Critical Role Releases New Campaign 4 Trailer

Critical Role has released a new trailer for their upcoming fourth campaign. The trailer, embedded below, lays out the overarching premise of the plot, as well as a look at the full 13-player table that will participate in the early parts of the campaign. The trailer not only explains the background of Araman, a world whose people overthrew the gods 70 years ago, but also hints at more recent conflicts.


A description of the show notes that the show opens with the planned execution of a person named Thjazi Fang. His scheduled execution leads to three groups coming together to seek the truth behind his grim fate, spinning off into its own series.

As announced earlier this year, Campaign 4 will feature three groups of players simultaneously exploring the world of Araman in what's described as a West Marches-style campaign. Early episodes will feature all thirteen players, but the show will eventually break the groups out into smaller tables, although there will still be some crossover between the groups.

Critical Role's fourth campaign starts on October 2nd.

 

[Clint_L]

Ugh...that trailer has lowered my anticipation for the new campaign, significantly. I did not particularly enjoy BLM's last time DMing CR precisely because the story was dark and apocalyptic. Same with Age of Umbra.

Remember when Critical Role used to be fun? A bunch of friends hanging out, laughing, joking, often being a bit smutty, occasionally eating snacks? For me, that was peak CR.

If the trailer is representative of the typical tone - dark, with occasional moments of levity, rather than light, with occasional moments of darkness - then this might be the campaign where I just give up and find something less depressing to listen to while I paint.

 

[Gorck]

the show opens with the planned execution of a person named Thjazi Fang. His scheduled execution leads to three groups coming together to seek the truth behind his grim fate, spinning off into its own series.

As long as the group’s heads aren’t next on the chopping block until a dragon attacks the town and they escape during the ensuing chaos.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Remember when Critical Role used to be fun? A bunch of friends hanging out, laughing, joking, often being a bit smutty, occasionally eating snacks? For me, that was peak CR.

Ironically, that characterizes Brennan's Dimension 20 and Worlds Beyond Number games. His Critical Role stuff has been where he's gotten really dark.

 

[Mort]

Ugh...that trailer has lowered my anticipation for the new campaign, significantly. I did not particularly enjoy BLM's last time DMing CR precisely because the story was dark and apocalyptic. Same with Age of Umbra.

Remember when Critical Role used to be fun? A bunch of friends hanging out, laughing, joking, often being a bit smutty, occasionally eating snacks? For me, that was peak CR.

If the trailer is representative of the typical tone - dark, with occasionaly moments of levity, rather than light, with occasional moments of darkness - then this might be the campaign where I just give up and find something less depressing to listen to while I paint.

Same for me. The first season (my favorite by far) was FUN and the experience you described. It just got more down from there.

And both Brennan's calamity run and Exandria unlimited we're just so serious. This look is like more of that, which is just not my cup of tea.

 

[Clint_L]

Ironically, that characterizes Brennan's Dimension 20 and Worlds Beyond Number games. His Critical Role stuff has been where he's gotten really dark.

Yeah, a lot of Critical Role's stuff has gotten more serious in tone over the past few years, to its detriment, IMO. When Mulligan was announced for this series I was very hopeful that he would bring that fun D20 vibe, and his early Q&A with Mercer was very positive. So I was quite surprised by the dark tone of this trailer, and worried by the "world abandoned by the gods" bit, which very specifically seems to echo both Age of Umbra and CR season 3.

To me, it feels like CR has become less about the game night vibe, and more about actors wanting to show their chops.

 

[Mort]

To me, it feels like CR has become less about the game night vibe, and more about actors wanting to show their chops.

That's it exactly.

The original group, especially in campaign one IMO, feels like a fun game night with friends - nerdy voice actors having fun together.

The new group, feels more like a bunch of people showing up to an improv acting gig.

I'll give it a shot, but the trailer isn't filling me with anticipation.

 

[Seramus]

To be fair, Liam has always wanted to be an actor showing his chops. Great odds he plays something like a College of Tragedy Bard with a lost or endangered family this time around.

 

[Mort]

To be fair, Liam has always wanted to be an actor showing his chops. Great odds he plays something like a College of Tragedy Bard with a lost or endangered family this time around.

We know he's playing an Orc bard, so you're probably not far off.

 

[Seramus]

We know he's playing an Orc bard, so you're probably not far off.

I mean, it would be pretty on brand!
C1-3 minor spoilers:

Spoiler

Vax's mother and home town? Dead. Caleb's parents? Dead. Orym's husband and father in law? Dead.