4 simple tips to make combat more FUN and IMMERSIVE

D&D is all about combat. So why does combat sometimes SUCK!? Well, it's time to change that. In this video series, I'll talk about the five reasons why your D&D combat sucks - and what you can do about it. In this video, it's all about making sure that your combat isn't bland.
00:00 Introduction
00:15 Describe it
01:05 Music & Sound Effects
02:25 Show it
3:55 Make it dramatic
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[@mosthatedlivestream8120]

I got the first book and the divine divinity just joined the new book.

[@sharonlarsen3642]

I DM online and use foundry vtt and pull in my own music onto playlists but it's hard to find music that fits and I have found it a very big rabbit hole to go down for prepping. I spend hours listening to music and thinking where would this fit in and I can't think where it would and go onto the next track. All of a sudden my prep time has gone and all I've done is listen to tracks and not found anything I would want to have on the combat playlist. I agree having music can be atmospheric but I do have to have it turned right down so I can hear my players on Discord or it does overshadow their voices. It's a great thing to have but beware the rabbit holes.

[@Drudenfusz]

Description works in my opinion better in third person, people are then often more willing to add some details that go beyond just the action in itself.
I highly recommend not using music in combat. That might work great in films, but in games it runs against the voices of the people around the table (or even worse in a voice chat). Play a song before the fight to get the players pumped, maybe during the Initiative phase, but then mute he sound during the fight so that everybody can be focused on the game (also important for people with ADHD).
Battle maps are neat for people with aphantasia, but well, I do not run D&D but go for more horror games, and having there clear maps, especially with minis is usually completely killing the mood.
Regarding the aspect of making games more dramatic, I would say making it emotional is a good first step, but I would say the advice should go further and actually delve deeper into how emotional investment is created. Like having clear stakes for the situation, and thus giving the dice rolled more meaning than just determining if it is a hit or not. Interesting drama is created when more than just the hit points are at stake, like having a time limit or having to help a non-combatant during the fight or many other things that require decision making. that is then something that can be hyped up and thus make the fight much more memorable.

[@TheTriforcekeeper]

Combat always feels way more epic if there is epic music running in the background for everyone in our group (we tested and asked everyone). The simple trick to not have it "run against the voices of the people around the table" is to just have it... on low volume. Have it playing on low volume in the background.
At least that's how we do it and after having played without music for 2 years, we've been enjoying playing with music for 5 years now :)