Ok I am refering to your book, but just have to leave it somewhere. I love the depth you prepare a campaign with, esecially the idea of "theme" and repeating it through the adventures is pure art.
I've been doing it all wrong!! This makes sense 100%. I used to free-wheel most of my sessions as a DM with a vague idea of a bigger plot going on. Using the act/stage buildup approach, and periodically fleshing out the game nights makes sure the transitions are smooth and allows building a story at a much higher level.
I'm really grateful for these videos. I'm trying to put together my first campaign and I was already starting to feel the analysis paralysis. I went and bought your book and I'm watching these videos to help get my brain in an orderly fashion. Thanks so much!
Found your channel earlier this week while looking for info on how to do some stuff for my first real campaign. I've GMd before for fun (2-3 session heavily homebrew pathfinder games) but now we're hosting Starfinder weekly at our place! I half learned the system before homebrewing it to hell and back and now I have a game that's basically half and half. Works great for the open world adventure I've spent two weeks on for my party. I couldn't have done all this without your videos as reference! I thought I'd give a thanks in the comments of your most recent video since I doubt comments from 2016 would be seen. Thanks so much for all you do! You're a blessing to budding GMs across the world!
This video was GOLD! It really translated concepts into a tactile process. Thank you for your thought out presentation and the time you dedicate to helping out fellow GMs
Firstly, I'd like to say once again that your channel and this series has been one of the most helpful and influential things in my time as a new DM. I have a request for a video idea.. So, I have players that are kind of.. Old, as in they have seen it all if you will and I really struggle to come up with unique ideas that will actually surprise them. So, my request is for a video on how to come up with new, unique adventures, plots, etc. Thank you!
Amazingly useful video as per usual! I'm in the process of writing my campaign and these videos are being so helpful. I got so many ideas just while listening to it! I really hope you'll do another one later on on how to plot the other parts of the campaign!
Just an idea for folks who want to see the notes. I can understand how showing a messy spider chart might sound like a bad idea but seeing how a master like yourself thinks things through and organizes ideas can still be helpful for the learners. So instead of doing anything expensive you could simply use a large tip marker. Or even better, take notes on black paper (mat) with a white/silver marker, that will take care of the glare from the light reflecting on the white paper.
Thanks for the vid! Im doing some session prep tonight and your videos always help. Topic idea: Game master notebooks. How do you organize yours? what do you include? charts? tables? plot lines etc.
Oh, if I had more time to game, I would have so many adventures and full campaigns made out of all my plot ideas! Next to actually playing or running a game, adventure/campaign design is my favorite thing to do.
I am writing a campaign for the first time. Before this I just did episodic one shots or pre-built campaigns. I actually had my notebook out during the first video and plotted out my campaign, and during this one I was taking notes and working on designing my next session. What are the videos you referenced that do the “1-3-2” thing about plotting a session you referenced?
My Macguffin is a large ruby that radiates magic energy. It weighs 80lbs and raises 1d10 lbs a day. The longer they take to deliver it, the harder it gets to deliver.
There is a little arguement to be made for instead of trying to make something entirely new, a GM should pick up on what their players expect and want, and decide things as, say, the nature of the device. Like, as original as the shifting dimensional mess sounds, for all uses and purposes, narratively, it acts as the Improbability Drive of the Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Which is super amazing, and overall, fun! I just wonder how much of a priority should be originality in comparison to everything else.
yah I didn’t really like it when he said “it’s been done let’s think of something else” unless he meant it’s been overdone or done in one of his game there’s no shame in taking items/characters/plotlines from successful media
There are no original ideas left to us. Any invention will have some resemblance to existing inventions, and that's fine, as long as it isn't the whole sale theft of other people's ideas.
There is no shame at all in using things from various sources, but I as a player felt a bit let down when I found out what sources my first GM took things from. I thought he had done this amazing well thought out plot and had all these twists that were completely out of nowhere until I would watch a youtube video or a movie or an anime where I saw the exact same thing happening. I got over it as soon as I was selected GM for our group and realized just how daunting the task of creating a campaign is when you don't already have your own process for doing so. Again, there is nothing wrong with using elements from your favorite media in your campaign, but most players will find it cooler when you have a lot of original content in your campaign. (at least original until someone finds something that was similar to that one thing you did at that one part of the campaign)
Can you do a video on mega dungeons? Nobody on youtube has anything on how to make one. Just more about what they are. I want to make one for my group but i'm having trouble.
Fantastic videos, thanks for all the hard work. You've made my enthusiasm for D&D grow a ton as I was quite intimidated by all that I didn't know being so new to the game. Your passion is truly a gift. On an unrelated note, you're must be the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Inappropriate but nonetheless true.
I ran a Star Wars campaign where our free traders discovered the "agricultural machinery" containers were actually X-wing fighters being smuggled through Imperial space.
I plan to run l5R soon, and, well, I'm a little worried about my plot. Essentially, a warlord from one clan wants to reclaim the land stolen by another from his ancestor a couple centuries earlier. I need to involve the players somehow, but am also a little concerned that it's not "big" enough. Most of the other clans would likely not care. Some of them would even support the 2nd clan getting a black eye. How do I make the players care? How can I use this video for it?
Guy, are there events or features that would allow us to play in a game with you? Also topic Question: How do I make my players take the game seriously?
I'm a relatively new subscriber to this channel. When he mentions the acts and the 1:2:2 and the 1:2:1 structure, he said it's in another video, but I have no idea which one. Help?
If your player cannot take the hint and you truly do not want this happening, then make the player's choice their own undoing. Present the player with a well-paying contract, all will be well, until suddenly him accomplishing the villain's objective unintentionally backfires so hard that the player's character becomes widely distrusted, shunned, or even vilified.
The player is playing a Warlock, so my goal right now it to have his patron basically tell him to use the villain to help it achieve its goal and then to turn against the villain when the time is right. Thanks for the advice bud!
What are your thoughts on doing a campaign in which both sides are not exactly good. Meaning the rebels who want you to poison the "evil" king, actually shows that although the king is bad, the rebels vision of the land are far worse. It is all subjective, and of course the adventurers could choose to do nothing.
I know of someone who had run the same scenario (Shadowrun - Bottled Demon) many times. It is just about getting new groups of players each time! There are some advantages to it: The one most obvious is that the GM get to know the scenario better and better. And the surprising one: How extremely different the story turn out depending at the players!
"or shunt it into space, who knows what players would do with it" I do. I know what they'll do. I know my groups would shunt it into space 10 out of 10 times. And then they'll kill the minion. This is why we're not allowed to have nice things.
If they decide to deliver it to the person they're supposed to, after discovering what it does, then I think you could further invest them by having then being attack upon delivery because they've discovered that bit of information. Stacys mom
I have never understood brainstorming or planning using shapes, to me, it feels like those lines tell me I can only create as many ideas as there are boxes or space within the circle. I prefer just words on a page.
Dude I'm dming tomorrow and this video, along with others, have made me a lot less stressed about the whole thing. Thank you dude
Dude
Dude
Ok I am refering to your book, but just have to leave it somewhere. I love the depth you prepare a campaign with, esecially the idea of "theme" and repeating it through the adventures is pure art.
i really like this new "For Your Consideration" series of yours!
I've been doing it all wrong!! This makes sense 100%. I used to free-wheel most of my sessions as a DM with a vague idea of a bigger plot going on. Using the act/stage buildup approach, and periodically fleshing out the game nights makes sure the transitions are smooth and allows building a story at a much higher level.
I'm really grateful for these videos. I'm trying to put together my first campaign and I was already starting to feel the analysis paralysis. I went and bought your book and I'm watching these videos to help get my brain in an orderly fashion. Thanks so much!
Found your channel earlier this week while looking for info on how to do some stuff for my first real campaign. I've GMd before for fun (2-3 session heavily homebrew pathfinder games) but now we're hosting Starfinder weekly at our place! I half learned the system before homebrewing it to hell and back and now I have a game that's basically half and half. Works great for the open world adventure I've spent two weeks on for my party. I couldn't have done all this without your videos as reference! I thought I'd give a thanks in the comments of your most recent video since I doubt comments from 2016 would be seen. Thanks so much for all you do! You're a blessing to budding GMs across the world!
This video was GOLD! It really translated concepts into a tactile process. Thank you for your thought out presentation and the time you dedicate to helping out fellow GMs
Firstly, I'd like to say once again that your channel and this series has been one of the most helpful and influential things in my time as a new DM. I have a request for a video idea.. So, I have players that are kind of.. Old, as in they have seen it all if you will and I really struggle to come up with unique ideas that will actually surprise them. So, my request is for a video on how to come up with new, unique adventures, plots, etc. Thank you!
Spin the cliche around. Example: A virgin succubi
ElefterisStudios A peasant ruling over and belittling the rich, they’re not filthy enough, so they’re not worth his time
@@SuperDPL If that means Albedo, I´d be your first player
Why not play something else? I mean something like drama system, vampire, you know.
Thank you for the video
As always, you're the best GM advisor I found on RUclips! Thanks for sharing your experience!
Amazingly useful video as per usual! I'm in the process of writing my campaign and these videos are being so helpful. I got so many ideas just while listening to it! I really hope you'll do another one later on on how to plot the other parts of the campaign!
Great! Great! Great!
I can see the subtle vibrations in the air while you think, its a pleasure to see you construct plots sir.😊👍
Just an idea for folks who want to see the notes. I can understand how showing a messy spider chart might sound like a bad idea but seeing how a master like yourself thinks things through and organizes ideas can still be helpful for the learners. So instead of doing anything expensive you could simply use a large tip marker. Or even better, take notes on black paper (mat) with a white/silver marker, that will take care of the glare from the light reflecting on the white paper.
I dig it, I gotta prep tonight so I'll watch this stuff that time then to see how it goes.
Same thing as I’m doing
Great Videos, keep the good work mate !
Thanks for the vid! Im doing some session prep tonight and your videos always help. Topic idea: Game master notebooks. How do you organize yours? what do you include? charts? tables? plot lines etc.
Oh, if I had more time to game, I would have so many adventures and full campaigns made out of all my plot ideas!
Next to actually playing or running a game, adventure/campaign design is my favorite thing to do.
I am writing a campaign for the first time. Before this I just did episodic one shots or pre-built campaigns. I actually had my notebook out during the first video and plotted out my campaign, and during this one I was taking notes and working on designing my next session. What are the videos you referenced that do the “1-3-2” thing about plotting a session you referenced?
These videos are some great advice. I've never done it this way, but I wish I had. Seems much easier with a lot less work.
Been really enjoying this series
Great stuff.
I wish the weekend was game time. For me, it's work time
Is your name Lion? Awesome
aah, i see what you did there ;)
Same here. Trying to find people to play with on weekdays is a nightmare.
My Macguffin is a large ruby that radiates magic energy. It weighs 80lbs and raises 1d10 lbs a day.
The longer they take to deliver it, the harder it gets to deliver.
This helped a lot thx for the video
There is a little arguement to be made for instead of trying to make something entirely new, a GM should pick up on what their players expect and want, and decide things as, say, the nature of the device. Like, as original as the shifting dimensional mess sounds, for all uses and purposes, narratively, it acts as the Improbability Drive of the Hitchiker's Guide To The Galaxy. Which is super amazing, and overall, fun! I just wonder how much of a priority should be originality in comparison to everything else.
yah I didn’t really like it when he said “it’s been done let’s think of something else” unless he meant it’s been overdone or done in one of his game
there’s no shame in taking items/characters/plotlines from successful media
There are no original ideas left to us. Any invention will have some resemblance to existing inventions, and that's fine, as long as it isn't the whole sale theft of other people's ideas.
There is no shame at all in using things from various sources, but I as a player felt a bit let down when I found out what sources my first GM took things from. I thought he had done this amazing well thought out plot and had all these twists that were completely out of nowhere until I would watch a youtube video or a movie or an anime where I saw the exact same thing happening. I got over it as soon as I was selected GM for our group and realized just how daunting the task of creating a campaign is when you don't already have your own process for doing so.
Again, there is nothing wrong with using elements from your favorite media in your campaign, but most players will find it cooler when you have a lot of original content in your campaign. (at least original until someone finds something that was similar to that one thing you did at that one part of the campaign)
Can you do a video on mega dungeons? Nobody on youtube has anything on how to make one. Just more about what they are. I want to make one for my group but i'm having trouble.
What about this one from Seth Skorkowsky's channel:
ruclips.net/video/Vs9xhVTHugM/видео.html
Mathew Lydy WebDM has a video on Mega-Dungeons that might be useful for you.
Is that like a large dungeon filled with inner dungeons?
That's Basically the concept. Kind of like the first diablo game.
It's not a video, but the Angry GM blog has a great series on making a megadungeon.
I have been working up to buying something like this for a while, would come in very handy for when I call to friends or visit family for a few days.
Fantastic videos, thanks for all the hard work. You've made my enthusiasm for D&D grow a ton as I was quite intimidated by all that I didn't know being so new to the game. Your passion is truly a gift.
On an unrelated note, you're must be the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Inappropriate but nonetheless true.
Wonderful!
I caught that firefly reference! XD
I ran a Star Wars campaign where our free traders discovered the "agricultural machinery" containers were actually X-wing fighters being smuggled through Imperial space.
Haha. The "Cube" is great. Up until that moment I called it Leeloo :)
I plan to run l5R soon, and, well, I'm a little worried about my plot. Essentially, a warlord from one clan wants to reclaim the land stolen by another from his ancestor a couple centuries earlier. I need to involve the players somehow, but am also a little concerned that it's not "big" enough. Most of the other clans would likely not care. Some of them would even support the 2nd clan getting a black eye. How do I make the players care? How can I use this video for it?
Love your videos, they help a lot. Can you delve into religious conflict? Or even a high religious campaign that the players need to be involved with?
With this new studio setup, can you maybe turn down the exposure on your camera a little bit? I really like the warmer lighting temperature however!
Guy, are there events or features that would allow us to play in a game with you?
Also topic Question: How do I make my players take the game seriously?
I'm a relatively new subscriber to this channel. When he mentions the acts and the 1:2:2 and the 1:2:1 structure, he said it's in another video, but I have no idea which one. Help?
This video?: ruclips.net/video/TbFP7zGyfUs/видео.html
So my main villain has coerced one of my players to work for him, any advice as to how I could handle this delicate situation?
If your player cannot take the hint and you truly do not want this happening, then make the player's choice their own undoing.
Present the player with a well-paying contract, all will be well, until suddenly him accomplishing the villain's objective unintentionally backfires so hard that the player's character becomes widely distrusted, shunned, or even vilified.
The player is playing a Warlock, so my goal right now it to have his patron basically tell him to use the villain to help it achieve its goal and then to turn against the villain when the time is right. Thanks for the advice bud!
have the villain turn on the player... because he knows too much.
Thank you so much!
I am playing a dnd RPG and planning my old one and I think I will put into a war setting
What about: ruclips.net/video/cVm3L0vUbu8/видео.html
Scifi Macguffins are the best Macguffins :D
One phrase reminded me of Mootaru
Heeeeyyyyy about those videos on how to ask my players what kind of campaign/setting do they want,.... Can you point me to them? Pls? Someone?
What are your thoughts on doing a campaign in which both sides are not exactly good. Meaning the rebels who want you to poison the "evil" king, actually shows that although the king is bad, the rebels vision of the land are far worse. It is all subjective, and of course the adventurers could choose to do nothing.
JT B isn't the choice up to the players all the time? even teaming up with the villain should be an option in my opinion.
I was wondering as a gm can you do twice or more same scenarii ?
I know of someone who had run the same scenario (Shadowrun - Bottled Demon) many times.
It is just about getting new groups of players each time!
There are some advantages to it: The one most obvious is that the GM get to know the scenario better and better.
And the surprising one: How extremely different the story turn out depending at the players!
geeze thanks :D I'll do that then^^
Call it the Cube of Rubik
"or shunt it into space, who knows what players would do with it" I do. I know what they'll do. I know my groups would shunt it into space 10 out of 10 times. And then they'll kill the minion. This is why we're not allowed to have nice things.
And when they figure out the master plot and how the device they scrapped ties in they'll say "Ohhhhh can we go back for it?"
If they decide to deliver it to the person they're supposed to, after discovering what it does, then I think you could further invest them by having then being attack upon delivery because they've discovered that bit of information. Stacys mom
"Someone rich is getting stuff." And in other news, water is wet.
Your hand kept going see through
I have never understood brainstorming or planning using shapes, to me, it feels like those lines tell me I can only create as many ideas as there are boxes or space within the circle. I prefer just words on a page.
Ah! Guy, i said on the great gm episode i was looking forward to this and you didnt deliver! I am very sorry :( but please update your upload schedule