Critical Role Is Critical Role Scripted (behind the scenes)

[Scott Christian]

On a similar note, I can tell you that several years ago my friend and I were in a random pub in the Northwest. We happened to be sitting next to a very popular (at the time) DM and well-known player for a D&D podcast. For two hours we listened to them discuss "how to introduce a magical item" into their story. How and where to introduce it? How would it affect his character? When to spring its powers? This was two-hours. To introduce one magic item. It was very reminiscent of when I would hang out with the SoCal writers at the bars along the beach. Basically, an informal, but very thorough, writers' roundtable.
I am not saying Critical Role does this. And it certainly seems to me the clips I've seen on YouTube are pretty organic. But it would not surprise me if there were not lengthy discussions on specific character arcs.

PS - My friend and I bought them a round, told them we were fans, and thanked them for their work.

 

[Oofta]

On a similar note, I can tell you that several years ago my friend and I were in a random pub in the Northwest. We happened to be sitting next to a very popular (at the time) DM and well-known player for a D&D podcast. For two hours we listened to them discuss "how to introduce a magical item" into their story. How and where to introduce it? How would it affect his character? When to spring its powers? This was two-hours. To introduce one magic item. It was very reminiscent of when I would hang out with the SoCal writers at the bars along the beach. Basically, an informal, but very thorough, writers' roundtable.
I am not saying Critical Role does this. And it certainly seems to me the clips I've seen on YouTube are pretty organic. But it would not surprise me if there were not lengthy discussions on specific character arcs.

PS - My friend and I bought them a round, told them we were fans, and thanked them for their work.

They mention something along these lines in the video. That Matt has been involved with other streams that do this kind of thing but that they do not. There are sometimes conversations about general things, I assume Sam discussed Scanlon leaving for a while as an example. But I've had that same discussion with my players. But introduction of something like a magic item? Other streams do it, CR does not.

 

[Scott Christian]

They mention something along these lines in the video. That Matt has been involved with other streams that do this kind of thing but that they do not. There are sometimes conversations about general things, I assume Sam discussed Scanlon leaving for a while as an example. But I've had that same discussion with my players. But introduction of something like a magic item? Other streams do it, CR does not.

Interesting. I had no idea. Maybe since so many of the cast members have "Hollywood" experience, it's not needed. Or maybe Mercer is actually better than everyone already gives him credit for. But it is interesting, nonetheless.

My experience with the podcasters was eye-opening. I had always assumed their table was just playing. I had no idea how scripted (even on an informal level) it was.

 

[Oofta]

Interesting. I had no idea. Maybe since so many of the cast members have "Hollywood" experience, it's not needed. Or maybe Mercer is actually better than everyone already gives him credit for. But it is interesting, nonetheless.

My experience with the podcasters was eye-opening. I had always assumed their table was just playing. I had no idea how scripted (even on an informal level) it was.

Well, they are professional voice actors with a lot of experience getting into character and, at various points, a lot of improv. They also played together for years before CR started. On the other hand I've watched other streams off and on that certainly feel more like they were prepared for some things ahead of time, almost as if certain players were waiting their cue for some things.

But CR? On a scale of 1-10, they turn it up to 11 when most of us can only hope to achieve a 5 when it comes to polish and presentation.

 

[Dire Bare]

Interesting. I had no idea. Maybe since so many of the cast members have "Hollywood" experience, it's not needed. Or maybe Mercer is actually better than everyone already gives him credit for. But it is interesting, nonetheless.

My experience with the podcasters was eye-opening. I had always assumed their table was just playing. I had no idea how scripted (even on an informal level) it was.

A DM discussing how and when to introduce a magic item with a player isn't scripting, it's DMing. Some DMs don't do that, some do. I've done that before with some of my players over the years.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A DM discussing how and when to introduce a magic item with a player isn't scripting, it's DMing. Some DMs don't do that, some do. I've done that before with some of my players over the years.

I am finally about to introduce a magic item for one of my players that I have been planning for literal years. If I were scripting my home game, we would have gotten to this point years ago.

 

[Scott Christian]

A DM discussing how and when to introduce a magic item with a player isn't scripting, it's DMing. Some DMs don't do that, some do. I've done that before with some of my players over the years.

I agree with you, to a point. But this was literally a two-hour discussion with notes being taken and specific lines and phrases that sound cool being jotted down. Like I said, it was very similar to a writers' roundtable. It was not a fifteen- or twenty-minute conversation with a player about if their character wants said item or if they'll need it as they progress in level. This was scripting the item: determining location, looks, powers, and specific ideas on how to incorporate it into the character arc and other story elements. There is a difference.

 

[Umbran]

A DM discussing how and when to introduce a magic item with a player isn't scripting, it's DMing. Some DMs don't do that, some do. I've done that before with some of my players over the years.

Yeah, there's a difference between "scripting" and "planning".

"So, you want a Holy Avenger? Okay, we can do that. Won't be for a few sessions though, and there's a side quest you'll have to do...," is not scripting.

 

[Clint_L]

Interesting. I had no idea. Maybe since so many of the cast members have "Hollywood" experience, it's not needed. Or maybe Mercer is actually better than everyone already gives him credit for. But it is interesting, nonetheless.

My experience with the podcasters was eye-opening. I had always assumed their table was just playing. I had no idea how scripted (even on an informal level) it was.

It's a bit hard for me to take your podcaster story seriously, because you are being very cagey about details. I'm also not sure why've you've introduced it into a discussion about Critical Role being scripted, if this mysterious and unnamed podcast group was not them.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Speaking as someone who has done rehearsals and learned lines, improv is much easier!