How Cheating Makes You a Better Dungeon Master | Narrated D&D Story

What do you think? Is it cheating to tweak a dice roll so a party member doesn’t die? Do you let the dice gods decide your players’ fate? Tell me what you think in a comment down below!
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Credits
Story Source: Reddit
Video Editor: Shawn Kadian
Editors: Lonny Foran ([e-mail])
Narration: Lonny Foran
Thumbnail Art & Channel Artwork: NalaFontaine (Twitter/@nala_fontaine)
#dndstories #dnd #dungeonsanddragons

[@michaeljebbett160]

I have twisted results to have my players survive, but I have also given bosses sudden extra abilities when the heroes are doing a bit too well against it

[@shaggybutler2057]

Just curious what happened to the other voice?

[@tesuniekataren46]

I was thinking the same. Not to offend anyone, but I like how animated the other person sounds when he does this. This guy has a good voice, but currently sounds like he is just reading the lines, with a very flat tone of voice. Willing to still listen, and additional experience doing this I believe will get this new voice more animated as he becomes more comfortable at this.

[@DaleTrevors]

6:15 no edit?

[@inuendo6365]

First story the DM was rolling in the open and it led to a more interesting side quest. The second also led to interesting roleplay so it's more like not cheating leads to longer stories but better roleplay

[@albusvoltavern4500]

It has its place

[@inuendo6365]

@@albusvoltavern4500 not in these stories

[@Anti-Villain-Wolf]

Where's the old narrator?

[@inuendo6365]

It was AI used by other channels

[@benwil6048]

@@inuendo6365 D: this is AI too then?

[@GrifoStelle]

​@@inuendo6365 this isn't AI?

[@inuendo6365]

@@GrifoStelle the background mistakes between stories makes and breathiness makes me think it isn't but don't care tbh. It's just better than hearing the same old voice used on other channels and a handful of tiktoks

[@Electric_Wizard]

That 'AI' is a voice actor who called Milo. ​@@inuendo6365

[@Bladez10]

If the important thing is to make sure your players are having fun and if you need a little help weaving the story to ensure this, fudging a few rolls or change a few things ain't bad as long as it use sparingly.

[@The_SupremeSage]

Sounds like someone turned off filters but its soothing

[@SasukeX53]

The way I see it is that the DM isn't cheating per sey. The DM is simply changing the difficulty settings of the game. Especially when its a more....tutorial setting. Like a simple warning of to not mess with 'X' kind of thing.

[@Jaeger_Bishop]

I prefer modifying factors that the party has no idea are in play or couldn't possibly predict. Enemy intention is my favorite. If a PC goes down too quickly, I can use story reasons for them being a capture target instead of just them getting offed in a unceremonious way. Did that to the storm cleric in the party. I came up with a plot thread that I had planted the seed of, the BBEG was supposed to just use gate to pull her through for a big reveal, but since she went down to some lower level, cannon fodder thugs. I just had them try to carry her off to said meeting. Through a little DM fiat, some smart play by the players, and the luck of the dice. They managed to stop her being carried off and turned the entire encounter around.

[@Kyle-cw2in]

Im good with the narrator, just keep the stories coming!

[@eltsoldier]

Valve got this right with Left 4 Dead. Capcom with Resident Evil 4. It's called the "Director" system. You adjust the difficulty according to how bad or how well the players are doing. Except here, you take into account the party's emotional investment, not just mechanics. If you get a player killed, that player has to sit at the table, watching, no longer able to contribute, and likely feeling guilty about the trouble they've put the rest through to get them back. Tabletop games with high investment are not the same as the video games people are used to, and they should NEVER be treated as such. Yes, it's "just a game", but the point of games is to have fun. If people aren't having fun, then the game has no point. If cheating/fudging makes it more fun, then that's usually a good thing.

[@prinnygoddood901]

I have to say The guy that voiced this episode sounds pretty cool and hot 🎉

[@NoahFan114]

What happened to the old narrator??

[@Lrbearclaw]

Pushing crypto and AI "art".

[@ZachLane89]

The old narrator sucked

[@iiiiitsmagreta1240]

@@Lrbearclaw OOF 💀

[@beriukay]

My first DM would bring me back after sending me to the gates of hell (I was playing an evil character) and making me solve increasingly convoluted puzzles. I got better at not dying

[@Bober077]

Check the text - you have a cut piece between the stories.

[@FlyingDominion]

I never fudge. If my players succeed, it's because they earned it. If they fail, the same applies.

[@Dan-zj9iz]

Bring the old voice back, there was nothing wrong with it. Can’t stand this one and I don’t want to abandon one of my fav channels.

[@naruhina1997]

I cheat to make fights more intense, or allow players to have good Roleplay etc, always for the rule of cool hehe

[@TerrisH20]

I like this voice more then the old voice. the deeper voice suits this story more then the upbeat chirpy one.

[@Electric_Wizard]

This guy just sounds bored and disinterested.

[@GreaterGrievobeast55]

Yirbel lives!!

[@myboatforacar]

My wife didn't buy it, she's gone to live with her sister

[@briarstichbury2815]

Love the new narrator

[@iiiiitsmagreta1240]

Yeah, the old one always gave me bad vibes.

[@craigtucker1290]

It is cheating and it cheapens any accomplishment the players achieve by only being possible by the DM's efforts. The DM has effectively delegitimized the player's deeds and triumphs. As a DM for several decades, I do not cheat, ever. This was mandated by our table by those that were tired of the previous DM who cheated and fudged dice rolls to the point that DM lost their ability to roll behind a screen and the trust of the players.

[@thebigdawgj]

I have my volume maxed out and can barely hear this.

[@timtauber5557]

The story, consistency in rules, and player agency rule role playing games. If a D.M. Discreetly Changes something on the fly that improves any of those listed aspects of the game in order to make the game more interesting and fun for the players I am not against it. Deliberately trying to kill a player or the whole party should be avoided of course.

[@Shaa-Gi]

Sup

[@octayjani2886]

First

[@morecringe89]

I can see the problem. Immature players can't lose even when they do stupid cringe things that makes you take breaks for playing with any human been anymore.

[@clericofchaos1]

I disagree. Also, who is the new narrator? Did the other one die?

[@caurd]

No, cheating doesn't make you a better DM, it makes you a worse DM. A good DM plans encounters well, a good DM knows how to regulate the enemies' intentions with the narrative (not everyone has to fight to the death) and, if the worst happens, he knows how to turn the character's death into a plot line. . Lastly, not every encounter has to be terribly challenging and a life or death fight. A dangerous environment can be understood without fighting with a snake being a mortal danger. At my table all the runs are made in plain sight. What came out on the die, came out on the die. And yet, I haven't had any problems with accidental deaths for years.

[@vortega472]

All jokes aside, I can't do this with this guy. It's been nice guys. If someone wants to tell me where the other narrator went - please send me some love on this comment. You guys say good. Oh, I'm taking back my subscribe - at least tell us why things are changing.

[@ZachLane89]

Old narrator was trash ai and very annoying. This is way better

[@vortega472]

@@ZachLane89 Yeah I disagree, hence me leaving. But good for you.

[@inuendo6365]

The old narrator was AI, look "him" up if you want to join the associated crypto scams when you're done throwing a tantrum. Heck, you can have ChatGPT make up stories for it to read off if you miss it so much. It's also used in tiktoks and a "news" channel somewhere here on KZbin

[@vortega472]

@@inuendo6365 Yeah because there's no other content on KZbin. Idiot.

[@vortega472]

@@inuendo6365 Unless you're being constructive or helpful, mind your own business. I have a preference, asked a question, and you come along with nonsense. If you have nothing useful to contribute please walk away and save your snark for someplace else.

[@JacobL228]

This guy's unemotional voice just puts me to sleep. He sounds like he should be recording an audiobook of Moby Dick instead of narrating the zany adventures of a D&D party.

[@RakabooEntertainment]

I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to this new narrator. There’s no life or energy in their voice.

[@inuendo6365]

The last one was ai, it's used by other channels including a "news" one if you want to listen to something fake

[@ZachLane89]

Old narrator was trash and very annoying. This is way better

[@heaiiyasha]

I miss the old voice. The new one sounds flat and makes me loose interest fast :/

[@shadowofthehitokiri5787]

Where's the old narrator?