Critical Role EXU: Calamity Discussion (Spoilers)

[OB1]

While this thread will contain spoilers for EXU: Calamity and other seasons of Critical Role, this first post is purposefully light on details, and more of a general review of the first episode.

When Steven Spielberg and George Lucas combined forces to make Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the two fathers of the summer blockbuster created one of the best adventure movies of all time. With EXU: Calamity, Mathew Mercer has taken on the George Lucas role of creating the world and executive producing a live play D&D event, with Brennan Lee Mulligan taking on the Steven Spielberg director role as the DM, along with a cast pulled from both of their regular live streams. The result, from the first episode, is perhaps the best 4 hours of D&D I've ever seen. Everyone involved is at the top of their game, and this episode could very well become an entry point for a new wave of D&D enthusiasts. While having watched Critical Role previously will add depth to the story, I don't believe anyone will have needed to see a single moment of Critical Role, and perhaps even a moment of D&D (either in person or on another live stream) to enjoy the story that is being told.

Set in Mercer's home-brew world of Exandria at the height of the long past Age of Arcanum, a time when mortals had pushed the boundaries of magic to heights nearly rivaling the gods, the story follows a group of six level 14 adventurers as the floating city they call home is preparing to rejoin it's terrestrial sister city for a once every seven year Replenishment. Starting with an intense dream sequence with one of the players, we are introduced one by one over the course of two hours to each of the six PCs in vignettes that quickly establish their characters ideals, bonds and flaws while also introducing the audience to the setting and hinting at a nefarious plot by the forces of evil in the background. The group then comes together at a gala event the evening before the city lands, and the cast does an amazing job selling the fact that these PCs have a long history together. As they begin to put their individual pieces together they and the audience begin to see the danger coming for the city.

Excited to discuss the series with my fellow EnWorlders! If there are those of you out there who've never tried Critical Role specifically or live-play D&D streaming in general, you won't regret spending four hours watching this episode. From Brennan's expert adjudication of skill checks and scene setting, to the players investment in their characters, the world and each other, I'm hooked, and can't wait for the next episode. My only complaint is that there will only be three more.

 

[jgsugden]

...My only complaint is that there will only be three more.

I have not finished the first episode, but I was surprised he took 2 hours to introduce us to the PCs. That is a lot of time when we'll get a total of about 16 hours with them. I would be interested to watch BLM run a campaign in Exandria with campaign guidance by Mercer - but I'd rather they shortened that opening sequences to about 5 minutes a piece and went further into the combined story. The first Exandria Unlimited suffered because there was a lack of recognition of how little time the group had and some things were rushed to fit them in.... I would hate for us to get to that same place here.

I also don't really feel like this is a game of D&D, so much as it is using D&D mechanics to deliver a predetermined story. In essence, I have the same criticism here that I have of adventure paths that are highly railroaded. I feel like Critical Role has certain 'goal posts' to hit - some set by players, some set by Matt - that everyone at the table understands heading into a session (either through statement, as I believe was the case when Vox Machina found Tiberius, or through attention to the story unfolding (as they are respectful and give time for their fellow players to take spotlight for a bit). Here, however, I felt like there was a tighter 'script' (so far) with player knowledge of where things were going at a high level.

 

[OB1]

I have not finished the first episode, but I was surprised he took 2 hours to introduce us to the PCs. That is a lot of time when we'll get a total of about 16 hours with them. I would be interested to watch BLM run a campaign in Exandria with campaign guidance by Mercer - but I'd rather they shortened that opening sequences to about 5 minutes a piece and went further into the combined story. The first Exandria Unlimited suffered because there was a lack of recognition of how little time the group had and some things were rushed to fit them in.... I would hate for us to get to that same place here.

I also don't really feel like this is a game of D&D, so much as it is using D&D mechanics to deliver a predetermined story. In essence, I have the same criticism here that I have of adventure paths that are highly railroaded. I feel like Critical Role has certain 'goal posts' to hit - some set by players, some set by Matt - that everyone at the table understands heading into a session (either through statement, as I believe was the case when Vox Machina found Tiberius, or through attention to the story unfolding (as they are respectful and give time for their fellow players to take spotlight for a bit). Here, however, I felt like there was a tighter 'script' (so far) with player knowledge of where things were going at a high level.

Given that the whole story will likely take place over one night, I think Brennan's pacing is on point. And for this story, it's so crucial to get invested in the PCs so that the tragedy of what is to come will hit home, I think the time spent on introductions was completely necessary.

Hoping this thread doesn't (ahem) derail into a discussion of Railroading, and the story here definitely has an AP feel rather than a sandbox, which is the nature of the story being told. That said, by the end of the first episode, I think it is very clear that the choices the PCs make are having an effect on how the story is unfolding for the PCs. This isn't a story about stopping the apocalypse, it's a story about how one group of adventurers specifically react to it. Will any of them survive? Can they save family members in the city below? Will they betray their own bonds to save themselves? This is a story about these characters. To me, that's definitely playing D&D. In a way, it's similar to the new Obi-Wan series. We know where the story is going, but it's riveting because there are real stakes for the characters outside of the over-plot of the series.

 

[BRayne]

Given that the whole story will likely take place over one night, I think Brennan's pacing is on point. And for this story, it's so crucial to get invested in the PCs so that the tragedy of what is to come will hit home, I think the time spent on introductions was completely necessary.

Hoping this thread doesn't (ahem) derail into a discussion of Railroading, and the story here definitely has an AP feel rather than a sandbox, which is the nature of the story being told. That said, by the end of the first episode, I think it is very clear that the choices the PCs make are having an effect on how the story is unfolding for the PCs. This isn't a story about stopping the apocalypse, it's a story about how one group of adventurers specifically react to it. Will any of them survive? Can they save family members in the city below? Will they betray their own bonds to save themselves? This is a story about these characters. To me, that's definitely playing D&D. In a way, it's similar to the new Obi-Wan series. We know where the story is going, but it's riveting because there are real stakes for the characters outside of the over-plot of the series.

I'd argue it's less an adventure path and more something like "D&D with the expectations of Ten Candles"

 

[overgeeked]

BLM definitely has a handle on hard framing scenes and making sure things are kept moving. It’s the polar opposite of Matt’s more meandering and loose style. I enjoyed the parts that I watched. But I’m not sure this limited series will be some great gateway to D&D. Far too linear, far too much railroading, it’s clearly got a pre-planned ending, and I’d guess this is likely a scripted live play. Those are not great things to teach new players coming in. That’s basically the opposite of what you want new players thinking the hobby is. At a guess, this is designed specifically in four parts to better model movie act structure so it can more easily be adapted to other media.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

I watched it live the other night and have some thoughts:

• I'd only ever seen bits of Brennan Lee Mulligan's game mastering where he was running games of a more comedic tone, so it was nice to see in the first few minutes that he's more than capable of going dark.
• Lots of fantasy settings have a golden age that fell, but actually seeing life in that golden age from the perspective of player characters who lived then is very interesting, especially considering this is a very high magic setting to the point that at times it is more reminiscient of science fiction.
• Making the player characters essentially a cabal of the city's movers and shakers with both great personal and political power is an interesting choice.
• I'm always a sucker for more setting lore, and it's interesting to see these PCs living in a nearly mythical age 1000 years before the present talking about events and legends that are as ancient to them as their civilization is to the modern people of the world.
• Even if the events of the mini-series are presumably a foregone conclusion, getting a more detailed version of how things went down through the player characters' actions instead of just through lore in a setting book or details in a novel is fascinating to see.

 

[OB1]

BLM definitely has a handle on hard framing scenes and making sure things are kept moving. It’s the polar opposite of Matt’s more meandering and loose style. I enjoyed the parts that I watched. But I’m not sure this limited series will be some great gateway to D&D. Far too linear, far too much railroading, it’s clearly got a pre-planned ending, and I’d guess this is likely a scripted live play. Those are not great things to teach new players coming in. That’s basically the opposite of what you want new players thinking the hobby is. At a guess, this is designed specifically in four parts to better model movie act structure so it can more easily be adapted to other media.

What makes you think this is scripted? I clearly see the normal game flow of DM describes a scene, PCs describe what they do, DM narrates the results (sometimes asking for a die roll if the outcome is uncertain). I mean, we first saw each PC interacting with other NPCs in the course of a day, then the PCs got together and expanded on some of the threads from earlier, while reacting to events at a party. Who and how the party reacted to the arrival of Pervon, for example, is just classic D&D. And while certain world shaking events may be pre-planned, how these PCs interact with those events and how their story unfolds I don't get the sense is pre-planned at all (as it shouldn't be).

I think you're right that there is a 3 act structure at play here (with act 2 being roughly twice the length of act 1 or 3), but I'm not sure how that's a bad thing, especially in an adventure that is basically a long one-shot. How act 3 plays out, I would bet, will be highly dependent on the successes and failures in act 2, as well as the personal motivations of the characters. For example, will some or all of the PCs survive? Can they save their families on the ground? Can the city itself be saved, or at least be given a temporary reprive? Sure, the Calamity is coming, but that's not the plot here, the plot is what happens to these characters in this city when it does.

Add in the way that the players remain engaged even while not in the spotlight, and for me, this is an excellent introduction to new players finding out what D&D is all about.

 

[overgeeked]

What makes you think this is scripted?

Apparently a poor choice of words on my part. Meaning there are obvious rails and the players are expected to follow them. They have incredibly limited, if any real agency. That sense of scripted. Not as in they're actors with prewritten lines.

And while certain world shaking events may be pre-planned, how these PCs interact with those events and how their story unfolds I don't get the sense is pre-planned at all (as it shouldn't be).

Right. Heavily railroaded adventure. Pre-planned story. The only choices the players get is the words they say and actions they take...that will not likely dramatically effect the events as they unfold. There's no chance they'll avert disaster. They get to passively react to the story as it's handed to them...and the ending is preordained. So they get no meaningful choices. Literally the opposite of what new gamers should learn. To me, agency is the cornerstone of RPGs. It's literally why we play. Without agency, real actual agency, you might as well read a book. The style of play where the DM runs the players through the DM's story is not what I want out of gaming.

I think you're right that there is a 3 act structure at play here (with act 2 being roughly twice the length of act 1 or 3), but I'm not sure how that's a bad thing, especially in an adventure that is basically a long one-shot. How act 3 plays out, I would bet, will be highly dependent on the successes and failures in act 2, as well as the personal motivations of the characters.

For example, will some or all of the PCs survive? Can they save their families on the ground? Can the city itself be saved, or at least be given a temporary reprive? Sure, the Calamity is coming, but that's not the plot here, the plot is what happens to these characters in this city when it does.

I highly, highly doubt that. We already know the end. It's established lore from thousands of years in Exandria's past. The hubris of the mages causes their downfall. This is going to be a tragedy. Some will-they, won't-they reconciliation, get together, and how they face death...but they're not going to prevent the Calamity. This is at best a small personal story about these characters and how they deal with the Calamity rather than averting it...though signs point to (some of) them likely causing it, or failing to prevent it.

Unless they're using this to go buck wild and open up Exandria to alternate timelines and such. Which would be cool. But I really doubt that's going to happen.

Add in the way that the players remain engaged even while not in the spotlight, and for me, this is an excellent introduction to new players finding out what D&D is all about.

Really heavy-handed railroading isn't the gold standard for new players. It's literally the opposite of what new players should be learning is the heart of D&D and RPGs. To stay engaged and pay attention when you're not in the spotlight is good and more people should learn that. The rest of it, not so much.

 

[Mort]

Wait, Brenan Lee Mulligan is DMing Critical Role - and high level Critical Role at that?

 

[OB1]

Apparently a poor choice of words on my part. Meaning there are obvious rails and the players are expected to follow them. They have incredibly limited, if any real agency. That sense of scripted. Not as in they're actors with prewritten lines.

Right. Heavily railroaded adventure. Pre-planned story. The only choices the players get is the words they say and actions they take...that will not likely dramatically effect the events as they unfold. There's no chance they'll avert disaster. They get to passively react to the story as it's handed to them...and the ending is preordained. So they get no meaningful choices. Literally the opposite of what new gamers should learn. To me, agency is the cornerstone of RPGs. It's literally why we play. Without agency, real actual agency, you might as well read a book. The style of play where the DM runs the players through the DM's story is not what I want out of gaming.

I highly, highly doubt that. We already know the end. It's established lore from thousands of years in Exandria's past. The hubris of the mages causes their downfall. This is going to be a tragedy. Some will-they, won't-they reconciliation, get together, and how they face death...but they're not going to prevent the Calamity. This is at best a small personal story about these characters and how they deal with the Calamity rather than averting it...though signs point to (some of) them likely causing it, or failing to prevent it.

Unless they're using this to go buck wild and open up Exandria to alternate timelines and such. Which would be cool. But I really doubt that's going to happen.

Really heavy-handed railroading isn't the gold standard for new players. It's literally the opposite of what new players should be learning is the heart of D&D and RPGs. To stay engaged and pay attention when you're not in the spotlight is good and more people should learn that. The rest of it, not so much.

Okay, a lot to unpack here. To start with your final statement, that feels an awful lot like one-true-wayism mixed with a dose of badwrongfun. But even that builds off some pretty big assumptions given that we've only seen the opening act of this story. I'll admit that not having seen the rest of the series, this could devolve into a highly railroaded adventure where there was ever only one set of events that happens, but my feeling from the first episode is that we are going to see a story of what a group of local heroes does when the crap hits the fan.

1. What is player agency other than players making choices about the words they say and the actions they take? There are plenty of real things that the PCs care about (their families for example) that they may have interest in trying to help. Why do they have to stop the calamity to have agency?

2, If I start an adventure with a zombie apocalypse or an ancient dragon killing the Queen and destroying the capital city of a realm, and the PCs have no way to stop it, is that a heavily railroaded adventure? Or just a call to adventure?

3. The Calamity is a decades long event that started when Vespin Chloris released the betrayer gods from their inprisionment. That appears to have already happened in this story (ie it's the triggering event for what we are seeing happen now). The other details we know about is that the betrayer gods attack Vaselheim, and fail, then establish a base of operations in Ghor Dranas, leading to a decades long war between the prime deities and betrayers that wrecks havoc on the land. Great champions are given vestiges of divergence to help battle the gods during this time, before the prime deities finally seal both the betrayers and themselves behind the divine gate, forever separating themselves from their creations. Seems to me like a prime setting for countless adventure of mighty heroes facing deadly perils.

4. There is nothing in the lore about this floating city (that I'm aware of) giving ample opportunity for the specifics of this adventure to follow it's own path. Was the city destroyed in the initial release of the betrayers? Did the mages of this city screw up and destroy the city on it's own? Was this city around even when Aeor fell decades later? Is the city still in-tact? Joined with it's sister city and put into hiding because of the events? Could these heroes still be alive, in-stasis, waiting to reveal to the new age some piece of ancient history?

5. At the very most, I'd think this adventure may be set up like a Call of Cthulu type story, where it is highly likely that most if not all of the PCs will meet their demise, and the forces they fight against will end stronger at the end than the beginning. Those types of stories are specifically about what the characters say and do in the face of impending doom. Is that style not appropriate for a D&D adventure in your mind?