A Bards Lament: When Roleplay Touches Reality

One of Critical Roles Most Meaningful Moments.

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*** ABOUT ME ***
Hello! My name is Jay, and I am a long-time veteran of storytelling and a semi-seasoned DM! I began playing Dungeons and Dragons roughly 7 years ago and began my first ever game as the DM. I figured things out by watching online games and fumbling my way through the rules, and never looked back! I've fallen in love with TTRPG's in general and want to share my experience and thoughts with the world and community I love so much. I currently DM two separate games regularly, and continue to learn every day.

*** ABOUT THE CHANNEL ***
Play Your Role is a project with the intention of helping inspire and coach players and DM’s alike to add story beats and dramatic moments into their games through basic writing concepts, interesting player character inspirations, and discussions on how to effectively roleplay in a way that helps (not hinders) everyone else's roleplay at the table!

TOPICS IN THIS VIDEO
• Dungeons and Dragons
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• Critical Role
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• Pathfinder
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• TTRPG
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• Roleplay Games

HASHTAGS
#pathfinder
#TTRPG
#criticalrole
#writing
#storytelling

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[ADiceySituation]

It only takes one great game to go from "What's the worst character i can play" to "What's my mother's name".

[lenajohnson]

I always liked how Laura played Vex about Scanlan's departure. As something of the 'mom' of the group. She was equal parts both 'fuck him for sayin that... but fuck us for it being right." and then how she stuck up for him when he came back.

[masonchapple]

Just some additional insight, Sam was building up to this moment for a long time before it finally spilled over, having Scanlan start turning to drugs, keeping secrets from the rest of Vox Machina, and lashing out/doing unnecessarily cruel and/or messed up things to others, including messing with their memories. Scanlan was in a clear downward spiral, but his second death (because let's not forget the first one while fighting Thordak) and subsequent resurrection and humiliation with his daughter present were, as stated in the video, the straw that broke the camel's back.

[tsuchinokofamiliar]

“What’s my mothers name.” Still sends chills when I hear it such a good performance

[LokiToxtrocity]

That hug Liam gave Sam was the cutest thing, knowing how much Sam's friendship means to Liam just makes that hug a bit emotional.

[Heavensrun]

I love how Liam figures it out halfway through Tary's description and is ready to roleplay with this new character while everybody else is DUMBSTRUCK.

[Garrett]

Sam said he originally intended for Scanlan to leave the party. He felt his story had come to an end. Scanlan had found something worth living for and his death made him realize how fragile that relationship was. It was only after seeing how much the party actually missed Scanlan did he decide to bring him back.

[ErasMcras]

If my party made my characters death into a joke and then embarrassed them in front of the one person they care to impress, well a snapping is kinda warranted.

[WexMajor]

Grog grieves his death as a Berserker would. An amazing moment of roleplay from Travis.

He doesn't get sad.
He gets angry.

[sailorenthusiast]

This was my absolute favorite Scanlan moment. I know most people like him because he’s basically the comic relief of the party, and tbf, he is a very funny character. However, seeing his gradual mental decline leading up to his death, and the dismissal from the other party members as they brushed it off as “Scanlan being a goofball” made this moment feel incredibly cathartic. Because for once, he’d had enough of being dismissed as little more than a goofball, and the rest of the party was caught in a position where they had to take him seriously for once.

[aaronpendragran]

My favorite part about that interaction was When Grog spoke to him

Grog: Skanlan
Skanlan: WHAT!?
Grog: Whats your mother's name

[iselreads]

Can't wait to see this scene get animated. For those that are paying attention, you can see that the gang really hasn't treated Scanlan the best. They ignored him when he said the book Vax stole from Delilah's chest was likely important, they laughed at him when he serious suggested causing a distraction so they could break into Prof.Anders mansion more easily to save Percy's sister, and that's just the tip of the iceberg from season 1.

[Theroha]

That hug from Liam was so heart felt. Sam made Scanlan for Liam's birthday game, and that game grew into the campaign. Sam is Liam's best friend. That rant from Scanlan had to have hit him like a freight train.

[livebythecreed]

The fact he had to ask the simple question of “how old am I?” Is so heartbreaking

[kosviik]

Sam to Matt before the session:

"Want to set up one of the biggest emotional slam-dunk-twists in the history of the campaign?"

Matt just probably smiled excitedly.

[aaronconnolly]

"FIX HIM!" Brings a tear to my eye every time. Every time..

[briardrinksblood]

Sam did a great job

... But that "FIX HIM!!" has me spooked everytime like travis sounds angry AF

[zeroanonymity]

I once had a DnD campaign where because some players couldn't make that session me and the other player that came that night had a debate in character for HOURS about the politics of the world we were playing in. What we should do, what was best for everyone, why we felt the way we did, examples of characters, factions, religions, entire histories to support it... And we were HEATED while doing it too hahaha

So heated that at one point I literally broke my scowl and had to say, "I just want you to know this is the BEST, all of this aggression is just my character, I'm LOVING THIS!"

[LordShadowZ]

Friendly reminder that Critical Role is a cast of extremely talented and prolific voice actors. "Actor" is literally part of their job descriptions.

[Jason-jiql]

To be fair, this was possibly the most emotionally charged moment in campaign one up until that point. The best part was I'm pretty sure only Sam and Matt knew it was going to happen. Everyone elses reaction is real, and that makes it deep. I remember feeling very conflicted at the time because I was kinda worried Sam was leaving the show for a minute... Right up until Tary showed up... XD