Truly a fantastic guide. I am reading up on everything now that I've gathered a couple of friends to try D&D. I will serve as the Dungeon Master (obviously), but since none of us have any experience with the game, or role playing in general, videos like these are extremely helpful.
Thanks to your tutorials I was able to run a first campaign. I had never played nor had any of my 6 pcs. Your music chapter and dungeon building guides were super helpful to see the tone for the game. As a thank you I have named our world Esper in your likeness. Keep up the good work!
The videos in this series always inspire me with new ideas. From new maps and encounter ideas to story elements I can weave into my own games. Thank you and keep 'em coming!
Hey Esper. I first started DMimg just about a year ago. My friends and I had never played before so I found your how to guides to get a quick lesson. Well after a year I have been able to keep a group of seven playing once a week together. It is the best night of the week as everyone feels included and participates. The name of the world we play in is name Esper and I work the name into some of our games.Thank you so much.
***** damn. I do the graph paper thing (I have for 20 years lol) but I was hoping to find a program that would give me that look without the cramps in my hands...
Oh, I love graph paper (and paper in general). Nothing will ever take the place of hand-drawn maps and game-related artwork. I am sure there is a program, perhaps many, that would allow you to design dungeon maps.
I love how detailed your tutorials and advice are. I really like how you use the page numbers and list of characters. Please keep making videos like this cause they have helped me out. I'm new to D&D and your advice has helped me.
@Krio Great question. It all really comes down to how you build the skill challenge, and how much of an impact you want each skill to have. A quick and reasonable solution is to put a maximum on how many successes a single skill can accrue. For example, in part 1 of my skill challenge here, the Endurance group check can only gain a maximum of one success; keeping up stamina may help the character's journey, but it does not navigate you to your destination.
I have run some RPG games before but I have never found a guide done this well. By making it a step by step process it really does allow for easier creation. Rarely do I ever subscribe to a channel based one the content of one single video, but sir today you have shown me the quality of your videos! Thank you!
Your videos have helped me successfully DM my first game - first ever game - of D&D, which was a smashing success. All of us have never played before. The town we started in was New Esper in your honor!!!
Thanks so much for your excellent, excellent videos Esper. I am an experienced DM who hit a case of 'dungeon master's block' (if there is such a thing), and your presentation got me unstuck, and back on my way to continuing development of my current campaign. These videos you do have great value to the D&D community!
@communistninja9 If you look at the encounter building table, the XP for a given encounter is just the XP for a monster of that level x the number of characters in the party. For example, a level 1 monster is 100 XP. A level 1 encounter for five characters is 500 XP. From here, you can easily see how to make a 3-person party XP budget chart.
@GoofyCowProdutions You just have to think outside of the heroic-tier box. Paragon tier characters don't trek through the kobold woods, they fly griffons through a hurricane, or they scale the tallest mountain in the world and break the magic seal placed by an elder dragon. Epic tier characters don't haggle over paying fines to the town guard, they try to bluff an archdevil out of his position as ruler, persuade a primordial into aiding them, or reconstruct the body of a dead god.
I really like your guides. in fact you pushed me to buy the 4th. I likes the shot you showed of your gear and especially your maps. Like your way of talking during the games and you are an exemple for all dms :) keep up!
Hey Esper! Just stumbled onto your videos here. I love your breakdown of dungeon creation. Wish I could find full sized grid scrolls like you have featured in your videos. I've been DMing for over 20 years and I usually don't do actual dungeons but I think you changed my mind on that :)
@Samwise7RPG That sounds awesome! I've created some similar adventure sites in the past. It is a lot of work, but is so rewarding. Have you uploaded pictures of the dungeon on here or anywhere?
Thank you for the video. I'd appreciate more of this. A look through your YT channel didn't show me more of this type of tut. A simple series of 10-25 minute videos on DM tips & tricks, dungeon building, questlines and hooks et cetera. There aren't many quality vids of do's and dont's for DM's. Hosting my very first campaign and this kind of video is golden, as I want to flesh out my dungeons as good as possible.
@WagerET I have a similar problem- What i've found is best is to give that person a basic summary of what is going on AFTER you please your other players with immersion. Example: Tell your other players: "The party steps down the spiral staircase, a strange slickness seeps down the stone. Each of you feels like the breath in your lungs is becoming heavy. (Player), You feel uncomfortable going down these stairs." It's not too much, or too little to either kind of player. Hope it helps.
Great video! Enjoyed it a lot. It would be interesting to see how to a create a wilderness adventure. While dungeon adventures are more linear, an adventure set outside can be a great challenge for the DM as it has tons of possibilities for the players.
This was just... Amazing. Soo many ideas came to me whilst watching this. I have 6 weeks to plan out an epic ending to the quest for my friends and I. But sadly, I don't have the luxary of having a full party, it's just us 3 playing every week. I was planning on making my group stopping the demonic general Graak from wrecking havoc on the land again. But I didn't think about having a greater power summon him, and have said power be a reoccurring enemy.
Like the way you draw the dungeon, im old player and now dm, this this guides will definitely be handy even if we are playing 3.5 . Keep up the good work man!! will check other videos too.
Thank you for this. Although I don't have any groups around here to RP with, I still love pen & paper and creating adventurous worlds. Again, thank you!
Thank you very much for posting such terrific information! I'm trying to build a solo campaign to run for my husband, and though we've both played D&D over 20 years each, we're new to 4th edition mechanics. Also, I rarely DM so it's doubly challenging. What suggestions might you offer for building a fun and challenging Solo campaign (1 player with 1 npc partner)? I'm trying to scale down information from the DMG but would welcome suggestions.
Good ideas you had there, could have used when I played D&D earlier as a DM. There could be more of this stuff in D&D books to help DMs. Skill checks and keeping the desing of dungeon simple, but interesting is important. DM should also know beforehand all the rules how to make skill checks etc.. If encounters become just another ones, then players might get bored. But 4 encs is good for start, and fight / optional / skill / etc type is good to plan out. You can lead parties well, can get tricky
I like the idea and the way you explain the process overall and this is a very useful video you have made. I like how you start with the story, then the map & encounters to support it. The skill challenge is awesome and I like that failure in the skill challenge does not prevent the adventure from progressing, but there are some negative consequences. One critique: I am not convinced that the monster encounters make sense within the context of the plot. Obviously, you need the Morvina & her lackeys (as you call them). But what do the beetles/ochre jelly and beetles/rats have to do with this? What stake does the ochre jelly have in this beetle colony that it would agree to fight with them? Why would rats live in a place infested with fire beetles that are preying on them or threatening them? Wouldn't Morvina's party have already cleared some of the beetles out? Why don't we see a bunch of dead beetles along the way? Instead, maybe there could be a bunch of dead beetles near a hole out of which a bunch more beetles emerge and attack? And for the optional encounter, that could be placed out in the wilderness for the thrip there or back maybe -- then you could have another type of monster that lives in the a different ecology. The overall concept is awesome, but it seems to me that few people have a logical ecology thought out for their dungeons.
@pitiflauticus Thanks for the advice, I definately will tone-down the number of players and I'll try out a new style of minimal-plot dungeon crawling adventures, such as this video demonstrates. Previously I've been trying to run published adventures, but that doesn't seem to work for my group apparently since they can't rember what happened in the previous session.
@JKTCGMV13 It depends what they are looking for from the game... a videogame-like monster killing door kicking dungeon crawl? Or more history-related background heavy deep interpretation adventure? Between the two points there are hundreds of middle points... part of the DM´s most difficult task is to find the balance that keeps him and the group happy... if the group cannot focus, is either because you have too many players, players interested in other type of gameplay, or a non-good enough DM
@repsesper I'm also a DM and I use plastic sheet (with pen washable) but the "visual" effect of yours is better. You are talented. I like your maps very much. I should use the same paper. Mmmmm but where could i find it?
Hey, thanks for the tutorials, really helpful. Quick question: do you present the full dungeon map to your players when playing, or do you draw it during the game? Wouldn't it spoil a bit of the surprise if you show it right from the start? I suppose it makes your life a lot easier if you don't have to draw it on the spot.
@DukeofBerkshire But you gained 12 years of awsome experiences, you've rescued the world multiple times, killed dragons, saved countries, spent time with your friends, built worlds and destroyed them.
Hey esper, I recently started DMing - which has been made SOOOO much easier thanks to your DM Gidence videos thank you for posting them - and I was hoping that you could give me some advice. See theres a player in my groupe who isnt all that into emersive gameplay but feels that he needs to know the narative behind what the party is doing, so, my question is; How do I tell the story of the characters with out it seeming to emersive?
So...you writing this reply made the vid pop up in my updates list....watched it and got an insatiable urge to play some D&D. Having lost contact with my old gaming buddies I grabbed my 6 and 9 year old kids, threw some character sheets in front of them and BAM! a couple hours later we're halfway through a dwarven ruin and knee deep in dead goblins!
@repsesper In my group we have 1 DM and three players i was just curious as to how to make it easier for them, without taking away monsters, ( I mean for the first few levels, because it's hard to put more lower level monsters in, and they can find out pretty easily if they are minions). Do i just mod the monsters hp?
I have a level 3 fighter who's really bulky and slow. I want to create an encounter with foes that can maneuver well, but not actually be TOO hard. What should I do?
@communistninja9 Are you meaning not overpowering the party, but still keeping it challenging? Well if so with 4E you can use more minions or if not you should lower level or maybe lesset HP monsters. Also my DM instead of making a say 20 minions or lower lever only makes 5 baddies whose power equals that of the 20. Does this help? Also DMing and having a NPC in the party you control can help shapen and direct your players. I feel it give you another hand to stir the pot. Good luck.
Color printer dungeon tiles. Print the pictures of the terrain. (or the map) Laminate the top (put in two pages back to back if using the cheap home lamination "pouches" cut off the edges and they separate). Glue to foam board. Cut out tiles. Cheap, fast, easy. If you want more weight and less shifting, glue a 1 inch "fender washer" with felt on each corner of the tile. $5 for appx 12 sq feet of felt...
@DukeofBerkshire Pesonally, I see no need to divorce my love life from my gaming experiences. If you don't know that "geek" culture is hot nowadays, then you are living under a rock.
is there a tutorial about the leveling of ur characters, ate the levels permedant or what, and what if someone lies about their level, and what things are there like strength, agility, stamina, ... What about the spells, do you make ur own or what, do you need a name, how much do you gain strength...for levels, im totally new to this type of games with dice, only played monopoly... So please help or give a link to some site i tried to search and i dont know what is a pc game and what a real game
Question about skill challenges. I still dont know how to run these smoothly. The book says that I should tell them the main skills that would be used, like the example in your SC,. You had Endurance, history, and nature. So would the players simply be like. "uhh.. I'm gonna use my nature to get us to the ruins." and then they describe how they use it to help the party achieve their goal. What if they don't use nature to "guide the party through the wild" but in some other way like. "I'm gonna use my knowledge of the local surroundings to help us find fruit and small game to hunt for, so we can have food for our travels"? I guess what I'm trying to say is, what if the players don't use the skills the way you intended. (Which I know is encouraged) if I cant tell them how they would use these skills to complete part 1? I hope what I said makes sense, I dont even know how to ask for help on this topic, it confuses me so much!
Mark Abrian If a player can describe their skill usage and explain how it is contributing toward achieving the goal of the skill challenge, I say go for it. In your example of a player character who is foraging, finding food and water may be beneficial, but does it help locate the destination? Is there another character who is navigating, while this one is rustling up edibles?
***** I'm sorry, i guess I wasn't very clear in describing what I meant. Buy I do get what you're saying in your last reply to me, it helps tremdously! But for example, the scenario you gave that's being explained at 7:00 , we as the dm name the different skills they can use. Do I simply say: "you can use nature, history, etc... and perception as a secondary" ? In the explanation we have that describes what will happen as the skills are used, the players can't see our explanation of them. So if one used nature, where u wrote that they guide the pcs through and avoid hazards. The pc doesn't see that. Or for example, what if they use perception in a way that I didn't describe ? I know to just go with it. But I'm having trouble seeing it from the pc point of view, it would feel like my dm is giving me very vague options
massivmojo As the DM, such situations are in your hands. Here are a few suggestions:* The party is lost in the wilderness and faces thirst, hunger, and exposure to the elements.* The party stumbles upon the den of a savage beast or monster.* The party finds a different ruin, which they confuse for the correct location, and within is a terrible danger they should have never disturbed.* The party finds the correct ruin, but they are exhausted, and the enemy NPCs have secretly spotted them.
+Esper the Bard I prefer a darker and more realistic turn of events when the players roll like crap. Sometimes they get burnt at the stake. Other times they end up meeting what lives in the waters of the swamp. The list goes on and on.
i need some help here if anyone knows about onepiece can you help me incoperate the three sword style ,the red leg style , the diable jambe attacks, the gum gum attacks ,and 2nd & 3rd gear into d&d TELL ME!
Hey, Esper, look I jsut started Dungeon Mastering and I really need some personal help. I watch your video and I just hear like 40% jibberish xD, Like that skill challenge at the beginning of your dungeon. I really want to become a good DM so my friends will want me as DM mainly. Do you think you could help me on a... idk personal level? I couldn't find your e-mail or youtube messenger. So I was hoping you could help me out.
I know I'm not quite Esper, but I'm a fairly experienced DM. If you like, throw me a PM and I'll give you my email address, and I can give you a bit of coaching.
Hello, I'm looking to start up a D&D group myself. got the books, understand the rules well enough to run a game. But i was wondering if I could add you on skype or have your email perhaps? I'd love to have someone who knows it as much as you to talk more and learn some more about the whole thing.
I play the 1st edition because its easier to understand and the players have to use their imagination to creat the seen and see the monsters through heir own eyes. (at times i play 4th wdition kuz i have a shit load of tokens!)
@mistiks888 My guess would be yes, but thats not so uncommon. I'm a new dm and currently have 2 guys and 1 gitl that loves the game. Roleplaying is not that uncommon for girls you know. Its just the slaughter of monsters that not too many likes :/ thats atleast my experiance...
Then you did something wrong (and it's not the gaming, it's the dating part I guess)! Maybe it's because I'm not from the US, where a "geek" is automatically an outcast, or maybe I just don't give a flying f&*k what label someone stamps on me. You wanna date, go date! I can be a huge nerd, but I'm also many other things. For example, I love playing bass guitar and also was in a couple of (short-lived) bands. And my lovelife is pretty sweet to me:) Just don't put labels on yourself, be free dude!
Truly a fantastic guide. I am reading up on everything now that I've gathered a couple of friends to try D&D. I will serve as the Dungeon Master (obviously), but since none of us have any experience with the game, or role playing in general, videos like these are extremely helpful.
Thanks to your tutorials I was able to run a first campaign. I had never played nor had any of my 6 pcs. Your music chapter and dungeon building guides were super helpful to see the tone for the game. As a thank you I have named our world Esper in your likeness. Keep up the good work!
The videos in this series always inspire me with new ideas. From new maps and encounter ideas to story elements I can weave into my own games. Thank you and keep 'em coming!
Your creativity always amazes me. You make it look so easy to come up with all these ideas. Kudos to you.
Hey Esper. I first started DMimg just about a year ago. My friends and I had never played before so I found your how to guides to get a quick lesson. Well after a year I have been able to keep a group of seven playing once a week together. It is the best night of the week as everyone feels included and participates. The name of the world we play in is name Esper and I work the name into some of our games.Thank you so much.
I am honored! May your adventures be many, my friend.
***** Just curious what program you were using to illustrate your dungeon.
I made on graph paper, then photoshop
***** damn. I do the graph paper thing (I have for 20 years lol) but I was hoping to find a program that would give me that look without the cramps in my hands...
Oh, I love graph paper (and paper in general). Nothing will ever take the place of hand-drawn maps and game-related artwork. I am sure there is a program, perhaps many, that would allow you to design dungeon maps.
The single most important video to watch for new dms
I love how detailed your tutorials and advice are. I really like how you use the page numbers and list of characters. Please keep making videos like this cause they have helped me out. I'm new to D&D and your advice has helped me.
This is a GREAT way of providing new content!
Kudos for your creative and in-depth approach to creating dungeons. Very helpful indeed.
@Krio Great question. It all really comes down to how you build the skill challenge, and how much of an impact you want each skill to have. A quick and reasonable solution is to put a maximum on how many successes a single skill can accrue. For example, in part 1 of my skill challenge here, the Endurance group check can only gain a maximum of one success; keeping up stamina may help the character's journey, but it does not navigate you to your destination.
I have run some RPG games before but I have never found a guide done this well. By making it a step by step process it really does allow for easier creation. Rarely do I ever subscribe to a channel based one the content of one single video, but sir today you have shown me the quality of your videos! Thank you!
Your videos have helped me successfully DM my first game - first ever game - of D&D, which was a smashing success. All of us have never played before. The town we started in was New Esper in your honor!!!
Thanks so much for your excellent, excellent videos Esper. I am an experienced DM who hit a case of 'dungeon master's block' (if there is such a thing), and your presentation got me unstuck, and back on my way to continuing development of my current campaign. These videos you do have great value to the D&D community!
I just wanted to let you know that i watch your DM guidance videos religiously. They have helped me tremendously. Keep up the good work man.
I still love watching your old videos as well as your new. This is what got me into this hobby.
@communistninja9 If you look at the encounter building table, the XP for a given encounter is just the XP for a monster of that level x the number of characters in the party.
For example, a level 1 monster is 100 XP. A level 1 encounter for five characters is 500 XP. From here, you can easily see how to make a 3-person party XP budget chart.
@GoofyCowProdutions You just have to think outside of the heroic-tier box. Paragon tier characters don't trek through the kobold woods, they fly griffons through a hurricane, or they scale the tallest mountain in the world and break the magic seal placed by an elder dragon. Epic tier characters don't haggle over paying fines to the town guard, they try to bluff an archdevil out of his position as ruler, persuade a primordial into aiding them, or reconstruct the body of a dead god.
I just want to say thank you, so, so much. Being a start-up DM i needed a few ideas on what I should be doing, and your guides are sooo much help.
I loved the video. I gamed since age twelve and still learned some things. the way it went was very nice, descriptive, and education. Thank you.
Detailed, concise, and generously handled in terms of the steps involved. Well done!
I really like your guides. in fact you pushed me to buy the 4th. I likes the shot you showed of your gear and especially your maps. Like your way of talking during the games and you are an exemple for all dms :) keep up!
Hey Esper! Just stumbled onto your videos here. I love your breakdown of dungeon creation. Wish I could find full sized grid scrolls like you have featured in your videos. I've been DMing for over 20 years and I usually don't do actual dungeons but I think you changed my mind on that :)
@Eldanoth Well, normally I just draw on grid paper. The digital ones I draw on PS.
@Samwise7RPG That sounds awesome! I've created some similar adventure sites in the past. It is a lot of work, but is so rewarding. Have you uploaded pictures of the dungeon on here or anywhere?
Thank you for the video. I'd appreciate more of this. A look through your YT channel didn't show me more of this type of tut. A simple series of 10-25 minute videos on DM tips & tricks, dungeon building, questlines and hooks et cetera. There aren't many quality vids of do's and dont's for DM's.
Hosting my very first campaign and this kind of video is golden, as I want to flesh out my dungeons as good as possible.
Wonderful, as always. I can't wait to put my DM skills to the test. I would love to see more DM guidance videos!
@mistiks888 Yes, of course
@WagerET I have a similar problem- What i've found is best is to give that person a basic summary of what is going on AFTER you please your other players with immersion. Example: Tell your other players: "The party steps down the spiral staircase, a strange slickness seeps down the stone. Each of you feels like the breath in your lungs is becoming heavy. (Player), You feel uncomfortable going down these stairs." It's not too much, or too little to either kind of player. Hope it helps.
Wow, what an honor! Happy adventures!
Great video! Enjoyed it a lot. It would be interesting to see how to a create a wilderness adventure. While dungeon adventures are more linear, an adventure set outside can be a great challenge for the DM as it has tons of possibilities for the players.
This was just... Amazing. Soo many ideas came to me whilst watching this. I have 6 weeks to plan out an epic ending to the quest for my friends and I. But sadly, I don't have the luxary of having a full party, it's just us 3 playing every week.
I was planning on making my group stopping the demonic general Graak from wrecking havoc on the land again. But I didn't think about having a greater power summon him, and have said power be a reoccurring enemy.
@mr.dradoneo if you go to google you can find a way to print graph paper onto regular paper so you don't have to pay for it.
This is epic!!! My mind just bursted with ideas you are amazing! Thanks Esper
Like the way you draw the dungeon, im old player and now dm, this this guides will definitely be handy even if we are playing 3.5 . Keep up the good work man!! will check other videos too.
Thank you for this. Although I don't have any groups around here to RP with, I still love pen & paper and creating adventurous worlds. Again, thank you!
@repsesper True, your right, i have been using low level quests plus bigger monsters. thank you!
Thank you very much for posting such terrific information! I'm trying to build a solo campaign to run for my husband, and though we've both played D&D over 20 years each, we're new to 4th edition mechanics. Also, I rarely DM so it's doubly challenging. What suggestions might you offer for building a fun and challenging Solo campaign (1 player with 1 npc partner)? I'm trying to scale down information from the DMG but would welcome suggestions.
Interesting and enlightening as always. Thank you very much, Esper
Good ideas you had there, could have used when I played D&D earlier as a DM. There could be more of this stuff in D&D books to help DMs. Skill checks and keeping the desing of dungeon simple, but interesting is important. DM should also know beforehand all the rules how to make skill checks etc.. If encounters become just another ones, then players might get bored. But 4 encs is good for start, and fight / optional / skill / etc type is good to plan out. You can lead parties well, can get tricky
I like the idea and the way you explain the process overall and this is a very useful video you have made. I like how you start with the story, then the map & encounters to support it. The skill challenge is awesome and I like that failure in the skill challenge does not prevent the adventure from progressing, but there are some negative consequences. One critique: I am not convinced that the monster encounters make sense within the context of the plot. Obviously, you need the Morvina & her lackeys (as you call them). But what do the beetles/ochre jelly and beetles/rats have to do with this? What stake does the ochre jelly have in this beetle colony that it would agree to fight with them? Why would rats live in a place infested with fire beetles that are preying on them or threatening them? Wouldn't Morvina's party have already cleared some of the beetles out? Why don't we see a bunch of dead beetles along the way? Instead, maybe there could be a bunch of dead beetles near a hole out of which a bunch more beetles emerge and attack? And for the optional encounter, that could be placed out in the wilderness for the thrip there or back maybe -- then you could have another type of monster that lives in the a different ecology. The overall concept is awesome, but it seems to me that few people have a logical ecology thought out for their dungeons.
Thank you so much..I have been learning a lot and feel ready to start playing.
@pitiflauticus Thanks for the advice, I definately will tone-down the number of players and I'll try out a new style of minimal-plot dungeon crawling adventures, such as this video demonstrates. Previously I've been trying to run published adventures, but that doesn't seem to work for my group apparently since they can't rember what happened in the previous session.
@JKTCGMV13 It depends what they are looking for from the game... a videogame-like monster killing door kicking dungeon crawl? Or more history-related background heavy deep interpretation adventure? Between the two points there are hundreds of middle points... part of the DM´s most difficult task is to find the balance that keeps him and the group happy... if the group cannot focus, is either because you have too many players, players interested in other type of gameplay, or a non-good enough DM
I like the sample skill challenge. Very creative.
@repsesper
I'm also a DM and I use plastic sheet (with pen washable) but the "visual" effect of yours is better. You are talented. I like your maps very much.
I should use the same paper. Mmmmm but where could i find it?
Great video. Thanks for the walk through.
Hey, thanks for the tutorials, really helpful.
Quick question: do you present the full dungeon map to your players when playing, or do you draw it during the game? Wouldn't it spoil a bit of the surprise if you show it right from the start? I suppose it makes your life a lot easier if you don't have to draw it on the spot.
these are the best! also, how do you deal with some challenges for high level players?
@DukeofBerkshire But you gained 12 years of awsome experiences, you've rescued the world multiple times, killed dragons, saved countries, spent time with your friends, built worlds and destroyed them.
Hey esper, I recently started DMing - which has been made SOOOO much easier thanks to your DM Gidence videos thank you for posting them - and I was hoping that you could give me some advice. See theres a player in my groupe who isnt all that into emersive gameplay but feels that he needs to know the narative behind what the party is doing, so, my question is; How do I tell the story of the characters with out it seeming to emersive?
@communistninja9 Easier without changing the difficulty? Do you mean making it easier for the DM to run the combat encounters?
So...you writing this reply made the vid pop up in my updates list....watched it and got an insatiable urge to play some D&D. Having lost contact with my old gaming buddies I grabbed my 6 and 9 year old kids, threw some character sheets in front of them and BAM! a couple hours later we're halfway through a dwarven ruin and knee deep in dead goblins!
spoony once said "never go on the boat"
@repsesper In my group we have 1 DM and three players i was just curious as to how to make it easier for them, without taking away monsters, ( I mean for the first few levels, because it's hard to put more lower level monsters in, and they can find out pretty easily if they are minions). Do i just mod the monsters hp?
Where do you get a hold of such grid paper, or do you painstakingly make it every time?
Hi i play in a smaller group, and i was just curious on how to make encounters easier without loosing the scale of the challenge/difficulty?
I have a level 3 fighter who's really bulky and slow. I want to create an encounter with foes that can maneuver well, but not actually be TOO hard. What should I do?
Great video series so far, but I have a question. What do you do with your hand drawn maps after you use them? Do you keep them somewhere?
very nice, I like the fire motes especially.
What software do you use to build the dungeons? Well done!
Excelently performed and very insightful Esper! Even if I do perfer cold magic over fire... ;P
@communistninja9 Are you meaning not overpowering the party, but still keeping it challenging? Well if so with 4E you can use more minions or if not you should lower level or maybe lesset HP monsters. Also my DM instead of making a say 20 minions or lower lever only makes 5 baddies whose power equals that of the 20. Does this help? Also DMing and having a NPC in the party you control can help shapen and direct your players. I feel it give you another hand to stir the pot. Good luck.
Color printer dungeon tiles.
Print the pictures of the terrain. (or the map) Laminate the top (put in two pages back to back if using the cheap home lamination "pouches" cut off the edges and they separate). Glue to foam board. Cut out tiles.
Cheap, fast, easy.
If you want more weight and less shifting, glue a 1 inch "fender washer" with felt on each corner of the tile. $5 for appx 12 sq feet of felt...
The lamination lets you use dry erase or wet erase markers on the tiles.
@DukeofBerkshire Pesonally, I see no need to divorce my love life from my gaming experiences. If you don't know that "geek" culture is hot nowadays, then you are living under a rock.
sorry for much text but it looks really interesting and i want to know more about the game! :DD
is there a tutorial about the leveling of ur characters, ate the levels permedant or what, and what if someone lies about their level, and what things are there like strength, agility, stamina, ... What about the spells, do you make ur own or what, do you need a name, how much do you gain strength...for levels, im totally new to this type of games with dice, only played monopoly... So please help or give a link to some site i tried to search and i dont know what is a pc game and what a real game
A small dungeon might be possible for my group... faved the vid for future refference. :)
Question about skill challenges. I still dont know how to run these smoothly.
The book says that I should tell them the main skills that would be used, like the example in your SC,. You had Endurance, history, and nature.
So would the players simply be like. "uhh.. I'm gonna use my nature to get us to the ruins." and then they describe how they use it to help the party achieve their goal. What if they don't use nature to "guide the party through the wild" but in some other way like. "I'm gonna use my knowledge of the local surroundings to help us find fruit and small game to hunt for, so we can have food for our travels"?
I guess what I'm trying to say is, what if the players don't use the skills the way you intended. (Which I know is encouraged) if I cant tell them how they would use these skills to complete part 1?
I hope what I said makes sense, I dont even know how to ask for help on this topic, it confuses me so much!
Mark Abrian If a player can describe their skill usage and explain how it is contributing toward achieving the goal of the skill challenge, I say go for it. In your example of a player character who is foraging, finding food and water may be beneficial, but does it help locate the destination? Is there another character who is navigating, while this one is rustling up edibles?
***** I'm sorry, i guess I wasn't very clear in describing what I meant. Buy I do get what you're saying in your last reply to me, it helps tremdously!
But for example, the scenario you gave that's being explained at 7:00 , we as the dm name the different skills they can use. Do I simply say: "you can use nature, history, etc... and perception as a secondary" ?
In the explanation we have that describes what will happen as the skills are used, the players can't see our explanation of them. So if one used nature, where u wrote that they guide the pcs through and avoid hazards. The pc doesn't see that. Or for example, what if they use perception in a way that I didn't describe ? I know to just go with it. But I'm having trouble seeing it from the pc point of view, it would feel like my dm is giving me very vague options
You should do an updated version of your 5e Novaura game.
to players start out seeing the whole map or do you hide it from them and if so how?
@SdrosstheArtist Yup! thanks.
awesome video! great work. as a new dm, this is a great video!
@Outlawstar257 Thanks, this is probably going to help.
good advice as allways i like building Dungeons and adventures. :-D
So if I have 3 level four Characters, a CR rating of four?
So what happens if they roll like crap and never find the ruins
massivmojo As the DM, such situations are in your hands. Here are a few suggestions:* The party is lost in the wilderness and faces thirst, hunger, and exposure to the elements.* The party stumbles upon the den of a savage beast or monster.* The party finds a different ruin, which they confuse for the correct location, and within is a terrible danger they should have never disturbed.* The party finds the correct ruin, but they are exhausted, and the enemy NPCs have secretly spotted them.
+Esper the Bard I prefer a darker and more realistic turn of events when the players roll like crap. Sometimes they get burnt at the stake. Other times they end up meeting what lives in the waters of the swamp. The list goes on and on.
I love these!
Where do you buy your grid paper??
i need some help here if anyone knows about onepiece can you help me incoperate the three sword style ,the red leg style , the diable jambe attacks, the gum gum attacks ,and 2nd & 3rd gear into d&d TELL ME!
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Great work man, thank heaps
Great stuff!
Hey, Esper, look I jsut started Dungeon Mastering and I really need some personal help. I watch your video and I just hear like 40% jibberish xD, Like that skill challenge at the beginning of your dungeon. I really want to become a good DM so my friends will want me as DM mainly. Do you think you could help me on a... idk personal level? I couldn't find your e-mail or youtube messenger. So I was hoping you could help me out.
I know I'm not quite Esper, but I'm a fairly experienced DM. If you like, throw me a PM and I'll give you my email address, and I can give you a bit of coaching.
Wasp2100 How would I go about throwing you a pm? I am a returning Dm with lots of questions I would love to bounce off of you.
Hello, I'm looking to start up a D&D group myself. got the books, understand the rules well enough to run a game. But i was wondering if I could add you on skype or have your email perhaps? I'd love to have someone who knows it as much as you to talk more and learn some more about the whole thing.
great vid!
TYVM!
Hey, can I play with you!? :D
Awesome!
Thanks for these...! :)
another awsome vid...thanks esper :D
I play the 1st edition because its easier to understand and the players have to use their imagination to creat the seen and see the monsters through heir own eyes. (at times i play 4th wdition kuz i have a shit load of tokens!)
Why a hobgoblin
Very helpful
I love watching all this stuff, but my group sucks...
I guess a bunch 15-year-olds have trouble really focusing on the game
Esper, is it a girl 1:48 in your party?
Helpful :)
Can I be your friend?
@mistiks888 My guess would be yes, but thats not so uncommon. I'm a new dm and currently have 2 guys and 1 gitl that loves the game. Roleplaying is not that uncommon for girls you know. Its just the slaughter of monsters that not too many likes :/ thats atleast my experiance...
Esper! youre awesome :D
First campaign? Mine too... I'll sub to this guy, maybe he can help me too.
Then you did something wrong (and it's not the gaming, it's the dating part I guess)! Maybe it's because I'm not from the US, where a "geek" is automatically an outcast, or maybe I just don't give a flying f&*k what label someone stamps on me. You wanna date, go date! I can be a huge nerd, but I'm also many other things. For example, I love playing bass guitar and also was in a couple of (short-lived) bands. And my lovelife is pretty sweet to me:) Just don't put labels on yourself, be free dude!