How to Learn A New RPG System - Running RPGs

[@andrewgipson9349]

Time stamps and summary of each step: 2:23 Step 0: Read the Book -For games with multiple core books, make sure you pick the right one to start with (e.g., Keeper Rulebook for CoC, Player’s Handbook for D&D). 3:36 Step 1: Make a Character -Make a character (no need to actually use them) to give you a point of reference for how the stats and features of a character interact with the game rules. 5:08 Step 2: Make Your Cheat Sheets -As you read, make notes of the rules that seem to be important and likely to be used often. Share with players to speed up play. Update these cheat sheets whenever you realize they’re missing something. 7:07 Step 3: Combat Practice -Combat is usually the trickiest part, so get a patient friend to make a character and fight with them using your character. Live, die, repeat, and look up the rules as necessary (remember to modify cheat sheets!). 9:44 Step 4: Character Creation One-On-One -Guide each of your players through their character creation. 10:52 Step 5: The Practice Game -Get two players (easier to work through issues) and, ideally, play through one of the “beginner scenarios” with quick-start rules available for most systems. CoC has solo adventures to learn with. 12:43 Step 6: Review the Rules -Debrief with your practice players, figuring out what worked, what didn’t, and update the cheat sheets. 13:12 Step 7: The First Full Session -Frame this as, “we are learning this game together.” Checking the book sometimes is okay, but better to make an in-the-moment ruling and look up the correct rule later. The prep you’ve done up to now will make this step less intimidating. 16:48 Step 8: Review the Rules Again! -Debrief as in step 6 and follow up on the rules that weren’t clear. UPDATE CHEAT SHEETS! 17:49 Step 9: Pre-Game Review of Missed Rules -Start the next session with a rundown of the mistakes that you analyzed after the first session. Don’t try to retcon anything from the last session. Additional Advice 20:03 Read Reviews of the System -Helpful reviews report firsthand experience. Don’t take one review as gospel. 21:08 Join Online Communities -Learn from others and ask questions (the writer of the game may answer you). 21:55 House Rules -Don’t make any until after the first full session. How else will you know what works, what’s imbalanced, etc. unless you try the rules-as-written first?

[@gothmissstress]

Thanks mate

[@DocFleg]

MVP

[@steveclarkreborn]

You could always do what I did when trying to GM for Call of Cthulu for the first time: watch a series of Seth Skorkowsky videos and then read through the basic rules. That's all I did, and this, to this day, was one of my most favorite nights running a TTRPG. Either way, thank you Seth for the tools I needed to make it an awesome evening, everything you do is appreciated brother

[@SSkorkowsky]

Glad you all had fun. Welcome to Call of Cthulhu.

[@zerochi4970]

Going from D&D to Call of Cthulhu was no easy task. That’s how I found Seth’s channel and ran my first game. Thanks for the help, man

[@snate56]

@Abbigail Cordeniz I know this was three months ago but; listen to Seth! And get those Quickstart Rules he has linked above. They have simplified rules, a character sheet, and a beginning adventure.

[@libertydensinger3583]

Same, I actually got into Call of Cthulu because I found his videos. My players all are d&d players too. The system change took some time

[@deathknizzle]

Same

[@cameronjohnson4936]

Seth inspired me to give CoC a go, ended up being my first experience gm’ing ever, and how the legend of the Chaplains From Hell were created

[@666blank0]

Reading that was weird, but then i think that my group and I are the oddballs; we started playing DnD every monday night, then I recently introduced CoC to my friends and we picked it up with no problems, we got a lot of fun and we're playing it every other week, for a change of pace of all the dungeon crawling.... Still, seeking to improve as a gm (keeper in this case), watching videos is so great! This one specially is a goldmine to revisit to get better and better, also for studying almost anything!

[@Nhurgle]

Step 0 - Read the book Step 1 - Making characters Step 2 - Create cheat sheets Step 3 -Combat practice Step 4 - Character creation one-on-one Step 5 - The Practice Game Step 6 - Review the Rules Step 7 - The First Full Session Step 8 - Review the Rules Again Step 9 - Pre-Game Review of Missed Rules Other Advices : Read reviews Join Communities Step - House rules

[@goblindiskjockey2157]

Seth Skorkowsky, I gotta say you're one of my favorite dnd KZbinrs. My dad actually showed you to me, and turns out you're the only person her watches. You give everything a very realistic and idealistic view, and that really easy to follow. I wish you all the best!

[@blacknad]

Question: Is Seth going to bring anything new to me on this subject? Answer: Yes he did.

[@midnightprince30]

Seth is so solid! I've been running games since 91' and almost always pickup something new or valuable out of his vids.

[@juddgoswick2024]

_Feng Shui_ has a rule that makes a great addition to these ideas. After the first session, the players get a chance to tweak any issues they found in their characters that didn't work out in the "shake down" session. In most cases, our group uses this rule, even in systems we know, so players don't get stuck with a character that is going to be a pain point for them.

[@RicksPoker]

What I do... --- Read rules. --- Make a cheat sheet as I go, if the game is complex. --- Have friends over. Write up characters. Explain BASIC rules. --- Have a very simple game, using these basic rules. --- Next sessions, add a couple more rules each session. --- Several sessions later - all done. Warm regards, Rick.

[@WookieeRage]

I've been running a Star Wars FFG RPG for the past two years, while playing in an Achtung Cthulhu game and a Symbaroum weekly session. While also exploring The One Ring, Dune, and the new WalkingDead RPG. My brain feels over full some days. I appreciate you sharing a method that takes some of the struggle out of the process.

[@the_sixxness]

I appreciate all these videos. My wife wanted me to learn Dungeons and Dragons. But when I asked her where to start she couldn't tell me. So I chose to learn A L I E N because it's new and there isn't a ton of different versions.

[@chazblank2717]

As a home-brewer I found this to also be a fun collection of overall efficient design tips. Play-testing in a “live die repeat” murder hobo alley sounded particularly intriguing. And I know exactly which of my friends will wanna volunteer for that fine distinction 😁 I plan to use Cyberpunk 2020’s combat system for its fleshed out martial arts and fast paced acrobatic gun fu. So I might wanna diversify the alley in question… maybe an alley, with a few shops and like a dive bar.

[@theDirtyLeprechaun]

Wow, this is so relevant right now! #opendnd

[@ADiceySituation]

I think one of the best things about Seth's videos is that he doesn't just say "I modded this module's maps" or "I use cheat sheets" and telling youto find them if you want to use these same changes. He goes one step further and adds links to the descriptions of the videos so you don't have to spend time hunting them down.

[@jermwar]

Given current events in the industry writ large, this is more relevant than ever.

[@MiniWarzone]

Sounds like you are part of a great little gaming group there. They are sure lucky to have you as a GM 😎😉🤔 p.s. thank you for the links to your cheat sheets 👍

[@heyitsMattyP]

When I saw you heft that massive Conan book on a twisted angle with one hand, I winced for your wrist. Lift with your legs Seth!

[@kickingbird6114]

Summary of what you said. I did this for myself and my co-GM, but thought others might like to see it as well. :) How to Learn A New RPG System - Running RPGs Read the book (assumed you as the GM and player will do this so not numbered) Some books have different books, which books do you pick up? Core book, but check to see which one is the core book 1. Make a character: or several characters. 2. Create cheat sheet: with rules, character conditions, movement, rest, recovery and combat information. Update as needed. 3. Combat Practice: preferable with a friend. Try all the combat options to really understand how the game/combat mechanics work. 4. Character Creation, One-on-one: Helps both player and GM to learn the game as well as the GM to know how the character will fit into the game and any special rules that might be used. 5. Practice Game: 2 player game, quick starter game works great in the Practice Game. Solo games can also help you the GM and player to learn the game. 6. Review the rules: What did you forget, what did you do wrong, what can you do better what rules need to be updated. Let your group know what was done wrong and give them a new cheat sheet. 7. The First Full Session: Those who played the Practice Game will know the game, so can help those who have not played. Mistakes will be made, just roll with it and keep the game going. This will go better with the idea, WE are learning the game. Make any notes of vague rules, make a house rule to keep the game going and go back later to review the book. 8. Review the Rules Again: Now the game has finished, review the rules which where used to ensure they were used correctly, refresh yourself on any rules, update the Cheat Sheet as needed. Talk with the group to see what they thought, if there was any mistakes, etc. 9. Pregame Review of Missed Rules: Talk with the group on any missed rules and go forward with the correct rules, learn from your mistakes and move forward. Other Ideas: A. Read Reviews of other GM’s and players on the game system from 1st hand experience of those who have played the system. B. Don’t hold reviews as hard set ideas if a game is good or bad. C. Join Game Community. You can get help from other gamers or often the creator of the game to clarify the game. D. House rules: Don’t implement until after the first game … or few games until you can play the game according to the official rules.

[@real_j_crispy]

Me and a few friends are transitioning over from 5e to Cyberpunk, and those cheat sheets are SUPER helping. Thanks!

[@SSkorkowsky]

Happy to be of help. Hope you and your group enjoy Cyberpunk, choomba.

[@g3air3]

thank you for this - starting from scratch (first time TTRPG) with Traveller

[@SSkorkowsky]

Have fun storming the galaxy.

[@aleksimartikainen9131]

Oh, yes! Again a great video. Important to people who struggle learning or wants advice to enjoy new systems. Very topical and important video for the TTRPG area! Always waking up new ideas and point of views. Thank you Seth again for a great video. :)

[@snate56]

Hell, this is good advice for revisiting your old system you've been playing.

[@rotwang2000]

In our gaming group that spanned 80-90 and 00's we would often start a new game, GMing was spread among players and we bought whatever new game caught our fancy, read up on it and played it. There is an advantage to doing so regularly, you quickly get a sense of how rules work in broad terms, most games are based on certain principles, like percentile dice, D20 or multiple D6's. Having this broader understanding of mechanics helps, the rest you just fill in by reading through the rules and do a bit of mechanism dissecting. Probably one trick you have to learn is to memorize the layout of the books so you have a rough idea where to find a certain rule. Try to know where the combat section, where is the powers/spell section etc and work from there. There is no guarantee you'll find a particular rule, but at least you have a starting point and better than try to flip through the book a few times in the hope of spotting what you may look for. I started RPG's by reading my first book and be the GM, as I was one of the first to get into the hobby in my area.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

Agreed, had a similar experience, the only person in the area to have a rpg, Had to learn by “reading the book” no other way available, Ditto on those experiences

[@GodzillasaurusJr]

Yeah - I also had to learn by reading the book, and then about half of the players did the same and then we just started playing. I think that'd work well for Runequest or D&D, but weirder systems like Burning Wheel, Modiphius 2d20 or Savage Worlds I find I need more help to actually understand how it's supposed to work, and then I think the method presented in the video should be helpful. I haven't tried it yet, but the ideas seem sound!

[@blacksabbath2559]

Hello from France, your Channel is very instructive. I started playing d&d Ad&d, chtulhu, empire galactique (french sci fi rpg), paranoïa in 1984 until 2000. At this time i was able to read, learn and being a GM/player easily. Now after a break of 18 years due to irl i go back in pen& paper rpg , and that's tougher to read, learn all the stuff again, especially with all the new editions. Perhaps playing some Mmos (wow, Lotro) doesn't help or i simply get old lol. Greeting.

[@briangriffin9793]

My group usually does a...session -5. Yes... a negative session... In which we sit around and flip (scroll now) through the book and talk about it. If we like what we see, we have a session -4, which we attempt to understand the rule system enough to print sheets and make a character.... Session -3 is actually a test session... usually none of us understands the system enough to actually play long term. Session -2 is a debrief session to decide if we think it is worth pursuing. Session -1 is a review of what we have thus far learned... Session 0 is character creation and introduction. It worked well enough with Hollow Earth, Star Wars Roleplaying Game, Starfinder, Pathfinder, and Game of Thrones... Only two of those reached campaigns: Hollow Earth and Star Wars... only Star Wars has been repeated several times. Starfinder reached the "we really want to but... time." Overall, our blundering does not seem too dissimilar other than we include the full group in any session they want to join in on. But... our group has only been 4 people until recently.

[@jordentaylor2455]

If you want an easy system wise superhero game try Mutants and Masterminds.

[@sullyb23511]

Hope you get a chance to give Pathfinder a try. It's a good system.

[@VictorHugoKebbe]

Thanks for sharing your cheat sheets here, that’s very kind. I’m an old DM, but I’m always learning new things every day. Your videos are quite informative in this way.

[@andrewryan2149]

Get in seth you legend! From your reviews of cyberpunk 2020, you've convinced me to give it a go and I'm running my first session 0 this weekend. This will help me to no end thank you so much and keep the amazing content coming!

[@das_ttv3411]

*Rides into the darkness*

[@fredricknoe3114]

Rides off into the darkness.

[@clockworkpotato9892]

Oi, you two, get back here right now!

[@das_ttv3411]

@@clockworkpotato9892 You can't keep us from our love! *Spurs on his mount*

[@clockworkpotato9892]

@@das_ttv3411 Oh yes I can! *LOADS HARPOON GUN*

[@Dani_Cano]

The more I come to your channel the more I see the actual value of it. Thanks for your effort and true help. Respect. Learning Call of Cthulhu 7ed here.

[@The_Kentuckian]

Man, GMing is a part time job. I've got a lot of respect your method, much more complicated than just hitting start on a controller.

[@raybandreasen]

Got initiated into Roleplaying back in the 90's, Local dude I knew trough a friend was looking for sommone replace sommone who left his roleplay group. I was a warhammer miniature fan, and the games he was hosting then was Warhammer fantasy ... and so i got pulled in... The first Roleplays I learned : Warhammer, Call of Cthulhu, Legend of the 5 rings, ... Its only after college and we drifted apart I branched out... D&D, GURPS, FATE, Exalted, Savage worlds, Vampire:tm, N.E.W, O.L.D., pathfinder ect... So Ive learned alot of systems over the years, and thought I had it down, but you still managed to give me few new tips ! thanks !

[@jasonGamesMaster]

I learned D&D just the way you said, for the most part. I wanted to play, played a few times and had moderate fun but a long run of terrible GMs, so I basically taught myself to be a GM so that I could actually have fun with it. I have since taught myself nWoD (Vampire: the Requiem, Werewolf: the Forsaken, Mage: the Awakening, etc), HERO System (the generic system that Champions runs on), Shadowrun, The One Ring, Dragon Age (and the AGE system in general), and I'm currently learning Runequest (the fantasy cousin of Call of Cthulhu). I have personally followed the exact sequence that you discussed, with the exception of the combat practice. That is a GREAT IDEA! Thanks for this!

[@ingedalby-jakobsen8962]

My first game was Werewolf the Apocalypse (White Wolf system). I played two sessions, then found 3 people who had also never played and started GM'ing. Steep learning curve!

[@ScottUlmer]

My friends and I are all going to try Traveller 2 this weekend. None have us have played this rule-set before and we all got obsessed with the rule system after finding your videos. Wish us luck!

[@MentalCrusader]

Wow, that's exactly what I needed! We want to try out the new Witcher Pen and Paper game, but I wasn't sure how to go about learning the system. Thanks Seth!

[@ProfessorWaifu]

This is very solid advice. I've been an RPG Geek for 15+ years. I would add a few things. I have a few steps that are pretty much done once and makes the learning hills of pretty much all RPGs much smaller. I have learned a large number of games over the years because of what steps I took before these steps.

[@snate56]

Brilliant! Effing Brilliant! I'm an old gamemaster too (63!) and I've been getting a lot of good advice from your various videos, but this one is superb! While I've been doing some of these things, getting a group of new people playing has always been problematic for me; and I believe, you've just shown me why. Several of these steps appear obvious but I have been skipping them or just haven't even thought of them. Be that as it may, I love cheat sheets too, however I never thought about delving into one so early in my perusal of the game. Another "cheat sheet" I came up with (I'm going to have to find another name, now) is to make several simple 1-10 lists of common things on one or two pages that happen or are needed in practically any game: NPC names, dungeon dressing, wilderness dressing, rumors, weather, tomes, quirks, dirty tricks, unusual events, riddles, even reasons for why the bad guys left the party alive. So, thanks again, and if you ever find yourself in the Seattle area I'd sure like to know about it! Now I'm going to go back and loop this thing two or three times just for starters, until these tips sink in...

[@SSkorkowsky]

Happy to be of help.

[@MaxWriter]

I learned all the games I've played (except maybe one or two) by running them. I had a run of learning new games when I was writing pretty consistent reviews of out-of-print games for Knights of the Dinner Table magazines and we were trying out new games every couple of months for a while. We'd always start with character creation (myself, the gm, included) and sometimes that could be a bear (I'm looking at you, Aftermath!). I especially like your Step 9: Pre-Game Review of Missed Rules. That's one I need to do yet usually forget. I agree with not retroactively making changes of earlier game rules mistakes. In my own Lost Game Safari reviews, I tried to explore the rules enough to give readers a bit of idea of character creation and how the game ruled worked. I need to get back into that. Excellently done, as always. Thanks for sharing.

[@pszista]

Thanks Seth! I'm super new to GM-ing and my soon to be players never tried rpg before. We are all really excited to start playing CoC! I'm learning so much and getting inspiration from your videos. Wish me luck guys

[@MK-zf2sz]

Seth, I enjoy your channel for both your personality and the information you provide. Your module reviews are helpful when preparing, and you even have videos where you cover the things I struggle with like actually preparing to run a module or system you've never been exposed to before. Keep up the great work!

[@SSkorkowsky]

Thank you very much. Happy to help.

[@DocFleg]

Been wanting to try out a bunch of new systems with my friend, so we can try to get a group together. This is the video I didn't know I needed to watch! Been bingeing your stuff lately. Really helpful fun videos man, thank you.

[@gothmissstress]

Real useful advice Thank you so much I’m prepping a Chronicles of darkness game to GM for *my* GM, who’s expert in most of CofD. He’s very supportive but tbh I sometimes feel overwhelmed with this vast RPG system

[@vidard9863]

if i may offer advice, start small at low level.... and then i realize this is three months old, how is it going?

[@revan7383]

What I did to learn Call of Cthulhu was watching your videos on it. They have been very helpful.

[@Finkeldinken]

I don't have very good reading retention, so this is so helpful! I figured out a few of your tips on my own, but there was so much here I could use! Thank you, this was brilliant.

[@Nikcollini]

Dude I just wanna say, that I would kill to be in a game with you. You seem like the best GM I've seen since Mercer.

[@RadRat1138]

Nicolas Collini Mercer is not a normal GM, he is an actor, a professional voice actor and they also script some of the action for the video format. Sorry, but in my humble opinion he is creating unrealistic expectations. It’s fun to watch but it’s not realistic in actual everyday tabletop gaming.

[@OomaGooma]

Seth is the best GM. I care not for your wrong opinion.

[@LordVader1094]

@@RadRat1138 None of that changes that he's a damn good DM, though.

[@RadRat1138]

@@LordVader1094 Fair enough

[@eileneviolet]

Thanks for providing that 2020 cheatsheet, it's definitely helping me with putting a game together for some friends.

[@timbuktu8069]

One thing that really helps me is to get into the head of the author. Usually there is some kind of notes section at the beginning or end of the rules. But find out why they wrote the rules the way they did. For instance if you're playing a vampire type game. You think it's a dark and gritty Nosferatu game but the author wrote a sparkly Euro-trash vampire game. The flow of the game moves differently. If there are back ground books such as the Conan stories, it helps to read those.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

True, it helps to understand the direction of the setting, many games will engineer the system to support those ideas, But not always...

[@timbuktu8069]

Right now, I'm putting Seths system to the test with a game I bought at a convention a few years back. "It Came From the Late Late Show" I believe I was feeling no pain when I bought it. The game has the players as Actors in a very bad late night movie. There are so many "in joke" references that on first reading it felt unplayable. Can't get out of a bottomless pit? Call for a film break. About to be stomped by Godzilla? Stunt double. It helps to watch MST3000.

[@jesternario]

My first system was shadowrun because I was a goth punk in my youth, and it hit all the right buttons for me.

[@giangta405]

You are a real mater in making new masters! Thanks for this content!

[@TenthingsIhateabout_Josh]

Been watching this channel for months and this is one of the best videos yet. Lot of meat in this one and I found it incredibly helpful. Learning pulp Cthulu now as I get ready to run Two-Headed serpent and the idea of a practice session/combat never crossed my mind. Which is silly when there are four mods in the Pulp book.... Any way, Thanks Seth!

[@SSkorkowsky]

The Combat Practice has really saved us from a lot of in-game problems. Combat stalling during a game session can totally kill the mood. Getting to practice the rules without any worry of losing your character or ruining the story allows you to try out some of the options you normally might not try in a real game. It's also kind of amazing how many rules you think you know before hand, but seem to go right out your head the instant the combat starts. Have fun with Two-Headed Serpent. We had a blast with it. I'm working on my Calcutta Chapter review at the moment. That was a rough one for us, so hopefully you can learn from my mistakes. We cleared Chapters 8 and 9 in a single marathon session. The whole final game ended up being the best campaign finale I've ever run. It was more to do with the players being awesome than anything that I did, but once it was over and the smoke cleared, all of us were like, "Holy shit, now THAT'S how you end a campaign!" The only thing I did to really help that was that I instructed all the players to give themselves one badass focus on a skill they would do better than anyone else. One was a pilot, one was a demolitions expert, another a weird scientist, and another a tracker. In that final game, every one of them took the spotlight and saved the day with their primary skill. I couldn't have set that up any better if I'd tried. Not everyone lived through it, but everyone was happy with the results. Best of luck on it.

[@TenthingsIhateabout_Josh]

@@SSkorkowsky That sounds amazing! I really hope to bring the same pulpy excitement to my table. They are primarily pathfinder/DnD players so I feel the pressure of getting it right for them. I did watch your chapter one review and it looked awesome so you sold me on it, and Pulp Cthulu there. I had been running a few classic mods for CoC (Deadlight, Blackwater, Haunting) for a couple of them so I think I'm ready for the next step. Thanks for responding and looking forward to future videos!

[@da12ofSpades]

Been looking everywhere for a hollow earth cheat sheet. Thanks!

[@borusa32]

Great video ,Seth. I teeter totter between generic systems like GURPS and new RPG systems. What works for me is allowing myself a lot of time ,trial and error.Whether playing or GM ing I try to write up any important rules points I have picked up from a session to use the next time.

[@michailwoolf64]

Thanks Seth, for this video. I am jumping back into RPF's after having 8-9 years away from it. This will give me a nice step by step process to work thought.

[@LeonClaw88]

Currently trying to make a jump from D&D to Cyberpunk Red. The video was very helpful! Thank you!

[@kickingbird6114]

Sharing your Cheat Sheets! You rock, thank you Seth Skorkowsky .

[@Rubymagicalgirl88]

This is super useful so far, I've been working up the inspiration to start on WHFRP.

[@andrewbeaton6754]

Awesome work, cheers for this. I've been playing for decades, yet I still have a poop time learning new systems.

[@specterwolf4711]

Seth, another awesome video. Keep up this most excellent work! I do a few things much like this in learning a new system. Although I don't have a specific friend that I have used over the years to help learn aspects of the rules like combat I usually find someone. Different rules systems have a bigger learning curve than others. The problem I find is in keeping different rules systems separate from each other in my head. I have found cheat sheets are pure gold in helping avoid the interjection of rules from one system to another during game sessions. Then there is the introduction of house rules! I typically avoid these until I feel the group has the core rules down. Even then I allow the players a lot of input as to what house rules we keep.

[@the_sixxness]

The one on one rules session was a great tip to sus out how the rules function.

[@scullystie4389]

This is great advice. I'm preparing to run a game my group has never tried before (Shadowrun 5e) and not only is it going to be our first time playing the game, it's my first time acting as the GM. I'll admit I'm a bit nervous but I'm definitely going to run through these steps with my buddy first.

[@questwise4077]

I am currently learning Conan as well, and while I have been playing RPGs for a very long time, I did find myself trying to learn this game by myself. I always start with building a character after reading the rules as well. Great video! Thanks for putting me back on track. With your permission I'd love to share this on the QuestWise FB page to help others.

[@SSkorkowsky]

Conan has been one of the trickier RPGs to learn. It's a fun game, but the rule-book isn't the easiest to follow at times. Feel free to share away.

[@leooftheblack]

there seriously need to be more videos like this. espeacilly with some games being super intimidateing.

[@orinmayer1276]

Nicely timed for the CoC Starter set coming out.

[@clelllightner6447]

You r an inspection to the gameing community. I think ur videos r very helpful. I have been dming for 22 yrs and I have discovered that with ur videos I have been able to improve and for that I am thankful. Also is it possible that u could do a video on world/campagin setting design I have made my own but would love to see ur thoughts and compare to see if done it right Again thanks for all ur help my players r having a better game as well and I just really enjoy ur videos. Clell lightner.

[@irashu]

As a person that is about to learn a new system (WFRPG 4:e) I found this review very helpful. I haven't really learned a new system for many years if I am honest and it is also the first time in a a really long time I am gonna GM. I took a break from RPGs a couple of years ago but it seems I am now back. I am now looking forward to learning the system but I am not sure I how I will set it up. I am pondering having the players creating Characters but then maybe run them through the starter set with the premades. I am not sure how I want to do this. But I think I am simply gonna talk it through with my players and then see what happens. My hope is to finally play through the whole of The Enemy Within. Which I have also looked through the video with your tips for running modules and boy it is gonna be a bit of work but I think in the end it is gonna be worth it.

[@havel4385]

my problem isn't learning the system. its convincing my d&d group to play any non d&d system ever

[@MrMaxBoivin]

I'd like to see more RPG primers for different systems for experienced role players on youtube. Not necessarily a complete "how-to" but enough to give me a good idea of the type of system. There plenty of "how to play D&D" where they explain what is an RPG and shit like that, and there are some videos about other systems that will focus on the theme and what you do in the game but don't talk about mechanics. Tell me how actions are resolved, the dice mechanics, the basic of combats and mechanics that are unique to the game. I know what an RPG is and I know what the dice are. Oh. please, under 10min (or 10:01 for youtube algorithm). This kind of videos would be great to help me decide if I want to pick up a new system or if I'm invited to join a game with experienced players where I'm gonna be handed a pre-made character. Also, those RPG books that start with character creation drives me insane! Explain to me the basic rules first because telling me that this class get a +1 bonus to their recovery bonus or that I can inverse my combat bonus doesn't tell me anything if I don't know what those things or how the game works. This is a huge pet peeve of mine; I know most RPGs book have been doing this for 40 years, it doesn't mean it is a good idea. And the logic that "the first thing you want to do to play a game is to create a character" doesn't make sense; the first thing you want to do is to understand the game. If I had to read chapter 5 to understand chapter 2, your book is made wrong!

[@mattinthehat3]

As always a great and very informative video.Your channel is by far one of the BEST ever when it comes to RPG's.

[@woodorwoods1650]

Thanks for making this video. I was just thinking about how to approach a new game that I've been interested in and this is super helpful.

[@DarkAutumnScribe]

Learning CoC after years away. These Cheat Sheets are fantastic! Thanks...

[@LostinTimeandSpace]

Thank you for the cheat sheets Seth! These have been immensely helpful for both me and my players.

[@nerdyogre6683]

Don't forget KZbin, now days there's probably a group that already knows the game and had at least one session on KZbin. It helps to see it played be others.

[@philheaton1619]

This works well with a well written rules set. Occasionally, I've run into a rules set that has bad rules, but the world it is set in is awesome. For those I select a generic rules system (Rune Quest's fast rules, Savage Worlds, etc) and convert the world so that it works in that system. Two examples. I loved the world of Bureau 13, but the rules were a mess. Using Rune Quest's fast rules made all the difference in the world to me. I have since used Savage Worlds and enjoy that one even more. Likewise, I have used the Morrow Project with one change: there was no nuclear war, it was a manaclysm instead, where magic and fantasy critters partially returned, yet tech stuff still worked after the situation stabilized a few years later). I also used Savage Worlds for that and have run two successful campaigns doing that.

[@DungeonMagister]

After about the third game, you pick them up pretty quick, but still a super useful guide.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

True

[@BTsMusicChannel]

Great advice for a little game learning methodology. I have done a lot of these things when learning a new system, but never really had a set of steps outlined like this. Thanks!

[@miraprime474]

I love reading about different game systems. I frequently check the RPG book section at the book store, for interesting looking games. There are a lot of neat games out there, that I'll probably never be able to experience as a player because I'm the only person among my friends with the book.

[@doeliewaaje1761]

This video is just what I needed! Not for myself but my players always have problems with learning new systems... Keep up the great work seth!

[@WilteDragon]

Our group is actually getting ready to dive into new system, and I find this video very helpful. Definitely going to use some of those advices

[@kevinsullivan3448]

I suggest adding page notations to your cheat sheet. If a question comes up, you have the page number(s) right there and a player can look it up before their turn comes around. If the player still has questions they already have the page open and can consult with the GM immediately to reduce the 'research time' during combat. If it's not during combat it's no big deal to look something up. This, and paying attention to what other players are doing on their turns, is what players should be doing between actions anyway..

[@biggrigg4281]

Great video. My group developed something very similar. I, however, like to do practice combat with the pre-gen characters before I create a character.

[@dennisschmelter8862]

I really enjoy your videos. They made me go get CoC 7th, and that was a great decision. But sometimes... Sometimes I fear you might be one of the elder gods. Not just because of your mythos insight, but because "Seth Skorkowsky" is equally as hard to pronounce as all the other names the mad Arab wrote down in the Necronomicon (or, out of fear for consequences, did not).

[@danielyeaman6182]

Very timely video. Just got my CoC Keeper book and getting ready to learn it.

[@FenrisChosen]

Awesome video! I've played a bunch of a "new" games for my various groups, but I've never thought of it systemically like you have. I think I'm gonna give your approach a try with the next "new" game I run. Thanks, Seth!

[@PaulRees77]

Just getting back into TTRPG'ing. Loving your content sir. And special thanks for making your cheat sheets available. Many sincere thanks form across the pond. All the best.

[@hyschara]

Thank you seth, you're my new favourite rpg dm channel ❤

[@andyhatton2889]

Always excited from a new video from you and especially when I saw the title for this one. One of my goals for sure this year is to learn all those games I got last year and still haven’t played yet!

[@timbuktu8069]

I would LOVE a video on how to create a Cheat Sheet.

[@andysimmons2648]

An excellent video, thank you for sharing it with us. Another step that I often use is to look on KZbin for tutorials videos of live play. As well as (sometimes) being entertaining, they can be very illuminating; especially for new systems and settings.

[@speedknob]

I'm glad I found this channel. Very informative and presented very well. Thank you!

[@milgeekmedia]

This video is a good place for me to start, I'm both new to Call of Cuthulu BUT also new to RPG games (had one faltering attempt at D&D). On top of this, though, I am also a SOLO player - there being no CofC groups in my area... Luckily - as Seth has pointed out - step one is 'Read the Book' and that means the CofC Starter Set WHICH contains 'getting started' solo adventure! :) Wish me luck!

[@SSkorkowsky]

Good luck. And welcome to Call of Cthulhu.

[@Adrian_Lee6113]

This was a very helpful video for someone looming to branch out from dnd 5e. Thank you!

[@WongCharoen]

Happy New Year, Seth, and many thanks for your wise and wonderfully entertaining videos. Your players are lucky to have you. All the best for 2019 and beyond!

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

I've been interested in learning how to role play for a few years, went so far as to buying the Pathfinder Beginners box. But I never got around to actually playing. Recently I decided to buy a few RPG things I bought the new D&D Essentials Kit, The Lone Wolf Starter set, Warhammer Fantasy Role Play Starter set, RuneQuest Gloratha book set and Numenara book set. I've already read through the Essentials Kit and Lone Wolf.

[@Turian_Primarch]

This will really help! Thanks Seth. I love your content. I’m gonna use this method once CyberPunk Red comes out. I want that to be my friends first foray into the Cuberpunk world!

[@edlaprade]

Some really good advice. For myself, I'm more of a casual gamer, even when I GM. So new rules tend to get learned by playing. Fortunately, all the gaming groups I've been a part of contain multiple GMs, so I know that when (not if) I miss something, someone else will pick up on it.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

Remember story rules, If you have someone more knowledgeable at the table use it, Reference them, don’t see them as a threat, include it if needed, But your word gets to be finale,

[@full_of_blood]

Thanks for the great video! This was super well timed, I'm trying to set up a Call of Cthulhu group with some friends and it's our first RPG, so this helped me a lot.

[@martinosorio163]

Thanks to Seth I've been able to adapt a lot in different TTRPG

[@Wackmaster]

I love your videos and your audio books. Yes I see this video is older but new to me.

[@SSkorkowsky]

Thank you very much.

[@goodluckyoureonyourown3684]

The best thing I have seen after just reading the main rule book was The Topaz Championship from Legend of the Five Rings. The adventure is the coming of age ceremony where you are tested on all the things that are expected of a samurai. So there is knowledge of law and lore. There is a big obstical course. Lastly there is the championship which is a bunch of one on one duels using whatever is appropriate for the characters and NPCs. The thing is, it forced both player and GM to learn the mechanics for each of these aspects of the game. Since my players are 80% prior service, I now rip this off all the time with a graduation from basic training or similar. It may not be as easy when the players are high school kids in a horror game but even that can start with a weird field trip where most aspects of the written characters can be used.

[@roofields8468]

Always great tips and advice.

[@WolfGirl930]

Thanks. Helpful as I'm thinking of picking up 7th Ed Call of Cthulhu (also thanks for your review) for a group of 5. Some stuff here I wouldn't have considered..

[@nathancarter8239]

This was very helpful, thank you very much!