Critical Role's main game finally returns to streaming this week with the start of Campaign 3, bringing with it a whole host of new characters and exciting locations. Here's when it starts and what we know so far.
It's Thursday, and as every Critter knows, it's time for a new stream of Critical Role. The acclaimed live-play Dungeons & Dragons series has grown massively in popularity since its start back in 2015.
Its last campaign, Campaign 2 with The Mighty Nein, ended just earlier this year in June following an impressive 141 episodes. They've since also completed a mini-series campaign, Exandria Unlimited, which told the story of a new group (with some new faces) over the course of 8 episodes.
With a core cast of seven along with Dungeon Master Matt Mercer, Critical Role will begin its third major long-running campaign this week. If it's anything like their previous two campaigns, you can expect a story of epic proportions, vibrant personalities, and some genius uses of D&D mechanics.
CRITICAL ROLE CAMPAIGN 3 - WHERE AND WHEN TO WATCH
Critical Role Campaign 3 will premiere Thursday, October 21st, 2021 at 7 PM PDT. The new episode will stream on both the Critical Role Twitch and their YouTube channel. Those lucky enough to be near a participating Cinemark Theater can also view the new episode on the big screen.
They will also rebroadcast the premiere on Friday, October 22nd, 2021 at 12 AM and 9 AM PDT on Twitch. Though, for those unable to watch the streams, the VOD will be available on YouTube Monday, October 25th.
Additionally, the podcast version of Critical Role Campaign 3 will be live on Thursday, October 28th.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN SO FAR
Critical Role sets Campaign 3 after the events of Campaign 2 and their mini series Exandria Unlimited. This time, the party will be on the continent Marquet, a location that Vox Machina had briefly visited during the first campaign. Marquet is southwest of Tal'Dorei and south of Issylra.
Previously, we've seen locations Ank’Harel within the Rumedam Desert as well as the port city of Shammel in the Bay of Gifts. Ank'Harel, a desert metropolis, is also heavily featured within the upcoming D&D book Call of the Netherdeep.
Critical Role Campaign 3 Table
Though, these sandy deserts will not be the starting focus of the campaign. The new story will begin outside of Ank'Harel in a currently unknown location. However, only a third of Marquet is deserted area, and Mercer has revealed other potential locations - "the dusty canyons of the Hellcatch Valley" and "rising plateaus of the Taloned Highlands."
Following the end of Campaign 2, Mercer has also confirmed that the Mighty Nein had successfully reintroduced the the Warforged (‘Aeormaton’) race into Exandria. It's possible that this campaign is set so far after Campaign 2 that the party could encounter - or even be - a Warforged.
For those needing a quick run-down of the history behind the world of Exandria, check out their short video below:
Finally, the original seven Critical Role members will be making their return to the table, though next to nothing has been released about their classes and characters. For now, we can only excitedly speculate and wait and see at the premiere.