Adventuring parties looking to dive into Critical Role. The partnership between Dungeons & Dragons and the immensely popular D&D series, co-designed by game master Matt Mercer, is set in the show's world of Exandria.
In recent years, Critical Role's popularity became so massive that it set Kickstarter records resulting in Amazon Prime picking up The Legend of Vox Machina, an animated adaption of the web series' first campaign. This was not, however, the first time Critical Role partnered with outside companies to expand its brand including a notable two-way partnership with Dungeons & Dragons itself. Prior to Call of the Netherdeep, there have been other works published with the help of D&D such as Explorer's Guide to Wildemount and Wizards of the Coast's game design architect Chris Perkins has even been a guest player on the web series multiple times.
The newest product of this partnership is the first major Dungeons & Dragons adventure book to be set in Exandria. As reported by rival party in the Critical Role adventure book, though according to Perkins they do not necessarily have to be antagonists. Game masters are given access to many different tools to subtly introduce this other party to the players, but how they are actually meant to interact will ultimately be left up to how each game unfolds.
This falls in line with the mentality game master Matt Mercer has reiterated in the past when promoting other official D&D works set in the world of Critical Role. While there is a lot of information presented, it is not so much to deprive a group of creative expression. The books merely provide an array of options for players to interpret however they see fit.
It is likely that Call of the Netherdeep will, by its nature, have a more concrete structure for players than Critical Role guidebook Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, but the overall feel will probably be the same. Critical Role's emphasis on character is what has made the show so popular by giving fans three-dimensional beings that are easy to get invested in. Now from the guiding hand of Matt Mercer on the official pages of Dungeons & Dragons, perhaps players can capture a bit more of the magic in their home games.
Critical Role Presents: Call of the Netherdeep will be available in game stores and online on March 15.
Source: Polygon
