David Bridges
Every new campaign for Critical Role introduces an exciting transformation, whether through a fresh setting or a new cast of characters. With the highly anticipated fourth campaign, the Actual Play series is embarking on its most significant change yet, featuring Brennan Lee Mulligan stepping into the role of the Game Master. This shift promises to bring new dynamics and storytelling techniques to the beloved series.
Mulligan, who expertly navigates games through his own Actual Play series Dimension 20 on Dropout, as well as the Critical Role miniseries Calamity, is set to take the reins of a full campaign commencing on October 2. During a live event for Critical Role on Saturday, he made a memorable entrance as part of this exciting announcement. This upcoming campaign will venture beyond the familiar Exandria setting featured in the previous three campaigns—“Vox Machina,” “Mighty Nein,” and “Bells Hells”—providing the original Critical Role Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer with a well-deserved break and allowing for fresh narratives to unfold.
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“We’ve been enormous fans of Brennan’s for many years now, and…he felt like the perfect storyteller to take our community somewhere entirely new,” expressed Critical Role alum and CEO Travis Willingham. “Critical Role has always emphasized the importance of genuine connection through storytelling, and as Brennan himself would attest, he has played more TTRPGs away from a camera than in front of it. His passion and drive for worldbuilding are truly infectious, and collaborating with him has been an absolute joy as we forge ahead into uncharted territories.”
For fans of Dimension 20 concerned about the implications of this transition, Mulligan will continue to lead that series as well. According to Variety, he has recently renewed his contract with the media company for an additional three years, which includes a “new long-term contract for nonstop new seasons of D20,” as Mulligan mentioned on Instagram. At least two of these upcoming seasons will see the return of the Intrepid Heroes who have previously headlined Fantasy High, Unsleeping City, and the current season Cloudward, Ho!. Additionally, his separate Actual Play series Worlds Beyond Number will also continue its production.
“Needless to say, I’m finally playing almost as much tabletop as I’d like to!” he shared enthusiastically. “It’s a gift, an honor, and a privilege to embark on this new epic adventure with Critical Role.”
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Daniel Mercer
