Best Laid Plans...

is the twelfth episode of the fourth chapter of Critical Role. Vox Machina confronts the darkness of Craven Edge and plans to retake Westruun. Scanlan infiltrates the city to set up a distraction and stumbles upon some old friends.

This episode is considered by Geek and Sundry to be the 50th episode, including and excluding. In celebration of the 50th episode landmark, this episode features the premiere of Critical Role&apos;s new opening sequence:  a live-action cosplay by the actors of the main characters in a dramatic combat scene. After gameplay, the cast opens Critmas gifts from fans.

Pre-Show
The following pre-show promotional video was shown on the Twitch stream, but it is not included on the final YouTube VoD:
 * Felicia Day's Paperback Book Tour 2016:  Formatted as a political attack ad against Felicia Day, this video ironically promoted Felicia's upcoming book tour to promote the paperback release of her book, You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost):  [A Memoir], with upcoming stops in:
 * Los Angeles, CA
 * Portland, OR
 * Denver, CO
 * Chicago, IL
 * Milwaukee, WI
 * Cincinnati, OH
 * Carrboro, NC
 * Albuquerque, NM

Part I
After Pike severed Craven Edge's connection to Grog with a Greater Restoration, Keyleth banished the evil sword the Dread Emperor's realm using Plane Shift. Due to the conflicting statements about the Dread Emperor's realm, it is unclear if Craven Edge is now in the Astral Plane, in a pocket dimension, or somewhere else altogether.

Quotations
Scanlan:  "I will grant you cock lightning."
 * Grog:  "If I do a pelvic thrust, will you do your...?"