🌟 Return of the Lazy DM (DriveThruRPG): www.drivethrurpg.com/product/251431/Return-of-the-Lazy-Dungeon-Master?affiliate_id=1987166 🌟 Return of the Lazy DM (Amazon): amzn.to/30j32F2 ❤️ Subscribe on TH-cam: th-cam.com/users/bobworldbuilder
@@BobWorldBuilder There's an old story that goes that Bill Gates would find the laziest person to do a job because he knew that person would find the most efficient method of accomplishing a task.
That is why lazy people are useful if you know how to use them. Give them a process to follow, see what they would cut from the process and analyze why they would do it. You will see that a lot of the process can be easily shortened to basic components. Now, do never get a lazy person to do non flexible jobs, that usually winds up being the worse mess possible.
"When in doubt, start with a challenge" is how I would personally phrase it. Throw in a skill check, a challenge to a character's integrity or history, or even an amusing inconvenience to get them interacting with environment.
I started a few sessions with my kids (see my other comment) with them finishing their shift as security guards for a storage facility. They'd punch the clock and then hit the mean streets of Silver City to go find some action.
💯 I was gonna comment that starting w combat or as you state a challenge anything thing to get the players warmed up rollin 🎲. It kinda takes the edge of a seems they relax a little and pay better attention once the 'call to action' is somewhat sated.
@@digitallurke7710 Exactly. I find it helps to diffuse awkwardness at the table (I'm much the same when I play), get people who have been hyped all week to burn some of that energy, and give people a topic to roleplay about after the fact.
I come from a screenwriting background. I recognize that there are major differences between these two entertainments, but there are a few key screenwriting concepts that can be very useful when running a game. My formulation of this suggestion is “Grab your players’ attention and get them involved and invested in the first five minutes”. A fight is one way to accomplish this, but a chase, a rescue, or any type of emergency that requires immediate response will work. Even better, this first scene can set the stage as the first clue or hook. Who set the tavern on fire? Why was the village idiot kidnapped? Where did the rampaging monster come from? The worst thing you can do is start the game with a 10 minute debate between the players as to what they want to do next. Second worst is the tavern opening, where players seek rumors from the bartender and clientele (which then often leads to the 10 minute debate).
The only reason I’m at this channel is because Mike Shea/Sly Flourish said, in one of his videos, something akin to “and when I’m not sure, I just go watch Bob World Builder.” So, I guess this is full circle.
I've been DMing with this book for about 2 years now and I have players who are convinced I'm thinking like 5 session in advance. Usually only prepare 1-2 hours before and then just sit down and talk with them before the game starts!
I think Return of the Lazy dungeon master is better at what the DMG claims to be, a guide for dungeon masters. However I think the DMG still has lots of good resources, like Random Tables, Ways to make your game more suited to you with rules and such, and good Ideas for plot points. I feel like the dungeon masters guide should be called "the phantastical things of DND" It would fulfill that roll very well.
As far as chapter 19 goes, one thing I started doing a couple of campaigns ago is I offer bonus XP to any player that journals about the session - we have a FB group and they publish it there so all the players can see. This does the job of allowing me to see the session through the player’s eyes so to speak.
Those kinds of incentives can work really well, but I’ve also heard of that getting out of hand. As long as the whole group is cool with it, keep it going! :)
@@BobWorldBuilder Out of hand? Like people writing too much? I could see some players that don’t want to write a journal being unhappy they don’t get the XP but I have not experienced that thankfully.
I really like this idea. Maybe give Inspiration instead so it's not tied directly to the PCs advancement, but is a fun bonus you get to immediately use.
Yeah, basically if some people have no interest in taking notes, they could become resentful of the players who do it so well and are rewarded for it. Like I said, as long as it's working for your group, it's all good :)
I've said it before, I'll say it again: this book should be core. Player's Handbook + Lazy DM Guide would give a total beginner everything needed, from understanding the core mechanics, races & classes, to learning how to even DM. With this approach you can take any Module you want and as you read, you build your session the Lazy DM way. You use the Module as a inspiration and can easily run with like 70% true to the book and 30% your own flair.
Since I have been following the 8 steps, not only has my prep time massively decreased and my games have become so much more open, fluid and progressive, but I feel like I am actually playing the game too.
I recently started summing up the previous session instead of the group doing it. I find it gets the game going quicker and my players like it because they're reminded of relevant plot points. They have no issue bringing up things they were interested in that I didn't mention. So, basically it's group dependent and you should experiment to find what is best for your group.
I think “it’s group dependent” is one of the top tips for new DMs to learn. There are no absolute rules, the trick is to figure out what works for you and your players to have the most fun!
I don't know how I've never come across this channel before. I had never heard of Bob or even the Lazy DM book(s). This review was incredibly thorough, informative, and articulate. Instant sub! Well done, sir!
As someone who primarily plays non-D&D TTRPGs (L5R has been my jam for a while now), the Lazy Dungeon Master has been useful for creating adventures set outside the dungeon, even social intrigues. Creating a spiral campaign has also been great for making what I call “primers”, which lets me share my loose structure of an adventure with my L5R community. The Lazy Dungeon Master is one of my most visited books for prepping campaigns, with Dungeon World being a great supplement of ideas to set up your campaign worksheet.
Yeah, I wish I had this earlier. For the price, it’s totally worth it! Can’t over emphasize what a good tool it is because it actually guides you to find your own style 👍
This book is so good I’ve given a copy to every DM at my club as a gift. it is a real game changer, cutting down all the prep work that never gets used, it just gives you so much more time to focus on what is really important for each session.
I played DND as a kid. Now as a 47 year old, running a weekly campaign for 9 kids between 8-12 years old, I can honestly say that your review has given me hope! We are currently on chapter 3 of Lost Mines of Phandelver, but a couple of the older kids have asked to start developing their own adventure. This book will help immensely. Bought on your recommendation! Thanks man!
I don't ever remember my games being focused on anything but memorable moments. I reinforced this by making my players feel like they earned successes and deserved failures, but the events are my focus on the life the characters lived. I started playing in the early 90s for reference.
I kinda figured a lot of this out but it's nice to hear it from a more polished perspective. Funny as it is, I figured it out with my 9 year old kids. They wanted to play some sort of TTRPG so I whipped up a simple system and took them through a cyberpunk story arc. I only made set pieces and left the city around them up to the whims of the dice and a few random encounter charts. There was a helpful NPC, a few reoccurring NPCs who may or may not be helpful and an NPC team of mercs after them. It all worked pretty well when I let them do what they wanted (which was usually pretty silly) and I'd railroad them when it came time to move the story along.
Got this book after watching half this video. It really is so so brilliant. It absolutely seems to nail the core of what you need. The secrets and clues chapter is worth it’s weight in gold!
Many many years ago, us lazy DMs would have a map, some notes on key locations, religions and politics, a list of random encounters and a list of random NPCs. That last one was the most important. Then you would have some starting situation and go from there. Absent of anything the players try to do, the story was mostly driven by random encounters, with the DM tying the random encounters into whatever was going on. It worked really well and required little effort. Since I was mostly a world builder, I had a world primed with factions, characters and locations, but no actual story. The story was supplied by the characters and/ or random rolls.
best companion book in the business! it is the first suggestion every time one of my players asks about starting to DM,.. the 2nd being "The Monsters Know What They're Doing"
Hey Bob! Convincing video. I went out and picked up the book. Glad I did. I recall you having reservations about the “when in doubt, start with a fight” part. I think here we can safely substitute “fight” with “conflict” in terms of the “strong start” he’s calling for, and then support that idea with either the other two pillars of the game (social or exploration) if we wish, while aiming for an “in medias res” start. That’s my take. Please keep the great videos coming!
Great review. It did lead to my deciding this book was not for me since I do focus on things like dungeon and hex crawls, and have no desire or intention of planning plot points or specific scenes.
Love this book and most of his ideas on the art of being a DM. I think you may have missed the point of the one recommendation. It says, When in doubt, start with combat. Doesn't mean always start with combat. Doubt is the key word here.
Yeah, combat is an easy way to have a strong start but its far from the *only* way. I think is important even for ongoing campaigns. Maybe there's a parade outside. Maybe someone notices something's been stolen. The main thing is, **something happens** when the start of the session occurs.
@@SlyFlourish Like being at breakfast when a Frost Giant Jeweler walks in and approaches your table. That's how we started ove season of Rime of the frost maiden. It sure gets the players heart rate up. 😀
@@SlyFlourish great opportunity for real prop or dramatic NPC cold open(only final resolves is in hand of players) comic or tragic- a great story hook can beat combat. I always like the easy riddle that though was hard - a success or tiny wish fulfillment to get them off to a start- the dwarves bum rushed bilbo for dinner- far from combat -no doubt-
I do have to agree with Have a Strong Start. Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi both use that formula with the battle of Hoth and Rescue Han From Jabba's Palace respectively!
I love that you actually give your viewers real advice about how to implement some of your advice! There are a lot d&d TH-camrs who suggest things but never actually offer tips about *how* to implement those suggestions.
Greetings from Finland Bob! Your channel is among my favourite channels for learning DnD. You've helped me so much as a totally new player/DM, thank you for your efforts! Totally going to finally get this book. Solid review 6/5
Great video Bob, and thanks for the recomendation. Will be ordering this book tonight. Am i the only one that feels like Bob World Builder is the Bob Ross of DM'ing?
I bought this book and almost instantly became a better dm. I recommend to everyone that asks for dm advice. I will say I disagree with your assessment of the fast start and the recap section. I don’t necessarily start with combat, but I do try to create a sense of urgency. Even with my long flowing campaign, the sessions where I use the fast start have generally been more productive and rewarding. As for the recap, I found that letting the players each give a one or two sentence recap with me filling in the rest works best. It lets me know which parts are truly sticking with them from session to session.
I've bought this manual some years ago and it helped me a lot, teaching me how to prepare adventures in less time, though I don't follow all his advices (e.g. I don't throw away secrets I haven't used, if they look cool, to me it would be a waste). I've recently bought The Lazy DM's Workbook, which is very useful at the table (though I already have many of its tables in my custom made DM screen) and I'm planning on supporting the recently kickstarted Lazy DM's Companion and buying it. Truly, Michael E. Shea's channel is one a DM should follow, the guy is full of good ideas, explains them well and is constantly concerned about the practical things that make a game session run smoothly.
Handouts are awesome. I ran a short health & safety inspection campaign, had adventurers filling out risk assessment forms as they explored the city sewers. It was a great way to get them engaged, and very fun for the stuffy bureaucrat npc to read out the forms after. There was a little hesitation, but "hey if your rogue wouldn't fill out the form what would he do" made it click. Lots of fun roleplay, couldn't have worked better.
Bob, when I'm watching your channel, I'm regaining my mental stamina to all the RPG stuff after like 10+ years away from it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you (and subbed).
I have learned over the past two years, much to my disappointment and satisfaction at the same time, that WotC are just never going to be able to make resources as good as professional homebrewers/DM's. (Professional meaning well reviewed sold books)
And that is a pretty counterintuitive idea! You'd think by bringing any writers together with lots of time and resources all dedicated to the same project, they'd be a win every time. I guess it's a little unfair if we judge every WotC product against the very best 3rd party products, but yeah, the 5e DMG missed the mark in my opinion. It's more of worldbuilding book (which I'm fine with of course) than a guide for DMs
Bought it because of your recommendation as a beginner dm. Been using it for 3 months already. Perfect for beginning dms. It really simplifies prep and doesn't make it as chaotic.
This and the original Lazy Dungeon Master are both fantastic checklists for running a D&D game. I've gone through the audio books for both of them a number of times and they're very useful for running D&D with minimal prep.
I have never read the original version of the Lazy Dungeon Master, but this does look like a very useful book. I am also a sucker for books with great artwork.
Got this to help get me started, and it's a great read. I know he says it's for experienced DMs, but I find it is super helpful getting me focused on what I actually need to do to get my first DM game together.
I thank you for your comment on chapter 19. Every time i attempt to have my players recap, it's usually crickets chirping. We are all such budding socialites. :p Glad to hear such things aren't atypical.
I've started picking out a random player to do the recap instead of asking. Everyone ends up adding to the recap cuz the stage fright goes away right then
I don't have Return of... (yet), but I do have great respect for the original Lazy DM book and the advice I have found on many of the Sly Flourish videos (and also for your videos!). Each of us needs to develop their own unique DM style, borrowing from a number of sources and experiences. My advice is to watch others DM, talk to them about how they prepare, read everything you can, watch vids like this one, and try (many) ideas at your table. Actually serving DM time at the table is the only way I know to find what works for you (and what doesn't). Oh, yes, and I have found ideas that work well with one group of players may work less well with a different group.
Excellent point that actually DMing is the best way to learn. Making mistakes, running for different groups, and talking to other DMs will help you grow fast!
Nice review! I am a big fan of the "lazy dungeon master"-method and prep every session this way. It is a pretty efficient way of doing things and it helps you stay focused and allows you to prepare in an flexible manner. The DMG is a rule book and an inspirational book. It helps you, if you are drawing a blank when trying to get an idea for the next campaign, quest or magic item, but it does not offer you much in terms of how to plan - it is missing a plan for planning. In the ideal world, chapter two of the Lazy DMs Guide should have been chapter one in the DMG.
Thanks for the review. Loved it. I do think starting with combat or a strong start can be awesome if you're willing to play with time. If the party has made a decision about where to go, it's more fun to start in the middle since you can skip ahead on the journey. Not everytime but sometimes. They don't need to wake up from their rest every season.
As controversial as it may be, I love playing into the DM's hands just to progress the story and experience what they put together. I like my characters but I'm really at the table for the story/group experience
Thanks for the recommendation! It's the first time ever I buy something recommended by a TH-camr :) I live in Thailand so the printed book will take a while to get there (I still prefer old school paper books) but I also got the pdf and can't wait to use it for our next campaign!
I have the 1st book and this 2nd book. Both are great. These 2 books really help you run a game as a first timer DM. I look forward to my first chance to DM in a few weeks. These books are helping me organize my adventure. My family & friends can't wait. D&D is a great hobby!
The companion book for this one: "The Lazy DM's Workbook" is awesome too! It comes will full on worksheets for game prepping, an awesome thing to have as a new DM/GM. Now, I don't even have to worry about how I format my notes 👍👍 Thanks for spreading the word about Sly's great material Bob!!
i found asking the players what happened in the last game then giving them a few min to talk about it helps get there minds back into the campaign and i might hear some info i forgot about so I'm ready for it once we get started and I'm not blind sided by any missing info later in the game
That's a solid point. I think having a short period for that is useful. I may start doing that in the first few minutes when we're waiting for players to tune in
The Lazy Dungeon Master was my primer for how to DM when I started, and this Return was an amazing read as well and a wonderful reminder...this has been the single best resource I have found as a DM. Also, I highly recommend a strong start, just not necessarily with combat. Just an evocative sentence to remind everyone of the theme and the situation can be wonderful for kicking off a great session!
I've been on the fence for quite some time on whether to buy this book or not, but after watching you go through this book... I've finally got myself to go and order a copy! Appreciate it, thank you for taking your time examining this book and creating your video, Bob!
Great stuff Bob. Totally agree with you on NOT ‘starting with combat’. I do appreciate MS’s philosophy here of course, he came from a time when D&D was all about the combat so this isn’t necessarily bad advice. Instead I have redefined ‘Strong Start’ as the only time in the game where as GM you have full control of what’s going on, so a strong start in fact means to me ‘how are we going to get the game moving? What questions are we starting with’ etc and as such is a (the most?) important aspect of the game. I rarely use combat.
One of my favorite locations in anything is Sigil from Planescape and it's so simple at first glance. It's the town at the center of the planes, the crossroads of the multiverse, and it's guarded by The Lady of Pain, who is so powerful that she can keep gods out of the city. That's just so cool
Hands down, a great book. I don't think it replaces a DMG because it doesn't really touch on stuff a DMG does, but it did wonders for me as a DM in helping me learn how to prepare for my sessions and somewhat run them.
The first book is also useful for very different reasons. Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master is a system agnostic guide to campaign prep. It's got a lot of great tools for running games in any system or setting. The first book, Lazy Dungeon Master, is not that. It's a condensed collection of all the tables, guides, and lists that are scattered throughout the DMG. It's very much a 5e only book, but if you're playing 5e and need a specific table from the DMG you will find it faster by flipping through the lazy DM's guide. It even has a few pages of random names.
I am totally an over-prepper ... I'll be checking this out. Also, I've had a friend as DM have everyone roll initiative for each round of battle, horrible idea, dragged out battles sooo much. He eventually stopped when we revolted. Great overview!
Excellent review/overview. I like that although you really like this book you also say where you do things differently. In my mind that makes a helpful combination for new and experienced DM's to make the most of their time. Thank you.
Thanks, Will! Yes, I think a big part of what makes this book great is how it doesn't claim to have all the answers, and reinforces the idea of using it to find your own style
@@BobWorldBuilder And here too what is so great is that you are keeping alive (or even reviving) an original concept of not just following the rules for rules sake but instead making it your own through house rulings. Bravo!
I second how good this book is for a new DM like myself , it really made a big difference in my games immediately . they were more fun and i was a bit more confident in running games .
Welp, that's a purchase. I've only been DMing for about 5 months and have been kinda struggling. Just the points covered in the review has already changed how my session is going to be run this afternoon.
It is a good book. I have both and I especially like the note card trick. I write a lot of stuff on small note cards now. Keeps me from wasting a ton of time.
Best campaign I ever ran- w/"Atlas of the Land". Two new players and i was great at fake it till you make it DM -with 1st edition rules PHB DMG MM no other supplements- only dragon mag modules from 80's -old loose leaf binders by the 90s- Great review!
I have yet to dig into dragon magazine, but when I occasionally research popular modules or monsters, it seems that many are rooted in those articles! Happy gaming!
For summarizing sessions, I get the players to do it right after we finish. We walk outside of the game store, I pull out my phone to record audio, and they tell the story of what just happened.
The stuff about improvising reminds me of the most epic gaming our group ever had. It was in the days where 1e and 2e were both out and more or less interchangeable. It was in the Spelljammer setting. I rolled up my character with a different group and they did the old 1e roll for psionics, and I succeeded. Taking that character to my regular group the DM decided to open it up to everyone else, and one of the other guys succeeded as well. So we had 2 1st level characters with psionics, and Mindflayers were the primary antagonists. Even with psionics, that's a rough challenge. The DM ended up improvising and making psionic magic weapons to help level the playing field with the baddies. But he made them too powerful, so he improvised bigger badder versions of Mindflayers called Mindslayers. It played out like a crazy epic fantasy novel. The way we played it, we should have died many times over, but between the improvised items and crazy luck we came out the other end on top. The DM ended up having the items poof into mist at the end, but as luck would have it, that was the last gaming out group did.
I have to interject and say PLENTY of people still play the "old" way of dungeon crawls, episodic adventures(think like monster of the week X-Files style adventures.), and sand box PC ambition driven style games. I call modern 5E campaigns "Marvel Style" as it kinda reminds me of the Marvel superheroe movie formula.
Back in 1980-81, we were playing narrative non-dungeon crawly campaigns. Sure, we did some delving in the deeps, but there was a lot more to it than “go to dungeon, fight monsters, get treasure and Xp, repeat”. We had entire sessions with few-to-zero dice rolls as the party got entangled in palace intrigues, went in search of information, and solved puzzles. I’m not saying this is the best way to play, but it wasn’t ALL dungeon crawling back in the day.
I think the strong start is not always meant to be a combat, but only if you can't think of something better. I often use a surprising story beat as a session start or when we are in a dungeon, the story starts with something changing in the dungeon and/or the room the party is in, maybe some apparatus activating, some monster walking in but without direct initiative roll etc.
I would argue that good scene expositions are very important in an immersive world. There are more embellishments, such as, creating non linear dungeons (with many loops possible); outlining the desires, goals, and relationships of not only NPCs but factions creates layers in a world. Create a count down clock where factions accomplish certain things without the intervention of the PCs makes time dynamic over the course of playing. Monsters are not just things that wait around in a 10 by 10 room until attacked. They have lives they are trying to live as well.
You can't compare the DMG to Sly's book. Sly's book is about how to prepare for a game. DM guide is mainly how to create an adventure with lots of tables on treasure, magic items and how to determine what monsters to put in it. Very little of the DMG is on running a game but the info that it does provide is different than what Sly provides.
This is a great book. Although I don't think any dm should be without the dmg, this book rocks. The prep checklists allow you to get the most out of it.
That is definitely up to the dm style. What I like most about the lazy dmg, are the checklists. They are the best for getting the most out of your prep time. Still, it doesn't have the world building etc. tips of the dmg...
🌟 Return of the Lazy DM (DriveThruRPG): www.drivethrurpg.com/product/251431/Return-of-the-Lazy-Dungeon-Master?affiliate_id=1987166
🌟 Return of the Lazy DM (Amazon): amzn.to/30j32F2
❤️ Subscribe on TH-cam: th-cam.com/users/bobworldbuilder
Nice video, Bob!
The book you're showing in this video, is it the softcover/paperback version?
Made my purchase thanks to you
My old man used to say the difference between Laziness and Efficiency is how much you get done in the end.
"Efficient DM" is a better title, but probably not as good for book sales lol
@@BobWorldBuilder There's an old story that goes that Bill Gates would find the laziest person to do a job because he knew that person would find the most efficient method of accomplishing a task.
That is why lazy people are useful if you know how to use them. Give them a process to follow, see what they would cut from the process and analyze why they would do it. You will see that a lot of the process can be easily shortened to basic components.
Now, do never get a lazy person to do non flexible jobs, that usually winds up being the worse mess possible.
The only problem I have with this book is that as an ultra lazy DM, I really don't want to spend time reading it :D
Hahah you’ve already reached peak efficiency!!
Ha! The first chapter actually covers this! It tells you how to skim the whole book to get what you can get with whatever time or effort you can give!
@@SlyFlourish My god, you've thought of everything, haven't you! (I too should get around to reading my copy)
@@SlyFlourish That's pretty cool!
@@SlyFlourish I bought the dead tree version but turning pages is sooo hard so I got the audio book version as well
Thank you so much, Bob!
My pleasure, Mike! :)
My favorites ❤️
This book helped me so much getting out of the 'my story was so cool but my players ruined it' mindset!
That’s awesome! I know I’ve been there too!
"When in doubt, start with a challenge" is how I would personally phrase it. Throw in a skill check, a challenge to a character's integrity or history, or even an amusing inconvenience to get them interacting with environment.
That's a great adjustment!
I started a few sessions with my kids (see my other comment) with them finishing their shift as security guards for a storage facility. They'd punch the clock and then hit the mean streets of Silver City to go find some action.
💯
I was gonna comment that starting w combat or as you state a challenge anything thing to get the players warmed up rollin 🎲.
It kinda takes the edge of a seems they relax a little and pay better attention once the 'call to action' is somewhat sated.
@@digitallurke7710 Exactly. I find it helps to diffuse awkwardness at the table (I'm much the same when I play), get people who have been hyped all week to burn some of that energy, and give people a topic to roleplay about after the fact.
I come from a screenwriting background. I recognize that there are major differences between these two entertainments, but there are a few key screenwriting concepts that can be very useful when running a game.
My formulation of this suggestion is “Grab your players’ attention and get them involved and invested in the first five minutes”. A fight is one way to accomplish this, but a chase, a rescue, or any type of emergency that requires immediate response will work. Even better, this first scene can set the stage as the first clue or hook. Who set the tavern on fire? Why was the village idiot kidnapped? Where did the rampaging monster come from?
The worst thing you can do is start the game with a 10 minute debate between the players as to what they want to do next. Second worst is the tavern opening, where players seek rumors from the bartender and clientele (which then often leads to the 10 minute debate).
The only reason I’m at this channel is because Mike Shea/Sly Flourish said, in one of his videos, something akin to “and when I’m not sure, I just go watch Bob World Builder.” So, I guess this is full circle.
Hahah it all comes back around :)
Yes! Bob's the best.
I've been DMing with this book for about 2 years now and I have players who are convinced I'm thinking like 5 session in advance. Usually only prepare 1-2 hours before and then just sit down and talk with them before the game starts!
True mastery!
I think Return of the Lazy dungeon master is better at what the DMG claims to be, a guide for dungeon masters. However I think the DMG still has lots of good resources, like Random Tables, Ways to make your game more suited to you with rules and such, and good Ideas for plot points. I feel like the dungeon masters guide should be called "the phantastical things of DND" It would fulfill that roll very well.
I definitely agree with this assessment! The DMG makes a better sourcebook than a guide
As far as chapter 19 goes, one thing I started doing a couple of campaigns ago is I offer bonus XP to any player that journals about the session - we have a FB group and they publish it there so all the players can see. This does the job of allowing me to see the session through the player’s eyes so to speak.
Those kinds of incentives can work really well, but I’ve also heard of that getting out of hand. As long as the whole group is cool with it, keep it going! :)
@@BobWorldBuilder Out of hand? Like people writing too much? I could see some players that don’t want to write a journal being unhappy they don’t get the XP but I have not experienced that thankfully.
I really like this idea. Maybe give Inspiration instead so it's not tied directly to the PCs advancement, but is a fun bonus you get to immediately use.
@@O4C209 true!
Yeah, basically if some people have no interest in taking notes, they could become resentful of the players who do it so well and are rewarded for it. Like I said, as long as it's working for your group, it's all good :)
I've said it before, I'll say it again: this book should be core. Player's Handbook + Lazy DM Guide would give a total beginner everything needed, from understanding the core mechanics, races & classes, to learning how to even DM.
With this approach you can take any Module you want and as you read, you build your session the Lazy DM way.
You use the Module as a inspiration and can easily run with like 70% true to the book and 30% your own flair.
That's definitely my top two as well!
Since I have been following the 8 steps, not only has my prep time massively decreased and my games have become so much more open, fluid and progressive, but I feel like I am actually playing the game too.
What a great compliment to Mike and his work! In his behalf, thanks! :)
I recently started summing up the previous session instead of the group doing it. I find it gets the game going quicker and my players like it because they're reminded of relevant plot points. They have no issue bringing up things they were interested in that I didn't mention.
So, basically it's group dependent and you should experiment to find what is best for your group.
Exactly!!
I think “it’s group dependent” is one of the top tips for new DMs to learn. There are no absolute rules, the trick is to figure out what works for you and your players to have the most fun!
Sure, I do it that way too sometimes.
I don't know how I've never come across this channel before. I had never heard of Bob or even the Lazy DM book(s). This review was incredibly thorough, informative, and articulate. Instant sub! Well done, sir!
Thanks :D Welcome aboard!
My favourite thing about this book is that in the music area, they've listed Conan: The Barbarian at the top of the list 😃
Classic!
As someone who primarily plays non-D&D TTRPGs (L5R has been my jam for a while now), the Lazy Dungeon Master has been useful for creating adventures set outside the dungeon, even social intrigues. Creating a spiral campaign has also been great for making what I call “primers”, which lets me share my loose structure of an adventure with my L5R community.
The Lazy Dungeon Master is one of my most visited books for prepping campaigns, with Dungeon World being a great supplement of ideas to set up your campaign worksheet.
It's awesome to hear that this book's concepts apply to all GMs, not just DMs! :)
I’d have to say that this is THE book for DMs. It’s my go-to for every campaign and session.
I completely agree!
Thank you!
I've been wanting to get this book. This was all I needed to pull the trigger. I'm very new to dm'ing, and I've been over prepping like crazy.
Yeah, I wish I had this earlier. For the price, it’s totally worth it! Can’t over emphasize what a good tool it is because it actually guides you to find your own style 👍
I hope you dig it!
The Lazy DM guide has been a well that I can come back to time and time again, still learning new ideas as I progress in the hobby.
That's awesome to hear! :)
This book is so good I’ve given a copy to every DM at my club as a gift. it is a real game changer, cutting down all the prep work that never gets used, it just gives you so much more time to focus on what is really important for each session.
That's really generous of you! Totally agree!
I played DND as a kid. Now as a 47 year old, running a weekly campaign for 9 kids between 8-12 years old, I can honestly say that your review has given me hope! We are currently on chapter 3 of Lost Mines of Phandelver, but a couple of the older kids have asked to start developing their own adventure. This book will help immensely. Bought on your recommendation! Thanks man!
I don't ever remember my games being focused on anything but memorable moments. I reinforced this by making my players feel like they earned successes and deserved failures, but the events are my focus on the life the characters lived. I started playing in the early 90s for reference.
Well done!!
I kinda figured a lot of this out but it's nice to hear it from a more polished perspective.
Funny as it is, I figured it out with my 9 year old kids. They wanted to play some sort of TTRPG so I whipped up a simple system and took them through a cyberpunk story arc. I only made set pieces and left the city around them up to the whims of the dice and a few random encounter charts. There was a helpful NPC, a few reoccurring NPCs who may or may not be helpful and an NPC team of mercs after them. It all worked pretty well when I let them do what they wanted (which was usually pretty silly) and I'd railroad them when it came time to move the story along.
Got this book after watching half this video. It really is so so brilliant. It absolutely seems to nail the core of what you need. The secrets and clues chapter is worth it’s weight in gold!
Couldn't agree more!
I have been using the sly flourish fill in sheets for a while, but this has convinced me to pick up the book. Fantastic review, thanks Bob!
Good to hear! Thanks for supporting Sly, and for your kind words about the video :)
Thank you!
I've Been using this book for years. Besides the PHB, it's definitely the most useful book on my shelf.
Nice! Yeah, PHB is still my number one 5e book. Maybe it would be fun to review that too :P
Many many years ago, us lazy DMs would have a map, some notes on key locations, religions and politics, a list of random encounters and a list of random NPCs. That last one was the most important. Then you would have some starting situation and go from there. Absent of anything the players try to do, the story was mostly driven by random encounters, with the DM tying the random encounters into whatever was going on. It worked really well and required little effort. Since I was mostly a world builder, I had a world primed with factions, characters and locations, but no actual story. The story was supplied by the characters and/ or random rolls.
I love that. And I totally agree that the list of NPCs is one of the DM's greatest tools
best companion book in the business! it is the first suggestion every time one of my players asks about starting to DM,.. the 2nd being "The Monsters Know What They're Doing"
Yes! That other one is on my shelf (got it for my fiance last xmas) but I still have to read it
This book is the most important resoure on my shelf.
It is essential.
Sly's channel is also VERY helpful.
I agree!
Thank you so much!
Hey Bob! Convincing video. I went out and picked up the book. Glad I did. I recall you having reservations about the “when in doubt, start with a fight” part. I think here we can safely substitute “fight” with “conflict” in terms of the “strong start” he’s calling for, and then support that idea with either the other two pillars of the game (social or exploration) if we wish, while aiming for an “in medias res” start. That’s my take. Please keep the great videos coming!
I love that interpretation! Presenting challenges for the party is a big part of the DM’s job!
Great review. It did lead to my deciding this book was not for me since I do focus on things like dungeon and hex crawls, and have no desire or intention of planning plot points or specific scenes.
Happy to help!
"So if I wanted to start every session with combat as was recommended here..." but it's not, it's when in *doubt* start with combat...
Yeah I was a little heavy handed on that point
Love this book and most of his ideas on the art of being a DM. I think you may have missed the point of the one recommendation. It says, When in doubt, start with combat. Doesn't mean always start with combat. Doubt is the key word here.
The problem is I’m always doubting myself!! Jk that’s a great point :P
@@BobWorldBuilder Same here. Always think I'm under prepared.
Yeah, combat is an easy way to have a strong start but its far from the *only* way. I think is important even for ongoing campaigns. Maybe there's a parade outside. Maybe someone notices something's been stolen. The main thing is, **something happens** when the start of the session occurs.
@@SlyFlourish Like being at breakfast when a Frost Giant Jeweler walks in and approaches your table.
That's how we started ove season of Rime of the frost maiden.
It sure gets the players heart rate up. 😀
@@SlyFlourish great opportunity for real prop or dramatic NPC cold open(only final resolves is in hand of players) comic or tragic- a great story hook can beat combat. I always like the easy riddle that though was hard - a success or tiny wish fulfillment to get them off to a start- the dwarves bum rushed bilbo for dinner- far from combat -no doubt-
Love this video! I really appreciate you covering third party products like this
My pleasure! It’s one of my favs!
Yes; more like this!
I do have to agree with Have a Strong Start. Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi both use that formula with the battle of Hoth and Rescue Han From Jabba's Palace respectively!
Great recommendation! I’d suggest doing a video with an example of preparation of a session using the book’s resources and tips.
Great suggestion! I've been talking a lot about prep lately so that would be perfect :)
I love that you actually give your viewers real advice about how to implement some of your advice! There are a lot d&d TH-camrs who suggest things but never actually offer tips about *how* to implement those suggestions.
Greetings from Finland Bob! Your channel is among my favourite channels for learning DnD. You've helped me so much as a totally new player/DM, thank you for your efforts! Totally going to finally get this book. Solid review 6/5
You are very welcome! Thank you for the support :D
Great video Bob, and thanks for the recomendation. Will be ordering this book tonight.
Am i the only one that feels like Bob World Builder is the Bob Ross of DM'ing?
Hope you enjoy it! And nope, you are not the first to say that, and you won't be the last :P
I bought this book and almost instantly became a better dm. I recommend to everyone that asks for dm advice.
I will say I disagree with your assessment of the fast start and the recap section. I don’t necessarily start with combat, but I do try to create a sense of urgency. Even with my long flowing campaign, the sessions where I use the fast start have generally been more productive and rewarding. As for the recap, I found that letting the players each give a one or two sentence recap with me filling in the rest works best. It lets me know which parts are truly sticking with them from session to session.
Yeah I think I do want to at least start doing player recaps more often!
Writing down the names of your players is a great idea! If I ever lose focus on what it’s all about, it’s a good reminder. Thanks Bob!
I've bought this manual some years ago and it helped me a lot, teaching me how to prepare adventures in less time, though I don't follow all his advices (e.g. I don't throw away secrets I haven't used, if they look cool, to me it would be a waste). I've recently bought The Lazy DM's Workbook, which is very useful at the table (though I already have many of its tables in my custom made DM screen) and I'm planning on supporting the recently kickstarted Lazy DM's Companion and buying it. Truly, Michael E. Shea's channel is one a DM should follow, the guy is full of good ideas, explains them well and is constantly concerned about the practical things that make a game session run smoothly.
I could not put this down. I read it through in one sitting taking notes all the way. Excellent book.
Awesome!!
Handouts are awesome. I ran a short health & safety inspection campaign, had adventurers filling out risk assessment forms as they explored the city sewers. It was a great way to get them engaged, and very fun for the stuffy bureaucrat npc to read out the forms after.
There was a little hesitation, but "hey if your rogue wouldn't fill out the form what would he do" made it click. Lots of fun roleplay, couldn't have worked better.
Bob, when I'm watching your channel, I'm regaining my mental stamina to all the RPG stuff after like 10+ years away from it. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you (and subbed).
I have learned over the past two years, much to my disappointment and satisfaction at the same time, that WotC are just never going to be able to make resources as good as professional homebrewers/DM's.
(Professional meaning well reviewed sold books)
And that is a pretty counterintuitive idea! You'd think by bringing any writers together with lots of time and resources all dedicated to the same project, they'd be a win every time. I guess it's a little unfair if we judge every WotC product against the very best 3rd party products, but yeah, the 5e DMG missed the mark in my opinion. It's more of worldbuilding book (which I'm fine with of course) than a guide for DMs
Bought it because of your recommendation as a beginner dm. Been using it for 3 months already. Perfect for beginning dms. It really simplifies prep and doesn't make it as chaotic.
Wow. I did all this without having to be told it! 😂 Universal things are universal.
I agree 100%!! My games have gotten so much better and my prep time has cut in half since I adopted the lazy dungeon master approach.
Awesome to hear that!
This and the original Lazy Dungeon Master are both fantastic checklists for running a D&D game. I've gone through the audio books for both of them a number of times and they're very useful for running D&D with minimal prep.
Glad you like them!
I have never read the original version of the Lazy Dungeon Master, but this does look like a very useful book. I am also a sucker for books with great artwork.
Yeah I think with successful kickstarted books like this, almost all of the money goes into getting awesome artwork :)
This book is the only one you need of the two.
Got this to help get me started, and it's a great read. I know he says it's for experienced DMs, but I find it is super helpful getting me focused on what I actually need to do to get my first DM game together.
I thank you for your comment on chapter 19. Every time i attempt to have my players recap, it's usually crickets chirping. We are all such budding socialites. :p
Glad to hear such things aren't atypical.
Haha, glad I'm not the only one
I've started picking out a random player to do the recap instead of asking. Everyone ends up adding to the recap cuz the stage fright goes away right then
@@crackydoodlepizza i'll give that a try. I worry whomever i choose will run away screaming.
I don't have Return of... (yet), but I do have great respect for the original Lazy DM book and the advice I have found on many of the Sly Flourish videos (and also for your videos!).
Each of us needs to develop their own unique DM style, borrowing from a number of sources and experiences. My advice is to watch others DM, talk to them about how they prepare, read everything you can, watch vids like this one, and try (many) ideas at your table. Actually serving DM time at the table is the only way I know to find what works for you (and what doesn't). Oh, yes, and I have found ideas that work well with one group of players may work less well with a different group.
Excellent point that actually DMing is the best way to learn. Making mistakes, running for different groups, and talking to other DMs will help you grow fast!
I actually bought this in hardback and no regrets. Great review
Great to hear!
I've used this for over a year now. Can confirm it's worth getting and using.
Great to have your testimonial! :)
Nice review!
I am a big fan of the "lazy dungeon master"-method and prep every session this way. It is a pretty efficient way of doing things and it helps you stay focused and allows you to prepare in an flexible manner.
The DMG is a rule book and an inspirational book. It helps you, if you are drawing a blank when trying to get an idea for the next campaign, quest or magic item, but it does not offer you much in terms of how to plan - it is missing a plan for planning.
In the ideal world, chapter two of the Lazy DMs Guide should have been chapter one in the DMG.
Yeah, preparing to improvise is the key!
Thanks for the review. Loved it.
I do think starting with combat or a strong start can be awesome if you're willing to play with time. If the party has made a decision about where to go, it's more fun to start in the middle since you can skip ahead on the journey. Not everytime but sometimes. They don't need to wake up from their rest every season.
Totally, I may have read to deeply into the 'starting with combat' part. Strong start is the key
As controversial as it may be, I love playing into the DM's hands just to progress the story and experience what they put together. I like my characters but I'm really at the table for the story/group experience
Thanks for the recommendation! It's the first time ever I buy something recommended by a TH-camr :) I live in Thailand so the printed book will take a while to get there (I still prefer old school paper books) but I also got the pdf and can't wait to use it for our next campaign!
That’s awesome! Thank you for the support, and I hope you enjoy it! :)
Thank you so much!
Absolutely LOVE “Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master” and it’s whole approach to game prep and play. Thanks for sharing Bob, fantastic videos!!
I have the 1st book and this 2nd book. Both are great. These 2 books really help you run a game as a first timer DM. I look forward to my first chance to DM in a few weeks. These books are helping me organize my adventure. My family & friends can't wait. D&D is a great hobby!
The companion book for this one: "The Lazy DM's Workbook" is awesome too! It comes will full on worksheets for game prepping, an awesome thing to have as a new DM/GM. Now, I don't even have to worry about how I format my notes 👍👍 Thanks for spreading the word about Sly's great material Bob!!
i found asking the players what happened in the last game then giving them a few min to talk about it helps get there minds back into the campaign and i might hear some info i forgot about so I'm ready for it once we get started and I'm not blind sided by any missing info later in the game
That's a solid point. I think having a short period for that is useful. I may start doing that in the first few minutes when we're waiting for players to tune in
The Lazy Dungeon Master was my primer for how to DM when I started, and this Return was an amazing read as well and a wonderful reminder...this has been the single best resource I have found as a DM.
Also, I highly recommend a strong start, just not necessarily with combat. Just an evocative sentence to remind everyone of the theme and the situation can be wonderful for kicking off a great session!
I've been on the fence for quite some time on whether to buy this book or not, but after watching you go through this book... I've finally got myself to go and order a copy!
Appreciate it, thank you for taking your time examining this book and creating your video, Bob!
Great stuff Bob. Totally agree with you on NOT ‘starting with combat’. I do appreciate MS’s philosophy here of course, he came from a time when D&D was all about the combat so this isn’t necessarily bad advice.
Instead I have redefined ‘Strong Start’ as the only time in the game where as GM you have full control of what’s going on, so a strong start in fact means to me ‘how are we going to get the game moving? What questions are we starting with’ etc and as such is a (the most?) important aspect of the game. I rarely use combat.
For some reason, it's really hard to find a detailed review of the first book on TH-cam. Thanks for this!
I tossed it on my Amazon wish list to pick up in the near future. Thanks for the recommendation!
Hope you enjoy it!
One of my favorite locations in anything is Sigil from Planescape and it's so simple at first glance. It's the town at the center of the planes, the crossroads of the multiverse, and it's guarded by The Lady of Pain, who is so powerful that she can keep gods out of the city.
That's just so cool
Hands down, a great book. I don't think it replaces a DMG because it doesn't really touch on stuff a DMG does, but it did wonders for me as a DM in helping me learn how to prepare for my sessions and somewhat run them.
I have bought this book after watching this, and it’s great! I have had it for a few months and it has been very useful
The first book is also useful for very different reasons.
Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master is a system agnostic guide to campaign prep. It's got a lot of great tools for running games in any system or setting.
The first book, Lazy Dungeon Master, is not that. It's a condensed collection of all the tables, guides, and lists that are scattered throughout the DMG. It's very much a 5e only book, but if you're playing 5e and need a specific table from the DMG you will find it faster by flipping through the lazy DM's guide. It even has a few pages of random names.
Ahh, thanks for making that distinction!
I am totally an over-prepper ... I'll be checking this out. Also, I've had a friend as DM have everyone roll initiative for each round of battle, horrible idea, dragged out battles sooo much. He eventually stopped when we revolted. Great overview!
2 years late, but I *love* _Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master!_ It is such a useful book, even just the second chapter that's available for free
Excellent review/overview. I like that although you really like this book you also say where you do things differently. In my mind that makes a helpful combination for new and experienced DM's to make the most of their time. Thank you.
Thanks, Will! Yes, I think a big part of what makes this book great is how it doesn't claim to have all the answers, and reinforces the idea of using it to find your own style
@@BobWorldBuilder And here too what is so great is that you are keeping alive (or even reviving) an original concept of not just following the rules for rules sake but instead making it your own through house rulings. Bravo!
I JUST bought this book! So awesome to see you review it ☺️
Awesome!! I hope it serves you well :)
Yay!
What an amazing review - I bought it and the workbook and they are awesome! Thank you, Builder Bob!
Glad you like them!! :)
Thank you!
I second how good this book is for a new DM like myself , it really made a big difference in my games immediately . they were more fun and i was a bit more confident in running games .
Thanks this was a great video I’m buying this book now hah! Keep up the good work loving the content!
Thanks for the support! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!
Welp, that's a purchase. I've only been DMing for about 5 months and have been kinda struggling. Just the points covered in the review has already changed how my session is going to be run this afternoon.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it too!
It is a good book. I have both and I especially like the note card trick. I write a lot of stuff on small note cards now. Keeps me from wasting a ton of time.
Definitely a good method for keeping yourself from going on and on
Bob, wtf, why are you so chill?
Like all the time, you're just.... chill af.
What are you?
Best campaign I ever ran- w/"Atlas of the Land". Two new players and i was great at fake it till you make it DM -with 1st edition rules PHB DMG MM no other supplements- only dragon mag modules from 80's -old loose leaf binders by the 90s- Great review!
I have yet to dig into dragon magazine, but when I occasionally research popular modules or monsters, it seems that many are rooted in those articles! Happy gaming!
For summarizing sessions, I get the players to do it right after we finish. We walk outside of the game store, I pull out my phone to record audio, and they tell the story of what just happened.
Didn't know it existed and before the video was over I ordered it. Thanks Bob and thanks Mike!
The stuff about improvising reminds me of the most epic gaming our group ever had. It was in the days where 1e and 2e were both out and more or less interchangeable. It was in the Spelljammer setting. I rolled up my character with a different group and they did the old 1e roll for psionics, and I succeeded. Taking that character to my regular group the DM decided to open it up to everyone else, and one of the other guys succeeded as well. So we had 2 1st level characters with psionics, and Mindflayers were the primary antagonists. Even with psionics, that's a rough challenge. The DM ended up improvising and making psionic magic weapons to help level the playing field with the baddies. But he made them too powerful, so he improvised bigger badder versions of Mindflayers called Mindslayers. It played out like a crazy epic fantasy novel. The way we played it, we should have died many times over, but between the improvised items and crazy luck we came out the other end on top. The DM ended up having the items poof into mist at the end, but as luck would have it, that was the last gaming out group did.
Great book. Worth a buy and Sly also goes over every chapter in detail here on youtube. Also worth a watch.
Yes, Sly's channel is a great resource!
I have to interject and say PLENTY of people still play the "old" way of dungeon crawls, episodic adventures(think like monster of the week X-Files style adventures.), and sand box PC ambition driven style games. I call modern 5E campaigns "Marvel Style" as it kinda reminds me of the Marvel superheroe movie formula.
I agree!
Back in 1980-81, we were playing narrative non-dungeon crawly campaigns. Sure, we did some delving in the deeps, but there was a lot more to it than “go to dungeon, fight monsters, get treasure and Xp, repeat”. We had entire sessions with few-to-zero dice rolls as the party got entangled in palace intrigues, went in search of information, and solved puzzles.
I’m not saying this is the best way to play, but it wasn’t ALL dungeon crawling back in the day.
I like his work
Thanks for bringing it to my attention
Happy to show off this book! It's helped me a lot
I think the strong start is not always meant to be a combat, but only if you can't think of something better. I often use a surprising story beat as a session start or when we are in a dungeon, the story starts with something changing in the dungeon and/or the room the party is in, maybe some apparatus activating, some monster walking in but without direct initiative roll etc.
Yeahhh I might end up doing a video just on this topic to really dig into the details of how this step can be approached
I would love that:)
I would argue that good scene expositions are very important in an immersive world. There are more embellishments, such as, creating non linear dungeons (with many loops possible); outlining the desires, goals, and relationships of not only NPCs but factions creates layers in a world. Create a count down clock where factions accomplish certain things without the intervention of the PCs makes time dynamic over the course of playing. Monsters are not just things that wait around in a 10 by 10 room until attacked. They have lives they are trying to live as well.
It requires a lot of confidence to improvise things as a DM, I feel like that is something that comes with experience.
You can't compare the DMG to Sly's book. Sly's book is about how to prepare for a game. DM guide is mainly how to create an adventure with lots of tables on treasure, magic items and how to determine what monsters to put in it. Very little of the DMG is on running a game but the info that it does provide is different than what Sly provides.
This sorta reminds me of a study/summary guide that's attached to a college textbook. I'll probably buy this!
Lazy DMs guide changed how I prepped and reduced the time spent. I don't follow it religiously but it helps prepare the session at hand.
This is a great book. Although I don't think any dm should be without the dmg, this book rocks. The prep checklists allow you to get the most out of it.
Yeah, if I had to choose, I prefer this book, but both are useful!
That is definitely up to the dm style. What I like most about the lazy dmg, are the checklists. They are the best for getting the most out of your prep time. Still, it doesn't have the world building etc. tips of the dmg...
I tend to start all my campaigns with combat or on the cusp of combat. I like starting with the team together
That's a great point in favor of starting with combat!
This book is simply amazing, it cut down my prep time significantly
I really like the idea that this will work for other rpgs, not just D&D.