Campaign Retrospective!

Join Hank for a look back at 27 nights of D&D 5e gameplay: every night, every board, every encounter...all in one giant, poorly drawn flow chart!
THANKS FOR TUNING IN!
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#runehammer

[@sirisdracken2837]

Was really cool to see our campaign in a flow chart like that. So much crazy shit has happened!

[@bobbdude12]

Possibly the best informative DnD channel out there! Looks like you just got a sub

[@derekvollans]

"My mind was ignited in a conflagration of creative pyromania." (!)

[@zac53659]

When he said the Dungeon Masters Guide is pure fluff.... *Smash that like button*

[@sketchasaurrex4087]

I really like the session titles. Cool retrospective on a fun sounding campaign.

[@BigDad138]

I really like this idea of how you drew out your campaign, i feel its important to look back as well. I've only been DMing for a few months now and i actually just started playing. One of my players writes a journal that he then goes on to read before the next session and this layout you have will really help us reminisce. Thanks and keep up the good work, you won me over.

[@jespernohr]

Thanks for a fantastic video! I am about to start up a D&D session with friends and I was overthinking it way too much. One adventure storyline at a time!

[@dreadmorg]

34:53 Awesome! "How to be a master DM" explained in a few sentences. Trademark "Deadly Architect!" and put ontop a d20 Tshirt. Wicked great video!

[@aaronsellers435]

”As you can see” points at white board with hatchet

[@javan6982]

"The DMG is just fluff..." ROFL!

[@DB-tw7fd]

I've been watching your vids for over a year now, and this is my favorite advise I've heard. I couldn't tell you how many times I tried to plan out campaigns in full, only to have the party wipe 3 sessions in. Keep 'em coming Hank!

[@alexitosworld]

Is amazing to see a retrospective of such a long storyline. Nice!

[@Corvus-fw2hr]

Excellent! This is the kick in the inspiration backside that I needed. We play a one-a-month because of an over abundance of adulting. This has made the continuity of player thought a little difficult. Thanks for the push, whether it's up the hill or into "The Crack".

[@synthoelectro]

I write a summery of things that have happened. This allows me to work with the future of the sessions. It's in storybook form.

[@dm4life579]

I run an urban campaign with an emphasis on roleplay and combat but not much exploration. Assassinations, Espionage and Subterfuge seriously different than what you are running here, but this is really beautiful.

[@desertking11xray]

Much like your other work, this was truly amazing and inspirational content. Thank you for producing it. I recently came across your channel and subscribed immediately after discovering how wonderful it is with it's grandiose idea generating and spring-boarding capapability. I am beginning a homebrew campaign next weekend with mostly new players. It will be my first time DMing and I've been away from active play for 10 years. Hopefully I don't TPK on their first time in, haha! I look forward to watching many more of your videos and every future production you put out. Thanks again!

[@NightWatchersPet]

Wait, one of your characters made a new player?!?! That is some amazing role play! Your players must put their hearts and souls into their characters, that's a cool creative moment

[@Runehammer1]

yeahp they actually created a player during a game..craziness

[@nickhart8619]

Thanks Hank, this was awesome!

[@Stratplayer05]

Professional Dungeon Master, also known as the world's most "how do I get that job" job.

[@MastertheGamerpg]

I really appreciate this video. Nice seeing how others campaigns unfold.

[@wolverineftw]

I really like your sketch art

[@DirtyWilliam]

I stumbled across your channel via WEB DM. Very entertaining! Wish my kids would get into D&D. Or I had friends.

[@Kevin-Peter]

Compressed D&D Power = Awesome!!! Add in some shots lets go!!!

[@pedrokaco]

Cheers from Rio de Janeiro! Great video!

[@Runehammer1]

blame it on rio!

[@branmanica2743]

without fail, I'll turn on one video from drunkens & dragons so I can rustle up some new stuff and then I get off the internet 7 hours later. You've simplified much of what I have been wondering about being a new DM and it rocks, I feel like I can go on for months with additional shit for my parties to do. How often do you and your players game?

[@Runehammer1]

twice a week or so these days

[@necronsplayer]

From now on, whenever a random creepy crawly appears in my home, or a cockroach vomits a stream of black fluid down my wall, or anything along those lines happens, I know what I'll say... "Fuckin' Underdark."

[@ShadowPhoenix82]

Yeah, that doesn't make me think anyone can do it. Just makes me think you're just that awesome. I am beginning to realize there is a level of confidence which I did not require as a writer that I do as a DM, simply to make the world live improvisationally. I won't give up on my player, since I started DMing because she couldn't play otherwise. But I won't pretend this is in our future either, lol. I just do my best and hope she has fun with that.

[@FourRealmsOfChaos]

sounds like an amazing story taht any player would love to be part of! so cool! and yes we are warriors of chaos as well ;)

[@Mandroo]

Really awesome video! I totally agree, it is hard to plan what to do next without listening to your players of what they want to do. I was curious though, since you have been reading Dungeon World and getting ideas from it, did you use the idea of fronts at all while planning what would happen next or was it completely player motivation driven, or was it a mixture of both? Thanks for the videos I really appreciate them.

[@Runehammer1]

yep fronst are agreat tool for planning

[@OnyxZephyr333]

Too much epic. At this point I've pretty much just relegated myself to living vicariously through your awesome D&D campaign. As much as I desire to create such a tale, I just don't think I have that sort DM prowess.

[@JacobyStevens]

Only one way to find out, try it!

[@jooke86]

It's been 2 years... Did you try? :) I did. I'd say I'm more than halfway to where I want to be as a DM now.. And it gets more and more interesting the more you do it!

[@ravensmith7063]

there is a word for hurling someone out a window: defenestration

[@verticalflats2816]

I thought there was something wrong with my phone at the beginning

[@SpenserClark]

Yes! Best since 2nd is my feeling too.

[@digitalmstrmind]

Love the alskan shirt love icy bay!

[@sanjeevshah168]

Awesome retrospective! I feel like doing the same for mine.

[@ChristopherJacob]

LIKE. A. BOSS.

[@itauapedroconceicao1846]

Man you'ar my hero bor. Nice Channel. Just a feel things, Can you please explain about the materials you use for the scenarios. And about your preparation for a campaign, I say, beyond the tomes, how you plan the evolution of history and these things. keep that nice work bro, just amazing. o//

[@Runehammer1]

I don't! I have a rough idea like "oh yeah, time is weird in teh underdark, and these war hullk things..." then players generally drive a lot of it into the details... but I sense a prep video is in order

[@itauapedroconceicao1846]

niceeeeeee

[@dannym2359]

have you seen the half umber hulk in the 3.5 edition Bastards and Bloodlines book? I always wanted to play a character like that

[@Ask_Momma_Alice]

Did your lightbulb burn out? Lol #backcataloging

[@christopherpatterson4084]

That's amazing...so good to see another DM's story laid out in such a clear way. I've only had one game that lasted about as long as that, maybe ten sessions more and it was crazy and amazing. They went from a band of minstrels (strongman, dancer, magician and bard) to stopping a supremely powerful necromancer replacing the Raven Queen with himself. It's been a year since I did that and I've a new game coming up in a week which I'm nervous about. Any advice? Should I do the usual start and see where it takes us?

[@Runehammer1]

yeah man...mastery is a process of becoming more simple...keep it basic, but tasty

[@christopherpatterson4084]

+Drunkens & Dragons: Play D&D Like a Badass what's a typical session like in your games?

[@Runehammer1]

2 or 3 boards, 3-4 hours, 2 bottles of weird stuff, 12 cans of pop, 5-6 players, office chairs

[@christopherpatterson4084]

+Drunkens & Dragons: Play D&D Like a Badass sounds good to me. do you move your players through encounters only? skipping travel and such?

[@Runehammer1]

we do travel if there is an encounter...generally just sitting and describing vagueries has never electrified my players...

[@grimreefer2100]

quick question (that needs a detailed answer) What do you do with alllllll of your boards?

[@Runehammer1]

they live on a pile on shelf in a weird room

[@grimreefer2100]

+Drunkens & Dragons: Play D&D Like a Badass have you ever considered selling one? you could probably charge a good amount. In my own experience is if it looks cool, there's definitely a market for it. Thanks for the reply btw

[@Runehammer1]

yeah selling isnt much fun...i like creating!

[@wickedly1]

Curious question, how do you feel about Adventure Paths and, basically, 5e's Campaign Modules like Out of the Abyss?

[@Runehammer1]

Tgey're great wellsprings of concepts and themes, but i've always felt they lack detailed or mechanically wild encounters...they are great books though! they're just fun to have and read... no matter how fun though, i really believe in custom stories that players push...

[@wickedly1]

I actually have felt the same way. I am currently running Rise of the Runelords in 5e. It's been running okay since March 2016. It's been a bit of a bumpy road recently because of recent changes in my life. But, this last week, we gamed two nights in a row, so... you know, fuck yeah! :D I haven't done a game like what you show in.... four years.... ish. It was a Star Wars D6 game, and I ended up stopping because I ran out of ideas. Now, I was quite new at the time, running my first game. But, I might try to run a game, either in Forgotten Realms or Golarion or something, once I am finished up with RotRL. Since, I do have a habit of being a bit of a control freak and wanting to map out every single adventure, which is why I haven't done my own because it just gets to be too much that I decide to stop. But, I definitely want to do a fantasy game, since it's a bit easier to deal with. Also, I definitely will be picking up the Necronomicon and Conan anthologies when I get the chance, since the tropes are something I've always struggled with in D&D. Anywho, I really liked this video. Gave me some inspiration, and allowed me to think about it in the way that I used to. Thanks bunches!!!

[@kgp4death]

looks like the necronomicon exmortus....lol

[@CollectionTHX1138]

very nice flowchart. what do you do for a living? Im a graphic designer so I can appreciate your visual organization in this and the moleskine notebooks and the props and videos themselves for that matter

[@Runehammer1]

i make a de games!

[@sanjeevshah168]

Didn’t realize you had tried Burning Wheel. Too bad you didn’t stick with it. Yes combat is too crunchy. At one time I was a Fight! master, but now I’d just do a bloody versus and be done with it.

[@jstabile100]

are these campaigns recorded to watch cus i would love to check them out

[@Runehammer1]

nope! our game is for us...cameras just change people too much..

[@beebopcooke5218]

The math seems like this... It is a front loaded feedback LOOP... Modified by a variable.

[@bonedrinker5756]

11:07 HaHaHa!🤣🤣🤣

[@OPTTWoodrow]

Anybody know what song is being sung at the very beginning of the video? I can't find anything by googling the lyrics so any help would be appreciated!

[@Runehammer1]

i made that up

[@OPTTWoodrow]

Aww man, it sounded so lyrical and I'm always a sucker for songs about fishmen. Cheers for the reply!

[@Runehammer1]

:]

[@paulfrankovich3085]

Only recently started watching your stuff but it's great. But 5e better than 3.5? Is that really possible?

[@Runehammer1]

cleaner, easier to hack, but far less realized

[@antonymous23]

Hold on, hold on... you can't just say you have a friend who is a professional DM and leave it at that! A professional DM? What does that mean and how do I become that? I love DMing, GMing, Keepering etc. and would gladly do it every day if I could scratch even a meager living out of it.

[@Runehammer1]

wheelhouse workshop!

[@bosspve6223]

Hank I have so much to ask you, so much knowledge I want to know but, don't know where to start. My question is how should someone who is involved in school, and having fun in life, organize their work desk?

[@Runehammer1]

hahaha! organizing is for those who don't have enough to do :]

[@silverpenguinx3884]

How do you keep your party from choosing to rest?

[@Runehammer1]

Tyler Hoag the danger just keeps coming

[@electron281]

Let me buy your next Saturday morning creative juice.

[@Runehammer1]

ooo! that supported badge!! thanks!

[@samuellefischer9596]

Where can I find your gameplay videos?

[@Runehammer1]

i dont do those. they are boring and put my players on camera. all filmed dnd play is acting.

[@OverlordOfEcchi]

Dude, are you Alaskan? I mean I'm drinking an Alaskan brewing co. Freeride Pale Ale right now!

[@Runehammer1]

nope..Washington ppl

[@samuellefischer9596]

Awesome!!! I'm in Seattle

[@Bungwirez]

WWHD: go all meta. (ROFL)

[@narutofan33323]

ya should put a tip link in the description

[@Runehammer1]

click 'support this channel'

[@morevar3950]

Hey do you stream your games? If not, PLEASE STREAM THEM.

[@Runehammer1]

nope..the cameras just change things too much...

[@Atrahasis7]

Whats your advice on making npcs? the dm rulebook is too vague

[@Runehammer1]

i keep them very simple...otherwise they take attention from the heroes. Most of my npc's are just flimsy and disposable..with NO LINES lol. only very rarely do they hav epersoanlity or any real info of use

[@Atrahasis7]

I have been making them vague as well and as simple quest givers but I like giving them personalities, but I usually do that in other ways. My party saved a kid of a Baron in Greyhawk, whose family has an ancient feud with yuan ti. I relay much of the npc characteristics briefly through him and its working. And it works to con the PCs because it can be a unreliable narrator.

[@FirstRoundFireball]

with the air conditioner?

[@Runehammer1]

twas hot!

[@machinenoise9622]

+Drunkens & Dragons: Play D&D Like a Badass The air conditioner is in reference to the groups NPC - an elemental ice fueled metal construct.

[@BrianTChamberlin]

Professional DM? Working at a gaming shop? Game Company?

[@Runehammer1]

wheelhouseworkshop

[@germandiaz1742]

4 month whit out resting there is no way. right?

[@bosspve6223]

Hank where does motivation come from where does completing something come from? How can I work on something everyday, I know if it was easy, everyone would do it. Help me hank. I am everyone.

[@Runehammer1]

it come from deep down...its always very very hard to stay at it..with anything! for me it starts with staying in teh gym, constantly reminding myself "countless people were skewered so i could be here..i gotta do something cool!"

[@glaslackjxe3447]

those pesky players

[@theoutdoormechanic1416]

I have no friends that play this game

[@theophrastusbombastus1359]

"Fucking Underdark" - had to wipe my nose there for a second...

[@arkenfrost2914]

I need a group to play d&d with again....i miss it lol

[@lurodlr32]

me too, I moved away from everyone I know and have been too busy to start up again. Hopefully I'll be able to find a job that will leave me time for my hobbies and family.

[@thegameoverclub]

Thumbs up for Epic Flow Chart!! XD I salute you Hankerin

[@JustOneAsbesto]

NEVER STOP HANKERIN, FERINALE.

[@blablubb4553]

Dude, you‘ve shattered Toril into fragments, your heroes fly around in a floating galleon from fragment to fragment and have already survived months of play in the underdark - all while being below level 9?! What kind of gameplay do you plan to keep for level 15-20 ???

[@Runehammer1]

I don't we don't reach thos elevels because we don't like the slog of complexity. This campaign was a big part of creating ICRPG's non linear loot-based progression as a solution

[@Curratum]

I wish I had friends with whom to drink and play D&D... :L By which I mean, another great video man! I was on an RPG binge a few months ago and found your channel. No idea why I didn't subscribe then but I'm definitely doing it now! :D

[@elizanix]

After 6 campaigns in one game world, my players (half of them from day one, the rest new) did a timewipe to help reform the Empire that had fractured over the campaigns. And to start Campaign 7 with that same group, me and my two longest running players had to spend 3 hours after the sessions to recall everything, and how it butterfly effected out and what would effect what. All over about...2 and a half years? Playing weekly if not double length sessions once every couple months (10 hour sessions instead of 5/6 hours a week) Its crazy to look back and see how much got out of hand, how much, once I gave them the ability to effect the past and a certain family's bloodline, to then show them after a week break how things really went in the 50 year jump back to their own time(ish, give or take a centuryish) I have no clue where this is going, but damn if I don't love 5e and DnD. Thanks to your channel, I'm improving every sessions. Oh, just (last weds) did the "Dark Fantasy" Intro Room (Innocent child on a witch burning) It went over horribly well, they dimension door(ed) out, and now that entire county is hunting them...that'll be fun in two nights.

[@rogerfarley3300]

Amazing vid Hankerin! That sounds like it would make an epic campaign book... I would buy it...

[@jaysonscaccia3188]

I would totally buy a copy of your DM tomes just for some good reading

[@Metrognome110]

Love the vids man! I've learned a lot from you! Keep up the awesome work!

[@kieslodarkmoon2761]

I like this idea, though I gotta get better at DMing before I can really go that far lol

[@ThePoonder]

Hank is the best. Hands down.

[@cameronmaas2644]

This is still one of my favorite runehammer videos

[@francoisbrassardlahey8482]

Awesome as always.You are a gentleman and a scholar!

[@jamesc.2054]

Wait, are we talking about *the* Lord Soth? Loren Soth? Knight of the Black Rose? I haven't read any of the Phandelver stuff, but has Soth end up in the Realms?

[@Runehammer1]

only in our nutty campaign

[@theoutdoormechanic1416]

I have no friends that play this game

[@RagingWyvern]

I want your armor

[@jonathanbrouwer8795]

The main point you bring it all home with at the end, that you can't plan out these great campaigns, is totally at the heart of Dungeon World. "Draw sparse maps and leave a lot of blank spaces." You don't plan it all out because half the story gets invented on the fly by everyone at the table. Dungeon World focuses on this a lot-- one of the many reasons why that game system kicks ass.

[@NicholasBrown-og_frenzy_ix]

Really have been enjoying your content! It's a lot of help for a newer DM!

[@DrKeggs99]

Great Job Sir! Fantastic Content subbed

[@williamhudson3165]

HI there. I've watched a few of your videos and they help me a great deal and I want to say thank you for that. I don't know if you will see this message for how old the video is but I thought I should ask. How do you do your campaign writing? where do you work on it? I find it very hard to actually find much uninterrupted time to write details of my world. Also what inspiration do you have to work with if any at all? Sorry if you mentioned this and I didn't catch it.

[@buavhlebac2953]

William Hudson In my opinion you need to choose what kind of fantasy you want (he talks about them in 3 encounters for campaign). You should stick to the theme as much as possible and shape your world around that one idea. And of course educate yourself on your theme. For example, if you're going to do dark fantasy you should watch dark fantasy movies, read books and play video games (from which I recommend Diablo both games and books). Hope it helps :)

[@Runehammer1]

one night at a time