THIS is master level advice. Everyone write this one down in your GM journal or were ever you keep your notes nowadays. I once let my players frame the BBEG for a major criminal act instead of fighting him in his mansion. I had to come up with a campaign finally spontaneously but it was ok and my players felt like they had real agency.
At the peril of overemphasizing a point, it's really for the better if one asks to take five when some turning on a dime is needed. Not just for the benefit of somebody like me who sucks thinking on their feet, but also because it creates an interaction. It gives you actual, tangible proof that your players won't mind, that it's no big deal. Getting this kind of feedback can help a whole lot with anxiety. It's important to get a second opinion to counter that nasty little belittling voice in the back of one's mind.
I absolutely love how every single video you've posted so far provides a wealth of brilliant thought and information in such a compact, clear, inspirational way. Especially on issues that are so difficult to tackle and so rarely directly addressed in videos. I found your channel by specifically searching for ADHD DM - I wasn't sure what I was aiming for or hoping to discover, seeing a fair few interesting videos along the way which rambled on and on, often going on tangents about historical context (I mean, that's as ADHD as it gets, so I don't blame them, haha), and then *yours*- Yours, feel like content made *for* ADHD, by someone who really understands, and I appreciate it, a lot. Thank you. It's fantastic! Hope you're doing well and enjoying your own games! Thanks for sharing what you've learned in clear reflective ways, so others like myself who stumble upon it can use this to grow too. :) It may not be popular, but it's making a difference that is worth being proud of. :)
i get a bit nervous sometimes about these things, but i also enjoy being nervous about this. the fact that something completely new and unexpected can happen is really fun. maybe its the novelty of the unexpected that makes it cool for my adhd butt. or maybe its just something i like. letting go if control can be difficult, however it is a challenge that should be accepted and can be enjoyed. nice vid, keep it up
It really is nice when players can offer ideas that the DM can build on, but they have to be invested in the game and setting before they can do it. You have ant tips for selling a setting to the players without boring them? Could be a future video.
Another great video! A hard thing to do to let go of plans but its also when tables I've been a player at have had the most fun (when revealed afterward that we took an entirely unexpected direction
I would not have thought about this… Using the details the players notice and changing the story to fit it (or not, depending on the relevance of the detail… and throwing in some *chaos*)
I referenced this situation in another comment I made on a separate video, but this was a big learning opportunity for me so I'll go a little more in depth. My players had set up an ambush for an enemy who would be returning to her lair. I knew they would try to convince her to flip sides, but I also expected them to fight her, so I prepared for that. What I did not expect was one of my players to successfully grapple her, tie her up, gag her, take all of her spell casting gear, and make plans to interrogate her. This threw me for such a loop that I was actually upset. I didn't know what to do with the situation or how to proceed and spent a lot of time worrying over it. After talking with other DMS and doing more research I have decided to go with it. My players did an unexpected thing, they should be rewarded for an intelligent and unusual choice. I could have pulled some tricks and have her escape, but that feels cheap. They can interrogate her and they might learn some important information, but she isn't going to crack easily. I'll make them work for it even with zone of truth, which they intend to cast. I plan on rewarding them further. I've been homebrewing magic that suits this enemy. During last night's session the players were goofing off and played a drinking game involving her spellbook. Because they did that, they will find a spell they've never heard of and have the chance to learn it. A few months ago I never would have expected this outcome, but now I'm owning it and making it worth their while
You mentioned in another comment that you had a lot of NPCs in your campaign. Right now I'm running a highly political, highly social module set in a dark fey court that has 126 named NPCs (not counting monsters). It's hugely complicated and I spent a lot of time prepping a system for managing that many people and not going insane or dropping the ball. Have you tried using an online whiteboard like Miro? It's the single best way I've found to organize my campaigns. I want to make a video about it soon (when my editing skills are up to it) but you might want to play with it and see if you can get something out of it - especially if your game is online. Like I said in the other comment, best of luck! I'd love to hear how the next session goes.
@@AstralMarmot I've never heard of Miro or an online whiteboard. That sounds perfect! I use Notion to make notes and track what we do each session, along with a to-do list. I use a few other websites like Google keep and docs, but a whiteboard could help me track things and make notes during the session instead of before/after. I am checking that out before our game tonight!
First off, wonderful content! I’ve already binged most of your videos this morning alone lol Second, your approach to ADHD DMing is so inspiring, so much so that it spurred me to actually comment on a video for the first time in years! Third, “unclench your jaw” sent me bc I indeed was clenching hard lmao keep doing you! You’re awesome, and you earned my sub! Can’t wait to implement your wisdom and advice into my homebrew campaign! I’m excited to see your systems for lore and prep!
Kind of a weird example, but I recently put together a group of predominantly transfemmes to teach and play Pathfinder 2e with using the Beginner's Box. There was going to be a day where half the party wasn't showing up, so for the remaining players I ran a very quick one-shot that they got to make new characters for. In short, the party had to protect a girl being transported via airship, but they were accosted by goblins who flew down on hang gliders. The idea was that the weaker goblins would stall (and likely die) as a group of stronger goblins and their bugbear leader made their way under the hull and searched for the girl. It took them a couple of rounds to figure out that was what was happening, but the minotaur PC spotted a wooden grate on the battlemap and asked to smash through it. I hadn't considered that at all, but I quickly gave them a DC to meet and they made it, practically landing on top of the Bugbear leader's head and slowing their search. Ultimately, they actually ended up "losing", getting knocked out by the bugbear(but notably not killed) and failing to protect the girl. Now we're seven sessions deep into a full campaign following up on that story.
Happy to say that by the time I got to this video, jaw was unclenched. Amazing, since I’m essentially running a double shift this weekend as far as DMing.
Oh boy, I've learned my lesson with DMing twice in a weekend; the spirit is willing but the brain is spongy and bruised. Keep your jaw relaxed and have an amazing time!
"Electric skull suit problems" is such a great line
“Electric skull soup problems” is the funniest way of describing neurodivergencies I have heard yet…
THIS is master level advice. Everyone write this one down in your GM journal or were ever you keep your notes nowadays.
I once let my players frame the BBEG for a major criminal act instead of fighting him in his mansion. I had to come up with a campaign finally spontaneously but it was ok and my players felt like they had real agency.
At the peril of overemphasizing a point, it's really for the better if one asks to take five when some turning on a dime is needed. Not just for the benefit of somebody like me who sucks thinking on their feet, but also because it creates an interaction.
It gives you actual, tangible proof that your players won't mind, that it's no big deal. Getting this kind of feedback can help a whole lot with anxiety. It's important to get a second opinion to counter that nasty little belittling voice in the back of one's mind.
Of course we want a video on the other 2 points!
Absolutely! Can't get enough of this.
I absolutely love how every single video you've posted so far provides a wealth of brilliant thought and information in such a compact, clear, inspirational way. Especially on issues that are so difficult to tackle and so rarely directly addressed in videos. I found your channel by specifically searching for ADHD DM - I wasn't sure what I was aiming for or hoping to discover, seeing a fair few interesting videos along the way which rambled on and on, often going on tangents about historical context (I mean, that's as ADHD as it gets, so I don't blame them, haha), and then *yours*- Yours, feel like content made *for* ADHD, by someone who really understands, and I appreciate it, a lot. Thank you. It's fantastic! Hope you're doing well and enjoying your own games! Thanks for sharing what you've learned in clear reflective ways, so others like myself who stumble upon it can use this to grow too. :) It may not be popular, but it's making a difference that is worth being proud of. :)
What an incredible thing to read. Thank you so much for your kind words. Knowing that it actually helped someone sends me to the moon :)
i get a bit nervous sometimes about these things, but i also enjoy being nervous about this. the fact that something completely new and unexpected can happen is really fun.
maybe its the novelty of the unexpected that makes it cool for my adhd butt. or maybe its just something i like.
letting go if control can be difficult, however it is a challenge that should be accepted and can be enjoyed.
nice vid, keep it up
It really is nice when players can offer ideas that the DM can build on, but they have to be invested in the game and setting before they can do it. You have ant tips for selling a setting to the players without boring them?
Could be a future video.
That's actually the focus of the next video! So glad you asked :)
Great video! Totally enjoyed the visual & especially the audio. Drink your water, not frozen! 😅😂
Another great video! A hard thing to do to let go of plans but its also when tables I've been a player at have had the most fun (when revealed afterward that we took an entirely unexpected direction
I don't really have any of the problems in this video, but I'm glad these videos reach all areas within the spectrum of neurodiversity 👍
I would not have thought about this…
Using the details the players notice and changing the story to fit it (or not, depending on the relevance of the detail… and throwing in some *chaos*)
Yes to all of this! It'll make your players - and your game - feel amazing, I promise. Thank you for watching!
I love the idea of The GM playing a character that is the environment and the various NPCs that they play. Lovely stuff thank you!
I referenced this situation in another comment I made on a separate video, but this was a big learning opportunity for me so I'll go a little more in depth. My players had set up an ambush for an enemy who would be returning to her lair. I knew they would try to convince her to flip sides, but I also expected them to fight her, so I prepared for that. What I did not expect was one of my players to successfully grapple her, tie her up, gag her, take all of her spell casting gear, and make plans to interrogate her. This threw me for such a loop that I was actually upset. I didn't know what to do with the situation or how to proceed and spent a lot of time worrying over it. After talking with other DMS and doing more research I have decided to go with it. My players did an unexpected thing, they should be rewarded for an intelligent and unusual choice. I could have pulled some tricks and have her escape, but that feels cheap. They can interrogate her and they might learn some important information, but she isn't going to crack easily. I'll make them work for it even with zone of truth, which they intend to cast. I plan on rewarding them further. I've been homebrewing magic that suits this enemy. During last night's session the players were goofing off and played a drinking game involving her spellbook. Because they did that, they will find a spell they've never heard of and have the chance to learn it. A few months ago I never would have expected this outcome, but now I'm owning it and making it worth their while
You mentioned in another comment that you had a lot of NPCs in your campaign. Right now I'm running a highly political, highly social module set in a dark fey court that has 126 named NPCs (not counting monsters). It's hugely complicated and I spent a lot of time prepping a system for managing that many people and not going insane or dropping the ball. Have you tried using an online whiteboard like Miro? It's the single best way I've found to organize my campaigns. I want to make a video about it soon (when my editing skills are up to it) but you might want to play with it and see if you can get something out of it - especially if your game is online.
Like I said in the other comment, best of luck! I'd love to hear how the next session goes.
@@AstralMarmot I've never heard of Miro or an online whiteboard. That sounds perfect! I use Notion to make notes and track what we do each session, along with a to-do list. I use a few other websites like Google keep and docs, but a whiteboard could help me track things and make notes during the session instead of before/after. I am checking that out before our game tonight!
you're very well-spoken/written! love these videos!
Support from TPT crew incoming! Every video is a gem of wisdom. Hope to see many more in the future, and of course we want more insights!
These videos are really helpful. Any thoughts on how to offer players more choices within sessions?
First off, wonderful content! I’ve already binged most of your videos this morning alone lol Second, your approach to ADHD DMing is so inspiring, so much so that it spurred me to actually comment on a video for the first time in years! Third, “unclench your jaw” sent me bc I indeed was clenching hard lmao keep doing you! You’re awesome, and you earned my sub! Can’t wait to implement your wisdom and advice into my homebrew campaign! I’m excited to see your systems for lore and prep!
oh im elated that youre back!!!
Kind of a weird example, but I recently put together a group of predominantly transfemmes to teach and play Pathfinder 2e with using the Beginner's Box. There was going to be a day where half the party wasn't showing up, so for the remaining players I ran a very quick one-shot that they got to make new characters for.
In short, the party had to protect a girl being transported via airship, but they were accosted by goblins who flew down on hang gliders. The idea was that the weaker goblins would stall (and likely die) as a group of stronger goblins and their bugbear leader made their way under the hull and searched for the girl. It took them a couple of rounds to figure out that was what was happening, but the minotaur PC spotted a wooden grate on the battlemap and asked to smash through it. I hadn't considered that at all, but I quickly gave them a DC to meet and they made it, practically landing on top of the Bugbear leader's head and slowing their search.
Ultimately, they actually ended up "losing", getting knocked out by the bugbear(but notably not killed) and failing to protect the girl. Now we're seven sessions deep into a full campaign following up on that story.
@@mandyfox9782 That's a beautiful example of rolling with the moment. Thank you for sharing it!
Happy to say that by the time I got to this video, jaw was unclenched. Amazing, since I’m essentially running a double shift this weekend as far as DMing.
Oh boy, I've learned my lesson with DMing twice in a weekend; the spirit is willing but the brain is spongy and bruised. Keep your jaw relaxed and have an amazing time!
Another great video! Thanks
Seriously. How does the "unclench your jaw" get me every time 😅
Reddit was launched in 2005 so I seriously doubt you were using it 20 years ago.
Check your calendar, then do a bit of math…”about 20 years ago” was 2005!!! 🙄