A nice fun, light-hearted tavern brawl to start the year off. Not bad. I am especially impressed with the voice work. Each one had a different accent, tone or personality. Well done.
How did I miss this yesterday? Way to go, TH-cam algorithm. I just clicked on Esper's page and there is a new video, despite his channel being one of the few to which I subscribe. Love the content, Esper! Both your Monster Melee and Brotherhood videos make my day whenever I see them!
This was a great bout! It would be cool to see some kind of gladiatorial arena fight -- maybe a small team of gladiators vs. some kind of fearsome beast!
I was about to say "Wouldn't a mug also deal piercing damage because it'll shatter on impact?", but then it occurred to me that the mugs here are probably wood per the standards of the setting of D&D. I'm not even sure porcelain exists in this setting to be honest.
Porcelain is basically just a kind of pottery using much higher quality materials and techniques. I'm sure some people would have been able to figure out how to make it, but it would likely be very expensive and reserved for nobility.
I mean, both glass and porcelain existed before Middle Ages, and D&D is arguably an Explorers Era. But they were not mass produced until the XIX (or even XX? Not sure) century, so they aren't going to be in a filthy tavern to be used as an improvised weapons
I have no idea what's wrong with my message, but I wanted to say that they definitely have both glass and porcelain, but neither of those is affordable
Its no longer the holiday season, but i still think a traditional 4 way Gothic Literary matchup would be a great addition (Vampire, Mummy, Wearwolf, and Frankin...err... Flesh Golum) Maybe its a round robin matchup.
I hope Rashid joins the brotherhood. Unlikely, but maybe he's part of an adventurer group who are heading north to accept a bounty and find the brotherhood.
Really loved this idea, was more unique than the typical 1v1's! These sorts of things and the Brotherhood of Fjarlstead are always inspiring. I think some good ones could be: - Frost Giant hunting party vs Ancient White Dragon - Thugs and Bandits vs Guards, maybe a prison break, caravan ambush, or village raid scenario. - Orc War Band vs Hobgoblins
This series is the best D&D content online right now. Please keep it up! And think about World War Fey for the upcoming Vernal Equinox, please! There is still time to prepare.
Aww, I was hoping Thorne would come out on top.😣 Still, I underestimated Hogra and her bird. Honestly, I was expecting Rashid to kill Bunkor, due to his Chaotic Evil alignment, but was surprised that he knocked him out instead.
This was so much fun to watch! I love these narrative-driven encounters; almost makes me feel like I am zooming in on a campaign and getting to partake of the fun. I will humbly note, as an avid blood hawk enthusiast, that Prack should have had advantage on Thorne, as Hogra's presence would grant the shoulder-bound bird the benefit of its Pack Tactics! However, more surprising to me (as a skilled blood hawk trainer of many years) that the tavern ALLOWED such a creature inside! I admit, I expected Hogra to start combat by whistling as the "stabled" bird came crashing through the bar door or even a window (classic tavern brawl problem!) in a flurry of talons!
OOOO. Maybe some sort of a Gladiatorial area fight? A mix of hominoids vs. an assortment of monstrosities or constructs? Who ever lives advances to the next round.
I like to imagine this is actually what the tavern looks like. Just a foundation and a floor, a random tribe who don't know how to rebuild anything more than maintaining that floor is pretending the tavern still exists, holding on to this collective idea of reality to retain their sanity as they are in a forest that otherwise completely retook an old town. They the last ever people to live here.
You should roll up a low level character with the arena champion subclass you made and put him in an actual colleseum. See how many fights he could win before he gets himself killed. Start out with lower cr monsters or try to feed him to a tiger or something like that, then build up harder fights for him as the crowd starts to get more amped up about this specific fighter.
Before watching: I think Thorne has a good chance to win. Though I am not sure how big of a role Hogra's pet might have. Can we get something similar with an undercover thief raid? One guarded salesman is presenting a rare item in a hall. Several different people want to steal it. The security checked everyone for weapons, but they all have a trick prepared. One could have smuggled a secret weapon through security, one could be a monk who doesn't need weapons, one could have an unassuming spellcasting focus like a harmless looking earring and one could be able to transform into a deadly creature. All of them want to steal the rare item for themselfes.
You know what would be cool? An intellect devourer body snatching gauntlet. He starts with a goblin and slowly goes up to stronger creatures. First the captured body fights and when he is defeated, the intellect devourer jumps out and keeps fighting.
you should make a torunament of unarmed fighters: a pure monk, a barbarian and a fighter, both with unarmed fighting and a rogue/monk multiclass. all at level 11 or 10
Hmmm are these location and characters foreshadowing for a future episode of Brotherhood of Fjarlsted? A fun little scenario! Here is a repost of some of my favorite ideas for future 'Monster Melees': (1) Forest and/or swamp habitat creatures conflicting. Good vs. Evil forest god worshippers would be a sick primal scenario e.g. Malarites, Fey and other evil forest druids/factions vs. Elves, Druids, Forest Barbarians and other worshippers of Sylvanus. It would also be cool to see a few Ranger characters. To me Rangers have the potential to be one of the coolest, most interesting classes in DND as what's not to love about a fighter who is also a survivalist and in deep connection with Nature using it to their advantage where they can e.g. poisons, herbal concoctions, vine ropes, bird scouts, magic talismans, using leaves as camouflage etc. (2) A full naval battle between 4 ships. Maybe they are all trying to win control over the same objective? You could have a pirate ship vs an Umberlee worshiping ship vs Githranki vs Wealthy Merchants with a mercenary escort etc. Different combat phases such as maneuvers, cannon salvos and boarding thus culminating in a climactic final fight on deck. (3) A Noble hunt with bugles, hounds, retainers, fellow aristocrats to hunt for beasts. Everything is fancy, opulent and decorative but the equipment is high quality and the fops are surprisingly experienced and well trained if effete. However this hunt is not quite as expected as the beasts are under the control of some type of Elder abomination or something else completely unexpected and surprising happens! (4.) A weak/vulnerable group of diverse villagers vs. a really weak group of sub-par monsters. I'm thinking like a tavern or a marketplace or a town hall gets attacked and farmers, women, juveniles, elderly, a bar tender, beggars and cripples have to fight like cats, rats, evil birds, spiders, a Xvart, a goblin, some other really weak humanoid horde monster, this group is lead by an ordinary (or could be outsider, weird) Hobgoblin looking to make a name for himself as a great general and aided by a traitor from the village, a level one human witch or warlock who is motivated by a combination of seeking power, fear of death/cowardice, revenge and profit.
It’s funny. I just finished the chapter in The Legend of Drizzt: Streams of Silver which has a tavern brawl at The Cutlass in Luskan. Then this video showed up in my feed. 🤔
Common sense would dictate that Thorne should have a disadvantage against Hogra's attacks due to the fact that there's a fricking hawk flying all over him, same with his attacks.
13:35 I think that Thorne attack with the lute was a hit on Hogra she has AC 8 and he rolled a 4 with a +5 with improvised weapons, a 9 to hit. Just sayin. That was a very low roll but her AC is abysmal.
Esper. I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. I was hoping you would do a Christmas special. Maybe a Frost Giant undead (Ghoul) with a big red bag. It wasn't red. It wasn't squishy either. Now it is both because of his bouncing stride. He has black goo coming from his maw of sharp teeth.
I'm absolutely rooting for Rashid, his ability to generate advantage for free and deal extra damage is something that I think will serve him incredibly well. Edit: I'm so glad that his feinting attack was literally the thing that won him the round.
I don't know who's winning this fight, but I know mother Hogra can restore life to Thraa... Edit: Bunkor continuing the proud tradition of the combatant with every possible tactical advantage just charging into a pile of damage.
@@esperthebard Maybe but the pirate and dwarf both had a functional build. Plus as a general rule bulky people tend to be stronger just due to the extra mass. Andre the Giant never even worked out but was still able to pick up men that weighed 200+ pounds with one arm.
I understand this as a concept. But I really looked forward to monster melee for interesting monsters or encounters. Dragon v beholder, Baylor vs pit fiend, etc. This just doesn't do it for me as much as other episodes.
Yeah, makes sense that the guy who pulled an actual weapon won. But the dwarf did it first with his throwing hammers.
A nice fun, light-hearted tavern brawl to start the year off. Not bad. I am especially impressed with the voice work. Each one had a different accent, tone or personality. Well done.
Esper: yeah she's just really outta shape.
Hogra: Excuse me, 'round' is a shape!
13:32 Thorne gets a 9 to hit. Hogra as AC of 8. Slight oversight
Ahh good catch!
The new Brotherhood of Fjarlstead right here, team of misfits 😂
A cross-over would be cool. I'd like to see a few Halflings join.
There's only 2 people this time though. Rashid could be the rogue of an adventurer party. Maybe swashbuckler.
How did I miss this yesterday? Way to go, TH-cam algorithm. I just clicked on Esper's page and there is a new video, despite his channel being one of the few to which I subscribe.
Love the content, Esper! Both your Monster Melee and Brotherhood videos make my day whenever I see them!
Me too. ❤ I want to know what's up with the Brothers. I need an update.
This was a great bout! It would be cool to see some kind of gladiatorial arena fight -- maybe a small team of gladiators vs. some kind of fearsome beast!
He could strait up just recreate some of the fights from Gladiator (2000) and it would be awesome
I was about to say "Wouldn't a mug also deal piercing damage because it'll shatter on impact?", but then it occurred to me that the mugs here are probably wood per the standards of the setting of D&D.
I'm not even sure porcelain exists in this setting to be honest.
Porcelain absolutely existed in the renaissance, but it was a closely guarded secret and a luxury good! This lot gets wood!
Porcelain is basically just a kind of pottery using much higher quality materials and techniques. I'm sure some people would have been able to figure out how to make it, but it would likely be very expensive and reserved for nobility.
I mean, both glass and porcelain existed before Middle Ages, and D&D is arguably an Explorers Era. But they were not mass produced until the XIX (or even XX? Not sure) century, so they aren't going to be in a filthy tavern to be used as an improvised weapons
I have no idea what's wrong with my message, but I wanted to say that they definitely have both glass and porcelain, but neither of those is affordable
Hey Orc! Here's a song I think you'll like. *Twang goes the lute. "I always was more of a percussion guy!"
Oh this is such an amazingly creative idea!
My boy Bunkor got this
Edit: Danm it.
I thought he was going to do much better too. The low rolls were killer.
The dice thought today was a good day to rebel. Personally I was hoping Thorn would win, and in a way, he did.
Its no longer the holiday season, but i still think a traditional 4 way Gothic Literary matchup would be a great addition (Vampire, Mummy, Wearwolf, and Frankin...err... Flesh Golum)
Maybe its a round robin matchup.
Hogra is thicc.
EDIT: Too bad, i was hoping the companion would give her an edge
@@Eisenwulf666 it did, I think her bird did more hp than her
I hope Rashid joins the brotherhood. Unlikely, but maybe he's part of an adventurer group who are heading north to accept a bounty and find the brotherhood.
Just another Yuletide at the Apple and Shield! 🍎🛡️
Really loved this idea, was more unique than the typical 1v1's! These sorts of things and the Brotherhood of Fjarlstead are always inspiring.
I think some good ones could be:
- Frost Giant hunting party vs Ancient White Dragon
- Thugs and Bandits vs Guards, maybe a prison break, caravan ambush, or village raid scenario.
- Orc War Band vs Hobgoblins
This series is the best D&D content online right now. Please keep it up! And think about World War Fey for the upcoming Vernal Equinox, please! There is still time to prepare.
I love the idea of a fat orc barfly.
Love the image of him trying to two hand swing the lute into hogra but she is latched on with a bite so he can't even get a good angle on her
Aww, I was hoping Thorne would come out on top.😣 Still, I underestimated Hogra and her bird.
Honestly, I was expecting Rashid to kill Bunkor, due to his Chaotic Evil alignment, but was surprised that he knocked him out instead.
Dude, spoiler!!
Please edit your comment so the spoiler is a few lines deep.
Thanks
Even an evil person will hesitate to commit murder with lots of witnesses around.
Great work. I like all the voices, excellent start to the day.
Great concept, excited to see the results!
Missed opportunity for Hogra to throw a stool at 17:35!
This was so much fun to watch! I love these narrative-driven encounters; almost makes me feel like I am zooming in on a campaign and getting to partake of the fun. I will humbly note, as an avid blood hawk enthusiast, that Prack should have had advantage on Thorne, as Hogra's presence would grant the shoulder-bound bird the benefit of its Pack Tactics!
However, more surprising to me (as a skilled blood hawk trainer of many years) that the tavern ALLOWED such a creature inside! I admit, I expected Hogra to start combat by whistling as the "stabled" bird came crashing through the bar door or even a window (classic tavern brawl problem!) in a flurry of talons!
loved this monster melee
the voices and argumentation is so immersive, really enjoyable
"Not Bunkor, he's the best warrior in the village!"
The dialog between dwarf and redguard was just perfect)
OOOO. Maybe some sort of a Gladiatorial area fight? A mix of hominoids vs. an assortment of monstrosities or constructs? Who ever lives advances to the next round.
foul drinks and foul moods make for foul rolls it seems
I like to imagine this is actually what the tavern looks like. Just a foundation and a floor, a random tribe who don't know how to rebuild anything more than maintaining that floor is pretending the tavern still exists, holding on to this collective idea of reality to retain their sanity as they are in a forest that otherwise completely retook an old town. They the last ever people to live here.
These are great! Keep up the good work 👍
When a brawl breaks out in a tavern there’s a good chance you’re starting a campaign.
I bet on Hogra… vengeance for the pie!
You should roll up a low level character with the arena champion subclass you made and put him in an actual colleseum. See how many fights he could win before he gets himself killed. Start out with lower cr monsters or try to feed him to a tiger or something like that, then build up harder fights for him as the crowd starts to get more amped up about this specific fighter.
Is there a piano being played during the brawl like in a spaghetti western?
that was fun, like how
you set up the fight! 👍
👏👏👏👏👏 😄
This takes me back to every port of call I made while in the navy.
Before watching: I think Thorne has a good chance to win. Though I am not sure how big of a role Hogra's pet might have.
Can we get something similar with an undercover thief raid? One guarded salesman is presenting a rare item in a hall. Several different people want to steal it. The security checked everyone for weapons, but they all have a trick prepared.
One could have smuggled a secret weapon through security, one could be a monk who doesn't need weapons, one could have an unassuming spellcasting focus like a harmless looking earring and one could be able to transform into a deadly creature.
All of them want to steal the rare item for themselfes.
You know what would be cool? An intellect devourer body snatching gauntlet. He starts with a goblin and slowly goes up to stronger creatures. First the captured body fights and when he is defeated, the intellect devourer jumps out and keeps fighting.
Damn, was really rooting for Hogra.
Also, i just got the idea that this would be one heck of a way an adventuring party could get together.
My money is on Hogra haha! Soon as I saw her!
Lute smack and all I can think of is Kabong, that old Hannah Barbara cartoon
Man oh man you're the first one to show this. It's been years since I ran a bawl room brawl
Everyone stayed in the fight for a while, low health aside. Was hoping 2 characters would jump one, but this was fun anyway
Never a guard around when you need one!
you should make a torunament of unarmed fighters: a pure monk, a barbarian and a fighter, both with unarmed fighting and a rogue/monk multiclass. all at level 11 or 10
I was hoping to see Hogra, the bird lady win. Hilarious when she ran into the counter and collapsed. She was still the MVP 🤣
Hmmm are these location and characters foreshadowing for a future episode of Brotherhood of Fjarlsted? A fun little scenario! Here is a repost of some of my favorite ideas for future 'Monster Melees': (1) Forest and/or swamp habitat creatures conflicting. Good vs. Evil forest god worshippers would be a sick primal scenario e.g. Malarites, Fey and other evil forest druids/factions vs. Elves, Druids, Forest Barbarians and other worshippers of Sylvanus. It would also be cool to see a few Ranger characters. To me Rangers have the potential to be one of the coolest, most interesting classes in DND as what's not to love about a fighter who is also a survivalist and in deep connection with Nature using it to their advantage where they can e.g. poisons, herbal concoctions, vine ropes, bird scouts, magic talismans, using leaves as camouflage etc. (2) A full naval battle between 4 ships. Maybe they are all trying to win control over the same objective? You could have a pirate ship vs an Umberlee worshiping ship vs Githranki vs Wealthy Merchants with a mercenary escort etc. Different combat phases such as maneuvers, cannon salvos and boarding thus culminating in a climactic final fight on deck. (3) A Noble hunt with bugles, hounds, retainers, fellow aristocrats to hunt for beasts. Everything is fancy, opulent and decorative but the equipment is high quality and the fops are surprisingly experienced and well trained if effete. However this hunt is not quite as expected as the beasts are under the control of some type of Elder abomination or something else completely unexpected and surprising happens! (4.) A weak/vulnerable group of diverse villagers vs. a really weak group of sub-par monsters. I'm thinking like a tavern or a marketplace or a town hall gets attacked and farmers, women, juveniles, elderly, a bar tender, beggars and cripples have to fight like cats, rats, evil birds, spiders, a Xvart, a goblin, some other really weak humanoid horde monster, this group is lead by an ordinary (or could be outsider, weird) Hobgoblin looking to make a name for himself as a great general and aided by a traitor from the village, a level one human witch or warlock who is motivated by a combination of seeking power, fear of death/cowardice, revenge and profit.
Welcome back!
Have you heard of Brancalonia? It's a supplement for 5e. They have some fun tavern brawling rules.
New Braunstein just dropped. 🍻
nice to see the combat again :)
It’s funny. I just finished the chapter in The Legend of Drizzt: Streams of Silver which has a tavern brawl at The Cutlass in Luskan. Then this video showed up in my feed. 🤔
Very enjoyable. Thank you.
Whythe dwarf come out of smoke? Dumb mive.
Anyway, i just really liked this brawl!
Hogra surprised me! FAT POWER!
Common sense would dictate that Thorne should have a disadvantage against Hogra's attacks due to the fact that there's a fricking hawk flying all over him, same with his attacks.
13:35 I think that Thorne attack with the lute was a hit on Hogra she has AC 8 and he rolled a 4 with a +5 with improvised weapons, a 9 to hit. Just sayin. That was a very low roll but her AC is abysmal.
I think the low rolls can be chalked up to the heavy drink
I was rooting for Hogra. She was defending herself, and did quite well considering her much worse stats and abilities.
Representing how TTRPG battles can actually go.
advantage and 2d6 damage. I was sure the pirate would win the moment I saw his sheet.
Now have them all do an adventure
Happy New Year's!!
Esper. I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year.
I was hoping you would do a Christmas special. Maybe a Frost Giant undead (Ghoul) with a big red bag. It wasn't red. It wasn't squishy either. Now it is both because of his bouncing stride. He has black goo coming from his maw of sharp teeth.
Everyone who bet against Rashid. Give me your gold now.
My moneys on my fellow dwarf!
I'm hoping the tavern survives the ordeal.
ok no one that is fighting in a bar fight will take cover
all rolling low they are drunk lol
lets go thorne!! hopefully his higher AC helps
a free for all tavern brawl would be also the npcs though
and then thorne gets jumped by the halflings.
Spoiler Shield 🛡️ (like to help prevent spoilers for future viewers or post your own Spoiler Block)
I hope Rashid the Pirate and his companions end up in another melee
Anyone know what map making tool the map maker (Nat20Dungeons) used for this?
Should Hagra have gotten advantage from her pet?
What’s the weapon damage of a stale pie? 🥧 😅
Good stuff I enjoyed it
Elephants vs hobgoblins
Great channel.
Maybe Prack was a... Magpie! 🥧! Kidding :)
I got my money on Rashid, bro is stacked, he’s essentially a battle master fighter in a tavern brawl
Halflings vs Gnomes
Just clicked into this video and my money's on Hogra, no diff.
Great video
Rasheed wins if you let him be both chaotic and evil.
My coin is on the dwarf
I'm absolutely rooting for Rashid, his ability to generate advantage for free and deal extra damage is something that I think will serve him incredibly well.
Edit: I'm so glad that his feinting attack was literally the thing that won him the round.
I don't know who's winning this fight, but I know mother Hogra can restore life to Thraa...
Edit: Bunkor continuing the proud tradition of the combatant with every possible tactical advantage just charging into a pile of damage.
How does one deal nonlethal damage with a scimitar? Seems cartoonish.
He cut his beard off, and the dwarf passed out from shock.
Hit him in the jaw with the pommel?
You can hit someone with the flat side, back side, or handle.
He could have hit with the hilt or the flat part of the sword (or at least, that's how it happens in games I've played)
i rule as a DM that any weapon can make an attack as non lethal but the damage is 1d3+str for pommel or flat strikes
Does anyone else think it's funny that the skinny human has the highest strength score?
Muscle strength and muscle bulk are two different things.
@@esperthebard Maybe but the pirate and dwarf both had a functional build. Plus as a general rule bulky people tend to be stronger just due to the extra mass. Andre the Giant never even worked out but was still able to pick up men that weighed 200+ pounds with one arm.
What happens next with Rashid?
Excellent!
why would chaotic evil dude would let dwarf live tho?
Hogra has my vote but I think she is not going to last long.
So much fun! :D
Gold Dragon vs Red Dragon please? Any age
I understand this as a concept. But I really looked forward to monster melee for interesting monsters or encounters. Dragon v beholder, Baylor vs pit fiend, etc. This just doesn't do it for me as much as other episodes.
My girl Hogra got robbed in this one 😢
Ha ha they’re all so drunk they can’t roll for crap!
Hi Esper.