We’re certain Critters will agree that Critical Role’s latest campaign, Campaign 4, has been a lesson in heartbreak. From the very first episode, which opens with a funeral, to the recurring themes of the cost of revolution and sacrifice, and the premise that any character can die, each episode of Campaign 4 has been an emotional rollercoaster.
Still, the cast of Campaign 4 has been eager to meet head-on every challenge that Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan has thrown their way. That was never clearer than in Campaign 4 episode 37, “Death to Tyrants,” which not only featured one of the tensest moments we’ve ever seen in Critical Role history, but also proved exactly why Sam Riegel may be one of the most memorable players to ever sit down at the table on the show.
Note: This article contains spoilers for Campaign 4, episode 37, “Death to Tyrants.”
Sam Riegel is one of the strongest D&D players in Critical Role
Episode 37 picks up where the previous one left off, at the Schemers’ table. Wicander Halovar (Sam Riegel) is attacked by assassins during a rendition of Halandil Fang’s (Liam O’Brien) play Ko’therai. Wicander, accompanied by his father Goddard, his mother Iris, and his brother Lioran, was supposed to denounce Hal in front of everyone as soon as the play ended. Although the Halovar family is one of the nefarious forces in Dol-Makjar, Wicander is one of the “good guys.” But his family doesn’t know that. Or at least, Wicander assumes that —and quickly realizes how wrong he is.
Shortly after the play begins, assassins sent by his grandmother, the Photarch of the Candescent Creed, Yanessa Halovar, set upon Wicander. Other Schemers at the table, Hal, Murray Mag’nesson (Marisha Ray), Azune Nayar (Luis Carazo), and Tyranny (Whitney Moore), rushed to save their friend, with Tyranny the furthest away, having previously convened with demon proprietor Tsul’rekshi for help in getting to the Pit.
The ensuing battle was ruthless, though it lasted only four rounds. Wicander fought to stay alive while numerous assassins — including Wicander’s own sister, Zebani Halovar— tried to end the scion of the Halovar household.
The rest of the Schemers were doing their utmost to save Wicander. Health potions, healing spells, you name it. Through all this chaos, however, Riegel made decisions not as a player trying to save their character, but as the character he’s playing—a refreshing take in a game that sometimes encourages metatextual play.
For example, during the episode, Wicander’s mother, Iris, threw herself on her son and cast the spell Warding Bond. This spell grants a target a +1 bonus to their Armor Class (AC) and resistance to all damage (meaning that all damage is halved). However, the caster also takes the same amount of damage the target does for the duration of the spell. It’s a fantastic spell to benefit from when assassins are out to get you — if it were cast by a party member rather than a likely low-level NPC like Iris Halovar. Knowing Iris likely doesn’t have much health, Riegel asked whether Wicander knew the spell requires a willing creature to work. Only after he failed the Arcana roll to determine that did he decide to let it happen.
Despite the efforts of Wicander’s friends and family, the assassins succeeded. Wicander was downed (0 hit points), and one of the assassins landed an automatic critical hit because a hit while downed counts as a critical hit, reducing him to two death-saving throws. Riegel then fails his last death-saving throw by rolling a 5, and for the sobbing Critters at home (of which I am certainly one), it looks as though another player character is about to leave Campaign 4.
But Mulligan decided to give Riegel one last chance: he could re-roll the death-saving throw with disadvantage on any failure, or he could use the last of Wicander’s strength to save Tyranny from her contract with his family. It was clear Riegel intended to sacrifice himself to save Tyranny, but at the urging of fellow players O’Brien and Ray, he went against his instincts and took the chance.
A momentary blip. Only a short time later, Riegel went down again. Mulligan offered one last deal: Riegel could keep rolling death-saving throws or save Tyranny. If Wicander died and Tyranny hadn’t been released from her contract, the seedy House Halovar could force her to do whatever they wanted. Strategically, it would be better for Riegel to keep rolling death-saving throws and get himself up and out of combat as soon as possible. Yet Riegel chose the latter, taking two death-saving failures and saving Tyranny in the process.
Riegel’s decision worked out, but Wicander had a very high chance of dying. Ultimately, though, Riegel’s nail-biting daring shows why he is such a phenomenal Dungeons & Dragons player.
In tense moments like this, when players instinctively want to act metatextually and do whatever it takes to keep their characters alive, Riegel didn’t let his player knowledge drive his decisions. And the result is a phenomenal episode from start to finish.
