Critical Role outlines campaign four changes as Brennan Lee Mulligan takes over as game master

Critical Role has detailed the major changes coming to its fourth campaign, set to begin on October 2 2025. Earlier this month, the show announced that Matt Mercer, who has been the game master for all three previous campaigns, will step into a player role, while Brennan Lee Mulligan, known for leading Dimension 20, will take over as game master.

In a 17-minute presentation, Mulligan outlined how the new campaign will differ from previous seasons. Unlike past stories, which took place in Exandria, campaign four will introduce a new fantasy world.

The 13 cast members will be divided into three groups called Soldiers, Schemers, and Seekers. Each group will explore the world from different perspectives, meaning not every cast member will appear in each episode.

While it remains unconfirmed which players will be assigned to each group, the founding cast members will all return.

The line-up includes Laura Bailey, Luis Carazo, Robbie Daymond, Aabria Iyengar, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson, Matthew Mercer, Whitney Moore, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, Alex Ward, and Travis Willingham.

Some fans have expressed optimism now that the original cast is confirmed to be part of the campaign, though others remain uncertain about the group being split across separate storylines.

The format may see the three groups eventually converge, but such a development could take place much later in the campaign.

The structural shift marks a significant change for Critical Role, which has grown into one of the most prominent actual play productions since its debut.

Campaign four’s premiere episode will air on October 2, with Brennan Lee Mulligan at the helm.