Critical Role Campaign 4 New House Rule to Level Up in D&D

Critical Role Campaign 4 just introduced one of the most innovative Dungeons & Dragons house rules in the show’s history—and it could completely transform how your table handles character progression. Under DM Brennan Lee Mulligan’s new system, players decide when their characters level up after reaching milestones, rather than leveling immediately. The result? Dramatically satisfying narrative moments and unprecedented player agency.

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How the New Level-Up House Rule Works

During the Soldiers table’s first major milestone—avenging Thjazi Fang—Mulligan declared the party had earned the right to reach level four. But instead of immediately implementing the level-up, he introduced a revolutionary twist.

critical role campaign 4 characters robbie daymond kattigan vale

critical role campaign 4 characters sam riegel wicander halovar

The Process:

Step 1: Preparation Phase

Players roll hit points (rerolling 1s—another popular house rule)
Choose Ability Score Improvements or Feats
Select new spells, cantrips, and class features if applicable
Key difference: These choices aren’t locked in yet

Step 2: Player-Controlled Timing

Each player individually decides when their character levels up during gameplay
Can trigger after narrative moments, dramatic victories, or even mid-combat
Choices made during prep can still be changed before finalizing the level-up

Example scenarios where this shines:

Leveling up immediately after a character breakthrough moment
Gaining new abilities right when they’re desperately needed in combat
Timing the level-up to coincide with a story revelation about the character’s growth

Pro tip: This mechanic rewards players who pay attention to narrative flow and dramatic timing, making leveling feel earned rather than arbitrary.

Why This House Rule is Revolutionary

Traditional D&D leveling uses two main systems:

Standard Leveling Systems:

Experience Points (XP):

Characters level up after accumulating set XP totals
Formulaic and predictable
Happens when math dictates, regardless of story

Milestone System:

DM determines when party has accomplished enough to level
More narrative-focused than XP
Still removes player agency over timing

Mulligan’s Innovation:

This new approach combines the best of both systems while adding something entirely new:

DM sets the milestone (party earns the level)
Players control the timing (when it actually happens)
Narrative satisfaction maximized through intentional character moments

Why it works: Players become co-storytellers in their character’s growth, rather than passive recipients of level-ups.

Mulligan’s “Desperate Measures” House Rule

This is actually the second major house rule Mulligan introduced in Campaign 4, and it’s equally innovative.

How Desperate Measures Works:

When a character starts their turn downed with no failed Death Saves, instead of rolling immediately, they choose:

Option 1: Play It Safe

Automatically stabilize with no roll required
Remain unconscious at 0 HP
Guaranteed survival but no other benefit

Option 2: Fight for Your Life

Make a Death Saving Throw as normal (risk of failure)
Grant Heroic Inspiration to an ally of your choice
Prioritize helping the party over personal safety

Why This Rule Matters:

Traditional D&D death saves are passive—downed players roll dice and hope. Desperate Measures gives them:

Agency while unconscious: Still contributing to the fight
Meaningful choices: Safety vs. team support
Dramatic tension: Heroic sacrifices feel intentional

Game design insight: This rule transforms the least interactive part of combat (being downed) into an active decision point.

How to Implement These Rules at Your Table

Both house rules are surprisingly easy to adopt with minimal prep work.

Player-Controlled Leveling Implementation:

For Digital Players (D&D Beyond, Roll20, etc.):

Create duplicate character sheets at the next level
Keep both versions accessible during sessions
Players “activate” the leveled version when ready
Adjust choices if needed before finalizing

For Analog Players:

Prepare level-up notes on separate paper
List new HP, abilities, spells, and stat changes
Transfer to main sheet when player triggers level-up
Erase/rewrite if choices change

DM considerations:

Set clear milestone achievements beforehand
Establish “level-up deadline” if needed (e.g., must level before next milestone)
Allow flexibility for mid-combat leveling if dramatically appropriate

Desperate Measures Implementation:

Simple setup:

Explain the rule during Session 0 or before first combat
Remind players when someone goes down with no failed saves
Let them choose: stabilize safely or risk roll for Heroic Inspiration
Track inspiration as normal

Balancing consideration: This rule slightly benefits parties by providing more inspiration, so adjust encounter difficulty if needed.

Critical Role Campaign 4: The Bigger Picture

These house rules are part of Campaign 4’s broader experimental approach:

Campaign 4 Innovations:

Structure:

Three separate tables: Soldiers, Seekers, and Schemers
13 different characters across the tables
Dimension 20’s Brennan Lee Mulligan as permanent DM (replacing Matthew Mercer)

Setting:

Completely original world called Araman
No connection to previous Critical Role campaigns
Fresh start for veteran players and new viewers alike

The Three Tables:

Soldiers:

Wicander Halovar (Sam Riegel)
Thimble (Laura Bailey)
Kattigan Vale (Robbie Daymond)
Teor Pridesire (Travis Willingham)
Tyranny (Whitney Moore)

Seekers:

Occtis Tachonis (Alexander Ward)
Vaelus (Ashley Johnson)
Thaisha Lloy (Aabria Iyengar)
Julien Davino (Matthew Mercer)

Schemers:

Halandil Fang (Liam O’Brien)
Murray Mag’Nesson (Marisha Ray)
Bolaire Lathalia (Taliesin Jaffe)
Azune Nayar (Luis Carazo)

What makes this structure special: Each table operates semi-independently but likely connects to a larger narrative, allowing Mulligan to experiment with different tones and pacing.

When to Use Player-Controlled Leveling

This house rule isn’t ideal for every table, but it excels in certain campaign styles:

Perfect For:

Narrative-heavy campaigns:

Story-driven groups who prioritize character arcs
Tables that value dramatic timing over mechanical progression
Groups comfortable with asymmetric leveling (some characters ahead/behind temporarily)

Experienced players:

Veterans who understand their character’s narrative trajectory
Players who actively engage with roleplay and story beats
Tables with strong trust between DM and players

Milestone-based games:

Already using milestone leveling (not XP tracking)
DM comfortable relinquishing some control over pacing
Campaigns with clear story beats and milestones

Less Ideal For:

Mechanically-focused tables:

Groups prioritizing tactical combat over narrative
Players who prefer synchronized party levels
Newer players unfamiliar with their character’s potential

XP-based progression:

Traditional XP tracking conflicts with milestone-based player choice
Individual XP totals would create confusion about who can level

Potential Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Party Level Disparity

Problem: Players leveling at different times creates unbalanced encounters.

Solution:

Set “level-up windows” (must level within 2-3 sessions)
Design encounters assuming average party level
Embrace temporary power differences as roleplay opportunities

Challenge 2: Analysis Paralysis

Problem: Players agonizing over “perfect” timing, never pulling trigger.

Solution:

Establish deadlines (level before next milestone)
Encourage “good enough” timing over perfect moments
Remind players they can always level between sessions if needed

Challenge 3: Mechanical Confusion

Problem: Tracking who’s leveled and who hasn’t mid-session.

Solution:

Use visual indicators (tokens, markers on character sheets)
Quick DM check-in before each session
Digital tools make tracking automatic

What’s Next for Critical Role Campaign 4

The next episode airs December 18 at 4 PM PT/7 PM ET, featuring the Soldiers table.

What to watch for:

Will any characters trigger their level-up during this session?
How does Mulligan handle mid-combat leveling if it occurs?
What narrative moments will players choose for their progression?

This could set precedent for how level-ups are handled throughout Campaign 4’s run.

Bottom line: Critical Role Campaign 4’s player-controlled leveling represents a genuine innovation in D&D house rules. By separating milestone achievement from level-up timing, Brennan Lee Mulligan has created a system that rewards narrative awareness and player agency while maintaining DM control over progression pace. Combined with the Desperate Measures rule, Campaign 4 is pushing boundaries on what’s possible in actual play D&D. Whether you’re a Critical Role fan or just a D&D enthusiast looking for fresh mechanics, these house rules deserve a試試 at your table.

Critical Role Campaign 4 New House Rule: Players Choose When to Level Up in D&D