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The worlds of Critical Role and Cosmere are about to collide. Publisher Brotherwise Games has recently announced that a new actual play one-shot for the Cosmere RPG will be premiering this November. The event will be helmed by former Critical Role cast member Jasper Cartwright and will premier on Brandon Sanderson’s official YouTube channel.
The adventure is entitled “Echoes of the Father” and will also include a cast of seasoned actors and actual play veterans Below, we take a closer look at all the details.
What is the new Cosmere RPG actual play one shot about?
“Echoes of the Father,” is a one-shot adventure that uses the Cosmere RPG rules and takes place in the Shattered Plains, a desolate, monster-haunted battlefield from The Stormlight Archive. The story follows a group of would-be-heroes who are gathered by a disgraced prince to reclaim a legendary Shardblade.
The Game Master for the one shot is Jasper Cartwright, one of the members of the popular Three Black Halflings podcast and previous cast member in the Dimension 20 Burrow’s End campaign and Critical Role’s The Re-Slayer’s Take.
Cartwright is joined by Abubakar Salim (from the HBO sci-fi series Raised by Wolves), Jacqueline Emerson (from The Hunger Games and a variety of TV and film projects), Jane Douglas (from the Oxventure actual play series), and Mark/Mara Hulmes (who has also appeared on Critical Role).
The session will blend costumed performances and visual effects, making it a little more cinematic than what we’ve seen from other actual play series.
When will the Cosmere RPG actual play premiere?
Echoes of the Father will premiere on November 14th, 2025 on Brandon Sanderson’s official YouTube channel. It’s possible that other spin-offs may be produced, depending on the audience reception.
What Is the Cosmere RPG?
Developed by Brotherwise Games, the Cosmere Roleplaying Game is based on the interconnected worlds of fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, including The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn, and Elantris. The game first gained attention in 2024 when it became the most-funded TTRPG in Kickstarter history, generating over $15 million in support from over 55,000 backers.
The Cosmere RPG system consists of three primary books so far: The Stormlight Handbook (which is the core rules of the game), The Stormlight World Guide (which is a setting guide designed primarily for Gamemasters) and The Stonewalkers (a complete campaign that takes players from Levels 1 to 8). Smaller supplementary materials have also been released, with new Mistborn materials likely arriving in 2026.
Mechanically, the core rules use a modified d20 system where characters are defined by six attributes (Strength, Speed, Intellect, Willpower, Awareness and Presence), three defenses (Physical, Cognitive, Spiritual) and a suite of skills and resources. To carry out an action, GMs assign a target number, with players rolling a d20 and adding modifiers in order to meet or beat that number. A “Plot Die” (a d6 whose faces include Opportunities or Complications) may also be called for by the GM to increase narrative stakes.
The game also uses a three-action economy (similar to the Pathfinder RPG) that lets you choose a Fast turn (act early with fewer actions) or a Slow turn (act later but with more actions). Character advancement is also handled via “Paths” rather than traditional classes, allowing for a variety of flexible builds and power options which are tied to the Cosmere lore.
Final thoughts
While Dungeons & Dragons and Critical Role tend to get the most of the actual play spotlight, there are some genuinely talented cast members and GMs out there that are often overlooked. The cast assembled for the Cosmere RPG one shot is a classic example of this, and it’s great to see these individuals getting a chance to shine, as well as the chance to showcase a relatively new TTRPG system. Whether this is a one-and-done session or the start of something bigger, however, remains to be seen.
You can watch the Echoes of the Father one shot episode on November 14th. In the meantime, below is an trailer from Brandon Sanderson’s official YouTube channel.