Critical Role PSA: You are not Matt Mercer

[prabe]

For any non Critters I think this needs a video.
Setting the scene, the party is resting atop a 1000 foot cliff. One of the party decides to perform a spectacular cliff dive, using gust of wind in midair to push herself away from the cliff as she falls.

And I think that's one of the worst examples of Mercer's DMing there is, and I'm inclined to ignore the advice of someone who actually DMs that way.

 

[billd91]

Because there’s no shortage of things they’ve done that have pissed off the fans or had them called stupid. (The infamous fish moment.)

Honestly, that scene was pretty funny. Any fans who got pissed off or called them stupid roundly deserves a slap.

 

[darjr]

And I think that's one of the worst examples of Mercer's DMing there is, and I'm inclined to ignore the advice of someone who actually DMs that way.

You think that’s terrible?

 

[prabe]

You think that’s terrible?

I do. Mercer botched the falling rules (which isn't horrible in itself) then played it up to make the player who'd done the unwise thing look stupider, just for laughs.

 

[Charlaquin]

And I think that's one of the worst examples of Mercer's DMing there is, and I'm inclined to ignore the advice of someone who actually DMs that way.

In my opinion the worst moment of his was during the Briarwood arc, when Marisha tried to do something clever to deal with some mist she suspected (correctly) of being a shapeshifted vampire and Matt says “you would have no way of knowing to do that.” That’s one of my biggest DMing pet peeves, and you can see it frustrating the hell out of Marisha too.

 

[Jester David]

And I think that's one of the worst examples of Mercer's DMing there is, and I'm inclined to ignore the advice of someone who actually DMs that way.

It's not his best example of DMing. But I'm not showing it as that. I'm showing it as an example of players doing foolish things rather than being cool for the camera.

Also, Mercer is many things but he's also not an easy DM. He's not going to softball things or change the world to spare the players from stupid decision.

And think about it: if he had and the player had just dived, take 10 points of damage and moved on... would it be a remotely interesting story to share? A memorable scene at all?
Instead, they got a scene that was absurd enough that it got turned into a T-shirt.

Honestly, that scene was pretty funny. Any fans who got pissed off or called them stupid roundly deserves a slap.

It's hilarious. But the player wishes she could blame that moment on "doing something for the fans".
Most fans aren't going to call her stupid over it, but she does get some teasing on screen and off for making the jump and not becoming, say, a bird.

It's also not the only example of foolishness or mistakes. Famously, a character died because their player miscounted their hit points.

I do. Mercer botched the falling rules (which isn't horrible in itself) then played it up to make the player who'd done the unwise thing look stupider, just for laughs.

1) You're assuming he didn't houserule falling damage. (Which many DMs do; falling damage stupid low at great heights.)
2) Every DM botches a rule at some time. If that makes someone terrible there are no non-terrible DMs.
3) It was being played for laughs by everyone. He made some effort to be serious but everyone was dying of laughter. The whole situation is so absurd it's hard not to laugh. Watching it live I was dying of laughter the entire time. I'm more surprised he kept a straight face as long as he did...

Now, keep in mind, Matt knows his players. Probably better that you know your players after four years of weekly games plus set-up and one-shots and hanging out. And said player is his wife, who he also knows. He's not going to cross a line or upset them.

 

[Oofta]

I do. Mercer botched the falling rules (which isn't horrible in itself) then played it up to make the player who'd done the unwise thing look stupider, just for laughs.

Yeah. That was horrible. Everybody laughing, joking, having a good time. Truly awful people having fun because of a tragic event.

Pathetic.

P.S. Oh, and yes there was too much damage ... everybody gets a rule wrong sometimes.

 

[prabe]

Yeah. That was horrible. Everybody laughing, joking, having a good time. Truly awful people having fun because of a tragic event.

Pathetic.

It's always felt more like laughing at than laughing with, to me, and just a little bit like punching down. If I had been the player doing the falling, I would have been seething.

 

[darjr]

I do. Mercer botched the falling rules (which isn't horrible in itself) then played it up to make the player who'd done the unwise thing look stupider, just for laughs.

Marisha Ray literally says about if she had died “That would be awesome!”, non sarcastically. And laughs so freaking hard I thought she was going to burst a lung. I don’t really get your issue with this.

 

[Jester David]

Yeah. That was horrible. Everybody laughing, joking, having a good time. Truly awful people having fun because of a tragic event.

Pathetic.

P.S. Oh, and yes there was too much damage ... everybody gets a rule wrong sometimes.

The trouble with the internet rears it's head again as I have no idea if you're being sarcastic or ironic or critical at them for laughing at the tragic...