EXU: Calamity is off to an incredible start, and so many things have aligned in this production with incredible care and attention to detail.
Brennan’s DMing style, which is more plot-focused and less player-driven than Matt’s, works so well in a “4 sessions to blow up the world” scenario. Meanwhile, Matt’s incredible world-building (if the players are driving the story they can do anything, so everything must be figured out ahead of time) is all on display here even when he’s not on set. This is an amazing scenario where two awe-inspiring DMs are elevating each other.
Meanwhile, the players have been carefully curated for exactly this game. Laura Bailey and Emily Axford are legendary players for their ability to shatter a DM’s hopes and dreams with a clever ploy, but that is not this game. This is a game for in-depth exploration of lore, for deeply flawed characters finding themselves as the ship sinks around them, and for players who will take those big swings even knowing they’re doomed to fail.
Even in the characters you can see how much they’re crafted to fit each player’s style. Travis as an investigator, Sam as an entertainer. Lou playing a character that’s in just a little over his head, but who would never admit it. These players and characters were gathered with the specific story in mind, which is not how CR usually operates, but it’s paying off here.
I am incredibly excited to see how this story plays out. I think this is one has the potential to become a gold-standard in the ttrpg space.
tried lineless for the first time ever. also first time drawing keyleth eyyy
[ID: A waist-up portrait of Keyleth from Critical Role. She’s a half-elf woman with short ginger hair and pale, freckled skin. She has antlers and a red gem in the middle of her forehead. She is standing sideways, face turned to the viewer with her hands cupped close to her face. She is wearing a sleeveless red and green top with red leather wrist bands on her arms. /end ID]
[ID: a cute little colorful drawing of Yeza, a sweet looking halfling with messy brown hair in pants and a vest, leaning in, his glasses pressing against the face of Veth, a chubby halfling in a flower covered dress, while she has a hidden smile, while he kisses her.]
[Image description: A digital drawing of Keyleth from Critical Role. Keyleth is a light complexion half-elven woman with long, voluminous red hair, a face dusted with freckles and a bright blush across her cheeks. She is decorated with and surrounded by a number of different flowers. A soft glow surrounds her as she smiles, her eyes closed and head slightly bowed. End description.]
