CRITICAL ROLE Launches New Games Publishing Arm Called Darrington Press
Critical Role is currently best known for their crazy adventures in their Dungeons & Dragons stream. They’ve branched out a little before with the release of comics and have been planning a big animated series that is sure to be crazy. Well, the team is branching out again as they’re launching a new publishing arm called Darrington Press. This part of the company will be publishing games both inside and out of the land of Exandria. Ivan Van Norman, co-owner of Hunters Entertainment and consultant to Wizards of the Coast and many others, will lead Darrington Press and Critical Role’s Chief Creative Officer, Matthew Mercer, will serve as Creative Advisor.
Darrington Press has four games lined up to release next year, one per quarter. The first one is called Uk’otoa and is designed for three to five players to enjoy 30-45 minutes of gameplay. Jeb Havens created Uk’otoa with Gabriel Hicks providing additional game design, Hannah Friederichs providing art, Nicklas Norman providing an Uk’otoa sculpt, and Vee Hendro doing the layout.
A battle for life and death on the high Lucidian seas! This flagship title from Darrington Press is a tactical game of semi-cooperative card play as factions of sailors vie to be the last claimed by the raging sea leviathan Uk’otoa. As the ship slowly falls into the ocean, you’ll have to run, push, and sacrifice others to win! Fans of Critical Role know Uk'otoa as the ex-patron of warlock Fjord (played by Travis Willingham). Who could say whether these tales hold any truth? Fjord isn’t telling.
In the second quarter, fans will be able to enjoy Critical Role Adventures. This game sounds like a fun RPG in a box to enjoy with your other Critter friends.
Embark on your own journey through Exandria with Critical Role Adventures! Play as the upstart adventurers Vox Machina and overcome treacherous challenges. This cooperative legacy-lite campaign game uses a unique, narrative mechanic for social and combat encounters, luring you back session after session. Within this enormous box, you'll find a host of hidden treasures and a rich storybook to guide you through thrilling combat, dynamic character growth, and tales worthy of the name Vox Machina.
Syndicult will head up the third quarter as a brand new RPG from Mercer. It sounds awesome!
Syndicult is an original modern magic roleplaying game designed by Matthew Mercer in which mob families jealously guard secrets and battle it out for power on the city streets. Featuring a simple storytelling dice mechanic, Syndicult is a low magic world where all bets are off.
Finally, Guardians of Matrimonia will close out 2021. It honestly reminds me of 5-Minute Dungeon, and that’s a fun game, so I’m excited.
Fight the monsters, save the party! Guardians of Matrimonia is a cooperative card game where players have pre-built decks that are pitted against a deck of monsters (party crashers). If your deck runs out, everyone loses. But if you battle your way through the entire party crasher deck, everyone wins!
Are you excited to see Critical Role branch out more into the world of gaming? What are you pumped for?