The latest episode of Critical Role Campaign 4 pits the Schemers table against a host of violent enemies in the sewers of Dol-Makjar. However, while there were plenty of surprises that kept viewers on the edge of their seats, by the end of the episode, I had one thought: I want to play a dwarf next in Dungeons & Dragons.
We all bring some level of our fantasies to D&D. For some, it’s the desire to be an elemental-breathing dragonborn, while others just want to get paid for beating people up legally as a duel-wielding rogue. For me, it’s being tall. I’m 5’1, so when I’m playing a fantasy role-playing game, you bet your bottom dollar I’m going to play one of the taller species. That means dwarves, gnomes, fairies, and halflings are usually out, while dragonborn, giants, and particularly tall humans and tieflings, are in. I’m sorry, I’m superficial like that.
However, the latest Critical Role episode “The Point of No Return” has just made a dwarf fan out of me — and it’s all to do with Murray Mag’nesson, played to perfection by Marisha Ray.
In the episode, the Schemers find themselves in a maze of sewers, with a group of potential enemies waiting ahead. Getting a good look at the group of hostiles would reveal the party’s presence, as they lacked a safe means of scouting ahead. Luckily, Marisha Ray decided to use one of the dwarven racial features: Stonecunning. With it, Murray gains Tremorsense, which, for 10 minutes, lets her pinpoint creatures and moving objects within 60 feet as long as they’re standing on the same stone surface as the character. With that feature, Ray can get a clear picture of a room and the people inside without exposing the party, giving them a chance to plan their strategy.
The D&D 5.5e Dwarven Stonecunning trait is very different from the 2014 version. The latter allowed dwarven characters to make History checks relating to stonework of any kind with a double proficiency bonus. Compared to the 2024 version, it had fewer practical uses, and it could hardly play a role in a fight. However, it added more flavor to dwarven characters, allowing them to access lore that could be obscure for other players and unlocking interesting roleplaying opportunities.
D&D 5.5e changed character species drastically. Gone are the modifiers that species used to give to ability scores (like elves getting a bonus to Dexterity, or dwarves to Constitution), which have been moved to Backgrounds. However, to keep species feeling unique and distinguished, many traits were added or, as in the case of Stonecunning, completely reworked to have a greater effect on the game.
Murray’s Tremorsense also fits well with the Schemers’ playstyle. While the Soldiers and Seekers have often rushed headlong into combat, the Schemers have shown they prefer to talk their way out of situations. The fight in this episode was the Schemers’ first, and it showed that the players like to plan their battles carefully and use their abilities to deceive their enemies and turn the tide. Tremorsense can be an excellent resource for this type of strategy. Knowledge is power, and learning the number and layout of an enemy group while remaining unseen can let the Schemers pull out a win from even a desperate situation.
Over the years, dwarven characters in media — including D&D — have often been depicted in ways that feel stereotypical. Dwarves are often seen as more masculine, warrior-types who don’t have the capacity (or inclination) for magical pursuits, or who simply rush in first and ask questions later. It’s these tropes that, alongside my general aversion to playing short species, made dwarves unappealing to me in D&D. Yet Ray’s portrayal of Murray is thoughtful. While she is hotheaded and can run her mouth at times (another fantasy trope of dwarves having a temper), her approach to the troubles that the Schemers face is, overall, intelligent and precise. It’s clear that without Ray leaning into Murray’s unique features as a dwarf, the Schemers would have been in for a real tough fight. Cheers, Marisha Ray, I know exactly what character I’ll be cooking up in my next D&D adventure.
Campaign 4 is available to watch live on Twitch, YouTube, and Beacon.tv on Thursday nights at 10 p.m. PDT. If you can’t catch the episode live, don’t worry — Critical Role posts the episode to YouTube the following Monday at 3 p.m. EDT/12 p.m. PDT.
