Critical Role Announces Two New RPGs

Critical Role’s publishing arm, Darrington Press, has released a ‘State of the Press’ video announcing two new tabletop RPGs.

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Two new RPG systems we’ll be releasing: Illuminated Worlds, optimized for short story arcs and adaptable to myriad settings, and Daggerheart, a fresh take on fantasy RPGs with emphasis on longer campaigns and rich character options.

At Gen Con this year, you’ll be able to play AND purchase Queen by Midnight, and you’ll even be able to take our two upcoming RPGs for a spin. We hope to see you there!

 

[overgeeked]

Yeah everyone complains about "the shopping episodes" of Critical Role, as if watching an hours-long combat sequence is exciting.

Exactly. That's one reason I'm really hopeful that they will go lighter with the system. That way the combats will go quicker and they won't drag as much. A two-hour long combat that is supposed to represent less than 30 seconds of in-fiction time is just ridiculous.

 

[CleverNickName]

Exactly. That's one reason I'm really hopeful that they will go lighter with the system. That way the combats will go quicker and they won't drag as much. A two-hour long combat that is supposed to represent less than 30 seconds of in-fiction time is just ridiculous.

"Dungeons & Dragons: Thirty Minutes of Fun, Packed Into Four Hours!"^TM

 

[Staffan]

Well, their entertainment empire isn’t beholden to a game system. It’s not playing 5E that made them popular.

Yes and no. Campaign 1 started in Pathfinder (which is why Percy's a gunslinger and Pike's a cleric of Sarenrae), but they switched over to 5e before they started streaming because they figured the detail-oriented nature of Pathfinder would be detrimental to live play.

So it's not so much that playing 5e made them popular, as it is that 5e was light-weight enough that it didn't get in the way of making them popular.

 

[CleverNickName]

So it's not so much that playing 5e made them popular, as it is that 5e was light-weight enough that it didn't get in the way of making them popular.

I think the opposite might be true: 5E became so popular, and so quickly, thanks to Critical Role.

 

[overgeeked]

Yes and no. Campaign 1 started in Pathfinder (which is why Percy's a gunslinger and Pike's a cleric of Sarenrae), but they switched over to 5e before they started streaming because they figured the detail-oriented nature of Pathfinder would be detrimental to live play.

So it's not so much that playing 5e made them popular, as it is that 5e was light-weight enough that it didn't get in the way of making them popular.

Their home game started with a D&D 4E one-shot for Liam's birthday. When they decided to continue playing as a group they converted to Pathfinder. Which is why so much of Exandria's lore and gods is copy pasta from D&D 4E. They converted to D&D 5E pre-stream because it was simpler system than Pathfinder.

There's endless chicken or egg conversations that we can have about the popularity of 5E and CR. Especially surrounding which made which popular. I'm going to stick with CR making 5E the break out success it became. 5E was destined to recapture the top spot in RPGs, that's a given. I'm solidly of the opinion that 5E burst out to the wider general audience and went stratospheric because of CR.

 

[Parmandur]

I think the opposite might be true: 5E became so popular, and so quickly, thanks to Critical Role.

Their home game started with a D&D 4E one-shot for Liam's birthday. When they decided to continue playing as a group they converted to Pathfinder. Which is why so much of Exandria's lore and gods is copy pasta from D&D 4E. They converted to D&D 5E pre-stream because it was simpler system than Pathfinder.

There's endless chicken or egg conversations that we can have about the popularity of 5E and CR. Especially surrounding which made which popular. I'm going to stick with CR making 5E the break out success it became. 5E was destined to recapture the top spot in RPGs, that's a given. I'm solidly of the opinion that 5E burst out to the wider general audience and went stratospheric because of CR.

Well, no. That's not the case, for two main reasobs: first, 5E was already huge before they switched over, and more importantly 5E has a larger audience than Critical Role. They have been good brand ambassadors, but it is not them who made the Edition popular.

Also, having seen their Pathfinder 1E episide...CR would not have become the phenomenon it is if that is what they were playing.

 

[overgeeked]

Well, no. That's not the case, for two main reasobs: first, 5E was already huge before they switched over, and more importantly 5E has a larger audience than Critical Role. They have been good brand ambassadors, but it is not them who made the Edition popular.

Also, having seen their Pathfinder 1E episide...CR would not have become the phenomenon it is if that is what they were playing.

You're missing what I'm saying. Your average RPG fan was still going to pick up and play 5E. That's a given. 5E was always going to be the #1 RPG. I'm not saying any different. But, this is the important bit: CR introduced D&D to a much wider audience of non-gamers. Those CR fans then became gamers...to the tune of a 1-2 million people. The reason 5E is having a second pop culture boom it likely down to CR. 5E without CR would not have broken out of the tiny RPG bubble.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Exactly. That's one reason I'm really hopeful that they will go lighter with the system. That way the combats will go quicker and they won't drag as much. A two-hour long combat that is supposed to represent less than 30 seconds of in-fiction time is just ridiculous.

This is why I love when my players are very powerful and I can throw absolute death at them. Rocket tag doesn’t take 4 hours.

Okay, I’m better at running the game than “rocket tag”, but I’m a fan of Big Moves, and making every turn consequential.

Running space D&D using Star Wars weapons is great. When the mooks can do 3d8 each every turn, from 60ft away, you strategize and hit hard and fast.

 

[Parmandur]

You're missing what I'm saying. Your average RPG fan was still going to pick up and play 5E. That's a given. 5E was always going to be the #1 RPG. I'm not saying any different. But, this is the important bit: CR introduced D&D to a much wider audience of non-gamers. Those CR fans then became gamers...to the tune of a 1-2 million people. The reason 5E is having a second pop culture boom it likely down to CR. 5E without CR would not have broken out of the tiny RPG bubble.

That proves my point: 1-2 million is a fraction of Beyond's user base. I'm not pitting any shade on Critical Role, I'm a Critter myself. But CR definitely didn't cause 5E's success, nor is there any way it can be construed as a primary driver when 5E has a much larger audience still.

 

[SteveC]

I think the opposite might be true: 5E became so popular, and so quickly, thanks to Critical Role.

I agree with this. I suppose we're going to see now, aren't we? Just about everyone I've met who started playing with 5E did so because they found this cool show, Critical Role. They were typically surprised when I hadn't heard of it. There was all kinds of wackiness when I attempted to explain how old RPGs were.

It will be interesting to see how it goes when they split.