When it comes to dominating the TTRPG scene, Critical Role can’t stop, won’t stop. Having mainstreamed Dungeons & Dragons actual play, adapted their campaigns into popular animated series, and launched their own tabletop system in this year’s Daggerheart, it’d be easy to think the CR gang might be out of surprises. Then Brennan Lee Mulligan showed up.
On Saturday night, Critical Role officially announced Campaign 4, which will, for the first time in CR’s core campaign, introduce a brand new host: Dimension 20’s Dungeon Master. Mulligan will take over for Matt Mercer when Campaign 4 launches in October.
According to a news release, Mulligan will step into the Game Master seat for the full duration of Campaign 4, “bringing his signature depth, humor, wit, and high-stakes drama to Critical Role’s next grand adventure.”
“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.” said CR CEO and cast member Travis Willingham. “Critical Role has always been about genuine connection through storytelling first and foremost, and as Brennan himself will tell you, he’s still played more TTRPGs away from a camera than in front of it. His passion and drive for worldbuilding is infectious, and it’s been an absolute joy to spark off him as we forge ahead.”
“What a gift, a privilege and an honor to be invited behind the screen of Critical Role for this next epic adventure,” said Mulligan. “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!”
For anyone worried about Mulligan’s tenure on Dimension 20 and Dropout.TV, fear not: Per Variety, he has also signed a three-year contract to continue work with the improv comedy network.
Critical Role says Campaign 4 will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 2 with instant access on Beacon.tv as well as streamed to the official YouTube and Twitch channels. The VOD will be available to all on the following Mondays.
Here at Polygon, we’re big fans of all things Critical Role, Dimension 20, and all things Mulligan. Here’s a recent highlight of CR’s new DM in action.