Critical Role Could Critical Role launch their own RPG?

[LuisCarlos17f]

We don't need a new corebook, but a book as "Unearthed Arcana" with new classes and optional rules could be possible. For example hit-points with health-levels, when a health level is lost there is a penalty as when a point of ability score is lost by some undead special attack of life consumption.

I am thinking about a d20 version of White Wolf's storytelling system. I guess there is a space for liveplay shows of a gothic horror RPG because we are too used to movies where all character die but the final girl, and in the liveplay show nobody know who will survey or will die.

 

[Jester David]

Why on earth would they even consider an NFL RPG?

No idea.
Why on Earth would they even consider a Critical Role RPG?

So, the notion that they could leverage their fandom into a sort of Paizo style jump into RPG game design and production is hardly a totally left field idea. I mean, good grief, Lisa Stevens has barely any game design credits, yet is CEO of a very successful Paizo. Since when do the people running an RPG company need to be game designers?

Firstly, Lisa Stevens has a prolific resume in the industry. She has some early design credits, but found her place behind the scenes. But was involved in the creation of Ars Magica, Vampire the Masquerade, Magic the Gathering, and the acquisition of TSR.

Opposed to Critical Role, which has zero experience running any kind of company, let alone a game company. Marisa Ray is the content manager and helps run the show and the network, but that’s a very different beast than a game/ publishing company.

Now, I’m sure they could partner with someone to manage that. Hire a bunch of people skilled at RPG design and create a book department. Spin their name in gaming to become the second or third biggest RPG.
But, again... why?
What does it get them?

It doesn’t make the show better. It doesn’t give the audience something they don’t have already. It doesn’t bring more viewers to the show. It certainly doesn’t help them with their day job, which pays their bills and maintains their LA lifestyle.
Meanwhile, D&D is doing all the hard work and they’re using that game for free. And likely getting books and minis from WotC. Plus sponsorship $$ from D&D Beyond.
What’s the benefit?

 

[OB1]

Because the VTTs are terrible compared with D&D Beyond's character sheet? When we're sitting around the table and everyone has their tablets tracking their character sheet, and I have D&D Beyond up on my laptop, why shouldn't I be able to easily see the characters in the party? Sure, I could manually track everything myself in some other program, but that just feels like too much extra work (with the chance that I screw it up and the VTT copy is different to the DDB copy).

Just discovered that there is a way to quickly switch between characters in DDB. Click on the Campaign name just below the HP total and you get a list of all characters in that campaign. Not as good as having everything on one page, but better than multiple tabs.

And they finally have the Encounter Builder listed as coming soon, which I’m sure will have all the PCs main stats on one page. Can’t freaking wait. I hate using one program to build encounters and another to look at characters and monsters.

 

[Burt Baccara]

Casting Resurrection on this thread as the OGL discussions make it relevant again.

Just think, TSR and later WotC spent all that time and effort trying to get movies and tv shows off the ground. Sure there was the Saturday morning cartoon, and there is the upcoming movie and 8-episode show, however, the success of those is not guaranteed.

CR can flip the script. CR has the most popular live play show, CR has a popular series on Amazon, CR is publishing material that is well received, CR has a popular DM that others look up to.

If CR came out with Critical Role the RPG, and played it on their live play...Oy!

 

[Krachek]

I wonder how Wotc evaluate CR effects on DnD.
For me I don’t hook on such show, but I can notice the popularity.
We have a playtest for OneDnd, but I can imagine sessions of playtest and building a new game broadcast by CR. That can be a totally new process that can change the nature of game development and promotion.

 

[Steampunkette]

Deleted, inappropriate place for this question!

 

[Reynard]

It seems to me at this point that there is a better possibility of whatever Community SRD and Open Game License emerges, the 3PP leaders behind it will try and entice CR to come over to it. It would make it an instant success, I wager.

 

[bedir than]

It seems to me at this point that there is a better possibility of whatever Community SRD and Open Game License emerges, the 3PP leaders behind it will try and entice CR to come over to it. It would make it an instant success, I wager.

There's not going to be a community SRD.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Anything is possible, certainly, but I've never thought Critical Role's strength was rules mastery and design. Creating a system from the ground up would be a ton of work and not something that could happen quickly. They certainly have the resources to throw at hiring staff for that, though - but how much ROI are we looking at?

Casting Resurrection on this thread as the OGL discussions make it relevant again.

Just think, TSR and later WotC spent all that time and effort trying to get movies and tv shows off the ground. Sure there was the Saturday morning cartoon, and there is the upcoming movie and 8-episode show, however, the success of those is not guaranteed.

CR can flip the script. CR has the most popular live play show, CR has a popular series on Amazon, CR is publishing material that is well received, CR has a popular DM that others look up to.

If CR came out with Critical Role the RPG, and played it on their live play...Oy!

 

[gweinel]

I am sure WotC and CR have already talked about their (possible) cooperation in one or another way. CR is probably the biggest/popular player out there and I think it would be crucial for WotC to have them as allies in the new OGL.