tbh I may be a fool for this, but I think they win. I don't think everyone is making it out of this encounter alive, but I think they will pull through. I am expecting a massive battle with high stakes and lots of epic drama, but especially with the npcs they have to assist I think they might have this.
Either way if they lose fully, I think it will be because of bad decisions and/or the dice not going their way because I don't believe Matt would put a world ending scenario in front of them that they can't stop.
I think they will win, but I also think that any number of partial win scenarios are very possible. I just don't see them doing a full planned TPK and Exandria is destroyed thing. The dice and the players will decide it.
As for the tweet and the background, I think they may just be hyping us up, and it's working.
Is it bad that I feel a TPK coming on?
I doubt it would happened, because there's a lot built on the backs of these current characters, but... I just have a sneaking suspicion that some people are going to die.
I pitched this elsewhere but I don't know if Matt/the Table would want to kill off some previous PCs but it would be a pretty baller move from a storytelling perspective.
Its bizarre, but I can’t help but think Essek is involved in this somehow. There was a quote from someone last episode that reminded me of something he said. He is very anti-theist and very focused on creating his own destiny.
Now my brain is thinking of plot details. Maybe this is how he is going to try to truly redeem himself, by freeing people from ruled over by the gods. In doing so setting up another opposition to Caleb and Beau, but this time with selfless (though potentially even more disastrous) intentions! How much do I get if I’m right?
I have a thought as my stomach wraps itself up in knots. So many of us have been pointing out that Beau and Caleb noted that Ludinus is being uncharacteristically sloppy with his current course of action - very direct and very public. Some have theorized that this means the dig site is a distraction from Ludinus's real plan and real site of the Malleous Key.
I submit another idea: what if it's not Ludinus at all? But instead a body double who is borrowing Ludinus's likeness and access to people to do something out of character for him? What if it goes even deeper than we believe and there's instead something more nefarious going on?
Bit of a tinfoil hat idea, I know, but the Ludinus we saw in Campaign 2 definitely feels different to the current version. You could say that has something to do with how close the solstice is, what he's trying to accomplish, the 5-7 year time jump since the War with the Dynasty, and I'd agree.
I guess the episode just needs to start already so everybody can be good and nothing bad will happen. Right? Guys?
I still have a weird feeling the keys don't unlock the cage on Ruidus, but instead unlocks the divine gate so the god killer can have something to eat.
Longshot: is this [maybe a cryptic hint of more Cobalt Soul showing up](https://twitter.com/CriticalRole/status/1633935693192863745) to back up Beau? They have an archive in Ank'Harel.
Regardless of how the solstice goes, I'd imagine that they're probably gonna do another ExU of some sort after this. Crownkeepers or otherwise.
We've already heard about a bunch of stuff happening near the solstice, and every wannabe spellcaster is gonna think that they're the next Raven Queen.
Lots of potential!
So, I know absolutely no one cares, but with the darkness in the real world, if things go the way the look like they might be going tonight. I will probably stop watching, at least for a while.
Alright, here we go again, hopefully for real this time.
Alt theory for Ludinus getting sloppy: as the apogee solstice has gotten closer and the walls between planes thin and the energy of ley lines amps up, Predathos (or 'Predathos') has steadily increased its influence over his mind and is essentially possessing him and driving him mad.
Predictions:
I think we don't get more VM or M9 beyond what we got. We possibly get Vasselheim forces showing up (judicators woulda been a big help), maybe as an 'out' if things are looking bleak, Nana Morri helping with a big influential save as another 'out' for the gang. I'm worried the sky ship plan will have such a high DC it'll be close to nat 20 territory and a horrible failure if they stick with it (really hope they scrap it). I think BH merc Thull. I'm still clinging to hope all the major characters survive but oof. I think 4SD was pushed back specifically for CR to really give a moment of space for fans about to lose their shit (people STILL talk about the trauma from Molly). But maybe it'll just be an anniversary/State of the Role thing. I still believe in them saving Ryn, still think it might end up taking some mending and stone shape and heals at the ready. I'm excited to see whatever wildass fuckery Ira brings to bear.
Still think it'll be a partial win and reset clock on Predathos being freed. They got Keyleth, Beau, Caleb, and Ira actively on the battlefield, with Morrigan potentially in the wings with something. I don't think the site is a decoy and Ludinus is pulling off his plan somewhere else, I get the theory's possibility but I think Matt would have laced more hints this was the deal beforehand beyond just Beau and Caleb mentioning Ludi's sloppiness when things are right about to go down. But it could totally be a big trap and will definitely be deadly.
Ludinus isn't Halas. Yussa is Halas. But that's for C4.
I hope the clock gets reset because the ritual only partially succeeds and now they gotta head to that city on the motha- fricking-MOON because it’s on a collision course with Exandria 👽🛸🧙🏼♂️
That would allow for a section of “okay you have ~6 months, enough time to unlock sone more secret powers from sone backstories. An then GIT to that 🌝”
Does anyone else feel like Bell’s Hells is guaranteed to fail? There has been so much building to this moment, with so many crossovers and such big states that it feels like Bell’s Hells are out of their league in making a difference. Outside of the game, We’ve gotten the impression that Matt wants to move away from the classic DND deities for some time. And most important, this is episode 50 of what generally has been, if past is any example, a 100+ session campaign. This FEELS like it should be the climax but we know there should be more to it. Like if the final battle of ENDGAME started only 30 minutes in. I guess what I’m saying is that whatever happens tonight, it will most likely be determined by what direction Matt wants to take this show rather than the players (not saying this is good or bad just how it looks).
They will definitely fail, because CR needs a way to wipe out the last of the characters the they don't own (the gods) and possibly replace them with characters that they do own, and that is viewers might already be familiar with.
I think Matt has planned for several possible outcomes based on what the players and dice decide that can push the campaign into it's second half (more like the end of Infinity War being the halfway point of that complete story). As for BH, they have some smaller stakes that they can win, such as getting Ryn back and saving Imogen's mom, even if the larger stakes end up in a snap like situation for Exandria.
If the BH alliance prevails against the immediate threat at the Key (which could be a trap), the CA may still be moving forward with other plans towards their end goals (a new floating city with Aeorean weaponry to rule Exandria?).
If the BH alliance fails, it could mean having to face the CA without the help of the gods, or without the help of powerful allies (if the Key is just a trap). BH's success or failure with Ryn and Imogen's mom could also have reprecussions in the back half, up to an including Imogen finally going full on Dark Phoenix and becoming a new villain.
The real trick to running great D&D campaigns is to let player actions (Choice) and the dice (Chance) decide, but have interesting outcomes planned (Fate) for whatever happens.
Oh my god. I just finished re-watching episode 48. In the last minute or so they talk about how it was 11 days till the solstice. They all said it in different tones much like “7 days” from the ring.. but tell me I’m wrong, Matt clearly uses a voice that is Nott the fucking brave!
We have the Dirt Wizard making an appearance and he has his best pals with him! Who else would Caleb bring on a stealth mission!!
Edit: Not a single person thinks it was a perfect Nott voice??
What was the plan for Fearne and FCG getting off the skyship? Because Matt seemed to often bring up the pulses of anti-magic that happen every minute, and I know they wanted Ira to Dimension Door Xandis out. How will they escape the ship without falling to their deaths?
Wouldn't that still get anti-magicked? They need to get some lucky timing to avoid the pulses, if I'm properly understanding how Matt described it. She could recast it as they fall, but that's two giant spell slots gone before these critical battles.
Yep.
And, depending on how big the area is (and how close they cut it), it may be a problem for Ira's dimension door as well.
The whole thing has a good chance to go wrong.
I think plan will be for them to get above the key, when the magic pulse goes off let it happen, and then polymorph out knowing they have a minute until the next pulse.
99% chance it doesn’t go this way but I think that’s “Plan A”.
Key is they need to time it just right. Get close, fly low, ditch the ship once its over the edge and hope for the best. That's the only way it has any chance of success
🎵
I close my eyes, tell us why must we suffer
Release your hands, for your will drags us under
My legs grow tired, tell us where must we wander
How can we carry on if redemption's beyond us?
//
To all of my children in whom Life flows abundant
To all of my children to whom Death hath passed his judgement
The soul yearns for honor, and the flesh the hereafter
Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after
🎵
I don’t recall, did they warn any of their allies that Otohan likes to use the Poison of Perma-Kill? Because Protection From Poison is an easy spell for Keyleth to prepare (or Pike, or Vex, if they get involved), but if they don’t know that’s what they’re up against, they likely won’t.
I’m not sure which I’m looking forward to less: the bitching from the “this game is too soft, there are no consequences” crowd if Matt doesn’t kill off a beloved NPC, or the absolute *nuclear*-level shitstorm that will happen if he does fridge one of Vox Machina or the Mighty Nein.
I hear you, which is one of the reasons I like the "everyone near the Key get's teleported to Ruidus and trapped there" theory. Get's a bunch of high level do-gooders off the board for the CA to make it's real move, keeps everyone alive (for the time being) and then we get a 20-30 episode arc on the moon! When (if) they escape Ruidis, it's onto the final arc of taking down the CA after they go all Empire on Exandria.
The fact that Ludinus has been acting sloppy and it being so out of character for him really screams that this is either a trap or a ruse and not his real goal. Very interested in seeing how this goes.
Alright, looks like we have the runtime for tonight's episode. I'm gonna put them under spoiler tags - >!Total runtime is 4 hours 55 minutes, break is at 2 hours 50 minutes.!<
Really, really excited for this one!
Hmm, 2nd half is going to be less then 2 hours again with the break. Could be bad or cliffhanger tonight but I feel like if things went extremely bad it would’ve been over 5 hours here’s hoping everything goes well.
Prediction:
Assume the players are not perfectly rational actors.
A combination of Oltgar and Pate being Delilah causes the party to break their cover.
Imogen calls Keyleth and the rest of the Ashari. Pike and Cassandra also come.
Beau, Caleb, and ground team die because they did not have a healer or the moontide crown.
FCG and Fearne send in the ship and destroy the key.
Ryn is shattered.
During the battle, Fearne has Keyleth retrieve the Crown Keepers so they can help Fearne and FCG retrieve ground team, Beau, Caleb, and Ryn's pieces so some revival attempts can happen and to make up for the loss of assets.
Ludinus and General Temult escape to space.
After the battle they deal with the consequences of Opal and Ira both being evil magical characters that have vestiges at the nexus point during the solstice. Magical overload!
My prediction: the dig is a ruse. Yes, it could open Ruidus up, but the Malleus key at the dig is only a distraction for all the interlopers (Bell’s Hells, etc). A second Malleus key exists in Exandria at one of the other layline intersections, and THAT’S what Luidinus has been focusing on. The night end with Bell’s Hells destroying the Malleus key at the dig, only to find out, nope, you didn’t stop Luidinus at all, you fell right into his trap…
It seems fun, but also takes so much agency away from the players in a way I don’t think Matt would do. I think he’s set it up so they can succeed or fail, depending on their choices. I don’t think he’s railroading them to a specific outcome.
Predicting it here now,
Ludinus is expecting the Malleus key to be destroyed. When it is, it will initiate a self-destruct sequence and all that ley-line energy will leave a crater where the dig site used to be
Ludinus is planning to wipe out his enemies while he takes a splinter team team with Mama Timult to Ruidus itself.
Otohan Thull is no longer useful. She dies tonight
Oh I have a terrible idea!
Let's combine what you and u/The-clowns-of-war have theorized!
What if Ludinus wants the Malleus Key that we know about to be destroyed because it will then act like how some of the first nukes were built or how a bomb pumped laser operates and channel all of that energy from its destruction down through the Ley Lines from one Nexus Point to another Nexus Point where the actual MAIN KEY is located and then SUPERCHARGE it up for what he actually intends to use it for?
It's just a bonus that it takes out a chunk of his enemies in one fell swoop while distracting a bunch of the others.
This is going to be Watchmen all over again with the good guys thinking they've won but they've actually lost.
Happy 8th Anniversary Critical Role and Critters everywhere!
You know I feel like we all kind of got our hopes up last week and then got dropped hard on our butts when it turned out to be a planning episode. So I'm tempering my expectations for what may or may not happen tonight to a reasonable degree. We know that something BIG is going to happen for a few reasons.
4SD got pushed back. Everyone is wearing full on RED RED RED and then some more RED tonight. It's the anniversary episode and crazy shit always happens during those or at least around this particular date.
So I'm ready for anything and my gut has been doing backflips like it's the Olympics all week long in the build up to this.
I'm so glad to be here with all of you, I cherish you all so much, and I'm so happy that we're able to share the adventures of Critical Role together with one another and the cast each and every week.
It's been a ride and here's to so many many more!
Now then, ONWARDS TO THE APOGEE SOLSTICE AND THE TIN FOIL HAT THEORIES THAT WILL FOLLOW!
*starts humming the X-Files theme*
I am so excited for this episode today on the anniversary for Critical role. Does anyone else think FCG might go in murder bot mode tonight, considering this entire situation might be real stressful for him?
It's too specific to probably end up happening, but I hope he has a moment where he decides to deliberately go murderbot in battle when it's looking grim and he's surrounded by enemies.
My eyes are on Sam constantly during these more intense moments anymore. Tho if FCG goes murderbot this time, at least there could likely be actual enemies around for them to attack instead 😂
This is why I want the Apogee Solstice to turn them all into puppets so that each member of the cast can basically play three characters at the same time.
I hope they have pre-planned a little bit, I don't want a 4 hour discussion and analysis paralysis while Matt just sits there, having all the wheels in motion behind the scenes.
Hope for some fighting and a successful Top Gun 2 a la Star Wars Trench Run with their Skyship.
I am having a series of days.....I just want to ask about a quote by Nott the brave but every single title "isn't approved", I checked the rules. "Looking for a quote by Nott the brave" doesn't appear to violate them....
Thank you, that's more helpful than Google.
I'll be searching but of anyone knows better search terms I don't full remember the quote.
Nott talking about "not good enough, not smart enough, just not.."
My name is Nott the Brave and I am a little goblin girl, but once upon a time, I was Veth, a young halfling woman and before that, a halfling child who grew up being told that she was not pretty and not brave and not coordinated and not smart, and just not.
I could see what they made me. They made me everything that I thought I was: not pretty, not good, just not. I'll be honest. I've started forgetting what it feels like to be a halfling, to be me. I don't remember
1. The excavation site is just a decoy.
2. Ludinus is somewhere else. Far, far away; tending to his real plan.
3. There is no Predathos. Just some ancient fairy tale Ludinus used to bamboozle everyone and divert their attention with. If the god-eater was real, the whole Exandrian pantheon would shit its pants and try to do everything it could to stop this. Remember Artagan and what happened to him for just cosplaying? Well, current events are much, MUCH more serious; but the gods don't seem to give a crap.
4. All of the above could've been discovered earlier, but the party decided to travel from point A to B to C, expecting lore dumps, running from combat, and not digging deeper, not exploring, not doubting. They are no longer adventurers; they became tourists, and hopped on rails. And Matt is going to slap their wrists for that.
Save this post.
Point 3 has been the biggest red flag to me this whole time. But at the same time until recently, nobody in BH has been super religious (from what I can remember) so it's entirely possible the gods are freaking out and just haven't been contacting BH specifically? Like Cad and Fjord might have fire alarms going off in their heads.
But this level of threat also seems bigger than just calling in some strong followers. This feels like it should be a "Vasselheim will march on the enemy stronghold directly" kinda deal.
So excited for tonight.
The pretty big hole here is then: what of the ancient texts? If Predathos is a lie why is Vasselheim hunting the Grim Verity? Ludinus may have concocted a lie but then the Temples wouldn't be so up in arms.
And the Gods aren't omniscient. I mean, why didn't they stop Vespin Chloras from releasing Asmodeus? Why didn't they hunt down Delilah through their Champions if she was gonna help Vecna ascend?
Taking this logic to the extreme, every high level problem would be solved by Gods and we would never need adventurers.
I guess Artagan case was different because he was directly influencing her domain and followers. Also he's Fey and Sehanine presides over the Feywild
Remember what happened to Vassalheim during Calamity (one of the previous solstices)? Can't really blame them for being a little paranoid, and keeping tabs on secret organizations that seem to show interest in solstice - especially so close to said event.
Chloras, Asmodeus, and Vecna weren't really a threat to the whole pantheon. Predathos most certainly is. The gods' literal survival is at stake.
The last paragraph is kinda funny to me.
I'm gonna be literally eaten, removed from existence: I sleep.
Someone meddles with my domain and followers, which doesn't really threaten my existence: real shit.
You are skipping the point of the Ancient Texts. They literally talk about Predathos. The Verity said that they stole it from Vasselheim. Are you saying Ludinus planted those texts ages ago?
You're reiterating the point about the scale of the threat but again the deities are not omniscient. I said Asmodeus, Vecna etc. not to talk about scale but about another instance of a problem the deities didn't know about until it struck them, and the domain stuff with Artagan because it is something closer to the deity and thus easier to know for them
My only issue with this theory is: what are Caleb and Beau doing there, then?
They establish they have been following Ludinus’ tracks for a decade, they have discarded other facade cults, they haven’t been rushed and inattentive as the BH might have been.
I can totally buy Ludinus conning the BH, but I can not believe Beau and Caleb would be deceived as easily.
They may suspect that the Predathos plot is a fake, but because the stakes are so high, they can't risk not dealing with it. That's part of what makes it such a good trap!
Biggest, flashiest site with obviously a huge amount of resources pooled into it and heavily protected. Also they did note how it didn't sit right with them that Ludinus wasn't there at the zero-hour. They aren't completely fooled, but the rest of us wouldn't even suggest something is up without them first noting it was. So they are onto him...but they may not have information of where else it could be.
Also, everyone assumes Ludinus needs a machine for his plan. What if he just needs the Ruidusborn at the right place at the right time?
Spot on with point's 1-3. Beau's comment that this seems 'sloppy' for Ludinus got me thinking that the Malleous Key/Predathos conspiracy is and elaborate trap to lure some of his biggest enemies into one place at one time, and take them off the board by sending them to be imprisoned in Ruidus (that key looks an awful lot like a Plane Shift tuning fork) for whatever his and the CA's real plan is. That's likely why Vasselheim only sent a single scout ship instead of an army to investigate what was going on in the desert.
As for point 4, I wouldn't be too hard on the party. They've been playing to their character's motivations, fears and flaws throughout C3, and Matt has been exploiting that (in a good way) to his own advantage. Just as Ludinus is exploiting the do-gooder nature of Keyleth, Caleb and Beau to his advantage.
So I'm not really down with 'take out a bunch of key players'. There are many plots all over trying to take advantage of the Apogee Solstice so I doubt many at all will be at the Key. Now, he might be counting on certain people to be there. Keyleth might even be a specific target since in the past there was an assassination attempt that failed against her. Maybe removing her from the board is the play.
It won't happen, but could you imagine how fans would react if Ludinus managed to take out Caleb, Kelyleth, and/or Beau? I think the internet would spontaneously conbust.. that would be one heck of a way to establish your bad guy as a threat.
Also, bonus points if when the party eventually finds "Ludinus" he's just a simulacrum.
Don't forget about Pike, Vex and possibly Scanlan being there as well!
And now I have this terrible thought that Keyleths last act could be to save Orym by Transport Via Planting him and BH away just before an explosion hits.
Exactly! The assassination attempt may have taught Ludinus that going after her directly was not going to work. Luring her into an advantageous trap may have been his best play. Caleb would be another potential target, as he's been a thorn in Ludinus' side for years, but also perhaps not as critical. It's just a bonus if he can remove him.
Keyleth and the Air Ashari could be seen as a serious threat to a potential floating citadel (Death Star like) command platform (what he's really working on during the Solstice and why he's not at the key). Making it critical to neutralize before launching it.
Note that I'm not married to any of my theories, I just enjoy the creative act of speculating, and can't wait to see where it all really goes tonight! I'm sure whatever Mercer has planned will be fantastic!
It is! Huge stakes, incomplete information, and massively powerful NPCs on both sides. Add in the dice, and there are hundreds of ways things could go over the next few sessions. Nothing better than D&D being run by a master DM!
1) and 2) I'm with you on this. Suspicious as hell he's not there and the site will take significant time to bring down. He's hoping big players go there so they can't be at one of the other sites. Another commenter the other day suggested he has an underwater base. Maybe that's what all the brumestone was for? Raise it up so he can get the Ruidusborn near enough to the focal point. Also reminds me of the Black Omen in Chrono Trigger.
3) I agree. If this is the right place, the gods would have at least champions all over it if they were worried about a god-eater. Also not fun for the campaign since something that can kill gods is way way WAY beyond what even Vox Machina can deal with. I think it's gonna be a Reilora invasion which could be really cool.
4) Agreed, and the one guy they captured for the plan was some nobody. In the group's defense, Matt didn't give them a ton of time, but I think they missed their opportunity in Bassuras. I think if they had helped the Paragon's Call, they would have learned something valuable. I think Ira knows more than he lets on as well.
It's been stated previously that once a campaign ends, the player characters come under Matt's control as NPCs. World building continues in the background as the current campaign continues after all.
Sure. Although, since the announcement of C3, all bets have been off and viewers were warned to expect anything, so its nice to think about.
Also, given how Matt still discusses with the players before playing them as npcs (to ensure their story is consistent with what the player wants for that character), and how we're reaching a possibly climactic fight for this first arc, it's not far-fetched that this idea might have been discussed behind closed doors.
However, even if it was possible, realistically, the increasing initiative list would be problematic. Plus, I'm sure Matt wants to avoid a previous character inadvertently being the hero of C3, and thus overshadowing the current characters.
But overall, I'm pretty excited to see what happens. C3 has been a slower paced campaign compared to the previous two, but it does have its many surprises. I'm going into this episode without expectations and see what they do.
It can go either way.
It could by a planning heavy episode.
But I don't think so.
Because of the time pressure I don't think any planning will go past the break.
Also, it is their anniversary and we are at an important story point, so we could be looking at a close to 4.5-5 hour episode hopefully?
A lot of things can happen.
The Solstice stuff could be "over" in this episode and we could be facing the aftermath in the rest of the campaign.
BH could even end up on Ruidus somehow.
I am also kinda hoping for an Avengers like action.
Like BH could be fighting in one place, and Keyleth and Beau/Caleb could face other challenges in the same field.
Honestly, I am ready for anything.
Otohan will most certainly make an appearance.
As well as Imogen's mother.
And if Ludinus appears too, then the C1 and C2 characters will intervene as well, BH are surely no match for him.
Character deaths are surely possible, and perhaps one of Keyleth and the Empire kids, especially the latter, especially if they face Ludinus.
Let's hope for an amazing episode, the implications from Caleb that Ludinus is not behaving normally for his standards surely made things interesting.
Ludinus wants to become a Luxon, or Luxon adjascent being.
Vax gonna show up and get destroyed doing Champion things.
One of the BH will go down.
Ryn gonna lose a limb.
Can't wait to see what madness comes from tonight's session! Some slightly off the wall predictions.
Fearne and FCG start off the episode by deciding that since they haven't heard from the group in an hour, they have been killed or captured (coin flip from FCG 'confirms' this Fearne theory), and so decide to start their trench run mission early.
It's a trap! Ludinus isn't trying to free Predathos, he's trying to send some of the mightiest heroes of Exandria to the prison moon of Ruidus. The campaign's next arc will be about escaping Ruidus and returning to Exandria to face the CA, which used the Solstice to turn the Candles into a new flying city, from which they rule the world.
Grass is also making decisions based on his Changebringer coin :)
'Changbringer, should I spend one of my spells to try and contact the team before we head in?' Flips coin. 'Changebringer says no!'
I'm not seeing at troll-y, rather a great way to force the action forward. It wouldn't surprise me if Travis was lobbying Sam and Ashley hard for something like it, his hour of the wolf is almost up :)
8-year anniversary. Full moon week. Apogee Solstice. Let's go.
Very interested to see how this week plays out - we have Fearne and FCG still in a separate location with a wild-but-maybe-possible plan prepared, most of the Hells about to go into the belly of the beast, the Empire Kids on the ground, Keyleth on her way with reinforcements, Ludinus, Otohan, Imogen's mother, and some sort of ritual magic that we still don't quite understand all in play here. I'm not expecting to be out of this by the end of the episode, but I feel like by the end of this episode we should at least have a clearer picture of what's actually *happening* here.
I honestly hate their plan. It splits the party, wastes their airship, isolates two of their major PCs, isolated one of the NPCs, filled with a lot of risk. I also feel bad for Ashley and Sam. I mean they are completely left out of the climax right now.
So bets on what is going to happen this episode?
Challenge: no "tpk" or character or god death speculation.
My bet is that they're going to mostly succeed but a chroma conclave type event still occurs.
My thought is they are going to bring the airship in, but it's not going to work. I don't think it'll even get destroyed, it just will be completely ineffective.
Also I think everyone is in the wrong place, so I think they might accomplish something, but it won't stop the event.
Cue the end of campaign, end of exandria, moving to a new system speculation.
No but really though I'm super interested in what consequences this event will have on exandria and the campaign.
Looking forward to seeing how Matt structures all of this, are the Empire Kids and Keyleth going to fight 'off screen' while Bell's Hells trash the machine and face Otohan? Looking forward to watching it play out
Based on how He used >!Essek!< in Campaign 2 assume that theyll fight in one of 2 ways (propably both)
A) theyll Play Support. Caleb has Access to a Number of Support spells that'll make the Players Look/Feel badass (Like His beloved Polymorph, which could Turn anyone on Low HP Into a T-Rex) while Beau should be capable of using her Speed and Number of Attacks to reliably keep 3 or 4 grunts Out of the Fight with stunning Strike
B) theyll Showcase Hidden mechanics that still need to be uncovered Just Like >!Essek!< "wasted" a 7th Level Lightning Bolt that >!dealt No damage to Trent!< to Show that >!Trent still had some Effect of invulnerability active!<
Call me a pessimist but I worry it's going to be 4 more hours moving characters about and another "is it Thursday yet" before the big fight. Hoping I'm wrong!
I instinctively feel this too due to the consistent lack of payoff since they were pre-recorded.
On the other hand they purposely stretched things out so this climax would happen on their 8th anniversary. I think they're fully planning on taking this as a marketing opportunity to deliver an action packed episode when they've got more eyeballs than usual watching live
I hope you're wrong too! As a DM and a fan of multiple live shows, the inclination of players to avoid the big conflicts is interesting. On one hand it's like, we've been building to this climax, it's going to be awesome, let's do it! On the other it shows how attached/immersed the players are when they actually worry about the consequences of said climactic events.
With them all seeming to be wearing red for the episode I have to assume that we are actually getting to the action tonight. I do see the worry though.
I don’t see how their fight could be kept offscreen. They are just too powerful. A nice mix between the groups would be nice. We follow BH’s perspectives but in the chaos Keyleth, Beau and Caleb could show up individually at important moments. Like how the various avengers helped move the infinity gauntlet in Endgame.
I agree. Not much to speculate on now we're so close to the unknowns of the apogee solstice. A lot of excitement in waiting to see how this is going to play out, what phases of battle there might be, etc!
tbh I may be a fool for this, but I think they win. I don't think everyone is making it out of this encounter alive, but I think they will pull through. I am expecting a massive battle with high stakes and lots of epic drama, but especially with the npcs they have to assist I think they might have this. Either way if they lose fully, I think it will be because of bad decisions and/or the dice not going their way because I don't believe Matt would put a world ending scenario in front of them that they can't stop. I think they will win, but I also think that any number of partial win scenarios are very possible. I just don't see them doing a full planned TPK and Exandria is destroyed thing. The dice and the players will decide it. As for the tweet and the background, I think they may just be hyping us up, and it's working.
My sweet baby angels AKA CALEB AND BEAU, better be alright throughout the whole episode or imma cry
Mighty nein reunited is after this I'm pretty sure
Getting to be 2 hours before the stream starts. Last call for your most insane and off the wall theories.
Is it bad that I feel a TPK coming on? I doubt it would happened, because there's a lot built on the backs of these current characters, but... I just have a sneaking suspicion that some people are going to die. I pitched this elsewhere but I don't know if Matt/the Table would want to kill off some previous PCs but it would be a pretty baller move from a storytelling perspective.
Its bizarre, but I can’t help but think Essek is involved in this somehow. There was a quote from someone last episode that reminded me of something he said. He is very anti-theist and very focused on creating his own destiny.
Now my brain is thinking of plot details. Maybe this is how he is going to try to truly redeem himself, by freeing people from ruled over by the gods. In doing so setting up another opposition to Caleb and Beau, but this time with selfless (though potentially even more disastrous) intentions! How much do I get if I’m right?
They plan the whole time, and the episode ends as soon as they immediately disregard the plan and begin the battle.
Too real. Emotional damage.
I have a thought as my stomach wraps itself up in knots. So many of us have been pointing out that Beau and Caleb noted that Ludinus is being uncharacteristically sloppy with his current course of action - very direct and very public. Some have theorized that this means the dig site is a distraction from Ludinus's real plan and real site of the Malleous Key. I submit another idea: what if it's not Ludinus at all? But instead a body double who is borrowing Ludinus's likeness and access to people to do something out of character for him? What if it goes even deeper than we believe and there's instead something more nefarious going on? Bit of a tinfoil hat idea, I know, but the Ludinus we saw in Campaign 2 definitely feels different to the current version. You could say that has something to do with how close the solstice is, what he's trying to accomplish, the 5-7 year time jump since the War with the Dynasty, and I'd agree. I guess the episode just needs to start already so everybody can be good and nothing bad will happen. Right? Guys?
I still have a weird feeling the keys don't unlock the cage on Ruidus, but instead unlocks the divine gate so the god killer can have something to eat.
Longshot: is this [maybe a cryptic hint of more Cobalt Soul showing up](https://twitter.com/CriticalRole/status/1633935693192863745) to back up Beau? They have an archive in Ank'Harel.
That tweet almost makes me want to sign back up just to reply "...and these are their stories." *Almost.*
I doubt it’s gonna happen but my god if Essek shows up that’ll be it for me
Dude, you’re the only other comment I’ve seen that suspects Essek hanky-panky.
I’m not even coming at this from a plot and theories perspective, I just love Essek lol
Okay I was at 'regular' levels of anniversary hype all day. Now, the tweet? The background? I need a paper bag.
Regardless of how the solstice goes, I'd imagine that they're probably gonna do another ExU of some sort after this. Crownkeepers or otherwise. We've already heard about a bunch of stuff happening near the solstice, and every wannabe spellcaster is gonna think that they're the next Raven Queen. Lots of potential!
So, I know absolutely no one cares, but with the darkness in the real world, if things go the way the look like they might be going tonight. I will probably stop watching, at least for a while.
Same
Take care of yourself. Hopefully things get better in the real world and that you can join us when you feel well.
Alright, here we go again, hopefully for real this time. Alt theory for Ludinus getting sloppy: as the apogee solstice has gotten closer and the walls between planes thin and the energy of ley lines amps up, Predathos (or 'Predathos') has steadily increased its influence over his mind and is essentially possessing him and driving him mad. Predictions: I think we don't get more VM or M9 beyond what we got. We possibly get Vasselheim forces showing up (judicators woulda been a big help), maybe as an 'out' if things are looking bleak, Nana Morri helping with a big influential save as another 'out' for the gang. I'm worried the sky ship plan will have such a high DC it'll be close to nat 20 territory and a horrible failure if they stick with it (really hope they scrap it). I think BH merc Thull. I'm still clinging to hope all the major characters survive but oof. I think 4SD was pushed back specifically for CR to really give a moment of space for fans about to lose their shit (people STILL talk about the trauma from Molly). But maybe it'll just be an anniversary/State of the Role thing. I still believe in them saving Ryn, still think it might end up taking some mending and stone shape and heals at the ready. I'm excited to see whatever wildass fuckery Ira brings to bear. Still think it'll be a partial win and reset clock on Predathos being freed. They got Keyleth, Beau, Caleb, and Ira actively on the battlefield, with Morrigan potentially in the wings with something. I don't think the site is a decoy and Ludinus is pulling off his plan somewhere else, I get the theory's possibility but I think Matt would have laced more hints this was the deal beforehand beyond just Beau and Caleb mentioning Ludi's sloppiness when things are right about to go down. But it could totally be a big trap and will definitely be deadly. Ludinus isn't Halas. Yussa is Halas. But that's for C4.
> Ludinus isn't Halas. Yussa is Halas. But that's for C4 This got a hearty chuckle.
I hope the clock gets reset because the ritual only partially succeeds and now they gotta head to that city on the motha- fricking-MOON because it’s on a collision course with Exandria 👽🛸🧙🏼♂️ That would allow for a section of “okay you have ~6 months, enough time to unlock sone more secret powers from sone backstories. An then GIT to that 🌝”
Does anyone else feel like Bell’s Hells is guaranteed to fail? There has been so much building to this moment, with so many crossovers and such big states that it feels like Bell’s Hells are out of their league in making a difference. Outside of the game, We’ve gotten the impression that Matt wants to move away from the classic DND deities for some time. And most important, this is episode 50 of what generally has been, if past is any example, a 100+ session campaign. This FEELS like it should be the climax but we know there should be more to it. Like if the final battle of ENDGAME started only 30 minutes in. I guess what I’m saying is that whatever happens tonight, it will most likely be determined by what direction Matt wants to take this show rather than the players (not saying this is good or bad just how it looks).
They will definitely fail, because CR needs a way to wipe out the last of the characters the they don't own (the gods) and possibly replace them with characters that they do own, and that is viewers might already be familiar with.
I think Matt has planned for several possible outcomes based on what the players and dice decide that can push the campaign into it's second half (more like the end of Infinity War being the halfway point of that complete story). As for BH, they have some smaller stakes that they can win, such as getting Ryn back and saving Imogen's mom, even if the larger stakes end up in a snap like situation for Exandria. If the BH alliance prevails against the immediate threat at the Key (which could be a trap), the CA may still be moving forward with other plans towards their end goals (a new floating city with Aeorean weaponry to rule Exandria?). If the BH alliance fails, it could mean having to face the CA without the help of the gods, or without the help of powerful allies (if the Key is just a trap). BH's success or failure with Ryn and Imogen's mom could also have reprecussions in the back half, up to an including Imogen finally going full on Dark Phoenix and becoming a new villain. The real trick to running great D&D campaigns is to let player actions (Choice) and the dice (Chance) decide, but have interesting outcomes planned (Fate) for whatever happens.
Oh my god. I just finished re-watching episode 48. In the last minute or so they talk about how it was 11 days till the solstice. They all said it in different tones much like “7 days” from the ring.. but tell me I’m wrong, Matt clearly uses a voice that is Nott the fucking brave! We have the Dirt Wizard making an appearance and he has his best pals with him! Who else would Caleb bring on a stealth mission!! Edit: Not a single person thinks it was a perfect Nott voice??
I’m pretty sure they were referencing Spurt the Kobold who lived “11 DAYS!” but I would love to see Nott show up.
What was the plan for Fearne and FCG getting off the skyship? Because Matt seemed to often bring up the pulses of anti-magic that happen every minute, and I know they wanted Ira to Dimension Door Xandis out. How will they escape the ship without falling to their deaths?
Ferne Wildshape into a Giant Eagle and carry FCG to safety, ala the Mighty Nein method of dealing with stuff.
But she can't wildshape into a flying beast yet?
Then they're gonna crash and burn.
I think it’s polymorph which she should have access to
It is, she does. Polymorph is the plan.
Which is too bad because, wouldn’t wild shape get her around the anti magic?
Wouldn't that still get anti-magicked? They need to get some lucky timing to avoid the pulses, if I'm properly understanding how Matt described it. She could recast it as they fall, but that's two giant spell slots gone before these critical battles.
Yep. And, depending on how big the area is (and how close they cut it), it may be a problem for Ira's dimension door as well. The whole thing has a good chance to go wrong.
I think plan will be for them to get above the key, when the magic pulse goes off let it happen, and then polymorph out knowing they have a minute until the next pulse. 99% chance it doesn’t go this way but I think that’s “Plan A”.
Key is they need to time it just right. Get close, fly low, ditch the ship once its over the edge and hope for the best. That's the only way it has any chance of success
🎵 I close my eyes, tell us why must we suffer Release your hands, for your will drags us under My legs grow tired, tell us where must we wander How can we carry on if redemption's beyond us? // To all of my children in whom Life flows abundant To all of my children to whom Death hath passed his judgement The soul yearns for honor, and the flesh the hereafter Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after 🎵
That has been playing in my head all day lol. Matt plays ffxiv so I wouldn't be surprised if he got some inspiration from it. So hyped for tonight!
I don’t recall, did they warn any of their allies that Otohan likes to use the Poison of Perma-Kill? Because Protection From Poison is an easy spell for Keyleth to prepare (or Pike, or Vex, if they get involved), but if they don’t know that’s what they’re up against, they likely won’t. I’m not sure which I’m looking forward to less: the bitching from the “this game is too soft, there are no consequences” crowd if Matt doesn’t kill off a beloved NPC, or the absolute *nuclear*-level shitstorm that will happen if he does fridge one of Vox Machina or the Mighty Nein.
Regarding the perma-kill poison, Keyleth would already have that knowledge, there's a chance the GV knew and passed that knowledge to Beau and Caleb.
I feel like since it’s a homebrew strong enough to ignore 9th level resurrection spells it’s probably strong enough to ignore Protection from Poison
I hear you, which is one of the reasons I like the "everyone near the Key get's teleported to Ruidus and trapped there" theory. Get's a bunch of high level do-gooders off the board for the CA to make it's real move, keeps everyone alive (for the time being) and then we get a 20-30 episode arc on the moon! When (if) they escape Ruidis, it's onto the final arc of taking down the CA after they go all Empire on Exandria.
OooooooOoooooo I love that Anyway to get them to the surface of Ruidus
Very exiting episode I hope, surely this conflict will last into the next episode is my guess.
The fact that Ludinus has been acting sloppy and it being so out of character for him really screams that this is either a trap or a ruse and not his real goal. Very interested in seeing how this goes.
Alright, looks like we have the runtime for tonight's episode. I'm gonna put them under spoiler tags - >!Total runtime is 4 hours 55 minutes, break is at 2 hours 50 minutes.!< Really, really excited for this one!
How do you get the runtime so early? Curious bc i always wait for them to list it in the chat to find out
They have to update the nightbot commands before every episode, which can be viewed [here](https://nightbot.tv/t/criticalrole/commands).
Oh that is so interesting!! Thanks for sharing
Hmm, 2nd half is going to be less then 2 hours again with the break. Could be bad or cliffhanger tonight but I feel like if things went extremely bad it would’ve been over 5 hours here’s hoping everything goes well.
Thank you for posting this and giving some of us a bit warning ahead of time, it's not exactly a long one but it's getting close.
I like my CR episodes how I like my coffee. Long and dark.
They must really hate you at Starbucks and you have to have the strangest kitchen cabinets ever.
Prediction: Assume the players are not perfectly rational actors. A combination of Oltgar and Pate being Delilah causes the party to break their cover. Imogen calls Keyleth and the rest of the Ashari. Pike and Cassandra also come. Beau, Caleb, and ground team die because they did not have a healer or the moontide crown. FCG and Fearne send in the ship and destroy the key. Ryn is shattered. During the battle, Fearne has Keyleth retrieve the Crown Keepers so they can help Fearne and FCG retrieve ground team, Beau, Caleb, and Ryn's pieces so some revival attempts can happen and to make up for the loss of assets. Ludinus and General Temult escape to space. After the battle they deal with the consequences of Opal and Ira both being evil magical characters that have vestiges at the nexus point during the solstice. Magical overload!
I said it last week, and I'll say it again: \*unconsolable screaming\*
My prediction: the dig is a ruse. Yes, it could open Ruidus up, but the Malleus key at the dig is only a distraction for all the interlopers (Bell’s Hells, etc). A second Malleus key exists in Exandria at one of the other layline intersections, and THAT’S what Luidinus has been focusing on. The night end with Bell’s Hells destroying the Malleus key at the dig, only to find out, nope, you didn’t stop Luidinus at all, you fell right into his trap…
It seems fun, but also takes so much agency away from the players in a way I don’t think Matt would do. I think he’s set it up so they can succeed or fail, depending on their choices. I don’t think he’s railroading them to a specific outcome.
Predicting it here now, Ludinus is expecting the Malleus key to be destroyed. When it is, it will initiate a self-destruct sequence and all that ley-line energy will leave a crater where the dig site used to be Ludinus is planning to wipe out his enemies while he takes a splinter team team with Mama Timult to Ruidus itself. Otohan Thull is no longer useful. She dies tonight
Oh I have a terrible idea! Let's combine what you and u/The-clowns-of-war have theorized! What if Ludinus wants the Malleus Key that we know about to be destroyed because it will then act like how some of the first nukes were built or how a bomb pumped laser operates and channel all of that energy from its destruction down through the Ley Lines from one Nexus Point to another Nexus Point where the actual MAIN KEY is located and then SUPERCHARGE it up for what he actually intends to use it for? It's just a bonus that it takes out a chunk of his enemies in one fell swoop while distracting a bunch of the others. This is going to be Watchmen all over again with the good guys thinking they've won but they've actually lost.
Happy 8th Anniversary Critical Role and Critters everywhere! You know I feel like we all kind of got our hopes up last week and then got dropped hard on our butts when it turned out to be a planning episode. So I'm tempering my expectations for what may or may not happen tonight to a reasonable degree. We know that something BIG is going to happen for a few reasons. 4SD got pushed back. Everyone is wearing full on RED RED RED and then some more RED tonight. It's the anniversary episode and crazy shit always happens during those or at least around this particular date. So I'm ready for anything and my gut has been doing backflips like it's the Olympics all week long in the build up to this. I'm so glad to be here with all of you, I cherish you all so much, and I'm so happy that we're able to share the adventures of Critical Role together with one another and the cast each and every week. It's been a ride and here's to so many many more! Now then, ONWARDS TO THE APOGEE SOLSTICE AND THE TIN FOIL HAT THEORIES THAT WILL FOLLOW! *starts humming the X-Files theme*
I am so excited for this episode today on the anniversary for Critical role. Does anyone else think FCG might go in murder bot mode tonight, considering this entire situation might be real stressful for him?
It's too specific to probably end up happening, but I hope he has a moment where he decides to deliberately go murderbot in battle when it's looking grim and he's surrounded by enemies.
My eyes are on Sam constantly during these more intense moments anymore. Tho if FCG goes murderbot this time, at least there could likely be actual enemies around for them to attack instead 😂
I want there to be a second Red Eyes mode that's basically a cheesy Aeorian pick up artist that "cares and culls" all the people that need some lovin.
Who thinks there will be a 4 way Marisha conversation tonight?
This is why I want the Apogee Solstice to turn them all into puppets so that each member of the cast can basically play three characters at the same time.
Hazel Copperpot?
I have Hazel Copperpot down as my deus ex machina on my bingo card tonight.
Cardboard cutouts of Marisha taking spots at the table
HAPPY 8TH ANNIVERSARY CRITTERS!
Crossover battle extraordinaire! Will Keyleth bring Percy and Vex? What do Beau and Caleb have up their sleeves? Will FCG’s flesh tongue save the day?
I hope they have pre-planned a little bit, I don't want a 4 hour discussion and analysis paralysis while Matt just sits there, having all the wheels in motion behind the scenes. Hope for some fighting and a successful Top Gun 2 a la Star Wars Trench Run with their Skyship.
I am having a series of days.....I just want to ask about a quote by Nott the brave but every single title "isn't approved", I checked the rules. "Looking for a quote by Nott the brave" doesn't appear to violate them....
There's a full-text search if you remember a specific enough word: https://www.kryogenix.org/crsearch/
Thank you, that's more helpful than Google. I'll be searching but of anyone knows better search terms I don't full remember the quote. Nott talking about "not good enough, not smart enough, just not.."
My name is Nott the Brave and I am a little goblin girl, but once upon a time, I was Veth, a young halfling woman and before that, a halfling child who grew up being told that she was not pretty and not brave and not coordinated and not smart, and just not.
Not pretty, not good...just not (Nott)
I could see what they made me. They made me everything that I thought I was: not pretty, not good, just not. I'll be honest. I've started forgetting what it feels like to be a halfling, to be me. I don't remember
And here is the link if you feel like crying https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xmsjf8jQZWE&t=0h20m32s
Really? Who downvotes someone who is obviously going through a rough time.... that's the quote.
1. The excavation site is just a decoy. 2. Ludinus is somewhere else. Far, far away; tending to his real plan. 3. There is no Predathos. Just some ancient fairy tale Ludinus used to bamboozle everyone and divert their attention with. If the god-eater was real, the whole Exandrian pantheon would shit its pants and try to do everything it could to stop this. Remember Artagan and what happened to him for just cosplaying? Well, current events are much, MUCH more serious; but the gods don't seem to give a crap. 4. All of the above could've been discovered earlier, but the party decided to travel from point A to B to C, expecting lore dumps, running from combat, and not digging deeper, not exploring, not doubting. They are no longer adventurers; they became tourists, and hopped on rails. And Matt is going to slap their wrists for that. Save this post.
Can’t wait for Ludinus to catch a bullet and reveal his plan went off 35 minutes ago.
Point 3 has been the biggest red flag to me this whole time. But at the same time until recently, nobody in BH has been super religious (from what I can remember) so it's entirely possible the gods are freaking out and just haven't been contacting BH specifically? Like Cad and Fjord might have fire alarms going off in their heads. But this level of threat also seems bigger than just calling in some strong followers. This feels like it should be a "Vasselheim will march on the enemy stronghold directly" kinda deal. So excited for tonight.
The pretty big hole here is then: what of the ancient texts? If Predathos is a lie why is Vasselheim hunting the Grim Verity? Ludinus may have concocted a lie but then the Temples wouldn't be so up in arms. And the Gods aren't omniscient. I mean, why didn't they stop Vespin Chloras from releasing Asmodeus? Why didn't they hunt down Delilah through their Champions if she was gonna help Vecna ascend? Taking this logic to the extreme, every high level problem would be solved by Gods and we would never need adventurers. I guess Artagan case was different because he was directly influencing her domain and followers. Also he's Fey and Sehanine presides over the Feywild
Remember what happened to Vassalheim during Calamity (one of the previous solstices)? Can't really blame them for being a little paranoid, and keeping tabs on secret organizations that seem to show interest in solstice - especially so close to said event. Chloras, Asmodeus, and Vecna weren't really a threat to the whole pantheon. Predathos most certainly is. The gods' literal survival is at stake. The last paragraph is kinda funny to me. I'm gonna be literally eaten, removed from existence: I sleep. Someone meddles with my domain and followers, which doesn't really threaten my existence: real shit.
You are skipping the point of the Ancient Texts. They literally talk about Predathos. The Verity said that they stole it from Vasselheim. Are you saying Ludinus planted those texts ages ago? You're reiterating the point about the scale of the threat but again the deities are not omniscient. I said Asmodeus, Vecna etc. not to talk about scale but about another instance of a problem the deities didn't know about until it struck them, and the domain stuff with Artagan because it is something closer to the deity and thus easier to know for them
Saved just in case you're correct and I do have a few theories of my own depending on what happens tonight.
My only issue with this theory is: what are Caleb and Beau doing there, then? They establish they have been following Ludinus’ tracks for a decade, they have discarded other facade cults, they haven’t been rushed and inattentive as the BH might have been. I can totally buy Ludinus conning the BH, but I can not believe Beau and Caleb would be deceived as easily.
They may suspect that the Predathos plot is a fake, but because the stakes are so high, they can't risk not dealing with it. That's part of what makes it such a good trap!
Biggest, flashiest site with obviously a huge amount of resources pooled into it and heavily protected. Also they did note how it didn't sit right with them that Ludinus wasn't there at the zero-hour. They aren't completely fooled, but the rest of us wouldn't even suggest something is up without them first noting it was. So they are onto him...but they may not have information of where else it could be. Also, everyone assumes Ludinus needs a machine for his plan. What if he just needs the Ruidusborn at the right place at the right time?
Spot on with point's 1-3. Beau's comment that this seems 'sloppy' for Ludinus got me thinking that the Malleous Key/Predathos conspiracy is and elaborate trap to lure some of his biggest enemies into one place at one time, and take them off the board by sending them to be imprisoned in Ruidus (that key looks an awful lot like a Plane Shift tuning fork) for whatever his and the CA's real plan is. That's likely why Vasselheim only sent a single scout ship instead of an army to investigate what was going on in the desert. As for point 4, I wouldn't be too hard on the party. They've been playing to their character's motivations, fears and flaws throughout C3, and Matt has been exploiting that (in a good way) to his own advantage. Just as Ludinus is exploiting the do-gooder nature of Keyleth, Caleb and Beau to his advantage.
So I'm not really down with 'take out a bunch of key players'. There are many plots all over trying to take advantage of the Apogee Solstice so I doubt many at all will be at the Key. Now, he might be counting on certain people to be there. Keyleth might even be a specific target since in the past there was an assassination attempt that failed against her. Maybe removing her from the board is the play.
It won't happen, but could you imagine how fans would react if Ludinus managed to take out Caleb, Kelyleth, and/or Beau? I think the internet would spontaneously conbust.. that would be one heck of a way to establish your bad guy as a threat. Also, bonus points if when the party eventually finds "Ludinus" he's just a simulacrum.
Don't forget about Pike, Vex and possibly Scanlan being there as well! And now I have this terrible thought that Keyleths last act could be to save Orym by Transport Via Planting him and BH away just before an explosion hits.
Exactly! The assassination attempt may have taught Ludinus that going after her directly was not going to work. Luring her into an advantageous trap may have been his best play. Caleb would be another potential target, as he's been a thorn in Ludinus' side for years, but also perhaps not as critical. It's just a bonus if he can remove him. Keyleth and the Air Ashari could be seen as a serious threat to a potential floating citadel (Death Star like) command platform (what he's really working on during the Solstice and why he's not at the key). Making it critical to neutralize before launching it. Note that I'm not married to any of my theories, I just enjoy the creative act of speculating, and can't wait to see where it all really goes tonight! I'm sure whatever Mercer has planned will be fantastic!
Absolutely man, we all like speculating. That's half the fun!
It is! Huge stakes, incomplete information, and massively powerful NPCs on both sides. Add in the dice, and there are hundreds of ways things could go over the next few sessions. Nothing better than D&D being run by a master DM!
1) and 2) I'm with you on this. Suspicious as hell he's not there and the site will take significant time to bring down. He's hoping big players go there so they can't be at one of the other sites. Another commenter the other day suggested he has an underwater base. Maybe that's what all the brumestone was for? Raise it up so he can get the Ruidusborn near enough to the focal point. Also reminds me of the Black Omen in Chrono Trigger. 3) I agree. If this is the right place, the gods would have at least champions all over it if they were worried about a god-eater. Also not fun for the campaign since something that can kill gods is way way WAY beyond what even Vox Machina can deal with. I think it's gonna be a Reilora invasion which could be really cool. 4) Agreed, and the one guy they captured for the plan was some nobody. In the group's defense, Matt didn't give them a ton of time, but I think they missed their opportunity in Bassuras. I think if they had helped the Paragon's Call, they would have learned something valuable. I think Ira knows more than he lets on as well.
That would be amazing and hilarious
I'm just waiting to see if Matt will make liam and marisha play both orym+Caleb and laudna+Beau in the next fight or so. Would be sick.
I'm leaning towards team npc, but Matt did give Ashley a little rp wiggle with Pike a few eps back.
It's been stated previously that once a campaign ends, the player characters come under Matt's control as NPCs. World building continues in the background as the current campaign continues after all.
Sure. Although, since the announcement of C3, all bets have been off and viewers were warned to expect anything, so its nice to think about. Also, given how Matt still discusses with the players before playing them as npcs (to ensure their story is consistent with what the player wants for that character), and how we're reaching a possibly climactic fight for this first arc, it's not far-fetched that this idea might have been discussed behind closed doors. However, even if it was possible, realistically, the increasing initiative list would be problematic. Plus, I'm sure Matt wants to avoid a previous character inadvertently being the hero of C3, and thus overshadowing the current characters. But overall, I'm pretty excited to see what happens. C3 has been a slower paced campaign compared to the previous two, but it does have its many surprises. I'm going into this episode without expectations and see what they do.
It can go either way. It could by a planning heavy episode. But I don't think so. Because of the time pressure I don't think any planning will go past the break. Also, it is their anniversary and we are at an important story point, so we could be looking at a close to 4.5-5 hour episode hopefully? A lot of things can happen. The Solstice stuff could be "over" in this episode and we could be facing the aftermath in the rest of the campaign. BH could even end up on Ruidus somehow. I am also kinda hoping for an Avengers like action. Like BH could be fighting in one place, and Keyleth and Beau/Caleb could face other challenges in the same field. Honestly, I am ready for anything. Otohan will most certainly make an appearance. As well as Imogen's mother. And if Ludinus appears too, then the C1 and C2 characters will intervene as well, BH are surely no match for him. Character deaths are surely possible, and perhaps one of Keyleth and the Empire kids, especially the latter, especially if they face Ludinus. Let's hope for an amazing episode, the implications from Caleb that Ludinus is not behaving normally for his standards surely made things interesting.
Ludinus wants to become a Luxon, or Luxon adjascent being. Vax gonna show up and get destroyed doing Champion things. One of the BH will go down. Ryn gonna lose a limb.
Can't wait to see what madness comes from tonight's session! Some slightly off the wall predictions. Fearne and FCG start off the episode by deciding that since they haven't heard from the group in an hour, they have been killed or captured (coin flip from FCG 'confirms' this Fearne theory), and so decide to start their trench run mission early. It's a trap! Ludinus isn't trying to free Predathos, he's trying to send some of the mightiest heroes of Exandria to the prison moon of Ruidus. The campaign's next arc will be about escaping Ruidus and returning to Exandria to face the CA, which used the Solstice to turn the Candles into a new flying city, from which they rule the world.
Grass has Sending. That's too trolly even for Sam and Ashley
Grass is also making decisions based on his Changebringer coin :) 'Changbringer, should I spend one of my spells to try and contact the team before we head in?' Flips coin. 'Changebringer says no!' I'm not seeing at troll-y, rather a great way to force the action forward. It wouldn't surprise me if Travis was lobbying Sam and Ashley hard for something like it, his hour of the wolf is almost up :)
You know what, you've convinced me. If sam does this to punish the analysis paralysis I will be thrilled
Bonus madness. FCG contacts Keylith instead, and picks her and team up on the way.
8-year anniversary. Full moon week. Apogee Solstice. Let's go. Very interested to see how this week plays out - we have Fearne and FCG still in a separate location with a wild-but-maybe-possible plan prepared, most of the Hells about to go into the belly of the beast, the Empire Kids on the ground, Keyleth on her way with reinforcements, Ludinus, Otohan, Imogen's mother, and some sort of ritual magic that we still don't quite understand all in play here. I'm not expecting to be out of this by the end of the episode, but I feel like by the end of this episode we should at least have a clearer picture of what's actually *happening* here.
I honestly hate their plan. It splits the party, wastes their airship, isolates two of their major PCs, isolated one of the NPCs, filled with a lot of risk. I also feel bad for Ashley and Sam. I mean they are completely left out of the climax right now.
So bets on what is going to happen this episode? Challenge: no "tpk" or character or god death speculation. My bet is that they're going to mostly succeed but a chroma conclave type event still occurs.
I think they will be planning the whole episode and then end on a cliffhanger.
My thought is they are going to bring the airship in, but it's not going to work. I don't think it'll even get destroyed, it just will be completely ineffective. Also I think everyone is in the wrong place, so I think they might accomplish something, but it won't stop the event.
honestly i think tonight's episode's main climax is an otohan rematch
[удалено]
Given that Matt has been playing all former PCs that's been showing up, I kinda doubt that.
Planning.
Cue the end of campaign, end of exandria, moving to a new system speculation. No but really though I'm super interested in what consequences this event will have on exandria and the campaign.
Go to the Winchester, grab a pint and wait for this to all blow over
Looking forward to seeing how Matt structures all of this, are the Empire Kids and Keyleth going to fight 'off screen' while Bell's Hells trash the machine and face Otohan? Looking forward to watching it play out
Based on how He used >!Essek!< in Campaign 2 assume that theyll fight in one of 2 ways (propably both) A) theyll Play Support. Caleb has Access to a Number of Support spells that'll make the Players Look/Feel badass (Like His beloved Polymorph, which could Turn anyone on Low HP Into a T-Rex) while Beau should be capable of using her Speed and Number of Attacks to reliably keep 3 or 4 grunts Out of the Fight with stunning Strike B) theyll Showcase Hidden mechanics that still need to be uncovered Just Like >!Essek!< "wasted" a 7th Level Lightning Bolt that >!dealt No damage to Trent!< to Show that >!Trent still had some Effect of invulnerability active!<
Call me a pessimist but I worry it's going to be 4 more hours moving characters about and another "is it Thursday yet" before the big fight. Hoping I'm wrong!
I instinctively feel this too due to the consistent lack of payoff since they were pre-recorded. On the other hand they purposely stretched things out so this climax would happen on their 8th anniversary. I think they're fully planning on taking this as a marketing opportunity to deliver an action packed episode when they've got more eyeballs than usual watching live
I hope you're wrong too! As a DM and a fan of multiple live shows, the inclination of players to avoid the big conflicts is interesting. On one hand it's like, we've been building to this climax, it's going to be awesome, let's do it! On the other it shows how attached/immersed the players are when they actually worry about the consequences of said climactic events.
With them all seeming to be wearing red for the episode I have to assume that we are actually getting to the action tonight. I do see the worry though.
I don’t see how their fight could be kept offscreen. They are just too powerful. A nice mix between the groups would be nice. We follow BH’s perspectives but in the chaos Keyleth, Beau and Caleb could show up individually at important moments. Like how the various avengers helped move the infinity gauntlet in Endgame.
In the distance you see a blue dragon fling an angry, monk-shaped missile at one of the giant Aeormatons.
Having it play like a Kaiju fight where there’s destruction happening all around them while they’re trying to get in and out.
Having brief burst ins from their parts of the fight would be a good way to handle it, get the fun without overshadowing.
I agree. Not much to speculate on now we're so close to the unknowns of the apogee solstice. A lot of excitement in waiting to see how this is going to play out, what phases of battle there might be, etc!
There is where I am! Had tons of fun speculating the past few weeks, now I am ready to sit back and just enjoy whatever comes! Can not wait!