D&D RANKINGS - DUNGEON MASTERS

[@drekbleh7081]

Zee Bashew brought up quite possibly the most important aspect of a DM, to make rulings that are fair concise and can be answered in less than a minute. His quote: "I hate that we have to do this Socrates shet[...] but... WHAT IS A OBJECT?(in context of a spell)"

[@kneeofjustice9619]

I’m the DM where everyone is like “we love your games, they’re fun” and I’m like “really? I thought I did horribly”

[@esperthebard]

It can be surprising. If a GM just simply has a baseline competence along with a good attitude, the players will probably have a great time.

[@chazzle3459]

I think we all go through that as DMs, especially at first. I'm sure you're doing just fine. Like Esper said baseline game knowledge with a good attitude is enough for everyone to have a good time.

[@kevinwheeler7427]

You’re probably doing great! We are all that GM at least a little. The imposter syndrome is real.

[@sollbruchstelleamknicklich9495]

humble brag combined with fishing for compliments to soothe those self doubts.

[@thehonestcompany867]

That is such a fucking mood, my players remember more about my games than I do

[@vinterbjork4128]

I would like to add a new F-tier GM. The Genie, also known as the speaker of half-truths. They let players and characters miss important thing, like things the layout of the combat area or information that characters should know, like a Ranger knowing where and how to build camps. The bad version, the classical genie twist, makes sure to punish the players for these thing at every chance. Often masking their i’ll intent with a ”You didn’t ask”, or ”I asked if you were sure” without providing any new information.

[@esperthebard]

Yeah man, antagonist GMs. They treat the game like it's players vs. the GM ... which violates the trust of the whole experience and poisons the spirit of the shared storytelling.

[@quasarsword7479]

It was 1992. I played 1 game of D&d with my mom and her friends. I was 11. With no books or dice. Only using my character sheet, I made a game to play with my friends. We used monopoly d6 dice. Very fun. Very raw

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

I get you. September, 1983. My first campaign begins. The town map was drawn on a piece of typing paper, with Monopoly houses and hotels stuck to it. 😅 Those were the days. 😔

[@lankyfranki3]

@@homebrewisthebestbrew5270don’t let nostalgia rob you of the enjoyment of the present

[@raytheerudite5252]

Ah glorious Positive F Tier. This brings back memories of the 1980’s and trying to run a D&D game using the rules glossary of a D&D video game. (We had no official published books)

[@esperthebard]

Yeah brings back memories of middle school for me. We had only the most primitive understanding of how RPGs should work, largely just made stuff up, and the whole organizational side was a total mess. But we had great times and really got immersed in the adventures.

[@dracos24]

I completely forgot that the Gold Box games often had a manual full of the D&D rules in them, but you know... generally useless.

[@markhumphreys4496]

I love this comment section so full of memories and good times

[@SuperGamefreak18]

I feel called out… thankfully apart of the positive side

[@kathyevans3251]

I loved this video.I agree one has to try running a game sometimes. I have been on this journey.I have also expeienced some of these types of fame masters.

[@istarilight]

Guys, talk to your players, and LISTEN to what they ask for, then plan with their words in mind. It's surprising how much one improves their GM'ing skills just by working like that. I'll even go out on a limb and say you can't be lower than C tier if you consistently work like this.

[@WayneBraack]

I quite agree. When I was a DM I often involved my players in decisions on what dice they rolled to avoid or succeed and why they chose certain things, what bonuses do you think apply? If it makes any sense at all I'll go with that! And I took notes on table talk, instead of asking what they wanted in the story, I just listened to their table talk/ideas and then incorporated that into the game. I liked this because until we talked about the story after they never knew I was taking cues from them.

[@derrabbit7289]

My DM Story I started as a player just a year or two before the pandemic. We lost our gaming group and we lost our place to play. After the pandemic, a new gaming place rose from the ashes of the old, and the gauntlet of DM sat there on the table. Several of my friends talked of maybe setting up a game, but their words boiled down to a maybe that I have come to learn is a Wishiwashi way of saying never. So I picked up the gauntlet. I found some old Grognards who could teach me, then I poured my passion and love and discipline into the act and claimed the gaming room and bought the materials. I shook like a leaf while setting up the first night, but when the players got there its like I stepped into character. Mundora came to life that night, in the city of Faddleburg, where the characters started off at Lv 0 and found their choices and decisions mattered. I build the world and my players live in it and choose where to go and what to do. The woodsman, the leather salesman, the tailor, and others would go on to become the Warlock, the Artificer, the Cleric, the Engineer and the Druid. The Band of the Barrel, the Borderlands greatest heroes, knights of the Emerald Kingdom, and also the greatest threat to any foolish enough to challenge them. I am the DM of Mundora, I am consequence, and I am the turning of the wheel. But the borderlands have been shaped not by my decisions but by my players choices. In this life that threatens to crush my soul and grind me to dust, the best part of every week is setting up for the next session and seeing what a mess of any plans I made the players will make. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

Positive F-Tier and D-Tier DMs: this is where S-Tier players step up and stay patient, helpful, and supportive. You WANT them to succeed!

[@gmradio2436]

I am not a great GM. I am at best, passable, but I hope to improve. I hope my players have fun. A decade of GMing and I am still learning. I hope to continue learning. May your games be fun, and you NPCs memorable.

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

Been DMing for 40+ years now. So long as your players are smiling at the table and keep coming back for more, you're doing something right. Keep it up! There's always something new to learn about how to run a game. Best of luck! 😊

[@gmradio2436]

@@homebrewisthebestbrew5270 Thank you for the kind words. I will try to improve my skills.

[@TabletopBob]

Great video, Esper! I feel like you described the journey so accurately. The positives and the negatives 😅

[@esperthebard]

I spent a long time in the low tiers, so I really know firsthand!

[@jay_caspian2050]

I love these frequent rankings, Esper. You’re amazing.

[@lVladimirl]

"the torturer" aka the guy who gothe wrong memo and confused the word, "dungeon master", instead of a gm screen bro got a whip and a dream

[@georgemercer402]

A campaign I've been working on for some time now is extremely long, so I don't know where to put one as ambitious as myself; my all-over BBEG is an unspeakable abomination of several evil patrions considering the way it comes about.

[@UselessKobold]

In my honest opinion, I love DMing. The ability to tell stories with some buds of yours has always enthralled me. I feel like my worldbuilding has gone on a similar journey to my DMing.

[@elgatochurro]

Story telling?

[@singingcrow439]

I remember my first few dming sessions and the lessons I learned from them. Most importantly always talk to the players about their characters before the campaign starts, to make their backstories important and create balanced and fun encounters. My first few sessions were me just trying to improvise it because the players characters just didnt fit the setting I imagine. My first halloween based campaign involved easy fights, notably a sorcerer warlock blood hunter multiclass nearly one shotting an adult black dragon. These campaigns were still fun though and im happy with my improvements. Tldr: The story should start before you play.

[@jakewarman7277]

Monty Martin of the dungeon dudes S tear I will accept no argument.

[@grandmasterrodimus1480]

I have 39years of role-playing experience & 34years of GM/DM experience... ive written entire games & play testsd RPGs currently for sale & I have most of a world created for 5e... id like to consider myself at least A tier.... salute people!

[@shanehiggs1779]

I love DMing, but I feel like I'm in the C range. It feels like a slog for me at times...so I'm sure players feel that way too.

[@adamxei9073]

I think you are a S-tier DM Esper 😎

[@joydjinn8692]

Sometimes, what the players need is not necessarily the grandmaster. Sometime, what the player need is a GM that priorities the fun and amusement of the player. In my eye, if you can achieve that, then you have succeeded as a GM, no matter where you are in that ranking.

[@omega1735]

I don’t know how it would go with another group but my dming seems to work for my friend group so I think I’m doing alright

[@onemisterfranko]

Same here

[@clevererjunior8422]

1st

[@esperthebard]

Clever Junior wins initiative! What do you do?

[@clevererjunior8422]

Do not compute do not compute

[@esbenandersen2168]

In my experience if "the apprentice" has a few very experienced players who help out, the lack of knowledge on rules and the flow of combat etc. is almost negligible.

[@esperthebard]

That's a good point. And if the apprentice GM has a good attitude and an engaging energy, the game will already be really enjoyable.

[@onemisterfranko]

Definitely, having at least one or two solid players that know their stuff and are helpful is great. That's nice for any level gm honastly.

[@brandonraver1200]

Im ready for this video, ive wanted this for a while!

[@esperthebard]

No kidding? I was thinking yesterday, "How in the world haven't I made a GM Tiers video already?"

[@giorgioguolo7196]

​@@esperthebarddamn you did this in a day

to be totally honest I never made it near S tier, I think (and was told many times) I was A tier per Esper's rating. Though I lacked a lot of confidence and always felt I was letting the players down. Much the same with my writing I think my biggest flaw is I have these things in my head that are amazing to me, but I can't always set them out in a way that feels right to me. I do remember being the D and C tier DM though I always lacked the Tyrannical nature, in fact I think I was too easy due to my own self-doubt I tended to second guess when a player argued with me unless I was 1000% sure I was right. I had a huge benefit that one of the best GM's I have ever met sat down with me and let me co-GM with them in a few games and walked me thought their thought process and taught me a TON about being a good GM. I hope I was 1/2 as good as they were, they were absolutely S tier IMO, their campaigns were the type of thing you would have dreams and nightmares about because they were so vivid and felt so real, at the same time losing none of their fantastic nature. If I was going to rate myself, I would say I may have made it to a solid B tier on a good day.

[@dandrive3249]

I have been Gming since 2014 and it's been a long winding road. I started off as a novice dm for a party that was full of really bad people. All with the goal in mind to inspire others in life and help them grow. I see myself in all of these tiers good and bad. Currently, I say I am at A tier. I tend to lean to the bad side as I started DMing in person again after having a great 2 and a half year Digimon-themed campaign. It's been weird having to relearn certain mechanics and tricks that work well in a Spell jammer campaign that doesn't work at all in a Digimon-themed one. It's left me a bit paranoid, but I am trying to get into the flow once again. Ironically one of the themes of my campaign is adaptation and moving past one's ego. I have had to do a lot to shift from the bad side of A tier to the good side. It is fascinating how much destiny seems to play in DMing, I can't tell you how many times the bad guys or the players have taught me a lesson. Just like a Jungian shadow, there is a treasure in the darkness. I also can't tell you how many time character ideas just line up perfectly with what I have planned there is a flow and synchronicity to it. My advice for new DM's is to try and be open to your player's ideas and search within yourself, your very being for your truth and ideals.

[@naterslayer8924]

I think I am on the edge of being a Master DM, for let my players do what they wish and change my game to meet them in the middle, on top of that I do not worry about any META things like character builds. However, I am still working on the quality of my games and I know I still have a lot to learn.

[@Snowie7826]

Yep, same. I'm somewhere between B and A, at least according to my players' feedback. It's a great feeling, seeing how much fun they all have, even when the in-character moments are stressful as hell.

[@esperthebard]

That's fantastic! Keep going, keep progressing. And hey, maybe you'll be a DM in the huge community mega-campaign I'm going to organize.

[@tsdted5029]

And where my dear friend do you consider yourself on this list? I know where I would rank you

[@thaisahickey8374]

That’s interesting. Where would you rank him?

[@tsdted5029]

​@@thaisahickey8374 I would have to add yet another tier. The 'G' tier or 'God Tier'. He who breathes life into the game with every breath. He who allows for character growth and exploration while somehow keeping things moving towards the goals. Characters bloom, develop, connect their back stories and the audience never feels bored or apathetic. Someone who seems to have considered every possibility and has planned accordingly. Or perhaps he hasn't and just has such an amazing flow that, like a river, encompasses obstacles and moves all forward. Esper has rekindled my love for DnD after a 30yr absence and I appreciate all he does.

[@tsdted5029]

​@@thaisahickey8374 although I don't see Esper putting himself in a tier like this. Those who are great at something rarely see themselves as such

[@garrethatch5362]

Problem with this question is that its a killer to the humble, if you call yourself an S or A then humble you are not. This is more a title that others must bestow on another with a clear mind

[@loganfrandrup6590]

I'm going to be honest, I would not say that I am a good DM, like I am the head director for a cardboard theater run by kobold stage hands and a small budget. But at the end of the day, if my players are having fun and coming back for more, and even my partner is enjoying my own games, I think I can be happy with what I am doing as I go along. Heck, I heard the call to DM only after a few sessions after I stepped away from the screen to be a player for a little bit, and here is hoping that I make something that will spark more creativity in others.

[@AeronHale]

Sadly as much as I would to love trying to DM I have a distict lack of willing &/or available players. I even have a fair few ideas for what sorta games I'd want to try and run.

[@sko_psy]

reminds me of old College Humor videos, 7+ years back. Like six ways you see your dad or smth like that. Btw, GMs from my point of view are always little bit of father's figures. Representing you to the WORLD and the world - to you. And careing for it to be chalenging in order to make a great life for everyone involved. Broadcasting the values, making it fun and making all of you stronger in social, knowledgible (if i use the word correctly) and more expirienced))

[@RossoCarne]

Your D-tier negative sounds like every DnD youtuber who does things "Old School"

[@royart4781]

Im either a star struck or that one level above... or somewhere in between...

[@SuperGamefreak18]

Wonder what me and my dm are considered on this list… guessing I’m an artisan at this point lol Our groups main is the positive A tier

[@RP-Dai]

Good to know that I am a F Rank Newborn, My first campaign end on a TPK(solo player)🤣. Great video Esper.

[@esperthebard]

I started there too. Keep going 🙏

[@lukaspollard1048]

Have you ever been a DM of a single, ongoing campaign for 4 years, just to find out that you're somewhere in tier C? *sobs in corner*

[@esperthebard]

I feel ya. I was in the lower tiers for a really long time, running long campaigns ... they had plenty of cool elements and great moments, but also tons of me stupidly being a tyrant or sophomoric renegade.

[@guilherme...600]

I think I am a mixture on C tier Positive and C tier Negative

[@guilherme...600]

Look easy to go to the B tier, I can let it flow a time or other, but somethimes it falls in a weird campaing... So it is a bit wrong to call myself a expert

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

Instructions unclear: I am now a guitar legend

[@starcrafter13terran]

8:44 Brendan Lee Mulligan

[@yossiharr]

the new music is awesome

[@diredm3889]

What is the Bad version of S? I'm guessing its when you don't die a hero instead live long enough to see your self become a villain

[@glif1360]

"The Devil" a.k.a. the guy who enjoys his ability to challenge the real-life beliefs of the players through subtle placement of ideas. He believes himself to be some kind of "moral authority" and provides "lessons" for the players. The lessons are convincing and unintrusive enough, but the DM's morals are dubious at best.

[@diredm3889]

@@glif1360 I agree OR Or the Super Awsome GM BUT they use there fame to get fans to send them nake pics

[@onemisterfranko]

I've been running my first game for about 3 years. I just hope the table has fun. That's the goal, and my players tell me they have fun. I think I do some things well, I've still got things I could get better at it.

[@StoryWeaverSteve]

I feel Like I'm at a B+ A- range right now. Going to ask my players to check out the Video & See what they say.

[@randyruger9063]

If you have a D tier dm, be an A tier player and help them out without usurping the game.

[@CaseyWilkesmusic]

I feel like I swing between the negative C tier and positive B tier depending on if I am prepared or unprepared/burnt out

[@kevinsmith9013]

Had to make sure no one was standing up for microwaved corn-dogs. Disgusting.

[@esperthebard]

🌽🐕

[@THEFabianValenzuela]

Hi esper :D

[@yamatohekatsue9143]

I would possibly rank my current DM as a C+ im holding gis hand teaching him how to play 3.5e.and i would rank myself as a B+ but most of my former players say im the best DM ever but ive never felt that myself. 90% of my stuff is improvised but i take notes on things as i say them so i can comeback to them later

[@strahdvonzarovich...]

I do not like this cold video... all it did is lable people, segregate people, and place them into a check-box category... there's already too much of that in the real world, so I sure as 9 Hells don't need it or want it in my fantasy world. I'm sure I'll be alone or in the minority, but sorry Esper, this was a RARE bad video.

[@DangerousPuhson]

There's a lot of DM archetypes that could have been included in here. Maybe for the next video? "The Improvisor" "The Railroader" "The Inconsistent" "The Wish Fulfiller" "The Monty-Hauler" "The Redactor/Revisionist" "The DM-Who-Obviously-Wants-To-Be-A-Player" "The Lore Master" "The Inappropriate" "The Power-Tripper" "The Worldbuilder" "The Novelist" "The Adapter" "The Rule Pedant" "The Scatterbrain" "The Overprepper" "The Underprepper" "The Attention Wrangler" "The Mercer-Worshipper" etc., etc.

[@esperthebard]

Yes for sure, there are so many types of DMs, it could be a whole video series.

[@homebrewisthebestbrew5270]

"The Monty-Hauler". Damn, that one makes me feel old 🤣

[@dracos24]

I think DM/GM's are a product of early TTRPG's that should have a better solution by now. Its inherently problematic for a game's "success" to be so dependent on one person, and it seems like it should be more helpful for the tasks to be more automated or split between different players, allowing the "GM" to also participate in the normal gameplay.

[@lahrill]

I dont let people play monstrous races without explaining if they want to be an orc they will be treated like an orc in the exact way they would expect.