toy Will Cast a Spell On Your Familiar appeared first on Nerdist.

Every week, talented artists share their illustrations and paintings inspired by Critical Role and its heroes, Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein. For those of us who have looked longingly at that incredible art and wished we could do something similar even though we have zero artistic skill, Critter Eliza Ferdig has come to our rescue.

She’s created and shared Mighty Nein coloring pages so even the most artistically-challenged Critical Role fans can happily put their own spin on the show’s colorful characters.

Download and print the coloring pages from the gallery below.

Eliza has been a fan of Critical Role since June 2015, just a few months after the stream started. “My husband was like, ‘Hey, check it out, Geek & Sundry has a D&D show with voice actors!'” she recalls. “We’ve been hooked ever since.”

She chose to create coloring pages for the Mighty Nein because of her love of the striking black and white lines of manga and unforgettable style of Disney animation. “I draw a lot of inspiration from them,” Eliza says. “I’ve tried other styles, but nothing comes to me quite so easily as those crisp, clean lines.”

You might notice a distinct lack of clothing in the coloring sheets, as the original inspiration for the project came from the group’s visit to the bathhouse in Steam and Conversation. “I was just doing simple headshots when I first heard Molly describe his tattoos in episode nine; I knew I just had to try my hand at doing some of them!” says Eliza. “I imagined everyone else would also be in the bathhouse, hence, no clothing.”

If you haven’t picked up crayons or pencils since elementary school, don’t worry too much about coloring like a professional artist just because you’re an adult now. “Don’t be afraid to play around!” Eliza says. “Use whatever tickles your fancy, nothing is off limits when you are coloring for yourself. As Bob Ross often said, ‘There are no mistakes; only happy little accidents!'”

(And you can always print another copy and try again.)

If you’re a stickler for details and accuracy, take a look at Ariana Orner’s official portraits of the second Critical Role campaign to get your art to match your favorite characters exactly.

Why not share your artistic masterpiece once it’s complete? Add #CritterColoring to your photos on Twitter so everyone can find your vision of The Mighty Nein!

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the second campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Kelly Knox (Coloring Page by Eliza Ferdig/Octy_In_Boots)

The post Now You Can Color Critical Role’s Colorful Characters appeared first on Nerdist.

She’d been the co-founder of a mobile games developer and was working as a freelance illustrator and animator and wanted to improve her cartoon-drawing skills. She came up with the idea of a geek-themed webcomic and made a few test comics. “I realized that I lacked actual knowledge of making comics and started reading books on the subject,” she said, “and started from scratch.”

Together with Heinze Havinga, who does the coding for the website, Kremer focused the webcomic on their adventures on the tabletop, naming it Semi Co-op. “Since I was learning a lot by drawing these comics, I said to myself: ‘Ah, let’s just continue for now and see where it goes,’” she said. “I’ve been doing it for almost three years now!”

While Semi Co-op focuses mainly on board games, there are moments when the webcomic covers their other interests, such as Critical Role.

“I’m loving every episode so far,” Kremer said. “What I enjoy most is the creativity of the players (and Matthew as the DM!) and the dedication to staying in-character even if that would mean a more negative outcome of the situation.”

Coming up with subject matter for a weekly webcomic isn’t easy, but Kremer and Havinga use it as their creative outlet. They hope their enthusiasm for gaming shines through in their work and they want to inspire people to join the hobby.

“In the beginning, we felt that some jokes were too obvious,” Kremer said, “but as we’ve learned after 150+ comics, is that there is no way to predict which comics will work and which will fall flat.”

Havinga added that being based in The Netherlands has taught them that humor is sometimes lost in translation.

“We remember getting very excited over the first-player rule in the Dutch version of Love Letter which states, ‘The player who was in love most recently gets to be the first player.’ This just screamed to be turned into a Semi Co-op comic! Unfortunately, the English version doesn’t have this rule.”

The pair ultimately decided to trust their vision of Semi Co-op.

“We’ve decided to just create the comics we think are funny and don’t worry too much about if it will gain a million likes or not,” Kremer said.

In addition to finding humor in their daily gaming lives, the couple also hosts special events at their home, like “Eightstravaganza” in which only eight-player games are played and their personal favorite, “Sherlock Scones,” a day of playing Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective in a high tea setting with scones and brownies.

With their passion for gaming and dedication to Semi Co-op, their audience has grown and they’ve recently launched their new website. Based on the overwhelmingly positive response, Kremer and Heinze are hoping to take the next step and move their webcomic from a hobby to a part-time job.

“I would love to do more animation work with Semi Co-op,” Kremer said, “and we have some other fun things brooding in the back of our minds.”

Heinze added, “Because we don’t want to scale back the comic in favor of animations, we’ll be launching a few different ways for people and companies to support us, like merchandise we’re really excited about.”

What are your favorite webcomics? Tell us in the comments! And be sure to join us on April 28th on Twitch for our International Tabletop Day stream hosted by Ivan van Norman, and help us support charity:water to raise money for a project to get water to a community of people who currently lack access to clean water.

WANT MORE WEBCOMICS?

The post How A Boardgaming Couple Launched ‘Semi Co-op’ A Weekly Webcomic appeared first on Nerdist.

As we learn more and more about the new heroes in Critical Role‘s second campaign, the details of their appearance and personality are uncovered piece by tantalizing piece in each episode. During the Mighty Nein’s downtime in the bathhouse in Zadash, Mollymauk Tealeaf revealed an extensive, exquisite tattoo design as he disrobed to enter the soothing water.

The peacock tattoo on his neck flows into “a big floral piece that goes down into a snake [on his forearm], that is kind of swallowing the hand,” described Taliesin Jaffe. “There is an eye in a pyramid piece with another eye illuminated above it, that seems to almost go into the hairline, all the way up the back.

“And then there’s a moon and sun connected to the shoulder piece that all interconnects. The whole [design] is very complicated.”

Professional henna artist and Critical Role fan Lia Mezzatesta took Taliesin’s description and turned it into real ink gracing her back and arms.

Introduced to the show by her boyfriend over a year ago, Lia declares herself as “forever obsessed.” She listened as she worked, and recently her job and her love of Critical Role connected in a beautiful way.

“A part of my job as a henna artist, and why I love doing it, is creating meaningful artwork that people carry with them,” Lia says. “I’ve always been drawn to all things goth, horror, and mystic related… So when Molly was first introduced I was very excited to see a character I could relate to. When I heard Taliesin’s description of the tattoos, I immediately thought, ‘I need to make that.’ So I did!”

Henna designs aren’t permanent tattoos, but are created with a hypoallergenic ink that Lia mixes herself. “Henna is a natural stain on the top layers of the skin that lasts from 1-2 weeks,” she says. “I mix the henna myself using high-quality henna powders, cajeput oil, lemon juice, and sugar. The acidity of the oil and lemon is what brings the dye out of the powder.”

Mollymauk’s design took two hours to draw, Lia says, and then dried on her skin. “After the paste is removed,” she says, “the stain darkens from a bright orange color to a dark brown color.”

If you hope to get a similar design to bring out your inner Mollymauk, Lia suggests looking on social media to find a local artist. (If you’re in Arizona, you might even find Lia herself.) “Check out their portfolio and years of experience to make sure that artist’s style is right for you, then set up an appointment,” she advises.

She also warns against getting henna tattoos with black ink, which contains a chemical that can blister and burn the skin. “The black stain might look cool, but it is not worth the risk of damaging your skin!”

The tattoos are obviously important to Mollymauk, and they resonate with Lia as well. “When the design is something that I personally feel connected to, I feel like it becomes an even more powerful piece of art,” she says. “Henna may not be permanent, but it’s still just as important to me as the artist, and to the person receiving it.”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• The cast of Critical Role will be at C2E2 in Chicago, April 6-8.
• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Cali H

Photos: Lia Mezzatesta / Desert Henna Company

The post This Critical Role Fan Took Mollymauk’s Tattoos From Imagination to Ink appeared first on Nerdist.

Every week on Critical Role, the audience is treated to side-splitting humor and brilliant puns from the cast.

These are not those jokes.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Vicious Mockery in real life, there is a chance you might lose some hit points from how bad these jokes are. Enjoy, and share your own in the comments!

Critical Role “Dad” Jokes

How is the new adventuring party like the Borg?
They are seven of Nein.

What happens when Frumpkin drinks a healing potion?
He goes cat-a-tonic.

The joke above—and this entire list!—were inspired by brimleydower in Twitch chat during Critical Role’s March 8 livestream. 

What is Frumpkin’s favorite kind of cat food?
Nein Lives.

How many adventurers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Nein. They don’t have electricity in Wildemount!

What do you call the ribbon in Beauregard’s hair?
A Tie-Beau.

What do you call it when the Mighty Nein’s warlock makes a pact with a patron?
A Fjord Fusion.

Why did Jester wrap the goblin girl in ribbons?
She wanted to tie the Nott.

“Mollymauk, are you sure you’re the type to be a blood hunter?”
“Oh, positive.”

What is Caleb’s favorite kind of literature?
Dirty magazines.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the second campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Clifton Evans (http://tootsoup.tumblr.com)

Comic: Aviv Or (Upto4Players)

The post Vicious Mockery: 9 Critical Role Dad Jokes appeared first on Nerdist.

Every campaign comes to an end, and GM Tips is no different. Three seasons and fifty-four episodes later, GM Tips finally comes to a close with a retrospective episode with our two hosts, Satine Phoenix, and Matt Mercer. Take a moment, find some coffee, get cozy, and watch the season finale video below.

Knowing how to close any story is a fine art indeed, and this time I’ve got some tips on ending your campaigns myself. Even if it’s before the adventures time.

Campaign Closeout Tips

For campaigns with a planned ending and both storytellers and players commit to the end, the narrative writes itself, and all you need to do is facilitate that. Once you crest the bell curve of rising action to climax and begin the downward slope to the final boss fight, you know the end is nigh. Resist the urge to make the final climax the end of the campaign whatever you do. Plan out some adventure time to tie up any loose ends possible and then let the party say their final farewells.

If a campaign abruptly ends, however, due to an emergency, fallout, time, schedules or even a job shift, you should try to do at least one final session. Even if that session is a narrative that you type up for each character outlining their place in the world and a small epilogue for them. Giving some closure, like a chapter close, allows you to revisit the campaign at a later time when you are capable of restarting it—but also allows it to be the final end if that’s never possible.

A Session After Your Last

This one is easy! Your campaign has ended, the characters have finally hung up their equipment, and everything has already been tidied up in game 100%. Now, get everyone together the week after and have a session to chill, drink and chat about the game as players and friends. What did people like, love, or even hate? Ask about their favorite moments…. and even let them throw all their conspiracy ideas on the table.

Doing this allows everyone associated with the game to have that true closeout. If you have been running at a local game store, invite other tables to the closeout party as well! Getting a chance to hear what happened with another games campaign is a fun time to do a comparison. It’s also during this day you’ll figure out what comes next…

Starting Up A New Campaign

Just like Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time; the end of one age is the beginning of another. Now is the time to figure out where you go next and what adventures await you in the future. Don’t dive into the next thing right away, but take stock of all the game books you have on your shelves to really see what kind of story you want to run. Maybe it’s time you pass the torch to the next storyteller in your group and make a character for their game, or even take a break for a few weeks to recharge. Only after that, go blow the dust off that first edition book you have sitting around…

For Satine Phoenix here is a handy link guide of where to find her future exploits (as she says at the end of all her videos):

• Maze Arcana on Twitch TV
• @SatinePhoenix on Twitter
• The Action Heroine’s Journey – Satine’s own book on creating stories of female heroic protagonists.
• Satine’s Patreon – learn art, more GM Tips, follow progress, and talk shop with Satine.

Now for you guys, would you like to see more GM Tips? What kind of articles would you like to see? Let us know in the comments below!

Looking for More Useful GM Tips?

• Mash-up the Dread System in your tabletop RPG’s to increase tension.
• How to handle long-running and epic rpg campaigns.
• Shop the Geek & Sundry store for DM gear, like a “How Do You Want to Do This” hoodie!

Featured Image: Critical Role Christmas Final by Hugo Cardenas. (Takayuuki.deviantart.com|Youtube)

Rick Heinz is the author of The Seventh Age: Dawn, and a storyteller with a focus on LARPs, Wraith: The Oblivion, Eclipse Phase, and many more. You can follow game or urban fantasy related thingies on Twitter or Facebook.

The post Get An Edge Closing Out A Campaign With These GM Tips appeared first on Nerdist.

Whether you want to challenge Vizzini to a deadly match of wits or storm the castle with Fezzik, Inigo, and Westley, you’ll find plenty of swashbuckling adventure in The Princess Bride Roleplaying Game.

In case you’re not familiar with the incredible book or movie adaptation, the game is set in the Kingdom of Florin. The cooperative storytelling game lets players role-play characters in The Princess Bride universe, where they can journey through the Fire Swamp, stop by Miracle Max’s, or scale the Cliffs of Insanity, among many over adventures.

After releasing two Princess Bride board games, Princess Bride Storming the Castle Game and the Princess Bride’opoly Board Game, Toy Vault ventures into its first roleplaying game. “I’m a big fan of the book and the movie,” Toy Vault Game Developer and Marketing Director Ed Bryan said. “Since it is Toy Vault’s first RPG, I made sure to surround myself with experts.”

Toy Vault turned to veteran RPG writer Steffan O’Sullivan (GURPS: Bunnies and Burrows, GURPS: Swashbuckler, and Fudge), who used the Fudge engine to run the game. The Princess Bride Roleplaying Game is a simple set of rules requiring only three six-sided dice to power the action.

With stats for all of the main characters in the movie, new RPG players can jump right into the game, while more experienced players can tinker with their own character builds.

“The system is perfect for representing the light-hearted nature of The Princess Bride world,” Bryan said. “Steffan’s goal from the outset was to create a game that would allow fans of The Princess Bride to role-play in that world, regardless if they’ve never role-played before. There is lots of advice for first-time players and a graduated character creation system that allows people to jump right in.”

Ann Dupuis of Grey Ghost Games and Richard Lorio of Rogue Games soon joined the team and, according to Bryan, “All three have been invaluable in helping us out with our first RPG product.”

With the Kickstarter fully funded, Bryan added, “We’re glad our backers have responded favorably to the project, and we’re working hard to make sure they are thrilled with the end results. We are especially excited that we get to produce some extra content for the game.”

Finding true love in the game may or may not happen, but the thrill of exploring Florin will have Princess Bride fans clamoring for repeated plays. Of course, there’s only answer one to such a request.

“As you wish.”

The Princess Bride Roleplaying Game Kickstarter campaign ends on March 15th.

What character would you be in The Princess Bride Roleplaying Game? Tell us in the comments!

WANT MOREPRINCESS BRIDE GOODNESS?

• Check out these three The Princess Bride games!
• Learn how to blend The Princess Bride-style humor and fantasy in your writing.
• Take a look at these five games that feed your ‘80s and ’90s nostalgia.

Featured Image Credit: 20th Century Fox
Image Credits: Toy Vault

Ruel Gaviola is a writer based in Southern California. He loves board games, books, cooking, traveling, Star Wars, and date nights with his wife. He reviews games and reports news for iSlaytheDragon and his name rhymes with Superman’s Kryptonian name. Follow him on Twitter and read his blog here.

The post Inconceivable! Swashbuckling Adventure Awaits You In The Princess Bride RPG appeared first on Nerdist.

New campaigns bring new characters, and Critical Role is no exception. After playing our beloved Vox Machina for so long, the players were ready for new directions and new stories to tell—and their characters reflect that.

Our new heroes go beyond the basics you’ll find in the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook to include features that we’ve not seen played before in the Critical Role campaign, from a surprisingly adorable goblin rogue to a one-of-a-kind tiefling blood hunter.

If you want to speculate about the new campaign, or you’re looking to break the mold yourself the next time you bring a new character to life, here’s where you’ll find details about these unusual characters.

Aasimar

Found In: Volo’s Guide to Monsters

Yasha, who works at the same dazzling Traveling Carnival of Curiosities as Mollymauk, is a towering aasimar Barbarian who wields her wits as deftly as her sword. If you’ve not heard of an aasimar before, it’s because they are something of a rarity. While they are typically born to human parents, aasimar are touched by divine power and chosen to be guardians and champions.

While time will tell what secrets Yasha’s past holds, it’s certain to be a compelling and unusual tale.

“[Yasha is] taller than your average lass,” said Ashley Johnson with a smile when introducing her character. “She’s very stand-offish.”

Goblin

Found In: Volo’s Guide to Monsters

Goblins are listed in Volo’s Guide as “monstrous adventurers,” but Sam Riegel’s character Nott the Brave is more delightful than frightful. While there’s not much information about creating a goblin character beyond some traits for the race, it is interesting to note that goblins reach adulthood at age 8.

Like Yasha, there’s certain to be a captivating story in Nott’s background about how and why she became an adventurer, but one thing is for sure: It’s not going to be an easy road for her.

“Goblins are not welcome strolling about,” Caleb warned when the group first met each other. “She’s my companion. She’s my friend.”

Blood Hunter

Found In: D&D Beyond

Mollymauk, the ostentatious tiefling played by Taliesin Jaffe, glitters like the night sky. With lavender skin and red eyes, along with horns adorned with jewels and fine silk robes, Mollymauk purposely stands out from the rest. “He’s very broad in his dress,” Taliesin described.

He’s also unique for his class. Mollymauk is a blood hunter, a class created by Matthew Mercer himself that you can now find on D&D Beyond.

“These warriors have chosen to merge the martial pursuit of deadly weapon play with elements of vicious blood magic to create impressively effective combat techniques,” says the description. Is there darkness hiding under all that elegance?

Hexblade Warlock

Found In: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

Fjord’s gentle Southern accent isn’t the only thing that sets Travis Willingham’s character apart. Perhaps showing his fondness for sentient weapons, Fjord is a hexblade warlock, a subclass often characterized by such weapons. Imbued with the power of the Shadowfell, these weapons suggest a dangerous pact made in the past. But not all warlocks choose to create such a weapon, using just the dark magic itself.

While not much of Fjord’s past has been revealed, like all of the other characters in the new crew, just this tantalizing tidbit is enough to hint at a riveting story just waiting to unfold.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Preorder the throwback Critical Role poster to make your game room the coolest ever.
• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

All Images: Geek & Sundry / Ariana Orner

The post How The New Critical Role Characters Go Beyond the D&D Player’s Handbook appeared first on Nerdist.

“Welcome to tonight’s episode of Critical Role, where a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors sit around and play Dungeons & Dragons.”

Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer opens almost every session of Critical Role this way, but if you’ve never tuned in before, you might be wondering what the next few hours will hold. Whether you’re finally breaking down and checking out the show your friend has been raving about, or you happened across the stream on the front page of Twitch, we’re here to help.

With this Critical Role crash course, you’ll be calling yourself a Critter in no time. (First lesson: A “Critter” is a fan of Critical Role.)

Who Are They?

Critical Role is a weekly D&D game played live on Twitch every Thursday night. The main cast remains the same week to week, barring any schedule conflicts, although guest stars will pop in now and then to join in the fun. You can think of the game as a weekly improv show set in a fantasy world called Exandria.

Once the episode gets underway, you may be wondering, “Where have I heard these guys before?” Here’s where:

• Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master: Matt has had several starring and major roles in both anime and video games, from Levi in Attack on Titan, Leon Kennedy in the Resident Evil series, McCree in Overwatch, and Yusuke Kitagawa in Persona 5. You can also hear Matt as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Battlefront II.
• Laura Bailey as Jester: Laura has a wide range of work, but is best known for her roles as Black Widow for Avengers Assemble, Catwoman in Batman: The Telltale Series, Kait Diaz in Gears of War 4, and Eltariel in Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. She was also nominated for The Game Awards for her work as Nadine Ross in Uncharted: Lost Legacy, and will be in the upcoming The Last of Us Part II.
• Travis Willingham as Fjord: Travis’s regal voice can be heard as Thor in Marvel’s animated shows and King Roland in Disney’s Sofia the First. He also starred as Roy Mustang in Full Metal Alchemist, Harvey Dent in Batman: The Telltale Series, and you can catch a quick glimpse of him in The Punisher on Netflix.
• Liam O’ Brien as Caleb Widogast: Illidan in World of Warcraft, Gaara in Naruto, and Doctor Strange in Marvel animation are just a few places you’ve heard Liam before. He also voices Gollum in Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor.
• Sam Riegel as Nott: Sam has played roles like Donatello of the Ninja Turtles and Phoenix Wright, but his most recent work is as Dialogue Director on Disney animated shows like Pickle and Peanut, Elena of Avalor, and DuckTales.
• Marisha Ray as Beauregard: Marisha has done voice work for Persona 4 and Star Wars Battlefront, but you’re likely to recognize her from your trips to GameStop, where she hosts their in-store TV programming. Marisha is also Creative Director at Geek & Sundry.
• Taliesin Jaffe as Mollymauk: Taliesin has a strong background in anime and manga, working on shows like Hellsing and Read Or Die, along with video game voicework in franchises like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, and Street Fighter. Recently he voiced Barry Allen in Injustice 2.
• Ashley Johnson as Yasha: Ashley has been in acting since she was a child, starting with Growing Pains and in a variety of films. She’s also voiced cartoons like Teen Titans Go! and Ben 10, and is currently starring on Blindspot on NBC.

How Do You Play Dungeons & Dragons?

Dungeons & Dragons is a shared storytelling experience where the success of actions is determined by a roll of the dice. If a player wants to take a swing at a monster, jump over something, look for clues, or even just try to get a read on the person they’re talking to, they roll the dice. The Dungeon Master lets them know if they succeeded or failed, and the story changes accordingly.

If you’d like to learn more, check out this video and find more details on D&D Beyond.

What Does ____ Mean?

When you’re watching Critical Role, you may see a strange phrase flash by in the chat, or hear some terms you might not be familiar with. Here’s a quick glossary:

• Bidet or Beep Beep: A throwback to a phrase a character used in the first campaign, meaning “hello” or “good day”.
• Don’t F*** Me, Gil: Blacksmith Gil Ramirez has forged several dice for the players; when rolling the die, a player will often shout this in hopes of a good roll.
• How Do You Want to Do This?: If a player lands the finishing blow in combat, Matthew Mercer gives them the chance to describe exactly how they want it to happen.
• Jenga: An in-game code word for “Help!”
• Natural 1: A player has rolled a 1 on their dice, resulting in a critical failure. The action immediately fails, often with spectacular consequences.
• Natural 20: A player has rolled 20 on their dice, resulting in a critical success. The action immediately succeeds stupendously.
• Red Stapler (Twitch chat): An emoticon meaning “not safe for work”
• Vox Machina: The group name taken by the players in the first Critical Role campaign.
• Whispers: If an insight check results in a success, the player will sometimes have the information whispered in their ear.

How Can I Watch?

You can watch Critical Role live on the Geek & Sundry Twitch channel and on Alpha every Thursday night. The episode is uploaded to YouTube the following Monday, and can be found here on the Geek & Sundry site. You can also watch the Video On Demand anytime if you’re a Twitch or Alpha subscriber.

Why Start Watching Now?

The second campaign is just getting underway, so if you were worried about catching up on the 115 episodes of the first campaign, you don’t have to. The second campaign takes place in the same world, but you don’t need any knowledge to jump right into Exandria.

There’s no better time to start watching Critical Role than right now.

What Is Talks Machina?

Every Tuesday night, some of the players stop by Talks Machina to chat with host Brian W. Foster about the episode that aired the previous Thursday. Talks Machina is a Critical Role aftershow on Twitch and Alpha where players and the Dungeon Master reveal a little more about what happened during the game and answer questions from viewers.

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Preorder the throwback Critical Role poster to make your game room the coolest ever.
• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

Featured Image: Geek & Sundry (Joshua Thomas)

All Images: Geek & Sundry

The post Welcome to Critical Role: A Neophyte’s Primer appeared first on Nerdist.

Ariana Orner is the new official Critical Role artist starting with the second campaign, although she’s not new at all to the show itself. “I got into it back in April 2016 and I haven’t stopped loving it since,” she says. So it’s no surprise that Ariana is thrilled to contribute to the new campaign, and last week we were treated to a quick peek at her official portraits of the new Critical Role crew.

Take a look at the gallery below for a detailed look at the new characters.

Watching the first episode was a delight, she says. “It’s one thing to get a feel for the characters through visual development, and completely another to see them in action. I love each character so much.”

Ariana was first approached by Liam O’Brien to contribute as the campaign’s official artist. “He floated the idea to me and asked if I was willing and free to do it, and of course I said yes!” she says. “He’s been a constant source of enthusiasm and support and I’m enormously honored to be given a chance to work on something I love in an official capacity. It’s still pretty surreal to me.”

Creating the cast’s new official portraits began with Ariana trying a few rough sketches to get an idea of the character they had in mind. She describes her personal art style as semi-realism. “I come from a primarily animanga and comics-influenced background, so I think whatever I do is going to be stylized in some way,” she says.

Each player would check out the sketches, offer their feedback, and she’d incorporate the changes. The process continued until it matched the character in their imagination. “They were a dream to work with,” Ariana says. “They knew exactly what they wanted, and were so incredibly kind and patient with me while I tried to put it down on paper.”

Ariana is eager for the campaign to come. “It’s magical watching this cast play off of each other, and Matt’s storytelling is always a treasure. I’m so excited to see where the story will take them next.”

WANT MORE CRITICAL ROLE?

• Preorder the throwback Critical Role poster to make your game room the coolest ever.
• Watch the new intro on repeat. We won’t judge.
• Download the previous week’s adventures on the Critical Role podcast every Thursday.
• Don’t miss the new campaign of Critical Role, live on Alpha and Twitch Thursdays at 7:00 PM Pacific.

All Images: Geek & Sundry / Ariana Orner

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