What is the “Mercer-Effect”?
What is the “Mercer-Effect”? The title is derived from the name of a talented voice actor, Matthew Mercer. Mercer and his fellow (equally talented) comrades get together every Thursday on their show Critical Role and embark on their own Dungeons and Dragons adventure.
The phrase is most commonly used to describe fans of this show. The ones who get into D&D and bring in the expectations that their own games should be as good as or similar to what they’ve seen on Critical Role. While I understand the frustration of many Dungeon Masters out there, is this really a major issue for tabletop games, or simply an opportunity?
What Is Critical Role?
There are some incredible podcasts, live streams, and youtube channels out there that play various tabletop games. But you will be hard-pressed to find one that is more iconic than Critical Role. Anyone who plays D&D has either watched or heard about this group at some point.
The show got its start when a group of voice actors/friends decided to take the campaign they had been playing for around 2 years and stream it for people to watch. To their amazement, the show became a HUGE success. And after several years of being part of Geek and Sundry, they split on good terms, to become their own independent entity.
This show has millions of fans! They sell out live shows of their sessions and have raised a ton of money to create their very own animated series based on their game.
Why is Critical Role So Popular?
What makes Critical Role stand out in comparison to so many other wonderful online shows? In truth, there are a few things that make them stand at the forefront.
The entire cast is made up of voice actors/actors who have appeared in anime, video games, TV shows, and all sorts of other stuff. Their professional backgrounds have helped bring fans to watch their adventures. The same backgrounds that help them get into their characters and allows viewers to become fully engulfed in their imaginations as the story unfolds.
But Matthew Mercer and his cast of players have also established a wonderful system in which their games generally unfold. They keep each session around 3 hours and while they stick to the rules as best as possible, they don’t let the rules slow down scenes and combat. The focus is on the story more than anything else. By doing this, they are able to make each session more memorable for everyone who is watching.
It Sounds Great, So What’s The Problem?
Everything seems well structured and a ton of fun, right? So why do people stress and talk about the “Mercer-Effect”? The problem is, it’s really well done and is seen as a perfected style of play. And new players do not realize that every Dungeon Master may not run their game the same way. When people watch this show and decide to try the game, it often causes tons of confusion. The “Mercer-Effect” when handled poorly can leave players feeling like they were not given what they came for.
How Dungeon Masters React to Critical Role?
A lot of DM/GMs who follow the show use Mr. Mercer’s games as a goal they wish to reach. And that goal may be very different for each of those who do. Where some might want to do voices as good as he does, others may wish to be able to describe scenes better or build better combat scenarios.
In truth, most DM’s/GM’s (Dungeon Master’s/ Game Master’s) games are not as organized as Critical Role comes off. Or if they are, the DMs have a much different style of play. When new players join a DMs game, it can be a lot of pressure. The DM wants to provide the best experience possible, and when a player starts referencing Critical Role and Mr. Mercer, it can add more pressure for that Dungeon Master to achieve a level of play that may not feel feasible.
What Do We Do To “Fix” These Unrealistic Expectations?
As a new player, come in with an open mind. Don’t try to recreate an experience from Critical Role (or any other show). But instead, be patient with your group and focus on creating your own unique exploits!
As the Dungeon Master, talk to your players about their expectations, and yours. Don’t ever feel like you have to do more than what you are comfortable with doing. Your players come play your game because you provide them enjoyment and an escape from their everyday life stressors.
Also, don’t see the “Mercer-Effect” as a bad thing, it can help you find what your players are craving and deliver it in your own way. Turn every bit of information a player provides you into an opportunity to push yourself to do your game better, (not like someone else).
In Conclusion
Personally, I don’t see the “Mercer-Effect” as a bad thing like some players do. I see it as mentioned above, as an opportunity to understand what my players are craving most, and finding ways to push myself to the next level as a Game Master.
I love Critical Role, and I look at Matthew Mercer for inspiration for my games. But, I also know that I am a different person, player, and DM than he is. I look to him as a source of information. But, I also look hard at what I am good at and where I am lacking. And then I work on each accordingly.
With all that said, I don’t believe a DM should be more stressed than normal or feel their game isn’t good enough. Anyone who does or attempts this (including Mr. Mercer) will tell you it can be stressful at times, but it should always be fun. If a DM is constantly focused on trying achieve the “mercer-effect” for their players, then they can’t focus on the things that make their game the best it is.
