Talks Machina 9: What Lies Beneath the Surface

is the ninth episode of Talks Machina.

Andrew from CritRoleStats answers questions about how he got started with stat-tracking for the show and how CritRoleStats has grown from there. Laura Bailey, Liam O'Brien, and Sam Riegel discuss with Brian Wayne Foster.

Talk with Andrew

 * For Andrew: How many people maintain the website?
 * A: Four (Andrew, Catherine, the Singning Badger, and Lauren. More on CritRoleStats)
 * For Andrew: When did Andrew start watching the show? And what is the origin story of the website?
 * A:, taking his personal notes that evolved into the CritRoleStats.
 * For Andrew: Walk us through your thursday night. What are the live duties of CritRoleStats?
 * A: Andrew handls live tweeting, Catherine trackes HP shifts, both Badger and Lauren track the running stats (dice rolls, puns, etc).
 * For Andrew: What are the most strangest stats do you track of?
 * For Andrew: What are the most strangest request you got from critters?
 * For Andrew: What are your favorite stats to track?
 * A: For Andrew — stats connected with time (running time, battle time, etc). For Badger — media references.
 * For Andrew: What are the biggest challenges your face with working on the CritRollStats?
 * A: Time

Talk with the cast

 * For Liam and Sam: What is the status of All Work No Play podcast?
 * For everyone: How stoked were you learning that Kashaw Vesh and Zahra Hydris survived?
 * For Laura: Will Vex keep using broom, switch to the Carpet of Flying, or hoard all for herself?
 * A: Hoard all for herself.
 * For everyone: With potential upcoming battle with Raishan, do you regret not searching Thordak's hoard for potions?
 * For Liam: Where does Vax's recklessness come from: revenge for Keyleth or personal reasons?

GIF of the Week


 * For Sam: Scanlan is starting to show a bit of a dark side. Was that always there or has his death taking a toll?
 * For Liam and Laura: How are you feeling about Scanlan's suude abuse?
 * For Liam: How do you feel Vax's interactions with Scanlan have affected him?
 * A: Vax is taking aback by his mental problems, as he used to seeing the jovial side of Scanlan.
 * For Sam: What are thoughts on Super Bawl?
 * For Sam: How would Sam describe Scanlan's state of mind?
 * For everyone: What are the destructive sides of your characters that in some way are similar to Scanlan's drug addiction but are alien to you IRL?
 * Liam: usually does not solve his problems with his fists
 * For Sam: "Has Scanlan though about how Kaylie is going to think of him post-suude addiction?"
 * A: Scanlan is trying anything that will provide some relief in a short run but do not look long ahead
 * For Sam: Do you think think Scanlan's alignment will change after he Modified Jarett's memory to get a new dose of suude?
 * For Liam: How Vax handling Vex's second death?
 * For everyone: What was going though your mind when the Deck of Many Things came into play?
 * Liam: knew it was destructive when he thoroughly read multiple DnD manuals, preparing for campaigns that involve his kids, and from memoris of his childhood campaigns
 * Sam: felt the essence of this item from Liam's reaction but, playing his first campaign of DnD, did not know what it was
 * For everyone: Knowing what the cards do, would any of your characters draw them?
 * For Laura: Which did Vex enjoy more: her bath with Percy or getting flying carpet back?
 * A: "well you only get like a couple magic carpets in your life and you can have as many baths as want"
 * For Liam: How was the bath with Percy? Did Vax enjoyed making him uncomfortable?
 * Liam: He was disturbed for Vax, as he cannot tolerate the thought of his naked body was so close to his sister's naked body
 * Laura: Vex doesn't care; she is pretty free with her body
 * For everyone: What do you think Raishan is searching for?
 * Sam: Raishan stole two of her babies she had with Thordak
 * For Liam and Laura: If twins had been accepted by the elven society from the moment they were born, what profession would they choose?
 * Laura: Ambassador or another specialization involving negotiations
 * Liam: Soldier, without thinking about the consequences

Fan art of the Week


 * For Laura: How did Vex feel when Scanlan ratted out to Allura Vysoren the finding of the carpet?
 * For Sam: Will Scanlan inspire Vox Machina differently, now that he became Darth Scanlan?
 * For eveyrone: If CritRoleStats would track any part of your life that is not Critical Role related, what would it be?

Talks Machina After Dark

 * For everyone: How do keep from stepping on each other's toes when there isn't a combat order?
 * For everyone: Does anyone knows who did the makeup for the opening?
 * A: Misti Dawn
 * For Sam: Who is your favorite guest player?
 * A: Felicia Day, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, and Chris Hardwick
 * For Liam: You always wear a silver looking bracelet on your upper forearm. Does it have special significance?
 * A: Nope, but it's styled like a snake, reminding Liam of Simon.
 * For everyone: What is your favorite prank calls you did at cons?
 * Laura: Shin-chan
 * For Sam and Liam: What your wives think about the show?
 * Quyen Tran watched only one episode and was wondering: "is this what the whole show is and why are you all talking in a British accents"
 * When Liam tells Amy about his DnD game, she listens a little tidbits of the first and the second story but by the third one her eyes would glaze
 * For Sam: How do you come up with your songs?
 * For Laura: With Trinket's dicreesed role, now that your levels and stakes are so high, is it time for Trinket to retire and stay safe in Whitestone?
 * For Laura: Did Vex wear the Raven's Slumber with unconscious Trinket inside while she was in the bathtub?
 * For everyone: How do think about your desision to rest before the fight with Raishan?
 * For Liam and Laura: How do think Sylador will react on your character's relationships with Keyleth and Percy?
 * For Laura: Do you have an idea for DnD campaign?
 * Sam: It for sure would involve angels and vampires
 * Laura: Fantasy setting with "romance everywhere"
 * For everyone: How can a person with zero acting training get into a character?