Storytelling As a Game Master with Peter Warren

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Peter Warren joins Brennan to discuss how studying screenwriting made them better DMs, & vice versa.
D20 is a series from CollegeHumor and DROPOUT.TV, created and DM'd by Brennan Lee Mulligan. It includes includes Fantasy High, Escape from the Bloodkeep and The Unsleeping City.
#collegehumor
#dropout
#BrennanLeeMulligan
#dnd

[@LemorasCards]

Man i hope these come back. This is some of the best content I've found in this hobby

[@lelandwhitehead56]

FYI the podcast version has another ~25 episodes after this

[@smith.9760]

Boy oh boy do I have good news for you

[@TartarusHimself]

That sounded like a bot, I linked a playlist that includes episodes after this one

[@nickwilliams8302]

I think the most important difference between GMing and writing is that an author poses dramatic questions to their audience which the author then answers, while a GM poses dramatic questions to the audience (the players) which _the audience themselves_ answer. The story that results from an RPG isn't "told" by any one person at the table; it just emerges from play. And yeah, definitely agree about the importance of _some_ kind of structure in _most_ campaigns. Absolute sandboxes tend to require highly invested, unusually proactive players.

[@lauriestewart2044]

Thank you so much for this, I've been trying to explain this to people for years but I could never find the words.

[@TartarusHimself]

Dnd isn’t a story *telling* game, it’s a story *building* game

[@wickedpissa25]

The comment at 27:34 "It feels like your story is telling itself to you". That is the greatest description I have ever heard of what it's like to DM a game! Wow! Perfect.

[@lukulus-prime]

DUDE. I was a biiiig Strong Female Protagonist reader back in high school, and I'm a big fan of Brennan now, and I'm finding out right now that he wrote it! That's incredible!!!!

[@Fella_friend]

What we did as a group when it got to large was to have 2 dms working on the same world making two story’s of adventures with both groups and then co dm the final sessions in one large group for the end of the saga in this Viking raid of the enemy castle

[@ellieswan8477]

that sounds way cool. how did the co-dming work?

[@Fella_friend]

@@ellieswan8477 pretty much just passed notes for important events in the same world then dm as normal

[@bismuthcrystal9658]

Wow, i do exactly what Peter describes most of the time: chuck 'em in an escape room. I don't do a lot of dungeons, but i almost always use one to start a campaign, just... in reverse. They're trying to get out. As that gives them a very clear goal, and it's a constrained and limited environment, so they don't get overwhelmed. It's so good for easing them into their characters, and for teaching them how to play, and/or how *I* play. I've used them waking up in the aftermath of a battle with their memories of the last few days missing, or in the middle of fighting orcs in a mountain pass or ancient dwarven mine, with the way back collapsed, or they've just stepped through a one-way portal. I always make the dungeon a bit of a cliché, with a twist. So we can just assume things are how they imagine it based on tropes. They can picture the Mines of Moria, say, and i'll tell them when it gets different. I generally have: A puzzle. The things to interact with will be limited, and wrong guesses will have consequences. Never, 'nothing happens.' I usually make the correct answer... hitting something. Because they *will* try that eventually. This is especially useful for not-new players, teaching them they don't always have to overthink things. An open-ended problem like a gap where a fall won't kill them. A place where searching a bit gets them a helpful item or piece of knowledge (which i will tell/hint to them they missed, in- or out-of-game, once it's too late). A combat encounter where the environment is clearly key - like putting them on a narrow ledge, or a rope bridge, or next to unsteady, crumbling pillars, or in a trapped hallway - so if they don't use the environment to their advantage, their enemies will, to teach them to be imaginative and not just roll attacks. Roleplaying. Conflicting factions of monsters they could side with/play off one another (love ya, Jennell Jaquays!). A stony guardian who's bored and doesn't want to let the PCs pass just because they're lonely. Rival adventurers, possibly going the opposite way, so they could trade information (and lie about it being a dead end and all the cool treasure they couldn't carry and thus make enemies, almost every time). Something with clear stakes, where the other side doesn't really want to fight, isn't entirely helpful, but whose goals *could* align.

[@XPokeSonicX]

I love Brennan so much and need him to know that I watched so much Dimension20 yesterday that he showed up in my dream.

[@darrenskeeter4246]

My god, that last question. If my group was doing that to me, i would lose my shit. Large group is one thing. Bringing ppl without a heads up. Omg. No. You're fired

[@finnj.harrison6139]

I’m glad this episode is finally out on KZbin, I have a Dropout-less friend who’s a new DM and I’ve been dying to send him this episode full of very helpful advice.

[@itllBuffGaming]

I know this is a year ago, but if he’s your friend, why didn’t you just give him access to your dropout account? Lol

[@gambitneedsnerfed6578]

Honestly one of my favorite podcasts right now! I can just turn on an episode and chill. Thank you Dimension 20. 😁

[@hannahjenks9811]

these are my little bookmarks for my senior capstone project on improv and compelling storytelling, pay them no mind 13:38-14:14 16:14-16:44 39:17-39:42

[@StrawberryCrush2000]

did you finish your capstone yet? how'd it go?

[@StefanTabit]

Give us an update!! Did you graduate????

[@hannahjenks9811]

@@StefanTabit unfortunately I didn't end up using this idea, my advisor recommended I choose my other option which was about the reasons why people watch true crime shows. I appreciate the interest though!

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

All fiction is about people making choices, under pressure. A great film gives a character a choice, then we watch them wrestle with it, rather than going along a predecided path. Which is why (I think) being a game director can be so healthy for a writer! The director's job is to set up those choices as questions, then putting the camera on a character and asking it. And that's whether the director is an author, or a dungeon master, or a film director, or, or, etc. The role of that fiction is to capture the moment where a decision is being made under pressure.

[@PapaWolfDogZeus]

The way he says "There's a basement?!" I suddenly thought he was Jim Gaffigan

[@jeffbrownstain]

I've never in my life heard a story of someone just being randomly indoctrinated to d&d on the playground without ever rolling characters. That honestly sounds like the only way to play: go find a group of strangers sit down with your boak and dice and say 'alright, here's what's going down, what are you going to do about it'

[@pitviper6652]

I’m so glad I’m rediscovering this series right as I’m developing a new campaign. Is it creepy that it popped up in my recommendation when I’ve only verbally spoken about starting a new game, yes, but helpful nonetheless. Thanks A.I., FBI, And other people listening.

[@halcyon_echo42]

Same! I just met someone that's a good DM and started talking about it and these appeared (not mad at all though!)

[@codyskrine5355]

I was lucky enough to play with a group of six, and four of us were happy to and enjoy DMing, and so we took turns, adventure by adventure - that meant at any time one character from the party was always missing. We addressed it by NOT addressing it. We joked that when one of us was in the DM chair their character went into the Bag of Characters. It was assumed they were around but we never had them as an NPC or anything.

[@jello6451]

This series is so enjoyable. Hearing experiences and tips feels so authentic.

[@whateverjackson]

I've watched alot of these and the live cuts or edits are consistently jarring

[@thewowmister]

D20 is the only reason why CH has come back swinging and why I subbed to dropout! Fucking love D&D content from the masterful Brennan

[@loudboomboom]

Camera switcher person was so asleep during this one, or got it backwards. Such a great conversation though!

[@meccausa1]

I love this channel, I love the cast & crew so much, and because of Brennan, college humour and the guys over on NADDPOD, I have fallen so in love with this vehicle for amazing story telling. But I loathe bad video mixing! I haven’t been able to watch the Siobhan Thompson or Jack Covell Episodes because of it. Please D20/DO/CH make a change, we all love your content and we want it to be the best it can, just like I’m sure you do too ❤️

[@neonetwork947]

I love the content too and mostly listen to this in the background or with the screen turned off. I don't understand why they keep the camera focused on the person not talking or just saying "yeah... yeah.... yeah". I don't understand the decision to not show the person who is actively talking.

[@dimension20show]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE FEEDBACK! We are aware of the production issues and are working overtime to correct them!! Sorry for the poor(er) viewing experience :(

[@dimension20show]

@@neonetwork947 We hear you!!! Thank you for the comment and the feedback!

[@dimension20show]

Subscribe and ring the bell to catch all new episodes and other surprises! Come hang with Brennan on our Discord! Sign up for DROPOUT: bit.ly/2KOHLyr Not in in CANADA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND or the U.S.? Sign up HERE: bit.ly/2OiNNoP

[@eoincampbell1584]

I've started a Harry Potter campaign and SO many of my friends were interested but thankfully with a school setting you can just be like "oh Hermione can't make it, she has too much homework" or "Neville caught Dragon Pox and went to St. Mungo's for the week."

[@kurtoogle4576]

Last question - you have the ability to say "No", and it will be okay.

[@futzlol]

Didn’t realize I do the twist endings too XD but it’s always a drama bomb at the end of my sessions lmao

[@trondordoesstuff]

20:39 Robert Moses reveals himself, finally.

[@ClaudiusPunchinello]

20:45 From studies, generally around 90% of people root for the underdog. I wonder whether there's a correlation between people who tend to root for the favored and people who become upper management, such as those studio producers who give notes asking for very successful protagonists.

[@goldengaruda8935]

This helps make early college level homework bearable thanks!

[@WhatsUpGazpacho]

This video editing was brought to you by the letter randomly clicking and smashing the keyboard

[@eeediology9232]

At 31:20 brennan just having war flashbacks

[@magnusanderson6681]

Can we give 5xp to mysterious stranger kid for being such a pro dm in 4th grade?

[@diegomorones-castillo2225]

Is it just me, or did anyone else do a gollum voice at 22:37? "We hates the playerses!"

[@BlackShadow1991]

Huge, changing line up sounds like something for a West Marches type of campaign, but also, bringing people without notice? Hell no! o_O Good episode and solid advice!

[@00nerd4]

I really like the vod of the podcast - but - why isnt the camera on the speaker??? I've noticed this in pretty much all of the vods, its a little strange, no?

[@Pablo360able]

It's to make it easier on the animators, since they don't need to draw as many lip flaps.

[@sunsandersii]

Did we ever get the handout for Peter Warren's Ren Faire ruleset?

[@cadencehouse539]

I really wish I could afford dropout, but I'll make due with this channel for now.

[@rowanfroese8577]

Same

[@poutouellet]

8:55 to 9:43 was hilarious to me. Love the director on this video!

[@poutouellet]

Say I before watching the rest of the video and seeing that the whole thing is an editing mess

[@robertbogan225]

Will i ever be in a dnd game? With my motivation lvls no probably not.

[@dimension20show]

lol, level up!!

[@aprilewing1786]

24:10 fast forward to 2023, WBN and a dog playing basketball

[@funkfreaked]

i’d love to know what renaissance fair they’re referring to-i’m originally from upstate NY (don’t live there anymore though) and i’d love to try larping out at some point.

[@bryanfresh]

Man, the editor really dropped the ball in camera direction in this episode.

[@Nelsn3]

Who edited the opening of this episode? Camera isn't on the person talking for a solid 20 seconds and then the half-second quick cuts are terrible.

[@TheRenji696]

Looked in the discord and couldn't find the answer. How long is the podcast in hiatus ?

[@TaycenTimothy]

I need more!

[@lukehje]

The video editing used to look so good! Y’all can get back there, I know it!

[@dimension20show]

Thank you for the feedback! We hit a few production hiccups but should be back to the quality you deserve SOON!

[@lukehje]

Dimension20 heck yeah! Keep up the great work :).

[@caluit]

Someone got wrong the cameras, I guess

[@robertcurtis8585]

Never understand why they hold the camera on the person not talking sometimes

[@spare1981]

I hope I can play someday, but I wouldn't be able to be a DM 🤣

[@dimension20show]

You might be surprised!! You can always use a service like Roll20 to find games online also!

[@spare1981]

@@dimension20show Aww, thanks for that! Haven't heard of it, but I'll check it out

[@joeltaylor7266]

Brennan. Please interview Matt colville. That is all.

[@voland6846]

I would watch a weekly show of those two just shooting the shit

[@DiomedesRangue]

I have a multi-dimensional big bad that steals the characters whose players don't show up. They end up working in his mines as slaves.

[@nickwilliams8302]

It's definitely one explanation for a particular PC's absence.

[@DiomedesRangue]

@@nickwilliams8302 nah, he can steal multiple people.

[@nickwilliams8302]

@@DiomedesRangue Um. Yeah, I get that.

[@DiomedesRangue]

@@nickwilliams8302 Okay, my bad. The way you framed that confused me a bit.

[@nickwilliams8302]

@@DiomedesRangue Welcome to KZbin.

[@urktheturtle2988]

beep boop boop bopbopbop

[@walterpalof6091]

I am kinda scared Strong Female Protagonist will never come back. Its just been awhile since anything has been heard said about it.

[@EnderMcCloud]

Like I've seen others say on here, you guys need to work on you're camera selections. You'll show one person sitting, listening to the other, not reacting, just listening. Which is really boring to watch. Either leave it to one camera, or get a better editor. Because, seriously, it's really annoying watching these videos where the person selecting the camera angle doesn't seem to care AT ALL about what they're doing.

[@morph-ONE]

Brennan is a sociopath, Love that guy. So creative also a bit of a narcissist