Critical Role: How Marisha Ray Creates the Perfect Dark D&D Character

In Critical Role, the Dungeons and Dragons show, we see Laudna. We see the genius of Marisha Ray that has created many characters in her years, from Keyleth to Beauregard, to now Laudna. For her first Edgy, dark and/or creepy D&D character, she does a truly fantastic job. I want to break down exactly she creates such a good character in Laudna, and what lessons can we take from it.
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XP to level 3, Critical Role with dungeoneering, tabletop community next to tabletop RPG, dungeons and dragons, Fjord, Beau, Jester, Yasha, Caleb, Nott, 5th edition dragons, 3.5e, dungeon dudes, DM GM, dungeon master, game master tips sprinkle a bit of Caduceus, Mollymauk in the Mighty Nein.

[@jmoyamendez]

Not going to lie, was thrown off by Keyleth for at least half of campaign one. Then it just hit me one day. She was playing her character perfectly, the development was just so subtle. And at the end, her fatalistic response to her father at the end of the campaign, for those that understood her, could feel the damning impact of immortality and love lost, and her reluctant persistence to be a leader for the Ashari. It was the perfect response.

[@T0NI_]

You know, I've only watched about 20 hours of campaign 1 so far, but even still I think it's fair to say that i really don't understand the hate for Keyleth. Maybe it's just because I already have ideas of her path and what she's about (It's hard to avoid spoilers when watching through campaign 2), but i pretty much instantly udnerstood what her character was, and that yes, she's somewhat anoying but she's *supposed* to be annoying and make stupid (naive) decisions. But I guess my opinion could change as I get further in

[@BEEFSERPENT]

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[@the_roar384]

I love this long form content. Would like to see more of this

[@SoloStudiosOfficial]

I have so much respect for Marisha's talent as a creative, and I can't wait to see how she continues bringing the character of Laudna to *life*!

[@sandrinenoel7329]

I LOVE the echo when she uses Message. It's so cool and so funny.

[@rantdmc]

it will be interesting how marisha moves laudna forward. she has gone quite early with revealing more of her character's background about Whitestone than say Ashton or FCG have with theirs. Great point about marisha's physicality too: compare the different ways she holds herself and gestures as keyleth, beau, and laudna. she even changes her hairstyles and the clothes she wears: hair down for keyleth, up for beau, down again (with a pin in her hair) for laudna. yeah, all this is from "the woman who couldn't roleplay" in C1, according to self-appointed "experts". marisha enjoys proving people wrong, I feel!

[@fortunatus1]

I've liked all three of Marisha's characters to one degree or another. I never understood the Keyleth hate; always seemed to me like her rp of the character was on brand. But with such amazing characters as Jester, Grog, and Scanlon, her characters have never been my fav until now. Laudna is the best! Creepy and fun!

[@BEEFSERPENT]

she had no problem dishing it out but was too thin skinned when it came back around....didn't hate keyleth hate marisha cuz she's annoying af with that god awful laugh and she's just dumb in every sense of the word

[@oldomen3788]

I'd like her to be my goth mummy

[@BlueBerryDM]

Owlbear🤣🤣🤣 tied with the doom character taliesen played as my favorite characters he's played!

[@kaa-gu3lj]

man, I just love your stuff

[@RevanXIII]

great video, I just subscribed. Hey, don't forget you can put this video in your "Lessons from Critical Role" playlist.

[@BoredTAK5000]

Some of my favourite characters are the characters that I lean in heavily towards like when I played a crazy wild magic sorcerer I leaned in fully towards that. Having absolutely no sense of safety for others or even himself.

[@thisiscoral]

what makes their characters really work is that everyone in the table is 100% with one another. they give them their own moments as well as support them when they do things. most tables usually have people who would interrupt players with out of character commentary when they're getting into RP.

[@PyrotechNick77]

The nice boi to edgy boi character development of Vaxildan is also great

[@volosguidetomonsters3440]

I would like to point out Percy, just while we are talking about edge

[@Shauntheduke.]

While we are on Percy we should also bring up Caleb who honestly did it the best.

[@erikwulfrik1934]

Then Travis started doing it with his transformations lol

[@TheScreamingMime]

It's impressive, she was able to be both edgy and boring .

[@Siennarchist]

She is really creepy :)

[@littleDainolf]

I didn't enjoy Beau at all. Didn't vibe with me. Laudna I like alot tho.

[@RecklessFables]

Yeah, Beau was a little boring but Marisha deserved a break after Keylith.

[@DylanZZ3]

I think you meant the perfect cringey character because every time she tries to be creepy or funny you cringe