If this video feels familiar it's because 1) I screwed up the upload and had to re-do it, and 2) I covered this on my friend Anto's channel last year, but this is my home-grown version! -------------- ❤ Support the Channel ❤ -------------- 💚 Patreon: matthewperkins.net/patreon 💚 Donate: matthewperkins.net/donate 💚 Store: matthewperkins.net/store 💚 DM Guild: matthewperkins.net/dmsguild 💜 Twitch: matthewperkins.net/twitch 💜 TikTok: matthewperkins.net/tiktok 🧡 Discord: matthewperkins.net/discord 🧡 Facebook: matthewperkins.net/facebook 🧡 Twitter: matthewperkins.net/twitter 🧡 Instagram: matthewperkins.net/instagram 🧡 Reddit: matthewperkins.net/reddit ✏ Blog: matthewperkins.net/blog 📧 For marketing/business/sponsorship inquiries, email: mperkins.dm@gmail.com
That's a great list. Personally the most important role I delegate is the one of DJ. Some special moments require special tracks but more often than not I dont really care about switching from exploration music to tavern music to random fight music. Having a player (which is also often a DM) do that for me is very helpful.
Ooooh yeah! I outsource my DJ role too. I try to avoid doing anything that makes me use my phone in D&D, because it looks so disengaged, even if I'm doing something totally game-relevant. Plus, my players have better TTRPG playlists.
Another bonus to getting someone to track Initiative is when you give it to the new player. Give them the job of tracking initiative and it helps them get involved in the game (if they don’t know anyone else or how the game works yet).
Having players play inconsequential NPCs is a great idea! I love it when players get to take part in the story. Usually when players try to roll to see what the weather is going to be and they succeed I just ask them "Well, so how's the weather going to be then?" I don't really like the whole "I am the DM so I make all the choices" kind of thing, and your idea of having players take on the role of other NPCs is a great idea! I could imagine doing cutscenes like that. Just give them a few notes, and have them play out the scene. "You are Dargan, you want to convince the king to go to war" "You are the king, you will do whatever it takes to protect your kingdom from any threat". Neither player sees the other's note. Then go, play out the scene. Does Dargan convince the king? Does the king opt for peace? Well, next session the kingdom is either at war by order of the king or because a mysterious assassin from the other kingdom attempted to murder the princess in her sleep. Was it Dargan? What's he plotting? NOW they remember the characters.
It's real fun! You're right about that attitude some DMs have - it can be really alienating as a player. I want my D&D game to resemble me and my mates just hanging out and telling jokes, and including players in some of the decision makers is a good way to do that. I got this idea from an actual play podcast named Campaign (which is a shitty name, but they were one of the earliest actual plays). I just remember cracking up at a scene where one the characters went to get a tattoo, and another player played the tattoo artist.
Loving this one, Snack Bringer for MVP! I pass out some of these roles often, though I've never formalized it. I'm sure those sweet-looking handouts would help with that. It definitely makes my life easier, sure, but I really like getting the players involved in more than just controlling their PCs because it can keep them engaged when they're out of the spotlight, but mostly because I consider it Dungeon Master training. Some people want to keep up the mystique behind the screen but I just love helping new DMs take the leap
Love these ideas. The status effect token markerer... You might wanna fix the name. Basically tracking who was poisoned for how long. Reminding about con saves. That kinda helpful stuff.
I love this so much. I've been a scheduler for another GM, and boy I wish I had one. 😂 I also always offer to DJ for my GMs, since I'm all set to up to do it already. And for my money, I doin't mind if my rules expert corrects me, as long as they're chill if I say "naw we're going this way this time." As long as they aren't rude or stop the flow too much, a quick "I think suffocation rules are XYZ" is great, and I usually go with it.
This is actually really cool and I'm going to use it. Players contributing to dungeon design? Sounds like it could be a ton of fun. Brilliant, thank you Matthew!
One of my favorite ways to track initiative is to create some cards to hang on the DM screen that has the PC names on both sides and on the DM side some basic info, like AC, etc. And during combat it is positioned left to right from the players perspective, usually I have one of the players organize it, so everyone can have a nice visual on initiative throughout combat. It also can be a visual reminder of character names if it's a one shot or early sessions in a campaign :)
@@heyitsMattyP Oh that's awesome!! Thank you for sharing the video! I have a friend who does 3D printing and he made some where you just slide pieces of paper in and out of slots on either side.
Amen Sam! It's kind of like being a kid and seeing your mum or dad be stuck with the cooking, cleaning & laundry - there's a point when you realise, "Oh shit, I should be helping with this stuff."
Hey Matt, first of all, you are great. Keep going. Now a short question. Is there a way to get the nizzar stats and goblin bounty Dokuments without going on patreon. I'll be happy if you could send me an offer.
I'd have to respectfully disagree with this list as I see the issue of breaking the immersion of the game way too much. But I am more of a narrative GM so people with other GM styles may not have this issue.
I don’t like most of these either. They don’t know the npc knowledge about the story behind the campaign. And I don’t want the shop keeper selling stuff cheap
I too am a stickler for immersion, so I only let my players eat or use the bathroom when their characters are able to. Unfortunately I cannot explain my radical approach to death saves while the case is before the courts.
If this video feels familiar it's because 1) I screwed up the upload and had to re-do it, and 2) I covered this on my friend Anto's channel last year, but this is my home-grown version!
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That's a great list.
Personally the most important role I delegate is the one of DJ. Some special moments require special tracks but more often than not I dont really care about switching from exploration music to tavern music to random fight music. Having a player (which is also often a DM) do that for me is very helpful.
DJ is a great one that I need to outsource.
Ooooh yeah! I outsource my DJ role too. I try to avoid doing anything that makes me use my phone in D&D, because it looks so disengaged, even if I'm doing something totally game-relevant. Plus, my players have better TTRPG playlists.
Another bonus to getting someone to track Initiative is when you give it to the new player. Give them the job of tracking initiative and it helps them get involved in the game (if they don’t know anyone else or how the game works yet).
Good point!
Having players play inconsequential NPCs is a great idea!
I love it when players get to take part in the story. Usually when players try to roll to see what the weather is going to be and they succeed I just ask them "Well, so how's the weather going to be then?" I don't really like the whole "I am the DM so I make all the choices" kind of thing, and your idea of having players take on the role of other NPCs is a great idea! I could imagine doing cutscenes like that. Just give them a few notes, and have them play out the scene. "You are Dargan, you want to convince the king to go to war" "You are the king, you will do whatever it takes to protect your kingdom from any threat". Neither player sees the other's note. Then go, play out the scene. Does Dargan convince the king? Does the king opt for peace? Well, next session the kingdom is either at war by order of the king or because a mysterious assassin from the other kingdom attempted to murder the princess in her sleep. Was it Dargan? What's he plotting? NOW they remember the characters.
It's real fun! You're right about that attitude some DMs have - it can be really alienating as a player. I want my D&D game to resemble me and my mates just hanging out and telling jokes, and including players in some of the decision makers is a good way to do that.
I got this idea from an actual play podcast named Campaign (which is a shitty name, but they were one of the earliest actual plays). I just remember cracking up at a scene where one the characters went to get a tattoo, and another player played the tattoo artist.
Loving this one, Snack Bringer for MVP! I pass out some of these roles often, though I've never formalized it. I'm sure those sweet-looking handouts would help with that. It definitely makes my life easier, sure, but I really like getting the players involved in more than just controlling their PCs because it can keep them engaged when they're out of the spotlight, but mostly because I consider it Dungeon Master training. Some people want to keep up the mystique behind the screen but I just love helping new DMs take the leap
I hate the "mystique behind the screen" so much that I roll everything in the open haha
@@heyitsMattyP Heck yeah! Roll in the open, fudge nothing, D&D without a net
Really interesting video, might try some of these
Cheers Sarah!
Stuff like this is why I joined your Patreon. So much useful stuff!
Cheers Casey!
Love these ideas.
The status effect token markerer... You might wanna fix the name. Basically tracking who was poisoned for how long. Reminding about con saves. That kinda helpful stuff.
Status effect token markerer is the perfect name!
I love this so much. I've been a scheduler for another GM, and boy I wish I had one. 😂 I also always offer to DJ for my GMs, since I'm all set to up to do it already.
And for my money, I doin't mind if my rules expert corrects me, as long as they're chill if I say "naw we're going this way this time." As long as they aren't rude or stop the flow too much, a quick "I think suffocation rules are XYZ" is great, and I usually go with it.
As someone who desperately needs a scheduler, I salute you.
This is actually really cool and I'm going to use it.
Players contributing to dungeon design? Sounds like it could be a ton of fun. Brilliant, thank you Matthew!
Cheers Tom!
One of my favorite ways to track initiative is to create some cards to hang on the DM screen that has the PC names on both sides and on the DM side some basic info, like AC, etc. And during combat it is positioned left to right from the players perspective, usually I have one of the players organize it, so everyone can have a nice visual on initiative throughout combat. It also can be a visual reminder of character names if it's a one shot or early sessions in a campaign :)
Me too! Here's a quick throwback to my 7th ever video on this channel (now unlisted): ua-cam.com/video/-CV_hNq1hqM/v-deo.html
@@heyitsMattyP Oh that's awesome!! Thank you for sharing the video! I have a friend who does 3D printing and he made some where you just slide pieces of paper in and out of slots on either side.
Great video on an important topic! The DM's job shouldn't be so hard compared to the players.
Amen Sam! It's kind of like being a kid and seeing your mum or dad be stuck with the cooking, cleaning & laundry - there's a point when you realise, "Oh shit, I should be helping with this stuff."
Hey Matt,
first of all, you are great. Keep going.
Now a short question. Is there a way to get the nizzar stats and goblin bounty Dokuments without going on patreon. I'll be happy if you could send me an offer.
Hey mate! Send me an email and I'll just send it to you. I know some people don't like Patreon and I don't mind doing a couple of freebies.
@@heyitsMattyP that's amazing, i used the address in the channel description. Thanks man.
I use Roll20. It does most of these things.
I wish it would bring snacks though…
Surely there's a plugin to send each other Uber Eats? :D
I take notes like that I Wright it all down thanks for recommending this it's so helpful
No problem! Thanks for the comment :)
Would ypu recommend delegating tasks like these to new players?
Yep! Newbies sometimes feel lost, or like they're a burden, but giving them a simple task to track can help include them.
I'd have to respectfully disagree with this list as I see the issue of breaking the immersion of the game way too much. But I am more of a narrative GM so people with other GM styles may not have this issue.
I don’t like most of these either.
They don’t know the npc knowledge about the story behind the campaign. And I don’t want the shop keeper selling stuff cheap
I too am a stickler for immersion, so I only let my players eat or use the bathroom when their characters are able to. Unfortunately I cannot explain my radical approach to death saves while the case is before the courts.
@@needlesslycryptic Luke! Haha!
"enemey"
nah