Critical Role & Cosmere: When World-Hopping Wizards Meet a Shardblade, What Could Go Wrong?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Critical Role performers are set to embark on an epic actual play of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere TTRPG, showcasing the highly anticipated game in a cinematic event led by Jasper Cartwright and an all-star cast, diving into the perilous world of Roshar.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you accidentally summon a small, furry demon but it turns out to be surprisingly good at doing your taxes? That's kinda the vibe I'm getting from the latest news rumbling through the TTRPG ether: a powerhouse collaboration that feels like a glitch in the matrix in the best possible way. Critical Role performers – those digital deities of the tabletop realm – are diving headfirst into Brandon Sanderson's sprawling Cosmere, specifically the Stormlight Archive, in an actual play for the ages. As Samantha Nelson reported over at Polygon, this isn't just a casual roll of the dice, mate; this is a full-blown, cinematic event.
Right, so let's unpack this magical scroll. Brotherwise Games' highly anticipated Cosmere Roleplaying Game, which, fair warning, smashed Kickstarter records faster than I can miscast a teleportation spell, is getting its public debut on November 14th. And who better to showcase the stormwracked world of Roshar than some of the most recognisable faces (and voices) from the actual-play scene? We're talking about an all-star line-up featuring Abubakar Salim, Jacqueline Emerson, Oxventure's Jane Douglas, and the inimitable Mark/Mara Hulmes, all guided by the very capable hand of Jasper Cartwright, who's stepping into the DM's chair.
Now, if you've been living under a rock (or perhaps a very well-guarded mimic), Critical Role has pretty much redefined what 'actual play' means for a whole generation of gamers. They've taken what was once a niche hobby and turned it into a theatrical, community-driven spectacle. And Brandon Sanderson? Well, he's basically built an entire literary universe (the Cosmere, for the uninitiated) that's so intricate and deeply imagined, it makes most fantasy worlds look like a doodle on a napkin. So, when you smash these two forces together, you're not just getting a game; you're getting a cultural event that's bound to ripple through both the TTRPG and high fantasy communities like a well-aimed surge of Surgebinding.
Jasper Cartwright, who you might remember from Dimension 20's 'Burrow's End' or Critical Role's 'The Re-Slayer’s Take', is the wizard helming this particular adventure. He'll be running a one-shot called 'Echoes of the Father,' which sounds delightfully ominous, doesn't it? The players are tasked with venturing into the monster-infested Shattered Plains – a setting that screams 'high stakes adventure' louder than a furious Chasmfiend – to retrieve a legendary Shardblade. For those not familiar with Roshar's deadliest bling, a Shardblade isn't just any old magic sword; it's a soul-slicing, prestige-granting, game-changing artifact coveted by Roshar's elite warriors. Getting one is like winning the lottery, only with more giant crabs and existential dread.
What truly has my curious antennae twitching is the level of production they're promising. This isn't just a bunch of mates around a table (though that's glorious in itself, mind). The crew will be in full costume, and the whole shebang will apparently blend visual effects to craft a cinematic experience. This is where my gently skeptical side perks up, because 'cinematic experience' can sometimes mean 'overproduced fluff', but given the talent involved and Critical Role's history of high-quality streams, I'm cautiously optimistic this will be genuinely spectacular. Think less 'school play with a green screen' and more 'Lord of the Rings meets your favourite D&D stream'. Plus, Cartwright already ran a Candela Obscura game, 'Thresher', for this same group of players on Critical Role, so the chemistry is already there, like a perfectly brewed potion.
Now, the 'Echoes of the Father' is a standalone story, which is great for new viewers who don't want to get lost in the Cosmere's vast lore straight away. But this being the gaming world, a standalone often hints at bigger things, and indeed, it *could* expand. This potential expansion comes via the newly minted Eternal Realms studios, a collaboration between Cartwright’s 12 Sided Studios and production company Paragon Pictures. It’s always fascinating to see these partnerships form, especially when they stem from creative passion rather than pure corporate synergy. Cartwright himself sounds genuinely thrilled, stating he's 'fallen in love with Roshar and the Cosmere RPG,' and couldn't be prouder of what they've created. That authentic enthusiasm, mate, is what we live for.
And let's not forget the sheer weight of the Cosmere RPG itself. Being the most-funded tabletop game in Kickstarter history? That's not just a statistic; it's a testament to the immense gravitational pull of Sanderson's worlds and the hunger for well-crafted TTRPGs. While this initial dive is into Roshar, future products are expected to delve into other interconnected Cosmere worlds, with Mistborn books anticipated in 2026. This isn't just a one-off; it's the opening of a portal to infinite adventures across a multiverse of possibilities.
So, what does this all mean for us, the eager gamers and world-hoppers? It means a high-production, lore-rich actual play experience that promises to be both entertaining and a fantastic showcase for a new TTRPG system. It’s a brilliant crossover event that combines critical darlings with a literary legend, and I, for one, will be absolutely glued to my screen when it drops on Sanderson’s YouTube channel on November 14th. Grab your popcorn, maybe a safe-conduct pass for the Shattered Plains, and prepare for some serious role-playing wizardry. This could be one for the digital history books, mate.
Tags: TTRPG, Critical Role, Brandon Sanderson, Fantasy Gaming, Actual Play
Original article: Polygon