Fireside Q&A with Matthew Mercer

is a special episode of Critical Role. Matthew Mercer sits down for a Q&A with the chat room and works with them to build a future NPC and enemy encounter.

Q&A

 * What's your favorite trope in D&D or just in general? What was your favorite storyline besides the Chroma Conclave?
 * What's your favorite class in D&D?
 * Has the Raishan trophy mount arrived yet?
 * How surprised were you when Liam killed everyone midway last week?
 * Did you know that's not a real fireplace behind you?
 * What do you think of the new Mystic class?
 * When starting the campaign, how much did you start with? What level did everyone start at?
 * At first, the game was planned as a one-shot and the characters were at the third level because Matt "wanted it to be enough of a character ability spread that they had at least a number of options at their disposal".
 * For that one-shot, the characters were originally built in the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, because, according to Matt, "it was the most button-push. He told them the three abilities they have, how often they could use them," then the players can jump right into the game.
 * What is your favorite tabletop RPG system?
 * What do you recommend when you have no good reason for player characters to pop in and out of the story between sessions?
 * Any tips on dealing with audition nerves? Waiting to hear back on an audition.
 * Have you ever LARPed?
 * What is your favorite kind of cheese?
 * I'm planning to break into the VO industry and currently taking lessons. Is there anything else you recommend to get an edge in this cuttthroat industry?
 * How do you set magical item prices?
 * Are you surprised by what some of Vox Machina has decided to do over the past year?
 * Is blood hunter being added to your campaign?
 * You always try to be positive and down-to-earth. How do you do it?
 * Pineapples on pizza: yay or nay?
 * How do you balance your major part in Critical Role and your career as a voice actor?
 * Is there some NPC in particular you've been itching to introduce, but the moment never presented itself?
 * What's your favorite type of cookie?
 * How'd you get into Burning Man?
 * Bees: yes or no? If yes, how many?
 * Have you ever had a moment when you almost gave up being a DM entirely?
 * What do you think of the McElroy brothers on the show the Adventure Zone?
 * Did you talk to any of the Critical Role cast about how their characters spent their time during the timeskip?
 * Triss or Yennefer?
 * How do you want to do this?
 * Can we see more dwarves? I love their accent.
 * What is your favorite animated movie?
 * What about a new member joining Vox Machina during the campaign?
 * Have you ever been charged of a crime?
 * Matt was once interrogated by the police. On his way to his friend Todd Hunt's house, Matt, bearing a bag full of dice and "everything else" to play Rifts with his friend, stopped by at his girlfriend's house for a brief greeting. He knocked on the door. Peek behind the window. Not hearing any response, Matt continued his walk and "about five or ten minutes later, a bunch of cop cars pulled up because apparently the cops were really bored in Agoura Hills". They searched his bag, wondered if there is a drugs hidden inside his dice, asked why he was wandering the neighborhood, and peacefully let him go.
 * His girlfriend's mom was Lebanese.
 * Are you going to Dragoncon this year?
 * What's the story behind each of your braclets?
 * Matt's first bracelet is magnet-based and he received it at his first Burning Man. It represents personal responsibility and there to remind Matt of struggles his father went through with drugs and alchohol. Fearing alcohol addiction may prevail in him too, Matt avoided all liquor until age of 23. At his first Burning Man, "being surrounded by drug culture", he "faced those demons as well" and the bracelet symbolises that he "was not bound by the addictions of his father, and his grandfather before him".
 * The second bracelet was made for him by Marisha on their first anniversary. It has engraved coordinated of the place where Matt and Marisha had their first kiss.
 * The third bracelet was given to him by Brittany Walloch-Key, who Matt has known for over 10 years. It represents hale and supportive friendship.
 * The fourth bracelet was a gift from a Critter during one of the Critmases. It represents community.
 * How did you and Marisha meet?
 * Marisha and Matt met through their mutual friend Becky Young: Becky was attending improv classes with Marisha, becoming her close friend, and was working with Matt as voice actors for a webseries called There Will Be Brawl. Subsequently, Becky started a sketch group, inviting Matt Key, Marisha Ray, and Matthew Mercer. From the start, when they both met each other on their first writers meeting, Matt and Marisha "crushed on each other" but both were already in a relationship. Continuing their meetings at social events for about a year, Matt, hired for a mo-cap job, was asked by his employer, if he knew someone with dance and martial arts experience. Matt recommended Marisha, she passed the audition, and afterwards, they met for a dinner, immediately found common grounds, and "clicked".
 * What is that tattoo on your left wrist?
 * Matt's first tattoo represents the art car of his Burning Man camp — the Sensitron 5000, "a triangular metallic platform built on a truck bed with a large LED umbrella that comes off the top of it".
 * Who has more shoes, Matt or Marisha?
 * When you get a rare chance to play, is there a personality trait that you try to avoid?
 * What happened to the aasimar kids [ Hunin and Kyor]?
 * Skyrim or Witcher 3?
 * Wine, whisky, or vodka?
 * How do you deal with rejection?
 * Matt's commentary on Taryon's coming out in an attempts to explain his position and mind during this moment.
 * How excited are you for the new Bill Nye show?
 * What's your favorite band?
 * Kind of stagnant in life with no direction. Did you have any friends or were you like that? How did you find direction/motivation?
 * What instrument would you play?
 * How's the date going? Are we gonna see each other again? Does Marisha mind?
 * Did you ever mow your lawn?
 * Do you like camping?
 * What music are you listening to at the moment?
 * Favorite sweet alcoholic beverage?
 * Worst video game you've ever played?
 * Ever considered short hair?
 * Favorite voice line? Which bugs Marisha the most?
 * Any tips on how to deal with players that fight over items and gold?
 * Stars Wars or Star Trek and why?
 * New tattoo?
 * Favorite action movie character?
 * Favorite doctor from Doctor Who?
 * Favorite non-RPG game?
 * For players that want more variety, are there any resources you can recommend for learning accents?
 * Best dream you ever had?

Voting
Ally:
 * Race? (Drow, Half-orc, Genasi, Human, or Dragonborn) (results at )
 * Occupation? (Warlock, baker, royalty, bounty hunter, or prostitute) (results at )
 * Interest in Vox Machina? (Grog, wedding, vengeance, fanboy, or bring Tary home) (results at )
 * Hidden secret? (revenant, secretly a Paladin, Ziggurat, Hitman, or he's blind) (results at )
 * Name? (Rubrick, Miklos, Zalvs(?), K'ryyn, or Noxtra) (results at )

Antagonist:
 * Size? (Tiny, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan) (results at )
 * Type? (Fey, Aberration, Construct, Celestial, or Elemental) (results at )
 * Ability Score Focus? (STR, DEX, CON, WIS, INT, or CHA) (results at )
 * Fighting Focus? (Melee, Ranged, Spell, or Environment) (results at )
 * Name? (Kaeora, Balkanus, Yort, Exelon, Symphior, or Leth'ess)

Results

 * Poll results for K'ryyn:
 * Race: Drow
 * Occupation: Baker (with bounty hunter close behind)
 * What is their interest in Vox Machina?: Bring Tary home
 * What is this NPC's secret?: Ziggurat
 * What is this NPC's name?: K'ryyn


 * Poll results for Symphior:
 * What size creature?: Tiny
 * Creature Type: Celestial
 * What is the NPC damn good at?: Charisma
 * Focus: Environment
 * Name: Symphor [sic]