#wittykitsune

well critical rolle isnt a podcast but d&d show i should say. griffin takes the players in taz more on rails and guide them in his story. matt mercer lets the players guide the story in CR

I listened to a few episodes of Critical Role as well, which I think is why youtube recommended TAZ. I find both approaches valid, but I think I find TAZ kind of more entertaining. I laughed so hard at one point I think I sprained something.

They really are, it let me get through the combat less painfully. Even TAZ was a little rough at first but when it hooks you, it hooks you. I will warn you you’re catching up at a time that TAZ is heading for the end of the story of its three current main characters. We’ve still got episodes to go but the end is in sight. After this campaign ends they’ll do a different one with a different DM from the four and new characters and a new world.

Yes, Griffin isn’t inflexible though the rails show more sometimes than others. I do enjoy both styles and I’m attached to many characters in both shows after catching up in both. There was one arc where they did something that threw Griffin so bad off the course he had in mind he had to make up on the spot more than usual but it still turned out very good. And yes the cooperative storytelling elements drew me right into these two shows, TAZ more so for it.

Same, absolutely the same. I’m going to miss Taako so much especially. But I understand that every story has an end and better to end while it’s good than try to go on further and have it sour. We just hit episode 63 I think it was so it isn’t like you won’t have a lot of content of these three. I don’t know how long we have exactly because it is a bimonthly show and there’s live shows and specials that can make the wait for an arc end longer. It will end this year.

Oh, yeah, agreed on that. Leave them wanting more, instead of overstaying your welcome. Always a good policy.

Mhm, like Mercer of CR is a very good dm for the kind of dming he’s doing and how he can weave all these characters and their backstories and actions into a narrative but it also means his arcs go on and on. Not for everyone. Griffin is showcasing a different style and for some players like his family it is a very good style for them because they don’t care about the rules and such they just want to focus on Griffin’s story and have some fun and do some cool things.

That’s a good point! TAZ is more episodic, where even if the events of a single arc stretch for a few extra chapters than planned, there is still a planned resolution to it. 

And I don’t think Griffin is even that inflexible, though! He’s very good at adapting when the other players throw him a curveball. Justin has broken the game how many times now? But Griffin is good at integrating any new developments into his ongoing story. It makes for some truly epic, emotional and/or hilarious moments.

Critical Role I will say takes a very long time to see all of being weekly and going on for 3-4 hours an episode. The first arc in the Underdark wasn’t the best. It gets better to me when they hit Percy’s arc where they go to Whitestone. I only was able to catch up in the time I did by using youtube’s speed options. It took a while but there was enough in there I enjoyed to make me glad I stuck it out even with so many hours of content to get through.

Yeah CR can but funny but there’s more focus on rules and combat and I tend to speed up the video during fights for that reason. TAZ is funnier and I enjoy the adventures of the three party members and the wonderful cast of npcs. And also you can’t beat the fun of listening to family play together, that’s just a dynamic that can be full of humor especially playing with their Father.

Yeah, I don’t care as much about the mechanics either! Listening to them rib on each other is definitely one of the highlights of TAZ.