Your game is FINE! You DON'T need help!
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- Опубликовано: 2 июл 2023
- You are running DnD just FINE! You don't NEED to do anything to IMPROVE! You don't NEED to try any new TTRPGs or watch any more GM tip videos! You don't NEED to fix what ain't broke... but don't you WANT to tinker?
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Super interesting video idea! I think part of the attraction to "Advice" D&D videos are a result of that creative drive to continually improve on your craft, though I'm a little too... hyperfocussed on D&D at the moment to verify this, I'd guess similar things can be found in plenty of other hobbies! There's plenty to be said about how great TTRPG's just... are. Ignoring the rules, ignoring anything else, gathering a group of people around a table virtual or otherwise to socialise and roleplay is awesome!!
As someone who has only recently (Within the last two years or so) started branching out into other TTRPG's, I can thoroughly reccomend it! And don't get too hung up on whats popular, whats recent, or even whats considered "good". Run what will be inspirational for you, and fun for your players! I personally don't run any of the low-fantasy, grim-type game systems that seem all the rage at the moment (I've just never really saw the appeal of dark fantasy other than in a few specific settings) and I have a great time with slightly older, less "Trendy" games that fit what me and my players like!
I love this! Run what interests you! Heck yeah!!
I love the increasingly unhinged-yet-very-supportive energy in your recent videos.
Thank you! I'm just thinking about what I want to hear from other artists and trying to articulate what I think is a healthier perspective towards the hobby. Plus, I just like to bring in a dash of chaos to anything I do!
Why isn't this channel more widely known? I mean 75k subs is no joke, but with this level of commentary plus art it should be 750k. Keep doing your awesome tinkering man!
Numbers are neat, but I'm very happy with where we are now! I'm just pleased to be making what I want and talking to cool folks!
Map Crow is moving in an increasingly punk-rock direction and I am here for it
Love me some Art Punks!!
the one thing that got me into rpg's back in 1985 was an idea i found in the DMG, that, in the end, IT'S YOUR GAME AND THE RULES ARE THERE JUST FOR YOU TO MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT OF THEM
Heck yeah!! Side note, 85 is when I was born! Haha!! But yeah, it's your game, your group! Tinker away!!
that cover with gygax trying to push his tinkering made me cry. MapCrow, thank you for being so amazingly inventive and joyous, always. Youre a gem in this space, because the core of what you do is in itself a game. Keep it up. you inspire me always, man.
Wow, thank you!! I really want to pull focus away from companies, and onto creators. Cheers!!
I feel this!
I think most RUclipsrs content is well intended and helpful.
The thumbnails do set a "You're doing it wrong" or "You need to do better" tone.
I struggle when creating thumbnails... because I want the views, but I fight the "click bait" wording because I don't want to sound condescending.
I feel this in my bones. The titles and thumbnails don't just talk, they swear. They slant the whole conversation. My feeling now is that even if I can clickbait more views by making keyworded videos that succeed, I'm building a platform with people that are going to meet the low expectations I'm setting for them. If I have a million subscribers, but they only watch clickbait, what is the point of building that kind of presence. I suppose I'm happier to let my videos be seen by fewer people if I get to make what I want and get seen by the folks I can jive with.
@mapcrow 100%
I'm new to creating for RUclips... but I've loved this hobby for decades. I just keep reminding myself to stay true to that love... and like-minded people will join me.
Heck yeah! Took me about a year, then suddenly an old video caught on, and people started showing up! It's a weird mix of getting lucky after being diligent into the void for an unspecified time. Cheers!!
I'm not a creator ATM, but I'd say GET THEM VIEWS! You are up against so much other content, if you feel like your content is well informed or creative or unique do whatever you need to.
Except AI generated stuff, eff that
I've done that, and it just gets a lot of arguments and ugliness. Sure the views go up, but I don't really want to be a full time RUclipsr. I'm happy that this video actually seems to indicate that there is interest in a different kind of video than, "You're doing bandits all wrong!" Haha
Always ready for a map crow video
Thank you so much!! I love sharing these things with folks!!
I think another hurdle new DM's run into is that this is a fundamentally collaborative hobby. There is a lot of pressure to make your games into a big production ala Critical Role, but unless you are very fortunate your friends aren't likely to be professional voice actors. Your game will feel awkward at times, it will feel janky, and that is ok! You don't want to end up in a situation where you are putting in ten times as much time and effort than everyone else at the table because of some imagined unrealistic ideal.
Very nicely put!! I think something that separates TTRPGs from other games is the table talk aspect of it! Making sure the table talk enjoyable and invite enjoyable people, and that will smooth over a lot of that "jank" from the game!
This smug-looking face always shows up on, ironically, the sweetest, most reassuring videos.
HAha! You've got me pegged! And this will fit into that pattern too, I expect!
I cannot express how exicted I am for the Monstrous book. I have found your videos (like Building Better Monsters) to be great advice and inspiration to create some really interesting designs.
Thank you so much!! We are really excited to bring this book to you!!
"It is a folk art."
God, this for some reason hit me so personally. There's a lot of unexpressed validation in stating that what we all do in this scene is essentially the creation of stories and lore. Man, that's so good. I'm cherishing this.
Heck yeah!! It's increasingly tough to keep track of the folk art aspect when the most visible parts of the hobby are so polished and and coming from professional fans!!
In addition to tinkering, it feels like these games have also always been abour collaboration.
I got into DnD later, when 3.5 came out and I was like 9 or 10 years old. I didn't have zines, but I still have those core books with completely unbalanced homebrew weapons, races, and classes written on the inside cover by me and my siblings and friends. That's still the image that comes to mind when I think about getting into these games as a kid.
Heck yeah! DnD is a way to spend time with PEOPLE, connect with PEOPLE, collaborate and laugh and riff with PEOPLE!! Even solo games are an interesting way to connect with artists and gamewrights!!
that basically my method to grow as an artist/dungeon master/person: I watch what peoples are doing, take notes of what I find interesting, then messing with it to see if it work.
if the person is giving the file of their creation (for musique, virtual drawing etc), that PERFECT. because I can tinker in it and see how things was be built, see if I can graps the intentions and process of said artist for my own shenanigans.
I found the process of tinkering something to be so much fun, because not only you learn SO MUCH, but then after that, you can appreciate the craft knowing how exactly it is made, instead of being just looking from afar.
and that is awesome.
I watch videos on improving my games and my DMing not because I think I'm doing it wrong, but because I think the rules have room for improvement and I think I have room for improvement as well. I want to make the best games I can possibly make, for my players and I to have the most fun and the least hurdles. I don't always agree with the things I see from various content creators, its important to be able to identify these things. Often there are things I like from videos I watched or articles I read so I try them out and they don't always work out. I identify why it worked or did not work and the experience helps me improve regardless. A lot of videos are helpful, some more than others tbh. The more experience I get, the more I know what to look for in this kind of content and what is or is not helpful. I'm just searching for little bits of gold advice that can help me cover my own weaknesses and increase my strengths as a DM. For that, I think its are a great resource for advice.
I just want to let it be known, that if people enjoy the monsters they have, that's fine, power to them! But I do find incredible value in creative artists coming up with new and interesting interpretations for pre-existing creatures- it's just cool man!
Heck yeah!!
As someone who's building a campaign from almost scrap, your words have helped me focus in on making it fun!
I came for map advice, stayed for the good GM advice!
Beautiful video and message
Its great to hear the July indie shoutout event spread. I too love dungeoncraft, and the idea seemed awesome
This video gave me inspiration, and I'm gonna spend it wisely to get advantage on what I do next in DnD. Thanks for all the good work you do crow
Great video!
Just found your channel when "Draw Your D&D Map" was recommended to me, and I am enjoying immensely already! (Also, THANK you for quoting the book version instead of the movie. I like the movie but there's nothing quite like FULL Tolkien.)
Love this so much! The artwork is spectacular, too!
Thank you so much! Cheers!!
What a cool Painting!
This gave me a lot to chew on, as always. In my videos and zines at least, I think about them as toolboxes - take what you want, leave what you don't. Modify, bastardize, mutate them into your own! Being able to tinker is great, but I think half of the joy and fulfilment of the hobby for me is helping others with their tinkering and bringing their unique creative visions to life. Tinkering to help others tinker, so to speak. Being inspired to inspire others. The endless cycle. Thank you Kyle, for yet another excellent video!
From an old grognard from 1979, well said! We tinker because we must, we view other's tinkering because we can, we borrow, adapt, and use their material because we choose.
Hell yeah!!
That guitar riff at the beginning sure brought back some Trigun nostalgia for me.
For some, I think there is definitely an element of "your fun is wrong and bad and you should feel bad" to their advice. For others there is that "Do this to have the most fun!" aspect to their presentation. For most, I think it's more suggestions and ideas. "Try this if you want to spice up" is the tone I feel most of your gameplay advice falls into . The mapmaking is more of how to approach making maps as gameboards, which comes with it's own techniques and rules.
The truth is all you need is a set of dice, some friends, and some imagination to play an TTRPG. Everything else is optional. The books, the settings, the art, the minis, the terrain, everything beyond those three essentials is a tool that makes the process easier, but it's not necessary. I watch these kinds of videos and buy the books as much to steal from them as I do to use them as is. Heck, I'm subbed to OPR for their minis and I have no intention of playing the game at this time. I just find them a good source of lots of minis I can use in TTRPGs. If someone wants to tell me that I'm doing it wrong, that's a them problem. I'm just here to have fun.
I liked the Lord of the Rings reference to Galadriel's speech when Frodo tries to give her the Ring you threw in there, by the way.
Grateful for your encouraging others to check out non-dnd game systems for a month. I'm biased, but seeing other systems get a shout out sparks immense joy.
To be fair, someone with such beautiful art and voice is free to colonize my imagination any time :p,
I don't know how other people see it, but I absolutely love watching advice video's, even if I don't use most of it. With your channel, I discovered that I want to challenge my self more by drawing the monsters I put into my game. It makes it easier for me to describe the monster. Especially since my friend group usually plays in Dutch and translating English text on the fly can be hard.
I appreciate this video so much, I have a bad habit of doubting myself and my games and watching videos like you, Ginny Di, Dungeon Dudes and more trying to be the perfect Storyteller, and i forget sometimes I should just let it go, experiment my own way, and just have fun how I want to. Thank you.
It's interesting that all us creators always spend so much time talking about improving or altering the game, and we seem to rarely talk about the talking with friends aspect of it, which is my favorite part!! All the laughter and jokes and snacks and comradery, that's important stuff!! Cheers!!
Great commentary, art and ideas!
Thank you kindly!
Thank you for blessing us with your tape peelies.
I love the energy you immediately brought to this video lol.
Thank you! Yeah, I came out swinging with this one!! Haha
Incredibly refreshing and inspiring vid! Reminds me a bit of Adam Ragusea's vegetable soup video, as unrelated as that sounds 😄
Oh! I should watch that video, I guess! Thank you for the kind words!
I love this. This is a hobby all about experimenting until you find what you enjoy.
Heck yeah!! And some folks find out they enjoy experimenting forever!
As someone who plays a version of 4th edition D&D with homebrewed changes to the rules with their friends, this video is greatly appreciated. 4th edition tends to get some hate online, and not many people even talk about it, so it's nice to be reminded that so long as all the players in a group have fun, any game is valid.
Facts!! Any yeah, 4E was the first DnD I ever ran as a GM! It's a wonderful game, as long as everyone wants the play the way that it supports!!
I'm playing a 4e campaign for the first time this year and our group is LOVING IT! After giving it a try, I am shocked at the amount of hatred people have for the system. I'm glad to hear of another group having a good time with 4e!
@@dandeliondomain In my experience, folks that don't have a concrete idea of what DnD OUGHT to be have a wonderful time with 4E. However, if you have different ideas about that sord of thing from what 4E is actually doing, there are going to be problems. So it goes!
This is pure poetry
Thank you so much!! I think the meter could scan better tho. ;P
Good analysis about the hobby. I've joined in with the Independent TTRPG Month by putting up a review on my channel, and I appreciate you spreading the word about it.
Heck yeah!! Independent TTRPG Month!!!
Freaking cool book cover 🤩🤩🤩
Thank you so much! You can see me draw it on the Building Better Monsters | Undead video!
The fact that the guy specifically called out your Building Better Monsters videos feels so silly to me because if I remember right, every single one of those videos started with an explanation that you just liked the alliterative title and didn't actually think yours were better, you just liked the creative undertaking
YEAH! YES! YUP! Haha!! But still, if that's the first impression the title sets, that's part of the message too! Haha
lmao the galadriel quote was perfect. i really appreciate your conclusion, realizing that the sharing and tweaking and community around it is part of what it's always been about
One of the most underrated channels on RUclips
I remember one time i was fascinated by your art for better animated armor and i incorporated it in one the dungeon i was running. It was a ruined Dagon temple in an wet cavern under sea level. In one of the hallway i placed two decorative animated armor made of shells at the sides and in the center like it was run over embedded in the floor a debuffed helmed horror ispired by ur art. I didn't follow most of the things u said 😅, instead i made it so it was infused with demonic essence and was possessed by a abyssal (both literally and in the plane wheel way) anglerfish will o' wisp that in the centuries repaired the armor and grew a cancerous mass (gibbering mouther) within the armor that with time would form into its demon body. At our table it was a memorable encounter, it was fun describing to the pgs how after they defeat the armor a single point of blue light ascend from it while a meat mass was pouring out the chest piece, it gave a bit of a horror theme and helped me experiment with fights in waves. Sincerely thank u for all your work ❤
Oh! That's wonderful!! Thank you for sharing that!!
It was great running into you at Origins! Totally unexpected, totally delightful, and I'm loving the prep zine-hope to chat again soon!
Heck yeah! It was a fun show to meet folks!! Cheers, Marc!
Damn, love that Trigun Guitar logo break at the beginning
Hhaa!! Been on a rewatch kick, and just had to put it in!! Cheers!!
@@mapcrow it’s still one of my favorite anime. If you haven’t read it yet, read the original manga and Trigun Maxim. They don’t quite do Millie and Merril justice, but the story really is epic.
Wow. I love the idea of TTRPGs as folk art. I do often envision telling stories from my DnD and Monster of the Week games to my hypothetical future child.
Heck yeah! An oral tradition of monsters and madeup people!!
Im sooo glad this video took the turn that it did. You cant let some old grognard make you question your life choices.
Haha! Ain't nothing wrong with questions! It's the answers that get you into trouble! Cheers!!
I don’t know, I feel like most people understand that videos like yours are just people sharing their own ideas on how to mix up the formula a bit and make things fresh and, by inherent extension, interesting. I really don’t get why anyone would feel threatened by that kind of thing unless they’re just REALLY self conscious about their own creativity(or lack thereof) and so they may feel like anyone with new ideas is stepping on their toes. That person might perceive that those who see YOUR ideas will then think less of his/her ideas(or lack thereof), which isn’t even remotely true but hey you can’t spell human without irrational.
Yeah, my game is fine, but sometimes I need some inspiration or a little direction or maybe even a different perspective.
That's why I like your Maps video so much. Because it never occurred to me that back in the day people drew maps based on politics and encounters rather than the actual dirt, hills and mountains. As soon as that happened my brain exploded with realization and inspiration.
Its only wrong if it doesn't work for you. And what's the best way to find out if it works? By trying it out.
And even then, it might not be wrong if it doesn't work. It might just need adjusting... which you can figure out as you go.
I had a LOOONG period of time where I thought I'd never DM, but eventually, due to multiple DM's in my circle burning out in one way or another, I decided to test the waters with a one-shot. It was a little rough around the edges, but it **worked**. So I took the idea and decided to run with it for the basis of a campaign.
Fast forward a year, and I'm 4 sessions into my own homebrew p2e campaign, looking forward to every new idea, and what session it may bring. I just need to find the time to prep it while juggling work and other hobbies~
What a lovely skull! You always baffle me with the initial rough application of bulky colours but the result is wonderful. Certainly made me curious about the project. But to the topic of the video. To me the (V)TTRPG youtube channels and blogs are always a source of inspiration, not something gospel.
Love the work you do!
Thank you so much! I tend to follow the James Gurney method of starting with the largest brush you can get away with, then fixing it up with finer and finer details and texture! Cheers!!
@@mapcrow Ah, not to different from painting miniatures! That's how I intend to paint miniatures but often I pick to small brushes, fearing to make mistakes.
topic aside, that art is dope af
Thank you so much! I love drawing for this project!!
There's nothing wrong with trying it improve yourself! It's actually something most of us do throughout all of our life!
As an experienced GM, I watch videos like this for ideas. If I disagree with it, I discard it. My table, my world. What I am concerned by is a lot of noob players expect what they see on RUclips to be the "proper way" to do it.
You nailed Galadriel's rant better than Kate Blanchett did. I am impressed.
Your use of the FFIX world map theme really worked with that section of your incredibly supportive rant. :)
I’m humming that track like once a week. LOVE IT
Thank you for the lovely Trophy Dark shout out, Kyle! And I love the sentiment of this being a hobby of tinkering and tweaking -- it's certainly what gets my engines going and keeps me gaming and making new things!
Heck yeah! Trophy is an amazing game!!
I had a DM that was terrible because they kept on trying to emulate big podcast DND shows even though that wasn't his strength. He'd take almost every encounter from RUclips even if it wasn't necessary. The only sessions he enjoyed ended up being the ones he ended up making by himself and was convinced they were terrible
Gosh, that sounds like a rough echo chamber to be stuck in!!
cant wait to "borrow" some ideas for my campaigns from bg3 :3
Good video but it was the FFIX music that got my like 💛
😎😎😎
THIS! AND ONLY THIS! THIS IS MY MANIFESTO! SPOKEN BY ONE THAT IS OF THE SAME SPIRIT AND FIBER AS I! ❤
Kyle you put to words that I couldn't! Thank you! ❤
Heck yeah!! Happy to scream out a manifesto for you! Haha!!
@@mapcrow I'm extremly happy!!
I generally see anyone tinkering as people with creative ideas, but they don't all have to be right. In fact, none of them have to be right.
To seek correctness in anything means the seeker is insecure. A lack of faith internally and a search to fit in and take some of that creative tinkering under their own wing until they can nurture it and then tinker on their own with faith.
We don't have to agree at all. We can create amazing things that people like and never see eye-to-eye. When we seek approval, we lose our voice in an artistic expression.
A good reminder to everyone to just sit back and enjoy instead sitting forward and being correct.
Well said!! We don't need to play king of the hill with RPG sagedom, we should be creating as a community of equals sharing for joy, not for clicks! Cheers!!
Ok Galadriel.
this unhinged video is so great
Thank you so much!! That's basically what I'm going for!!
I think the biggest danger of this is to people preparing to GM for the first time. At first they might need some advice to get themstarted, but it's easy to feel as though you need to know more and more when there is such an ocean of advice to sift through. Delaying making the jump because there is so much they feel they need to know.
For myself I watch and listen to videos and podcasts mostly as a way to engage with the hobby while I am walking or cooking and cleaning. I love hearing about systems I haven't heard about before, about modules I might run or steal from later or about ideas I might try at the table, or not. Often times hearing other peoples ideas is a chance to make my own clearer to myself. When I find myself disagreeing, reflecting on why tends to bring what I want in stead into focus.
Yeah, I think I disagree. I think if you want to run a one shot adventure, just invite some friends over and go for it! How badly could it go that it requires the term "danger" too describe it? Experience, honest reflection, and conversation is going to be better than almost any video out there, I think! Everyone should do what makes them feel exciting and prepared though, of course!
@@mapcrow Danger is maybe too strong of a word. But I think a not insignificant group of people get stuck in a loop of consuming ttrpg content and adviceonline, wanting to run their own game but never feeling ready enough. Being scared of "getting it wrong". I did this for a while and felt like I had to remember countless tidbits of advice in order to run a good game.
The advice those people might need is just to go for it. At most a few practical pointers.
This problem is analogous to trying to get good at soccer by studying it, without having kicked a ball before.
It's the _Latent Mercer Field Effect._
I know what the Mercer Effect is, but I'm not really sure what you mean here.
@mapcrow I probably should've popped a 😅 emoji at the end of that.
Rather than just the regular Mercer Effect, this refers, in a Star Trek kind of way, to a background radiation hum of the same idea.
Personally, I find RUclipsrs inspiring. It feels like we're all pushing the envelope together. It's our community.
@@cadenceclearwater4340 Ah! I see! Thanks for unpacking it for me! Haha
@@mapcrow No worries, I sometimes forget that everyone isn't a mind reader 🧠
Noice
Is that opening riff from Trigun?
It sure is!! Good catch!!
Oh wow, yeah. That definitely poses the question, huh? It's kinda... If it ain't broke, don't fix it, i guess?
You're just starting out as a DM or player, you'll probably be just fine with the vanilla, bog-standard things. But as you and your group get more experienced and some things become rote, look around for more interesting work.
And you'll find it.
That's also why long-time DMs and players found enjoyment in using straight-from-the-book monsters and items and such. It was diffucult to find more, cuz internet, but also you didn't know any better, you were younger, you were happier just hanging out with friends.
Personally, I want it all. I want the bog-standard, but also the Action-Oriented, but also the really deep portrayals of monsters you provide on Map Crow.
It's a cynical question, too, I think. But it's a good one to ponder.
oh my god that fucking speech got me to subscribe
Thank you! I’m glad you got something out of it!
What's the intention behind the white stripes left by the tape in the drawing?
Sure! If you tell me what it feels like to you, and I'll tell you what I was going for. I really don't like to tell people what I "intend" with these kinds of things. It spoils the fun when artists say too much, IMO. Cheers!
@@mapcrow had to give it some thought, but to me they feel like a representation of tearing of reality (possibly due to magic)
Oh man, I was moved by this video and the FFIX soundtrack in the background was the icing on the cake
Haha! Thank you!! I knew that FF9 track was going to get someone out there! Love that OST!
@@mapcrow It's my favourite videogame
Hey Kyle, i was wondering, what happened to your wonderful building better goblins video? I really enjoyed it liked the design and was about to watch it again to borrow some of your idea for my own campaign but i noticed its gone.
It attracted a lot of hateful comments, so I took it down.
Too bad you had it down, the video was great and its dissapointing you had to delete it, its sad how much hate stuff like that attracts.
Wait...we weren't supposed to turn you into a dark god?
Guys, stop the ritual!
Don't feed any more maps to crows!
THE CROWS HUNGER IS TOO GREAT!! HAHA!! WE WILL SUMMON THE A T L A S C R O W
How to get confident - By Map Crow
This is a pretty similar thing, and is kinda addressed by the video all the same, but I feel like the things that get to me are less directed at people and more at the game. "This class sucks" "this monster sucks" "combat sucks" "playing at low levels sucks" playing at high levels sucks" and its like man... what are we even doing then
Oh man, I wish I would've know you were at Origins so I could've complimented you in person.
Ah, I'm sorry I missed you!! It was a lonely show!!
@@mapcrow I hope the con wasn't lonely, but that it was fun and successful for you. I actually often have to watch your videos twice, once to observe the art process and then again to listen to the narration; the art is too captivating for me to multitask and actually digest the narration, hah. But if you want to become Chernobog on Bald Mountain, I'm here for that too.
Every GM is also a game designer. You make decisions when you run the game about what rolls to make, what monsters to run, etc. If you're fine with your game as is, you don't need advice.
Yup yup! The problem is this creeping sense of urgency that social media can produce. One of the big differences from the 70's zine scene is they weren't titling their articles "TOP 10 RULES YOU ARE GETTING WRONG!" Haha
I'm gonna be honest, I never really agree with your Building Better Monsters reimaginings. There's always some elements where I go "but why should I do an X like that?" or "well at this point I wouldn't call it a Y anymore" or "no but that's my favourite part of Z! Why would you change it!". But I also come back to watch more of them, because they make me think of how _I_ would do it. And I think the best part of them (beyond the solid art of course) is the fact that I _do_ disagree and that I find that disagreement motivating in the sense that it drives me to imagine how I would do an X instead. And also on some level it probably also helps me figure out what I think defines a Y or what parts of a Z I like, or think up some other creature that I'd think would work better with the concept I just watched you explain. I don't think the sort of whimsical but terrifying and unpredictable nature is the essental part of the dragon, but I could apply some of these ideas to fey. I don't think I'd recognize a 'spirit of the land' type of creature as a witch, but the idea of nature adapting to the way civilization is treating it and making deals with the forest itself are really appealing to me. I really like the idea of recieving lycanthropy through a bad werewolf encounter, but you're right that mechanically it might be underwhelming and risks creating some heavier ludonarrative dissonance, so how would I implement it well? If the first werewolf was cursed for some personal flaw (you think you're better than humans, so you lose your humanity), maybe the curse could affect a player differently by attaching to one of their own flaws (you are a control freak, so you lose your self control)? Maybe that changes how the curse functions from person to person and maybe even alters the visual elements of the curse as a way of forcing the cursed to deal with the worst qualities of themselves. And then I go off, and these things are fun to think of.
And while I initially get vaguely annoyed and think "that's not how _I_ would have done it" it's ultimately fun to see someone else share their idea. It's fun to see how they reimagine things or to learn what they consider the essential nature of creatures or what their favourite parts of the lore and themes and appearances of these monsters are. It's just nerds sharing their nerd ideas. And I love that.
Please continue making content I can disagree with.
Heck yeah! Sometimes it's really useful to react against sometime to find out what you really think about it!
Queen Section was funny
There are a sizable portion of people online (some are content creators) that actively tell their audience that if they don't play their way, that they are bad at the game.
Yup! And while having big opinions is fun and might get the clicks, it's not what I want to put into the world.
Do you have an editor in mind for Monstrous? He asks, offering his services in the process
We have an editor who has been working with us the whole way through already. But thank you!
@@mapcrow Cracking stuff :) ─ I hope the project excels!
It's hamburgers. Sure, the basic burger is FINE, one of the best foods. But what if you used a cheese? Which cheese? What toppings are there? Does it HAVE to be made of beef? How far can you deconstruct it before it's not a burger anymore? I love seeing what other people come up with, what i didn't think of, maybe this could work in my game, or it synthesizes something totally new. Or maybe i just want a basic burger sometimes, and that's fine too.
HECK YEAH!! What an apt metaphor! Except... now I'm hungry!!
This is why I really like the sign off of Roll for Topic, “Remember if your players are having fun, you’re a great GM.”
Heck yeah! Love that show! I really think of Map Crow as a spin off of RFT
Ive seen people talk down on cliches only to wish there was more of them. It happens every decade or so.
How tf did you paint a skull in like 30 seconds
Editing. It took a few hours. Haha
@@mapcrow great video btw
Speaking of tweaking stuff I think you should change the channel name to Marpy Crow
Ha! The marpy came along too late.
I see you, You think you're better than me because you use a big padding on you pen ! What If I like hurting my fingers a little ? huh ? Did you think about that ?
What is a hobby without hobbyists?
Excellent point!!
its cus we are bombarded with the same old same old, so we would like to see something different. though, it is proboly a good story that we realy want?
I think you are, and have always been, very up front about saying "You don't have to do it my way," and "I want to inspire You to do YOUR best work," and "These are ideas not demands." For anyone to come to YOU and say "how dare you try to force me into something different" has not been paying attention in your videos.
Yes, but they are paying attention to the thumbnails, haha
Hack the game, tell new stories, see a new perspective and throw it all away if you want
Heck yeah!! Search for what you like, but be slow to find it! Haha!!
Ok, I promise to join your Patreon as long as you promise to never make another Galadriel impression.
On a more serious note: The entire idea with with 'colonizing your imagination' seems rather weird to me. On the one hand we get a rather monolithic colonization effort from the core rulebooks of our chosen systems. So, at lest in my eyes, you're not doing anthing that's not there already and you're certainly not doing it worse. On the other hand most of the blog posts and videos to improve my game don't exactly start with a 'your creations suck. Fix them and fix them in this specific way or you won't get a passing grade on your homework and neither do you deserve dinner' attitude. At least those that I read/watch.
To lean into the original question: There is nothing wrong with bandits and goblins, but having only bandits and goblins to populate your world with when the fantasy genre overflows with variety would seem rather trite to me. So instead what I get from the advice is a "hey, wouldn't it be cool to try this-or-that" and if I agree (e.g. I agree wholeheartedly with your build better monsters series, it's awesome) I tinker with it and try stuff I likely wouldn't have come up with by myself. So my game may have been ok, but it's nonetheless better after additional input (which btw. is explicitely recommended in most core rulebooks).
No deal! I'll Galadriel out whenever I please! Haha!!