Critical Role Critical Role’s 7-hour Campaign Finale

It’s not the last of Critical Role (obviously) but it is the end of their second campaign this Thursday. And it’s 7 hours long!

Critical Role’s highly successful second campaign -- The Mighty Nein -- premiered over three years ago and has built up over 530 hours of adventures, including over 440 villains conquered and over 100 hours of battles (source: CritRoleStats), and this Thursday, June 3, the epic saga of Critical Role’s second campaign is set to embark on its final adventure.

Since the launch of the campaign on January 11, 2018, Critical Role has chronicled the story of Jester Lavorre (Laura Bailey), Yasha Nydoorin (Ashley Johnson), Caleb Widogast (Liam O’Brien), Beauregard "Beau" Lionett (Marisha Ray), Nott the Brave/Veth Brenatto (Sam Riegel), Fjord (Travis Willingham), Mollymauk "Molly" Tealeaf and Caduceus Clay (both played by Taliesin Jaffe) of The Mighty Nein as they explored Wildemount, formed relationships, spat in the face of death and buried allies, realized that not all goblins are as they seem, discovered the power a friendly cupcake (sprinkled with some Dust of Deliciousness) can have in befriending powerful foes, and showcased the resiliency one can have in the face of insurmountable odds time and time again.

Experience the final chapter of The Mighty Nein as Critical Role concludes the legend of this ragtag group of miscreants that millions across the globe have come to know and love. How will their journey end and what’s next from the world of Critical Role? Tune in to find out!

The final episode of Critical Role’s Campaign 2: The Mighty Nein airs this Thursday, June 3 2021 at 7PM PST simultaneously on Twitch (twitch.tv/criticalrole) and YouTube (youtube.com/criticalrole), with the replayable VOD of the show available on Critical Role’s YouTube channel the following Monday.

Critters…. How do you want to do this?

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

Good point. Bundling YouTube, Twitch and podcast numbers together, it's definitely much more popular than many weekly TV shows on broadcast television (still the most widely watched television shows in the US).

As far as profitability for CR, I would almost say you'd need to factor in their company is all them. They haven't been under Geek & Sundry for quite awhile, they have all of their other shows they run, they seem to be doing very well with their online stores in the US/UK/Australia/Canada. I know someone mentioned numbers compared to the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but I highly doubt (I could be wrong) that Bachelorette viewers would put over $11M dollars to fund a Bachelor spinoff when they were asked for $750k. I think for the vast majority of shows on TV, they may have higher viewers, but very few of them survive being cancelled - I mean, you get shows like 90210 getting a 'reboot', or Firefly getting a movie to close out the storyline, but... It's not like those shows had people put their money where their mouth is.

 

[billd91]

As far as profitability for CR, I would almost say you'd need to factor in their company is all them. They haven't been under Geek & Sundry for quite awhile, they have all of their other shows they run, they seem to be doing very well with their online stores in the US/UK/Australia/Canada. I know someone mentioned numbers compared to the Bachelor/Bachelorette, but I highly doubt (I could be wrong) that Bachelorette viewers would put over $11M dollars to fund a Bachelor spinoff when they were asked for $750k. I think for the vast majority of shows on TV, they may have higher viewers, but very few of them survive being cancelled - I mean, you get shows like 90210 getting a 'reboot', or Firefly getting a movie to close out the storyline, but... It's not like those shows had people put their money where their mouth is.

It isn‘t really like there was opportunity to do so at the time. Kickstarter wouldn’t come along for a few years after the Serenity movie - and even then the capacity for crowdfunding a movie or TV show is relatively low compared to typical budgets these days.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It isn‘t really like there was opportunity to do so at the time. Kickstarter wouldn’t come along for a few years after the Serenity movie - and even then the capacity for crowdfunding a movie or TV show is relatively low compared to typical budgets these days.

The first Kickstarter I backed, as I recall, is the Veronica Mars movie, which was released nine years after Serenity. But as you say, that's still a rarity even today.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I am a huge fan of how accessible they have made D&D but I can't imagine watching others play for 7 hours. Obviously, I'm in the vast minority I just can't even imagine playing for 7 hours anymore either.

Takes me about 3 sittings to watch a normal episode

 

[overgeeked]

That said, until they announce otherwise, I don't think there's a reason to believe they will be switching away from 5E. It's certainly possible, but I don't know what their incentive would be at this point.

Publishing their own system and using that is the only speculation to take seriously. It’s possible. I’m not sure how likely it will be though.

 

[overgeeked]

I would wonder where I should start?

Campaign 2. You start with the characters. They’re fresh, low level, and the cast are settling in to them. They also have their format down, have quality equipment, and don’t have the chat scrolling across the screen.

 

[Ogre Mage]

People are going to freak out when they announce that the next campaign is going to be using Toon, rather than 5E.

I heard they were playing F.A.T.A.L. and making the new campaign pay-per-view.

 

[overgeeked]

I'm really old I guess, I don't understand the pleasure seeing other play the game. I don't get eSports either. Let me find a cloud to yell at.

I had the same reaction until they did their Call of Cthulhu one shot. After that I gave the regular campaign a try. It’s not for everyone. But it is fun. It’s almost like watching a TV show with how immersed in character and the world they are. I honestly think that’s the appeal. My older brothers are fans and tried to get me into CR for a few years. They’re now 52 and 48.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I would wonder where I should start? As not actually playing, maybe that could be an alternative...

Edit: lol @ clockwork orange

It's just like a massive time investment.

I may be biased, but I’d say start with campaign 1. It’s about as much content as campaign 2, though the early episodes had lower production values. Some ppl recommend starting at the Briarwood arc, but doing that you’d skip the party’s trip to Vasselheim, which is a true delight and has fantastic guest spots from Will Wheaton, Felicia Day, Will Friedle, and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn.

If that doesn’t grab you, skip to campaign 2, or even just wait for campaign 3 to start.

I also recommend watching in 1 hour chunks like it’s a TV show.

Anyone know if there is a set of videos of C1 that cuts out all the shoutouts and gift openings and other faff?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Alternate place to start: The comic books and origin novels coming out this summer.