Caleb Casts Time Stop | Critical Role | Campaign 3, Episode 116

[@jackdog06]

Caleb: “Halt.” *Two fireballs immediately explode* *Archway begins to crumble* *There are four Calebs and all of them are on fire*

[@AubDenashi]

Most normal day traveling with Caleb 😂 god I love that character so much

[@gatfatf]

None of them will actually do anything, but hey, aura

[@SheenahTheDino]

Caleb having Time Stop is just so powerful from a narrative standpoint. He spent so long researching time travel so he could go back and change the past. Now he's using it to stay here, and change the future

[@Sizzox]

It’s also great since time magic is Essek’s speciality. In the narrative, this is probably magic he taught him or that they have been studying togeather.

[@jackdog06]

He’s living in the moment. He’s just stretching the moment out a little.

[@David_Blake91]

@@Sizzox It was also used against them by Trent back in the final episode of C2, so it has a bit more symbolic meaning as well.

[@DarksideGmss0513]

Also if I remember correctly Trent used that spell quite a lot in their fight.

[@jackdog06]

@@DarksideGmss0513 I think Trent was only able to Time Stop through a consumable “dunamantic egg” item. Pretty sure he used his actual 9th level spell to cast Invulnerability on himself during that Time Stop.

[@TheSaphireKatana]

Every time caleb is in a one shot liam just picks a 9th level spell and goes "ill steal the show woth this one this time."

[@Mr_Boyer]

When you have the time and resources to learn all of the 9th level spells, why not show off?

[@angelicalicari8355]

Both the cast and the audience love a big moment- why not give us one when he can?

[@AubDenashi]

Caleb is probably my favorite character in fiction, and easily in dnd. Such an amazingly told story and seeing him now at his peak just having fun and owning magic is so fucking rewarding after spending countless weeks and hours watching him grow

[@TheSaphireKatana]

@AubDenashi absolutely agreed, it feels amazing seeing him thrive like this after hiding and fearing himself for so long

[@TK_Brainslug]

thank the gods Caleb is one of the good guys.

[@Gala-yp8nx]

Remember that time he turned some guards into meat cubes?

[@catherineelmore2004]

Everybody and their brother would be meeting Vax and the Matron sooner rather than later if he weren't, I'm convinced!

[@mivimivi3k]

Buuuuuuuttt... he'll go to work if he needs to

[@taylorsmith9197]

@@mivimivi3k one of my favorite little moments from C2 lol

[@arielvalentine2500]

the description of the delayed blast fireball reminded me a lot of the wall of flame on the ship that one time :3

[@Rook986]

"Caleb Widowghasts burning like the human torch..." Taking after his parents I see.

[@d_andrews]

💀

[@Viscupelo]

How, DARE you.

[@abbygaleforcewind]

oh no

[@haydem0823]

Omg savage

[@ghedgs]

Too soon

[@carliethecleric]

To quote Liam O’Brien “What’s sexier than wizards NOTHING”

[@saralovelace7219]

Caleb Widogast's final form.

[@Foretelling]

He's a transmuter.

[@ld6782]

What is the greatest magic of all... CHRONOMANCY!

[@omgitsjoshjames]

Caleb might be the best Critical Role character. So awesome.

[@deathbykonami5487]

What was Caleb doing? Nothing much, just scrubbing any doubt of who was really going to be Fjord's best man at their wedding. Caleb and Fjord have a blood pact of brotherhood ffs.

[@trise2033]

Fun fact: If you cast Delayed Blast Fireball and don't detonate it, it gains an additional 1d6 damage per turn. As written, this includes Time Stop turns.

[@FlyXan]

Meaning that he should've tried the arch breaking thing first, then DB fireball (therefore losing concentration on telekinesis, since db fireball is also a concentration spell) and then mirror image and fire shield. By the time he was casting the level 7 fireball, the DB version would've gained additional 4 charges instead of just one. He just lost 3d6 damage. :)

[@serrasedai]

​@@FlyXan I don't see how all this work since telekinesis is concentration and so is delayed blast fireball The telekinesian should end as soon as the delay fireball starts, even if it's in the middle of time. stop

[@JPIQQG]

​@@serrasedai 1. Use Telekinesis since it is already up to affect a structure (not creature) 2. Cast Delayed Blast Fireball (lose concentration on Telekinesis, start concentrating on DBF, DBF turn charge 1) 3. Cast Mirror Image (DBF turn charge 2) 4. Cast Fire Shield (DBF turn charge 3) 5. Cast regular Fireball at the end of your turn for 8d6 + 4d6 ((7-4)*d6) fire damage Your regular Fireball instantly affects a creature other than you (Weavemind): -> Time Stop ends for affecting a creature other than you. -> Delayed Blast Fireball Explodes with 12d6 + 3d6 (3 full turns) fire damage because of the trigger being Time Stop ending. -> Your fifth turn ends. (The DBF only gets charge when your turn ends = usually when next character starts their turn and can act, if DBF had not exploded at the end of Time Stop it would have gotten another charge.)

[@serrasedai]

@JPIQQG That sounds good. My only thought is that it looked like Liam intended for Telekinesis to still be up, based on this clip. He says "We'll come back to that" or something.

[@FlyXan]

@@serrasedai Yes

[@theluckyeditor6647]

Caleb using a better version of the same strategy that Ikithon used against him and the party is such a crazy-ass callback and so apt for Caleb's progression as a wizard and as a person. It is godly character work by Liam. Job well fucking done, my man.

[@Taulussa]

Matt has experience on being on the receiving end of a time stop

[@ArcienPlaysGames]

The choice in song at the end there is such a cheeky move, I love it

[@GRIMHOOD99]

Isn't fire shield and mirror image in a time stop what Trent started with in C2 when he attacked M9 in grove?

[@Mightymajin]

I remember Trent at least used Fire Shiels

[@keroro407]

The other one Trent used is Crown of Stars.

[@rednite__8427]

I believe he also had multiple 9th level spells and had invulnerability cast on himself as well

[@emjer1268]

@@rednite__8427 I think Trent only had one 9th level slot which he used on invulnerability, but he had a magic item that let him cast time stop

[@vinayshravan]

Caleb uses ZA WARUDO.

[@bluecoconut9543]

Mercer: yare yare daze

[@jeffquinz2118]

...It's SUPER EFFECTIVE!

[@castbet9183]

It’s technically better than ZA WARUDO cause that only lasts about 5-6seconds meanwhile Caleb went like 30sec since he had 5 rounds to do stuff

[@ryanbensberg5846]

1:11

[@liorgoldshtein2373]

​@@castbet9183 yes however za worudo doesn't end once you effect another creature which means you can stack damage super fast which is very useful

[@josephwhitaker6990]

“By the eye of Agamotto!”

[@Gaksi-desu]

I love that song in the end. It's like a reference to quicksilver in x-men.

[@Nimoot]

Sweet Dreams.

[@TheSmartNacho]

if i could save time in a bottle the first thing that id like to do. lol

[@bworks7232]

Cry for 5 rounds.

[@MinersLoveGames]

Fifteen seconds have passed.

[@minhsvo]

5 rounds so 30 seconds

[@TheKabukimann]

The fact Caleb did the same thing Trent did when they confronted him shows that he learned alot but wants to use it for the good.

[@hawktalon7890]

Liam O'Brien's character work is insane. Also I think Caleb Widogast ended up being one of my favorite fictional characters by the end of the M9. It's great to see him beyond that.

[@ryanbensberg5846]

1:11 every just going to not talk about Matt Za Worldoing having Jotaro flash backs

[@David_Blake91]

Man imagine this animated! Here's hoping one day we will see it! Also to quote Liam himself: "What's sexier than wizards? NOTHING!"

[@castbet9183]

I’m starting a quest for Immortality or Seek the completed Animated product that’s in a distant land, wanna join?

[@seanjmccart1980]

Before this, my favorite combat moment in CR was Vax in Sprigg's hut. That was like eight years ago. This finally topped it. Also Liam.

[@viviblue7277]

Even though time stop definitely isn’t the best 9th level spell it’s so stylish.

[@rev7016]

You hear his voice echoing with arcane sheen, "Za Warudo..."

[@castbet9183]

Technically it’s a superior version since his time stop lasted 30 seconds

[@deranged_dragon9471]

WOW, Essek is a lucky guy. Those spell descriptions were sexy. Never enough of seeing Caleb Widogast.

[@AubDenashi]

Especially if you watched along as each episode came out, god I loved the story of the nein so much. Caleb is just my favorite character ever. Legit gonna rewatch the whole thing again soon

[@abbygaleforcewind]

I understood that musical reference at the end. Nice touch.

[@cptsketch13]

This is how you wizard

[@KinoGeno]

Time Stop is such a cool spell. Got to use it in a game recently after our DM decided to let us pull a card from the Deck of Many More Things. Got The Bridge which gave me a 1 time use of the spell. Ended up using it against an Ice Devil when I got caught in a trap that separated me from the party. I was a Lv13 Air Genasi Pact of the Talisman Genie Warlock and got 4 turns out of it. Used it to set up Crown of Stars, Investiture of Wind, Drink a potion to top up my HP, and then Raulothim's Psychic Lance. Oh also my character was also entirely naked at the time aside from a small pouch, a pair of Boots of Elvenkind, and my genie lamp from the subclass. My character was very RP centric with its spell list. Basically a Gambling Addict working as an enforcer of magical contracts for their Patron, a Noble Djinni who is also their great great great etc grandfather. So the vast majority of their spells were themed around that. Spells that could be used to cheat at gambling, along with wind/thunder/lightning centric spells and a few psychic spells. Their Eldritch Blast was flavored as throwing an exploding playing card like Gambit from the X-Men. That means my character didn't really have any of the more infernal / edgy spell options that warlock favors. Ended up burning literally every resource I had to survive. I had 3 health left at the end of the fight. It was one of the most epic moments we've had in a game in a while. Really funny because I could have avoided the fight since one of my party members had my talisman on them so i could have teleported to them, but my character was starting to get fed up with the traps they kept triggering so he was starting to act recklessly (and also we were a little caster heavy and I was planning on killing him off and making a new martial character).

[@jonb0i1337]

if they get to animating Bells Hells after VM and M9 i think this is going to be the coolest moment of the series

[@ZHLodhi]

That eurhythmics outroreminded me to sub to you, thanks! 😁

[@Salamander10]

Matt’s time stopping sound effect came straight from his Jojo days

[@XxcrazycjxX]

I remember having a BBEG cast time stop, first turn delayed blast fireball followed by 4 turns of buff spells. the party was not happy with me that day

[@dragonettiification]

If he would have thought it through, he would have delayed fireballed first. It would have had more rounds to build up.

[@taylorsmith9197]

Just cast 4 delayed fireballs and a regular one to end it lol

[@abedrahman4519]

@@taylorsmith9197 you only get one 7th level spell slot. The most he can do is 2 (7th and 8th, assuming he has both slots) Edit: didn't realize DB Fireball is concentration so you can only do one

[@malrok5452]

​@@taylorsmith9197 Delayed Fireball is a concentration spell, so It would explode the moment you cast another one, damaging enemies and ending Time Stop.

[@taylorsmith9197]

@@malrok5452 ah crap. makes sense. never used it myself so wasn't sure.

[@asdasasdas3476]

Couldn’t he just have the delayed fire ball explode in the enemies face within the safety of the time stop

[@Kairamek]

When the animated series gets to this bit, it's going to be fantastic to watch.

[@finnhero9153]

That was really cool!

[@YourCaptain00]

Can't wait to see this animated

[@Oda-98]

"Hmmphm, so it's the same type of stand as The World."

[@akatsukiawsome13]

The song at the end is referencing the quicksilver saves everyone clip from xmen

[@timsmith7164]

Banger outro music

[@motherfaerie]

WIZARDS ARE SO HOT WIZARDS ARE SO HOOOOOOOTTTT

[@IronVA]

It’s so unfortunate that not a single one of those mirror images did anything lmao

[@hawktalon7890]

I know, right? I was disappointed.

[@sekiddo6244]

„ZA WAAAAARUDO“ Caleb said calmly

[@jonathankowatch6947]

High level wizards are scary. Which is why i love playing wizards.

[@ThePopeOfAllDope]

Animators! I need you!

[@Micaerys]

Nothing is hotter than a wizard

[@sage7172]

Save a wizards parents

[@Micaerys]

@sage7172 😂

[@DreamEngine707]

BIG. BOLD. MOVES.

[@ChromeTeck]

All of a sudden, you're in the middle of a Rammstein concert.

[@Quadraxis]

Caleb: "ZA WAAAARUDO!!"

[@RhyaXP]

Well Liam does voice Dr Strange in marvel rivals so this fits

[@Mary_Studios]

He's also done Dr Strange is quite a few marvel shows as well so he's had experince with this

[@theblackknight1980]

Casually pulls a "BY THE EYE OF AGIMOTO"

[@mmeibos]

They should've made a montage of everything happening with the "Sweet dreams" song, just like Quicksilver from X-men

[@IronVA]

It’s so unfortunate that not a single one of those mirror images did anything

[@Cassner]

Using a spell that one of his greatest threats utilized against him and his party is damn poetic. If only he casted delayed fireball first though

[@Badartist888]

There are now four of me on fire. I hope they can't see where I've gone. hmm good luck with that.

[@taylormercatell764]

BY THE EYE OF AGAMOTTO

[@OksanaSean]

The greatest magic of all is Chronomancy!! Arthur Aguefort would be proud so proud.

[@twoonswig3667]

Caleb with a Sandevistan is terrifying

[@arjostarudo9406]

That's not Sandevistan man, that's literally *The World* ! The most powerful *STANDO POWER!*

[@AltarexLuurkesien]

suboptimal cast of many high level spells.

[@dominickfinch5693]

It wasn't in this video. But I loved everyone being a little concerned about him not being able to cast a spell that affects another creature. Meanwhile, Travis is sitting there like, "Let's watch the chef cook."

[@dencsyy]

I'm more into martial classes but god damn, Liam makes me want to play a spell caster

[@Kravian729]

(biggest asterisk of all time) Level 20 caster. This is the whole power fantasy thing at max intensity.

[@Unlimitedossibility]

One day they'll do things in order.

[@voltaireborn9902]

Caled: I CAST ZA WARUDO, TOKIWA TOMARE

[@dalematulonis9]

Behold as I bring for The World

[@Blue_Lunacy]

Sadly two of spells he casted here didn't get a chance to shine at all. 😅

[@keroro407]

Fire Shield and Mirror Image are meant for his survival.

[@kaeleastlord]

​@keroro407 and both did jack when they were needed. He kept rolling wrong for the mirror image and didn't have anyone near him for fire shield to proc

[@Bayleaf6399]

Caleb became the Sorcerer Supreme😂

[@shampoovta]

Anyone remember The Girl The Gold Watch and Everything? 😄 that is basically what that spell is.

[@Girentina242]

Nobody doing it like Widogast, actual GOAT

[@sugartoothYT]

I don't even play DnD, but I know that is some sexy wizarding with that Time Stop.

[@Zetathos]

"THE WORRRRRRLLLLLLDO"

[@TrackMaster844]

“ZA WARUDO!!!”

[@IggyBitz]

DIO and Jotaro would be proud

[@arjostarudo9406]

Well, in a way, Jotaro is proud, since Matthew Mercer is the English dubber for Jotaro Kujoh.

[@JakeMcGrawType10]

ah dammit! i want to see what the nein are up to but i havent been able to get into s3 yet. i watched like 30 episodes and bell's hells just didn't grab me.

[@Maars69420]

is this actually Campaign three? What's caleb doing here?

[@anjelica948]

It is C3, but the players are temporarily playing their Mighty Nein characters, because all three parties (Vox Machina, Mighty Nein, and Bells Hells) are involved in the fight against Ludinus.

[@Rub-A-Duck]

Can someone explain how a fireball is not affecting a creature? Is this how Time Stop works? "This spell ends if one of the actions you use during this period, or any effects that you create during this period, affects a creature other than you or an object being worn or carried by someone other than you."

[@Kravian729]

He did fireball last and the delayed blast fireball hadn't triggered.

[@lukesandadordoceu4835]

loved this scene, but damn, the optimizer in me is hurt because he could have cast delayed blast fireball earlier (so it would do more damage with more rounds of duration), maybe in the second round so that his first could be used with telekinesis fire shield wasn't a great option in this case, since he doesn't go in melee and the weave mind is more of a ranged psychic power user instead of melee attacks crown of stars could have given him a great bonus action every round to hurt the weave mind, crystals or the arch

[@Funder1Nk]

Should have cast delayed blast fireball first

[@OurGourdandSavior]

Thanks for the spoiler KZbin recommendations.

[@Pord.o]

i hate that this was a month ago...

[@caleb78231]

i did no such thing you have no proof

[@monkeykingw]

Okay, so I had dropped off Campaign 3 kinda early. Nothing against Bells Hells, the plot just wasn't gripping me. When the hell did it become a Might Nien takeover?

[@XoIoRouge]

Caleb is in C3? 🤔Now I may actually watch C3...

[@anjelica948]

The Mighty Nein have made a couple appearances in C3. Sometimes it was only two characters, and briefly it was the whole group.

[@CraigUntlNytTym]

Was matt mercer referencing doctor strange using the eye of agamotto with those hand movements

[@nemesiszell]

minute 1.10 Is a Final fantasy 8 reference for the slow spell, i think?

[@CynUnion-ji9uj]

But can he cast a time stop within another time stop

[@ARIEZKAGE]

In theory yes, but players only get 1 9th level spell (Like Time Stop) to use per battle if available, not considering any weird shenanigans I can't think of.

[@anidiot9831]

@@ARIEZKAGE If you start getting into Epic Boon territory you can get a second 9th slot.

[@ARIEZKAGE]

@@anidiot9831 Oh there is a Boon for that huh? So yeah, I guess you can double time stop since as far as I can find on the spell, it wasn't worded with two 9th level spell slots in mind.

[@anidiot9831]

@ARIEZKAGE Boon of High Magic, yeah

[@thehikingviking2049]

Also, a spell scroll of time stop would do the trick, but that's an insane use of resources

[@drifterxexe]

what what is caleb class?! i thought he was a fighter

[@annawest2869]

Caleb is a wizard. Orym is a fighter

[@vittoriovitale5197]

Unlucky the whole combat was underwhelming as per usual

[@ORLY21]

The fact that nobody made a ZA WARUDO joke is disappointing. it's the first thing that popped into my head watching this scene.

[@P0rk_Sinigang]

I don't think anyone at this table has ever expressed being a JoJo fan. Some of them have worked VO on it, but that's not even close to being the same.

[@Neomagi125]

@@P0rk_SinigangWhile he didn't quote the meme, at 1:09 Matt, who Voiced Jotaro himself, Literally makes the sound effect very close the the Original from the show. Also here's a link to a random Mercer interview showing that he is in fact Quite a fan of the series. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3ebqIOVp6moq6csi=tKOiGOLy6A3S7EF5&t=529

[@P0rk_Sinigang]

​@@Neomagi125Fair enough, I stand corrected.

[@orelyosif5852]

Campaign 3 should be about Bells Hells, not about all the previous parties

[@angelicalicari8355]

Matt designs his games for his friends, not for the audience. His friends have always wanted him to bring the previous parties back, both for cameos and active player time. Campaign 3 is exactly what the cast wants it to be.

[@orelyosif5852]

@@angelicalicari8355 Yeah, sure. And all the comercial shit under Critical Role trademark is for the cast too

[@PurpleLukazaide]

Its nearly the end of Campaign 3 and Exandria is on the brink of another calamity. Do we really think other parties wouldnt be getting involved in stuff?

[@mirtos39]

@@orelyosif5852 like it or not, they are succesful BECAUSE they run a game for friends. The audience enjoys it, and they are all professionals, so they know there is an audience, and they definitely do things differently for this game than they would a pure home game, but it is still primarily for the friends.

[@orelyosif5852]

@@mirtos39 They WERE running a game for friends. And when they were it was also fun to watch. But not anymore