The Rise of Streaming RPGs: ‘Critical Role’ & More
Streaming RPGs are increasingly common. The phenomenon has given rise to plenty of criticism, but streaming games are good for the hobby.
Streaming games of tabletop RPGs have become commonplace since around 2010. You can find groups playing all kinds of games online, although D&D is certainly the largest community by far. I’m no stranger to streaming, either — I took part in the Four Horseman stream for TORG Eternity last year.
What Makes Streaming RPGs Special?
As an old-school gamer who grew up in the 80’s, I can tell you that I never thought a day would come when people would actively enjoy watching other people play tabletop RPGs. It’s honestly fascinating to see the communities of fans that celebrate these streaming games, and I’ve become a fan of Critical Role myself (I listen in the car on my way to and from the dog park in the morning).
Streaming RPGs and Controversy
RPG streams are not immune to controversy. One of the more recent and well-known fiascos involved Dungeon World co-creator Adam Koebel, who put sexual assault into his streaming game as the GM. In addition, there’s also been a bit of a backlash against Matthew Mercer, the DM for Critical Role. Some opinionated gamers believe that Critical Role and Mercer, in particular, foster an unrealistic expectation of what a tabletop RPG experience is really like. When people show up to an RPG game and find their (unrealistic) expectations are not met, this has been called the “Matt Mercer effect.” Personally, I compare Critical Role’s games to a typical gaming table to be like trying to equate a porn video to actual sexual activity in the real world. They’re both idealized versions of the “real thing.” Mercer and his friends are no more responsible for creating unrealistic expectations than Vivid.
However, I think it is fair to say that most RPG streams are celebrations of the games and settings they feature. By and large, RPG streams avoid most of the toxic behaviors that have so often plagued game tables over the years. Let’s hope that trend continues.
Why are Streaming RPGs so Popular?
Possibly the most pertinent question about RPG streaming is, “Why is this so popular?” I believe that the answer lies in one major factor: accessibility. Previously, tabletop RPGs were confined largely to game rooms, basements, garages, game stores, and the big conventions like Gen Con and Origins. That’s where you went to find the games, and that’s where you went to find out what they were like. The internet didn’t meaningfully change that dynamic until streaming came along. And here’s where things get interesting… with streaming, someone could find out what the game was like almost immediately.
Imagine if you were a football fan back in the 30’s. Television is not yet a common way to experience what the game is like. All you have is the rulebook and some friends who want to play. Now, imagine that rulebook is 400 pages long. That’s what it was like trying to explain the hobby of tabletop RPGs was like. Nowadays, the hobby itself is very accessible, because people don’t have to read a huge rulebook or spend hours actually playing it – they can watch the game itself, either live or recorded, on the internet.
Streaming opened up tabletop gaming to a whole new audience — people who were interested, but weren’t able to access the game through the usual gateways. And that audience is not small. Just ask Critical Role, the banner-bearer for success in the RPG streaming world. They’ve got legions of followers and recently raised over 12 million dollars to create an animated series based on their streaming game. (It’s worth mentioning that the animated series is not only a pretty great watch, but it has also done quite well for Amazon Prime). Another good example of strong success in streaming is the Acquisitions Inc. group. It gained a large following as a podcast starting in 2008 and eventually produced their own official D&D sourcebook.
The Growth of Streaming RPGs
Now, Critical Role and Acquisitions Incorporated are not just any groups of D&D players. Critical Role has a cast of veteran voice actors and Acquisitions Incorporated involved celebrities in the webcomic and gaming spaces right from the start. This is not to say that you must have a group of Hollywood-ready ingenues in order to get a successful gaming stream, but it doesn’t hurt to have some serious talent, fame, or good looks to get things going.
Streaming has also become a home for original tabletop content. A good example of this is the Dungeons of Drakkenheim stream from the Dungeon Dudes. Kelly Mcloughlin and Monty Martin have parlayed their YouTube series and streaming adventures into a very successful Kickstarter for the setting used in the game, Drakkenheim. It is very likely that other original content will follow, either being born in a gaming stream or featured in that medium after its creation. Drakkenheim shows us that gaming streams are not just about the personalities or the production values, it’s also about the original worlds and characters we get to see on screen.
Speaking of production values, early gaming streams suffered from a lack of polish. These days, however, it is not uncommon to see a higher standard for RPG streaming. There are specific streamer gaming tables for sale, as one example, and as creators continue to use Twitch or other streaming platforms, I predict you’ll see a steady increase in the overall production values used. This includes everything from HD cameras to high-fidelity microphones to carefully-sourced intros and outros. Some streams even have their own theme music.
Looking to the Future
Overall, I firmly believe that streaming is a good thing for the tabletop RPG hobby. As I mentioned before, it is an excellent way to get new gamers to understand what’s special about the activity. Streaming games have given people inspiration for more vibrant player characters and backstories, NPCs, encounters, and settings. I personally love the idea that I can listen to people playing the kinds of games I love while I’m driving, and I usually get a good idea or two for my own home game by watching the streams that are already out there. Here are the streamers who paved the way, and here’s to seeing that community grow in the future.
