“Stories are how we make sense of the world.”
That line has always felt true to me, whether the story is epic fantasy, actual play chaos, a ridiculous reaction clip, or just somebody online being so genuinely themselves that you can’t help but smile along. I’m not positive who first said it, but it seems to be Eric Beinhocker in The Origin of Wealth. Might also be Thomas King in 2003 though his statement was more that “the truth about stories is that’s all we are.” Makes me think of my old philosophy class in college honestly, and how our experiences define our wisdom. At any rate, stories help us learn and understand, while also shaping our perceptions. I’m always interested to see how others interpret the stories I enjoy or what stories they are suggesting perhaps I should invest in!
A lot of the time, I like to have some sort of video, maybe podcast on while I’m doing errands, cleaning around the house, maybe prepping Pathfinder material for my game, or even working. There’s something really great about having voices and personalities you enjoy in the background while your hands are busy doing something else. Sometimes I want lore. Sometimes I want laughter. Sometimes I want people reacting to something I already love and reminding me why I love it. And honestly, that’s part of what makes certain streamers and influencers so easy to invest in. They become part of the rhythm of your day. They’re not just content. They’re company. Plenty of people rewatch things for that enjoyable comfort, but I have trouble with that. Instead, I prefer to see others enjoying those things so allow me to tell you about some great groups I think you might enjoy!
Struggle Nation
Struggle Nation has that loose, high-energy, hangout quality that makes them very easy to throw on while you’re doing literally anything else. Their broader channel is built around laughter, reaction videos, sketch comedy, gaming, and short films, and that blend really comes through in the vibe. It’s expressive, funny, and never too precious about itself. They also have specific The Mighty Nein and Legend of Vox Machina reaction content, which is how I first tuned in. It gives them an easy crossover point for Critical Role fans even if they’re not primarily a tabletop-focused channel. They’re not the channel I go to for rules analysis or a Pathfinder deep dive. They’re the one I go to when I want energy, personality, and the joy of seeing people get pulled into something nerdy and fun. Watching them with the Mighty Nein has been particular exciting!
Sailor Kayla
Sailor Kayla feels like one of those creators where fandom joy is the entire point, in the best possible way. Her channel and social snippets show cosplay, anime fandom, and a very visible affection for Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein. She’s really insightful, tender to the emotional moments, and just enthusiastic in a way I can’t deny. It’s fan forward and that works for me. I don’t always want “objective analysis.” Sometimes I want enthusiasm. Sometimes I want somebody fully in the bit, fully in the feeling, fully ready to scream about a moment with me. Sailor Kayla hits that lane really well, and that makes her easy to keep in the rotation. Her latest Mighty Nein watch reveals she’s doing Calamity on patreon so I’m looking forward to that!
Mortius
Mortius is a bit of a hybrid recommendation for me because the channel itself is broader than tabletop. There’s music, reaction content, playlists, and a larger entertainment focus overall. He has quite the love for music and it’s always fun to see him enjoy a song in a show. I found him as there is very clear Legend of Vox Machina coverage, with some analysis and also prediction. The prediction might go wrong as he rolls a d20 to predict and see how well that goes to see if he’s accurate. Sometimes he is quite spot on. That “analysis” part is what makes Mortius stand out from just being another reaction channel. There’s a bit more chewing on the material, a bit more trying to catch the emotional beat or narrative clue. So while I wouldn’t frame Mortius as a Pathfinder or D&D creator first, there is real Critical Role-adjacent value here if what you want is someone engaging with that animated side of the fandom in a way that still feels thoughtful and fun. He has a ton of other shows he’s going into lately like She-Ra, which is a tremendous Netflix show I suggest you check out!
Luboffin
Luboffin is probably the easiest “yes, absolutely, this is in my lane” recommendation on this list if you’re a Critical Role person. I’ve mentioned her before as she has fostered an incredible community. Luna’s channel is upfront about it: she is “just a tad obsessed” with Critical Role, and the content backs that up with breakdowns, recaps, deep dives, and reaction videos. With Campaign 4 now showing of Crit Role, she’s doing specific recap-and-breakdown videos, and that alone tells you a lot about the appeal. This is not just “watching and reacting.” This is paying attention. This is catching the lore, the politics, the character threads, and the connective tissue. That’s especially appealing to me because it scratches the same itch as game prep or post-session table talk. It’s fandom as analysis, but still with heart. If you like Critical Role and you enjoy somebody helping you sit in the implications of an episode a little longer, Luboffin is incredibly and totally a must watch! She does some bonus videos on patreon too, diving into lore deeper. Don’t be discouraged if you see she doesn’t have a recent video of the last week, she’s been busy IRL. She’ll catch up and you’ll be glad to check it out!
Rated-MA
Rated-MA, Meg and Allie, are just brilliant. They bring a really polished reaction energy to Critical Role material. Both have writing, directing training to some degree and are serious D&Ders now too. Their channel branding is rooted in film and television love, which I think actually helps a lot with the way they approach The Mighty Nein, Vox Machina, and now they’re doing Exandria Unlimited: Calamity too. The reactions land, but so does the sense that they’re paying attention to how scenes are built, how reveals are paced, and why certain character beats hit. They take notes, give space for spoilers, but then take time to discuss them with those who care to watch. That makes them particularly fun if you like the screen adaptation side of the fandom as much as the original table side. They are absolutely a Critical Role channel worth investing in if you enjoy reactions with some production-minded appreciation behind them. You’ll find plenty of other shows with them too like White Lotus, Arcane, and more!
Meesh & Dee
Meesh & Dee bring a different kind of charm. They’re a lesbian married couple and I love that they bring an LGBTQ, specifically femme and lesbian perspective to shows. They’re professionals by day and TV bingers by night, and that “come watch with us” energy really works. Their Critical Role footprint is very visible through Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein, table-to-screen comparison reactions too, but I really liked their Heated Rivalry reactions. What I like here is that they feel accessible. Not every recommendation needs to be the deepest lore breakdown or the sharpest analysis. Sometimes you want people who are simply enjoyable to spend time with as they encounter and discuss something you already care about. Meesh & Dee do that well, and the Critical Role coverage gives them an easy place in my nerd-media orbit while also loving their perspective as two women in a loving relationship reacting to two guys trying to understand theirs in Heated Rivalry. Oh and they just watched through all of the live One Piece, something they’d never watched before as they note they usually watch an anime first before any live action. They’re so hooked! I’m so excited for Season 2 out now!
Jesse & Laura Jerdak
Jesse and Laura Jerdak together represent one of my favorite parts of online fandom: creators who make community feel welcoming, joyful, and openly inclusive. Their public presence carries a real warmth around geek culture, cosplay, and tabletop spaces, and that matters to me, especially in fandoms like Critical Role where so much of the experience is about shared enthusiasm and feeling like there is room for everybody at the table. Laura has long leaned into cosplay and geek culture, and her posts tie directly into Critical Role fandom as well as support for important groups like the Lebanese and Palestine. Of course celebrating the community she found in Crit Role and sharing cosplay work connected to characters like Vex and Marion Lavorre, the Ruby of the Sea, is exceptional. Jesse’s an artist: crafting minis and amazing set work. He’s a storyteller and there’s that TTRPG presence like the Oops All Himbos. I think he maybe works out sometimes; I don’t know. Together they project the kind of positive, affirming energy that makes LGBTQ-friendly and fandom-forward spaces feel more human and more alive. They are a good reminder that what makes a creator worth investing in is not just the content itself, but the kind of community they help foster around it.
Thraben University
Thraben University I mentioned last time in my Dark Archive Remastered article! It’s the cleanest Pathfinder recommendation on this list. The channel description is direct: this is a secondary channel for Pathfinder 2e and Starfinder 2e content, especially strategy and guides. That makes it a very different flavor from the reaction-heavy creators above, but honestly that contrast is part of why it belongs here. Some days I want fandom. Some days I want utility. Some days I want something that sparks an idea for a build, a table ruling, an encounter approach, or a better understanding of how a character might function in play. If you’re in Pathfinder mode, especially PF2E mode, this is exactly the kind of channel that earns a spot in the regular watch list because it feeds directly back into your actual games.
Worth Investing In
What all of these creators have in common, for me, is that they make fandom feel lived in. That matters. Especially now, when so much of life asks us to optimize every second, turn every hobby into productivity, and justify every bit of time we spend not “doing” something measurable. I reject that a little. There is real value in the media that keeps you company while you fold laundry, drive to the store, build an encounter, or answer email. There is value in the people who make you laugh, who help you catch a lore detail you missed, who scream about a reveal with the exact amount of intensity you were feeling, or who quietly hand you a new idea for your next Pathfinder character.
Not just content. Not just channels. Not just algorithms. Companionship. Excitement. Community. A little more delight in the day-to-day. And if some of that comes through Critical Role, Pathfinder, D&D, cosplay, reactions, or just lovable nerd chaos? Even better.
I’m always interested to learn of other social folks or streamers you think I should be checking out. It’s the perfect media for me to listen to while I’m doing chores, sometimes working, or even just wanting to somewhat re-watch media while seeing others reactions/reflections to what I love. Please do share any great folks you’re watching with me! A great community is always worth Investing In! Next time I’ll be digging into the Hellfire Crisis. Until then, please remember to support one another and much love to all!
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
