Critical Role Slate feature on Matt Mercer

[Snarf Zagyg]

Of course they're entertaining and acting. That's a big part of D&D for me. I make decisions that I think will be fun and entertaining for the other players all the time. As DM entertaining the players is kind of why I'm there.

But everything I've read said that the game is not scripted, the players respond in the moment as they think their PC would, etc.. Calling it a reality TV show? That's insulting to their ability to act in character; most reality shows are heavily scripted and edited. Either the entire cast is lying (possible I suppose) or they're telling the truth and they're just playing the game. Being very entertaining and charismatic while they do it, but playing the game nonetheless. Is there target more than just the other players? I assume. Are they doing what they do to entertain the others involved in the game just like I do? Yep.

You're missing the point.

First, the majority of reality television isn't "scripted" in that sense. It is heavily edited (of course). They do try to "juice it up" (by putting people in situations that will cause conflict, and by giving them alcohol, and so on).

But the biggest factor is that the people on reality television shows know that they are being filmed, and more importantly, are familiar enough with prior shows to know that if they want to "break out," they need to make some drama. As for being insulting to Critical Role? You're kidding, right? Reality TV might be looked down upon by you, but it's incredibly popular and lucrative.

This is the problem when people try to rationally try to discuss Critical Role. I didn't say it was "scripted." There's a lot of things that aren't scripted. Reality TV. Curb Your Enthusiasm is mostly improv. And so on.

Instead, I said it's not a home game. Because it's not. It's an entertainment product. They are not trying to entertain each other (not mostly). They are trying to create a product that will entertain the audience. They know that they are being filmed. When Mercer does hours of prep work (which he has acknowledged), he is always aware that story beats need to be engaging to ... an audience. Because his livelihood depends on it! When the performers (and they are SKILLED PERFORMERS) make decisions, they are aware that those decisions and the performance are being viewed by millions.

It's a product. It's a good product. There's nothing wrong or unsavory about that. But it's an entertainment product nonetheless.

Edit- to be honest, I think it's far more insulting to the skills of the performers to say that this is just "a regular home game." Because it's not. This isn't your home game. No offense, but you're flattering yourself. You. Can't. Do. What. They. Do.

 

[Oofta]

You're missing the point.

First, the majority of reality television isn't "scripted" in that sense. It is heavily edited (of course). They do try to "juice it up" (by putting people in situations that will cause conflict, and by giving them alcohol, and so on).

But the biggest factor is that the people on reality television shows know that they are being filmed, and more importantly, are familiar enough with prior shows to know that if they want to "break out," they need to make some drama. As for being insulting to Critical Role? You're kidding, right? Reality TV might be looked down upon by you, but it's incredibly popular and lucrative.

This is the problem when people try to rationally try to discuss Critical Role. I didn't say it was "scripted." There's a lot of things that aren't scripted. Reality TV. Curb Your Enthusiasm is mostly improv. And so on.

Instead, I said it's not a home game. Because it's not. It's an entertainment product. They are not trying to entertain each other (not mostly). They are trying to create a product that will entertain the audience. They know that they are being filmed. When Mercer does hours of prep work (which he has acknowledged), he is always aware that story beats need to be engaging to ... an audience. Because his livelihood depends on it! When the performers (and they are SKILLED PERFORMERS) make decisions, they are aware that those decisions and the performance are being viewed by millions.

It's a product. It's a good product. There's nothing wrong or unsavory about that. But it's an entertainment product nonetheless.

Edit- to be honest, I think it's far more insulting to the skills of the performers to say that this is just "a regular home game." Because it's not. This isn't your home game. No offense, but you're flattering yourself. You. Can't. Do. What. They. Do.

We've had this conversation before. I think it's both a home game and entertainment because they've said that it is repeatedly, even in this article.

I give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Reynard]

First, the majority of reality television isn't "scripted" in that sense. It is heavily edited (of course). They do try to "juice it up" (by putting people in situations that will cause conflict, and by giving them alcohol, and so on).

But the biggest factor is that the people on reality television shows know that they are being filmed, and more importantly, are familiar enough with prior shows to know that if they want to "break out," they need to make some drama.

If only there was some analogy we could use. Like what if there was a producer, and the producer was responsible for setting up the situatiosn that the cast finds themselves in. And the producer knows the cast really well, of course, so the situations are built to get the most out of the cast, entertainment wise. And the cast -- well, they know that they have a role to fill, so they behave in accordance with thatrole.

Man, it's on the tip of my tongue...

 

[billd91]

Critical Role is a "home game" in the same sense that reality television is a fair and accurate representation of reality.

This is not a criticism, by the way. They are doing a great job with an entertainment product.

But they are entertainers. They have skills. There are hours of work put in by Mercer, alone, for every hour of work that you see (or hear). And every one of those talented performers is quite aware that they are bring recorded, and are making decisions not just for the game, and not just for the character, but for the audience as well.

They do have skills that a lot of other players in the broader community don't have as well-developed. But the comparison to reality television is incorrect. Reality TV shows are heavily edited to push narratives by the producers, and some are outright scripted. The veneer of reality is just that - a thin veneer.

A better comparison would be comparing pro athletes with rec league. The players in a rec league certainly can bowl, play tennis, or play basketball for complete games, following the rules, just as much as the pros can. They won't do it with quite the same level of artistry, smoothness, ease of performance... but they can still do it. THAT's a more apt comparison.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

They do have skills that a lot of other players in the broader community don't have as well-developed. But the comparison to reality television is incorrect. Reality TV shows are heavily edited to push narratives by the producers, and some are outright scripted. The veneer of reality is just that - a thin veneer.

A better comparison would be comparing pro athletes with rec league. The players in a rec league certainly can bowl, play tennis, or play basketball for complete games, following the rules, just as much as the pros can. They won't do it with quite the same level of artistry, smoothness, ease of performance... but they can still do it. THAT's a more apt comparison.

Nope.

Because unlike athletics, you can't influence the outcome. Now, I know what you're thinking- But wait, is Snarf accusing them of scripting things?

No, I'm not. What I do think should be very obvious is that the reason that reality TV is the better analogy is that people change their performances to "play up" to the cameras. And while the events aren't scripted (they aren't reading off of scripts), the amount of prep time put in and the need to hit certain beats knowing that there is an audience means that it is closer to something like Curb Your Enthusiasm, with a loose outline that provides talented performers a lot of room for improvisational work, than it is a typical home game that just happens to be filmed.

I am not sure why this is controversial. The people involved are in the Business, and this has become incredibly lucrative. They are all talented performers. To think, for even a second, that they are not applying some of their learned knowledge and skills as performers to something that is making them all money seems fantastical. Not to mention incredibly dismissive of their own skills.

But that's just me. I tend to value what they do as performers as business people.

 

[Oofta]

Nope.

Because unlike athletics, you can't influence the outcome. Now, I know what you're thinking- But wait, is Snarf accusing them of scripting things?

No, I'm not. What I do think should be very obvious is that the reason that reality TV is the better analogy is that people change their performances to "play up" to the cameras. And while the events aren't scripted (they aren't reading off of scripts), the amount of prep time put in and the need to hit certain beats knowing that there is an audience means that it is closer to something like Curb Your Enthusiasm, with a loose outline that provides talented performers a lot of room for improvisational work, than it is a typical home game that just happens to be filmed.

I am not sure why this is controversial. The people involved are in the Business, and this has become incredibly lucrative. They are all talented performers. To think, for even a second, that they are not applying some of their learned knowledge and skills as performers to something that is making them all money seems fantastical. Not to mention incredibly dismissive of their own skills.

But that's just me. I tend to value what they do as performers as business people.

I'm just going to repeat what Matt said in the article. That running the company is hard work but their sessions are still a game to them.

When we show up to the studio and sit around that table, all of our stresses and anxieties vanish. For the next three to four hours, it’s just us again, making up stories, making each other laugh. It’s magical. We’ve done so much to make sure that that doesn’t change and it stays protected.​

​

 

[Divine2021]

MAN, people on this message board will argue about ANYTHING

 

[Parmandur]

According to the article and everything else I've every read it's still their home game. Of course all the group is voice actors and far more polished than anything you'll likely see in most games, but that doesn't mean it doesn't reflect their home game before they started streaming.

Yes, they are playing a completely normal game of D&D, albeit with high quality silly voices. That why the episodes are 4 hours long, it is a completely normal play session.

 

[Parmandur]

Nope.

Because unlike athletics, you can't influence the outcome. Now, I know what you're thinking- But wait, is Snarf accusing them of scripting things?

No, I'm not. What I do think should be very obvious is that the reason that reality TV is the better analogy is that people change their performances to "play up" to the cameras. And while the events aren't scripted (they aren't reading off of scripts), the amount of prep time put in and the need to hit certain beats knowing that there is an audience means that it is closer to something like Curb Your Enthusiasm, with a loose outline that provides talented performers a lot of room for improvisational work, than it is a typical home game that just happens to be filmed.

I am not sure why this is controversial. The people involved are in the Business, and this has become incredibly lucrative. They are all talented performers. To think, for even a second, that they are not applying some of their learned knowledge and skills as performers to something that is making them all money seems fantastical. Not to mention incredibly dismissive of their own skills.

But that's just me. I tend to value what they do as performers as business people.

Mercer puts in prep time like he is getting paid for it, because...he is. But the players, not so much, not for the game session. Sam still needs rule explanations a lot of the time, because he doesn't really read the PHB.

They are very entertaining...and surely they Amp up their performance knowing they have an audience. But honestly? Still not that different from games that I have experienced. Except our silly voices are kind of garbage.

 

[Parmandur]

MAN, people on this message board will argue about ANYTHING

How could you say such a thing? We never argue about 18th century Venetian naval warfare.