10 dirty DM habits I wish I’d known about sooner

[@theDMLair]

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[@MizakiFelix]

My over 40 years of dming and playing rpg’s say this is some of the worse advice I’ve heard offered for new GM’s. Of this list I’d say 3 of your items are worth listening to, and the rest should be totally ignored. When offering these list of advise yushould try to keep your personal dislikes off the list, some people are simply nervous or don’t like public speaking, so they’re gonna use filler words. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t make it incorrect their fellow. It makes you sorta of a jerk. Who’s kinda= being a pr**k about this situation.

[@ErikRyan-wf6mm]

Thanks for the free samples. I am going to be running a game based off of Ark Survival Evolved/Ascended soon and your content will definitely help me.

[@jokhard8137]

0:49 #1: Saying "sort of" and "kind of" constantly 1:25 #2 Not providing enough details 1:51 #3 Detail overload 3:40 #4 Showing the monster first 4:30 #5 Monsters just attack 5:46 #6 Pulling back the GM screen 7:05 #7 Making a PC critical to the campaign 7:39 #8 Unable to take constructive criticism 8:45 #9 Letting players push you around 9:59 #10 Sacrificing your own fun for the players' fun

[@dakinwatson3782]

My hero

[@Merlinstergandaldore]

I really hate it when a DM has pre-plotted all of the beats of their story, and we're just there as placeholders. Rolls won't matter because this sort of DM will fudge things to keep their plan going, and decisions are meaningless. Frustrating to no end.

[@Clybielike]

yep, thats called railroading

[@Merlinstergandaldore]

​@@Clybielike Yes, but it seems people crawl out of the woodwork to object when the word 'railroad' is used these days. 🤣

[@sleepinggiant4062]

Linear adventures and fudging do not go hand in hand.

[@sleepinggiant4062]

@@Merlinstergandaldore - because a linear adventure is not a railroad. You are free to overcome challenges any way you choose, and this is the key to player agency. Or you could even avoid the challenges and face the consequences. Railroading is when you are forced to repeatedly solve challenges the DM's way and not allowing brainstorming.

[@lobesteral]

You know I used to do this when I first started out, but I realized that while it’s good to have some semblance of focus you gotta let go of the reins and give the players a chance to tell THEIR story

[@alanthomasgramont]

My players often are the ones who attack first. I recently had the baddy demand they join his cult when they barged into the room. The players didn’t even ask about the cult or terms or even why they should join. Nope, throw a javelin at the baddy in response. In my opening scene for a series I had the party investigate rats in a cellar. A tunnel led to the next building. They went upstairs and found a rat man. The rat man asked the “why are you here?” And the party attacked. My plan was for the rat man to apologize for letting his children run amuck and offer to pay for the damages but no, combat it was. And the party nearly TPKed

[@guyman1570]

Fair is fair... If your party is too bloodythirsty, let them pay the price, somewhere down the road 😂

[@FdMBIOSat]

i always discuss with my players what they want. first in session zero then every once in a while. "is there too much combat? do you want to fight more? do you want to have more sessions and situations focused on story and roleplay? is the story progressing too slowly for you?" its a good habit to see what the players want. maybe they just want to fight and then you get frustrated when they attack all the time. if that is not your kind of game i strongly advise to talk to your players about that. also we take some time after every session to talk about what everyone liked or didnt like so much.

[@ultimatewitcherfan6677]

As a DM myself, I understand your frustration. You need to talk to your players and let them know how this is making you feel. They may not know that you’re frustrated with them wanting to fight all the time. When you do this, you don’t want to be rude or condescending. You could say something like “look guys, I had created an awesome game for you guys and you’re attacking everything as soon as you see it. To be honest, it’s taking the fun out of the game for me. Besides, a lot of these encounters are going to turn into combat anyway. I’d really appreciate it if you worked with me here and not instantly attack everything as soon as you see it.” Something like that. Hopefully your players will realize that what they’re doing is upsetting you and decide to change.

[@Chris-fn4df]

…and that’s when I, as a DM, start shopping for another group. Im not writing a campaign filled with characters just for the PC’s to smash everything without a single word. I’m sure there are DM’s that don’t mind, but this is supposed to be fun for me, too.

[@thomaspetrucka9173]

I pulled back the screen a lot when I first started because I knew a few of my players wanted to DM, and they seemed put me on a pedestal for how I ran games. Showing them just how much I made up on the spot helped abate their expectations for themselves.

[@FdMBIOSat]

i'm going to run a workshop for new gms or people who want to try it. that's one of the things i will show them too. i'm planning on showing them all my gm notes and how they are sometimes a huge mess or just some long pages followed by "player brought up XY.... liked their idea better! scrap previous pages!" ^^

[@ultimatewitcherfan6677]

As a DM myself, I do try to implement player suggestions in my games, but not every suggestion. I once had a player who wanted me to add MORE combat to my game when I already had a lot of combat in it. I told him I couldn’t do it because my game already had a lot of combat. He got pissed that wouldn’t do what he wanted and started demanding that I do it. He even went so far as to threaten me saying “you have one last chance to comply with my demands or else! I demand more combat!!” Let’s just say he never returned to my game table. I told him that he was no longer welcome at my game table and that he was not allowed to come back. I have zero tolerance for players that behave like him. No one threatens me or demands anything of me at my game table.

[@turtlecheese8]

Some monsters just attack when they walk in but more intelligent creatures ambushing, hiding, running or even just talking has made combat so much more interesting I think. That in addition to morale can wrap up tedious combat faster or lead to different situations like negotiating or alerting allies.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Sometimes the sentry has fallen asleep. Sometimes the sentry can be bribed, threatened, or convinced to switch sides.

[@FdMBIOSat]

even with monsters you can take some time "the wolf is prowling in front of you. pacing from left to right. studying your every move. it is looking for an opening ready to pounce. you seem like a welcome meal in this harsh winter days. what do you do?" builds up suspense and gives the players an opening to i dont know... cast animal friendship. throw some food. etc

[@blackmage471]

When your title describes "dirty DM habits," I was expecting, abuses, things DM's might do to the players because they know they can get away with it. A lot of these are, what i might consider, easy mistakes DM's can make and should try to avoid.

[@rickrogers8735]

I was expecting picking their nose or farting at the table.🤣

[@sleepinggiant4062]

As a player, I love detailed descriptions of important things, like monsters, altars, magic items, etc. Tell/teach your players to listen to understand, not to respond, and you can always start with the important stuff. All arguing should be kept extremely short. The DM should make a ruling right away and then it stops. Look it up after the session. Be consistent and write down how you ruled, and rule that way next time too. Good stuff Luke! I'd like to add 'not taking notes' to this list. I used to think 'oh, I'll remember and write it down tomorrow when I do the recap.' And then forget the next day.

[@Molnihun96]

Good tips, but imo actually keeping to the rules is more important than being consistent. Everybody makes mistakes, judge quickly, write it down, look it ip, but don't be afraid to use the correct rules the next time.

[@simontmn]

I mostly disagree about not pulling back the screen. Players tend to assume the GM is targeting or not targeting a PC for metagame reasons, & briefly explaining monster reasoning, or openly rolling a die for who it targets, is something I like both as player and GM.

[@theDMLair]

I don't know. It not only annoys me when a GM does it, but it slows the game down. And if the GM "should" do it, why shouldn't the players also have to justify their every action?

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

I prefer to explain npc motivations

[@sbncaptain8209]

​@theDMLair agreed. I have openly rolled to see who of my players gets targeted/attacked and damage taken once before and it was fun for my players because they wondered into an encounter where escape was the only option because the foe was far too powerful. They were chasing an enemy who resurrected the creature, lost control of it and it went wild attacking everything and everyone in sight. I had 3 players so it was manageable. They cheered when the bad guy and his minions got crushed, they freaked out when they got targeted, intense escape scenario etc But every battle especially with a large group would be a slog.

[@ghosttubegames2266]

For me there's times where explaining is necessary, and some times where it justs don't fit, for example, if some intelligent creature is trying to get an important item that some pc have in their inventory, is ok to let them know, some times it is just necessary. But explaining for example why an npc is not doing something that it should, when it in theory should, like a guard captain not wanting to capture some specific bandits, I prefer to let them know if they put effort to it, like talking to it, investigating things, etc. And also making it obvious its intended. Sorry for my bad english in some cases, its not a language that I am fluent

[@michaelguth4007]

@@theDMLair I mostly go with the flow on the table. My players speculate a lot and enjoy if I explain some things, usually after the fact. But I also try to implement some reasoning in the descriptions I give during combat. "Seeing Sir Bevin falling under his blade, the orc redirects his next blow to deal with the more immediate threat, slashing at Brother Petrin."

[@Gaming4ever-pd7jv]

5:37 It depends on the players. I tried a heist where combat was a less desirable option, and my players got bored and left early.

[@Nefiron-v1]

@@Gaming4ever-pd7jv one thing you will realize once you have played a lot or discussed an encounter for a while: IT ALWAYS DEPENDS. 😜

[@Us3less_Guy]

@@Gaming4ever-pd7jv What worked for me was asking them what type of game they wanted ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

[@DazzleCamo]

I'm doing the Alexandrian remix of Waterdeep dragon heist. My players WANTED heists, but they've been quite into them because I use a counter. When they're slow or loud or miss lock picks, I up the counter. If it hits the max number, it's general alarm and everything breaks loose. It keeps the tempo and interest up, try it!

[@tiffanylamb1187]

Another great video. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@kwith]

Would love timestamps

[@robertduckworth1490]

In case anyone needs a summary (just the items, not the explanations or examples): 1. Using ambiguous filler words like “sort of” and “kind of” in descriptions. 2. Not enough (relevant) details. 3. Too many (irrelevant) details. 4. Showing monster first instead of last. 5. Monsters don’t do anything but attack. 6. “Pulling back the DM screen” for Players (justifying or explaining why things are happening when not warranted). 7. Make one PC central to a campaign [My note: “campaign” ≠ “adventure(s)”]. 8. Doesn’t elicit constructive criticism or heed it. 9. DM lets Players push them around. 10. Don’t sacrifice your fun for the fun of the Players. Thanks Luke! Please keep these great videos coming!

[@chiepah2]

Every time I've given my players the chance to resolve things peacefully they've taken it. They are the opposite of murderhobo's, almost aggressively so. They have ended a combat by sneaking around and capturing the BBEG's minions, some of which they recruited to work in their base... I guess it would be called a bastion now.

[@elingedgar]

@@chiepah2 hahaha in my group is the opposite, I created an NPC with a mysterious tattoo and my plan was to create a research/know opportunity so they can ask or convince the NPC to tell the story… instead they kill him and cut out the tattoo from his body and took it to do an arcane investigation in another place … the worst? Their characters supposedly are LG and NG

[@Double_DAW]

Don’t censor “rape” with “rap”. Just say SA, man, use what everyone else is using. Or even “grape” if you want a more commonly used “silly word” to sub it out for. I genuinely had to ask myself why a scene of someone rapping would be a problem until I put that together. It’s preferable you use SA as to not diminish the harm of it done to victims, but if you’re going to be silly with it, at least use a commonly used joke.

[@orokusaki1243]

Agreed. Call it what it is, in appropriate terminology.

[@jayknight1099]

Do you think my players don't like my recurring wizard DJ Demiplanar and his robes of beatboxing?

[@robertduckworth1490]

The first victim of “the monster that gets described first” is all of your description that comes after that.

[@ajearthdude8467]

I have a wizard player thats not learning spells, and only uses magic missile. i have to literally remind her she has other spells she can use, but she only uses magic missile. its gotten so that the other players are starting to notice how far behind she is. i give her chance after chance to learn new spells but she doesnt do it. ive asked if she wants to try a different class but she doesnt. the next combat she's gonna be useless, theyre going up against magic users that all have the shield spell. im not sure what shes gonna do...

[@Subject_Keter]

Why not give her elemental themes arcane missles, give her a item or debuff to weaken arcane missles but gives her spells to try or simply say "cease or i get the b a t" And show them a megabat 😂

[@kaylaa2204]

Hopefully that encounter forces her to think creatively because not doing so may mean losing the character. I like what the comment above me suggests though, magic item that encourages using others in some way. Cool idea.

[@Migratingpie1187]

Give some of your enemies the shield spell. If they want to keep brute forcing with the one spell then make them get creative to maintain its effectiveness

[@itap8880]

Do you mean she refused to add new spells on level ups?

[@frankn4576]

Why not let nature take it's course and let the party decide and role play what they want to do with her? Just like in hockey the "dressing room" takes care of problem players, not the coach. Meaning it is up the the other players to straighten her out. Peace.

[@kaylaa2204]

In my opinion, “sort of rectangular” implies it’s not a perfect rectangle, so not exactly a filler word if that’s how they’re intending it Like if this were an old school game with mapping and I was the mapper I would draw a rough hewn, vaguely rectangular shape if the GM said “sort of rectangular” But the blue glow part of the example I can’t think of what useful information “kinda blue” would confer, so definitely ditch that.

[@BillCookMusic]

Three details are usually sufficient. For rooms, players mostly want to know occupants and exits. Play the monsters encountering the players. To the contrary, PC criticalness promotes player investment. I recommend fearless campaign design and execution, then deal with the consequences as best you can. The DM should get what they want 30% of the time; otherwise, they should fill menu requests. OTHER BAD DM HABITS 1. Failing to control crosstalk during on-turn declarations. 2. Failing to credit earned information. 3. Circular opposition during dialog with NPCs. 4. Failing to clarify logistics during combat. 5. Closing the gate on opportunities then refusing late requests.

[@PerfectionHunter]

00:49 i'm also super tired of hearing Matthew Mercer constantly saying "Sort of" and "Kind of" when he describes stuff. He didn't use to have such sloppy language.

[@mikerowland8004]

I like this. I'm about to step up and run my first one shot with my regular group using one of Luke's one shots "A bards tale" next week. I only ever dm'd for my family before, which i wouldn't recommend but I think I'm equal parts craping myself and excited about the game next week. Keep the videos coming Luke.

[@Dragonmoon98]

I get more than enough of "kill first questions never" in Sea of Thieves already, I would expect more variety from D&D/TTRPG.

[@nutty1969]

I'm in a game on Mondays, so far every encounter we've had, the party rogue has attacked first.

[@honeymanod]

The too many details examples sounded great to me. I perfectly pictured exactly how that room looked.

[@rufuslynks8175]

It's the "Predator's Dilemma." The calculus they do to determine if the adversary, or prey, is more likely to go down quickly or if they can injury the predator sufficiently to make them prey. Humans do it to and knowing this makes it easier to manage potential violence. You don't have to be bigger or more sinister, just tough enough to tip that calulus a bit away from the risk of an attack. However, the drug addled mind, or an underdeveloped mind, does not calculate measure risk with the same sort of reasoning. Good luck, and be aware.

[@agent7466]

One bad habit of DMs is also giving the players too much freedom or leeway. Like my players are currently in a stronghold of orcs, that razed and killed all but 1 in a village(One of the players) and essentially have nothing that would make them work with the orcs or let them live. The orcs cant offer anything more valueable than was offered by others for clearing it out, and the players have nothing the orcs want other than to be left alone. I hate it when something, not overtly known about, could change the way it plays out and i think the DM should stick to the path that was paved by the players.

[@GrndAdmiralThrawn]

2:50 Homie just described Chekhov’s Gun

[@itap8880]

That's a whole armory.

[@Rikaaj]

I had a dm that didn't use stat blocks for his monsters and thought that crits insta killed enemies despite playing dnd numerous times before

[@Darkwintre]

I was guilty of a couple of those, but I tried to improve. Met a DM who had a number of those but refused to listen.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

This is like a narration notes guide

[@jamricsloe]

Saying there’s music coming from the invites exploration. Then when they explore you describe a little bit more than that.

[@robertduckworth1490]

One bad habit that I’d like to offer is when DMs ask: “Are you sure?” Just describe situation, ask what players want their PCs to do, and apply results. Repeat.

[@jeffcena9577]

Other than the temperature mention I liked the detailed description. I don't mind dms painting it if they paint it well.

[@iceghost27]

Oh god that first one though...

[@dukejaywalker5858]

Yup. Thank you for telling me Luke... I didn't even notice I was doing that...!

[@FdMBIOSat]

kind of feels bad to be called out like that ^^

[@wapper7777]

What if you want to express that the room isnt quite rectangular? Perfectly valid to say “the room is sort of rectangular” though it would be better to say “the room is almost rectangular but not quite”

[@StevoDaFlygon]

I've only played DnD three times, and two of those were DMing. My most embarrassing mistake was when one player went to follow footprints without the other players, I said "hmmm... are you sure you wanna do that, and not wait for the other players?" I cringe every time I think about it. Never again.

[@robertduckworth1490]

The PCs are the main exception to the “even semi intelligent creatures will know that combat carries the risk of injury or death” bit. 😊

[@Safier_Poochy]

4:30 “Monsters are attacking right now” I see two problems with this. One is that players often want to solve things through combat. Secondly, the well-known “Martial vs Spellcaster” story. Spellcasters generally have more out-of-combat options than Martial. 7:40 “unable to take constructive criticism” This would require players to actually give you some form of feedback. In my experience, if I don't ask for feedback within a session (not in-game), I don't get any. My players don't seem to want to do any form of “homework”.

[@rickrogers8735]

Thanks. Decent list! (even if the title was a bit click bait) The one I make the most often is over-describing. I'm learning, slowly, remedially, not to provide too many red herrings.

[@theDMLair]

It's only click bait if the video fails to deliver on the promise of the thumbnail/title. Creating enticing clickable thumbs/titles is literally a YTer's job, and if they don't do it well they aren't around for long, or if they are, their views are usually not that great, and if one has good information that he wishes to share with as many people as possible, should he not strive for good distribution?

[@rickrogers8735]

@@theDMLair Go for it however you feel best works for your channel. It has prevented my subscription, so I thought I'd give you a mild bit of negative feedback among what was mostly positive feedback, which you ignored. All good though, have a good day.

[@orokusaki1243]

As someone who's been sub'd here for at least 4 years, but also as someone with sense: I vet all the YT'ers that I sub to. Their content is far more important than their titles or their thumbnails. If they don't hold up after about a half dozen videos, I simply don't sub. If a channel becomes a turd later on, I'll give it a few videos to confirm and then unsub. So please stick around, and maybe Luke will grow on you. Perhaps some of his older videos will also give you some insight on the guy, and perhaps appreciation enough to ignore titles and thumbnails. What drew me in was the "bad dm" and "bad player" videos, because it's nice to have a list to check through to be sure one isn't either of those things. I stayed for much of the rest of the content that I mostly agree with and find useful.

[@jessicaalvis7063]

Succinctly. I didnt even know that was a Word. I had to look it up :P

[@FlameUser64]

Honestly another good point is that even _if_ the monsters are going to just attack, they'll often _talk_ about it first. Like, you walk into a room in the goblins' lair. There's 5 goblins seated at a worn, ramshackle table, playing some sort of dice game. One of them notes to the others that, "Hey! There are man-things here." The rest look over at the party, reaching for their weapons, and another comments, "They don't look particularly tasty… _she_ might be fun to play with, though." A third, obviously the highest-ranking, shouts him down, waving her scimitar about angrily. "Stop day-dreaming about what you'll do to the intruders and _do_ it already!"

[@theDMLair]

Yeah, that's great!

[@nathalieboelens6568]

Interesting video! About the “central PC” problem; I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I play Ireena in Curse of Strahd and knew from the start she was a key character to the overall story and could also be an NPC instead I don’t think it changed the dynamic of our game all that much though. I think it’s important that the other characters also get backstories and personal goals that are closely linked to the campaign, so everyone feels essential to the story. Plot armor might still be a thing, though. I could’ve perma-died in session 2 in the Death House and I didn’t. But though Strahd has a high TPK risk in general, we really try to play it in a way that everyone can make the finale… Either way, I personally love playing Ireena and we’ve still a little bit of campaign to go, so no spoilers please 😅

[@GeebusCrust]

For me, the only real downside of focusing the campaign around a PC is derailing the game when they don't show up. Granted, my table is all close personal friends so we're not worried about appearances of impropriety. The thing is though, if you focus a campaign on a PC, be prepared for it to possibly abruptly become a different campaign if that character dies. I ran a Final Fantasy-esque game once where four heroes chosen by the elements challenged an evil god. When any of them died, they still got new characters as usual, but the light of their crystal would fade and the world would become more decayed. The plan was to have the world become early Dead Sun-like if they all died, and the new heroes would just have to persist in a doomed world, or find a new wauly to restore it.

[@ingakozuruba9145]

I had a fight with monsters which have been attacking the wounded and bleeding ranger because... well, blood smell. At some point I told that to the players because some of them could have figured that out by that time of the combat. They still have let the monsters attack the ranger. :D

[@AMRosa10]

Regarding #4. It might actually be more realistic to describe the monsters first and your players not to focus on the rest of the description, as that is likely how their characters brains would process the situation if they were actually in it. The brain is going to focus on the greatest threat and will only take in additional details when the level of stress has dissipated. To use a sports analogy, it takes years of practice and game play for a quarterback to be able to visualize the entire field and not get hyperfocused on one receiver or defender. And even then, it can be fairly easy to get tunnel vision during a high pressure situation when the game is on the line.

[@simontmn]

As far as my own failing go, I tend to under-describe and lean too heavily on battlemaps and props. Re not describing monster first, hm well I suggest a VERY brief 1-line description of the area, then the monsters. A paragraph of description ending with "...and an Ogre" doesn't go over well.

[@taragnor]

I mean, sometimes that can be nice if the battlemap gives a good idea of what the thing is. You probably don't really need to tell me much about the ogre if you've got a good mini that just shows me. If there's a set of stairs drawn on your map well, you don't have to directly mention that to me. I can see it right there. Honestly a lot of times when my DM hits me with some giant room description, I ask them to draw it out so I can better picture what stuff is positioned where. So maps are really nice, especially if you're running dungeon crawl type adventures with a lot of traps and things for the players to deal with.

[@GordonFan]

1:05 is it also bad if we say "Only one way to find out", "You can try" 2:49 ...Insert my players completely investigating a name drop and not listening to the player that said "Yeah that person wants me dead" 4:32 Oi I take offense to that with a sapphire wyrmling... it attacked as it is used to everyone attacking it first so if you need to make sure people aren't going to pass then why not attack first ask questions later or when you realize you're not trading blows whichever is first.(Yes I have dungeons often being living things so it shares the experience it has with the creatures inside typically being that creatures normally get attacked first so those creatures shouldn't wait, similarly other places will have guards that might stop attacking once they see the "enemies" want to reason rather than do the normal fight, so the attack first things are grouped into 3 categories A I specifically want you dead anyway so might as well fight, B I will guard location so might as well start fighting whoever comes into the room unless it recognizes them(In case of sapphire area they returned to), or C You food, I should kill and eat... yes C is mainly mimics but it is whatever thing basically just wants food so fighting is easiest way to get food so in certain cases it isn't bad to not attack my "enemies" or even throw food at them... of course on A they will just stab you but those are more humans or when you are encountering dragons not in their lair/dungeon)(As you might tell my players have dealt mainly with dragons and dungeons not so much "Here village of say angels" or other things that have stat blocks but not so much are races in some book) 7:15 also me plots an adventure centered around getting dragon gems from gem dragons for a PC to have rings for them and a NPC... enter that PC not showing up and we finish that adventure with the PC as basically an NPC regardless.(I do have dragon gems be more valuable as by going to a gem dragon for say a topaz, sapphire, etc. that gem will give better effects especially as the dragon increases in power)

[@GodwinXZ]

Actually rattlesnakes are changing to not rattling at humans as they are attacked by humans after rattling.

[@theDMLair]

Interesting...

[@leeterryjr]

Works for default monsters, but my custom monsters look awful, and the players may have to make a RL saving throw to not recoil in horror at the quality of my art skills. I will save my players the urge to gouge out their eyes and stick to descriptions that use like or kind of instead. "The monster looks like a hydra, but each head only has 1 eye and there are tentacles coming out of the mouth instead of a tongue"

[@FdMBIOSat]

oh the lovecraft approach. its so bad, so outlandishly disgusting, the human mind cant comprehend. even trying to describe it would drive people mad! sounds more like bad writing to me tbh

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

I always look for feedback and try to improve as a DM. Yes everyone needs to hopefully have fun. Good tips.

[@knowhopenow8862]

I strongly disagree with your point 3. In fact I'd add this as point 11 and say - do not treat your players like idiots. Yes over describing isn't great but equally your tip is to only describe what's important and then making them investigate the only item you've described is just as time-eating as a convoluted description whilst also demeaning your players by insinuating if you give them more than 1 thing to look at it might get confusing. It's the equivalent of a map marker in a game with a massive arrow pointing where you have to go. A better way to set this would be for your players (who are obviously going to this room for a reason) to have the understanding something is out of place, or missing, then you can describe book shelves, armoires or plinths etc allowing more than your lead character (again)to go arbitrarily "I investigate the statue, but cause apparently there's nothing else in the room" and everyone else follows. If there's at least a few things to investigate, everyone rolls, some check out other objects, even if it leads nowhere it's a team effort not follow the leader.

[@eugeneduplessie572]

Love your stuff

[@saltskeggur]

No DM is perfect, not even Matt Mercer. He makes at least 1 mistake every session, at least in the early CR episodes.

[@Frederic_S]

Although Luke is not perfect, he also does not suck.

[@metagames.errata7777]

In definitely under-describe. Other than that I AM perfect, thank you very much.

[@israelmorales4249]

when the DM doesn't brush this theet...thas awful! Anyway, great video, allways making me tho think how to become a better DM!

[@tntori5079]

On point 5 a bit. I have the oppisite problem. Having critters act like they normally and nativly would has prompted almost all our encounters tonreaovle with no combat as a couple players also don't readily want to risk injury and results in my other playera being frustrated with lack of combat and feeling too upset by killing "innocent" creatures. Said player basically wants me to use undead or constructs to give them guilt free combat. 0.o

[@SoraPierce]

Too much detail. I remember a "one session one shot" taking 2 sessions cause a DM would explain the theatre of the mind down to which speck of grass is where. There was a moment where we were stuck for an hour with him describing a normal bridge over a small river.

[@theDMLair]

I was once in a group were we RP'd crossing a river for an hour. The whole time I figured we'd get attacked with part of the part on one side, part in the middle still crossing, and the rest on the other side. Nope. We were just crossing the river. lol

[@martinphillpot2010]

Erm, um, ah, well, it's a regular type of thing. As you said, language like this needs to be excised from the GM vocabulary.

[@RealMrObvious1]

"Slow game play down"? What, are we in a hurry or somehting?

[@theDMLair]

Slower gameplay often results in less exciting gameplay for many people. YMMV of course.

[@njfernandes87]

I liked the previous set so much better...

[@markpekel4517]

NO Matt Mercer effects

[@IronicCliche]

Need to think how to use 5

[@Migratingpie1187]

You have very little faith in your players attention spans. Also a lot of monsters will attack any liveing thing on sight. Several undead and most monsters if they are hungry enough will attack the players. Also the more intelligent monsters are likely going to try to ambush your party rather then giving up advantages by trying to use speech

[@theDMLair]

There is a balance to be had between realism and gameplay mechanics. I typically trend toward what makes for better gameplay rather than what's more realistic, but that just me.

[@starscourgeradahn2687]

nice 6:34

[@shottersss]

I was intrigued by the title as i have never seen a video of yours so the algorithm picked this as my first. Dissapointed that its just another condescending video that boils down to "look at how good i am at playing pretend and having fun and everyone else is having fun wrong if they dont do it the way i do it"

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Bacon!

[@seangriffin2040]

In the past FORTY TW0 years (1982) I have come to know that there are only two things holding people back from GMing any RPG: COWARDICE and LAZINESS. If you are GMing anything congratulations you are one of the gaming elite trying to entertain your friends. Thank you for doing your part to keep gaming alive in this day and age.

[@mrroderick1]

I’ve been GMing off and on since mid 90s (more on than off the last 15 years). Some folks are not wired to be GMs; they may not have the imagination or storytelling chops to take on the responsibility. Or, they lack the skills to manage the various personalities at their table. They may have other issues. To drop all non GMs into 2 categories is, IMO, somewhere between disingenuous and uninformed.

[@namelesswanderer9315]

introducing a rap scene? 1. Nobody should want Rap inside D&D. Bad music for gaming. 2. Saying a word like "Rap" to try to skirt a taboo about "Rape" is cowardly. Say the real word or use a different example. Thumbs down to you.

[@ShugoAWay]

1 cuz very few things are exactly anything 2 players didn't get what flavor text was and exploits everything 3 that literally just the DM transfered what the module said relax 4 the monster is the most important thing they need to know 1st 5 covered in the yt shorts version that often the pcs are intruders in the story or is the result of players trying to force suprise rounds 6 :eyeroll: 7 missed it from eyerolling so hard lol 8 DMs know they suck we criticize ourselves enough

[@ShugoAWay]

Ah the 1 I missed was showing the motivations of the npc so the players can plan how to actually counter those motivations ie the guy sacrificing towns folk to bring back his wife might be able to be stopped by séanceing her to tell him to let her rest or helping the player to understand that you aren't singling them out for no reason