Five Ways to Be a Better D&D Player

Five easy tips players should consider to make the game as a whole run smoother.
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[@Forkentiney]

Tip 1- 2:13 Tip 2- 9:06 Tip 3- 12:01 Tip 4- 13:58 Tip 5- 15:57 Tip 6- 18:04

[@aFistfulofDice]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@skanes17]

Maybe could edit the description to include this!

[@JaePlay]

Thank you

[@YensAdventure]

1. Work together 2. Know your character mechanically 3. Roll with it 4. Shut up and listen 5. Speak up & contribute 6. All have fun

[@natethetoe386]

I owe you 19:15 seconds of my life.

[@GypsyKing0021]

I have one player that always offers to track initiative for me. SUCH a big help. I would suggest to every GM having 1 player to track initiative.

[@sontypohnenamen5161]

"Roll with it" is incredibly easier and more fun with a DM who allows creativity. Just last weekend, i was playing a cleric in a group raiding a cave full of goblins. One of the little bastards managed to escape through a door, and suspecting he'd call reinforcement, we decided to hide in the room we were in, hoping to surprise them. I was the only one to really botch the stealth check, rolling a 2, and when the goblin came back (alone, to our surprise, probably wondering why it was so quiet) of course he saw me. As my DM described him peeping through the door and seeing me immediately, i jokingly said "I say BOO to scare him", and was allowed an intimidation check - natural 20. The goblin was frozen solid in fear, allowing our fighter an opportunity attack that one hit killed the scared little fellow.

[@cannastartover1720]

They fear the wrath of the gods. Gods are big so they make the rules.

[@davidkeatts2480]

Me and my friend encountered a troll, so I used my spell to make fog and the friend made a boise to make him head towards him and the dm let him roll for perception to see and roll for acrobatics to jump out of the way. This was an elaborate plan to make the troll fall into a spike pit lmao.

[@UltimateSportsTour]

People should watch this just to learn how to be an adult

[@trent0heart]

further good house-rules: Phones on silent, computers off the table unless they're vital to the game.

[@sveha6271]

Katherine Daniel Fully analog FTW

[@AndreSantos-et3mb]

I always use a PC it's just easier

[@sagebear7k455]

I just use my phone.

[@BeCoolAndLiveLife]

It's funny how different people play. The group I play with are so laid back. We second the great Captain Barbosa. " The code is more what you call guidelines, than actual rules." Ha ha. We incorporated David Bowie and Kevin Costner in our game last night. Our high cleric elf constantly trips acid and insists our oxen are polar bears. I know for other more intense players, it would probably fall under these annoying issues, but that's what I love about the group I'm in. It's all about finding a group that plays the same way you do :) On a side note this game is hard to understand sometimes. So as semi-new players, 40% of our games are helping each other and figuring out what to do. It's hard during the week to sit down and study the book when everybody works and has other top priorities. So it might take some of us a little longer to understand. I realize it might be frustrating to some of the more experienced characters, but just keep in mind not everybody has the time or energy to spend working on these things between gaming nights. But if you're having fun and love to play, why stop? It wouldn't be fair.

[@bgdragon99]

Michelle Blankenship I think our groups would get along! One of our players decided he wanted a handjob at the local brothel, the hooker rolled a natural 20 on a strength check and ripped his pecker off. Then the paladin did a heal check to reattach it, and rolled a natural 20 ("I cast Lay on Hands, no homo") so it ended up being a LOT bigger than what he started with. Now, when we visit a town, if he says his name... people already know who he is because the legend of the halfling with the giant man meat has already spread to that town.

[@BeCoolAndLiveLife]

Bryan Gatlin OH my god yyyeessss ha ha ha!!!!

[@robertomadonna4738]

You have to tell me how the fuck did you incorporate David Bowie in your game. I want to do that too!

[@BeCoolAndLiveLife]

Roberto Madonna I'm sorry this is 2 years late, but he was one of the sorcerers in an abandoned castle ruin. Our cleric elf ( if I remeber correctly, we haven't played in a long time) cast a guided bolt and he was weakened so he turned into his owl persona ( Labyrinth) and flew away.

[@barnbertrenson4864]

Thanks a lot for the shut up and listen tip... I've always been the type of person to always ask the questions around and leave some of the other characters around me in the shadows. This made me "the guy who knows what to do" and every one just relied on my ideas to keep the game moving. So now that I've tried to back off a little we are taking quests in a very different angle and it makes things A LOT more interesting. Keep going with the videos!

[@aFistfulofDice]

Barn Bertrenson I'm the same way. Sometimes it's OK to just let the silence hang and give somebody else the opportunity. I'm also a fan of "tossing it" to another player. "I'm not sure what to do here. Any ideas?"

[@barnbertrenson4864]

aFistfulofDice Great Idea, I'll try it out next session.

[@aaron9780]

I've always wanted to try this: 6 players total (5xDMs coordinating from their respected player's biome) Each player gets to create his own biome to DM. As the party moves through the map...the terrain / landscape etc dictate who is DM. 6th player is the GM overseeing everything.This allows obviously way more DM interaction ...giving everyone a taste of power and cycling narration etc to give some fresh twists.

[@jinxtheunluckypony]

That sounds chaotic.

[@derppug7911]

thats kinda like what we do for our game the 6 players each get a turn to be the gm controlling monsters and traps every turn we roll for initiative the player with the lowest (last) is GM.

[@AndreSantos-et3mb]

Clausterfuck

[@polon901]

"Work as a team" My players keep throwing the mage player from the highest tower in my Custom D&D map

[@luangu]

Don't meta-game, I think this is the worst rpg sin that can be made. Don't get into a competition with GM. Sometimes what happens to your character is a plot point or plot driven. You don't have to try and kill every thing you see or come across. Good GM's won't purposely kill your character unless you do something stupid, or the dice gods really want a sacrifice today. If the later happens good GM's will try and work with you to get you (the player) back in the game. Don't steal from other player characters, just don't. I'm certain others will think of some more.

[@Micras08]

The "Don't steal from other players" thing is really a institutional thing imho :) Never done it myself, but it was done to me and I found it hillarious because my character (and me, the DM and rogue /w in roll20 about it) had no idea how it happened, for all he knew he had dropped the most important item in his possession without realizing it before it was to late :)

[@wyrdness1]

Michael Rasmussen Rogues are SUPPOSED to steal from other players. It's part of who they are :)

[@vavakxnonexus]

wyrdness1 And then turn it into a Character conflict that will be a memorable part of the campaign.

[@TheRedAzuki]

wyrdness1 I tend to play rogues who just "Keeps a hold" of the coin purse. To mess with them if they try to go and buy something and turns out they don't have cash... Or plant stolen goods on their pocket. Or swap pockets with other party members. Just doing pranks. Cause Honor among thieves': Don't steal from allies.

[@riverbandit58]

I like to pick pocket other characters only to tell them they dropped something. :-)

[@mikeb6572]

Thanks for the video. Here are the rules in my gaming group; BE ON TIME!!! If you can’t be at the game at the prescribed time every week, find a different gaming group. WE ARE HERE TO PLAY IN THIS CAMPAIGN! We know you’ve played in other campaigns and it was fun. We don’t want to hear about it. You are wasting our gaming time. HEARING ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE IS EATING INTO OUR GAMING TIME. A lot of stuff has happened to you since the last time we played (i.e. work, family, etc.), and to you it is interesting. Please don’t mistake our silence for interest. We are just being polite. DON’T INTERRUPT WHEN SOMEONE IS TALKING and/or ROLE PLAYING. BAD STUFF WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR CHARACTER… …if you split the party so your character can go off and do something that doesn’t help the party, develop the story, and/or slows the game for other players at the table. Know the difference between good role playing and being a narcissist. HELP THE DM & PLAYERS LOOK UP RULES. ROLE PLAY! Don’t roll play.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Mike B Excellent rules! I hope you have these burned into a wooden placard somewhere.

[@KammSann]

im sure that if things happen and someone misses a week or two due to real life getting in the way then you are a bit lenient correct? thats a pretty harsh punishment for something as unimportant as life getting in the way.

[@mikeb6572]

***** Life happens and that is understandable. Just call and let the rest of group know if you can't make it. We have had a kid who want to join our group and we will let them know that we get together at 6:30PM on Thursday nights. And he is like "Sure. No problem" and then he shows up at 7:30 week after week and acts like it is no problem when asked about it..Or worse. One kid joined our group with the understanding that we get together every week and did not tell us he had to work every other Thursday night. Week two rolls around and no show no call, nothing. We figured he didn't want to play with us. Third week he shows up. WTF? We asked him to leave.

[@Chrisbo123]

Mike B Nice guidelines you got there. But I would consider cutting the private talk stuff. Yes we are playing for the campaign, but in my years of playing i met so many nice people and some of them grew to be real friends. This (for me) wouldnt have happened if we hadn't at some point shared private information. Dunno if it is different for other people but I really enjoy playing with friends rather than strangers

[@mikeb6572]

Drednought2 Thanks. We had to spell it out for our group. Two of our friends take 10 min.to tell a 1 min. story. Really long winded.

[@mathmaticooll]

I'm currently running a campaign right now and my players just get the worst roles with the dice and its kinda funny to see them stab themselves while just trying to cut some cheese.

[@mixboo8030]

That's amazing

[@leonardobarrios5497]

i once have a player with a totally op mage, but he just keep rolling critical failures so he tried to give a convulsion to some radom priest to distrarct him and he roll 1 XD, i let him distract the priest by suffering a back pain on himself since he was playing and old caracter ahhahaah it was so funny XD.

[@shanekackley9275]

I know this video is a tad old but i liked it alot made me more confident to play. I'm 42 yrs old and have not played in almost 30 years. I will be starting a campaign on roll20 soon, the starter set adventure LMOP and playing the pre-gen character High-elf Wizard. We don't start till Nov. 1st but i'm researching everything on my background and taking everything you said to heart great video i think it is a must for people who have never played

[@vavakxnonexus]

Whyso Serious So, you've played when you were 10?

[@zraylin.khalitzburg2968]

Vavakx Nonexus he says almost 30 years meaning it could be 27-29 being 42 means he could have been 12-15 easily and that of course is if he isn't exaggerating at all. and really? he posted 5 MONTHS ago you just had to ask?

[@ZorotheGallade]

And now, here are the five worst kinds of RPG players I know. Number 5: The Master wannabe. He wants the spotlight. He wants the story to be all about him. He wants to have something related to his backstory to do in every moment. He will try to lead the party at every turn, he will constantly try to send signals at the DM that he wants the story to unfold in a certain way, and he will. Never. Shut up. His catchphrase: "Hey, I have an interesting idea for the story..." Number 4: The Rage Gamer. Dice rolls have their highs and lows, but he will always be vocal about the latter. Gods lawful and chaotic alike help you if he rolls a natural 1: he will feel cheated and try to guilt trip the DM into lessening the blow. Often this snowballs the problem by making him do anything to get another roll, including actions that might end badly for him such has taking enemies head-on at low health. Catchphrase: "COME ON!" Number 3: The Munchkin. He plays to win. He will always look for the optimal combinations to make himself come out on top on every battle. He will spend minutes considering his moves as if he was playing chess. He will bring up rules at any chance he gets if it means he gets anything out of it, even a measly +1 to hit. His catchphrase: "I'm not obsessed, I just don't want to die." Number 2: The Noobkin. Much like the Munchkin, but remove all knowledge of the game. He will make mistakes and then demand to redo the move. He will blindly grab all the loot he finds regardless of whether he needs or even can use those items. He will charge ahead hoping to claim as much XP as possible. And he will keep pestering the DM for more monsters to get him even more XP and loot. His catchphrase: "So when do I level up again?" Number 1: The Bella. Yeah, it's the best reference I could come up with. The Bella is born when the DM is on the lenient side and fudges a bit to save characters from potentially unfair and avoidable deaths. And that's when he thinks "Hey, the DM won't let me lose this game! I can do anything I want!" He will put himself in danger constantly. Get in every fight, volunteer for every trap check, make beelines for every risky situation, trusting that the DM will make up some Deus ex Machina every time to keep him alive and in game. All is well until the DM's patience runs out and he just crashes and burns, which will make him weepy and whiny about how "unfair" it is that the DM "always saves the others". His catchphrase: "Ouch, I'm really hurt...(pleading eyes)"

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

Sounds like a bunch of metagamers

[@Shashu_the_little_Voidling]

"Nothing bad that happens to your character, is to affect you in real life" You can say that, but some people (like me) get really emotionally attached to their characters. I roleplay a lot, not only in table top games but also in chat and stuff (just roleplaying without mechanics and rules) and to me, some of my characters feel more real than actual people do. Other than that I agree tho

[@michaelpenc7355]

Great video, I just rediscovered the joys of dnd and played my first 2 games since the 2nd edition days, good advice for all players, and its helping me get back into the flow of the game after all these years.

[@aFistfulofDice]

MICHAEL Penc Awesome! Great to hear that you're returning to the game.

[@ChadVanHalen5150]

Haven't watched the video, just wanna shout out the Killers and AC/DC Live posters behind ya, both outstanding albums

[@aFistfulofDice]

Chad Van Oostendorp Hell yeah!

[@mrcopycat2355]

Chad Van Oostendorp Damn right, I also love Armor Class/Difficulty Challenge!

[@caiusofglantri5513]

I keep returning to this ! I think it's my favourite D&D-related video . Creating an enjoyable team, with rivalries, is probably my favourite element in playing RPGs. The Provokers worked so well as a group and this is the most inspiring video I've found on how to create this!

[@deitus1375]

Ha just roll with it! I feel stupid for not realising the pun earlier.

[@zacharyjacques6207]

I was doing my first time DM'ing(though I had played before) with some first time players(never touched the game), and I let them do a couple things I didn't like. I rolled with it. Ended up with a player adamantly pushing the fact that this magic item he snuck into his character creation as a family heirloom turned him into a super-god and killed my cinematic dragon, then the universe, so that he could start his own campaign. That was a pain. So don't let your characters do that. But being chill and rolling with unexpected things is good. Just make sure you know WHY it's happening so everything doesn't go horribly horribly wrong and your world-eater gets killed 3 sessions in.

[@TheRedAzuki]

Zacharias Smith As long as my character don't permanently die. I'm happy Unless it's a oneshot. Then I tend to if I would reuse the same character as I had before. I won't keep any of the experience or items I get from that adventure and only have it like an "What if" type of story.

[@stephenwiegman6627]

Zacharias Smith Not meant to insult, only to help, but there is a difference between rolling with it and letting them walk over you. As the DM, if something is contrary to the world you created and it interferes with the overall game, nix it. Spam the Rust Monsters and Mordekain's Disjunction if it gets that they are actually being a negative player. Granted there are far more creative ways to go about it, just the Club and Fire method.

[@trvrlsn]

my favorite game I have ever played with my group, bounty hunters! the first 4-5 levels were literally "here's the would what do you wamt to do". it felt like a truly open world we established a guild eventually took over the town and THEM we started the story. totally awesome spent so much time just role-playing with each other and the npcs. so much fun

[@wingrunner_]

Players that interrupt the DM after just 5 seconds from the beginning of the speech... Soo annoying

[@HoundXXII]

"a man steps out of the shadows, you can see the glint of his sword-" "I cast eldritch blast!" "The captain of the guard gets blasted against a wall, he yells, and within moments you are surrounded"

[@sontypohnenamen5161]

To be fair, it depends on the situation. If you were in a forest at night and a random stranger wielding a sword stepped out of the shadows, knocking him over the head with your flashlight or running away before asking "good evening old sport, what a wonderful blade you call your own there, may i ask for which exact purpose you have it unsheathed, quite surely not to do me any harm, am i right?" would be a reasonable reaction.

[@NoActuallyGo-KCUF-Yourself]

When I am interrupted as a DM, I don't continue or repeat myself. The players have simply lost access to that information.

[@bigjimswafflehouse]

I played with a group of first time players over the summer. I'll admit that I helped two them a decent bit with their characters, but to put the concept of team work in their heads i just said, "Alright guys think of this kind of like Dragon Age Origins".

[@aFistfulofDice]

bigjimswafflehouse It's always dangerous comparing D&D to video games, but it can help new players understand the concept behind the experience. Just make sure they realize that D&D is much more open-ended and interactive. :)

[@bigjimswafflehouse]

I was really using it to explain how we should approach combat. Especially since I was a flanking build Rouge, so my damage out put was extremely contingent on placement.

[@MorrisMeynolt]

I've seen number of this sort videos. I like educating myself, kinda giving back to the table what GM has prepared. This video is awesome. I adore the way you've presented your points. Huge thumbs up.

[@xdecayedx8236]

My advice for getting to know the party is run a one shot before a campaign. It’s more fun than reading each others sheets and you can see everyone in action. Plus, there’s less to no consequences if you mess up. And, it’s a good way to tie everyone together for the plot

[@Emigail]

We had a campaign to create various well-known characters from games, movies, tv shows, books, and anime. We call it our Heroes Campaign. I created Blair from Soul Eater and Aerith from FF7. Also still working on making Xena. Each of us chose some that we wanted to make, then when we finished those, we asked if the DM needed help with other character creations. We had the Hulk, Joker, Natsu, Hades, and I can't even remember them all. And, yes, Aerith had the ability to basically create materia...

[@DrowDove3]

Starting a Pathfinder gaming group at my school and I'm going to have them watch this; we are about fifteen player's so putting them in groups of four to six players. This is going to be a task; so if there are any other useful videos please let me know. Subbed!

[@DrowDove3]

Have a party of 5 to 8 players now, having a blast. Thanks!

[@oranginos88]

Very interresting. I shared it with our group of Pathfinder players. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

[@keithadams3281]

We have a new D&D group forming and these tips are very good. Thank you!

[@xKingGeorgeTheThirdx]

First tip's definitely helpful. Having a barbarian with +8 in athletics and a rogue with +8 in acrobatics can sometimes turn into a dick measuring contest where they try to outdo each other. But there's also the beautiful synergy where the barbarian can catapult the rogue behind enemy lines. Neither can do everything and anything, but their skillsets merge well when used right.

[@robonerd125]

"There's an avalanche coming after you" "i plunge my weapon into the ground and face it" "**sigh** ok, there is a huge ass boulder in the snow" "i use deflect projectile" "... Roll for it..." **Rolls** "I took three damage from the five ton boulder..." the Beauty of using a Half-Oni Barbarian Monk...

[@gmale9000]

Man! Matt! Wow. I'm a long time RPer and I love RP theory and thinking and talking about it and I've read a lot of lists and tips and things, and usually these lists are pretty self-explanatory if you're aware or creative or experienced enough to learn and pay attention. But I gotta say, this video was fantastic! Really nailed it. You sound like a great player and PC. Wish we could play together sometime! I have the same attitude about DM/PCing and being a writer, so good on you! :D

[@JerryJr65]

When i was 12-14... Iron Maiden, Killers was my all time favorite album!!! Love the vinyl covers in the background! I am 43 now, and i still love Killers. Still love AC&DC too! ;)

[@rayhoefs8620]

Really enjoyed this video. I'm gonna show it to my gaming group. We have the silent fighter who stoically roles dice, the talker who wont listen, and the do everything. You excellently covered a representative portion of the issues that lead to a poor gaming experience. I think smart phones and non-interactive tech leads to a lot of gaming issues as well. Maybe you can throw that in next time.

[@BlueTressym]

I'm glad to hear that, and I hope things go well for you. Take Care.

[@alexe7542]

Something I've been doing recently for the players in my group are "power sheets" they list the character's powers and maybe feats yet. I'm hoping this will encourage people to use their powers more often.

[@TheKvenables]

The best advice in this video is "just roll with it." I wish some former members of my gaming group had watched this video.

[@alexandreromao7131]

Really good, my nerdy mates forced me to join and I thoroughly enjoy it but they sent me this as a must before i start xd, helped a lot bro thanks!

[@Skittlezmm14]

Great tips :) I've been guilty of some of these faults at one point or another, but I think everyone in my party has haha. I really liked your advice about trying to stand out by being a loner - I think I've made this mistake with trying to emphasize the fact that my backstory is a secret. My character still strategizes and contributes, but thank you for bringing the focus back to standing out by fitting in. :)

[@aFistfulofDice]

"Standing out by fitting in." Wise words, my friend!

[@PlasmaPony]

I strongly agree with the not bitching at the table bit. Even if a DM does something that seems incredibly unfair, if at all possible try and save it for after the session, or during a break. It's annoying when the session is brought to a total halt because someone wants to complain nonstop about what happened. You're more likely to come to a mutually beneficial agreement when you sit and talk in private, not putting the DM on the spot while he's trying to keep the game going.

[@seattlegirl14]

With the "roll with it" tip, I can understand it to a huge extent, but it is hard to live it out if your Dm/Gm has it out for you personally. As the party entered a cave, I alone had to roll a reflex save, which I "failed" with a 17. My character was then killed by being impailed by a overhanging sharp rock. It's hard to be a good sport when, once you die, you're then basically shunned unless you're offering food.

[@aFistfulofDice]

If your GM has it out for you, you should probably find a new GM.

[@andrewalberth4842]

I really like this video. Very important for all of my players to understand all of these posts! Thank you!

[@oliver90166]

Really useful. Also, up the irons!

[@phinexman]

A good anology for your 4th tip is when you're watching your favorite show. You get to the point you saw coming since season 1 and your on 3 now. And then you have a guy literally start vacuuming and walk right in between you and the screen.

[@kilroy6429]

On my first adventure, half elf ranger. Thanks for the tips!

[@xCelark]

About tip number 1 I've figured out that an acrobat arch type rouge is that character that can do it all. Because of sneak attacks and high ac. but there was a ranger in the group and he had such a good shot, it was 90% chance to hit his eyes and the I would slash at them for a 6d6 sneak attack it was awesome

[@dswabbitz]

Excellent video. I've sent this video to the guys in the campaign im DMing, we have a lot of issues you've mentioned. Hopefully we'll overcome them :) cheers!

[@aidanoconnell5664]

A theory that I have to help players be involved in a game is something I call gaming cards. If anyone has ever played dead Of winter, I create an action card that is similar to that table top game Dead if winter. Say, character is in the forrest. I give an action card to each player, and those cards contain certain actions that only that character with the card can perform. For example, 6 players are in a forrest. One player gets an action card, and the card says that the player spots a wolf with a midnight cloak. Another player gets an action card that says they spot a trap that could destroy the group. The characters can ether tell the group what is going on, or mess up the group.

[@misschip420]

That is wicked! I should suggest this kind of idea to my hubby

[@aidanoconnell5664]

+Amy Wood thanks! I have not tried it yet, but when you try it give me a holler! (:

[@misschip420]

+Aidan O'Connell for sure!

[@DartTarget]

actually starts at - 2:13

[@TrevelyanBlues]

thank you

[@LtDoom89]

Great advice, but even better delivered! BIG credit from me. Thumbs up.

[@stephengibbs8342]

l love this video!- finally, someone addresses the real issue: how can i (you) be useful, while still being part of team?

[@paulbottomley42]

Player advice from Frodo Baggins. Cool. Sorry dude, you look really like Elijah Wood. :)

[@aFistfulofDice]

Maybe a little. I think if you saw me in real life, you wouldn't think so.

[@jedidiah72]

and cute

[@rowantodd6406]

haha

[@NotSoStNick]

I died laughing at the first tip because my group ended up turning on each this weekend Lolol

[@boardbanditsentertainment9052]

Love this video. A great way to show my fellow players

[@thunderblitzen8255]

I'm fairly new to the game but looking into DMing. I'm nowhere near ready to run a campaign of my own, but I've come up with some characters I feel would be interesting and unique. I'd appreciate any feedback. First Character: A necromancer who became a powerful Lich, before acquiring a Deck of Many Things, from which he drew the "Balance" card, shifting his alignment from evil to good. Suddenly disgusted by his life's work (irony noted), he sealed his abominations in crypts and dungeons to rot away in solitude, and he began his search to once again become a living human. He will give the party a series of quests through an intermediary*, culminating in a final quest to acquire some magical item he believes he can use to become a living human again (possibly the Philosopher's Stone or some sort of Phoenix pendant). When the party acquires it, they are asked to deliver it to him directly. Upon their arrival they will discover that he is a Lich. The climax could be them deciding to kill him, or if they honor the agreement, he could send them to kill his former apprentice, a necromancer on a major power trip. *The intermediary could possibly be a magical bag the party finds (probably in a dungeon on the bodies of another party of adventurers), with the trait that whatever is placed in it, is instantly transported to a sister-bag, and vice-versa (does D&D already have something like this?). It would be a means of getting their instructions as well as how they'd recieve their payments.

[@vavakxnonexus]

Thunder Blitzen That is the most hilarious idea for a character i have ever heard! Do it!

[@zraylin.khalitzburg2968]

this is a great idea. as for sending things from one place to another... www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Ring_Gates might work... re-fluff it as two bags instead of two rings Then say anything inside said bag when the drawstrings are pulled closed transports to the other bag.

[@TheRhetoricGamer]

1) Be a team player. That means don't steal from the party. Don't make a disruptive character. Don't prepare the knock spell when you have a rogue that can do the job. 2) Work with your GM. Cooperate with them. Give them details about your character that they could potentially use in the adventure, even if that means something the GM could use against you. The GM can only involve your character as much as you let him, and it will make the campaign more engaging. 3) Understand how your character works. If they cast spells, look up how they work. If the class references some kind of rule, be familiar with it. If you have questions, ask the GM before the game or in-between sessions. 4) Be action-oriented. Don't be afraid to speak up and have your character do things. Action is the best way to develop your character and speaks more loudly than a backstory ever could. I had several players write their character as kind-hearted, but were unaware they portrayed their character as uncaring and creepy.

[@velaphor8336]

Great video Matt. I've been watching Provokers and will be playing my first game as a PC rather then GM soon, so great ideas for me. (Y)

[@kathosprime986]

I don't talk at all because of my social anxiety disorder but the people I play with are breaking me out of my shell. It's getting better but not everyone who is quiet is trying to be cool, we are just nervous about being heard in a group

[@aFistfulofDice]

I don't think I implied that all quiet people are trying to be cool. It was just an example I used. I struggle with social anxiety as well, so I get it.

[@1cfbdmdd]

To be honnest, if there s something happening to your character that you dont agree with you should probably talk to you GM about it afterwards and try to figure out how to fix it. Severed limb can be replaced with mechanical construct or reattached by some magical ritual. Vampirism can be cured by some obscure artefact. Tribal shaman can bring you out of the dead. There s no such thing as the "end game" if you dont allow the game to bring you down.

[@LeftoverJedi]

Great video, and I strongly agree with your opinion on "Loners", you encounter people in real life all the time that are introverted or don't like getting too close to others and they still socialize and interact with others on a regular basis. Humans (And other races) are out of necessity, social creatures to a certain extent. Even ranger who doesn't talk much still has to come to town and do business occasionally. :D

[@AndrusPr8]

Know your mechanics: I made a table that resumes spells mechanics like range, casting time and spell components. So we can take it in more seriously. Plus i ask the sorcerer to say some magic words and movements when casting (swiggity, swaggity swag! where the chosen words) Roll with it: In order to make the story more interesting I gave characters plots. Our elf sorcerer was turned into a gnome by Garl, god of gnomes. An ancient liche cursed the cleric so now his life is bound to the liche's spellbook. The barbarian fell under a witch's spell, causing him brain damage and now suffers memory loss every now and then.

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

I shall put that on my bucket list play Dungeons and dragons while drunk.I have a feeling i would play my elven characters way better than sober

[@SirNightmareFuel]

+Weekend Warrior (Jesse) That sounds like a smashing good idea.

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

Indubidly. But I do elves can not hold their liqueur as well as their cave dwelling meade sucking friends.Well.. ...Friend is a strong word but you get the idea lol

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

Us and dwarves dont exactly see eye to eye .......... ..........

[@Radomstuff-tf1lm]

Play a dwarf while drunk.

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

Maybe lol.Never played a dwarf.Not sure if i i have the personality to play a greedy drunken person who likes to wield heavy weapons. That constantly yells at his manbeard for stealing half of his rum.lol might work

[@aFistfulofDice]

Nothing specific. I got out of gaming for a couple of years and got back into it in college. Played tons of different stuff, including SWRPG, Savage Worlds, L5R, Warhammer Fantasy, etc. Came back to 3.5 and eventually Pathfinder. It's the system I'm most comfortable with as a player and a GM, and I can do anything I want with it.

[@HowtobeaGreatGM]

Love your videos. And love the fact that you have some great tips! Would be interested to know if my players and my advice for GM's for South Africa, behave differently from say your groups and your players.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Thanks very much. Kind words.

[@Therealhatepotion]

I actually stopped playing with a group because they new worked as a team and made it about how much they could annoy each other. Plus they need wanted to pay an equal amount for the food I cooked and brought. I brought the flipping receipt!! Sorry I digress. Good video.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

Great tips. We are all social misfits or we wouldn't't be playing. Great advice again.

[@aFistfulofDice]

I think I'll title my videos whatever I want, thanks. And I've explained numerous times that I come from a D&D 3rd Ed role-playing background.

[@YeshuaAgapao]

I'm going to be playing PnP D&D for the first time in like 20 years starting next week. I've mostly only been playing cRPGs between then (most relevant NWN2 and ToEE). I think I will be joining a very fighter heavy party, but don't know what exactly there. I'm tempted to use my favored Ranger/Rogue, but I think a Sorcerer or a bard will fit better. This party likely don't have any divine spellcasters.

[@johnscheibeler9076]

I take exception with your advice to "roll with it". As a player, I have an idea, a concept, of what my character should be like. If you, as the GM, change that concept, then you are interfering with my fun. If you strike off my character's arm and I am a dual-wielder, then you are going to upset me and no, I am NOT going to "roll with it". This attitude, I know, largely is a result of my experiences with previous GMs that liked to mess with characters because they were vindictive and petty people. I got messed with a lot, and aside from walking out of the game (which inevitably I always ended up doing), I had no recourse but to sit there, shut up and take it. THAT is why I get upset when people do this to me.

[@BrimstoneVomit]

Sounds like you're a special case then, having particularly sadistic GM's to contend with. It's one thing struggling with a setting and cast of villains that make your characters' lives difficult, but another thing entirely when a GM, on the meta level, messes with players (as opposed to characters) because they feel they can. My personal course of action would be to stop playing with them. I've had fun experiences of "just rolling with it." For my first time playing an RPG, almost everything when wrong for my character, and that was still pretty darn fun. It not only made my few successes all the sweeter, but figuring out how my character would adapt and react to failures was a welcome challenge. It was a phenomenal first experience, really. My criticism to you (and I hope you take it constructively), is that you may need to consider the difference between a concept for your character and your expectations for it. Because you HAD your concept for a dual-wielder, you just couldn't get over your expectations that it would remain a dual-wielder. I would have had a shocked expression at first - maybe a little bummed, too - but I can easily see the fun in investing new skill points into more relevant skills/feats/etc, and making that tragedy part of your character's... well, character. It's a great development and storytelling device and makes the character all the more interesting and compelling if you just own it.

[@acm4bass]

This will mainly be a criticism of your post,, or expectation. I'm sure your a great guy and player, But....... If your playing with a bad GM......either deal with it or GM yourself. Otherwise, The roll with it theory is great. If your death knight father cuts your hand off, now you have a quest to build a construct hand. If your a duel wield class, take a note out of the pirate hand book and build a prosthetic knife hand. Bottom line you will roll with it. Also keep in mind most communication is non verbal, maybe the dm was just fed up with you and what you were trying to do with the dual wield skill, and wanted to avoid the issue.

[@garmr2512]

+Alexander Maxwell That would be a dick move from the dm part to cut your hand off to avoid the issue instead of talk it out. I would be pissed if he did that and I know it is wrong but I would start meta gaming a bit to get one up on him.

[@acm4bass]

Sometimes adversity caused by the dm seems like a dick move, but if you think about it deaths, injuries, curses and diseases and such can cause drama ( the story sense of the word) and create an investing and interesting story. Will Wheaton got outraged by his acid death, but he got to come back eventually, got to play an npc, and had an entire quest arc centered on his character. Also tragic occurance up the anxiety level for everyone , knowing they might die. The only think wrong with marvel movies, is that main character never die.

[@kaosenshi333]

Fantastic tips and tricks, sharing this with my players! :)

[@alelouya1]

When you say do not interrupt, what about the time where you character is on the side watching the interaction between the characters and then one of them mention or do something that trigger a reaction in your character. Do you mean that even so, since your character is not directly involved in this scene, he should not react? I'm kind of being picky here, but I'd still like to know.

[@Mechsrule1]

Know your character... once I had a game where we had a guest filling in for someone who was absent, and despite their sheet being "lawful good" they were nothing of the sort the whole time.

[@aaron9780]

"question about the great cleave feat" lmao

[@BlueTressym]

The point about loners is an interesting one. I've met a lot of people who do that and I'm left wondering why people want to create someone who is only interested in what they can do - alone - for a game that is by definition, meant to be a team effort, a cooperative one. Seems to me that people who aren't interested in working with others are playing the wrong game. I'm intrigued to know how you play a loner who does actually interact with others; I'm really not sure how to do that.

[@ThomasElmeblomOrville]

You have a lot of good tips in this video. I have seen a lot of the stuff you are talking about in the video. For me I think you should have mentioned have fun att the start of the video, perhaps you did and if so that´s my bad. Ok, lot´s of good thoughts and I share them. I have started to ask a lot more of the players over the last 10 years of gaming. Thanks again for a good video

[@johnremp3470]

great video I appreciate it I'm a new player. half elf bard here (bard in real life too lol.) also, great product placement xD

[@LuketheGoon]

Congratulations Bucko! Classic. Great video man..

[@Marpal20]

one time my GM made me make a decision, I could accept a pact with a powerful demon and get more powerful but I had to kill my teammates, since my character was a power hungry evil warlock, I had to change my patron and I got this really op sword. Then I lied to my teammates saying that I found the new sword, I basically was the boss of the session. The game ended with me trying to kill an enemy, missing and getting one-shot by it without any saving throw for no reason...

[@thegtanerdcast3816]

We had a player who most certainly did not follow tip #4! He would even talk over the DM and at points was trying to set the scene himself... needless to say he wasn't invited to play often!

[@loukasarts7367]

and hulk, smash this is now what i say to our fighter whenever he wants to get in a fight

[@aFistfulofDice]

Well thanks. Sorry if I came off a little hostile ... just didn't really appreciate someone telling me to retitle the vid. Haha. It's obvious, based on your comments, that you have some issues with Pathfinder. What system(s) do you play, if I might ask?

[@jessicapink9352]

about knowing your character... I am relatively new to D20 (via pathfinder) and when running it and playing characters I started to write down by hand or copy/paste then print word docs of cheat sheets with whatever rules I don't know.

[@jameswilson4328]

Thanks for making this!

[@Blancinnoir]

This video would be much greater if it were 5 minutes long.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Short attention span, huh?

[@spazticjest]

+aFistfulofDice There is a difference between content and filler.

[@arax20]

+aFistfulofDice Yeah kind of same here too.

[@Tristansfn]

+aFistfulofDice Get to the point, already. If you want to share your life story, do it at the end of the video. Then everyone who wants to hear it can keep watching, and you save those who don't some time.

[@TeamKatastrophe]

Well, you could take his feedback on face value. Comparatively, your video feels a bit stretched. Other videos are somewhat better edited, and the speakers somewhat better prepared. There is a lot of extra material in your video that could've been cut out. There is no shame in cutting out your "uhh"s afterwards or preparing examples per point beforehand.

[@lijahsampson6979]

So now I know everything I was doing wrong during my first campaign. XD

[@lordmattu666]

Thank you. I watched this video 3 times. I enjoyed this Video.

[@wheatpuncher27]

#3 is one of the best tips (:

[@TeamMobsBR]

Subscribed because of the channel's name

[@aFistfulofDice]

Team Mobs BR Thanks for subscribing!

[@patmaloney5735]

I;m playing with a relatively new group but it is our second campaign, and everytime I play my character in a moment of internal conflict in the group, for example the cocky bard told me that he slept with his best friends wife, I play the lawful good compusivly fairminded and stubbornly combative and obligatorily righteous dwarf ranger I am. And suddenly the other person is personally upset. Its shit when people dont care about the story

[@GigaBoost]

I miss your old hair Matt. Any tips for getting out of planning and into action? The groups I play in either rush into things without a plan or end up spending 1-2 hours real time twisting and turning every situation around over and over and never really getting anywhere.

[@Zechariah547]

wow ^^ we have the same guitar chords poster.

[@frostybaboon2651]

I know what you mean about rolling with it. My character died from my friend shoving a goblin foot up his arse. It Sucked and I didn't get my character back but it was pretty funny when u look back and u only mad for a bit

[@ingetamna]

You mention that you play many loner characters who still interact frequently with the other pc's. Could you clarify how you do that? I would appreciate it a great deal, as I'm playing a bit of a loner character atm and I'm having some difficulty with her in that regards. I'm fine from the middle of an situation or conversation on, but it's hard to get her more involved in the beginning of something while staying true to her personality and motivations.

[@MasticinaAkicta]

Good points happy the group I am dealing with seems, at most, willing to play their part. One of them is definitely merely for smashing things.. his solution to a locked door.. SMASH. and ya know yeah awesome! But I try to offer plot points.. allowing every player to use their strengths. The thief can sneak past things.. open locks.. find other ways. And I offer them ways. Yes I have a ranger to.. there will be trails and there will be checks to see if they can understand all the Lore around them. So far the group I deal with isn't to bad. Some of them are there for smashing things.. some of them are for trying to be funny eh yeah. But overall they know their job. And our smartests ones really know how to ask for "Can I not do a lore check?" ..yes you can.

[@aFistfulofDice]

Thanks!

[@vesuvanprincess]

This is great advice.

[@EryxUK]

Good advice.

[@actionauthorjessehenson2616]

One of my dms i played with had a house rule if you roled a 1 badluck would happen. Our team walked into a bar full of bugbears.My elven archer knocked an arrow to fire as i go to fire my friend pulls out his great axe and go into Barbarian rage.Some how i trip as im releasing get my bow caught in his axe some how and my 170 pound elven self is now flung with his axe into a killing spree.yea....That wasnt fun good thing we had a healer.lol

[@kevinlawton9085]

Great video dude :) just emailed the link to my players :)

[@christreedee]

Great advice please keep it up!