How was your first tabletop roleplaying experience? Let us know in the comments below! And if you want cool modules, maps, a weekly podcast and help support us, take a look at our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/GreatGameMaster
Today's random thoughts: These "extra" characters are fantastic, the short skits at the beginning ) end of the old videos were golden. Many ideas inspired just from thier voices. ( Since most videos are listened to over watched, because circumstances) This new format shows us more "Characters" yet doesn't trigger the same attachments. ( Esmeralda, the charismatic Barbarian always seems to stick with me) In my opinion: it would be fun to see more of less characters in each video where the viewer could become attached to Mr.cheese or Alad or any given persona with a single episode. Maybe "Alad is a the expert on a certain topic. Where Guy then bounces / unpacks the topic with said expert." "Then Damnnerfur may have a different approach or view or way of explaining the videos topic. " Now running to NPCs talking to eachother ( while in realty one talks to themselves) , is a subject I personally have trouble with. And if I ever make it to one of your live videos I will be asking how you approach NPC - NPC communications. To wrap up, we are starting to see a new character rise in the form of "Professor Guy" . Love it ! Thank you for all you do.
I appreciate the bit about Good Triumphs. 9:16 I've had too many GMs that only let bad stuff happen to my characters and it felt like no matter what they did, everything would fail and the stakes were repeatedly and needlessly 'raised' by killing off everything my characters loved, including animal companions. It became such a bad headspace to exist in. Players need to be able to keep some things and be allowed to triumph.
It's supposed to build a collaborative AND FUN storytelling environment, NOT torment the Players by proxy of their PC's... That's one of the most permanent ways to run someone off the Table I've seen... It takes a while to get under their skin, sure... BUT once a GM's done it, it's over with. Piling on negatives and villainy is part of Storytelling, too... BUT there are more ways to keep a PC or Party focused on a specific villain and pushing the plot forward. I'm no saint as GM's go. I've piled on despicable horrors, but I still let the PC's amass something in the "Victory" side, too... That means conquests, triumphs, and collected loots... companions... allies... etc. There's no point to starting out a pauper and ending the campaign a pauper... all the effort and time spent with zero to show for it... ;o)
The most important statement in this video is don't get trapped by the rules, the rules are meant to keep structure. Rules are the skeleton on which the game is hung. They give both players and GMs the ability to make informed decisions within the story of the game not strangle the game. If a character does something brilliant but not within the rules but advances the story in a positive way us it, the only rule that should never be broken is not written in any game that I have seen. That is my golden rule of gaming...DO WHAT YE WILL AS LONG AS ALL HAVE FUN.
That rule is actually the most common one I've seen in RPG books. But it's included in the intro rather than the rule section and I guess many just skips the intro. ;)
Or...and hear me out on this, you should find a system who’s rules support the kind of game you are running. The belief that rules don’t matter, or aren’t of vital importance is not healthy. Rules matter, mechanics matter. These mechanics should have a point of view, have a specific thing they are trying to get you to do. Well designed games say “this is what our game is about, and here is how they are about those things.” if you are finding your D&D game about heists does almost nothing to reinforce that feeling of a crew risking everything to steal something, then might I suggest play Blades in the Dark. If your game of D&d doesn’t seem to be helping and rewarding your characters point of view and beliefs about themselves and the world around them, then pick of Burning Wheel, that game is all about that. if you find yourself constantly locking heads with the rules, or feel you are out to sea and the system isn’t helping support the kind of game you are running, odds are you aren’t playing the right system.
@@SquashDog01 True, I wasn't suggesting anything else, if you are always butting heads with a system it's not the right system for you and you should look for another. Just don't let the system run you, you should run the system.
@@SquashDog01 Yeah, GURPS solves all of that... ...and you're still going to need to remember "Never EVER let the rules get in the way of the Game." ;o)
The right fit is a very touchy subject indeed. Although I doesn't completely agree with you when you say it's unlikely that we will adapt ourselves to the styles of others. After role-playing for quite some time and within a wide genre from World of Darkness live action role-playing to miniature and tactic heavy DnD I've learn to appreciate several different types of RPG. The key to this I think is to enter the specific game with the right expectations. Because only when my expectations doesn't align with the actual play do I feel a sense of disappointment. But if I enter the tactic-heavy DnD game with the mindset of rolling dices and making the best strategic decisions I'm much more likely to appreciate it. Just like I'm more likely to appreciate the backstabbing nature of vampire politics if I enter the game with such expectations. So rather then looking for people that are a good fit for a specific style of game I would focus more on finding people that you feel great to be around and then work out what elements you would like to see in the game. Cause as long as you can work out a shared idea of how the game will be like chances are you will all enjoy it very much, regardless of style and genre.
I had to recently part ways with a player because they weren't feeling the interest towards the campaign anymore. We parted in good faith, because at the end of the day it should be fun for everyone and we both understood that. However, not all games are for all players and not all players are a fit with how all the GM's run games. Don't feel tied to a particular campaign and if you're a GM don't expect all the players to stay forever.
“... using force, using Nazgul, using Ring-wraiths or whatsoever...” That made me laugh out loud and appreciate that the most powerful servants of Sauron get mentioned twice :-)
First tabletop experience: first legitimate tabletop experience was pretty good. I told the DM the kinda character I was hoping to play (knowing nothing about the game mechanics other than roll the dice), he had another player help me build a character and then he introduced us in a fun way in the middle of combat of a session in progress. Immediately I felt very epic and like I was there, I wasn't great at getting into character and made lots of mistakes but I was guided along by the fellow players and the DM. They were encouraging and made me feel like I was getting the hang of it. My next experience was pretty terrible (different group entirely), but I held onto that memory of fun and kept trying.
Very good video and goes over one of the actual biggest problems of the game and less talked ones: you're supposed to play this with friends - people you get along with
Thanks for this. I've been really throwing myself into GMing over the last year or so, and really enjoying it. I really get that vibe about sometimes a player not fitting in to the group. I've been that player in the past, and I've seen them in my games at times. The trap I fall into often as a GM is one of having a main story, but not being good at fleshing out radiant ideas. Sometimes, the character's love an idea, and I can flesh it out for them, bring it into being. But they often expect a level of randomness and the unexpected that I'm not very good at providing! Thank you for these videos, they're really helpful.
Great video guy. Really getting into your own on the channel formating and pace. Nice to follow and well organized. A lot of work to make, am sure. But it shows!
Great video Guy although I am late to the party with your videos, I think your videos have opened a Pandora's box for me. It's not so much that I didn't know these topics but it has created great conversations to improve games. Also I can subtly direct certain players or DMs to them so we can discuss if we do the negatives or could do the positives.
Definitely a very helpful video! :) Off topic, do you make audiobooks? Because you should. I would love to listen to an audiobook read by you. Your voice is very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.
18.2 GGM 101.1 On screen reads 101.2 c'mon Guy :P Seriously though, I love game design discussion and keeping attention to how a game is built, what the game wants, etc. Looking forward to finishing this video!
Perhaps a few random encounters and minor dealings with npcs (buying, selling, helping, and the like) can reveal to the GM the types of players he/she has while building a campaign.
Was just wondering, I saw on the outline provided for circle 1 titles that match videos for at least the first three, was wondering where the other 9 are? Sorry if this is a stupid question
Going on a tangent here: I want to GM a SF campaign in which the PCs are colonists in a strange new world, and need challenges for them to overcome. I've made a master list of challenge categories and found them all good - until I started planning an adventure, when I found out that all those challenges would be solved with simple dice rolls, no thinking, no roleplaying form the players, just rolling. So, the question: How do I run a game in which the tension doesn't come from enemies to fight or NPCs to interact with, but from the elements themselves?
I'm wondering, it seems as if you hate for your charcters to fail. Failure can include anything from a TPK to not getting a peice of information. You've said in this video that you provide a different person with the same information, and you've said in a 3-way discussion that you ignore rules to avoid accidentally defeating the party. If we should ignore the main mechanic of the game in order to tell a story, that we have made up, why do we roll the dice in the first place?
How do I deal with a GM bully? My one party member has put my campaign in jeopardy. That if I don't give him what he wants, he's going to convince everyone to drop the campaign.
@@501stPokemonLegion Then let that one player have anything he wants, adjust his stats and decide everything that happens in the game. Does that sound better? Look, talk it out with your group when everyone is there. You cannot have a functional campaign when the GM is held to ransom. If the others are willing to ditch your group because of one jerk they don't sound like players most GM's would want anyway.
You have two options: 1. Give in and let him have what he wants. In this case, you will definitely not have fun and the campaign will definitely be ruined. You will still have to put in a lot of work just to have it trampled on. 2. Refuse his demands and inform him that he is welcome to leave if he doesn't enjoy the game. In this case, the campaign might end if everyone else leaves with him. Or, it might not end, and everyone can continue enjoying themselves without him. He may even decide he wants to stay and continue, even if he has to play by the rules. Even if the campaign does end, you now have the free time available to organize a campaign that will actually be enjoyable for everyone involved.
Yes, Guy. There is definitely no one holding a gun to my head making me GM. Please definitely don't get help. I repeat there is NOT someone holding a gun to my head making me do this. For the love of all that is good, don't get help.
Personally I don't like changing the rules on the fly.(Rule of Cool?) (Ecpecially when it changes player abbilitys, because they may have to re-write their whole character-sheet to account for it.) ... I'm a rules traditionalest. (Mostly prefering RaW.) ... By the way, if the RaW arn't identical to the RaI, then they need to be written more carefully. Write what you mean in the first place, darn it! ... (RaI can limit the player from creativity using a tool or abillty, in fun ways the designers never intended, Which I personally enjoy doing; Expecially when roleplaying a character with high inteligence.) ... Now, I *am* okay with the GM homebrewing rules, but *only* if they declare those homebrew rules ahead of time. ... (I've had too much troubble with my first GM, nurfing our stuff on a whim.) ... Also, there is one thing the GM should *not* be allowed to do: steal player agency. (Unless there's a logical in game explanation that makes sense, i.e. they were charmed/hypnotised/posessed; in which case, there should ussally be an oppertunity to resist the effect, such as a will-save
Jesus Christ dude, your content is usually pretty good, but edit ffs. Watching you struggle with "Escapism" is 30 seconds of my life I will never get back.
How was your first tabletop roleplaying experience? Let us know in the comments below! And if you want cool modules, maps, a weekly podcast and help support us, take a look at our Patreon at: www.patreon.com/GreatGameMaster
I've been running rpgs for years and you just explained why some of my games have fizzled. No structure, no plot, no theme.
Results Prioritized Gaming.
Thanks for being you guy!
I have been watching your videos for years and you were one of the youtubers who inspired me to make my own videos!
Today's random thoughts:
These "extra" characters are fantastic, the short skits at the beginning ) end of the old videos were golden. Many ideas inspired just from thier voices. ( Since most videos are listened to over watched, because circumstances)
This new format shows us more "Characters" yet doesn't trigger the same attachments. ( Esmeralda, the charismatic Barbarian always seems to stick with me)
In my opinion: it would be fun to see more of less characters in each video where the viewer could become attached to Mr.cheese or Alad or any given persona with a single episode.
Maybe "Alad is a the expert on a certain topic. Where Guy then bounces / unpacks the topic with said expert."
"Then Damnnerfur may have a different approach or view or way of explaining the videos topic. "
Now running to NPCs talking to eachother ( while in realty one talks to themselves) , is a subject I personally have trouble with.
And if I ever make it to one of your live videos I will be asking how you approach NPC - NPC communications.
To wrap up, we are starting to see a new character rise in the form of "Professor Guy" .
Love it ! Thank you for all you do.
I appreciate the bit about Good Triumphs. 9:16 I've had too many GMs that only let bad stuff happen to my characters and it felt like no matter what they did, everything would fail and the stakes were repeatedly and needlessly 'raised' by killing off everything my characters loved, including animal companions. It became such a bad headspace to exist in. Players need to be able to keep some things and be allowed to triumph.
It's supposed to build a collaborative AND FUN storytelling environment, NOT torment the Players by proxy of their PC's... That's one of the most permanent ways to run someone off the Table I've seen... It takes a while to get under their skin, sure... BUT once a GM's done it, it's over with.
Piling on negatives and villainy is part of Storytelling, too... BUT there are more ways to keep a PC or Party focused on a specific villain and pushing the plot forward. I'm no saint as GM's go. I've piled on despicable horrors, but I still let the PC's amass something in the "Victory" side, too... That means conquests, triumphs, and collected loots... companions... allies... etc.
There's no point to starting out a pauper and ending the campaign a pauper... all the effort and time spent with zero to show for it... ;o)
I just realized Ron Cheese is probably based off John Cleese. I love it.
The most important statement in this video is don't get trapped by the rules, the rules are meant to keep structure. Rules are the skeleton on which the game is hung. They give both players and GMs the ability to make informed decisions within the story of the game not strangle the game. If a character does something brilliant but not within the rules but advances the story in a positive way us it, the only rule that should never be broken is not written in any game that I have seen. That is my golden rule of gaming...DO WHAT YE WILL AS LONG AS ALL HAVE FUN.
That rule is actually the most common one I've seen in RPG books. But it's included in the intro rather than the rule section and I guess many just skips the intro. ;)
We always said more or less the same thing, "Never EVER let the rules get in the way of the Game." ;o)
Or...and hear me out on this, you should find a system who’s rules support the kind of game you are running. The belief that rules don’t matter, or aren’t of vital importance is not healthy. Rules matter, mechanics matter. These mechanics should have a point of view, have a specific thing they are trying to get you to do. Well designed games say “this is what our game is about, and here is how they are about those things.”
if you are finding your D&D game about heists does almost nothing to reinforce that feeling of a crew risking everything to steal something, then might I suggest play Blades in the Dark. If your game of D&d doesn’t seem to be helping and rewarding your characters point of view and beliefs about themselves and the world around them, then pick of Burning Wheel, that game is all about that.
if you find yourself constantly locking heads with the rules, or feel you are out to sea and the system isn’t helping support the kind of game you are running, odds are you aren’t playing the right system.
@@SquashDog01 True, I wasn't suggesting anything else, if you are always butting heads with a system it's not the right system for you and you should look for another. Just don't let the system run you, you should run the system.
@@SquashDog01 Yeah, GURPS solves all of that...
...and you're still going to need to remember "Never EVER let the rules get in the way of the Game." ;o)
The right fit is a very touchy subject indeed. Although I doesn't completely agree with you when you say it's unlikely that we will adapt ourselves to the styles of others. After role-playing for quite some time and within a wide genre from World of Darkness live action role-playing to miniature and tactic heavy DnD I've learn to appreciate several different types of RPG.
The key to this I think is to enter the specific game with the right expectations. Because only when my expectations doesn't align with the actual play do I feel a sense of disappointment. But if I enter the tactic-heavy DnD game with the mindset of rolling dices and making the best strategic decisions I'm much more likely to appreciate it. Just like I'm more likely to appreciate the backstabbing nature of vampire politics if I enter the game with such expectations.
So rather then looking for people that are a good fit for a specific style of game I would focus more on finding people that you feel great to be around and then work out what elements you would like to see in the game. Cause as long as you can work out a shared idea of how the game will be like chances are you will all enjoy it very much, regardless of style and genre.
Where does he get all these cool cloaks!
wish.com :)
I had to recently part ways with a player because they weren't feeling the interest towards the campaign anymore. We parted in good faith, because at the end of the day it should be fun for everyone and we both understood that. However, not all games are for all players and not all players are a fit with how all the GM's run games. Don't feel tied to a particular campaign and if you're a GM don't expect all the players to stay forever.
“... using force, using Nazgul, using Ring-wraiths or whatsoever...” That made me laugh out loud and appreciate that the most powerful servants of Sauron get mentioned twice :-)
First tabletop experience: first legitimate tabletop experience was pretty good. I told the DM the kinda character I was hoping to play (knowing nothing about the game mechanics other than roll the dice), he had another player help me build a character and then he introduced us in a fun way in the middle of combat of a session in progress.
Immediately I felt very epic and like I was there, I wasn't great at getting into character and made lots of mistakes but I was guided along by the fellow players and the DM. They were encouraging and made me feel like I was getting the hang of it.
My next experience was pretty terrible (different group entirely), but I held onto that memory of fun and kept trying.
This channel is one tat inspired me to make my own RPG channel, mostly for Call of Cthulhu. Thank you, you truly are the GREATEST GAME MASTER!
Very good video and goes over one of the actual biggest problems of the game and less talked ones: you're supposed to play this with friends - people you get along with
One more pleasant surprise from you Guy! Got a lot more than I expected from seeing the title. Thanks!
I did not quite get the point about consistency. Examples are the juice.
Thanks for this. I've been really throwing myself into GMing over the last year or so, and really enjoying it. I really get that vibe about sometimes a player not fitting in to the group. I've been that player in the past, and I've seen them in my games at times.
The trap I fall into often as a GM is one of having a main story, but not being good at fleshing out radiant ideas. Sometimes, the character's love an idea, and I can flesh it out for them, bring it into being. But they often expect a level of randomness and the unexpected that I'm not very good at providing!
Thank you for these videos, they're really helpful.
Great video guy. Really getting into your own on the channel formating and pace. Nice to follow and well organized.
A lot of work to make, am sure. But it shows!
Some of these personas sound kinda like christopher walkin, love it! Absolutely fantastic video, very insightful
Great video Guy although I am late to the party with your videos, I think your videos have opened a Pandora's box for me. It's not so much that I didn't know these topics but it has created great conversations to improve games. Also I can subtly direct certain players or DMs to them so we can discuss if we do the negatives or could do the positives.
Happy day to you Shad !!
And to the viewers of the video !!
This is Guy's video.
Definitely a very helpful video! :) Off topic, do you make audiobooks? Because you should. I would love to listen to an audiobook read by you. Your voice is very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to.
18.2 GGM 101.1 On screen reads 101.2 c'mon Guy :P Seriously though, I love game design discussion and keeping attention to how a game is built, what the game wants, etc. Looking forward to finishing this video!
Interpretive dance tennis sounds really fun actually.
I’ll do the task when my campaign is wrapped up. This will be quite interesting.
Nothing new here for me, but I have been following you from the beginning Guy. I really like the new concept keep it up! :)
Perhaps a few random encounters and minor dealings with npcs (buying, selling, helping, and the like) can reveal to the GM the types of players he/she has while building a campaign.
I can't seem to find the next episodes of 1st circle - am I missing something? Have you uploaded the best videos on the 1st circle GM?
Guy: a spaceship breaks your d&d game
S3:EttBP says Hold my beer
Was just wondering, I saw on the outline provided for circle 1 titles that match videos for at least the first three, was wondering where the other 9 are? Sorry if this is a stupid question
Great video I missed to this point
Going on a tangent here: I want to GM a SF campaign in which the PCs are colonists in a strange new world, and need challenges for them to overcome.
I've made a master list of challenge categories and found them all good - until I started planning an adventure, when I found out that all those challenges would be solved with simple dice rolls, no thinking, no roleplaying form the players, just rolling.
So, the question: How do I run a game in which the tension doesn't come from enemies to fight or NPCs to interact with, but from the elements themselves?
what about call of chutulu and those darker than dark Games?
everything dies theres no chances, nor justice nor meaning, how do we do?
Great. Thanks
well, I don't yet have a group. just a vague idea of what I'd like to do and hopefully not be terrible at it.
I'm wondering, it seems as if you hate for your charcters to fail. Failure can include anything from a TPK to not getting a peice of information. You've said in this video that you provide a different person with the same information, and you've said in a 3-way discussion that you ignore rules to avoid accidentally defeating the party. If we should ignore the main mechanic of the game in order to tell a story, that we have made up, why do we roll the dice in the first place?
How do I deal with a GM bully? My one party member has put my campaign in jeopardy. That if I don't give him what he wants, he's going to convince everyone to drop the campaign.
That's easy. Ditch him. If the others follow, find a new group.
@@30noir but I don't want to find another group. I don't want to have to restart the story
@@501stPokemonLegion Then let that one player have anything he wants, adjust his stats and decide everything that happens in the game. Does that sound better? Look, talk it out with your group when everyone is there. You cannot have a functional campaign when the GM is held to ransom. If the others are willing to ditch your group because of one jerk they don't sound like players most GM's would want anyway.
30noir Or friends, for that matter.
You have two options:
1. Give in and let him have what he wants. In this case, you will definitely not have fun and the campaign will definitely be ruined. You will still have to put in a lot of work just to have it trampled on.
2. Refuse his demands and inform him that he is welcome to leave if he doesn't enjoy the game. In this case, the campaign might end if everyone else leaves with him. Or, it might not end, and everyone can continue enjoying themselves without him. He may even decide he wants to stay and continue, even if he has to play by the rules. Even if the campaign does end, you now have the free time available to organize a campaign that will actually be enjoyable for everyone involved.
I'm not the best dm so I hope this helps me
Yes, Guy. There is definitely no one holding a gun to my head making me GM. Please definitely don't get help. I repeat there is NOT someone holding a gun to my head making me do this. For the love of all that is good, don't get help.
this video is a gem!
0:00 Iroh?
What if fun breaks immersion?
Does becoming a great GM help you to become a great PC?
☮
hey young gandalf do you want to make a fantasy game with me
🤯 There's a disagree button!? 😅
First comment !!!!
Princess Hmzawy 🍭
Personally I don't like changing the rules on the fly.(Rule of Cool?) (Ecpecially when it changes player abbilitys, because they may have to re-write their whole character-sheet to account for it.)
...
I'm a rules traditionalest. (Mostly prefering RaW.)
...
By the way, if the RaW arn't identical to the RaI, then they need to be written more carefully. Write what you mean in the first place, darn it!
...
(RaI can limit the player from creativity using a tool or abillty, in fun ways the designers never intended, Which I personally enjoy doing; Expecially when roleplaying a character with high inteligence.)
...
Now, I *am* okay with the GM homebrewing rules, but *only* if they declare those homebrew rules ahead of time.
...
(I've had too much troubble with my first GM, nurfing our stuff on a whim.)
...
Also, there is one thing the GM should *not* be allowed to do: steal player agency. (Unless there's a logical in game explanation that makes sense, i.e. they were charmed/hypnotised/posessed; in which case, there should ussally be an oppertunity to resist the effect, such as a will-save
Jesus Christ dude, your content is usually pretty good, but edit ffs. Watching you struggle with "Escapism" is 30 seconds of my life I will never get back.
I think it’s part of the charm
Third! :)