Let's Learn Blades in the Dark - Episode 2 (The Action Roll Part 1)

[@svenk5221]

Can’t tell you how grateful I am for your videos. Thank you so much. Reading the book is kind of dry and listen to you explain everything so detailed and easy to understand is amazing.

[@wiegraf9009]

You're very welcome! Glad it helps you learn in a way you can enjoy!

[@KristoferPettersson]

Brilliant. We need to make this into an academic trail in universities. There's something deeply profound going on in game design.

[@TheRoxLobster]

Thank you so, so much for making these videos. I personally have a hard time reading things, I simply prefer to listen to them and usually go for audiobooks, but I wanted to learn this game to play it with my friends, so I got the book and tried to start reading it. However, the delivery feels as dry as that of a biology school book and the order of the topics discussed feels a bit random to me, so I had a very hard time reading it... Thank you very much for breaking it down into a more basic format even I can understand, I've been struggling with the rulebook for two weeks now, trying to force myself to read it. Meanwhile, I can listen to and take notes from your video with absolutely no problems along the way. I very much appreciate the effort you took upon yourself to make this.

[@wiegraf9009]

Weroxar McLobster Thank you saying so, it really means a lot to hear that the series is helping out people like yourself! I hope your games go great!

[@victoref]

this helps alot since one more multiverse has taken and made blades in the dark and gave it some new life so this helps alot learning it thank you

[@entheo302]

This is great and I’m glad you mentioned WoD because I definitely wanna play that now too. Thanks!

[@evz1186]

My group recently decided to try blades in the dark. This guide helps so much!

[@wiegraf9009]

Glad to hear it!

[@HeadHunterSix]

This has really been the hardest thing for me to grasp thus far, thank you for helping to make it simpler.

[@bmorozgoogle]

Incredibly helpful, thank you so much for these.!

[@wiegraf9009]

You're very welcome! I hope you enjoy the game!

[@martinmyggestik292]

This is extremely well done. Thank's a lot.

[@martinmyggestik292]

Blades is such an incredible game. When you said "You can't sway someone tho shoot their own head off", I was thinking: What a cool long term project!

[@wiegraf9009]

You're very welcome!

[@WillemvanderHorst]

This is a great series, thank you so much! I just started playing a hack of Blades in the Dark with friends (SIG: City of Blades), but had only skimmed through Blades, now I realize I have to first study and better understand the source material to understand and interpret SIG (it's a great setting but I'm questioning a few things on rules). And the sources and design comments in this video are excellent too. Thank you!

[@wiegraf9009]

Oh very cool! I am friends with the author of SIG, I hope you enjoy it and this guide gives you the basics you need!

[@nemomeme]

Just found this. Thanks for this resource! I'm enjoying your take as I prep/refresh to run another yet another Blades campaign (Band of Blades next time out). While Blades in the Dark is influenced heavily by Apocalypse World and other PbtA games, I trace the lineage of Blades' Action Roll & the reasons it's employed the way it is relative to other PbtA games to Harper's previous designs of Danger Patrol (most directly) along with Agon & Lady Blackbird (less directly). And of course these were influence by many other prior games including The Shadow of Yesterday & Fate 2.0. Anyone heavily interested in Blades in the Dark should check out Danger Patrol. It's fun on its own merits and you can see so much of the DNA that went into BitD, including the seeds of Clocks & Devil's Bargains! :)

[@wiegraf9009]

Thanks that's great to know!

[@TheActualCaveman]

I love the mechanics in this game.

[@bloodrunsclear]

This was very useful!

[@MrLeferraz]

Reading the book and listening to you! Tks!!

[@arthurvelwest5481]

Something to note, the book discourages GMs from saying no to a roll, instead saying that would be desperate with no effect, which with some team work and devils bargain they can still make work with a limited effect. Or making a clock out of it.

[@wiegraf9009]

Good point!

[@zgasnola]

Thank you for trying to clarify BITD. Have played 1st game and I am hoping to start GMing / Directing. This has been really useful. Although it does remind me of a Uni lecture. 😉

[@wiegraf9009]

Ah well at least RPG 101 would be a fun lecture to attend! 😅

[@jkwatcher47]

This series has been fantastic. Have you happened to have shared your slide deck anywhere?

[@ulfhedknarthedestroyer1753]

Wow I am falling asleep after 5 minutes, amazing

[@wiegraf9009]

Glad to provide you with a sleep aide! Have a restful new year! 💤

[@GaaMacgfx]

Your voice is just like Dan Harmon's voice, it's crazy.

[@wiegraf9009]

Gabriel Macena Haha you're not wrong!

[@kevdog37]

I have just discovered Blades in the Dark and am beginning to really like this system. I like your videos too and have subscribed but at the same time I think you might be overthinking action rolls a bit.

[@MatthewStAmand-lw8vm]

Is the game played with only d6 dice?

[@wiegraf9009]

Yes that's right!

[@MatthewStAmand-lw8vm]

Thank you for the helpful info, your series explains the game very clearly

[@wiegraf9009]

@@MatthewStAmand-lw8vm You're very welcome! Enjoy the game!

[@JcDent]

"Action Rating" just sounds like a very counter-intuitive way to say "Action Type"

[@wiegraf9009]

"Action" is what you'd call "Action Type"; Action Rating is that AND the associated stat.

[@scotchtowerbibletractsocie8083]

Advanced World of Dungeons: *exists*

[@patrickfitzpatrick2945]

Two videos to explain an Action Roll. I wonder how long a 5 round combat would take with 6 phases per action? 5 characters, 5 rounds of combat... 30 phases to iron out? Too complex for me. Well designed tho.

[@wiegraf9009]

A lot can happen in 5 rounds in Blades! 5 characters could have a maximum potential of 15 clock ticks so they theoretically could clear a ten step mission clock in one round.

[@patrickfitzpatrick2945]

@@wiegraf9009 Thanks for clarifying =)

[@TrippyTheShroom]

One thing to note is that even though it's 6 steps, it may literally only take 5 seconds for a full turn. Combat in DnD, in my experience, is more drawn out and laborious half the time.

[@floydputnam1999]

Ugh! these videos have alot of good information but you are presenting it in a way that is about as interesting as watching paint dry. Between your monotone voice and the lack of any kind of interesting graphics I find myself nodding off. This is great audio to sleep by though.

[@capnvivi]

look i appreciate that you are doing this but as far as teaching blades in the dark goes many times you confuse the audience by mentioning other games as references. You presume to teach a game to someone you should always focus on teaching just that and NOT teaching the various other parts of gaming world . Its confusing

[@wiegraf9009]

Look, I've addressed this point before in other comments but the series was made a long time ago for a friend group who was very familiar with those games. The fact that it has expanded far beyond its original target audience is welcome but has lead to some unavoidable mismatches in approach.