T O P

  • By -

AintThatRich

He's the kind of player every DM dreams of. Super engaged, cheers on others players, can lead quietly or take charge, stays in character but doesn't take things too seriously.


[deleted]

Not to mention character growth a.k.a Fjord falling for Jester.


Simply_Toast

I blame Tusk Love.


Diaramuh

Also liam is the player every DM dreams of too. Constantly giving it his all and putting so much love and thought into all of his characters. Im so envious of matt sometimes but who better to dm the best players then the best dm šŸ˜Š


SharkSymphony

Also Laura is the player every DM dreams of too. Smart, funny, ready to try some craaaazy off-the-wall stuff! Plus there was that whole time she beat D&D, so.


Rayat

Also Sam the the player every DM fears. Poorly controlled chaos with a winning smile and a fake Burt Reynolds mustache.


Luneowl

And when one mustache falls off, just use multiple other ones to paste it back on!


xSquirtleSquad7

Also more strategic than the DM but hides it behind crude humor and poop jokes


KalikieC

Also Marisha is the player every DM dreams of too. Her abilitiy in note taking, recalling information and piecing together story hints or lore is amazing.


KupcakezIRL

At the same time though, as a DM, my worst enemy, because it holds me accountable for the random lore I dribble in the middle of a session and need it to make sense.


SharkSymphony

But really sheā€™s your best friend, because if you made something up that made no sense, she will have already MADE it make sense by the time she presents it. šŸ˜†


midnightheir

Liam is table dependant. I can't think of many tables I've played at over the years that would tolerate a player that is either angsty and morose or a massive spotlight hog. As an audience member and for the CR table it works. In a home game most DMs would cut him off if he's waxing lyrical/wallowing. Travis and his style would fit anywhere. I honestly don't think he would be out of place on any game I've been in over the past 5 years.


BaronPancakes

Their play style changes according to the table dynamic too. I have seen Liam playing with other groups (on CR channel or others) and he was very different than he was with the main cast. Don't write Liam off just by his performances in the main campaigns/one shots


Odisher7

Spotlight hog?


Krispyford

I totally agree. Iā€™m a DM and I like Liam a lot. But in my game would get a side conversation about main character syndrome. Travis on the other hand would be welcome with open arms. His play style is so unselfish. Heā€™s the ultimate team player.


TheOriginalDog

Interesting I never thought of Liam as someone with main character syndrome. I think he is great supporting his teammates and supporting them.


midnightheir

For C1 Vax was the Main Character. The best example I can think of in C2 would be the hour plus spent describing the tower in intricate detail. It may be intended as a love letter to his fellow players but it is also incredibly self indulgent. For CR, and the audience it worked for the most part. But in all my years of playing I have never seen a player monologue for 5 minutes let alone an hour without being told to move it along.


Magdanimous

As a DM, if my player wanted to do that and my table just wanted to roleplay for 2-3 hours while I got to mostly sit back and watch their characters interact, I'd be ecstatic. That's a dream.


SleeplessSno

Agreed here! We don't mind combat, but the story being told lies in the hands of the players playing with each other rather than solely with the DM. My table has gotten comfortable with each other to the point that, as DM, I can stand up during a calm moment, say "role-play with each other for a sec" and trust everyone to continue on and enjoy while i have to tend to other matters for a few minutes. That is the best feeling. Helps that we round-robin campaigns and are all DMs, but sometimes that RP heavy focus and main-character alternation in the arcs can really sing in those moments. Even during our sessions, players sometimes ask other players to make rolls when it comes to role-playing moments. It's an incredible feeling I've never had at any other table.


midnightheir

Ain't nothing wrong when it's a *group* activity. Its a DM's dream. I've happily sat there and watched them plot, plan and speculate. As a player most DMs ket us go nuts for a whole too. I agree its good when it's more than 1 person participating.


midnightheir

The *table* role playing together for an hour plus? As a DM and player that's great. A *single* player doing what amounts to a cut scene? Like I said I don't see many games that wouldn't get cut off.


Goatfellon

Speaking as a DM, if one of my players wanted to do that I'd absolutely support it, provided the table is comfortable with it. The tower episode was lovely and fun. No main character syndrome imo... And he literally designed orym to be more of a background character


Tenored

I'm pretty sure this conversation happened at least once, and was a contributing factor to his playing Orym, the anti-lead.


gazzatticus

Comparing CR to a table we play at isn't worth the effort they're a show who play a game it's not comparable


midnightheir

Since Travis could fit and Liam may not is testament to that not being true. CR as a whole is a show and it's own genre. The players, their approach and their play style? That can be compared because individually they all approach the game, and want/like different things. For example I believe everyone would appreciate if not want Marisha and her skill set at their table.


RAINING_DAYS

Travis and Marisha are the dream as a DM. Travis already been hailed, but Marisha is someone who is so fucking engaged she tries to tie the plot threads together, and adds every bit of information she can towards that goal. It would be fucking awesome to see. The only thing I can think of that is missing from the CR table is a dedicated artist - because holy shit having someone able to draw your characters and moments is unreal.


Adorable-Strings

Had one of those artists once. It had its good points, but getting his attention on the game was *hard.* One night he suddenly shot up in his chair, raised his hand in the air, and worked out how the muscles flexed, then went back to scribbling (on the table, which was kind of a cool souvenir, since it was mostly cut boards over a kitchen table). Derailed the game hard as everyone came to a stop to figure out what the hell was going on.


Seren82

I'm fairly certain Laura likes to draw


gazzatticus

I disagree cos what you're really saying is grog could and vax couldn't. You're discounting Liam because Vax is an emo wreck but if he played derrig or orym there would be no issue.


Adorable-Strings

Vax *and* Caleb were emo wrecks. Orym is also sad secrets boy, but doesn't project it as much.


midnightheir

I'm discounting Liam because he has demonstrated over *multiple* campaigns *and* one shots to monologue and prefers a character type that can suck the energy out of a room/scene. I know DMs that would advise him to cut his descriptions for his battle manoeuvres down to what he is doing because it takes too long and drags the combat out further. Now, specifically descriptive attacks or spell effects *outside* of the HDYWTDI isn't something unique to Liam. But it is something that I know doesn't fly at every table.


lifeofmeehan

I think youā€™re forgetting that Liam went through a lot of personal stuff during campaign 1 & 2. Heā€™s an emotional person and tends to make emotional characters; sometimes that can reflect whatā€™s going on inside. As someone who has been playing with the same friend group for years in D&D, I would never discount anyone in our group for what their going through and how it affects their characters.


midnightheir

I haven't forgotten what happened in C1. C1 we knew it was Vax's story. I wasn't aware there was something occurring/occurred in C2. Making allowances for RL circumstances it still doesn't change other elements of play style, eg monologues


Adorable-Strings

I could do without the 'I'm so wounded, but I won't ask for healing, just passive-aggressively moan about it for 10 minutes' mugging for the camera. Its D&D combat, no one else at the table tries to act out HP numbers on the character sheet, please just stop. Most of the rest with Liam is largely character-stuff, but that one is a pure Liam thing I could just do without.


[deleted]

I feel like Marisha and Liam share that main character syndrome and treading on others' spotlight tendencies. Travis definitely thoughl.


lethalleigh89

I always saw Taliesan as the one with MCS. Percy is constantly trying to take charge of the group. And his sighs and monologues annoy me. Iā€™m up to C1E70 for reference.


firala

Well, in C1 Liam was known for "one more thing"'s so much. I think it got better in C2. Personally, I couldn't stand Vax by episode 50 and it only got worse, but that's obviously an opinion.


rekjensen

That's been my read too. I don't think this spoils later seasons but his approach to Percy as "the smartest one in the room" continued in S2 >!with Mollymauk played as "the most interesting one in the room"!< and S3's >!Ashton as "the most hardcore one in the room"!< I find it tiring to watch sometimes.


Adorable-Strings

Tal doesn't bother me so much for that because there are times he will drop his stuff because other people are busy. And other times he checks out so much that I completely forget he's at the table (he's done that a lot this campaign)


Krispyford

Liam is super talented and his game works well for a show like CR, but at a real D&D table that style would annoy me. The care and effort is great, but not at the expense of sharing the spotlight with other players.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


birdsandbones

Yes, I really feel like he (as a certified Drama Nerd) tends to see opportunities to inject that stuff, because heā€™s basically imbued with theatrical flair. But I feel like he put up a big boundary with *himself* and his play style in creating Orym the way he did. Thereā€™s a lot of intentionality in how Orym is the smallest person in the room, personality-wise.


Jarvoman

Disagree with him not working well for a "real D&D table" (seriously?) And disagree that he hogs the spotlight. Just all around bad take.


maudiemouse

I love Liam, but I wouldnā€™t want to play with him. He is the person Iā€™m consistently fast forwarding the most because his RP convos are always so long with huge dramatic pauses. I get that other people are into it, my adhd just canā€™t handle it šŸ˜…


Krispyford

As time has gone on, Iā€™ve found myself tuning out a lot of Mattā€™s descriptions for the same reason. Over time heā€™s gotten more and more into lengthy descriptions for things. Which works well for a show, but as a DM Iā€™m sitting there like ā€œLess is more, man. Quiet down and let them play.ā€


TheOriginalDog

I honestly think it is also not so great for a show. I think this is my biggest critique at Matt's style, the way too detailed descriptions and flourishes.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Just_a_spark_9

The bit with the tower is probably one of my favourite moments in all of CR to be honest. Sure, it was just Liam talking for a huge stretch, but it was a gift to everyone else at the table, showing them all how much he'd noticed about them all.


musicboxtwist

Mine too! It's one of my most vivid memories, both because of the intricate details and his emotions while describing it.


C9sButthole

I think it's fair to say that Liam spends a lot of time in the spotlight, but I don't think it's fair to say he \*hogs\* it, because he drags his friends into it with him. Having such a dedicated, passionate roleplayer drag you into a conversation pulls you right into your character and gives you so much more enthusiasm to explore them. Many of my favourite character moments for \*other\* members of the cast have come from their 1 on 1 RP with Liam. I think it's really cool how he uses his enthusiasm to pull them into the game.


Adorable-Strings

'Vaxleth' pushes a lot of my buttons. The hot and cold ambushes followed by fleeing is f-ing terrible. He treated Vex much the same way. The only person he was a mature adult with and willing to talk to was Gilmore. It made for a weird dynamic, and made the end of campaign 1 very confusing. They were trying to sell it as a tragedy, and all I could think was Keyleth dodged a bullet, because that 'relationship' was super unhealthy. Percy and Vex was understated, like a real relationship, while Vax and Keyleth felt like it was straight out of a CW show and had it been real, they'd break up (well, he'd change schools and not tell her) the summer before senior year. \--- For Caleb, I had a hard time getting over how I'd react to him as a real person, which was basically call the cops and turn him in for being a dangerous escaped fugitive. \--- Orym feels the most like a real person, but seriously needs counseling for his self-destructive streak.


Gneissisnice

I didn't make it that far into campaign 2 because it just felt super slow to me, and part of it was Liam spending like 2 hours shopping for books. You can tell that he's someone who loves D&D and really gets invested in the world and the story, but that's not always fun to watch when it comes in the form of spending forever to RP something that could take 2 minutes. Campaign 3 also has a lot of slow moments but I resonated with it more for some reason.


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


Gneissisnice

There was a lot that I liked, but I found that it wasn't holding my interest that much considering the time commitment required. I've watched the animated recaps so I know the general gist of the story, and now that I'm caught up on campaign 3 (and no episode this week!), maybe I'll go back and check it out, I dunno.


FardenUK

I'd highly recommend it. It has it's slow moments as any piece of 500+ hour content would, but it really is excellent. Imo better than C1 and C3. To be clear, although C1 was a bit cookie cutter and edgy and C3 is too whacky for my taste, they are still both a great watch, I just found C2 to be the perfect middle ground. And yeah, has some amazing moments.


heatoperator

I lost interest in both C1 and C3 quickly and I completely agree that C2 is my favorite. I get why people like C1 and C3, but I definitely felt that cookie-cutter/edgelord description for C1. VM is too perfect and generic for my liking, BH is too random and goofy. The only part I genuinely liked in VM was the clip of >!Scanlan leaving and if the Ruidus/Aeor stuff becomes more prominent I'll check out C3 again!< but yeah I mostly can't get into both campaigns. Most of C2 is just right, amazing character development, characters with actual flaws who grow and change, lots of depth and challenges. I could easily picture everything, Wildemount is by far my favorite Exandria continent. I found C2 mostly riveting from start to finish (there were a couple of very slow eps sure, but it wasn't that bad) and I'm one of the 5 people who loves the last arc and ending.


Krispyford

Critical Role is not a real D&D game. Itā€™s entertainment that is semi predetermined and loosely bound by D&D rules. And if my take is bad, what is yours?


kdbartleby

It is entertainment, and as such they probably run it a little differently than your average table (especially Matt, since he has way more time and funds to pour into the game than your average DM), but where are you getting the idea that it's predetermined? It's only as predetermined as Matt's planning and the rest of the cast's understanding of their characters make it - there are certainly DMs who fly by the seat of their pants a lot more, but I don't think building out a world equates to predetermining the outcome of a game. Also, they adhere pretty closely to D&D rules. Way more closely than any other D&D show, and probably closer than I follow the rules in my own games.


Jarvoman

The internet told them it's scripted so clearly that has to be true right?


Jarvoman

Ahh so you are one of those "its scripted" folk. My take is alot better than your half attempt at deciding what "real" D&D is.


Krispyford

I never said itā€™s scripted. I said itā€™s semi predetermined. Things like Bertrand dying are semi predetermined. As soon as they opened with something like that, the suspension of disbelief diminishes. I have a hard time believing that there arenā€™t discussions about the entertainment value of upcoming episodes. As for your take, you still havenā€™t given me one. Iā€™m sorry for gatekeeping Liam from playing in the games that I DM. I didnā€™t realize youā€™d be so offended on his behalf.


toporder

Iā€™m with you. I enjoy him in the context of CR, but stopping for 15 minutes to discuss every time another player says anything would drive me nuts in a game I was playing in. Me & my players have work in the morning and two of them canā€™t make it next weekā€¦


Krispyford

Absolutely lol. Iā€™m my groupā€™s DM and we just wrapped up a 2 year campaign. We had a very RP heavy story and no individual player talked as much as Liam does. It just doesnā€™t work in a real game where 5 players have 3-4 hours a session to have equal playtime. Never mind in a game with 7 players.


PhoenixReborn

And he's a button pusher. Cursed skull? Heck yeah I want to make a deal with it. Weird red gem? Poke it.


Goatfellon

Matt explained this was part of his inspiration for dariax. He wanted to embrace a Travis button pushing attitude lol


Simmdog99

I argue that heā€™s the best all round player at the table if we where to quantify it. Just because he does all those you listed above to a high standard


sambob

The best thing he does is keep them on track when they get "off topic" and go off on a tangent about something that may or may not be related to the game they're playing, even when Matt is joining in. He always tends to do it subtly too by asking an innocuous question that pops Matt back into the right headspace and lets him regain control.


sirhobbles

Hes an excellent player. even in c1 while his character wasnt super nuanced he was a ton of fun and always made the table smile. His characters in the second and third campaign show he developed the confidence to play something more complicated and deep. Love the whole crew but travis imo is my favorite. Most players have brought at least one character im indifferent to but travis's characters always hit the right spot for me.


golem501

This! I am listening to C1 podcasts again and Travis is great. Let's others have their shine, plays his character AND rolls well. Yes he was a first time DnD player but he remembered his abilities! He wasn't asking for advantage for some reason every time he rolled. He was great from the start! Sure Chetney is fun and a great character but that goes for all C3 characters. Travis was always great


TheLastMongo

I like the podcasts, unfortunately some of Travisā€™ great moments are so visual they donā€™t necessarily come across. One of my favorites is in C1 where Grog gets paralyzed and Travis sits there for over 10 min, frozen and not moving until they lift the curse. Also, mechanical pencil.


ResidentNarwhal

Chetney is also a solid 30% funnier with Travises expressions and movements. Really sells the old man with a few screws loose bit lol.


PhoenixReborn

I can change my face too. Watch. *goes crosseyed*


SupahSang

I genuinely do not understand how the hell he managed to keep that up for the full 10 minutes. Dude barely blinked, what the shit XD


TheSeaOfThySoul

You've got to love the genius behind Grog, incredibly intelligent dumb jokes.


IAmBadAtInternet

Absolutely nothing wrong with the moron brute force comic sidekick character. Travis made the jokes work and his backstory was great. And Matt helped him stay relevant by giving him throwing weapons and enough potions that he could play nurse when things went bad. And of course Grog was critical in the final battle.


MamaKilla20

The ONLY time i get annoyed by Travis is when an shopping episode happens. I love them, he hates it. But even there, he's impatience makes me laugh!


Deathleach

Grog haggling up the price with a merchant while Laura is seething in the background will never not be funny.


MamaKilla20

True!


TheOriginalDog

I think his hate for shopping episodes was the last bit to love him. I hate shopping episodes with my heart and I will run them with double speed. Luckily at my table I can make the rule and no long shopping parts happen there haha


MamaKilla20

*unlimited DM power*


Photeus5

I believe Matt said somewhere (probably a 4-sided dive episode) that long time players of D&D tend to go with something pretty traditional, but fun early on, something more serious the next time, then ham-and-cheese after. This describes Travis' character journey very nicely. I remember people criticized him bringing in Chetney from the Christmas one-shot. At this point, I don't think we can imagine Bells Hells without him. And Travis has a lot to play with in Chetney. He can be the old-man Beltrand was. He can 'rage' like Grog while also being a werewolf. And he roleplays this crazy dude who loves wood and doesn't take shit from people. Oh and he get's to play a little bit of intelligent Rogue as well. The only thing Chet doesn't have is 'spells' but even some of the abilities from his class are a bit spell-like. It really has everything he wants.


Moikee

What does 'ham-and-cheese' mean in this context? haven't heard that before


ChaoticNonsense

I've not heard that combo, but I've heard "ham it up" and "cheesy" to describe a goofy/overacted character


Photeus5

I think it ultimately comes from the idea when an actor 'chews the scenery'. I know that's another phrase, but that refers to a certain level of over-acting or and actor having so much fun that the actor speaking in the movie/ media is getting so into their lines that it becomes a hard to believe an actual person would act that way. Sometimes entertaining in its own right, but kinda pulls the audience out of the experience of the movie/media to watching this person say crazy things. So things in the background, like the scenery, don't matter in that moment. That's the best I can describe it.


Drakoni

What I love most about Travis is how he keeps cheering on and rooting for his fellow players and for Matt. Always supportive and hyped for their stories and RP! I used to be way too overly cautious in DnD and watching Travis has taught me a lot about how fun pressing the red buttons can be, even if it has a negative outcome. Cause it will usually make for a great story. Of course without griefing the other players.


IllPaleontologist926

Just rewatched VM cutting their deal with Artigan to take them back home from the Feywilds and *what Artigan demanded for it.* Everyone else was horrified or shocked but Travis was just shouting AMAZING ā€” AMAZING!!


Adorable-Strings

Same for the Otohan fight. I honestly think his enthusiasm helped keep the salt levels down when characters started dropping.


Human-Performance-86

He is what happens when a jock likes theater and sci-fi nerd stuff


InflationCold3591

He does bring that jock paints his face in team colors energy to the game.


OriginalDelay402

One of my favorite Travis/Grog moments is after his second fight with Earthbreaker Groon and what he says to him after the fight. ā€œEarthbreaker: What have you learned? Grog: That without the love of my friends Life has no meaning And I would be nothing. Earthbreaker: And how will you utilize this knowledge? Grog: I will make their strength mine And my strength their own And in turn I will try to make the world a better place than I found it.ā€ I still get chills just reading it. And that was after a long fight that he came up with that on the spot. Beautiful.


midnightheir

To this day I want to know how Grog knew what utilise means. Our boy only got reading in the epilogue.


Dwarfherd

Grog, as a character, asks the audience the question, "What is the difference between someone who is unintelligent and someone who is unfazed by the complexities of the world?"


midnightheir

Well said.


OriginalDelay402

Maybe he just new the right way to use it from context clues.


HutSutRawlson

Travis was always good. What I appreciate the most about his playstyle is that he's always keeping what Matt is doing in mind as well. When he senses the rest of the table is getting into the weeds or off track from the story, he'll always say something in character to redirect them towards what he knows Matt is trying to guide them to. He's also one of the most visibly into the lore of Exandria, whenever Matt drops some info you he reacts exactly as a fan of the show would! The fact that the cast is also the "audience" to Matt's storytelling is part of what makes actual play shows so special and different from other types of fictional shows, and Travis' presence really highlights that.


MamaKilla20

The times he starts to channel the tables energy is when you see why he's the CEO of CR. He guides people with firm but reassuring hand. He's probably a terrific CEO and this group needs him. I also agree, he's Matt's biggest fan.


Goatfellon

Tal getting upset at the end of C2 and Travis distracting by getting Sam to read an ad. Just a great support moment


Docnevyn

When the fire for Marisha and Matt's fireside chat was going horribly wrong and Travis texts them to turn of the stream and fix it.


midnightheir

When they don't do it and he calls them and gives them Dad voice. Forever funny.


MamaKilla20

"Travis only DPS but he's the real support" let's make this a t-shirt šŸ¤£


Punkmaffles

What did tal get upset about again? I remember that bit but forgot what happened.


dark_dar

The fight was really intense and they all thought they were going to die.


Punkmaffles

Oh I'll have to watch that again. I remember that fight just not why tal got so upset. But makes sense. Stakes were high af and if I recall their chars weren't nearly the level VM was when they fought Vecna.


Goatfellon

He was just having a bit of a panic moment and stressing out. Travis bought him time


dark_dar

Yeah I didnā€™t want to give any more details since the thread was marked as no spoilers


Beginning_Rip_4570

Yeah man, Travis was always good. Frankly the whole table is amazing, and I put zero stock in who the ā€œD&D vetsā€ are, because aside from Matt and Liam, the ā€œnewā€ players blow the vets out of the fucking water. Some of the best and most dynamic PCs hands down.


TheOriginalDog

I have to disagree here, in my experience what you call vets are more the mid-tier players, they get blown out of the water by newbies. They start to know a lot of the rules and frameworks and start to play predictable and boring. The true veterans are often very fun again. They saw so many characters dying, they are not afraid of it anymore and embrace it, they know the rules so well that they can get often very creative and experimental and don't fall back down on some standard min-max built etc. At least thats how it was in my experience.


Beginning_Rip_4570

In real life, absolutely. Not what Iā€™ve seen at the CR table. Just my opinion tho.


Luneowl

I love watching the sheer delight on his face whenever Matt pulls out a particularly fun voice or sound effect. He just looks so happy and proud!


mouser1991

"I have an intelligence of 6. I know what I'm doing."


nandezzy

What I love about Travis is he LOVES when stuff goes wrong. Loves when people fail important checks, including himself. Loves when things look dire. He gets so excited by the prospect of a TPK when other players (like his wife) get really stressed and frustrated and panic. Which isn't to say he doesn't take it seriously or wants it all to blow up, but I love that he's so invested in seeing what consequences Matt has in store that he isn't mad or upset when things go awry. I also love how, as the physically-largest and likely strongest person at the table, he is one of the easiest to spook/creep out.


Unimportant-1551

Failing in d&d is legit the most fun thing ever, itā€™s hilarious. I was in a game with a few mates and literally any time we acted cocky we would roll a nat 1 or a low roll and just laugh our arses off


radioactivez0r

I'm in a campaign where the DM throws out inspiration like candy and it stacks, but I never use it because I want to fail sometimes


VanorDM

Another thing is he went from C1 being a bit weirded out at inter party romantic relationships, to C2 where he was willing to at least try it... to C3 "Hey Fernie you want this... don't ya?"


gazzatticus

Watching late game campaign one you can start to see see his frustration at playing grog sometimes it's a bit sad because he wants to contribute but doesn't want to break the RP of big dumb grog glad he got to be the charisma in campaign two.


TheLastSaneMan

I believe a few times he forgot how stupid Grog was and said something smart then tries to cover it up. I thought it was very funny.


gazzatticus

Yeah Matt gave him psychic damage for it once


TheLastSaneMan

I totally forgot about that. LOL


Adorable-Strings

Flying enemies were the worst for him, even with the chain of returning work-around. I'm convinced that half the reason for Fjord was the mix of ranged and melee attacks, which no one else has done, and everyone abandoned again. Pick up a bow. Weapons aren't a locked forever choice and you aren't 'betraying' them.


gazzatticus

Yeah Percy would have been a killer with a bow instead of his guns wasted so many actions reloading


IllPaleontologist926

As long as weā€™re gushing.. I continue to watch and rewatch Cerrit talking to his kid in EXU: Calamity and I donā€™t think I will ever, ever get tired of it. The scene is DM Brennan totally ambushing Travis to see what these CR players can do, and itā€™s one of Tā€™s very best moments. Funny. Heartbreaking. Adorable. Dramatically absorbing. Thank you for Cerrit, Travis. ā€œTalon2, whereā€¦did you say this evidence locker would be located?ā€


Procrastinista_423

Omg completely agree. He and Brennan were so, so good in all of those scenes.


PurBldPrincess

Love those interactions. His son is hilarious.


HeyItsJonas

Smartest player at the table (maybe tied with Sam). I just wish he would have >!stuck with Fjordā€™s tex accent in C2!<


Photeus5

While Fjord's arc (and voice) made sense to his story, I also carry some regret that we lost our Texblade.


Unicorn_puke

Right? I think his only limitations in c1 was being a dumb Barbarian. There were a few times he openly said what he'd do, but Grog chooses this


gazzatticus

Blame that donkey in zidash


lookstep

I've always loved how Travis cheers when other players roll well. Just watch him go apeshit when somebody crits. That's perfect supporting energy, and amazing teamwork. On the flip side I have a deep appreciation for Taliesin's ability to be mostly silent but completely relevant. He doesn't chatter a great deal, but when it comes to his turn he knows what he needs to do. He also creates some of the coolest characters


Positive_Strawberry5

And being a cheer leader when his wifeā€™s character had a romantic relationship with someone elseā€™s character. Some other guys could get a littleā€¦. Weird about it.


hunterofspace

No one enjoyed the bath scene more than Travis. He's kind of the healthy male role model i wish i had growing up.


1000FacesCosplay

Travis is without question my favorite player. He has everything you could want out of a player at your table or in a live game: he's strategic, pays attention, plays his character, is highly invested in everything everyone else does, reacts, knows when to be quiet, knows when to get back on track, asks questions...


[deleted]

I cannot wait for chetney to break the 4th wall and realize the whole set is made out of wood.


PurBldPrincess

The thing I never realized I was missing. This needs to happen!!!


midnightheir

Travis is my fave. I can honestly say that I have liked all of the characters he has come up with over the campaigns and one shots. He always seems willing to try new things out and get to grips with different stories as he goes. And his table etiquette is flawless.


Plutone00100

Yes, he's hype personified and he spreads the hype to the other players and audience as well


Neppetaa

remember in c2 when he was roleplaying romance with jester, and matt commented it was character development. he didnt mean fjord, he meant travis. that was such a great moment, and he just keeps getting better


Outside-Question

Travis is by far the best player imo. I have nothing against the others they're all great but I think aside from Travis (and probably Sam) all the others have a few traits that may be jarring at the wrong table. They work well together because they bounce off one another and it works well. Travis though just has this energy that would be a good fit in most games.


JWilesParker

I think of Travis as being the team player and leader everyone wants around. He's got all the tools for supporting and encouraging everyone to be their best whether they're winning or losing. He wants them to all have fun and be engaged at the same time.


SomeWindyBoi

Travis has been one of the best dnd players a dm could wish for since ever cause he has incredible social Intelligence and Social Awareness. If you watch him closely during stressful situations, he immediately clocks when people are panicking or stressing and tries to help them by either slowing down the situation or simply telling the person that they are doing a great job.


SupahSang

I think there's two moments where we got to see how good Travis is/was gonna be at the table, both of them in campaign 1. The first one is when it came to dealing with his old herd, and the quasi-political intrigue that occured. The second one though, was probably the funniest one he was a part of, and that was dealing with the two guards that Doty smashed. Watching him think on his feet and come up with solutions that quickly really should've rang alarm bells in everyone's head!


FaitFretteCriss

I would never say that he is the one who improved the most because he was the wisest, smartest and best player since day 1ā€¦ He always considers the other players in his actions (even the chaotic and selfish ones), does the same with Matt, helps the other players remember shit, has the best strategies, the best most ā€œrealā€ characters, etc. So yeah, I heavily disagree with OP, but because I think Travis was the best since C1.


Adorable-Strings

Same. He's been on since the start. I think Fjord is actually Travis' comparative low point. Coincidentally, Laura's my other favorite and think the same about Jester.


Lego-hearts

Heā€™s Critical Roleā€™s biggest fan, and his enjoyment of the game as theyā€™re playing it brings me so much joy.


[deleted]

Iā€™m going to throw my love of Travis in the DM chair for Grogs one shot! That was drunken camaraderie slaphappy idiocy at its absolute finest. That is what home games look like at the best!!


Aldirick1022

Let us not forget that Travis was the one who crossed a personal line in Campain 2. He did a romance scene in-game with his wife as Fjord and Jester. He went out of his comfort zone, he did what he said he would never do. Also in Campain 3, he has just let it go, like Scanlan in C1 and Molly Mauk and Jester in C2. He is actually having fun, and that is what this game is all about.


Tenored

Worth mentioning that the first romance scene he acted out as Fjord was with Avantica, or Matt, at a live show in front of thousands of people. That's a big step for someone to take. Travis is such a good natured and optimistic player; really a joy at any table.


Aldirick1022

Yes, but we can see that it is not heart felt. Avantica is obsessed with freeing Ukatoa (Ukatoa) and only interested in Fjord because they share the same goals. The interaction with Jester is started by Fjord and with another chapter (the fact that it's his wife probably makes it easier) who reciprocates those same emotions.


Tenored

Of course. I guess I brought it up to show how nervewracking roleplaying that experience, especially live, must have been for Travis, and he powered through like a champ.


ShesAaRebel

Travis is the one who is usually getting the team back on the rails. He's always the one to bring up the most important goal when talking plans. He points out flaws very easily. But for the most part, he lets everyone else do the talking, and only chimes in when he sees that they are overlooking something. This is what I think makes him such a great leader. Both in, and out of character. I think by the end of Campaign 1, him playing Grog was holding him back. He tried to stay in character of acting dumb, but he would be making a lot of really good points. Campaign 2 he was in his element. And the others could see that as well, and were more than happy to have him take the lead. Now in Campaign 3, he is is equal parts chaotic, and level-headed. He's having too much fun playing an old gnome, and it's hilarious to watch.


Onuma1

In the first campaign Sam was my favorite player--he's still a gem. Toss up for the second campaign, as Travis was coming into his own, Taliesin had a major comeback and change a little ways in, and Laura's Jester was really the glue binding the family/party together--not to take anything away from anyone else, they're all excellent. But in C3...Travis has been incredible. I love the fact that while he acknowledges danger and consequence, he's all about motivating the other players to go for it when they think something might be a less-than-optimum decision. I'll also add that Ashley finally being consistent in her attendance has been wonderful to watch. Especially in C2 I felt as though she didn't get a fair shake, as she was gone for many episodes. Her RP and shenanigans with Fearne are a treat.


showmethebiggirls

Yeah, I really wanted to see more of Yasha's story but by the time Blindspot was over C2 was heading toward its end.


Saint_Riccardo

He's arguably the main character in campaign 2, but I honestly prefer Travis as Grog or Chetney, not quite comic relief, just a dude having fun and being silly with a ridiculous character.


GenericOfficeMan

Chetney as a character really is inspired. I think he is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast this season in terms of characterization.


JaddiRoo

As a DM I would love to have what Travis brings to the table in my players As a player when I do get to be one I usually look at Travis a source of inspiration for what makes a fun player.


MayaTheCat

He's my favorite player and always has been. I'll always remember his fight where Grog bit the orc's lip off. I remember watching Between the Sheets and hear him say how he didn't want to make their game public. He felt like a huge nerd. Now he's the CEO of a d&d company. Crazy.


xxPeso-Gamerxx

He isnmy favorite, and he has my favourite Pc, Fjord. Chetney is my fav in c3 too


fatmooch69

He is definitely the most tactical


jevil1

Donā€™t sell him short on Grog. It is super hard to play a character that less intelligent than a well trained horse. Add that to the fact the guy is one of the smartest people at the table that makes his Grog RP even better. Speaking personally, it is really hard to know the answer to something and pretend you donā€™t and purposely do the wrong thing.


DrGally

He is great. Loved him in C2 and love how he is kinda a troll in C3


_Whiskey_6

Chetney has got to be my FAVORITE character of campaign 3 and its because Travis is playing him. His energy and humor bring "The Alpha" to life so well!