How Matthew Mercer Changed DND Forever

[@PlayYourRole]

Quick note to a lot of people asking where Orion and Tiberius fit into this: It's truly never in my plans to address Orion. The Critical Role cast has made it very clear they have no desire to discuss that situation, and that it was a private manner. I intend to respect their privacy and wishes out of respect for them. I hope you all can understand that. Thank you!

[@nicholassano2854]

I will also add that PAX live stage for D&D put on by Penny Arcade also started to launch the 5e and D&D reemergence and to emphasis the fact that no DM is perfect the DMs at the PAX live stage were literally the two men who co-created D&D 5e Chris Perkins and Jeremy Crawford who both have over the years made mistakes live on stage not to mention one reason why Geek and Sundry got as much viewership as it did was becuase of PAX and Will Wheaton one of 2 of the people who started Geek and Sundry the other being Felecia Day for those who don't know Will Wheaton played Weasley Crusher on Star Trek next gen and mat is a great no doubt but he has had arguments on live stream with Liam over the casting of a spell in second campaign and several little spats with Sam in all three season already however it dosen't keep them all from being friends it's a game ladies and gents and those of more numerical pronouns D&D is a game for those who wish for an RPG but don't want to play a video games now a days and those who seek comradery in a game and to experience something outside there norm remember it is not the story that brings a world to life it is the people who sit around you during a session that brings it to life As i like to say when i DM roll like ur life depends on it becuase ur characters surely do and enjoy

[@LaenayaSathe]

@@nicholassano2854 Ahhhh man... those days. I remember watching all this develop. I had those Acquisitions Inc games on REPEAT, and then eventually took a dive into Critical Role and kept up on both of them. It was incredible, and both groups changed my life for the better. :)

[@badadbubub2519]

the people that got cut out are never talked about in depth. tiberius is just one example. another one is how Brian W. Foster got forced out, there is not a shred of transparacy there and they have him gagged too. i like CR a lot but both theese instances stink to me.

[@Margar02]

Everything that needs to be said about it has already been very well said by a couple other channels, so that's available if someone wants to know. No need to beat a dead horse here :) i appreciate that

[@Margar02]

@@badadbubub2519 not knowing these people irl means my opinion is flimsy at best, but I always got a bad vibe from BWF. Not that I dislike him. He had a lot of great qualities and talents too, but his aura seemed off. I could tell there was something off, behind the scenes, but I didn't know what. I didn't follow the twitter stuff either. Anyway, I just think it was one of those scenarios when you like and respect a person, recognize their value and talent, want the best for them, but ultimately their attitude, insecurities, worldview, or energy is causing more problems than solving, a decision had to be made. The fact that BWF was dating a cast member may have added another level of sensitivity to things, so out of respect for Ashley, we need to remember that several hearts were involved here and the quietness is probably not nefarious moreso than just private

[@zenharmonic]

To reiterate much of what's said here, I'll repeat what I say whenever I see someone talking about the Mercer Effect: don't try to be a DM like Matt; try to be a person like Matt. He's one of nicest, most caring human beings I've ever seen, and he does his best to use the platform he's been given for good. That's what the Mercer Effect really ought to be.

[@VanNessy97]

The Mercer Effect should be about working with your players to produce a fun and invigorating story that everyone at the table will enjoy.

[@omega311888]

"nicest , most caring human beings...." unless youre a conservative. then hes an asshole

[@johnathansanford8206]

As I'll say before and again, Mat ,just like bennon, and abria, are tools to be used to improve yourself, not to be selfishly jealous of. And a strong person will recognize an opportunity for what it is. A chance to improve yourself. The usefulness of these shows is that we have an ABUNDANCE of information that we can review critically and use that information or not.

[@sarmbaker3945]

Very much. I watched it and they were entertaining. It to bad Will quit play, he really stopped when it was just taking off. The regular streaming game the guys started was ok but just couldn’t compete with the Critical role for story and as good as the DM was, after all he is WOTC he didn’t have the depth of “the Mercer” effect Matt brought to the game and actors added. Sometimes a good thing as you can tell when Matt hits the stretch sighn while he looks up or improvises something because you get a half hour emp from O’Brien or Whatever the improve to kill time. But it motivated me to run a game at 48 at I ran it for 3 years in my own world. I just relied on the supper nerds playing to advise me on rules and I used a dunk tv under a glass table connected to fantasy grounds to pop up maps and use as quick ref befor they finnaly came out with Beyond

[@talscorner3696]

While not trying to be a DM like Matt is solid advice, there's still some use in learning the whys and hows behind Critical Role's success, as there's at least a few lessons for everyone ^^

[@liebneraj]

MM is the perfect DM ... *for his table*. Any DM that is going to be a good to great DM for their own table is going to do exactly what MM has done - looked at what other DMs do and how they do it - and take it those aspects that fit roughly within their own game, and mold it and polish it until it becomes its own immutable quality within their own game.

[@PlayYourRole]

Exactly, it's not a science! It's about creating and developing relationships over a course of time to create a game unique to you and your players.

[@meatybtz]

@@PlayYourRole Used to call it "reading the table". But that was decades ago. A rigid DM/GM is going to run into problems but if one looks at one's DM experience as a tool kit to draw on and meet the needs of your table/players, the dynamics there of, then it will be a lot more fun. I do have a few immutables in my DM kit but that is more limits on what I think is acceptable gameplay on a personal level and avoidance of what I think is overall risky or disruptive story features (socially speaking, things that always lead to table disruption, without really any exception).

[@Sturmensky]

100% agree! A "good" DM is one who meshes well with their players, sets clear expectations (i.e., what "style" the game will have, what they consider acceptable vs. unacceptable), and is able to modify what they do to ensure they and the players have fun. No single "style" or set of procedures will be fun for every DM or player group. For example, I have a friend who jokes that his campaigns would be on Reddit's DnD Horror Stories if he had a different group of players. He does incredibly grimdark campaigns (lots of slavery, etc.), tends to preface his descriptions of what characters see using words like "maybe", and does extremely tight narratives. His players adore it. They love the style and the way he DMs. Personally? I find his settings oppressing and the constant hedging annoying ("just tell me what they see!"). So I'm not a good fit for his campaigns. In contrast, my own campaigns tend to have a much wider focus of moods (I'm a firm believer that darkness gets numbing after a while) and worldbuilding. There's an overarching plot, but if my players go on a tangent, I'll indulge it (promising myself I'll find a way to loop it back eventually). There are players in my friend's campaign who would hate my games. Neither of us are bad DMs. But we've taken what works for other DMs, picked bits to add to our toolkit, and applied all of it in a way that's fun for us and our players; without ever being overly rigid. For *our* players? We're good DMs - and the "right" DMs.

[@kyleconductorandtuba]

I pull aspects of all of the CR and D20 DMs and implement it in my style at my table with my players

[@liebneraj]

@@kyleconductorandtuba Then you are working on becoming a great GM for your table. ;)

[@StevenJQuinlan]

I come at this from a slightly different angle. D&D is my main hobby, I've been playing it since 1994 and I love this game more than anything, but the truth is that my game was dying. 4e was not well received though it enjoys a niche following, and there was talk of 4e being possibly the last full edition of 5e failed. Critical Role saved D&D in a very real terms. It brought it out of the shadows and into the main stream. It brought thousands, hundreds of thousands of players to the game. It literally changed the landscape. I don't care if he's a good DM. I don't care if the Matt Mercer effect is occasionally frustration. They saved my hobby from disappearing into being that niche thing only a very few people played and I will always, always be grateful for that. Grateful for CR for bringing so many new faces into the hobby. For turning something I was bullied for into something that can now be discussed without fear by kids. Matt Mercer changed the world, for the better, flaws included, and that's rare.

[@thac0twenty377]

nah we never disappear man. We're rhe creative introverts. we'll rip paper up to for makeshift dice, drink too much mountain dew and bring up ingainary fights with thj gs that do t exist randomly 10 years later. i dont- I feel mainstreaming watered the creativity down. MM doesn't do anything we haven't the last 30 years, just did it when there was a public platform. And we always have an extra seat, because we enjoy new people and ideas. Keep gaming man

[@jasoninthehood9726]

@@thac0twenty377 How does mainstreaming “water down” the creativity? I’d love to hear your excuse for this because I already disagree. You better have a good argument because I already got mine ready in my pocket to fire right back at you.

[@thac0twenty377]

@@jasoninthehood9726 well you've already had your conversation. no need for me to answer then. oddly proving my point.

[@Kfaircloth13457]

I'm 45. When I was a kid you DID NOT talk to anyone about playing D&D. I'm from the American Midwest. It was either devil worship or you got nerd bashed by everyone. You were more likely to play a game with random strangers than someone you knew. Frankly it was safer lol. I'm so f-ing happy that young people today usually don't have to deal with that. It still happens, but now there's a cohesive community to stand with them.

[@s.g.devries8557]

@@Kfaircloth13457 yep same story here. When I think back on it, I am still a bit angry that all the fun and friends I could have had got stolen by such ill-informed religiosity. In ‘89 I scrounged $20 to stealth-buy the AD&D players manual. Read the thing many times but never played. I probably would have been sent to some religious re-education camp. My dad was a pastor. Pretty sure there would have been talk of prayer-circles and exorcisms if they had ever found that book.

[@nightangelx1513]

The mark of a good dungeon master isn’t their knowledge of the rules, or the amount of characters they can role play, it’s how much fun their players are having.

[@0num4]

Simultaneous to their own fun. DMs are players too, and they should ensure they're enjoying their time at the table as well.

[@jasoninthehood9726]

A great dungeon master makes you get lost in the game. Immersion. Period. I’ve played with shitty DMs and one of the hallmarks of a great DM is someone who can make you feel like you’re in a real world. Someone who can paint a picture with words. That’s what separates a good DM from a great DM.

[@ninjagoggles]

I started watching CR when I was about to start playing in a 5e campaign, having ZERO experience with D&D. I had GMed for kids playing Camp Myth & Kids on Bikes, but had no clue about what D&D was AT ALL. I started with C2 & was mostly bored... I listened as a podcast while doing dishes & generally fucking about. One day I realized I was fucking CRYING about an NPC (Kiri) and had to suddenly take stock of my life. I have since GMed other systems and DMed 5e for an entire school year for kids plus one-shots. Matt has surely influenced my style in that he taught me so many things just by playing.

[@kiritotheabridgedgod4178]

I'd also argue that the mark of a good DM is being able to fabricate things on the fly, when your players inevitably start making progress up the Henderson Scale of Plot Derailment(Be it fabricating an entirely new sub plot, or fabricating a new plot hook, that seems different but links back to the main plot.)

[@Lupostehgreat]

​​@@0num4oh God, this is so important. Look, a lot of people are going to try and replicate Critical Role, and this is noble and it's okay. However, DMs, as they are without this, are prone to burnout. If you try to do Mercer's style, be prepared to have little to no fun as a DM unless you have a VERY, VERY, VERY supportive group. Your players need to do a lot of work, and if they don't understand this then they don't deserve that. Doing all this world building is fucking EXHAUSTING, and if you have a table full of people who enjoy smashing these things, or look at you wierd when you give lore, or belittle what you do, then don't do it. They don't deserve it. Always make sure everyone is on the same page, and willing to give the same amount of commitment.

[@paxtenebrae]

At a con years ago, I told Matt once that I thought he was a great role model for men and boys because of how centered in love he is. Most of the role models men and boys have are...not that great, actually. At least when I was growing up in the late 80s, early 90s the only figures I believed in were like...benevolent space aliens like The Doctor, Spock and Superman. Most of the cultural influences were encouraging me to be cut off from my emotions and promoted a kind of socially acceptable viciousness that made me feel very alone. I think he does make a difference for the better and I also don't think he's prefect. I think he struggles quite a bit to provide advice to DMs that will move the needle if those DMs are struggling (that's where people like BLM and Matt Colville come in.) But if D&D is going to be mainstream, we are pretty lucky to have Matt Mercer as our representative. When I talked to Matt about this, he hugged me. I wasn't expecting it, I was in fact shocked, but that is very Matt. Dude has a huge heart. Man...I know the "Matt Mercer hugged me" story sounds like "And then everybody clapped" but I swear on my own mother's soul that REALLY happened. I don't know if I'd believe it if someone else told me.

[@Desdemona-XI]

I would, because that is Matt's way, you often see him struggling to be unable to reach over the table and hug someone.

[@Xiatter]

I believe you. And I'm happy for you. And I'm glad he is anything at all like he seems to be on Critical Role. We need more men who understand that good masculinity isn't about repressing your emotions and hating women.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

That is so adorable.

[@steved1135]

Who is 'BLM' ??

[@Xiatter]

@@steved1135 Brennan Lee Mulligan.

[@0num4]

"...where everybody at the table...cares more about each other than they care about the game." Well stated! It is often overlooked that the cast of CR are all long time coworkers, colleagues, and friends. Their relationships were established years prior, in most cases, to their D&D games. I strive for the type of game where we give a crap more about the others at the table, than the game itself.

[@PlayYourRole]

EXACTLY. They are true friends, and I admire them all so much for being able to put that first in everything they do

[@baseballjustin5]

Just look at when Liam DMed. *robot liam* mY fRiEnDs

[@LiquidxAngel]

@@baseballjustin5 Oh god, that just made my heart break READING IT. When I saw that one-shot - INSTANT tears.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

I had burnt out as a dm and hadn't player dnd for a year. It was stumbling across cr and watching Matt that fired me up, inspired me to take some improv classes and I've been running the best dnd of my life for the last couple years.

[@PlayYourRole]

Sometimes finding someone who inspires you is just the kind of jumpstart you need to do something you're truly passionate about

[@blackwell4701]

That between the sheets always gets me. As a creative it SUCKS when you feel you aren't impactful or wasteful with your projects, really hits close to home. And with parasocial criticisms online, en masse really drives home how negative attention really hurts communities and individuals. It's one of the main reasons I've always shied away from trying to make content (like you do! it always feels so wildly brave imo when younger or smaller channels strive to make quality and frequent videos/posts like this) or post on social media about things I make in general. It's a terrifying concept, especially with some climates and norms in certain social circles (Looking at the vitriol from certain diehards).

[@PlayYourRole]

Matt truly was one of the largest reasons to get started, and weirdly enough it was his massive respect for Marisha that helped get me to start making videos. My wife is, in many ways, a lot like Marisha. She encouraged me relentlessly to start this channel, and seeing Matt trust his wife honestly helped me realize I needed to get over myself and trust mine. Best thing I've ever done.

[@Cretaigne95]

The "bad" that came out of critical role is just symptomes of the democratisation of the hobby, more people joining in, more assholes, it's a normal thing. As an ex-normie I found the Dnd community one of if not the most welcoming out of all the typicaly nerdy stuff. We are blessed to have such humble and human figureheads (touching all the wood, don't want to jinx that)

[@PlayYourRole]

It's always important to remember the jerks are generally the loud minority. I've loved every bit of being a part of the TTRPG community

[@yuvalgabay1023]

Well ya. .but we should also remember the "p0rn " effect that's cause whit some player's ("the feeling of despodment about actually playing the game). Not saying it's destructive. By all account the loss is minimal but should be remembered. And probably most of them will never like actually playing ttrpg. But it is there.

[@1rotzy]

Another example of Matt being great was, I think during the Obann fight in C2, Laura was making just really bad rolls. She was getting frustrated, angry, and just not having fun. Matt picked this up and tried to cheer her up. Letting her know she has been playing the character fantastically, her dice just need to be sterilized. In my mind, that’s a great DM. While the world he builds for the game is his baby, his players are what really are what’s important.

[@ChristieLily35]

I think fairly recently in C3, Marisha had a night like that too. Matt, Travis, and Liam were all there to cheer her up. But also respected tit's frustrating when you roll badly all night. It says a lot that it's okay to express the good emotions, but also freely express the "negative" emotions. Actually it says more that they can and do express the negative emotions. It also shows a lot about Matt in that he can play off that. He does it a lot with bad rolls too, he doesn't just leave them hanging with no information because a couple of people rolled badly.

[@maxwillsch2938]

I recognise a lot of myself in Matt, especially the struggles he describes going through. So to me, seeing that someone with a lot of the same struggles can succeed like he has gives me hope for myself as well. It makes the future look ever so slightly less scary.

[@PlayYourRole]

Exactly. One of bravest things he's done is continue being himself, and letting that struggle be something to motivate him and I can't thank him enough for it

[@LocalMaple]

The real Matt Mercer effect: let the players make their backgrounds freely, and use their throwaway joke lines and missed sessions to make new plot hooks. Matt plays off his players. We would have no Blueberry Cupcake without Sam elaborating on his backstory, Jester looking for a bakery in an earlier town, nor Jester asking to make a deal with the Hag. It sometimes feels like Matt does 30% of the work, and his players feed him enough information or dialogue to make the rest of the 70%.

[@SuperGoose42]

Love this. I try to do this in my games, doesn't always work but it's fun when it does

[@PlayYourRole]

Exactly! When the players recognize that what they do inspires YOU, it makes it 1000% easier to invest into a game

[@MravacKid]

There's nothing better than taking one of those jokes and making it a part of the world :)

[@Shindenize]

I actually incorporate this method in my games too. In fact, a huge villain in my game only was created out of a joke that one of my players made in the lines of "What if alone of these legendary heroes of the planet turns out to be an envious bastard?" Lo and behold, the Knight Of Lies is born.

[@jayjaygolden5123]

still feel bad for leaving the campaign where my semi joke character was made to be a big deal in the world

[@golvic1436]

You younglings call it “The Matt Mercer Effect” but us old guns call it “My Other DM”. Matt didn’t create the effect. He just propelled it to the main stream. Now Matt is a master of his craft. No joke. But take it from another old time DM, we wish you were Sam and Laura far, far more than you wish we were Matt. The thing is that there is a pantheon of Master DMs, and Matt is just one of them. You learn from the masters. You figure out why they are the masters. Then you pick what works for you and what doesn’t and you eventually become one of them.

[@Tawleyn]

That's how I see it too. There are tons of talented, passionate, skillful DMs out there, but it doesn't matter in the end if their players can't get engaged or don't care about their characters or the characters in the party. Critical Role owes a *large* part of its success to the players who fully embrace the world Matt has created and *live* in it.

[@fomori2]

Other than Matt's voice acting skills, he is just another really good DM. The special part of CR is the players, how they all interact together along with Matt, and the financial ability to put on a good show. If you put Matt with the average DnD group, and without the budget of being paid entertainment, he wouldnt turn them into anything special.

[@chetranqui]

I just watched an episode of C3 in which Talesin brought everyone to the inn just to play "Rollies" where they rolled die to figure out who got the right to ask whom about their life leading up to joining the party. Matt did nothing for 20 minutes straight as the players just roleplayed and shared lore about their character, "drinking" and "rolling" and trying to dodge questions (or trying to answer them!). Honestly, as a future D&D player, it was kinda inspiring... and incredibly frightening! I'd love to be able to engage with other players like that, but I aint no actor!

[@FlRELAlR]

"We wish you were Sam and Laura far, far more than you wish we were Matt." Very perceptive. I love players that role play, players that get clever, that take risks for the sake of a more memorable story, and that accept that their character wouldn't know xyz and don't meta game. A perfect adventure party has many, if not all, of these qualities.

[@theblaze5530]

@@FlRELAlR yes! I consider Taliesin and Liam role models for d&d rp

[@PianoMyHeart]

one of the most incredible aspects of Matt Mercer is his humility. You’d think a guy this successful and just plain GOOD at his craft would have a good excuse to be a jerk, but his constantly willingness to work hard and remain empathetic to others is so beautiful to watch.

[@LocalMaple]

11:13 Aabria: My first time DMing for Critical Role! I’m nervous! I better make a serious campaign about everyone’s first taste of power. I’ll make an ashen mesa with a glowing sigil, as well as a Fey crossing with a trial. The party: Let’s stick our hands into the Ash hole on the Oh No Plateau, then flip this grassy gator!

[@PlayYourRole]

Ain't that just the way?

[@Desdemona-XI]

That also to me shows the players doing a little something to help reassure and relax Aabria, like when you meet a friend's circle of friends and they make that extra effort to include you in jokes and play.

[@CuringBloom]

This video was beautiful. I really hope Matt has the opportunity to see it.

[@PlayYourRole]

I can only hope, but what truthfully is important to me is that he knows he has made a difference, even if he finds that out having never watched this video

[@queenannsrevenge100]

I REALLY hope that we don’t find out about him secretly kicking puppies or running child sweat-shops, because based on so many eyewitness anecdotes, he just genuinely seems like a Good Dude. Very humble, very dedicated to giving of himself to others, and very concerned about leaving the world better than he found it. That’s one of the best legacies a person could leave.

[@yuvalgabay1023]

Look kicking children is just in the dnd spirit

[@master0fthearts894]

@@yuvalgabay1023 Amen to that. 🤣

[@H2SO4pyro]

That's to be expected tho. Everyone knows every rpg player do sacrifice virgins under the full moon and bath in the blood of newborns.

[@flamepulse42]

I once saw him feed a puppy chocolate at GenCon....

[@ultrabigfella]

@@flamepulse42 unbeknownst to most, chocolate isn't extremely deadly to dogs. It takes a full size Hershey bar to affect a 10 pound dog, and even then it most likely will not be deadly.

[@joranvanolphen9892]

One of my favorite moments is that in C2 matt got a how do i wanna do this and the whole cast was cheering him on. Really showing they all care for each other. Matt didn’t want to take the moment away from his players and the rest of the cast were so happy matt was able to get a very fun and awesome moment in a battle

[@chetranqui]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYPRdJJ-iJd2oZY Looks like Matt was controlling an NPC ally of the party in combat (not 100% sure of the context, but found the moment!)

[@chetranqui]

at 3:42:15 of Exandria Unlimited Episode 1, Matt got his first ever HDYWTDT as a player, too. Really incredible moment when he 100% felt the full force of the conquest... another moment where the entire table erupted, DM included.

[@ThorsShadow]

As both a player and soon DM, I personally love the effect CritRole had on DnD and I love the Matt Mercer effect. Why? Because it makes me strive to be better as a DM and not half-ass my stuff. I'm planning what I'm going to do. I'm not Matt and I'm not trying to be. But the stuff he does gives me so much inspiration in preparation for my campaign (DMing for a group of coworkers, only one of which played DnD before in I believe 2nd or 3rd edition; starting with the new "Essentials Kit" and then leading into "Curse of Strahd", which will be enhanced via various options found in "Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft"). I also love how the cast oft CritRole inspires me as a player to not half-ass my characters and put some effort into my roleplaying, making decisions befitting my character instead of making the right decision from a "meta" perspective etc. Yes, there are idiots out there: players, expecting their DMs to be exactly like Matt or DMs expecting their players to be exactly like the cast of CritRole or either of these groups expecting their sessions to go the same as they do with CritRole. That's not Matt's fault, that's not CritRole's fault. That's just people not thinking properly. CritRole is CritRole, you are you. Do your own stuff and be creative and don't get mad when stuff isn't like it is on Critical Role. One would expect people playing a very creative game like DnD to be able to understand that without being told. But here we are, having something called "The Matthew Mercer Effect", because people sometimes are just a bit dumb like that. Also absolutely agree, that caring about each other is important. The game is more than stat block against stat block. There are people playing this game. Having your character die sucks. Having a string of absolutely terrible rolls sucks. I think it's important people show empathy in very social games like DnD. Have a nice day everyone and don't forget to love each other.

[@PlayYourRole]

There are two sides that I see: People who don't want to be expected to be able to uphold those standards (which is fair) And people who strive to improve through being inspired. I firmly believe we should all be in the second category, and not shoving people into the first

[@ThorsShadow]

@@PlayYourRole Absolutely agree with you. Just DMed my first session last weekend. We started with the "Dragon of Icespire Peak" module. Two of three players never played DnD and the other played 2nd and 3rd/3.5 in his teens. I ended up planning out the first 10 minutes or so to get them into the game, because I felt like they're going to do everything but not what I'd plan. Which is precisely what happened. We all had a ton of fun and can't wait for the next session next week. Although there's going to be more planning then.

[@Kaze_Saikuron]

good video, but i was not ready to cry today 😭🤧

[@PlayYourRole]

Listen I wasn't ready to cry while recording but life comes at you fast 😭

[@Kaze_Saikuron]

@@PlayYourRole Fair, I would also like to say that your videos have helped me a lot as Dm and a player, and inspires me to do better so keep it up! You're doing great!

[@crisisOstrich]

I dont consider myself a fan of Critical Role (havent been able to get into it) but even so I have a lot of respect for Matt and the rest of the cast, I think a lot of what you've said in this video is true, and i cant help but think a lot of the negativity Matt gets is coming from a place of envy

[@gervasiolembo4028]

I've been investigating academically how interactive narratives are replacing the role of mythology in society, and your video puts a lot of stuff I sometimes struggle to explain to others in such a plain language, with your Matt examples. Thanks a lot!

[@goldenlokosian3740]

Huh... You know, that's an interesting perspective I hadn't thought of before. Is this something you've been looking into for a doctoral thesis or something along those lines?

[@gervasiolembo4028]

@@goldenlokosian3740 So far it's a master's degree thesis proposal, waiting to see if it gets accepted.

[@filthycasual8187]

In all fairness, I'm pretty sure interactive narratives likely WERE mythology for the longest part of our history, back when stories were passed down orally instead of written down.

[@legiocii2678]

"Making other DMs look bad" is the dumbest thing I think I've heard. *Of course* he's going to make your average friendly neighborhood DM look bad- he has a massive budget, a group of professional voice actors as players, and literally no other day job *other* than producing really amazing games. He makes the average DM look bad in the same way that the Golden State Warriors make the Local Y's basketball team look bad. There are entirely entirely different realms of capability and support going into what is essentially a professional TV show and your average DM's gaming table, and I think any reasonable player is going to realize that Critical Role is *probably* not representative of your average gaming table. On the other hand, Critical Role has done a huge service by showing TTRPGs as something that can be used to create real art. (Not that its the first, numerous fantasy settings got their start on the tabletop, from Record of the Lodoss Wars to The Expanse!) Its given countless players inspiration for characters, DMs for stories, and overall has widened the audience for D&D and made it accessible for countless new players.

[@thedigodragon]

4:43 I too prefer a game where the DM and players care most about each other. I think an issue I see at many tables is that players try to copy CR to get that effect, but don't understand every group's chemistry doesn't come together the same way. You got to find what gets your own group to click together.

[@Desdemona-XI]

And they miss that player care focus, it happens so naturally that it doesnt always attract attention. So they try replicate the details, imitating dm style, stressing unnecessary production. And character voices. I had my first dnd game recently and despite it being a overall poor game the biggest issue i had was that there wasnt really anything to help us get a dynamic working as players, it was the first time two of us had played at all, and most of us had not played with eachother before, and we were just dropped into a heavily trapped dungeon, no session zero, no setting of expectations. We only played two sessions before scheduling issues had to cancel the whole thing. But really the part that bothered me the most, was just how little our pre game requests seemed to matter. I'm a roleplayer, and we werent even given a moment to introduce our characters at the beginning. Three of us were roleplayers but we had to pry an rp moment out of the dm due to timed traps and effects we never really got a chance to try click together

[@archersfriend5900]

@@Desdemona-XI it takes time to find the right group and dm. I am dm, I love roleplay, but out of 10 regular players in my groups, two players are interested in roleplay. Players need to drive roleplay, the DM can encourage it, but if the players are not interested it will not happen.

[@colinmorrison5119]

I picked up D&D later in life and have DMed before watching much Critical Role, which I'm glad about, I found my own style. Matt is an incredibly empathetic man, that interview made it abundantly clear. People with that amount of empathy are easy to love, but also easy to hurt. We could do with more public figures like him not just in nerdom but society.

[@jlokison]

Critical Role is as big as it is because of the 8 core members and how much they all care about each other, each others stories and how they interact. It's why they all love it when one character gets to delve deeper into a specific character background, why they don't mind stepping back while others step forward. It is also why so many enjoyed things so much more when Orion left.

[@emilysmith2965]

It’s worth mentioning that Orion had his own personal demons he was going through at the time. A really difficult health issue. And while that doesn’t excuse his behavior, it’s worth mentioning that we ARE all human beings and sometimes people are just not a fit - whether that’s from circumstances or it evolves to be a more permanent thing. Broken trust is hard to heal. The Critical Role team made hard but fair decisions for the situation. I don’t know how Orion is doing now - but I very much hope he’s doing well and has found other connections that are helping to keep him safe and healthy.

[@petek2832]

iron sharpens iron. A great DM also needs great players to bring out the best in everyone. I love that they create deep back stories for thier characters that Matt can weave ino the campaigns. it really makes a difference and adds a whole other layer of unpredictability. Critical Role fires on all cylinders becuae of that. All the haters who are purists to some extent, need to stp back and grudgingly appreciate it for what it is. It s a dierse community and gate-keeping and purity tests don't help the community. Just enjoy it for what it is.

[@JayShoPalmz]

I'm not crying. It's just a sparkle in my eyes that is inspired and that inspiration is just pouring out of my eyeballs.

[@last2nkow]

Matt mercer is a really great dm of his style. The kind of deep lore and way he weaves backgrounds of characters into the story is truly great. He has a more serious and almost severe grasp on the rules. It is his table and does control the story in a way some other DMs don't, and that is both amazing and restrictive. Looking at Mercer he is the kind of DM who runs like he is inviting people to play his game by his rules on his theming and to his tone. Compare that to Brennan Lee mulligan and its a whole other table and tone. He runs such a fast paced game that adds and adds and adds and gives power to the players to really run off and do whatever they want. Like, literally. From being a pirate legends son ambushing a mind flayer without his party to back him up to a princess running off to town dressed as a pauper to go to a sexy underwear shop at night or even letting a tiefling just keep digging as they make a dreadful disguise where their name is the same name twice and live on two streets of the same name and let them try their crazy zany, I'll thought out schemes even when there are no rules or it shifts tone entirely. Both DMs are the top of the game, but the best steak in the world is a world of difference to the best red wine. Complete different, both great.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

D20 is a show more than a game. I feel like we need to emebwr that, there's a lot of editing.

[@PlayYourRole]

It really comes down to what you enjoy. If you like your steak rare, and someone serves you the greatest well done steak in the world... It still isn't going to be your favorite, right? So you gotta find what you like, and a group of people who agree!

[@last2nkow]

@@CharalamposKoundourakis did you see calamity? Because Holy moly, and that wasn't cut up like that.

[@last2nkow]

@@PlayYourRole yeah. I've had soke trouble recently with that. It's been a lot of compromise because of limited access to groups.

[@zombfish5498]

I've been at tables where the ST played like he hated everyone or was only focused on one character. Watching Matt and a few others including you gave me permission to leave that toxic space. It gave me permission to start my own table where I could nurture the people I love.

[@PlayYourRole]

If you enjoyed this video, and would like to watch another analysis of an incredible DM: I've done a breakdown of Brennan which I would recommend! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnPKdWOrn6qpaZY I hope you all have a wonderful day!

[@n4l9bx]

(psst, maybe pin your own comment :P)

[@PlayYourRole]

@@n4l9bx It was initially pinned but it was replaced to address another question that had been asked many times!

[@n4l9bx]

@@PlayYourRoleAh, fair enough, just wanted to give a shout out to the other video :)

[@rmoenmjea]

I really wish that I can meet Matt one day... As much as I love him for the game and everything he does, he is just such a loveable person. Seeing him talk about his mental health struggles both makes me feel less alone and also makes me wanna give him a big hug. I have no experience with DnD so I can't really comment on that aspect but I mostly watch citical role for the friendship, the goofing around and the genuine care they all have for each other

[@chetranqui]

Yup. The voices, game knowledge, and lore-based story is cool and all, but it really is just a great group of friends that's enjoying the same entertainment together. It's just as much fun for me to listen to the description of an attack as it is to see who's reading their texts, nudging the friend next to them and sharing an inside joke. The comraderie is real there.

[@andrewgillett9255]

Are you serious?? People actually don't like Matt Mercer because he put a lot of time and energy into a game he loves and 'set the bar to high'..... This might be the silliest and most childish reason I've heard for not liking someone. Who really gives a shit if he wants to go all out on something he enjoys? I am sorry I am just having a hard time with this concept.

[@Shywarlikegirl]

You said it perfectly. People don't want a DM like Matt, they want a person like Matt. While having a DM like Matt, the one to pull out the best of the best for terrain and have a story that goes so deep you could legit write a history book. Would be fun, if you can't vibe with the people. It wont ever be fun. I watch them play and I want to be able to connect like they do. Theres a scene in C1 where Laura and Liam are both crying and hugging and while a large part of me knows its the actor side of them, I FELT that pain in a way that a movie will never do. I hope this made sense. Also may or may not be binging as I just found this channel :D

[@johnnyneal3548]

Matthew Mercer is the Van Gogh of his generation in D&D, a true artist in his field. Is he perfect? No. But is he a genius? Yes.

[@Picklescape]

The point about the players caring more about each other is SO important! I play in a lot of games and the best ones are those where the players respect and care for one another above game. It makes SUCH a difference.

[@talonblack8250]

My friends and I have been playing D and D since 1st edition. I watch Critical Role and love it. I thing Matt is a genius. But our games haven't chanced. We play the way we always have.

[@PlayYourRole]

Play what makes your table happy! If you can do that, your games will always be an incredible time!

[@michaelrobinson3543]

Matt is a fantastic DM. But the wonderful thing about DMing is that your way of running games can be completely different than his and if it's right for the players at your table, then you're a fantastic DM as well. DMing is really all about one thing: Making sure your players are having fun. All the rest... prepping, production value, rules knowledge and implementation, characterization of NPCs, the level of cross table talk and humor, tone-setting... serves as a foundation for fun.

[@chetranqui]

I'll be playing in my first ever D&D game later this summer... until now my only experience has been through watching Critical Role. I adore Matt... but seeing Aabria come through and DM the first round of EX:U was eyeopening. She DMs SO incredibly freeform by compare to Matt... it's like she's focused on bringing the player to life within the world when she DMs whereas Matt is focused primarily on bringing the world to life in front of the player. While my expectations are high for fun and RP and teamwork for the campaign to come, seeing different DMs has helped me recognize that each table is unique and each story will be told in its own way.. and it's on me to do my part so that my DM can do theirs... however they see fit. I haven't seen Brennan's EX:U debut yet, but I'm kinda excited to. 🙂

[@michaelrobinson3543]

@@chetranqui "it's like she's focused on bringing the player to life within the world when she DMs whereas Matt is focused primarily on bringing the world to life in front of the player." You nailed it here. Matt is wonderful. I'm not trying to take anything away from him and his players CLEARLY love his game. But I run my games more like Aabria and I've always seemed to have happy tables, too. There is no one "right" way to DM or roleplay. Have a blast in your game and welcome to the community!

[@robbywings]

What captured me the most about CR was how Matt & the others meshed, what I fell in love with was not only Matt's incredible control of the story and characters, but how when he spoke everyone listened and they were so drawn up in story that they took notes and engaged with what Matt was presenting them. In a sense that's the Matt Mercer effect I fell in love with and wanted at my own table. It wasn't until later that I realized I didn't need to emulate Matt to get that, I just needed to listen to my players and make sure I tailored a game that I knew they'd enjoy and they'd they'd engage in and not just one that was scripted or one to satisfy my own whims. Sure every world I play or create has my own flavour, but the games and sessions I run have elements that include everyone. Session that try to engage with what people want from a game - and because not one player is alike those elements are very wide ranging - from mysterious roleplaying hook with many twists and turns, shopping for trinkets and shiny things and for some a monster-fill dungeon with a target rich environment. Love watching these types of breakdowns, it reinforces why I love D&D so much and get so much out of being a DM.

[@LordTonzilla]

I don't think there is or should be a "best" DM.

[@PlayYourRole]

Agreed

[@Evaleastaristev]

Thank you for doing what you do. Your channel is one that I very much look forward to every week, and it's not just because of your content. You, sir, are also an inspiration.

[@PlayYourRole]

Thank you so much for the kind words! Don't cry too much though, hydration is important

[@Emanuele_Sacchi]

Matt is a great person and an amazing DM - one of the best (IMHO) in the D&D community, along with Chris Perkins and a handful of other *extremely* talented individuals who spin wonderful tales for their players. I've been playing D&D for most of my life - I'm 52 years old, and I've been playing for 33 years now. I've been DM'ing for about 30 years, of which the last 15 or so as a full-time DM (gosh, sometimes I miss just being a *player* LOL). So I had my way of DMing, my quirks - my "style" if you prefer - way before Matt launched Critical Role, but I can't deny he had quite an influence on my games since I started watching Critical Role (and as an aside, I'm the only one among my friends, no one else watches Critical Role in my group). From a "people" point of view, Matt is an amazing guy - he's supportive, he's attentive, he truly cares about his fellow gamers - no, about his *friends* . I can't be a fair judge of myself, but I truly hope *my* friends (some of which I've known and have been playing D&D with for the past 13 years or so) can say the same about me. That alone would be a result worth any effort. From a "game" point of view,. I've always been known in my groups for crafting stuff, for creating elaborate handouts, props, ambient music, and since 3D printing became an affordable reality I've been using even more minis and terrain pieces and props... but Matt helped raise the bar even further. A studio like Critical Role's is every gamer's wet dream, but of course no one has the space - or the means - to have such a gig at home, and I am no exception, but a few touches here and there, a couple of Google-controlled LED lights, a flickering candle, the brilliant idea of using d4-filled glass jars for potions and a lot of other small things, and voila`, a more immersive atmosphere for everyone involved. Of course, my group doesn't play like Ashley, Marisha, Laura, Sam, Travis and the others, but that's perfectly OK. To be honest, I don't DM like Matt, it's just not my style, just as I don't write like H.P. Lovecraft or don't cook like a Masterchef winner, but that' fine. We're all different, we're all playing to have fun together with your friends, create a good story that (hopefully) survives the campaign it was born into, laugh together at silly jokes, eat too much pizza and snacks and drink a few beers while sitting around a table with some of the people you know best and like the most in the whole world. And that's just perfect. But even if Matt's influence has improved my friends' experience at my table only by as little as 1%, well, the man is already a winner in my book.

[@DMingThoughts]

/gives tea, cookies and soft cozy blanket/ Take this, bruh

[@PlayYourRole]

Thanks, I need it 😓🤣

[@Lathlaer]

To address the mistakes that Matt is making - I have yet to find a game ran by someone who is not making them. It's easy to "backseat DM" when you watch comfortably in your chair and it is not your responsibility to keep track of initiative, HP, abilities etc of several monsters and what your players are doing. I know this from myself when I realized how easy it is to point out that Matt forgot to ask for a concentration check and then realized several times after my own games that I do the exact same thing. So whoever wants to diminish his skill by pointing out mistakes - I invite you to do a little soul searching and see whether you have always remembered the correct rule, asked for the right saving throw, remembered about concentration or about how fighting in dim light looks like. As for the other things. People need to realize that once D&D starts being your day job, you get naturally better at it. Just compare the production of C1 with their ad hoc minis and hand sketched maps with grid to what we see now. Here comes the hot take. Because the thing is - maybe aside from voice acting (which can be trained as well) and expensive camera setups - unless you really want to stream, elevating your "production values" is often a natural part of being hooked on the hobby. I also started with a blank dry erase map and a couple of tokens. Now I print colored battlemaps in various formats that accurately represent my battlefield, spend hours in GIMP to modify them, buy minis for dragons and demons and combat risers. Why? Cause it's my hobby and it's exciting. Just look at Etsy - there is a whole industry worth of things for people who want to elevate their games step by step. Whether it's a nicer DM screen, trackers, beautiful dice, dice towers, miniatures and other accessories. There are people out there who are building custom tables with TV's for moving maps or buying them for thousands of dollars from Wyrmwood because they want to delve deeper into hobby. What I mean to say is: there are two sides of the coin here - that there is nothing wrong with not following CR's footsteps and doing your thing but ALSO there is nothing wrong with setting them as a personal goal of sorts either (for instance elevating your style and production by maybe fighting your anxiety to RP a bit deeper, try out some romance, using minis, thinking about the music you play and so on). You don't have to dismiss what they do as "I will never be able to do it like this because they are professionals" and use it as an excuse to not improve your games - if that is what you want. People are not gonna be Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi either, doesn't stop them from playing football. Some do it recreationally once a week or twice a month and are totally fine with it. Others still treat it as a hobby but they meet for games two-three times per week, they buy nice football shoes and rent football fields to play. And I say this because I feel like as often as people say that "CR shouldn't be put on the pedestal as the gold standard", what they really say is "you are stupid to try to make your games closer to CR". No, you are not. You don't have to follow in their footsteps and your games might never look exactly like CR but don't hesitate to take from them and mimick what you actually enjoy.

[@CitanulsPumpkin]

Let's be honest. If Mercer didn't switch his home game from pathfinder to 5e, D&D and tabletop in general would not be seeing this resurgence we are seeing. Prior to CR the most popular live streamed games were the Acquisitions Incorporated stage games at PAX, and a few audio only podcasts. After CR D&D and D&D-like games show up in multiple Netflix series, hundreds of actual play games are streamed on twitch, and the entire tabletop industry is seeing higher sales figures than they ever have since the invention of the hobby. CR may not be the best version of D&D, but it is one of the first versions of D&D that proved the game could be a watchable and marketable entertainment medium. That's down to the fact that every person at the CR table is a professional actor that knows how to perform for the audience even when the game mechanics would tell them to stop everything and sift through books for 30 minutes.

[@SquirrelGamez]

He wasn't different, that's the whole point. He's an every guy who was just playing D&D at home with his friends, and they just happened to be in the (voice) acting business and know some people and got to play their game online. He'll tell you that himself. Matt refused to run things any different just because it was online and that made the game feel genuine. Add everyone's voice acting skills for flavor and voila! Instant success. For me, it didn't change the game at all. I was already running games much the way he does, only without the voice talent. The only thing that changed is people started complaining about the so-called Mercer Effect, which never made sense to me.

[@0heck]

People don't like Matt because he set the bar too high......how PETTY are those that think that way? Jesus. Do we resent amazing musicians or athletes? Great actors? Simply because they do their craft better? If folks are jealous or envious that is a YOU issue. Not Matt's or anyone else that exceeds at what they enjoy.

[@MrMosiKing]

I run now a homebrew campain since 1 year. My players do mostly side quests and dont go for the main plot. One day i told them i'm sorry that i cant handle it like mercer because i'm not that good in DMing like he is. Then my players look at me and said right, your not mercer, your better than him because you run our campaign, you run the game so that we have fun. And this meant a lot to me. I dont care about the mercer effect. He is in my opinion the best DM. I love his games. But my friends / players said it right, the best DM is, when the players have fun at the table. So, i'm not the best DM in the world, but i'm the best DM for 5 friends and that means the world for me. Sorry about my english its not my first language :)

[@rzgaming5678]

Not gonna lie. I didnt know mercer existed till long after i got set up and randomly his videos started showing up for me like last month. I dont think his style is impossible. Or that its hard, its all about what and your players can do and what yall like, i think he’s a cool guy and that his dm style is fun, its for people who like a engaging highly interactive show style and thats fine

[@MrMrkman98]

No offense to Matt Mercer, but his table is filled with well known voice actors with him also being one(he voice acted McCree). D&D is a story *telling* game which means a bunch of people skilled at delivering lines and making believable character voices are the perfect choice for a watchable D&D game. It doesn't hurt that they all are fairly good looking people. So, when you have talented, niche-popular, good looking and diverse(gender wise) players I honestly can't see why it wouldn't be a slam dunk no matter the campaign Mercer makes. I think he's a good DM from what I've seen, but I think people focus on him way more than makes sense.

[@TheDrexxus]

I like the voice acting and creature sound effects, but what really makes me enjoy Critical Role is all the humor. I don't like comedians and people that think they're funny getting up on stage to repeat some joke they've practiced for a laugh, it feels too manufactured and unfunny to me. But the spontaneity of improvisation and coming up with it on the spot, between friends especially, feels so much more genuine and it hearkens back to experiences like that in my own life where my friends and I would just be out together and someone says or does something stupid and everyone else can't stop laughing. It feels real, and it feels like friendship. There is no judgement, there is no mocking of other people (comedians are 99% ridiculing other people or their beliefs), theres just friends being friends, and that feeling is contagious and addictive.

[@vorpal120]

Well, his Mother rolled a natural 20 for his charisma score when he was born, obviously.

[@SilvanOrion]

There are struggles and journies that we all go through. Some we share, and some are personal. I can't tell you enough how thankful I am that you shared even a small bit of your story with us. Your work is great, and I'm talking to everyone reading this. Thank you. Love, peace, and chicken grease.

[@PlayYourRole]

Thank you so much for the kind words. As someone who struggles with many of the things Matt has shared, I wanted people to know that our stories touch people, even if we don't see it

[@jesterssketchbook]

yup - it's the selfless and ego-less thing that's his true super-power - his empathy and concern for others. That sounds boring, but heres an example - He accidentally makes a charater name that sounds like a body-part; his freinds laugh about it and riff jokes on it: matts response? He goes along with the joke, making his own, and stays in character the whole time. Selfless-ness isnt BORING yall - its not "weak" - it promotes good-will in whatever it touches

[@sleepyspartan1367]

Honestly, the thing that I feel Matt does best I'd that he makes sure everyone has a narrative thread of some kind. Something that comes up that's extremely important to the character like vex & Vax with the chroma conclave or Percy with white stone, Bow with hear family & Knot with her's. They all have in some way something important to them in the narrative that lets them get attached to it as well as each other

[@AugmentedSmurf]

Even Yasha and Pike both had interesting personal connections to the stories, despite Ashley being absent for a lion's share of both campaigns 1 and 2. That's seriously good DMing on Matt's part.

[@blackshard641]

I completely admit that, initially, before I even watched the show or thought to give it a shot, I despised Critical Role. You see, before CR came on the scene, the D&D podcast community was populated with "nobodies," geeky friends with day jobs who got together once every week or two to tell stories, be clever and creative, and record the fun they had. Stumbling across a great podcast was like finding a diamond in the rough, discovering and supporting an underground music group by sharing the find with others. Then came CR, like an inescapable, giant rolling Katamari Damacy ball that inexorably swallowed up the entire community. At the time, the mere concept of professional voice actors swooping in to dominate D&D fandom felt like the gut punch of a Walmart plopping down next to your favorite mom and pop shops and forcing them out of business. It took years to get over it. That said, I've since begrudgingly hopped on the CR train and I've found myself enjoying it. Mercer is a good storyteller and genuinely seems like a great person in real life. He is eminently likeable. And the gamers he DMs for are a blast. I don't think he's changed D&D forever, though, just for now. This is his moment. And he does deserve it.

[@harlequin5664]

also world building, matt's world building is phenomenal, it really showed during calamity how the combination of Brennan's DMing and Matt's Worldbuilding (+those phenomenal players) created something brilliant

[@BixLovesMiley]

This may come as a shock but no one needs to be the best (TM) to be a role model

[@vampirelogan]

I whole heartedly agree with this assessment of Matt and the CR players. His love of the game AND even more, the players, is not something to deride or be jealous of. It is something to aspire to, even if you never get there! I am certainly in that camp as I try to run my own Actual Play campaigns on my stream and my tables are all very different. I love this game and other games but my players are who I do this for whether they are long time friends or new people I met on the internet. Thanks to Matt Mercer for inspiring me to be a better DM. None of us are perfect and that is ok as long as we keep trying to improve. Also, you said Ashley Burch but I think you meant Ashley Johnson, even though Ashley Burch was on the show for a few episodes ;) I was a bit confused until you mentioned Yasha!

[@HereBeDragonsYT]

I hope Matt sees this. Fantastic video.

[@PlayYourRole]

Whether he does or not, I just hope he knows his work is appreciated. I think he deserves that

[@harrywhiteley89]

It is very difficult to determine who the best DM is... It depends heavily on what people decide makes a good DM, I it would be a disservice to call Matt anything less than a World Class DM, I describe my games with the line "Critical Role is a 5* meal, you're coming around to my house for a Dominos."

[@RoninXDarknight]

Best/Worst don't matter. I think it's more fitting to say that each DM has their own style which leans heavily on certain things they excel at. Absolutely nothing wrong in looking to others for inspiration on how to improve your groups experience but at the end of the day, so long as you & your players are having fun then you're all doing something right.

[@MasumiSeike]

"If youwant a game like Matt Mercer is running be prepared to be the players that tell the stories with him." that was a quote someone told me on twitter when I asked what was about the Critical Role effect, as I like to call it rather than the MM effect.

[@JohnFleshman]

Im a Critter and I watch for the STORY. I love the NPCs Matt Creates and the World he wrapped them in and I love the way the characters interact with each other and the wide world they reside in. I would never expect that out of a home game.

[@Harpshadow]

Agree. getting to have that table takes effort. Players love the idea of the game and not putting the effort. No one can expect to have that kind of table if they dont even read the basic stuff or have basic player etiquette. And dont get me started on just a simple thing like being there on time and showing that you want to be there. I like the crew of CR because I am envious of their relationship. Thats the main attraction for me. I really loved all of those interviews.

[@EmptyKingdoms]

Critical Role is a _show._ It is _not_ meant to be a mere tabletop RPG. Playing a TTRPG is different to running a show. Also, Matt railroads _a lot._ That is _not_ the game I'm running at my table. I'm running a sandbox/open-world game, where there is no main story except for what the players choose to focus on. It's a living, breathing world, that happens independently of the players until they start interacting with it. Grim dark low fantasy, with magic that behaves more like Lovecraftian horrors than allegories of hope. And randomness, lots of dice rolling to determine everything. That aside, I run a very streamlined, minimal ruleset. I dislike 5e, it's too bloated for me. Because of all of this, he is not a role model for my DMing or what my players should expect at my table.

[@SilverSmogMaster]

I‘m fckin crying oh my god Spreading critters love

[@PlayYourRole]

Love to all critters!

[@DeeEight]

I would argue its Christopher Perkins who set the bar high for home games and kicked off the D&D popularity rush. Remember there was already three seasons of Acquistions Incorporated podcasts followed by three major convention hall live games, another season of podcasts, and then six or seven years of multiple per year convention live games at PAX's various editions, plus an 8 part youtube video series before he turned the DM duties for AcqInc over to Jeremy Crawford. And Jeremy has been running the games the past four years now. THat's in addition to over a hundred episodes of Dice,Camera, Action that Christopher DM'ed on twitch, three years of GameholeCon celebrity charity games before the pandemic, the stream of annihilation games he ran (for which Matthew Mercer has been a frequent player at the tables of), the half dozen one-off celebrity D&D games he ran. Critical Role began its twitch broadcasts in 2015, SEVEN years after AcqInc had its first podcast broadcast and FIVE years after its first live convention hall game. The whole reason Geek&Sundry approached the Critical Role crew to even do a show on their twitch channel was because G&S wanted to boost their ratings and ride the wave of popularity Mr Perkins and the AcqInc games had created.

[@DisasterAuntie]

I hit the thumbs-up early on in this, but when you shouted out to Aabria Iyengar and Brennan Lee Mulligan, I hit subscribe. I love that even in the midst of a VERY JUSTIFIED love song to Matt Mercer, you also offered respect to many of the other DMs you admire, and why you admire them. You didn't tunnel-vision, you didn't hang everything on Matt, you didn't deny any faults Matt has, didn't end with "And that is why he is the ultimate world's best Olympic gold medal DM of perfection." You kept it real the whole time. And because he's your inspiration for how to treat your players, I bet your players too are some of the luckiest, like Matt's are.

[@danielpayne1597]

Mercer Effect Whiners: Wahhh bad players showed up to my game and said "y u not Mercer?" and now D&D sux Me: Soooo... mad cuz bad? Really, though, Mercer has taught me so much about DMing and instead of being self-absorbed, I learned to adapt some of his style. My players love it. I consider it a win whenever they tell me "you're like Matt Mercer!" I know I'm not as experienced or talented at it, but sometimes I hit a vein of gold and it feels great. I'm not gonna sweat it and I honestly laugh at those who do.

[@iguanian]

I'll have to respectably disagree - Matt is a fabulous DM and is very talented that make his games a lot of fun to watch/play. Of course some of it was over the top - he was making something for the internet to watch - if it was like 90% of RPGs I've been in/seen over the last ~45 years, it would be boring to watch. Did he "spend too much time" preparing for games? Hell no. The games I DM'd I spent at least 20 hours prepping per session, and usually substantially more. From out of game conversations with all the players, creating content, and tweaking the plots and updating NPCs as the players evolved the story; and I have dozens of filled notebooks to prove it. What it seems to come down to is seeing elements of how you game in Matt - and you love it, or realizing the lack of something in your current game and becoming frustrated, and then using Matt (or whomever) as the target for that anger. Plus, not every game style is for everyone - I'd love to be able to have such great voice acting in my games, but it does give me something to aspire to.

[@chadrichjellming4911]

I find it ridiculous that people would dislike Matter Mercer for "setting the bar too high." People just need to have more realistic expectations that Matt Mercer is a professional DM and every day games are probably going to be more toned down. He is honestly a source of inspiration and I agree, he's not perfect, but he does do many things well. If I learned anything from DM'ing and watching other DM's, you just got to take the pieces you like and use them in your campaign. Find what works for you and players, and just have fun.

[@jackstone8286]

Awesome video, though I am pretty sure someone was cutting onions right next to me the entire time.... Jokes aside, I relate to a lot of what is said. Little backstory: when I was a kid (around 12-13 years old) my dad gave me his old D&D books. I'm talking original books from way back. He even gifted me one of his characters. I spent most of my time reading every word in the DM guide, the player's guide, and the monster manual just soaking it all up. The problem was, I had no friends to play with. Cut to almost 30 years later, I finally DM my very first game. It's something I had always wanted to try, but the longer it took to find the opportunity, the more anxious and afraid I became of doing it. I picked up some one-shots and stuff from free RPG at my local shop, and after 3 weeks finally picked one to run, and this past weekend it happened. I was woefully unprepared, even after reading through the material. I had no idea how to start things, how to introduce the characters. I didn't even have a name for the barkeep I had to make up on the spot, let alone a tavern name. I hurt my throat trying to do voices, and painfully stuttered through the most awkward, ear-burning start to anything I have ever done in my life. If going across the street can be considered going out of my comfort zone, I was in another state. Cut to the end of the evening: the players had just ran their first mission successfully in a workshop infested with gremlins, and I was blown away by how much fun they were having. Out of the 4, three of them had never played before, and yet none of them could wait until our next meet up. If Matt does see this video, if he does read these comments, I think he deserves to know he helped me make that possible. He wasn't the only one though, Aabria DM'd the first full series I listened to and also had a hand in that inspiration. Because of their unseen (but well heard) guiding hand, I am now looking forward to creating my own campaign and hopefully enjoy it with my group at my table. And honestly, if you read this far, I applaud you, that was a novel! Much love to all :)

[@Uhdksurvhunter]

"Best" is very subjective though. If by "best" you mean brings the most enjoyment to his table, most of his players seem to enjoy themselves at all times. If by "Best" you mean brings in the most viewers, then he actually IS the best. If by "best" you mean follows the rules 100% and never deviates, then he is maybe not THAT good. On the other hand, if by "best" you could mean he is able to bend rules a bit to fit the narrative, further the plot, and make good stories, then he is pretty good again. So many ways of being the "best", and i genuinely think he has the spot as the best DM in certain "subjects".

[@Xiatter]

He and his group at least helped trailblaze the way for the idea of D&D live shows and podcasts. They did so in a compelling way, with complex characters and plots that paid off a hundred hours in. Their voice acting and entertainment industry experiences certainly helped them come to terms with playing characters for an audience, and to do so reasonably convincingly. And they're just flat out dedicated. Three main campaign games a month, often a side game, and side content almost every week, possibly every week. I understand not liking things that are popular, or just being sick of people mentioning Matthew Mercer and Critical Role. But they do their thing consistently, passionately, and wonderfully.

[@VanNessy97]

Hot take, I kind of prefer Brennan Lee Mulligan as a DM. Mainly because of his sheer amount of proficiency with improv. Matt's got some incredible worldbuilding skills, I'll give him that. But I envy Brennan's ability to improv a derailed campaign and make it fun for everyone at the table. I want to be like Brennan when I DM a game, and I want a DM like Brennan.

[@harveymedlicott-revell7069]

There's no such thing as putting 'too much effort' into your game as a DM. A DM should always strive to improve the experience of their game, both for your players and for yourself. Shunning people for effort, and in Matt's case, talent, says more about your frustration with your own game/DMing style then it offers a valid criticism to Matt's and other extravagant DMs. If you don't like what Matt does or even if you don't like DnD 5e all together, it doesn't and will never change the enjoyment of others for those things, there's plenty of other DMs and variations of DnD for you to enjoy without attacking others. This game can be for everyone, so let it be for everyone.

[@PatroniMeiSancti]

Mercer is not divisive or controversial. DMs trying to do it Matt's way are responsible for their own failures and insecurities.

[@vallerizh4731]

For some reasons, I can`t manage to watch even a single episode of Critical role till the end))) though, his guides and tips for DMing are great. For me the best DM is Robert Hartley - he thinks the game so well through that it definetely has risen the standarts of our home games. But, anyway, there is the best DM for each and every table, so we shouldn`t limit ourselves to just one way to play the game))

[@FoempThe]

I think anyone who complains about the Matt Mercer effect about putting the bar too high... FFS. Have you ever watched soccer on TV and found them to be way too good, that this put the bar way too high and therefore you didn't want to play soccer for fun anymore? If anyone thinks like that, they have some serious growing up to do.

[@greatgallade]

As someone who never knew dnd or anything about critical role. I just loved fantasy as a kid growing up. I was a jock. I hung out with nerds and geeks and I was one too. But never had the chance to play as an adult my friends and I have great days playing our sessions. Our dm is a caring friend. Like a brother. Weall feel our brotherhood. Our friends are so great at the game and our bond is strong.

[@Bluepuertorican5]

You made me cry today- this was beautiful. Thank you man

[@PlayYourRole]

Man I made myself cry both recording and editing this. I'm done crying now

[@Bluepuertorican5]

@@PlayYourRole ❤️

[@Klausbro]

Maybe the reason I think Matt is a perfect dm is because he’s the exact dm I’d want at my table. I know Brennan is good, and he’s super fun and I’d love to play with him. But Matt is someone that I’d want to sit and play with for years

[@skyfox585]

Man that sucks that matt Mercer let alone ANYONE would say or think that about themself. Actually heartbreaking, people need to chill out about how a guy plays a game that's literally all about your imagination.

[@sandstormxx]

I think the whole caring about each other thing is why Orion didn't work in the group, he viewed the whole experience of dnd as a struggle between him and the DM, which didn't work with the rest of the group of players who were working with Matt. Like Tal has weirdo energy with his characters which could unintentionally dominate at the expense of the other players as the most experience player (especially in the fist campaign) and Matt is good at reigning it in with the other players stories in consideration. It all works well together.

[@Drudenfusz]

I really like your channel, but that you call people bastards makes me always deeply uncomfortable.

[@archersfriend5900]

Comparing a normal store group d&d, to Matt Mercer and critical, is like comparing my son's 12u baseball team to the Yankees. They are not comparable.

[@evandugas7888]

The entire idea of the mathew mercer affect is stupid. It comes from wargamers who dislike a more rp focused community. Ya some people will be dumb but that does not change how many amazing players he brought into the community.

[@jasoncarter3182]

My opinion of the matt Mercer effect is that people arent wanting they're games to be like critical role or they're DM to be like matt, more over its them wanting reassurance that the others at the table are aware of how everyone is feeling at the table and making sure they're having fun. Without being able to fully articulate that so they suggest the game be more like critical role which causes people to get the wrong idea

[@johnypanta6208]

Wait a sec....so the reason people don't like Matt is because he does a good job at something that they enjoy?...huh... and there i thought the internet could not get more toxic...

[@LordVader1094]

A big thing I think about is that MM wouldn't work with every group. For instance, I know I'm the perfect DM for my group because we know each other super well, and I know how to coax each of them (since half of them are quite shy people) into experiencing the adventure that's there. Point is, everyone who's DMing needs to realize that you don't need to be Matt Mercer to be the perfect DM for your group.

[@kelpiekit4002]

The best DM seems like the best food. There is bad food, sure. But mostly there is flavours you like and flavours you don't. There is no best.

[@Kalenz1234]

If a player tells the DM to start DMing like Mathew Mercer then tell the player to start RPing like Sam Riegel.

[@ilwrathiavenger5233]

Someone put their highest roll into CHArisma... now that's quite unique.

[@authorkellylclark]

My parties have been blessed with the fact that we’re friends first- then we also happen to play D&D together.

[@KarianDespri]

This community is so fucking wholesome. Don't forget to love each other

[@greatgallade]

He's a good storyteller

[@anthonyp.4734]

Fantastic breakdown on why we like Matt Mercer. I don't try to make a matt game in my game. Not everyone wants the monologues and crazy story twists. But everyone wants to be treated like Matt treats them, like they matter. Another thing is this is also a job to them. It's so hard to find a job where you feel like you matter, he created a great space for that for every member there

[@marca81]

Matt Mercer is a great DM. As a voice actor hes got a creative mind and adds that nuance to his portrait of some very interesting NPCs. He developed a very layered and entertaining homebrew world and gave his players agency to explore without railroading or plot hammering them into submission. The world was the sandbox for his players. He gave everyone at the table a moment to shine and explored character back stories, while weaving them into the main plot of the time. Personally, I am not a huge fan of Critical Role because it does not really represent a standard gaming table. That being said, It is a magnificent product that brings new gamers to the table and thats why it was pushed by WOTC and a lot of other TTRPG accessories companies.