An official Critical Role campaign is on the way from the publishers of D&D

12.10.2021

Critical Role’s first full-length Dungeons & Dragons campaign book will be published by Wizards of the Coast on March 15, 2022. Co-designed by series creator Matthew Mercer, Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep will be set in the world of Exandria and include story elements that tie into previous Critical Role campaigns. It will also feature new mechanics that have never been attempted in the actual play series before. The announcement was made on Tuesday.

According to the official description, Call of the Netherdeep will begin at level three in Ank’Harel, a “glimmering oasis-city” on the continent of Marquet (also the setting for the troupe’s third full campaign, premiering on Oct. 21). From there it will transition to the Netherdeep, described as “a terrifying cross between the Far Realm and the deep ocean.”

“Above it all, the red moon of Ruidus watches,” the description continues, “twisting the fates of those who have the power to shape the course of history. Fans will discover that the greed of mortals has awakened a powerful entity long thought destroyed, a mighty champion of the gods that has been imprisoned in the darkest depths of Exandria for eons, with his name and heroic deeds forgotten. Languishing in despair, he calls out for new heroes to save him.”

Joining Mercer in the design role will be James J. Haeck (Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist) and Wizards’ lead story designer Chris Perkins. Over seven chapters, the book will detail new creatures and magic items. There will also be a rival party of non-player characters that Dungeon Masters and players alike will have to contend with. Players should finish the adventure at or near level 12.

Created in 2012, the Critical Role troupe has grown to become one of the world’s premiere actual play series with more than 1,000 hours broadcast across multiple campaigns. This isn’t the first collaboration between Wizards and Critical Role. In 2020 they partnered for Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, a sourcebook intended to allow players to create their own characters and adventures set in the world of Critical Role. Another sourcebook, Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, is due out around the same time and will be self-published by the troupe’s Darrington Press imprint.