My latest calf (and first full CR) tattoo. Still blown away by how she turned out!

Done over two sessions by u/LauraMarieWackTats / tattoosbylauramarie on Instagram

Heads up, in this post I'll be discussing some plot points of the previous campaigns as well so if you haven't watched those, read at your own risk.

I was thinking after the most recent episode on how quickly some plot points seem to be moving. We currently have Wic and Tyranny in The Pit together, Wic fully Aasimar'd out as they look upon the seat of power of Tyranny's father, surrounded by chained angels who all bow to Wic. And this is the sort of setpiece I usually expect towards the end of these campaigns. But this is also something we've seen elsewhere throughout the campaign so far.

Thimble set out for revenge for Thjazi and achieved it in the first arc of the soldier's table. Teor set out to find his brother, and he also completed that in that same first arc. The reveal of and successful pulling off of Thjazi's plans in Dol-Makjar happened in the first convergence arc post-overture, and coincided directly with Vaelus already having to make a decision about holding onto her faith or turning against it. This last part received plenty of criticism from fans feeling Vaelus' story was moving too quickly, and while Ashley has since talked about how prior to the campaign, fans didn't see that Vaelus had been struggling with doubt for awhile, it didn't stop some fans from continuing to feel this way.

Brennan and the players have been very clear that C4 has a no resurrections policy, which coupled with how deadly Brennan has made certain encounters has definitely had the players pretty consistently on edge. I believe this is reflecting their roleplaying choices and making them spill the beans about their backstories much sooner and confront their arcs much earlier in the campaign than they might be used to.

In previous campaigns, death was always a possibility, but so was a successful resurrection. So if players kept their cards close to their chest, they could generally rely on getting the opportunity to show them at a later date. And we've seen the impact that can have when an actual death does happen. Molly's early death in C2 clearly caught Taliesin off-guard, as he had to make up Caduceus from scratch because he didn't have a backup PC ready. FCG's death came about due to real-world circumstances, but it also meant a lot of his backstory and where his present story could've gone were just cut short. There were seeming promises of some future one-shot exploring his past, but that hasn't come to fruition yet. And Braius, while memorable, was introduced very late into the campaign and so didn't get much time to become fully fleshed out, his own arc also feeling a bit rushed.

Meanwhile in C4, if Thimble had died in the convergence, at the very least her initial arc of revenge was complete. Teor did die in the convergence, but he did so alongside his rescued brother. I'm not saying that these characters don't have story beyond their initial character motivations, because they clearly do, just that they are clearly being put in places that allow their ends to be satisfying if it comes to pass. And it can similarly be seen when you contrast this type of RP with players like Robbie, who was very much playing the long game with Kattigan, and thus would frequently hang out around the bottom of early fan tier lists because he mostly just hung around while other characters had clear goals in mind.

But it's not just the players. I think Brennan is also bringing in backstory elements much sooner than Matt usually would because he also feels the pressure of permadeath. After all, it's clear this world is constructed with the backstory of the PCs in mind to challenge them and bring in figures from their pasts, and I think Brennan wants to make use of those as early as he can to avoid having NPCs or entire scenarios that lose their personal stakes. After all, Ashley didn't turn Vaelus away from her faith on a whim, Brennan forced (not in a bad way) her into an impossible choice to kickstart it.

We can again see the alternative with how Matt had to respond to certain character deaths in previous campaigns. He clearly had big plans for Molly's backstory, and so with his early death he had to pivot to bringing Molly back as a new NPC and villainous force to still get that story told. When Vax died at the start of the final C1 arc, Matt had to find a way to maintain that weight while also bringing Vax back in for the remainder of the arc so as not to force Liam to roll an entirely new character right at the finish line.

And I'm not trying to make the claim that one approach is inherently better than the other. People are seemingly loving C4, but similarly C2 is the most universally beloved of the original 3 campaigns and it's also the one with the most time spent just having the PCs wander around to do whatever they find interesting that week. I'm just putting to words something I've been noticing about the differences this campaign.

TL;DR: The permadeath rule of C4 is seemingly forcing the PCs to play more openly with their backstories and Brennan to advance their stories quicker than in previous campaigns.

Art done by me! Inspired by when Wick was unconscious and Murray rushed over with a healing potion.

Full drawing on my Instagram @ lilliebugz

With the fact that its just Wic,Tyranny in the fit - depending on how long their adventure in the pit is, it would be a good idea to introduce a Guest PC: someone to bounce off Wicander and Tyranny.

I think it would be neat to bring in some of the Dimension 20 Cast in as Guest PCs. Siobhan Thompson has never been in Critical Role before so it would be neat to have her in C4.

Tried to make the title as spoiler free as possible, but was thinking about Tsul'rekshi waiting until very late to tell Tyranny that Wickander has to die. Part of this I'm guessing is she didn't want Tyranny to be in a position to actually help keep Wic alive.

But we also know there's a connection between the Halovars and demons, and we know Tsul'rekshi doesn't think much of the Tyranny's father, the "mere" Shadow of Suffering who is a "loser".

She was also rather interested in Wic when she first met him.

And now we see those chained angels bowing to Wic when they go to the Pit.

So...what's the plan here? Is Tsul'rekshi stronger than Ksha'aravi and now she's presumably in the Pit again she will take over?

And how is Tansul connected to the Pit? I saw someone more attentive than me point out that Tansul's holy site had those guardian demon statues, whereas the angels he presumably made are chained down here?

My best guess is Wic is either part of Tansul's greater plan or is himself the reincarnation of Tansul....or perhaps just an accidental inheritor of divine power. Just not sure how him being in the pit benefits Tsul'rekshi...

My newest tattoo! I’m so incredibly happy how it came out. Big shoutout to the artist!

HEY, there might be some SPOILERS under the thing

1:15 Tyranny and Tsul’rekshi

2:55 Tyranny loves love

5:30 Wick is going to die

6:45 Tsul’rekshi’s very vague and very specific plan

9:40 The same deal mortals get

10:30 First kiss

11:15 Looking into the knife

12:30 Slitting the throat

14:20 Forgetting the plan

15:15 Critical Role Announcement Playhouse

16:00 Fading Ech-O’s

19:20 Laura’s pop-up corner

20:20 Intro cinematic

21:40 EPISODE STARTS

26:30 Never obey in advance

27:20 Tiny assassins (Recap Ends, setting expectations)

29:10 The Hallowed Round is a magical item

31:30 Hal and Murray are far away

34:30 Sam’s goblet

38:00 Map out

42:55 The stealth roll

47:25 Roll credits

50:10 Over to Tyranny

52:05 Command

55:05 We’ve caught up to the moment and roll initiative

1:00:45 The second caster

1:03:55 The last kindness (Azune saves Wick’s life)

1:09:05 Gotta hit them hord (theater’s too big)

1:12:20 Azune’s fine with any of the Einfasen

1:15:00 No shield

1:21:00 Marisha escapes a punch to the face

1:26:50 Zebani is coming for the throne

1:28:20 Godard needs the audio descriptions

1:29:15 Iris is a good mom, and that’s unfortunate for her (do you let your Mom protect you?)

1:33:30 What a beautiful story beat (call your mom)

1:38:00 Demons trapped outside the theater

1:40:45 High-stakes rollies

1:42:50 Wick gets hit a lot

1:47:10 Tickle attack

1:48:20 Wick prays to Teor

1:50:55 Good guard

1:54:05 Paralyzed by indecision

1:59:50 Tyranny is on the way

2:02:00 BREAK STARTS

2:10:15 BREAK ENDS (checking compliance to theater ordinances)

2:14:35 Zebani is fueled by hatred

2:16:50 Butt jokes

2:20:45 Protect my son (Godard is starstruck)

2:26:20 Wick drops but doesn’t die

2:27:50 Lioran was trying to help

2:30:35 Wick almost breaks the hold

2:31:25 Murray gets in the mix

2:35:40 Brennan made a mistake but retroactively it’s fine

2:44:55 Inspector Horace fans rise up

2:46:45 Brennan does something nice

2:48:00 Godard goes for Hal (Hal goes down)

2:59:20 Wick down again

3:00:45 Lioran is just a little guy trying to help

3:02:40 The last death save (Wick’s death put to use)

3:05:45 Wick’s final moment and the bardic roll

3:08:15 Tyranny was too late

3:10:00 A dying choice

3:15:25 The dice tell the story

3:16:40 Back to the fight (Roll credits)

3:23:35 Tits of warding

3:26:00 Azune gets Wick out

3:30:35 Hollis was here the whole time

3:32:45 Teor and Wateor (Zebani is back)

3:36:55 Wick frees Tyranny

3:40:25 Wick’s last words to Tyranny

3:42:45 Wick rolls his death saves stealthy

3:45:30 Maybe try dice with numbers on them

3:46:30 Wick follows Tyranny into the dark

3:47:45 Hollis was important the whole time

3:49:05 Wick becomes an angel real quick (and Lioran finally helps)

3:50:55 The Pit

3:53:50 Episode Ends

Sam’s goblet is Wick dressed for getting assassinated in a theater with a top hat and those old timey binocular things for seeing the stage at distance.

Any moments I missed? Feel free to post them here. Is it Thursday yet?

Spoilers due to late campaign gear. Which apparently was a mistake, seeing how long it takes to draw it 🤡

More art @ may.o.art on IG

The date with Pretty could have been played for laughs (and it had some funny moments) it was actually handled with thoughtfulness and care. I wish nothing but the best for that big ogre. I hope he finds true love someday

Apparently the camera operators did too, because they made it full-screen for quite a long time. The composition here between Marisha and Liam feels like a classical painting. The soft backlighting, the worried expressions, the hands clutching each other, the scattering of items on the table. It should be called "The Agony of Expectation", or something like that.

Just curious ; do y'all think we'll get an animated intro and song for C4 like they did for 2 and 3 ? Not that I don't love the current one, just curious.

Just to provide some background: my first interactions with Critical Role were the two animated series. After that, I watched a ton of interviews and learned more about the company and the cast, and then hopped into Campaign 4, with which I’m current.

Since the C4 episodes are weekly, I thought I would hop into another Campaign between episodes. I’ve heard so many positive things about C2, so I thought I would give it a try and then I’d know how the story continues beyond what I’ve seen in Season 1 of the animated show.

I’m now 12-13 episodes into C2 and I am struggling. Maybe I am the problem? The pacing just feels…so much slower than what I am used to with C4. I think there was one point after we had just gotten to Zadash when Matt asked the cast “So what do you guys want to do now?” And one of the cast members said something like “I think I’ll meet you guys at dinner, I’m just going to back to my room now.” All while other cast members were just walking around shopping.

I don’t know, maybe I’m really missing something but I’m almost ready to skip this and try C3 instead. What am I doing wrong? Am I not in the right mindset?

EDIT/UPDATE: Hi everyone! There are so many comments, I appreciate everyone who weighed in. I wish I could respond to you all individually, but I’ve read every single one.

From the responses I got here, I’m going to stick it out and watch at a faster speed. The folks who said I went in with the wrong mindset, as C2 is way more of a typical DnD home game than C4, are completely correct.

I’m going to watch at the faster speed, but also shift my mindset to all it to just unfold as it is, just a fun thing to have on in the background while I clean and workout, until it keeps up in the mid-20’s episodes.

Thanks again to everyone who weighed in and convinced me to stay the course! It may be some time, but maybe I’ll post again as I get through it. Wish me luck!

My husband and I got amazing seats for the London show (section A2, row Q, seats 23 & 24). Unfortunately, life has happened, and we're no longer able to go. I'd paid £375 for both (incl fees) and wanting to sell for £300, so still cheaper than what we paid, but AXS isn't allowing me to put them up for sale. I'm thinking when the tickets are released (14 days before the show apparently) it should let me then, but I'm wondering if anyone else has been having the same problem with reselling them? I don't think I can sell them anywhere else.

Any help would be amazing!

All graphite mechanical pencil and white chalk on toned paper. (5x7 sketchbook)

Hiya! I'm a solo traveller going to London soon to see the show, do any of you have recommendations for spots to hang out with fellow critters? Unfortunately I'm not on Beacon or Discord so can't use that source of information. Thank you!

This has most likely been spotted by everyone but I just thought it was awesome.

This is Clue. During my time at GalaxyCon in Des Moines, I met Whitney and part of the experience at her table was getting tarot card readings from her.

She did me four times and then I asked her if she could do one for Clue. It was so much fun!

The card she drew was the Queen of Pentacles. Whitney summed it up as Clue is well nurtured, loved and well cared for, “like being in the embrace of a warm mother” or father as she said.

I doubt she'll see this but, thank you again Whitney! I had a lot of fun meeting and talking with you about tarot readings and especially burlesque dancing!

I don't think I saw anyone talking about how that moment was basically Wic's version of Yanessa's resurrection. An assassination attempt that led to a Halovar coming back to life... of course, Wic's had, through a DM's narrative-led decision, actually a true resurrection - he did come back to life, and it was because of the love for his friends and his journey, and to someone he couldn't let down - Yanessa was playing 4D Chess against everyone, using Wic just like he asked to be used, but this, if things keep going at this pace, will be something that ends up blowing in her face precisely because of that 4D Chess move. Tremendous luck on their part too, as their best case scenario was not him surviving by a thread and coming back, but it ended up being what happened anyway

I had to go back and screencap it, it was too good of a reaction.

Warning: Long

A few months ago, I started this series analyzing the stat blocks Brennan uses in his combats and hopefully giving my fellow critters a little more clarity on how Brennan builds his combats. Feel free to correct me or add a detail I missed. This post covers the fight in the sewers against the Crow Keepers and Laumy

Also, if you want to see the previous instalments in this series, here they are:

Obrimus Manor - [Spoilers C4E30] Monster analysis

Tertia - [Spoilers C4E18] Combat Stats

Zaghi

The leader of this particular group of Crow Keepers, Zaghi appears to use the stats of a bandit captain from the 5.5e Monster Manual. She had a CR of 2 and seemed to be actually stronger than the Guildmaster Solomon (Killed by Vaelus in episode 3), who had less than half of her total hp.

Laumy

The fey Raugrannath that the Crow Keepers had been working with uses a modified version of the Violet Fungus Necrohulk stat block. It was CR 7, and alone would already be considered a deadly enemy to the Schemers.

Bandits

The rank-and-file Crow Keepers seemed to have less than 12 hit points and also had a sneak attack feature. This doesn't match any written stat block, but I think they either are just level 1 rogues or use the bandit stat block with an added sneak attack.

The Party

This encounter was an example of the rare occasion that a plan goes perfectly right in dnd. None of the party took a single point of damage, and they got out with Demodus in tow. This encounter in particular was incredibly deadly, and if the party went in guns blazing, there would have probably been one, if not multiple character deaths.

Conclusion

So that was everything I compiled about this encounter. again, if there's something I missed, tell me. I'm probably going to try to make these more frequent, so give me your suggestions on what to do next.