Critical Role Critical Role Campaign 4 Episode 4 is a High-Octane Rollercoaster

[Charlaquin]

For the folks who had found the first few episodes of Campaign 4 to be too much exposition, not enough action, episode 4 is definitely the one to watch for an example of this campaign in full-gear action mode! Without spoiling anything, I will say that the episode opens with combat, which lasts straight through to the break, and clearly demonstrates that Brennan was not kidding about combat not being balanced around the characters’ levels. The combat itself is intense from beginning to end, and Brennan does not pull his punches. The second half of the episode is much more dialogue-focused, but has some major revelations about the characters, and involves a few majorly consequential rolls, especially in the final minutes. I know I have been a big-time cheerleader for this campaign so maybe my endorsement won’t be the most compelling for those of you who haven’t been enjoying it as much, but I was absolutely on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I would strongly recommend this episode as the one to watch if you were waiting for things to get more active. I think if this one doesn’t sell you, then the campaign probably won’t be for you.

 

[Charlaquin]

On another note, this episode did not end with the remaining players split between the Seekers’ and Schemers’ tables, and if anything I fell even less confident in any guesses about what the final table division is going to look like. And we probably won’t know for a while, because it sounds like next week will be an off-week with a one-shot taking up the main campaign’s time slot, and the following week will be a Soldiers’ table episode.

 

[BRayne]

I did think there was going to be a TPK setting up a seeker's table in the realm of the dead for a bit there.

 

[Charlaquin]

I did think there was going to be a TPK setting up a seeker's table in the realm of the dead for a bit there.

I thought so too! Arnessa’s Haste spell did a ton of work there, as did Brennan’s apparent house rule of elves resisting… necrotic damage? Or maybe just the damage of Shadows’ attacks, it’s unclear.

 

[BRayne]

I thought so too! Arnessa’s Haste spell did a ton of work there, as did Brennan’s apparent house rule of elves resisting… necrotic damage? Or maybe just the damage of Shadows’ attacks, it’s unclear.

I think that's just building on the Tolkien immortality vibes of the elves in this setting

 

[Charlaquin]

Oh, also Bolaire is my favorite character now. I love a good goth boy, but even for me the design felt a little too needlessly edgy for my tastes at first, and Taliesin didnt do enough to win me over in the first few episodes. But, now that we know what the deal is with the mask, and we know a bit more about his relationship with Thijazi and his crew, I am absolutely in love with the concept. I mean, a comedia del’arte mask created as a weapon against the gods that turned away from its purpose to become a curator of magical artifacts is so specifically up my alley, Taliesin might as well have created it especially for me.

And his outfit tonight? Be still, my elder emo heart!

 

[Charlaquin]

I think that's just building on the Tolkien immortality vibes of the elves in this setting

For sure, but it was very helpful in avoiding a TPK in this fight. Ashley may have been rolling cold, but holding the attention of six shadows for that long, in such a low-strength party was invaluable.

 

[overgeeked]

For sure, but it was very helpful in avoiding a TPK in this fight. Ashley may have been rolling cold, but holding the attention of six shadows for that long, in such a low-strength party was invaluable.

If anyone needs to see what it looks like when a party refuses to run despite overwhelming odds, they should look no further. To me it read as an encounter with clear secondary goals that happened to be during a fight...and so, of course, the players decided to ignore the secondary goals and just fight...and fight...and fight...and fight. It was a 2-2 1/2 hour fight. Four 3rd-level PCs. If anyone questions just how robust 5E PCs are, they should look no further. It was nuts.

 

[TiQuinn]

I haven’t gotten through the whole episode yet, but that fight in the first half was EPIC. The rules for death clearly work differently in this game because of the setting and the loss of the gods so it seems like anything could potentially happen based on what we were seeing, even if a PC dies.

 

[TiQuinn]

I thought so too! Arnessa’s Haste spell did a ton of work there, as did Brennan’s apparent house rule of elves resisting… necrotic damage? Or maybe just the damage of Shadows’ attacks, it’s unclear.

Is it maybe an aspect of Vaelus’ character itself?

That Haste was clutch! And so was the Entangle and the Healing Word. I’m guessing Arnessa is a Druid/Wizard?!