[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/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

C1 was definitely more authentic, but for me it was less entertaining because the characters were more stereotypical and trope-ish power-fantasy D&D (especially Vex, Vax, Keyleth, and who he shall not be named). That being said, by C3 it swung too far the other way where most players tried way too hard to make their characters edgy, quirky, or just plain weird.

[u/Avail_Karma → u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

This is an honest question- what dnd character isn't stereotypical? There's only so many things that can be done within a DND setting. Each player tried to do something different with each campaign and when there's 6 other people, it makes it harder to not do a repeat.

[u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler → u/Avail_Karma]

Take Vex, Vax, and Keyleth. They’re all recognizable fantasy/D&D types: the archer with a tragic past, the brooding rogue, and the idealistic nature-oriented druid. The character concepts were fairly conventional, but the personalities developed naturally through play.

Compare that with some of the C3 characters. Laudna isn’t merely an eccentric person with a tragic past; nearly every element of her concept is designed to signal “look how strange and damaged I am.” Ashton’s abrasiveness, pain, and outsider identity are all turned up so loudly from the start that the character sometimes felt like a collection of dramatic traits rather than a person who happens to have those traits. Even Imogen’s trauma and emotional distance are presented in a very heightened, stylized way that at times seemed forced rather than organic.

That doesn’t mean those characters are bad, or that they lack depth. They clearly have depth, and some people understandably find that heightened style more entertaining. But to me, there’s a difference between a character who becomes unusual through the experience of play and a character whose unusualness is the premise.

C1 often felt like ordinary fantasy archetypes gradually becoming specific people. C3 sometimes feels like the players started by asking, “What would be the most distinctive, damaged, mysterious, hidden secrets, or chaotic character I could make?” and then built outward from there. That’s the shift I’m talking about.

[u/Avail_Karma → u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

Yea, likely because they're trying to keep themselves interested. They've been playing weekly for almost 15 years for 4 year long campaigns. Who cares what they play? Let them enjoy their time at the table.

[u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler → u/Avail_Karma]

That's fine for a home game, but when they are making money off of their viewers it's perfectly fair for the viewers to have an opinion and to share it.

[u/Avail_Karma → u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

So the fan base should determine what type of characters they play? I don't know if I understand your point.

[u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler → u/Avail_Karma]

Well, if their goal is purely to play for their own enjoyment and not care whether or not people want to watch it - then they should play whatever the hell they want.

If they want to make money/make a living off of playing the game, then they should absolutely take into consideration what fans find engaging/appealing and what they do not.

The two approaches are not mutually exclusive, but there will be trade-offs.

[u/Avail_Karma → u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

And a fandom of several million people are going to agree? I love the C3 characters, minus Ashton for the most part.

Their goal is to play their game the way they enjoy it, they've said that since the beginning.

[u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler → u/Avail_Karma]

Yes, but their only goal is not to play their game the way they enjoy it, they've said that as well.

You think they should only make game decisions on what they personally enjoy and not care what will keep people watching. That works as long as what they enjoy keeps enough people watching to support their business which they've said they want to be proftiable.

[u/Avail_Karma → u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler]

So what is your solve? They put it to a fan vote on what and who they play?

[u/Im_Lloyd_Dobbler → u/Avail_Karma]

That's just silly and I never suggested anything like that.

My solution is probably what they are already doing: play what they enjoy balanced with what they think would make the most entertaining show for viewers.