Matthew Mercer, the celebrated Dungeon Master for the popular Dungeons & Dragons series Critical Role, has unveiled eight of his most significant and memorable moments from the show's history. These selections, shared as part of the "Founders Favorites" series on Critical Role's streaming platform, Beacon, span various campaigns and one-shots, highlighting events that resonated deeply with him as both a player and a Dungeon Master.
Spoilers follow for Critical Role Campaign 2: The Mighty Nein, Campaign 3: Bells Hells, The Search for Grog, and Exandria Unlimited: Divergence.
The Search for Grog Live Show
While Critical Role had previously staged live shows, "The Search for Grog" one-shot, set in Los Angeles, marked a significant realization for Mercer. The audience's fervent reaction during the episode, which followed Vox Machina on a quest to retrieve Grog's soul, underscored the immense popularity the show had achieved. "The sound that everyone in that theatre made, that was the moment I understood sports," Mercer recalled.
Jester's Cupcake Gambit
In Campaign 2, Jester Lavorre, played by Laura Bailey, masterfully tricked a hag into believing she had agreed to end Nott's curse. Mercer cited this as a favorite moment, praising Bailey's player ingenuity. "It's such a great example of player ingenuity, dice, and me not realizing when I gave them an item that I was undoing my own plot point down the road, which is the truest Dungeon Master experience," he stated.
Mollymauk's Tragic End
Mollymauk Tealeaf, Taliesin Jaffe's charismatic tiefling blood hunter, met his demise in Campaign 2 at the hands of Lorenzo. Mercer noted the impact of this death, occurring when the party’s primary resurrection magic user, Jester, was unavailable. "It was a player's death at a moment when the majority of the party that had access to resurrection-type magic was gone," he explained.
Caleb Returns the Beacon
Campaign 2's tone shifted significantly when Caleb Widogast, played by Liam O'Brien, returned a crucial beacon to the Kryn Dynasty, a group often perceived as antagonistic. Mercer highlighted this act as a pivotal moment that redefined the campaign's direction. "That maneuver completely shifted the direction and tone of the campaign," he said. "Another great example of how the tabletop collaborative experience is so unique."
Bells Hells vs. Otohan Thull
Mercer admitted to a certain "selfish" enjoyment from a DM perspective during Bells Hells' intense confrontation with Otohan Thull in Campaign 3. Despite a full party, the group struggled against the formidable foe, leading to multiple characters being downed and the death of Laudna. "The realization that things were happening on a scope and scale beyond their momentary ability to tackle was delicious," Mercer remarked.
The Resurrection of Laudna
Following Laudna's death, Bells Hells embarked on a desperate mission to resurrect her, which involved entering her psyche to confront her fragmented memories. This journey brought the cast back into contact with elements from Campaign 1, specifically the villain Delilah Briarwood, reimagined within Laudna's nightmarish mental landscape. Mercer found the preparation and execution of this sequence highly engaging.
Bells Hells Films a 'Pornographic Film'
A particularly unexpected and humorous moment from Campaign 3 occurred when the Bells Hells, attempting to evade an air elemental, decided to stage a fake pornographic film. Mercer described this as a "beautiful example of D&D," noting the escalating absurdity and his own need to embrace the players' creative, albeit unconventional, choices.
Exandria Unlimited: Divergence Callback
The miniseries Exandria Unlimited provided a deeply emotional moment in its finale, Divergence. It was revealed that Mercer's character, Garen, was the mortal form of the All-Hammer, a being instrumental in shaping Exandria. A vision of Bahamut, voiced by Liam O'Brien, guided Garen through his creations, serving as a direct callback to Mercer's foundational act of building Exandria as a world for his friends to explore. "It’s a moment that will forever live carved in my heart," Mercer stated.