In a move that has sent tremors through the actual play community, Critical Role has announced that its fourth flagship campaign will be helmed not by Chief Creative Officer Matthew Mercer, but by Dropout’s own Brennan Lee Mulligan. The change signals a significant strategic pivot for the company, (let me speculate) suggesting a long-term vision that extends beyond its beloved founding cast.
Campaign 4 is scheduled to premiere on 2nd October. For the first time, the main campaign will depart from the familiar world of Exandria, promising a completely new setting, tone, and story, guided by Mulligan for its entire duration.
While the news may surprise some, it appears to be a calculated and savvy business decision. For years, the success of Critical Role has been intrinsically linked to its core cast of voice actors and, most pivotally, to the world-building prowess of Matthew Mercer. By bringing in a Game Master of Mulligan’s calibre, Critical Role is de-risking its brand from this key-person dependency. It’s a move that tests the strength of the Critical Role name itself, aiming to prove it’s a premier platform for tabletop storytelling, not just one specific story.
Travis Willingham, CEO and cast member of Critical Role, told press;
We’ve been enormous fans of Brennan’s for many years now, and when it came to giving both Matthew Mercer and the world of Exandria a bit of a breather, Brennan felt like the perfect storyteller to take our community somewhere entirely new.
This idea of giving Mercer “a breather” aligns with comments he has made previously. He has spoken about eventually transitioning into a “Professor X” role, mentoring a new generation of storytellers. This appointment looks like the first major step in that evolution, moving him from the central on-screen creative to an executive producer and guide for the wider brand.
Brennan Lee Mulligan is, of course, a titan of the actual play scene in his own right. As the creator and primary GM for Dropout’s Dimension 20, he has cultivated a massive and dedicated following, even selling out Madison Square Garden for a live show earlier this year. His involvement is less a replacement and more an ‘Avengers-level’ collaboration between the two biggest names in the space. Crucially, it has been confirmed that Mulligan has also signed a new three-year contract with Dropout, meaning his work on Dimension 20 will continue. This is a partnership, not a poaching, designed to cross-pollinate two huge fandoms.
Mulligan himself commented on the opportunity;
What a gift, a privilege and an honor to be invited behind the screen of Critical Role for this next epic adventure. Every collaboration we have had together has brought nothing but sheer joy, and Campaign 4 will be no exception. I’m finally playing almost as much tabletop as I’d like to!
The question of which game system will be used remains. While Critical Role’s fame was built on Dungeons & Dragons, the company recently launched its own TTRPG, Daggerheart, which Geek Native has noted is a significant move for the publisher. Using Daggerheart for the flagship campaign would be the ultimate show of confidence in their own system.
Creative Director Marisha Ray added to the sense of a new beginning.
We’re not just turning a page – we’re starting a whole new book. Everything about Campaign 4 is fresh; new world, new tone, new possibilities. We can’t wait for the fans to experience what we’ve been building.
This new campaign represents a maturation of the Critical Role business. After a decade of phenomenal growth that has seen the brand expand into animated series, comics, and novelisations, this is a clear signal that the team is planning for the next decade and beyond.
Campaign 4 will stream live on Critical Role’s Beacon.tv service, Twitch, and YouTube channels. VODs will be available the following Monday, with podcast versions released in two parts weekly.
