@FalxBlade Excuse me! I need to go say hi to an old friend! Won't be a minute! Hey Gary! Long time no see! Yeah, bet you didn't expect to see me again, did you, punk?! You left us to die, you bastard! This is for Sachi! Choke on it! Choke on my vengeance! How does it taste?!
It's always a funny thing when you see a horror story that with only a couple minor tweaks could really be an interesting campaign: opening up with the premise "I need atleast 1 divine or diabolic pc and your backstories have to end with you dying." Then having the divine or diabolic pc or pcs' patron offer a chance at redemption/vengeance on the mortal plane should the PC agree to form a band or covenant NOT beholden to the noted character(s) actually sounds really playable. The DM just kinda did it in the most disrespectful and aggravating way imaginable.
Critical Role is amazing but I don't know if it has been good or bad fro the hobby overall, you get some many players can't understand that not every DM is Matt Mercer or every player a professional voice actor.
Something tells me the DM for the last game was just messing with his players. The players leaving was a sign of them being sick of his crap. The bit about wanting to write a novel instead of running a game is spot-on, though.
I've never understood Warlocks who want to use a gun (based on dex, with a misfire rate) when they can fire Eldritch Blasts (based on cha) every turn all day long because it's a flippin' cantrip, which gains extra bolts as you level up. And there's a ton of Invocations that stack extra damage and abilities onto Eldritch Blast, starting with Agonizing Blast (available from level 1!) that adds your cha bonus to damage. It's like building a Fighter, taking a feat to get a few magic cantrips, then trying to only use magic in combat. You can, but why would you?
For some reason all I can think about with all these "I want my game to be Critical Role" stories is "You know all that planning, scripting and character acting doesn't come for free, right?" At this point, if someone says "Buuut theeey diiiddd iiit on Criiiticaal Roooleee 😭😭😭" the automatic response should be "They also get paid on Critical Role. If you want me to fit your script, here's my Paypal lol"
I like the way your dog character moves so naturally, and even the ears move and twitch, also really like the cat video clips. I have no idea how you get the animation to match your voice, but it’s really good.
I don't think we hear that many stories of CR inspired DMs versus all the wannabe CR players. In any case it was all first timers. You shouldn't expect masterpieces or for them to create their own Scanlan. Good on everyone for bailing on him. Also, I can't help but note that yeah, it's typical murder hobo behavior to not see NPCs as anymore more than, well, NPCs. Not as a character, not as important to the plot, just a thing. Either that or loot piñatas that are taking too long to give them their stuff.
Not to mention Gunslinger is pretty out of place in 5E to begin with when only maxing out at misfire 3. Misfire 8 is insane. Even before Tasha's it was better to just play Battlemaster with any ranged weapon, or still a gun if the setting/DM supported it. Matt Mercer's Gunslinger conversion was just a quick fix to not overly change the player's character that never got properly revised like his other homebrew and published 5E subclasses.
I’m reminded recently of a new game I joined. One of my rolls (the first of the game) was a nat 20 and it was for insight. Because of this high roll the dm said I noticed the npc I was talking to was hiding a child under them and seemed to be the mother of said child (context, giant frog who could talk and shiny child who looked made of crystal but was being hidden by mother for that reason). Some of the other characters are looking around for anything valuable and some are talking to the npc. Realizing we aren’t getting anything from this encounter, and realizing we are putting the mom on edge I have the group move on. Except…all the players heard about what I saw and, outside the tent, I had my character explain why she had them head out of it, so their characters now knew too. We joke around a few times, as players, about stealing the child but I do put my foot down there. I had mentioned during the session 0 that violence or harm against children is a hard no for me given my profession (work in nursing with a focus on children and have worked as a cooking instructor for children previously) and so, while the dm could use a veil to imply it, I personally would not welcome descriptions. The other players are there when I say this. So while it’s fine to joke as a player with no intent, I didn’t welcome them having their characters do so in action. Well…you probably know where this is going. One player seems particularly stuck on the idea of stealing the child and selling them. Even bringing it up to the party as their character. At this point the joke stops as everyone, in character says “no” and moves on. That puts a stop to that. I think what makes me uncomfortable about this is my clearly saying at the beginning my discomfort towards harm to children and one other player being disrespectful enough to keep bringing up something that I mentally can not dissociate as harm towards a child (don’t care if it was inhuman, it could still talk and feel). I’m glad the rest of the group stood by the stance of not stealing the child however. It made me feel better to know that others will assist if I stand by my hard line there. You know the worst thing? This player’s character is supposed to be Lawful Good….like how do you justify that? Anyway, just wanted to share. It’s not a full blown horror story but it is one of my more uncomfortable dnd experiences which are rare as I usually am able to not have negative ones. Guess that’s the way it is. Can’t play with strangers and not come away unscathed every time.
You did a great job handling that situation with that party and player, but I recommend keeping an eye on the child stealer player for Loot Goblin tendencies. They usually manifest pretty early like this when presented with Any opportunity to make money no matter how morally dubious. Is the player a Martial by chance? Looking to get into Full Plate as fast as possible? Because this is a surprisingly Common trend among "Lawful Good" PC's looking for a fast way to that sweet 18AC and +anything weapons. Harm to children is just a straight no in the games I run in general along with a few other Big NoNo's for the comfort of myself and my players. The fact that this guy kept Harping on this is very telling about their play style. Stay strong, stay firm.
@@JC-Luka to my knowledge they are brand new to dnd in general. And yes I believe they are a martial but are a barbarian so the armor wouldn’t apply in this case either. Party composition was a fighter, two barbarians, a rogue, myself the cleric, and a druid. I believe they may be confused on etiquette regarding game play as they did shut up when everyone finally turned to them with a solid no to shut it down fully and then asked “aren’t you playing lawful good.” We got an apology after that, especially when another player pointed out what I said during session 0. I also gave context during session 0 why it was so deeply uncomfortable for me. I believe another player is a doctor and said they understood my stance there. To be honest, about half of the gathered group is new with only myself, the dm, and one other player having a decent amount of experience. Of the three I’m the least but also am part of 3 other ongoing long term campaigns and been in at least 4 one shots. I’ve been playing for over 6 months now and own most of the sourcebooks and study them in my off time for fun. So it’s something of a learning curve maybe? Least for now. I’m going to keep an eye on the situation. I have pegged it as a possible flag but we will see if the player can be taught proper etiquette before being set loose on the rest of the community. I’d like to try and see if this is just an error and not a bad apple first. Though I do thank you for pointing that out. I’ve had largely amazing experiences since I started playing with only one notable other bad experience (long story short, kept getting private messages from them telling me to shut up during sessions and found out later they were doing it to everyone, that dm kicked them). Hopefully this ends up well.
@@mentalrebllion1270 Ahh ok yes that does explain alot, proper table top etiquette tends to come with time and it can be a shocking transition for new folk coming from single player rpgs. I'm honestly happy to hear that you got an apology and that things have seemed to resolved peacefully. That's a very good and honestly refreshing sign. Hopefully things continue to only improve from here and you have a wonderful time in this game with your party! As for the other one, I had a similar issue with a player that also ended up banned, I only with my other players had spoken up sooner about it as I would not have let it continue as long as it had had I know. Keep flexing that shiny spine and I wish you many wonderful adventures in our community!
@@JC-Luka much thanks. And I will certainly show it off. I didn’t grow up the oldest of three children to not use that spine they helped me grow 🤣 but yeah, hopefully it goes well. All went well with that other incident. We didn’t get too far before they showed their true colors and so it didn’t take long for that issue to be fixed.
So... I think your party missed a side quest hook thanks to the mild infighting? Any time a campaign his a hard line against child violence, the party leans heroic, and introduces a child that has good reason to have ill intent leveraged towards them, that's a cue for the party to step in offering to help against whoever or whatever could be a threat to the child. That frog mother was paranoid about something other than just the party.
I'm currently playing a gunslinger, and some of the class rulings of the first DM made me go "what?!" so much on my first listen it almost made me drop the dishes I was cleaning. Like, I get gunslinger is a high risk/high reward class to play, but the DM's rulings were just unfair (as by his design, I guess). Granted, the DM's complaint is something that can be solved with an off-table conversation and (DM's) acknowledgment of player agency, not a rigged TPK.
As a avid critter I'm so baffled by some of these stories, I originally found DnD through rpg horror stories and so was convinced that the hobby was automatically awful, if it wasn't for finding CR by accident I would of never changed my mind. I was blown away by how the game allowed them to have so much fun, always bouncing off each other, how Matt created a fantasy story to involve them, and in return they bought in completely, giving each other more to work off. Yes, yes I'm aware they're basically professionally trained to roleplay and improv, no reason another group or game wouldn't be fun too, I just need to work with everyone else to make their game fun for them and I'll get it in return. What Greg did is baffling, destroying first time player's characters won't get them invested, they'll just quit, you can't decide they're "too boring", not the DMs job, easiest way to make a character more interesting would be involving them as main parts of quests, thereby letting characters interested in roleplay to evolve an evermore interesting character that's purely theirs.
In most stories where you have a true name that name is special and even holds magical influence over you, learning your true name can even allow you to subjugate another, which is why you have a given and family name which would be one’s real names because they are just as real as your true name just not as important.
300gp? for a jammed gun? not on my table...thats just evil and unbalanced (just called my local gameshop to order the sourcbook just to shield my players.. was ebberon.. wasn't it)
That thumbnail... Is that Mori doing a Charlie cosplay, giving a: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHH BABY! THAT'S I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! ? Because that's pretty funny.
Critical Role is like the FFVII of D&D. Yes it brought a lot of new eyes to the product, but it brought in just as many people who don't care about D&D beyond what they do...
I have to be bound/enslaved to another player/character in order to play a DnD game. And on top of that I would have to die first? Yeah I would have just walked then and there.
As a DM i place theft as capital punishment in some areas and stealing from a noble would be justified, but to kill a child is lawful evil at best. That warlock would have a change in alignment.
I"m not seeing the similarities between first story DM and Critical Role... His mistakes are making a DMPC and using stronger monsters for a small party (vs Mercer who uses stronger monsters because he has more players) but that has little to do with CR. More a matter of bad judgment. The player rolling a Percy is more CR than the DM is. That last DM is kind of an idiot. o_O
First one: most things seem forgivable; it is mostly a dm and player that both did not know the rules well. The only thing I can say is a dm sin is killing characters because they were boring, but that was something told to op by a friend who had an ax to grind with the dm; sounds kind of unreliable. It also seems fishy that the dm supposedly wanted to kill the characters but kept saving the fight with a dm pc; he could have killed them at any point. The gun misfire is one version of fire arms, the dmg has guns without a misfire; that is home brew so whatever. I would do more damage than 2d6 for such a high misfire, but whatever. Might be pushing them to carry multiple guns like a pirate movie. Workable if guns are aaffordable. Monks can tank. Monks can tank well. Got to build a tank monk which costs other abilities, but doable. Challenge of encounters is a preference thing. Even official modules use unbalanced encounters. That is a feature, not really a bug. People into osr games would enjoy this, so meh? Adding an npc to a player's back story is fair. They are just a plot point and way to give hooks to the party. That just tells me that the monk made a character that "sprouted fully formed from the head of Zeus" and the dm wanted a character with some history to engage with.
If someone at my table told me their actions didn't matter because it was against an npc, I would Firmly remind them that it wasn't fully true. It's one of me, the gm player's, characters, and it doesn't use algorithms or programming to determine it's behaviour, it uses the discretion and imagination of a whole human being sitting at the table with you. Watching. Potentially listening. Every npc has the potential to have a memory just as good as I do. So if you want to kill, feel free, but remember that you aren't dealing with mindless robots here.
I would have told Greg that if his game needed an anti-paladin so badly that he should either make one out of a dmpc or just change his game to work around the characters each player initially created. And the moment he pulled me aside for a solo segment that is supposed to kill my character and then bind them to the anti paladin I will refuse to be bound to anyone, and if Greg keeps bitching and whining about it I’d probably tell him to shove it sideways and leave, if I didn’t give him a shiner first
@@robertwildschwein7207 I know that there’s an Oath of Treachery paladin that can be played, also called a Blackguard Paladin, that is basically an anti paladin, and there’s also an Oathbreaker Paladin
What the DM in the second story did wasn't "cheap", but actually the perfect move. Take not, DMs: As soon as inner party conflict boils over into ooc arguments, just retcon what happened that lead to that point (if possible), especially if the conflict happened due to awful character choices (which is often the case). This obviously doesn't always apply, but is actually quite regularly the correct move.
You know one thing I don't get? DMPCs. My brother and I played D&D with my dad when we were young. We played 2e, because that's what my dad loved and knew, so yes I understood THACO. During his campaigns, we had a party of four. Not with 2 DMPCs, but simply two characters each. My brother played a half elf ranger and an elven cleric, and I played an elven wizard/fighter and an elven paladin. We weren't... too into the roleplay aspect in those days, because we were simple kids and just enjoyed the problem solving of going through dungeons, avoiding traps, and fighting monsters. That didn't stop us from loving the fuck out of D&D and play it when we can, albeit in separate groups now. But yes, I still don't quite understand why DMPCs are so rampant. If you need to fill out a party, why not double up on characters? That gives the players more engagement and strategic ability without robbing them of any time. Even if roleplay wise it can be a bit tough, I think it'd be a better fix than a DM insert.
Playing multiple characters can be a problem for a lot of players. So letting the DM run a character to expand the party is theoretically a good move. The problems happen when the DM decides to make their DMPC the spotlight or make them special instead of just anouther part of the team. There was a DMPC in the first game I played, the team lacked a rogue so the DM added one to the party. It all went fine, most of the time we forgot he was even there.
Hi Doge, happy to see you today and of course there is nothing like kittens (don't care how old, they are always kittens) at play, especially when they jump. Hey NPC's Lives Matter - too far? Sorry. guarantee
I can understand not adding dex to damage rolls for a gun -- I think the gunslinger in Pathfinder worked that way unless you took a feat -- but no dex to attack rolls?
You know hinging your plot on a player having some specific character trait is really a bad idea unless A) you already know they’re going to do it or B) you talk to them before hand and arrange it. Especially a class like anti-Paladin. I mean sure bank in at least one player bring a full caster or martial, still stupid, but at least it’s more likely.
I like that in story 2 attempting child murder and getting arrested for it is not fucking around and finding out but arresting an attempted child murderer then getting burned to death in your own home is.
"Matt Mercer always-" -no he doesn't! Seriously, every time I hear some jackass saying 'Matt Mercer does it' to try to justify them screwing over their own table, it's something Matt does not do, would not do, and tells people not to do!
I think it’s a bit much to say it’s a red flag if someone wants to make their first character have a gun or a fireball. While some Amy end up being like the guy in the story, other times it comes with what they have been thinking of for a character
Simple answer to murder hobos is presents with class levels. Banning someone for playing an evil character is a bit odd. Make sure to clarify that you don't want chaotic evil in session zero. If that fails have some of the townsfolk have counter spell or something to teach the player that fighting a whole town is a bad idea
I got a kick out of your thumbnail; all I thought about was that anime girl trying to pretend to be Matt Mercer, then going "shizz, dayumm boi" in between all of it.
@@TheKenchanx Very interesting! I saw a couple, which was cool to look at. I came back to this comment after 9 months, because apparently the art in the thumb *is* Calli, done by some guy called Ardenlolo. So that's hilarious that it gave a Calli impression, when it was her. Apparently the piece was spoofing that penguinz0 dude going "Yeah baby, that's what I'm talkin' about"!
The first two stories were bad, but that last one was atrocious. Might as well handed out scripts and expected people to do a fanfic reading, but I guess they all would have left right away.
Story 1: I never watched Critical Role because of people like Greg. I don't care how good it is, assholes like this remind me too much of the PICKLE RICK shit from Rick and Morty. My expectations are the DM is this DM is having players play a CR fanfic. Point buy. yawn. So Greg hands the player a weapon that will break, costs a ton, and completely bricks the character. sounds like a wonderful DM. Teifling DMNPC needs to be yeeted into the nearest portal to the plane of nope. So this dude made an encounter that only his DMPC could deal with, hobbled his players, and is using Matt Mercer as an excuse for intentionally bricking OP's character. Yeah, you should just nope out of this game, or start DMing your own and break all of Matt Mercer's tropes just to frustrate this fanboy. And there's the video's selling point. sounds like he wanted an out for being a DM. If the OGL stuff has taught me anything: we all tend to rely too heavily on pre-produced lore. I'd rather play in an original setting than try to play Greg's matt mercer love letter. Story 2: Newplayer Murder Hobos kinda get a pass for me since I think its a phase we all gotta grow out of. Still, killing a child like that is a bit cold, even for me. I could understand if Gary was like 'I'll just get the kid rezz'd' but killing the mom and kid? nah. Even I didn't do that kinda stuff in my MH phase. story 3: So warlock's cool with just murdering some starving child, and then tries to make it about how the party is betraying her when they stop her? what? I'd prefer if the player got consequences rather than retconning it away. Story 4: Wow, starting us off with a DM who doesn't prepare or communicate. DM is stunned people won't just sell their soul to a demon, meaning he doesn't understand people need realistic reasons to do things and not just follow his unwritten script. WAIT. HOLD UP. "Some of us had played D&D but it'd been years." "None of us had played D&D" OP, you earned yourself a red flag yourself. Um, OP, I'm starting to think you aren't actually versed in gaming... or common sense since you have to ask if being struck by lightning would also hurt someone and the person they are in direct contact with. No explanation of why the theif can't steal this one object this one time? Weird. Yeah, its clear Greg is trying to kill the party members despite there being no story unless they do what he says. At least you did the smart thing and walked out after that BS.
Shouldn't those who watch Critical Role or seen others play get them interested enough where they want learn about the game? And then make their own. Games should come from the imagionation, and not try and copy those who're way more experience. I know I may not be one, but I am willing to learn and try to come up the ideas for not just me but for those who could be interested.
Its allways weird hearing these critical role stories like i statted dnd because i saw the yogacast play it so i had a more realistic exspectation if anyonendpesnt know yogscast Their the oposite if profesional think gamers who are children at heart made a company and have alot of fun and charity stuff So alot of sillyness and antics rather than profeisonals playing was my inteoduction
I don't blame Gary for being pissed at the DM suddenly deciding Mom was on the scene AND a member of the watch. Yeah, he was in the wrong but that wasn't the way to handle it. The third party dealt the same situation far better by counterspelling and stopping the party member themselves
Whoa whoa whoa, you can't just sacrifice NPCs like that! Some of my best friends have been NPCs!
We must save my family!
@@lvl91soldier55 you see? Some of them even have faaaaa...
*Gary*
@FalxBlade Excuse me! I need to go say hi to an old friend! Won't be a minute!
Hey Gary! Long time no see! Yeah, bet you didn't expect to see me again, did you, punk?! You left us to die, you bastard! This is for Sachi! Choke on it! Choke on my vengeance! How does it taste?!
@@whensomethingcriesagain y'know, he kinda has a point. This is super uncomfortable
@@falxblade1352 *THIS IS FOR SACHI!*
> "For those who don't know anything about guns in 5e"
> Proceeds to describing some homebrew
wait... who in their right minds would ever think that a gun who malfunctions or misses 80% of the time (assuming no other bonuses) is a good idea?
Calliope Mori in the thumbnail? LET'S F'N GOOOOOOO
It's always a funny thing when you see a horror story that with only a couple minor tweaks could really be an interesting campaign: opening up with the premise "I need atleast 1 divine or diabolic pc and your backstories have to end with you dying." Then having the divine or diabolic pc or pcs' patron offer a chance at redemption/vengeance on the mortal plane should the PC agree to form a band or covenant NOT beholden to the noted character(s) actually sounds really playable. The DM just kinda did it in the most disrespectful and aggravating way imaginable.
I know Critical Role is awesome but goddamn, first story's DM needs his own style.
Critical Role is amazing but I don't know if it has been good or bad fro the hobby overall, you get some many players can't understand that not every DM is Matt Mercer or every player a professional voice actor.
@TFAric its probably a neutral force. It's gotten a lot of players to the hobby, but it brought a lot of Those players too.
I mean, that was not a Matt Mercer style. Having near lethal encounters with overly punishing mechanics in items is kind of an OSR thing.
the Matt Mercer effect in action
even Mercer will tell you to find your own style
it really isn't.
Something tells me the DM for the last game was just messing with his players. The players leaving was a sign of them being sick of his crap. The bit about wanting to write a novel instead of running a game is spot-on, though.
Nothing has helped and hurt DnD more than Critical Role
I've never understood Warlocks who want to use a gun (based on dex, with a misfire rate) when they can fire Eldritch Blasts (based on cha) every turn all day long because it's a flippin' cantrip, which gains extra bolts as you level up. And there's a ton of Invocations that stack extra damage and abilities onto Eldritch Blast, starting with Agonizing Blast (available from level 1!) that adds your cha bonus to damage. It's like building a Fighter, taking a feat to get a few magic cantrips, then trying to only use magic in combat. You can, but why would you?
Why not?
For some reason all I can think about with all these "I want my game to be Critical Role" stories is "You know all that planning, scripting and character acting doesn't come for free, right?"
At this point, if someone says "Buuut theeey diiiddd iiit on Criiiticaal Roooleee 😭😭😭" the automatic response should be "They also get paid on Critical Role. If you want me to fit your script, here's my Paypal lol"
They are also, and I cannot stress this enough, -professional actors-.
@@ArawnNox LONGTIME VETERANS.
@@ArawnNox and good, unlike most who say that
@@ArawnNox And they are playing to entertain an audience, not to entertain themselves.
@@arturferrao7353 Well, a little of both
I was hoping the Warlock was casting Eldritch Blast to calm the kid down with like a fireworks show or somethin'.
Patron: "You used my power to... Make a laser-light show for a child?
....I'm down with that."
I like the way your dog character moves so naturally, and even the ears move and twitch, also really like the cat video clips. I have no idea how you get the animation to match your voice, but it’s really good.
I don't think we hear that many stories of CR inspired DMs versus all the wannabe CR players. In any case it was all first timers. You shouldn't expect masterpieces or for them to create their own Scanlan. Good on everyone for bailing on him.
Also, I can't help but note that yeah, it's typical murder hobo behavior to not see NPCs as anymore more than, well, NPCs. Not as a character, not as important to the plot, just a thing. Either that or loot piñatas that are taking too long to give them their stuff.
I wonder why I never thought about loot piñatas? So much character motivation wasted to go on a killing frenzy
Not to mention Gunslinger is pretty out of place in 5E to begin with when only maxing out at misfire 3. Misfire 8 is insane. Even before Tasha's it was better to just play Battlemaster with any ranged weapon, or still a gun if the setting/DM supported it. Matt Mercer's Gunslinger conversion was just a quick fix to not overly change the player's character that never got properly revised like his other homebrew and published 5E subclasses.
i mean, scanlan was fun, but a fairly boring rendition of horny bard. Keileth(sp?) best char in that group from what ive seen.
I’m reminded recently of a new game I joined. One of my rolls (the first of the game) was a nat 20 and it was for insight. Because of this high roll the dm said I noticed the npc I was talking to was hiding a child under them and seemed to be the mother of said child (context, giant frog who could talk and shiny child who looked made of crystal but was being hidden by mother for that reason). Some of the other characters are looking around for anything valuable and some are talking to the npc. Realizing we aren’t getting anything from this encounter, and realizing we are putting the mom on edge I have the group move on. Except…all the players heard about what I saw and, outside the tent, I had my character explain why she had them head out of it, so their characters now knew too. We joke around a few times, as players, about stealing the child but I do put my foot down there. I had mentioned during the session 0 that violence or harm against children is a hard no for me given my profession (work in nursing with a focus on children and have worked as a cooking instructor for children previously) and so, while the dm could use a veil to imply it, I personally would not welcome descriptions. The other players are there when I say this. So while it’s fine to joke as a player with no intent, I didn’t welcome them having their characters do so in action. Well…you probably know where this is going. One player seems particularly stuck on the idea of stealing the child and selling them. Even bringing it up to the party as their character. At this point the joke stops as everyone, in character says “no” and moves on. That puts a stop to that. I think what makes me uncomfortable about this is my clearly saying at the beginning my discomfort towards harm to children and one other player being disrespectful enough to keep bringing up something that I mentally can not dissociate as harm towards a child (don’t care if it was inhuman, it could still talk and feel). I’m glad the rest of the group stood by the stance of not stealing the child however. It made me feel better to know that others will assist if I stand by my hard line there. You know the worst thing? This player’s character is supposed to be Lawful Good….like how do you justify that? Anyway, just wanted to share. It’s not a full blown horror story but it is one of my more uncomfortable dnd experiences which are rare as I usually am able to not have negative ones. Guess that’s the way it is. Can’t play with strangers and not come away unscathed every time.
You did a great job handling that situation with that party and player, but I recommend keeping an eye on the child stealer player for Loot Goblin tendencies. They usually manifest pretty early like this when presented with Any opportunity to make money no matter how morally dubious. Is the player a Martial by chance? Looking to get into Full Plate as fast as possible? Because this is a surprisingly Common trend among "Lawful Good" PC's looking for a fast way to that sweet 18AC and +anything weapons.
Harm to children is just a straight no in the games I run in general along with a few other Big NoNo's for the comfort of myself and my players. The fact that this guy kept Harping on this is very telling about their play style. Stay strong, stay firm.
@@JC-Luka to my knowledge they are brand new to dnd in general. And yes I believe they are a martial but are a barbarian so the armor wouldn’t apply in this case either. Party composition was a fighter, two barbarians, a rogue, myself the cleric, and a druid. I believe they may be confused on etiquette regarding game play as they did shut up when everyone finally turned to them with a solid no to shut it down fully and then asked “aren’t you playing lawful good.” We got an apology after that, especially when another player pointed out what I said during session 0. I also gave context during session 0 why it was so deeply uncomfortable for me. I believe another player is a doctor and said they understood my stance there. To be honest, about half of the gathered group is new with only myself, the dm, and one other player having a decent amount of experience. Of the three I’m the least but also am part of 3 other ongoing long term campaigns and been in at least 4 one shots. I’ve been playing for over 6 months now and own most of the sourcebooks and study them in my off time for fun. So it’s something of a learning curve maybe? Least for now. I’m going to keep an eye on the situation. I have pegged it as a possible flag but we will see if the player can be taught proper etiquette before being set loose on the rest of the community. I’d like to try and see if this is just an error and not a bad apple first. Though I do thank you for pointing that out. I’ve had largely amazing experiences since I started playing with only one notable other bad experience (long story short, kept getting private messages from them telling me to shut up during sessions and found out later they were doing it to everyone, that dm kicked them). Hopefully this ends up well.
@@mentalrebllion1270 Ahh ok yes that does explain alot, proper table top etiquette tends to come with time and it can be a shocking transition for new folk coming from single player rpgs. I'm honestly happy to hear that you got an apology and that things have seemed to resolved peacefully. That's a very good and honestly refreshing sign. Hopefully things continue to only improve from here and you have a wonderful time in this game with your party!
As for the other one, I had a similar issue with a player that also ended up banned, I only with my other players had spoken up sooner about it as I would not have let it continue as long as it had had I know. Keep flexing that shiny spine and I wish you many wonderful adventures in our community!
@@JC-Luka much thanks. And I will certainly show it off. I didn’t grow up the oldest of three children to not use that spine they helped me grow 🤣 but yeah, hopefully it goes well. All went well with that other incident. We didn’t get too far before they showed their true colors and so it didn’t take long for that issue to be fixed.
So... I think your party missed a side quest hook thanks to the mild infighting? Any time a campaign his a hard line against child violence, the party leans heroic, and introduces a child that has good reason to have ill intent leveraged towards them, that's a cue for the party to step in offering to help against whoever or whatever could be a threat to the child. That frog mother was paranoid about something other than just the party.
when someone says npcs dont matter tell them there an npc in real life
Risk vs reward is important, that weapon made it clear Greg had no idea what he was doing. Wonder what made the other 2 leave.
Yeah... a misfire score of 8 is more befitting of 2d12 damage...
I'm currently playing a gunslinger, and some of the class rulings of the first DM made me go "what?!" so much on my first listen it almost made me drop the dishes I was cleaning. Like, I get gunslinger is a high risk/high reward class to play, but the DM's rulings were just unfair (as by his design, I guess). Granted, the DM's complaint is something that can be solved with an off-table conversation and (DM's) acknowledgment of player agency, not a rigged TPK.
The funny thing about the first story is that the DMPC that was forced into monk's backstory is basically just Jester-at-home.
As a avid critter I'm so baffled by some of these stories, I originally found DnD through rpg horror stories and so was convinced that the hobby was automatically awful, if it wasn't for finding CR by accident I would of never changed my mind.
I was blown away by how the game allowed them to have so much fun, always bouncing off each other, how Matt created a fantasy story to involve them, and in return they bought in completely, giving each other more to work off.
Yes, yes I'm aware they're basically professionally trained to roleplay and improv, no reason another group or game wouldn't be fun too, I just need to work with everyone else to make their game fun for them and I'll get it in return.
What Greg did is baffling, destroying first time player's characters won't get them invested, they'll just quit, you can't decide they're "too boring", not the DMs job, easiest way to make a character more interesting would be involving them as main parts of quests, thereby letting characters interested in roleplay to evolve an evermore interesting character that's purely theirs.
"Critical Role was a mistake"
- Matt Mercer
Finally. An opinion on C.R that I can absolutely get behind.
Nah. It gave us The Legend of Vox Machina.
@@KCohere33 you say that like it's a GOOD thing 💀
@@ShitpostingJoJo Yeah, I am. Why? You don’t like it?
@@ShitpostingJoJo you say that like hes wrong
In most stories where you have a true name that name is special and even holds magical influence over you, learning your true name can even allow you to subjugate another, which is why you have a given and family name which would be one’s real names because they are just as real as your true name just not as important.
I haven't heard the critical role story yet and I already cringing
For the firearm jamming an till 8
would be 40% chance of just don't having a Round... WTF?
Not just having your turn skipped but you get skipped every turn until you fix it which costs like 300 gp if I recall
300gp?
for a jammed gun?
not on my table...thats just evil and unbalanced
(just called my local gameshop to order the sourcbook just to shield my players.. was ebberon.. wasn't it)
A mindless Gelatinous Cube chooses a target, as opposed to going after the threat?
Hey, Summoner
There's a hidden gem of a game
That thumbnail...
Is that Mori doing a Charlie cosplay, giving a: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!YEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHH BABY! THAT'S I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! ?
Because that's pretty funny.
I mean... can we basically consider Doge to be a VTuber, at the end of the day?
@@PhoenixSlayer13 we can totally agree on that.
But we can't make Doge agree.
Thanks for another entertaining sets of stories again!
Critical Role is like the FFVII of D&D. Yes it brought a lot of new eyes to the product, but it brought in just as many people who don't care about D&D beyond what they do...
I have to be bound/enslaved to another player/character in order to play a DnD game. And on top of that I would have to die first? Yeah I would have just walked then and there.
He should have cut out the middle man and just ran the Wraith rpg
The only mercy is the Emperor's Peace
The only thing more annoying than Critical Role fanatics is Warhammer 40k LARPers...
@@MarquisLeary34 Facts and don't forget to hide your toasters
@@CaptainRellius Squats have better technology. Change My Mind.
@@MarquisLeary34 The Omnissiah works in mysterious ways
You are surprised that a guy that wants to play:
A gunslinger
A fire baller
Is not up to a mystery rescuer adventure?
That’s a session 0 thing.
Could of just played PF if he wants to be a gunslinger.
As a DM i place theft as capital punishment in some areas and stealing from a noble would be justified, but to kill a child is lawful evil at best. That warlock would have a change in alignment.
I"m not seeing the similarities between first story DM and Critical Role... His mistakes are making a DMPC and using stronger monsters for a small party (vs Mercer who uses stronger monsters because he has more players) but that has little to do with CR. More a matter of bad judgment. The player rolling a Percy is more CR than the DM is.
That last DM is kind of an idiot. o_O
First one: most things seem forgivable; it is mostly a dm and player that both did not know the rules well. The only thing I can say is a dm sin is killing characters because they were boring, but that was something told to op by a friend who had an ax to grind with the dm; sounds kind of unreliable. It also seems fishy that the dm supposedly wanted to kill the characters but kept saving the fight with a dm pc; he could have killed them at any point.
The gun misfire is one version of fire arms, the dmg has guns without a misfire; that is home brew so whatever. I would do more damage than 2d6 for such a high misfire, but whatever. Might be pushing them to carry multiple guns like a pirate movie. Workable if guns are aaffordable.
Monks can tank. Monks can tank well. Got to build a tank monk which costs other abilities, but doable.
Challenge of encounters is a preference thing. Even official modules use unbalanced encounters. That is a feature, not really a bug. People into osr games would enjoy this, so meh?
Adding an npc to a player's back story is fair. They are just a plot point and way to give hooks to the party. That just tells me that the monk made a character that "sprouted fully formed from the head of Zeus" and the dm wanted a character with some history to engage with.
If someone at my table told me their actions didn't matter because it was against an npc, I would Firmly remind them that it wasn't fully true. It's one of me, the gm player's, characters, and it doesn't use algorithms or programming to determine it's behaviour, it uses the discretion and imagination of a whole human being sitting at the table with you. Watching. Potentially listening. Every npc has the potential to have a memory just as good as I do. So if you want to kill, feel free, but remember that you aren't dealing with mindless robots here.
16:21
Gurps mentioned. Mood improved
you said "harpys" and i heard arbys. like the restaurant.
HARPY's.
We have the BEAK
If I'm Ken in the last story, as soon as the "game starts" I commit suicide, sacrificing myself to free all of my friends.
I would have told Greg that if his game needed an anti-paladin so badly that he should either make one out of a dmpc or just change his game to work around the characters each player initially created. And the moment he pulled me aside for a solo segment that is supposed to kill my character and then bind them to the anti paladin I will refuse to be bound to anyone, and if Greg keeps bitching and whining about it I’d probably tell him to shove it sideways and leave, if I didn’t give him a shiner first
Anti-Paladin = Obvious troll class
It's not a red flag, but a massive red banner.
I would have stayed for the LOLZ though.
@@robertwildschwein7207 I know that there’s an Oath of Treachery paladin that can be played, also called a Blackguard Paladin, that is basically an anti paladin, and there’s also an Oathbreaker Paladin
What the DM in the second story did wasn't "cheap", but actually the perfect move. Take not, DMs: As soon as inner party conflict boils over into ooc arguments, just retcon what happened that lead to that point (if possible), especially if the conflict happened due to awful character choices (which is often the case). This obviously doesn't always apply, but is actually quite regularly the correct move.
For the final story I would have bounced after the 2nd red flag
Oh, no! CATS! My only weakness
Challenge ratings are kind of like power levels
You know one thing I don't get? DMPCs. My brother and I played D&D with my dad when we were young. We played 2e, because that's what my dad loved and knew, so yes I understood THACO. During his campaigns, we had a party of four. Not with 2 DMPCs, but simply two characters each. My brother played a half elf ranger and an elven cleric, and I played an elven wizard/fighter and an elven paladin. We weren't... too into the roleplay aspect in those days, because we were simple kids and just enjoyed the problem solving of going through dungeons, avoiding traps, and fighting monsters. That didn't stop us from loving the fuck out of D&D and play it when we can, albeit in separate groups now.
But yes, I still don't quite understand why DMPCs are so rampant. If you need to fill out a party, why not double up on characters? That gives the players more engagement and strategic ability without robbing them of any time. Even if roleplay wise it can be a bit tough, I think it'd be a better fix than a DM insert.
Playing multiple characters can be a problem for a lot of players. So letting the DM run a character to expand the party is theoretically a good move. The problems happen when the DM decides to make their DMPC the spotlight or make them special instead of just anouther part of the team.
There was a DMPC in the first game I played, the team lacked a rogue so the DM added one to the party. It all went fine, most of the time we forgot he was even there.
D&D used to have what we're called hirelings, essentially DMPC's players paid for
Nice cats!
16:00 This was DEFINITIVELY a troll
last story DM should have told them one of them would need to play an Anti Paladin before they started.
There were a lot more than five red flags in that last story.
Hi Doge, happy to see you today and of course there is nothing like kittens (don't care how old, they are always kittens) at play, especially when they jump.
Hey NPC's Lives Matter - too far? Sorry.
guarantee
I got money down on Gary being younger that 15
I can understand not adding dex to damage rolls for a gun -- I think the gunslinger in Pathfinder worked that way unless you took a feat -- but no dex to attack rolls?
You know hinging your plot on a player having some specific character trait is really a bad idea unless A) you already know they’re going to do it or B) you talk to them before hand and arrange it.
Especially a class like anti-Paladin. I mean sure bank in at least one player bring a full caster or martial, still stupid, but at least it’s more likely.
"Anti-Paladin"
What a troll!
It's a horrible form of rail roading and taking away players choice and agency by forcing them to play a specific class
It is a red flag the first character I played was a gunslinger?
I wouldn't say that, but just that the only thing he was concerned about was "gun"
@@DnDDoge figuring the cr mania, I'd assume he was using the MercerBrew Gunslinger fighter?
0:25 That's why you carry a sidearm.
(Sidearms are allowed in DND, right?)
They are but guns are usually bloody expensive, especially at low level. Not to mention the cost of blackpowder and ammo!
This is that Greg from Kansas City isn’t it lol.
I like that in story 2 attempting child murder and getting arrested for it is not fucking around and finding out but arresting an attempted child murderer then getting burned to death in your own home is.
20:30. Calling it now, the dm set this all up so he could punk his friend.
"Matt Mercer always-" -no he doesn't! Seriously, every time I hear some jackass saying 'Matt Mercer does it' to try to justify them screwing over their own table, it's something Matt does not do, would not do, and tells people not to do!
But the answer is always fireball
It would be nice if they told dm why they left, the players dont owe them anything im exchange for a horrible time.
I treat NPC same as PCs because the belong to the DM and the DM is a player too
I think it’s a bit much to say it’s a red flag if someone wants to make their first character have a gun or a fireball. While some Amy end up being like the guy in the story, other times it comes with what they have been thinking of for a character
12:40 Bunch o' simps! He did the right thing.
I would have done the same.
Simple answer to murder hobos is presents with class levels. Banning someone for playing an evil character is a bit odd. Make sure to clarify that you don't want chaotic evil in session zero. If that fails have some of the townsfolk have counter spell or something to teach the player that fighting a whole town is a bad idea
what dice do you use for misfiring guns?
Tha doo doo dice.
@@Th-ch5ez but what's the doo doo dice?
Ehh.... that guy should just watch Critical Role and not inflict that stuff on other people.
They should have had the rest of the players kill Gary the sorcerer
I got a kick out of your thumbnail; all I thought about was that anime girl trying to pretend to be Matt Mercer, then going "shizz, dayumm boi" in between all of it.
Calli actually does talk like that...
She's a pretty decent DM, from what I've seen, though.
@@TheKenchanx Very interesting! I saw a couple, which was cool to look at.
I came back to this comment after 9 months, because apparently the art in the thumb *is* Calli, done by some guy called Ardenlolo. So that's hilarious that it gave a Calli impression, when it was her. Apparently the piece was spoofing that penguinz0 dude going "Yeah baby, that's what I'm talkin' about"!
The first two stories were bad, but that last one was atrocious. Might as well handed out scripts and expected people to do a fanfic reading, but I guess they all would have left right away.
Based off the clip art alone, kinda on their side🤷♂️
…Isn’t it generally a bad idea to go straight from watching (a glamorized high budget version of) DND to DMing it?
It is if it's an obsession to the point of being your only hobby
Story 1: I never watched Critical Role because of people like Greg. I don't care how good it is, assholes like this remind me too much of the PICKLE RICK shit from Rick and Morty. My expectations are the DM is this DM is having players play a CR fanfic.
Point buy. yawn.
So Greg hands the player a weapon that will break, costs a ton, and completely bricks the character. sounds like a wonderful DM.
Teifling DMNPC needs to be yeeted into the nearest portal to the plane of nope.
So this dude made an encounter that only his DMPC could deal with, hobbled his players, and is using Matt Mercer as an excuse for intentionally bricking OP's character. Yeah, you should just nope out of this game, or start DMing your own and break all of Matt Mercer's tropes just to frustrate this fanboy.
And there's the video's selling point. sounds like he wanted an out for being a DM.
If the OGL stuff has taught me anything: we all tend to rely too heavily on pre-produced lore. I'd rather play in an original setting than try to play Greg's matt mercer love letter.
Story 2: Newplayer Murder Hobos kinda get a pass for me since I think its a phase we all gotta grow out of. Still, killing a child like that is a bit cold, even for me. I could understand if Gary was like 'I'll just get the kid rezz'd' but killing the mom and kid? nah. Even I didn't do that kinda stuff in my MH phase.
story 3: So warlock's cool with just murdering some starving child, and then tries to make it about how the party is betraying her when they stop her? what? I'd prefer if the player got consequences rather than retconning it away.
Story 4: Wow, starting us off with a DM who doesn't prepare or communicate.
DM is stunned people won't just sell their soul to a demon, meaning he doesn't understand people need realistic reasons to do things and not just follow his unwritten script.
WAIT. HOLD UP. "Some of us had played D&D but it'd been years." "None of us had played D&D" OP, you earned yourself a red flag yourself.
Um, OP, I'm starting to think you aren't actually versed in gaming... or common sense since you have to ask if being struck by lightning would also hurt someone and the person they are in direct contact with.
No explanation of why the theif can't steal this one object this one time? Weird.
Yeah, its clear Greg is trying to kill the party members despite there being no story unless they do what he says. At least you did the smart thing and walked out after that BS.
My violence inhibitors are a joke. No, really. I only keep them enabled because of how funny they are
Critical roll is to D&D what Porn is to sex
Shouldn't those who watch Critical Role or seen others play get them interested enough where they want learn about the game? And then make their own. Games should come from the imagionation, and not try and copy those who're way more experience. I know I may not be one, but I am willing to learn and try to come up the ideas for not just me but for those who could be interested.
Early time
But but.. video game don't let me kill kids, why would a DM do the same? I want to murder kids god dammit!
- Greg probably
That's hot garbage
Weird a show has done so much damage to our communities. I've never made it through an episode myself
There's misfires in 5e ??? Monks don't make good tanks? I'm so confused.
Its allways weird hearing these critical role stories like i statted dnd because i saw the yogacast play it so i had a more realistic exspectation if anyonendpesnt know yogscast
Their the oposite if profesional think gamers who are children at heart made a company and have alot of fun and charity stuff
So alot of sillyness and antics rather than profeisonals playing was my inteoduction
I don't blame Gary for being pissed at the DM suddenly deciding Mom was on the scene AND a member of the watch. Yeah, he was in the wrong but that wasn't the way to handle it. The third party dealt the same situation far better by counterspelling and stopping the party member themselves
Being on the watch herself was a bit convenient, but a mother being within running distance of their child is a no brainer.
@@whiterabbit75 Good point, though if she was competent enough to beat up Gary you'd have thought she'd have been after the Harpy herself
@@Michaeljack81sk Very true. DM should have had her hold him long enough to disrupt his spell, then have the town guard come and arrest him.
Critical Role is cringe and fake enough by itself. No need to imitate it.
Critical Role ruins everything. Again. This is why even mentioning that damn show is banned at our table.
G T A 🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫🔫
What? No guns?
G T A 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥