Critical Role Fangirls Ruin D&D

Critical Role is whack
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[@CritCrab]

Check out Grim Hollow! bit.ly/2Cjrs93

[@Sgt-Wolf]

"hey baby can I Matt your mercer"

[@echo4257]

I am honestly interested in Dming Grim Hollow now after I finish my Curse of Strahd campaign! Thank you so much

[@zEr-ne5ri]

@Cherry blossom oh that’s nice.

[@NkGaming-1101]

Before this video I didn’t even know what Critical Role was and I’ve been playing D&D for 2 years now

[@robopope7584]

Nk1101 Gaming I got introduced into D&D by DnDnD, a podcast on Spotify. I like it. Their motto is “do what’s fun” and I love that. I’m not being paid to say this, though I wish I was. Watch them as well as Crit Role everybody. Or just them. Idc

[@TaggedByTim]

Man, the only thing I want to imitate from CR is being able to play D&D weekly with some good friends.

[@Abyss10n]

Impossible. I call witchcraft on CR that they can manage that.

[@minibloke4901]

True that brother

[@youreverydayblackmage]

Fucking same

[@gibbous_silver]

Same

[@Natty1Streak]

Wholesome.

[@NightEyeStudio1995]

What really suck is that Matt has gone to fans both on Tumblr, Reddit and Twitter, telling them that they shouldn’t compare or try to be like him. He tries so hard to stop all this and remind people that he is a 15 years experienced DM who still struggles with his craft. It’s ok to look up to him, but people need to calm down.

[@jetvulcan2020]

also his players are all professional actors who love the impov aspect of the game. they had 2 years of experiences with their characters before they even streamed anything.

[@thewarlocky]

Amem

[@calibcarmichael6356]

Absolutely I just started DM'ing a one on one game with a friend and I believe I'm doing a pretty good job being influenced by Matt but making it my own my friend who never really got into DND before says that he's having fun and that's what matters most.

[@drsatanrx]

Look at where he is going to talk to the fans though. Tumblr, reddit, twitter. All 3 sites are filled with idiots who can't comprehend being told no

[@drewthornley6863]

Completely agree with everyone here but I have got to say I like asking my players "how do you want to do this?" and I like having it asked of me. Tbf I also love learning from DMs, me and a friend switch up who is DM and every time we switch the game gets better because we learn from each other for me Matt is just the same

[@elliotbishop231]

Matt Mercer and the critical role crew aren’t to blame for this, the crazy fans are unfortunately.

[@androidhatsunemiku9667]

Yeah, I agree with you on that. People need to blame the crazy fans, not the CR crew themselves.

[@Flame-rp6yq]

as is with everything

[@shanemcgee9641]

Yeah. Had a couple friends who never played before but found out I did. They watched CR to "prep" for their first campaign with me. After the 1st session, they quit because there wasn't enough story and voices. They went on to play their own, which collapsed immedietly. CR, while entertaining, is almost a bad thing for new players. That bar gets set WAAAAY too high.

[@commandercaptain4664]

If CR didn't get them, something would. Furry LARPing, Satanic Panic, FATAL...

[@anotherinternetperson8495]

I don't think my players known it exist luckily Never watched an episode

[@EustaBAracer]

I prefer Brennan Lee Mulligan's DM style: Siobhan - "I cast ray of sickness on DM" Brennan - "I vomit monsters at you"

[@Zorg688]

I agree tbh! I have seen some CR stuff and Matt is great but I found Brennan's style to be much more enjoyable for me...apparently, according to my girlfriend, my DMing style was similar to his as well in the beginning, however I think nowadays I found my own style :)

[@xeanheart2614]

100% so much more fun

[@cdawg9218]

I can't handle the level of cringe with the critical role team, It feels forced and over acted.

[@EustaBAracer]

@@cdawg9218 k

[@FlatOnHisFace]

Somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer density and length of the _Critical Role_ series, I queued up a few eps, fast-forwarded 20, 40, 60 minutes into those eps, and just saw the very blasé or tired expressions, and decided it wasn't for me. I'd already watched two seasons of _Dimension 20_ and Brennan keeps it lively and exciting, and to reasonable episode lengths. I'm sure _Critical Role_ is awesome. I just don't care. But I loves me some _Dimension 20!_

[@lord_wyran]

Gotta love all these "allies" that only like gays because it's there fetish. I've literally had a 40 year old women tell me "you cant be gay, you're not cute, buff, hot, or snarky, dont ruin this for me."

[@WolfHreda]

That's fucked up.

[@IzEror]

From my experience with people (but especially people online) the louder they are about sexuality of any kind the more creepy/fetishistic they are about it. And the rule applies to everyone across the board. Some seem to even think because they fit under a certain label or whatever makes them exempt from being creepy weirdo shitheads about this stuff. It's part of why I have a hard 'no sex talk of any sort' at my table. Minor flirting I allow. Anything past "Hey cutie. What's the runor around town?" Nuh uh. It's not worth opening the door for the creeps.

[@lanceosta6290]

Fucking yikes

[@genericusername3681]

Don't worry bro, you're fucking ripped in our eyes.

[@lord_wyran]

@@genericusername3681 then you need an optometrist cause im fat as fuck.

[@Xokoy]

Critcrab: I'm not Matt, you're not Matt... Matt Mercer watching this video: But...if I'm not Matt then...who am I?

[@CritCrab]

My editor named Matt when he was editing the video: 👁️👄👁️

[@fluffywolfo3663]

Maybe the real Matt was the friends we made along the way

[@KingSquidberg87]

Matt from Wii Sports: Hello there

[@braydenhopkins3634]

@@KingSquidberg87 Matt from SuperMega: *confused screaming*

[@KultOfKrunk]

This would be awesome if Matt Mercer responded to this xD

[@Nickle_King]

If I DM and someone tells me to be more like Matt, I'd look back at them and reply "Be more like Taliesin."

[@Colm1800]

ive been telling people to be more like Liam, cause then they cringe so hard when they talk all edgy

[@lorenzopalozza6279]

Be more like Molly...

[@manoman19902]

Best reply ever !!!

[@Lord_necromancer]

Yeah lol I say I'll DM like Matt Mercer when you Roleplay like Liam O'Brian lol

[@dgnightwing95]

Gonna be real hard to be a pyramid.

[@drguthrie7621]

Only thing is the whole "How do you wanna do this?" line is actually a really cool reward to players for defeating an enemy and I will never judge a DM for using it cause it is much better than "They are dead"

[@thefiresworddragon927]

Yeah. A, you are correct, it's better, and B, it also gives the player the chance to do something cool. More roleplay opportunities are always welcome.

[@Dragonwing16]

i usually use a "how do you finish him?" however i do love the "You can certainly try."

[@kimkillillasfuq8212]

My DM giggling about the excessive violence as we blow away enemies in horrific and violent ways.

[@brandonrathbone3690]

but there are ways to have the same principle, without parroting a CR catchphrase. I do the same thing when a player eliminates a monster. I tell them "great! now finish them." the glint in their eyes is amazing.

[@jackattack1806]

If I ever DM, I'll happily use all the phrases and lingo from CR but I don't think I'd ever be able to match Matt's skill.

[@plussytrivia9478]

Is “how do you want to do this” uncommon. I mean I guess Matt Mercer did popularize it but it’s a good way to involve players in the story.

[@majinism5582]

agreed, that's where I first saw it

[@SepticLocket]

@@beanbag_3711 I learned how to play D&D from Critical Role so I thought, asking 'How do you want to do this?' was just a thing a DM does for there players and honestly it's really nice to let the players take over the imaginative way of killing an enemy instead of me having to make a new way each and every enemy so that I don't end up repeating myself.

[@creationcreaturesyt6282]

I did that anyway, never seen Critical Role nor heard that they say that. I don’t say the exact words but I let them choose anyway cus if not, where’s the triumph

[@luizurtiga]

There is some people that like being really descriptive but that's a minority, at least from my experience, most people are happy with just "I will use my sword", especially in d&d 5 were most of the mechanics that made different types of attacks have different outcomes got stripped

[@bizghost]

Its just the situation of having started playing because of becoming invested in critical role. I would not call it a 'mercerism', its just where a lot of novice players experienced it first.

[@Inferno144]

Funny thing about the Matt Mercer Effect, Matt himself addressed it and is, and I quote, heartbroken about it.

[@PsicoPrime]

that is kinda depressing

[@peytonkennedy9987]

Aw man...poor matt...Its a shame that he has an effect named after him...

[@mqfii8992]

Matt Mercer: - Great VA - Great DM - Great nerd - Great guy He didn't deserve any of this shit.

[@Alex-ub2zd]

its not Matt's fault the whole cast of crit role are experienced actors, and he is incredibly talented and passionate.

[@an8strengthkobold360]

@@Alex-ub2zd of corse the problem us unlike let's say sports people often don't have a frame of reference other then critical role.

[@dddmemaybe]

"It's not about winning, it's about having fun." - Spongebob

[@unlimon6382]

Smashing the enemy is part of the fun no matter where you are uwu

[@WarmLusamine]

"...What's that?" - Plankton/Every problem player/Bad DM

[@arcanejack]

@@WarmLusamine ♪ F is for friends who do stuff together! U is for you and me! N is for anywhere and anytime at all down here in D&D! ♪

[@democrack113]

And killing the heretics.

[@MaximumArthur]

My first time being a player I made a bard called Pip, he was scared of fire and as a joke our DM gave him "magic illusion gloves" which he said had a one time use and could create any kind of illusion of any size, we were in a rough spot and in a panic I used them to make an illusion to set the building on fire and while casting realized my Pip was scared and I simply passed out out of fear, we still talk about it today and never fails to make us laugh

[@rickroll9965]

Well, there's a difference in a quirk and literally stealing someone's character for the sake of living them out. Yours seems fine to me.

[@thefiresworddragon927]

That is what we call a "bruh" moment. Well done! That's a story worth telling.

[@bjhale]

Courtesy of Dungeon Craft: "No, I'm not Matt Mercer. But do you know what he and I have in common? You're not playing with either of us."

[@mjlogan1964]

That's great

[@SteelTyrant527]

Oof

[@thorthorson9926]

LOL!!!

[@mannydani9180]

I had a friend in our group say this and i think it's incredibly accurate "This is not Critical Role. If you expect a Matt Mercer quality DM, you have to be a Sam Riegal quality player"

[@unknqwnshepherd1872]

@@mannydani9180 good advice

[@outbreakperfected9374]

In reality Matt is not the problem, the attitude of certain CR fans is: Broke: BuT wHY cAn'T my Dm bE moRe LikE MatT MeRceR 1!!1! Woke: How can i improve myself as a player by taking inspiration from the players in Critical Role?

[@PhthaloGreenskin]

We have the same profile pic and I thought this was a comment I left here.

[@elijahproto]

I feel the same way as "woke" ever since I watched XP to Level 3's video on Travis Willingham: How to be a good player

[@Dieci-9]

Too many broke kids. 😂

[@rduke325]

It's too bad Matt is great and some of the RP in the game is great. But some of the "fans" are so toxic.

[@personman8734]

I honestly don’t know why so many people watch critical role. It’s absurdly slow and I don’t think it’s that entertaining to watch people play DND . The episode of them introducing themselves and getting to the conflict after 2 episodes that are 3HOURS each .After watching 3 episodes all they’ve done is go to a circus, get arrested, and sneak back into the circus and chase some people and fight a bit.

[@genobreaker1054]

"Be more like Matt!" "Be more like his players."

[@Ailieorz]

Except they think they are...

[@thefiresworddragon927]

@@Ailieorz They're as chaotic as them… though I'd say the most famous of the crew direct their chaotic nature in ways that we actually like. Especially Sam. I'm pretty sure he has scarred us for life with his chaotic drink applications. Especially that blasted jerry can, holy jesus!

[@danitron4096]

@@thefiresworddragon927 difference being is that Sam is very good at timing and knowing when to stop

[@thefiresworddragon927]

@@danitron4096 Yeah. It's rather shocking. I mean, he's an example of when to stop.

[@jw__11]

@@danitron4096 it's also that Sam Riegel is a damn good strategic DnD player that knows (most of) his character's abilities and spells and just plays the unknowing fool for shits and giggles. Examples for that are many fold during Campaign 1, but also during the recent Exandria Unlimited Calamity series. And while I personally sometimes think his trolling is over the top, I like the way he plays very much

[@CavTanker88]

I have played since the 70's, and have watched one episode of the show. "How do you want to kill them?" Or "Describe your kill." Has been in my DM file since the 80's.

[@oz_jones]

Old guard? Nice

[@joehales6153]

I think people seem to forget that terms can be popularised and expanded upon. But an equal number of people forget that critical role isn't exactly a pioneer

[@tra12048]

It's like how people think that Pewdiepie invented the "bro fist" or Undertale invented the word "determined/determination." It just isn't true, and it's really frustrating when you literally can't even use a certain word/phrase anymore without someone thinking you're referencing something else that you probably haven't even seen/aren't a fan of...

[@TrailerTrashThorne]

I hear you. The guy sounded a bit to fragile to play with anyway. If I'm gonna engage in coitus the dm should ask for my athletics roll not proof of consent.

[@eddygremlin2418]

This got me. "How would you like to do this?" or "KO. Describe your attack." is a go to. If its a massive damage dealing move and they are killing an enemy that's given them hell, its so satisfying to give them that moment of victory.

[@Konpekikaminari]

pro tip to DMs (courtesy of a Reddit reply on the Thread where Matt Mercer voiced his feelings on the "Matt Mercer Effect") If a player hits you with a "why are you not like Matt Mercer?" hit them back with "Because you are not *[Insert name of the player most similar to/admired by your target]*"

[@CritCrab]

"I'll DM like Mercer if you can pay me like Mercer" is also a good one.

[@therowlet3979]

Seriously. The players of Critical Role really carry a lot of the acting bulk of that show. There'll be huge chunks of the game where the players are just roleplaying it out with each other and he's quiet the whole time.

[@aguyunderabridge.8794]

@@CritCrab Oof! Thats a good one.

[@TheLoraxshadenough]

Or you hit them with the dad joke, "I'm not Matt Mercer, I'm [insert name here].

[@oliverworley5162]

There is always lesson to take from them,and my group tends toward heavy role playing more inine with crit role, but none of us aspire to be like them and we don't force eachother, I the dm have a different style where matt describes through environment and feel more I describe through npc dialogue. But I'm still a very descriptive dm. I don't have much experiance as a player though so I don't know how others go about it

[@entr0pydee]

Just to add a little perspective here: Liam is 44 years old. These guys have also voice acted for the same shows and games together for over a decade. that kind of synergy doesnt happen in even a year long campaign. Its built over lots of time and experience. People expecting an experience like that from strangers they met a month ago is unrealistic at best and entitled, willful ignorance deserving of a good boot at worst.

[@omnical6135]

hOw DARE yOu noT do the VoiCe of yOur chAraCter oN tHe sAme leVel aS a proFessioNal voiCe aCtoR, yOu're so bAd at D&D

[@aennaenn7468]

That's why every session I'm reminded that my table has been playing together for a decade, and we have that rapport between our characters only occasionally.

[@danagray9709]

I get the impression that what really happened is that they wanted him to try to get into his character and used the show as an example. He's most likely one of those people who do the "Uh... I guess I tell the party what happened?" Instead of actually saying what their character is supposed to say.

[@rafaelmartinez8112]

Im lucky enough to dm a table with 4 aspiring actors and I myself am one aswell, so we've developed a similar energy, but even that took us 3 yearlong campaigns to get to

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

@@danagray9709 Even if that were the case, he was an inexperienced DM. It's fine to not be that great during your first experience. Unless OP lied his ass off to the point where the real story is completely different from what's written in the post, it doesn't justify their behavior.

[@nicolashromyk5397]

"How do you wanna do this" is actually just a quality addition to combat storytelling in D&D, I think more DMs could benefit from using it

[@pizza9798]

I feel like it's in a similar sort of area as flavoring abilities and spells, helps you get a better feel for your character both in and out of combat

[@bamer6000]

Right? It feels kinda weird taking something so directly from Matt Mercer like that, but the more I think about it, the more I can't really find any other good phrases that have the same effect. It's just a really good way of putting it.

[@tylerperry5654]

@@bamer6000 its quick concise and gets the point across perfectly, literally any other way you say it is just more drawn out and wordy

[@konan2206]

We say it at our table. It just hypes us up. I think it's just a standard for us all now lol

[@Doxham]

@@bamer6000 This is actually something that has been done at tables with my friends and groups and I for many, many years now and I'm sure other groups have done it too. While the 'how do you wanna do this' is a far more concise way to say it (as stated in the other comment) and flows really well, we've done similar like 'alright, your kill, your description' or 'paint the final scene for us' or something similar. It's not a new thing at all, CR/Matt just brought the idea and expression fully into the mainstream and that's neat.

[@jotitus2382]

my friend accidentally kicked matthew mercer at a con while playing just dance

[@kingdonut8272]

Lmao

[@ange4154]

A mood

[@krzysztoftoch1074]

Crazy story bro

[@MothFable]

Fan girl attack!

[@mikek6298]

I bet Matt apologized

[@ramirezthesilvite]

"Critical Role is to D&D what porn is to sex." Fun to watch, but if you go into the real thing expecting it to be like that, you're going to be terribly disappointed.

[@calibcarmichael6356]

Damn

[@MinecraftWFE]

Truer words were never spoken

[@Ephsy]

Like trying to do anal without any prep as shown in the movies.

[@Baachus2012]

That is a perfect example. The actors are trained professionals who have been doing their "art" for awhile and know how to work with their partners and improvise in certain situations. They also create a fantasy and no average person could ever hope to accomplish much of what they do and if they try will just end up hurting themselves and those around them.

[@TaggedByTim]

You want me to do what??? That statement applies to both in the bedroom and as a dm lol

[@laige8533]

critrole fans seeing the title: ah shit, here we go again

[@dylangrimm7291]

My exact reaction, oddly enough lol

[@THEGRUMPTRUCK]

I love the series, but people who try to enforce the mercer effect are annoying. Matt's a great guy and a terrific GM, but nobody but Matt Mercer is, well, Matt Mercer. Forcing other GMs to be like him is terrible.

[@THEGRUMPTRUCK]

@ReboundSpirit The mentality has always been around, in the last few years Dungeons and Dragons has become much more popularized. With Celebrity actors playing it, the even more toxic mentality of people wanting to emulate them has started coming forth. Critical role isn't responsible for it, but it has had the unintended side effect of making those people much more common.

[@THEGRUMPTRUCK]

@ReboundSpirit Yeah, it never was the shows fault.

[@SadDragonNoises]

I legit went "oh fuck, not this shit again." I am so tired of these ignorant ass children. Matt and the rest of the crew are amazing actors with years of experience in the craft. He would (and from my understanding is) so ashamed of everyone doing this shit. I love critical role. It's what got me into the idea of playing D&D. But I also have read so many horror stories and watched so many other more casual games get played in person and online to know that individual DM skill levels and play styles (including roleplay) vary. You can not expect everyone to act the same way just cause Matt is your "Husbando".

[@alphasia91]

My DM says “how do you want to do this” and I don’t mind it at all. It’s fun to get to decide how baddies go down and the joy when you hear it is amazing.

[@bouganhagain8131]

I mean how else do you want to say it? I dont think its a matt thing, its just the simpliest way to go at it.

[@zerogbot23]

@@bouganhagain8131 Exactly it's just the easiest way to say it. Plus I don't think Matt came up with it cause my dad used to ask me and my sisters all the time in 3.5 It's just fun to describe your crit or how you kill a foe.

[@mr.cup6yearsago211]

My thoughts exactly. The reason Matt says it is because having your players narrate how they defeat enemies is a lot of fun, and how do you want to do this is the simplest way of asking it.

[@xypher3ns]

It's likely just the effect of attributing an already common phrase to the biggest face that "everyone knows." Long before CR existed, me and other DMs I knew would use that phrase or variations of it; it's such a long-standing phrase that I'm actually really brokenhearted over the fact that now it is mostly attributed to CR and you could be called a copycat for uttering such a versatile line. :(

[@eldonm2770]

Yeah, another RPG series I watch has the DM say "How are you going to kill this thing?" or some variation, on a monster's death. It's just a turn of phrase for roleplaying, Matt just made it iconic, I guess.

[@hewwoworld4272]

Don't you just love when you're gay, then get called homophobic? (As someone who questioned their sexuality a year ago this really pisses me off)

[@CorrectionUnknown]

you're*

[@hewwoworld4272]

Why thank you

[@hewwoworld4272]

welcome to the pissed off club!

[@epsilon-eleven]

@@SolidifiedMercury You were called transphobic for calling out a thing literally based entirely around transphobia? Wtf??

[@pyroman6000]

Those people are both projecting, and mindlessly yelling insults at you because they didn't get their way- or you , gasp, disagreed with them. Laugh at them, and pile on the mockery and scorn until they go away. Tbh, as soon as one of those buzzwords leaves your mouth, I stop listening and lose all respect.

[@kenthehobo]

"Way older than us, at 22" Oof

[@CavTanker88]

Yeah, that hit low....

[@jillsamich488]

Same. I felt it. It also helped put the story a bit in perspective for me and had me taking the OP with a small grain of salt. I'm not trying to discount the accuracy of his retelling just because of his age, but some things also stood out to me with the way he retold it. For example towards the end when he found out that the two girls were borrowing character ideas (very blatantly) from CR's second campaign, why did he feel like he had to approach them about it after the session? I'm not trying to defend the shit they were pulling before what with telling him how to DM a certain way, that was bullshit. But who cares if some of your players are borrowing ideas from something else they saw? I highly, HIGHLY doubt there's a DM out there, including Matt Mercer, who hasn't done the same thing with varying degrees. That's how people create stuff. Those two kids just did it with a very small amount of... creativity.

[@Adoribull1312]

@@jillsamich488 I agree, that was definitely the least of their offenses. I'd be lying if I said my bard wasn't greatly inspired by Jester. The key to stuff like that is really just being inspired by them. Not blatantly copying it.

[@Idengard]

And it showed

[@hockeyinalabama]

Had a person about that age (22) say something similar to me...I'm 36. Adults can say it to me now. Talk about feeling ancient. (Yes, I understand 36 isn't old. Still that moment. haha)

[@DavidFernandez-rs5lu]

the way i understand it, and as my friend told me, “critical role is to dnd what porn is to sex”

[@SteelTyrant527]

Probably isn't much better of a metaphor

[@flannelpillowcase6475]

Idk, porn is generally enjoyable. I find Critical Role quite boring.

[@brianhuynh4211]

@@flannelpillowcase6475 Good for you buddy

[@mr.cup6yearsago211]

@@flannelpillowcase6475 and there are some people who find porn boring. The analogy still works.

[@rednassie1101]

@@flannelpillowcase6475 I believe CR to be entertaining, but I barely have 4 hours to spend bingewatching anything to be real

[@Harold_Wilson]

I mean, "How do you Wanna do this?" Just sounds like something DMs say.

[@2GoatsInATrenchCoat]

I was looking for this comment. I try to avoid all CR catchphrases, but "how do you wanna do this?" works so well and sounds so natural. I can't really think of anything else to say that would be natural while also conveying to my players that they got the killing blow and they can describe it

[@deltagodangel]

agreed. how do you wanna do this is kind of a simple trigger phrase that i don't mind using. ive also played games with what do you do or describe what you do. some games didnt even have that which is fine too

[@Whelp140]

Ok, what the fuck will you do?

[@Harold_Wilson]

@@Whelp140 uh... uhhh... i stab him. With my sword. Yes, that's how I'll do this.

[@kalamir93]

@@Whelp140 Damn, after reading that phrase I want to see Samuel L. Jackson as a DM.

[@rosehorror1422]

I feel so bad for Matt and his players getting labelled the bad guys in some of these. I'm very happy so many people have gotten into DnD because of them, but its on the fans who are new players for not realizing these are very close friends with years and years of experience. I also feel terrible for all the good critters who would never expect their DM to be on the same level as Matt.

[@pyroman6000]

We were just discussing this on a D&D forum the other day. A poster was lamenting the big influx of new players with wildly unrealistic expectations, and critical role was brought up. Imo, it's not JUST critical role- they're just the most visible atm- it's internet gaming culture itself. It's like watching professional Texas Hold Em players on tv or youtube, and wondering why it doesn't work that way on Sat eve with the guys in your dorm, lol. And also the fact that CR is a SHOW, being filmed/streamed for an audience, and not one of the thousands of regular games played in private homes, dorm rooms etc. (most of which would not make very good viewing)

[@asherandai1000]

@@pyroman6000 I don't think it's just that new players have "wildly unrealistic expectations". It's also that veteran players are so set in their ways they can't accept someone want's something different from them. As someone who has wanted a CR style campaign since long before CR ever even existed, I've seen so much hostility from veteran players that think their way is the only way. It put me off the hobby for a long time, before CR started and got me to try again. Also something that's not said enough; There's a difference between "wanting" and "expecting" that doesn't get respected.

[@MothFable]

I have played for a pretty good amount of time, even started a bit before 4e (was confused and kinda hated it) and love the game. Never got into critical role, and my two family members who were playing (my bro and step mom, my stepdad and mom introduced me as it has been part of their childhood) I introduced in 5e. So fun. We ran the basic campaign and at the goblin base encounter in the beggining my bro made a distraction by burning the forest down. He also killed a scout by shoving him headfirst in water then casting lightning hands. It was fucking brutal, but I tripled the lightning damage as it was electricity in water. Fucking brutal. One reason I love dnd tho, is the creativity.

[@DavidGonzalez-cj3sp]

@@asherandai1000 nah, the vets want their way for a reason, in my group that have been playing for years, we play 3.5 because we like the amount of handbooks and how it runs, but every now and then we either invite someone new to ttrpg or they get notice of our group and asks to join and we always say yes come and see if you like it, sadly a few times we had people ask to use 5e and we calmly explain that we don't like it because some of our favorite races (wizards of the coast even want to get rid of this term) and classes got either nerfed or outright changed (i.e. you no longer need divine protection/guidance to be a paladin you are one just because you want to) among other things like magic (plus not having the handbooks really doesn't help), anyhow some of these new players see either a show or podcast or whatever and they assume just because what they saw uses the latest thing only the newest version is ideal, so what's my point? improvement is always welcomed, people wanting to change the whole dynamic because they saw something online thinking they know better is not, too many new comers have an arrogance of knowing better than those playing for years

[@DavidGonzalez-cj3sp]

@@asherandai1000 holy crap i didn't realize the comments were a year old my bad, apologies for necroing these comments but i have to ask, were you put off from playing due to not finding a group running their table the way you wanted? because most of the times is easier for the single new player to get used to and roll the way/style of the group than the other way around, i.e. if they only can get together once a week on friday night due to shifts and family it would be shitty to want/expect/demand for them to do sunday afternoon just because that is your ideal timeframe

[@LordTankian0]

CritCrab is actually Mercer using his deceiving voice acting skills.

[@MoonLight-zj8iu]

*x files theme*

[@ShibuNub3305]

*_I fucking knew it._*

[@hbleblanc205]

@@MoonLight-zj8iu the truth is out there.....

[@Jules-uu2vt]

Shhh they must never know

[@bluehairedemon]

Did mercer ever talk about the mercer effect?

[@void735]

"be like matt mercer!" Sure, When you play like his players

[@markweaver8845]

Well, sort of. In campaign 1 there was a lot of misunderstanding what spells, abilities, and magical items did. Don't be like that side of done of his players.

[@void735]

@@markweaver8845 well that was more beacuse they had played pathmaker a long time and converted their game to dnd as well as going private playing with hombrew freedom to live streaming with more official rules. Also Orion struggeled with aids and drug addiction and could not help Chanel it into The game while Liam struggeled with depression. But that diddint mean they were bad players.

[@markweaver8845]

@@void735 Yeah, changing rule systems could be tricky at first, and because I don't know pathfinder rules I can't say how much of the confusion might be coming from that. And I'm amazed at how well most of them role play most of the time. I'm just saying that sometimes they forget little things that have been explained to them several times. Or to read their spell descriptions carefully.

[@void735]

@@markweaver8845 yea but can you really be that harsh to someone for forgetting exacly what some stuff do? Of all The flaws a player can have that seems The least problematic

[@markweaver8845]

@@void735 I don't think it's harsh to say that they still had some room for improvement in the earlier stuff.

[@aerynh6116]

I was introduced to D&D around the time Critical Role was starting their second campaign. I was studying abroad with my DM and his fiance and they were more than eager to help me get into D&D. My DM used an One Shot from Critical Role to help me get the idea of what D&D could be. And while I was deeply impressed with Matt and the Cast, I also immediately understood that these guys were all professional actors with decades of experience in TTRPGs and acting. The presentation they had in that one shot was the result of years upon years of friendship, familiarity and experience. So even though my DM used Critical Role to help introduce D&D, I have never once demanded that he be more like Matt. That is so incredibly stupid. And yes, I am now a massive fan of Critical Role. I am fully caught up on Campaign 2 and have watched parts of Campaign 1. I love the cast to death but they are actors and friends with so much experience that it would be unfair to myself to compare myself to them. You can be a fan of Critical Role without being a jackass. This was the result of two crazy bitches and I am sorry that their insanity soured a fantastic show for OP and Mark. I don't blame them for avoiding it after this experience.

[@amberblackwell7687]

Look, Matt is great. He's a wonderful DM and he seems like a really nice guy. If he inspires you to be a better storyteller that's great but Matt and the gang are literally professional actors. Don't compare yourself to them.

[@FlatOnHisFace]

I'd wager he wouldn't want other people to be like him.

[@Xylarxcode]

@@FlatOnHisFace He doesn't. He's been on record several times about the 'Matt Mercer effect' stating he doesn't like it. He's adamant that every table has its own dynamic and should embrace their own style, rather than trying to copy another. He wants people to enjoy the game any way they can, and while he's grateful for the fandom, he doesn't expect anyone to emulate the show. You'll have far more fun being yourself.

[@artemisfowldragon]

Matt mercer is basically iron man in Homecoming. He doesn’t want other DMs to be him, he wants them to be better than him

[@arthurmorgan1128]

Just hopefully without the whole dying part from endgame. Ps, it’s not a spoiler if the movies been out for 2 years

[@blacklion8307]

@@arthurmorgan1128 I respect spoilers for six months after the DvD release or if someone openly adresses that they don't want to be spoilered. If someone overhears me talking about a plottwist from January and is angry, that's on them.

[@arthurmorgan1128]

BlackLion agreed.

[@darksev.6468]

@@arthurmorgan1128 that's not Homecoming.

[@arthurmorgan1128]

@@darksev.6468 I know. I was referencing the fact that he died in a later movie.

[@nathanly8761]

Imagine if DMs got mad at players for not roleplaying like the critical role cast

[@TaggedByTim]

You aren't all moody and dark like Liam! Where are the sex jokes like Laura!? Why can't you freak out like Travis?? Ugh, you aren't turning into a goldfish like Marissa?

[@MiraTheWarlock]

WHY IS YOUR MONK NOT A LESBIAN?!

[@ivanivan744]

I mean, it's possible that has already happened..sad..

[@Logan_Baron]

I like and encourage players to build strong back stories (One sneaky DM trick is that it makes the players do some of your work. They write half the story for you). I offer some questions and tips for them to help along with asking them for goals (short term and long term) and things they'd like to happen. However I also tell them that it's not required. Especially newer players often have no idea of ANYTHING about their character other than the stats on the sheet. I tell them they can fill that in as we play and just update me when they feel like it. And also anything can change from what they wrote until it plays out. They can start off as "I'm a dwarf and I carry an axe" and nothing more, and add backstories and motivations later. Or not if they don't want to.

[@mordirit8727]

@Sean Fisher 10 page backstory... I had to sweat blood to get a session 0 rule that all players had to write a _one page_ backstory for a campaign once x.x It was a new setting we had agreed to create together and I explicitly wanted a few random details from their BS to help kickstart the world, but most still wanted to end it at a paragraph

[@meganmoneypenny8305]

I’m a pretty big CriticalRole fan, I started watching after playing d&d for about a year. And I’m not going to lie, I learned 5e game mechanics and rules better watching CriticalRole then I ever did playing or reading the books. I’m just a visual learner. I also was inspired to DM by Matt Mercer. And I’ve been running 2 games a week with 2 different groups. I use a lot of “Mercer-isms” in my DMing. And I have been guilty of taking an encounter or 2 from CR and reflavoring it to match my home brew campaign. I’m a critter through and through. But you see, the difference is, I don’t expect myself to be Matt Mercer, nor do I want to be exactly like him. I’ve used his example to make my own style of dming. I also (thankfully) have players who love CR but they have the understanding that we are playing D&D. Not CR FANFICTION. Hearing stories like this make me sad that people are getting turned off to d&d by those who simply don’t understand that it’s a game. Critical Role is the NFL... you can’t play touch football with your family on thanksgiving and get pissy when people aren’t playing like professional football players.

[@UmbraKrameri]

I agree so much. I watch critical role casually and I think there is a lot to learn from it. But I don't expect to be exactly like Matt Mercer.

[@mvicln2163]

The morale of the story is basically: "Matt is a cool name but it's not MY name"

[@bigfatcarp93]

"Telling them they _have_ to do an accent and can't just talk like themselves." Right, because no one on Critical Role ever just voices their character with their own voice. Especially Marisha, she would _never_ do that.

[@Mokiefraggle]

Not to mention, some people just really shouldn't do accents or voices. It can actually break their immersion in the game, because they're focusing so hard on that one thing; my group used to have a player that insisted on starting what he was saying over if he remembered his PC was supposed to have an accent, or speak in a particular vocal range that wasn't his norm, which really kinda broke the moment every time. And it wasn't really ever anything that added to the PC, just stereotypical "Dwarf=Scottish" accents and the like, or a pseudo-British accent I can only liken to what's often called "Basic Ren-Faire Dialect," or the "I am growly and grim-dark" voice. If it's so not-memorable enough that you forget it's needed, maybe it's not important to do it in the first place?

[@TaggedByTim]

I mean here's my opinion. As a DM I try and do accents because I suck at them and my players love it. Also as a dm it helps when my players do a simple accents when talking to ask npc so I know if I should answer you as the npc or the dm. So tl;dr 90%normal voices/10%accents

[@Logan_Baron]

Ashley also doesn't do accents, and just uses a different tone to her voice.

[@bigfatcarp93]

@@Logan_Baron No, Yasha has an accent, it's just very faint.

[@bigfatcarp93]

@@morinomajou Sam actually did do a very faint British accent for Scanlan, but he wasn't always consistent with it to be fair.

[@user-ch6xl1zc6k]

What sucks with the “Matt Mercer effect” is that those who fall to it forget about the cast and their role. They think “Oh I’m perfectly great, if only I had a Matt-level DM! I’d have so much fun!” Sure you would. But it would also be underwhelming. A huge part of CR is the cast and their improvisation and roleplaying! Matt has these insane descriptions, full worlds and layered NPCs. But the cast do a lot towards driving the story too. You can’t just expect the DM to carry everything, you gotta put in the effort too.

[@Konpekikaminari]

Exactly Personally, I'd love to sit at a game run by Mercer But when I think of this hypothetical game, I imagine an immersive game with good storytelling & npcs, but not a full blown CR game, because I can't (and don't wish too) recreate the CR group dynamic

[@calibcarmichael6356]

@@Konpekikaminari Right you want to put your own character something different

[@duskgaming18]

Exactly, it's the people in CR that make it what it is. If you took out anyone in the cast and replaced them with someone else, everything changes. You can shove Matt into any game you want, but CR only works cause of the DM *and* Players. If you swapped in say...Logan from XP to Level 3, I wouldn't expect him to have the same dynamic with all these voice actors. He'd probably be more like "Holy shit I'm on Crit Role, with a bunch of talented voice actors, and thousands of people are watching me live...how do I not fuck this whole experience up?" Edit: Spelling mistake

[@_caith]

A DM invokes reactions. The players are catalysts. A DM can create and upkeep an atmosphere, but if you want to reach higher levels of playing, then the players need to take everything in, and amplify it. I'm an experienced DM, who often DMs for new groups, since I'm good at empathy, and can quickly string up characters into my/their stories. But when I play with my core group, we get a synergy where they take what I give, and we even collectively cry when an emotional plot plays out, since we manage to get ourselves involved into it. Getting to Matt-level DMing is definitely possible if you have the time, and the inept aptitude. But getting the same quality out of a game, is because the players bounce and amplify everything.

[@user-ch6xl1zc6k]

Nico Huber for sure. And in CR there are moments completely unprompted by Matt that are just amazing (e.g. the cupcake and dust of deliciousness). And a great part of what fleshes out the rp encounters I think is that they’re all experienced voice actors. Getting into the head of a character and having that show in the voice is literally their job. Not everyone can do that and not everyone should expect to.

[@toysoldiernerio7172]

i will feel this cringe in my spine for a long time. Matt Mercer would be disgusted by these people who ruin DND for other people.

[@asimplethievingbat5978]

And the saddest part about this all is that behavior like this actually breaks Matt's heart. Because he knows this kind of thing can push people out of the hobby he loves dearly

[@undead0rc]

I wish the mercer effect was "i wanna be a better dm than him and surpass him, i wanna be the best me there is" and not "i have to be like him or no one will enjoy me"

[@Ephsy]

*Cue Pokemon themesong.*

[@undead0rc]

@@Ephsy to tpk is my real test to railroad is my cause

[@AtrusOranis]

@@undead0rc RPG! gotta play them aaaaaaaaaallllllllll

[@Konpekikaminari]

Agreed, Matt should be the goal, not the standard Feel free to ignore this & continue the chain

[@undead0rc]

@@AtrusOranis a heart so true our courage will pull us trough rough campaigns and plays real dumb

[@devonhilt9389]

Honestly this kind of thing is super annoying, but the "how do you want to do this" is really really really good, especially in 5e, where it's very unlikely to interfere with the rules. EDIT: yeah I should have acknowledged that he's not the first DM to do it, but I know a ton of people who started doing it because of him and I do appreciate that

[@CritCrab]

Yeah that is definitely not a CR exclusive phenomenon

[@dancingfirecat5602]

I've been saying that line since 1997 ...where's my paycheck! j/k! Seriously, it's a really fun way to do some things, and give players a chance to do something really cool. That being said....I've...never seen more than 10 minutes of CR >.>

[@dokkabaerpg7896]

It is a great way for a character to be in the spotlight and lets the player feel cool while the table cheers them on.

[@dizzydial8081]

This is how I handle it. Not from Critical Role, but it can sometimes take away some unnecessary rolls and streamline the session a bit (I want to convince him to lower the price. Okay, what do you say? Yeah, he nods and accepts the lower price). It encourages better roleplaying, in my experience.

[@THEGRUMPTRUCK]

Agreed. Back since D&D second edition my group has used a similar phrase with the end of an encounter or boss fight, or in a Roleplay scenario. "How do you go about doing this? How do you want to finish him/her? Describe how you end this." It's been around since the 80's. But I do appreciate that VMs before and after Matt, and Matt himself, do it. Giving the characters agency over something like that feels really good both for player and GM and is a great way to subtly encourage extra roleplay without asking unreasonable things of the player.

[@Overlord99762]

''OP finds a group of Tumblr-brand critters'' would be a viable alternate title

[@amandap7733]

I love the "I came out, no one was surprised" part. It's just kind of funny the secrets we _think_ we keep from other people but that they've know all along.

[@lovethepandainyou]

I knew this really flamboyant guy at school. For 3 years, he kept hiding to his mom that he was gay and even had his best friend, a girl, be his beard (to show that he was a ladies' man). Of course, 3 years later, after months of sweating buckets, skitting around, he eventually sat down with his mom to tell her a big secret. She thought he was in big trouble or something. When he told her he was gay, she only answered: "I am happy for you, but was I not supposed to know?". God, I loved the relief on his face the weeks after.

[@commissarlegion1413]

*"Be MoRE likE MatT MErceR"* Ah yes because I can totally be exactly like a guy that voice acts which results in making bank and has 15 years of experience.

[@donb7519]

@Craig B god i just realized that thats actually what he probably spends on those set ups

[@SonofSethoitae]

@@donb7519 I read somewhere that Mat uses modular terrain so he can reuse parts of it, but I can't find any actual quotes from him about it.

[@stevenjacobs8797]

@@donb7519 With the amount of views CR gets, Dwarven Forge probably sends him all that stuff for free. Which is also why Sam is always saying "This battle is brought to you by Dwarven Forge."

[@KappaKiller108]

@@SonofSethoitae he uses Dwarven Forge mostly. That sets whole gimmick is that it's modular, and can be taken apart and rearranged. So you're right

[@andrewcharlton4053]

@@KappaKiller108 he also said that he always wanted it but could never afford it until recently. I suspect he gets gifted what he wants from the company now.

[@a.normagene5303]

I've had this issue, Literally been told "you're not as good as Matt Mercer." My response, "And you're no Liam Obrian, so how about we just play our own styles." To be clear I don't blame CR, I enjoy it as they are a good crew. Boring people copy others instead of playing the game.

[@amethyst6965]

Tldr; i think people shouldnt carbon copy, but maybe making a poor imitation or something similar enough to notice isnt so bad so long as you progress naturally and let that character change as they do in dnd and roleplay. full heartedly agree, sure nothing is truely original and youll copy some stuff but how you twist it or intertwine it is important being gay isnt original, but that doesnt mean you cant be, but directly copying like its a text book, and honestly? if its a character id never forgive myself as a dm for straight up copying one. have i taken heavy inspiration before and also felt bad about it too, despite it having differences, certainly, Taka a character i made in a rush just an hour before a campaign i realized was too similar to fjord, [was a warlock, pact of the blade, the patron was a being that observed, eyes being a thematic thing] so i made an effort to differentiate her as the story went on to progress her and make her her own, though she died before that point, but nonetheless you shouldnt straight copy, but even if you make a poor imitation with only slight deviations , if you allow roleplay to shape and mold your character i think it could be okay.

[@johnromero6315]

This is an issue in every game that allows for any amount of customization or player choice. People want to be "successful" but don't have an ounce of creativity, so they just copy whatever they see first/most that works for another group of players. It's part of the reason I stopped playing DnD (everything got stale when none of the people around me had anything unique about their playstyle), and it's why I'm close to quitting MtG.

[@spctotnick4424]

Aaah come on man you cant be letting go of dnd for that. You'll come across somebody with a good imagination. My gf recently wanted to learn to dm and she's set up a one shot and let me(nearly a decade of dming) do what I want and bam. Reskinned some spells and infusions without changing their workings and bam I have a retired hero turned tavern cook leonin artificer with a rogue spy wife he has no idea about. He hunts for fame and often forgets about the adventure at hand when he smells a tasty spice he thinks he can turn into a new hot sauce(acid splash lol) buuuut yeah mtg I can see. Haven't seen any new deck strats in a while.

[@CidGuerreiro1234]

Whoever told you that was being kind of a dick.

[@a.normagene5303]

@@CidGuerreiro1234 Yes. But nobody plays with him anymore so it worked out ok.

[@bingoringo4473]

I play weekend games at a local game shop. One of the first things I told the DM was that if I ever compared her to Matt Mercer or the Campaign to CritRole, she was free to smack me upside the head...

[@thestranger954]

I feel really bad for Matt Mercer. He loves dnd and though his contribution to it as a whole are huge, it's because of people misconstruing his game that so many people have such unrealistic expectations of DnD. It has to suck to have such a negative effect have your name on it.

[@RPGTales]

Die-hard fans of anything will always bring ruin. It's always important to separate the toxicity of the fans from the content itself.

[@blubbernibble9111]

It’s like they put the show on a pedestal, then all try to climb it. Eventually, they’ll just destroy the pedestal due to how much weight they put into it and have it crumble down, but they can’t see the cracks.

[@thewarlocky]

Amem

[@samoclese6435]

Damn right, especially in the case of critical role. I love the show but a lot of the fandom just piss me off

[@oliverworley5162]

Generally the CR fan base is pretty good in comparison, most CR fans I've met or played with don't try to emulate matt although, like you should, they have taken advice and certian features

[@TheDevilChrno]

Thiiiiis. I absolutely LOVE Critical Role but I stay away from a majority of the fanbase because they're so toxic and annoying.

[@mendiv4741]

"Didn't know how to play D&D because i didn't watch Critical Role" this phrase made my blood boil

[@MarquisLeary34]

I'veneverpunchedakidbefore.jpg

[@metademetra]

"You don't know how to paint because you don't do it like Michaelangelo."

[@mikekazz5353]

I don't know how to play because I've never seen someone play it before.

[@polojn]

My GM does this, as someone new to dnd he tells me to only watch Critical Role since he will base all the rules and gameplay from them. Even down to him trying to make a podcast and saying "We are going to be the next Critical Role." It genuinely makes me frustrated.

[@marvalice3455]

@@polojn big oof

[@Shilobotomized]

You know... now that I think about it... most of the 'allies' at my old school only called themselves 'allies' because they like Yaoi.

[@Rhyxelz]

hecking fujoshis. Make me sick.

[@dameepmehbleep31]

Have they not heard of being both a fan of yaoi ships and being an ally?

[@mar30999]

Man thats like 50% of people that ive found in my life

[@Darkreine99]

The only thing that really annoys me is the way "how do you want to do this" became a Mercerisum. I have been doing that since 1993 from gawd sakes.

[@idleoz21]

I feel if Matt were playing with some of these "Critters" he would shut down all the disrespect to the DM of the table. He's not about comparing/demonizing differing styles

[@shadenox8164]

Hell if he was DMing he'd probably get annoyed by how they're playing since all they're doing is cribbing ideas and not making their own characters.

[@TaggedByTim]

Matt has said, in a Reddit post discussing this effect, that he is disappointed in people doing this. Every dm is different and something something. I haven't seen the post in a while.

[@blacklion8307]

@@TaggedByTim Watching CR, one thing that stands out alot is that Matt has the absolute respect of his players ( and vice versa). I think his reaction to any player that lacks respect for the DM would suddenly find themself face to face with a grumpy Tarrasque.

[@midnightflare9879]

Here's some backround info: this phenomena, crazy fangirls fetishizeing gay people is actually more widespread than you might think. You see, there is female equivalent of the oh so cringy nerd guys (you know, the ones who try squeezeing tentacle porn into a campagin). There are a bunch of girls in many, many groups and fandoms who has this trope, and they always have the same qualities: they usually very immature, othen high schoolers, are socially akward, but super outgoing when they interract with each other, and has zero experience with the topics they fantasise about, and they always, always ship characters they barely have friendship established. They always, always find gay people cute, and charming and do stuff like in the video. They usually found in ainme fandoms, K-pop fandoms, fandoms of certain shows and movies (mostly the ones with shitty romantic subplots or semi-mainstream urban-fantasy) but because of the nature of these things, they often like roleplaying too. Oh, and they have no idea how to roleplay a male character. You know how some guys just can't create a female character, because they cannot understand the mindset of a woman...or just make the poor character some stereotypical Hollywood-movie girl? Yeah, this is the female version of that. They make male, gay characters with the mindset of a teenage girl, because they have no idea how an actual male or gay person would behave, because they have zero experience with that too. Or they just make a self-insert of themselves in a form of a gay man. If you see one of them, don't worry, they are usually easy to held down (except when they attack in packs) if things get out of hand...just be prepared for bullshit.

[@KazumiKiguma]

There's an actual term for them in Japanese: Fujoshi. It means Rotten Girl. And yeah, there's tons of them. One case I'm particularly pissed about is around Vic Mignogna (probably most well known for the voice actor of Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist in english). Apparently he's always been a very close contact person and hugs fans, but this only ever started to be brought up as an issue after he said he didn't think the character he voiced in Ouran High School Host Club was gay at a convention. Ever since then he's been attacked for being Christian, hugging fans (one picture of him kissing a fan's cheek was even spread around, blurred face, saying he forced it, until the actual person in the photo produced the real image unblurred and called them out on their bullshit) and spreading rumors of him being a sex offender. This came to a head last year where someone posted on facebook going over an interaction she claimed to have with him that read weird as hell, and was removed not too long after, but was quickly picked up by cancel culture and spread so far that he lost his contracts with Funimation and Rooster Teeth without ever even having a real investigation. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with people?

[@steinistein8611]

Me, a woman playing a gay male character in a campaign: *sweats*

[@steinistein8611]

@@KazumiKiguma oh my god, seriously? That poor guy... I loved him in OHHC...

[@Elephanthobo]

@@KazumiKiguma Good explanation! Tho I want to mention that fujoshi is a very specific term that's not as strictly negative in japanese. I'd avoid using "Fujoshi" in general as fujoshi in japan dont even come close to the gay-fetishizing freaks we have.

[@CH-zr3cl]

@SaviorOfNirn What do you mean everything was disproven so how is it deserved

[@Trebs_]

damn imagine thinking "how do you want to do this" is exclusive to matt mercer, what a joke lmao

[@bagel919]

Smh why can't people just appreciate their DMs. I've never even gotten to play d&d and I know they put a lot of work into what they do.

[@Pundae]

Love how everyone always wants a top tier DM like Matt but are nowhere close to being a top tier player like Taliesin or Caleb. No one ever talks about them, or how creative Marisha is, or how polite and sportsman like Travis is, or how positive and good at improv Laura is, or how far Sam goes for his characters Matt Mercer doesn't make Critiical Role, he builds a road for the whole group to travel. They're all Critical Role, and the amount of people that don't get that is insane. It's like everyone praising a carry in a game for doing well when their support is the only reason they got half of their kills Coming from someone who used to be the same. First thing out of my mouth was me asking my DM if he'd seen critical role when I hadn't even watched the campaigns, just seen the clips and one shots. Got used to his playstyle now though and am always trying to make more interesting characters and play them better, as opposed to getting my DM to write better stories lol

[@thegamingknight2096]

Or how absent Ashley is...

[@MasterXiggy]

@@thegamingknight2096 theres always one and Ash fits that role being super busy lol

[@ace0071000]

Hell, as a DM - if my players were interested in playing like CR cast, I'dbe much more like Mercer. I played with players who RP'd among themselves. It was great, I gave them space for it, I gave them NPCs to engage with. I currently play with players, who are more focused on problem solving and getting shit done. Naturally, they get less RP hooks, and more action hooks. I'd argue, that player style affects the table as much, if not more than the DM style.

[@ekapa8226]

Man, Liam is so good at roleplaying you called him by his character's name!

[@Pundae]

@@ekapa8226 he almost never speaks out of character. I didn't know what his actual voice sounded like until 3 or 4 episodes in, and I legit thought "who just spoke?"

[@15oClock]

I've read this story and am a Critical Role fan. I hate these legbeards.

[@noisyseagull3717]

Ha, "legbeards!" I haven't heard that one before, that's great! XD

[@mazzyelf]

"Legbeards"... I'm stealing this.

[@zai8068]

Legbeards is beautiful

[@DANTVSVERGIL]

These women need to be on r/legbeardthings or something related.

[@myrojyn]

Legbeard is such a fantastic insult

[@oougahersharr]

Sounds like Barb and Lucy should have skipped D&D and just wrote fanfiction.

[@nerdvananc]

From all of this, I just wanna say - the DM asking me "How do you wanna do this?" is just *really, really* fun. :D

[@ErikVonStrix3]

"WhY DoNT YoU DM LiEK MaTt MeRcEr?!?" "I will if I seem you playing as well as Sam Riegel"

[@catandrobbyflores]

Yes!

[@chukyuniqul]

"Because Johnny Chiodini is more fun for me".

[@Ephsy]

Sam Riegel still doesn't knows how holding an action works, and it's been what, 5 years of playing?

[@catandrobbyflores]

@@Ephsy I don't know holding an action and I've been playing since 3.5

[@thesuperjacobshow8151]

"Why aren't you more like Matthew Mercer?" "Why does your shirt have sleeves?"

[@Ninosai]

Someone gave us a good response to the Matt Mercer DM expectation in another Reddit post. Player: "You're not doing it like Matt Mercer does it." DM: "When you RP like Sam Riegel, I'll DM like Matt Mercer." :D

[@wayjay4880]

I will def remember to use that should the need arise.

[@jasonwilson8402]

Best thing to take away from CR and add to your own TRPG is "Be a fan of every other person at the table".

[@DaddelZeit]

Best thing to learn from Critical Role: Playing together as a group. Being amazing voice actors doesn't make a great group. In fact there is an even higher chance everybody wants to stand out and the game turns into a crazy mess. I'm still in Campaign 1, but I'm amazed how everybody knows when to step back a bit. They're all completely into it and are cheering and laughing together as a group. Being Voice Actors is just the cherry on the cake. More importantly they care about each other. Somehow many fans doesn't get this most simple fact.

[@arcanacapra9792]

I absolutely adore Critical Role, it was my first contact with D&D. However, as in most things, a decent chunk of the fanbase is toxic. People like the problem players in this video are why I don't usually get involved with communities.

[@CritCrab]

Fandoms can be pretty toxic in general, it's a waste of time to blame the original media.

[@calibcarmichael6356]

That's why I've never gotten into any fandoms I just enjoy the art

[@TaggedByTim]

There's a reason I watch the show on KZbin instead of watching it live.

[@stevenjacobs8797]

@@TaggedByTim You can close the Twitch chat and ignore it even exists.

[@arcanacapra9792]

@@stevenjacobs8797 That's pretty much what I do

[@DoubtlessCar0]

Matt Mercer: (Is a professional voice actor with years of skill) Matt Mercer stans PCs: You need more voices for NPC, your NPCs are so bland! DM who made a 1-legged shop-keep ex-adventurer who dreams of living in the clouds: I can do a bad Russian accent?

[@TaggedByTim]

I'm not a professional VA so doing crazy voices hurts my throat but I still throw bad accents in to make my players laugh. Everyone Just has to remember that we're playing for fun.

[@pondrthis1]

100% canon in my main homebrew D&D setting: Draconic accents are bad Russian accents. _Lizardfolk, kobold, dragon, all speak like in Soviet Russia._ EDIT: Goblinoid languages/Orcish are all derivatives of Greek, too.

[@cristiaolson7327]

@@pondrthis1 I am stealing this for my campaign. Thank you.

[@natanoj16]

@@pondrthis1 I had a troll with a full on Boston accent once. It was amazing ^^ (I did take a week to practice Boston Accent :P)

[@xenocide1307]

Critical role is a great way to look for ways to try and improve your roleplay if that's the style of play and campaign that you're involved in. What people regularly forget is that Mercer is a professional DM, as well as him and the rest of the cast being accomplished voice actors. 99.99% of people sitting down for a game of DnD are absolutely none of those things. So try to be better at RP if that's your jam, but don't expect picture perfect episodes of CR at your weekly table.

[@respectfulevil9022]

Honestly matt mercer has been an inspiration as a dm And I got lucky getting players with no experience who just want to have fun

[@comfortablesharpshooter3419]

I'll just quote a comment I read somewhere regarding the "Mercer Effect". "I will start DMing like Matt, if you start playing like Sam." - Someone, somewhere

[@natanoj16]

I like 'sure if I get paid like Mercer I will do it, but I simply don't have the time to prepare the way he does.

[@yeefoongphoon8505]

That comment was originally made by the man himself, regarding this exact topic.

[@Th3DarkJester]

XD the one who said that... does not know the rabbit hole he want to unleash... Samish behaviour will be a total havoc XD although i love his characters

[@HugSeal42]

Mercer was the one who said that in a reddit thread. "Do they want a deep, convoluted emotional journey like Scanlan? They better be able to bring it like Sam did. No? Then sit down and just have fun finding your own path. ;)" www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/a999sd/how_do_i_beat_the_matt_mercer_effect/

[@brightcrazystar93]

"How do you wanna do this?" is WAY older than Critical Role. In fact, this is a CORE part of Palladium. One a Critical Hit, in Palladium a GM is encouraged to ask the player to narrate their own success, and how it happens. Then again, I am WAY older than 5e, and have been running games since the 1980's. I can find remnants of common conventions not native to DnD but common in 5e in other RPGs that emerged in the Golden Age of 2nd Ed, Ars Magica, Palladium, GURPS, etc. For the record, I am not really a fan of Crit Role, but I don't judge people who enjoy it.

[@DoctorLazers]

Indeed. I started playing when I was 6, when my dad ran games for me in 2e. Started DMing with 3.5. I've been saying, "Critical Hit. How do you do it/describe your finish/what happens?" since the late 2000s, when I was in high school. It's a pretty common DM trick to make crits feel more dramatic.

[@citizenchrispy155]

Very true. My first foray into it was with Mekton Z (R. Talsorian Games) in 1997 where at a certain level of beating the target numbers you got to "Artfully describe how your target goes away".

[@Lyntle]

Yeah I played since like 99-01 with 3.5 I can't quite remember since I was so young. Not super experienced though because I restarted in like 2011 with 4e again before crit role. And my dm always said okay what do you do and then he narrates.

[@kainleingod9662]

Lol just commented on this before I saw this lol

[@GreenLightningHood]

True, but hearing Matt say it at this point is kind of iconic.

[@pajamanerd7633]

Listen. The CR Crew are wonderful people. And there are many, many, many wonderful fans of the show But as the saying goes, "Pick a group, find an a**hole." These girls are the worst representation of the fandom, but they are a small part. Very small. It's just unfortunate that the minority of A-holes are louder and more aggressive than the larger, kinder community.

[@StrickenRecord]

Fandom in a nutshell.

[@thefiresworddragon927]

Literally just the internet and real life summed up in a few paragraphs. That's why "black and white good and evil" doesn't work; literally if you have a completely pure good faction or completely pure evil faction, immediately it sucks. You need a bare absolute minimum of one outlier. That's why the world is literally a million different shades of grey.

[@AJHaydenTV]

"Mercerisms" have always been around and used. Though they *have* gotten more common since Critical Role.

[@Jondoe47889]

I think that saying "how do you want to do this?" Isn't a bad thing cause as a player it always makes me feel good knowing that I could basically do a finnishing move

[@krampusklaws2238]

Variants of that has been used for decades, it's not a Matt Mercer exclusive idea. Hell my DM in the 90's would say "Time to end it, what do you do?"

[@toneypriceless8170]

Yeah even before I saw critical role (I've been playing dnd since 5e came out and started cr on c2) I always said how do you want to kill it. I've now adapted "How do you wanna do this" because its a lot shorter and a lot cooler I also tend to save it for special circumstances such as when a big bad is killed or when someone gets their first kill.

[@omnical6135]

i was so confused when they brought up "how do you want to do this?" as a complaint your comment helped clarify as i thought "how do you want to do this?" was just "what do you do?"

[@Logan_Baron]

Yeah, I've heard that a few people had even used that exact term before critical role. And even people who didn't use the exact term still used some specific term to describe their finishing move. I had used a similar idea to have players describe their critical hits.

[@samuelazzaro]

Its not bad, if players can handle it. Lets be honest here, sometimes a DM will have a better idea than a player can come up with and sometimes vice versa. It has to be a choice by the DM based on what they feel comfortable doing and what caliber of players they are dealing with. The problem is when players assume they will be allowed to do this automatically because CR did it. You can sum it up like this, does a player ask if they can be allowed to say how they kill the bad guy, or do they complain that the DM made a mistake because they didn't let them do this?

[@KentaroMiyamoto21]

I like Critical Role, but not every DM can be Matt Mercer.

[@zEr-ne5ri]

@Kenneth Ayoob that’s a vice to live by Dude or gal.

[@ShumaiAxeman]

Never mind every DM being like Matt, not all players can be like the actors. Most players aren't actors and they should stop acting as if they are.

[@JiryStark]

Neither can nor have to... be your own person and find your own style. I confess a mimic some things of his style, but he is not the only one I mimic. Just started being a DM and I try things every now and then to make the game fun to my players and to find the style that fits with me. The only thing that stays in the table because is so cool to see the face of the players when happens is the "how do you wanna do this?" because they get SO excited describing how they kill the boss. I am not a voice actor, nor an experienced dm... but I try my best. Its sad to see something as great as CR become this because fanboys/fangirls.

[@ShumaiAxeman]

@@JiryStark people just seem to.have a hard time curbing their expectations these days. I've only been playing for a few years now, but at this point I can safely say I'm not sure I'd even want to play a mercer style game. A little bit too much on the role play and epic combat. I want to play to have a good time and relax, not out in a huge amount of effort to give an entertaining performance.

[@liaml.e.5964]

Mostly because most of us lack the capital or the time to be like him 😂

[@Ookler]

I actually cringe hard when I think about the first NPCs I made when I started DMing, as they were just characters from Critical Role with slightly changed names. I actually set the goal to have my sessions be just like the show - which is a complete unrealistic expectation to have.

[@Beowulf0510]

"I want to thank out generous sponsors..." Dont say raid shadow legends. Dont say raid shadow legends. Dont say raid..

[@RockR277]

A good counter to people like this might be "ya know dnd has existed for years without critical role"

[@b.cahill3273]

You are going to get the response "Yeah, but he made it good." I think you would have better luck quoting Matt back at them. "Every table is different, and should be! If they just want to 'copy' what we do, that’s not very creative nor what makes the game magic at the table." from his response to the the reddit post.

[@stevenjacobs8797]

A better counter would be to tell them to be more like Sam Reigel. Or, just Chroma Conclave them.

[@emoAnarchist]

say decades, it's accurate and more dramatic

[@gigacooler]

"are you a DM like Matt Mercer?" well Linda, "Are you a player like Liam and Taliesin?"

[@KazumiKiguma]

"No I'm more like Wil Wheaton."

[@histkontext]

every single time i hear that name i think for a second - oh cool people still like Prototype game..... oh wait wrong mercer

[@TheIrishjim]

I like to Roleplay and use a different accent, just because I enjoy playing a different character. I also have made sure my characters have flaws so I dont feel like some kind of mary sue. Honestly I just enjoy the roleplaying aspect and being able to play off the other characters. I have never seen Critical Roll.

[@Ghettohamster]

The "how do you want to do this" is, even if its from critical role, one of the most satisfying ways to end tough fights and so I use it as a DM. It gives a spotlight to the players and bond over creativity.

[@sunnycastform6864]

I feel like the Mercer Effect is similar to someone building with Lego. They've seen an awesome building that someone made, and they want to make it too. So, they do so. It's identical, they like it because it reminds them of the original, but ultimately, they've chosen to copy and demand that everyone else should make this same house. Meanwhile, others are building 9ft tall, fire breathing T-rex rockets and telling people "go nuts, make whatever you want".

[@ChaosFanGal]

"You're a horrible GM for not letting us have sex in the game!" Neither does Matt Mercer. He fades to black when those scenes come up. XD I also know the kind of players the OP is talking about. Not all of them are that brand of crazy--they just tend to have very different priorities and interests of what makes the game fun for them. I won't ever relate, but my style of fun is unconventional in the game too, so I can't say that I don't completely get it (Not saying what they did to the OP is right at all--but I do want to say that it sounds more like an issue of player immaturity and player-GM incompatibility. Critical Role does set up some expectations . . . but honestly, it still was unlikely to work out even if that wasn't part of the equation.)

[@helgenlane]

I wouldn't say it's a "kind of player", more like "a kind of person". These people act like that all the time no matter what they do. Maybe they have autism? (The actual disability, not in a meme way) I dunno, but I've met people like that irl and one time I even had to just walk away because I couldn't handle the cringe.

[@evilbob840]

Regarding sex in CR, you are exactly right. They have sexual content, and even in-game porn, but it is always done in a PG way.

[@mordirit8727]

My players once asked me if I faded to black on sex scenes because of CR. I just smiled and said "no, I fade to black because of _this_ " and started to improvise a description of a very raunchy sex scene between a Goliath and a Gnome; about 3 sentences in they had got the point.

[@natanoj16]

@@mordirit8727 yea. We have also faded to black on sex for 15+ years. It is just the best way to handle it most of the time

[@zachsilby4569]

Yeah literally in the first episode of CritRole that was EVER recorded. Two players went to a Dwarven brothel and he just went, "ight now to let the other characters play." And when it came back to them he simply asked them to role for performance, then briefly spoke of the performance of "yeah she liked it, good job." Then BOOM back to the action.

[@terratheterribl]

My biggest fear is DMing and accidentally coming off as if I was trying to mimic Matt Mercer, having never watched critical role.

[@SorenToKeiran-Murasaki]

Lol same.

[@rapidcolt2949]

"I'mma steal your girl" (Rolls a natural 20) (Walks away with girl)

[@finneganmiller3272]

"How you wanna do this?" is not a mercerism. I've said this for years before I had heard of critical role

[@Mehwave]

People seem to overlook what the CR cast actually does: They use the training from their profession to enhance the experience at the table. They are actors. They get paid to play characters, so of course they are gonna be entertaining to watch. Now, if anyone would expect me to DM like Mercer they better be prepared to grab some biology books and study, so they can discover the molecular structure of DNA in my game. That being said: I really appreciate Critical Role and take some inspiration from there to try and become a better player and DM. I don't expect anybody else to do anything like that, though and not everything works. While I did get a lot of compliments for some of the voices I did, the sound effects I tried to produce from my mouth didn't go over as well, so I dropped them for the most part and that's pretty much how you evolve as a player/DM: You try some new stuff and keep the things that work out (if you want to, there's no need to change, if you don't).

[@kevincass9917]

Dude, a game about biology unironically sounds awesome!

[@alexdillahunt6908]

@@kevincass9917 As someone who has two B.S. degrees in biology, I totally agree. I have one idea for a character that is basically a safari guide/biologist and he is adventuring to study as many creatures/monster as possible in order to create his own bestiary. I would use druid as the class, but ranger would work as well.

[@veradrost9654]

@@alexdillahunt6908 That sounds hella fun, you should use it!

[@alexdillahunt6908]

@@veradrost9654 In another campaign, perhaps. I'm currently playing a battle master fighter/evocation wizard.

[@beansworth5694]

I mean, a biology themed campaign sounds fun. It doesn't need to be thematically academic, though, you can just have elements of speculative biology and ecosystem interactions find themselves central to what the players are concerned with

[@Mushroompancake]

I recently started watching campaign 2 of critical role, and I really liked how Liam O’Brien described Calebs spells, and I wanted to try doing that with my Druid. I always imagined his spells would have a particular sort of aesthetic and wanted to show it in the game. So I guess that’s one positive thing to come of Critical role

[@niv2097]

I’m pretty new to dnd, (only been playing for about a year, pretty shy, can’t really do character voices), and while I may not be a dm, this video and some of the comments on it made me realize I don’t have to voice or even play like a professional to be a good player and have fun, and that’s something I’ve always really struggled with since starting to play. So, thank you guys ❤️

[@ArthurRex131]

I've been playing since the 90s and I don't do character voices either.

[@Fish-vs6jf]

You know you're in for something wild when it starts with "this story contains no homophobia"

[@doublea125]

I told a player that I would be Matt Mercer if they would be Sam Riegel and we never had that problem again.

[@Zombiewithabowtie]

To be fair, buying a hip flask that large is an expensive investment.

[@omegamysterio3701]

I'm just about to get into d&d and I've already Expressed a lot of interest into being a DM, going so far as to write out numerous Villains, quests lore etc. Critical roll was what really introduced me to the game and I was hooked immediately beyond when my best friend told me about it and that I'd probably love it due to my interests in writing and love of fantasy. That being said, I did look at Matt as the way you're supposed to be a DM and it got me really nervous I wouldn't do so good, I second guessed my work and wasn't sure if it was something I could accomplish. Then I saw this video and honestly it really put me at ease and helped me understand there's no 'correct' way to DM and to be yourself and have fun. I'm still nervous about my first time but I'm much more confident that it'll work out better now! Thanks so much for this channel Crab, it's helped me understand a lot more about the game and how a good player and DM works ☺️ keep up the great work!

[@Drizzt395]

I like CR and actually learned how to describe stuff to make it sound cool from Matt. But direct copying? That kind of ruins the whole do your own thing aspect.

[@punishedwhispers1218]

This happens to me so much: 'You're homophobic' Dude, I'm literally gay 'Don't care'

[@Gaudaloth]

To be honest people can be homophobic and gay at the same time

[@nooneinparticular5256]

Kinda like a gay equivalent of...Uncle Ruckus?

[@williamwontiam3166]

@@nooneinparticular5256 I mean, your right.

[@nevada_tomato]

@@nooneinparticular5256 but didn't he think he *wasn't* black?

[@TrueHavoc13]

@@nevada_tomato there was an episode he found out.

[@zeb857]

its alright to be inspired by mats playstyle however the true problem stems from players who expect nothing but mats style

[@vivamexico254]

Or worse they expect the dm to carry all the role play, they want a show but they dont want to be active on it

[@thewarlocky]

Amem

[@yournameismazrel2051]

i watched the first episode of critical role, but never continued watching it. I'm now interested in the DMing tips videos mentioned, but I'm also glad no one in my group had fallen victim to the mercer effect. i dmed my first game (using the starter set and the Lost Mines of Phandelver's campaign, and I'm so excited to see what everyone's characters are like!!! we've already got a vampire (homebrew class), 2 dragonborns, and a few who are interested in being halflings and half elves! I did a one-shot with everyone using recycled character sheets from past players, and they all seemed to genuinely enjoy it!! were officially starting in a weeks time, and I'm so so excited :DDD

[@iakan6937]

I personally use "How do you wanna do this" regularly in my games when I DM. I will fully admit that it initially was because I saw it on CR, but now it's because I like to give my players that opportunity to kill whatever they're fighting in a really awesome/creative way. Basically it turns "Congratulations, you've killed the boss." Into something more cinematic and memorable for the entire group that still gets talked about months afterwards. If I were to give any advice to DM's it's make important moments more cinematic if possible, it makes them more memorable and you can plant plot stuff that's much more likely to stick.

[@josharonsen4970]

Honestly, I think the concept of a "Matt Mercer effect" is doing way too much heavy lifting for shitty players. That kind of behavior is terrible - it's not Mercer's fault for being exceptionally good at something. That's like saying "Beyoncé ruined music because she sets an unreasonable expectation on other singers." Call bad players out for bad behavior, don't make excuses for them by saying "oh there goes the Matt Mercer effect again"

[@LordFaffo]

It's called like that because (bad) players try to emulate Mercer. Of course it's not his fault, he even spoke against the phenomenon but it still happens.

[@manticore6963]

The thing is, the Mercer Effect isn't (or at least shouldn't be) putting the blame on Matt Mercer but on these shitty players for having unrealistic expectations. In your example the problem would be more that fans are shitting on every musician that isn't as good as Beyoncé, not that Beyoncé is too good. The fans are at fault not the artist. The Mercer-Effect does perfectly explain that the problem lies with new players trying to make everything like CR, it's not meant as an excuse for their behaviour.

[@josharonsen4970]

Exactly right. I just think it comes across as shifting the blame from players which doesn't really address what's causing the problem. I can understand players wanting that immersive CR experience, but expecting that from any DM is insane

[@borderlands10]

Beyonce is trash, tho.

[@eddiev2263]

The Mandela effect isn't caused by Mandela, it's just a good example. That's typically how the names of effect and such go. Plus "the shitty player effect" is too wordy and nonspecific.

[@SquirrelGamez]

An IMPORTANT note: while OP's story isn't unique, it's still VERY rare. and the so-called Matt Mercer Effect should be renamed The Fanboy/Fangirl Effect, because that's where the problem truly originate from.

[@KazumiKiguma]

True enough, even if they wanted to keep it to Critical Role, it should be called something more like The Streamer Effect because there's plenty of amazing D&D streams out there that are way more than you'd get out of your average game.

[@cameronlapp9306]

Yeah, my first game had this with other players and Austin Powers. The traditional ones are Python and Tolkien fans... The important point to take is that it's a collaborative game. Some reference can be fun, but you want to make your own game. If you're going to fan out, combine 2-3 touchpoints: a hybrid will almost always be more fun to play and gives more options.

[@zets8238]

the thing is the matt mercer effect has always been a thing... People played Drizzt clones way back when, people played clones of LoTR characters when the movies were released. It's just the modern name for the idea.

[@natanoj16]

@@zets8238 this isn't just about the characters they play, but the expectations to the DM. In the past people didn't have expectations to the DM the first time they played as they had only heard about Dnd. Now some people have seen literally years worth of sessions before even trying Dnd for the first time.

[@marvalice3455]

true enough.

[@professorwizard8916]

i was told something about role models that i always liked and it can apply to dms and players. "Don't be them. learn from them and be better then them."