Art books are not always my cup of tea. Almost every major franchise out there, regardless of genre, has a collectible book that details things like character backstories, key items and weapons, specific locations in the world, and much more. To me, this type of merchandise often feels redundant, especially for diehard fans. If you already know the lore, the backstory, the locations, why do you need to have a book detailing them?
Critical Rolehas done art books before, but not like Armory of Heroes, which offers what I think is the solution to this conundrum. Why should we want to see fantasy worlds documented in art books or encyclopedias? Well, it’s because we love the lore. We love the world, and revisiting it through a different lens can remind us just how powerful good worldbuilding can be. And Critical Role’s Armory of Heroes proves thatExandria still has some of the richest, most engaging fantasy loreout there, akin to the team’s own inspirations like Middle-earth or Earthsea.
Exandria Unlimited
When Critical Role first began about 10 years ago, viewers were thrust headfirst into an already expansive world of lore. The campaign took place in the mythical world of Exandria, on the continent of Tal’Dorei, both DM Matt Mercer’s creations. However, as the campaign usedfifth-edition Dungeons & Dragonsrules, there were also plenty of references to specific D&D lore.
For example, many references were made early on in the campaign to Dungeons & Dragons-specific deities. Fans of The Legend of Vox Machina will note changes from Pike referencing ‘Saranrae’ to the more copyright-friendly ‘Everlight.’ Similarly, spells like ‘Bigby’s Hand’ were changed to ‘Scanlan’s Hand.’ However, what might seem like a hindrance – namely, separating the lore from the original intellectual property – in many ways has served Critical Role as a boon.
Now, the lore of Exandria, severed from a lot of traditional Dungeons & Dragons worldbuilding, can be more expansive and engaging. Armory of Heroes proves that the input of characters and the players, which has shaped the world of Exandria across decades, is far more engaging than set-in-stone lore shared with Wizards of the Coast. Armory of Heroes catalogs all of this history, both D&D-specific and Critical Role-specific, coupled with gorgeous artwork and in-universe quotations and references to beloved campaign moments.
Framing Is Everything
From the jump, Armory of Heroes is presented as more than just a collectible art book. The introduction of the book is written from the perspective of three Exandrian historians, whose chaotic banter back and forth is both charming and littered with Easter eggs. One such historian references their membership with the Golden Grin and beloved NPC Doctor Dranzel from Campaign One. Another historian has elements of their introduction redacted, thanks to their covert allegiance to the Kyrn Dynasty from The Mighty Nein.
Beyond their introductions, these figures commentate on the artwork, diagrams, and histories of Vox Machina, the Mighty Nein, and the Ring of Brass in highly singular ways. These semi-omniscient narrators and historians cite conversations overheard in shadowy taverns, Air Ashari proverbs, and in-universe interviews to back up their research on our fabled adventuring parties. This sense of calibration and framing makes Armory of Heroes so much less about looking at pretty artwork, and so much more about feeling rewarded with Easter eggs and hidden references to lore that only a dedicated fan can spot.
Never Looked Better
But there’s still pretty artwork a-plenty, and even the word ‘pretty’ feels like a severe understatement. Armory of Heroes is illustrated by Ana Fedina, and naturally captures not only some of the most beloved characters in Critical Role, but their weapons, magic items, and costumes in spectacular fashion. Again, the framing and commentary, written by Martin Cahill, coupled with diagram-esque zoom-ins on weapons of choice, give the entire book a sense of historical reverence, as though this is a book that could be distributed within Exandria itself, for those interested in the histories of the adventuring parties that shaped the ground they walk on.
The details of every item, costume, piece, and accessory are so specifically rendered that each illustration ends up feeling like a challenge for cosplayers to recreate to a tee. And, knowing the Critical Role fandom, recreate they will. Critical Role has no shortage of imagery for fans to draw upon when it comes to its core cast of characters, and Armory of Heroes and Fedina’s illustrations add wonderfully to that collection.
Between official renderings and fan art, there may be few characters who are more well-documented than the members of a Critical Role adventuring party. And yet, the illustrations of Armory of Heroes prove that these characters are truly timeless, in that they can be rendered again and again in any incarnation, at any age, and still feel as though there’s more to mine visually. Percy’s illustrations in particular stand out, thanks to the details found on his Mask of Vengeance and various fantasy firearms.
Overall, the effect of Armory of Heroes is highly emotional for a longtime Critical Role fan, and almost overwhelming. In no way, shape, or form is this a mere art book. It is a loving tribute, as most things in the Critical Role fandom are, to a world and history that has proven itself on par with some of the most beloved fantasy settings to date.
