Pruitt@3:56 ..."The Red Wizards of Thay used to be evil AF, now they're Wal-Mart." To whit, Jim:"That's just a different kind of evil." All this after a Wal-Mart intro ad. Lol
uhm...sorry to bother but Jim, can you guys make a series in which you take creatures/characters/spells or whatever and find a way they could be "put" in a d&d game? I've been trying to make a Harry Potter-Star wars game and it's been kinda hard (and cool), could you guys please give me, and others, a hand??
Me Pro you mean like stat up a rancor or something in D&D? The first thing i would do is look through the PHB and MM to see what can be reskinned. Only after that would I start making up new stats.
CHRLPTRSN about to kill the dragon, "Surprise the rival guild is here to reap the glory!" They mess up and end up knocking your party over allowing the dragon to het away, "I hate you rival gang, wait how did you even know where it was?", "The trail of kobolds you left."
I recently did this to my group (of 3 PCs). Our Wood Elf Ranger has a tendency to hit on every female NPC in a tavern, so I just threw the rival Half-Orc Fighter in the Phandolin tavern, knowing what would happen. He buys her a drink, tries some line on her, and promptly gets his ass whooped in public. The rest of our PC party bought her more drinks for the show, while the Ranger is still knocked out on the floor. Made for an interesting dynamic; she was only a rival to one member of the party, and the rest of the PCs like her just fine. Nevertheless, she still competes for the same work as them, and next time they meet she'll have her own NPC adventuring party.
I like the dragon cult example. In a campaign I'm running in, our players start off in the "nobody realised until it was too late" phase; the Dragonborn secretly rule some nations and openly rule others, while plotting to make the whole world like them.
I love the way you guys cover topics. You are focused enough to give good information on the topic, but broad enough to encourage ideas, and thoughts, instead of laying out how it should be. You always inspire me with new ideas to throw at my players. Keep up the great work.
Can you explain more about the vigilante style game mentioned at 18:00? I'm running a city defense based campaign and that sounds like good inspiration.
How would you properly play an illusionist sorcerer? I think it’d be cool to make videos like that which explains specific archetypes of the classes and how they work and interact with others.
Just started to run Princes of the Apocalypse, and this episode really helped me work out my cultists. The book is a great read but lacked the depth needed to run 4 independent organizations that all tie together. Thanks guys, was tons of help
:D Great one guys, keep it up! Is there any chance you guys would ever dig even deeper into some of the ideas that you've already covered? Like if the first episode on Chromatic Dragons was an overview, I'd love an episode that just drilled down on one color. Because you guys are great at big picture broad strokes, but it's also clear there's a lot of specific detail ideas that we would really love to hear! WebDM has easily been my most inspiring resource as a DM!
Speaking of evil organizations, I've sort of created "A fistfull of Dollars" situation in my campaign where the heroes are playing two organizations against each other.
Aaaargh you always have the best timing!!! My group will have a crucial showdown with the most important Thieves' Guild around in a few days!! You guys are the best, stuff like this has already happened 4 or 5 times!!
Playing a Thief of a Lawful Alignment is called “The Way of the Boss” in Dungeon Crawl Classics. As a common laborer, I appreciate that they didn’t see a need to say “Crime Boss.”
There's also the aspect that the evil organisation might want to get In good with the party, either to use them as muscle or to expand their influence beyond the city they're based in. Plus, the leader might have their own goals in mind, with running the organisation(say a thieves guild) being a means to an end, eg to procure certain items or just as a regular job
Everyone commenting on how awesome that intro was, but that post-credits scene was waaay better. Also, I'm definitely making a Walmart equivalent the antagonist of my next campaign....
I like thieves guilds to be focused on protection rackets. They create a network of favors and blackmail, spiced with some intimidation in order to provide a certain level of safety and order. The thieves guild doesn't order or organize heists, they establish rules and enforce them. They don't smuggle drugs, they ensure that the guard doesn't meddle in the smuggling affairs and that the smugglers don't flood the market in a way that draws too much attention. This is interesting for heroes because crushing the organization would just bring chaos. The guild maintains a delicate balance which the players may disturb with their actions. Thus, the guild may both try to get rid of them and use them as enforcers against unruly criminals. If the heroes act wisely, they have to build a rival organization to fill the void.
Good luck, and don't worry if you feel like your not doing well. You always do better than what you think. I recently started dming for a group of friend and I still think I'm not great despite all of my friends telling me otherwise. Enjoy yourself, and your players will too.
The thieves guild in my game is controlled by a Keyser Söze type boss. No one seems to know who he is, but he knows everyone and sees everything. They get their orders and do what they are told because they make tons of money when they do, or they vanish forever when they don't. The party got dragged in by helping to save an innkeeper that was a long time NPC, who was being hassled for protection money.
I was thinking of putting a neutral paladin order running the country through order in a tyrannical way vs thiefs that steal, but actively work to protect those whom ends up on the wrong side of the crooked laws.
I've been working on creating an organization that could be considered evil, though I classify them closer to chaotic neutral. Their leader is a half-elven warlock, driven to gain power and influence to allow her to complete her ultimate task, Free Balor from his poisoned cocoon prison created by the drow goddess Lolth with the help of Balor's rival, Errtu. Thus slowly building a proper organization, one that could be evil due to its overall master being a balor lord, and also setting up a potential war between this organization and the armies of the drow, defending Lolth. Oh, I almost forgot the most important parts, the name of this organization is the Cult of the Black Flame, and they can potentially be an allied faction to the party IF the party helps them acquire certain magical items required for their rituals of freeing Balor.
So can we get a video on how to run big character changing events for your players, say one of your players sacrifices there arm to pull a key out of a pit of rot grubs and loses there arms to save the party, or finally kills an enemy who's tortured there characters family for life etc? Obviously it means that players require the large amount Roleplay involved but running these kinds of things is what I wanted in my games and wanted to know your opinion. Probably made this confusing
I have a druid who's that sort of hardcore "survival of the fittest" mentality who sold her soul to an Archdevil to get a crew, a starting set of funds and is setting up her own drug trade ; the price was being reincarnated into a devil once she dies lol
The most interesting intro to a thieves guild was when we were walking down a darkened street late one night. A man ducked into an alley furitavly, so we went to look. The second he saw us he screamed, dropped the bag he was carrying, and ran off. We looked in the bag, and discovered it was filled with...dirt. After that people kept trying to kill us. As for other evil cabals. A group of nobels or wizards stirring up the local monsters to attack so they can win glory/use the parts in their experiments. A group of evil archeologists who think their on to a way to use the secrets of an ancient civilization to rule the world. But they need someone to run around collecting artifacts and scrolls. A group who are trying to steal enough cash and magic items, and recruit enough people to raise an island kingdom just offshore. Foregin spies. And of course the group of bored nobles who compete to see who can cause the most chaos .
Troommate “A Lich in charge of an Evil Organization?! Why is that a thing?!” “Because, I don’t know, I get bored sometimes, too. It’s a thing to do.” - Aiz - er, I mean Josh Groban as a Lich.
What if two Liches have a "friendly wager", and they make a bet to see who can control this random town first? The rules are that the Liches can't use any of their own power, and they are scrying to make sure the other guy is following the rules, but everything else is legal. There is a one year time limit, and the players walk in during the start. Maybe an underling notices them walk in and says, "Hey, want a job? You look like a guy who can get things done." Maybe they help the other Lich, because nobody knows about the bet.
Have you guys ever made a home brew character class? And what are your favourite Published homebrew character classes? (Dawnforged's Alchemist, Sterling vermin's Pugilist, Matt Mercers Blood Hunter etc)
Fantastic video, slight warning. Don't plot twist your BBG/head of the organization more than once. For reference, shows like Naruto do this something like 6x times in a row. Players lose frame or reference after one or two so make sure to only change who you planned your BBG to be once at most.
Thanks for watching! Want more Web DM in your life? Get our podcast here: www.patreon.com/webdm
Dear Pruit(t?) i just wanted to let you know that the intros you do keep away from the noose on a daily basis
Well there it is. Your best ever intro.
I still think the drug-trip that is the yuan-ti intro is the greatest.
10/10 best intro period.
If Joey Wheeler played D&D...
Aww shucks...
Rosseriah Lmao
Pruitt@3:56 ..."The Red Wizards of Thay used to be evil AF, now they're Wal-Mart." To whit, Jim:"That's just a different kind of evil."
All this after a Wal-Mart intro ad. Lol
Dang that thumb and intro. Killed guys.
Nerdarchist Dave
Thanks!
Thanks Dave!
uhm...sorry to bother but Jim, can you guys make a series in which you take creatures/characters/spells or whatever and find a way they could be "put" in a d&d game? I've been trying to make a Harry Potter-Star wars game and it's been kinda hard (and cool), could you guys please give me, and others, a hand??
Me Pro you mean like stat up a rancor or something in D&D? The first thing i would do is look through the PHB and MM to see what can be reskinned. Only after that would I start making up new stats.
yeah, I didn't think of that!
Oh man.... I'm 3 seconds into this episode and I'm dying. LMAO. The Guildfellas.
+Sean Hembree im changing the thumbnail, tgats brilliant
Not necessarily evil, but a rival adventuring party or guild could be an interesting foil and long running antagonist.
CHRLPTRSN about to kill the dragon, "Surprise the rival guild is here to reap the glory!" They mess up and end up knocking your party over allowing the dragon to het away, "I hate you rival gang, wait how did you even know where it was?", "The trail of kobolds you left."
This whole evil party thing made me cry with laughter. Those are some evil pricks. Poor nobleman's wife.
I recently did this to my group (of 3 PCs). Our Wood Elf Ranger has a tendency to hit on every female NPC in a tavern, so I just threw the rival Half-Orc Fighter in the Phandolin tavern, knowing what would happen. He buys her a drink, tries some line on her, and promptly gets his ass whooped in public. The rest of our PC party bought her more drinks for the show, while the Ranger is still knocked out on the floor. Made for an interesting dynamic; she was only a rival to one member of the party, and the rest of the PCs like her just fine. Nevertheless, she still competes for the same work as them, and next time they meet she'll have her own NPC adventuring party.
I made a gang war in a city for my campaign. They players decided it was a good idea to free the city from gangs. They killed so many people...
Omelettes and Eggs
they had failed the city
Lunarch but are gangsters people? Are they **Really?**
@@barrymcballs um what?
I like your players.
Guildfellas
LOL
I swear the eagle is following me! I swear!
This is sooooo well timed for me starting my first homebrew, you guys are rad!!
Go luck!
Luck go! I choose you
I really like how when they started talking about Walmart as evil there was a hard cut and the topic changed. #WalmartIlluminati
The Waltons heard you were talking shit...
You guys should do an episode about anti-parties (ie a party of adventurers that the antagonist uses to challenge and counterbalance the pc's).
I'll put it on the list.
you guys get tons of respect just for the Reign of Fire reference. awesomely underrated movie
Damn, the quality of the intro is incredible. You guys rock.
Thanks!
That intro was awesome XD
I like the dragon cult example. In a campaign I'm running in, our players start off in the "nobody realised until it was too late" phase; the Dragonborn secretly rule some nations and openly rule others, while plotting to make the whole world like them.
I love the way you guys cover topics. You are focused enough to give good information on the topic, but broad enough to encourage ideas, and thoughts, instead of laying out how it should be. You always inspire me with new ideas to throw at my players. Keep up the great work.
Can you explain more about the vigilante style game mentioned at 18:00? I'm running a city defense based campaign and that sounds like good inspiration.
How would you properly play an illusionist sorcerer? I think it’d be cool to make videos like that which explains specific archetypes of the classes and how they work and interact with others.
Masterfoxify nerdarchy's video on an illusionist is good just older. Watched it today. At the very least it will fuel some ideas
That would be a fun topic. I'd go with Heighten & Subtle for my first metamagic, maybe Extend. I'll def put on the list.
Just started to run Princes of the Apocalypse, and this episode really helped me work out my cultists. The book is a great read but lacked the depth needed to run 4 independent organizations that all tie together. Thanks guys, was tons of help
The Goodfellas intro MADE my morning.
Yeah, loved that intro!
:D Great one guys, keep it up!
Is there any chance you guys would ever dig even deeper into some of the ideas that you've already covered? Like if the first episode on Chromatic Dragons was an overview, I'd love an episode that just drilled down on one color. Because you guys are great at big picture broad strokes, but it's also clear there's a lot of specific detail ideas that we would really love to hear!
WebDM has easily been my most inspiring resource as a DM!
Well thanks! I will put that on the list. We have talked about revisiting shows. We always forget something when covering any topic.
Great job with the general methods and insights... I'm looking forward to Colville's Stronghold rules to put some meet on this great skeleton!
Speaking of evil organizations, I've sort of created "A fistfull of Dollars" situation in my campaign where the heroes are playing two organizations against each other.
Lookin' good, Web DM. Cleaner videos!
OutdatedMDARKLike the new lighting and position. Upgraded!
Do more, ALWAYS MORE I love listening to you talk about anything in reference to D&D for real.
AYYYYYYY!
WEB DM IS BACK!
AYYYY!!!!!
Woo, the gang is back with a video about gangs!
Holy moly, the quality is amazing!
Thanks! We're always working out the kinks.
Also gotta say, I love the new background, especially with the dimmed lights. I think it’s pretty cool!
Just when I make a futuristic game with evil corporations, Web DM shows up to help like the psychics they are.
Fantastic episode and just the topic I wanted to hear about! You can really tell web DM is stepping up their game!
One of the best Web DMs yet: so much detail, adventure story ideas, encounters for every level of party - really good episode, guys!
I love all of your videos. They’ve helped me improve myself so much as a DM and a player.
Glad to help!
Aaaargh you always have the best timing!!! My group will have a crucial showdown with the most important Thieves' Guild around in a few days!! You guys are the best, stuff like this has already happened 4 or 5 times!!
Not even 30 seconds in and I've dropped a like for that sick-ass intro. Great job you guys!
Amazing intro guys, but geez! I had videos on autoplay with wireless headphones in the kitchen so that first note scared the shit out of me!
Playing a Thief of a Lawful Alignment is called “The Way of the Boss” in Dungeon Crawl Classics. As a common laborer, I appreciate that they didn’t see a need to say “Crime Boss.”
Was just working on the Aspis Consortium for my Starfinder campaign. This is useful stuff, thanks!
25:08 oh my god i do the same thing! lol i buy the whataburger biscuit by itself and then just go to chikfila
Been waiting for a long time. You've finally returned! Thank Azathoth.
timing is unreal, my second session dming a thieves guild campaign is coming up.
That intro was the epitome of beauty
Great editing choices. Excellent use of drawn pictures.
Glad to see you back so quickly.
This is such a good channel. I've been binging on you guys for days.
Seriously, y’all just gave me inspiration that can save my campaign from the awful writing i had in the beginning. Thanks 🙏😎
Totally worth wait ... That's some high quality web dm right there!
That sweet sweet vid quality , Nice to see you guys back and better than ever :)
It was a great shoot all around.
One of my favorite videos so far!
There's also the aspect that the evil organisation might want to get In good with the party, either to use them as muscle or to expand their influence beyond the city they're based in. Plus, the leader might have their own goals in mind, with running the organisation(say a thieves guild) being a means to an end, eg to procure certain items or just as a regular job
Everyone commenting on how awesome that intro was, but that post-credits scene was waaay better. Also, I'm definitely making a Walmart equivalent the antagonist of my next campaign....
That intro is perfection
That intro literally drove me to tears it was so funny. Love you guys.
The intro alone made me like the video. You guys are great.
Check out Blades in the Dark for a system that inherently supports crime drama-style games! It's very cool.
Seth skorkowsky here and I think you should try call of Cthulhu
That tmnt foot ninja reference though!!😂😂
The Foot references always sneak up on you...
MORE!!!!! Gimme all the Thieves Guild videos!
I like thieves guilds to be focused on protection rackets. They create a network of favors and blackmail, spiced with some intimidation in order to provide a certain level of safety and order. The thieves guild doesn't order or organize heists, they establish rules and enforce them. They don't smuggle drugs, they ensure that the guard doesn't meddle in the smuggling affairs and that the smugglers don't flood the market in a way that draws too much attention.
This is interesting for heroes because crushing the organization would just bring chaos. The guild maintains a delicate balance which the players may disturb with their actions. Thus, the guild may both try to get rid of them and use them as enforcers against unruly criminals. If the heroes act wisely, they have to build a rival organization to fill the void.
Oh yeah the wait was worth it just for that intro.
And WebDM continues to get better, like a fine drow wine
Woohoo! Fantastic upload on my birthday! I'll be DMing a session for the first time next weekend!
Joseph Lindgren good luck man its one of the most rewarding things ever
Have fun and don't forget the earlier Web DM episodes for new DMs!
Oh - Happy Birthday!
Good luck, and don't worry if you feel like your not doing well. You always do better than what you think. I recently started dming for a group of friend and I still think I'm not great despite all of my friends telling me otherwise. Enjoy yourself, and your players will too.
Good luck, and try to not OVER prepare yourself, just let it flow naturally and things should be great.
Happy Birthday! Here's to one more trip around the sun.
New DM and this veritable treasure trove of crystallized knowledge is amazing :D
Awesome video guys! I've been working on a evil organization for my campaign but needed some inspiration ^^
that intro gets an automatic like lol
This comment gets an automatic reply!
The thieves guild in my game is controlled by a Keyser Söze type boss. No one seems to know who he is, but he knows everyone and sees everything.
They get their orders and do what they are told because they make tons of money when they do, or they vanish forever when they don't.
The party got dragged in by helping to save an innkeeper that was a long time NPC, who was being hassled for protection money.
That into was priceless. You guys should do more themed intros.
That intro though, wow. Amazing xD The rest of the video was fantastic too!
11 minutes in and this video has been sooooo helpful
It's scary how each episode is on the exact topic i need when i need it! 😝
Clearly the result of the precognitive spells we cast before each shoot.
We're clearly Scrying on you. Nice sweater, btw.
I was thinking of putting a neutral paladin order running the country through order in a tyrannical way vs thiefs that steal, but actively work to protect those whom ends up on the wrong side of the crooked laws.
Welcome back!! By the way, great kick at the door comeback !
They are back! Amazing!
and it is also better quality video!
I've been working on creating an organization that could be considered evil, though I classify them closer to chaotic neutral. Their leader is a half-elven warlock, driven to gain power and influence to allow her to complete her ultimate task, Free Balor from his poisoned cocoon prison created by the drow goddess Lolth with the help of Balor's rival, Errtu. Thus slowly building a proper organization, one that could be evil due to its overall master being a balor lord, and also setting up a potential war between this organization and the armies of the drow, defending Lolth. Oh, I almost forgot the most important parts, the name of this organization is the Cult of the Black Flame, and they can potentially be an allied faction to the party IF the party helps them acquire certain magical items required for their rituals of freeing Balor.
That opening was gold XD, good to have Wednesdays back too.
BEST OPENING EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love it more then my words can say.
got the big thumbs up just for the intro. Love it!
This episode was badass!
Thumbs up, just for that intro. Great work
So can we get a video on how to run big character changing events for your players, say one of your players sacrifices there arm to pull a key out of a pit of rot grubs and loses there arms to save the party, or finally kills an enemy who's tortured there characters family for life etc? Obviously it means that players require the large amount Roleplay involved but running these kinds of things is what I wanted in my games and wanted to know your opinion. Probably made this confusing
Hmmm...I'll see what we can do. Stay tuned
JPruInc thanks man
Still my all-time favourite intro from you two!
I have a druid who's that sort of hardcore "survival of the fittest" mentality who sold her soul to an Archdevil to get a crew, a starting set of funds and is setting up her own drug trade ; the price was being reincarnated into a devil once she dies lol
Reign of Fire reference! NICE!
Podcast,please
The most interesting intro to a thieves guild was when we were walking down a darkened street late one night. A man ducked into an alley furitavly, so we went to look. The second he saw us he screamed, dropped the bag he was carrying, and ran off. We looked in the bag, and discovered it was filled with...dirt. After that people kept trying to kill us. As for other evil cabals. A group of nobels or wizards stirring up the local monsters to attack so they can win glory/use the parts in their experiments. A group of evil archeologists who think their on to a way to use the secrets of an ancient civilization to rule the world. But they need someone to run around collecting artifacts and scrolls. A group who are trying to steal enough cash and magic items, and recruit enough people to raise an island kingdom just offshore. Foregin spies. And of course the group of bored nobles who compete to see who can cause the most chaos .
That video intro was 8 Dragons out of 8 dungeons. Wait, I think that’s backwards. But great video!!!
Ha! Thanks!
Lich's with Evil Organisation Why? because even Lich's can get bored.
Troommate Every Lich wants to become a King, so they need someone to rule over.
Need folks to feed souls to their phylactery.
Troommate
“A Lich in charge of an Evil Organization?! Why is that a thing?!”
“Because, I don’t know, I get bored sometimes, too. It’s a thing to do.” - Aiz - er, I mean Josh Groban as a Lich.
What if two Liches have a "friendly wager", and they make a bet to see who can control this random town first? The rules are that the Liches can't use any of their own power, and they are scrying to make sure the other guy is following the rules, but everything else is legal. There is a one year time limit, and the players walk in during the start. Maybe an underling notices them walk in and says, "Hey, want a job? You look like a guy who can get things done." Maybe they help the other Lich, because nobody knows about the bet.
Isn't the Zhentarim run by a lich? Sasz Tamm or some such?
Someone make a gif of Pruitt's tongue, please and thank you
Someone should get on that lickety-split.
Have you guys ever made a home brew character class? And what are your favourite Published homebrew character classes? (Dawnforged's Alchemist, Sterling vermin's Pugilist, Matt Mercers Blood Hunter etc)
Fantastic video, slight warning. Don't plot twist your BBG/head of the organization more than once. For reference, shows like Naruto do this something like 6x times in a row. Players lose frame or reference after one or two so make sure to only change who you planned your BBG to be once at most.
I liked just because of the intro. Y’all should do a vid on homebrew ideas and rules!
ruclips.net/video/rzc8XvzhwA8/видео.html
This video is incredibly useful! Well done, guys!
THIS IS THE GREATEST INTRO IM DYING PLEASE CALL THE PARAPLEGICS!!!
Gotta hand it to you, this joke has legs.
As the cleric once told a dismembered zombie, "You should quit while you're still a head."
Best intro ever
Love that intro
The Gentleman Bastards series (The Lies of Locke Lamora) is soooooo good for inspiration for thieves guild stuff!
Best intro yet! So funny
I now want a fantasy movie where the beginning of this is the intro to the movie.
OH LORD I WASNT READY FOR THIS, THE PANTS ARE COMING OFF NOW.
Boys, your intro game is STRONG!