Critical Role has played a key part in revitalizing Dungeons and Dragons's popularity in the last 5 years, but those interested in watching their campaigns may feel overwhelmed with so much content. While there is no right or wrong way to start Critical Role, this article will offer some helpful tips for those interested in becoming fans, or "Critters."
Critical Role has only 2 major campaigns so far, but both have over 100 episodes, and Campaign 2 — The Mighty Nein — is still in progress. Each episode averages about 4 hours — a fair amount of a time for a single D&D session. While it makes the most sense to start from the very beginning, this could be a little daunting considering that the first campaign — The Legend of Vox Machina — started airing after the group had already completed some adventures. Additionally, the quality is noticeably lacking compared to future episodes which can be off-putting for those not already invested.
Both campaigns take place in Exandria, a world entirely imagined by Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer. The Mighty Nein takes place 20 years later and on a different continent, so it's not imperative to watch the campaigns in order. Many Critters would advise doing so anyway, as there are some nods and references in the 2nd campaign that may go over some peoples' heads if they've yet to experience Vox Machina. Still, the superior production of Campaign 2 makes it much easier to get into comparatively, and Critters who binge-watch it have the opportunity to livestream new episodes and participate with the community in real time, which adds a whole new level to the experience. If Critters decide to take this route, they can catch up on Vox Machina while they wait for new episodes of The Mighty Nein to air. There are also podcasts, episodes recaps, written summaries, and more to help people catch up to speed, and they've been nicely organized as a link on Critical Role's subreddit.
Critical Role's D&D Campaigns Can Be Enjoyed In A Variety Of Ways
No matter which campaign fans decide to watching first, dishing out 800+ hours in front of a screen may not be doable for some, so listening to the podcast version is also an option. If Critters can catch their first few streams on Twitch or YouTube, they can put a face to the voice. Facial expressions, gestures between castmates, and the use of maps and miniatures make the streams more engaging as well, so there are benefits to watching at first. However, podcasts are a great way to catch up while doing other activities, and the audio quality is better on the podcast, especially for the 1st campaign, which can make the plot easier to take in.
Due to the immense amount of hours of commitment necessary to fully enjoy Critical Role, watching may not be for everyone. Thankfully, there are fan summaries and recaps available in the subreddit link above for Critters who can't sit through the streams. Fans can also look forward to an animated series for the 1st campaign's canon prequel and beginning chapters to premier on Amazon Prime sometime next year. The Legend of Vox Machina Animated Special Kickstarter hit its goal a mere hour after going up, and will serve as an excellent introduction to the 1st campaign's stream. There's likely to be much more animated content in the future as well.
Though many may want to watch all of Campaign 1 before The Legend of Vox Machina premieres on Amazon Prime, or all of Campaign 2 so they can participate in the livestreams, Critters should not stress about completing all episodes in a certain amount of time and just enjoy it at their own pace. The show streams live every Thursday at 7pm Pacific on Critical Role's Twitch channel and new episodes are posted the following Monday on YouTube. In addition to these campaigns, there is much other Critical Role content, including D&D resources and one-shots that may be easier take in, so fans should feel at ease knowing there is plenty to keep busy with for a while.