Matt Mercer - Greatest DM ever

[@StealthMarmot_]

Just to put this into perspective. Matt went from being told that Vex wanted to flag someone down, to having a voice, job, look, and persona for this NPC in under 30 seconds.

[@TheCrazydude17]

That's the gravity I feel some commenters aren't getting. She gave him nothing to work with. If a player is looking for a blacksmith, you can instantly generate details like "big, brawny, moustache, wears leather apron, strong hands, singed eyebrows, has a hammer." If the party goes to a magic shop, you can come up with a quirky, socially awkward character with a lilting voice at the drop of a hat. Laura only said, "I flag someone down." Matt took "someone" and came up with the voice, what the guy does and why, details on his non-standard appearance, everything. That would be like if the party went looking for a blacksmith, and instead of what I described, they met a spry young woman with blue streaks in her blonde hair, dressed like a combination of blacksmith, maid, and sorcerer, who speaks in a New Zealand accent. Granted, my example is very hyperbolic and strange, where Matt's is mundane, but for that you have the Powder Merchant.

[@XoIoRouge]

Both of you don't understand how easy it is to prepare half a dozen voices, jobs, looks, and personas. He didn't just improvize this entire character in 30 seconds. He created this character idea the night or two before. Or a month before. He's been waiting for a moment to pull out the "Nerdy guy named Tiriok" and his jobs are all Apprentice at something. The team was looking for directions, so Matt made him a cartographer. Logically, if you ask for directions to an average civiilian, they'll either dumb it down, or point you to someone who knows more. Matt made her do an investigation check to waste time so he can pull out which character would work best. As she's rolling, he's deciding which character to be. Once she says 15, he chooses Tiriok. Then he starts the story. This is normal DM practice. Obviously his improv skills are amazing, but this is mainly preparation.

[@Zawfee]

@@XoIoRouge you know this as fact or are making a guess?

[@Cheesusful]

@@XoIoRouge It doesn't stop it being good though, the point is after 3 years, he's still putting the effort in behind scenes to create these characters. Lesser Dm's would be like "Yeah, you find some guy who roughly knows the way, for 5 GP, with much grumbling he decides to point you in the right direction."

[@XoIoRouge]

​@@Cheesusful And I completely agree. He gives minor NPCs a lot of character. It makes the world more open and involves the characters more rather than just the storytelling. Though it's important for anyone reading this (lesser or experienced DM) that the short sentence summary isn't a bad thing. While it helps to provide characters, sometimes you don't have a lot of time in the session and you want to get to the more relevant facts.

[@samstone1445]

I cannot stop laughing when he says, "Well, forests tend to, uh..." That inflection on the word "forest."

[@Hellscrap3r]

I'm glad someone else likes that bit.

[@orwin5445]

@@Hellscrap3r I think half the cast cracked up there ;p

[@gwynethh9524]

I cannot believe this is the same dude who voices McCree from OW....what a range!

[@pane36]

Gwyn Paige And Wolf, half of the character called Kindred from League of Legends. Matt's a goddamn champ.

[@calarakien]

Gwyn Paige the top row of players are all voice actors, as well. guy on the left is yasuo, guy on the right is azir, then there's laura bailey, too.

[@Bluemangrup]

Matt Mercer: the man of 100 voices

[@oOPPHOo]

They are ALL voice actors, dude. That's why they introduce the show with "(...) where a bunch of us nerdy ass voice sit around, roll dice and play Dungeons & Dragons"

[@calarakien]

oO PPH Oo i know that now. Posted the comment before i watched the series

[@definitelybenny]

Whats even crazier is that Tyriok is mentioned much later, and then Vax cosplays as him for the halloween episode years later!

[@peterthehorseishere]

*You found the Time Master* What do you do? *asks for time* Time Master:It's High Noon

[@wanderingharlow6305]

Oh shit.

[@godoog4life147]

Ayy

[@MsCunningLinguistic]

I kept reading Thigh Master and now I have odd images of Matt Mercer in my head.

[@MarkEdwardRom]

fjord tough would say this line perfectly.

[@BlackrockLobbyist]

sarenrae fucking dammit

[@fortidogi8620]

swear this is matt's interpretation of felicia day at an office job

[@FizzyMcPhysics]

OMG you are so right! That would explain why they laugh SO much and keep asking odd questions.

[@FuriousGorge]

Who?

[@DeathnoteBB]

Havik Just search “Felicia Day Geek & Sundry” She was also on Supernatural (and lots of other stuff, i just only know of those two XD)

[@Lucifronz]

It does sound like her now that you mention it. The mannerisms are similar.

[@PrincessLelouch]

I love how when Liam talks out of character, his British accent carries over from Vax. The immersion is real.

[@TheCrazydude17]

The party has a fun habit of doing that. Travis will get stuck as Grog, and even switched to Grog on accident during the new campaign. Sometimes I swear the softer moments with Ashley's new character sound just like Pike. One thing that makes Matt impressive (more to his friends than to us) is the lack of bleed through. His normal voice is different than that of his NPCs, who he can switch between instantly and also resume his Dungeon Master voice (aka normal one) when needed.

[@TrashDeviant]

@@TheCrazydude17 I find it quite endearing. For a while I kinda forgot that wasn't Liam's actual voice.

[@dig8634]

@@TheCrazydude17 I think that comes from necessity actually. When you are a PC, you only ever need to worry about the one voice, and forgetting to switch back to "the other voice" is easier. As a DM, at least one that does voices, you need to keep track of potentially dozens of voices, and messing it up might confuse the PCs. Having to keep track of whom you are speaking as at all times, probably makes it easier to remember to switch back to yourself as well. It is the narrator after all, one of the voices you need to keep track of.

[@dr.zespert]

Yea he talks in a German accent out of character a lot in campaign two as well and that makes me happy

[@vaibhavguptawho]

@@TheCrazydude17 (I know it's been 2 years) For an example of this, search for Zorth the Goblin on KZbin, and see how easily Matt switches.

[@sonicheroxd5767]

2:04-2:07 Matt unleashed his inner Michael Scott for a moment there.

[@solidfalcon77]

I'm still working on getting caught up on the series, but during the Briarwood's arc, Vax and Scanlan go out into the town of Whitestone posing as a drunken father and his son looking for a bar to gather information on a rebellion uprising. Vax slams into someone on purpose to ask for a place, and the guy he bumps into is a young man with "a sack of rolled up papers." Vax puts on a show on being an angry drunk and the man was heavily disturbed and mentioned "the town was weird." So it was implied he was not from Whitestone. I have to wonder; was that Tiriok that Matt threw in there, to keep up with the fact he's traveling the world, and everyone missed the small cameo? xD

[@Jedicake]

HOLY SHIT.

[@freeshavaacadooo1095]

HOLY FUCK MATT IS A FUCKING GENIUS!

[@dvader12]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6W2Yn99mdarq6s Is the scene I believe you were referring to.

[@jasonthomas4258]

Wow!

[@sevencats4964]

OH

[@TarotVylan]

I love how no matter the tiniest interaction, the most miniscule detail or intriguing quirk, they will ALWAYS do their best to find out the full backstory of some random placeholder npc

[@4D4plus4is4D8]

Oh wait, is this the same guy that they found turned to stone later with an arm missing?

[@Jedicake]

hell yea!!

[@DuoSanguis]

I might add that the fact that he is now missing an arm is entirely their fault :P

[@Sefearion]

At least he's alive ;)

[@danw91]

Also the fact that he is alive is their fault.

[@pop-tartdepression393]

Yup that's tiriok

[@LarlemMagic]

"Whats your girlfriends name?" Dude, hes improving at the tip of his toes don't throw hard questions like that at him! Be kind!

[@kaleidoslug7777]

GovernmentCritic Nah, that was more Grog being a bit of an ass and teasing the obviously nerdy NPC. I doubt he expected an answer so much as a reaction

[@YourIQDoesntMeanShitToMe]

He wasn't even bothered by that little tease between friends, jesus christ. You're probably one of those people who fucking get offended by anything.

[@joelfelske]

#YourIQDoesn'tMeanShitToMe you’re the one cussing chill out

[@YourIQDoesntMeanShitToMe]

@@danihettinger8932 Sure, I apologize if I said something wrong. I don't remember what this was about anymore. But I can't deny that maybe you're right and I was wrong.

[@jasperxalicecullen]

@@YourIQDoesntMeanShitToMe character development !! haha jokes aside that was a very nice reply!

[@FrostSylph]

When you have a professional voice actor as your DM so they can really custom voice each NPC.

[@RPG_Angie]

I really hope they stop switching to single cameras on Critical Role. We missed the group's first reactions to Tyriok.

[@uhlan1035]

Michael Scott the Cartographer.

[@English_Thespian]

*WHAT'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND'S NAME?* _Oh God. Oh God Please No. NO. NO. NOOOOOOO_

[@jakmar4138]

The cartographer sounds EXACTLY like one of my best friends.

[@dtczyk8976]

That’s incredible. I heard him “voice” a mind flayer too. Shits insane

[@kovulion7777]

His hair looks so smooth he looks like a realistic mod on games

[@hcjorgensen]

His delivery of '...or worse, never came back' accompanied by that hesitant furtive look and pulling away is just genius :)

[@JamesRichardsPlays]

A damn fine DM! Would love to have him in my games...would love to have him direct my games!

[@huhhhhhhhhhhhh09]

I've had to transition voices for random NPCs before but DAMN that's a smooth transition. Worst comes to worst, I just break out impressions of random football coaches that nobody will recognize.

[@zman2748]

Matt Mercer is one of my favorite voice actors

[@kelly4187]

My god they all look so young just five years ago... now I feel old....

[@Winterheart786]

Thats why he is a professional voice actor Ladies and Gentlemen ;)

[@crucidon3200]

I don't know who this is yet but I freaking love it.

[@theredparadox13]

Crucidon ever played Fire Emblem awakening or Overwatch? He voice acts Chrom and Mccree respectively

[@crucidon3200]

I remember that! I listened to the Overwatch voices in games before, that's really neat.

[@AnanasX3]

Swear to Grog, The mapmaker sounds exactly like Michael from The Office.

[@alpharage1090]

My favorite Matt character. Although Victor, Zorth and Senokir are all pretty spectacular.

[@Dehalove]

I don’t understand why people make a big deal out of this clip

[@Jedicake]

That's okay! It's all subjective. If you don't think coming up with a very detailed NPC on the spot is impressive then my hats off to you. Some people very much look up to Mercer and this reinforces that for them

[@tangles2081]

I started crying thinking about this at 1am

[@DangerLevel10]

That was the best Zoolander pose ever at the end. props Mercer.

[@wickedpissa25]

The cartographer's voice reminds me of the hotel clerk, Sven, from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

[@Shortdwarf11]

Have y'all heard Victor the Black powder dealer in Vassleheim?!?!!!!

[@basilsweetcake9932]

THANK YOU

[@zacnyberg641]

Wow impressed

[@ThatGuyIsACoolGuy]

Genuinely couldn't tell if he was struggling or if he was purposefully talking like that

[@typervoxilations2311]

he sounds like a character that i can't for the life of me recall the name of

[@darbyyounger5418]

jo

[@microwire007]

Lol, I'm literally just up to this episode...

[@gavinincorporated8902]

Same

[@thatsprettymint1942]

I thought by "DM" they meant Direct message, so i came here thinking this man was going to power slide into some slick Dms

[@kibakiza]

This is the best thing I've ever read

[@basilsweetcake9932]

Just made my day

[@PazoraArts]

What's your name? *Teriyak*... Teriyaki Mc. Chicken

[@tonyluong6732]

Sun tree, the gun powder and pumag sol should be this guys resume for any jobs he wants

[@bwah9481]

He reminds me of Dax Flame here for some reason.

[@tattixd930]

I want some one who watches me like Liam watches Matt at 2:00

[@ken-mi7ff]

It's high noon...

[@margohughes7074]

My first reaction to hearing the voice he did was "... Misha Collins?" And that says a lot about me as a person

[@Klespyrian]

You know, having Misha Collins as a first thought in any situation is a pretty good first thought in my book.

[@neotwilightmatter]

This is amazing xD

[@End_Lord]

Oof seeing Orion For what people say I miss Tiberius, R.I.P

[@christinatorres2882]

Matthew Mercer Leon Scott Kennedy Cristina Torres Hernanadez

[@ss-oq9pc]

Anyone, does watching this spoil your games at all? These guys set the bar so high...

[@agamerspov]

s s then don't play. They are actors and voice actors. Most of us are just schlubs trying to find a little escapism in a shitty world.

[@clairejacobs205]

As a DM with little improv expirience but voice acting abilities, watching these gives me motivation to continue to improve my improv to create a better game for my players. Of course it’s not going to be the same for everyone, but look on the situation positively and turn it into a benefit for yourself. Strive to become better. :D

[@xySuperManxy]

Nah mate, it's aspirational. I'm pretty good but I'm not professional voice actor good...yet. Closer than I was a couple of years ago, before I started my latest campaign. Sure I'll get better in a couple of years, too.

[@cloudsRniceC0M3]

This man could fart music

[@Gurianthe]

I don't remember this episode! which one is it?

[@lizard455]

Episode 22 at about 1hr 45min into it

[@ryancase5234]

Ok, I don't get this. Is it because he forgot the map?

[@Jedicake]

+Ryan Case It's the voices and character acting he can achieve

[@Kityraz]

+Ryan Case Might I point you in the direction of the "Black Powder Merchant", for more examples of his voices. In that one he uses both his normal voice and an NPC's voice. It'll make sense why people love Matthew so much, after you've seen that.

[@ragnar97]

+Kityraz Pretty much in any episode you can find 5 or 6 different voices. Acquisitions Inc used to be my favorite till I discovered Critical Role and the wide range of voices and the such Matt can do, even sound effects xD It's like Doraemon's pouch, they just keep coming

[@cryofpaine]

+Kityraz Not just the voices, but often he's coming up with these characters on the spot (see the afore mentioned black powder merchant).

[@diReLoCke]

+Ryan Case Its the characters and the voices that he goes in and out of and the fact that he can create them on the spot and change into them on the fly. This character and the voice, if I remember correctly, is improvised like the black powder merchant. If you watch the PC's faces during the episodes, all over the place you can see examples of them being extremely impressed or even having their minds blown with how he does it. Considering they are all professional voice actors it is high praise.

[@kj4884]

ayy its chrom lucina lonqu and inigo :D

[@pikespendragon67]

Also Gerome (Orion)

[@greenhillmario]

pikespendragon67 Nobody remembers Stahl... If he were here for this episode...

[@KavajaHumphrey]

pikespendragon67 and Oboro

[@WhereYouGoIGo11]

Guys, what's the name of the channel or the link to the full video

[@Jedicake]

Got your back, friend. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3i8ZHuKj6poiJI&t (Channel name is Geek and Sundry)

[@DeaconTaylor]

there's a canada in alexandria as well?

[@leonbyrne4339]

I've barely known Tyroc (sp?) for 2:18 minutes and if he were to happen to him I'd kill everyone in this room and then myself.

[@killfacedel5014]

He is great

[@belad0nna]

I gotta say I miss this low-key set. The new one just feels a little much, a little distracting.

[@ForsakenEve88]

He sounds like Ryan Reynolds here...

[@MsCunningLinguistic]

oh my god he does!

[@andoniarangurenubierna5660]

More like Pikachu to me

[@ickysticky1872]

How so?

[@loadnlock357]

I noticed he looked down at his random npc list and scratched off the name lol

[@suzannepottsshorts]

So... Victor or Tyriok?

[@hiimjosh868]

very awesome and impressive... but then again many people can do this very well. wouldnt call him the best DM ever because of this.. but he still may be!

[@clairejacobs205]

Evergrand I’m sure there’s plenty of DMs out there that top Matt in some shape or form. This however is just a. Tip of the iceberg for Matt’s talents :)

[@metashadow3924]

After being a DM for many years now, I watched this and have to ask myself... What did he do here that gives this video it's title?

[@Jedicake]

Ok don't take offense to this, but these type of questions are getting old. I'm just gonna pin a comment from a user with 2.6k likes and that should answer your question.

[@metashadow3924]

@@Jedicake I read the pinned message, but I guess I'll say, don't take this the wrong way, but that is something every DM has to do every session of every campaign. Maybe that's why DMs keep asking this question lol. Most DMs aren't as good a voice actor as Matt is, obviously, but the core concept is something very basic to being a DM.

[@0cannon9]

So, where can I go to watch this entire series?

[@UCvow2TUIH0d2Ax2vik9ILzg]

Google "Critical role episode 1" and the first ep is called Arrival at Kraghammer I believe.

[@0cannon9]

Been watching every day, already on episode 10 and getting further, it's so great to sit down relax and watch..thanks for helping me find it :P

[@TheT16womprat]

To me it sounds like he is doing a Spike Spencer Impression

[@stormrider7235]

What does Liam say? I hear the first three words, but the rest is drowned out by laughter

[@novikovPrinciple]

StormRider72 something along the lines of [Matt, we've been doing this for three years and you _still_ fcking blow be away]

[@stormrider7235]

Ok thanks, I figured it was something like that, but I couldn't tell.

[@oliverwright548]

Sounds like Ryan Reynolds

[@drgabe2908]

Sounds like... HIGH NOON

[@mareksison]

I miss Orion :((

[@yoheywhatsupyo]

I dont :))

[@BridgyP]

He was fun and different in his own way. I'm yet to view his departure but it sounds rough

[@ChrlzMaraz]

Orion leaving was the best thing to happen to CR

[@cjhenderson61]

Me too, but he had a good reason for it

[@alexmurray1847]

I don’t miss him, he cheated and lied and deserved to leave.

[@jasonutty52]

He sounds like a more nerdy Todd Howard

[@Youtuubpewp]

There should be an um/uh counter on Matt just for funsies :p

[@acm4bass]

this is the same voice as the Pay per view RollPLAY Breakers show where he was a player.

[@Jedicake]

Wait wait wait wait....... I need to look this up

[@acm4bass]

it is a sub only twitter ItMeJT

[@roamingthereal4060]

ItmeJP One Shot Breakers and it's not pay per view, it's free on youtube.

[@joshhammer5518]

Idk, Brennan Lee Mulligan from college humor is pretty good

[@granttrain3553]

I dont understand why everyone is fawning? I'm a Matt Mercer fan, I get that people enjoy what he does, I'm one of them But this is kind of the standard "DM pulls NPC out of his ass because party did something unexpected" Like in any game anywhere!

[@Gray963]

If you're a fan then you're probably used to it but most people can't pull out such an extreme range of voices so different from their own, or have a random npc quickly picked by the party be a fully fleshed out character complete with funny mannerisms. I mean that kind of voice acting is literally enough to impress a room full of voice actors.

[@granttrain3553]

Fair enough. I imagine Like those of us who have been playing Dnd for a very long time he has a back catologe of characters and real life people to draw insperation from. I find my habit of impersonating people very useful when DMing as the party dont think of it as me impersonating a real person they dont know but me adlibing a character.

[@elgatochurro]

@@Gray963 I have not spent 10 years of my life in voice acting, I've spent it in my own career.

[@magonus195]

You think this is good improv, wait until you meet Henry Crabgrass.

[@XthegreatwhyX]

Eh, he's all right.

[@trodat07]

I've had the fortune to be introduced into AD&D and RPGs by a GM with similar skills to Mercer. After playing with him many times, all the rest look clumsy, uninspired and unqualified to me, even myself. Though they not share the same style, Mercer reminds me of him.

[@agamerspov]

trodat07 then stop playing. Not everyone is a voice actor.

[@9898Hawk]

I don't get what is so funny... can someone explain this to me?

[@Konpekikaminari]

it's not so much funny, as it is impressive to see Matt just pull out a character out of his ass, complete with a voice and personality

[@chaosrex1487]

What makes this so depressing is when you know that during the time they were doing these episodes, Orion was suffering from heroin addiction. =(

[@MrUmakemelaff]

Rip T He was addicted to female heroes?

[@Nathan-oe8ut]

Jesus, Orion looks like a ghoul in this

[@danimac13]

That's is trully role playing.

[@LockSteady]

MATHEW WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THREE YEARS AND YOU STILL ....... mumble mumble mumble?????? what????

[@Jedicake]

LockSteady "you still fucking blow me away"

[@joetoppel5841]

what makes that the greatest dm ever? don't get it. he is just improving a character

[@JokerFace090]

He is stupidly overrated.

[@agamerspov]

I love the show AND he is extremely overrated.

[@TheGenericDavis]

@italkcrab They won't give a name, because they can't. As much as I love my DM, it is because he is MY DM and there is a bias I have due to session and campaign history. People saying Matt does nothing special apparently all have a massive voice acting talent with a lifetime of D&D experience hidden away. In reality, 99.99% of them are wrong and/or are jaded/biased and just have a position from the outside looking in as compared to their own campaign.

[@Konpekikaminari]

I would not say the greatest, but he is amazing without any context to this scene, I would've never guessed he improvised this character

[@Stormbow8821]

Overrated DM that no one would know about if it weren't for Critical Role. Literally **_nothing_** in that video was anything I haven't seen done by dozens of DMs in the past 33+ years.

[@Jedicake]

"that no one would know about if it weren't for Critical Role." I agree, Stormbow. Voice actors are criminally under-recognized and underappreciated. Thanks for the comment, Stormbow!

[@clairejacobs205]

All DMs who are able to insanely improv their way out of Pc-caused-shit deserve to be recognised... Matt just happens to be a voice actor and was able to score this gig. Just enjoy the video for what it is- improving out of the ass like a badass. No need to be salty. :)

[@demago3265]

Matt begins in one voice and seamlessly transitions into another, landing on the exact one he wants. What a legend 0:34

[@cheekybum1513]

i swear he tries out at least 3 before finding the one he likes

[@lemonicity4834]

Wow that was smooth

[@anthonytrevino9520]

The stumble over voice types and then landing on the perfect one and keeping it shows Mercer's incredible improv skill

[@DevilGeneImbued]

“What’s your girlfriend’s name?” “.....” *Slowly gets more confused and then.... awkward* “I should go” It’s hilarious because we all KNOW what Travis’ ass was doing, but Matt turned it on him by keeping composure and it was STILL in character for the character that was breathed life 30 seconds beforehand

[@jolienvsndijk]

Wait what was he doing?

[@waveysavey]

@@jolienvsndijk I would also like to know... I'm not super knowledgeable about Critical Role yet.

[@bhume7535]

@@jolienvsndijk Matt came up with a super complex character on the spot, so Travis was seeing how many more details he could come up with instantly, but it backfired because thats a random ass question.

[@aaroncote2322]

@@bhume7535 Is that what he was doing? I thought Grog was bullying a nerd, because obviously this guy doesn't have a girlfriend.

[@cococoyle7044]

@@aaroncote2322 probably a bit of both!

[@rantdmc]

some of the highest praise a voice actor AND DM can get - liam o'brien telling you that your improv blows him away. YES - it's preparation, but Tyriok is entirely believable and has several layers within 30 seconds

[@Graukonig]

The map maker character Matt is doing was just found dead and brought back to life by the group in the 4/7/16 episode. It makes for another great clip.

[@adidoi]

Lost an arm too!

[@annahavermann7074]

It's crazy how accurate he kept it after nearly 30 episodes, too!

[@Thundarr100]

@@adidoi which they forgot to reattach before curing his petrification. 😂😂😂

[@lmeow1662]

Acts more like Crispin Glover than anything else.

[@yoabel123]

his face looks like ryan reynold

[@ElleonPastelle]

Matthew Mercer will always be my favorite VA.

[@TendoTheDude]

The main thing I gathered from this is: I could be an really good DM

[@Jedicake]

hell yea, go for it!

[@BigBadWolframio]

Well, I'm in love xD

[@TheEricology]

This is a good example of why I think Orion left the show on his own, he didn't seem to be enjoying this exchange like the rest of them. Sad he lost interest.

[@birddoug8297]

It’s kind of like Adam Scott mixed with Jeff Goldblum; brilliant

[@yosht6110]

This Matt guy is pretty good.

[@margohughes7074]

(Misha is that u)

[@hifive127]

Poor Tiryiok lost an arm

[@OiDeath]

We've gone a bit Christoph Waltz here

[@JelenedraKTulsa]

Sounds likes MIles from the DIsney Atlantis movies...

[@connorduquette1432]

*Milo

[@StalwartShinobi]

He looks lime oldskool basshunter, who you know plays d&d if he made a song about dota