Critical Role Could Critical Role launch their own RPG?

[Ruin Explorer]

But we also know their numbers go down when they play one/two shots in other systems.

I don't think that's as much the system as the characters, though.

The people follow the actors building up specific characters, and when you play a one-off, you get the actor but the familiarity of your beloved and emotionally-connected character they play.

If, and obviously this is a huge if, they are at odds with WotC (unlikely I think), and WotC decides to go full self-immolation (also unlikely) by trying to push OGL 1.1 with general deauthorization, all CR would really have to do would be to say "Oh we're actually going to do Critical Role Season 4 after all, and it's in this system", and I think 90%+ of their audience would be some busy getting excited about another season that they wouldn't care about the system.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I wish Crit Role would get out from under D&D's yoke. I'd love to see them use their talents on other games constantly instead of just the occasional other system on a one night special.

I'm honestly surprised they havent started a 2nd streamed game with the core cast (or most of) . Seems like money on the table to me. Imagine a weekly Cyberpunk Red or Shadowrun show.

I am not uptodate on CR, was a later starter and plowing through Campaign 2 but for CR to pull in a new system I think it would need the main cast and Matt as GM and I wonder if the main cast are a bit burned out with a public game/campaign that goes on for multiple years.

While I think they are having fun in the roles it has got to be a little more stressful playing an rpg as a performance as compared to a home game.

 

[CleverNickName]

If, and obviously this is a huge if, they are at odds with WotC (unlikely I think), and WotC decides to go full self-immolation (also unlikely) by trying to push OGL 1.1 with general deauthorization, all CR would really have to do would be to say "Oh we're actually going to do Critical Role Season 4 after all, and it's in this system", and I think 90%+ of their audience would be some busy getting excited about another season that they wouldn't care about the system.

As a self-avowed "Critter," I agree completely. Some CR fans watch the show for tips and suggestions on how to run their own games at home (I know I do), but I think most of them are watching for storytelling and acting, the characters and the setting and the villains. If CR shifted to a different system, say Pathfinder, I feel it would be a much bigger problem for Hasbro than it would be for the CR fans.

 

[OB1]

This is my hope as well. Fan communities on the internet--gaming communities especially--don't have a very good track record for this sort of thing.

I do think the CR community is pretty good at this, as they really try to encourage positivity. Like I mentioned, the kerfuffle over their updated Fan Content policy could have blown up, but didn't (and Ep 1 of C3 now has 8M youtube views).

As for which direction they go,

Spoiler: Minor CR C3 Spoiler and Speculation

I don't think it's a coincidence that the main plot of C3 resolves around a crisis that could give a narrative reason for a switch from the D&D ruleset. Not saying it will happen, but they certainly have the option, and may be using that as a negotiating tactic with WotC.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I do think the CR community is pretty good at this, as they really try to encourage positivity. Like I mentioned, the kerfuffle over their updated Fan Content policy could have blown up, but didn't (and Ep 1 of C3 now has 8M youtube views).

As for which direction they go, I don't think it's a coincidence that the main plot of C3 resolves around a crisis that could give a narrative reason for a switch from the D&D ruleset. Not saying it will happen, but they certainly have the option, and may be using that as a negotiating tactic with WotC.

Now you have just incentivitised me to binge harder, I am still on Campaign 2 No sleep until Campaign 3

 

[OB1]

@UngainlyTitan hope that wasn't too much of a spoiler! I'll update the post to put that part under a spoiler tag

 

[overgeeked]

As a self-avowed "Critter," I agree completely. Some CR fans watch the show for tips and suggestions on how to run their own games at home (I know I do), but I think most of them are watching for storytelling and acting, the characters and the setting and the villains. If CR shifted to a different system, say Pathfinder, I feel it would be a much bigger problem for Hasbro than it would be for the CR fans.

Yeah. Most CR fans are, importantly, fans of Critical Role first. Fans of the game they play second…if they care about the game stuff at all.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

[Thing to be spoilered]

Well well well that's jolly interesting. Hmmm.

 

[OB1]

Yeah. Most CR fans are, importantly, fans of Critical Role first. Fans of the game they play second…if they care about the game stuff at all.

I'm not sure about most fans, but for me personally, D&D and the game stuff is a huge draw.

 

[Reynard]

I'm not sure about most fans, but for me personally, D&D and the game stuff is a huge draw.

It's interesting because there are people drawn to CR because they were playing D&D, and people drawn to D&D because of CR. I don't think anyone knows what the proportions are -- let alone how Stranger Things and Big Bang Theory and vin Diesel and that hawt guy from that vampire show figure in.