Star Wars taught me three things related to D&D: 1) Shoot (stab) first. 2) Never go down a garbage chute. 3) Don't jump into bed with a new NPC until you determine whether you two are related.
Players walk through a strange market run by goblins (I haven't created any NPCs, gonna wing it) Player asks if there are any goblins selling food. "Yes, he has a small table with a basket of fish." "What's his name." (Uh....) "Gripp." Gripp the Goblin was with us for 36 more sessions and survived the whole campaign.
I don't think Grumm should return, but they should recover his body for a proper burial. Make him go to a Valhalla sorta place where he will train for a Ragnarök sorta event, and if a player dies in combat he/she can meet him there.
Don't forget that Luke and Ben meet Han Solo and Chewie in a seedy tavern in the beginning of Star Wars before going on their quest to save the kingdom (I mean galaxy). I think George Lucas was a secret D&D player. :-)
The Grumm story made me think that sometimes what players want is not what they or the campaign need. When they insinuate that they want Grumm to still be alive, they're really just nostalgic for the feeling of Grumm. Grumm, like so many beloved characters in our stories, was more than a fictional entity, he was a process. He was a story. When Grumm ended, he became complete. If you ever did bring Grumm back, he would feel somehow hollow to the players. A ghost wearing Grumm's skin. Instead of wanting to resurrect him, the players should think of creative ways to commemorate him in the game without trying to recreate his story. Ohhhhhhh, Star Wars, I get it...
I had one of those NPCs in a game over 20 years ago that my players still bring up. It was a halfling warrior in AD&D 2nd Ed, Zodal the Small. He was just supposed to be a throwaway character! He had three things I used to describe him; he wore a chain shirt, he was small, even for a halfling, and he waved hello and goodbye with both hands. THAT'S IT!!! Yet still he is remembered, over 25 years later! You can never know where the next Zodal the Small will come from.
My players attached to a throwaway NPC merchant, to the point of involving themselves in a war, (a war that wasn't part of the main plot as nobody had skin in the game until said NPC) just to save the NPC.
Hmm, you yourself said, “Don’t subvert player expectations, meet them and exceed them.” So I say, “Give them Baby Grumm!” I have spoken that this is the way. The little, bearded Grummling even comes with a book of bedtime stories that some normally gruff and grumpy but soft-hearted player character is pestered to read from every time the party stops for a long rest. The title: “Grumm’s Fairy Tales.” Okay, okay, I’ll see myself out now. No need to push. :)
Perfect video for today sir. I am more excited to see your videos then that movie masquerading as Star Wars. The heroes journey is what we all want in our movies and games. I regret I have only One like to give. Sharing this video to even my non DnD friends.
@@kalenplant2675 It sure is, a quick search is wotc destroying dnd beings up videos talking about all the different ways they are doing it, I when full OSR because of what they are doing.
@@herohiroguy I just want your view on it man, not regurgitated crap from angry people online because as we know, the Internet will get angry over anything.
Along the Grumm line of thought.. One of the best NPC's in a campaign I played in was a mimic. Instead of fighting it we fed it some rations then offered it a job as doorkeeper of the dungeon which was under a key shop in a city. We lured it with the promise of fresh pastries and cake which were way better than dry rations. Very memorable role-play moment because the dwarf could speak undercommon.
Yet another well crafted video. One thing to mention is the when and how of removing the mentor. Once the 'kids' have leveled enough that they can handle things on their own, having a memorable and story-driving exit to the mentor is very important. It cements the 'old fool' as a beloved NPC and puts a bullseye on the baddie who brought him down.
Great DM'ing advice! Sharing with my son, who is preparing to run his first D&D game, in a few weeks. Been at this DM'ing stuff for 39 years... Still learning! Finding a few gold nuggets in your videos, to add to my dragon's hoard of treasures. Huge fan of X-DM -- amazing book, amazing techniques within it. And... It has amazing gamer humor in it, too. I laughed out loud reading it -- my D&D-playing family thought I'd lost it. ;-) Keep this stuff coming. I learned all of this, the hard, slow, torturous way. I am helping my son learn it fast, easy, and well. Your videos are a wonderful resource. Cheers!
I got my friend coming over tomorrow to play d&d for the first time. He is joining in on my sons campaign and I can't wait to unleash the dungeon craft and runehammer style of play onto him. Great story, fast combat and "don't let them see how the sausage is made". Your content is simply amazing and my go to place for d&d ideas, even the videos I've already watched. Keep up the great work.
The Throw Away NPC can be solid gold. One of the most memorable for my group was a tavern mutt named Frank the Dog. It was simply an ambience piece in a murder mystery adventure in a large port city. I had no intent of having the animal be anything else, until the Druid cast Speak with Animals and interrogated it. Frank wound up providing a nugget that lead the party to discovering the murder was an undead monster disturbed from a centuries long sleep by an expansion of the city sewers. Frank is now legendary from two interactions in a campaign I ran 12yrs agon
Just like Babe Ruth said in The Sandlot, "Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." Don't take that literally though... Grumn's legend will be reduced if he's brought back from, what was presumably, his death.
started watching mandalorien last night with the kids, they noticed right away that ir was just like DnD. but star wars. we looked up Jon Favreau wiki and it has a paragraph on how he credits dnd with his storytelling.
Your advice on NPC’s is spot on. I made probably 15+ NPC’s over the course of a year and the one that stuck was a prisoner I made up on the spot he joined the party and is now 11th level. Almost all of the comic relief comes from this NPC’s actions and commentary. He’s everyone’s favorite.
Old school DM/player (1e/2e)who got back into the hobby a year ago. 5e is awesome , the choices, and options for PC’s is a breath of fresh air but as a DM I find it extremely difficult to truly challenge my players without going to great lengths that border on cheating. Your channel and advice have helped me tremendously to combat this problem. Thank you, Professor, and keep up the good work.
Grumm had a son that no one knew about. The managed to recover his body and favorite weapon. He talks to the weapon and seeks its counsel in battle planning.
Professor Dungeon Master had made so many good recommendations that I came here to thank you for them and the ones that will surely come. I just watched Skyfall and S.W. Episode IV, V & VI. The last one I will never forget, specially the funeral pyre scene (the moment here was very deep). I think this was a great way to start my 2020.
Another great video. Your points on the Star Wars characters was articulated very well and made me realize precisely why I didn't like the newer movies.
Wow, I just discovered your channel, and honestly, I am super impressed. I have had a WEG Star Wars gaming happening for 11 years, and it's been one of my most memorable game of all time. Each of us has a nemesis or villain that will show up once in a while and try to screw with us, and our GM has told this beautiful story. Having high powered characters I often wonder how he did it, and he told me something very simple that I use in my own games is scaling. Honestly I would love to sit down and converse with you on so many things. so impressed by your insights and I think very much in the same lines. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. (sorry this is long)
Great episode! Aside from the excellent DM’ing tips, I was starting to feel grumpy and cynical for thinking the new trilogy is terrible. Glad to know I’m not the only one!
It's been a garbage fire since the Prequels, Disney is just carrying on the tradition of completely misunderstanding the appeal of the original trilogy.
@@zacharyhoover5588 Or there are retards that will watch anything and sing its praises like a bunch of zealot fanboys. Isn't there a Jonas Brothers album you should be pirating right now?
played what you described !!! love every minute of it !!! started in the kings chamber and wallked in to a siege battle and then started the quest and ended in the kings chamber
I love how you think. Both for GM advice and film/screen writing perspective. I first saw "A New Hope" in 1977 when I was 5 years old. I can still recall the grandeur of the theater lobby and some scenes from the movie. You're correct about there being something inside us that resonates with traditional tales (DNA?), and this feels just right to us. Maybe it's a mystery to all humans. IDK BTW, I vote to leave Grumb be. His memory can be romanced by players for years to come. But...if you do decide to revive him, a planar adventure may be in order: have the party quest to find Grumb's soul. Once he's found, they can role-play their desire for him to return to the world of the living.
My party's all time favourite npc was an orcish shaman that was supposed to appear once to sell info and potions to them midway through a dungeon. He was always kind of annoyed by them and became a recurrent shopkeeper throughout the campaign.
Needs more Grumm! Also, the two second character who became a staple in my current game: Donnie the requisitions officer. He was the guy who hero worshipped all the pilots he filled orders for, and was always tripping over himself when he met them in person. He appeared in two scenes in session one and very briefly in session three. After his little cameo, one of my players paid a visit to the bar and immediately said "I'm gonna look for Donnie." The guy's been in damn near every session since. They can't part with the dude.
Number eight is what I love of rpgs, how players can change the thing that you narrate and attach or hate others npcs. Something similar happen to in my campaign, I created a gravedigger that not talks to much (was a helper for a sidequest) I don’t know why the players created a mysterious background around him that I have to make him a villain... he ended to be a not too powerful cleric worshipper of the death but the players fear him to much that never make an attempt to stop him.
Don't listen to those who complain loudly about your preferred style of game not being theirs. My friends and I love your channel and enjoy your insight, experience, creativity and approach to the hobby. It's easy to find "how to overpower the game" advice on other channels if that is what someone is looking for. We students of Professor Dungeon Master need our mentor!
I also find it good to start with a terse descriptive of your character whether they're a PC, NPC, or otherwise. With a simple sentence, you can just run on the fly with any character. It also makes it easier to to remember a large cast of characters... and keeps notes to a minimum. Mostly you just want to sum up their personality and profession (which is often a descriptive in of itself). Examples: - Marty Mcfly: A young musician and lab assistant. - Falstaff: A heavy drinking, fun loving knight and swinger. - Macbeth: A corrupted noble driven insane by his own lust for power. - King Richard 1st: A battle hungry King. - Saint Olga: Loyal widow and Queen fueled by vengeance. - Brian Blessed: A hammy fellow with no inside voice. RUclips Examples: - God Emperor of Mankind: A grouchy, profanity spewing, manipulative godlike being - Jack the NPC: A wisecracking investigator/adventurer who's here for the lolz. My examples: - King Faen: Elvish gardener turned king. - Renard Silverhands: Cynical master swordsman and alcoholic. - Hygeia: Hippy herbalist and physician. - The Wanderer: A byronic warrior. - Aria Del Espada: A young, resourceful princess and aspiring mage.
Basically the same thing, but I wrote my campaign using Dan Harmon's story circle. One of my players agreed to let his character die in a very dramatic fashion. It devastated the party. That arc felt so rewarding.
I had an NPC whose only description was "he's a young guard used as the errand boy by the mayor", and he was just supposed to ask them to meet the mayor. Well, it wasn't one of the more than 10 NPCs with backstory the one they fell in love with, it was this Gawyn boy who didn't even had a name before they asked it.
I created an NPC in probably five minutes that was a big tough grunt, and when he wasn't fighting, he was sipping lemon tea from his silver mug. At one point the characters and the grunt got captured and had all their possessions (including the tea and mug) taken away. I slipped on accident and said that the grunt was still sipping his lemon tea, in prison, and he has been a player favorite ever since. It drives the Bard crazy to try and figure out where the tea is coming from.
I think there aren't many modules for high-level characters because the higher level you are the more integrated into your campaign world you are. When you can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the most powerful well-known NPCs of your setting, your characters are now among the movers and shakers. It becomes more about accomplishing their goals and bless about merely surviving and getting rich. When my player characters were approaching level 20, I was worried that the DM was going to want them retired. We discussed it and neither of us wanted to do that so we elected to paraphrase an ex-president and declared "life begins at level 20!" I think low, middle, and high level gaming is like breakfast lunch and dinner. We may have a favorite meal of the day, but we're happiest when we have all three
Great video sir. I personally think the challenges of running high-level games comes more from the level based systems itself then it does the imagination of the storyteller. In games like Exalted and Vampire, everyone is uber powerful and yet its still easy to write campaigns. It’s psychologically and mechanically limiting when you have a 1-20 level system.
Re: NPCs who the players unexpectedly like... I was DMing a game with one player... I had this mage NPC, Felonius who, along with a thief NPC, Greegan, regularly bullied a dwarf NPC. When goblins took down Felonius in one of the party's first battles, I was surprised that my player didn't want him to die. 😯 As a result, I bent the rules to allow Felonius to survive on death's door and recover after much rest. Felonius might get killed later (his survival is not inevitable), but it depends on what happens in our campaign.
I think it would be fun to have a mentor that ends up corrupted or ideologically opposed to the players and they have to fight them. especially if the players really like the mentor. Imagine if Gandalf got a hold of the one ring and the fellowship had to put him down, it would be a real shock while also being quite sad (like it's not really his fault). He would have made an incredible reoccuring villain while also acting to reinforce the danger and importance of the main quest (IE destroying the ring).
I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season! If you had fun acting out Grumm's personality, then I say bring him back. I really enjoy your video!
My characters role played with a minor villain so hard they eventual convinced him to turn on the big bad lol. He was supposed to be an epic combat to finish level 3 of my dungeon, but they sacked his room and learned what made him tick before confronting him. They now have their fav NPC 😅 who uses Time Magic. They love this guy!
I completely agree about level. The journey to level 10 is usually the best part of the game. I've had more games die out after level 10 than at level 5.
Grumm returns, as an undead lieutenant. He seeks revenge against any who stopped him from achieving his goals. Party must confront him several times before recapturing his soul, and giving him a heroes place in the halls of his ancestors
Great idea! I told my group I'm only bringing Grumn back if this video hits 10k views, which is looking unlikely. But your idea is one of the better ones.
Do not have Grumm return; however, do have Grumm's spirit haunt the players. He died saving them instead of finding death and redemption in glorious combat. Because of his shame from this failure his spirit became trapped and spiteful. He now resents the players for denying him his glorious death, and his spirit has begun following them. Their task is to figure this out and somehow provide Grumm a glorious death in the spirit realm. (Also, great video)
A new video, huzzah! So about Grumm... what if Grumm did survive but he was severely hurt and bashed in the head, giving him that good old amnesia trope. While he has recovered physically he's had the mindset of "die a glorious death" scrambled into "give others a glorious death" and one day he shows up wanting to kill the PCs. Does he do it, do they kill him, can they figure it out and 'fix' him?!
I can attest to the NPC part. My players loved a Nosferatu named Franky who was just there to give them quests and weasel them into owing him favors. He was just a sarcastic, witty douche and he was their favorite.
If you haven't watched RotS yet, you're in for a surprise. The first hour had me watching in disbelief how similar to a regular D&D session the plot was. In the end I got the feeling I just observed 3years worth of a campaign, compressed into 2h... I'm not complaining, I actually enjoyed it.
What Star Wars taught me as a player: 1. Don't pick fights with people at the bar, you'll lose an arm that way 2. Take off your helmet because your survival rate is higher if the audience can see and identify your facial features, but the rest of the imperial armor uniform looks cool on you 3. Yes, a Critical Hit can destroy even something as massive as the Death Star
The NPCs that I have introduced that have the highest percentage of PC acceptance are those who are squires/henchmen/pet projects to the players' characters. Give a Dragonborn character a kobold follower, give a Thief a street urchin who has some pick pocketing skills, or give a Cleric a disciple seeking redemption/piety but lapses into blasphemy due to a dark past, etc. Make them smaller/weaker than the PC (so they don't upstage them), but still helpful to them through knowledge, social contacts, or skills/abilities. Make them act like a fan of the PC (polite, deferential, helpful, and concerned for their well being). Make sure they have a problem that they can't overcome without help from the PC (illiterate, poor combat/magic ability, unattractive to opposite sex, etc.) You'll know you have them hooked, when they don't want the NPC to die.
Thanks you very much ... yes we can learn very much from Star Wars... also Episode 7 and 8, the fails you don't have to do :D. ... The question why some side NPCs become greate and important NPCS are overseen... May be the first Situation in the game, if they come with a benefit (for the moment, for the situation, for the party, for the players or born out of the chaos of a fail.... I think if they trigger the right emotions they get the focus... Darth Vadders, in his first scene your emotions build an archetype.... you know how he (should) work.... first Order General Huks, you think he should work as an evil general... We know what he became... I think the first moment must be planed very well (make own notice to remember that for next time) As every time, great video with good support thoughts :)
You have a chance to introduce imposter Grumn, so they can relive the tragedy all over again when they are forced to kill the imposter themselves. Imposter Grumn could be a magical monster (Doppleganger, devil, etc) or just a shady dwarf with disguise skills that wants to screw over the PCs for some reason.
I once created an off the cuff NPC to show the powerful player characters where the entrance to the cave of the beginning of their adventure was and named him “Paul the lucky”. They rolled a random encounter on the way and the whole party circled around Paul the Lucky to protect him because he was a lowly first level farmer. He became so endeared to them and I just could not figure out for the life of me why. Players are funny like that. Oh. And bring Grumm back!
In regards to Player's loving NPC's, I had my player's fight a boss fight against a little girl Assassin with the power to disappear and reappear and sing a creepy little tune as she did her work of death, the party was able to defeat her through great hardships by removing her source of power, what they did not know was that her source of power was also tied to her vital functions, so The living Teddy Bear and Kenku in the group who wanted to help her have a better life are pretty sad at what they had done the Kenku holding her in his arms as she is slowly disinfectant in his arms, the Kenku in the depths of despair from not being able to save her. Fast forward to one of two one on one session to set stuff up for the next part of the campaign, the Kenku and Doppelganger members of the party meet another little girl, this one is a lost noble girl with amnisha, they take here into the group later introduce her to the Teddy Bear and remember what happened to the little assassin girl are determined to help this new little girl find her way home safely.
Have the party get drunk with a random NPC at their favorite tavern where they tell the story of Grumm. Let the NPC secretly be a necromancer who inspired by their tales, decides to bring him back as a favor.
Grum should stay dead since death is permanent in your campaign. However, you could introduce Grum’s relative who is there to avenge his death or some other reason.
Hmm. The bit about impromptu NPCs inexplicably becoming beloved may actually tie into the previous point, Professor... methinks it could be because of the difference in expectations, and presentation. If you're quietly designing an NPC in your head, alone, you've only your memory and your understanding to base them off of, and you might think of ways to sell their personality or make them memorable in your own time, then drop them off into the world for the players to meet, already pre-developed... but, when you make one on the fly, suddenly you're not the only factor in the creation process anymore, you've got like four other blokes and sheilas looking at you like chicks in a nest, each with their own expectations, having had their own days, just looking to have a good time and you as the dungeon master are receptive to that, so you may well inadvertently create a more likeable NPC with that indirect input rather than hours of thought on your own... Plus, the players can usually pick up on that subconsciously, right? Impromptu NPCs likely have a different air, a different vibe about them, they feel fresher, not rehearsed, "straight from the cranium", as the audience might say to a freestyler. The players feel like that NPC might not have even happened without their being there to instigate them-like they somehow contributed to this moment, and combined with your new on-the-fly creation process, that "say something now, figure out why later" type deal, it comes together as this perfect storm of memorability. I think that's a beautiful thing, at least how I've pictured it happening. Not to say that spending time writing up NPCs with their own goals and capacities isn't of value, just that those tend to feel a bit more played-up. Compare the community aspect and personability of knowing that your DM is doing a funny voice from behind a paper plate with a face crayoned onto it that he's holding there with a ruler to a dude whose make-up budget alone could probably pay your rent for two months, and who's probably spent that long rehearsing his delivery for this very day. One's only separated by a piece of dead tree flesh, the other looks like he's just here to do his job and get paid for it, whether or not you're entertained. So, I guess it's about connecting, that. The dungeon master being a human being and a player besides all of them probably lends itself to the thought that an NPC they just sort of popped into existence is one they can be more themselves with, and who knows? They may even have a better time re-hashng the process of creating motivations and things like that on the fly as the session progresses and plot develops. Now everyone's having fun! Only just thought of that thanks to you and your big brain bits of knowledge, thanks. ~
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Star Wars taught me three things related to D&D:
1) Shoot (stab) first.
2) Never go down a garbage chute.
3) Don't jump into bed with a new NPC until you determine whether you two are related.
Goya Solidar -or that they can bleed.
4) The Devil Mouse is evil.
True. And with so many sperm donors--you never know. They oughta be an app for that....
Players walk through a strange market run by goblins (I haven't created any NPCs, gonna wing it)
Player asks if there are any goblins selling food. "Yes, he has a small table with a basket of fish."
"What's his name." (Uh....) "Gripp."
Gripp the Goblin was with us for 36 more sessions and survived the whole campaign.
I don't think Grumm should return, but they should recover his body for a proper burial. Make him go to a Valhalla sorta place where he will train for a Ragnarök sorta event, and if a player dies in combat he/she can meet him there.
Heartily seconded! Let him enjoy his eternal reward.
Don't forget that Luke and Ben meet Han Solo and Chewie in a seedy tavern in the beginning of Star Wars before going on their quest to save the kingdom (I mean galaxy). I think George Lucas was a secret D&D player. :-)
This is the best breakdown of the issues from TLJ. You're the best.
Thanks, John.
The Grumm story made me think that sometimes what players want is not what they or the campaign need. When they insinuate that they want Grumm to still be alive, they're really just nostalgic for the feeling of Grumm. Grumm, like so many beloved characters in our stories, was more than a fictional entity, he was a process. He was a story. When Grumm ended, he became complete. If you ever did bring Grumm back, he would feel somehow hollow to the players. A ghost wearing Grumm's skin. Instead of wanting to resurrect him, the players should think of creative ways to commemorate him in the game without trying to recreate his story. Ohhhhhhh, Star Wars, I get it...
I had one of those NPCs in a game over 20 years ago that my players still bring up. It was a halfling warrior in AD&D 2nd Ed, Zodal the Small. He was just supposed to be a throwaway character! He had three things I used to describe him; he wore a chain shirt, he was small, even for a halfling, and he waved hello and goodbye with both hands. THAT'S IT!!! Yet still he is remembered, over 25 years later!
You can never know where the next Zodal the Small will come from.
Absoutely.
My players attached to a throwaway NPC merchant, to the point of involving themselves in a war, (a war that wasn't part of the main plot as nobody had skin in the game until said NPC) just to save the NPC.
Hmm, you yourself said, “Don’t subvert player expectations, meet them and exceed them.” So I say, “Give them Baby Grumm!” I have spoken that this is the way.
The little, bearded Grummling even comes with a book of bedtime stories that some normally gruff and grumpy but soft-hearted player character is pestered to read from every time the party stops for a long rest. The title: “Grumm’s Fairy Tales.”
Okay, okay, I’ll see myself out now. No need to push. :)
This is excellent
At least you've got the guts to say the truth about Star Wars. Besides the amazing content you make. Keep it up!
Love your Stars Wars commentary, thank you
You're welcome!
Perfect video for today sir. I am more excited to see your videos then that movie masquerading as Star Wars. The heroes journey is what we all want in our movies and games. I regret I have only One like to give.
Sharing this video to even my non DnD friends.
Many thanks, Myke!
Elegantly veiled movie critique. Thanks. My wife and I love your channel.
Thank you for explaining this, and roasting EP 7-9
I think the ultimate lesson is don't love D&D because one day Disney will come along and destroy it.
Disney doesn't have t, WotC is doing destroying DnD themselves.
@@herohiroguy How is WotC destroying D&D??
@@kalenplant2675 It sure is, a quick search is wotc destroying dnd beings up videos talking about all the different ways they are doing it, I when full OSR because of what they are doing.
@@herohiroguy I just want your view on it man, not regurgitated crap from angry people online because as we know, the Internet will get angry over anything.
If only yall knew then what we know now.
Along the Grumm line of thought.. One of the best NPC's in a campaign I played in was a mimic. Instead of fighting it we fed it some rations then offered it a job as doorkeeper of the dungeon which was under a key shop in a city. We lured it with the promise of fresh pastries and cake which were way better than dry rations. Very memorable role-play moment because the dwarf could speak undercommon.
I want to base an entire series of adventures around the life and times of Porkins.
Yet another well crafted video. One thing to mention is the when and how of removing the mentor. Once the 'kids' have leveled enough that they can handle things on their own, having a memorable and story-driving exit to the mentor is very important. It cements the 'old fool' as a beloved NPC and puts a bullseye on the baddie who brought him down.
Great DM'ing advice! Sharing with my son, who is preparing to run his first D&D game, in a few weeks. Been at this DM'ing stuff for 39 years... Still learning! Finding a few gold nuggets in your videos, to add to my dragon's hoard of treasures. Huge fan of X-DM -- amazing book, amazing techniques within it. And... It has amazing gamer humor in it, too. I laughed out loud reading it -- my D&D-playing family thought I'd lost it. ;-) Keep this stuff coming. I learned all of this, the hard, slow, torturous way. I am helping my son learn it fast, easy, and well. Your videos are a wonderful resource. Cheers!
I got my friend coming over tomorrow to play d&d for the first time. He is joining in on my sons campaign and I can't wait to unleash the dungeon craft and runehammer style of play onto him. Great story, fast combat and "don't let them see how the sausage is made".
Your content is simply amazing and my go to place for d&d ideas, even the videos I've already watched. Keep up the great work.
Those channels are the best by far!
Thanks and let me know how it goes!
The Throw Away NPC can be solid gold. One of the most memorable for my group was a tavern mutt named Frank the Dog. It was simply an ambience piece in a murder mystery adventure in a large port city. I had no intent of having the animal be anything else, until the Druid cast Speak with Animals and interrogated it. Frank wound up providing a nugget that lead the party to discovering the murder was an undead monster disturbed from a centuries long sleep by an expansion of the city sewers. Frank is now legendary from two interactions in a campaign I ran 12yrs agon
Just like Babe Ruth said in The Sandlot, "Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."
Don't take that literally though...
Grumn's legend will be reduced if he's brought back from, what was presumably, his death.
started watching mandalorien last night with the kids, they noticed right away that ir was just like DnD. but star wars. we looked up Jon Favreau wiki and it has a paragraph on how he credits dnd with his storytelling.
Your advice on NPC’s is spot on. I made probably 15+ NPC’s over the course of a year and the one that stuck was a prisoner I made up on the spot he joined the party and is now 11th level. Almost all of the comic relief comes from this NPC’s actions and commentary. He’s everyone’s favorite.
Luke meets Jabba the Hutt scene
Skyrim soundtrack ;)
thank you professor dungeon master
you earned +1 inspiration
You're welcome. Share it!
The force was strong on this one!!! Keeping it real as always!!! Thank you good sir!!!
My player's favourite NPC was a donkey they bought and it would follow them everywhere and was useless at carrying their stuff.
What's really funny is that admiral akbar actual DOES die in TLJ but it's so underplayed most people didn't even realize it happened
Old school DM/player (1e/2e)who got back into the hobby a year ago. 5e is awesome , the choices, and options for PC’s is a breath of fresh air but as a DM I find it extremely difficult to truly challenge my players without going to great lengths that border on cheating. Your channel and advice have helped me tremendously to combat this problem. Thank you, Professor, and keep up the good work.
Grumm had a son that no one knew about. The managed to recover his body and favorite weapon. He talks to the weapon and seeks its counsel in battle planning.
Cool idea!
I seriously don't understand why this video doesn't have more views. This is excellent!
Professor Dungeon Master had made so many good recommendations that I came here to thank you for them and the ones that will surely come.
I just watched Skyfall and S.W. Episode IV, V & VI. The last one I will never forget, specially the funeral pyre scene (the moment here was very deep). I think this was a great way to start my 2020.
Great movies!
Michael Johnson I have not seen ROS.
This was such a great video. Down to earth, very clear and precise ideas. I loved it.
Another great video. Your points on the Star Wars characters was articulated very well and made me realize precisely why I didn't like the newer movies.
Wow, I just discovered your channel, and honestly, I am super impressed. I have had a WEG Star Wars gaming happening for 11 years, and it's been one of my most memorable game of all time. Each of us has a nemesis or villain that will show up once in a while and try to screw with us, and our GM has told this beautiful story. Having high powered characters I often wonder how he did it, and he told me something very simple that I use in my own games is scaling. Honestly I would love to sit down and converse with you on so many things. so impressed by your insights and I think very much in the same lines. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. (sorry this is long)
Great episode! Aside from the excellent DM’ing tips, I was starting to feel grumpy and cynical for thinking the new trilogy is terrible. Glad to know I’m not the only one!
What Star Wars can teach about Dungeons & Dragons: Don't let Disney buy your IP or it will be ripped into the abyss of eternal suckage.
Ya it is a garbage fire.
Two words: Baby. Yoda.
It's been a garbage fire since the Prequels, Disney is just carrying on the tradition of completely misunderstanding the appeal of the original trilogy.
@@zacharyhoover5588 Or there are retards that will watch anything and sing its praises like a bunch of zealot fanboys. Isn't there a Jonas Brothers album you should be pirating right now?
Disney did a great job with Marvel. Rogue One, Han Solo, and The Mandalorian are good but this trilogy just sucks.
played what you described !!! love every minute of it !!! started in the kings chamber and wallked in to a siege battle and then started the quest and ended in the kings chamber
“Grumm must return. You said yourself tweed man. Give player want they wants.”
Or the Son of Grumm, looking to avenge his fathers death.
“I am Grumm son of Gumm. I slay the milk drinking elves who murdered Grumm”.
I love how you think. Both for GM advice and film/screen writing perspective. I first saw "A New Hope" in 1977 when I was 5 years old. I can still recall the grandeur of the theater lobby and some scenes from the movie. You're correct about there being something inside us that resonates with traditional tales (DNA?), and this feels just right to us. Maybe it's a mystery to all humans. IDK
BTW, I vote to leave Grumb be. His memory can be romanced by players for years to come. But...if you do decide to revive him, a planar adventure may be in order: have the party quest to find Grumb's soul. Once he's found, they can role-play their desire for him to return to the world of the living.
Thanks for commenting. I'm fascinated by the Grumn responses.
My party's all time favourite npc was an orcish shaman that was supposed to appear once to sell info and potions to them midway through a dungeon. He was always kind of annoyed by them and became a recurrent shopkeeper throughout the campaign.
Lol. That's how it happens!
I've been feeling bad about not watching the latest Star Wars films. Now, not so much. Thanks Professor!
Great video, appreciate your insight and ideas to help run the best game of DnD ever
Needs more Grumm! Also, the two second character who became a staple in my current game: Donnie the requisitions officer. He was the guy who hero worshipped all the pilots he filled orders for, and was always tripping over himself when he met them in person. He appeared in two scenes in session one and very briefly in session three. After his little cameo, one of my players paid a visit to the bar and immediately said "I'm gonna look for Donnie." The guy's been in damn near every session since. They can't part with the dude.
Number eight is what I love of rpgs, how players can change the thing that you narrate and attach or hate others npcs. Something similar happen to in my campaign, I created a gravedigger that not talks to much (was a helper for a sidequest) I don’t know why the players created a mysterious background around him that I have to make him a villain... he ended to be a not too powerful cleric worshipper of the death but the players fear him to much that never make an attempt to stop him.
Don't listen to those who complain loudly about your preferred style of game not being theirs. My friends and I love your channel and enjoy your insight, experience, creativity and approach to the hobby. It's easy to find "how to overpower the game" advice on other channels if that is what someone is looking for. We students of Professor Dungeon Master need our mentor!
I also find it good to start with a terse descriptive of your character whether they're a PC, NPC, or otherwise. With a simple sentence, you can just run on the fly with any character. It also makes it easier to to remember a large cast of characters... and keeps notes to a minimum. Mostly you just want to sum up their personality and profession (which is often a descriptive in of itself).
Examples:
- Marty Mcfly: A young musician and lab assistant.
- Falstaff: A heavy drinking, fun loving knight and swinger.
- Macbeth: A corrupted noble driven insane by his own lust for power.
- King Richard 1st: A battle hungry King.
- Saint Olga: Loyal widow and Queen fueled by vengeance.
- Brian Blessed: A hammy fellow with no inside voice.
RUclips Examples:
- God Emperor of Mankind: A grouchy, profanity spewing, manipulative godlike being
- Jack the NPC: A wisecracking investigator/adventurer who's here for the lolz.
My examples:
- King Faen: Elvish gardener turned king.
- Renard Silverhands: Cynical master swordsman and alcoholic.
- Hygeia: Hippy herbalist and physician.
- The Wanderer: A byronic warrior.
- Aria Del Espada: A young, resourceful princess and aspiring mage.
My players love and actually adopted a throwaway dwarven teenager kid who speaks like morty that i created out of improve. Now he’s one of the favs
Basically the same thing, but I wrote my campaign using Dan Harmon's story circle. One of my players agreed to let his character die in a very dramatic fashion. It devastated the party. That arc felt so rewarding.
LOL... I totally agree.... I refuse to go. I will just remember the originals
William Hoover ...you missed....nothing.
I had an NPC whose only description was "he's a young guard used as the errand boy by the mayor", and he was just supposed to ask them to meet the mayor. Well, it wasn't one of the more than 10 NPCs with backstory the one they fell in love with, it was this Gawyn boy who didn't even had a name before they asked it.
I created an NPC in probably five minutes that was a big tough grunt, and when he wasn't fighting, he was sipping lemon tea from his silver mug. At one point the characters and the grunt got captured and had all their possessions (including the tea and mug) taken away. I slipped on accident and said that the grunt was still sipping his lemon tea, in prison, and he has been a player favorite ever since. It drives the Bard crazy to try and figure out where the tea is coming from.
I think there aren't many modules for high-level characters because the higher level you are the more integrated into your campaign world you are. When you can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the most powerful well-known NPCs of your setting, your characters are now among the movers and shakers. It becomes more about accomplishing their goals and bless about merely surviving and getting rich.
When my player characters were approaching level 20, I was worried that the DM was going to want them retired. We discussed it and neither of us wanted to do that so we elected to paraphrase an ex-president and declared "life begins at level 20!"
I think low, middle, and high level gaming is like breakfast lunch and dinner. We may have a favorite meal of the day, but we're happiest when we have all three
Great video sir. I personally think the challenges of running high-level games comes more from the level based systems itself then it does the imagination of the storyteller. In games like Exalted and Vampire, everyone is uber powerful and yet its still easy to write campaigns. It’s psychologically and mechanically limiting when you have a 1-20 level system.
There is a webcomcis that reimagines all of Star Wars in order as a dysfunctional D&D game that Qui-Gon derailed in first five or so seconds enteirly.
Re: NPCs who the players unexpectedly like... I was DMing a game with one player... I had this mage NPC, Felonius who, along with a thief NPC, Greegan, regularly bullied a dwarf NPC. When goblins took down Felonius in one of the party's first battles, I was surprised that my player didn't want him to die. 😯
As a result, I bent the rules to allow Felonius to survive on death's door and recover after much rest.
Felonius might get killed later (his survival is not inevitable), but it depends on what happens in our campaign.
I played the Star Wars RPG a bit back in the 90s. Worth a play.
I enjoyed it immensely as well.
"Dey cannot kill Grumm. Grumm stronk. Stronk like owlbear. Stubborn like General Winter."
Excellent as always! Merry Christmas Professor!
Lesson Number 9: if you're gonna switch DMs every campaign, the least you could do is share notes.
That is a good one. It also jogged a memory for me. I inherited by campaign from another DM in 1993. I might do a video on that. Thanks, Viktor!
I think it would be fun to have a mentor that ends up corrupted or ideologically opposed to the players and they have to fight them.
especially if the players really like the mentor.
Imagine if Gandalf got a hold of the one ring and the fellowship had to put him down, it would be a real shock while also being quite sad (like it's not really his fault).
He would have made an incredible reoccuring villain while also acting to reinforce the danger and importance of the main quest (IE destroying the ring).
I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season! If you had fun acting out Grumm's personality, then I say bring him back. I really enjoy your video!
“Destroyed my childhood” 😂
In my house we don’t talk about episodes 8 and 9.
Amen.
My characters role played with a minor villain so hard they eventual convinced him to turn on the big bad lol. He was supposed to be an epic combat to finish level 3 of my dungeon, but they sacked his room and learned what made him tick before confronting him. They now have their fav NPC 😅 who uses Time Magic. They love this guy!
well done! Perfect illustration of the Campbellian (sp) Monomith!
But Gandalf coming bad to life lead to one the coolest dialogs ever, when he talks to Pippin about death.
I completely agree about level. The journey to level 10 is usually the best part of the game. I've had more games die out after level 10 than at level 5.
Grumm returns, as an undead lieutenant. He seeks revenge against any who stopped him from achieving his goals. Party must confront him several times before recapturing his soul, and giving him a heroes place in the halls of his ancestors
Great idea! I told my group I'm only bringing Grumn back if this video hits 10k views, which is looking unlikely. But your idea is one of the better ones.
@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I’ll be looking for Grumm in a future campaign video 😉
Prof DM: puts up pic of BABY YODA
Me: AAAAAWWWWWW!!! Wait, what was this video about? Aw, look, it’s baby Yoda!!!!
Hard to really overestimate just how important Star Wars is to generation X.
Not even NPCs have this effect of becoming universally loved/quoted. Even objects can have that. Like the cake in the first portal game.
Do not have Grumm return; however, do have Grumm's spirit haunt the players. He died saving them instead of finding death and redemption in glorious combat. Because of his shame from this failure his spirit became trapped and spiteful. He now resents the players for denying him his glorious death, and his spirit has begun following them. Their task is to figure this out and somehow provide Grumm a glorious death in the spirit realm. (Also, great video)
Son of Grum!
Your right on about joseph campbell.
What Star Wars can teach us about D&D: Don’t let Rian Johnson be your DM.
“RUIN” Johnnson.
“RUIN” Johnnson.
A new video, huzzah!
So about Grumm... what if Grumm did survive but he was severely hurt and bashed in the head,
giving him that good old amnesia trope.
While he has recovered physically he's had the mindset of "die a glorious death" scrambled into
"give others a glorious death" and one day he shows up wanting to kill the PCs.
Does he do it, do they kill him, can they figure it out and 'fix' him?!
Many years ago, I actually played in a session with Grumm. He was awesome.
I can attest to the NPC part. My players loved a Nosferatu named Franky who was just there to give them quests and weasel them into owing him favors. He was just a sarcastic, witty douche and he was their favorite.
If you haven't watched RotS yet, you're in for a surprise. The first hour had me watching in disbelief how similar to a regular D&D session the plot was.
In the end I got the feeling I just observed 3years worth of a campaign, compressed into 2h... I'm not complaining, I actually enjoyed it.
loved your realistic approach to NPCs.
What Star Wars taught me as a player:
1. Don't pick fights with people at the bar, you'll lose an arm that way
2. Take off your helmet because your survival rate is higher if the audience can see and identify your facial features, but the rest of the imperial armor uniform looks cool on you
3. Yes, a Critical Hit can destroy even something as massive as the Death Star
This is what Star Wars taught me about D &D, D6 system is best system
The NPCs that I have introduced that have the highest percentage of PC acceptance are those who are squires/henchmen/pet projects to the players' characters. Give a Dragonborn character a kobold follower, give a Thief a street urchin who has some pick pocketing skills, or give a Cleric a disciple seeking redemption/piety but lapses into blasphemy due to a dark past, etc.
Make them smaller/weaker than the PC (so they don't upstage them), but still helpful to them through knowledge, social contacts, or skills/abilities.
Make them act like a fan of the PC (polite, deferential, helpful, and concerned for their well being).
Make sure they have a problem that they can't overcome without help from the PC (illiterate, poor combat/magic ability, unattractive to opposite sex, etc.)
You'll know you have them hooked, when they don't want the NPC to die.
Thanks you very much ... yes we can learn very much from Star Wars... also Episode 7 and 8, the fails you don't have to do :D. ...
The question why some side NPCs become greate and important NPCS are overseen... May be the first Situation in the game, if they come with a benefit (for the moment, for the situation, for the party, for the players or born out of the chaos of a fail.... I think if they trigger the right emotions they get the focus... Darth Vadders, in his first scene your emotions build an archetype.... you know how he (should) work.... first Order General Huks, you think he should work as an evil general... We know what he became...
I think the first moment must be planed very well (make own notice to remember that for next time)
As every time, great video with good support thoughts :)
Thanks for your thoughtful commentary and for watching DungeonCraft!
Very well made points, sir.
Thanks, Sebastien!
You have a chance to introduce imposter Grumn, so they can relive the tragedy all over again when they are forced to kill the imposter themselves. Imposter Grumn could be a magical monster (Doppleganger, devil, etc) or just a shady dwarf with disguise skills that wants to screw over the PCs for some reason.
I once created an off the cuff NPC to show the powerful player characters where the entrance to the cave of the beginning of their adventure was and named him “Paul the lucky”.
They rolled a random encounter on the way and the whole party circled around Paul the Lucky to protect him because he was a lowly first level farmer. He became so endeared to them and I just could not figure out for the life of me why.
Players are funny like that.
Oh. And bring Grumm back!
Grumm needs to show up in the caverns of carnage to save the day in some fashion. Maybe a prisoner the players rescue who comes back to help.
In regards to Player's loving NPC's, I had my player's fight a boss fight against a little girl Assassin with the power to disappear and reappear and sing a creepy little tune as she did her work of death, the party was able to defeat her through great hardships by removing her source of power, what they did not know was that her source of power was also tied to her vital functions, so The living Teddy Bear and Kenku in the group who wanted to help her have a better life are pretty sad at what they had done the Kenku holding her in his arms as she is slowly disinfectant in his arms, the Kenku in the depths of despair from not being able to save her.
Fast forward to one of two one on one session to set stuff up for the next part of the campaign, the Kenku and Doppelganger members of the party meet another little girl, this one is a lost noble girl with amnisha, they take here into the group later introduce her to the Teddy Bear and remember what happened to the little assassin girl are determined to help this new little girl find her way home safely.
One of my players have latched onto a random town guard. It's always interesting to see what they respond to.
I wish The Rise of Skywalker was written by this man.
Me too. I HATED that movie. No Time to Die as well.
If I don’t get in a mech in first five minutes of the next session i’m Not coming back... hahahah
...."and the Mech had better be fully loaded & operational!"
Can you even call yourself an Admiral Akbar fan when you don't remember, "Our laser can't repel firepower of that magnitude!"
Have the party get drunk with a random NPC at their favorite tavern where they tell the story of Grumm.
Let the NPC secretly be a necromancer who inspired by their tales, decides to bring him back as a favor.
You should have a sideshow called the "Tales of Grum"
Grum should stay dead since death is permanent in your campaign. However, you could introduce Grum’s relative who is there to avenge his death or some other reason.
Some solid advice here. And I agree with the Star Wars commentary as well.
Hey professor Where did you get that amazing D20 cup? It’s awesome!
AndrewAshtonPlayz ! It was a gift.
I love your videos and my dad and I thought your Ultimate Dungeon Terrain was a great Idea and we use it for when we play dnd thanks Professor!
Hmm. The bit about impromptu NPCs inexplicably becoming beloved may actually tie into the previous point, Professor... methinks it could be because of the difference in expectations, and presentation. If you're quietly designing an NPC in your head, alone, you've only your memory and your understanding to base them off of, and you might think of ways to sell their personality or make them memorable in your own time, then drop them off into the world for the players to meet, already pre-developed... but, when you make one on the fly, suddenly you're not the only factor in the creation process anymore, you've got like four other blokes and sheilas looking at you like chicks in a nest, each with their own expectations, having had their own days, just looking to have a good time and you as the dungeon master are receptive to that, so you may well inadvertently create a more likeable NPC with that indirect input rather than hours of thought on your own...
Plus, the players can usually pick up on that subconsciously, right? Impromptu NPCs likely have a different air, a different vibe about them, they feel fresher, not rehearsed, "straight from the cranium", as the audience might say to a freestyler. The players feel like that NPC might not have even happened without their being there to instigate them-like they somehow contributed to this moment, and combined with your new on-the-fly creation process, that "say something now, figure out why later" type deal, it comes together as this perfect storm of memorability. I think that's a beautiful thing, at least how I've pictured it happening.
Not to say that spending time writing up NPCs with their own goals and capacities isn't of value, just that those tend to feel a bit more played-up. Compare the community aspect and personability of knowing that your DM is doing a funny voice from behind a paper plate with a face crayoned onto it that he's holding there with a ruler to a dude whose make-up budget alone could probably pay your rent for two months, and who's probably spent that long rehearsing his delivery for this very day. One's only separated by a piece of dead tree flesh, the other looks like he's just here to do his job and get paid for it, whether or not you're entertained.
So, I guess it's about connecting, that. The dungeon master being a human being and a player besides all of them probably lends itself to the thought that an NPC they just sort of popped into existence is one they can be more themselves with, and who knows? They may even have a better time re-hashng the process of creating motivations and things like that on the fly as the session progresses and plot develops. Now everyone's having fun! Only just thought of that thanks to you and your big brain bits of knowledge, thanks. ~
Star Wars is a huge part of my personal Appendix N.
Excellent Vid!
I liked it so much I watched it twice.
"Meet expectations and exceed them," should be carved in stone somewhere.
Rian Johnson needs to get it tatto'd on his palm so he'll never forget in the future.
@@spacedinosaur8733 Or at least he will see it and be reminded every time he does a face palm.
Commodore Stargazer I’d prefer it on his headstone.....