No, wait Death Bringer, the thumbnail's just a joke! I'm a big fan of your work! Ow! Watch Dungeon Craft's original video: ua-cam.com/video/KGArPZ7E_sA/v-deo.html Unhook extension: unhook.app/ Patreon: bit.ly/QBPatreon Old-School DnD newsletter: bit.ly/TheGlatisant
He used to have a great channel - until he decided to lean into making outrage bait for clicks. It seems to be doing well for him, I suppose, but I was a longtime subscriber who dropped the channel because of it. I'm not interested in the Internet Outrage Machine and gaming drama (often manufactured gaming drama), I'm interested in gaming, insights about it from interesting people, and so on. The Prof now spends half his time feeding the machine. Good luck to him, I guess, but I won't be watching
@@wadebutler7127 I am still a fan of Professor Dungeon Master and his DungeonCraft YourTube channel. However, I can understand your position, I too was not keen on his switch to a for profit model. However, PDM was very transparent on his Patreon about his reasons, and has always been straight forward on UA-cam. If you run the numbers you will find fewer of his posts are 'clickbait' than you imagine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I'm the same way. The Subscriptions tab is effectively my "home" at this point. You won't need to install anything extra. it works on the mobile apps. It's just one click to the Subscriptions tab.
Saw "One Weird Trick" and thought it was more playful clickbait. But I was wrong! It's a good thing ALL of Questing Beast's videos are great and I always want them in my feed!
I recently had several situations where youtube activated the notifications on some channels I have been subscribed to for years without me doing so. So the notifications are definitely on the wonky side it seems.
I always check my subscriptions since I don’t want to miss out on what my favorite creators have released. I only check the homepage to find random stuff. I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with watching the videos from the channels I’ve subscribed to.
This is what I've been telling people for years - if you stay on the subscription tab, you just see your subscriptions. It's so easy, and if you do it long enough it naturally warps your algorithm positively when you do venture out into the void.
I've always just used the youtube Subscription button, super simple and built in, and doesn't need an extension to be installed. I don't need another group collating my data for sale to understand the traffic of me and my cohorts.
If you turn off your watch history, it also breaks the algorithmic home page (at least is has for me). Mine is blank with a notice asking if I want to turn it on (I don't). I just use my subscription tab and never miss a video. I also like the videos that I watch and comment when I feel I have something to contribute. Most importantly, though, is just watching from the subscription tab. I've been doing it for years and it has greatly improved my UA-cam experience. And... it's easy.
I find the subscriptions page doesn't list everything. Perhaps its because I have ~10 years worth of subs (600+) and it stops working, but I rarely see woodworking things in there even though the channels still publish them. idk if the bell icon changes this behavior.
For an honest moment Questing Beasts, I thought this was an April Fool's day video but then realized you were being honest! Will be using this though for sure.
Grrr! And here was I slaying the UA-cam dragon, and some sorcerer comes along with a neat little magic trick and poof... i'm no longer needed. This must be 5e all over again!
I just use the app on my phone and look at my notifications. I still don't get all my notifications (even though that's what's I've chosen on every channel), but I get most of them.
I'm sorry, who's not bookmarking their subscription page? The home page has been trash for years. You only have to forget to sign into google once and stumble into the youtube home page once to be reminded what a nightmare it is.
Indeed it has. Someone above said if you run the numbers he doesn't actually do it that much. Well, I ran the numbers. Looking at his 10 most recent videos, 5 of them are about D&D/WOTC/Hasbro drama and another is about a "D&D Killer." Bring that up to his 20 most recent and 11 are drama clickbait, plus the "D&D Killer" vid. The headlines and thumbnail texts are hyperbolic clickbait - "The D&D UA-cam scandal just got worse," "Dragonlance is dead," "UNBELIEVABLE," "D&D is Over," "Who Killed D&D?," "Worst D&D Scandal Yet," "D&D Sales Crash," &D&D TV Dumpster Fire" - and in many of the thumbnails he's pulling those same po-faced mug shots that Dungeons & Discourse uses all the time. Half or more of his videos from at least the last six months are seeking outrage clicks.
Reposting a comment, but in a modified form, because I'm curious about something: Indeed it has. Someone above said if you run the numbers he doesn't actually do it that much. Well, I ran the numbers. Looking at his 10 most recent videos, 5 of them are about D&D/WOTC/Hasbro drama and another is about a "D&D Killer." Bring that up to his 20 most recent and 11 are drama clickbait, plus the "D&D Killer" vid. The headlines and thumbnail texts are hyperbolic - "D&D TV Dumpster Fire," "The D&D UA-cam scandal just got worse," "Dragonlance is dead," "D&D is Over," "D&D Sales Crash," "Who Killed D&D?," "Worst D&D Scandal Yet" - and in many of the thumbnails he's pulling those same mug shots that another channel (one with the initials D&D) uses all the time. Half or more of his videos from at least the last six months are seeking outrage clicks.
I'm skeptical the algorithm cares if you say specific or vaguely positive things, or if you just typed fart noises. I think The Professor simply tricked everyone into being positive towards our favourite UA-camrs. The devious rascal! Gotta watch out for that guy...
oh I get what you are saying. I only have 214 subscribers and currently consider 34 views on my video a good week. I wasn't advocating for this, I was wishing there was better way for new D&D Creators to get in front of their potential audience @@davesolo4352
The single most important part of growing a channel is titles and thumbnails. They don't have to be clickbait, just attractive and intriguing. Go to your favorite big channels, sort by most popular, and study what they're doing. It also looks like most of your video are live plays, which unfortunately are not a popular type of video.
@@davesolo4352 Problem is, outrage draws clicks and UA-cam LOVES to push outrage as a result. You then get once excellent channels like Dungeon Craft that go where the clicks are. That taste of success changes them - and not for the better. His channel is a shadow of what it once was, thanks to him leaning so hard into WOTC drama videos; I unsubbed as a result. But to the larger point, UA-cam recommendations too often focus on outrage videos, drama videos, and so on. No matter how often I hide channels that peddle in that garbage, they're always shoving more into my recommendations. I still peruse the recommendations now and then to discover new channels, but searching by topic has become a better tool because UA-cam's algo seems intent on serving up content designed to keep people angry. I do wish the Prof would stop chasing this carrot. I'd consider watching him again, but the front page of his channel even right now shows that he knows where his bread is buttered and that he will continue to pander for clicks. It's unfortunate.
This kind of content is exactly why I am subscribed to you and enjoy your style. You are frank and don't try to fall into the easy pitfalls of most youtubers that will try to game the system. You give actionable advice and a clear viewpoint and it is so refreshing to see vs. all the channels that try to make their bones on hobby drama or other unimportant things that pander to an algorithm. Putting the power back in the hands of the people, where it should be.
Generally, pdm is talking about how to get new watchers to a Chanel vs an existing audience. He references his views go up when he does dungeon drama vs normal content but his regular viewers say they want more regular content and less wotc earning reports. Issue is you get more people than just subscribers if you go for a broader interest topic; ie, you get people interested in finance and d&d if you talk about the wotc fiscal year, but lose the finance crowd if you talk about how to dry brush terrain. Less of a reach thing and more of an interest thing.
He lost me as a subscriber as a result of him leaning so hard into the outrage machine. I have no love for WOTC, but also have no interest in hearing about the drama all the time. It's part of why I'm into the OSR scene. He once had really good content, I liked hearing how he ran games, I enjoyed his views on gaming even when we disagreed on stuff, but the outage bait? Enough was eventually enough. I bailed on him
"I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future." Making "I love ALL videos by So and So" posts is about effective as those silly Facebook messages people got tricked into posting
Less than a 10th of my views on a new video come from the subscription feed. Everything's from the homepage. What I see on my end as a consumer is if I watch one video from my sub feed & then go to my homepage, it's like the algorithm dumps all of that channel's videos in my feed. Idk man. All I know is I love Questing Beast's videos.
I accomplish the same thing with different tools. Subscriptions used to be the default way to view youtube a loooong time ago. Anyways, I wanna see that list of spells, when can we get at that Knave 2e?
Calling it a "DnD scandal" when it is simply the algortithm deprioritising content it thinks people are less likely to watch (like 'Professor' Dungeoncraft's consistently clickbaity, soyface-thumbnailed videos that people leave early and downvote) is very much like what freshman dungeoncraft himself would do. Also, all the dumbos trying the "I love all videos from xxxx" are the sort of people who use facebook and post the "I do not give facebook permission to use my photos" meme.
Tempest in a teapot. There is a role-down menu on the top left side of the UA-cam page. I use that to check all the new videos produced by the channels I subscribed to. There is no 'controversy'.
Wow I came here because I was annoyed by *that* channel, but intead i found a solution to all the useless and often offensive crud that UA-cam is trying to shove in my face even after I months of me refusing to click. Thank you so much...
Before people shame the home page too much, it should be noted that the subscription page comes with its own set of problems. Two core ones: 1) Users barely ever unsubscribe. We just add more subscription and switch between the ones we pay attention to. The home page reinforces this behavior, but it was there to begin with too. 2) It's in chronological order and will get flooded by channels who upload often. In my case, TYT used to flood my feed by uploading multiple time a day. So instead of a video like this competing with the algorithm, which is based on the type of content you've been engaging with lately, it will instead compete with the most upload happy channel you're subscribed to.
The Subscriptions page isn't very good at showing everything either, and doesn't do it all in chrono order. But it's not full of crap like the home page.
Ok I’ve seen stuff about the algorithm and videos not showing up in the subscription tab for years and years. since the “adpocolypse” is when I remember it becoming a big sticking point for UA-camrs. Does anyone know of any concrete proof that UA-cam doesn’t show videos in sub boxes? I’ve never had the issue personally and I’m not saying anything about the quality of QB because I think they should be wayyy bigger. But I’ve always noticed that when I see a UA-cam complain about the algorithm I notice the recent content they’re producing also makes me, a fan, go “oh I don’t want to watch those videos” so I don’t click on them. I know what I just said is highly anecdotal, but that’s why I ask cause so is every instance of viewers and UA-camrs saying videos aren’t showing up.
Turned off watch history years ago so the home page doesn't even work. This forces me to use the Subscriptions tab and get all of your excellent videos Ben!
...and doesn't this just eliminate the chance that a new channel is NOT going to get recommended to you? If all you are doing is automatically redirecting to your subscriptions, this seems to remove the recommendations of new channels, older videos from channels you've not seen and reduce the chance that new channels will get recommended. I get it that you will see stuff just based on demographics, but you can weed out that stuff by just selecting "do not recommend this channel." The YT will learn that you not only do not want to see that channel, but as you continue to weeds subjects out, it stops recommending them.
I'm not subscribed to you but i still saw this video... if everyone followed you advice you would never grow and small creators would never have a chance.
And my confusion deepens: When I watch videos by a channel, I get shown more; when I watch fewer video by a channel, I get shown fewer; and when I stop watching videos by a channel, the suggestions trickle off until I'm shown them no more. Yet, even one viewing brings that channel back fully into the feed to be calibrated by choices. This works consistently and has done so for years. Not joking: I get videos recommended _after_ they've been demonetized! According to every creator ever, that's literally impossible! It even knows when I am getting bored with my feed and offers the something-new option at just the right time. Am I the unique statistical fluke for whom the algorithm has been perfectly calibrated? ETA: Edited for typo.
I could care less what Professor Dugeon master has to say since he made a vid about how Piazo was going put of buisness because they did a humble bundle. 👍
@@rmcdudmk212 Add me to the list. Fully half his stuff now is a transparent attempt to feed the anger machine in order to get views. I thought he was better than that. Clearly I was wrong.
All of that only works in my experience if you have not many defenatly fewer then 1k subs(That you are subed too like I have nearly 3k schannels I subbed too) if not UA-cam will forget to show you most of those channels and most of those videos yes even with the bell and though the sub box... I have yet to figure out why... Then agin the algoritim is really good about showing you videos you'll like to see the most which is nice tough I want to see them all.
I don't think it works. . I comment on Perch videos and those never appear on my feed anymore :( . . I just have bell notifications for you and PDM, tho.
Surprised your answer wasn't "subscribe to the Glatisant." And not joking. Mailing list means no algorithms period. Another no-algorithm approach, is that every UA-cam channel has an RSS feed generated, so subscribe via an RSS reader for channels you don't want to miss any uploads.
I don't know if the extension works on the UA-cam Mobile app, but I can try looking on the subscriptions tag. Usually I look up creators on the day they release a video, I just wish when I did UA-cam showed me the most recent video and not the one from last week or 2 months ago. I could try with the bell but that comes late and I like trying to watch when video is premiering or first hour, not that I can't go back and watch it again later but if the algorithm recognizes video is getting popular when dropped maybe it would be more likely to have it rise to the top. Maybe that is still an effort on my part to look for videos and creators and things not just on my homepage. Does UA-cam count search terms like "Best OSR games to introduce adolescents to" or is it only clicking the video that counts for anything. Also does it recognize why someone clicked? Because "Top 5 subclasses in D&D" isn't the same as "Top 5 games to try that aren't D&D", but because they both say D&D is that what the algorithm counts? I guess it never heard the other games before, except Pathfinder or Warhammer from walking around FLGS. I think best example that comes to mind is Skate Wizards, I would have never heard of this game before if it weren't for a video from Bob World Builder, but that was a UA-camr I knew introducing a game I never heard of before, and would watch content because it's good content. Anyway there's an overshadowing of other games by D&D which as much as I enjoy I find other games to be more intuitive or just do things that feel more interesting. I am also curious about rule symmetry, maybe that isn't a thing, but a barrier for really any game not just D&D or TTRPGs but also board games and card games is learning all of the rules: actions on turns, phases, win conditions, etc. everyone at the table needing to understand everything and D&D classes all work different. Some games fix this by not having classes and just based off your equipment, but the symmetry being how much the game could be played with an even vs uneven amount of people understanding the rules. Like one could know they have a bow, they have been hit one time during the fight, they could just ask the GM for a spot to hide and fire their bow. The GM would know rules for hiding, attacking while unseen, number of actions per turn and tells the player. Maybe the player knows the bow rolls a d8 because it's what was rolled every other time, but they might not know stealth. With D&D, usually the player has the sheet in front of them so if they see stealth has +4 they roll a 16 or higher and start arguing how they rolled a 20 and the monster shouldn't see them but the GM has to explain there is no where that breaks line of sight so they couldn't hide, and is it better for the table for everyone to know their own characters or just the GM. What happens when a player is trying to get the shop owner to lower price on an item, is that persuasion because they are being nice and not threatening like intimidation, or would this be considered a deceptive business practice because I could imagine a player who sees a +5 persuasion vs a +3 deception is going to want to argue they persuading more than they are deceiving. Anyway different games have different focus on inventory tracking, level advancing, character mortality, and can just be interesting to find out about other games and think something it does sounds incredible. When it comes to learning something new about TTRPGs, I love ALL Questing Beast videos.
UA-cam still publishes an RSS feed of each channel behind the scenes. All you have to do is put the channel’s URL into an RSS reader and you’ll have every video from that channel delivered to your RSS reader feed (I’m using a Mac RSS reader called ‘Reeder’ where I know this works well.) I use this to subscribe to my favorite OSR blogs, and UA-cam channels and see them all in one feed.
Unhook has literally made my life easier. Now, whenever I've watched everything my favorite channels uploaded recently, I'm just done with YT for the day! I would have to go out of my way to keep wasting time bouncing between videos I don't even really want to watch just because YT put them in front of me
I also recommend the extension (channel blocker) It pops a little X next to the channel name that allows you to block channels so you don't have to see them anymore. You know, so if you want to still have the sidebar feature available, you don't want to unhook it. You can have it not feed you. Oh, I don't know. Bob, the world builder. He just happens to be on the sidebar right now for me. LOL
Ahhhh... I've been wondering for a while why people were complaining about not seeing videos. I didn't realize people were only looking at their homepage instead of the Subscriptions page, since I always make playlists of stuff to just listen to but not visually see while at work, what stuff to watch at home in general, and what stuff to specifically put off for days off.
Well that's good to know. My subscription tab keeps acting up anyway (randomly unsubscribing and changing my bell setting) but that's still good to know.
If you turn off your watch history, UA-cam stops giving you the homepage with recommendations, which is really funny because they thought they were making it to induce people into turning watch history back on, but it's only made my UA-cam experience much better without any algorithm.
I always start on the subscriptions page if I'm looking to watch videos, the feed is trash and getting worse. But hard pass on notifications. I can't understand anyone wanting to get a notification of every new video they're subscribed to, and youtubers begging you to "click the bell" is a common and annoying hubris to me. Like, do people really think their content is so important I'm going to drop what I'm doing to go watch? Not you specifically, I understand it's just a pattern at this point, but it gets under my skin a little 😅
I've been using the same addon, which is great for removing all the felgercarb that normally resides on youtube. Prior to that, I just had my YT bookmark take me to subs directly, and would only go to the actual home page just to see what might be interesting.
After pondering how much time I lost watching recommended videos I really didn't want to see I turned off my entire UA-cam history. No recommendations of any type, so I can focus in the subscriptions I really wanna see.
It's weird, but UA-cam updated my watch history - aka, it's deactivated. I don't know how it happened, but basically the homepage is empty and asking me to turn back on the history to see anything. I've never turned it back on and i like it that way. It's so easy to wind up down a UA-cam rabbit hole and i avoid that now.
True enough, But - when you "unhook" and just use the subscription page, the content isn't driven to others. The algorithm will see your algorithmic activities and drive the video to others. So, bottom line, the creator will get paid more. Which is nice.
I actually *do* love all the videos on your channel, though. Like, I pretty much watch everything you put out. You'd think the algorithm would figure that out and just show me the new stuff right away.
I actually love all your videos. I don't care if this comment results in more of your videos being recommended on my homepage, even though that would be nice, I just want you to know I love your stuff.
This is just anecdotal (but from my personal experience) but even when you are subbed and have "all" on, it still doesn't always notify you of all the videos from all the channels that you are subbed to.
No, wait Death Bringer, the thumbnail's just a joke! I'm a big fan of your work! Ow!
Watch Dungeon Craft's original video: ua-cam.com/video/KGArPZ7E_sA/v-deo.html
Unhook extension: unhook.app/
Patreon: bit.ly/QBPatreon
Old-School DnD newsletter: bit.ly/TheGlatisant
Yeah DB can be a might, touchy, err, opinion..., uh I mean to say; he likes what he likes.
Roll for initiative
Flexing beast being based again
He used to have a great channel - until he decided to lean into making outrage bait for clicks. It seems to be doing well for him, I suppose, but I was a longtime subscriber who dropped the channel because of it. I'm not interested in the Internet Outrage Machine and gaming drama (often manufactured gaming drama), I'm interested in gaming, insights about it from interesting people, and so on. The Prof now spends half his time feeding the machine. Good luck to him, I guess, but I won't be watching
@@wadebutler7127 I am still a fan of Professor Dungeon Master and his DungeonCraft YourTube channel. However, I can understand your position, I too was not keen on his switch to a for profit model.
However, PDM was very transparent on his Patreon about his reasons, and has always been straight forward on UA-cam. If you run the numbers you will find fewer of his posts are 'clickbait' than you imagine.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I just don't use the UA-cam homepage, unless I am deliberately looking for something new. I use the "subscribed" page as my YT home page.
This is the way. I only use this. Homepage is useless
Same😊
I'm the same way. The Subscriptions tab is effectively my "home" at this point. You won't need to install anything extra. it works on the mobile apps. It's just one click to the Subscriptions tab.
Same. I've never once used "Homepage."
Seriously. It's amazing that more people don't use this feature.
Saw "One Weird Trick" and thought it was more playful clickbait. But I was wrong! It's a good thing ALL of Questing Beast's videos are great and I always want them in my feed!
It may not be weird, but it is a trick.
What if I wasn't subbed to the questing beast. I would never be able to find you without the recommended homepage feed ❤
I recently had several situations where youtube activated the notifications on some channels I have been subscribed to for years without me doing so.
So the notifications are definitely on the wonky side it seems.
I love the Questing Beast, but the Questing Beast just wanted to be friends 😢
Lol
I sure do love all the videos from this channel and hope I get to see them all when they come out.
I didn't know there was a problem I get my usual notifications and Ttrpg UA-camrs. 😮
I always check my subscriptions since I don’t want to miss out on what my favorite creators have released. I only check the homepage to find random stuff. I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with watching the videos from the channels I’ve subscribed to.
This is what I've been telling people for years - if you stay on the subscription tab, you just see your subscriptions. It's so easy, and if you do it long enough it naturally warps your algorithm positively when you do venture out into the void.
I've always just used the youtube Subscription button, super simple and built in, and doesn't need an extension to be installed. I don't need another group collating my data for sale to understand the traffic of me and my cohorts.
If you turn off your watch history, it also breaks the algorithmic home page (at least is has for me). Mine is blank with a notice asking if I want to turn it on (I don't). I just use my subscription tab and never miss a video. I also like the videos that I watch and comment when I feel I have something to contribute. Most importantly, though, is just watching from the subscription tab. I've been doing it for years and it has greatly improved my UA-cam experience. And... it's easy.
I find the subscriptions page doesn't list everything. Perhaps its because I have ~10 years worth of subs (600+) and it stops working, but I rarely see woodworking things in there even though the channels still publish them. idk if the bell icon changes this behavior.
oh my gosh! i really love all this guy's videos!
For an honest moment Questing Beasts, I thought this was an April Fool's day video but then realized you were being honest! Will be using this though for sure.
For a minute I thought this was going to be an endorsement for the blogosphere! Looking forward to your next video!
I love ALL Questing Beast videos, especially the doozies!
Grrr! And here was I slaying the UA-cam dragon, and some sorcerer comes along with a neat little magic trick and poof... i'm no longer needed. This must be 5e all over again!
Great video. Always a fan of your content.
I just use the app on my phone and look at my notifications. I still don't get all my notifications (even though that's what's I've chosen on every channel), but I get most of them.
I LOVE all of Questing Beasts youtube videos! Especially the reviews, and the recent pivot to explainers and such.
I'm sorry, who's not bookmarking their subscription page? The home page has been trash for years. You only have to forget to sign into google once and stumble into the youtube home page once to be reminded what a nightmare it is.
I love ALL Questing Beast videos.
I like all the videos on this channel!
I just block channels that get recommended to me for no reason completely and permanently. 90% of the time it's worthless clickbait anyway.
I LOVE THIS CHANNEL
Or just go to the subscriptions page and not to home page - no add-ons or customizations needed. Been doing that for years.
J'adore toutes les vidéos ce votre chaîne !
Elles sont toutes très instructives !
Thank you!
I love this channel.
I love all questing beast videos
Also QB, the bell doesn’t work the way one thinks it would. Will def try Unhooked.
Hmm, cruf, is that similar to felgercarb?
Dungeon Craft has become an algorithm chasing channel that thinks views are more important than having good content, that's the real problem.
Indeed it has. Someone above said if you run the numbers he doesn't actually do it that much.
Well, I ran the numbers.
Looking at his 10 most recent videos, 5 of them are about D&D/WOTC/Hasbro drama and another is about a "D&D Killer." Bring that up to his 20 most recent and 11 are drama clickbait, plus the "D&D Killer" vid.
The headlines and thumbnail texts are hyperbolic clickbait - "The D&D UA-cam scandal just got worse," "Dragonlance is dead," "UNBELIEVABLE," "D&D is Over," "Who Killed D&D?," "Worst D&D Scandal Yet," "D&D Sales Crash," &D&D TV Dumpster Fire" - and in many of the thumbnails he's pulling those same po-faced mug shots that Dungeons & Discourse uses all the time.
Half or more of his videos from at least the last six months are seeking outrage clicks.
Reposting a comment, but in a modified form, because I'm curious about something:
Indeed it has. Someone above said if you run the numbers he doesn't actually do it that much.
Well, I ran the numbers.
Looking at his 10 most recent videos, 5 of them are about D&D/WOTC/Hasbro drama and another is about a "D&D Killer." Bring that up to his 20 most recent and 11 are drama clickbait, plus the "D&D Killer" vid.
The headlines and thumbnail texts are hyperbolic - "D&D TV Dumpster Fire," "The D&D UA-cam scandal just got worse," "Dragonlance is dead," "D&D is Over," "D&D Sales Crash," "Who Killed D&D?," "Worst D&D Scandal Yet" - and in many of the thumbnails he's pulling those same mug shots that another channel (one with the initials D&D) uses all the time.
Half or more of his videos from at least the last six months are seeking outrage clicks.
Am I the only one who likes the algorithm? I find it helps me to discover obscure content creators.
I'm skeptical the algorithm cares if you say specific or vaguely positive things, or if you just typed fart noises. I think The Professor simply tricked everyone into being positive towards our favourite UA-camrs.
The devious rascal! Gotta watch out for that guy...
I love all the videos by Questing Beast.
As a newer D&D content creator I am struggling to grow an audience. It's frustrating
oh I get what you are saying. I only have 214 subscribers and currently consider 34 views on my video a good week. I wasn't advocating for this, I was wishing there was better way for new D&D Creators to get in front of their potential audience
@@davesolo4352
The single most important part of growing a channel is titles and thumbnails. They don't have to be clickbait, just attractive and intriguing. Go to your favorite big channels, sort by most popular, and study what they're doing. It also looks like most of your video are live plays, which unfortunately are not a popular type of video.
Thank you, I appreciate the advice!@@QuestingBeast
Thank you, Ben! I love all Questing Beast's videos!
@@davesolo4352 The UA-cam algorithm has changed.
@@davesolo4352 Problem is, outrage draws clicks and UA-cam LOVES to push outrage as a result. You then get once excellent channels like Dungeon Craft that go where the clicks are. That taste of success changes them - and not for the better. His channel is a shadow of what it once was, thanks to him leaning so hard into WOTC drama videos; I unsubbed as a result.
But to the larger point, UA-cam recommendations too often focus on outrage videos, drama videos, and so on. No matter how often I hide channels that peddle in that garbage, they're always shoving more into my recommendations. I still peruse the recommendations now and then to discover new channels, but searching by topic has become a better tool because UA-cam's algo seems intent on serving up content designed to keep people angry.
I do wish the Prof would stop chasing this carrot. I'd consider watching him again, but the front page of his channel even right now shows that he knows where his bread is buttered and that he will continue to pander for clicks. It's unfortunate.
I just turn off my watch history, so my home page is blank and I always go straight to the subscriptions page.
Same, it's nice
Same
This is the way. It also turns off Shorts doomscrolling which is really nice.
I did that too. But I have to get rid of "proposed" videos in the right panel... I LOVE ALL THE VIDEOS FROM QUESTING BEAST. (write and repeat that!!)
same. best decision ive ever made. i feel bliss everytime i look at the empty homepage
Perfect!
For a moment, I thought you would also complain about the algorithm and so on.
But you actually provided a simple solution.
Thanks!
This kind of content is exactly why I am subscribed to you and enjoy your style. You are frank and don't try to fall into the easy pitfalls of most youtubers that will try to game the system. You give actionable advice and a clear viewpoint and it is so refreshing to see vs. all the channels that try to make their bones on hobby drama or other unimportant things that pander to an algorithm. Putting the power back in the hands of the people, where it should be.
I just scroll down Subscriptions regularly. Like you said 👍 cool extension though!
Generally, pdm is talking about how to get new watchers to a Chanel vs an existing audience. He references his views go up when he does dungeon drama vs normal content but his regular viewers say they want more regular content and less wotc earning reports.
Issue is you get more people than just subscribers if you go for a broader interest topic; ie, you get people interested in finance and d&d if you talk about the wotc fiscal year, but lose the finance crowd if you talk about how to dry brush terrain. Less of a reach thing and more of an interest thing.
He lost me as a subscriber as a result of him leaning so hard into the outrage machine. I have no love for WOTC, but also have no interest in hearing about the drama all the time. It's part of why I'm into the OSR scene. He once had really good content, I liked hearing how he ran games, I enjoyed his views on gaming even when we disagreed on stuff, but the outage bait?
Enough was eventually enough. I bailed on him
@@wadebutler7127 yeah. Same; chasing clicks does not endure you to your audience.
I just saved the subscription tab as a browser bookmark and use that whenever I want to go to youtube.
I love ALL Questing Beast videos.
"I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or posts, both past and future."
Making "I love ALL videos by So and So" posts is about effective as those silly Facebook messages people got tricked into posting
I just have the URL for the subscription page saved as y favorite for you tube, no browser extension or other tricks needed
This is the way
I disabled UA-cam history, and UA-cam tried to take it's ball home and disabled the Homepage.
I really enjoy many of questing beasts videos. Thanks algorithm.
Less than a 10th of my views on a new video come from the subscription feed. Everything's from the homepage.
What I see on my end as a consumer is if I watch one video from my sub feed & then go to my homepage, it's like the algorithm dumps all of that channel's videos in my feed.
Idk man. All I know is I love Questing Beast's videos.
I accomplish the same thing with different tools. Subscriptions used to be the default way to view youtube a loooong time ago. Anyways, I wanna see that list of spells, when can we get at that Knave 2e?
Calling it a "DnD scandal" when it is simply the algortithm deprioritising content it thinks people are less likely to watch (like 'Professor' Dungeoncraft's consistently clickbaity, soyface-thumbnailed videos that people leave early and downvote) is very much like what freshman dungeoncraft himself would do.
Also, all the dumbos trying the "I love all videos from xxxx" are the sort of people who use facebook and post the "I do not give facebook permission to use my photos" meme.
Good advice. I've been using the subscriptions tab for years. The YT algorithm can't figure me out anyway!
I LOVE ALL OF THE ALEXANDRIAN'S VIDEOS! 🎉🎉
Tempest in a teapot. There is a role-down menu on the top left side of the UA-cam page. I use that to check all the new videos produced by the channels I subscribed to. There is no 'controversy'.
Wow I came here because I was annoyed by *that* channel, but intead i found a solution to all the useless and often offensive crud that UA-cam is trying to shove in my face even after I months of me refusing to click. Thank you so much...
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE everything that Questing Beast does!
Before people shame the home page too much, it should be noted that the subscription page comes with its own set of problems.
Two core ones:
1) Users barely ever unsubscribe. We just add more subscription and switch between the ones we pay attention to. The home page reinforces this behavior, but it was there to begin with too.
2) It's in chronological order and will get flooded by channels who upload often. In my case, TYT used to flood my feed by uploading multiple time a day.
So instead of a video like this competing with the algorithm, which is based on the type of content you've been engaging with lately, it will instead compete with the most upload happy channel you're subscribed to.
The Subscriptions page isn't very good at showing everything either, and doesn't do it all in chrono order. But it's not full of crap like the home page.
Ok I’ve seen stuff about the algorithm and videos not showing up in the subscription tab for years and years. since the “adpocolypse” is when I remember it becoming a big sticking point for UA-camrs. Does anyone know of any concrete proof that UA-cam doesn’t show videos in sub boxes? I’ve never had the issue personally and I’m not saying anything about the quality of QB because I think they should be wayyy bigger. But I’ve always noticed that when I see a UA-cam complain about the algorithm I notice the recent content they’re producing also makes me, a fan, go “oh I don’t want to watch those videos” so I don’t click on them. I know what I just said is highly anecdotal, but that’s why I ask cause so is every instance of viewers and UA-camrs saying videos aren’t showing up.
Turned off watch history years ago so the home page doesn't even work. This forces me to use the Subscriptions tab and get all of your excellent videos Ben!
...and doesn't this just eliminate the chance that a new channel is NOT going to get recommended to you? If all you are doing is automatically redirecting to your subscriptions, this seems to remove the recommendations of new channels, older videos from channels you've not seen and reduce the chance that new channels will get recommended. I get it that you will see stuff just based on demographics, but you can weed out that stuff by just selecting "do not recommend this channel." The YT will learn that you not only do not want to see that channel, but as you continue to weeds subjects out, it stops recommending them.
I'm not subscribed to you but i still saw this video... if everyone followed you advice you would never grow and small creators would never have a chance.
I love ALL of the videos by Questing Beast!
And my confusion deepens: When I watch videos by a channel, I get shown more; when I watch fewer video by a channel, I get shown fewer; and when I stop watching videos by a channel, the suggestions trickle off until I'm shown them no more. Yet, even one viewing brings that channel back fully into the feed to be calibrated by choices. This works consistently and has done so for years. Not joking: I get videos recommended _after_ they've been demonetized! According to every creator ever, that's literally impossible! It even knows when I am getting bored with my feed and offers the something-new option at just the right time. Am I the unique statistical fluke for whom the algorithm has been perfectly calibrated?
ETA: Edited for typo.
Apparently so, since just one lofi video playing in the background while I work is enough for my entire feed to be all lofi for a week.
I could care less what Professor Dugeon master has to say since he made a vid about how Piazo was going put of buisness because they did a humble bundle. 👍
All PDM cares about is getting more views these days.
@@EnDungeoned yeah I unsubscribe a long time ago.
@@rmcdudmk212 Add me to the list. Fully half his stuff now is a transparent attempt to feed the anger machine in order to get views. I thought he was better than that. Clearly I was wrong.
I love Questing Beast videos!
All of that only works in my experience if you have not many defenatly fewer then 1k subs(That you are subed too like I have nearly 3k schannels I subbed too) if not UA-cam will forget to show you most of those channels and most of those videos yes even with the bell and though the sub box... I have yet to figure out why... Then agin the algoritim is really good about showing you videos you'll like to see the most which is nice tough I want to see them all.
I genuinely love all of Questing Beast’s videos, tho.
I love all your videos!
I don't think it works.
.
I comment on Perch videos and those never appear on my feed anymore :( .
.
I just have bell notifications for you and PDM, tho.
OMG I LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF!!!! Do you think that worked? 😂
Thanks for the tips!
Surprised your answer wasn't "subscribe to the Glatisant." And not joking. Mailing list means no algorithms period.
Another no-algorithm approach, is that every UA-cam channel has an RSS feed generated, so subscribe via an RSS reader for channels you don't want to miss any uploads.
I don't know if the extension works on the UA-cam Mobile app, but I can try looking on the subscriptions tag.
Usually I look up creators on the day they release a video, I just wish when I did UA-cam showed me the most recent video and not the one from last week or 2 months ago. I could try with the bell but that comes late and I like trying to watch when video is premiering or first hour, not that I can't go back and watch it again later but if the algorithm recognizes video is getting popular when dropped maybe it would be more likely to have it rise to the top. Maybe that is still an effort on my part to look for videos and creators and things not just on my homepage. Does UA-cam count search terms like "Best OSR games to introduce adolescents to" or is it only clicking the video that counts for anything. Also does it recognize why someone clicked? Because "Top 5 subclasses in D&D" isn't the same as "Top 5 games to try that aren't D&D", but because they both say D&D is that what the algorithm counts? I guess it never heard the other games before, except Pathfinder or Warhammer from walking around FLGS. I think best example that comes to mind is Skate Wizards, I would have never heard of this game before if it weren't for a video from Bob World Builder, but that was a UA-camr I knew introducing a game I never heard of before, and would watch content because it's good content. Anyway there's an overshadowing of other games by D&D which as much as I enjoy I find other games to be more intuitive or just do things that feel more interesting. I am also curious about rule symmetry, maybe that isn't a thing, but a barrier for really any game not just D&D or TTRPGs but also board games and card games is learning all of the rules: actions on turns, phases, win conditions, etc. everyone at the table needing to understand everything and D&D classes all work different. Some games fix this by not having classes and just based off your equipment, but the symmetry being how much the game could be played with an even vs uneven amount of people understanding the rules. Like one could know they have a bow, they have been hit one time during the fight, they could just ask the GM for a spot to hide and fire their bow. The GM would know rules for hiding, attacking while unseen, number of actions per turn and tells the player. Maybe the player knows the bow rolls a d8 because it's what was rolled every other time, but they might not know stealth. With D&D, usually the player has the sheet in front of them so if they see stealth has +4 they roll a 16 or higher and start arguing how they rolled a 20 and the monster shouldn't see them but the GM has to explain there is no where that breaks line of sight so they couldn't hide, and is it better for the table for everyone to know their own characters or just the GM. What happens when a player is trying to get the shop owner to lower price on an item, is that persuasion because they are being nice and not threatening like intimidation, or would this be considered a deceptive business practice because I could imagine a player who sees a +5 persuasion vs a +3 deception is going to want to argue they persuading more than they are deceiving. Anyway different games have different focus on inventory tracking, level advancing, character mortality, and can just be interesting to find out about other games and think something it does sounds incredible.
When it comes to learning something new about TTRPGs, I love ALL Questing Beast videos.
UA-cam still publishes an RSS feed of each channel behind the scenes. All you have to do is put the channel’s URL into an RSS reader and you’ll have every video from that channel delivered to your RSS reader feed (I’m using a Mac RSS reader called ‘Reeder’ where I know this works well.)
I use this to subscribe to my favorite OSR blogs, and UA-cam channels and see them all in one feed.
Unhook has literally made my life easier. Now, whenever I've watched everything my favorite channels uploaded recently, I'm just done with YT for the day! I would have to go out of my way to keep wasting time bouncing between videos I don't even really want to watch just because YT put them in front of me
I also recommend the extension (channel blocker) It pops a little X next to the channel name that allows you to block channels so you don't have to see them anymore. You know, so if you want to still have the sidebar feature available, you don't want to unhook it. You can have it not feed you. Oh, I don't know. Bob, the world builder. He just happens to be on the sidebar right now for me. LOL
Ahhhh... I've been wondering for a while why people were complaining about not seeing videos. I didn't realize people were only looking at their homepage instead of the Subscriptions page, since I always make playlists of stuff to just listen to but not visually see while at work, what stuff to watch at home in general, and what stuff to specifically put off for days off.
Well that's good to know. My subscription tab keeps acting up anyway (randomly unsubscribing and changing my bell setting) but that's still good to know.
If you turn off your watch history, UA-cam stops giving you the homepage with recommendations, which is really funny because they thought they were making it to induce people into turning watch history back on, but it's only made my UA-cam experience much better without any algorithm.
I always start on the subscriptions page if I'm looking to watch videos, the feed is trash and getting worse.
But hard pass on notifications. I can't understand anyone wanting to get a notification of every new video they're subscribed to, and youtubers begging you to "click the bell" is a common and annoying hubris to me. Like, do people really think their content is so important I'm going to drop what I'm doing to go watch? Not you specifically, I understand it's just a pattern at this point, but it gets under my skin a little 😅
Guess what? I love all Questing Beast content and videos.
I also have RSS feeds from UA-cam for your stuff.
I use the subscription page but also watch most videos from my Android phone. But I will certianly be installing unhook!
I expected a clever joke. I got useful information. I cheated myself and am the better for it. Downloading app and thank you good sir.
I've been using the same addon, which is great for removing all the felgercarb that normally resides on youtube. Prior to that, I just had my YT bookmark take me to subs directly, and would only go to the actual home page just to see what might be interesting.
After pondering how much time I lost watching recommended videos I really didn't want to see I turned off my entire UA-cam history. No recommendations of any type, so I can focus in the subscriptions I really wanna see.
This is golden. Thanks so much for the advice! (Also, the thumbnail was hilarious-bravo!)
It's weird, but UA-cam updated my watch history - aka, it's deactivated. I don't know how it happened, but basically the homepage is empty and asking me to turn back on the history to see anything.
I've never turned it back on and i like it that way. It's so easy to wind up down a UA-cam rabbit hole and i avoid that now.
Just thought I'd let you know that I just got the Labyrinth adventure game in the mail and CANNOT wait to play it with my friends.
I go straight to subscribed, but had no idea it was "personalized". Thanks for calling out Subscribed All !
True enough, But - when you "unhook" and just use the subscription page, the content isn't driven to others. The algorithm will see your algorithmic activities and drive the video to others. So, bottom line, the creator will get paid more. Which is nice.
I actually *do* love all the videos on your channel, though. Like, I pretty much watch everything you put out. You'd think the algorithm would figure that out and just show me the new stuff right away.
yeah I've just been treating the subscriptions tab as my "homepage" for awhile, basically no adjustments necessary
Thanks for the recommendation! I started using this a week ago and now every channel I want to follow immediately pops up when I go to UA-cam.
Just bookmark the subscriptions page, and when you go to UA-cam, start there. No browser extensions, no "bell" buttons.
I actually love all your videos. I don't care if this comment results in more of your videos being recommended on my homepage, even though that would be nice, I just want you to know I love your stuff.
Subscription is the only reliable way 😥 ... Channels disappear instantly even if I watch this type of content regularly.
This is just anecdotal (but from my personal experience) but even when you are subbed and have "all" on, it still doesn't always notify you of all the videos from all the channels that you are subbed to.
thank you so much, the shorts have been really bugging me. feels so good to turn them off finally.
I just bookmark my subscriptions page and that's how I access UA-cam.