Critical Role Campaign 4 is just around the corner, with the series airing on Twitch, YouTube, and Beacon every Thursday at 7 PM PT starting October 2. The popular actual play is mixing things up in some big ways this time, with Dimension 20’s Brennan Lee Mulligan leading a table of 13 players, including long-time CR Dungeon Master Matthew Mercer. What’s more, this Dungeons and Dragons game is fully disconnected from previous Critical Role campaigns, meaning newcomers can jump in on an even playing field with veteran Critters.
The official art for all 13 Critical Role Campaign 4 characters has also been shared, along with a series of emojis that match their vibe. That said, the exact Dungeons and Dragons character class breakdown for these new heroes remains a mystery. While fans will likely have to wait until they see the characters live to know their builds for sure, plenty of clues hint at what classes these stars will be playing in Campaign 4.
This speculation is derived from hints in artwork, teaser trailers, and past gameplay trends of the actors themselves.
Aabria Iyengar’s Thaisha Lloy – Dreams Druid
Thaisha Lloy was described as “so chill” and “so lovely” by her player, Arabia Iyengar. Given the orc or half-orc’s laid-back vibe, woodsy dress, and the leaves found in both her art and emojis, a Druid of the Circle of Dreams seems fitting for this D&D character, especially since it provides many ways to support and heal the party, lending credence to Thaisha's description as a “hippie granola mom.” This also still gives Iyengar access to powerful magic, which she has been fond of in the past.
Alexander Ward’s Occtis Tachonis – Reanimator Artificer
One look at Occtis Tachonis can tell the refined individual is of noble standing, but a closer look at his art reveals further about his character. Potion bottles, syringes, and adorable fox-like creatures suggest they could be an Alchemist Artificer, with his companions acting as Homunculi or Familiars. However, judging from the Coraline-like button eyes of his foxes and coffin emoji, Alexander Ward could be using the Reanimator Artificer instead, which appeared in the recent horror-themed Dungeons and Dragons Unearthed Arcana. Regardless, Ward stated Tachonis was “more of a dweeb” than he expected, and the Intelligence-based Artificer would fit that description perfectly.
Ashley Johnson’s Vaelus – Shadow Monk
At first glance, Vaelus looks like she could be a Cleric. However, Ashley Johnson focused on her large stature and whip-like censer weapon more than anything else while talking about her, suggesting she may be a more martial-focused Dungeons and Dragons class. A Monk would fit this description while accounting for her religious theming, and the Way of Shadow fits an imposing goth Drow all too well.
Laura Bailey’s Thimble – Assassin Rogue
Thimble is a Rogue, confirmed by Laura Bailey herself while talking about her. As for subclass, Assassin seems likely, given Bailey also called her a “cold-blooded killer.” Nominated as most likely to start a bar fight, Thimble also carries a complicated and tragic history – a common trait with many D&D character backstories, but especially Rogues, and especially Bailey’s characters.
Liam O’Brien’s Halandil Fang – Tragedy Bard
Judging by name alone, Halandil Fang is going to be an interesting character, as he shares a surname with Thjazi Fang – a major figure in the story of Critical Role Campaign 4. The character taps into Liam O’Brien’s background of theater and performance, immediately calling to mind the Bard class.
Eloquence would be a fitting canon subclass for this mysterious half-orc. That said, O’Brien could instead use the Tragedy Bard from the Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn third-party D&D book, which was designed by Mercer in response to O’Brien saying he would “never play a Bard” during an Emerald City Comic Con panel in 2019. Either way, it seems like O’Brien might be going back on his word with Halandil.
Luis Carazo’s Azune Nayar – Tempest Cleric
Azune Nayar is still largely shrouded in mystery, as Luis Carazo has been deliberately cryptic while speaking about him. A quick glance at his knightly character would suggest he could be a Paladin – but Carazo played a Paladin during his first appearance in Critical Role’s Exandria Unlimited: Calamity short with Zerxus Ilerez, making it less likely he would pick the same class again.
Carazo described his character’s iris as looking like the setting sun over the ocean. This, in conjunction with his character’s heavy armor equipment and storming effects on his hand, makes the Tempest Cleric in Dungeons and Dragons a more likely pick.
Marisha Ray’s Murray Mag’Nesson – Wild Magic Barbarian
The buxom, bearded Dwarf Murray Mag’Nesson is a tough character to pin down. From her art and associated emojis, she appears to be a charlatan, harlequin fortune-teller. However, Marisha Ray described her as “a good old rusted-out Chevy pick-up truck that just won’t quit,” which gives a very different vibe. The Wild Magic Barbarian D&D class would be the middle point between these two seemingly-opposite ideas – and one that would continue the tradition of there always being a Barbarian in the main cast of Critical Role.
Matthew Mercer’s Julien Davinos – Champion Fighter
Sir Julien Davinos has been described as a “complicated and tangled persona” that “you know was trouble when he walked in.” The spitfire swordsman seems to be Mercer’s foray into playing a deliberately contentious character – and what better way to do so than to play what is widely considered to be the most “boring” race and class combination? While he could be a Battlemaster Fighter, it would not be a stretch to see Mercer choose the less-popular, more-simplistic Champion Fighter in Dungeons and Dragons to lean into the role of a controversial character.
Robbie Daymond’s Kattigan Vale – Beastmaster Ranger
A man of few words, Kattigan Vale almost certainly went to the Aragorn school of brooding in the corner of a tavern ominously. Between his steely demeanor, bow and arrow, and wolf companion, Kattigan being any Dungeons and Dragons class other than a Beast Master Ranger would be a shock.
Sam Riegel’s Wicander Halovar – Divine Soul Sorcerer
Wicander Halovar is a departure from Sam Riegel’s penchant for playing scamps, rascals, and comedic relief characters. Described as earnest and innocent, Riegel claimed his goal was to “stay true to his beliefs” in spite of attempts to corrupt him by Mulligan and his fellow players in Critical Role Campaign 4. It is clear his character has a strong sense of morals, and is likely rather sheltered.
While this sounds like it could easily be a Cleric, Riegel played the class with Fresh Cut Grass in Campaign 3, making it less likely he would repeat the class so soon after. A Divine Soul Sorcerer would be the next closest thing, and it would allow Riegel to play a Charisma character, which he tends to enjoy.
Taliesin Jaffe’s Bolaire Lathalia – Bladesinger Wizard
Bolaire Lathalia is a museum curator with a strange, doll-like face. They wield a rapier, leading one to assume they might be a Rogue or Bard of some kind. However, given that his museum is full of magical artifacts and antiquities, Dungeons and Dragons' Bladesinger Wizard could just as easily fit the visual archetype as well. Then again, most of Jaffe’s characters have used homebrew classes or subclasses, so it is entirely possible he could throw everyone for a loop with something no one has ever heard of.
Travis Willingham’s Teor Pridesire – Glory Paladin
Travis Willingham, like Bailey, also directly confirmed what class he is playing: Paladin. The sun and shield emojis paired with the lion-like Teor Pridesire don’t reveal too much about which subclass he could be, but the Oath of Glory Paladin subclass in D&D would be a good fit for what they represent.
Whitney Moore’s Tyranny – Fiend Warlock
Like every other Tiefling in Critical Role history, Tyranny is a chaotic wild card. While her art makes her look like a nun, it seems extremely unlikely she is actually a Cleric – especially since Jester already did the Tiefling Trickster Cleric schtick in Critical Role Campaign 2. It is more likely that Whitney Moore’s character is a Warlock masquerading as a holy woman, made even more probable due to her confirmed connections to demons.
One might have noticed that each of these characters is of a different class. It seems to be no coincidence that there are exactly 13 players and 13 canon classes in 5th Edition, not including the currently-unreleased Psion that may be hitting Dungeons and Dragons next year. While there may end up being some class overlap if these predictions are wrong, it would be delightful if each character were able to be a completely unique class instead.
Soldiers, Seekers, and Schemers – Who is In Each Party?
Critical Role Campaign 4’s massive table will eventually be divided into three parts: the combat-focused Soldiers, explorative Seekers, and political Schemers. Judging from footage of the players around Mulligan's table in Critical Role Campaign 4, plus their classes and character vibes, some extrapolations can be made as to who could be in which party:
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Soldiers
- Azune Nayar (Carazo)
- Julien Davinos (Mercer)
- Murray Mag’Nesson (Ray)
- Thaisha Lloy (Iyengar)
- Teor Pridesire (Willingham)
-
Seekers
- Kattigan Vale (Daymond)
- Occtis Tachonis (Ward)
- Thimble (Bailey)
- Vaelus (Johnson)
-
Schemers
- Halandil Fang (O’Brien)
- Bolaire Lathalia (Jaffe)
- Tyranny (Moore)
- Wicander Halover (Riegel)
However, the table makeup for this campaign seems to be mercurial; many players have been seen seated next to multiple different players at once, suggesting the teams may not always be divided as such. Players shouldn’t be surprised if these 13 characters jump between parties at various intervals throughout the course of Campaign 4.
- Release Date
- March 12, 2015
- Network
- YouTube TV
- Showrunner
- Brandon Auman
- Directors
- Marisha Ray
- Writers
- Sam Riegel
Cast
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Matthew MercerTrist -
Sam RiegelGern Blanston
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Travis WillinghamWrigley Rincon (Rigglemethis89) -
Laura BaileyThe Queen of Hearts
