D&D isn't about winning like some convoluted board game. It's a game of Imagination. Problem solving. Improv. Character building. Teamwork. Social skills. Magic. Bravery. Sacrifice. Friendship. Love. I truly believe this game needs to be in every household. Every school. Every hospital.
Exactly. Why make it about what you can or can't do when you can allow people to just be whoever they want, y'know? There's a reason even the DMG says "don't let the Rules limit your creativity". Some of the best moments come from things that aren't even in the Book, and that's all the motivation I need to keep playing. It's a Game about imagination and being creative. I'm glad you see this Game the same way I do without any of the difficult to remember Rules getting in the way.
There absolutely is a way to win D&D. It ain't when you kill a BBEG or complete that one quest that took a few too many sessions. It's when you're truly able to forget about everything else and enjoy a collective story that you and your closest friends create. That's winning right there and there's no better feeling.
I love this so much. What a great perspective! There really is no better feeling. Imagine being in a campaign for 2 years. In the shoes of these characters. You’ve climbed the top of the tower. To fight one last battle that will decide the fate of the world. And winning that? No better feeling
Very well done video. DND was and is more than a game to me. It initially was a novelty, it then became a social event. It then became a lifeline. Helping with social anxiety and lonliness as i am an only child. It gave me friends that i normally would not have seeked out. Now it is still my escape from the trials of life. Even if i am not playing, i can sit down with my game books, my campaign binder and read and draw dungeons and creatures, escape. To that end i am in debt to the creators of this social experiment called DND that has become more than a hobby for many. Cheers Keep em rollin
@@Thomas.R.Howell i was away from the hobby for waaay too long 92 until 2020, when i came back my ind was blown with how the hobby has grown. to that end i didnt really get great game vibes from 5e so, for some reason, i wrote my own game. Very simple but my table has fun, and thats the point. Cheers Keep 'em Rollin'
Couldn't have said it better man. As a life long nerd, so many core memories involve D&D. It really is my true escape and is an important part of who I am. Great work on this video!
I'm shy so quick decisions and improv are not exactly easy for me. Even so I had such a great time playing D&D and made awesome memories. With the right group of friends is possible to create a safe space for expression and creativity to come out. I especially enjoyed working on my character, figuring out the backstory, the looks, the personality. The story and little group of heroes we created together almost feel like something that happened or a movie that I watched a long time ago and really love to remember about.
First off. Thank you for your channel. You have given me hope in the world I live in. With you Stephen king videos, I read my first King book because of you. 500 pages in less than a month, I am dyslexic so not easy task for me. The freedom to read just to read. The funny thing is I just bought the starter kit of D&D for my family. Never played before. Wasn’t allowed in our household as a kid. But excited to explore this world.
I'm so happy to hear this! I am genuinely happy I can encourage you. Having a more relaxed approach to reading I feel will bring much more joy than speed reading everything for the sake of it. I can't remember if you mentioned it before, but which King book are you reading? I've been ripping through Salem's Lot. I find King's writing style so easy to just breeze through. Love hearing that about the dnd starter kit. I am so excited for you to embark on the journey of D&D!
Similar situation for me regarding D&D. I was interested in D&D in my teens, but my parents wouldn’t allow it because they thought it was evil. So now I have two teenage kids of my own, and the boy (13) wants to learn to play. He doesn’t know anyone who plays, so we bought a starter set. Then as I started learning about it, I realized that to do this properly we probably need at least 4 people, and at least one of those people should probably know what they’re doing. I flirted with the idea of trying to fill the DM role, and watched some YT videos to try to educate myself on it, but it just seems kinda overwhelming to try to do this going in blind. I feel like I should at least observe a game so I can see what the flow is like. Thomas - Do you know of any good resources that would help with this?
Love hearing how you started. And I think it is awesome you’re getting your kids involved. The game goes beyond its rules and mechanics. It teaches social skills, improv, problem solving, team work, etc. So it’s a perfect game for young kids and teens! One thing I actually forgot to mention was how I got into D&D. I’ll save that for another video. But I got into it because of a podcast. The adventure zone podcast. Id recommend the very first campaign by them. Anything after that is truly a waste of time. But hearing them goof off and have fun with the game made me realize it wasn’t this convoluted and boring board game. Id also recommend the podcast: Not Another D&D podcast. Listen to their very first campaign. It’s brilliant. I think it paints a great picture of what dnd can be and it’s only 3 players and one dungeon master. I showed my friend the podcast and it literally got him playing the game the following week 😂 Critical Role is also something to look at….MAYBE. But I’d honestly steer clear of it. It’s less of a group of friends playing a game and more of a performance. It might teach new players false expectations.
I know it's like, your job and all, but the cinematography is always so great! You've really captured the early age of TH-cam as you've intended. Makes me want to try D&D for the first time! It also helps that I've just gotten into reading The Hobbit and LotR. I'm about 70 pages from the end of the Hobbit and have never read/seen the books/movies. Found The Name of the Wind for a $1 in a local thrift store and will have to find time to read that as well! Bought a bookshelf this weekend and a ton of books, and am more eager than ever to get into reading. Apologies for using your comments sections as a mini reading journal hahah, but I do truly owe it to your videos for having gotten me into reading for fun since a child reading Percy Jackson.
This makes me so happy. Stating your journey into reading is such a thrill ride! So happy I could help or encourage in any way. How are you liking the hobbit? Cannot wait for you to dive into Name of the Wind! And also the comment section is not mine. It’s for all of us. So please share your reading journey as much as you’d like!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I'm absolutely loving The Hobbit! Every chapter is it's own little adventure with a beginning, climax, and resolution, and there's not a moment where I feel bored reading it. I've encountered Smaug, so I'm at the beginning of the end unfortunately. The narration style is amazing; Tolkien will literally say "You'll find out what happens in the next chapter." or "That's a story for another time.", it's so easy to follow, but I've heard LotR is written slightly different. I'm a 5th grade social studies teacher, early 20s, and some of my students noticed I've been reading The Hobbit and throw in a 'I really liked the Hobbit!' or other comments my way. Even some fellow teachers have been talking about books with me, especially the English teacher of course. She's recommended The Giver and the other three books of that series and gave me copies of them to read and get back to her on. I feel I have a lot of motivation now, but also genuinely enjoy reading! I've gotten my girlfriend and mom on Goodreads, both of which are big Stephen King fans, so I picked up a copy of The Institute for us all to pass around and read. I love seeing the little check-ins on Goodreads from them each day, or they will message me "I read 40 pages! I'm 200 pages in!" stuff like that. My list of 'Want to Read's has been nonstop growing, but so has my interest of reading. Yesterday I discovered the term Tsundoku, which could be a potentially interesting topic for you to talk about! "The phenomenon of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them." I've heard buying books and reading books were two different hobbies, and I'm curious to see your take on that... as my bookshelf has grown tremendously with all this sci-fi, fantasy, Stephen King horror books that I wish to read, but am so locked into the world of Middle Earth for now. Thanks for letting me rant!
Almost 35 years of DMing and D&D is more magical than ever. It's litterally a gateway to another world. Becoming a hero there just to come back as a more effective person here. The best of what I am I owe to this game, no kidding. Nice video!
@@Thomas.R.Howell It was awesome! Thanks to playing the game with my friends in High School, I got inspired to write my first book; The Adventures of Prince Gabriel. I used one of the races we had in our campaign as a part of my book's realm of Overon; they're called Dragoons. They're kind of like the Dragonborn except they're humans blessed with draconic knowledge. After graduating in 2004, I went on to publish Prince Gabriel two years later
It's really funny as I've been loving your book related videos for ages and then suddenly this video came up! As a fellow player and lover of all things tabletop I loved this. :)
@@Thomas.R.Howell Good question - I'm currently loving Dungeon Crawler Carl after the recommendation! Just finished Happiness Falls by Angie Kim - that really stuck with me. For olde favourites: anything Jon Ronson, The Old Man and the Sea, Catcher in the Rye, and HP. As for TTRPGs: Blades in the Dark, The One Ring, and on two D&D 5E campaigns at the moment. (and honey heist of course)
I think my original comment didn’t go through. TTRPGS have been a huge part of my life for the past eight years (though I’ve only really dipped my toes into D&D 5E in the last three years). It’s such a joyful hobby that never fails to get my creative juices flowing. This was a great video that got to the core of what makes the hobby special!
Aww...That is a sweet homage. What is DND? Well I say that it is a classic fantasy game and the very firt RPG. That is DND in a nutshell. The video does a basic explanation of the DND experience. That is nice. It can also apply to other TTRPGs especially the fantasy ones. I am deep in the DND fandom. I am in the fandom of plenty of franchises. One thing that helps DND stand out is that creativity is normalized so much. Other fandoms have creativity there. Don't get me wrong. I have seen plenty of fan art and fan videos. I read some fan fics. However DND is where fan creativity is normalized and supported to a whole new level. I love it. I am fascinated by DMs, house rules and homebrew due to the creativity involved. Combing this with advanced reading and math makes DND a big workout for the brain. It is so fun and so stimulations. It is helpful to give links to help get one started. I give my own recomindateions. The only special equipment that is mandatory is a set of fancy dice. They are mainly sold in local game stores. I have also seen them sold in Barns and Nobles. Besides dice, one should have paper and pencil. That is about it for getting started. The whole grid and minitures thing is actually optional. It suits groups that want to focus on battle positions and tactics. I never seen Lego figures used, but more power to the Lego people. The DND website has the basic rules availiable for free. So one can try out the basic rules for free. The only real purchase needed a cheap set of fancy dice. If one likes this trial and wants to buy more, I recomand the 2024 Players Handbook. It recently came out. It is amazing. It starts with a well written explanation of the game. This is approachable to beginners, especially compared to the previous Players Handook. The book later includes a lot of cool features. There is a new Dungeon Master Guide and new Monster Manuel coming up. I look forward to that.
@@Thomas.R.Howell both. Last night one of the newest members of our crew took a stab at running a one-shot for myself and the other main DM in our group. It was really fun for the 2 main DMs to both be playing in the same campaign for once. Good times.
Great video, I recently became a Dungeon Master back in August so I could run a series of One Shots followed by a Campaign that takes place in the same homebrew setting for my friends that either hadn't played in years, were interested but haven't played or have never even though of playing before. Having been someone who came back from a long break to play an Eberron campaign (that just passed the 1 year mark a month ago), it really opened my eyes to how much joy this game brings me, my character Dox is honestly the greatest thing I have ever created and she changed my life in ways I could have never imagined. now my players who all are falling in love with the game as well. If any of my players see this comment, know all of you but Mugsley are not safe, you've been waned, love you all tho.
Nicely done. It's hard to explain what must be experienced. D&D is not your only option either. We live in a time of amazing options with topics and complexity levels to suit just about everyone. Science fiction, pul[p adventure, mystery, horror, or the pastoral calm of the more chill Miyazaki films. Its all out there to explore. In a very real sense, RPGs are about found family. The players of comrades in game can be comrades in life as well. There is something amazing about these ephemeral experiences which come to life because of the people at the table. I've played since middle school and now GM professionally from time to time. I love onboarding new players and seeing the RPG hobby "click" for them, especially for younger players. I hope anyone on the fence will take your advice and try, play at least once and see what this is about.
Ive never played d&d but ive thought about it. It looks like a fun experience where you can enjoy time with people and friends and be in a world where you keep thinking to want to be in one day. Thanks for this video and thanks also for finally getting into more fantasy books. Im reading the name of the wind for the first time and ive had it also in my radar for a time but you kickstarted it so thanks for that also and ill try to read more fantasy books because before i just procrastinated but im trying to get out of it because fantasy is my favorite genre.
We were able to convince some people to try it for the first time about a year and a half ago. Now it’s their primary social life and the thing they look forward to the most. These are fifty year olds with complicated lives, stressful jobs, and adult children. They made fun of us for asking at first. Now they’re on a group text thread contemplating whether or not the Druid should have Wildshaped into a Giant Toad and swallowed the Flameskull.
I started playing when I was fifteen (I'll be 40 next month). I still love the game today as much as I loved it back then. I have new friends to play with, but it's still just as fun, exciting, and enjoyable. I have taken on the roles of both player and DM, and I have just as much fun taking on either role. 😁
@@Thomas.R.Howell There were a lot fewer character types back in the day. I DM’d a group of my college friends around 1989 and things had r landed by then.
You play whatever rpg works for you! Sure there are other systems and even better systems out there than D&D. I think no matter the rpg you play, it’s the memories you make at the table that matter most!
Roleplaying is literally the best thing that's ever happened to me. We play DnD a few times a month, and honestly, as 30-somethings with next to no nearby friends.. It's an excuse to host some other adult couples at our house with frequency. I've roleplayed heavily since I was a teen -- but text-based online. (I actually met my husband in an online RP community lol). I've always wanted to try in-person RP with DnD and only recently started in the grand scope of things. And... I don't know, I've found I enjoy text-based RP a lot more. I'm not very charismatic or articulate in person and feel that via co-writing RP it's higher quality and more fun for me... more immersive. That’s just me though, I know different styles of RP suit different people. RP in any capacity is better than none at all, and I agree that everyone should experience what it's like to get truly immersed in a collaborative story!
That's awesome! DnD is a wonderful way to get people together once or twice a month. The roleplaying aspect for me is such a joy. I am usually the forever Dungeon Master and have to wear many hats. Voice and act as many characters in the world. I used to be an aspiring actor when I was young, so the role-play and improv aspect of this game is truly a blessing.
@Thomas.R.Howell Ahh yes that makes sense! Being an aspiring actor and having interest in that type of creative play is perfect for the DnD DM role 100%. I've always been more talented as a writer; been a lead story-teller in that capacity for a long time... then felt frustrated trying to DM DnD when I'd write/design characters n scenarios then not have the skillset to actually perform them how I imagined. I stepped down as the DM because it ended up just causing me anxiety 😅 and my husband has been doing a much better job at it. Being a player has been fun too (though I secretly hoped I'd always be a forever DM as well haha).
@@Thomas.R.Howell Also, feel free to hmu if you wanna have a go at writing RP! It's kind of a good bridge at going from being used to collaborative storytelling, to writing more intensive prose without being as intimidating as a huge solo project like a novel haha. At least it is for me. Though I'm in the early stages of working on my first novel now 😅 but always down to write RP
While every one is familiar with Warhammer table top war games they also put out a D&D like role playing game called Warhammer fantasy role paly. Published by a cubicle 7. also known as WFRP for short. Its more grim and gritty then D&D but at the same time has this whimsical madness about it that makes it just a joy to read the books and paly the game. If you were to check out one book, they put out The Bestiary would be the one. Its written entirely in world and has a great little story woven through out it, at the same time presenting you with all the rules and information about the many monsters and creatures in the world. The starter kit is also only like 30-40 bucks and has some trimmed down rules pre made characters , several quests, loads of lore and information about one area in the empire and is enough to get you started. Before you commit to buying to big core rule book. check it out.
Though I might not try the Warhammer game just because I am a D&D purist lol, I would love to play that new Warhammer video game! Also Henry Cavill is a massive Warhammer fan!
I played it a couple of times online during the pandemic before those groups broke up (like 2 or 3 sessions top each group), I love most of the video game adaptations of it. I'd love to play in person but my biggest problems are finding a dm to do it and finding friends who will play (although I've recently partially solved this last one)
Even if getting a big group of players is an issue, one thing I have noticed that has made me appreciate the game even more is: one on one campaigns. Just you and someone else. One DM. One player. The whole game changes. It's more intimate. Choices are that much more meaningful and impactful. It's a very profound and comforting way to play the game of DnD. I'd love to run a campaign with just my wife one of these days. You should give one on one dnd a shot!
Problems finding a DM? No problem....its not that hard just do it yourself! I enjoy playing asa DM more than as a player by now. Had friends that wanted to play but nobody wanted to check the rules or organize a game and we had no experienced DM nearby. Just dive into it. First rule of DND is the DM is making the rules and the goal is having fun not entertain the players or writing epic fantasy novels to play along. Good luck
I LOVE DMing. I love sharing what I’ve created with my friends and just seeing what they do what choices they make and how we together can make something together!
D&D is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I got involved when it was only 2 (Friday, February 11th, 1977 to be exact). So, I will celebrate my 48th anniversary playing fairly soon. I was a shy kid, barely graduating high school because they weren't teaching me the way I needed to learn. I thought I was dumb and had few prospects or plans for life. Finding D&D was a fluke of chance. It literally saved my life. I have learned so much while playing - not just the math stuff (though that's been a boon). History, economics, religion, politics, meteorology, mythology, small unit tactics... The list is far too long to quantify. I've made lifelong friends. I'm 67 now. I'm married with 3 adult children (who all play). I'm retired from civil service work in the criminal justice field. I've published one book and am writing another. The wealth of experience, about life and so much more, that came from that 'game' has made me who and what I am. Thank you D&D.
I’ve been wanting to play, especially recently. But I don’t really have a group to play with. I have some friends who I play MTG with, but our schedules are always very inconsistent. My family isn’t interested in these kinds of games, and my parents wouldn’t approve anyway. Plus I’m always busy with something (I’m either working or building my business as an indie author). I’d love to play, but it’s not in the cards for me right now
@@Thomas.R.Howell that is true! Maybe I’ll just find one other friend to play with. Or I’ll check with my library and see if I can do something. Thank you!
Yes and no. I try to just keep it as minimal and relatable as possible. Everyone knows of stories and storytelling whether it be from books and movies etc. So I use that as my foundation when explaining it. I keep it under 60 seconds. I don’t mention Mechanics and rule books. I say it’s Collective Storytelling with dice rolls. A game of imagination, character building, teamwork. And let them ask questions if they wanted to know more. I think the best way to explain the game is just play it.
I agree! Best way to teach someone is just throw them in and teach them along the way. I feel like the more I talk to them about it the more they will get confused 😂
I think 40 pages is a great pace! But for me i don’t focus on the time or how many pages. If a story encapsulates me, then the page numbers don’t matter. Salems lot has been one of the few books where I’ve blown through pages and not realizing it! Very good book!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I read this in the early hours of the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I thought I kept hearing taps on my window and seeing a humanoid shape outside my window. 😂
I wished you would have said something about what differentiates dnd from other games. I read and played other games, OSRs, Pathfinder, Apocalypse, the odd, etc. But not dnd, because i cannot see the unique selling point of it.
I get that. But this video wasn't about other RPGs. Or even really about the mechanics of D&D. This videos main message is to show how special tabletop RPGs can be. I used DnD as the prime example due to it's popularity and due to my experience with it. This video is about the feelings you get while playing this game. The magic of it. The human aspect of it. Not the rules or mechanics. But the collective effort of it.
does it take a lot to be good at it? Or is experience not a hard requirement? I always wanted to play this as a kid, but in Venezuela people don't play it. And now that I'm in the US as an adult, making friends is hard lol, let alone people who like nerdy stuff, but who knows? Perhaps one day I'll find friends like those. Pretty hard in your 30s though lol
I mean it takes time with anything to get good at. But for dungeons and dragons it's about having fun. There are rules and mechanics and a core gameplay loop to learn and master but really it's about letting loose. Getting lost in a collaborative story with your friends. And if you have even one friend or loved one, that's all ya need to play!
If a GM denies Homebrew Races and Classes to "balance the Game", they're playing the Game incorrectly. D&D is more than just Stats and Number Crunching. It's a Story we all experience together, and foreign Classes and Races that are unknown to us are apart of that. What mysteries do they hold and how could one control the powers of these new Classes or befriend these never before seen Races? It's interesting to say the least.
06:30 "There's nothing like it out there..." - but there is. D&D is probably the best known RPG but there is a ton of others, covering all sorts of genres to cater for so many tastes, complexity of rules, and styles of play.
I absolutely agree. There are plenty of RPGs out there. Many of which have better mechanics Than D&D. But this video isn't about that. it's about what D&D means. It goes beyond the rules/mechanics. It's about the impact the game of D&D can have on an individual. A group of friends. A family.
@@Thomas.R.Howell Sure. It's a good video in that regard. I completely agree. But that statement wasn't true. You can get that same feeling with other games. Games that are a lot easier to pick and play than D&D 5e. Games that even more narratively focused for those that like purer storytelling, or those that have more complex mechanics where people want the dice to do more of the narration through simulation.
@@Bryan-qz4np you think? Where do I play it? Do I need an X Box or something? I have to admit, I'm a little intrigued after watching your video. It's D&D or bridge.
D&D isn't about winning like some convoluted board game. It's a game of Imagination. Problem solving. Improv. Character building. Teamwork. Social skills. Magic. Bravery. Sacrifice. Friendship. Love.
I truly believe this game needs to be in every household. Every school. Every hospital.
Exactly. Why make it about what you can or can't do when you can allow people to just be whoever they want, y'know?
There's a reason even the DMG says "don't let the Rules limit your creativity". Some of the best moments come from things that aren't even in the Book, and that's all the motivation I need to keep playing. It's a Game about imagination and being creative. I'm glad you see this Game the same way I do without any of the difficult to remember Rules getting in the way.
There absolutely is a way to win D&D. It ain't when you kill a BBEG or complete that one quest that took a few too many sessions. It's when you're truly able to forget about everything else and enjoy a collective story that you and your closest friends create. That's winning right there and there's no better feeling.
I love this so much. What a great perspective! There really is no better feeling.
Imagine being in a campaign for 2 years. In the shoes of these characters. You’ve climbed the top of the tower. To fight one last battle that will decide the fate of the world. And winning that? No better feeling
Very well done video. DND was and is more than a game to me. It initially was a novelty, it then became a social event. It then became a lifeline. Helping with social anxiety and lonliness as i am an only child. It gave me friends that i normally would not have seeked out.
Now it is still my escape from the trials of life. Even if i am not playing, i can sit down with my game books, my campaign binder and read and draw dungeons and creatures, escape. To that end i am in debt to the creators of this social experiment called DND that has become more than a hobby for many.
Cheers
Keep em rollin
Keep em rollin!
It's a blast being a dungeon master. I can play the game whenever I want. Get lost in the many tomes and write any ideas and concepts I have!
@@Thomas.R.Howell i was away from the hobby for waaay too long 92 until 2020, when i came back my ind was blown with how the hobby has grown. to that end i didnt really get great game vibes from 5e so, for some reason, i wrote my own game. Very simple but my table has fun, and thats the point. Cheers Keep 'em Rollin'
DnD is like creating Lord of the ring memes but with characters and storys you created with your friends in an impro class XD
Hahaha and don’t forget Monty python
@@Thomas.R.Howell only a scratch 😂
If you think a Star Trek holodeck would be cool, this is a verbal holodeck.
Couldn't have said it better man. As a life long nerd, so many core memories involve D&D. It really is my true escape and is an important part of who I am. Great work on this video!
Yes! Thank you for watching!
I'm shy so quick decisions and improv are not exactly easy for me. Even so I had such a great time playing D&D and made awesome memories. With the right group of friends is possible to create a safe space for expression and creativity to come out. I especially enjoyed working on my character, figuring out the backstory, the looks, the personality. The story and little group of heroes we created together almost feel like something that happened or a movie that I watched a long time ago and really love to remember about.
First off. Thank you for your channel. You have given me hope in the world I live in. With you Stephen king videos, I read my first King book because of you. 500 pages in less than a month, I am dyslexic so not easy task for me. The freedom to read just to read.
The funny thing is I just bought the starter kit of D&D for my family. Never played before. Wasn’t allowed in our household as a kid. But excited to explore this world.
I'm so happy to hear this! I am genuinely happy I can encourage you. Having a more relaxed approach to reading I feel will bring much more joy than speed reading everything for the sake of it. I can't remember if you mentioned it before, but which King book are you reading?
I've been ripping through Salem's Lot. I find King's writing style so easy to just breeze through.
Love hearing that about the dnd starter kit. I am so excited for you to embark on the journey of D&D!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I just finished Mr. Mercedes. What a great read.
Similar situation for me regarding D&D. I was interested in D&D in my teens, but my parents wouldn’t allow it because they thought it was evil. So now I have two teenage kids of my own, and the boy (13) wants to learn to play. He doesn’t know anyone who plays, so we bought a starter set. Then as I started learning about it, I realized that to do this properly we probably need at least 4 people, and at least one of those people should probably know what they’re doing. I flirted with the idea of trying to fill the DM role, and watched some YT videos to try to educate myself on it, but it just seems kinda overwhelming to try to do this going in blind. I feel like I should at least observe a game so I can see what the flow is like.
Thomas - Do you know of any good resources that would help with this?
Such a great read!
Love hearing how you started. And I think it is awesome you’re getting your kids involved. The game goes beyond its rules and mechanics. It teaches social skills, improv, problem solving, team work, etc. So it’s a perfect game for young kids and teens!
One thing I actually forgot to mention was how I got into D&D. I’ll save that for another video. But I got into it because of a podcast. The adventure zone podcast. Id recommend the very first campaign by them. Anything after that is truly a waste of time. But hearing them goof off and have fun with the game made me realize it wasn’t this convoluted and boring board game.
Id also recommend the podcast: Not Another D&D podcast. Listen to their very first campaign. It’s brilliant. I think it paints a great picture of what dnd can be and it’s only 3 players and one dungeon master. I showed my friend the podcast and it literally got him playing the game the following week 😂
Critical Role is also something to look at….MAYBE. But I’d honestly steer clear of it. It’s less of a group of friends playing a game and more of a performance. It might teach new players false expectations.
I know it's like, your job and all, but the cinematography is always so great! You've really captured the early age of TH-cam as you've intended. Makes me want to try D&D for the first time! It also helps that I've just gotten into reading The Hobbit and LotR. I'm about 70 pages from the end of the Hobbit and have never read/seen the books/movies. Found The Name of the Wind for a $1 in a local thrift store and will have to find time to read that as well! Bought a bookshelf this weekend and a ton of books, and am more eager than ever to get into reading.
Apologies for using your comments sections as a mini reading journal hahah, but I do truly owe it to your videos for having gotten me into reading for fun since a child reading Percy Jackson.
This makes me so happy. Stating your journey into reading is such a thrill ride!
So happy I could help or encourage in any way. How are you liking the hobbit? Cannot wait for you to dive into Name of the Wind!
And also the comment section is not mine. It’s for all of us. So please share your reading journey as much as you’d like!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I'm absolutely loving The Hobbit! Every chapter is it's own little adventure with a beginning, climax, and resolution, and there's not a moment where I feel bored reading it. I've encountered Smaug, so I'm at the beginning of the end unfortunately. The narration style is amazing; Tolkien will literally say "You'll find out what happens in the next chapter." or "That's a story for another time.", it's so easy to follow, but I've heard LotR is written slightly different.
I'm a 5th grade social studies teacher, early 20s, and some of my students noticed I've been reading The Hobbit and throw in a 'I really liked the Hobbit!' or other comments my way. Even some fellow teachers have been talking about books with me, especially the English teacher of course. She's recommended The Giver and the other three books of that series and gave me copies of them to read and get back to her on. I feel I have a lot of motivation now, but also genuinely enjoy reading! I've gotten my girlfriend and mom on Goodreads, both of which are big Stephen King fans, so I picked up a copy of The Institute for us all to pass around and read. I love seeing the little check-ins on Goodreads from them each day, or they will message me "I read 40 pages! I'm 200 pages in!" stuff like that.
My list of 'Want to Read's has been nonstop growing, but so has my interest of reading. Yesterday I discovered the term Tsundoku, which could be a potentially interesting topic for you to talk about! "The phenomenon of acquiring reading materials but letting them pile up in one's home without reading them."
I've heard buying books and reading books were two different hobbies, and I'm curious to see your take on that... as my bookshelf has grown tremendously with all this sci-fi, fantasy, Stephen King horror books that I wish to read, but am so locked into the world of Middle Earth for now.
Thanks for letting me rant!
Almost 35 years of DMing and D&D is more magical than ever. It's litterally a gateway to another world. Becoming a hero there just to come back as a more effective person here. The best of what I am I owe to this game, no kidding. Nice video!
I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say here. Wow.
I have to say, you're becoming one of my absolute favourite TH-cam channels! thank you so much for making such simple and elegant content.
This means so much. More than you know. Thank you. This not only warms my heart but it is great encouragement.
I HAVE played D&D once...and I want to go play again
You should play again! What was it like the first time for you?
@@Thomas.R.Howell It was awesome!
Thanks to playing the game with my friends in High School, I got inspired to write my first book; The Adventures of Prince Gabriel.
I used one of the races we had in our campaign as a part of my book's realm of Overon; they're called Dragoons. They're kind of like the Dragonborn except they're humans blessed with draconic knowledge.
After graduating in 2004, I went on to publish Prince Gabriel two years later
It's really funny as I've been loving your book related videos for ages and then suddenly this video came up! As a fellow player and lover of all things tabletop I loved this. :)
What a welcomed surprise! Thank you!
What are some of your favorite books?? And also what are your favorite TTRPGs?
@@Thomas.R.Howell Good question - I'm currently loving Dungeon Crawler Carl after the recommendation!
Just finished Happiness Falls by Angie Kim - that really stuck with me. For olde favourites: anything Jon Ronson, The Old Man and the Sea, Catcher in the Rye, and HP. As for TTRPGs: Blades in the Dark, The One Ring, and on two D&D 5E campaigns at the moment. (and honey heist of course)
I think my original comment didn’t go through.
TTRPGS have been a huge part of my life for the past eight years (though I’ve only really dipped my toes into D&D 5E in the last three years). It’s such a joyful hobby that never fails to get my creative juices flowing. This was a great video that got to the core of what makes the hobby special!
Aww...That is a sweet homage. What is DND? Well I say that it is a classic fantasy game and the very firt RPG. That is DND in a nutshell. The video does a basic explanation of the DND experience. That is nice. It can also apply to other TTRPGs especially the fantasy ones. I am deep in the DND fandom. I am in the fandom of plenty of franchises. One thing that helps DND stand out is that creativity is normalized so much. Other fandoms have creativity there. Don't get me wrong. I have seen plenty of fan art and fan videos. I read some fan fics. However DND is where fan creativity is normalized and supported to a whole new level. I love it. I am fascinated by DMs, house rules and homebrew due to the creativity involved. Combing this with advanced reading and math makes DND a big workout for the brain. It is so fun and so stimulations.
It is helpful to give links to help get one started. I give my own recomindateions. The only special equipment that is mandatory is a set of fancy dice. They are mainly sold in local game stores. I have also seen them sold in Barns and Nobles. Besides dice, one should have paper and pencil. That is about it for getting started. The whole grid and minitures thing is actually optional. It suits groups that want to focus on battle positions and tactics. I never seen Lego figures used, but more power to the Lego people. The DND website has the basic rules availiable for free. So one can try out the basic rules for free. The only real purchase needed a cheap set of fancy dice. If one likes this trial and wants to buy more, I recomand the 2024 Players Handbook. It recently came out. It is amazing. It starts with a well written explanation of the game. This is approachable to beginners, especially compared to the previous Players Handook. The book later includes a lot of cool features. There is a new Dungeon Master Guide and new Monster Manuel coming up. I look forward to that.
Been waiting for this one, Thomas! Just playing some D&D last night.
Love it! Are you a player or a DM??
@@Thomas.R.Howell both. Last night one of the newest members of our crew took a stab at running a one-shot for myself and the other main DM in our group. It was really fun for the 2 main DMs to both be playing in the same campaign for once. Good times.
@@Bryan-qz4np So cool. Seeing someone new step into the DM seat is a sight to behold.
Great video, I recently became a Dungeon Master back in August so I could run a series of One Shots followed by a Campaign that takes place in the same homebrew setting for my friends that either hadn't played in years, were interested but haven't played or have never even though of playing before. Having been someone who came back from a long break to play an Eberron campaign (that just passed the 1 year mark a month ago), it really opened my eyes to how much joy this game brings me, my character Dox is honestly the greatest thing I have ever created and she changed my life in ways I could have never imagined. now my players who all are falling in love with the game as well. If any of my players see this comment, know all of you but Mugsley are not safe, you've been waned, love you all tho.
Nicely done. It's hard to explain what must be experienced. D&D is not your only option either. We live in a time of amazing options with topics and complexity levels to suit just about everyone. Science fiction, pul[p adventure, mystery, horror, or the pastoral calm of the more chill Miyazaki films. Its all out there to explore. In a very real sense, RPGs are about found family. The players of comrades in game can be comrades in life as well. There is something amazing about these ephemeral experiences which come to life because of the people at the table.
I've played since middle school and now GM professionally from time to time. I love onboarding new players and seeing the RPG hobby "click" for them, especially for younger players. I hope anyone on the fence will take your advice and try, play at least once and see what this is about.
Ive never played d&d but ive thought about it. It looks like a fun experience where you can enjoy time with people and friends and be in a world where you keep thinking to want to be in one day. Thanks for this video and thanks also for finally getting into more fantasy books. Im reading the name of the wind for the first time and ive had it also in my radar for a time but you kickstarted it so thanks for that also and ill try to read more fantasy books because before i just procrastinated but im trying to get out of it because fantasy is my favorite genre.
This is a wonderful video! I miss my old group
me too 😭
We were able to convince some people to try it for the first time about a year and a half ago. Now it’s their primary social life and the thing they look forward to the most. These are fifty year olds with complicated lives, stressful jobs, and adult children. They made fun of us for asking at first. Now they’re on a group text thread contemplating whether or not the Druid should have Wildshaped into a Giant Toad and swallowed the Flameskull.
I started playing when I was fifteen (I'll be 40 next month). I still love the game today as much as I loved it back then. I have new friends to play with, but it's still just as fun, exciting, and enjoyable. I have taken on the roles of both player and DM, and I have just as much fun taking on either role. 😁
love to hear this! Which is your favorite role? And what has been one of your favorite/memorable characters you've made?
This invoked the feeling I had when I first played back in 1981. Been away from it for too long.
To play it in the 80s would've of been so surreal.
@@Thomas.R.Howell There were a lot fewer character types back in the day. I DM’d a group of my college friends around 1989 and things had r landed by then.
I tried DnD a few times but didn't really like it. I love games and TTRPG but playing cyberpunk red was so much nicer than D&D for me.
You play whatever rpg works for you! Sure there are other systems and even better systems out there than D&D. I think no matter the rpg you play, it’s the memories you make at the table that matter most!
Roleplaying is literally the best thing that's ever happened to me. We play DnD a few times a month, and honestly, as 30-somethings with next to no nearby friends.. It's an excuse to host some other adult couples at our house with frequency. I've roleplayed heavily since I was a teen -- but text-based online. (I actually met my husband in an online RP community lol). I've always wanted to try in-person RP with DnD and only recently started in the grand scope of things. And... I don't know, I've found I enjoy text-based RP a lot more. I'm not very charismatic or articulate in person and feel that via co-writing RP it's higher quality and more fun for me... more immersive. That’s just me though, I know different styles of RP suit different people. RP in any capacity is better than none at all, and I agree that everyone should experience what it's like to get truly immersed in a collaborative story!
That's awesome! DnD is a wonderful way to get people together once or twice a month.
The roleplaying aspect for me is such a joy. I am usually the forever Dungeon Master and have to wear many hats. Voice and act as many characters in the world. I used to be an aspiring actor when I was young, so the role-play and improv aspect of this game is truly a blessing.
@Thomas.R.Howell Ahh yes that makes sense! Being an aspiring actor and having interest in that type of creative play is perfect for the DnD DM role 100%. I've always been more talented as a writer; been a lead story-teller in that capacity for a long time... then felt frustrated trying to DM DnD when I'd write/design characters n scenarios then not have the skillset to actually perform them how I imagined. I stepped down as the DM because it ended up just causing me anxiety 😅 and my husband has been doing a much better job at it. Being a player has been fun too (though I secretly hoped I'd always be a forever DM as well haha).
@@Innokha love it! Isn't crazy how dnd also makes you a better writer? It's made me actually want to give writing a shot. Writing a book. So so cool.
@Thomas.R.Howell Yeah absolutely! There is room for any kind of creative endeavor to fit within the scope of DnD. It's s pretty awesome!
@@Thomas.R.Howell Also, feel free to hmu if you wanna have a go at writing RP! It's kind of a good bridge at going from being used to collaborative storytelling, to writing more intensive prose without being as intimidating as a huge solo project like a novel haha. At least it is for me. Though I'm in the early stages of working on my first novel now 😅 but always down to write RP
While every one is familiar with Warhammer table top war games they also put out a D&D like role playing game called Warhammer fantasy role paly. Published by a cubicle 7. also known as WFRP for short.
Its more grim and gritty then D&D but at the same time has this whimsical madness about it that makes it just a joy to read the books and paly the game.
If you were to check out one book, they put out The Bestiary would be the one. Its written entirely in world and has a great little story woven through out it, at the same time presenting you with all the rules and information about the many monsters and creatures in the world.
The starter kit is also only like 30-40 bucks and has some trimmed down rules pre made characters , several quests, loads of lore and information about one area in the empire and is enough to get you started. Before you commit to buying to big core rule book. check it out.
Though I might not try the Warhammer game just because I am a D&D purist lol, I would love to play that new Warhammer video game! Also Henry Cavill is a massive Warhammer fan!
I played it a couple of times online during the pandemic before those groups broke up (like 2 or 3 sessions top each group), I love most of the video game adaptations of it. I'd love to play in person but my biggest problems are finding a dm to do it and finding friends who will play (although I've recently partially solved this last one)
Even if getting a big group of players is an issue, one thing I have noticed that has made me appreciate the game even more is: one on one campaigns. Just you and someone else. One DM. One player. The whole game changes. It's more intimate. Choices are that much more meaningful and impactful. It's a very profound and comforting way to play the game of DnD.
I'd love to run a campaign with just my wife one of these days.
You should give one on one dnd a shot!
@@Thomas.R.Howell oh a big group is out of the question, at most it's me and 2 others assuming we find someone who has played enough to DM.
Problems finding a DM? No problem....its not that hard just do it yourself! I enjoy playing asa DM more than as a player by now. Had friends that wanted to play but nobody wanted to check the rules or organize a game and we had no experienced DM nearby. Just dive into it. First rule of DND is the DM is making the rules and the goal is having fun not entertain the players or writing epic fantasy novels to play along. Good luck
I LOVE DMing. I love sharing what I’ve created with my friends and just seeing what they do what choices they make and how we together can make something together!
D&D is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I got involved when it was only 2 (Friday, February 11th, 1977 to be exact). So, I will celebrate my 48th anniversary playing fairly soon.
I was a shy kid, barely graduating high school because they weren't teaching me the way I needed to learn. I thought I was dumb and had few prospects or plans for life.
Finding D&D was a fluke of chance. It literally saved my life. I have learned so much while playing - not just the math stuff (though that's been a boon). History, economics, religion, politics, meteorology, mythology, small unit tactics... The list is far too long to quantify.
I've made lifelong friends.
I'm 67 now. I'm married with 3 adult children (who all play). I'm retired from civil service work in the criminal justice field. I've published one book and am writing another.
The wealth of experience, about life and so much more, that came from that 'game' has made me who and what I am.
Thank you D&D.
YES! The experience we have with D&D is priceless and timeless. Thank you for sharing your story!
I’ve been wanting to play, especially recently. But I don’t really have a group to play with. I have some friends who I play MTG with, but our schedules are always very inconsistent. My family isn’t interested in these kinds of games, and my parents wouldn’t approve anyway. Plus I’m always busy with something (I’m either working or building my business as an indie author). I’d love to play, but it’s not in the cards for me right now
LOOOOVE MTG. Schedules are the bane of D&D lol and MTG. But what's awesome with both games, is all you need is you and someone else.
@@Thomas.R.Howell that is true! Maybe I’ll just find one other friend to play with. Or I’ll check with my library and see if I can do something. Thank you!
Still the hardest thing about dnd is explaining dnd.
Yes and no. I try to just keep it as minimal and relatable as possible. Everyone knows of stories and storytelling whether it be from books and movies etc. So I use that as my foundation when explaining it. I keep it under 60 seconds. I don’t mention Mechanics and rule books. I say it’s Collective Storytelling with dice rolls. A game of imagination, character building, teamwork. And let them ask questions if they wanted to know more. I think the best way to explain the game is just play it.
I always try to explain that it is collaborative storytelling, but often this is still too abstract.
I agree! Best way to teach someone is just throw them in and teach them along the way. I feel like the more I talk to them about it the more they will get confused 😂
I do have stage fright and love to play games but don't have anyone to play games with.
Do you play videogames or read any books??
Beautiful ❤
Thank you!
D&D is just a great game!
It’s pure magic
@@Thomas.R.Howell Nice Mug! cool design with the 'Mug' stats for dnd 😄
Archer might be old enough for his first session soon 🤔🤔
That is music to my ears! Id be honored to run him his very first adventure!
Nice video. Yep D&D is awesome!
Thank you! Yes it’s amazing!
What kinds of things play a part in reading quantity and speed? It took me over an hour to read about 40 pages…about an hour and 20 minutes.
I think 40 pages is a great pace!
But for me i don’t focus on the time or how many pages. If a story encapsulates me, then the page numbers don’t matter.
Salems lot has been one of the few books where I’ve blown through pages and not realizing it! Very good book!
@@Thomas.R.Howell I read this in the early hours of the morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I thought I kept hearing taps on my window and seeing a humanoid shape outside my window. 😂
Lol such a creepy book
Books? D&D? Yep, this is a good corner of the Internet
Glad you found my little corner of TH-cam!
I wished you would have said something about what differentiates dnd from other games. I read and played other games, OSRs, Pathfinder, Apocalypse, the odd, etc. But not dnd, because i cannot see the unique selling point of it.
I get that. But this video wasn't about other RPGs. Or even really about the mechanics of D&D. This videos main message is to show how special tabletop RPGs can be. I used DnD as the prime example due to it's popularity and due to my experience with it. This video is about the feelings you get while playing this game. The magic of it. The human aspect of it. Not the rules or mechanics. But the collective effort of it.
does it take a lot to be good at it? Or is experience not a hard requirement?
I always wanted to play this as a kid, but in Venezuela people don't play it. And now that I'm in the US as an adult, making friends is hard lol, let alone people who like nerdy stuff, but who knows? Perhaps one day I'll find friends like those. Pretty hard in your 30s though lol
I mean it takes time with anything to get good at. But for dungeons and dragons it's about having fun.
There are rules and mechanics and a core gameplay loop to learn and master but really it's about letting loose. Getting lost in a collaborative story with your friends. And if you have even one friend or loved one, that's all ya need to play!
If a GM denies Homebrew Races and Classes to "balance the Game", they're playing the Game incorrectly. D&D is more than just Stats and Number Crunching. It's a Story we all experience together, and foreign Classes and Races that are unknown to us are apart of that. What mysteries do they hold and how could one control the powers of these new Classes or befriend these never before seen Races? It's interesting to say the least.
06:30 "There's nothing like it out there..." - but there is. D&D is probably the best known RPG but there is a ton of others, covering all sorts of genres to cater for so many tastes, complexity of rules, and styles of play.
I absolutely agree. There are plenty of RPGs out there. Many of which have better mechanics Than D&D. But this video isn't about that. it's about what D&D means. It goes beyond the rules/mechanics. It's about the impact the game of D&D can have on an individual. A group of friends. A family.
@@Thomas.R.Howell Sure. It's a good video in that regard. I completely agree. But that statement wasn't true. You can get that same feeling with other games. Games that are a lot easier to pick and play than D&D 5e. Games that even more narratively focused for those that like purer storytelling, or those that have more complex mechanics where people want the dice to do more of the narration through simulation.
Nooooo! I'm too old for D & D😂😂😂
No one's too old for D&D!
@@Bryan-qz4np you think? Where do I play it? Do I need an X Box or something?
I have to admit, I'm a little intrigued after watching your video. It's D&D or bridge.
No one is ever too old to play D&D! :)
It’s not a video game it’s a game that uses pen and paper. Some funny shaped dice and your imagination!
@@TimeslipNovel more of a cribbage guy myself, but it's totally possible to play both D&D and bridge. Just depends on who's around to play with.