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How To Run a Successful West Marches Campaign, Just Like CRITICAL ROLE

A West Marches campaign can be incredibly challenging, especially with one DM. But it can also be an exercise in solid campaign planning that brings out the fundamentals of TTRPG play. Critical Role’s upcoming Campaign 4 features a jumbo-sized table of players split up into three groups exploring a brand new world. While introducing the new style of campaign, DM Brennan Lee Mulligan mentioned that the multiple groups and shared campaign setting hearkened back to the West Marches style of campaign.

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CRITICAL ROLE Campaign 4 Reveals Cast, System, World, and MoreWhat Is the West Marches Campaign Style?

Introduced via a blog post way back in 2007 by Ben Robbins, the West Marches campaign style focused on a sandbox campaign setting that could be explored by an open table of players. The core premise of the campaign style is that players would self-organize where they wanted to go and who would participate in individual sessions of play. The players would typically choose a location seeded during a previous session and every session of play was intended to be self-contained. This means that players operated under the assumption that plot seeds introduced during that session were meant to be explored later.

How Critical Role Is Adapting the West Marches Campaign Style

To be clear, it’s unlikely that Critical Role is running a true West Marches campaign. Instead, Mulligan appears to be cycling through three groups of players with an overarching plot that connects all three groups in some way. Each group, according to Mulligan, will have their own style of preferred play. There will be one focused on combat, another focused on lore exploration, and another focused on intrigue-style play.

But the mention of West Marches has reinvigorated interest in the unique TTRPG campaign style. It’s even easier to get into it thanks to the likes of Discord and the rise of online play. During the COVID epidemic, I managed an 18-player campaign that heavily leaned on tenets of West Marches, but also had relatively set groups and an overarching plot that gradually revealed itself. It was a challenge to organize 18 players. But it ultimately became the most rewarding D&D campaign I’ve ever run.

How to Run a Successful West Marches Campaign

So, how does one successfully run a West Marches campaign? First and foremost, it requires the buy-in of the players. A good West Marches campaign operates under some common assumptions. Players start from the same location every session. They know their destination when they start their session and they don’t deviate from it. Planning and running these sessions aren’t hard, provided that players understand what they should and shouldn’t be doing during their session. If players understand the cadence of a session, it means getting to the “meat” of session quicker.

This buy-in also extends beyond the session. A West Marches campaign requires the impetus of the players to determine where they’re going and what they’re going to do there. That needs to be communicated to the GM days in advance so that the GM has time to prepare. It should not happen at the start of the session. If players are meeting on a regular basis, you may want to set a deadline or set aside time at the end of the session to handle decisions about the next game. This will give the GM plenty of time to plan out the next session.

This doesn’t mean that a game has to sacrifice roleplay, inter-party connections, or other elements of the game. Nor does it mean sacrificing improvisation. In my West Marches sessions, I usually included some time around the campfire. That’s where players could interact with each other in relative safety and build those inter-party connections. I also handled a lot of the “business” side of D&D, such as buying equipment or making tweaks to a character, outside of a session. This meant keeping the lines of communication open outside of the game, usually via Slack or Discord.

Critical RoleWest Marches and Exploration with a Hexgrid Map

One major part of the West Marches style is exploration, typically using a hexgrid map. My general rule of thumb was that each hex contained one key location to explore or secret to discover. Some of these locations would “unlock” later secrets. A goblin camp might have the key to unlock a treasure vault (which of course would have its own challenges). Or a statue of a lost civilization might point the way to a larger ruin elsewhere. Not every hex had to contain a location either. Rumors of dragons, liches, or every more intriguing characters like a decidedly neutral vampire NPC could lure a group of players towards a certain hex.  

Not only do individual hexes need to be seeded, they also need to be discovered over the course of play. When my players traveled to a specific location, I gave them hints about the hexes that they passed through on their way to their locations. To keep things organized, I also kept a running list of discovered locations and plot teases that the players used when planning for their sessions.

Session Planning 101

In terms of session planning, a key was to balance simplicity with intrigue. West Marches sessions are meant to be one-and-done play sessions. For me, this meant leaning on the five-room dungeon concept when building out ruins, or building around a single combat encounter. Short and long rests weren’t much of a factor with my sessions. But it added a different wrinkle to combat as players had to decide when to use certain abilities, knowing they might not have them for the rest of their session.

Like any sandbox, a West Marches campaign can either feature a static map with secrets to discover or take place in a world that shifts and changes based on the decisions of the players. My campaign used the best of both worlds. Ruins and dungeons were static, but there were villains that would gradually rise up over the course of campaign that would eventually need to be dealt with. This provided a kind of season of play, where one villain would become a recurring issue culminating in a boss fight that usually required coordination of multiple parties to solve.

A good West Marches campaign requires a lot of coordination and more planning than a typical D&D campaign. But it’s a great way to juggle a large cast of players, especially when not every player has the ability to meet on a weekly basis. If you have the opportunity to participate in a West Marches campaign, you absolutely should. It really offers a unique experience for players. When done right, a West Marches campaign scratches the itch for an old school TTRPG experience. It is one where secrets are out in the wild, just waiting to be explored.

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Keanu Reeves Wants to Return for CYBERPUNK 2077 Sequel

Few movie stars are as beloved by everyone as Keanu Reeves. And although he’s mainly famous for his roles in movies in the John Wick and The Matrix franchises, he gained a whole new fanbase thanks to his role as Johnny Silverhand in the Cyberpunk 2077 game. Now, thanks to IGN, we’ve learned that Reeves is quite eager for a return to his role in a potential sequel to the game from CD Projekt RED. While promoting his upcoming film Good Fortune, he was asked about a return to that world for Cyberpunk 2. He responded by saying “Absolutely. I’d love to play Johnny Silverhand again.” CD Projekt RED

So, let’s say that Keanu Reeves officially comes back as Johnny Silverhand for another game from CD Projekt RED. That may leave some of you who have finished the story of Cyberpunk 2077 scratching your heads as to how that’s possible. The various endings to the game don’t exactly leave an obvious opening for this character’s return. But where there’s a will, there’s a way. On television recently, Dexter: New Blood ended with the titular character shot in the chest and bleeding out in the snow. A couple of years later, he’s back in Dexter: Resurrection. In fiction, especially sci-fi, there’s always a way.

Keanu Reeves’ involvement in Cyberpunk 2077 added much cachet to the game, from the moment they announced his involvement. When he announced his role in the game at E3 in 2019, his arrival on stage went viral. A fan shouted “You’re breathtaking!” to the iconic star, to which he endearingly responded with “You’re breathtaking… you’re all breathtaking!” The moment went viral online. And it gave Cyberpunk 2077 the kind of free advance publicity every game dreams of. Right now, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is still years off. But now, we know that Keanu just might be a part of it, as long as the stars all align.

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THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Sequel Is Happening with Vin Diesel and Michael Caine Returning

The Last Witch Hunter is getting a sequel ten years after its release, and Vin Diesel is returning as Kaulder. Yes, the titular immortal is indeed not dead. Deadline reports that Lionsgate and Diesel’s One Race Films are teaming up for the project. There’s no final deal quite yet, but apparently Michael Caine will also return for The Last Witch Hunter sequel to reprise his role as Dolan. Summit Entertainment

“The Last Witch Hunter has grown since its theatrical release into a global fan favorite, with audiences continuing to discover and re-watch it across every platform over the past decade,” Adam Fogelson, chair of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, told Deadline. “That enduring enthusiasm made clear there is an appetite for more stories set in this world. Vin and I have partnered many times over the years, and he is a true force in our industry. I’m thrilled to be reuniting with him as he returns to this iconic role, and excited by how advancements in filmmaking technology now allow us to economically deliver a sequel on an even more ambitious scale.”

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Vin Diesel Claims a Groot Planet X Movie Is Coming to the MCU

Vin Diesel has done enough for family, I guess. And while I do hope he rocks some epic clothes and maybe a beard for a more grizzled appearance, I am not down with hunting witches. Leave them alone! As more details arise, we are sure that Vin Diesel will tell us about it on his Instagram page. If he ever decided to leave the acting world, he’d make a pretty good journalist because he loves to dish out news.

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Monsters Need Love Too in DUST BUNNY’s Delightfully Clever Trailer From Bryan Fuller

Do you believe in monsters? Do you believe in monsters? Do you believe in monsters? Only a trailer from the incredible Bryan Fuller could make your head spin with so many layers and possibilities in under two minutes. And that’s exactly what the gorgeous and clever sneak peek at Fuller’s first feature film, Dust Bunny, will do to you. Between the lush surreality of the film, the movie’s deliciously original conceit, and the excellent acting we see on display already, there’s a lot to look forward to. Dust Bunny reunites Fuller with Hannibal‘s Mads Mikkelsen, after all. And we know that’s a dynamic duo to be taken seriously. And then, of course, there’s Sigourney Weaver in the mix, stiletto-pistols in hand. Need we say more? We need not, but we will. First, though, do yourself a favor and watch the excellent trailer for Dust Bunny. (At least once, but we won’t blame you if you hit that “repeat on loop” button.)

As with all masterpieces Fuller creates, the look and feel of Dust Bunny is rich and evocative. Every movement of shadow, every well-placed lamp, every choice of fabric, makes meaning come to life. And we also love how the question of “Who is really the monster?” threads itself so vividly in the brief minutes of the Dust Bunny trailer. Is it the assassin who lives next door? Is it the men who came to kill the assassin? Is there actually a monster under the bed? We can’t say for certain yet, but the Dust Bunny trailer seems to both support and dispel ALL of these options—leaving us ready to dive into the film proper. Few movies are capable of such complexity in their entire runtime, let alone in a glimpse.

Add to that the further complicated theme of what believing in monsters really means, and you have yourself a true party. (Is it simply about whether monsters exist in reality? Or is it about whether monsters just need someone to have a little faith in them? With Fuller, it’s likely “both and.”)

Roadside Attractions

The official synopsis for Dust Bunny, shared alongside the trailer, reveals, “Ten-year-old Aurora has a mysterious neighbor (Mads Mikkelsen) who kills real-life monsters. He’s a hit man for hire. So, when Aurora needs help killing the monster she believes ate her entire family, she procures his services. Suspecting that her parents may have fallen victim to assassins gunning for him, Aurora’s neighbor guiltily takes the job. Now, to protect her, he’ll need to battle an onslaught of assassins ― and accept that some monsters are real.“

Roadside Attractions

Okay, well, that reminds us that we haven’t even talked about how Mads Mikkelsen is going to fall into our favorite category of gruff, reluctant father-figure to a surrogate daughter. It’s a role we absolutely adore on Mikkelsen, and we bet it will melt our hearts, no question. Joining Mikkelsen in the cast, is, as mentioned, Sigourney Weaver, who looks devastatingly good in the Dust Bunny trailer, Sophie Sloan, a young talent who truly holds her own, and David Dastmalchian, who crushes any role he takes on. A cast so good under the direction of Bryan Fuller… Once again, we ask: need we say more? (And we’ll just remind you about that stilleto-pistol.)

Roadside Attractions

Dust Bunny will arrive in theaters on December 5. So, check your bed for any monsters who might want to join you at the theater and get ready for what’s likely to be a thought-provoking and fabulous time.

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Lost Anne Rice Vampire Comic Book Turns Up 30 Years Later

Before the Anne Rice Immortal Universe on AMC, or even the movie Interview with the Vampire, the only visual representation of Anne Rice’s vampires came via comic books. Starting in 1989, publisher Innovation Comics licensed Rice’s three Vampire Chronicles novels, publishing a comics adaptation of her 1985 novel The Vampire Lestat first. It was a 12-issue series and a big sales success. This led to adaptations of Interview with the Vampire and the third novel, Queen of the Damned, in 1991. Sadly, the final issue of the latter never arrived in comic book shops. Now, over thirty years later, the art by OJ Cariello from that lost last issue has finally materialized. The vampirechronicles Instagram account recently posted scans of the pages.

So why did the final issue of Queen of the Damned never come out? Innovation Comics went into bankruptcy because of the big “comics crunch” of the mid-’90s. This rapid decline in comic book sales, largely due to the ’90s speculator boom, led to the demise of many publishers. This happened just before the final issue of Queen of the Damned went to print in 1994.

In a pre-Internet era, fans had no idea what had happened. All they knew was that the last chapter of Rice’s comic book trilogy never arrived. But now, over three decades later, the completed art for the final issue went up for auction. It seems one buyer bought them all. Most pages were posted on Comic Art Fans, giving fans a first look at the final issue.

Innovation Comics

All of this makes us wonder why someone just can’t license those old comics and reprint them? Innovation did collect The Vampire Lestat, and it goes for a lot on eBay these days. But their adaptation of Interview with the Vampire never received a collected edition. Now that the artwork for Queen of the Damned is out there, it would be amazing if an existing comic book company somehow got the rights, and reprinted all three. With renewed interest in Rice’s undead thanks to the various AMC series, now would be a perfect time to introduce fans of the show to the only way we visualized Lestat and company before they ever graced any screen, be it big or small.

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Help Basher & His Bloody Baseball Bat Become Our Next Horror Movie Icons via Kickstarter

There can never be too many epic horror icons if you ask us. Freddie, Jason, Art the Clown, the list goes on—we know them AND we love each and every one. And what we love most is how no two horror icons are quite the same. Killer dolls—check! Killer clowns—check! Even killer phone apps have made their presence known. Horror icons have come in every shape and size because there are basically horror movies made about every topic under the sun. However, it turns out that one thing we haven’t had yet is a baseball horror movie and an iconic character to go along with it. And that seems like a real shame because America’s favorite pastime is rife with gorrific opportunities. The woosh of the bat into a face? The crash of a ball into a mouth? We can picture it. And now, director Ben Trandem and writer-producer John Ungaro want to bring that thought to life with their short baseball horror movie, Basher. But Basher won’t just be a movie; he’ll be your next great horror villain—IF you support him on Kickstarter. All you have to do is take one look at him to know it’s true.Anthony Tocchio

In a sentence, Basher is “A balls-to-the-wall slasher about a group of townies trying to survive the fury of a homicidal baseball mascot in their local dive bar.” Listen, if the words “homicidal baseball mascot” don’t sell you, you should take a good, long, hard look at yourself. In addition, the creators share that this short film is a “carnage candy thrill-ride” that is non-stop. Basher is not like any other horror icon out there that you might be imagining; he is a wrecking ball. He’s not sneaking or hiding; he is going straight through, but he’s also human to the core. It’s a powerful combo. And, I mean, just look at that mask.

It’s also kind of incredible that there has never been a baseball horror movie before. If you check out the first seconds from Basher that the team has put together for the Kickstarter, complete with a human ball mount and a bloody bat, you’ll see precisely why it’s a brilliant idea. Blood meet bat meet ball meet human flesh. We’re shivering and cackling all at once. And Basher’s whistling as he works really clinches it for us. It’s worth pointing out that untrodden horror ground is so rare, and that makes it all the more exciting to discover.

Basher‘s concept of “a decaying Americana” also really appeals. The description for the short film notes that it feels like “Nostalgia has had a long grip on culture, but there’s something off. It should be something warm, but it’s twisted and sinister.” As we mentioned, there’s something so quintessentially American and apple pie about baseball—it seems so harmless, in a way, compared to other sports—that it really begs to be twisted up into something falling apart and vicious. And Basher seems to have the perfect pulse on how to do it.

But Basher won’t get to become an icon without you. All of this horror goodness can’t come to fruition without a little help from the team. In order to cover the creation of Basher, the creators of the horror short have put together a Kickstarter. Your support will help Basher get made and pave the way toward the rise of a new horror icon. That’s a home run if you ask us. Support Basher today, and let’s hit this one out of the park.

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The BUFFY Cartoon Show That Never Was (But Could Still Be)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of the most influential TV shows of all time, nearly thirty years after its debut on the now-defunct WB Network. And it will soon return to the zeitgeist, with a legacy sequel series featuring returning “Chosen One,” Sarah Michelle Gellar, as Buffy Summers. However, as a recent piece in Collider reminded us, Buffy the Vampire Slayer nearly had another TV iteration in the early 2000s, as an animated series. Thirteen scripts for a first season were written, and a four-minute presentation was created with most of the main TV series cast returning to their roles. You can watch the full presentation of what might have been down below:

The series, produced by creator Joss Whedon and iconic comic book scribe Jeph Loeb, would have taken the story back to its roots, with Buffy and her Scooby gang back in their sophomore year at Sunnydale High School. Essentially, it would have been the “lost” episodes of the first season of the live-action series. Most of the voice cast agreed to return, except Sarah Michelle Gellar. Voice actress Giselle Loren, who sounded a lot like Gellar and voiced her in video games, took over the role. The series would have been lighter in tone, taking place before things got super heavy and dark between Buffy and her vampire lover, Angel.

Dark Horse Comics

So what the heck happened? A few things. First, every network got squeamish about doing a horror-themed show on weekday afternoon cartoon blocks. No matter how much lighter the show was, kids would still be exposed to blood sucking vamps. And that freaked the suits out. Second, the leading choice to run the series, Fox Kids, closed up shop. When that happened, the writing was on the wall. Some of the stories would find new life adapted into a comic book format. But most scripts remain sitting on a shelf, waiting. An interesting twist the show would have included is a 10-year-old version of Buffy’s sister Dawn, played by Michelle Trachtenberg. Dawn did not exist until season five. But the cartoon would have been based on the false memories Buffy had of Dawn being there her whole life.

With Buffy Summers coming back in live-action, does this mean the animated show might get a second chance too? Certainly, weekday afternoon cartoon blocks are no longer a thing. But a PG-rated Buffy animated show, probably featuring the entire original cast, seems like a no-brainer for Disney+. Set it in the ’90s like X-Men ’97, and we guarantee this show is huge. We’d maybe move the setting to the “lost episodes” of early season two, to include iconic vamps Spike and Drusilla. But the rest, we’d keep the same. In the meantime, we’ll just watch that animated presentation for Buffy: TAS for the tenth time, and dream of what might have been.

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Watching Otters Skateboard IS the Pick-Me-Up You Need Today

We all need a pick-me-up sometimes. It’s hard out there for humans who have to go to work every day and can’t just frolic about. But luckily, we have cute pet videos to keep us going when things get hard. And although we’ll never be as adorable as these two playful otters, we can watch all their cute shenanigans unfold online. For example, I dare you not to crack a smile as you watch the video below of two otters figuring out how to skateboard on their new toy. Yes, seriously. It is super cute and not to be missed. Move over skaters, there are new pro-boarders in town.

Kotaro and Hana are two of our favorite otters ever. And I’m sure you can see why. They get up to many different kinds of adventures, but two otters skateboarding has to be one of our favorite stunts so far. The otters clearly love their skateboard very much, but struggle to stay vertical as they roll. We all feel that feeling, guys.

The official description for the skateboarding otters video shares, “We found the perfect skateboard for otters and had them try it out right away! This Elos board has a wide deck and big wheels, making it super stable—so they were able to stand on it without fear. The only problem? Otters’ legs are just too short.” Not too short legs! These are real otter problems.

KOTSUMET

Although their legs may be short, and they can only skateboard for a few seconds at a time, we give these otters a 10/10 on their performance. After all, it’s all about style if you ask us. And the joy these otters deliver us on their skateboards makes up for their lack of longevity with ease. What will Kotaro and Hana get up to next? We don’t know, but we feel sure it will warm our hearts.

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Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Just Sold for Nearly $4 Million

Over the years, many iconic screen-used props from the Star Wars saga have sold at auction to devoted (and wealthy) fans. But the latest item is perhaps the one strongest in the dark side of the Force. Via Deadline, we’ve learned that the lightsaber that David Prowse used as Darth Vader has sold for a staggering $3.9 million, via Propstore auction. The sale occurred on September 4. This makes it the highest price paid at auction for a Star Wars prop yet. This is the same saber that Prowse used in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.Lucasfilm/Propstore

Here’s what Propstore COO Brandon Alinger said about this historic Star Wars prop purchase:

Today’s result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.

This particular Propstore auction saw a few other iconic pieces from beloved nerd franchises also go for astounding prices. One of Harrison Ford’s whips from the Indiana Jones franchise sold for $485,100. The Ressikan flute used by Patrick Stewart in the iconic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Inner Light” also sold for $403,000. But few movie props are as in demand as those from the Star Wars saga. It’ll always be the one to beat. Earlier this year, Luke Skywalker’s medal he received at the end of A New Hope went for a hefty sum. Although not quite as much as Vader’s lightsaber. Maybe the dark side actually is stronger. It’s certainly more expensive.

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Acclaimed LIFE IS STRANGE Games Getting Live-Action Series

With the likes of narrative-driven games The Last of Us and Fallout becoming uber-acclaimed and successful television series, it only makes sense for more to roll out. Prime Video, the makers of Fallout, just announced another such project. The long-running adventure game franchise Life Is Strange has received a live-action series order from Amazon MGM Studios. Charlie Covell (End of the F***ing World, KAOS) will serve as creator, executive producer, and showrunner.Square Enix

“It’s a huge honor to be adapting Life Is Strange for Amazon MGM Studios,” said showrunner Charlie Covell. “I am a massive fan of the game, and I’m thrilled to be working with the incredible teams at Square Enix, Story Kitchen and LuckyChap. I can’t wait to share Max and Chloe’s story with fellow players and new audiences alike.”

The game follows Max, a photography student, who discovers she can rewind time while saving the life of her childhood best friend, Chloe. As she struggles to understand this new skill, the pair investigate the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student. This results in uncovering a dark side to their town that will ultimately force them to make an impossible life or death choice that will impact them forever. Our own Dan Casey likes to refer to Life Is Strange as “Teen Peaks,” owing to the deep-ceded, semi-supernatural mysteries in a Pacific Northwest town.

The Life Is Strange franchise began in 2015 as a five-episode adventure game. This then spawned a prequel, various spinoffs, DLC, and four mainline entries. The most recent of these, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, dropped only last year.

No word yet on timing for this, so we can assume at least a couple years. But when that happens, we will let you know everything. It’s what we do after all.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.

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