Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting

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Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, 2017 cover.jpg
Rules requiredDungeons & Dragons, 5th edition
Campaign settingCritical Role
AuthorsMatthew Mercer, James Haeck
First publishedAugust 17, 2017
Pages144
ISBN978-1934547847

Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting is a sourcebook that details the continent of Tal'Dorei from the Critical Role campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was published by Green Ronin Publishing and released on August 17, 2017;[1] however, it is not considered "official" Dungeons & Dragons material.[2] A revised edition, titled Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, is scheduled to be released on January 18, 2022 and will be published by Darrington Press.[3][4]

Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting[]

Summary[]

This book adds a variety of options for both players and Dungeon Masters:[5]

  • Introduction (by Matthew Mercer)
  • Chapter 1: Campaigns in Tal'Dorei
  • Chapter 2: Gazetteer of Tal'Dorei
  • Chapter 3: Character Options
  • Chapter 4: Allies and Adversaries

Publication history[]

On August 8, 2016, Green Ronin Publishing announced that it had signed a licensing agreement with Geek & Sundry to release a roleplaying game sourcebook series set in the world of Exandria, written by Matthew Mercer and based on the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition rules via the Wizards of the Coast Open Game License.[6][7][5]: 143  The announcement was made by Chris Pramas, president of Green Ronin and Ryan Copple, General Manager of Geek & Sundry, live on the 62nd episode of Uninviting Waters at Gen Con 2016.[7] Only one book was published with Green Ronin—Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting—and it is set on the continent of Tal'Dorei where most of Vox Machina's adventures take place.[8] The hardback edition was released at the next Gen Con on August 17, 2017,[9][10] while the PDF version was released on July 17, 2017.[11][12] The book is now out of print.[13]

An updated version of the Way of the Cobalt Soul, a monk subclass that first appeared in Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, was published in October 2020 on D&D Beyond; however, it is not official play material for Dungeons & Dragons.[14][15]

Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn[]

Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, 2021 cover.jpg
Rules requiredDungeons & Dragons, 5th edition
Campaign settingCritical Role
AuthorsMatthew Mercer, Hannah Rose, James Haeck, Aabria Iyengar, John Stavropoulous
First publishedJanuary 18, 2022
Pages280

Contents[]

The book expands on game elements for the 5th edition of Dungeons & Dragons and revises elements from the previous edition of the book, such as:

  • Lore and updated information on each region of Tal'Dorei reflecting the twenty year progression of time between Campaign One and Campaign Two[4][16]
  • Player character options
    • Four new subclasses: College of Tragedy Bard, Moon Domain Cleric, Circle of the Blighted Druid, and Blood Magic Wizard[16]
    • Five other subclasses: Path of the Juggernaut Barbarian, Blood Domain Cleric, Way of the Cobalt Soul Monk, Runechild Sorcerer, and Oath of the Open Sea Paladin[16]
    • 5 backgrounds[4][16]
  • Creature statblocks including updated statblocks for the members of Vox Machina[4][16]
  • Magic items such as the Vestiges of Divergence[4][16]

Publication history[]

In July 2021, Darrington Press announced that a revised edition of the Tal'Dorei sourcebook was forthcoming;[3][17] it is scheduled to be released on January 18, 2022.[4] This edition moves the timeline 20 years forward from the first edition "bringing it in line with the era explored in Critical Role's second campaign".[13] The lead designers are Mercer, Hannah Rose and James Haeck.[3][18] Aabria Iyengar and John Stavropoulous, along with the cast of Critical Role, also contributed to the sourcebook.[13]

Beadle & Grimm, a licensee, will also release several limited run deluxe boxed set editions of the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn which will include physical handouts and maps, props and other game master tools.[19]

Related products[]

Critical Role[]

Main article: Critical Role

Critical Role is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play Dungeons & Dragons with Mercer as the Dungeon Master and creator of the world Exandria.[2] A number of licensed works based on the show have been created, such as the Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting and Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins.

Explorer's Guide to Wildemount[]

Main article: Explorer's Guide to Wildemount

Explorer's Guide to Wildemount (2020) is a sourcebook that details the continent of Wildemount from the Critical Role campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons. Unlike the Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, this sourcebook is considered "official" Dungeons & Dragons material since it was published by Wizards of the Coast.[2]

Reception[]

First edition[]

The Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting won the 2018 Silver ENnie Award for "Best Art, Cover".[20] The sourcebook was a perennial best-seller for Green Ronin.[21] It was on the "Top 10 Games by Dollars Invoiced" list by Diamond Book Distributors for multiple months such as #1 in December 2018,[22] #1 in January 2019,[23] #9 in April 2019,[24] #5 in August 2019,[25] #6 in September 2019,[26] #1 in December 2019,[27] #1 in January 2020,[27] #2 in February 2020.[21] The book was #3 on Diamond's "Top 100 Games for 2019" (ranked in dollar sales order).[28]

Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting was highlighted in issue 210 of Game Trade Magazine, a monthly print magazine.[29][30] The magazine states, "Until now, the wondrous and dangerous lands of Tal’Dorei have been the sole stomping grounds of Critical Role’s adventuring company, Vox Machina. But now, you can explore these realms in a tome from the pen of Game Master Matt Mercer [...]. This setting book takes an in-depth look at the history, people, and places of Tal’Dorei, and includes new backgrounds, magic items, and monsters for the Fifth Edition rules".[29]

Simon Yule, for GeekDad, wrote, "Unlike some of the more recent Wizards of the Coast fifth edition D&D campaign books, the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting doesn’t follow a single linear narrative. Instead it provides dungeon masters (DMs) with the tools to create and build any number of their own campaigns in a fully formed world set one year after the end of the Critical Role Vox Machina campaign. This approach encourages DMs and players to take on more responsibility in the story and delivers a far more creative and unique experience. [...] This entire campaign setting is clearly a labor of love, the culmination of over five years of world building and development from Matthew Mercer. As you flick through the pages, it is easy to see how the foundations of the Critical Role phenomenon were built; sure you need some enthusiastic players and a world-class DM to emulate Vox Machina, but with this campaign setting, you can at least begin follow in their footsteps".[31]

Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting was #5 on Game Rant's 2021 "Best Third Party Books for D&D 5e, Ranked" list — the article states that "players who've always wanted to meet the same people the Vox Machina have met in their adventures can go to the world of Exandria and make a name of themselves. [...] Any Critical Role fan who always wanted to play in the same world as the Vox Machina had can consider this sourcebook a must-have. [...] Fans of Critical Role will recognize this book as a testament to Mercer's talent as Dungeon Master. Players can look at the famed Vestiges of Divergence or villains such as the cultists of Vecna from the lens of Mercer as a DM. Moreover, the book also serves as a great deep-dive into the homebrew Tal'Dorei setting as a 5e-compatible setting".[32]

References[]

  1. ^ "Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting (5E)". Green Ronin Store. Archived from the original on February 26, 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  2. ^ a b c Plante, Corey (January 13, 2020). "'Critical Role' becomes 'D&D' canon with 'Explorer's Guide to Wildemount'". Inverse. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  3. ^ a b c Hall, Charlie (2021-07-22). "Critical Role's next campaign book will explore the continent of Tal'Dorei". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Critical Role's Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn Release Date Revealed". ComicBook.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  5. ^ a b Mercer, Matthew; Haeck, James (2017). Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting. Seattle, WA: Green Ronin Publishing. pp. 99, 143. ISBN 978-1-934547-84-7. OCLC 1000342575.
  6. ^ "New RPG Books Based on Geek & Sundry's 'Critical Role'". ICv2. August 9, 2016. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  7. ^ a b Sass, Evan (August 14, 2016). "Geek & Sundry Partners with Green Ronin to Create RPG Books Based on its Groundbreaking Show - Critical Role". Green Ronin Publishing. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  8. ^ Haeck, James (August 8, 2016). "Matthew Mercer and Green Ronin Announce the Critical Role Campaign Setting!". Geek & Sundry. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  9. ^ Sass, Evan (January 9, 2017). "Ronin Roundtable: New Year's Message 2017". Green Ronin Publishing. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  10. ^ "Green Ronin 2017 Releases Announced". ICv2. January 9, 2017. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  11. ^ Pramas, Chris (June 1, 2017). "Critical Role Release Plan". Green Ronin Publishing. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "If you want the PDF edition only of Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, use this link! …". Twitter. Green Ronin Publishing. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Critical Role Announces Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn". ComicBook.com. July 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  14. ^ "D&D Beyond Adds Two More Critical Role Subclasses". 411MANIA. October 18, 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  15. ^ "Dungeons & Dragons: The Monastic Traditions, Ranked". CBR. 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Critical Role Reveals All Nine New Subclasses in Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn". ComicBook.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  17. ^ "Critical Role Announces Revised Sourcebook Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn". CBR. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  18. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (2021-07-22). "Critical Role Announces Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  19. ^ Hall, Charlie (2021-08-05). "Critical Role's D&D campaign book is getting the deluxe treatment from Beadle & Grimm's". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  20. ^ "2018 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved 2021-07-25.
  21. ^ a b Johnston, Rich (March 13, 2020). "Almost One In Every Two Comics Ordered in February 2020 Was From Marvel as X-Men Dominate Marketshare". bleedingcool.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  22. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (2019-01-18). "The Batman Who Laughs all the way to the top of the sales charts". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  23. ^ "Diamond Announces Top Products for January 2019". www.comicshoplocator.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  24. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (2019-06-07). "Diamond: April is the Cruelest Month for Comics Sales". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  25. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (2019-09-13). "Sales Chart: It's Absolute Carnage for August comics sales". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  26. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (2019-10-18). "Sales Charts: Spawn #300 ruled in September". The Beat. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  27. ^ a b "Diamond Announces Top Products for January 2020". www.diamondcomics.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  28. ^ "Diamond Comic Distributors Top 100 Games--Full Year 2019". ICv2. January 17, 2020. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  29. ^ a b "News". Game Trade Magazine (210). August 2017.
  30. ^ "Game Trade Magazine (Issue 210 - Aug 2017)". RPGGeek. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  31. ^ "Critters Rejoice! Now you too can follow in the footsteps of Vox Machina". GeekDad. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  32. ^ "Best Third Party Books for D&D 5e, Ranked". Game Rant. 2020-05-21. Retrieved 2021-05-05.

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