I followed Critical Role to their Australia megashows. Screaming fans and a 5-hour merch line prove nerdworld is now big business.

The Critical Role crew took over the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, where I sat a few rows from the stage, watching the crowd go wild.

Steve Failows for Critical Role

• I went to CR's live shows in Sydney and Melbourne and caught up with some of the cofounders.
• The excitement at the shows was fever-pitch, and I'd only seen its like at K-Pop concerts.
• Seeing it firsthand made me understand just how big the business had become.

When I arrived at the Critical Role...