For even the most loyal of fans, it might be hard to describe what exactly Critical Role is. At its core, it's a multi-platform web series wherein a group of friends plays Dungeons & Dragons together. However, with over half a million viewers every week and various works including a novel, art books, a comic series, campaign setting books, and collectibles found on the shelves of hobby stores, it's a little more complicated than that. As such, newcomers curious to find out just what Critical Role is all about might find themselves confused or even intimidated to jump into the proceedings.
Source:https://www.cbr.com/critical-role-where-to-start-dnd/