Joe Manganiello on stealing the Hand of Vecna | D&D Beyond

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Joe Manganiello explains his plan for stealing the Hand of Vecna during Critical Role, and how that lead to Arkhan the Cruel going to Avernus and appearing in the new official D&D adventure 'Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus'
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#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #JoeManganiello

[@MaxwellKasper]

"You come to me, on the day of Matt Mercer's wedding, and you ask me how I stole the hand of Vecna?"

[@josephmort4039]

But you don't ask with respect. You don't even think to call me DM.

[@plumfun6750]

Well obviously...y'know, priorities and all that. People get married all the time. It's not every day someone steals the Hand of Vecna....sheesh...newb... ;)

[@augustjologs1]

@@josephmort4039 What have I ever done that you treat me so disrespectfully?

[@fxsantazo]

Was looking for any the godfather quotes. Not dissappointed

[@lieutenantkettch]

May their first child be a draconic child.

[@impofstpete727]

This dude. Marries Sofia Vergara. Plans the biggest heist in tabletop gaming history. Executes it flawlessly. It becomes Canon. Goes to the wedding of the people who watched it go down in complete shock. People line up to show him respect. He really does get to live in a fantasy world.

[@v1cety107]

I take back what I said about any other celebrity. Joe Manganiello is literally living the best life

[@zayzo007]

Yes his wife is my celeb crush! Definitely wouldn't mind his life!😂

[@John-lo4xz]

They are seperated now gratz to you@@zayzo007

[@derekdokter4702]

He is divorced now…but still has this story.

[@John-lo4xz]

Women are temporary, DnD stories are forever.@@derekdokter4702

[@Mikemar16]

Don Manganiello to his wife: "Dont ask me about my DnD games, dont ever ask me about my DnD games"

[@josephmort4039]

"One time. This one time you can ask me what I rolled."

[@nore1021]

Lol do the trilogy

[@josephmort4039]

@@nore1021 Just when I thought I had crit...they give me disadvantage.

[@Mereinid]

Hehe, Don's wife...she could ask me ANYTHING she ever wanted to. No secrets with that epic level wife.

[@no_nameyouknow]

@Azazel Acheron You're an ampersand! jerk...

[@Langston42]

I... I think Joe just made it into the pantheon of the few people to actually win D&D.

[@i-am-your-conscience]

Thats only the start. Mark my words, at the end of Season 2, Tiamat will play an important role in keeping Tharzidun chained or defeating him. By preventing that evil chaos wins over evil lawfulness, Tiamat will rule Avernus instead of Zariel who maybe get her redemption and go back to Mount Celestia. As Tiamat has no interest in day by day ruling, Arkhan will be the guy in charge over Avernus. Either this, or he turns good, maybe even sacrifice himself.

[@johnr797]

@@adeptavatar9394 I don't think I've ever seen CR folks get really bent out of shape during the game. Closest would be Travis during shopping scenes but no one can blame him for that lol

[@TheRealCrimdor]

Honestly it was just a dick move from a guy that was supposed to be a stand-in player for a specific event. In games like EVE Online, this is basic douchebaggery that happens frequently.

[@RayMcNamaraMusic]

@@i-am-your-conscience Oops.

[@RayMcNamaraMusic]

@@johnr797 Or that dude that played the worlds most annoying dragonborn in the first part of Campaign 1. That dude got bent out of shape about anything and everything all the time.

[@arkhos599]

"I'm sorry it was just business... until we meet again." Picks up his gaming stuff and walks off. THAT is the D&D "mic drop". :)

[@aznanimedude]

And this after Scanlan had literally just paid the ultimate sacrifice and made one of the hardest decisions of his life BECAUSE of the hand of Vecna

[@tylerdurden639]

In *REAL* D&D games, Joe's level of assholery is retconned by those players who remained. If his crap was allowed to stand, it'd demolish the game. Matt may be a good storyteller, but he's got serious problems as a DM. Maybe being a storyteller is all he ever wants to be.

[@uajrh1]

@@tylerdurden639 bruh 🤦‍♂️

[@rammyrump2251]

​@@tylerdurden639 you sound like one of those basement nerds who are all like "BUT MUH GAME PURITY". The way it was done was not something that would demolish the game, and how does he have 'serious problems' as a DM, elaborate

[@785joker]

making pancakes

[@bradm5118]

The Hand of Vecna moment is when I changed my point of view of Joe from just another guest, to this guy is a true roleplayer who has thought of plots upon plots. Massive fan now.

[@grungemunkey]

Where can I watch this?

[@theurbanshaman6285]

@@grungemunkey on KZbin...

[@jeremiahbutler8638]

This moment was a real eye opener. I had no idea he was such a D&D fan

[@PGains]

Vecna needs to be resurrected and is pissed and will get his hand back. That’s all I’ll say ;)

[@david598]

? I dont get this

[@draxthemsklonst]

Gotta hand it to him.

[@GZilla311]

Quite disarming.

[@Jaijaibinkx]

he's got a hell of a grasp for the game.

[@Jaijaibinkx]

I think you're just imagining it, get a grip.

[@TonytheCapeGuy]

*Facepalm*

[@krugerstan]

defeat the BBEG, then a farewell to arms.

[@MinersLoveGames]

And I thought Matt's planning was extensive.

[@Ragdefender]

I don't think fans realize how much the players contribute to what makes Critical Role good. Having the best DM would mean nothing if the players aren't invested.

[@javierpatag3609]

Well, it was an epic heist. One of THE most evil and powerful magic items in the game.

[@jole5468]

Carlo Marasigan imagine if the players actually cared in season 2, havent watched since summer so it might have changed but at least then it felt like the players didnt care at all

[@Londy808]

Jole oh boy you are missing out then. You are missing out on a lot of investment of of the players of CR

[@jole5468]

@@Londy808 oh like when travis just walked away from a quest that was tailor made for him during the pirate times? he doesnt seem like he enjoys playing the way he did in campaign 1 where grog were part of the dynamic duo and always were into everything that happened and always caused chaos because he had fun. only sam was being interresting in any way before i stopped watching, but i guess i could give it another try

[@fraggle9337]

Yes. The dream for the characters to be passed on to other story tellers. To know they'll live on through eternity. What a comforting thought.

[@fraggle9337]

no u

[@zarathon8315]

classic D&D

[@i-am-your-conscience]

@@zarathon8315 Greyhawk is completely made out of this moments.. To bad we couldnt watch Gygax and his friends creating this lore while playing on Twitch or something, back then :)

[@stevendonaldson1216]

@@i-am-your-conscience new age of history in the making

[@Bandoolero]

Gave you the 1000th like

[@QuestionQuestionMark]

Joe Manganiello Actor / Writer / Director / *Arkhan* That my friends is how you know the extent of his nerdom.

[@gregpenismith8884]

Never heard of her.

[@sylvex7]

@@gregpenismith8884 do you have nothing better to do?

[@MinersLoveGames]

Joe's story is amazing, yes. But let's also not ignore the fact that he and Sofia, both pretty big celebrities in their own right, went to Matthew Mercer's and Marisha Ray's wedding. What a wacky, crazy world we're living in.

[@CathrineMacNiel]

Is it hard to believe that friendships between people from the same strata or same hobbies are formed?

[@thefracturedbutwhole5475]

To be fair, Matthew Mercer (his voice at least) is in a tonne of stuff, one or more of the cast of critical role is pretty much involved in any and every video game and/or animation there is, Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara are just more recognizable because they are actors not voice actors.

[@MrBeenReadyy]

Sofia is actually the highest paid actress in the world rn

[@diazinth]

Ryan Cade I’d say that’s not a bad spot to be in :)

[@mile_high_topher]

@@CathrineMacNiel I think their point is that it's pretty wacky for two people who are most well known for being nerds who play a live streamed "nerd game" are in the same strata as the second highest paid female actress on the planet and her slightly less famous husband. That would have been a bad joke twenty years ago.

[@andershoffman7196]

You know, player characters getting immortalized in the D&D canon is very reminiscent of the old TSR days. In a very real sense, Critical Role is today's equivalent of playing at Gygax's table.

[@Folsomdsf2]

No actually, it's pretty much opposite of the gygax table. Gygax didn't fuck ed's storylines and made his own world instead.

[@David_Blake91]

@@Folsomdsf2 The hell do you mean? Matt is also using his own world, even if he got some of his inspirations from older settings. And Im pretty sure that they are okay with Joe's move, because it made a helluva great story!

[@Folsomdsf2]

@@David_Blake91 Not matt's table, the inclusion of arkhan shits on all forgotten realms lore and the lore of gygax's own setting of greyhawk itself. It LITERALLY fucks with the established lore written directly by Ed and Gygax, the two largest creators that wotc seems to be trying their best to fuck over their legacy.

[@neiyama]

God forbid they try to adapt the lore or evolve the Setting 30 odd years after Gygax was even involved with the game. Why try to appeal to the modern audience or popular D&D media that the people over at wotc are obviously fans of; am I right?

[@TheParagade]

@@Folsomdsf2 have you asked what Ed thinks of it? If anybody would have a problem with iconic characters being made canon, I doubt it would be the guy who made Omin Dran a canonical Masked Lord.

[@garrettcarter5622]

"Joe stealing Vecna's hand was one of the most iconic moments of Critical Role." Goldfish Keyleth: AM I JOKE TO Y-[splat]

[@apugalypse_now]

Daily reminder: 22 WISDOM PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@xEvilRaptorx]

@@apugalypse_now Back up reminder Wisdom does not equal Intelligence

[@j357910]

Fluffernutter wants to know your location

[@Aplesedjr]

xEvilRaptorx reminder that thinking “I shouldn’t jump off of this cliff” should require an intelligence or wisdom of 1, both of which she was well above

[@isaac8734]

Jester the hag and the cupcake tops that by a cakewalk..

[@JV-the-Tossh]

The greatest part of it is how he just gets up and LEAVES. Just LEAVES. Mic drop moment. Such a baller move.

[@Chillgamesh]

​@@BirgerJarl-it5lz???

[@LeaderV4]

I think that is the only chair in existence that makes Joe Manganiello look small

[@David_Blake91]

Thats his DM Chair in his Gary Gygax Memorial Dungeon!

[@needparalegal]

I know a DM that introduced "The Head of Vecna". Players were cutting their own heads off to try to get the head to attach to them.

[@JosePerez-jl9bu]

Introducing yet more body parts of Vecna is a slippery slope we all know ultimately ends up at "The Dick of Vecna," -a decent name for a metal band, perhaps.

[@timetraveler0002]

@@JosePerez-jl9bu behold the balls of vecna

[@dougyanez1710]

What buffs are granted to the guy who gets Vecna's rectum?

[@needparalegal]

@@timetraveler0002 Less risky than the Head of Vecna

[@aaronrodriguez4159]

@@dougyanez1710 The Vectum, if you will.

[@jesterssketchbook]

"Joe Corleone, im here to shake your hand, on this, the day of your Critter Sister's wedding"

[@princessjello]

Lmfao I can't imagine Matt n Marisha's fams n friends faces when sofia vergara rolls into the wedding reception. To be a fly on the wall

[@gregpenismith8884]

To be an idiot that cares about celebrities....

[@Jamusomama]

@@gregpenismith8884 to be a person who puts down other people

[@mighty_polar_bear3786]

😂😂😂

[@toddblankenship7164]

most of Critical roll are voice actors and probably role in the those circles

[@blairbird8022]

Joe Manganiello: The Nerdfather.

[@andrewmorris8650]

Facts

[@TheKroganMaster]

Krull is honestly super badass, I love Arkhan...but like dude that is a how you make a Tortle. So dope!

[@shaneturnes6458]

I agree. The tortle is more badass than Arkhan.

[@jummysea463]

the idea that sofia vergara and sam riegel have potentially met is absolutely hilarious and i am desperate to see how that interaction would play out

[@tannertadlock7741]

Matt mentioned DMing a game for her iirc

[@jannfredryckmatias3545]

@@tannertadlock7741 I would watch the heck out of that

[@dragoninthewest1]

​@@jannfredryckmatias3545 Critical Role: Modern Family Edition

[@CaptainFlintthePirate]

You can see how humbled he is to have a character set into canon. He got that wish we all have.

[@LyonHart1313]

Humbled? Lol. Nothing humble about that discussion. It’s cool, though. I appreciate his enthusiasm.

[@stevanavich]

That's egomaniacal pride yo, not humility.

[@erlewis1111]

Joe: I'm so proud and excited to have a character that people have bonded with so deeply, and getting to be a part of this adventure is so, so cool. Also Joe: fuck you im the godfather i wrote into avernus by mYsELF

[@Albatross0913]

humbled? dude is one of the most arrogant men i've ever seen, there's nothing humble about this

[@a.m.4049]

@@stevanavich Jesus it's not that bad.

[@nslater1388]

That’s canon now?! Holy crap!! I had always assumed Mercer was going to bring the story thread somehow in the future, but this is way cooler!

[@David_Blake91]

Yup Erkhan is official D&D-canon, and by that extension Critical Role is also canon too! Exandria is even mentioned in Arkhan's section in Descent into Avernus, where it details how he got the Hand!

[@V3loCiTy123]

@@David_Blake91 How does exandria fit into the official DnD lore?

[@ehcmier]

@@V3loCiTy123 Ask Chris Perkins. I don't know if the books discuss connecting threads, or how extensive they get with that, but there are books that are declared canon.

[@CarlosOliveira-ug6ux]

@@V3loCiTy123 I think there are multiple worlds and dimensions in DND, so I think exandria would be an alternate universe. But I'm not sure about that

[@SuperWoodgod]

@@CarlosOliveira-ug6ux Yes, Exandria is now another universe in the cosmology just like Krynn, Eberron, Athas, etc.

[@ForgeofSouls]

I think Joe has reached the climax to this hobby. I mean, a character becomes part of the game for other players to face off with? That is so bad ass.

[@SomeYouTubeTraveler]

Kinda like Mike Tyson's Punch Out!, lol. You have become the game!

[@MrMikellsof88]

I remember thinking, the very moment he took the hand, that he was DAMNED lucky that Scanlan blew that last counterspell when Vecna tried to teleport away, otherwise the fight would have continued there and then. He might have even won it, but he was damned lucky nonetheless. That final piece of Arkhan's puzzle fell into place perfectly.

[@musclenugget92]

Scanlan wanted that counter spell for wish for Vax. I don't think he spends it on Arkhan tbh

[@thomhitzelberger7876]

i mean he could have cast it at a lower level if he still had any slots left.

[@martintrudel2523]

Don't think LoH is counterspellable

[@tylerdurden639]

@@martintrudel2523 EVERY spell and spell effect is counterable. You just need a 3rd level slot and a reaction to do it. Only get one reaction a round.

[@davidgomes4408]

@@tylerdurden639 *cough* Contingency *cough*

[@Ducaso]

The most cementing part was that it all took place in literally 5 or 6 seconds and *poof* he teleports out and just leaves the table. Leaving us all in shock and disbelief by this event and it’s ramifications. Now it’s canon and that’s just the cherry on top!

[@dustinbrown889]

"You're laughing? Arkhan just stole the hand, and you're laughing?"

[@FlapNasty3]

We got the "Search for Grog" and the "Search for Bob". I think the Critters may want Vox Machina to be on the "Hunt for Arkhan."

[@SirLambchop1]

i dont just imagine the mighty nine meeting him what a fighttttt

[@ForeverDegenerate]

@@SirLambchop1 The Mighty Nein would wreck Arkhan. If Arkhan thought Vox Machina was scary, he ain't seen nothin' yet. Piss off Caleb Widogast. I dare ya.

[@isaac8734]

@@ForeverDegenerate killed my family throw under a bridge...

[@insaneirish231]

ForeverDegenerate they’d be in for a fight one way or another. Arkhan was slightly nerfed when put in avernus (1 less AC and his axe lost the cold damage property that it had when he was on CR) and even still he ain’t no slouch. Nevermind the fact that his tower is guarded by a literal army.

[@isaac8734]

@@insaneirish231 he also was bumped up for CR in the first place to meet them on pretty much the same difficulty level...

[@sdeluen]

I love the fact thats hes creating a story that effectively any new group of adventurers can go on an adventure with. Great just so great..

[@splatterking1171]

I recently just finished my first campaign, and hearing Joe talking about this story that he continued from the moment he took the hand just makes me feel even more proud to have taken the hand of Vecna from him in Avernus

[@smileymcmichaels4534]

Stealing the Hand of Vecna is one of those moments we would experience growing up. Hearing about something insane happening with someones character and being blown away by the constant retellings in our local circles. Organically, that event was treated naturally as "canon" regardless of what modules other people were running so when we played with these "heroes", there was a sense of awe and excitement. It's such a satisfying feeling to see that on a larger scale, now with Arkhan and how much depth went into it. It also made me want to roll a Lawful Good character because Arkhan; I'm coming for YOU buddy! :D

[@TheTrueEmrys]

Ye really cool how he got more action economy an the ability to instantly attune to magic items to fit the script of the game pog

[@damirsfist]

How passionate is Joe about his character! This is so much fun to watch, he is so fired up about it, i see the same spark we all get once we're in the flow

[@MimesAgainstHunmanity]

That was a classic move. I am not normally in favor of evil characters, but that was a classic move. Beautifully done.

[@danielkoenen859]

I agree with the evil thing. Though I mostly think I feel that way because most people don't make evil characters make this much sense.

[@TheFuzzBall19]

I love how much his eyebrows move when he gets into character.

[@TheShockVox]

This man was robbed. He would’ve been an amazing Deathstroke.....with the right writer/director, of course. It’s still the DCEU so quality is iffy, but HE would’ve been great.

[@thedeathofreason]

This aged well seeing him in the ZS version of Justice League.

[@TheShockVox]

@@thedeathofreasondidn’t love the Mohawk at all, or the future scene, but the extended version of his scene on the boat convinced me he would’ve been a good Slade Wilson. The look, the physicality, the lack of an Australian accent. Even in the future scene with that lame Mohawk, he still felt like Deathstroke

[@LucasMartinez-mh7it]

Man! what a pleasure seeing this guy create a story so complex and big with on goal in mind, not only focusing on his main char and his alters but the reaccion of the people his playing with... absolute magic

[@raginube]

Watched that go down live, it was intense. I love that his character is so well thought out and deeper than the 9 Hells.

[@8Smoker8]

This is the apotheosis for a DM and a player, only a very select few got to have their character immortalized in an official Adventure, gratz!

[@gnerd13]

Joe needs to be a DM for one of Critical Roles one shots where its Arkhan sending a group of his minions too acquire an magical artifact or something and the group could play some evil characters.

[@Nuan07]

Joe is one of my all time man crushes, he's such a stereotype destroying, multifaceted legend! Love everything this guy puts out.

[@Megidramon]

Joe Manganiello: I was basically the godfather. Me: *Violin intensifies*

[@a.z.pantera5577]

I actually had my own Hand of Vecna moment in a recent game I played in. I was playing a Fallen Aasimar Bard of Whispers, named Cassius, who was actually a fallen angel cast out for transgressions on Mt. Celestia. He wasn't a character I enjoyed playing very much, so I decided to work with my D&D for an out that I could have fun with. Rather than reflect and seek redemption, Cassius sought to return to his former home and force his way back in, and often read and spoke in cryptic poetry about nothing preventing the protagonist of the book from getting what he wants. The BBEG was a powerful Necromancer who was trying to find a way to resurrect himself into his true body, and bring forth an undead army for his Patron in exchange. He held a book similar to a Necronomicon, and when we defeated the BBEG, that was all that was left. While everyone else tended to their wounds, my Aasimar took the book, made a new deal with the entity inside the book and vanished. Bound for Mt. Celestia to stake his claim, and the BBEG having a new temporary carrier and thrall to persist into the next phase of the campaign. TL;DR I turned my dud character into a secret villain by stealing the McGuffin, possibly giving my DM a new recurring villain, and allowing his BBEG to persist for a while longer. And possibly screwing over Mt. Celestia in our universe in the process. Good times :D

[@celedor1]

The Legend in my opinion one of the best characters i have ever seen and so cant wait to interact with his character, all hail Arkhan the cruel

[@oliverworley5162]

See I can't help but think of him as no the cruel, instead the ambitious, arkhan the ambitious... Seems to fit him better

[@marcuscorvin9998]

Players like Joe was the reason there was a “Satanic Panic”, and I love him for it 😏

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

It's nothing personal, it's just business

[@CathrineMacNiel]

Tiamat likes that.

[@WingZX1103]

Makes me think he’s getting his own adventure book in the future. Granted he’s in the new avernus book. But he deserves his own module damn it

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

@@WingZX1103 I would absolutely adore an Official Wizards book featuring Arkhan the Cruel as the MAIN villain.

[@addamsixx7915]

Gotta say it like ice t

[@cameronvalencia6023]

The misquotes are starting, he actually said "its just business".......legend has it

[@1987jaffa]

Amazing story. I thought it was a spur of the moment thing, but to realize it was all so prepared makes it so much better. There's this edit going around on youtube about Sam's master plan to counterspell Vecna, which is brilliant. But this is on a whole other level!

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

This is sooooooooo nerdy, and I absolutely love the sincerity. Just an awesome story

[@ericong9402]

Joe is my spirit D&Der now. He embodies all I intend to do when I inevitably reveal my hand at my D&D table. Until then... May the dice be forever in your favour.

[@Hosses]

Dragonlance is my favorite series of novels, ever. The fact that Joe namedrops Highlords makes me insanely happy.

[@SalamiSlice]

I literally just finished the first campaign 2 hours before this was posted! Amazing moment, truly pure RPG gold

[@evanwelsh7225]

Congratulations sir. Your hard work has been rewarded!

[@Effacez]

What episode did this part of the story start? Anyone have a link?

[@kaitoudark1]

@@Effacez in all honesty, the whole of the vecna story started up way back around the croma conclave arc, but was underlying since the start of the story if ya count the comics (which are canon)

[@Killsaurus]

I still have never had a reaction like watching that critical role.. the absolute greatest turn I have ever seen and will ever see, such an expert.

[@Caiyde]

It bothers me that it's three actions, though. One to cut off his own hand, one for lay on hands, and one to teleport.

[@FreckledDragons]

His geekiness brings me so much joy. His enthusiasm is contagious and the amount of thought he put into this is insane!

[@adrianvaduva5674]

You and Sofia went to Matt's wedding? that is awesome, haha.

[@joemono4727]

Wait what? O.o

[@ZedsDeadBaby117]

@@joemono4727 his wife is sofia vergara

[@ryancade3829]

@@joemono4727 it's weird to picture sophia vergara going to Matt's wedding.

[@joemono4727]

I know that. Being knowing sofia got with joe since ahe left the baseball player i believe? I just didnt know matt and marisha had an actual wedding. Them hoes pricey

[@joemono4727]

@@ryancade3829 not really. Bill murray crashes parties at times, them celebraties are just normal huumans who have been given a bit more undeserving power through influence.

[@4Thessia]

I love how by virtue of saying it real fast, he was allowed to take like 3 actions-including chopping off his own hand-and bamf out before any of the other players could react.

[@ferrous719]

It's not unreasonable to have a solid 10-20 seconds of shock for a friend's betrayal

[@mrmoosetachio]

This also would not have taken long to accomplish. All the way up to the impact of the ax everyone expected him to aim for the hand, as he stated beforehand. As strong as he is, the cut would have been clean. Grabbing the Hand of Vecna and pulling it to his now severed stump would have taken mere seconds. 2 or 3 tops. Standing up and saying his very short farewell before bamf'ing out would also have only taken a second or two. At best, this would all be 1 round. At worst, 2.

[@Jim_Owen]

I do have to agree with that. When I heard that event take place I raised an eyebrow at the attack action to remove his own hand, the lay on hands action to fuse Vecna's hand to his arm, and the teleport spell action to get away. I watched this video hoping they would address that.

[@mrmoosetachio]

@@Jim_Owen the attack doesn't count, the group was unaware that he was going to cut his hand off. This would have been the beginning of a potential response time. The moment he cut his own hand off rather than attack the hand. To attune to the hand, you simply press it to your severed stump after removing your own hand. Nothing else. Thus should not be considered an action. Casting teleport with the hand is considered an action. Thus is the only action taken after his intentions became clear. 6 seconds

[@Jim_Owen]

@@mrmoosetachio He attuned to it and casted from it? That seems even more bazaar as it takes a short rest to attune. Sure the item says "to attune chop of your left hand and attach it" but nowhere does it state it's instant. I'd still rule it take a short rest of time for your brain and the hand to align and attune. I get that can be ruled loosely but the whole sequence of spouting a bunch of actions without giving a player the option to at least try to roll for initiative to interrupt felt off to me. I don't think Matt would have allowed any other player at that table to get away with all that uncontested.

[@red_comet_3326]

The fact that no one has animated this amazes me

[@rjmacreadyoutpost3121]

I was looking at the D&D table video when this one caught my eye. My wife follows his (now ex?) wife and she knows I played D&D in the 1970s (still an OG nerd), and so sent me the table video. Just to be clear, I stopped playing D&D in 1978 (right about when DMs started using others people’s commercially available storylines). There weren’t a lot of Players back then and after our group went our separate ways there as no one left for me to host. Anyway this video caught my eye because of the reference to a stolen Hand. In one of the last games I hosted as DM I incorporated (stole - lol) a plot line from Michael Moorcock’s The Knight of Swords. In that tale there was a magical set consisting of a hand and eye called “The Hand of Kwll and the Eye of Rhynn”. I know nothing about Vecna, but reading a few of the comments here makes me see some similarities. Moorcock’s protagonist replaces his own hand and eye with Hand of Kwll and the Eye of Rhynn - which were originally stolen from two demigods and cast into the sea. The power of these talismans was simple, if you open the hood which covered the eye, you saw a large cave. In this cave were undead creatures. You the used the six fingered hand to beckon them forth to fight at your side. After the battle, any creatures killed by them took their place in the cave. For my part I hid these two items in secret rooms in different parts of the dungeon. Once a player found them they had to take the hint to remove their own hand and eye in order to use them. There were other nuances, but you get the idea. I’ll have to research Vecna to see how his hand was used! Thanks for posting this video and letting an old DM remember a simpler time.

[@Z4m0ht]

KZbin spoiled the moment, by putting this video in my feed, while I was watching the Vecna episode.

[@catrandy7957]

You should play a Paladin who never talks. He is a silent knight, but he is a holy knight.

[@V3loCiTy123]

HAHAHAHA

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

I totally want to steal this idea.

[@andrewpenn1145]

He has to be oath of redemption and multiclass into light domain cleric, so all can be calm and bright.

[@thethirdsicily4802]

Constantly calm, and of they're an aasimar, always bright

[@Stephen-N]

Read the book "the vagrant" its got that silent Knight vibes and a great book

[@blackouthorus1519]

Literally just clicked as soon as it was posted

[@SethBluemoon]

In our group's Avernus campaign, my character (lawful evil drow wizard) offered to trade an item to Arkhan in exchange for his own blood, not the intended blood... She then used the blood sample with a clone spell to try and make her own Arkhan clones to try and make her own soldiers half as good at their jobs as Arkhan was XD

[@kacpersulik4219]

That sounds amazing! I love the "mad scientist" wizards who do stuff like this!

[@SethBluemoon]

@@kacpersulik4219 It kinda all fell apart when the party convinced Arkhan to help attack the big bad of that story. By a lucky crit she managed to lop off his head. So instead of seeing his goddess the dragonborn Paladin of Tiamat woke up in a small dark room with 2 clones of himself floating in huge glass jars and more being grown around him with my Drow Wizard just about to check on the experiment to see him up and awake just saying "Well I have some explaining to do." And now my character is helping Arkhan in his tower.

[@jerseyhammer1951]

We hit this arc of the Avernus campaign about a month back, we went to trade an Orb of Dragon kind for his Tiamat blood vial, and he wanted to instead have us give up the soul of the innocent lawful good flying elephant that is with us, of course being a mostly "good" party we said screw that, then came up with a plan to jump him and Krull and whatever minions he had. We succeeded, but my Sun Soul Monk, ate the Finger of Death spell from the Hand, and we barely got out of it. Now our swashbuckler/barbarian is bonded to the Hand.

[@AshJEllis]

What a story if Tiamat and Arkhan make a appearance on CR2

[@robertshaw1793]

ash ellis Joe has been trying to get Mark Hulmes from High Rollers to join his team in CR season 2. That is a possibility

[@novaiscool1]

Given the current story line of CR 2 so far, it could be a really cool thing maybe doing something horrible for Tiamat to stave off the Chained Oblivion. Or make that the center of the cross over episode where both groups go to retrieve the hand.

[@i-am-your-conscience]

True, there WILL BE a Crossover Episode with Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein already confirmed! It was part of the animated series kickstarter. Why not involving Arkhan too? Let's brainstorm: What would Tiamat or Arkhan think about the developments in Wildemount? I mean, Tharizdun is the BBEG of the Abyss - Tiamat wants to play an important role in the Nine Hells. Fiends and Lawful Evil guys HATE Demons, and other chaotic evil entities.. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isnt it like that? That he talked with Mark Hulmes aka Calianna, a former follower of Tiamat, makes this even more likely. So there is a possibilty that he really can play ALONG the teams, not against them.. Just to prevent chaotic havoc upon the world. As Joe is a mastermind when its about his character, maybe he gets Matt and the D&D team to make Tiamat the new ruler of Avernus, because he helped to prevent Tharziduns victory! They could write a follow up adventure where Zariel get her redemption and and go back to Mount Celestia and Tiamat takes her place.

[@dontedoestuff]

As soon as he said Warlocks would worship him I started thinking up a character lol

[@justinross4109]

Fiery red looking blast from the right hand, green necrotic looking blast from the left

[@scottbruckner4653]

Pact of the Undying..?

[@Built2Fast]

This is so freaking awesome! The Dragonlance reference solidified my lifetime support of Joe!!!

[@YumiGoblin]

oooh a Warlock who has Arkhan the Cruel as their patron, eh?.... Would he be The Fiend or The Undying?....

[@thoronbar]

I would say undying, because he is still just a dragonborn.

[@ANDELE3025]

Id argue Fiend because it fits the raw power of chromatic dragons with just basic reflavouring. Tho a homebrew not-terrible version of undying would be even better to rep the corrupting power vecna(s hand) is causing and spreading among his followers.

[@SethBluemoon]

We need a new dragon based warlock patron lol

[@i-am-your-conscience]

​@@SethBluemoon I am on it, remind me to send a link. :D

[@williamaldred335]

@@SethBluemoon already working on it

[@MalikaBakura]

I watched the crit role eps he was in and was horrified and by the action that I knew I would see something from again.....little did I know that my GM bought Decent into Avernus and it blew my mind when my NG monk came into contact with him in hell. I geeked out as most of the players had no idea who he was, heck I even impressed my knowledge of him with my GM lol

[@earlthepirate5806]

Awesome that his character was inspired by some of the dragonlance villains

[@zarathon8315]

I liked him citing the different campaign settings :)

[@Patrick-fv6yh]

Hoping they find a way to work Arkhan into Campaign 2.

[@outerheavenman]

Probably just in stories

[@i-am-your-conscience]

There is a Crossover Episode with Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein already confirmed! It was part of the animated series kickstarter. Why not involving Arkhan too? Let's brainstorm: What would Tiamat or Arkhan think about the developments in Wildemount? I mean, Tharizdun is the BBEG of the Abyss - Tiamat wants to play an important role in the Nine Hells. Fiends and Lawful Evil guys HATE Demons, and other chaotic evil entities.. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, isnt it like that?

[@MGC-XIII]

Man that would be crazy!

[@MrMossMan7272]

Your Conscience I’m pretty sure the cross over episode is just supposed to be a battle royale. I could be misremembering though.

[@MrMossMan7272]

Well if they make it level 20 like Vox Machina did what better way to wrap up a campaign then the guy who got away to release Tiamat finally succeeded.

[@LMVStudios]

That has got to be one of the most baller D&D mic drop moments I've ever seen.

[@jacobmosovich]

So... An army around a tower dark sorcery protecting the owner seeking the way to free its dark master from its imprisonment.... Joes living lord of the rings in DND lol

[@ethanpethel3261]

I recently bought Descent into Avernus and was so excited to see Arkan in it! I even went and re watched the battle with Vecna episode lol

[@Bondanalloy]

omg before he said don corleone i though of the godfather... that damn chair

[@BeastmasterRanger]

I love all the lore of Avernus. There is so much cool stuff hinted at in all the videos and at the live stream and in the epic. I just wish it had been in the book. A lot of it has been omitted or was cut and left on the cutting room floor. Probably due to adding so much for Baldur's Gate. just wish I could have all those cut pieces. Would have made the book epic.

[@TheMrSwampert]

Joe to his wife after Matt’s wedding: “don’t ask me about the family business.”

[@SomeYouTubeTraveler]

Joe after watching a party kill Arkhan in their campaign: "Look how they massacred my boy!"

[@Lightzy1]

Omg this guy is actually the hugest D&D nerd I've ever heard talk :) I love it

[@fuzzydownham]

So well played, such a joy seeing it all unfold. Can't wait to come across him in more lore.

[@DapperJay5]

It's always an amazing feeling when your plans as a player or in my case a dm come together, I'm running a waterdeep campaign at the moment with a home-brew story layered over and the main villain has befriended the players and begun manipulating them to get what they want.

[@maskedmarauder5794]

It's a little unsettling to see how thoroughly Joe has thought out all these evil plans.......

[@Kalibby22]

one of the most deviously amazing things to ever happen in any campaign. people still talk about it, and it's amazing

[@cliveklg7739]

Joe is one of those players that is continually obsessed with one character and can't give it a rest, and has to one up everyone with it.

[@opalducky2315]

Just played through DIA! Amazing campaign, our rogue tried to take the hand. Boy was that entertaining to watch.

[@I-VisiBomb-I]

one of the main reasons i wanted to be a dm was understanding i get to play all the characters that are so awesome like arkhan

[@gefiltafish2187]

The hand cutting replacement. That! was the true genius part on his plan in my opinion. That was as if taken straight our of Enders game book series . I really hope it will find its way to the series.

[@Comicsluvr]

As a writer and a life-long gamer, this man is my hero right now lol!

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

1:02 😂😂😂😂😂 you stole the marriage spotlight, THAT'S AMAZING. 1:19 😂 Anyone who's "normal" but have "nerd" tastes know that (take Cavill as an example). It's so cool that actually made him stoked that day.

[@nivenfres]

I love the Tortles. Playing a Kensai Tortle Monk right now. Have given my group so much grief that the 450 pound turtle can move faster than they all can.

[@theenigmaticmrwu]

I thought of making one of those hoping I could use the Natural armor to get around the Monk no armor rule, but apparently, that's not allowed.

[@nivenfres]

@@theenigmaticmrwu The 17 AC does not count as worn armor, since it is natural. So you are a fully functioning Monk with a base AC of 17, until you can get your Dex and Wis to give higher.

[@theenigmaticmrwu]

@@nivenfres Maybe my sources were wrong. They said the unarmored defense does not stack with the Tortle armor.

[@rinconusmc]

@@theenigmaticmrwu I would say the DM would make the call on that one. Personally the shell is a part of your actual body so I should be your natural armor.

[@majorfallacy5926]

@@theenigmaticmrwu they don't stack, you use whatever is higher

[@mattbaigent2434]

Joe's enthusiasm here is intoxicating! He LOVES it!!

[@rosschurchouse2794]

How is this guy not writing a kick ass script based on D&D his mind could surely create something amazing - could Probably direct too and give Peter Jackson a run for his money

[@hamiltoneu]

I love the Dragonlance references. I have tattoos of khellendros and malystryx with Nuitari on my back. Always wanted to get the Tower of High Sorcery of Palanthas and the Shoikan Grove.

[@cornmaized]

Ohhhh that’s why the clip of that happening was on my feed ha.

[@OHaaaiden]

That’s gotta be a funny/trippy feeling. Like a reverse 4th wall breaking. Rp a moment so gangster that it becomes lore in this crazy fantasy world you’ve dabbled in since you were a kid.

[@alifinley9156]

This is what I imagine having tea with Tolkien would sound like.

[@thomasevans1005]

I met Joe at Gary Con. I was working the Ironwind Metals booth when the owner and con director escorted him to me. I suggested a pac of progression pieces, level one thru.... however you want to play it. He told me nice hat. Steeler hat, I was so busy and still in fanboy shock of meeting him I just nodded and went about my business. So I’m taking this opportunity to say “dude I’m from Bethel Park me casa sue casa” Steelers rock!

[@thatgayintrovert2613]

Okay... he was always hot, but listening to him talk D&D brings it to a whole other level, jesus christ.

[@shawngorman3978]

I have been waiting and looking for an answer to what happened to Arkhan after he stole the hand. this is amazing.

[@scottkfilgo]

I wanna see Arkhan on Legend of Vox Machina in season 2 or 3, if at all possible. Manganiello guest starring would be amazing.

[@chipsalom]

tbhm with as much LoVM as I hope to see, I'd hope it'd end up beiug more like season 20 :), that much too watch along the way!

[@justinrboyett]

3:00 This reminds me of the work I put into taking over Avernus. I spent the whole game playing like I had a pack-of-the-tome Warlock when I was really a Blade Warlock. The work that went into setting it up, plus the PvP twist...

[@premejon8300]

Guys if Don Manganiello can get himself a supermodel wife while playing DND in his Man Cave basement, there is hope for all of us!!

[@lucasallen8079]

Jonathan Vega except, he’s also Joe Manganiello. Not exactly a bad catch

[@stefanandrews5098]

The chair he is sitting in hides it well - but he also well over 6 feet tall, absolutely jacked, rich, handsome and charming

[@task-it]

Stefan Andrews Aaaaand....apart from the genes, he did all that *while* playing DnD...so there is hope. If you aren't working on those other things yet, what are you waiting for? It is time!

[@santiagoz.s.1024]

erm...no.

[@billle6883]

Besides dnd, Joe was already an award winning actor in spider man and blue bloods

[@LikeSomeDude]

Clicked on this randomly and within a minute found myself head banging until the video ended. Curious, indeed.

[@SPACEHARICE]

"Heeey Joe theres some journalists at the door" Joe:"Tell them to go away" "They talking about a hand" Joe:"tell them to come down to my room"

[@DonNeuhauser-w8f]

I LOVE THE FACT that you guys are following some script we wrote EONs ago to kidnap Don Neuhauser, the Aladdin called "Tigger, in Handcuffs Again!" I almost fell over laughing! Love, Don xoxo