D&D 5E WotC Announces New Critical Role Hardcover Adventure

Call of the Netherdeep will be out in March 2022. This adventure is set in Exandria and is for character levels 3-12. Interestingly, it also bears Critical Role branding at the top and bottom of the cover.

This is the third Critical Role D&D hardcover. The Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide came out in 2017, and the Explorer's Guide to Wildemount came out in 2020.

Darrington Press, CR's publishing arm, also announced the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn in July of this year with a release date of late 2021/early 2022.

An epic Critical Role campaign for the world’s greatest roleplaying game.

The greed of mortals has awakened a powerful entity long thought destroyed. For eons, this mighty champion of the gods has been imprisoned in the darkest depths of Exandria. His name has been forgotten, as have his heroic deeds. Languishing in despair, he calls out for new heroes to save him.

Inspired by the campaigns of the hit series Critical Role, this adventure begins in the Wastes of Xhorhas and leads 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. Above it all, the red moon of Ruidus watches, twisting the fates of those who have the power to shape the course of history.

Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep contains seven chapters of thrilling adventure, new creatures and magic items, and a poster map of Ank’Harel.

• First major adventure module within Critical Role’s world of Exandria, taking players from levels 3-12.
• Multi-continental story that spans the scarred Wastes of Xhorhas, introduces the continent of Marquet, and eventually plunges players into the Netherdeep—a terrifying cross between the Far Realm and the deep ocean.
• Bursting with lore and all new art depicting Exandria.
• Includes new magic items and creatures and introduces new rival NPCs.

 

[ReshiIRE]

Will be the best-selling 5E adventure to date.

Yeah, thsi could be a really, really big one. I bet if I still had some diehard Critical Role fans as friends they'd be going nuclear with interest right now.

 

[Parmandur]

I don't watch critical role, but I am excited to see an official adventure starting at 3rd level. My group has started campaigns above level 1 for a while and I think by this time in the development cycle there's enough people experienced with 5e that we can start more adventures at higher levels.

The Wildemount book has four level 1-3 intro Adventures, any of which would slot in well here.

 

[darjr]

 

[Parmandur]

I would argue that although Wildemount's book is very well produced, it's actually fairly unimaginative as 5E setting books go (probably better than SCAG or Ravnica, worse than Theros, Eberron, Ravenloft). But we are all entitled to our own opinion...

In my book, that's a feature, not a bug: very well drawn out standard Fantasy locations and NPCs that I can copy-paste as needed? I'll take that over Dino Halflings, honestly.

 

[darjr]

Also it’s a fresh setting with stars but not the deep cannon of FR or even Greyhawk.

That could be a bog boon to some.

But maybe not if you look at hours in screen

 

[Parmandur]

Ugh. Yet more money being thrown at these overhyped celebs Not a fan of the money they put into them but it’s clearly for promotion.

That kind of stuff should go into someone more grassroots, like Keith Baker for Eberron. (The guy who actually won the contest fairly and got his campaign published as opposed to just putting a camera on a celebrity playing D&D and feeding Exandria on a silver platter).

I’d have been much more accepting of another Eberron book than another Exandria.

Exandria is the definition of an organic Setting, made from standard parts by an amateur for his friends to have fun, similar to the Forgotten Realms origins. Eberron is completely non-organic, but a slick corporate product (not that there's anything wrong with that!).

 

[Muso]

Another book that I won't buy together with the magic crossover. Saved money

 

[thundershot]

Not my forte, but good for those that want it. I’ll still sit over here waiting for Spelljammer and/or Dark Sun.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I'm not a big Critical Role fan, but I imagine there are lots of people super-excited at this news. And that's pretty cool. I'm sure I'll pick it up.

WotC! They did it to us again! Spelljammer the forever tease!

This CR book is awesome !

Also, here seems a good place to post that How2Drink did another pair of D&D cocktails, this time specifically from Critical Role:


I'm somewhat hesitant about the first one, since Midori is sooo overpowering, but the second one looks more my speed.

 

[eyeheartawk]

Eh, not for me. I would wager there isn't anything about Exandria that is engaging that also isn't done just as well by like, 300 other extant first and third party settings out there. But whatever, as long as it's not taking a setting spot I could care less.

I'm just wondering, when will we reach peak D&D brand synergy here? Is Wizards just going to start pointing around a room at things that are popular and make D&D books? The NFL is always popular, gimme dat Cleveland Browns supplement.