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the DMG also has an alternate mechanic for handling big armies of enemies. Page 250, mob combat. Basically it eliminates rolling for the enemies. The players can hit any monster individually, but a group essentially is assumed that a certain number of attacks will be guaranteed to hit. You can use average damage to speed things up too. Their to-hit is based on their attack bonus and your players' AC, basically what they need to roll on a d20. For instance, if they need to roll at least a 13, a mob of 3 units is guaranteed to get one hit off on the player. So if you have a mob of 6 units, they successfully and automatically hit with 2 attacks. It makes it so you don't have to actually roll for your mobs, and they can break off into individuals on the fly. This also means they don't ever crit since you don't roll damage. Zee Bashew did a video talking about it and it's hard to explain, but having run it, it handles big groups of enemies SUPER well. Numerically it's about equivalent to averages when rolling individually. If you think about it, it's kinda like how swarms in previous editions had automatic damage as well.
@@baddiemcbadbad9231 That won't be too much an issue if there's enough mobs. If it IS though you can break it apart and have a number of volleys made against each player, by RNG. Then back calculate how many of those volleys hit. It'll lead to a bit more wasted attacks from the mobs, but considering it's mass combat, that's not something you're hurting for as a DM.
Going to try and implementation this swarm mechanic in my next one-shot. Going to have a rat summoner who can summon rats as a bonus action. Mechanically it will heal the swarm by adding to its masses. The players will have to choose to attack the rat summoner or deal with the swarm itself.
In your orc scenario you could have one of the orcs from the other group run away in fear or charge the barbarian ending in its death. This could lead to players wasting their reaction to attack it or chase down what is already to the DM as a dead orc, but that is the choice of the player and just adds to combat.
You came in clutch today! I literally have a session planned today with level 20 characters and this will help me with the amount of craziness I'm about to embark on 😆
Tell us how it goes. It will be cool to hear from a first time user. No pressure on the details, we don't need a play by play. Just a good, bad, and ugly. lol
Congrats on one hundred! All nine of my player in my home campaign watch your stuff religiously! Your dual wield fox saved my players character narrative! As a dm I personally love your “create a baddy” video
About the explanation of how the damage "carried over" to the orcs on the other side: maybe one of the orcs was so terrified of the barbarian killing two of his allies in a single hit that he just... ran way. That way, for mechanical purposes the player "dealt" with 3 enemies with his powerful blow, but it still makes sense in-game. And if someone else really wants to spend time killing the fleeing orc, just treat him as a minion.
I love the idea of combining minions and swarms! I feel like it could even be one step easier to just have them be minions that die in 1hp, but have an overkill mechanic where every X damage kills an additional minion, so any damage always kills 1 and that cuts down on the math and hp tracking.
Using the massive damage optional rule handles minions quite nicely, and by the time you are using monsters of cr 1/4 or 1/2 as minions the party has a +5 mod to weapon attacks and probably sone extra dice do about ten damage per hit so a skeleton with 13 hp should probably die, but a zombie with 22 hp probably shouldn’t. Using the massive damage rule however means if your group can deal over half the monsters hp it dies, or there is a constitution save against it. Anyway though the aforementioned zombie would take massive damage if the fighter hits it with 11 damage, a little over the “normal” baseline. In conclusion assuming the players progress as normal filtering in the normal monsters up to about cr 2 as minions isn’t a problem, since the groups base/aoe attacks can handle them, or for the tankiest monsters massive damage isn’t uncommon to kill them (an ogre has 60 hp a fireball could kill it or a generous smite from the paladin). And isn’t that the point of the minions, to draw hits for their dark master? If the storm giant had ogre minions they wasted a 3rd or 4th level fireball on them and the paladin used a first level smite.
I Like The Cantrip: SWORD BURST, For Mass Damage On Creature Swarm's That Are Around Me... If They Are Within Range, FIREBALL or SNOWBALL, My Homebrew Version Of FB, But It Deal's 8d8 Of Cold Damage...
@@Piqipeg So I approached it with the mindset that I want to make npc vs npc combat interesting in a way that incorporates dice rolling while also keeping the spot light on players. So I would I do is I think about how can this npc contribute to combat in a way that helps make the players look cool. This could be anything such as making enemies fall prone, inflicting status effects, and a variety of other support type effects. For example the players had a mentor npc named Magnus that was very much an analog to Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat and he could lower an enemy's initiative, restrain them with ice, or trip them with an ice slide. Then I would roll what I would call a cinematic check and that would determine which of his abilities he could use and how effective it was. So in that example, when the player's vengeance paladin was fighting their nemesis and the mentor came to save them, I declared what I intended for him to do, rolled an 18, and determined that he created a sheet of ice that gave the party enough time to escape at the expense of the Mentor being left alone with the nemesis. So in summary: I think about what abilities or actions an npc could take to support the party, determine how often he would use those, and based on an arbitrary DC determine how effective the npc uses that ability.
Best bad*as move I did was being a warlock and using a spell that (I think) explodes a 10ft radius on a goblin camp. I blasted it to their armory, weapons flew and gunpowder blew. Killing 10+ goblins there were shy over 20 gobs. 😆
With minions, I usually treat a nat-20 as an overkill. _Your arrow perforates your target, you watch the bandit fall to his knees and gurgle in blood as a second figure behind him falls over due to your arrow lodging itself in his eye socket"._
Your fixed cantrips video was the 1st I actually implemented in my game, but flanking rules probably helped me the most. My high-level players have huge ac and it was hard to challenge them. But with one of your variants and a couple of modifications, we are now heading into a war and I can rest assured that if a unit of low-level soldiers surrounds one of them they will actually pose at least a small threat to the demigod :D.
This was a hard choice, but it’s between the Counterspell/homebrew spell duel video or the more recent City Builder video. If I had to choose, I enjoyed the City Builder the most because I love world building.
I’ve seen Coville’s video on minions a few times and really liked it, and I love your addition of the “super minions” mechanic - definitely going to be using that in the future! Also, love your swarm homebrew! I’d toyed with similar ideas before but never got an end product that felt refined enough to use - will for sure be using this!
This is the first of your videos I made it through. I really like your ideas and real play experience, but often find your work too long without too much content, and there is a lot of unscripted material. This video was shorter, the content matched the title throughout, and an appropriately tight plug. So I guess I vote for this video, as your craft has improved!
It's hard to pick, but I loved the Brendan Lee Mulligan video. He is such a huge inspiration and I always try to make my players feel awesome because of it! It was short, but packed with useful info and examples. More of those are definitely welcome :) Keep lowering that dm dc for all us, coach!
I have been looking for horde mechanics for my game and this is my favorite so far and what I'll be using. I have liked this video for the fantastic idea and advice. Thank you!
Really love this swarm mechanic, so much better than rolling 10 or more d20s. I think for carrying over the damage to another part of the swarm I might make 1 unit of the swarm fail a morale check and run away if the damage didn't feel like it'd hit them. I'd probably also add in the mass combat rules from the dmg250 mob attacks table too, to make it even easier.
Fovourite video was the one with armor class "clash" thing about half damage. I use it in my games right now, it helps with flavour and adds a little something.
My favorite video you've done I think is the Witcher style monster video! But it kind of ties with your rest system video (which I think was the first I saw of your videos..)
In the situation with the orcs where one dies while out of range of the attacker, their moral breaks and one of them flees or surrenders. Also, swarm of beholders.
Fun idea, but beholders are notorious for despising other beholders; not exactly cooperative. A more plausible one would be a swarm of liches that act as de facto guards (alongside a couple of death knights and a swarm of vampires) to Orcus' throne room. Think of them being a group of liches that were at court, arguing which got to be the next to have Orcus' ear and attempt to garner favor. When the PCs show up they act as one to crush any fool that would dare approach their master.
I love your skill challenge video with the story about your players having to defend the city from the massive attack coming. The paladin going back to save his friends was epic!
The first Skill Challenge video is iconic and has resulted in some amazing sessions from sharing it with different DMs! We had a massive battle against an army of Frost Giants at the gates of Waterdeep, where me and another player flew off to destroy the enemy fleet, while the rest of the party was on the front lines. The scale and simplicity thanks to the Skill Challenge worked SO well and made for an unforgettably EPIC couple sessions!
I really like when I see a concept and I'm like "very cool, that's how I do it too!" Thank you for sharing, I'm definitely going to update my swarm rules to add that one attack rule though!
@@TheDungeonCoach Quick question since I didn't see it in this video nor Matt Covilles 4e Video. In 4e, saves are regulated to a base DC 10 roll, with the modern "save" being regulated to vs an AC, Reflex, Will, or Fortitude "attack roll". Half damage still existed, but "on a miss". The exception of this is minions who do not take damage on a miss. I've interpreted this as a "save or die" for my 5e conversion of minions, but have not seen this anywhere, so I was curious how you handle half damage saves. I'll watch the video again to make sure that wasn't covered.
Tbh I really like this video and will be implementing this immediately I do like the instructions to “keep it behind the screen” so that PCs do not know the monsters are Minions
I'm pretty sure I've watched everything there is to watch on this channel, but I'd say my favorite video was the multiclass fix, me and my players have had a lot of fun with it :) Congrats on 100 vids too !
This actually helps me out with our next massive d&d campaign, d&d Multiverse: Rise of Lord Vortech ( our take on a Lego Dimensions sequel ). The plot revolves around endless enemies and villains from across video games, Movies, and TV shows and the Void Queen taking over the Multiverse.
Your 6th Edition Video.... jk, I loved, loved LOVED your Character Creation Video; but your Witcher Monster video was a pretty close second. Keep up the good work my guy!
Looking forward to trying the 1 or 2 hp minions today for a large scale combat. Thanks for the great idea. This is exactly what I needed for a large combat focused session not to drag.
I tried this mechanic in my last session and it was great! However, my swarm started with 12 members and I had nto revise the to-hit and damage numbers down a bit. Above 6 members i think the numbers start to break D&Ds bounded accuracy. Next time I'll break it into two swarms of 6!
I shared CUSTOMIZE COUNTERSPELL for More FUN D&D 5e Spell Duels, with my brother in law (also DM). I really liked this way of counterspell and i'm using it in my games from now on!!
Definitely NPC video! Your quirks are hilarious and my players love (or hate, when appropriate) every one I've used the system on. Their favorite is a tabaxi chef named Silver Spoon! She's kind and soft-spoken, but sprints EVERYWHERE.
I love all the tips and tricks, hacks and hybrids, and all the bending of ideas you bring! Though, you do tend to avoid breaking things. That said, I really am behind you're reimagined idea of rogues in your "3 huge problems with the rogue class in D&D" episode. I ship so many of your videos, so it's hard to pin down an absolute favorite.
I linked my players to the skill challenges video so I could have someone much more capable than me explain what's going on with what I planned. The players (and myself) love skill challenges because, and I quote, "I can do anything, rather than just actions limited by combat". Thanks Coach! PS, I also love (and have used extensively) your monster homebrew systems: legendary actions, action orientated monsters, villain actions, random monster abilities, etc.
Anyone whose been in actual combat knows that even the weakes links can whiddle down experienced veterans. I know the "cinematic thing: is nice as a change of pace... but I prefer realism... that yes, low level baddies can roll nat 20's, that level 20 players can roll nat 1's, that taking onlt 1 to 4 hp of damage over 20 to 30 attacks DOES add up, etc. Which is why I prefer the regular combat mechanic... it may be slower at times, but its way more dramatic and endearing as it remains solid with the entire idea of RISK/REWARD. I wouldn't mind a more "Cinematic" resolutio here or there, for a switch-up, but those situations would FOREGO most of the usual gains... just to maintain balance. HuGGz
Congratulations on your 100th video milestone. If I could take a group of videos as my favorite it would be your combat homebrews 1, 2, and 3. However, my single favorite video is How to: SKILL CHALLENGE to D&D 5e. Ever since I saw this video I've been brainstorming how to put this idea into my sessions. Skill challenges to escaped towns under attack or a festival prize based on a wild boar hunt. It's been a fun adventure. Thank you for all the great content.
I actually love this so much! The only thing I would consider changing is giving swarms a vulnerability to area damage. Burning hands or fireball should be effective against a swarm of insects. The only problem is that it might be too much when stacking with other vulnerabilities, like fire and bludgeoning. Maybe a separate mechanic entirely: just a flat +2 or 3 damage per surviving chunk (area damage is more effective with more possible targets, of course). The bonus damage could even scale with CR.
Yo this actually helped me tremendously with a combat I’m running rn. I have 3 level 3 pc’s who just came across 3 level 5 npc’s and they’re fighting a swarm of Kenku assassins and 2 shadows. And combat was getting out of hand 😅 this helped a lot, thanks again, hope you’re doing well and having fun games!
I really liked your Two Weapon Fighting Sucks video. I'm a recently returned to playing D&D person (last played in 3.5 era). I've been having grand fun with 5E. The Candlekeep Mysteries video is an excellent one as well. TBH, I'm very glad the YT algorithm recommended your channel to me.
CONGRATS. Yay 100 videos. I've sent my players so many videos to get their opinions on homebrew rules for our games. I think my favourite that I've sent is the Dual Weilding video. It's really changed our combat for the better
YESSS Another video of 4E content! Will you ever make a video of adding new At-Will and Encounter powers from 4E? Kinda like the superiority dice from Fighter or Focus Points from PF2E? At-Wills have been a fun way to add more flash and style to martial classes in my experience. And by making them spend multiple attacks to perform certain At-Wills, you can even speed up the game.
My favorite video is How to: SKILL CHALLENGE to D&D 5e. In the video you give really good examples of how the system works and how you tweaked it. Which made it really easy for me to adopt in my own campaign, with great effect!
Interesting to see another homebrew version of a swarm. This looks very good for that insect-type creature swarm. With lots of little weak things. The version I made, I use for armies/large invading forces. Thematically it's a whole platoon of, say, Goblins. Mechanically it's a single strong Goblin with additional weaknesses to AoE. It has is a larger size (Huge up from Medium), larger health pool (e.g. around 9 times). 3 multi-attacks with only a dmg increase (e.g. 3 times dmg buff, 1d6+1 becomes 3d6+3). I find 3 attacks as the sweet spot. 4 is time consuming and 2 doesn't feel like a proper swarm, or in this case platoon. I also have the multi-attacks decrease at health increments, but tbh I treat it as optional since it can be a pain to track. Lastly I have the "creature" take twice the damage & healing from AoE abilities with a single saving throw for the whole group. So PCs with AoE feel extra powerful and single target people don't feel useless as their damage is spilling over from Goblin to Goblin. Whenever I introduce this type of creature to an unfamiliar player, I say that mechanically it is the same as a single creature, though AoE abilities will likely prove effective. I don't hide that the players are doing double damage with AoE either, cause who doesn't like to hear that their fireball just did 65 damage?
I already do the swarm of minions rule But I do 2 things beyond: 1. I play on R20 so I signpost what the value of them is by the token size. So I can say “here comes a titanic Zombie horde (50x50 ft Token) Filled with over 200 zombies! (1 HP each) as they damage it I don’t show an HP bar, I just shrink the token every 10 or so damage. 2. WARDICE I love big war scenes in my game, So that has tons of swarm tokens clashing I roll d100s, up to 3 on Each side depending on relative advantages and then I take the highest numbers, compare the difference and narrate out the chaos based on the difference. It’s best used as a narrative tool rather than a strict mechanical thing
Favorite DC vid? Counterspell video, hands down!! Second fav, that you didn't ask for? The vid where you gave an alternative to using CR for encounters (can't remember the title).
How would you consider running a zombie swarm with undead fortitude? Unless radiant damage or crit hit, 5e Zs get to roll when at 0HP to instead drop to 1. Going to try your method on a game next week, but they’re encountering undead. Part 1 is a siege on the town so just going with skill challenge, but they will be tracking the source after where they’ll find a massive pile of corpses subject to BBEG raising in chunks (Danse Macabre). I think perhaps roll the UF con save an add like 5hp to the swarm? Simply describe the body parts of those felled by PCs still crawling towards them.
I do a thing with minions similar to your "megaminion" thing that borrows from 4e and a d20 offshoot called Dungeon World: When a minion gets hit it makes a damage save. If it fails it dies (as if it had 1 hp) and if it passes it's "bloodied" (and of course a second hit takes it out). Simple and easy. For the save DC you can have it be 15 or 10 for weak attacks. You can either just guesstimate what that means or maybe even set a certain HP damage threshold if the players are rolling damage (e.g. 10 hp damage or more is DC 15 and under 10 is DC 10). Also for those somehow unfamiliar with the "bloody" rule.. It's a carryover from 4e and happens when a character or monster is brought to half of their normal max health. At this point they are considered "bloody". In 4e this triggered all kinds of abilities but in 5e it just adds flavor. But that flavor is a real game-changer because (barring any peculiar circumstances) the bloody condition MUST be announced. In other words everyone in the fight, friend or foe, now knows that you're at half hit points! This really cranks up the tension and often changes the fight tactically. For example imagine a fight just kind of going along and one of the frontline people announces they are bloodied. Or your wizard. Or the boss monster. Or, heaven forbid, the cleric!
Improved hb cleaving through enemies is far more elegant and basically does the same... "If you reduce a target to 0 HP with a surplus of damage, you can deal the additional damage to annother creature in range if the original hit die would hit it, keep going until the damage is used up". "Minions" already can be killed in 1-2 hits, no need to hardwire it into a homebrew rule. If your players know, they basically just start dual wielding daggers...
I've been using the HIT system instead of the damage system for a while now. When I first started using it, the enemies would HIT for max damage as my way of "balancing" (1d4+3 is now just 7). Though I remember swapping it after a nat 20 on a fire bolt dealt 20 damage and 1 shot and killed a level 2 druid. We rolled for hp, I didn't think to just give max hp. So he had 10hp level 2... yeah, tbh that one might of been my mistake, he could of had up to 16hp and been "fine" lmao. Also my favorite video is this mass combat and swarms video.
You could treat the ‘chunks’ as blobs of orcs - for when they separate the players. Instead of 1 single attack for the two separated groups with a +10 to hit, if there’s two groups, make the two attacks with the +7 to attack to each player. It adds more die rolling but the tactical element becomes a worthwhile choice for the players. Do we keep the orcs together as a group where they’re more dangerous? Do we try split them up and pick them off? Lure them out to make them significantly weaker? If you have that, the wizard will be crapping his pants if 3 of these things come charging towards him. With the bees, let’s make the swarm smaller in size, especially if the ‘size’ of the swarm means that they could be in the same space as players and attack anybody in its ‘area’. A huge swarm of, say, 6 blobs/chunks takes up the 9 squares and attacks EVERYONE in those 9 squares. Making it smaller in size means it attacks less people at once and weakens it again, but, you can bet your arse your wizard will crap his pants again. It’s very similar to FFG Star Wars ‘minions’ This could be my favourite - I think it is.
Your "Swarm of Orcs" is nearly the same as I run my campaign. I've done several "Swarms of Goblins", with one pool, etc. "How many are left?" "Lots". The barbarian was one to cut swaths through them, have multiple clinging/climbing on him. Multiple kills in one attack. Keeps things moving well. Split the swarm? No sweat. The barbarian one time grabbed a head of a dead one and chucked it at the other group. Very cinematic. Works very well. Thrilled to see others doing something similar!
First video of yours I saw was the Dual Wielding video, and, as with all other videos of yours I saw, I just went "Your homebrew. It's useful. I'll take it." I've already implemented the scaling mechanic for Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter you mentioned there, and it works really well so far! Haven't seen that many of your vids yet (and I'm gonna change that), so yeah. The dual wielding one is my favourite so far.
While your video about cyberpunk and droids etc. Is actually a close second and made me go and check out cogent. My favourite of yours is about your bonus level up mini feats. I LOVE this idea of homebrewing small bonuses for your players DIRECTLY based on who they are and what they want to do. You said it really well in a different vid, what fantasy are they reaching for with that class and character? Then take what 5e has provided and BUOLD it into something more with those custom feats! B.E.A-utiful
My problem with swarms of really small stuff - regular rats or small - is, exactly how are low-level PCs doing meaningful damage? Assuming you hit with your sword . . . okay, you kill one rat. The rest swarm you, biting all over. You need some AoE to really do damage to a swarm, like flaming oil (of which there is a limited supply). I've yet to see rules that take this into account, instead permitting characters to sword the swarm in its hit points, completely destroying verisimilitude. (Yes, at high levels the Fighter can reasonably pull off wuxia-tier super-moves.)
It's really hard to pick which video is my favorite. Although i actually use some of the rules before watching the videos, I still learned another way of doing things from each one. It's always nice to pick the brain of other Dungeon Masters, because even they can find out another way of doing the same thing. If I had to choose, it would be Killer Combos for combat with witchery monsters, frozen survival, and build a baddie at a close second. I actually like this one a lot too, because it kinda touches on what I like to do in my game, which is ditch the health pool, and stick with hit points. I'll explain. Adversaries have a number of literal HIT points equal to thier level + Con. Sure it makes them appear squishier but the HP is accompanied by a Damage Threshold equal to thier AC - 10 (minimum 0). That way my players can still roll damage, amd for every number matching the DT, they take -1 HP on the hit. This makes running multiple baddies much easier without having to worry about hundreds of HP. Adding Vulnerabilities and tolerances make these encounters a challenge as my players try and figure out how to hurt their opponent. This video makes me want to adjust things some more and make it an entirely self sufficient mechanic.
I want an opinion man. Like for example lets say their was a 700 pound tree in the players path. Now lets say they wanna use a strength test to lift it and they rolled a 20 ( they like crazy 20 and 1 ) but only have a +1 strength modifier. In my opinion I wouldnt allow it. I view it like this +0 normal human ability +1 above average +2 genius +3 best in the world +4 beat record holders easily +5 superpower So even with a nat 20 if they where at a +1 i wouldn't allow it. Now a conditioned bodybuilder or even world record holder ( +2 and +3 ) could deadlift 700 pounds. So with a +3 i would lower the dc to 15. I Tried to make it as clear as possible. What do you think? Any tweaks? +1
😆 Houses and Humans! That's a dub❤ Congrats on your centennial! Oh yeah: The one video where you said healing is, in your opinion, necromancy? I was like, "....hold up☝"
Congrats on 100th video! I haven't been here from the beginning but I was close lol Easily my favorite dnd content on youtube. Definitely in the running for favorite channel. Thank you for all that you do! Having to pick a favorite is hard... I use your wilderness survival guide in my rime campaign but I love the feat system and this video takes the use of minions to the next level. And I love the dual wielding video. Why you ask such a difficult question!? Lol Also, I share these all the time anyway. You don't have to ask :P
Congrats of 100 videos! At first I was a little turned off with your channel because of the sports theme, but as I watched you some more I have been really liking your take on some of the rules. I know you are the dungeon coach (DC) but with your content I think Homebrew Plays (HP) would have a better option. Anyway. Keep up with the good work😁
My favorite video has to be the Not Just Loot segment where you talk about rewarding players with bonus, customized perks at level up. This has really inspired me and when I sat down to draw some perks up for my party the ideas came to me like a flood. There's just SO MUCH potential for fun there. Thanks for everything and congrats on your 100th video.
I love this idea, my only concern with homebrewin my own swarms is making sure I get the Representative CR correct so I can reward XP appropriately. (Yes we use xp) do I just make is 600? Orcs 100x6? Or is it worth more or less xp as a swarm?
Not bad, I'll have to chew on this for a bit. The part at the beginning of your video sounds a lot like Prof. Dungeon Master's no Hit Point system. In that system, you average the Monster's HP (also shown in the monster stat block), take the average damage the PC inflicts then dived the HP by the Damage to determine how many hits a monster can take. Boss fights and other important battle remain unchanged with rolling for damage etc. but for the common (but not minion) bad guys you reduce the melee to number of hits to speed up play. Monster Hit Point Average / PC Average Damage = Number of Hits Until Monster Death. It really speeds up combat, works with spells too.
Actually, it is harder to hit something in a swarm, because it is complicated to focus on a particular target. This is why there are schools of fishes : just opening your mouth as a predator is actually a bad strategy.
Wait! So first, you tell people they can’t do it...”can’t”. Then you just change the rules? I just do what the rules tell me, the rules are just a guide.
Let me know YOUR favorite video of mine, share it around and Ill make a follow up!
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You know your shirt is basically, The Sims right?
Armor break. Elemental break to lower CR or AC with effective methods?
the DMG also has an alternate mechanic for handling big armies of enemies. Page 250, mob combat.
Basically it eliminates rolling for the enemies. The players can hit any monster individually, but a group essentially is assumed that a certain number of attacks will be guaranteed to hit. You can use average damage to speed things up too. Their to-hit is based on their attack bonus and your players' AC, basically what they need to roll on a d20. For instance, if they need to roll at least a 13, a mob of 3 units is guaranteed to get one hit off on the player. So if you have a mob of 6 units, they successfully and automatically hit with 2 attacks.
It makes it so you don't have to actually roll for your mobs, and they can break off into individuals on the fly. This also means they don't ever crit since you don't roll damage.
Zee Bashew did a video talking about it and it's hard to explain, but having run it, it handles big groups of enemies SUPER well. Numerically it's about equivalent to averages when rolling individually.
If you think about it, it's kinda like how swarms in previous editions had automatic damage as well.
That really helps and is great advice! I’ll go checkout Zee now!!
I don't like the book rules for one reason: it's assuming that the entire mob is hitting one character
@@baddiemcbadbad9231 That won't be too much an issue if there's enough mobs. If it IS though you can break it apart and have a number of volleys made against each player, by RNG. Then back calculate how many of those volleys hit.
It'll lead to a bit more wasted attacks from the mobs, but considering it's mass combat, that's not something you're hurting for as a DM.
Favorite video has to be your home brew on short, long, and full rest. I listen to that one the most on my way to work
Haha yea?! That’s awesome to hear! It’s MY personal favorite too!!
Its a great tool I hope to see it implimented in a game.
Been using it in my campaign since that video came out and the party really like it. Thank you for your hard work.
I run that homebrew and love it
Going to try and implementation this swarm mechanic in my next one-shot. Going to have a rat summoner who can summon rats as a bonus action. Mechanically it will heal the swarm by adding to its masses. The players will have to choose to attack the rat summoner or deal with the swarm itself.
ooooooo yes yes that’s perfect! Basically adding to the pool! 👍🏼
In your orc scenario you could have one of the orcs from the other group run away in fear or charge the barbarian ending in its death. This could lead to players wasting their reaction to attack it or chase down what is already to the DM as a dead orc, but that is the choice of the player and just adds to combat.
Oooooo I see that!! Love it!
The best house rules ever made "If you like a player less, monsters deal +1 damage to its character"
You came in clutch today! I literally have a session planned today with level 20 characters and this will help me with the amount of craziness I'm about to embark on 😆
Tell us how it goes. It will be cool to hear from a first time user.
No pressure on the details, we don't need a play by play. Just a good, bad, and ugly. lol
Sorry meant to "please".
That came off as a demand, my bad.
YEEEESSSS there will be blood shed! 😈
So, how'd it go?
If you don't mind telling us.
It's been 7 months, how did the combat go?
Favorite is the Duel Wielding Sucks video, Congrats.
Thanks! I had been wanting to make that one for a while!
Same
"I like you less. Here's an extra point of damage." Hahah. :P
Congrats on one hundred! All nine of my player in my home campaign watch your stuff religiously! Your dual wield fox saved my players character narrative! As a dm I personally love your “create a baddy” video
Wow thats awesome that your whole group watches! Heck yea man!
About the explanation of how the damage "carried over" to the orcs on the other side: maybe one of the orcs was so terrified of the barbarian killing two of his allies in a single hit that he just... ran way. That way, for mechanical purposes the player "dealt" with 3 enemies with his powerful blow, but it still makes sense in-game. And if someone else really wants to spend time killing the fleeing orc, just treat him as a minion.
Ooo big brain idea here bro
My favorite is the "One-Round Skill Challenges" video--I'm very happy with what it does for my players!
I use those all the time!! So fun!! SO Glad someone said that! Your the first one to say that!!
I love the idea of combining minions and swarms! I feel like it could even be one step easier to just have them be minions that die in 1hp, but have an overkill mechanic where every X damage kills an additional minion, so any damage always kills 1 and that cuts down on the math and hp tracking.
Amazing content as usually coach. Appreciate the DM tips, will be using the swarm mechanics
Best video on the topic, well done
I've shared your Skill Challenges video with every DM I know. Such good mechanics.
Wow thank you for that!! That’s honestly huge for the channel too so thanks again!
AAAAAND I Love those things too!!
Using the massive damage optional rule handles minions quite nicely, and by the time you are using monsters of cr 1/4 or 1/2 as minions the party has a +5 mod to weapon attacks and probably sone extra dice do about ten damage per hit so a skeleton with 13 hp should probably die, but a zombie with 22 hp probably shouldn’t. Using the massive damage rule however means if your group can deal over half the monsters hp it dies, or there is a constitution save against it. Anyway though the aforementioned zombie would take massive damage if the fighter hits it with 11 damage, a little over the “normal” baseline.
In conclusion assuming the players progress as normal filtering in the normal monsters up to about cr 2 as minions isn’t a problem, since the groups base/aoe attacks can handle them, or for the tankiest monsters massive damage isn’t uncommon to kill them (an ogre has 60 hp a fireball could kill it or a generous smite from the paladin). And isn’t that the point of the minions, to draw hits for their dark master? If the storm giant had ogre minions they wasted a 3rd or 4th level fireball on them and the paladin used a first level smite.
I Like The Cantrip: SWORD BURST, For Mass Damage On Creature Swarm's
That Are Around Me...
If They Are Within Range, FIREBALL or SNOWBALL, My Homebrew Version Of FB, But It Deal's 8d8 Of Cold Damage...
Something I'd like some tips with. Cinematics for when important NPCs fight each other.
Yes, I’ve been thinking about this too! I’ve come up with a couple of rules for handling that but I’d love to see what other people do.
@@christopheracea5835 I'd like to hear your take on it, haven't really thought about it myself until now...
@@Piqipeg So I approached it with the mindset that I want to make npc vs npc combat interesting in a way that incorporates dice rolling while also keeping the spot light on players. So I would I do is I think about how can this npc contribute to combat in a way that helps make the players look cool. This could be anything such as making enemies fall prone, inflicting status effects, and a variety of other support type effects. For example the players had a mentor npc named Magnus that was very much an analog to Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat and he could lower an enemy's initiative, restrain them with ice, or trip them with an ice slide. Then I would roll what I would call a cinematic check and that would determine which of his abilities he could use and how effective it was. So in that example, when the player's vengeance paladin was fighting their nemesis and the mentor came to save them, I declared what I intended for him to do, rolled an 18, and determined that he created a sheet of ice that gave the party enough time to escape at the expense of the Mentor being left alone with the nemesis.
So in summary: I think about what abilities or actions an npc could take to support the party, determine how often he would use those, and based on an arbitrary DC determine how effective the npc uses that ability.
@@christopheracea5835 that is very inspirational! I'll have to try this way! Thank you for sharing!
Oooooooo like an NPC vs NPC stuff?
Best bad*as move I did was being a warlock and using a spell that (I think) explodes a 10ft radius on a goblin camp. I blasted it to their armory, weapons flew and gunpowder blew. Killing 10+ goblins there were shy over 20 gobs. 😆
With minions, I usually treat a nat-20 as an overkill.
_Your arrow perforates your target, you watch the bandit fall to his knees and gurgle in blood as a second figure behind him falls over due to your arrow lodging itself in his eye socket"._
Favorite video was you Dual-Wielding home brew. Love using two weapons!! (Yes I'm always thinking of Drizzt when I make a character. 😃)
Favorite video...WILD MAGIC!!! My players LOVE the chart you made!
Your fixed cantrips video was the 1st I actually implemented in my game, but flanking rules probably helped me the most.
My high-level players have huge ac and it was hard to challenge them. But with one of your variants and a couple of modifications, we are now heading into a war and I can rest assured that if a unit of low-level soldiers surrounds one of them they will actually pose at least a small threat to the demigod :D.
Favorite video would have to be villain actions, it helps to explain how to make villains more than just hollow monsters and hit boxes for me
My favourite video was definitely 7 homebrew rules for better combat
This was a hard choice, but it’s between the Counterspell/homebrew spell duel video or the more recent City Builder video. If I had to choose, I enjoyed the City Builder the most because I love world building.
Ooooo yea I see that, I do love that it’s a hard choice too lol so thanks for that!
Your Ranger Revised video is probably my top fave.
I’ve seen Coville’s video on minions a few times and really liked it, and I love your addition of the “super minions” mechanic - definitely going to be using that in the future! Also, love your swarm homebrew! I’d toyed with similar ideas before but never got an end product that felt refined enough to use - will for sure be using this!
Witchery Monster's was my favourite
The ranger rework was the first one I watched and saw how you can change stuff.
Also a lot of homebrew changes that make everything feel more real.
All your videos are amazing! congrats! your NEW Full Long Rest System was really helpful for me
Lots of people are saying this one... maybe I should do a follow up!
This is the first of your videos I made it through. I really like your ideas and real play experience, but often find your work too long without too much content, and there is a lot of unscripted material. This video was shorter, the content matched the title throughout, and an appropriately tight plug. So I guess I vote for this video, as your craft has improved!
Thank you! All of those things are things I have been working on!
Easy choice. Healing is not evocation, lolol 😂
It's hard to pick, but I loved the Brendan Lee Mulligan video. He is such a huge inspiration and I always try to make my players feel awesome because of it! It was short, but packed with useful info and examples. More of those are definitely welcome :)
Keep lowering that dm dc for all us, coach!
Yea I need to do some more of those! had been a while since a DM tip video, good choice for sure!
I think I like this one as the best? I dig turning common monsters into swarm mechanics, gonna give this a shot!
Woah cool! Ill take it! I do love this mechanic too and been wanting to do a video on it for a while, so many videos to make!!
I have been looking for horde mechanics for my game and this is my favorite so far and what I'll be using. I have liked this video for the fantastic idea and advice. Thank you!
Really love this swarm mechanic, so much better than rolling 10 or more d20s.
I think for carrying over the damage to another part of the swarm I might make 1 unit of the swarm fail a morale check and run away if the damage didn't feel like it'd hit them.
I'd probably also add in the mass combat rules from the dmg250 mob attacks table too, to make it even easier.
Im gonna have to check that out... I dont think im familiar with that! Thank you for the tip!
Never joined a patreon, but I'm homebrewing a campaign and DMing for the first time so I may just have to contribute for that monster madness!
Haha yea this monster PDF has been one of the most popular for sure! its MADNESS!
Fovourite video was the one with armor class "clash" thing about half damage. I use it in my games right now, it helps with flavour and adds a little something.
Glancing Blows! Yes! That’s a quick and easy one right there! 👌🏼
My favorite video you've done I think is the Witcher style monster video! But it kind of ties with your rest system video (which I think was the first I saw of your videos..)
Glad you enjoyed it! yea those are 2 of my favorites too! glad to see im not alone there lol
Favorite video, and I've put it into my game, is your Wild Surge homebrew. Players love it.
Thats my FAVORITE mechanic too, so Im with ya lol
Thank you all the great content i would have to say my favorite would be the Ranger class fix video because that is my favorite class
I am actually working on more class fixes right now!! Glad to hear it and thank you!
In the situation with the orcs where one dies while out of range of the attacker, their moral breaks and one of them flees or surrenders. Also, swarm of beholders.
Fun idea, but beholders are notorious for despising other beholders; not exactly cooperative.
A more plausible one would be a swarm of liches that act as de facto guards (alongside a couple of death knights and a swarm of vampires) to Orcus' throne room. Think of them being a group of liches that were at court, arguing which got to be the next to have Orcus' ear and attempt to garner favor. When the PCs show up they act as one to crush any fool that would dare approach their master.
Favorite video was definitely downtime ideas. Most of the people I play with focus on combat so it was fun to get ideas on things to do out of combat.
O for sure! I used to not do downtime as much, but once I did it was amazing! so I had to share what I learned from my misakes!
Mine was definitely you’re rules for skill challenges! Definitely made my travel sessions really rock!
OMG I need to do another skill challenge video! UHG, thanks for reminding me!
I think this may be my favirot video of yours, so far.
Your pretty great Coach!
FIVE THOUSAND Thank yous for that :)
There are so many but if I have to pick I would say the wild magic table homebrew the best
Thanks for that! Picking really does help! And it’s my favorite system too! Haha
my favorite is your whole playlist "How to Guide for DM" it was help a lot
My favourite video of yours has to be your “10 House Rules for D&D Combat”. I’ve watched it probably 10 times.
Hahaha really? That’s awesome! Thanks for that! I got lots more of those coming too!
I love your skill challenge video with the story about your players having to defend the city from the massive attack coming. The paladin going back to save his friends was epic!
my favorite video was your 6th edition review
That was your FAVORITE?? hahahaha well just wait, I have another video coming up soon... if you know what I mean!
The first Skill Challenge video is iconic and has resulted in some amazing sessions from sharing it with different DMs!
We had a massive battle against an army of Frost Giants at the gates of Waterdeep, where me and another player flew off to destroy the enemy fleet, while the rest of the party was on the front lines. The scale and simplicity thanks to the Skill Challenge worked SO well and made for an unforgettably EPIC couple sessions!
Shared your action oriented monsters video with a friend who's starting to DM. Just ran his first big bad combat and his players loved it.
Awwww dude for real... that makes my heart warm, like really. Thanks for letting me know that!
Yup. He ran a Medusa that summoned swarms of snakes and threw players across the battlefield and into pools of acid.
Human: You have my sword!
Elf: You have my bow!
Dwarf: You have my hammer!
Me: You have my subscription!
Do you have this in a pdf?
Yes it is in my "Alkander's Almanac of All Things" its on my website in the description :)
I really like when I see a concept and I'm like "very cool, that's how I do it too!" Thank you for sharing, I'm definitely going to update my swarm rules to add that one attack rule though!
I know what you mean! It’s like validation! Haha 😆
@@TheDungeonCoach Quick question since I didn't see it in this video nor Matt Covilles 4e Video. In 4e, saves are regulated to a base DC 10 roll, with the modern "save" being regulated to vs an AC, Reflex, Will, or Fortitude "attack roll". Half damage still existed, but "on a miss". The exception of this is minions who do not take damage on a miss.
I've interpreted this as a "save or die" for my 5e conversion of minions, but have not seen this anywhere, so I was curious how you handle half damage saves. I'll watch the video again to make sure that wasn't covered.
Favorite video is most definitely the Witcher-fy the monster.
Short, Long and Full rest vid was excellent as well
Tbh I really like this video and will be implementing this immediately
I do like the instructions to “keep it behind the screen” so that PCs do not know the monsters are Minions
Name For This Rule: Conservation of Ninjutsu
The more enemies of the same type there are, the weaker / more fragile they become.
Come join us in Coach's discord! Link in the description!
I'm pretty sure I've watched everything there is to watch on this channel, but I'd say my favorite video was the multiclass fix, me and my players have had a lot of fun with it :)
Congrats on 100 vids too
!
This actually helps me out with our next massive d&d campaign, d&d Multiverse: Rise of Lord Vortech ( our take on a Lego Dimensions sequel ). The plot revolves around endless enemies and villains from across video games, Movies, and TV shows and the Void Queen taking over the Multiverse.
Your 6th Edition Video.... jk, I loved, loved LOVED your Character Creation Video; but your Witcher Monster video was a pretty close second. Keep up the good work my guy!
Looking forward to trying the 1 or 2 hp minions today for a large scale combat. Thanks for the great idea. This is exactly what I needed for a large combat focused session not to drag.
I tried this mechanic in my last session and it was great! However, my swarm started with 12 members and I had nto revise the to-hit and damage numbers down a bit. Above 6 members i think the numbers start to break D&Ds bounded accuracy. Next time I'll break it into two swarms of 6!
I shared CUSTOMIZE COUNTERSPELL for More FUN D&D 5e Spell Duels, with my brother in law (also DM). I really liked this way of counterspell and i'm using it in my games from now on!!
Definitely NPC video! Your quirks are hilarious and my players love (or hate, when appropriate) every one I've used the system on. Their favorite is a tabaxi chef named Silver Spoon! She's kind and soft-spoken, but sprints EVERYWHERE.
I love all the tips and tricks, hacks and hybrids, and all the bending of ideas you bring!
Though, you do tend to avoid breaking things. That said, I really am behind you're reimagined idea of rogues in your "3 huge problems with the rogue class in D&D" episode.
I ship so many of your videos, so it's hard to pin down an absolute favorite.
I linked my players to the skill challenges video so I could have someone much more capable than me explain what's going on with what I planned. The players (and myself) love skill challenges because, and I quote, "I can do anything, rather than just actions limited by combat". Thanks Coach! PS, I also love (and have used extensively) your monster homebrew systems: legendary actions, action orientated monsters, villain actions, random monster abilities, etc.
Anyone whose been in actual combat knows that even the weakes links can whiddle down experienced veterans. I know the "cinematic thing: is nice as a change of pace... but I prefer realism... that yes, low level baddies can roll nat 20's, that level 20 players can roll nat 1's, that taking onlt 1 to 4 hp of damage over 20 to 30 attacks DOES add up, etc.
Which is why I prefer the regular combat mechanic... it may be slower at times, but its way more dramatic and endearing as it remains solid with the entire idea of RISK/REWARD.
I wouldn't mind a more "Cinematic" resolutio here or there, for a switch-up, but those situations would FOREGO most of the usual gains... just to maintain balance.
HuGGz
Congratulations on your 100th video milestone. If I could take a group of videos as my favorite it would be your combat homebrews 1, 2, and 3. However, my single favorite video is How to: SKILL CHALLENGE to D&D 5e. Ever since I saw this video I've been brainstorming how to put this idea into my sessions. Skill challenges to escaped towns under attack or a festival prize based on a wild boar hunt. It's been a fun adventure. Thank you for all the great content.
I actually love this so much! The only thing I would consider changing is giving swarms a vulnerability to area damage. Burning hands or fireball should be effective against a swarm of insects. The only problem is that it might be too much when stacking with other vulnerabilities, like fire and bludgeoning. Maybe a separate mechanic entirely: just a flat +2 or 3 damage per surviving chunk (area damage is more effective with more possible targets, of course). The bonus damage could even scale with CR.
Yo this actually helped me tremendously with a combat I’m running rn. I have 3 level 3 pc’s who just came across 3 level 5 npc’s and they’re fighting a swarm of Kenku assassins and 2 shadows. And combat was getting out of hand 😅 this helped a lot, thanks again, hope you’re doing well and having fun games!
My favorite vide has been the one that details Skill Challenges. I've watched it so many times! Virtual RUclips Gold Baby!!!
I really liked your Two Weapon Fighting Sucks video. I'm a recently returned to playing D&D person (last played in 3.5 era). I've been having grand fun with 5E. The Candlekeep Mysteries video is an excellent one as well. TBH, I'm very glad the YT algorithm recommended your channel to me.
CONGRATS. Yay 100 videos. I've sent my players so many videos to get their opinions on homebrew rules for our games. I think my favourite that I've sent is the Dual Weilding video. It's really changed our combat for the better
YESSS Another video of 4E content!
Will you ever make a video of adding new At-Will and Encounter powers from 4E? Kinda like the superiority dice from Fighter or Focus Points from PF2E?
At-Wills have been a fun way to add more flash and style to martial classes in my experience. And by making them spend multiple attacks to perform certain At-Wills, you can even speed up the game.
My favorite video is How to: SKILL CHALLENGE to D&D 5e. In the video you give really good examples of how the system works and how you tweaked it. Which made it really easy for me to adopt in my own campaign, with great effect!
Interesting to see another homebrew version of a swarm. This looks very good for that insect-type creature swarm. With lots of little weak things.
The version I made, I use for armies/large invading forces. Thematically it's a whole platoon of, say, Goblins. Mechanically it's a single strong Goblin with additional weaknesses to AoE.
It has is a larger size (Huge up from Medium), larger health pool (e.g. around 9 times). 3 multi-attacks with only a dmg increase (e.g. 3 times dmg buff, 1d6+1 becomes 3d6+3). I find 3 attacks as the sweet spot. 4 is time consuming and 2 doesn't feel like a proper swarm, or in this case platoon. I also have the multi-attacks decrease at health increments, but tbh I treat it as optional since it can be a pain to track.
Lastly I have the "creature" take twice the damage & healing from AoE abilities with a single saving throw for the whole group. So PCs with AoE feel extra powerful and single target people don't feel useless as their damage is spilling over from Goblin to Goblin.
Whenever I introduce this type of creature to an unfamiliar player, I say that mechanically it is the same as a single creature, though AoE abilities will likely prove effective. I don't hide that the players are doing double damage with AoE either, cause who doesn't like to hear that their fireball just did 65 damage?
I already do the swarm of minions rule
But I do 2 things beyond:
1. I play on R20 so I signpost what the value of them is by the token size. So I can say “here comes a titanic Zombie horde (50x50 ft Token) Filled with over 200 zombies! (1 HP each) as they damage it I don’t show an HP bar, I just shrink the token every 10 or so damage.
2. WARDICE I love big war scenes in my game, So that has tons of swarm tokens clashing I roll d100s, up to 3 on Each side depending on relative advantages and then I take the highest numbers, compare the difference and narrate out the chaos based on the difference. It’s best used as a narrative tool rather than a strict mechanical thing
Favorite DC vid?
Counterspell video, hands down!!
Second fav, that you didn't ask for?
The vid where you gave an alternative to using CR for encounters (can't remember the title).
How would you consider running a zombie swarm with undead fortitude? Unless radiant damage or crit hit, 5e Zs get to roll when at 0HP to instead drop to 1.
Going to try your method on a game next week, but they’re encountering undead. Part 1 is a siege on the town so just going with skill challenge, but they will be tracking the source after where they’ll find a massive pile of corpses subject to BBEG raising in chunks (Danse Macabre). I think perhaps roll the UF con save an add like 5hp to the swarm? Simply describe the body parts of those felled by PCs still crawling towards them.
I do a thing with minions similar to your "megaminion" thing that borrows from 4e and a d20 offshoot called Dungeon World:
When a minion gets hit it makes a damage save. If it fails it dies (as if it had 1 hp) and if it passes it's "bloodied" (and of course a second hit takes it out).
Simple and easy. For the save DC you can have it be 15 or 10 for weak attacks. You can either just guesstimate what that means or maybe even set a certain HP damage threshold if the players are rolling damage (e.g. 10 hp damage or more is DC 15 and under 10 is DC 10).
Also for those somehow unfamiliar with the "bloody" rule.. It's a carryover from 4e and happens when a character or monster is brought to half of their normal max health. At this point they are considered "bloody". In 4e this triggered all kinds of abilities but in 5e it just adds flavor. But that flavor is a real game-changer because (barring any peculiar circumstances) the bloody condition MUST be announced. In other words everyone in the fight, friend or foe, now knows that you're at half hit points! This really cranks up the tension and often changes the fight tactically. For example imagine a fight just kind of going along and one of the frontline people announces they are bloodied. Or your wizard. Or the boss monster. Or, heaven forbid, the cleric!
Improved hb cleaving through enemies is far more elegant and basically does the same... "If you reduce a target to 0 HP with a surplus of damage, you can deal the additional damage to annother creature in range if the original hit die would hit it, keep going until the damage is used up".
"Minions" already can be killed in 1-2 hits, no need to hardwire it into a homebrew rule. If your players know, they basically just start dual wielding daggers...
I've been using the HIT system instead of the damage system for a while now. When I first started using it, the enemies would HIT for max damage as my way of "balancing" (1d4+3 is now just 7). Though I remember swapping it after a nat 20 on a fire bolt dealt 20 damage and 1 shot and killed a level 2 druid. We rolled for hp, I didn't think to just give max hp. So he had 10hp level 2... yeah, tbh that one might of been my mistake, he could of had up to 16hp and been "fine" lmao. Also my favorite video is this mass combat and swarms video.
You could treat the ‘chunks’ as blobs of orcs - for when they separate the players.
Instead of 1 single attack for the two separated groups with a +10 to hit, if there’s two groups, make the two attacks with the +7 to attack to each player.
It adds more die rolling but the tactical element becomes a worthwhile choice for the players. Do we keep the orcs together as a group where they’re more dangerous? Do we try split them up and pick them off? Lure them out to make them significantly weaker? If you have that, the wizard will be crapping his pants if 3 of these things come charging towards him.
With the bees, let’s make the swarm smaller in size, especially if the ‘size’ of the swarm means that they could be in the same space as players and attack anybody in its ‘area’. A huge swarm of, say, 6 blobs/chunks takes up the 9 squares and attacks EVERYONE in those 9 squares. Making it smaller in size means it attacks less people at once and weakens it again, but, you can bet your arse your wizard will crap his pants again.
It’s very similar to FFG Star Wars ‘minions’
This could be my favourite - I think it is.
Your "Swarm of Orcs" is nearly the same as I run my campaign. I've done several "Swarms of Goblins", with one pool, etc. "How many are left?" "Lots". The barbarian was one to cut swaths through them, have multiple clinging/climbing on him. Multiple kills in one attack. Keeps things moving well. Split the swarm? No sweat. The barbarian one time grabbed a head of a dead one and chucked it at the other group. Very cinematic. Works very well. Thrilled to see others doing something similar!
First video of yours I saw was the Dual Wielding video, and, as with all other videos of yours I saw, I just went "Your homebrew. It's useful. I'll take it."
I've already implemented the scaling mechanic for Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter you mentioned there, and it works really well so far!
Haven't seen that many of your vids yet (and I'm gonna change that), so yeah. The dual wielding one is my favourite so far.
While your video about cyberpunk and droids etc. Is actually a close second and made me go and check out cogent. My favourite of yours is about your bonus level up mini feats. I LOVE this idea of homebrewing small bonuses for your players DIRECTLY based on who they are and what they want to do. You said it really well in a different vid, what fantasy are they reaching for with that class and character? Then take what 5e has provided and BUOLD it into something more with those custom feats! B.E.A-utiful
My problem with swarms of really small stuff - regular rats or small - is, exactly how are low-level PCs doing meaningful damage? Assuming you hit with your sword . . . okay, you kill one rat. The rest swarm you, biting all over. You need some AoE to really do damage to a swarm, like flaming oil (of which there is a limited supply).
I've yet to see rules that take this into account, instead permitting characters to sword the swarm in its hit points, completely destroying verisimilitude. (Yes, at high levels the Fighter can reasonably pull off wuxia-tier super-moves.)
It's really hard to pick which video is my favorite. Although i actually use some of the rules before watching the videos, I still learned another way of doing things from each one. It's always nice to pick the brain of other Dungeon Masters, because even they can find out another way of doing the same thing.
If I had to choose, it would be Killer Combos for combat with witchery monsters, frozen survival, and build a baddie at a close second. I actually like this one a lot too, because it kinda touches on what I like to do in my game, which is ditch the health pool, and stick with hit points. I'll explain.
Adversaries have a number of literal HIT points equal to thier level + Con. Sure it makes them appear squishier but the HP is accompanied by a Damage Threshold equal to thier AC - 10 (minimum 0). That way my players can still roll damage, amd for every number matching the DT, they take -1 HP on the hit. This makes running multiple baddies much easier without having to worry about hundreds of HP.
Adding Vulnerabilities and tolerances make these encounters a challenge as my players try and figure out how to hurt their opponent. This video makes me want to adjust things some more and make it an entirely self sufficient mechanic.
I want an opinion man. Like for example lets say their was a 700 pound tree in the players path. Now lets say they wanna use a strength test to lift it and they rolled a 20 ( they like crazy 20 and 1 ) but only have a +1 strength modifier. In my opinion I wouldnt allow it. I view it like this
+0 normal human ability
+1 above average
+2 genius
+3 best in the world
+4 beat record holders easily
+5 superpower
So even with a nat 20 if they where at a +1 i wouldn't allow it. Now a conditioned bodybuilder or even world record holder ( +2 and +3 ) could deadlift 700 pounds. So with a +3 i would lower the dc to 15. I Tried to make it as clear as possible. What do you think? Any tweaks?
+1
😆 Houses and Humans! That's a dub❤ Congrats on your centennial! Oh yeah: The one video where you said healing is, in your opinion, necromancy? I was like,
"....hold up☝"
Congrats on 100th video! I haven't been here from the beginning but I was close lol
Easily my favorite dnd content on youtube. Definitely in the running for favorite channel.
Thank you for all that you do!
Having to pick a favorite is hard... I use your wilderness survival guide in my rime campaign but I love the feat system and this video takes the use of minions to the next level. And I love the dual wielding video.
Why you ask such a difficult question!? Lol
Also, I share these all the time anyway. You don't have to ask :P
Congrats of 100 videos! At first I was a little turned off with your channel because of the sports theme, but as I watched you some more I have been really liking your take on some of the rules. I know you are the dungeon coach (DC) but with your content I think Homebrew Plays (HP) would have a better option. Anyway. Keep up with the good work😁
My favorite video has to be the Not Just Loot segment where you talk about rewarding players with bonus, customized perks at level up. This has really inspired me and when I sat down to draw some perks up for my party the ideas came to me like a flood. There's just SO MUCH potential for fun there. Thanks for everything and congrats on your 100th video.
I love this idea, my only concern with homebrewin my own swarms is making sure I get the Representative CR correct so I can reward XP appropriately. (Yes we use xp) do I just make is 600? Orcs 100x6? Or is it worth more or less xp as a swarm?
Not bad, I'll have to chew on this for a bit. The part at the beginning of your video sounds a lot like Prof. Dungeon Master's no Hit Point system. In that system, you average the Monster's HP (also shown in the monster stat block), take the average damage the PC inflicts then dived the HP by the Damage to determine how many hits a monster can take. Boss fights and other important battle remain unchanged with rolling for damage etc. but for the common (but not minion) bad guys you reduce the melee to number of hits to speed up play. Monster Hit Point Average / PC Average Damage = Number of Hits Until Monster Death. It really speeds up combat, works with spells too.
Actually, it is harder to hit something in a swarm, because it is complicated to focus on a particular target. This is why there are schools of fishes : just opening your mouth as a predator is actually a bad strategy.
Wait! So first, you tell people they can’t do it...”can’t”.
Then you just change the rules?
I just do what the rules tell me, the rules are just a guide.