Critical Role Reveals D&D Dungeon Master Trick

Campaign 4 of Critical Role has proven that Dungeon Master Brennan Lee Mulligan has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. He has introduced new house rules on dying and death, spiced up a new subclass for Matthew Mercer’s fighter/rogue, and shaped the world of Aramán in ways that change how magic works mechanically and narratively.

Yet for all the additions Mulligan has brought to Campaign 4, the latest episode sees him unveil the dirtiest Dungeon Master trick in the Dungeons & Dragons book: player bait.

Ed note: This article has spoilers for Critical Role, Campaign 4, Episode 36, “Spectacle.”

The ultimate Dungeon Master trick

From the beginning, one key concept driving Campaign 4 has been its resemblance to the scheming intrigue that defined George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones. The world of Aramán is full of powerful, politically motivated magical houses, while the 13-player cast acts as underdogs trying to overthrow the establishment. At times, that means building alliances on lies and trickery.

In Campaign 4, episode 36, “Spectacle,” the players at the Schemers’ table (Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Luis Carazo, Whitney Moore, and Sam Riegel) were forced to reckon with the consequences of their deceit. Unfortunately for Azune Nayar, played by Carazo, his caught-in-the-act moment came down to an unexpected cause: an axe.

While investigating the deaths of the demon tailors at Mercanaud Couturier, Azune shared a moment with Harondus Einfasen. Harondus is a noble of House Einfasen who had taken over as overseer of Dol-Makjar’s security by shutting down the Revolutionary Guard’s offices. During this conversation, Einfasen noticed the axe on Azune’s person.

However, it was not just any old axe. In episode 26 of Campaign 4, “Council of Heroes,” Lady Ingrid Einfasen presented the axe to Sir Julien Davinos, played by Matthew Mercer, as a token of her favor. Julien expertly kept his options open while showing interest before promptly dumping the axe on Teor Pridesire, played by Travis Willingham. The Katari paladin’s untimely death meant the axe ended up with Azune, who has carried it ever since.

Unfortunately for Azune, this axe led to serious consequences. Harondus not only recognized it after a few poor rolls by Carazo, but also said he would congratulate Ingrid on her stellar taste in men. This could be disastrous for the Schemers, since Ingrid gave it to Julien because she believed real feelings were involved. If she finds out Julien simply tossed it to Azune, she might confess everything she knows and also reveal that Azune is lying, damaging the relationship he has painstakingly built with the Einfasens.

While the Schemers’ table despaired at the idea of a random axe potentially ruining everything, Mulligan was delighted.

“I love how much trouble I can get people in by making plot-significant items really mechanically good,” he teased. “It’s like: we’re not going to say no to this axe. This axe is sick as hell. Hey, that’s the love axe.”

Though details about the axe are scarce, its stats were strong enough that Teor and Azune both swapped out their old weapons for it. As someone who has been both a Dungeon Master and a player in a Dungeons & Dragons game, nothing is more tempting to a player than a magical item. Not only is it more powerful than a regular weapon, but it also adds a sense of uniqueness to a character’s build.

However, as the latest Critical Role episodes have shown, these items can come with unintended ramifications. Some Dungeon Masters do this by making an item cursed. Cursed items have appeared in Critical Role before, such as Grog’s sword Craven’s Edge in Campaign 1: Vox Machina. These items are usually extraordinarily powerful, but often have serious drawbacks that make them risky to use. They can also play on a player’s sensibilities, forcing a choice between risking it all for strength and playing it safe.

Mulligan chose an alternative approach by baiting the players with an axe that seemed harmless but was actually a plot-significant item.

Right now, the exact fallout of Harondus Einfasen noticing the axe remains uncertain. Ingrid Einfasen could be far wittier than she appears, or she could feel outraged that Julien favored someone else and turn villainous. What is certain is that players should always double-check any item given by their Dungeon Master because repercussions can emerge down the line. Well played, Mulligan.

Source: Polygon