How to Design One-shot RPGs (Ep. 159)

[@dragoleaf5861]

Brilliant! I was just trying to design a special one shot for my group, as to celebrate us all finishing our final year of Highschool. This is really helpful.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Awesome! Good luck after high school and share this video with your coolest friends!

[@toddkes5890]

One game I ran as a one-shot was called "Halls of the Mad Mage". It is a single page dungeon I found online, with unusual geography. Had fun quotes from the players, "you may think you're you, but you're not you. You need to go away so you can come back"

[@BobWorldBuilder]

I was about to say that it’s good to have an ending in mind for oneshots because you want them to be an open and shut case, but then I realized my favorite one shots have also been my most improvised sessions. Thanks for the tips, Professor!

[@nicklarocco4178]

"There's nothing new under the sun." No point in trying to invent a completely new story, when there's plenty of great ones you could take and change to your style.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Yep

[@jakestaples8498]

I ran a one-shot Call of Cthulhu scenario last year where the characters were a rescue team sent to a space station to find out what happened, save the crew (if they’re still alive), and salvage the top secret research project. After the hook, which happened in the first 5 minutes, I let the players wander around in the “sandbox” and fed off their comments. For example, one person referred to Ten Little Indians, and a little later, they found that book in a cabin. Everyone had a great time, and it was almost a TPK due to the actions of the players. I gave them warnings, but they wanted to see what was going to happen if they continued...

[@chuck-n-debtaylor7553]

Deathbringer laughing at his own jokes...perfect 👍🏻

[@chuck-n-debtaylor7553]

...you might say, “He killed it!”

[@daveford5683]

He's a Dad!

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

I tend to love individual, episodic adventures and think of them as 'one shots' where the plot is self enclosed. Most recently did something about werewolves and a legend of a girl in a crimson cloak and elements of a 'Jack the Ripper' - there are lot of good stories out there.

[@andrewtomlinson5237]

One of the things my regular players look forward to in my campaigns are my "Meanwhile on...(insert campaign name)." sessions. They turn up expecting to play the adventure the last session lead in to, and I hand them a bunch of pre made character sheets, and throw them into a one shot that is happening elsewhere in the world but relates directly (though they may not realise it immediately how...) to the broader campaign. The old lags at my table both love and hate this, because it allows them a sense of freedom from worrying about their own PC for a session, but also dumps a huge "Meta" burden on them. To be honest, that's never really an issue as the outcomes are rarely able to break the campaign, however they end and the information they learn is more about adding flavour for them as players than driving the narrative. They work a bit like how "Rogue One" fits into the Star Wars cycle. And its often (in fact the past few times I've done it has always been...) the case that they are playing out something they have already learned about from NPCs. Though it may not be till the very end before they realise that. "Famous last stands" "Suicide missions" are great examples. And no one minds if there is a TPK, because next week its back to normal. My favourite was when, at the end of the session, I handed them a scroll. The same scroll their main characters had recovered from a tomb several sessions before, that had been hidden for a hundred years... but the one they just got was the pristine version compared to the dusty old one and they realised that the session had taken place over a hundred years before the regular campaign even started. One of my guys, whose been playing as long as I have, describes that session as the best he's ever played. Tonally, and statistically, etc, it was no different to most sessions I've run, I had to be careful with how I led into things to not give the game away, but that ending has stuck with us for years.

[@ricksherman34]

Prof Dungeon Master - I finally decided to get a notebook ready when I watch these videos so I can capture all of the lessons and go back and re-read it as needed. Pure gold in terms of learning what works. I play Traveller , but your tips are still valid for any RPG setting / rules-set. Thanks so much for putting these together. I think I'll subscribe to your patreon to help support the site. I've learned a lot so far. Keep it up !

[@jorgedasilva7665]

I just want to say that your videos have inspired me to try my hand at DM'ing again. Your ideas are superb.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I just want to say you made my day. God bless & thanks for watching DungeonCraft!

[@jorgedasilva7665]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 I'm glad! Now to go back and start watching the rest of your older videos in your catalog.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

Every one-shot I have run, several since quarantine started, has turned into multi-session episodic o going adventures, three or four sessions long. I think that one of the appeals is that the players get to experiment with character ideas in a way in which they normally might not, and with no pressure of a campaign looming, they get alot of freedom. Intending only a one-shot, the characters and situations can start off as ridiculous or simplistic, and wind up being so much fun, no one wants to say good-bye to them.

[@2010AZ]

Just entertained the idea to run a one-shot for my PCs tomorrow as we have not played since I entered college, and the professor blesses my notifications with a masterclass video

[@ronsmith3905]

Great perspective I know I, and am sure other DM's overlook or forget to think about..."To the player..their character is always the main character"....I really love these gold nuggets you throw out. Great vid PDM...Cheers!!

[@wolfjack5802]

As someone who has been watching DND videos for quite some time this has got to be some of the best one shot advice. This and Seth's.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks! Love Seth. Bonesaw!

[@azuritet3]

I had to watch this one twice. I need to prepare a one shot for the future. Thanks for being super convenient PDM.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks! Please share!

[@xavier5507]

Nice to meet you, Professor. I'm from chile, I just discovered your channel less than a week ago, and I wanted to tell you that you have become a true teacher to me. All his videos are amazing and reinforce ideas that I thought were wrong, like setting my own values ​​in hit points and throws. Anyway, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy your channel, I'm trying to catch up on all the videos posted. You are a cool and great example for me as a DM and as a Professor. Greetings from Chile!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you, Xavier!

[@MatthewLeLievre]

That felt like the last 30 seconds was the real "how to run..." and the rest was pretty specific to that adventure. Regardless I find solace in Professor Dungeon Master videos.

[@jacobhope6164]

You know what it takes to run the ultimate one shot? It takes brass balls to run the ultimate one shot.

[@MrColdraven]

Underrated comment

[@irishthump73]

Nicely recycled!

[@commandercaptain4664]

Or notes. Copious notes.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Plus 100xp for that one.

[@ben10mama]

I'll say this was a great layout for a mystery style one shot. I personally don't know how well this would go with a more action based one shot but I'll have to play with it and see. Thank you for the advice!

[@lilcwa]

Bravo, sir! Such an extraordinary precis on how to design and run a successful one-shot game session with efficiency and ease. Thanks for this thoughtful and thought-provoking video!

[@FolkMagician352]

That one shot concept is great

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks for watching!

[@Frederic_S]

I liked the way you pitched your games. Thinking about your players you want to get to play 👍

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks, Frederic! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@jameswight6259]

Glengarry Glen Ross! Nice! Such an excellent film, yet so few people seem to know it. Hopefully thanks to you more people will check it out. It’s well worth it. Great video. Really useful and such impeccable timing. Thanks!

[@creaturescavernscrafting2929]

Excellent material for those creating a one shot. The break down, concept and art work was fantastic.

[@jf649]

Awesome advice with the inner conflict. I never run a one-shot nor participated in 25 years. So never really thought of this hilarious fun aspect of it. Thanks!

[@scubaguymi]

Great ideas. My daughter's 5e group wants me to do a high-level one shot for them and I've never done anything like this. All the concepts from this video are written down, now it's time to brainstorm!

[@GMJoe]

I was a big fan of Cloque House and I have a vision of revisiting this dreadfully delightful cast of characters.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you. That might be my favorite module. It took longer to write than the system!

[@markdowse3572]

If it works, don't break it ! 😊 As human beings, we've been recycling stories since we began telling them... Thanks for yet another thought-provoking Episode, Professor !!! 👍😄

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks, Mark!

[@ricksherman34]

The Greeks used to say there is nothing new under the sun. Any new story is just a twist on an old story....

[@mrpibb916]

Class is in session! I will be rewatching this one a few times as I want to write a series of one shots.

[@furiousTjr]

Another excellent video from Professor Dungeonmaster

[@sirguy6678]

Great video! Fantastic ideas on creating one shots and convention games! Another great class from PDM!

[@Aragura]

Thanks for the breakdown of your thought process. I love one shots, you don't have to pull your punches and the players can try any wild plans they come up with. Glad Deathbringer is a regular character. Cookie for the metric!

[@alexanderchippel]

A good one shot to do is a Film Re-roll. You basically take a film no longer than 2 hours and rewrite it to be a game setting, and then give your players character sheets for the main characters. I've used GURPS but I find CoC works for most movies perfectly. It basically gives your players the option to immerse themselves on a movie they've already seen and make decisions that weren't made in the movie.

[@carpma11]

I’ve been hesitant to run any one-shots but this has emboldened me. I feel like it’s almost a requirement for it to be horror-themed too so I’ll be practicing my Vincent Price voice.

[@JRDATX]

Thanks for this video! It came just in time. My teen daughter asked me to run a creepy Halloween one-shot for her and friends who are both gamers and non-gamers. This video definitely helps to provide structure and some ideas. Have a good one!

[@sarahcb3142]

Per usual your videos have impeccable timing. I'm about to run a Call of Cthulhu one shot this upcoming Sunday for a Halloween break for my regular 5e D&D group. I'm also secretly hoping to get a few of them interested enough in the horror/mystery style of play to pitch a CoC campaign after we finish this one. I've only run a handful of one shots before so I'm very grateful for your advice!

[@jakeeper1]

Great info!!! I'm incorporating this lesson immediately to my one-shots!

[@AndroskiProductions]

Just in time! Im running my first one shot for Halloween!

[@AzraelThanatos]

I've run a few one shots that worked rather well. One was a rather simple take on Cumberland Games free adventure "Cray Canyon Cold Snap" that required a lot of work at first to make things work mechanically (Adventure is systemless and basically a plot and NPCs with some ideas for mechanics), and the other was one that I'd never actually named which I've run it for friends and at a few stores. Both of them were using the SpyCraft games as a basis, and both were run as horror games...both for halloweens in the past. Cray Canyon is one in the early age of the rail in the US, the transcontinental railroad is nearly complete (and if you "win" the adventure, it'll actually take longer...otherwise it's not delayed due to actions, but a spirit monster is on the loose). The one I created is set in Colonial Era US and involves a vampire...taking a lot from the feel of Solomon Kane.

[@tomyoung9834]

Great advice, Professor!

[@elizabethrowe5960]

Thank you. This is going to be a big help.

[@thegreengnome]

Excellent as always - keep up the good work!

[@helixxharpell]

Here I am getting ancient DC videos on my feed. Lol. Almost as ancient as Dan himself! 😂😂 Love ya Dan! 😊

[@KanesKiln]

Very nice! Guess I know what I'll be studying up for the next week!

[@paulofrota3958]

Great video as always, professor.

[@douglasfairbanks2491]

The only videos I thumbs up before watching 🖖

[@klarsen91]

Great video as always professor!

[@macdameron9321]

will use this next time

[@tomkerruish2982]

I've been wondering, Professor: do you have tenure? Seriously, this is a great channel, even for someone like me who's just reminiscing about playing. Have you considered doing a Kickstarter for "The Great Batsby"?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you. Yes, I have tenure, but there will never be a published version of the Great Batsby. It's too traumatic for me. It was that bad. As bad as you can imagine it was--it was worse.

[@tomkerruish2982]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Thank you. I always appreciate it when a content creator personally answers a post.

[@kurga9790]

Thank you Professor!

[@greyd.99xsome]

Very helpful as always! Thank you!

[@JoelFeila]

i run a lot of one shots at cons. yes i reuse the same ones year after year. I try to set up a goal for the group. make sure there are several ways to approach it. next i try to show off all the different systems in the game.

[@Skellbit1999]

great tips! im running a werrewolf murder mystery for halloween wath an unexpected twist

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I ran a murder mystery based on "The Beast Must Die." I think that game and the live play in on Patreon. Lots of fun.

[@JasonFuhrman]

Wow! Amazing stuff. If I could give it one thousand thumbs ups, I would.

[@Tecnodoc32]

The thumbnail picture was a picture of Wilhelmina Löwenstain - Mina amongst friends. A character in a Mytras version of "the Curse of Strahd". Long backstory and plotbuilding, if anyone is interested I can post =)

[@trouqe]

Well, that alone just made you another top tier member.

[@Zirbip]

Could you tell us more about MacDeath? That sounds like it would be a great adventure.

[@aguy4124]

Thanks professor

[@ArtJeremiah]

The gaming group I play in is pretty much all one-shots. My bro used to DM for Adventure League so I think he just got used to it... that and we just don't get together much anymore (unfortunately).

[@JoeStuhff]

One-shots are the BEST way to introduce a new player character to a seasoned group of PC's

[@insertnamehere8121]

@Professor DM Does Wish and/or Limited Wish work on/against the DM ?

[@LordNerfherder]

I strongly SUGGEST railroading. Leaving it too open ended and too sandboxy is problematic. Confining the playwrs and blocking out some options out of scope for the oneahot is very important. Just line you say, keeping them in a location like a town building or similar is good. This is the rail. They also have a dixed antagonist usually. This is also the rail. What isnt decides is how they deal with the problem. Railroading like this can be good. Steering them along the plot is convenient and saves time in the oneshot. Especially if your oneshots are just "beer and pretzels" like you suggest. I strongly advice to lay a relatively heavy railroad that forces players along a rail but how they deal with the issues is open ended. The more things that vary in a large scope the mor eproblematic. If you are designing things like twists and similar it will be railroady. But this is great for oneshots. It guarantees that better material is prepared because you needed to invent less on the fly.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks for writing. I actually agree with you. A game needs structure--but also flexibility. Caves of Chaos is sandboxy, but once you get into the dungeon, the walls keep you on a track. You can still make decisions--East, West, North, South, but the encounters are written out.

[@cameronf5893]

Thanks for another awesome video :)

[@Mermer-16]

That Deathbringer, such a funny guy. Does he also like show tunes? Can we look forward to a musical number in future? :D

[@jarrettperdue3328]

That.would.be.AMAZING

[@lankas]

Very dramatic! Well done.

[@InnoVintage]

Running the tomb of horrors as a Halloween one shot for my players, it should be fun. my players are really cocky, and it should be a fun surprise. If Asererack wins, I wish them better luck next year, if they win I make them some custom "best players" thing, because that module is hard.

[@goyasolidar]

Acererak. You spell a demi-lich's name wrong at your peril.

[@NefariousKoel]

Is that the Kult RPG I see on your shelf? First time I noticed.

[@trikepilot101]

Planning a one-shot (online) for Halloween. I will apply all of this to the Call of Cthulu 7th ed. intro adventure.

[@kiroulossidra8405]

Miss you, sir! Happy Halloween!

[@sirhamalot8651]

Deathbringer casts a level 3 Dad Joke.

[@FooDogDM]

Brilliant!

[@roderik4]

This plot would work nicely for Dread

[@dmdon6314]

PDM, how do you deal with players who want to make magic items in you're homebrew game do you allow it? What rules do you use?

[@alexandersvideopicks8735]

Very cool!

[@Keyce0013]

If the sanitarium is 30 miles from the mansion, it would only take about 7-8 hours for William to walk back to the mansion, assuming an average walking speed of 4 miles per hour. It might make things a little scarier knowing that he stalked his way home, getting covered in sweat and dirt and nicked by tree branches and thistles along the way. Small, subtle clues that their brother is just a façade for the madness contained within.

[@preacherjohn]

Even a young fit person will really struggle to walk 30miles in one day, and most definitely won't keep up 4mph for 7 to 8 hours.. So, unless the character is some kind of endurance athlete, more realistically you're looking at around 20-ish miles in a day, and that's over fairly easy terrain in good conditions (not stumbling through uneven ground in dark woods).. And expect to be utterly wiped out / exhausted by the end of that.. Source: RL experience.

[@dreamleaf6784]

I'm here to do three things. Eat Doritos with french onion dip, make fart jokes, and chuck dice.

[@mikebrooks761]

Ok...I've looked for 90 nights of hell, but can't find it Do you have this for purchase? I'd love to run the one shots you mentioned!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

No. I ran it several times at GenCon.

[@jameswight6259]

As an excellent complement to this, check out Runehammer’s recent video on running horror adventures.

[@David-su4is]

I saw this on the Flinstones.

[@trioofone8911]

Deathbringer cracks me up

[@syafiqibrahim7252]

English is not my first language, but I thought of what if call it something like Concept, conflict and construct? I know it's wrong but it continue the 'con' thing u have going Thanks again for the video professor

[@HornetVF103]

Play Modiphius’s Conan using the 2d20 engine. Or, try Rolemaster with their Crit tables.

[@zimmejoc]

ABC...Always Be Closing. Best movie scene ever! Baldwin was a force.

[@mystrangebrain9240]

Thanks so much

[@missa2855]

But Professor Dungeon Master! How do I run a campaign? My players are complaining that my game feels too much like a series of disconnected one shots. From my point of view the thing that's actually happening is a series of somewhat disconnected threads that will twist into a big rope. PS. This video explained one shots SO MUCH better than other videos.

[@ronniejdio9411]

Being back characters and even vilians from other ine shots and weave them into a story. Even if its loosely tied together .

[@missa2855]

I am, the space station only has a limited number of npcs. And being at session 3 they've not really encountered any villains yet... Except for xenomorph like aliens which they brought back to the station after finding an old ship floating about and decided to tow it home to sell it.

[@ronniejdio9411]

@@missa2855 man I wanna play that. .makes me miss Traveller What do they want ? A space opera like star wars ? Dune ?

[@missa2855]

@@ronniejdio9411 two of them just wanna do some RPG and the last one wants to explore intergalactic space politics, but not like in start trek, but differently. What differently is a damn good question though.

[@ronniejdio9411]

@@missa2855 not to get political but so many today feel entitled and players have to have as much " go with the flow " as the dm. Your scenario sounds cool. Figure out if he is into Babylon 5 or which sci fi is his favourite and ahem steal a story arc from them lol

[@phillipwyman8963]

Death-bringer is such a Punny guy

[@keithvanboskirk7327]

Waiting for Deathbringer's channel on comedy instruction.

[@monomakes]

Isn’t that picture of jnr Ed Gein?

[@helixxharpell]

In other words, you're using the tried & true "effective tag line" concept that we script writers use. 🤔😉

[@danhinson1375]

Tonight I'm taking my players through the labyrinth under dragonspear full with hordes of undead. 😉

[@hanzan893]

Dear Profesor Dungeon Master, What is the motivation of William senior to do these things ? What is he trying to accoplish ?

[@nicholascarter9158]

Kill all but one daughter and possess her to live life again but young and with his fortune undivided.

[@samchafin4623]

Had to break up watching this one with feeding babies, so I'm not certain whether you said coming up with the plot of an RPG isn't Shakespeare, and then mentioned MacDeath, or if I just imagined that.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

You did not imagine it.

[@samchafin4623]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Well played, Mr. Doctor Professor Dungeon Master Craft ;)

[@commandercaptain4664]

A competitive RPG, eh? 😈

[@wildbillsworkshop3410]

Did you use A-I-D-A to make this video? 😉 It would have been hilarious if you did this video in the Glengarry Glen Ross Blake character style.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Lol. “You call yourself a Dungeon Master, you son-of-a bitch?”

[@wildbillsworkshop3410]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 You see these dice? These dice cost more than your wagon. I made 970,000 gold pieces last year. How much did you make? You see, pal, that's who I am. I am the DM and you're nothing.

[@wildbillsworkshop3410]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Put the mead down! Mead is for real adventurers only. lol. So many lines from that movie to have fun with.

[@commandercaptain4664]

Always... Be... Creating Dungeons Every Few Games Hoping It Justifies Killing Large Monsters Negating Over Powered Quests Relying Solely Toward Under Valuing Worlds Xcept Your Ziggurat.

[@dreadmorg]

How the hell did I miss this one??? I mean, really...

[@antmenlorm1205]

Cool

[@---odie---]

What's Cloque Sr.'s motivation for gathering the players at the house? Is there actually something for the players to stop or solve, or is Cloque just a jerk who likes scaring people?

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

He wants to steal a new body.

[@twistedturns65]

Having seen too many Dr. Who episodes written by a particular scriptwriter (and later showrunner) the ticking clock is not, in fact, always a good thing. It can all too easily be a tired trope worthy only of eye rolls.

[@cameronmaas2644]

One Deathbringer equals one like.

[@harmonicaman79]

Comment for the algorithm

[@tunkatodd4539]

Death Bringer 2020 Make Killing Great Again 👍...🤣🤣🤣🤣