"Talks Machina Live from San Diego Comic-Con 2018!" (TMx75) is the seventy-fifth episode of Talks Machina and the third live episode. It was recorded live at San Diego Comic-Con on July 21, 2018 and aired on Twitch and Alpha on July 24, 2018 at 7pm Pacific time.
Synopsis[]
- Matt announced the second run of Vox Machina Origins (debuting in 2019), which will include Pike Trickfoot and Percival de Rolo's introductions to the rest of Vox Machina.
- Brian: Matt, how are you holding up? That's a lot of plates to spin at once. Just having the three regular cast members plus adding two guest cast members plus drama?
- Trauma. It's a lot but like anybody who had run a game before, real life changes things and you have to adapt. Laura and Travis' baby arriving a little early was tweak Matt had to make. Ashley haven't got back from New-York is a tweak he's used to making. Super excited that Ashly Burch is coming along as a guest, she's amazing and Sumalee Montano who came in the week before was incredible.
- The difficulty in tragedy of storytelling has been unique and weird but also, it's leaning already into interesting and wonderful storytelling threads that none of them could've expected. They're still through a grieving process. Matt will probably work with Taliesin to design a Mollymauk tattoo so Matt can have a memory there.
- Trauma. It's a lot but like anybody who had run a game before, real life changes things and you have to adapt. Laura and Travis' baby arriving a little early was tweak Matt had to make. Ashley haven't got back from New-York is a tweak he's used to making. Super excited that Ashly Burch is coming along as a guest, she's amazing and Sumalee Montano who came in the week before was incredible.
- Brian: Marisha, Sam, Liam, you guys haven't been on Talks Machina since this happened. What was that Thursday night like for you guys?
- Sam: It was weird and it was weird when he left the table. It was also weird when it all starting to sink in, realizing the dynamic will going to change now. It's the first time it happened in both campaigns with a permanent death.
- Liam: Yeah, it was real new because they knew how low level everybody is and they know they were out in the middle of the woods, so they knew they had a much greater chance in sticking. Liam is glad that Keg stepped out when she did because as soon as Molly went down and looked like it was getting worse, Liam/Caleb Widogast started to think how many can he saves and run if he cannot.
- Marisha: It would have been real messed up if Beauregard Lionett was the only Mighty Nein member standing.
- Sam: It was weird and it was weird when he left the table. It was also weird when it all starting to sink in, realizing the dynamic will going to change now. It's the first time it happened in both campaigns with a permanent death.
- Brian: I think a lot of people want to know why you chose to leave Molly's coat behind.
- Sam wanted to take it with them because its a fabulous coat, but ultimately he thinks it was right to leave it behind because it's a part of him and doesn't have the same meaning on someone else's shoulders. Better to just leave it with Lucien, the Nonagon.
- Liam says that if he wanted to rise from the grave of an NPC to become the Big Bad of the campaign, he would be twice as furious if the coat was gone. Matt made a joke that one day the party will be on the streets of Zadash and a someone is wearing Molly's coat and all they can hear it the Kill Bill siren.
- Sam wanted to take it with them because its a fabulous coat, but ultimately he thinks it was right to leave it behind because it's a part of him and doesn't have the same meaning on someone else's shoulders. Better to just leave it with Lucien, the Nonagon.
- Brian: Marisha, you chose the tarot cards as a memento. Why?
- Beau has a family history with tarot cards that Marisha will not get into now. Also, Beau and Molly had their last meaningful conversation over those cards and Marisha thinks that's why Beau feels she's untilted to them. Beau has a lot of regrets about that final conversation and how that went.
- Brian: Sam, you didn't want anything?
- Of course he wanted to have the shiny stuff but it didn't feel right. It's hard for Nott the Brave to control her little itch. But in the face of such an emotional wall, it was insurmountable. Taliesin was backstage and screamed "loot the body", Liam says Laura texted the cast the same thing.
- Brian: Taliesin, Matt said he'll bring your new character in in a time that feels organic to the story. What was it like watching Critical Role from the lobby with the rest of us plebs this week?
- Taliesin was sitting in the lobby working on a side project that is now three days behind because he had to create a whole new character in such a short notice. Every now and then, Taliesin heard keys words that he might be coming up, dropping everything, running and waiting then slowly walking back because it was a false alarm.
- Marisha: What did you think of your funeral? Did we do good? Was it good? Did we make you cry? Did you cry?
- Taliesin says that more money could have been spent, like ending up in a brothel. Sam says they had a bunch of fireworks. Fireworks in a brothel, that what would have wanted. But yes, Taliesin was crying.
- Brian: What were your guys' first impressions of Shadycreek Run?
- Sam says it's kind of a shame they can't explore the town too much because they're on a mission and also there could be people waiting to ambush them. The town seems really fun and they want to explore it but don't really have time now.
- Stephanie: Sam, how do you (in your head) kind of get into Nott's headspace? For a character who's really kind of really different than you are as a person. Or is she?
- She's different and getting into that headspace is a little physical because his body shakes a little because she's skittish. It helps and it also helps with her voice. It took some time to gate into it for the first few episodes, but now Sam can picture her point of view from three feet off the ground and it sort of getting second nature now. Also, Sam had a lot of drinks in the past so he knows from sense memory what's that like.
- Kate: Matt, what was the hardest part about prepping a new setting for Campaign Two and what was different about prepping the first game that you didn't know was going to be live? And how did you get through that?
- One of the hardest part was to make something that felt thematically different but still familiar enough where it wasn't a complete departure from what they used to and that could still fit in the world along with the Tal'Dorei experience that they have developped throughout Campaign One. For Matt it was trying to have enough threads that were common and consitent to where it wasn't too jarring but also hoping that it would have a different flavour and feel. Still be fun, and have dark moments as well.
- For the first session, Matt tried to come up with something fun and light-hearted but also that has some interesting twists with a mystery into it. It can also be a good jumping in point for new viewers that can be put off with by the volume of content of the first campaign. There was no trick into it, it was a lot of hard work and hope.
- One of the hardest part was to make something that felt thematically different but still familiar enough where it wasn't a complete departure from what they used to and that could still fit in the world along with the Tal'Dorei experience that they have developped throughout Campaign One. For Matt it was trying to have enough threads that were common and consitent to where it wasn't too jarring but also hoping that it would have a different flavour and feel. Still be fun, and have dark moments as well.
- Mike: Now that you have you have your own studio and everything, do you have any news on any future one shots, and if Sam and Liam's wives would ever want to play?
- They joke about Sam being Liam's wife. Sam says that their "show" wives are way too cool for this.
- Marisha says that there will definitely be one shots incoming like Honey Heist 2: Electric Beargaloo and other things that they're not allowed to talk about yet. Marisha wants to focus on smaller content and starting with shows that will lower some of the entry barriers of Dungeons & Dragons. One of the things they heard back from the community was that a lot of people discovered D&D through Critical Role and want to get into it, but the Player's Handbook looks like homework. This will be for the people who want to watch for the story but also want a bit more knowledge on the game mechanics. (this will eventually lead to Handbooker Helper)
- They joke about Sam being Liam's wife. Sam says that their "show" wives are way too cool for this.
- Dina: Matt, you've had a lot of guest stars before, but right now you're bringing in a lot of guest stars. What's the most wonderful thing about guest stars and also what's the most challenging thing about having guest stars?
- Matt likes to bring guest stars but not too often because the focus of the story is still on the main core players. But with Ashley, Laura, and Travis not being present, it was the opportunity to bring a few more guests in quickly behind the previous ones. The hardest part is making sure schedules sync up and the possibility of people canceling last minute. Another hardest part is making sure they bring guests in because they genuinely want to play, not because they would fit well at the table or have a big following.
- Sam says it's always exciting from the player perspective because they get moments with Sumalee who came in with her amazing speech and her totally unique character moment that Sam never seen anything like that on the show before. (with humor) You get also other unexpected things like Molly dying because of Ashly Burch.
- Liam says that one of their strength of their game is that they know each other really well at this point, getting in the rhythms together. They've never seen what Sumalee did and it brings out totally fresh scene partner for them to bounce ideas off of it, it's great.
- Matt likes to bring guest stars but not too often because the focus of the story is still on the main core players. But with Ashley, Laura, and Travis not being present, it was the opportunity to bring a few more guests in quickly behind the previous ones. The hardest part is making sure schedules sync up and the possibility of people canceling last minute. Another hardest part is making sure they bring guests in because they genuinely want to play, not because they would fit well at the table or have a big following.
- Paige: Matt, did everyone fight over who was gonna be a blood hunter in your campaign, or was everyone cool?
- Taliesin says he's the weird one who goes for the new and weird things that Matt write.
- Matt says that other players knew what the others picked and he ways a referee if another player already chose a class. They're ways to vary it up.
- Taliesin says he's the weird one who goes for the new and weird things that Matt write.
- Michael: Matt, the internet is a cruel place with an angry mob and you handle things with such grace and humility. I'm just wondering where that comes from?
- Matt had hard times in his life, bullied and chased and he also had his own issues. Matt's parents raised him with the idea that whenever someone lashes out it's usually from insecurity or a place of pain inside them. Most people, not all people, some people are just d*cks. You have to know that line too, there's apathy up to a certain point. But a lot of time it's just people who are angry at the world and whatever is in from of them is a focus to that anger. Matt doesn't belief that necessarily, in most cases, challenging that type of energy with the same energy is going to lead to anything, it just perpetuates it and nothing gets done. Matt prefers to ingage with as much as understanding as he can and help them through whatever they're going through and move on from there. That's Matt's philosophy in general and he didn't know he will end up in such a large platform. He's just happy to know that some people resonates.
- Andy: Is this [picture of Will Friedle] the Traveler?
- Matt will not spoil anything about the Traveler. No confirmation nor denial about him being Will Friedle.
- Sean: With the huge shift in the classes you've played from Campaign One to Campaign Two, is there anything in particular mechanic-wise (aside from being level 20) that you miss from your old character?
- Marisha says that she went from being a toolbox to another one. She misses some of the spells like not being able to blast a stone wall anymore. Now she has to find other creative ways to do things.
- Taliesin misses having enormous amount of distance in combat.
- Sam misses being able to speak with confidence.
- Liam misses the extreme satisfaction and smugness of stealth rolls, which Marisha and Sam did in Campaign Two and he recognized the same look in the eyes.
- Marisha says that she went from being a toolbox to another one. She misses some of the spells like not being able to blast a stone wall anymore. Now she has to find other creative ways to do things.
- Igor: Taliesin, Molly did an amazing job for queer representation in D&D. And I wanted to know if you can talk a little more about that?
- It was defintely not intentional and he did not really think about it. Taliesin admits that he's at an age where he's watching what's happening with people younger that he is. He loves watching what's been happening with the community in the last 15 years. Back when he was a teenager, things were really different. Taliesin even had hesitancy with people saying what Molly was, he had to ask younger friends because he doesn't trust the internet and he will let them know if he is. Taliesin likes that people have latched on to it and the community of players they have gotten. You're on a board and pretending to be, have some fun and explore yourself, it's such a great way of experimenting on who you want to be. He's glad it's been resonating with people and delighted by it.
- Aiden: Marisha, I wanted to ask about Beau's relationship with Yasha Nydoorin. Is that something that you discussed with Ashley or something that you really want to develop naturally?
- Marisha tells a story where after Beau put the moves on Yasha, they were at break and Marisha could sense that Ashley wanted to ask her something, Ashley got up the courage and asks something about Beau but before she did, someone grabbed Ashley to get on the stage. Both Ashley and Marisha haven't had a further conversation about it after that. Marisha hopes Ashley consents. Also, Beau doesn't really know if she wants to get involved in a relationship with someone from "work".
- Liam points out that both of Ashley's characters from both campaigns have been aggressively pursued.
- Marisha tells a story where after Beau put the moves on Yasha, they were at break and Marisha could sense that Ashley wanted to ask her something, Ashley got up the courage and asks something about Beau but before she did, someone grabbed Ashley to get on the stage. Both Ashley and Marisha haven't had a further conversation about it after that. Marisha hopes Ashley consents. Also, Beau doesn't really know if she wants to get involved in a relationship with someone from "work".
- Julian: Matt, you've talked at length about the themes you went into Campaign Two wanting to explore. But now that it's had half a year to grow and change with the players (obviously there's a recent development), what are some themes that you've found that you are now exploring, and which do you want to push further and develop more fully?
- The micro themes that Matt wants to explore and the ones that the players carry and run with can be so different. Matt has found through the development of the characters backstories and the way they come together as a group has been a big theme of identity. There's been interesting themes like survival versus being a good person and the sacrifices that might go between there that starting to emerge now. The big theme that Matt is really fascinated about that came out really recently is having a group of self-entilted terrible people that had this amazing individual coming into their life, then be taken away and then now realize that they want to be better people in some ways because of that. So fascinated and unexpectedly taken aback by that the trigger for this strange new path and we will see how it goes because Matt doesn't know, it's up to the players. As a DM, you always want you're players to become heroes and adventures of some degree, but you never force that on them, you want them to find that path. This is the first real moment where Matt began to see some of the characters wanting to make a better impact on the world in some degree and be a better person.
- Lucy: For the people who hadn't really played D&D before the homegame started, now that you went into Campaign Two knowing it was going to be broadcasted was there a lot of pressure to make a fully fleshed out backstory?
- Sam says yes. Because that first time they didn't have anything, they were just cartoon characters and then over the course of playing together at home for a year, they thought that maybe these characters should have emotions. This time, they knew what it could be and the potential of what this storytelling medium can be. Sam certainly sweated over his character a lot more. At least thanks to Liam, Sam didn't have to choose a race or a class but everything else was just nightmare because there could be overlap, you want to make a character that is unlike the one they just played. It's also a risk to do something totally knew that you're not sure you can pull off as a performer too. They didn't have any rehearsal, they just played their characters an hour and a half with each of the characters before they start broadcasting. It was scary and fun at the same time.
- Dan: Marisha, if we ever get blessed with a crossover comic or story between Critical Role and Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, how would Keyleth take to having a superpowered superfan in Annie=May Parker?
- Marisha thinks Keyleth woould be fascinated by him as she always looked up to people who have inate habilities and confidence, more than her. She would be anamoured, kind of like she was with Kashaw Vesh a little bit.
- Ariana: My question is for Liam, what is your favorite monster?
- Liam's number one favorite monster is Matthew Mercer because he has scarred them in so many ways. But Liam is a big fan of the beholder.
- James: Sam, what's your process for creating flawed characters and how do you come up with those mechanically and creatively?
- Sam is fascinated by flaws and how people overcome or work around them. For Nott, Sam just picked weird character quirks like drinking and work backwards from there, find out why she drinks. The "why" is the fun stuff and sometimes that takes in-game time to figure out as well.
- ?: Matt, between Campaign One and Campaign Two, Campaign One's characters were much more archetypical (you know, goliath barbarian, etc.) now the cast is more varied and colorful, a bit more on the outside. How's this been different from the first campaign for how you address how the characters interact with society?
- It's been fascinating. For one, archetypical characters are great and for the first campaign it was fine because it was their first foray into it and everyone kind of fell into those slots. Now the characters are so layered and the fact that many of them aren't playing - what many who had played D&D will consider the "right race for the right" - a lot of them have picked very unique and deep flaws, strange philosophies, backstories, and traumas. It's been very fun and interesting in a whole different flavor, which is what Matt wants as a DM, he doesn't want more of the same, he wants to have a different thing going.
- The challenge and difficulty with working with them in the society is to instinll enough of a conscious understanding that there's another mentality in some places. It's a diverse world and it's a world that Matt tries to promote a lot of inclusivity and diversity out there but just like any real world that as conflict, there is going to be some people that are ignorant or other people that have set negative patterns of the group's history and their own way of dealing with the world. So it's a way of tackling those issues in a way that doesn't feel too aggressive and possibly help the players to find a way to better those people, at least let them know that's possibilty for them they can pursue. It's difficult but also, Matt says that there's already enough prejudice in the real world that he doesn't want to force that in the entertainment of the players or the audience by putting too much of it. It's including a balance of where it feels right and a subtle level of where it makes sense for the narrative but isn't an experience that they wouldn't want to try and play through. Matt's still trying.
- It's been fascinating. For one, archetypical characters are great and for the first campaign it was fine because it was their first foray into it and everyone kind of fell into those slots. Now the characters are so layered and the fact that many of them aren't playing - what many who had played D&D will consider the "right race for the right" - a lot of them have picked very unique and deep flaws, strange philosophies, backstories, and traumas. It's been very fun and interesting in a whole different flavor, which is what Matt wants as a DM, he doesn't want more of the same, he wants to have a different thing going.
- Joseph: Taliesin, the idea of resurrection was talked about on the last episode, so I'm wondering how you would take it and how Molly would take it if they were to actually go through with that?
- Taliesin left it very much in Matt's hands and however this turns out, he would be perfectly content. Molly wouldn't be happy with it but also, Taliesin has no idea if it would have even worked. One day the story will be over and they will tell everything. Complicated topic.
- ?: Liam, I was wondering how you guys deal with separating yourselves from your characters outside.
- It's been strange for Liam to play a character like Caleb because Liam has never played renagade in video games and gravitates towards being a good character. Liam tries to stay in it from the get-go because it's no where he lives mentaly. Also, Liam thinks the rest of the group had several weeks to get used to the fact that Caleb is a little sh*t. Mighty Nein is not the family that Vox Machina was - at least not yet - but the cast are, they love each other and like playing with each other.
- Marisha says that they're all deeply comfortable with each other. (with humour) Sam says that they all try to get with Ashley Johnson.
- It's been strange for Liam to play a character like Caleb because Liam has never played renagade in video games and gravitates towards being a good character. Liam tries to stay in it from the get-go because it's no where he lives mentaly. Also, Liam thinks the rest of the group had several weeks to get used to the fact that Caleb is a little sh*t. Mighty Nein is not the family that Vox Machina was - at least not yet - but the cast are, they love each other and like playing with each other.
- ?: Taliesin, given Yasha's love of flowers, what kind of flowers do you think she would leave on Mollymauk's grave?
- Molly had a tatto of snapdragons. He always imagined that she would find some weird crimson-purple mess of a snapdragon. Taliesin loves them.
Quotations[]
- Matt: "I'm probably going to be working with Taliesin to design a Mollymauk tattoo for me, that I can just kind of have a memory there."
- Marisha: "Fun fact: we had just started dating, and Matt was like 'yeah, we're playing D&D tonight, why don't you come and watch?'...Two hours in, everyone's just sobbing, I'm in the corner like *look of shock* eating popcorn..."
- Taliesin: "I feel like more money could have been spent."
- Marisha: "Honey Heist 2: Electric Beargaloo. Sticking with that title."
- Marisha: "I think Beau would look at it like a work relationship."
- Sam: "At least, thank god for Liam O'Brien, I didn't have to choose a race or class."
- Liam: "My #1 favorite monster is Matthew Mercer."
- Liam: "That monster vored me, man!"
- Sam: "I'm fascinated by flaws and how people work around them and overcome them because in real life I don't have any."
- Taliesin: "Due to things I can't really go into, I have no idea if it would have even worked [to bring Molly back]. One day this story will be over and we can answer everything."
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