Matt Mercer says filming Shattered Legends with Hololive vtubers gave him a greater appreciation for their skills as performers. The six-episode tabletop roleplaying series brings together Critical Role cast members and Hololive talents for a campaign that will premiere on Nerissa Ravencroft’s YouTube channel in mid-November.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Mercer said working with the vtubers gave him a deeper understanding of the talent involved in their performances. The main practical challenge, he said, was handling the technical logistics of filming human players alongside 2D animated characters.
The project began as a pitch from Ravencroft, known as Hololive’s “Demon of Sound” and a longtime Critical Role fan. She said she was astonished when her manager told her the collaboration was possible. Ravencroft also helped shape the Hololive side of the production, creating her character, working with artists on character visuals and vtuber models, and contributing to an original song.
Ravencroft is joined by Mori Calliope, Gigi Murin and Shiori Novella. The group wanted to tell a darker story, drawing inspiration from Berserk and the Soulsborne games. Mercer and Marisha Ray helped place the campaign within Critical Role’s Exandria setting as a self-contained story described as “canon-ish.”
The cast will play Daggerheart, Critical Role’s fantasy tabletop roleplaying game. Rather than using a single 20-sided die, the game uses two 12-sided dice associated with hope and fear. Mercer said he likes introducing new players to Daggerheart because its narrative mechanics encourage tension and collaboration.
Ravencroft said she felt intimidated at first because she usually plays video games, but found the game easier to settle into with Mercer and Ray at the table. Mercer also said that, although the story is designed to fit into six episodes, it leaves room for further adventures if there is interest.
Sources: PC Gamer.