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Critical Role Campaign 4 wouldn't exist (at least, it wouldn't exist as it is right now) without GM Brennan Lee Mulligan. And in a way, Brennan Lee Mulligan's position in the entertainment world wouldn't exist without Critical Role. At least, that's what Mulligan himself had to say when he sat down with Critical Role co-creator (and usual GM) Matt Mercer, in a one-on-one interview for Variety.

In case you somehow came into this article not already knowing, Mulligan previously made his mark in the world of D&D actual play with Dimension 20, the long-running streaming series currently on Dropout, formerly of CollegeHumor. And while he was pitching the show (now on its 27th season), it was Critical Role he was using as a reference.

"The experience of what it was like for me in terms of pitching," Mulligan told Mercer, "Is, you know, I had Critical Role to point to. I had this document that said, 'In terms of televised actual play, you need to be looking at Critical Role. [...] And I came with that market research document."

And not only did Mulligan have the show as a format to pitch to, but Dimension 20's origin lined up as Critical Role's Campaign 1 was reaching its grand finale 

"I got to pitch an actual play show in the weeks following this huge finale of Campaign 1," Mulligan recalled, "The joke I told Marisha [Ray, Critical Role's co-creator], because Marisha came on and did an Adventuring Academy [Dropout's BTS Dimension 20 recap show]... She came to set the week that YouTube or Reddit or wherever had coined the term 'The Mercer Effect.' I'll tell you what, the Mercer Effect is me and all my friends having a fucking job. That's the Mercer Effect."

Critical Role Campaign 4 is streaming now on the group's Beacon, YouTube, and Twitch channels. 

From the lands of Exandria to your very own smartscreens, Popverse has everything you need to know about the TTRPG phenomenon that is Critical Role. Here you'll find:

• Popverse's Critical Role watch order
• An interview with GM Brennan Lee Mulligan
• The cast's appearance at C2E2 '25

...and more. Roll initiative, player. Adventure awaits.