Matt Mercer's advice for critters on becoming D&D players and DM’s - Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount 

Did Critical Role introduce you to Dungeons and Dragons? Will you be playing a campaign using the Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount? Pre-order today from D&D Beyond to receive exclusive bonus content! dndbeyond.link/wildemount

Matt is the kind of guy who has a constant 'DM Inspiration die" at his disposal. And then he uses that to inspire others.

As a new dm in wildemount there's only one thing i need to know... who is on the Taldorei council?

Just remember folks, you and your players/dms don't have to be the second critical role, it's alright if you don't describe things like Matt does or are shy to roleplay, you don't need to be actors to play D&D!

Critical role didn’t introduce me to dnd but it did grow and enhance my love for the game. Critical role showed me what dnd could be and the stories it could tell

Critical role got me into DnD. I have now lost weekends to dnd games that me and all of my friends take turns DMing in separate campaigns so everyone gets a taste of every other persons DMing style. My campaign is going well so far, and i even used the Tal Dorei guide as a jumping off point for my own world and story. Needless to say, CR had been huge for me and my friends

the matt mercer effect is real. but people don't need to be matt mercer to be a good dm. but if you just take lessons from good elements of how he conducts his games then you're already on the right track.

When Matt was talking about people using his world he got so happy and emotional! That was a really wholesome moment.

Having played D&D before the internet really blew up, the good thing about all these RU-vid DMs is that each person can see how they run a game then pick and choose what they want to use and put it in their own toolbox. No one should work on the being the next Matt Mercer. Work on being the next THEM. The best player or DM *they* can be.

When you realise that Wildemount was hinted at to be an official universe, when Arkan took the hand of vecna to avernus.

"...maybe some other people will start streaming." That's awesome, we'll get the Critical Role Expanded Universe.

Im hooked on DnD thanks to Critical Role, watching through the first campaign, episode 44, i never want it to end

all I need to know is this: Is Pumat Sols in the book?

Is The Chair in this book?

From the entirety of this interview, I personally think that the most important advice he gave for up and coming Dungeon Masters, is that HIS way of being a DM isn't necessarily THE way of doing it, that you doing your own thing, experimenting on your own and creating something that belongs to you, is far better than trying to imitate him. He's great, and he's an amazing narrator, but that's because he's got his own style, being yourself and doing your own thing will in the long run fetch both you and your players the best results, and it'll be an exhilarating and interesting journey for you as a DM yourself. Everyone sucks in the beginning, makes silly mistakes because they get flustered or stressed due to not knowing the rules back to back, but you'll learn, give it your best, I know you can do it, and so can Matt, inspiration is fine, but create your own style, as my former martial arts master once said: "Never aim to be as good as your teacher, aim to surpass him"

Critical Role is actually the reason I wanted to give DMing a try about two-three years ago. A lot of my DMing style is influenced by Matt because I love the way he does it so much. I try to not emulate him and I'm still learning a lot with every session but I can safely thank CR for me the courage to give it a shot.

Watching Matt has helped me with my DMing chops. Watching him week after week and then finding channels on youtube has opened me up to a very different style of DMing that I would not have done 10+ years ago. I'm constantly learning new things as a DM.

It's so humbling to see Matt excited to share his world as well as his love for D&D.

When I started dnd I jumped in the deep end without knowing how to swim In my first session of dnd I was the dm for a group of players that had never played and I used a setting I created myself. I had watched about 10 eps of cr and the first season of dimension 20. It was great. Even though we made a lot of rule mistakes and my players destroyed the planed story in the second session we had sooo much fun.

3:19 this just... makes me smile. This is such a beautiful way to be. "I love this thing, and I love that other people love it." Its a selfless joy that I really appreciate. Matt is an amazing person.

I'm a writer professionally and come from the world of homebrew written rpgs where I'm primarily the GM and have been for over 10 years. I discovered Critical Role 7 months ago (thank you Twitch front page) and lemme say, the past 7 months have completely changed (for the better) my writing and storytelling style and ability. That is primarily thanks to Matt, who has been showing me every week that my love of deep lore and cinematic detail is not only okay, but appreciated and interesting. I now look forward to the day I can DM an official Exandrian campaign, and eventually my own homebrewed world that has been stewing in my head for years. Thank you, Matt

I have purchased the core three books, a module, and have lucked across a bunch of old books from a family friend, all thanks to CR and MM. I’m now DMing two campaigns and have already finished a one shot and a shorter three-session campaign. If it wasn’t for critical role, I’d never have felt like I could handle learning all the rules and whatnot. But a few years of four plus hour episodes has made it all so (relatively) easy to put into play. I’m very grateful to Matt Mercer for all his work, his openness, and the inspiration he has brought me.

CR got me back into TTRPGs and I thank you Matt for giving me the inspiration to try to DM. For those wondering what it's like for the first time, it can be intimidating. Realize that you will make mistakes, it's part of being human. But if you use this book or the Tal'Dorei campaign guide (like I did) since you love and know there world you're playing in, it'll inspire you to at least try and DM. Don't be afraid of it! It's time consuming and challenging but rewarding at the same time!

Super excited for this. Thank you Matt for everything you do, and for being incredibly humble. :)

I had a twenty year break from D&D and Critical Role gave me the inspiration to be DM again. To the Poop - one shot was the first one I watched. My next campaign will be in Wildemount.

Imagine running a game paralell to CR as the crew of the Ball Eater! xD

"A very high standard of play" .. aka ...the Mercer effect... It's very hard to DM as good as Matt... I still don't have my 105yr old Black Powder Merchant down yet...

CR did get me into D&D and I thank them for it. I’ve been playing for two years now and I love it!!!!

As someone who was playing long before hearing of this wonderful series, I approve and appreciate this message.

Low key, I've been planning on running a campaign in Exandria, Wildemount specifically, for the past year now

As one who have really only played in Forgotten Realms, I feel really scared to play a campaign in this world. But still, it's pretty dope! And I wanna do it!

4:21 Todd going full "midday TV salesman voice" literally gave me a heart attack.

Critters like every fandom should be capitalized

I am a Critter long before I even tried or done anything with D&D. 1+ year in and I am now in a campaign with an amazing DM and party of a few weeks. The only Lawful Good PC among mostly Chaotic party members is costing my character his sanity. PS: And as a Ranger with Speak with Animals, he will rant to random animals to get things off his chest. XD

I'm an astrophyisicist and this fills my non existent soul to the top

Congrats Matt!

How can people not like this guy?

As many others have pointed out, the Mercer effect is a real thing and as a veteran player and novice DM, I highly recommend each and every player and DM out there, fresh and experienced: do NOT attempt to copy Critical Role or expect your game to be like it. It won't, no matter how experienced you are. As Matt himself has said, find your own play style, your own way of doing things, and run with that. That is what D&D is about. And D&D is, above all else, a game. And games are supposed to be fun.

if i were to run a game in wildemount it would be centered around darktow. the pirate arc is still my favorite part of campaign two and i feel like there's so much to explore around and offshore from the menagerie coast that the critical role campaign won't delve into because it isn't involved in the war.

According to other people, I’m fairly good at impressions. I can’t wait to try and bring characters from the show into my campaign to surprise my players. Specifically Pumat Sol

You can't just casually introduce a giant fantasy-esque exosuit like that, guys. I'm weak, weak to that.

Now I want to hear about everyone's versions of the Tal'dorei Council. Like, are they exactly the same or have some people been changed? I really wanna know!! Who are the six masters? And who are the ambassadors you've chosen?! Are Vox Machina in your Exandrias as mere legends or folk heroes? Or is this a world before Vox Machina? Maybe they've all retired? Man, just thinking about all of the opportunities makes me excited.

Now I got to get the tal'dorei book and the wildemount book....

Yes and gave each a item built like the VoD with a four and fifth stage you lock tied to their back story the item were from the calamity and past down to them now that evil has strengthen and is on the rise

When is this available? I can not wait for the full lore dump.

0:13 i need one of those....

I want to meet one of the Matt Mercer's one day please.

I got into D&D before Critical Role and to be honest it is a very intimidating game. Every time I sat down and played I felt lost at what to do. I tried it on both fronts, DMing much later in my life and it fell apart. I ran a module for Pathfinder and it was a mess, but a fun mess. My friends seem to have fun with it and I felt I could continue to DM. How wrong I was. Game after game, I tried, but I couldn't grasp even a fraction of that first time I DMed. I couldn't figure out what was happening for the longest time, but that last game I attempted to run finally made me realize it wasn't all my fault. I tried running a Sci-Fi setting in Starfinder and found that one of my friends was personally the cause of each and every game falling apart. It wasn't so blatant in those other games, but in this game it showed me full on that their heart wasn't in it. I talked to them and life issues had seeped into the games we played. He let me know that it's been like this for a while and his all wasn't in it for the longest time, not since that first time. I was of course upset, all this time I put so much effort into each game and thought I personally failed the players at our table and kept doubling down every session afterward in hope to bring some excitement to the table. I talked to the other people at the table and none of them wanted to do much rping, they just weren't that type. Everyone was to afraid of saying another, because they didn't want to disappoint me. It's not about me, it's about us. If they had just let me know that they didn't want to play or they wanted a more hack and slash type game I would've been happy to accommodate. The group disbanded shortly after. The player with the life issues had severe depression and decide to escape by working non-stop so as not to have to think about these issue. The other two found different groups to join and sadly I wasn't able to join or form a new group. I have my own issue and that's I'm very timid when trying to talk to new people, either online or IRL. I tried for a few years after the group split, but I kept shying away. It took me most of 20+ years to make the 3 friend I did have and it was tough to do that. The fact I was still in school meant I had to sort of interact with people daily, but now, now it's just so easy to shut one self away and not interact with people at all. I'm currently a 24/7 caregiver for a family member and so have been stuck inside as much as them. My social skills which were already bad are pretty much non-existent these days. Having food deliveries and things like Amazon make it so everything can come to you. CR is what I wish I could have, but with my current life situations is impossible. By time I get another shot at life I'll probably be in my 50's and a gibbering mess of a person. If my crippling over-weight body doesn't do me in at that point I'll probably die to something else. Someday's I wish life was more like a video game. I had started a new game by now with the knowledge I currently have and do better in the next run, but life isn't like a game and once you go down a certain path you're almost certainly stuck on that path for life. You may get lucky and find a way off that train-wreak, but not everyone is able to get that second shot. Mostly to achieve that above you have to have motivation and want to do so, but if you don't have that then it may as well be carved in stone. I've never had a relationship, I got really no one in life to give me such motivation. I'm just living to get to the end, because I'm to much of a coward to see myself out of the world in another other way. CR and the internet is my last bit of enjoyment in the world, if I every lost the means to it, I'd just curl up and wither away.

Great video but I wanted to know more from this interview.

Sounds interesting

I'm getting the book for my birthday that was the 18 turns out my dads getting it and I don't get to see him till NEXT WEEK AND MY FURST SESHON FOR MY CAMPAIGN IS ON TUESDAY (don't worry online)

Oh snap, that's some really good pointers for beginners.

All Matt Mercer's Win day is tomorrow

I'm curious if Caleb's unique spells are going to be added as well.

I AM DYING. I AM HAPPY. I GOT THINGS TO DO. OH LOOK! THERE'S ON DUNAMANCY TOO.... MMHMM MMHMHMHMHHHMMMHMM I CAN'T DEAL WITH THIS. I WANNA BE A PART OF THIS SO BADLY!

I you liked this video LIKE this video. Get CR and D&D on youtube's homepage, c'mon folks

Will the module contain the names of the council of Tal’dorei XD

The Mercer effect is real. But honestly, how amazing is it for dungeon masters to have an inspiration like Matt to learn from?? I think that is way more valuable than the negative consequences of the Mercer effect. Watch and learn and all that:)

I came to this video to learn how to get my cat to play D&D

So the setting is campaign 2?

can we talk about how shiny todd's head is?

Critical Role got me to start playing Pathfinder 2e.

Shut up& take my money already. Also when it coming out

Like is work even that not watching his show..

Am I seeing the germ that will become the setting for the next D&D MMORPG? They already kickstarted almost $12M for an animated cartoon. The market for an MMMORPG in that setting must already be huge!

PREORDER FOR MORE CONTENT?! WHAT'S THE EXTRA CONTENT?!

I accidentally break D&D games with stringent use of magic items and it hurts me when they actually work and then i break the game on a fundamental level

HEEEEELP! CAPS IS STUCK. I'M LOST. I CAN'T FIND ANYONE. HEELP! HE-HE-HEELLOO?

So are we just ignoring the first book?