GREATGM: How to create TONE using different techniques for your role-playing games
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- How to create TONE using different techniques for your role-playing games!
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I was thinking during your dark description of a lovely, sunny day. Possibly a local fete with happy children but done in a dark tone would be a good way of hinting to the players that something was just wrong.
Mixing tone with description has worked for me in the past. I did a lively and up-beat description of some horrible stuff in an insane surgeon's lair of splatter and the players associated it with the way the killer viewed his craft.
Thanks for a great series of videos.
Yes. Juxtaposition - placing good with bad, mixing it up - is a very old and powerful technique. It is through comparison that we gain perspective. Thank you for bringing it up, it really does make a big difference!
@@HowtobeaGreatGM A few years late to the party but that description made me think of how the Grinch would describe it.
Thumbs up from my real computer.
All hail real computers!
Speaking of dices or rolls, I sometimes make rolls without any obvious reason and at random, muttering something and than going on, specially if we are in a horror / paranoia setting. Players will allways have that moment when they think, "what the heck is he rolling there is no one here, or is someone here...". This might be a bit metagaming, but to a certain extend it is inevitable anyway, so why dont make use of it.
´´ real computer ´´ hehehe , i love your videos
Thanks. Look Mac isn't bad, but it's so... restricted. lol
i get it XD , but really , i am mastering my first rpg now and you are helping a lot , thank you
Two of my favorite examples of when my group used tone:
We were playing the one shot module "In Medias Res" for the Call of Cthulhu rpg. My apartment is lit by candle light and as luck would have it it was storming outside. The tone of the game is Mystery/Horror. When one of the players "found" a pistol I handed him a prop pistol (At no point did anyone think it was a real gun) This added so much tension to the seen as the other players unarmed.
The other end of the spectrum we were playing a high adventure Pirates themed game and we started each session with everyone taking a shot of rum and singing on old sea shanty. It got everyone in the mood for adventure and hijinks. The ships caption also almost always showed up in full pirate costume.
That sounds like two super cool games and what a bunch of players and GM! Really awesome would have loved to be there! Thank you for sharing I love it.
So Savage against Mac's. I love it.
Someone has to... lol. My frustrations around the device over two decades have never been offset by any features, hence the dislike.
9:35 LOL. Mac users: eat it!
BTW, thank you for all you do for the community. I've been binge watching your videos, as I'm about to launch my own campaign (just had session 0) and this is by far the best set of videos on how to DM that I've come across (including Matt Mercer, Matt Colville, and Nerdarchy).
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
That is exulted company to be compared to and I'm honoured to even be mentioned in the same sentence. Thank you for your support and know that I really enjoy making these channels because I think we can all improve and have better games - myself gaining the most as I get your comments and feedback! Thank you!
We all support each other. I love your academic approach to explaining the subtler skills of the game. While the Matts offer great advice on plot hooks, and prep, and Nerdarchy give great insight on other topics, you really drill down into the topic on a deeper level than any of them. Not that I'm disparaging any of them, but, other than Matt Colville, they don't delve as deeply into the intellectual process as you do, and I find your erudition and style to be highly effective at getting your point across. You don't just give advice, you explain the thought process behind it. I've found that Matt Colville is the only other channel who has the academic chops to fully flesh out those concepts.
Thanks again, Guy (English Guy, or the French Guy? Just so I'm saying correctly in my head). Expect to see your subs jump quite a bit, as I've been posting links to your channel on the relevant subreddits, because you deserve to be rewarded for your work, and I don't think nearly enough people are aware of you.
I really like how you use tone to make the story come alive. It makes it so much more meaningful and real for the players.
I love how the light is at a perfect angle to give shadows of horns lol
How very subtle of you to use your body language at the end with that light shake of the head
:)
"Ask someone who has a real computer"
Dang, man. Savage. Great video though. I do a lot of text-based role-playing, so things like language and music choices are very important to how I do things. I can say for sure that music with lyrics can bring things to a complete halt. The way of using dice hasn't actually occurred to me, thanks for the advice! I'll have to make sure to include it next time I get the chance.
Glad to have sparked an alternative! Yay!
Props are actually pretty fun. Usually we don't make use of maps or programs or anything but my DM once handed out a prop notice board with several scraps of paper with requests and things we could follow in town, it was really cool.
Add some tonic water to a non-cola drink. Just a dab. Then take a blacklight and watch your soda glow! Works best with orange, green, blue, or clear soda. It's very useful if you have items that you can place the glow in the dark soda that looks like a potion, or small barrel. ^^
"I don't know what men would be if they were happy." I'm with you Guy.
Now I want to play in one of your campaigns.
You can join us on Patreon if you desire. The more the merrier :) Just glad you enjoyed the video!
"You might have a smattering of an idea." I've watched this video like 12 times and this still makes me laugh
... and now you must eat these chips.
I just stumbled upon your channel. Great content. I've subscribed and am looking forward to exploring more of your content. I love your humor and many accents, by the way. Happy gaming, friend!
I'm going to watch this video before every session as my pump -up and reminder.
Definitely one of the best GM'ing advice videos I have ever seen. Probably #1.
I love these videos, they're amazing!
I specifically like the light moment(fart) before plunging them into complete darkness :)
It's an old trick, but well worth it!
agreed! that part reminded me of something my DM did while we were in the pyramid of shadows, we all thought we were safe because we were being offered a deal, very causally by a demon and the Warlord asked a (funny) but stupid question, and the demon chuckles we all were smiling and suddenly with the snap of the demons fingers the warlords neck snapped and he was dead. We were level 10 so this was super scary !
Amazing how much the demons dont have a sense of humour right? lol. Exactly right though. It's the timing, and the surprise twist that makes it moody and exciting.
Wow! Yet another fantastic video! You make it look easy. I'm DEFINITELY going to pay more attention to my tone from now on.
I've always wanted "simulated darkness" with blue filters over all lights. Players get little white lamps to help them read if necessary.
Ice water to drink is required when playing any naval scene in the North Atlantic. Use red lights if submarines are involved.
Oil lanterns have a flickering light source which really sets the mood for a dungeon crawl
Empty bullet casings as counters add to any military or post-apocalyptic table.
Materials to for characters to handle (leather, rusty iron, smooth plastic, slime) add a tactile sensation.
Great video! A lot of people would be surprised at how little things like facial expressions and hand gestures affect their players.
You touched on escapism in this episode and how it relates to the tone of the story and I'd like to add onto that:
Sadness and darkness, I feel, need limits. Before subjecting your players to something potentially difficult to swallow, it is important and necessary to talk to them about how far you can take it. I had an experience with one of my GMs where an NPC, with whom my character was involved, was irreversibly damaged to the point where the damage would become a painful footnote to every interaction they had from that point on. If it weren't for my GM's willingness to resolve the problem, retcon the events, and promise never to present anything of that nature again, I would have been too uncomfortable to return to the table. Do not take it lightly when I say that I was legitimately hurt by the events that transpired (and all for the sake of tone and plot development).
Because of this, before I start a campaign with anyone new, I set limits. I tell them what I don't want to see and clear up any expectations before the game starts. In addition, before I begin a new campaign as a GM, I make it a point to ask my players if there is anything that they can't handle and what, exactly, they expect from me. This all goes with creating the setting, as was discussed in a previous video, but it's worth reiterating. Your players know their limits better than you.
With that in mind, as a rule of thumb, don't assume that your players can handle events of a sensitive matter and don't brush off the attachments your players develop with your world. If it's good enough, they'll be as attached to your world as their are the world of their favorite fictional story.
Excellent advice! I really agree with you here. I have had players beg for things to not happen - and have on occasion had to tap-dance quite quickly on how to get myself out of a tricky emotional hole like the ones you mentioned above. Look it is an escapist entertainment genre - as GM's we have to be cognizant of the fact that we are the authors of that. No one likes a super-hero movie when it turns into a teenage angst film... like Spiderman with Toby.
Honestly dude you make me laugh. Some real quality content here, it helps A lot.
That whole using dice for tone bit was really intense.
I've been binging your videos for quite a while now, they're awesome! Thank you so much for all this advice. As for the setting at the table, I make an interactive PowerPoint for my campaigns. It really adds to the tone and helps with imagery. I put in background slides and queue up music with them.
Are you, by any chance, a dramaturge, good sir? Your videos are a pleasure to watch.
That dice monologue will be my tabletop motivation for long
As your players we use tone all the time... Panic, Confusion, Horror and O yes panic :P Guess that's why we always making the jokes... Beating back the tension with a bent spoon...
Excellent use of using tone in your video. It has given me many ideas for my own group and play.
😂 I don't know what men would be if they were happy.
I love your videos
This is truly a great and constructive video...
I'm wondering if you've planned on building on this (or any of your tips and tricks material) to further the ideas for "layering" tones (for instance)...
What I mean is kind of in reference to where you asked, "Should you change tone in a game/session?"... And yes, well you should. It's a theatrical and storytelling fact. But with any good story to tell, there's more than one "layer" of the tone.
We go to a movie (say) and we expect the "overall" tone by the genre (horror, film noire, mystery, comedy, satire and so on) but that's not the whole study of any film. The way I prefer to look at stories (adventures, campaigns, or just theatrical one-offs... doesn't matter) is kind of like building a roller-coaster. You already "know" more or less where it starts, and where it's most likely to end... one way or another. But what's really the point, even per session, of just building a single hill. The fun of the session is to get over that hill, from the tone of the relentless climb and steadily slowing clammer of the wheels on tracks... clank-clank-clackety... dragging this elongated behemoth up to the top... TO that instant of pause... weightlessness... poised purposely and silent as the tension rises and this miniature train you're on tips to reveal the imminent FALL... AND FINALLY OVER YOU GO! The rush of wind blasting against your face, and your still crammed back in the seat, traveling faster and faster and FASTER! The world whisks by and stretches everything into a god-awful dizzying blur and then around a LOOP and then another and another!
So the tone of the thing changes, is the point. That's kind of the nature of this business (RPG's in general) but with the pre-conception of the game, everyone has decided to get involved in this particular adventure, be it horror, or romance and action, or just a comical riff on whatever of the world you like... We build and shift these tones through not only our narratives and storylines, but with our choices and the general atmosphere is just one part of it... Not that this hasn't added a certain intro-spective even for the "savvy-est" of us GM-types, but perhaps in just adding a few interesting ideals to the mix between the up-front and center obvious conjurations of tone, to the slightly background... that more advanced game of subtlety that can bring just another layer and just another level of breadth and depth to the table... After all, every tool and gambit a GM can pack in his bag of tricks is likely worth the casual sit-through of another of your most excellent presentations... :o)
I never knew I needed to work on my tone, I don't think I am monotone, but this got me thinking...
Lol I love the knowledge provided, but I also got a good chuckle from the MAC dig.
"It is a wonderful merry day and everyone is having fun. The children are laughing and the women are smiling and men are just..horny. I don't know what men would be if they were happy. Anyway."
I could not have laughed any harder.
Hahahhaa... when freeform association and youtube collide :)
I think that creating tone might be the most important aspect of running a game. I've saved this video and have watched it multiple times because it is so useful! Thanks!
That's awesome to hear that it's useful. Tone is vitally important as you say!
Awesome tips!! As far as music, every GM should check out "Two Steps from Hell;" LOTS of good epic orchestra soundtracks to choose from.
Oooooh... gonna go find that now!
This guy's delivery is the best!
Hi Guy,
I really like the quality of your content!
I'm also glad to see that good GM and players exist!
I would like to ask you which is the relationship between rules and tone.
Obviously, rules destroy tone, but they can be helpful to guide the players and the game.
What do you think about it?
What do you think about games that are very light on rules?
I would appreciate to see a video regarding this specific topic.
Thank you :)
This is an especially awesome video of yours. Question, where can we learn the language/voice techniques? l've searched all over RUclips and can't find anything. Have any links? Maybe practice reading material? Thanks!
*"NOW you must eat these CHIPS."*
I"M GONNA TAKE A POTATO CHIP, AND EAT IT
Tone. Emotion of the scene. It should or can change during the same session
Body Language. Movements of the body + meaning
Setting.
Dire. Urgency of situation, real risk and danger. Someone losing life (NPC or PC, environment, creatures, etc).
Masterful advise again!
I've been doing much of this stuff without even realising it, but now I'm aware of it I should be able to apply it even better.
Thanks again! :)
Often - and this is what I find myself when doing these videos - is the realization that we as Humans do this anyway. As you say - now that you know the power you already command you can channel it to far great heights than ever before!
Loved the Mac comments!
also great video!
1:57 Moments like that are one of the reasons why I love this channel :)
A big thank you for your wonderful videos
They have been a huge influence on my dm'ing
Man this video is a pearl. Thank you. I really love your style. I feel I can learn so much from you
Good point on not using music with lyrics. But I would mention that I have used with good effect music with lyrics in a foreign language.
you are solid gold my friend, SOLID GOLD
I've stumbled upon this channel by chance and I must say, I love the ideas, I love the way you deliver the information. liked and subscribed.
Bravo! Welcome to the table! Please ask questions, disagree, agree, and engage. The more of us there are chatting about these subjects the wiser we all become!
Great stuff again, I really liked the jab at Macs, haha.
Sorry. Macs cause me such strife in the real world I have developed a paranoid phobia hatred loathing for the things... nothing personal...
Wow! Dice would never have thought of that!
Then the video was worth it! Glad to have maybe helped your game ;)
Very good video. I used to have a list of words i would use to evoke different atmospheres (tones) within game or a scene. Short hurried descriptions for combat or chases and adjectives designed to elicit a specific emotional response. I got the idea from an early version of Call of Cthulhu that had two pages off Lovecraftian adjectives. It was useful to have a verbal plot. I should really write a new one.
Of course, keeping a tone in a game with players who are having fun can very challenging as they're liable to chatter and the mood. This can be the bane of a good Cthulhu session.
I agree that music can help the tone and quality of a game, but I haven't felt like I really took things to another level with it. I'd love to see a full vid covering music usage sometime, if you don't already have one in the works.
So my challenge with that - because I used to do it a lot for my students when I lectured film music and Uni - is that copyright becomes a problem. Anyone know how I can avoid being sued by Disney by demonstrating how awesome a piece of their music is?
With the drinks thing. For those not old enough to drink alcohol, or for players who don't drink, you can buy bottles of grape-juice in wine-bottles ;)
This was greatly informative and something I haven't thought about.
Amazing advice as always man! Going to use alot of this in my up coming games!
Glad to hear it - let us know if they work! :)
I just ran the first session of my first regular group. this would have been nice to watch before hand.
Well next session sirrah! Next session!
You are my DM hero , need more of you in my life #bromance
I had a grand scene in my last session that just lived through the tone.
It was a burial of one of my players character, everyone was somber and had a dry mouth after.
I think it is a great topic that gets discussed far too little :)
Agreed. We often overlook the impact we can have if we just change it up a little!
This video is beautiful. Thank you
Gratitude! Thank you for commenting!
:D
I liked when you talked about the macs :)
fabulous Video once again, loved the lighting you used in you video, what kind of light were you using and where did you place it, to give you that strangely lit face?
It's a very cheap 120watt halogen workshop light. Placed it on the floor about 1 meter in front of me :) Lighting can really help with the mood!
"Monotone is death." Was that an obscure KotOR 2 reference, or just coincidence?
Spot on video. Good work. :)
My thanks :)
great advice!
Many thanks. As long as it's been helpful I am happy!
You only describe happy days like that if your the grinch
A sad moment we had in a session where I was a a player. I had a back up but people didn't know that. What had happened was "Heshie" (the character) was going mad. He had a bear demon possess him and what had happen was he was going crazy. He told a character that was helping us through our journey that he would go insane and kill everyone. So what happened that morning my Character (Katia) was told to fight him. I asked why and I was given a vision. In pain *and it was actually hurtful for me for my character to die this way.* I decided to turn against a player and Heshi was mad I started to break a promise. As I continued to tick him off we went into battle. Where the bear and his weapon teared me shed by shred. At the end katias brother. Was heart broken. And he was held back by some other players screaming. "You killed her! You killed her and I didnt get a chance to say goodbye. You savage freak!" The other character soon turned normal by the sacrifice and then begged the group to burry Katia since he couldn't do it for his parents. Like.. we were all emotional after hand. But now my new character is a fairy.
Wow! I NEED to do this!
5:15 That's me for sure.
Really good and inspiring video! I will happily use all of your techniques to bring my sessions to life, epsecially the light and background music. I am already collecting music from video games and movies and such, but I would like to know if there is a good (and free) mixer. I would love to be able to press a button and suddenly have my players immersed in a whole different tone. Any suggestions may help. Thanks!
Sounds like an opportunity for someone with app development. I'll have design the interface and control requirements, someone with coding can make it work! Good idea man!
syrinscape.com/ is a bit like that.
Goedentach (sp) Hamburg! Thanks for the heads up. Will check it out. Sounds cool, and supporting others via patreon is a great model in my opinion!
Fantastic answers! Thanks everyone!
Music is a problem. Back in the 80s, we just used MTV. Now I play only online, and it's recorded, I'm worried about royalties.
this was great
To our fellow GMs, here is one of my personal recommendation for setting your tone with music : Adrian von Ziegler.
Our beloved GREATGM even uses it from time to time. It has a lot of variety and lenghts, and no lyrics. Perfect, at least for my group !
ruclips.net/user/AdrianvonZieglerfeatured
merry men would be merry
You are incorrect about the DM having to reflect all of the emotions and tone of the scene in their voice. Tone is not about YOUR body language, it is what the CHARACTERS are experiencing in the game. Books, many of which are known for having powerful tone, do NOT have a narrator to tell you how to feel, but they still set tones through descriptive imagery. Most of the tone in the campaign comes from your descriptions of the atmosphere and letting the players' imaginations run rampant; in fact, many people, myself included, are annoyed by the overactive use of different voices by the DM or party members - this isn't a theater. I'm not saying you can't do things to the players to help them feel what their characters might be feeling, but it is fallacious to state that a DM must be a roleplaying tryhard for their players to feel the tone.
You > Matt Coville
*Blush Thanks man. Hope they helpful!
I like Matt but he seems to prioritise his story over the players fun, a bit too much for me. But all GMs have different styles.
Different styles lead to different games which is good!
Unfortunatly i cant have food props because one of my players he'll get it every where and if he gets a drink, god forbidd, he would choke on it for the thurd time at destroy hus cgaracter sheet
Or I.... Thing..... :D
Songs with lyrics are bad, that's obvious.
But what about ominous latin chanting, for example? Songs with lyrics no one at the table understands?