DnD Player Hacks To Impress Your Table

[@BonusAction]

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[@highlyneurotic8384]

I think another good quality about Emily Axford that makes her a brilliant player is the fact that she loves to fail. She doesn't just accept a natural 1, she always seems excited to roll it.

[@seankelly3540]

I learned that from Travis Willingham in CR, totally changed my experience of DnD. Me and my party fail ,a lot, but I have so much fun with anything that happens just because I've decided to. Great habit, big fan

[@blackwingdragonmasta]

Yeah that's part of the fun of building a really strong character is seeing the hilarious fail moments

[@GuillaumeLeclerc]

She’s even better than that: she’ll self disadvantage because it fits the roleplay and makes things more fun for her, pass on helping the group because she’s drunk… never seen a more hands off player in my life, litteraly can be trusted to always behave perfectly. She plays like a 30 years old of experience DM that finally gets to play. One of the greatest players, Arguably the greatest DnD player. From knowing the rules to being always engaged, I’m hard pressed to find a fault in her gameplay or roleplay. She’s my go to example for the behavior i want at my tables. Always happy to see her cast in any table, you know it’s gonna be good, and definitely check her own podcast.

[@seignee]

@@GuillaumeLeclerc i know. i wish to emulate the chaos so badly she is such an idol of mine haha

[@ahsidodna3355]

unfortunately in one of the tables i play, nat 1 means damage, to me or someone else, i either hit someone even doing investigating check, or fall.

[@PhilBoothman]

I think one of the best habits not mentioned here is embodied by Travis 'The Cheerleader' Willingham, and those habits don't need the years of improv and acting training that the four players in this video have to bring out the best in a game Travis might be a player in CR, but he's also the biggest fan of the show - he knows the lore of the world inside out, meaning that he gets super psyched when Matt drops a lore bomb or a character reveal. This is exactly what every GM wants when they're crafting a plot, and it makes the game more fun for them - the GM is a player too! He also celebrates his other players, goes wild when they do something cool and supports them if the dice are against them. Basically he just gets super immersed and invested in the game and generally makes it more fun for everyone else involved. That's the kind of player I want at my table every time!

[@BonusAction]

The Investor!

[@SingingSealRiana]

so true! He was the captain of the percy vex ship and instead of feeling the need to compete for time too shine with the others he is just really exited and encouraging for everything they do

[@marshallbradshaw3817]

See also Sam Reich in Mice & Murder. He is SO HYPE for the game!

[@sparklefulpaladin]

Yes! There's a reason why Travis's characters are consistently my least favorite in the campaign, but why he's my favorite player at the table to watch. He gets so excited over anything that his friends do and it made me laugh so hard when, as Chet, he got some of the other cast members different gifts and Chet was like "it's horrible and I could've done so much better if I had better wood..." and Travis was made a comment something to the effect of "this is entirely in-character, the artist who did this is amazing and you should go check them out". And also just seeing him go from "D&D table romance is horrible" to "I think maybe I could pretend to be in a romance with my wife's character???" throughout campaign 2 was hilarious.

[@leauxgan]

@@marshallbradshaw3817you’re SO right for this

[@daisykid3]

Liam describing Caleb's Tower in campaign 2 really highlighted how much he loves his friends and the story they're telling together. That Tower was the centerpiece for so many fun and interesting moments for everyone in C2, and it was his gift to his friends. Liam inspires me to be a better DM and give these kinds of "gifts" to my players that help them shine.

[@sparklefulpaladin]

Yes! I love his description of the Tower and the thought he put into each room, as well as the variation he made for the date later on (which I think was a collaboration between him and Marisha).

[@_bats_]

That was one of my favorite moments. He took the spotlight for about half of an entire episode and used every second of that time to enable all of his friends.

[@kura2ninja944]

To me, nothing top his wall of fire description. Plus the entire Avantika battle was the best episode from C2 for me.

[@tellmeaboutyourgame314]

Deputy Dungeon Master Liam

[@feitocomfruta]

It’s something that Matt has said he enjoys most about this job of theirs. Yes, they are trying to entertain and be total chaos gremlin slapdicks, but they also try to find special ways to give gifts to each other. In a small way, they build their characters to have ways to do that. Sam as FCG becoming a mobile EasyBake Oven means that he (or his wife, according to the cast) can bring baked goods for people. Travis as Chetney being a woodworker meant that he could find cool wooden toys and trinkets that he can give to each of the others. Liam as Caleb creating a home for the party that would make Architecture Digest’s editors weep in their minds eye.

[@rabpanz6145]

I'm so glad Emily is finally getting the respect and love she deserves! She and Lou battle it out for my favorite Live Play actors, but I think she just barely manages to edge him out. I love that her propensity for raw chaos never comes at the cost of the story or dramatic moments.

[@sarahraynore6713]

I love all D20 players but I gotta admit that that is something that sometimes irks me about Ally Beardsley, sometimes they would say or do some of their usual chaotic stuff in the middle of a dramatic moment and complete take the tension out of it

[@leauxgan]

@@sarahraynore6713a whole table of people like Ally wouldn’t make for a good viewing experience, but their perspective as a relatively green player who is still fully invested in the experience and their friends is really nice

[@leauxgan]

…the importance lies in them being so green to TTRPGs because they make such bold choices

[@rabpanz6145]

@@leauxgan Both of these perspectives are valid; having someone new to the game taking big swings (like Aimee Carerro(?) on CR can really break paradigms longer-term gamers already have. But Ally in the early seasons of D20 really had some bad timing that fucked up some scenes. They've gotten a lot better over the years though. Margaret and Mother Goose were both great, but while I liked Liam overall, some of his bits were so poorly timed I wanted to strangle them.

[@Joe2go]

Emily would take great pleasure in knowing of another successful edging

[@Hey-Its-Dingo]

Emily knows the game so well, that in the D20 series, Fantasy High Sophomore Year, she asked Brennan about taking Gift of Gab, a brand new spell that was released in between FH season 1 and Sophomore Year, to which Brennan, vehemently refused to let her take. Lmao

[@criticallol3039]

I think back to Operation: Slippery Puppet from the Starstruck season. It was a collaborative effort but she ultimately carried it out.

[@leauxgan]

I think a lot about when she said during one of the earlier Adventuring Parties for A Starstruck Odyssey that she was excited about using a newer system because she had all of D&D’s 1st and 2nd level spells memorized. And it explains so much.

[@WGoNerd]

@@criticallol3039 Operation: Slippery Puppet is one of the most spectacular sequences I've ever seen.

[@jasonandrews1770]

Love that spell. Its so busted

[@devinvia9655]

@@criticallol3039operation slippery puppet was only successful because they meta-gamed super hard. Emily often Meta-games, her characters seemingly know EVERYTHING

[@lidular]

Liam is so fun to watch when there is combat, because he is so good at describing what his character does. It is almost a shame that he also always have planned put his turn, so it only takes 20 second

[@HPFireYT]

It’s also a shame that it’s partially because martial classes really do have less to do at higher levels. His descriptions really make me want to actually try playing a martial class if I ever get a chance to play

[@juniperjenny287]

​@@HPFireYTWatch some of his highlights as Caleb. Yes, his turns as Orym aren't the most complex, but that isn't about Liam's skill.

[@KarnakZMZM]

@@HPFireYT one of my biggest gripes about 5e is how boring the martial classes are. I prefer a system like The Riddle of Steel (realistic with deadly possibilities) or Dungeon Crawl Classics (warriors have creative license with mighty deeds of action). Learning Pathfinder 2e right now, and it’s looking promising.

[@karkas389]

​@@KarnakZMZMPathfinder is fun as hell...the HIGHEST DPS is Ranger lol

[@princessjello]

​@@KarnakZMZMplayed a year of this... Holy shit were our fights constant steamrollers... Both ways...

[@Spark_Chaser]

Liam's Critical Role career is pretty much defined by being the Enabler. He was the person who got Sam Riegel involved in the game to begin with. He helped set up the One Shot game with Matt Mercer that would eventually become Critical Role.

[@wolfox7776]

Probably the best B-day gift he, or anyone, ever got tbh

[@cubancavalier3051]

Recently watched Calamity for the first time and it was my first experience of Lou. What really stood out to me watching him play was how human and relatable he made his character feel. They related and connected to the players around them, npc’s included in a way that goes farther than the typical “I’m going to show off more of my backstory or interact with the dm or plot line alone”. His ability to bring the real world conversation habits and translate it to a high fantasy setting is something I don’t think is done all the time and really was a joy to watch

[@charliejkelly]

Lou Wilson is a national treasure and I’m so happy that people who haven’t seen D20 got to see him in Calamity, I really hope he comes back for more critical role

[@pamounier]

I love watching Emily Axford play! I am really glad she is on Critical Roll this season, she is just wonderful to watch... of course, they all are, literally professional D&D players.

[@LetsGoJusto]

She’s so great on this new CR season!

[@LiaaaaaaaaAAAAAHH]

Slippery puppet from Starstruck is one of the greatest examples of Emily’s excellence and forethought!

[@ghostlightart]

slippery puppet is emily axford's dust of deliciousness

[@The_Crimson_Witch]

I think it's important to note each of these people have different strengths and weaknesses. Seeing all these habits laid out in front of you, it might be tempting to try and become a super player. Just don't be disappointed when that doesn't quite happen. You will be better at some of these than others, and the important thing isn't being all of these at once but having a mix across the table. It is a party not a one person band after all.

[@BonusAction]

This is so true!

[@3nertia]

"Many hands make light work"

[@Blindluck92]

Liam absolutely cares more about everyone having a great time than he does about the spotlight. You can tell it in two ways: 1. His laugh. It's wholehearted, soul-deep, and so warm and pure it almost breaks your heart. And you hear it every time that chaos descends upon the table because he's breaking character and just a guy laughing with his friends. 2. Caleb's Nein-Sided Tower. The detail that he put into giving everyone the maximum comfort possible, with Matt handing him the reigns in terms of all descriptions and many scenes within that are usually handled by him as DM, show immense thought for everyone else, both in and out of character. Which is then followed up by that enabler moment for himself with (spoilers for newcomers) a sad room in the dark that he believes he (Caleb) deserves. It's brilliant, and he allows himself that, but he went the extra twenty miles for everyone else first.

[@colmbright9822]

Don’t forget about checking your ability to make the story better. You clearly have an ability to fix the problem but you don’t take the easy way because it makes the moment better. Mercer as a player is king of this.

[@TheKillaShow]

I love playing sorcerers. This sometimes makes me the face of the party with really high social scores. And sometimes my teammates assume I should be the one to make these rolls. But I usually do everything in my power to rope another player into trying to convince the bandit king to let us go. If they roll bad, it makes for a funny situation where we fight our way out. If they win the roll, we got out of the situation thanks to the shy rogue speaking up. What Im saying is, just because you character shouldnt be the one doing something OR they are the perfect one to do something, doesnt mean you should always play into the assumptions. Makes for boring play patterns imo.

[@stevenle9960]

I disagree, dnd is about emergent storytelling. If you can fix a problem quickly and it makes sense for your character to do so, you should. And who knows fixing the problem "quickly" may lead to other complications that allow for more drama

[@TheKillaShow]

@@stevenle9960 Im just not interested in one character with high charisma speaking up in all social scenarios just because the W at all costs players really really want to pass every check. That is boring story telling, to me. Been there done that enough. And failing checks is not losing DnD. Passing and failing checks can still accomplish the same tasks. Id rather have all players at the table participating in accomplishing our goals. That is not to mean that you get the heavy armor cleric to sneak around and scout.

[@stevenle9960]

@@TheKillaShow I agree that failing checks should not make you "lose" necessarily. Don't allow your high stakes social encounters to be resolved with a single roll. Maybe the party "face" needs to distract an important NPC with their charisma while the rest of the party has to sneakily accomplish some goal. The wizard turns the rogue invisible so they can steal a ring off the finger of the aforementioned NPC. For trivial social encounters why not let the bard do the talking and roll a 30 on their deception check? That's a part of the class fantasy

[@colepivin3769]

Great video. I think one could easily make a video on each of the members of CR. Its easy to say they are great players, but someone new to dnd may not know which parts to try and emulate.

[@cryofpaine]

Absolutely. Taliesin will scaffold in as much backstory as Matt needs, then hand it off with complete trust. Which is amazing considering that he is just as detail oriented, creative, and meticulous as Matt, and could easily build out his character's entire life story down to every minute of their life. Sam I think is an even better example than Liam of supporting other players. He's no stranger to the spotlight, but he knows when and how to shift the spotlight to someone else to make them shine. Travis and Aahley both are cheerleaders for the other players. They're as much fans of their castmates as we are, and so many of the best moments are even better because of their reactions. Marisha lives her characters just as much as Liam does. The voice, the mannerisms, the posture. You couldn't tell as well with Keyleth (which I think is one reason she got so much hate back then - they thought she was like Keyleth). But it's clear with Beau and especially Laudna. Also, the rest of the D20 cast too. I'm haven't spent as much time watching them, so I don't know them as well. One I have noticed is Zac. He's the perfect example of "less is more". He knows just what to do and when to do it for maximum effect.

[@3nertia]

​@@cryofpaine The DM wants barebones, if you flesh out too much of your character then we have less to play with lol

[@rgcountdown]

@@3nertia I can assure you, after DMing for 20+ years, that is not remotely true. At least not for me.

[@3nertia]

​@@rgcountdown So you want your players to do all the work for you? I don't understand what you're getting at here?

[@rgcountdown]

@@3nertia Nope, I have just been doing it long enough to know that great world building is a group effort. Also, players that are invested in the world you all live in tend to have more fun. You've got remember you are not the only storyteller at the table.

[@elwourmo993]

may I add another typ which (obviously) doesn't have a celebrity counterpart? the organizer, I as a DM love these players, they ask activly when the next session is, maybe help figure out who will be hosting, maybe they offer other cool things like offering to draw something or offer suggestions for buying new equipment or books and how to split the cost or maybe they are just the person making sure to remember everyones favorit snacks and drinks or making a good playlist to fit the mood of the setting. As a DM I hate being the only one to do these things and an organizer typ player not only lightens the load but also shows that the players are just as invested in the game as I am. And once the organizers did their thing everyone has more fun at the table and other qualities can really shine.

[@sparklefulpaladin]

You also very much need someone like Marisha in every group, as she has really good notetaking skills and it really has shown when she's not at the table in Critical Role. After watching/listening to a lot of Critical Role, I've started picking up some of Liam's little habits and incorporating them into my own sessions, whether it's little things like describing the food my character makes (and how they let one of their party members help) or looking for moments to be an enabler like he is and ask questions to draw some of the less experienced players into the game. I think the best example of this was probably the Tower in Campaign 2, as well as some of the smaller moments with Vax, particularly towards the end of Campaign 1 and you can really see how much Liam cares deeply about his friends reflected in how his characters care deeply for theirs.

[@ghostlightart]

note-takers like marisha are invaluable and as a dm are probably the most validating to me

[@SingingSealRiana]

Liam is the apex of the " . . . yes! and . . ." Mentality he roles with and manages to add even more hilarity or epicness to pretty much everything

[@DrZaius3141]

Liam is "yes and" with a focus on "yes". Lou is "yes and" with a focus on "and".

[@anotherelvis]

I like the way that Liam thinks ahead during combat. That is fun to watch.

[@vsriotact]

I think a lot of liams playstyle comes from his time directing, his descriptive powers and getting others to shine are so intuitive and natural.

[@Ryquard1]

what is interesting about Laura is she has said before in talkmachina or 4sided dive that she in videogames always worries that she will make the wrong decision, yet Jester was a chaotic hurricane that was always in the antagonist faces whenever she could

[@TheKillaShow]

Every table needs a "kick the door open" player. This person has to be willing to just kick open the door, bite on the hook, make something happen when the party starts to think too much or stagnate. This players must also know when to use this gift and when to hold back. This person is a DM's best friend. Im normally a DM, so I can see what a DM is going for, and I can see my fellow players in the eyes a DM. So when the DM is throwing obvious hooks and nobody is biting, its my job to bite. If the team is standing still afraid to open a door, I kick it down and take the heat moving the plot forward. If I see another player is zoning out, I pull them into shenanigans, I ask fellow players what an action looks like to get them to temporarily DM and narrate their actions and spells. Its all to foster good fun and momentum at the table. I used to be the optimizer, but that got me into trouble focusing too much on the numbers game when I first started. When I became a Dm, I started to value character traits over optimization. Mainly in response to how my players would attach to the most random NPCs I would make. Which in my mind meant character > numbers.

[@AnotherDuck]

This feels very much like how Travis played Grog in the first campaign.

[@savingpyro]

I'll refer to Robbie on Liam describing actions. In "Four Sided Dive" episode after Chetney was introduced, Robbie was talking about when they were in Session 0 for EXU prime. Robbie, who had never played a TTRPG before was sitting there with Liam and Matt at the table and liam is just detailing everything Orym was doing. And in the 4SD segment he said, "I wasn't sure how much of that was Liam being extra," and when Robbie realized we could do that all the time and how much more fun the game was he was like, "Oh cool, let's paint some pictures."

[@V3x0r]

Liam and Laura are 90% of the reason the table dies laughing.

[@joeleek9976]

3:46-that's why the Paladin was such a funny character in the dnd movie. Everybody knows that player that might take flaws to get more character options or whatever, but they always try to mitigate those flaws as much as possible to make a powerful character that is as flawless as possible

[@matthewlane]

"that's why the Paladin was such a funny character in the dnd movie" Tell me you are a zoomer without telling me you are a zoomer.... You are the only people in the world who think "lol so random" is actually funny.

[@joeleek9976]

@matthewlane it wasn't random. That was the point...oh...and you guessed wrong...like way wrong.

[@matthewlane]

@@joeleek9976 "it wasn't random." It was "lol so random." "LOL so random," is just when a character does random things, with no rhyme or reason, for example: "Herp derp guys, the Paladin stepped right over a boulder, rahter than walking around it & then another character pointed it out, lol, that is so random." The ONLY people on the planet who think that shit's funny are zoomers. The same sort of people who think Critical Role is DnD.

[@joeleek9976]

@matthewlane I think maybe the joke went over your head. Him stepping over the boulder wasn't random. Normally I would explain further, but you're being pretty rude and I don't believe in rewarding bad behavior.

[@matthewlane]

@@joeleek9976 "I think maybe the joke went over your head." No, there's no joke there ny dude, "LOL so random" isn't funny to anyone but zoomers. "LOL so random" is the ABSENCE of a joke. There's a reason why comedians go on stage and tell jokes, rather than go on stage & start doing random shit. Because they are comedians, their job is to be humourous & there is nothing humourous in "LOL so random." The only people who don't get that are Zoomers, the same generation that also thought a woman acting like a human tamagochi was the height of feminine sexiness.

[@ben5676755]

In my first and longest running campaign (still going), the veteran player started strategizing before our first long rest (still completely in character). He told me later, that in his mind, we might not be able to do so if things hit the fan the next day. That floored me. We weren't sitting across the table. We were together now, but that very well might change. This did many things, but the main ones were: 1) It really got me into thinking about what my character would do and role play him. 2) It helped us all weave the narrative, we wanted, together. 3) It allowed the GM to better plan for want was about to come next. Now, do we throw him off the rails, oh yeah! But this allows him to better setup and throw us off our own rails.

[@SirusTheHunter]

I recently started a campaign with three people who are new to DnD and over the course of a couple of sessions I've seen them open up and RP with each other and engage in the story and I am so freakin' proud of them. That's all really. I'm a very proud DM and it is experiences like that which keeps me going as a story teller. Big love to all the DM's out there who work their butt off to make their friends smile. It really is the best job in the world

[@G.F.SF55]

From the thumbnail, calling Liam Laura's enabler is an understatement tbh XD

[@sy2823]

This was a nice video, but I wish that there were more concrete examples. Just saying what they've done without showing them doing it is a bit confusing. I'd have liked to see an actual example of one of Axford's moments where she optimized her character, or when Wilson escalated a scene by taking a joke or moment one step higher. I could imagine those moments since I watch a lot of Dimension 20, but I've never watched Bailey or O'Brien, so I really didn't get what "Enabler" or "Initiator" could look like in a session. I liked the comment about how O'Brien describes things, I just wish that it had been described in detail, maybe even with a clip comparing him to his DM, since that was the example given

[@RuailleBuaille]

Ooh, good idea! Would love to see a follow up video where there's some concrete examples. I'm the same, it's much easier to connect with a concept of you can see it in action in real time.

[@wilhelmpaulm]

for Emily, dyring the last fight of fantasy high season 1. A super strong bully character was slowly surrounded by 3 other players and before he gets a turn Emily caused fear for lower damage instead of attacking causing the bully to run away an be exposed for attacks of opportunity. the 3 other players was able to kill one of the strongest damage dealing enemies in the game before he was able to attack again.

[@CorbiniteVids]

I'm gonna be honest, I don't really get why people always say Emily Axeford's strength is her knowledge of the game. Cause I really don't think that's it. Many of her best moments in the game are based on moments where the rules were bent or a spell was used for something that rules as written it shouldn't be able to do (and this works in part because she's often in games where that's okay and with DMs who are very rules-flexible, especially Brennan). But she's always thinking tactically and especially creatively regardless, and it leads to some stellar plays. I think it's less that she knows dnd extremely well and more that she's extremely comfortable in a roleplaying environment and is really good at thinking on her feet, which is way more valuable than knowing the mechanics really well

[@mickeystix]

Cannot agree more with these selections and highlighting of habits. I am a month into DM-ing for a table of all new players (we run around 8 hour sessions, which is wildly fun). 2 of these players are longtime DnD podcast listeners, but none have played. The third has, since we started playing, been absolutely in love with learning about players like these and their styles. I am really happy to say that they all contribute to the gameplay using methods and knowledge learned from great players like the ones in this video. Very well done!

[@Sp3llmen]

I played a lot like Laura before I even watched CR. My first campaign I could tell everyone was nervous to make decisions and was quiet. I'm an extremely anti social person as well. But my roommate was the DM an I could feel his energy in a way was low because people weren't quick to participate and we had a lot of silences. So I just tried making decisions to get others involved and get progress going. Some could say I could be "talking over people" but the way to fix this is to make others involved in my decisions but also give them a chance to object to the idea before it happens. This way progress keeps moving but gives the players time to say "maybe thats not a smart idea lets try this instead" and once I started doing this it worked. I was gone for 2 sessions and apparently everyone at the table missed me because "it got quiet a lot" and almost everyone told me not to leave again haha.

[@morganforester5340]

I’m in two campaigns right now and i’ve told both my DMs that I’m aspiring to be a player like emily axford

[@endorkugo]

i just watched fantasy high campaign on d20. i am new to dnd and knew nothing, i just love to see the interactivity of storytelling. at first i thought she was a little to overinvolved, then my god she drives the stories in the campaign so well, i was hooked!

[@_bats_]

I was thinking over it with Laura being the Initiator in C2: I think a lot of D&D games get bogged down by analysis paralysis because people overthink things, meticulously plan, etc. because they're after the "right" decision. I'm sure we've all experienced that. I think the reason this happens is that, unlike the real world, unless you have a very strict DM who will bring out an hourglass, in D&D the world DOES stop for you. Even though we're meant to imagine combat as this dynamic, fast-moving scene, in actual play you can sit there debating between spell choices for thirty minutes to make the optimal choice. This doesn't only apply to combat, either - I've seen the same sort of analysis paralysis and overthinking applied to the other two pillars of the game as well. I think this is itself a form of escapism. In real life, the world DOESN'T stop for us and so we're forced to make quick decisions all the time, and often these turn out to be the wrong ones. People live with all kinds of regret because of poor decisions made in the heat of the moment. The D&D world moving at the speed dictated by the players at the table (including the DM) means that you have the luxury of taking the time you need to make the right choice. But, it's still an illusion - we still can't be sure if our choices are the right ones until we see the consequences play out, and it does suck a lot of tension and drama and entertainment out of the game by going too far down the route of over-thinking. So, initiators are the people who make the group see that having negative consequences to poor choices can be just as escapist and even more fun in D&D as the luxury of taking one's time to make the "right" choice.

[@feitocomfruta]

Lou as the escalator in Calamity: Brennan: the city is in chaos, people are being torn to shreds by demons… Lou: I summon my dragon familiar and tell him to shut the fuck up. The Dragon: 😳 The Ring of Brass: 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@RoCrown]

These are four great examples and I think everyone you mentioned is fantastic. Emily is my favourite actual play player; her combat moves are incredible, her ability to assist and buff the other members of her party is amazing and her role play is legendary-between the chaos of her characters like in Fantasy High and A Court of Fey and Flowers to the emotionally devastating scenes like the finale of Eldermourne, she's consistently utterly magnificent.

[@Hostile_Prof]

It is truly impressive to watch Emily play, especially when her she’s dialed in with her character enough to play both DPS and Support at the same time. Moonshine and Cali are both great examples of that

[@petermanuel6208]

I am an initiator and Enabler. Thank you. Helped me understand my role better.

[@socharis4760]

Really good breakdown of positive player traits that create the “good habits” that most other content creators make(take notes, be ready etc) loved the video

[@icywinterof88]

Liam's descriptions inspired me to do something similar, but I write them out ahead of time and make an action turn sheet with default action options to choose from on my turn, so I can describe my turn and not slow down the combat.

[@fammnak852]

Such a good tip! English is not my native language and even though I am fluent, it's hard to eloquently describe my actions when put on a spotlight like a combat. I will use this tip from now on, thank you

[@mishiara5499]

Emily is amazing I was blown away by her guesting on CR

[@tokkibell]

Yes! Yes! Yes! This is a video I have thought about making a hundred times, and you made it 10x better than I ever could. Been subscribed for a bit, but about to (1) send this video to all my players, (2) promote this video on other channels, and (3) back your Patreon. I see some nay-sayers in the comments - strangely mostly DMs - but don't let them slow your roll. You're getting the hang of the Film Booth style of videos, and it creates a highly engaging loop. Collaboration skills for players are rarely discussed, and it is a shame as we see so many excellent examples in actual play. Your content encourages your players to watch actual play's analytically, discovering the skills and tactics that make such extraordinary play. Those in question are trained actors, improvisers, and storytellers, but learning from them allows us to stand on their shoulders and reach a better game. Finally, on "a rising tide raises all ships." Years ago, a co-storyteller with whom I ran very large Live Action Role Playing events had a speech he'd give about "sportsmanship." Any good player shows up to play their best game. A great player (and sportsman) shows up to help everyone else play their best game ever. Be a great player. Sorry for the wall of words. Literally my first KZbin comment ever.

[@BonusAction]

Thank you for this comment! ♥

[@tokkibell]

@@BonusAction Thank you for making this channel.

[@shaurmiath6719]

I was honestly in awe of Emily during the Crown of Candy encounter Buzzybrook episode. It was really incredible seeing the level of tactical planning she could deploy, the things she could see.

[@dasha9048]

While these are all good tips to improve your character, it's also important not to hold yourself to the same standards as these players. Their games have a VERY different goal than your home ones. They're playing for an audience's enjoyment; you're playing for your team's enjoyment. They have to make fast decisions because they're on a time crunch and want to keep their audience engaged. If it takes you and your team more time to make a choice, it's okay. Sometimes, that's the most realistic route. In real life, we take time to decide things because we ARE aware of the consequences. Still, it's great to have impulsive characters here and there. Just make sure you're not making all of the choices for your team.

[@SuperRandomHeroes]

Ive been listening to here on Naddpod for years- Emily Axford always makes the most ridiculous, unorthodox moves, that just... works. like a big brain chess move, when in reality, shes just having fun. she will also min-max her characters in to fit WHO her character is. they're always strong in the silliest way possible.

[@anthill7774]

No mention of the "wit" the character that makes every one laugh Sam Reigel springs to mind. Also great vid by the way.

[@calebhill9191]

The fact that I get the honor of being in your first 10k subscibers is incredible. I can't wait to see the positive impact you make on the D&D community. To be specific, I love the way you section out your videos, always have insightful dialog, and use examples of the things you're explaining. Also, the timer at the top left helps keep me engaged. Keep up the fantastic work, and I am happy to come with you on your journey!

[@feitocomfruta]

Also, let’s not forget that with Emily, she will optimize AS WELL AS infuse the character into it. Prism making that bad joke before her first round where she absolutely destroys the plant monsters using her spell book familiar as a conduit for her Steelwind Strike, just to follow it up with THE SAME BAD JOKE, it tells you everything you need to know about this character. She’s much more adept and intelligent with her magic, as you’d expect from a wizard studying with the Cobalt Soul, but extremely awkward (like Deana said in their last meeting “we’re going to work on emotional intelligence while we’re abroad…”).

[@Dunybrook]

Now I can't help but wonder what it would be like if you got this dream team of players in the same campaign.

[@treymarcum]

Good news Emily, Liam, and Laura will likely all be at the table together on Thursday when the party reunites

[@aeroshv23]

Liam single handedly got me to playing DnD last year.

[@Verylengthyapple]

Emily is chaos. But smart and fun chaos

[@TheKillaShow]

Thing about Emily's chaos is that she does not disrupt the table to do it. Its usually her 1v1'ing the DM in chaos combat. Alot of players who want to be a similar kind of players falls into the trap of just being an obnoxious player that gets the team into trouble all the time non stop. One of their fav lines is "thats what my character would do" lol.

[@Ailieorz]

​@@TheKillaShowyup or trying to be the main character all the time

[@williamlovemo8596]

HI, the timer in the top left is absolutely amazing. It really help keep the NPF at bay.

[@morginstjarna]

Used to have a tight knit group and we all had these traits to some degree or another. The cohesion was so great. It's been damn near impossible finding a group remotely close since. This was 21 years ago.

[@jackviglianco6907]

I know it’s such a little thing, but the timer on the top corner of the screen is such a hack for ADHD and I just wanted to thank you.

[@Fae2705]

DM: You're outdoors by a camp fire. ME: Yes AND I add fuel to the fire by throwing the halfling rogue into it. Did I do it right?......

[@BonusAction]

Agreed, contributed and escalated. Nailed it!

[@Volvandese]

To me, the thing about Emily that really stands out is summed up by her saying that as a player, it is your job to find things in the game to care about.

[@eran5005]

Laura Bailey makes quick decisions? Among the whole crew she's the one who ended up taking 5 minutes for her turn the most, to the point Matt had to almost coerce her to make a decision. I literally remember shouting at the screen "Come on Laura, do SOMETHING" many times xD

[@leifstenlund5641]

This is very helpful to me. Very helpful. And your enthusiasm is infectious. Looking forward to more videos from you in the future.

[@AGrumpyPanda]

The Initiatior: a good, in-character decision made quickly will almost always be better for the game than putzing around to make the 'right' decision. The Optimiser: anyone can read a guide off the internet and make a mathematically strong character. Learn the game so that you can make *your* character strong, whatever they are. The Enabler: nothing more to say about the enabling, but I absolutely want to highlight the descriptiveness. Give your fellow players something to visualise, and your GM something to work with.

[@Weathered22]

Fantastic video! Loved the insight and recognition.

[@linneab5500]

Emily LITERALLY studies for D&D! In preparation for the finale of naddpod campaign 1, she sat in the studio pouring over the player's handbook to strategize.

[@SirButterlegs]

Emily Axford, def my fav D&D player to watch. Her playing a wizard in Campaign 3 of CR was a delight and miss every second of her not being at the table.

[@subatomicnonsense]

Just wanna say, I just watched two of your vids, great content man.

[@kevingriffith6011]

As a habitual action describer myself, I have two pieces of advice, one for players and one for game masters and they both tie to a singular point: As a player: Be clear about your intentions mechanically. If my gunslinging acrobat character wants to do an inverted leap and twist shot at two enemies as he acrobatically catapults himself past them, I need to be clear that this is "one move, two attacks", not "move, jump, tumble, attack attack" As a game master: Do not punish your players for interesting combat descriptions with skill checks. If you are game mastering for said gunslinging acrobat, asking for an acrobatics check to confirm the flavor text is only going to discourage your players from saying more than "Move, attack attack". If you want there to be a chance for the character to mess up the maneuver, tie it to a roll they are already making! As long as they aren't getting any mechanical benefit for their flavor text they shouldn't be getting punished for adding it... unless they spend too much time thinking it up or delivering it, of course. (And even then, that's more of a "talk to your players" problem than a "punish them mechanically" one)

[@ElvencloudYT]

I (and many DMs like me) have extra copies of the player's handbook for the table. Many of us would happily lend a book if it helps your enjoyment of the game. Great video!

[@abbsmo]

Ok so this is the first video of yours I’ve seen and I just gotta say, this was incredibly adhd friendly. Idk if that was your intent or not, but you nailed it either way, and for that I am eternally grateful haha! 💙

[@BonusAction]

Thanks!

[@friskybitzboi]

I’d love to see another video like this with some more concrete examples of the players exhibiting these traits!

[@BonusAction]

Check out my latest! I have tried add more practical examples!

[@Luna-os4ep]

I'm learning to optmize wonderfully in the new Bauldurs Gate 3, most of classes moveset transfer to the tabletop. My dnd strategizing and team p,ay has improved 100%

[@mangowes]

As a fairly new Player/DM, these are often things i look for in my game and the other players. I'm more of an initiator even thou i started playing the game around mid 2022.I noticed my group i play with always shy a bit before someone takes the first step, so being the Charismatic bard that i am, i usually take this role and they love it. I feel glad i found this, wish i had it sooner. I guess better late then never tho.

[@latayantheazran]

My latest character fits Emily's process so well that now im proud of creating her. I took the horny alcoholic bard stereotype, gave her a bunch of traumas, and commited myself to portray the situation accurately. The result was a character almost taken out of a noir story: a total mess, but terrifyingly effective when needed. In combat she's a great support and decent blaster with some psychic spells, but her strenght comes from an RP optimization, being unable to roll below a 22 in persuasion and most of the times rolling with advantage. So, with her high charisma, class features and some clever RP, i managed to make her a rockstar that fights monsters in between concerts, being by far the party's main source of income and the one who gets them out of trouble any time they do something stupid (which is almost every session tbh).

[@pengeagle]

Keep it up just like this! No smartass that explains to me what I am doing so wrong or what you HAVE to do. Plain simple analysis. Love it so much! Cant get enough of it! !!!!!!!!!

[@betterrpg]

"You all share the spotlight..." 👍👍👍

[@gergoliath2328]

I love your RPG Tips about Dnd. I only hope that someday you include Footage of Dm Skills maybe from Call of Cuthulu or Pathfinder

[@pentheclickety]

About Emily and her optimising, helping out the rogue with a sneak attack, can I ask all of you, is that meta gaming, knowing about other’s skills or spells

[@yugusmedugus4005]

I really don't think so, i would think it's pretty easy to see that one of your allies seems to do a lot more damage when they can get a clean hit, or assume your party would discuss there capabilities in downtime

[@natew.7951]

Lol, no. People in the world of DND surely know how sneak attack works. Especially since that attack is literal. It's an actual sneak attack because the target is looking at a different opponent, like a familiar.

[@luciferandassociates9255]

Laura Bailey always makes quick decisions... When it isn't combat

[@O4OUR]

Hacks: 1. Be faster at making decisions 2. Learn the whole game 3. Yes, and.. 4. Play well with others

[@andrewshandle]

The thing with Laura, and quite honestly everyone on CR and d20 is they know their DM won't punish them for failure (generally). In a lot of games, when a player fails an Insight Check against an NPC they still are super wary of them, but not players in d20, they'll lean all the way in on their failure because they know the DM won't punish them for it. Lou is just great at this (look up Prince of Shoeberg for a great example, he rolls a 1 on an insight check and, well, hilarity ensues). For the most part, even though they love their characters, these players are trained actors and they know that they're just characters, and part of the fun is them getting into messed up situations. So GMs and Players need to embrace failure.

[@KB_Bird]

I'M THE PRINCE OF SHOEBURG, MOTHER FUCKER!!!

[@ohhi7168]

that is also because matt reacts to low insight with "you can't read them" while brennan says something usually obviously false. cr has more time and realism

[@liamross340]

Emily's optimisation is so great because she doesn't come in trying to make the most powerful character. She creates an interesting character with a story to tell and optimises in a way that compliments the character and their arc. She's not aiming for the most powerful character at the table like some min/maxers but she's always trying to make her characters the best versions of themselves they can be

[@housewife_ninja]

This is a really great video. Thanks so much!

[@AgentForest]

I've been described as a mad scientist optimizer. I don't look at the highest DPS builds or try to one-up the rest of the party by breaking the combat so anyone who didn't optimize is left in the dust. Instead, I look at something generally considered underwhelming, and I think, "How can I make this viable and interesting?" I made a Battlemaster Glamour Bard who was a halfling military commander, repositioning the team into better formations if we got ambushed, giving up my own attacks to let the stronger characters attack instead, and intimidating enemies into dropping their weapons, fleeing, or breaking formation. He had almost no damage, but was a force multiplier for the party, letting others shine instead.

[@Yeetasaurus_Rex]

I always appreciate Laura for what you mentioned. Too often a player will spend forever “Which direction do I want to move in? How far will my movement take me? Will I get attacked by a reaction?” Then they think about their spells and DCs. Then bonuses. They do that all out loud and it breaks the immersion for me. After all you are roleplaying one turn in combat (I think around 6 s)? In a high stress environment. I do believe we need time as players since we’d understand the spells way less than the character would. The character is a part of our life, but you’d assume a character knows all their magic. But it becomes a problem when it takes unfair time and feels more calculated than it would be if it were realistic.

[@StevenRohrer523]

Remember to use the players' contacts and lifepaths! They make "making it personal" so much easier.

[@bucket-o-fish]

The thing with Laura's talent is that she knows that real people don't get to pause their life to think about how to react in the best way possible; real people have to fly by the seat of their pants and make mistakes all the time. So, really, making quick, in-character decisions makes them more realistic.

[@TheMMADE]

Interesting. I have the exact opposite opinion on Liam. He is always the guy calling for spot light, he loves his little “just a quick scene” bits.. he’s such a story teller with RP and I’d say he is the Optimiser when it comes to mechanics (that’s why his turns always take forever as his characters can do sooo much). Emily I think is the Enabler, her characters are dialled up to 11 but as you said, she uses all that knowledge to make sure everyone at the table gets their moment. Love these vids man 😊

[@timfriday9106]

I might disagree about Laura a lil bit...she takes her time pretty frequently. but I do think that she does TRY to be fast/decisive on purpose.

[@KarlKristofferJohnsson]

When you described the initiator, I immediately thought: Oh, that's the bard in the group I'm DMing!

[@DrFranklynAnderson]

“Making quick decisions is always better than making the right decisions.” Oh man, that is so opposite to my play style that I’m going to have to make it a core trait of one of my characters. Probably my grung bard who’s going to be a D&D version of Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows. 😂

[@hawkeyesblue9254]

Great useful video! Thanks!

[@thetrustysidekick3013]

I'm the guy who brings snacks for the table. Free food is always impressive. Wife made some sandwiches last time, and this week is tacos! Suffice to say, my character is safe from the DM.

[@CADJewellerySkills]

This is some really good advice. Thank you.

[@ferrous719]

My Hald is an instigator - early on before i retunes her she was very low Wis, so i decided "she will push the big red button". It makes it easy to push things forward bc im less likely to get bogged down by ideal decision making and focus on fast decision making. Then she got paired with a party of ALL button pushers and has started to go "oh sh!t"

[@deerslayer2392]

Hey!! Great video so far, just wish the timer wasn’t there in the corner. Definitely subscribing :)

[@Jacules]

I haven't seen D20 or any of Emily's time on CR, but boy howdy am I excited to watch as much as I can after this.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Thank you for the useful advice!

[@tellmeaboutyourgame314]

I want to be an enabler. Make sure everyone has fun, maybe even connect my character's story to the story of others so we can all interconnect, and a great moment for one is a great moment for all

[@neoshenlong]

These are all things you learn in improv theatre and they even have philosophical implications in your day to day life, if you want to let them do that. The thing that the other guy said in the comment about being excited to fail is also there.

[@tyghe_bright]

In the past, I've tended to be too passive as a player. One thing I'm doing right now to help me be more active as a player: I created a character who has almost no impulse control. They're very physical and active--and an adrenaline junkie. I've only played a couple of sessions as this character, but it's so fun.

[@cole9799]

Bottom line is know your character. Know what your to hit bonus is or saving throw is. this alone helps speed up the game. (and this is just my opinion) dont over RP each turn of combat.

[@denebzhang]

To adress some comments that either critically consider the limitations of your advice or just ragging on w extreme examples: I clicked on this video and subbed afterwards, precisely bc it looked like it would a) be concise and b) have good general *guiding* principles. Once you consider that the purpose and #1 priority of these principles is to bring enjoyment to the Table, yourself included, many of the given edge cases can be dismissed. Basically: Master the principles so you know when to break them, and you can't master w/o learning and practicing said principles.

[@Ashtarte3D]

The downside to some of these is like no matter how much I love Liam O'brien I've never been too big on his characters. Laura & Sam always end up being my favorite player characters because Laura is a good initiator and Sam is chaos incarnate. Every time you think you know what Sam will do he throws you a curve ball.

[@connerpaul9401]

I wouldn't agree that Laura doesn't care about the consequences. There's been a number of moments where things go bad for her and she tries to take back what she's doing or metagame another outcome. She plays with the hand she's dealt well but a better example of this is definitely Travis. He accepts all that comes and is known for making moves and pushing buttons

[@viktorstagnetti7491]

Campaign 2 Laura definitely took more risks because Jester was naturally chaotic.