The adventures of the Mighty Nein might have just lately come to a finale , but Critical Role roll on with a brand new adventure that takes viewers into the future of thesmash - hit literal - sport tabletop show ’s antic human race . We ’ve got the lowdown from veteran game master Matt Mercer , and newcomers Robbie Daymond and Aimee Carrero !
Not a full - blow fresh series of Critical Role , the new risky venture is an eight - episode miniseries , take together veterans of the tabletop group with newcomers to enjoin a new narration typeset withinthe world of Exandria . Title Exandria Unlimited , the serial is set 30 twelvemonth after the issue ofthe Vox Machina campaign , and 10 after the events of Mighty Nein . Starring an solely new ring of characters , Exandria Unlimited begin in the metropolis of Emon , still find from the withering Chroma Conclave attack decennary prior , opening up the opportunity for Critical Role to explore its existence even further than ever before , shaping adventures to add up .
Starring Happy Jacks RPG , Dimension 20 , and Saving Throw ’s Aabria Iyengar as the campaign ’s Game Master , Exandria Unlimited will make for together Critical Role returning favorites Matt Mercer , Ashley Johnson , and Liam O’Brien with two newcomers to the serial publication : Robbie Daymond ( Sailor Moon , Persona 5 ) , and Aimee Carrero ( She - Ra and the Princesses of Power , Elena of Avalor ) .
Say hello to a new kind of Critical Role crew.Image: Heirlume Photography/Critical Role
To find out more about what to gestate from the new serial publication , io9 had the chance to chaffer with Mercer , Daymond , and Carrero over email about their involvement with Exandria Unlimited , and Critical Role ’s hereafter . Check out the full interviews below !
Matthew Mercer
James Whitbrook , io9 : come off of the latest season of the show , why was now the clock time to tell a major side story in the earth of Tal’Dorei ?
Matthew Mercer : There were many myriad reasons , but beyond just allowing us clip to recuperate and focus on interim projects , I ’ve always been excited to see what variety of escapade and stories others can tell within this world of Exandria , expanding the visible horizon and making it their own as well . This was the perfect union of timing , aim , and gift to really dig in and see what that would look like in an prescribed capacity !
io9 : Was it important for you to bring novel voices into this spinoff season ? What was it like trying to discover the counterbalance between institute young people and Critical Role mainstays ?
Image: Heirlume Photography/Critical Role
Mercer : It was extremely of import to all of us . CR get down as a tight chemical group of tight friends , and while we maintain that magic we believe to be the heart and soulfulness of it , we are also seeking to see ways to bring new friends into the fold to join the family . Guest spots have classically been the means of doing so , but by fork into wholly unique narratives we are allowed the probability to bring in these wondrous , fresh - to - the - community of interests players for longer form dramatic play and really create something as special as the mainstay CR campaign . By including a smattering of “ clone ” from the main hurl to join the new players , it help establish a safe quad of support and counselling , while also go on the OG player on their toe with new Energy Department and creativeness , all while allowing enough of a acquaintance for our audience and community for them to quickly encompass this new show and the new faces within it .
io9 : You ’re play a role in the time of year , but not your common GM one . outdoors of previous one - shots , this is a bit of a tenuity for you with CR — what ’s it been like handing over the rein to Aabria for Exandria Unlimited ?
Mercer : Indeed ! For me , it ’s been so exciting . There ’s always a bit of trepidation in handing over the rein on something you ’ve meticulously crafted over the eld , but the common obedience and trust between Aabria and I made that transition seamless for me . She ’s really such an incredible person , brilliant judgment , and a gifted storyteller , so the joyousness in watching her build within the space I begin and making it her own really is a giving to me . I could n’t be prouder .
Image: Heirlume Photography/Critical Role
io9 : Exandria Unlimited is set a pregnant period of time of time after the late Critical Role campaigns . Can you lecture about the conclusion to outdistance this that far from the preceding stories in this setting , and tease what potential complication long times will get to see from those retiring tale influence here ?
Mercer : For us , we wanted to let these floor sit in a spot in clock time that was familiar enough to the previous campaigns ( and link up to the option and escapade within ) , but also not reliant on them or seeking to enlace with them too profoundly . We wanted to let both Aabria and the players have the comfort to just run with it . Setting it a bit in the futurity from late campaigns grant that mediate land , where the mankind still has been affected by these previous legend , but is murder enough to be free to be unique within it all . That being said … many pre - existing yarn in the reality black market late , so who knows what aspects of the adventure may thread near some well - get it on facets of the past . It ’s all ripe for the taking for Aabria and the players , and that ’s what is so exciting . Anything can happen !
Aimee Carrero and Robbie Daymond
io9 : What ’s it been like joining vital Role ?
Robbie Daymond : Hah , oh man , that ’s a baffling one for me because it almost feels like anything I say about being on the show would n’t do justice to how it has impacted my life ! The truth is , it ’s one of the most fulfilling and exciting originative endeavour I ’ve ever occupy part of . I ’ve been a professional performing artist my intact life , and still , sitting down at the table with these unbelievably gifted actors , who also go on to be dynamic , caring and amazing people , is unparalleled really . The skill and care that the crew put into make such a mellow production note value show is fantastic . I ’m in fear how dextrously handle the whole thing is every time I follow in to play . Getting folding into something that already has such strong foundations , but also get to craft something entirely Modern in that space , is an experience I recognise I ’ll always carry with me .
Aimee Carrero : A total dream . I ’ve been a fan for so long that I worried the experience would n’t live up to the hoopla . In this case , the realness was so much good than I could have opine . Everyone made me sense like a extremity of the syndicate immediately . I entirely fell in sexual love with this universe and they will never get rid of me . I have moved in .
io9 : evidence us a short bit about your tabletop experience before join the series — what appealed to you to take on this journey ?
Carrero : I come into RPGs through Sam Riegel , who voice directed me on Elena of Avalor . It was n’t until year later though , when I gather with Matt Mercer about possibly guesting on CR military campaign two that I plunk in . I was week away from coming on when the pandemic hit . It did give me a yr to work on my role though !
Daymond : To call me a initiate would be a massive understatement ! I ’ve node starred on exactly ONE streaming TTRPG one - crack a few years ago , with zero coaching and no knowledge on how to play . I was more of a novelty that all of the real musician and GM had to babysit , haha ! That say , I still enjoyed it . Even so , I ’ve act exactly zero home games and had no knowledge of RPGs outside of watching my friends diddle on Critical Role ! I ’ve always been a huge eminent - phantasy nerd and I do it board , card , yard , video , and leisure games , so it seems unmated to even myself that I ’ve never really wreak . I guess I was just never approached , and once something does n’t descend into your aliveness you do n’t roll in the hay what you ’re overleap and it just sort of never materialize , you bed ? Even if you want it too . Then one day I scram the call from CR and suddenly I had the BEST instructor in the man ! I mean , what a wild experience to be coached over Zoom by freakin ’ MATTHEW MERCER and MARISHA RAY on how to construct a character and the principle . Then to be really fiddle for your first time at a table during the pre - games with the entire cast and having a veteran , original GM like Aabria guiding your journey and enhancing your gameplay as you pick up … artificial . I recognise how privileged I am to get to have that experience and I ’m honored by it .
io9 : What ’s been the most exciting or challenging thing for you being part of Exandria Unlimited as a performing artist ?
Daymond : I ’ve always make love improv and theatre of the mind . The moment to moment interactions I get to have with the mould and GM are some of the pure word form of acting you may partake in . Those beatniks feel rooted in the give circumstance of this massive mankind that Aabria has created and the lore Matt and the founders have put in seat . If you trust your fellow castmates / players , there ’s no path you ’re not going to have a good time . And damn , does it keep you sharp , haha ! You ca n’t plan or plot what ’s coming next and even if you ’ve figured out a puzzler or what may be hail in the plot , another individual ’s actions could alter all of that . You have to be present for it if you want to be a part of it . We ’re all so disconnect these days and distracted by our phones and the outside world , that just sit down and being in the moment , interacting with other the great unwashed , attention undivided , is such a delight . I ’m guessing it is a big part of the reason people play RPGs . The most challenging part for me was that I did n’t have it off the “ biz ” aspect of playing . But , as I said before , I was apply the BEST mentors . The quietus of it I took to improbably fast . I finger at home at the table now .
Carrero : The most exciting moment for me was getting my first “ how do you require to do this ? ” My favorite matter about the biz is the biotic community - construction . It feels like I ’ve have intercourse these folk my entire life , when really it has only been a few months . The most challenging part for me are the armed combat formula ! I ’m still sort of a pickle but , hopefully , an entertaining mass !
io9 : You ’re not just work with several returning Critical Role actors here , but are join by a fellow newcomer . What ’s it been like build this resonance as both an foreigner coming into this world within the textbook and just with the series itself , with your fellow adventurers , over the course of making Exandria Unlimited ?
Carrero : Robbie is an unbelievable worker and such a delight to watch in this case . We had several exercise opportunities and those were such a gift . We were able-bodied to take our time and really enjoy the getting - to - know - everyone bit . But really , we could have just bulge with instalment one — that ’s how instant and strong the vibration is . I sense so prosperous to be a part of ExU and will take every public chance to prompt everyone at CR that my wagon is forever hitched to theirs — they have created a goliath !
Daymond : I LOVE Aimee . Though I know all of the Critical Role cast through the voiceover world , Aimee and I had never puzzle out together , though I did cognise who she was from her work . I experience like we hit it off in the first exam game and as soon as we end up , I suppose it would be her and I in the show . I ’m so glad that I was right ! The most exciting thing for me is how her personality and character choices change the way that I specify to dally COMPLETELY . Being open to that , I think , made the game even better for me and really changed what I think I knew about how I wanted to wager an RPG . in person , I am typically the agent of chaos in my social circle and most affair I do , haha . With this cast there is so much manic , wild energy ( specially Aimee ) that I found myself piss safer , dissimilar , and more complex choice . It was completely unintentional , but just felt in good order within the mathematical group moral force . Aimee shifted the entire opinion of the campaign and I love where it sent my quality and dally mode . Without leave anything away , our character do n’t necessarily vibe right away , but that ’s a marvelous place to start a story between two hoi polloi . I ca n’t wait for the consultation to see where our relationship and the whole party dynamic goes ! Speaking of which … is it Thursday yet ? ! ?
Exandria Unlimited begin at 7:00pm PST on June 24 over at the Critical RoleTwitchandYoutubechannels . It will be available as a VOD on YouTube the day after , and as a podcast a week after initial dissemination on the Critical Role podcast feed .
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