Be A Better Player 21 - Don't expect Critical Role

 

Be A Better Player 21 "Don't expect critical role" and for damned sure don't demand it! 

DM - "Welcome to the table, glad to have you here."

Player 1 - "Yeah we need some new blood."

Player 2 - "Grab a seat, we can move around a bit if need be."

New Player - "Okay great, happy to be hear. Where can I set to face the camera better?"

Player 3 - "Face the what now?"

New Player - "The camera for when you stream the game. Where do you usually set them up?"

DM - "We don't stream our games."

New Player - "You don't?"

Player 2 - "Yeah we just play here at the table. For fun."

New Player - "Why would anybody want to even play if it's not being streamed? That's kind of dumb."

DM - "Maybe you should rethink what you think gaming should be."

While Critical Role has been instrumental in propelling the popularity of the gaming hobby to never before seen levels there have been some issues to come along with it. Before I start I'm in no way bashing the show, it's stories, or how they do things. I'm simply pointing out some problems I've seen come up because of the way people see the show. Also this isn't just limited to Critical Roles influence, there have been many successful streaming actual play shows which have caused some folks to develop a false sense of expectations. 

What you see, and hear, on that show is now how most gaming looks at the table. Matthew Mercer is a professional voice actor, many of cast are voice actors or work in the film industry in some fashion. These folks have been to acting school, or at least classes. They are professionals doing a job that has a production budget, editing team, writers and so much more. 

Most likely, you don't have any of that. 

So don't expect the person running the game to have all that. Don't expect all the players to have all that. Definitely don't DEMAND that they have all that. 

I've seen players tell folks who've been running games for decades that they shouldn't be a DM because they "can't do all the voices and accents". Or that everyone at the table should have to dress up as their character. Not to mention asking why they don't have a high end streaming set up so they can "become" famous with the game. Or act like you are auditioning for Critical Role at a table where nobody else is interested in that.

Being that jackass with over the top expectations from the other people at the table will likely get you uninvited from that table. As they should do. Let everyone have the fun the way they want to. If you can't do without all the extras then leave and find a group that does. Good luck with that.