Critical Role has launched Beacon, and in many ways, it is a competitor to Twitch and YouTube, although the main shows will continue to stream on those to giants.
However, Beacon is more than that; members get early access, live event pre-sales, Discord and merch deals, and other perks.
As the video notes, the Why of Beacon is important.
Travis Willingham, CEO of Critical Role, told press;
We’re incredibly excited about what Beacon opens up for us, and how we engage with our audience. Nothing changes with how folks can watch our current slate of shows and we’re stoked to offer access, content and perks in ways that we never have before.”
Beacon benefits
The official Beacon membership benefits for launch include;
Exclusive series
- Critical Role Fireside Chat (LIVE): Join us in the tavern for a monthly Ask Me Anything (AMA) series where you can sit down with us and learn more about our Critical Role cast and guests! Questions will be curated directly from Beacon members via Discord and each episode will feature a different cast member for a 30-60 minute LIVE fireside chat. Cozy up by the fire and enjoy the deep dive with us starting May 21st with our first guest, Matthew Mercer.
- Critical Role Cooldown: Get a backstage pass to a Critical Role episode! You’ll be right there at the table immediately after Matthew says “Is it Thursday yet?”, experiencing the cast’s post-show reactions. If you’ve ever wondered what lies just beyond the curtain, this is your chance to find out! Starting with Campaign 3, Episode 83, you’ll get instant access to 10 episodes with new episodes dropping every Thursday with each new Critical Role episode.
Early access series
- Critical Role Abridged: All the twists and turns of an episode of Critical Role in half the time! In Critical Role Abridged, the rich tapestry of a Critical Role campaign is lovingly distilled to its most pivotal, hilarious, and poignant moments in about 60-90 minutes per episode. Plus, each episode is enhanced with new pieces of artwork, bringing key characters, items, and moments to greater visual detail. Critical Role Abridged begins with Critical Role’s third campaign, Bells Hells, with new episodes airing every Tuesday at 10am Pacific. Beacon members receive the first 12 episodes right away with two new episodes dropping every week on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, to celebrate the launch of Beacon, we’ll be dropping the first 4 episodes on YouTube over the next week for everyone to enjoy!
- Re-Slayer’s Take: Follow the audio escapades of the second-coolest monster hunters this side of Exandria: The Re-Slayer’s Take! After six misfit mercenaries are rejected from the elite monster hunting group, The Slayer’s Take, they band together as The Re-Slayer’s Take, battling supernatural creatures across the rugged continent of Issylra. Can Idrin, Farah, Heera, Frog, Timpani, and Poogs work together to overcome the plight of The Timberblight and its undead army? This all-ages actual play is carefully edited into bite-size episodes, making for a fresh new suite of Exandrian adventures for a long-time Critter, or a perfect first dip into the world of Critical Role. The cast is led by a duo of veteran game masters, George Primavera and Nick Williams (Hero Club), and main party members including Jasmine Bhullar, Jasper William Cartwright, Caroline Lux, and Jasmine Chiong. The Re-Slayer’s Take premieres Monday, May 20th everywhere podcasts are found with new episodes every Monday. Beacon members get early access to episodes and stay two weeks ahead of the free feeds.
- Critical Role Podcast Audio: For the first time, Critical Role podcasts will be available for Beacon members the same day that the show is broadcast on video platforms, a week earlier than non-Beacon members.
Early access ticket sales for events
- First to access ticket sales for events, including the upcoming Critical Role Bells Hells LIVE show at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on June 15th! Game Master Matthew Mercer will lead players Travis Willingham, Laura Bailey, Liam O’Brien, Sam Riegel, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray and Robbie Daymond through an exciting live performance of Campaign 3, Episode 98 of Critical Role with the extraordinary Brennan Lee Mulligan (Dimension 20) serving as the Master of Ceremonies. VIP ticket holders get to enjoy a 45-minute Q&A moderated by Brennan Lee Mulligan with the cast ahead of the main show. Presale for Beacon members begins Monday, May 20th at 10am Pacific.
- Please note that you must be a paid member to receive the presale codes. To guarantee access to the presale, you must sign up for a monthly or annual membership no later than Thursday, May 16th at 11:59pm Pacific. If you miss the presale, don’t worry; tickets will be available for everyone on Tuesday, May 21st at 10am Pacific. Anyone unable to attend can watch the livestream on the Critical Role Twitch & YouTube channels on Thursday, June 20th, or the VOD on Monday, June 24th. For more information and tickets please visit critrole.com/events.
Discounts
- 10% discount for all online Critical Role shops (currently serving the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia, excluding sale and licensed products).
Discord
- Private invitation to the Beacon Member Discord, a moderated destination for Critical Role’s Beacon community to connect with each other.
Hot take
Wizards of the Coast have been grumbling, rightly from a money point of view, that tabletop games are a one-and-done. There’s no recurring revenue. Virtual Tabletops have, with some notable exceptions like Foundry, found a niche, but other attempts have not found mass traction.
TTRPGs as an entertainment community, Beacon as Twitch rival, might be another.
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