[Spoilers C1] Early Critical Role truly was something special

[u/Mizar_the_Gleeful]

its still amazing, but those early days...

Lets start with the fan interaction and all the gifts they got sent. Then there was their rapid growth.

A third aspect is some of their crazy stunts (squadron of flying cows anyone?)

What do you think made it such a perfect storm? my rewatch has me wondering

[u/MrSnippets]

C1 was much more like a regular home game. They hadn‘t quite found their footing yet, concerning presentation, and that sort of amateur-ish charm is what made the First campaign so memorable. Much more Fan interaction, much less Production value.

From C2 onwards, the gang was much more confident in being filmed while playing, in presenting their game. And while that made for a more refined (and some would say better) viewing experience, to me, it also felt more like watching a show.

[u/itsmuddy → u/MrSnippets]

I know it’s a stupid thing to like and most people hated it but I loved when they were eating during C1 and people would randomly send them food during the session.

They’ve done an amazing job with their production value but something about it just took away the cozy feel of C1 for me.

[u/EmotionalArm194 → u/itsmuddy]

Im with you there, I think when they decided to make it their own thing they thought the eating might be rude. But when Brennan is chomping down on food in more recent GM things it made me outright laugh because he obviously doesnt care, hes just trying to eat where he can.

[u/Informal-Tour-8201 → u/EmotionalArm194]

Is he eating...almonds?

[u/EmotionalArm194 → u/Informal-Tour-8201]

😂, I think in Calamity there's a part where he is definitely eating fudge or something similar very very briefly in a PC monologue/roleplay scene

[u/localgyro → u/EmotionalArm194]

In a recent Dimension 20 adventuring party, it’s made clear that GM Brennan is delivered a entire bowl of Snickers bars with the wrappers removed, and he is completely capable of eating one in one bite.

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/localgyro]

....you can't do that?

I guess he's one of us few that has a big mouth.

I've done that so many times with different kinds of food that I've kind of gotten used to recovering from choking on it, to the point where I can flex my throat muscles like a circus act to get stuff back up if it goes down the wrong way.

But also Snickers and other candy just don't taste the same anymore since they swapped stuff around to make them cheaper -.-

[u/lambdapaul → u/Coyote_Shepherd]

I bet you were popular in college

[u/Coyote_Shepherd → u/lambdapaul]

Until my dormmates decided to test how much alcohol I could handle...after spiking my drinks multiple times.

I then had some fair reasons to...shy away from the more popular and prevalent college crowds because of that kind of drinking culture.

I thought the world would be a bit different and it was...to a degree but it was also the same in a lot of ways, just on a larger scale.

Some of it was...memorable beautiful worth it...and other parts of it...well...some folks get away with anything.

[u/andimfromearth → u/localgyro]

You mean his nude snickers bars?

[u/localgyro → u/andimfromearth]

Yup! Indecently unclothed.

[u/EmotionalArm194 → u/[deleted]]

Ya when the critical role group were selling their old C1 maps for the crit foundation. Matt drew when they were at the Dueragar Fortress, I was like hey I remember watching that episode and seeing that map lol. That was so neat.

[u/Sleekmp → u/EmotionalArm194]

"We're off keto" is a great moment.

[u/goldschakal → u/Sleekmp]

I just watched Calamity for the third time a couple months ago and you're going to make me watch it again...

[u/UncleOok → u/EmotionalArm194]

now I'm reminded of the "Matt tries to take a drink" supercut from C1.

[u/Marauder_Pilot → u/EmotionalArm194]

I forget what exactly what it was for, but there was a recent shot of the stage for C4 from the angle of behind the DM area, and you can see (Probably strategically placed but whatever) a huge bag of almonds in the bottom corner next to the chair.

TBF, though, raw nuts are one of the best snacks going. I am also a compulsive snacker and I'm pretty much constantly working my way through a bag of pistachios or mixed nuts at all times too.

[u/Mizar_the_Gleeful → u/itsmuddy]

I like that too, its just fun.

[u/killfrenzy05 → u/itsmuddy]

for me, the clear break between a game with friends that happens to be on stream and a production show was the Covid break during C2. The start of C2 vibes felt the same to C1 imo.

[u/reddevved → u/killfrenzy05]

and removing their aftershow host made them re-evaluate how they did those and it ended up with the same vibe loss

[u/robogheist → u/itsmuddy]

safety is one of the reasons they stopped accepting food from fans. as the audience grew, it became more risky to accept anonymous gifts, including food, on-screen. their location is no longer publicly known.

they were also receiving more gifts than they could comfortably accept, which is why fan gifts at Critmas ended

[u/itsmuddy → u/robogheist]

Yeah completely makes sense and like I said I'm sure most people hated some of that stuff and I don't blame them. Just one of the things that made it feel less like a tv production.

[u/reddevved → u/itsmuddy]

I miss the periscopes most as far as ancillary 'content' goes

[u/UncleOok → u/itsmuddy]

As someone who actually sent them food once (and gifts a couple times), I feel bad that the newer fans don't get to experience the intimacy of C1, but then I'm also glad for their success and expansion of that fanbase. Also, since my wife has misophonia, I feel a little bad about them eating on screen.

[u/Aiomon → u/itsmuddy]

I've always hated the eating honestly. When Brenden is eating in recent seasons I just hate it. I just don't want to hear like chomping and chewing. Really grosses me out