Well written, and I think that the message is important. People often handwave the bookkeeping because DnD is supposed to be "epic," but to me the game never feels epic if we don't feel like mortals who are in just a little over our heads. Also, players who like to RP usually enjoy mechanical weight to stuff like rations and encumbrance. Let the fighter who loves to cook be rewarded for cooking up a mincemeat pie at camp!
One of my group's most memorable sessions actually required us to care about carry weight! We were scaling a mountain and escorting an NPC to his home on the top. We had several intense encounters dealing with climbing, later realizing we were going to run out of supplies before we hit the top, only then running into inclement weather when we were almost there. We had some tough choices to make about how to stretch our resources and who to send out into the blizzard when we knew we were so close to our destination. Super awesome arc, and I will never forget that a gallon of water weight 8 pounds, haha.
Hi there! I usually do not comment on TH-cam videos. But I have to say, this was the best video about DM-ing that I have seen until today. :) And I feel kind of glad about paying attention to details about carry weight and travel speed, and information like that which you have mentioned in your video, because these things really help the immersion of the players.
This is an incredible video! I've always been scared of keeping track of rations and ammunition because I'm a relatively new DM, but this video inspired me to give them a try next time for the thinking they make everyone do.
This is gonna help out a bit for future sessions, thanks a ton man. I'm positive your channel is gonna grow incredibly fast with this kind of content. I'm looking forward to your next vids man!
I personally love the logistics and realism of planning or experiencing the "boring stuff" because the tough decisions are the ones that I tend to remember. I also tend to like more realistic (yeah i know its a fantasy game) and more lethal games and less about the constructed/collaborated story. I prefer a more organic approach to things. To handwaive things just takes away more critical decisions to make. 5E is boring enough, combatwise, as it is.
The day-to-day life of the adventures is the baseline to which the high stakes of combat and dungeon navigation is contrasted against. DMs care too much about cinematic elements like pacing and narrative that don't actually matter while ignoring adventuring life and decision making. There is no downtime/adventure time split. It is all just time in the life of the characters. The move in the industry from diary to action movie. This has lead to games that are like Hollywood's boring cookie cutter remakes about 2 dimensional heroes fighting 1 dimensional villains, packed full of meaningless and low stakes action scenes. In the real world adventuring is mostly about logistics and people and places not the few hours of high risk excitement. This means it is truely about the journey rather than the destination. Also, use a system that is less random so that investment in competency is meaningful rather than just a flavour note on the sheet.
I can’t pick it up because it’s too long, I tried it in school but in the end everyone kinda give up on the game because we just rush main mission just to get it over with and the DM is piss
You dont worry about encumbrance because you don’t sweat the small stuff I don’t worry about encumbrance because I refuse to learn the imperial system We are not the same
With all due respect, 5e has the problem of wanting to be about epic fantasy heroes who defy logic and go toe-to-toe with legendary creatures and beings, but also about a group of random chumps with slightly better than average abilites doing their best to make it in a world that is going to eat them at the first possible opportunity. One of these stories is supported by these kinds of mechanics, the other is not.
Great discussion of this post happening on Reddit:
www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/j5kj65/why_skipping_the_boring_stuff_makes_a_boring_game/?
Came from the reddit post! Great work, I'm subscribed and excited to see more of your stuff
Hey thanks, Glad to have you round these parts!
Well written, and I think that the message is important. People often handwave the bookkeeping because DnD is supposed to be "epic," but to me the game never feels epic if we don't feel like mortals who are in just a little over our heads. Also, players who like to RP usually enjoy mechanical weight to stuff like rations and encumbrance. Let the fighter who loves to cook be rewarded for cooking up a mincemeat pie at camp!
Exactly! Getting that in-game benefit from an RP choice can feel so immersive in a game.
This is phenomenal!!!
Came here from Reddit.
Please keep it up!!
Please!!
Thank you so much! Planning on a weekly release schedule :)
One of my group's most memorable sessions actually required us to care about carry weight! We were scaling a mountain and escorting an NPC to his home on the top. We had several intense encounters dealing with climbing, later realizing we were going to run out of supplies before we hit the top, only then running into inclement weather when we were almost there. We had some tough choices to make about how to stretch our resources and who to send out into the blizzard when we knew we were so close to our destination. Super awesome arc, and I will never forget that a gallon of water weight 8 pounds, haha.
Hi there! I usually do not comment on TH-cam videos. But I have to say, this was the best video about DM-ing that I have seen until today. :) And I feel kind of glad about paying attention to details about carry weight and travel speed, and information like that which you have mentioned in your video, because these things really help the immersion of the players.
Hey thanks so much for watching, that comment just made my day. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great video dude. Keep up the good content !
Thanks so much!
Came from Reddit, watched for the content, subscribed for the Rowlet. Great work bro!
The Rowlet was my secret plan the whole time. Glad to you enjoyed it!
I'm loving your content so far! Proud to be the 58th subscriber :)
Hey proud to have you! Thanks for watching :)
This is an incredible video! I've always been scared of keeping track of rations and ammunition because I'm a relatively new DM, but this video inspired me to give them a try next time for the thinking they make everyone do.
That’s so exciting, I’m really glad that you found something useful here :) good luck in your game!
This is gonna help out a bit for future sessions, thanks a ton man. I'm positive your channel is gonna grow incredibly fast with this kind of content. I'm looking forward to your next vids man!
Hey, I’m so glad to be of service and can only hope you’re right. Thanks and hope to see you around!
Saw the reddit post first, then came here. Good breakdown of what I miss in some games. Interested to see more of what you do!
Hey thanks for watching! I’ve got more videos/posts coming each week so stay tuned
Came here from reddit, and this was a solid watch.
Hey thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Saw you on Reddit, fine work man
Thanks very much!
I love your content, keep up with the good work!
Thanks very much!
Great video production Ben! Keep it up 💪🏼
Thanks buddy!
I've been enjoying this kind of stuff immensely during the last year. Just today we had to drop rations to carry an unconscious character on our mule.
You raised a lot of interesting points!
I personally love the logistics and realism of planning or experiencing the "boring stuff" because the tough decisions are the ones that I tend to remember. I also tend to like more realistic (yeah i know its a fantasy game) and more lethal games and less about the constructed/collaborated story. I prefer a more organic approach to things. To handwaive things just takes away more critical decisions to make. 5E is boring enough, combatwise, as it is.
Related to the bag of holding thing. Saltmarah gives the players 2 bags of holding.
My players stole the enemies entire dam armory.
Oof! I played in saltmarsh, must have missed the second bag lol
It's not always sometimes the things we want to play but I'll give it a go
while i disagree with pretty much everything said in the video, damn is it a good video, keep the good work!
Hey, it’s your campaign - but thank you!
The day-to-day life of the adventures is the baseline to which the high stakes of combat and dungeon navigation is contrasted against.
DMs care too much about cinematic elements like pacing and narrative that don't actually matter while ignoring adventuring life and decision making. There is no downtime/adventure time split. It is all just time in the life of the characters.
The move in the industry from diary to action movie. This has lead to games that are like Hollywood's boring cookie cutter remakes about 2 dimensional heroes fighting 1 dimensional villains, packed full of meaningless and low stakes action scenes.
In the real world adventuring is mostly about logistics and people and places not the few hours of high risk excitement. This means it is truely about the journey rather than the destination.
Also, use a system that is less random so that investment in competency is meaningful rather than just a flavour note on the sheet.
I can’t pick it up because it’s too long, I tried it in school but in the end everyone kinda give up on the game because we just rush main mission just to get it over with and the DM is piss
You dont worry about encumbrance because you don’t sweat the small stuff
I don’t worry about encumbrance because I refuse to learn the imperial system
We are not the same
Lmao
With all due respect, 5e has the problem of wanting to be about epic fantasy heroes who defy logic and go toe-to-toe with legendary creatures and beings, but also about a group of random chumps with slightly better than average abilites doing their best to make it in a world that is going to eat them at the first possible opportunity. One of these stories is supported by these kinds of mechanics, the other is not.
Lifehacks: Just play a videogame or football instead.
“My fiancé” humblebrag