Campaign Update: The Keep on the Borderlands (DungeonCraft #61)

[@markporter3522]

The first d&d adventure I ever played. I was 11. I’m now DM’ing for a brand new group- forty years later and have bought this module out of nostalgia.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

It is a GREAT module. Only now that I' 50 and have run it a dozen times do I realize how perfect it is.

[@jonathanduplantis1403]

Me too, 11 and kotbl

[@oldercloudify]

We played through this module many times. We put a halfling in a chest and tried to deposit him into the bank. Our intent was to rob the bank, of course, but I can't remember how that played out. I suspect that the halfling died horribly.

[@biffstrong1079]

Nice. I think they did have big vaults in the bottom of the bank. Very Gringott's. Our thief tried to rob the jeweller. He was 6'8". I'm still not sure how the guards in the keep didn't realize our 6'8" adventurer was the failed Jewel thief that the guard saw running away.

[@DMRaptorJesus]

Your channel and Runehammer are the best for getting the most out of RPGs with least amount of effort from the DM. Love watching your shows.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

You put us in the same sentence as RUNEHAMMER?! Highest compliment EVER!

[@euansmith3699]

I like the idea of visitors having to hand in their shields. The guards could display the shields, so that people could tell, at a glance, who is in town. This could be great for a game involving heraldry and duelling.

[@dyabolikalpvp2775]

I loved the mention of the Village of Hommlet from the Temple of Elemental Evil. Keep on the Borderlands was the first adventure I ever played in D&D and i now run friends through it. Its a great module.

[@ripper1157]

This is some of the best content on KZbin let alone your D&D and role-playing game coverage is absolutely parliament and needs to be recognized more!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you. Pass this video on! More of this type in the pipeline.

[@man_in_the_robe_production4338]

I keep finding myself rewatching these campaign recaps. They’re so good, the best on KZbin!

[@dongeonmaster8547]

Me too.

[@tyrellrutledge52]

Yes I love the unique style I’ve probably watched 4 x

[@Grimlore82]

I keep relistening to these campaign videos weekly while I build my own homebrew world. I am 38 today and I cut my teeth on AD&D, spent decades in 2e. I familiarize with the content. Awe level drain, etc. Good times. Damn good inspiration here and at Runehammer both. Questing Beast is a must listen as well. The three are a complete ven diagram of OSR based grim dark awesomeness!

[@JorisVDC]

I love how you succeed in packing all this information in short video's. Far better than viewing whole 2 hours sessions and not understanding so much on what really works, and what doesn't;

[@thereluctanthireling]

God, I love Keep on the Borderlands....this past year I ran my 5E group through my version of it, this was before the Into the Borderlands released or at least before I had a copy, we had a blast. So many fun factions and places to just add in anything for your campaign. I actually inserted in Broodmother Skyfortress into that campaign just to really make it crazy, good times!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Sometimes simple is better!

[@trynda1701]

And so it REALLY begins! Bravo to the players for getting that far, you really put them through a grim wringer! 👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks for watching these old videos. Have you seen my latest, The Demon Tailor? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bX2mfXmmhcZkf68

[@sargondp69]

Sounds like a great campaign to play. I really like the changes, esp no magic healing fixes but a crazy knife happy surgeon.

[@paulbooth1917]

Love the simplified old school feel from your adventure ideas Going to try them with my group 5th edition d&d is ok but your right theres to much un necessary fluff

[@elgatochurro]

Savage Worlds is so much of just what you need tbh... And open Really prefer the rules and game system over anything else

[@princesspunkinn9958]

thanks for making all these videos. you're the first dm I've found who runs your games pretty much the way I have always thought they should be done. I've been thinking about trying dming again and with the stuff I've learned from some of your videos, I think ill be able to do pretty well.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

LOL. I'll let you in on a secret: All pro designers secretly run D&D this way! Ask Tracy Hickman at any convention. I'm sure you'll do fine! And thanks for taking the time to write!

[@jh1859]

Your message board concept is paradigm shifting. Not a bad icebreaker.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks! Share this video if you know someone else who may dig it.

[@dongeonmaster8547]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 , I did it. I'll be adding message boards to my campaigns.

[@nemooh]

I love the way you handled this!!!

[@lashwrithe01]

Had an idea on the board. Never thought to do a cork board with actual leads on it. I am definitely going to buy a cork board. Thanks for the idea!

[@CraftsAndMinis]

Top notch! I love hearing about your tweaks and approach

[@OminousGlowGames]

I eagerly await your video on clerics. I'm also interested in how players enter into apprenticeship with mages and clerics getting ordained in your world.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Working on clerics today, because it's most request topic. Apprenticeships....hmmmmm......that's probably an entire episode and it will take some time to congeal in the mass of electrified jelly that is my brain.

[@israelmorales4249]

i will miss those goblins

[@elrond3737]

I watched a bunch of your vids last night and today. Good ideas. I plan to use a few. I found you because i am doing a retro Keep on the borderlands sand box type adventure/campaign with my family. I am adapting it to pathfinder and setting it next to a few Pathfinder prepacked dungeons and throwing in my own as well as D&D stuff. It will be my kids 2nd campaign and it will be harder/gritter. Your videos made me decide to go with 0 level characters to start. I have done that with adults in the past with fairly grim results. Once a player of mine critically fumbled his cast Iron frying pan and killed himself. Awesome. Keep up the good work.

[@johnr7279]

Nice one! Really dug that notice board. Any kind of interactive prop like that brings the game to life for players and promotes a sandbox environment!

[@darrenp9454]

You were right, Dan, I did enjoy it. By the way, I've been using a similar message board but I used some green stuff to make the thumb tacks look like iron nails and then painted them as such.

[@StephenDukenski]

GREAT stuff as always! So happy you've got so much lined up. This is my favorite rpg channel.

[@LakeVermilionDreams]

OK, I think I'd love to try your game at some point, either as a DM or player. There's a lot of rules I don't agree with for my own table, but you have some incredible ideas and I'm more and more impressed with your channel, and your interactions with your fanbase. Thank you, Prof. DM!

[@felisleo101]

I'm really looking forward to the painting videos. I truly admire your painting work.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks. There's one coming next week.

[@CJ_esc.artist]

More great stuff Professor Dungeon! Keep it coming...on the Borderlands.

[@Lodane]

I highly value the Hackmaster versions of classic modules. When trying to boil an adventure down to the bones, they provide a really unique insight into the skeleton. Great illustrations, too.

[@OminousGlowGames]

Nice bulletin board. Thanks for all the videos thus far. Can't wait to see what is in store for this year.

[@Tysto]

The main thing to plan for, i think, aside from a few orcs here & there, is some kind of personal drama. Having prisoners to save, getting trapped, being betrayed, a villain who taunts the heroes… that’s the stuff that make an adventure memorable.

[@TabletopThoughts]

I enjoy this channel a lot. I am glad others are finding your channel and subscribing.

[@beeezlebub]

I feel the same way, It's really great content always.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Me too! Because it's an insane amount of work.

[@beeezlebub]

🤣👌, well worth it!!!

[@JeffDrennen]

I Love your idea for the message board.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

It was inspired by from Hackmaster's Little Keep on the Borderlands, which is a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!

[@JeffDrennen]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Will do thanks.

[@erikmartin4996]

You mentioned in one of your videos that you’ve had modules published in Dungeon. May I ask which issues? I’d like to read some of your work.

[@Barquevious_Jackson]

Look under the name Dan DeFazio, the one that comes to mind first is On Hollowed Ground.

[@dongeonmaster8547]

"Nothing is given everything must be won."

[@Kimberly-qz1jr]

The message board was awesome! My players and I play online, so that wouldn't work for me, but I love it.

[@mypoopsis]

I've never learned so much about this

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Stay tuned for more!

[@mypoopsis]

I will

[@jacobvanveit3437]

Job board, tactile, and brilliant! I notice a theme with you’re DM style, everything is physical in nature. Mimi’s for combat, keeps, Cobble stone roads, trees and dungeons. What happens when the players go off reserve? I guess my question is (and is a big reason I don’t use mini’s) how do you handle a situation that isn’t laid out on the battle board? Theatre of the mind? Pause and assemble a small battle board, fumbling through all the placements and resuming? Do you use a flat LCD screen to bring up a battle board (this is what I do), or do you draw out on a 3x3 hex map what they are up against? As always, great stuff Professor! Congrats on your success with you’re channel!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Without minis I don't use a battle board. It's pure Theater of the Mind. TOTM has three huge advantages--it's faster, easier to clean up, and more abstract. Yes, there may be more arguments because the player cant see the rubble blocks his archer's shot at the orc. But it's an advantage because it's more abstract and malleable. The best video I've see on this topic is an episode of Runehammer where Hank demonstrates Index Card RPG. Check them out.

[@jacobvanveit3437]

DUNGEON CRAFT thanks for introducing me to Hank’s content. He’s definitely a creative DM with great ideas for journaling, map design and making creative use of monsters to make them feel more then just a stat block.

[@beeezlebub]

Happy New Year Prof. DM! Here's to all the great video to come 2019. You bet your ass I'll be right here enjoying every second of them!! 🤘🧙‍♂️

[@trouqe]

Woohoo, caught up from grinding videos. I do much prefer to know your process on creating your campaign. Thanks for the update on future videos. I'll think about future topics that I believe would be beneficial from a traditional gamer for the modern world.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

People like you asked for it, so I am delivering. It's not easy. Campaign updates are tough because they require LOTS of editing. Thanks for your vote of confidence and please share!

[@burningphoneix]

This video confused me because I thought the Shattered Empire videos were on hold while you ran a Keep on the Borderlands campaign. I'm glad because I grew attached to those 0-level nobodies.

[@tomdulski3729]

Can't wait to see the Cleric video.

[@BearlyOutdoors]

P.S. How much would you charge for a PDF copy of your black book pages? I would like to learn from and use the format for future adventures. Again, best. McM

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Probably $1. Eventually there will be a Dungencraft store, but not yet. I suggest making your own--that's how I learn the adventure. I don't know how to do it any other way.

[@paulofrota3958]

Wel... based on your quality, 4k is nothing. You'll reach 400k soon :-)

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

That's really kind of you to say. I'll keep trying my best. Thanks for the encouragement and for sharing!

[@tbb4023]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 You made it from 4k to 40k. Just 1.33 years. Good work!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

@@tbb4023 Thanks, Michael. It's a lot of hard work, especially with the recent videos. They hit a brick wall after 10k. Still trying, though. Thanks for commenting!

[@MrSturlin]

I thought the previous retrospective served as a neat little summary, but I understand why you skipped it. Just wanted to let you know that my friends and I are really enjoying your content, and we are sure to mention you to others whenever we have nerd time at local gaming shops.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I appreciate that, Mr.Sturlin. Thanks for watching!

[@stevethomas5978]

Happy New Year! Love your videos. I always come away with a ton of new ideas after watching your videos. Looking forward to many more in '19. Ty

[@paulvalentine4157]

Congrats, you have grown to 12K very fast!

[@crunchydragontreats6692]

Lots of great ideas and concepts in this video and on this channel. Thanks for all you do Professor. Replacing the keep with a city I stole. Bridgepuddle is now Lastbridge. Renaming and reskining the caves and calling them The Howling Hills. If you recognize the name of the city I stole then you know what is coming down the pipe. Until then its all fun and games killing monsters in the Hills. lol JK. I plan on making my players joyfully and morally uncomfortable at every turn. My players knew going in that this was a grimdark world where actions have consequences. First fight out of the gate and they killed an innocent man transporting his wife and children out of danger... OR so his alleged wife told them... Good times and mysteries in the city and grim discoveries in the Hills. Can't wait to see how all this plays out. Grab your ketchup and crunch away my friends.

[@tuesdaejade364]

Love your channel and i'm really liking these campaign updates. I looked through and don't see campaign updates after the owlbear. are there more?? Really digging this grimdark setting.

[@robertwarren4734]

@7:23 I need to put this up on the cork board outside of my office

[@adamirish]

A ton of great content. I appreciate your updates on the different sections. Tons of great ideas for DMs! I took the idea of group initiative and it really sped things up. Also, I'd love to hear how you deal with the RP demands of being DM. I'm not a great stage actor and neither are my players (can do a couple accents) but I find my players' PCs love interacting with NPCs. Sometimes, I get stymied sometimes trying to up the drama or facilitate an excellent exchange. Any thoughts on keeping up rapid, interesting dialogue with the players?

[@scottgerrels116]

PDM - Love the series!! I was wondering - you displayed how you handled the witch and apprentices within your 0 level game. How did you handle players that wanted to become priests?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks for watching. Priests join a church and gain their spells through prayer. Each cleric reports to a Bishop who supervises them and sends them on quests.

[@MsGorteck]

And at this point in time you have over nine thousand. Not only do you describe the how and why you do things well, you also tell a good story. I would like to know how many players are in your group, and how many of their original characters made it to first level. Also, you say you like low magic games, or at least for this game that was the case, how do you run a mage or cleric? If a surviving 0lv character upon reaching 1lv wants to be a magic using character, can they? (Magic= divine & hermetic)

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Great questions. Answers: Groups (there are 3) contain 4,4,& 6. Of the original characters, about 10 made it to 1st level. For magic experience, check out "The Manskinner," Owlbear, and 3 NPC video (the one that just got released). The witch teaches spells, parcelling out one spell per session. Cheers!

[@WargameCulture]

Soooo, I am really late to the party, but I wanted to say that I really enjoy your videos and thank you for putting in the effort to making them. Quick Q on the quick ref notebook, did you cut out some pages so you could paste all those inserts in? and where did you get the drawing of the keep? thanks

[@davidnata1983]

Great videos. I've really liked the dark and gritty beginning of this campaign. How do you reintroduce your PC characters when they've been killed and resort to their stock of backups? I presume they must wait for a sensible entrance provided by the story and that they begin at level 0? Perhaps with opportunities to catch up with any other player levels by surviving and attaining higher xp from the same encounters?

[@efawscuba610]

Should come back to these older videos and add the patreon link

[@erikmartin4996]

You mentioned in one of your videos that you wished you were as good as Colville in presentation. I would say you are his equal but in a less “acquired taste” way. Colvilles machine gun delivery doesn’t appeal to everyone. While you may not have made a million bucks on Kickstarter I think this channel is only going up.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I love Matt Coleville and I admire his delivery. I wish I could think that fast while looking straight into a camera.

[@SinisterGamingTabletop]

Would you mind letting me know where you got your Coach and Horses Mini? I love that thing!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

It's GW Karl Franz's coach for their Warhammer line.

[@SinisterGamingTabletop]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 thank you!

[@NovaMoonstar]

In future videos, did your player characters return to Haven and then defeat the “Beast Cultists / Vermin Lord” that killed their family and friends, while burning down their homes and workplaces?

[@joseacevedo8314]

There's no twitter in a grimdark game!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Jose Acevedo Nope.

[@barryxanchez2965]

Good campaign

[@matteofurlotti6211]

always good stuff :)

[@Motavian]

Concerning the odd jobs on your quest board, will your players trigger a series of planned encounters when they disembark on an escort job or do you kind of just let the random encounter procedures and things they would normally find if they explored that region fill in the blanks?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

It depends. Sometimes I plan it but I love random charts.

[@Motavian]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I like the idea of an overworld that's so well developed that you can fall back on that stuff that's just there and still have adventures with lots of player choices that play out in unexpected but logical ways.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Me too!

[@jeffallen559]

Did you ever publish a complete write up of your Caves of Carnage?

[@BearlyOutdoors]

Psst...Prof of DC, who won the prize in DC #59.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

You'll find out Thursday!

[@SimeonDenk]

If all of the characters automatically attain 1st level upon arriving at the Keep on the Borderlands, then what was the point of starting them at -10 exp and advancing them to -3 exp?

[@sicantreis]

Any chance you can organize your video's to put all the Campaign videos into a single category. Trying to find them and watch them in order is kinda tough :(

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Yes. Just organized them into their own playlist. Cheers!

[@sicantreis]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 - Thank you :)

[@timothygutierrez]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 This one seemed to be off the list. Loved the recaps enough that I ventured off the Bone Road to find it. Hope the weather is fine on my return.

[@thomaskiser3886]

Where is that castle miniature thing from?!?

[@SunshineJ15]

Where is the Munchburger mini from?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

James Arters Wizkids

[@SunshineJ15]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Thanks! I should have said "Your videos are a true inspiration; where does that mini come from?".

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

@@SunshineJ15 That's OKAY. I understood what you meant. You can get them at any hobby story online. He is called "merchant" and comes in a 2-pack.

[@ArvelDreth]

Why do they export goblin flesh?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Because humans want slaves because they're selfish and cruel.

[@nobody342]

Forget about the Facebook page, People are dropping FB. Dont waste your time on that.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

What are they turning to? Suggestions?

[@nobody342]

I dont use any Social Media, so I not sure what the best alternative is, but I know lots of people I know are dropping FB because of privacy issues, political issues, etc. Long run, creating your own website would be best, I would guess, gives you more control, ownership, etc, but more difficult. Its been a long time since I had a site, ( well, shared one with my brother sorta). Others could probably tell you how to create one better than I could

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks,@@nobody342. I'm looking into it.

[@lindy9196]

Why talk to anyone and roleplay when there's a job tree?

[@swirvinbirds1971]

Maybe because the job board gives you names of people to talk to and where you can find them. I don't see how this removes roleplaying or talking to people...

[@christophseel8757]

We are almost at 4000 subscribers 😂🎉

[@strygian192]

munchburger....lol

[@dirigoallagash3464]

Stop calling this D&D! This is Warhammer Fantasy Role Play in all it's glory. SNOTLINGS! Good stuff, PDM, really enjoy these. :-)

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

You are perceptive. WFRP was a huge influence on my style. Matter of fact, my 25 year old campaign (yes--you read that right) began as WFRP. The problem with that game is the combat is overly complex, slow, and surprisingly un-lethal. That "grim and perilous" was hype from the rulebook; the D&D mechanics are FAR more "grim and perilous" if you simply cap everyone at 15hp. I may dedicate an entire episode to it.

[@zaqcausey8514]

stole so much from this

[@knightofsvea604]

I Love the reality of your games, but so far i have hade No luck finding players who wana play like this. Eighter they are completly new to DnD and therefore only play 5e with extra cushions on the Side, or they play pathfinder or 3.5 and therefore dont wana change anything... Is there any community where they play oldschool like this?

[@ForeverYoungKickboxer]

If you are anywhere close to Central PA and want to run a game, I have at least 2 grognards, likely 1-4 others, who would travel regularly