Critical Role’s new adventure subtly reveals a significant shift in Campaign 2.

Since Critical Role started transforming its actual-play Dungeons & Dragons campaigns into animated series, comics, and novels, fans have been curious about the potential changes and how these might affect the canon of the campaigns over time.

Will it follow a model similar to Star Wars, where narratives are divided into what is considered Canon and what is now classified as Legends material? The latest installment, Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – Stories Untold, offers some insights.

This anthology novel explores the stories of The Mighty Nein’s various allies and foes, fitting seamlessly into the expansive universe of Exandria. Both dedicated campaign followers and those who have only experienced The Mighty Nein through its animated adaptation will find much to enjoy, especially if they appreciate the world of Exandria and its inhabitants.

The anthology also provides subtle clues about how Critical Role may approach future content. This is particularly evident in “The Fall Will Kill You” by Dani Carr, which centers on drow wizard Essek Thelyss as he confronts his past mistakes and considers a potential relationship with The Mighty Nein. In this chapter—an excerpt is available elsewhere—Essek reflects on his ambitions, especially his collaboration with Trent Ikithon to seek a cure for his mother’s neurodegenerative condition, typhros.

While it may seem minor to mention, especially since Essek’s struggle with his mother’s illness was a significant part of his arc in The Mighty Nein, his motivations in Campaign 2 are deeply tied to his ambition and sense of superiority. Carr’s choice to have Essek acknowledge typhros suggests that Critical Role will indeed draw from the TV series’ canon for future narratives.

This isn’t particularly surprising, given the adaptable nature of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, where storytelling can sometimes diverge from the original intent. For instance, both The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein address Ashley Johnson’s frequent absences in the show differently than in the campaign, giving her characters Pike Trickfoot and Yasha Nydoorin more involvement and integrating her into storylines she wasn’t part of before.

However, this may not sit well with some fans who are less enthusiastic about the changes made to Campaign 2 in the TV series. While some appreciate Essek’s added family motivation, others preferred the actual-play version of Essek, who was more of a traditional antagonist than an anti-hero.

Regardless of how these changes are received, they align with Critical Role’s future direction. While the actual-play Dungeons & Dragons campaigns are enjoyable, they aren’t as easily accessible as a standard TV series. Ultimately, it’s much simpler to binge-watch 12 episodes than to sift through over 100 episodes, each lasting more than three hours, on YouTube. While it’s certainly possible, the longevity of Critical Role hinges on making these stories available to a wider audience, regardless of the format.

A new campaign intro from Critical Role is always set to be an exciting experience.