When one thinks of Dungeons and Dragons actual plays, Critical Role is the first thing that comes to mind, and it’s hard to think of Critical Role without Matthew Mercer. The prolific voice actor and Dungeon Master extraordinaire is responsible for guiding the livestream show through thousands of hours and hundreds of sessions across three campaigns. Under Mercer’s captaincy, Critical Role transformed from a handful of celebrity voice actors playing Dungeons and Dragons to a cornerstone of an entire genre of entertainment.

It has been over 10 years since Critical Role began, and for most of that time, Mercer has been the Dungeon Master. However, Critical Role Campaign 4 saw him cede this seat to Dimension 20’s Brennan Lee Mulligan. While he has no current plans to leave Critical Role, there is a world where it could happen. It is difficult to picture Critical Role without Mercer, but the actual play could not only survive without him—it could thrive.

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By LB Beistad

Critical Role Can Exist Without Matt Mercer

Mercer and Mulligan recently appeared in a video for Variety talking about Critical Role, their D&D journeys, and the nature of being a game master. Mercer recounted a story of when he was asked what was "next" after building the “media empire” that is Critical Role during a past interview. “I got nothing,” he responded. “Maybe I’m just not ambitious enough, and I’m okay with that. But I did it all, man. I’ve already far exceeded anything I thought I would ever be able to accomplish in my life, so everything else is gravy.”

What started as a group of admittedly famous friends with a pipe dream became something more than Mercer could ever imagine. The pressure of creating a titan of the TTRPG scene comes with no small amount of stress, however, which led to him almost experiencing burnout as the DM of Critical Role. Stepping away from the Dungeon Master seat allowed him to “refill his cup,” even if it meant fans are now experiencing Critical Role with far less Mercer than ever before.

Given how intrinsic Mercer is to Critical Role, it was hard to imagine the actual play without him as DM, let alone the idea of him stepping away entirely one day. Mercer's fame as a video game voice actor and in the TTRPG scene also greatly contributes to Critical Role's popularity, which raises concerns that the celebrity’s absence would negatively impact viewership.

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But Critical Role has grown beyond its reliance on big names like Matt Mercer, Liam O’Brien, Laura Bailey, and Travis Willingham. Indeed, the popularity Mercer has cultivated allows him to spotlight the creative minds of his friends and peers. “The responsibility of this platform, to me, is how best I enable it to show off other people’s passions,” Mercer said, which is exactly what he did by allowing Mulligan to helm Critical Role Campaign 4. Taking a back seat lets other people thrive in the actual play industry and makes his eventual prodigal return to the DM seat all the more exciting.

Mercer Hasn’t Even Been In Every Critical Role Show

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While Mercer has obviously starred in most Critical Role shows, he hasn’t been in all of them. Campaign 4 is the most obvious example; the brand-new Critical Role story follows 13 different characters split across three different groups: Soldiers, Seekers, and Schemers. Mercer’s character, Sir Julien Davinos, is a member of the Seekers, which has only just now started its first arc after the Soldiers finished theirs. Like most of the other players, this means Mercer will only be in about one-third of the episodes.

Beyond that, there have been several other Critical Role productions that Mercer hasn’t been in at all. Incredible multipart Critical Role side stories like Exandria Unlimited: Downfall, Exandria Unlimited: Calamity, and Wildemount Wildlings did not star Mercer as player or GM. Additionally, while Mercer has run or appeared in many one-shots, he hasn’t been in all of them, including ones for video game promotions like The Elder Scrolls Online, Tiny Tina’s Wonderland, and Mortal Kombat 1.

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This doesn’t even include other Mercer-less shows that are hosted on Critical Role's Beacon streaming service, such as the Re-Slayer’s Take or the campaigns set in the world of Midst.

While not all of these shows reached the viewership numbers of epic Critical Role campaign finales, they have all been successful in their own right. The weekly broadcasts of Critical Role Campaign 4 have thousands of viewers on Twitch, even in the episodes where Mercer only shows up briefly for the announcements. Mercer helped make Critical Role what it is today, but it is the combined efforts of many faces, both in front of and behind the camera, that make it shine.

The Future of Critical Role Looks Bright

The unique storytelling and mechanics used in Campaign 4 have already breathed life into Critical Role in a refreshing way. Mulligan brings a special sauce to the table that not only livens things up but also exposes people to different DMing styles beyond Mercer’s. This broadens horizons, counters the infamous Mercer Effect in Dungeons and Dragons, and serves as a great advertisement for Dropout’s Dimension 20 actual play series all at once.

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The responsibility of this platform, to me, is how best I enable it to show off other people’s passions.

Critical Role also recently released its own TTRPG system called Daggerheart, which is getting a massive expansion, Hope & Fear, this summer. It has also used its Beacon streaming service as a platform for other creators, including Viva La Dirt League’s new Daggerheart: Azerim campaign. Beyond actual plays, the first season of The Mighty Nein recently finished airing, the next season of The Legend of Vox Machina drops later this year, and Dispatch developer AdHoc Studios is working on a Critical Role video game.

Needless to say, Mercer isn’t going anywhere any time soon. Critical Role has five live shows planned for its Echoes of Exandria tour in 2026, four of which are being run by Mercer himself. In truth, rather than “passing the torch,” Mercer is instead using his to light others, both among his peers and fans. That said, if he ever does decide to step away from Critical Role, he can rest easy knowing it would be in good hands.

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