Ten Ground Rules for Becoming a Great Game Master | Part 1

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
  • As we continue our journey to becoming a Great Game Master, this week we are talking about the 10 ground rules that I feel every dungeon master, game master and roleplayer should know, in order to set your entire RPG campaign up for success. So sit back, relax and take these in as they will be sure to make your next DnD, Pathfinder of Cthulhu game that much better.
    Timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction
    02:15 Rules
    05:38 The GM isn't responsible for the story
    07:17 Numbers are suggestions
    09:07 Surrender or run away
    10:56 Everyone should have a goal
    To pre-order your copy of The Practical Guide to Becoming a Great GM - click here: bit.ly/3EDNbmK
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ความคิดเห็น • 123

  • @HowtobeaGreatGM
    @HowtobeaGreatGM  2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    Thanks for watching! Let us know in the comments below your thoughts on the ground rules for becoming a Great GM.
    Pre-order your copy of The Practical Guide to Becoming a Great GM here: bit.ly/3EDNbmK
    Find each chapter of the video easily by clicking on the timestamps in the description.

    • @Tony-lc5kc
      @Tony-lc5kc 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Your name is "Guy"?...could of been worse I suppose, could have been "Dude"
      I mean its still lazy parenting, the day you are born and they look down at your junk, "hu? its a Guy"
      Is that a name or a pronoun?
      Could be so much worse, my mother calls me "Bastard" (that's not my name, its completely different on my birth certificate)

  • @error707detected
    @error707detected 2 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    I feel like gming hasn't been fun for me lately, I worry if I'm wasting my players time, I worry if my story is not too stupid. You said that you'll make a video someday about reducing planning stress and getting more confident as a gm and by God it's exactly what I need, I won't say I'll subscribe to your channel to see it because I already have, it's honestly my favorite channel, so informative! And Guy is so charismatic

    • @damianspence
      @damianspence 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      100% feel the same way

    • @wogumator6565
      @wogumator6565 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Honest question: what is keeping you from asking your players about their experience with you as a dm? Do you suspect they won't be honest? Especially close friends can be quite helpful if you simply ask them.

    • @damianspence
      @damianspence 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@wogumator6565 For me, I have have talked a lot with my friends, and I've just found that I stress way too much and I haven't found a breakthrough. My enjoyment of DMing has gone steadily down over the last couple years. The whole thing just feels like stress now.
      I'm taking a break from DMing, but my hope is that this series and distancing myself from the stress helps me feel more confident again.

    • @stevebreedlove9760
      @stevebreedlove9760 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@damianspence I have done virtual no planning in advance and so far the feedback is good. We're playing Star Wars so there's already a galaxy to explore and I've made a point to bring in elements of galactic events they know so they feel part of a bigger story and it has worked. I have leaned heavily on them by helping me interpret dice rolls in terms of cinematics and by emphasizing that the game we play is a cowritten story and I don't want the burden of it. I provide enough to keep them on their toes, but otherwise don't stress. My preparation consists of a few ideas in my head for elements and I may prep some basic stats for npc. We also only play two hours every other week, so there isn't a need for a strong plan.

  • @InAVallee
    @InAVallee 2 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    As someone who has backed the kickstarter, I wish the text was available to us before this series started. Similarly to a book club or a class in school, we could read the text associated with the next video, then try to understand it better with your analysis and lecture.
    Can’t wait to have the book in hand!

    • @HowtobeaGreatGM
      @HowtobeaGreatGM  2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      The PDF is coming soon... soon! So soon... I'm not saying end of March...

  • @AnA10Pilot
    @AnA10Pilot 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Rule number 5 I find extremely important. In the group I'm currently in my Fighter is the only character who has goals. He wants to become a well renowned fighter, try to find one of the legendary weapons, and eventually with the money he has made, start a fighting school or academy. The rest of the group just kind... meanders from plot point to plot point...

  • @nicholasromero238
    @nicholasromero238 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    I have another player be the "table attorney" (usually another player that loves learning the rules as much as I do) so if we get stumped, I have a pov from their side of the table to help determine fairness, and I usually talk about spot rulings with the whole table to see if we all like the result

  • @sebastiankala1093
    @sebastiankala1093 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    What about goal being finding your goal? Your purpose, what you want... Thats a real struggle of more than many people.

  • @MrMJ965
    @MrMJ965 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    So I was having a Session of DnD and I, as a GM, wasn't satisfied with the monsters straight from the book. Now I know why. I didn't change the Numbers! Your tipps are helping me once again! Thank you!

  • @hyschara
    @hyschara 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Homework for this week, find a goal for each of my current characters🖊🖊

  • @swillsswil4817
    @swillsswil4817 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    The surrender/run away point brought me back to 2nd ed D&D when you saw the morale stat. It gave a decent indicator of how brave the average specimen was. I liked that because it made the DM think about such things more often.

    • @sillyjellyfish2421
      @sillyjellyfish2421 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      There is this czech system that has something like that in its mechanic - each npc/monster has a "border". The damage in the system works a bit funky and usually starts at 2 or 3 danger and gets lower or higher depending on actions of characters during the combat (if you use your movement to hide behind a tree, your danger goes 1 down, but if you have been succesfully targeted and decided to spend stamina, as you rolled out of the way, because now you are laying on the ground, it's harder to evade so it moved 1 up, etc). So the combat is not only about bringing down enemy's stamina = ability to dodge or par succesful attacks, but also about bringing up the danger by pushing enemy into less and less favorable position.
      Now why is it important. Creatures and npc all have their border number. This represents in how much danger they can be before leaving the fight. Higher the border,the more likely they will fight til the end.
      Imagine a dragon with a border of 7. It would have to be severely wounded,pushed into unfavorable terrain, or ambushed by a trap while also targeted by several players in order to flee. But a commoner with border of 3? The moment they get targeted once (since they may have started in neutral stance of 2 danger), they nope right out.

    • @sillyjellyfish2421
      @sillyjellyfish2421 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      This may be borrowed from 2e, i don't know how that one works. But this border is still in use in the current system

  • @plasma-
    @plasma- 2 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    Doubt anyone will read this but if you do, have a nice day!

    • @DrHerculesReal
      @DrHerculesReal 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Likewise!

    • @slintirreg
      @slintirreg 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      U2

    • @DatGoodSir
      @DatGoodSir 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      You too!

    • @plasma-
      @plasma- 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@DrHerculesReal thank you!

    • @plasma-
      @plasma- 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@ork44 why thanks!!

  • @davidgolfspro
    @davidgolfspro 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I mean if i were playing a PC who had the same goals, views, and commitment to carrying out the dastardly evil plot of gathering magical crystals and trying to release Tiamat to take over the world. And I as the PC believe in this to the extent that ill allow myself to fall in the name of the cause then it makes perfect sense to do so as a GM playing a NPC in that manner.

  • @JustInTimeWorlds
    @JustInTimeWorlds 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I've just started running my first L5R game in a while. You know, there is nothing like running samurai politics to remind you that everyone must have a goal. Of course they're also all in love with their own deaths, so less on the running away side, more on the where is my white towel side :)

  • @orcishhorde
    @orcishhorde 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I've noticed a bunch of board games in the background. Could you make an offtopic video about those? Basically a rapid-fire reviews/opinions - what you liked, what you didn't, and why.

  • @InsightCheck
    @InsightCheck 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    These are some really great pieces of advice!
    Making sure everyone at the table understands that the game is a collaborative experience is so critical to a successful game! The DM is playing too!

  • @steveandjanemessianics
    @steveandjanemessianics 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hey there. I'm 43 and used to play TMNT and Ninjas and Superspies back in the early 90s through early 2000s. Haven't played a pen and paper RPG in many years but have purchased dice and a copy of TMNT. I'm planning to run a campaign with my three children, 6, 8 and 11, all very sharp and mature and ready to play. I'm brushing up on the rules and thinking about how to GM a game after not doing it for two decades. I watched your video and am about to watch part 2 and just wanted to make sure I left you a sincere compliment. This really reminded me of all those years GMing TMNT and Superspies and will benefit our little group, which I hope will be fun. The part about the GM roleplaying the NPCs and monsters and deciding to surrender or run away was an excellent point and makes a huge difference in a fun campaign and one that isn't. It adds to the story and makes the game more fun when the GM roleplays the NPCs well. Loved your approach in this video and how you kindly share your ideas on making the game fun for everyone.
    Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed it and am so excited to get back into pen and paper RPGs.
    Blessings, and Shalom,
    Stephen

  • @michaeltorrance
    @michaeltorrance 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I started playing/GMing back in the late 70s using the 1977 Basic Set then pretty much stopped at AD&D and took a long hiatus. When trying to get back into the game using 5E I found myself interpreting rulings as they were written in those older version rules. Over the past few years, I have had a few players wanting in on my games ask if I was a "Rules as Written" DM. I tell them right up front, Nope, I'm a "Rules as Remembered" DM. 😁

  • @DrHerculesReal
    @DrHerculesReal 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love your videos, Guy! Very organized and informative. I like the structure.

  • @LandonTheDM
    @LandonTheDM 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Guy taught me to run with misspoken words and give them a meaning. I do this in my games, especially if someone calls me out on a silly mess up.

  • @thebronzemanticore
    @thebronzemanticore ปีที่แล้ว

    The most fun I had was rp'ing a mighty half-dragon who kept engaging players, giving them a hard time every fight, realizing they got new tricks and getting close to defeating him and running away. People were thrilled to finally crush the dude

  • @jonathanowen9917
    @jonathanowen9917 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    These are all really helpful, but the two that I really need to work on is making sure everyone has a goal (including my NPCs and monsters) and everyone is responsible for the story.

  • @Darkalen
    @Darkalen ปีที่แล้ว

    Totally with you on this. Following completely. My DM played very similarly, and it always (mostly) translated to great sessions for me as a player.

  • @oliveroffer3699
    @oliveroffer3699 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Been hanging out for this episode since last week. Thanks!

  • @Aucacoyan
    @Aucacoyan 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks guy! It's giving me great insight on my mistakes on my games. Watching a video instead of reading a book makes me pay more attention. Normally I skim all the initial chapters of "101 Tips to be the best GM ever"-kind of book, and I miss the point, because I don't nearn nothing new, I only reinforce my knowledge of "I am well versed in GMing". Thanks so much! Greetings from Argentina

  • @Slasher837
    @Slasher837 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    About not knowing all the rules: one of the strongest moments in the campaign I'm currently running happened because of/thanks to me making a mistake on an NPC ability who ended up being overpowered.
    It led to an incredible duel similar to the Moutain vs Oberyn Tyrell in Game of Thrones, which the character ended up losing (but not dying) and which led to a great story arc with the character's being outcast with a new tyrant ruling the town they were in.
    I told my players about my mistake, they were totally okay. If I had known the rule better, it would have been just another "random" encounter.

  • @gaelickledoher4773
    @gaelickledoher4773 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love it. « Everyone should have a goal !! »

  • @tomaswiklund8898
    @tomaswiklund8898 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I´ve seen you GMing. You are truly Great. Got 30+ years experiance of it myself. You give us all Inspiration. Well done GM. ♥

  • @nicklazaroo
    @nicklazaroo 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Another great video! Loved the last tip 😘

  • @AvenueStudios
    @AvenueStudios 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Haha loved the dramatic zoom in on saying the GM is a player!
    I wish I had had this advice decades ago when I first tried running games especially about not needing to know all the rules! I still have to fight against that thought every time I think of trying a new system. It always feels daunting but I am so glad when I just dive into a game with good friends and wing it! Trying to convince my wife to run some games as she has expressed desire to do so but feels intimidated by the rules - here's hoping she takes the reins soon!
    -Dan

  • @boringblackbird8433
    @boringblackbird8433 ปีที่แล้ว

    I find the first one so interesting, like in my first campaign it was about pirates, and we couldn’t find good drowning rules, so we just made them up, and we haven’t had any trouble with it yet!

  • @anastasiia1683
    @anastasiia1683 ปีที่แล้ว

    So good at mentioning "run away" and goals! It gave inspiration to the adventure I want to make. I've never played desktop RPGs as it isn't very popular in Ukraine, but definitely want to try it, and be DM more than a player. Right know I don't completely understand how it works, especially with the checking. So I'm learning rules and basics. Thank you for your videos!

  • @TheAciddragon069
    @TheAciddragon069 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    i once played a Dwarf barbarian who always wanted to fight to the death as his clan felt running away or surrendering was a sign of weakness. honestly he was the funnest character i've ever played

  • @haliniakpierre5877
    @haliniakpierre5877 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Amazing video and great advices.

  • @Wolfsspinne
    @Wolfsspinne 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Rulings is way more important than rules.
    If you know the rules you know what happens in predetermined situations, if you know how to make rulings you know what happens in all situations.

  • @myzookin6158
    @myzookin6158 ปีที่แล้ว

    The first part of the video on rules: I will admit, I never fully read the rules never had. I run so many systems that I have come to quickly understand 90% of the rules are not gonna be used all the time and they do come up I address its. Good to see I am not the only who does this.

  • @serendipityamazes
    @serendipityamazes ปีที่แล้ว

    This is fabulous. I know it's not, technically, Life Advice ... but this core concept of "understand the essential mechanic and you can wing it and then figure out the nitty-gritty when you're off the clock" applies to so many things. Thanks, y'all! I'm feeling so encouraged.

  • @qwe1231
    @qwe1231 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A BOWL, I MEAN GOAL.

    • @Wolfsspinne
      @Wolfsspinne 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Let your character be a Football-Player and they can have both.

    • @BoojumFed
      @BoojumFed 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Wolfsspinne Or a children's cereal-box character. ;^)

  • @zonegamma8197
    @zonegamma8197 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    very good i will follow the series

  • @almyit
    @almyit ปีที่แล้ว

    I’ve played D&D but I'm going to take a shot at being the DM for my family! Think D&D makes for an exciting family game night! Hopefully we can start a cool new family tradition! Thanks you for making this guide!😊

  • @alexpeterson5809
    @alexpeterson5809 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Year long series! Woo hoo!

  • @stevekirkby6570
    @stevekirkby6570 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Brilliant advice as ever.

  • @Starham2000
    @Starham2000 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    “Will a player fight to the dead?”
    From my experience, yes, but I do get what you’re saying.

    • @aschaff3995
      @aschaff3995 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes usually, yes they fight stuff till it's dead or they are dead.. damage is too hard for them to work out.. oh we should have run last round.

  • @seop1721
    @seop1721 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Interesting. I am looking forward to the series. I like the concepts here, as they reflect psychological flexibility. We shouldn’t get too rigid.
    I think concepts from coaching would be useful for groups, such as eliciting values with prospective players. ‘What’s important to you in a game?’ and ‘What will you see, hear, and feel when you have X [value]?’ This gets the values and how THEY define them for themselves. Two players may share the value of ‘glory’, but one defines it by wealth, and one by magical power or reputation in the world.
    This is a useful approach to PCs and NPCs, too. But mainly it can be a good way to deliver a game that everyone enjoys, by knowing what everyone finds important in RPGs…and how they specifically define those things.

  • @FiLtheThriL
    @FiLtheThriL 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video!

  • @freddaniel5099
    @freddaniel5099 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Brilliant advice!

  • @hermesalexandria
    @hermesalexandria 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    "If you don have one (a goal), I don't want you at my table."
    I dislike this take immensely. Early in a campaign many players won't have enough information to the world to have strong goals, unless goal creation has supporting mechanics during character creation. Many games systems, especially older ones, simply don't have this narrative focus.

  • @Rikus68
    @Rikus68 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I'm currently working on an adventure for Arcanis: The World Of Shattered Empires. The advice that everyone should have goals just fits the setting so well

  • @dm4life579
    @dm4life579 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I like these videos. Feels like the old days of this channel.

  • @aaronclift
    @aaronclift 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I absolutely agree with the surrender/run away part of your video and have used that option many times with the enemies in my campaign. In session 1, the players ignored one of the enemies running away during combat. That surviving enemy went on to report the PCs to his superiors, which has had far-reaching consequences for the rest of the campaign.

  • @FlimsyRanger
    @FlimsyRanger 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    There is so much wisdom in his words, but there is also just as many exceptions. D&D really is fascinating.

  • @GreenBlueWalkthrough
    @GreenBlueWalkthrough 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very true! I to haves noticed that these are the realities of the TTRPG space and have been devloping my game around that... Which I have let the players kill an enemy quickly with in 10 points of the correct numbers becuase it's had for me to keep track of the numbers at the table live while gaming... I have also had enemies run away when it's clear they can't win... I just think of it as a new objective for which they can now win. Which is very realistic as in most wars fought on this Earth it is normal for warrors to surrender when the morale is broken this is even a machic in Wargames like Warhammer 40k and Total War.

  • @michaelczaiczynski3604
    @michaelczaiczynski3604 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love the Guy The V portrait in the background!

  • @Ginzzzu
    @Ginzzzu 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Everyone should have a goal!

  • @kekpao5975
    @kekpao5975 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    i started my 5e campaign and my players fucked up my plans so i "rebooted" the worls using some god of time and reality mumble-jumble and they bought It. Now I'm making them rule over a Goblin village and its going fine

  • @russelljacob7955
    @russelljacob7955 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Your #3 section of video! OH SO IMPORTANT! "We all play a little differently"
    The lack of this is what completely ruined Pathfinder Society GMing for me. "We must all GM exactly same way. You cannot make calls or interpretation. If something has potential variance? Well we must Errata it and put it in writing"
    It was the culture in the Society venture program. We MUST all GM the same. Lest somebody is upset and complains cause a GM ran a monster or something a bit differently. The GM is no a player. The GM is to present everything exactly as written. Any personal interpretation or style? Very frowned upon.
    It was quite toxic to be a part of and almost completely killed the joy I used to have GMing. I still GM and play, but not as a member of Paizo Society.

    • @haliniakpierre5877
      @haliniakpierre5877 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Those extreme simulationists players ... They don't need a GM, they need a computer game.

    • @russelljacob7955
      @russelljacob7955 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@haliniakpierre5877 Yeah. It is pretty bad. So fixated on perfect rules that Pathfinder 2.0 and starfinder have so many errata that nobody even has the same rules. X player has a first run printing. Player two has a two year old PDF, and player 3 checks errata religiously. It is so disruptive how much there was. Most of it not even actual errata like typos. But balance and clarification of the smallest ambiguity of interpretation.
      Fun came second to the theory of fun. I told my GM that my expensive print books are my reference. I want to enjoy my game, not have an additional 30 pages to sift through to verify print is valid.

    • @haliniakpierre5877
      @haliniakpierre5877 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@russelljacob7955 That's part of the reason I stopped playing pathfinder. The community is broken.

    • @russelljacob7955
      @russelljacob7955 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@haliniakpierre5877 I remember the specific question that was asked of an upper Venture member of society. "Can players downcast cantrips as a spontaneous caster? My players wants to be sneaky so caster wants to cast light at level 1 strength"
      "No, rules say that cantrips cast at highest spell level, so they must cast light heightened accordingly"
      Seriously? But the same higher lvl people tended to he hypocritical with manipulating similar ambiguities to their opinion. It was quite disappointing to be a part of. And then a big debate about how they must need an errata if we wanted to be able to let players downcast cantrips.

    • @haliniakpierre5877
      @haliniakpierre5877 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@russelljacob7955 There are other games and community out there. If pathfinder or the community isn't for you, try an other one.
      The main goal is to have fun.

  • @kasane1337
    @kasane1337 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    2 views? Wow, I'm early.
    Oh, and btw, I love how "to nearn" accidentally became an important part of this series ;-)

  • @Micsma
    @Micsma 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    this is some good stuff

  • @sitnamkrad
    @sitnamkrad 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I respectfully disagree with point 5 (everyone should have a goal).
    The disagreement comes from the examples being provided being in total opposition to my number 1 rule about playing TTRPGs. Everyone plays for a different reason and that's completely fine. There are players who come to the table expecting to play a mostly combat oriented game. Their characters go into dungeons, killing monsters, avoiding traps, and getting treasure. Why? Because it's there and they like rolling dice. And this is totally fine. Stating that it is a ground rule for players and GMs to have a goal that is more than just "killing stuff" is basically saying that this style of play is bad. Realizing there are different styles of playing, which style(s) you like, and which ones your players like, that is in my opinion the basis of what makes a great GM. Or a great player for that matter, because in the end, no amount of ground rules are going to fix your game if the play styles of everyone at the table don't match.

  • @benjamineisenhofer8174
    @benjamineisenhofer8174 ปีที่แล้ว

    "Change numbers to make stuff fun" - what does that "fun" mean? Making it just easy or hard enough that the outcome is always "challenging, but they made it"? I think that bears the danger of denying the players a part of the experience (the GM included).
    "Surrender or run away" - I really dig morale checks. Makes it even more of a game to the GM.

  • @evanm8972
    @evanm8972 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Subscribed! I don't play anymore, I only run games, because gm's are terrible. I have so many comments about every item on your list. I'm forever asked to run games I know little about. I once ended up in another city running a Warhammer 40k game on 15 minutes notice. I barely knew the system, so I wrote a few quick lines of plot and years later the players still reach out to remind me it was one of the most memorable and fun games they'd ever played and it was for me too! Running a game isn't about the "rules"

  • @perrywmoore9346
    @perrywmoore9346 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Roborally is the best game, and you have a very good version. Respect.

  • @KootFloris
    @KootFloris 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Kill or be killed is very American movie concept. I can advice everyone to (re)watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In this movie almost all fights are dialogue: "Let me teach you!" slash. "Oh, yeah, are you good enough?" slash. Or introduce cowardly minions who just joined the leader, for some income, and who run easily when their lives are at stake. Now will the players kill them all anyway? Then later let them meer their mothers, who cry over their sons bad choices. Such meetings may make players reconsider killing sprees, because, hey, 'it looks cool in a game'.

  • @r.h.3084
    @r.h.3084 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    #2 really depends on the type of group you're playing with. And not taking the time to talk to each person about what they expect from the game, which results in huge clashes in play styles, is the core reason why each group I've been a part of that fell apart didn't make it.

  • @noaharaldsson703
    @noaharaldsson703 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I can see that you have a great taste of boardgames

  • @akku4819
    @akku4819 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I know the basic rules and leave the specific ones to the players who need them.

  • @altosforteaquax5083
    @altosforteaquax5083 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    "You don't need to know the rules!" Ok, sure. Is that why I get looks when I don't know what to do?

  • @TheOnlyToblin
    @TheOnlyToblin 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I don't mind people looking up rules during gameplay, unless it's going to be exceptionally disruptive. So if I don't know a rule, I check it up quickly.

  • @cloudsora
    @cloudsora 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Btw the surrender or run away can ABSOLUTELY be used as a character building moment of morality because no, usually the "good" good guy doesn't execute the underling of the enemy after they accepted the surrender and questioned them. That's a much more grey or anti-hero style character and can definitely be used in way more interesting ways down the road.

  • @ryankeith8455
    @ryankeith8455 ปีที่แล้ว

    "Everybody should have a goal!"

  • @brycecoughlin3044
    @brycecoughlin3044 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    In the beginning of fantasy high, the entire cast misread the rules for Spirit Guardians or something like that, and it was over powered as hell
    But they all still had fun and rolled with it until they realized the real rule. Just have fun is my take away.

  • @mikhailchuev8715
    @mikhailchuev8715 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Like Yoda DMs must be. Educate willing players they should. Art of TTRPG pass on they will. Only ignorant players cast out shall be.

    • @TheSmart-CasualGamer
      @TheSmart-CasualGamer ปีที่แล้ว +1

      DMs should be like Yoda. You have to get into a fight with Christopher Lee.

  • @justinparry1621
    @justinparry1621 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    "You do not have to learn all the rules." Balm to my soul.

  • @kendiamond7852
    @kendiamond7852 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Sadly, it has been my experience that nearly every player I've seen is willing to fight to the death. I have DMed Monster/NPC Surrender several times but very rarely the opposite.

  • @sqoody7invegas625
    @sqoody7invegas625 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In future can videos , for example this video is chat 1.3, that are in a series....can the "1.3" be included in name of video, so things don't get confusing in the series of videos

  • @N0stalgicLeaf
    @N0stalgicLeaf 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Surrender or Run Away:
    I'm Overseer of a Fallout game and this is something I've been thinking about. I've had the party mostly fighting mutated beasts and insects and the occasional raider or cultist. In the games hardly anyone surrenders due to the nature of an apocalypse and scarcity and the grim existence of fighting to survive one moment to the next. Also video games and xp machine go brrrrrt. Most aspects of the Fallout world I'm trying to preserve because I just love it and the players love it, but there were always parts that I struggled to believe. Now that they are getting pretty tough and well equipped I'm trying to find better challenges than just monsters that might kill them. I also like the moral ambiguity of the games that is unfortunately often forced or only presented in a mediocre way. I think I can do better.

    • @DarthSears
      @DarthSears 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Incrementally increase difficulty, in my opinion. Go from beasts, to more Humanoids. When they outpace the Humanoids, give them the lesser Super Mutants. Then Mutants with Centaurs. And when they're outpacing those, give the Raiders some scavenged, cobbled-together power armor that has to be broken to kill the raider save for very specific targeting.
      Just general ideas from an actual Fallout game like that. You could also find arbitrary ways to disarm/weaken them, like making them unable to draw their weapons in certain locations, unless they want a gunfight with the local guard, and make the town hostile.

  • @Zand3rParkour
    @Zand3rParkour 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Quick feedback: I assume the occasional zooming in and out was done to add some visual variety, but I found it pretty distracting.

  • @PRGidaro
    @PRGidaro 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I believe that the gm is the one giving the place for the player characters to live in. They do not determine how the npc reacts to the characters or what the adventure actually entails. The players decide where to go and how they interact with the world. The world is run by the gm. I want players to take some license with what is happening in the gut they can't say "the king gives us the treasure map because that is what I want." The world has to live with or without the pc's. They will help mold the world into what they want through the adventure the gm creates.

  • @garrettwhite3922
    @garrettwhite3922 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My only problem with monsters surrendering is my players enjoy torturing and maiming anyone they catch

  • @oz_jones
    @oz_jones 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Our party fought a bunch of insane cultists. I gave the last one a chance to surrender, he declined. And then died.

  • @thegiantmimir4664
    @thegiantmimir4664 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    "Everybody should have a goal." I don't disagree about monsters and NPCs having goals - if they are intelligent at least. However, I know many players, particularly players new to a group, or shy players, or beginners, who would baulk at being asked for goals, plans, and a table expectation of character happiness/sadness in relation to achieving said goals. Starting games without a clear player character objective is not a bad thing. It's also, arguably, more realistic as I know plenty of folks in real life(tm) who are not strongly goal-orientated.
    Turning players away from a table (even as a hyperbolic hypothetical statement of opinion) for being uncertain about a character goal might result in a group of players who are all super-engaged and helps generate dramatic motivated action, but you may have just stopped someone from blossoming into an advocate for tabletop roleplay and learning skills, or just having fun being involved. Are you a Great GM because you only welcome players to your table/your game that already align with your idea of a Great Game?
    In my opinion, a Great GM should be able to accommodate playing styles that may not align with their own. Welcome players who may not yet have the skills or will to fully inhabit a goal-orientated character. TTRPGs can be a vehicle to help the player develop those skills, or simply because some people have fun just being a small part of everyone else's stories and get stressed when they are asked to engage further.
    If Better Stories are the overall objective, then drama may be increased by having every thinking actor having goals, but if Having Fun is the overall objective, I'm not sure "Everybody should have a goal" is worthy of a chest tattoo. Maybe a discreet badge?

    • @priestesslucy3299
      @priestesslucy3299 ปีที่แล้ว

      Isn't that where a Great GM contributes to helping the player find a goal for their character?
      Walk them through the character's backstory (helping make one in the first place if the player didn't have any ideas) and thinking through the sort of goals that might lead to.
      Of course remind the player that goals are only temporary, you only keep them until you fulfill them or replace them and it's always ok to replace your goals if something different inspires them.

  • @aschaff3995
    @aschaff3995 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Surrendering or running is fine to ask and say why don't dm's do it.. It's because players never take NPC's surrender they just kill them anyway.

  • @jyoh6764
    @jyoh6764 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Were you ever in Ealing on Sunday? Saw someone who looked incredibly like you yesterday but I was in the car so I couldn't ask

    • @HowtobeaGreatGM
      @HowtobeaGreatGM  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I live in Ealing :)

    • @jyoh6764
      @jyoh6764 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@HowtobeaGreatGM oh maybe it was you then! The person was talking to someone while walking through the highstreet

  • @PsychoWedge
    @PsychoWedge 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My players always complain if the enemies flee...

  • @jessemccarter7939
    @jessemccarter7939 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My players get mad when enemies run away or retreat.

  • @bigsarge2085
    @bigsarge2085 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

  • @mrgunn2726
    @mrgunn2726 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Guy Flanders, Crapeau de Belgique. Le Hi Didly oo Monsieur voisine. That will teach them to get your name correct.

  • @colbyboucher6391
    @colbyboucher6391 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    One thing about rules, and maybe you'll touch on this at some point, is that along with understanding the core system you should understand the narriative contract (an extension of the social contract.)
    The rules will give you some idea of the story they're trying to tell. Will your protagonists be normal people, action heroes, or practically demigods? How grounded is the world supposed to be? Is there a focus on long-term story lines or "dungeon crawls"? How common is magic in this world, if it exists at all?
    Because you can do pretty much anything by just understanding a core system... but that system probably skews towards a particular sort of game.

  • @MercuryA2000
    @MercuryA2000 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    My first thought for if your encounter is getting beaten too badly is to have it suddenly start fighting harder.
    If its a group of bandits and the team 1 shots the first one to get in range, (either surrender or) have one of the others yell "LARRY! We can't let that stand boys!" And silently give them all +1 AC and 15 bonus HP.
    If its a monster that is just getting bullied, have it stumble backwards and make a pained howl, before suddenly lunging forward with a panicked frenzy. Give it +3 to hit and damage so it at least gives you something to remember it by.
    +100 EXP
    Total: 250 EXP

  • @sciverzero8197
    @sciverzero8197 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I feel like every time I click on one of these videos I'm slowly witnessing the radicalization of an ideology.

  • @SkullDixon
    @SkullDixon 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I wouldn't say that most RPG game systems follow a singular, similar thread. Not every game even uses the same dice. So your advice works if every game you running Like D&D. D20 game with AC, Classes, Levels, etc. If you start to run a new game that is not Like D&D, then yes you'll have to Learn the Rules. Knowing the rules for D&D won't help you run the new game. However, the rest of the advice is accurate nonetheless even if the game is not like D&D. You don't need to have a perfect memory as a GM to learn a game.
    As far as NPCs/Monster surrendering. I agree - but when it comes to D&D I think you'll find that the game style will cause the player to more likely kill monsters even if the monster surrenders or tries to flee. I guess you should think about it like this; Would the Players ever surrender or decide on their own to Flee combat? In my experience with D&D, players tend to never want to do this unless they are forced to.
    In Games like Runequest, characters Surrendering and Fleeing are normal possibilities. Its also a nice way to shorten combat.
    I'll also say that, I wouldn't boot someone from my table just because they didn't come with a goal for their character. Sometimes players like to develop goals for their characters when they have played the character for a bit - figuring out who this character is through play. Sometimes, they want the GM to give them one as well.

  • @jccusell
    @jccusell 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This would be a really funny video to do a sketch about. "How to be a great GM" and then 10 horrible examples acted out.

  • @alkl4502
    @alkl4502 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    While I enjoy the content I must say that the new camera movement is really off putting

  • @HowtobeaGreatGM
    @HowtobeaGreatGM  2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    *Thanks for watching!* Let us know in the comments below your thoughts on the ground rules for becoming a Great GM.
    Pre-order your copy of The Practical Guide to Becoming a Great GM here: bit.ly/3EDNbmK
    Find each chapter of the video easily by clicking on the timestamps in the description.

    • @priestesslucy3299
      @priestesslucy3299 ปีที่แล้ว

      What happened to Chapter 1.2 it's completely gone...