wow i was considering trying to dm again after a very bad experience and wanted some good advice. you answered my call COMPLETELY. your incredibly thorough and precise. your voice is very soothing and mentor-like as a very nice bonus :)
I just finished watching your series on 'How to be a Good Game Master', and I've got to say it's been an enjoyable watch. While you are more or less giving the same pieces of advice I have heard from most seasoned gamemasters, it never hurts to hear them twice - or thrice, especially when spoken with such eloquence and with such an obvious passion for the subject at hand. My thanks. I am looking forward to your future videos, and I hope that you will consider filming and uploading some of your live tabletop-sessions. Show us how you run a session. I am certain it will be a great learning experience.
Okay, first of all thank you for having not only a great picture, but audio! Second, this is incredibly helpful and has done much good for me as far as giving information and getting me to understand how to get started! Please keep up the good work!
Love this channel! As I was following along with the table rolls you were doing my immediate thoughts for each followed as such in vague detail, albeit a bit of a cookie cutter of a plot. Adventurers ordered to investigate repeated disappearances of citizens along (insert main road name here) Villain has been abducting common folk to use as sacrifice/fodder for his plot to appease someone/something to learn how to lift his curse Party discovers location Faced with formidable enemies for a change, the villain pretends to be an escaped victim and tries to lure the adventurers to their death. He didn’t count on procession of ghosts giving away his plans. He begs and truthfully explains that he needed to do horrible things in order to prevent some kind of even bigger bad thing and that he has something/knowledge of great value and importance, imperative to help save the world The someone/something he was trying to appease is angered at its foiled plans and attacks them all. Party must work together to defeat it/them Cavern collapses as a result Split decision to save the new Frenemy or not.
I absolutely LOVE your videos. You sir, have earned a subscriber. Please, please, PLEASE do more videos like these. If you do make more videos like these, be sure all the people I know that are beginning their DM careers will have heard of you. If you focused on 5th, that'd be even better!
Well this was so helpful. Especially the "someone what some thing badly, and have a hard time". I think my game will be better from just this simple thing! But in all Thank you!
As a GM that never really knows when or if he will have time to set up for the next session and like to throw a little random in the mix, not having control of all the side plots, I found your description or the generator quiet entertaining and motivating to take up the reins again and blow something out of the water... Keep it up ;)
This is a great video. Thank you very much for this! I've played D&D a couple times, but a different group of friends wants me to DM their first game ever... It's a lot of pressure, but I think this helped a lot. Thank you.
Me and my friends started playing D&D. there's only two of us with experience (me and the DM) and we decided we will switch back and forth from DM. this guide really helps! :)
+gurtana Many thanks and welcome to the table! I truly believe that anyone can become a great GM. They just need to practice and keep a level head! And of course watch, like and subscribe to all my videos :p
+John White Welcome to the table! Glad to have been able to help make your games a bit better! if you have any questions please go ahead and ask them - we love hearing them!
One of the things I missed from the 1st Edition AD&D DMG was the random dungeon generator. I love that they brought it back, but in a more well-rounded way so that it's not just hack 'n slash random monsters, but story arc enabling as well.
Hey- NEW GM/DM Here. Can't find anywhere to get a copy of the guides- so I'll be watching your channel for awhile, if you don't mind my hanging around ;)
the only part that didn't seem to fit was the ghosts, I thought discovery of a fallen temple in the dungeon and having to make contact with them some how. first time i've been to your channel but im impressed, you do a good video :)
With the twist at the end, I would make it that the players have obtained the information or the artifact that helps the villain relieve their curse. They discover the villain is evil and what they are planning. Then something happens in the dungeon that is keyed specifically that only the villain can get everyone out. Then there is a trade off, give me the plot item and I'll save your life.
It's a great idea. Just a note to consider: Trade-offs with such gravity can sometimes backfire - the party can choose the noble heroic death a lot easier than in real life, because they can claim a moral victory and just start new PC's. It is however a great opportunity for role-play, deceptions, and double crosses.
How to be a Great Game Master You think of the things I don't. However if they're willing to give up their hard worked PCs just to stop a villain from fixing their curse then they probably don't like their PCs that much. My players usually set themselves as the priority though. Maybe I should make a "95% chance you'll die for the peoples salvation" choice to test them.
Staring at 1:00 you begin the "roll the d20" and whatever you roll = a thing(trolls, lich, goblin) I was wondering if you have a template for this? I only have the dnd 4e set of books and I don't think its in there. I was really hoping to use it, as being able to roll and generate a story just like that is really good for fleshing out the world!
+Alchemical Games also, if there isn't a template online, could you take a picture of the pages in the book and either upload or send them to me? Your videos are so amazing and helpful, and they really inspire me to really start my own campaign, that's why I want the generator so bad! :3
+Alchemical Games Hey I'd love to but that's all in the 5th Ed book - so I'd suggest to pick up a copy of it. The whole tutorial is on the 5th Ed book which in my opinion is much better than 4th Edition anyway :)
So before setting a game from another universe into an existing system I look and see if there is a roleplaying system out there already. For example Lone Wolf is really just a fantasy setting and DnD would work well as a game system. However the Lonewolf RPG system is amazing and brings it's own flavour to the world. So unless there is NO system designed for the setting you want to run, only then do I turn to existing systems and do a home-mod. I've done that for Star Trek a couple of times, and for my own Sci-Fi systems - at least until I found D20 Modern and Sci-fi.
"Dungeon, wilderness or somewhere else. It's pretty specific." Really? I honestly was thinking the third option would be urban/village environment. I ran second and third edition for many years and nowadays I hate idea of leveling and having to choose adventures and challenges by level (yeah, I'm one of those guys that run modules but I modify them and adapt). Watching your videos makes me want to check this out again and convince myself that it's still worth playing. I always liked any kind of generators and listening to this episode makes me thing it would be easily adaptable to use with Call of Cthulhu (my weapon of choice).
The best option to get players into the dungeon is not to "promise them a lot of cash." That's boring and feels forced. Figure out a hook. Make them want to go into the dungeon.
So don't. The tables aren't strictly necessary. They're there to help you if you're struggling to come up with ideas yourself. You don't even have to actually roll on them to use them - just look through the list and if you see something you like that sparks your imagination, go with that. Heck, you can even use more than one entry from the same table if you like. It's not like all of the presented scenarios are absolutely exclusive.
Yea I just started DMing my little brother by doing something easy like a Zombie apocalypse, and my friend is helping me. Hes a great DM better than this guy talking on my screen.
wow i was considering trying to dm again after a very bad experience and wanted some good advice. you answered my call COMPLETELY. your incredibly thorough and precise. your voice is very soothing and mentor-like as a very nice bonus :)
+Dwarven Gamer Glad I could help... sooth :) Let us know how it goes!
I just finished watching your series on 'How to be a Good Game Master', and I've got to say it's been an enjoyable watch. While you are more or less giving the same pieces of advice I have heard from most seasoned gamemasters, it never hurts to hear them twice - or thrice, especially when spoken with such eloquence and with such an obvious passion for the subject at hand. My thanks.
I am looking forward to your future videos, and I hope that you will consider filming and uploading some of your live tabletop-sessions. Show us how you run a session. I am certain it will be a great learning experience.
Okay, first of all thank you for having not only a great picture, but audio! Second, this is incredibly helpful and has done much good for me as far as giving information and getting me to understand how to get started! Please keep up the good work!
Welcome to the table! Glad to be of help!
Excellent! I love your videos very informative and clear.
Love this channel!
As I was following along with the table rolls you were doing my immediate thoughts for each followed as such in vague detail, albeit a bit of a cookie cutter of a plot.
Adventurers ordered to investigate repeated disappearances of citizens along (insert main road name here)
Villain has been abducting common folk to use as sacrifice/fodder for his plot to appease someone/something to learn how to lift his curse
Party discovers location
Faced with formidable enemies for a change, the villain pretends to be an escaped victim and tries to lure the adventurers to their death.
He didn’t count on procession of ghosts giving away his plans.
He begs and truthfully explains that he needed to do horrible things in order to prevent some kind of even bigger bad thing and that he has something/knowledge of great value and importance, imperative to help save the world
The someone/something he was trying to appease is angered at its foiled plans and attacks them all.
Party must work together to defeat it/them
Cavern collapses as a result
Split decision to save the new Frenemy or not.
I absolutely LOVE your videos. You sir, have earned a subscriber. Please, please, PLEASE do more videos like these. If you do make more videos like these, be sure all the people I know that are beginning their DM careers will have heard of you. If you focused on 5th, that'd be even better!
Liked how you kept previously selected options on the screen-very cool!
Well this was so helpful. Especially the "someone what some thing badly, and have a hard time". I think my game will be better from just this simple thing! But in all Thank you!
I hope so! Let me know how your games go!
As a GM that never really knows when or if he will have time to set up for the next session and like to throw a little random in the mix, not having control of all the side plots, I found your description or the generator quiet entertaining and motivating to take up the reins again and blow something out of the water... Keep it up ;)
Thanks for posting these videos, the have helped me out a lot! Looking forward to the next one!!
Yet another great video. I always learn something from your videos. Great work. Keep 'em commin '!
Wow this was fantastic! Thank you!
Thank you a TH-cam video that explains GM stuff step by step.
+Hollow Cat Thank you, we try. Any suggestions on what you'd like to see more of?
+How to be a Great Game Master something along the lines of spell casting for all of the classes perhaps?
Hey Hollow Cat - I think that's a super cool idea! Will add it to the list of videos to make!
+How to be a Great Game Master Thank you
Let's see the dice rolls.
great video, my one very small critique would be mentioning the pages the tables and such are found on.
This is a great video. Thank you very much for this! I've played D&D a couple times, but a different group of friends wants me to DM their first game ever... It's a lot of pressure, but I think this helped a lot. Thank you.
+YAOES That's awesome! Let us know how it goes! Good luck!
"DON'T DISMISS THE CRAZY" yep. yep thats how ya do it
+Tiana Nichols Never dismiss the crazy hahahhaa
How to be a Great Game Master if you dismiss the crazy then nothing fun ever happens :D
Me and my friends started playing D&D. there's only two of us with experience (me and the DM) and we decided we will switch back and forth from DM. this guide really helps! :)
That's awesome! I hope you guys have a lot of fun and that these videos will help in some small way!
This is an excellent video and I am impressed with your videos and the advice contained within. It would be great to have you as a GM.
+gurtana Many thanks and welcome to the table! I truly believe that anyone can become a great GM. They just need to practice and keep a level head! And of course watch, like and subscribe to all my videos :p
just came across your channel. just awesome as a new GM it's helpful in making my games better
+John White Welcome to the table! Glad to have been able to help make your games a bit better! if you have any questions please go ahead and ask them - we love hearing them!
One of the things I missed from the 1st Edition AD&D DMG was the random dungeon generator. I love that they brought it back, but in a more well-rounded way so that it's not just hack 'n slash random monsters, but story arc enabling as well.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Glad you found it so!
Guide to guide, love it
Hey- NEW GM/DM Here. Can't find anywhere to get a copy of the guides- so I'll be watching your channel for awhile, if you don't mind my hanging around ;)
very instructive and helpful videos thanks:)
Many thanks! Welcome to the table!
the only part that didn't seem to fit was the ghosts, I thought discovery of a fallen temple in the dungeon and having to make contact with them some how.
first time i've been to your channel but im impressed, you do a good video :)
It's kind of crazy how well this system works.
thank you so much
Wish this man was my DM!
thank you but I'm sure you can be a better DM!
Fantastic video!
Thank you!
Great video!!
Great content.
I'm lucky in that my players like having NPCs giving them jobs. It has saved a lot of headaches with trying to come up with motivations.
You are indeed lucky, because a few players often avoid those kinda quests for some reason :)
thanks for the help
Reminded me of the plot "An American Werewolf in London" especially at the "progression of ghosts". ;) nice RNG mate.
RNG? Is that the one with Michael J Fox?
haha...nope. RNG: Random Number Generator. Meaning you got great die rolls to make "An American Werewolf in London" the campaign
It shall be filled as soon as I can find it! Hate gaps in my '80's' horror movie knowledge! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Thanks!
:)
"Don't Dismiss The Crazy." I want this stitched on a pillow.
With the twist at the end, I would make it that the players have obtained the information or the artifact that helps the villain relieve their curse. They discover the villain is evil and what they are planning. Then something happens in the dungeon that is keyed specifically that only the villain can get everyone out. Then there is a trade off, give me the plot item and I'll save your life.
It's a great idea. Just a note to consider: Trade-offs with such gravity can sometimes backfire - the party can choose the noble heroic death a lot easier than in real life, because they can claim a moral victory and just start new PC's. It is however a great opportunity for role-play, deceptions, and double crosses.
How to be a Great Game Master You think of the things I don't. However if they're willing to give up their hard worked PCs just to stop a villain from fixing their curse then they probably don't like their PCs that much. My players usually set themselves as the priority though. Maybe I should make a "95% chance you'll die for the peoples salvation" choice to test them.
Did anybody else instantly think "Lycanthrope Curse" as the video progressed?
I think it would be fun to play in your campaign, you seem like a good GM.
I'm at about 8:15
It remembers me An american werewolf in London so far :D
Man, this is the RP authoring Good Stuff!
Glad you like it!
Staring at 1:00 you begin the "roll the d20" and whatever you roll = a thing(trolls, lich, goblin)
I was wondering if you have a template for this? I only have the dnd 4e set of books and I don't think its in there.
I was really hoping to use it, as being able to roll and generate a story just like that is really good for fleshing out the world!
+Alchemical Games also, if there isn't a template online, could you take a picture of the pages in the book and either upload or send them to me?
Your videos are so amazing and helpful, and they really inspire me to really start my own campaign, that's why I want the generator so bad! :3
+Alchemical Games Hey I'd love to but that's all in the 5th Ed book - so I'd suggest to pick up a copy of it. The whole tutorial is on the 5th Ed book which in my opinion is much better than 4th Edition anyway :)
+How to be a Great Game Master thank you sir :)
Fantastic. What are your thoughts on creating a game based on an already established universe i.e. Star Wars dnd or Justice League dnd
So before setting a game from another universe into an existing system I look and see if there is a roleplaying system out there already. For example Lone Wolf is really just a fantasy setting and DnD would work well as a game system. However the Lonewolf RPG system is amazing and brings it's own flavour to the world. So unless there is NO system designed for the setting you want to run, only then do I turn to existing systems and do a home-mod. I've done that for Star Trek a couple of times, and for my own Sci-Fi systems - at least until I found D20 Modern and Sci-fi.
what page is all this on?
Lefty! I knew it.
"Dungeon, wilderness or somewhere else. It's pretty specific." Really? I honestly was thinking the third option would be urban/village environment. I ran second and third edition for many years and nowadays I hate idea of leveling and having to choose adventures and challenges by level (yeah, I'm one of those guys that run modules but I modify them and adapt). Watching your videos makes me want to check this out again and convince myself that it's still worth playing. I always liked any kind of generators and listening to this episode makes me thing it would be easily adaptable to use with Call of Cthulhu (my weapon of choice).
Notice how the Dice Rolls are hidden.
Woah
The best option to get players into the dungeon is not to "promise them a lot of cash." That's boring and feels forced. Figure out a hook. Make them want to go into the dungeon.
What page is this generator?
+Mathieu Poulin I think it starts on page 73 (where you get to choose dungeon, wilderness or something else)
Citing page numbers would help this instructional video.
i cant find the correct page?
Which page?
The page which you start generating the adventure.
idk if this is just me but i hate picking villains by rolling a die.
So don't. The tables aren't strictly necessary. They're there to help you if you're struggling to come up with ideas yourself. You don't even have to actually roll on them to use them - just look through the list and if you see something you like that sparks your imagination, go with that. Heck, you can even use more than one entry from the same table if you like. It's not like all of the presented scenarios are absolutely exclusive.
Yea I just started DMing my little brother by doing something easy like a Zombie apocalypse, and my friend is helping me. Hes a great DM better than this guy talking on my screen.
Please ask him to join the channel then so he can share and help us all improve!
How to be a Great Game Master Hmm, not so sure atm.
I really wanna be a good DM.
The easiest way is to learn from everyone and play in different games. Also just try and you'll get better. I am sure your friend is of great help.
'The girl turns out to be a boy' would not be a twist in my stories, it's just expected by this point.
Novel Twist: She was a girl all along and people treat trans women with actual respect for once and don't misgender them.
Wow this video is old.
title.exe has crashed
Great video!
Thank you.