I don’t feel bad about my DMing skills compared to Matt Mercer’s and Critical Role in general because Critical Role is a fucking unicorn. It is the Olympics of TRPG entertainment.
Look, if I play TRPGs for 30 years, THEN get a group of actual legitimate actors together to play with, THEN play for two years before streaming it to build genuine trust, AND THEN run a full-length story-rich campaign TO CONCLUSION
ONLY THEN am I allowed to measure my gaming experience to Critical Role. There is a trust there that doesn’t happen immediately, and it touches all aspects of the game. It’s that trust that lets you throw yourself into describing your secondary world earnestly and without reservation. It’s that trust that lets you play your character without thought for looking stupid or being judged. It’s that trust that kills the impulse to sputter or stammer or say the words ‘or whatever’ every time you try to talk about serious in-world matters. The cast have that trust in each other. They are willing, not just to sit by and let other people play the game, but to actively give them gifts that make their play richer and more fulfilling.
It’s like Elvin Jones said. You gotta be willing to die with the motherfucker.
I’m not there yet. But I will be.
