The Legend of Vox Machina S1 E3-5
Added 2025-12-11 02:13:29 +0000 UTCComments
I love the dichotomy of you loving Niffty/grudgingly liking Scanlan and Casper being the exact opposite 🤣🤣🤣
bunny
2026-01-28 03:40:51 +0000 UTCIn the campaign, Pike's God is Serenrae, I believe they changed the name for the show because it was technically a pathfinder IP that they didn't have the rights for
Jay
2026-01-24 19:48:16 +0000 UTCTHE DICE NEVER LIE!
Jungle The rainwing
2026-01-19 05:11:37 +0000 UTCThe Game Changer reference was not lost, the cadence clenched it <3
Sarah Neely
2026-01-18 01:19:56 +0000 UTCBean soup theory drives me INSANE. There is a significant and dangerous lack of common sense, critical thinking, and literacy today and (esp as an English major but also as a human) it’s mind boggling.
Isabella Nesheiwat
2026-01-17 03:38:48 +0000 UTC"what unconventiental pairing" while looking at percy/keyleth hurts my heart. this is sibling percleth erasure LOVM :((
faith day
2026-01-09 01:17:31 +0000 UTCThe name you're looking for is "Divine Focus"
Nathan Lehenbauer
2026-01-09 00:18:10 +0000 UTCJust found your channel from the first episode of Vox Machina on YouTube. I am a long time Critter been around since Campaign One was airing on Geek and Sundry and can I just say you have immaculate vibes, a great sense of humor and I appreciate your D&D/pathfinder knowledge going in! Welcome to the critter community and when you get to season 2 and have any questions I’ll be happy to answer as someone who’s watched campaign one no fewer than six times. It’s a great community and the show and game have got me through the last ten years of my life.
ELS_Art
2026-01-07 07:55:45 +0000 UTCHIghly recommend any of the "table to screen" videos from TP Burrow. Here's the first "No Mercy Percy" one, showing how seriously they took their RP during game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYH2V139PAc&list=PL88dtohcg4RMhwfwfCxGBFNGwg5rqAKYS&index=3
Cara Freya Hoglund
2026-01-07 06:38:27 +0000 UTC28:30 Scanlan makes you speechless... and inspired Casper to cover the songs. I hope you'll share reactions to those, too. XD
Marguerite McBee
2025-12-24 14:29:37 +0000 UTCI do not agree with your bonus action drink argument, but that's okay. Glad you've come up with your own homebrew. XD
Marguerite McBee
2025-12-24 14:20:19 +0000 UTCMid- episode 4, Morrius responds to unexpected dialogue with "Make the right choice". Fun Digital a circus easter egg for those of us watching videos out of order. 😁
AJ
2025-12-24 08:47:21 +0000 UTCMortius, you might be thinking of rules sets where Holy Symbol got changed to Divine Focus (primarily in the spell description blocks) ? That was a change to accomodate when cleric/ paladin spells started to overlap with druids and prestige classes instead of having a similar spell with a different name for them. That let other classes use items that made sense flavor-wise: a sprig of mistletoe for a druid, a holy weapon or shield for paladins, etc.
AJ
2025-12-13 21:45:42 +0000 UTCThe first season was paced the way it is and is 8 episodes bc the original kickstarter they made to fund a 30 min animated special ended up being a lot more successful than they anticipated. Stretch goals eventually turned the 30 min special into an 8 episode mini series, 2 covering a prequel story and 6 covering one of the most popular arcs of the campaign.
Dae
2025-12-13 21:40:37 +0000 UTCOoooh look into my eyes *finger waggle* 🤣
Syenna Lupfer
2025-12-13 10:16:36 +0000 UTCGod, the Suntree reveal always gets me - absolutely diabolical work by the Briarwoods. The way Matt did it by simply describing each individual and what they looked like in detail and to watch the realization slowly dawn on all the players of what they were seeing was amazing.
Anna Schmidt Meum
2025-12-12 21:52:27 +0000 UTCNo Mercy Percy.
Alaina Lomasney
2025-12-11 22:54:28 +0000 UTCAlso the show skips over a whole ark from the first 27 episodes of campaign 1, due to a problematic player who was kicked out after episode 27 because of his tabletop maners and other problematic sexist behavior.
Sarah Elise Arntzen
2025-12-11 16:03:08 +0000 UTCAlso the first two episodes were from their home game before they started streaming as they already had a established campaign they had played a bit because of this the characters are already about level 10 after episode 2.
Sarah Elise Arntzen
2025-12-11 15:59:01 +0000 UTCI don't know if it's been said in the comments before, but in the future it's good to see if there is a song playing over the credits! Sometimes they only include a snippet in the episode, but then the full version plays at the end. (At the end of episode 5 there is no music, but just the sound of rope swinging/straining - chilling.)
Yara Kaas
2025-12-11 14:39:26 +0000 UTCHence the Pike side quest
Sarah Elise Arntzen
2025-12-11 14:25:32 +0000 UTCPike’s «player» had a super busy shooting schedule during campaign one and couldn’t make to a lot of sessions and so they had to find away to explain her absence
Sarah Elise Arntzen
2025-12-11 14:23:02 +0000 UTCJust realized I forgot the main thing I wanted to comment on 🤦♀️ I watched quite a lot of VM reactions and (obviously just talking about people who did not watch the campaign) about half of them clocked the Vampire thing, for half it was a complete surprise the moment Sylas bit Vax. So I would say it is very good film making giving you all the information if you pay attention, but not completely in your face. So yeah, you can absolutely celebrate realizing it early on! That's only half the puzzle though. I'm not sure if you didn't pay attention to your own words or decided to dismiss that idea, but there was a moment where you were bang on about the nature of the Briarwoods. There is a big big clue in the scene when they walk towards their room after the banquet. From the newbies I've seen only one person pointed that out, and even most critters don't clock it at their first viewing! It's a quick moment, but it gives you SO MUCH information!!! And they even subtly point you towards that clue in the episode after it - and that one you did clock and talk about...
PumpkinSparks
2025-12-11 11:38:59 +0000 UTCYou're potion mechanic is VERY interesting! We use the BA for self, action for giving it to others. And so far it didn't feel unbalanced. But I'm gonna run your idea by my DMs to see if we want to implement that rule. I would argue though, that while there are some spellcasters that have other means of healing or using the BA in a clever way, but Wizards get fucked with that rule! And some sorcerers (if they don't have quickened spell) and warlocks depending on what pact and invocations they chose... Vax technically has several belts. As a good standard rogue he is Edgy McEdgelord with all the buckles and belts ;) I do like the idea though of combining Simon (the snake belt) with the returning belt - makes for some interesting mechanics Once you're done with the first season you might want to check out some table to screen videos. When Matt started to describe the people hanging out on the tree, we were all super confused what he's insinuating and then for each of them you can pretty much pinpoint the moment it clicked.
PumpkinSparks
2025-12-11 10:55:42 +0000 UTCWe use the bonus action potion for yourself, action for another, or max healing if you use an action for yourself... But that only applies to healing potions, all other potions still require an action... It seems pretty balanced for our group
DnD Addict
2025-12-11 10:18:37 +0000 UTCre the mechanics of Sylas' sword: - +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls - Advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks - Drain Strength score of attacked creatures, increasing your own Strength score (resets to normal after rest) - When your Strength score is increased to 25, attacks deal additional 2d6 necrotic damage
Beckerini
2025-12-11 09:30:45 +0000 UTCThanks for always providing a wonderful energy, it's been a tough year and you always manage a smile from me. On other : The everlight! Originally the group was playing Pathfinder 1e but when they went to live play they converted to 5e . They can't use the names of any of the gods but Everlight is a pathfinder deity you might be aware of since you run 2e : Sarenrae .
Robert Beyda
2025-12-11 06:23:21 +0000 UTCMore fun FYI! - If I remember correctly, Vax had two belts. His Blinkback Belt, and his Serpent belt. - The snake's name is Simon. He's named after an NPC child they saved in the pre-stream. - The safe word "Chenga" is a joke about them using "Jenga" as a safe word in the campaign. Can't use it here, that's a brand name! - On that note, in the campaign, they originally had a set of earrings that allowed them to communicate over short distances. Basically the Message cantrip, but in group text form. For reasons I'm not quite sure of, they left that out and instead just had Vex sense that Vax was in danger with 'Twin Intuition.' - Sadly, animating Trinket is apparently HELLA expensive, so he's unfortunately not as present as he was in the campaign. Although there was a running gag that he wasn't particularly useful in the game, as early 5e Beastmaster was severely lacking in utility. - This was definitely a turning point for the campaign. Prior to the Briarwood arc, the stream had 2 story arcs not adapted, and they were pretty standard fantasy adventure fare. The introduction of the Briarwoods and Percy's backstory are widely considered to be when Critical Role became what it is today. - They do trim a lot of fat compared to the campaign, which I'll continue to make note of where it's noteworthy! But in doing so, they also streamline a lot of the events in ways that make more sense for a TV show, compared to a longform D&D stream. - In terms of D&D mechanics, I believe Sylas's charm works like any other charm effect, where if you cause damage to a creature you've charmed, the charm breaks. If that's how they play it in the show, Sylas would have broken the charm when he bit Vax. - In 5th edition, Pike's amulet is a Holy Symbol, which can also function as a Spellcasting Focus for Clerics. - In the original stream, they used a mish-mash of Gods from various D&D pantheons like Faerun, Greyhawk, Eberron, etc. However, as their original game was in Pathfinder, Pike was a Cleric of Sarenrae, a goddess of light and redemption. When CR started getting big, Matt reskinned the pantheon with original names/titles, and Sarenrae became the Everlight. In some official partnerships with WotC where they're allowed to use the original names (Gods like Pelor, Kord, Sehanine, Bane, Tiamat, etc.) she's given an original name, Raei. - Obviously a lot of the magic has been changed for the show, but if I had to guess, Keyleth cast Daylight. Very useful spell, and Druids get it. - Jarrett IS great. In the campaign he was the guard captain Vox Machina hired for their keep, but because so much early stuff was cut for the show, they made him a royal guard instead. He's just pretty damn cool regardless. - Pike's departure is a nod to Ashley having to leave the stream for long periods due to filming a TV series across the country. They're using this to flesh out her storyline and explore her faith in the show. - To avoid further questions, we must assume that Vox Machina always has exactly as much or as little gold as the story demands. - I believe that is in fact a Scroll of Polymorph. The levels are tricky in the show, because going by the campaign, they were pretty low level when they fought Brimscythe, but then by the time they met the Briarwoods they'd gone through 2 additional story arcs and were around level 11-13 during this arc. - STORY TIME! When Vax is telling his story about the weirdest thing he killed, that was a Rakshasa, a tiger devil with backwards hands. This is a reference to the campaign, during one of the skipped story arcs, Vax and half of the party hunted and killed it as part of a mission. Being a devil, killing it just sent it back to the Hells, and over time it was able to come back and get its revenge in a CRAZY twist where it disguised itself as Gilmore and almost killed Vax. During that fight, Pike got the kill, and it vowed revenge on her instead, leading to a late campaign arc where they go to Hell to kill it permanently before it respawns. - I have nothing to say about the bodies in the Sun Tree. It's just as shocking in the show as it was in the campaign. - Can't wait for more Vox Machina reactions (and more ad rants!)
HamboneKablooey
2025-12-11 06:16:25 +0000 UTCThey are level 9~11 at the start.
Yakasaman
2025-12-11 05:23:17 +0000 UTCAlso to put LoVM in perspective the PCs were level 11 when they first fought the Briarwoods.
brosenthalUO
2025-12-11 05:17:33 +0000 UTCThe moment you said that those shadow creatures were too evil I knew you would find the ending of episode 5 horrific LOL
FrankieLacrimae
2025-12-11 05:01:42 +0000 UTCRewatch the scene where Deliah and Sylas are walking to their room, and look at the mirror 👀
Clarissa
2025-12-11 04:54:26 +0000 UTCHaven't finished the reaction, but each season is 12 episodes. They give the length this show needs for its characters.
Chimpman
2025-12-11 03:56:54 +0000 UTCIt's a holy symbol for Clerics, but an arcane focus or spellcasting focus for other casters. Maybe that's what you're thinking of? The Briarwoods were the first large and truly involved arc in the livestream; Brimscythe was pre-stream, and part of the home game. The game started because Liam O'Brien and Laura Bailey (Vax & Vex) share a birthday IRL, and for a present, Liam asked for Matt to run a homegame for them. :) They had already played for a few levels before they started streaming for Geek & Sundry, which is why we meet this party already together and with some past missions undsr their belt (the whole cutting off the guy who hired them's head thing mentioned in ep1 was a real thing lol). WotC does, in fact, suck. 😔 Re: vampires & wolves, Dracula in the OG book can control wolves, so that's definitely part of it. Percy & Keyleth had the CUTEST besties relationship in the campaign and I am so, so disappointed they don't get as many friendship moments in the show. Wraiths & ghouls, man. Party killers. :| Captain Jarrett is a BADASS, and was somewhat similar in the campaign but he specifically was the guard captain FOR Vox Machina and their keep. So he was a minor but beloved NPC adapted for the show. Ashley Johnson (Pike) was working on the show Blindspot during campaign 1 & 2, and so they often had to find reasons to have her characters leave temporarily. Her TLOVM plotlines have been tweaked with some extra worldbuilding stuff so she can be in the show more, which I appreciate.
amBarthes
2025-12-11 03:52:17 +0000 UTCI assume you know this by now but the season is longer than 8 episodes. Also Pike left because Ashley had to leave for a gig during this point in the campaign
AustynG123
2025-12-11 03:44:45 +0000 UTCI am so excited you're watching this but I will fight you about Bonus Action potions, respectfully. 😂 Casper did a cover of Beads of Love!! :D It's really good! Also when the mask goes on that's who we Critters refer to as NO MERCY PERCY!!
amBarthes
2025-12-11 03:30:22 +0000 UTCIn the campaign, Pike worshiped Sarenrae but because of copyright they had to change the name
Addy0302
2025-12-11 03:28:06 +0000 UTCYaaaaay!!!!!
Callsign-Corgis
2025-12-11 03:11:01 +0000 UTCNow you need to listen to Casper's cover of Pull on my Beads lol
Dylan Mancy
2025-12-11 02:46:54 +0000 UTCYou might have already found that out by now, but just so you know Vox machina actually has twelve episodes per season, not eight :)
Amelis 3000
2025-12-11 02:33:56 +0000 UTCyippee more movie
Temmiehoi
2025-12-11 02:22:18 +0000 UTC
