Dungeons and Dragons, explained

Why we love this nerdy role-playing fantasy game.
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In an age of virtual reality, video games, and smartphones, more and more people are getting into this magical, nerdy tabletop fantasy role-playing game. Here’s why you should play Dungeons & Dragons, too.
If you want to learn more about D&D, here are my (Carlos M) recommendations:
Great D&D weekly livestream: Critical Role
geekandsundry.com/shows/criti...
Great D&D podcast: Dungeon Rats
neonrival.com/thedungeonrats/
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
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[@Vox]

Watch the last time we played a board game in the Vox office and tried to figure out the mechanics of TRUMP: The Game: bit.ly/2lb3PUc

[@laurenshons]

3:16 dat laugh do

[@longview2517]

Please stream these games!

[@ietsbram]

when i saw the title i was very worried as i'm a big player myself, but this turn out great!!!

[@rochellelee4002]

Been gaming with D&D for more than 30 years, This was so very well done, you deserve all the hugs and high fives

[@switch158]

Great video, the only thing its missing is a Vox Machina reference haha. I'm glad to see those guys linked in the description though : D

[@whereeveritgoes]

I lack the very first requirement of the game: Friends.

[@dars2696]

Hmu, we'll play online

[@yoko3182]

Look up a local Adventurer's league. Wizards of the Coast has a locator on their site where you can put in your location and they'll show you nearby locations that have games weekly.

[@Derpster1987]

Awang Budiman ur not the only one 😂😂

[@decay12k26]

Lets play

[@MetaKaios]

I met half my friends through D&D.

[@DiogenesRiguer]

You forgot the most difficult part of DnD. Find a day that everybody can play.

[@o_okief]

Yeah, and it makes the game more special, i think.. :D

[@JurtEJ]

The struggle is real.

[@evilkep7390]

and a DM that doesn't suck.. lol

[@TheBicyclesaregood]

Diógenes Riguer or find friends :(

[@gusstavv]

HA! Our play group is spread around the globe with 3 different timezones. We play via skype. Finding a playable day is the initial challenge!

[@erenkyoko9128]

I love the fact it started with him calling them “coworkers” and ended with him calling them “friends”.

[@Filmgirlphilosopher]

Awww 😊

[@anonyfamous42]

I cannot be friend with a coworker

[@spoofilybeloved6729]

@@anonyfamous42 makes it easier for your employer to take advantage of you. good job.

[@christianrodriguez1527]

Is the cycle as humans we do when we work, meet folks.. Once we built something in common with someone, we like them and let me move closer to our social circle (co-workers to friends, stranger to friendship, friend of a friend to my friend or even best friend)

[@benjaminaustnesnarum3900]

Also, you say there's no winning in D&D... I disagree. You win friends.

[@Lumotaku]

You win if you are still alive at the end of the adventure. At least in a real dungeons and dragons game. Not barbie edition where its hard to die.

[@chinchar1980]

This comment is so wholesome.

[@reptomicus]

@@Lumotaku A real dungeons and dragons game is a barbie rpg compared to the Call of Cthulhu rpg.

[@AN-ou6qu]

reptomicus call of Cthulhu is meant to show a realistic way of life. You get weaker as time passes. While d&d is based on getting better as time progresses. Call of Cthulhu is harder, but not necessarily better (though personally I prefer it, I love horror). The feeling of success and progress you get from d&d is one of the core parts.

[@asunflower7993]

You mean I won Without finishing the campaign

[@Lordocasl]

Reason 1,045 for playing D&D. I am 67 years old. My son, who is now 37, is very busy. My nephew I hardly ever get to see. And my young friend 27, I meant in collage last year, could have just moved on. I invited them all to come together to play Dungeons and Dragons in hopes they would say yes. We are now on our 10th game over 6 months and are level 6. This game has brought together those who most dear to me that I would otherwise not get to see very often. We are having a ball. Thank you Wizards of the Coast.

[@andelknijft7030]

That’s so awesome!

[@TheGuizmo11]

uh, I'm just here saying that it brought me happiness tear to read it, happy for you !

[@scottyelf]

This is so sweet

[@kylas1902]

You got me to comment and i am a serial lurker. I love the idea of different generations a cliques being at your table every game night. I think almost all games can do this but DND is so communal, collaborative, and special. You can't win this game but you get so much out of it. Love it so much. Wishing your group many more sessions.

[@NinjaSushi2]

That's wonderful to hear! I wish my dad worked that hard to spend time with me. 32 and still waiting...

[@TopHatHat]

"Should you play D&D?" *Rolls a 1 on video creation* "No" *Video abruptly ends*

[@mimisaur5000]

PFFT

[@MatthewTheUntitled]

And it was d20

[@anarchism]

@@MatthewTheUntitled yeah, you're boring. i bet you'll love dungeons and dragons

[@redfireddragon8584]

@@anarchism Look! A boring guy not willing to try out something new!

[@somebodylikesbacon1960]

@@anarchism Of course the idea of anarchism itself would say that.

[@afajardo9938]

“The best part of D&D is creating a character” *laughs in forever DM*

[@MysticalApple]

Making stat blocks just isn’t quite the same...

[@caelb9764]

It's all character creation now 😩

[@danielhardman234]

*crys in forever dm*

[@lemonylenny6410]

My classmate when playing tried to flirt with a giant, acidic, wasp in the game, but it failed. So she sang a song called "aLl StAr" and it made the wasp go away in a trance.

[@gabrielegenota1480]

Lenny's Squeezed from Lemons I may or may not have flirted with a 10 year old boy

[@imanione]

As any good bard will tell you: if a creature bent on bringing death and destruction to you and your fellow party members goes "away in a trance"... that is a SUCCESS! :-D

[@PaulGuy]

Perfectly normal session of D&D, right there.

[@3DSage]

I'm glad you made this. The game is referenced so much and never explained.

[@Dracopol]

You can download the basic rules of D&D for free: information for Players and for Dungeon Masters. dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules

[@daisynguyen7086]

Play D & D !!

[@chrisguess4344]

yea, ive always wondered what d&d actually was. Its shittier sounding than I ever imagined.

[@zealotsofbirbio618]

Darn Christians covering euphoria up with scare tactics. I'm not surprised honestly.

[@ageco.6896]

@@chrisguess4344 It's ok man we cant all have friends.

[@pay1370]

"It was a total misunderstanding"

[@argh1989]

-Every conflict, ever.

[@JustDoIt12131]

El Ciervo Not at all. Most of conflicts are born of power seeking.

[@TheWannabeTexan]

This was all too familiar...

[@auroralee]

Yep... Just a 100%... total.... freak.... accident.... The peasants attacked us first! We had no choice but to defend ourselves, I swear.

[@riffgroove]

Been there...

[@dutoitsabi4690]

Who else wished they had nerdy friends who would play this with them :’(

[@guysmcfellas615]

Look online! Lots of people play via video chat. Our group has been playing weekly since last May.

[@Chewiejds]

Not even just video chat! If you're self conscious, my group plays in audio calls on Discord. I'm sure you can find a group if you dare to look! Good luck! :D

[@SnakePlisskin.]

Ill b ur friend...

[@patrickchoque7720]

Same :((

[@rhettpeter83]

Not so much nerdy, but childish. It is really hard, especially for so many who carry trauma in their childhoods to actively act like a 7 year old again

[@nonoamebua4392]

All of the characters I've made and played (2) have both killed a entire race on accident......they were both neutral good

[@13desertflower]

How does that even happen once let alone twice? xD

[@hiraunia]

YOU CANNOT TELL METHIS AND PROVIDE NO BACKSTORY!

[@Portrial]

What Happened

[@jocosesonata]

Ah~! Classic D&D shenanigans. You rapscallions sure know how to party.

[@nonoamebua4392]

Okay the first time I had this emerald fire stuff that I had to mix during a fight to use so I tried to mix it differently it made this brown liquid which I threw into a tunnel to flush out the cultists, but as soon as I did my dm looked at me then said "Would you like to run really fast the other way?" I said yes! And the group booked it. It was expanding acid that ate the entire town we only lived because I opened a portal to our airship. The next time I said "Your religion is wrong! Here I'll prove it almighty make this glow!" Then I would cast light the one time I used it the lizard folk they all screed for 5 minutes then has seizures and died.

[@lucabaldassi6024]

"So... What do you do for a living?" "Well.... I am a coworker"

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

"I play D&D for a living."

[@matthanlu9416]

i thought it spelled cow worker

[@Prisoner-jf8vi]

I wish I could have played this growing up. Seems like a fun time.

[@endorsedbryce]

No reason you can't start now, lots of older folks play. Iv'e played with an 80 year old before.

[@arandomzoomer4837]

You can play it at any age. Whether you’re 8 or 80 you’ll still have wonderful fun with friends. Don’t worry if the group is in a much different age group. They’ll except you if you play nicely, and even be your friends. By play nicely I mean giving everyone a chance to shine and not making a problematic character (lone wolf, extreme zealot, treasure hoarder, etc.). Being good at the game just means making sure everyone has fun.

[@HelenaHolo]

Prisoner60863 yo discord is a friend and check out sub Reddits of dnd game links, or look up adventurers league you play in the game they usually have all the stuff and you can try the game it’ll be cheap or free and the DM’s are usually good, it all depends on your geographical location

[@travisfalk1241]

I just started playing a week ago

[@joeygenna4801]

Have you started yet?

[@adrenalineactivate]

Dude 1: I come in peace!! (Rolls 20) Dude 2: I also come in peace!!(rolls 1) Goblin:.. Goblin: Sorry, what??

[@AN-ou6qu]

Actually I believe the official rules are if you do a group ability check if half or more of the players succeed, you succeed, less you fail. In this case I’d make the second dude seem suspicious to the goblin, but not too nervous, possibly making them ask to have dude 1 protect them

[@Arcangel0723]

@@AN-ou6qu for something like stealth if one person fails everyone fails for something like convincing then that rule might make sense

[@Nova-tl4yc]

"The goblin raises his club towards Dude 2. 'Is he a friend?' asks the goblin. It seems suspicious of Dude 2 but he gained the trust of dude 1."

[@chatnoir1224]

Our DnD sessions always starts in "brotherhood/fellowship of the ring"-style and ends up as Monty Python and Holy Grail.

[@Apostate_ofmind]

jesus christ im so envious that sounds like my kind of fun

[@ithemba]

that is the quintessential explanation of a great group.

[@chatnoir1224]

+ Event Hʘriךּon , a lot depends on GM. Bad or unprepared game master can ruin the game or make it boring. It takes a lot of sessions to train your GM. But if he manage to provide a decent story ( "epicness" is not important. "Save our village from bandits" with believable characters epicness and average but challenging situations usually works great. "Epic quests" requires a lot of preparation from GM) and keep party in check (balancing between heroes total freedom / story narrative) then DnD evening will be great. This guy from VOX is right - DnD is not about achiving goals. It's about experience and friends having fun.

[@chatnoir1224]

not GM, DM - dungeon master :)

[@hamstsorkxxor]

chatnoir1224 That sounds awesome, but what is "brotherhood of the ring"? Sounds like something inspired by fellowship of the ring, but more like a cult?

[@nickc3657]

I had no idea it’s such an intimate game

[@300MediaProductions]

If you put a group of people at a table for four or five hours every week (or every two weeks) for long enough, that group of people will end up like a family. I've seen it happen in the group I DM. I knew everyone, but not all of the players knew each other, and now everyone hangs out together all the time.

[@TheWannabeTexan]

It's such a beautiful community. I've been in a game that lasted 18 hours straight and our group became very close. We didn't want to leave.

[@auroralee]

I really feel a good D&D campaign turns acquaintances into lifelong friends.

[@aartistanimation4186]

If you go on roll20.com you can see people have played literaly 1000s of hours with as many as 1000s of players or just 3, it's a game that really varys spending on how ya play it!

[@Dracopol]

A Artist animations Roll20.net , you mean. It's a great site to play in a teleconferenced style. I joined a science-fiction game called TRAVELLER 3 years ago, played every two weeks, although it is not one continuous game but different "campaigns" (stories) one after another.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Now I know why I barely know this thing for years. It's a social game!

[@anonyfamous42]

This games looks fun but it's to social for me. You have to feel well participating among others.

[@X6sosa]

i thought d&d was a "nerd" game but ever since me and my friends said "okay, lets try it out" we are always at my house having fun and enjoying time with each other and not sitting there playing video games

[@KnastianEinsteiger]

lol nerd

[@twslug]

coworkers who D&D together, stay together

[@grege5074]

never listen to anyone named "greg"

[@filuo9058]

I don't know if I could become this intimate with my coworkers. D&D is soooo fun tho. The insight in the work place much be insane XD

[@3elgin3]

*slay together

[@randomdudeontheinternet4389]

Id Software split up quite quickly, even though they spent a lot of time on D&D.

[@kenredington4988]

It gets even funner when you realize the evil wizard causing all the problems used all your guys boss as the template.

[@Rachel-cb2zi]

"Nobody makes fun of anybody." What bizarre edition are you playing?

[@Lumotaku]

Barbie edition otherwise known as 5th edition. Its for special snowflakes.

[@forget-me-not9565]

Same. At our table we are screaming and joking and making fun of everyone and everything. Once the whole party discovered the weird fetish of our wizard because my goblin guy flirted with him and gently bit his ear in his sleep and since then we make fun of him for that every single time we play lmao

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Cw Tbird 5th edition is simplified though, and I like that.

[@warlordofvideogameglitches]

@@Lumotaku it's 5.5e

[@garfoofian8507]

@@Lumotaku shut up 3.5 worshiper

[@legathar8558]

It’s basically a choose your own adventure video game, but the choices are literally limitless

[@arandomzoomer4837]

And you get to meet friends.

[@kangpai5693]

The GM should have outstanding imagination

[@arandomzoomer4837]

That would be a good GM.

[@Thekazekeza]

And that’s the problem

[@joeygenna4801]

Should. Don’t need to tho

[@Okayletsg0]

Shout out to the dm’s of the world, especially the ones who aren’t hellbent on killing their players

[@samikazuki]

LOL agreed. I'm in a few high kill games and they are pretty fun, but actually bonding with characters for long periods of time before they die is way more satisfying ESPECIALLY if they are PCs.

[@visuminova]

Yeah. Especially when you play a lot it's so sad to kill someones character for me as DM and for them as players

[@riffgroove]

You'll always get that occasional DM who thinks it isn't a good session unless someone has to re-roll a new character. Whenever I DMd, even if the characters were hopelessly outmatched, smart play was rewarded. But if you're a level 3 character and you decide to rush a room with 8 giant trolls in it, It's not going to go well for you.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

riffgroove, I've done 2 things that made players think they are toast. Tarasques! And a dragon that was above their lv. They survived both.

[@riffgroove]

@@CurlyFromTheSwirly Tarrasques? Plural? There is only one of them.

[@stuminnis4050]

Uh...I don't see any pizza. It's not D&D without pizza.

[@harrylane4]

Or beer if you're in college

[@NinjaSushi2]

"WE NEED MORE MOUNTAIN DEW!!"

[@dusty3913]

Pretzels and mtn dew!

[@brinashiloff3439]

One time I made a chocolate beholder. Everyone was in awe for days

[@gwang3103]

Maybe they eat Lembas bread instead. :P

[@iceshadow42]

"We were slaughtering a band of peasants--- it was a total misunderstanding" is one of the most D&D lines I've heard. Lol!

[@markherring3513]

Like in Holy Grail when Sir Lancelot killed the entire wedding party...afterwards: "Sorry..sorry everyone"...etc..etc

[@Ark--fn8my]

IT's all good and fun until the healer said "im your daddy now" and the party argue

[@jocosesonata]

The real question is, what would they argue about? That someone would have the nerve to say that? Or that they consider someone else as the daddy of the group?

[@Arias1101]

Paper RPG are absolutely amazing, most people don't know what they are missing out...

[@Chameleonred5]

Done online they're pretty good too. Though less of a party when instead of everyone showing up we just log into roll20.net.

[@greenrobot5]

now if someone could explain to me how to play Magic the gathering

[@lathrin]

Arias1101 yeah, modern time d&d is a lot of fun especially

[@olstar18]

Meh. Personaly I prefer shadowrun. You can get some pretty interesting stories there. Like the time one of my friends decided he needed an anti tank gun in his cyborg arm that he used to shoot down a helicopter that was going after the party. Didn't work out so great as the copter crashed on top of their escape car as it was speeding down the road.

[@AnbusKi]

Arias1101 I love video games especially RPG's but they will never compare to pen and paper D&D.

[@stas563]

I’ve never clicked on a Vox notification so quickly. Sending this to my DnD group immediately!

[@Udontkno7]

Dr.Science my question

[@moramento22]

Dr.Science After watching this video I would say both.

[@danielmilligan2539]

Not as fast as me “wink wink” look at my comment

[@stas563]

It’s a game but like they said, there’s no winner. You play to spend time together. I started a DnD group with my friends so that we always take time to be together (we get busy with school, work, etc.) and we get food, hang out, and have a fun time! I’m the Dungeon Master and we play kind of slowly. We got a starter set like they mentioned in the video so we’re all getting used to it but we still have a fun time! The rules can get really complicated but the job of the DM is to narrate the game but also make sure everyone’s having a good time. Sometimes I skimp on the really specific rules so the game doesn’t take FOREVER for us to play. The more we get used to it, I can add more specific details.

[@stas563]

For example, there are rules about distance but it takes too long for me to decide how far away everyone is from each other and then you have to determine “okay so if they’re holding a candle, according to the rules you can see 20 feet ahead of you” and stuff like that. That slows us down so I just decide what you can see or not.

[@TheJoscelyne]

Those 20-sided die though. I still get excited when I see someone roll one. Oh the possibility contained in that roll.

[@arandomzoomer4837]

*Natural 1* You swing your sword in such a way that it lands in the goblin’s own sheath, the goblin claims the sword as its own.

[@flamingoLake]

"the goal of DnD isn't to kill other players" What kind of campaigns am I playing then

[@dermy96]

First time I played dnd: rolled 3 natural 1's and missed an attack, slipped and feel into a portal to a water dimension where i drown to death

[@whoisfrnkl]

i was playing as a dragonborn wizard and was on night watch, a bear appeared and i tried to scare it off. rolled really low and died. it was my first turn...

[@daatomes]

Sounds like a first game of D&D done right. First time I played I was 9 years old. We went into a crypt, got surrounded by skeletons, and I had the wise plan of putting the big pit behind us so that they couldn't surround us. Then we got pushed in the pit and died. I was hooked.

[@Julio974]

Why BRP is better

[@jakewelch.design]

Your DM was savage hahah

[@theonlymexicanman4422]

dermy96 what happens if you die? Are you just out of the game? if that’s the case your DM is evil

[@RazCloset]

Ok thank you Vox. I have NEVER understood how people play this. Great info.

[@joshuanecaise2243]

Lucky Llama you should 100% give it a go. I thought it was lame then I gave it a try and fell in love

[@taakotuesdays]

Give it a shot!! I’ve only played once but my group is already like 100x closer than before it’s so much fun!

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Joshua Necaise Same. I didn’t know what it was. I’m a lover of stories and I would always play outside with my friends, pretending to be heroes in a fantasy world. D&D is just like that.

[@justmart4455]

Me too!

[@hasthehighground8560]

You sound so passive aggressive you’re probably not trying to be but

[@estevanzuniga3631]

2:55 I hand out pamphlets like a Jehovah Witness 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@catsadilla324]

Korg Wants to know your location

[@MinesAGuinness]

No! You are bring on post-traumatic flashbacks of evangelical fanatics trying to grab my D&D Starter Set in the '80s Satanist Crusade!

[@somebodylikesbacon1960]

the best part is no Jehovah Witness would play D&D, let alone be chill enough to get people to enjoy playing with them

[@Nilloxified]

I started playing 20 years ago, when I was 12. I was alone, sad and excluded, with no friends, and retrospectively...it saved my life. I play every week, different friends and different systems, and I owe this game everything I am today.

[@Aethelhadas]

how do you play with 'different friends' if you have no friends?

[@Joemama-mu2rz]

@@Aethelhadas Maybe they got friends now

[@MasterTierGaming]

As a professional Dungeon Master, it’s good to see stuff like this where people are getting a competent introduction!

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Professional? I wonder how that works?

[@bright-vision8766]

@@CurlyFromTheSwirly probably a full Time Job at a game Store

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

BV, Awesome. Where do I sign up?

[@bright-vision8766]

@@CurlyFromTheSwirly Just ask around in a game shop near you, if they need a helping hand :D

[@typicaldungeonmaster2771]

Wait so if your a professional do you get paid? Because I think I found my career.....

[@twslug]

damn when you said it took a long time you should’ve added in the clip on mike (finn wolfhard) saying “i didn’t know the campaign was supposed to take 10 hours!” his mom: “YOUVE BEEN PLAYING FOR TEN HOURS?!”

[@ravenc9020]

5-10 hours per session. campaigns can take YEARS

[@MasterTierGaming]

Good campaigns take years

[@kenredington4988]

Game ain't getting good till the sun comes up (done that WAAYYY too many times)

[@GoobyGooberton]

I would totally play if I didn’t lack the first rule: Friends.

[@LowEndPCGamer100]

wont lie, d&d is my favorite game to get drunk and spend hours with the homies on.

[@denovopress7048]

This!

[@Kassuhday]

This is the best explanation. Fought a bunch of dog monsters the other night. You know it’s bad when they start to levitate.

[@ahmadibrahim5191]

I lost it at Mother Teresa...

[@jewelbowers2607]

I read this comment before watching the video, and I was so confused

[@pwarelis]

I thought she was an imp... hmm

[@matthewhamlin392]

Remember the players handbook is a manual. It doesn't need to be read cover to cover. Mostly when a question pops up you can go to the back of the book and find out what page number your answer is on.

[@godofironart]

this is so awesome! I'm a digital artist, and in my hunt for clients, I've been approached by several people who wanted me to illustrate their DnD characters - enough that it made me want to actually learn more about this game and why so many people like it, and now I think starting this year, I'm going to be a lot more involved. This all looks and sounds so epic!

[@markherring3513]

4 years in...update?

[@JediBunny]

Lol the DM’s Goblin impression sounds like Sméagol

[@pixelcontroller8070]

Jedi Bunny more like Stitch really..

[@Leenux]

Why not both? :P

[@BiggySn1p3r]

Matt Mercer, the dm for Critical Role can do a really good smeagol/gollum. and one of his players Liam O'Brien is the voice of gollum in the video games.

[@JediBunny]

BiggySn1p3r I couldn’t have possibly dreamt of a better explanation for this... thank you.

[@willrigdon1566]

What’s funny and unrelated is that the mark é makes the “ay” noise, like André so you pronounce Pokémon like “Po-kay-mon” and theoretically, Sméagol like “Smay-a-gol” also if you’re wondering è makes the “eh” sound, but it’s inconsistent, like achète “ush-ehtt” and très “tray” (Credit to Laura for correcting me, thx)

[@Abelhawk]

I'm so glad that (a) 5th edition exists, since it's finally simplified enough for absolutely anyone to be able to play; and (b) that this D&D renaissance is happening right now! I got all my coworkers to try D&D about a year ago and they're all hooked.

[@Arcae95]

Abelhawk dude me to!! And also that the more complex version still exist with pathfinder! It's like the best of both worlds and all this wholesome mainstream attention?? It's incredible!

[@MasterTierGaming]

That’s awesome

[@elliottenriquez]

Agreed, 5 gets a bad wrap, but it is super accessible to everyone.

[@VonChokerWOT]

interesting thing is D&D used to be quite simplified all the way up to the late 80's and players just kept wanting more complications. Its nice to see them getting back to their roots

[@F4R207]

D&D have long been a horrible first time roleplaying game and still aint a good first time roleplaying game but through the US obsession with brands and the nostalgia that has made D&D earn here we are.. And yeash 5e sure is the best edition to introduce some one into D&D, just not the best roleplaying game to introduce them into the hobby.

[@_HighGround]

That moment you realize that you've been playing a smaller version of D and D your entire life. Wow.

[@hilnnerfarias913]

*bigger

[@commandercaptain4664]

@Big Hosafat D&D (bigger) > actual life (smaller). SCIENCE.

[@jordancarlson9071]

@@commandercaptain4664 nah nah nah Wow World of Warcraft Based on DnD

[@jordancarlson9071]

@Duupar are You arguin' with Me? I said are YOU arguin' with ME? If so, you are correct! It's not deep. But you are incorrect! It's true.

[@yoh1583]

Why favorite words in dungeons and dragons is “everyone roll initiative”

[@kenredington4988]

Always fun to see reactions when you say it out of the blue, everyone panics.

[@tastyshades]

This was deff one of the best Vox vids. I was already curious about D&D, but actually seeing real ppl play has solidified my choice 100%.lol I wanna play sooo bad.lol

[@TallBison]

go to an adventure's league game at your local comic shop!

[@4our31]

did you start?!!!

[@taakotuesdays]

Have you started

[@red99Baron]

*Grabs Dice* Ok Vox, lets see if you can do D&D justice. Edit: Yes. Yes You can.

[@escalator8969]

Natural 20

[@arandomzoomer4837]

They injected such a tiny quantity of social justice poison that we’d have to roll a natural 1 in our wisdom save to get bothered too much. They still presented the game in a beautiful way.

[@andrewkorzenik5952]

Hey man, just wanted to say thank you! This video convinced me to get the starter set when I first saw it a year or two ago. Flash forward to today and I'm planning my SECOND campaign. This hobby is amazing and I'm so grateful you introduced me to it! Roll well my friend!

[@papasolar777]

I got a quest for you all it’s the quest of finding me friends this will be a hard and dangerous quest but you will be paid one copper piece XD

[@catfoodfood6169]

R/LFG

[@No-jq7vl]

Never played d&d but it sounds fun

[@andreagonzalez613]

Yessds

[@guh___]

Is amazing

[@cpufreak101]

It is

[@marknordin3317]

Local sessions are available on many areas. Check around, and bring a friend.

[@MrVgunmanga]

If only I had any friends....

[@Kevin-cp3ex]

i died laughing when she said, "Carrying pamphlets like a Jehovah's Wittness" LOL XD

[@DavidHosten]

This is one of my fave D&D KZbin videos. The connections and the fun of D&D are shown better here than any other vid I can think of.

[@YiannisANO1911]

play DnD is considered cool and fun and educational but when i played 8 hours a day of WoW for the same exact reasons "i had a problem"

[@arandomzoomer4837]

D&D gives you more options, and the ability to see your friends in the flesh.

[@ashkitt7719]

Because you generally do it IRL though you can do it online via Roll20

[@tobybartlett]

I finally understand D&D and I laughed and smiled a lot while learning about it. Thanks for the fun vid Vox!

[@MasterTierGaming]

Toby Bartlett it’s a great description, I agree!

[@otterman1427]

Please don't take this video seriously...it's horrible, not accurate at all. I play DnD a lot with friends and he brings politics into it way too much

[@dg0210]

Otterman14 other than the part he was talking about not having control over who you are, everything else wasn’t political.

[@MoonFairy929]

Toby Bartlett so ditto!

[@MoonFairy929]

Otterman14 would t the amount of politics dee d on the interests of the people u are playing with? Seems if your group isn’t political, then your game wouldn’t suddenly be...

[@Subaraki]

@Vox, please review the Greek subtitles i have contributed for this video and add them as soon as possible! I'm standing by in case you disagree with something and want it changed, eventhough i am very confident in the work i did which derives from my huge love for this amazing game we play! Please add the subtitles so more people in my country can enjoy the great work you did here! Thank you!

[@kylezmcgee455]

It would be great to see another language go up.

[@crypticii3431]

Considering Greece is a part of Europe, I would be VERY surprised if most Greeks that watch Vox (likely younger to middle aged folks) don't understand English

[@baintreachas]

⁠@@crypticii3431considering that Vox is an English language channel, I’d be surprised if most of their viewers from any country did not speak English. The idea that most non-natively English speaking Europeans of any generation understand English to adequately understand a given Vox video without subtitles is laughable. Also, if we’re going by continent, wouldn’t Africa have a higher proportion of ESL Internet users than Europe?

[@jwclapp1183]

I am a DM for one group and a player in another. I love finding videos like this to share with people to show them how much fun and connection they can find in a game. Thank you.

[@acdcgooner]

You made my half elf Knight cry, He doesn’t want the oath of vengeance anymore 😭

[@codythelee573]

Perfect 10 stars excellent video all the way around! Very well did! D&D for life!

[@cpufreak101]

Cody The Lee it's 1-5 stars and KZbin dropped that like 10 years ago

[@cpufreak101]

ThisIsMyRealName 'twas a joke, and no extra points for the confederate flag? :(

[@lukes3845]

Wait, Vox Like... *Vox Machina*

[@sebbat9575]

YESSS

[@baksei_t]

Alexei..

[@THEPARSHVASHAH]

i love how you explain such a detailed concept in simple words

[@David-xu3yk]

WOW! You've completely sold this to me! Nicely explained, clear guidance... now, where are my mates to play some D&D!

[@franticranter]

Perfect timing, i just got invited to a D&D game based around politicians (i'm jeremy corbyn) and i wanted to play but didn't know how

[@cpufreak101]

oldgranny athlete reminds me of a session I had once where we had to buy a house from a guy named "Tronald Drump" who had an obsession with walls

[@neos9934]

Ok that’s sounds amazing

[@mjwrecked]

This was an amazing video! I wanna play D&D with these folks. My 2 sons (ages 10 & 13), my wife, and I started playing D&D last fall, and we love it. Sometimes the rules get overwhelming, but we just (literally) roll with it. So much fun, and this video NAILS it. I also love the part about when they talk about WHY they love to play. Wonderful video.

[@aboutaghost]

This video make me happy. I don't have any friends to play with, but watching people having such a good time is really beautiful. Make more videos with so much heart like this one, please!

[@KGBdialects]

“I handout pamphlets like a Jehovah’s witness” haha!

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

Lots of people associate D&D with "nerds". While it does have a strong helping of the nerd/geek contingent, it is also very popular in the military. And ultimate anti-geek actor Vin Diesel (yes, of Fast/Furious fame, as well as being the voice of Groot) is a huge D&D dork, has played in online streamed games, and even wrote the forward to the D&D 30th Anniversary Book "30 Years of Adventure"!

[@JamieEarls]

The Military interest makes sense. Both Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax were Military/War Game enthusiasts. As for Vin Diesel . . . geek are enthusiast of a particular topic or field. Nerds are single-minded expert in a particular technical field.The distinction being that geeks are fans of their subjects, and nerds are educated practitioners of them. So I think that make Vin Diesel both. XD

[@JamieEarls]

Now I want the 39 Years of Adventure book.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Anonymous Freak, how can you call someone an antinerd & then say they're a dork? And you forgot Ridick.

[@UnimpressedGoose]

They didn't really trick the goblin. They just kinda became homies with him

[@JustinY.]

I can see Dunkey as being a great DM

[@d_wang9836]

Justin Y. He should play a game live

[@NoThrottle]

lmao hi

[@Imilmano]

Justin Y. I'll reply to all your comments I find.

[@DekuStickGamer]

Is youtube your fulltime job or summat? you a youtube hero?

[@NoThrottle]

Mr. Dr. Genius Yes, you said that already on 5 other videos

[@chrisco9168]

This is an excellent encapsulation of everything which makes table top RPGs special. Thank you so much for making this video.

[@aleczander4638]

It will be the first that I get to play D&D with my Long-Time Friends it's a Reunion!!! During the Christmas Season!!! I'm so fired up! And Excited!

[@emperorjustinianIII4403]

Okay, so you've given me a reason to write about the first time I've played D&D. My character was a tortle (toad people, but this one was hexed into one) with a rock-like skin posing as a rock in the middle of a tavern. Then one of my friends tripped over me, so I had to lash out a little. I rolled a 2 and knocked over a couple of glasses. I got in a situation with the barkeeper, who pulled out a crossbow. Then I dragged all my friends into the situation to end up escorted to prison by the military. We broke out using trickery and I went to get our stuff. I then wanted (or at least acted like I wanted) to sell the other player's stuff at the market. Then another player didn't like it and smacked me on my head with a staff. I ran away and started a little solo adventure finding a treasure. I found a dead troll in a cave and smeared its manure over myself in order to hide my own smells so the dragon (dragon noises were heard) wouldn't find me. I then went to my friends' encampment and I sneaked up on the player who smacked me with his staff, dealing 8 damage to his 10 hitpoints. I considered the matter settled, but my friends wanted to take all my stuff. I then tried to escape to the cave, where I fell unconcious due to my own hunting trap I set in the cave. My friends then took me to their encampment and they took my weapons. I survived the ordeal but I was keen on getting my weapons back. They told me they'd give me my weapons if the dragon appeared. So I tried to call the dragon and I rolled a 1 so the dragon came and he ate me and one of my friends. Such a waste of 1 inspiration point due to the trollmanure. We had to make 2 new characters. 10/10 would play again.

[@treyowens4014]

Tortle? Cool I’m a Dragonborn

[@sorokahdeen]

What a good thing. Your explanation of D&D's purposes and mechanics are spot-on. Sure, you could have added that its mechanics are the basis of many, many other FRP games and other games including card games like Magic the Gathering and even pokemon, but what you chose to do was really good. I've had some marvelous DMs over the course of my career in FRP games who provided superb visuals and even game-system crossovers leading to games like Cyberpunk and Shadowrun and seeing someone talk about FRP games and what they really are (not what the conservative religious or the jock contingent need them to be to mock them) just leaves me stoked. Game on!

[@inscrutableone]

Really good explanation of not only the mechanic of tabletop storytelling, but the experience that we all know and love so well.

[@SquidOSpace]

My character is a cowardly orc which is afraid of bananas

[@clydewilliams6762]

That is the most amazing thing I have ever heard.

[@SquidOSpace]

@@clydewilliams6762 why thank you.

[@clydewilliams6762]

Your welcome.

[@arandomzoomer4837]

That’s a great character.

[@Centruxx]

Im an inventor goblin.. noice xD

[@canonogic]

This was beautiful, bought a tear to my level 3 peasant goblin

[@MW-ty5zw]

DnD is truly a great game. Been gaming with the same group in the same campaign for 2-3 years now. We've laughed and there has actually been a few tears too. But it's not the actual game that is the important bit, it's the friendship. The players in our group decided to thank our DM for all the time and effort he puts into the game and story for us by telling him what the game meant to us and how it's changed us. To quote one guy, "I finally have a reason to keep track of what day it is now.". Aaaand on top of that, I have some rad good-night-stories to tell my nephew :D

[@hktomoe]

I just started playing a few months ago, for the very first time in my life. I'm 37, and even though, I'm still trying to figure things out, I am so happy I get to finally do this. For anyone who mentioned that they don't have friends to do this with, my 2 friends started our current DnD group by posting it on their NextDoor App around their city. They got a couple of people who responded, one of them is our DM, and after feeling their personality they gave it a go and invited me to join. We have been able to meet 3 new people through this app and we have a solid group of 5 players, and our DM. And yes, the most difficult part of this all is coordinating a time. Our age group ranges from 35 to 44 years old so... it's never too late :)

[@tomseymore9395]

I've played this game since the early 80s. I've yet to see a video that introduces it so succinctly & sweetly as this one. A+++

[@johnbagel2560]

I made a math version of this in the 8th grade. And I based the characters off of our unit grades and injuries were done in cross sections of the cardboard pieces we had.

[@stanconnorstan4266]

that sounds awful boring

[@johnbagel2560]

Teenage Regrettes for a math nerd it is the adventure of a lifetime. Especially when the teacher has a habit of killing students with the most bizarre things. I got all of my limbs taken off by an invisible octopus and had to be carried throughout the rest of the adventure.

[@stanconnorstan4266]

+World History With Dan Okay now that sounds like a great time

[@aronseptianto8142]

that's a dope teacher you have also math, so that's an added bonus

[@SheepandPig]

Damn, I would really like to be able to play that version. Any chance you still remember the rules and stuff?

[@axmccx]

My friend at school wants to play D&D. I've never played, but I do now after watching this.

[@illmaticnewyorker3426]

7:57 really hit me in the feels

[@zmanjace1364]

My current dnd game I am playing as a paladin/bard from the future who got sent back in time during a civil war reenactment that basically worships America. Think tf2's soldier but... no that's basically it. Also through a long series of luck nat 20 rolls, I have a sentient flying blob of horseradish that somehow has more hp than my actual character at this point. My DM has a pretty wide tolerance for shenanigans.

[@worrywirt]

Zman Jace omg that sounds awesome!!

[@siva2727]

One major flaw You need friends to play this game

[@depthcrew310]

Actually you don't :) Find a local game store running Adventurers League games. I moved to a new place where I knew no one and gained a big group of friends very quickly by offering to run Adventurers League games at the local game shop.

[@jocosesonata]

Okay, second major flaw! You need to have confidence to talk to a bunch of strangers.

[@norariley7109]

Been playing with almost the same group of people for over 10 years now. We all meet in college and starred playing. Now even though we work full time jobs, got married, and have kids, we still get together every week or every other week and play. This game brings people together and creates real magic, friendship!

[@jesuschrist2268]

1:36 My friends would be like: "Are you sure about that"

[@tomkord220]

3:13 a tiefling rogue motivated solely by money? 11/10 accuracy

[@JameZayer]

And a bunch of early RPG titles like Baldurs Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Icewind Dale etc. basically took this and attempted to make video game versions. Where at 4:40 some games attempted to prevent railroading with games like the original Fallout games, where how you build your character and choices made can radically change outcomes and endings.

[@killerkitsune5425]

JαmëŽǎɏe thr basic rpg system like stats are d&d based

[@JameZayer]

Yeah, even games like Fable still vaguely called back to DnD stats, except using the Strength / Dexterity / Wisdom trinity.

[@BothHands1]

Neverwinter Nights is the BEST!!!! NWN1 though, i wasn't a huge fan of NWN2. Played through all 3 expansions several times before i found the online games. This DM Henk made an amazing remake of Diablo2, which was actually much better than the real Diablo2. I wonder if the server is still online. Ahhh, my childhood!!

[@BothHands1]

I was really hoping someone would mention NWN though, that game is so deeply rooted in my heart, i will never forget the time i spent in those worlds.

[@goldflame3390]

That’s entirely missing the point. In video games, you choose between a limited number of options. The game isn’t linear, but it also isn’t totally free. Limitations have to exist, since the developer isn’t sitting at the end of your table, shaping the game around your actions. In a video game, you choose a certain dialogue line you want to say. In DnD, you have to come up with it yourself. You can’t have the same organic, personal sense of accomplishment or satisfaction from a video game. Yeah Fallout has different endings, but it’s all laid out on a flowchart if possible paths. I have so many anecdotes of times players have done the most absurd, creative, and cunning things that entirely changed events in the story or characters we interacted with. I could never have predetermined he route of the story, which is what the video is trying to convey.

[@InquisitorialDreg]

Should you play D&D? Yes. *Video Ends*

[@Wario7793]

I used to play Dungeons & Dragons as a kid and teen, from the late 1970s until mid 1980s. Like they say in the video, it brought my family together (we used to play the same campaign together with a friend who was the DM). Those were good times. I miss those experiences sometimes...

[@__dane__]

“There’s no winning.” Isn’t winning finishing your campaign by achieving your ultimate goal in the game?

[@300MediaProductions]

Winning is having fun at a table with your friends, and that can be accomplished in a lot of ways.

[@CurlyFromTheSwirly]

Dane Byrd, well, in video game since, winning is defeating the final boss and the credits roll. In D&D you made it feat that loss, but something else happens. The boss may have a boss, or that evil Dragon was the only thing that kept a tarasque at bay, or taking that treasure (you wanted to get rich) released some Demon Army. My comment (way above) was that some people do play to win. They do design short or moderate campaigns.

[@NinjaSushi2]

Winning is when you can finally defeat the Torrasque.

[@typicaldungeonmaster2771]

Winning in D&D is driving your DM to insanity. Luckily my players haven’t won yet.

[@BakaBaka8146]

@@typicaldungeonmaster2771 can you upload your gameplay. How can someone became DM ? They must have really high imagination and trivia.

[@lawrencecalablaster568]

I'm so pleased :) I have been researching D&D stuff for a while and I would very much like to play sometime soon.

[@monodescarado]

DO IT!!

[@TwelvetreeZ]

How do people get started? I tried to join the RPG soc at my uni, but they were reeeeally unfriendly when I said I hadn't played before :/

[@joelw.3320]

@@TwelvetreeZ look up if there are any gamestores in your area they are probably always open to new players there are also online communities where you can find people that will help you getting started and even find groups for play both in person and online d&d is a pretty social game

[@Dracopol]

You can download the basic rules of Dungeons & Dragons for _free_ . dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules

[@geckgeck8616]

There are many options! You can look for groups in your area, look for an online game, or check out the official Adventurers League. I would recommend the first 2 if you can because they're a little more casual and fun, but the League is a great way to find other players.

[@TruthWatch]

As an old hand at D&D I love your passionate explanation of the game and what of means to those of us who play. Kudos!

[@h.a.5306]

This video helped make the game play seem alot less intimidating. I am trying to get a group together, and i am excited to start soon!

[@waownou]

Where my Critters at? Let's spread this around!

K C 🙋‍♂️

[@Kade_Bauman]

Meeee

[@Lngbrdninjamasta]

"Jenga"

[@DarthNoox]

How do you want to do this?

[@NinjaSushi2]

Critical Rolers?

[@riyazuo]

This game requires too much social interaction. This game could kill me.

[@thorr18BEM]

I'm Stuck , what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

[@zoabs8768]

I have severe social anxiety even around friends but when I play DnD or talk about DnD it disappears. I can play a confident and cool and extroverted character without social anxiety and for those few hours I am someone who I want to be. And as a result, especially the positive feedback I’ve gotten as a DM, my social anxiety is slowly but surely disappearing. Very slowly, but social interaction isn’t as daunting as it used to be. Obviously, results may vary, but I recommend giving it a try if it otherwise interests you

[@mukamaslove1986]

zoabs I think I wanna try this game

[@depthcrew310]

I have a player whose character is mute! If you don't want to be in the spotlight, that's okay. You can sit back and observe until it's your turn, and then it's still roleplaying to say "my character does this" instead of acting it out or speaking in character. D&D is for everyone!

[@hehe8138]

The last time I played DnD I slept through most of the game. I only woke up when I needed to do a dice roll or it was my turn. I think our party was fighting a dragon at some point but I wasn’t paying attention. Point is if you want to give a minimum of social interaction that’s an option too.

[@_elina_7350]

I'm thinking of starting to play d&d, and I'm really thankful for the awesome video you guys made about it, explaining everything and showing how fun it can be! Thank you! :)

[@diego_segura]

This is the best explanation so far of what is roleplaying games, and always makes me happy. I even translated it to spanish for my students to see it.