This is a great example of emergent storylines and player-driven play. The DM adjudicates the action and weaves the treads into the ongoing story, but it's the players who spin the threads in the first place and the power is in their hands. It's not for everyone, naturally, but it's certainly my cup of GM's tea.
The Stranger Things pic was very appropriate when talking about sandbox games - after all, the kids’ AD&D encounter with Demogorgon was a random encounter, wasn’t it? 😉
It’s stories like this that I absolutely love and why I will never understand DMs that feel they need to force a narrative or even protect their Players Characters for said narrative. One day I hope to find a group but till then I’ll enjoy hearing these epic tales of fortune and loss from you.
From the get go, I've done a little thing where the first 3 players to reach a new level got to choose with Advanced classes were added in. The 3 choices at levels 2 and 3 are already locked, only one at level 4 remains.
The story is what the players tell each other about the game they played, not the "narrative" the DM prepared. In a recent campaign, a random encounter turned into a rescue attempt to free hostages from bandits then that lead to a hunt for a werewolf...the party never got to the prepared dungeon. That's fine. It's still there...waiting.
I really think this is a common problem nowadays (though of course it always existed). Everyone seems so obsessed with control, being completely afraid that something goes not as planned. I really dont like 4th and 5th edition because I feel they both encourage this tremendously. I enjoy to run both sandbox and storyfocused games, and those are very different types of games, but in both as a DM you have to allow for things to be fluid, otherwise it just becomes a railroaded story you impose or a an adventure with zero risk, zero surprises, and so much less fun than it could be.
This is a great example of emergent storylines and player-driven play. The DM adjudicates the action and weaves the treads into the ongoing story, but it's the players who spin the threads in the first place and the power is in their hands.
It's not for everyone, naturally, but it's certainly my cup of GM's tea.
When random encounters are the adventure, good times. Thank you as always for sharing
A nice sized party. Great to see such wisdom displayed today!
Epic monster hunting! Great to see!
Haha, Jon, Eli, Slan and Oscar. 3 good guys, and 1 who will fleece you of everything you own
Don't say things like that, I don't believe for a moment that Jon would fleece anyone... 🤪
Yay! I'm a hireling!
The Stranger Things pic was very appropriate when talking about sandbox games - after all, the kids’ AD&D encounter with Demogorgon was a random encounter, wasn’t it? 😉
Slan was not nearly as grumpy as one would expect.
Chatting with him also lends to that feeling... perhaps he should rebrand to 'Kind Old Slan?' =)
Hell yeah another reviewcap! - Brian.
Ignoring random encounters certainly is piffle and poppycock! Particularly when the DM’s rolls determine that the adventurers encounter a poppycock! 🤓
Poppycockatrice! If it touches you, you turn into popcorn with caramel and peanuts!
It’s stories like this that I absolutely love and why I will never understand DMs that feel they need to force a narrative or even protect their Players Characters for said narrative. One day I hope to find a group but till then I’ll enjoy hearing these epic tales of fortune and loss from you.
I absolutely love these recaps!
another great vid
Fun reviewcap. Do you have a list of the house rules you use posted anywhere?
Not posted, but I do have them written up. I suppose I can create a community post for the curious... 🤔
I think the cleric Senec should dual class to gnome class. 🤓
Those NPC names are strangely familiar...
Yes, indeed... I just can't quite place them...
No one died thats nuts I saw one of your episodes where a few of your guys got taken out by a giant rat but a wyren no problem crazy
Numbers make the difference!
So it would appear @@Merlinstergandaldore
you let players add new advanced classes as they reach fourth level? such are sandboxes... sorry might've missed the episode where you explained.
From the get go, I've done a little thing where the first 3 players to reach a new level got to choose with Advanced classes were added in. The 3 choices at levels 2 and 3 are already locked, only one at level 4 remains.
I guess Wyvern and Shirley is canceled now...
Up next, Golden Ghouls! Thank you for being a fiend.
Senec looks forward to that! It would be a turning point in his career!@@Merlinstergandaldore
🎉
Merlinstergandaldore, how do you manage to roll a nat 20 at the start of every video? I am amazed! You surely are a powerful mage! 😮
It'a magic!
The story is what the players tell each other about the game they played, not the "narrative" the DM prepared. In a recent campaign, a random encounter turned into a rescue attempt to free hostages from bandits then that lead to a hunt for a werewolf...the party never got to the prepared dungeon. That's fine. It's still there...waiting.
I really think this is a common problem nowadays (though of course it always existed). Everyone seems so obsessed with control, being completely afraid that something goes not as planned. I really dont like 4th and 5th edition because I feel they both encourage this tremendously.
I enjoy to run both sandbox and storyfocused games, and those are very different types of games, but in both as a DM you have to allow for things to be fluid, otherwise it just becomes a railroaded story you impose or a an adventure with zero risk, zero surprises, and so much less fun than it could be.
Letting go and just rolling with events can be quite liberating!
@@Merlinstergandaldore Indeed :) and have fun today with the session! :)