Brennan Lee Mulligan to GM Critical Role Campaign 4

Critical Role's fourth campaign will launch on October 2nd, with Brennan Lee Mulligan behind the GM Screen. Critical Role announced that Mulligan, best known as the DM for Dropout's Dimension 20, will be the Game Master for the entirety of Campaign 4. The announcement was made this evening ahead of tonight's live show in Indianapolis, with Mulligan running a campaign in a brand new world assumably created just for the show. Critical Role stated that more cast announcements and other details about the campaign, such as what game system it will use, will be revealed in the coming months.

Mulligan has worked with Critical Role in the past, with both of his Exandria Unlimited miniseries having received high praise from fans. The news is also a major shakeup as this will be the first time that a full-length Critical Role campaign has not featured Matt Mercer or the world of Exandria. Both Mercer and Exandria are "taking a break" according to a press release, although Mercer is working on a second Age of Umbra miniseries that will assumably be released sometime in 2026.

 

[thatOneLinuxDM]

I have a hard time believing that it’s the D&D that people who are hooked on CR are coming to watch.

As with any media there will be a variety of reasons people consume it. I never much cared for the CR stories because they didn't grip me, but I enjoy the system well enough. Daggerheart doesn't appeal to me in the same way that D&D does (having played it) so I couldn't see myself enjoying a series by Mulligan if he were to run that system. Horses for courses.

That's not to say it would have to be D&D, Glass Cannon just announced they're switching to Shadowdark for their next campaign and that's a really interesting turn of events!

 

[TiQuinn]

As with any media there will be a variety of reasons people consume it. I never much cared for the CR stories because they didn't grip me, but I enjoy the system well enough. Daggerheart doesn't appeal to me in the same way that D&D does (having played it) so I couldn't see myself enjoying a series by Mulligan if he were to run that system. Horses for courses.

That's not to say it would have to be D&D, Glass Cannon just announced they're switching to Shadowdark for their next campaign and that's a really interesting turn of events!

I think more casual or occasional watchers may be tuning in for D&D itself but the people watching week after week…a show that runs regularly for 3 to 3.5 hours or more - I doubt they’re focused on the game system primarily.

 

[humble minion]

I have a hard time believing that it’s the D&D that people who are hooked on CR are coming to watch.

I'm agnostic on that, but convincing people that CR is still CR without Mercer behind the screen in the 'main' campaign will be a pretty big adjustment that some might struggle with.

If people aren't there for the game system, then they're there for the people and the story. You change the DM, and you radically alter both of those dynamics. To be fair, maybe Mercer is burnt the hell out and needed a break, but it's a pretty big risk imho.

 

[TiQuinn]

I'm agnostic on that, but convincing people that CR is still CR without Mercer behind the screen in the 'main' campaign will be a pretty big adjustment that some might struggle with.

If people aren't there for the game system, then they're there for the people and the story. You change the DM, and you radically alter both of those dynamics. To be fair, maybe Mercer is burnt the hell out and needed a break, but it's a pretty big risk imho.

I think Mulligan right now is the only logical choice who can step into Mercer’s shoes (who is still a player). Dimension 20 has gotten pretty big in its own right; they just had their sold out show in Madison Square Garden. It’s a risk, but I think it’s a reasonable one if they want to grow.

 

[JConstantine]

No real info, but they do have a habit of putting clues in their trailers.

The trailer is clearly a spoof of the Elder Scrolls VI teaser, so obviously they're not using D&D or Daggerheart, but rather an unannounced Elder Scrolls RPG!

 

[Stefan Huddleston]

Much as 5e is still the 8000lbs. dragon in the room, from a business standpoint using the system that's a direct competitor to their own would send an interesting message. 5e dominates TTRPG circles so much there's still a good chance they'll use it because it's all so many people know, but I hope it's Daggerheart. CR brought in many who never played any TTRPG and some fans still just watch but don't play, it would be interesting to see if a new cast and system could do the same. Mulligan may not be Mercer, but he and his still sold out a major sports venue.

 

[JConstantine]

They’re adding new players, which kind of sounds like they might be splitting the cast up.

Considering the complaints during Campaign 3 about the how long the split was, and viewers missing the other half of the main cast, this is somewhat risky. It may be lessened by being that way from the start and Robbie Daymond was a well-received new member, so not guaranteed, but with a change of cast, change of GM, change of setting and potentially change of system, at the very least, it's likely going to feel incredibly different. Certainly not just a bunch of nerdy ass voice actors streaming their home game anymore.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Considering the complaints during Campaign 3 about the how long the split was, and viewers missing the other half of the main cast, this is somewhat risky.

I think that was the best part.

 

[SkidAce]

I do not super much care which system they use. I would by a small margin prefer D&d, as I don't care for Daggerheart nor I am very familiar with it, but the appeal of the show is not about the system anyway, so it doesn't matter that much.

...

I might agree...now. But I feel slightly disappointed.

Started watching Critical Role because there was a group of people telling a cool story using DnD, and they were nerds that messed up rules, and did crazy stuff, just like my home table top group.

Later, and culminating in Season 3, even though it was still fun, it wasnt what I was looking for. It felt like it went from 50/50 DnD and RP, to 20/80 DnD and Drama RP.

Now, if they switch to Daggerheart, there will be no DnD.

I still freaking love them as a group, and they are both talented and loopy nerds at the same time, but...I ...just...dont know.

 

[SkidAce]

I agree…as the show has progressed from season to season, the D&Disms have dropped away, in part because of what I suspect are IP related reasons. The system has increasingly become more transparent. I have a hard time believing that it’s the D&D that people who are hooked on CR are coming to watch.

And yet, though I will give them a chance...it WAS DnD and Critical Role that I came to watch.