Low Fantasy=Best Fantasy

[@DesksAndDorks]

Hey folks, I just wanted to say thanks again for all the support on this video! It was a big risk for us. If you want to throw us some more support getting notified for our upcoming game is the best way to do so. Thanks again everyone it's really appreciated! www.kickstarter.com/projects/desksanddorks/a-fear-within-second-edition

[@neptune3326]

When we as a society stopped using bread plates is when we truly entered the dark ages. Now you can only get bread bowls at soup restaurants for an absurd upcharge!

[@DesksAndDorks]

I would agree completely. We have entered the dark days of our civilization.

[@DED_MEEM]

WE USED TO BE A COUNTRY. A PROPER COUNTRY. ENGLAND SPECIFICALLY.

[@StarlasAiko]

Britain still has Yorkshire Pudding, but we no longer use it as plate/bowl.

[@strawpiglet]

Don't despair: pizza.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Based

[@NoaCurtis]

one thing about the folk magic is that it should make sense. I have a hagstone, which is a stone with a naturally occurring hole. In English folklore, it is believed that looking through the hole dispels illusions and reveals fairies. I think that giving the magic a "basis" in reality can make it feel like the magic makes sense, as well as giving it that historical basis.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That is a cool concept and definitely works for some charms, but I'd say there are some that probably don't have to make sense as well. It'd be neat (and historically accurate to have a mix).

[@danmorgan3685]

That's a really neat detail. Physical components for spells were supposed to be like that. Instead they just require gemstones with a gold point value as their singular, defining trait.

[@reubencohen2375]

This is like how werewolves were first made in my setting. By a man getting bitten by a wolf during a full moon at midnight.

[@SweetMattieG]

I believe the entire reason we think of medieval villages being dark and devoid of entertainment is because of the Protestant Reformation's rejection of entertainment and of how humorless Protestant farmers were and still are.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Also important to mention that there was a concerted effort amongst Renaissance era scholars to discredit the achievements of their medieval counterparts to make their scholarship and accomplishment seem better. It actually is where we get the term.dark ages from

[@catotheyounger55]

Never understood that stereotype. My grandparents were devout Protestant farmers. Calvinists. They were jovial, fun-loving people. All my aunts and uncles were too. Family gatherings were always competitions on who could get the others to laugh the most. Good times.

[@-ElysianEcho-]

Great, now i’m itching to have a small town blacksmith tell the fighter asking for expensive elaborate armour and weapons “look friend, i make horseshoes and sickles, once you get your fancy blade bring it here and i’ll bend and hone it for you and you’ll have a fine sickle”

[@Calebgoblin]

Love how the medievalist still uses the "ye olde" jokes despite Definitely knowing how the letter thorne works xD

[@DesksAndDorks]

It's like medieval scholars and knights tale. We all recognize it's so far off base but like......its so cool.

[@Calebgoblin]

@@DesksAndDorks too true haha. Great video btw, loving it

[@DesksAndDorks]

I am glad! This video took wayyyyyy more hours than usual, so I'm happy people are liking it. Not that views/reach are why I do this but it sure helps.

[@Calebgoblin]

@@DesksAndDorks and I love that too tbh

[@DesksAndDorks]

Me too I really loved making the video!

[@Gunanter]

19:20 "I get to eat the food, and then eat the plate, why did we stop doing that" The paper bowls are right there for the taking

[@DesksAndDorks]

That right there is winners talk!

[@zackariahtravois7125]

They were called trenchens right?

[@StarlasAiko]

Fill up your Yorkshire Pudding with the good meaty stew.

[@DesksAndDorks]

They were called that!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Yes!

[@justinblocker730]

Low Fantasy doesn't mean no magic, just means getting spells, using spells, and the dangers of spells is more interesting.

[@DesksAndDorks]

There is a whole section here on magic for that exact reason!

[@iantaran2843]

Low magic is usually in reference to how prevalent magic is throughout the setting. Atleast That was always my interpretation of it.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I would say you are correct but there's a number of different ways you can apply rarely hapoening to an rpg that's what that section goes into detail about

[@michaelmorton6566]

thats what made dragonlance interesting to me when i was young how magic was in decline there was no gods at the start etc

[@DesksAndDorks]

@michaelmorton6566 dragon lance did quite a lot right

[@dalleme5656]

My "they were like us" moment was finding out that people of antiquity didn't uncritically accept tall tales about foreign lands by learning that the first sci-fi story was a parody of those tall tales called "a true story" and was written in ancient greece

[@DesksAndDorks]

Learning that Eratosthenes figured out the world was round and accurately figured out its circumference within a reasonable of error was wild.

[@smile-tl9in]

The antiquity and bronze age are so underused

[@DesksAndDorks]

They really are. I actually consider those their own unique genre.

[@smile-tl9in]

@@DesksAndDorks which in itself kind of limiting no? Why not mix? Like a bronze age low magic setting

[@DesksAndDorks]

Because I would genuinely want to do another video of this length and detail for it.

[@Calebgoblin]

@@smile-tl9in hard agree, it is the chosen setting of my long term campaign!

[@silvertheelf]

@@smile-tl9inBasically Conan The Barbarian

[@cruiby365]

I'm only 10 minutes into this video, but I have to say it is very well constructed and equally enjoyable and informative. This is the first time I've come across the channel, but it's a shame it doesn't get more views

[@DesksAndDorks]

Well that's much appreciated my friend! We only really just started hitting videos like this this year so I really appreciate the view and the comment.

[@iantaran2843]

Sword & Sorcery and Low-Magic has always appealed to me. I am incredibly happy to find how much content there is for folks like me outside of the mainstream 🍻 I hope that your video can get people to try new things. Kinda crazy how many people i meet have ONLY played in Forgotten Realms and homebrew.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Hope you got some good stuff out of the video there is a lot of good low fantasy stuff out there and it seems like we are getting more!

[@urmokvagenhaughven1714]

This video rocks! One of the most thought provoking TTRPG videos i've seen in a while. Loved the parts about folk religion and charms!

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm glad you found some useful parts, my friend! The folk charms part, especially was one I loved.

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

@@DesksAndDorks I love how you correct the common misconceptions of the medieval era that is so prevalent in pop culture, really appreciate it.

[@loffredabernardes]

Battle brothers is quite a masterpiece when it comes to low fantasy and the best brutal tactical turn based game ever

[@DesksAndDorks]

I really enjoyed battle brothers!

[@matthewhyke]

One of my favorite store is about a church fief that had been over run by bandits. The church couldn't get it back so they took a local warrior and said you are now a bishop and that is your fief. He raised a small company and took the fief back. So you can become a bishop over night. I thought that was kinda cool

[@DesksAndDorks]

It is really great. It reminds me of how in some frontier areas they stopped building castles and started building houses for the tribes that raided them and they were just like. You can have these...

[@smile-tl9in]

Come to think of it, there is a LOT of different kinds of magic that could fit in something low fantasy where players do not have much access to magic I mentionned alchemy and potion-making in another comment. Much like your folk talismans and gri-gris effects may vary. But there could be also astronomy. Rituals that allow to perform divinations, but also to tap into celestial events to power other ritual. I mean if you can only cast a small spell at sunrise, sundown, mindnight and at the sun's zenith, it is a good limitation. Higher power ritual may require expensive ritual site something like stonehenge. Shamanism and spiritism. In a medieval setting the spirits in question can be fey. The idea is to court the capricious, alien and powerful fey for power, which is dangerous in general and force you to be involved into fae politics. Becoming a trusted and dutiful servant of a fae lord allows you access to more and more powerful deals...More dangerous ones too. It's a good way to convert influence rewards into power. Ley walking. Basically ley lines and places of power could be a place where magic is magnified. But it is also a place where actual monsters and powerful fae concentrate. More than gold, a dragon's true treasure might be a powerful ley line. They would be fierce battle and hard negociations among natural and supernatural forces for control of those place. Most of those found in easy to reach places are already claimed by civilisation, and are the site where great temples and court wizard towers are built. Leaving those deep in the wilderness, who often are kept secret by their owners. Ley magic ebb and flows too, meaning some ley lines, even powerful ones, are only active occasionnaly, some even being a once every 100 years kind of deal leading to humans forgetting about then. Also it can lead to the creation of magical water sources who have therapeuthic properties Enchantements. Monsters present great risks but also great reward. Their parts can be used to craft powerful potion, but also legendary magic items who's power cannot be denied. It is not a hit or miss like the little fetishes of folk magic but priceless relics made of actual visible power. They are never truly bought or sold, more like passed on from generation to generation in famillies of warriors descended from great heroes...Or great thiefs who stole from said heroes. Necromancy. Not as much the art of raising the dead, but more like the ability to communicate and even be possessed by them. It was often believed that the dead knew the future, or had divine wisdom gained from the afterlife. And even beyond that, it can be used to cleanse haunts by helping ghosts resolve their unfinished business, or just proper funeral rite. In a wolrd where restless undead exist funeral rites would be extremly important Quiggong. Cultivation. Not exactly europpean but the idea that the breath of life is innatly magical and that with meditation, martial arts and breathing techniques you could gain control of it and enhance it to perform supernatural physical feats, expend your youth and lifespan and reach enlightenment. It would have the advantage of being somewhat common. Anyone can learn meditation. But at the same time...Performing the most basics of clearly supernatural feats require decades of dedicaced training. Not only that but not everyone can afford to spend hours a day every day meditating. The average farmer is too busy farming to survive to considering spending hours sitting and doing nothing. Although while reaching a level of mastery great enough to be visible is long and difficult and mostly out of reach of players, some basics could ve enough to enhance what's already magical. A lot of chinease medecine and quiggong practice revolve around proverly circulating medicine within one's body. In such a way a PC could learn to enhance the effects of potions, and latern on amulets and magic items. Finally consider healing. Faith healing, sources who's water have magical healing properties, medecine men chasing bad spirits...All of that can be used to perform minor healing miracles.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Yeah the sky is the limit for historically inspired magic..it honestly could have been it's own video.

[@smile-tl9in]

@@DesksAndDorks it could be^^ but my point is, some combinaison of the above ought to make a decent low magic setting or systems, as it leave magic mostly out of the hands of players. Being disponible only at certain times and certain places, or needing to earn influence rewards from fae. You mostly can't use it in combat outside of hard earned rare and priceless magic items and unreliable potions.

[@Here_is_Waldo]

I like low fantasy because it gives you more freedom to establish rules regarding what magic can and can't do. So much of high fantasy just has magic do whatever you want whenever, and it just ends up with every character with the potential of a god. 'You drink a magic potion and transform into a bird so you spy on the enemy'. Okay, so if you can transform, why is anyone ever injured? Why is Bob walking around with a gimpy leg if there's potions that can literally rewrite your body and mass available? You can fix his leg? How do you know anyone is actually dead if someone's soul can be trapped in a sword for 500 years? Should you be worried that the ancient magical sword you just found might actually be some poor peasant's soul screaming in pain every time you hit someone with it? One mage pulls down thunder and lighting on a battlefield, and wipes out 10,000 soldiers by themselves. What happens when every one of those 10,000 soldiers also has that power? The planet would be cracked in half the first time any large body of wizards decided to have a fight.

[@DesksAndDorks]

OH MY GOD WALDO! But legit a lot of the reasons you like low fantasy are a lot of the reasons I really like it.

[@averageeughenjoyer6429]

All that can be done well

[@absolstoryoffiction6615]

​@@DesksAndDorks To an extent... "Sometimes the secrets of the universe are best left not learned. Otherwise, this normal life of people will be undone by those beyond what little magic this world retained. It is but a warning that there are greater forces beyond comprehension. If those horrors are here, then only a true slayer will ever stand a chance." Cause and affect. Magic is limited for greater reasons than the curiosity or ambition of Mankind. The very nature of humanity will inevitably lead into such revelations. And when those rocks can not be turned toward the sun again?... The Dark Ones shall return.

[@arcanehighlighter6780]

Another banger! Your channel is fantastic. Using historical education as a means to make more grounded DnD games will never get old

[@DesksAndDorks]

Thanks man! I feel like I've said it a ton but I was really nervous with this one. Took a big risk with length/topic.

[@DesksAndDorks]

So I'm glad it played out well and that you enjoyed it!

[@arcanehighlighter6780]

No it’s great man, literally listening to it right now. A proper understanding of history makes DnD feel alive! Keep it up

[@DesksAndDorks]

I am legitimately grateful. This video took a metric crap loaf of work so that people are enjoying it makes me thrilled.

[@arcanehighlighter6780]

Also, again; the folk horror video? Amazing vibes. You should do more like that for spooky season if you can. Gotta watch more of your other vids

[@no_tables]

I dont even play DnD, I'm just here for the great history discussion for worldbuilding purposes. Great work man!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad you enjoyed it man! It's been my favorite project I've worked on. Although I really like the video we have coming out today

[@ElderGoblinGames]

This video was an instant subscribe for me. Great stuff! One of the better videos I've watched in a long time.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Dude I'm really glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully you found some things you could use!

[@hawkshot867]

Oh hey, and as a humble HEMA (Fiorist) practitioner, appreciate the arms and armor sections lol. The daggers especially are so prominent that there's a part where Fiore basically says "then stab him with your dagger"... There was no mention of a dagger, nor was it drawn. It just appears and Fiore assumes you have a dagger because of course you do. On that note as well is the importance of mercenaries in medieval culture. Most countries didn't just have an army ready to go at any given moment, and it was often mercenaries who trained the peasants when mustered. Potentially a really cool element that is often left out of fantasy.

[@DesksAndDorks]

The dagger is the single most underrated weapon in medieval history

[@oniminikui]

I love my magic so much that I would never want to limit it or remove it altogether.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I mean hey that's a fair reason not to play low fantasy!

[@hater911ful]

It is okay to be wrong 😂

[@codyraugh6599]

Play Warhammer Only War or Dark Heresy. You'll feel your magic systems have been cheating you out of what could have been from then on. Magic systems without risk, or limit are actually just stripping the fun away. My best experience with "magic" was when my friends were playing Deathwatch and screwed up casting so bad so many times in a row, he summoned not one, not two, but three greater Daemons in one session trying to do the equivalent of Magic missile.

[@darkentity1000]

The Thief trilogy (not the reboot) is fantastic low fantasy, and keeps the scope narrowed to a single city

[@DesksAndDorks]

1000000 percent agree. I really love that trilogy

[@Pleasant_Boredom]

Hey this was awesome! Gave me lots of ideas and context. Really appreciate the video and all the hard work that went into it! 🖤

[@DesksAndDorks]

Dude I'm glad you enjoyed it! It was definitely a lot of work!

[@Pleasant_Boredom]

@@DesksAndDorks yeah it shows! It was excellent quality all the way through!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Thanks man it means a ton. Seriously I was really legitimately worried when I made this that the length and subject would be too off putting but the response so far has been really moving.

[@Pleasant_Boredom]

@DesksAndDorks nah I didn't find it off putting at all. I think ttrpg players are maturing a lot more and crave making everyone at the table feel welcome and comfortable, and getting more nuanced grounded perspectives and ideas to help them run their games to make it more interesting. I think even in a high fantasy setting almost all of what you conveyed could be integrated to make a more fun campaign and adventures.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That's good to know. It was a big risk (at least for us) but it seems like everyone is liking it and maybe it's worth doing more videos like that.

[@StarlasAiko]

1:04:10 In the first roleplayiung system I have ever played, 2nd edition The Dark Eye, the Woodcutter's Axe is difficult to use, since it is not balanced for combat, but in skilled hands, if it hits, it is one of the most devastating weapons in the game. There are maybe only two or three other weapons with equivalent or stronger damage dice, one of which being the Barbarian Axe.

[@marks7037]

At 25:40, you mention the fun fact that witches were called "Drachenbrut", which supposedly means bride of the dragon. As a native speaker I would translate Drachenbrut as "brood of the dragon" or "dragonbrood" (in the sense that they are offspring). A quick search confirmes that this is an old expression for evil entities. Dragons bride would actually be "Drachenbraut" and yes, that one letter does make the difference.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I appreciate the assist I'm not a native German speaker so it's much appreciated!

[@chrisdiokno5600]

As a fellow hustory lover, i enjoyed your discussion on common misconceptions. Speaking of folk magic, i recall reading once how A. It was technically illegal, Church wise, to say magic was real for a good long while and B. For folk magic, nany villagers would ve wary of kicking out the local wise woman.cause she often acted as midwife and doctor

[@DesksAndDorks]

It's often (at least as far as I read) a don't ask don't tell sort of thing in rural villages.

[@azazinate]

So this was fantastic! Sorry, Low fantastic! Totally make more long form videos like once a month or so. Love your topics. Keep it up! Maybe even talk about old tops in the long format

[@DesksAndDorks]

I love the idea of talking about more long form topics! If you find one you think would be good give me a ping.

[@stravvman]

This is a really insightful video, don't understand why so many dislikes

[@DesksAndDorks]

I have a vocal.minority that hears a mention of safety tools and dislikes the video based on that. My guess is it would be that section of the audience. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@theironqueen2386]

​@DesksAndDorks i think its very funny that they talk about being so adult but the moment being civil is brought up theu throw a tantrum like a child

[@youtubecensorship842]

​@@theironqueen2386Don't demonize, that's also childish. The community is split between equally valid takes. One faction sees these warnings as better, and has anecdotes to support it, the other side has a more "toughen up" and/or adult responsibilities expectations with anecdotes to back that up as well. One is not better than the other, and both work better depending on what kind of group you're working with. Reading people is the real skill a DM needs For future note, if you ever find yourself in any position where youre saying, "Lmao, anyone who doesnt agree with my way that i agree with is an X" Chances are you're probably being tribal and ignorant.

[@theironqueen2386]

​@@youtubecensorship842 one group says "hey I would like to know if rape will be in this game as it's very traumatizing for me" and the other guys in all the times I've seen them have said things like "if you can't handle adult topics like rape then you don't belong in ttrpgs like the rest of the children" this isn't a both sides situation this is a one side wants to exist comfortably and the other is so petulant about a simple respect for compassion that they jump to attacks and insults and complete intolerance it is ridiculous to claim both sides here

[@andrewgibson4189]

People should totally check out Wolves Upon the Coast

[@DesksAndDorks]

I don't know what that is but I'm excited to check it out.

[@brettsutherland8390]

This is the first piece of your content I've watched/ listened to - love it already, fantastic perspectives and knowledge

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm glad you liked it, man! It was my favorite video I've made thus far! Hopefully you'll like the other content too!

[@ZeroTheWanderer21]

I love this deepdive kind of video, particularly the historical analysis that you made! I was personally think about a low fantasy setting based around ancient empires like Rome or the Han dinasty, would you recommend anything for it?

[@DesksAndDorks]

The Han dynasty is one I don't know tons about but for Rome I would recommend two different things. 1 Rome is pretty diverse depending on when in Roman history you're in. I would also lean heavily on the administrative systems. Those played a huge role in Rome.

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

A game set in the Han Dynasty in its golden years I'm not sure would be a super good idea, just because of one appeal of fantasy is it's geopolitical instability and decentralized power, which was not that much of a case in the Han Dynasty. My idea would be either setting it in the frontier regions like Korea or the Tarim basin, with different vassal kingdoms maneuvering between the Han Empire and the Xiongnu nomads. Or alternatively a game set in the Xin interregnum at the beginning of the 1st century or the collapse of the Han Dynasty around the turn of the 3rd century, times of great instability, with peasant rebels, nobles, and warlords carving out chunks of the splintering empire for themselves.

[@DesksAndDorks]

@KaiHung-wv3ul here me out. Han dynasty civil servant rpg

[@KaiHung-wv3ul]

@@DesksAndDorks Oh the players are just lucky this isn't the Ming Dynasty and they've staffed the bureaucracy with eunuchs. 💀💀💀

[@RocknRoll301199]

"In Hunchback of Notre Dame the church is often seem chasing away entertainers" They were not chasing away entertainers, they were chasing away gipsies. The judge makes quite clear multiple times that his hatred is because of that.

[@birdschool9052]

your background makes these videos pop out, because you actually know what you are talking about

[@DesksAndDorks]

It certainly does help thats for sure!

[@n0etic_f0x]

If you are trying to use low fantasy just to challenge yourself I have an even harsher restriction. No mounts, no metal. We are not on earth the biggest animal is something like a golden retriever and nothing can be smelted. You may want to back off the low of low fantasy if you do this, in fact it is very likely that you will want to it a very harsh restriction. You need to get super creative as will your players. I recommend you only do it with people you know it needs a lot of preparation but what will you replace metal and mounts with?

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'll be honest. Thats not nearly as difficult as you may think. Early native American and proto European tribes actually used dogs as major pack animals before horses were introduced/evolved. This does mean we can't ride on them but it also means we have easy means of transport. A lack of metal does hurt but then we get more creative with wood and stone. Most evidence suggests early humans relied heavily on traps, snares, and persistence hunting to survive and win so it isn't outside the realm of possibility!

[@n0etic_f0x]

@@DesksAndDorks Absolutely. I just find it wonderful the weird ways people will replace metal especially once you go full bore extraterrestrial. What kind of house can you grow? Do you have fungus as hard as titanium that can be shaped by light and darkness? What about a kind of glass that allows you to easily transport things that you form using glimmer, a liquid mined from vents in the massive rivers your planet has in place of oceans? (Yes… they are fun ideas go ahead and use them)

[@DesksAndDorks]

@n0etic_f0x 1. Hard metal Fungi Is the name of my Tool cover band. 2. Yeah these ideas rule!

[@n0etic_f0x]

@@DesksAndDorks see you can pass the GM test. People are going to ask how you mine liquid out of a river and how you would shape the liquid after you do that. I don’t know baby girl, you’re the GM engaging with things that are intended to strengthen your creativity.

[@iantaran2843]

Well in Dark Sun metal is incredibly rare and even if you COULD gather enough, the heat would cook you in iron armor. Great setting for testing the players

[@-MacCloud-]

Spear Levies walling off a mass of professional Longbows were probably the most consistently effective duos on a medieval battfeild.

[@DesksAndDorks]

They were truly the Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippin of medieval warfare.

[@Sprangle1]

I can not LIKE this enough ... i need a X10 button. This overview helped me flesh out many of the nuanced home-brew rules I have wanted to make to my DnD world planning. Nice Work, my man.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I am glad I could be of assistance!

[@gmradio2436]

In the first game I ran for my current group, the player managed to turn it from fantasy to trench warfare. It was when the goblins hit the minefield that I knew I was no longer in control. Then using poison gas on the villian's lair proved it.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That goes irrationally hard. I love it.

[@MrGeoffe]

This is the type of games that I really really love! And I am tinkering with ideas about this genre myself and so it is cool to hear somebody as exited about it as me. great source for inspiration!

[@StarlasAiko]

22:00 There were also plenty of areas that were directly under Church rule, without any secular ruler, called prince-bishopric or bishop principality.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Correcto Mundo. Especially in the areas that would later become Germany and the holy Roman empire.

[@Valkrill]

I just finished my 1st novel and have sent about 8 queries to agents so far. My book is set in a primal world where most of the intelligent species don't even use or make weapons since they are used to relying on their innate strength and unique abilities for survival. I've always been drawn to stories with more primal elements and less technology, but it is fun to have some tech or gadgets thrown in to make things more interesting that shakes up their world, and that's exactly what I did.

[@keanureeves5257]

“yes i used necromant as a verb i’m not going to apologize i am the demon lord” absolute cinema

[@DesksAndDorks]

I do what I can to provide entertainment as the resident demon lord.

[@shibworth]

just wanted to say this is easily the best video i've seen from you! excited to see what you come up with next :)

[@DesksAndDorks]

Dude thank you it was a massive labor of love.

[@jolaguem]

Great video! I really enjoyed the watch

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad to hear it man! Thanks for watching!

[@HelotOnWheels]

This is so much what I try to make my D&D world be. Particularly the dominance of religion - indeed, in some kingdoms they function as full-fledged feudal landholders - and with good and bad and in-between people all in the same religion, like they were historically, instead of being neatly arranged by alignment. And thanks especially for telling me about book curses and the Drachenbrut, which I am so putting in my next adventure. Although I’m not a pro GM and have no plans to become one, and after 40 years of GMing I’m a pretty old dog to learn new tricks, I finally included safety topics for the first time at the last game I ran two weeks ago. Not because I had any intention of shying away from any topic - PCs and NPCs will always be at risk in my games from most or all of the things that you listed - but because I thought it was only fair for everybody at the table to know what they were in for. And likewise, as a player, I am so ready to be at the table of any GM who ticks every single one of those green boxes. Bring on the safety tools - I want to know the minute I sit down at the table that I’m playing in a game for grownups!

[@Johnsmith-hx6lq]

Fantastic video. I’ve been designing my own low(er) fantasy ttrpg and this has given me quite a bit to mull over as I continue my process

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm glad I gave you something to mull over. It's been a huge effort.

[@Antitheist]

GURPS. There’s pretty much no setting you can’t play with that system, and the crunchy rules work especially well for low fantasy. You can play in a variety of tech levels for fantasy, from prehistoric up to high medieval, and even swashbuckling, Wild West or steampunk, if you wish. Weapons are a lot more varied than most systems, and you have access to a wide variety of maneuvers, which makes combat and specialized fighting techniques quite viable and part of the fighting strategy. There are hit locations, each with differing effects, and each can be armored as desired. You can also design magic systems from simple folk magic to ritual magic to innate powers and more. And everything is optional, so you can ignore or simplify rules that are too crunchy. Anyway, it all just FEELS more realistic and gritty, which fits well with low fantasy.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I've tried gurps, and while I admire the system, that's a case of too much crunch, at least for me.

[@chrisdiokno5600]

Low Fantasy is such a fascinating genre

[@DesksAndDorks]

Agreed! I enjoy gming and creating material for it.

[@Xynth25]

Fantastic video. Excellent for background listening at work and provokes a lot of thought for my next games.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@georgethompson913]

For people interested in medieval magic the youtuber esoterica is a good source. Astrology was a commonly practiced art in the universities and texts like the picatrix explain how to use it to creat powerful talismans i.e. invisibility, conjufing water. Meanwhile agrippas fourth book talked about how to summon and bind demons, and then use ritual shortcuts to more easily conjure them.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Appreciate the recommendations!

[@georgethompson913]

And thanks for the reply, I wasn't expecting one on such an old video.

[@DesksAndDorks]

@georgethompson913 I try to keep up with comments, especially if they've got texts I haven't read!

[@Kholan95]

Great conversation about safety tools at the beginning there.

[@RIlianP]

For inspiration of low fantasy settings, Glen Cook, most specifically the Instrumentalities of the Night series, magic is old secret but for few educated and ugly, that doesn't mean people are not aware of it, or its practitioners, just organized religion took hold and appropriated most of it. Powder weapons just emerged and proved powerful enough to kill even the gods themselves.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That sounds like a great series I'll have to give it a gander.

[@HenryIVth]

One of the most refreshing, enjoyable, enlightening, easy to digest and inspirational videos I've enjoyed in a long while. Your efforts were more than noticeable and make me want to do too many different things at once.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That was the hope! I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing what you do!

[@Valdyr_Hrafn]

I really love this video as a game developer interested in dark/low fantasy. It really hammers home many points as well as help me get to some fun new ideas for my project! As a sidenote: I really love how simple and plain you talk about some topics that people would nowadays call you "woke" for. I'm happy to hear you take people's fun and comfort seriously as a dm and you set a wonderful example for being a generally good person. All in all an amazing video, this needs a comment to boost it!

[@DesksAndDorks]

It is greatly appreciated and I wish you luck on your games! I remember starting out and how exciting that journey was so I wish you the best!

[@mentkansleyunitedstatesgov6364]

6:50 the fact you acknowledged this earned yourself a subscription I'm always an advocate of anyone who doesn't just shrug off people in the middle ages as dumb

[@DesksAndDorks]

It always frustrates me when that happens ancient people were so smart

[@mentkansleyunitedstatesgov6364]

@DesksAndDorks yeah the most frustrating one for me is conspiracy theorists who say the pyramids could never have been built without some lost advanced technology and it's like no the people involved were just incredibly skilled

[@DesksAndDorks]

@mentkansleyunitedstatesgov6364 it is additionally annoying for that example because we have the amount paid to the workers and their families and we know the methods used to drill through the rock. It's like come on guys.

[@skeletonmage8597]

Such a brilliant deep dive worth every minute 👍👍👍👍

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Punkweed]

This a great resource for world building . Inspired me whip out my old world based on the Copper Age. Cheers!

[@DesksAndDorks]

That makes me genuinely happy if someone starts building and making again because of one of our videos that's the highest compliment I can get. Cheers friend!

[@Grimlore82]

I've been playing TTRPGs since the late 80's. Ive gone through most if the phases: Super heroic, horror, dark fantasy, generic fantasy, high fantasy, gonzo, etc. In the end I believe low/dark fantasy is my favorite. My "core" interest is fueled by the idea, "Less is more". Great video, you git a new sub 👊

[@DesksAndDorks]

I appreciate it, my friend! It's good to have an OG aboard!

[@maksymiliansteiner7277]

Low Fantasy Gaming is what introduced me into an OSR style games which finally let me to the GLOG and Cairn communities. It sure feels nice to see it being mentioned; also 2e is great. Everyone should try it

[@DesksAndDorks]

Cairn is a lovely system!

[@ShizaruBloodrayne]

I'm a bigger fan of high fantasy, but I'm here because maybe this will give me some insight on how to build a better high fantasy setting thru the subtleness of mundane influences without turning my whole worldbuilding idea into the mundane.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'll be honest I also love high fantasy but this title got people to click on the video so it's what I went with! Hopefully you enjoy it!

[@ShizaruBloodrayne]

@@DesksAndDorks One day I'll find that happy medium between the magical logistics of mundane occurrences corresponding with the massive timeless entities literally running the collective subconscious outside of time and space of subtle butterfly effects, with the DBZ like power fantasy of apocalyptic absurdism. I want to find the balance of magicless people and literal demigods between many parallel universes all bleeding over into each other, while also trying to integrate a system of tech without coming in contrast with magical metaphysics....some day, and with each day I get ever so closer to conceptualizing this delusions of grandeur I have haha. Also I dig the video! You gave a lot of insight here!! I'll definitely be watching more to keep expanding my influence!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Name of the wind had a nice mix I thought! If you like books it's a pretty interesting blend of high and low.

[@ShizaruBloodrayne]

@@DesksAndDorks I struggle with reading because my thoughts and attention span always tend to split, tho I don't usually have this issue as much reading big text responses to reply. I'll check to see if this is on audio book for sure tho thanks!!!

[@DesksAndDorks]

@ShizaruBloodrayne it is definitely on audio book and the narrator (at least for the first book) is incredible!

[@arcticcirclepit2008]

Nice seeing Fleaux getting some love.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm happy to give it some it deserves it!

[@lordofgraphite]

New channel to binge, fantastic ❤

[@DesksAndDorks]

Welcome!

[@flyboymike111357]

A good set up would be to remember that back when humans would hunt large, powerful, and fast creatures like a wooly mammoth they would depend on leveraging their numbers and everyone would have a bow, javelins, large darts, or a spear. When people had to fight other people in buildings or in boats they would still use missile weapons and anti-structure weapons like a large balista, catapult, or trebuchet. And when fighting other people they would always at least wear a helmet and carry some kind of big staff weapon, if not a bow than a spear or something at least as big as a spear. If they didn't hve good enough armor to tank arrows they would have a shield. It's all well and good to give players freedom in character expression. But equipment necessary to survival should be treated as both a social norm and common sense. If they can't explain how their character would survive sub-zero temperatures without warm clothes and a campfire then there would be obvious consequences. Similarly if a player has their character wearing half-plate armor with no helmet, shield, or weapon larger than an arming sword while trying to fight a giant club-tail armadillo that is smashing trees and causing branches to rain down on the party. They should have to justify how that character isn't knocked unconscious if a limb falls on their head. How the character doesn't have shrapnel in their legs from the exploding tree trunks, and how they even expect to get close enough to try and attack the monster with a pig sticker.

[@DesksAndDorks]

All very good things to keep in mind.

[@darkbeetlebot]

This is pretty great, considering I was just making an RPG for low, dark fantasy with a medieval theme.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Really glad you enjoyed it! Hopefully you found something you could use!

[@Noelciaaa]

Ngl this is the first campaign concept that sounds super fun

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm glad it seems cool! Hopefully you got some good inspiration!

[@shibe2042]

how to make the perfect low fantasy ttrpg step 1: buy warhammer fantasy roleplay core rulebook, 2e and 4e are often considered the best renditions

[@DesksAndDorks]

Warhammer is pretty great. I do like other games and homegrown systems though.

[@shibe2042]

@@DesksAndDorks aye true, love talking about homemade system ideas with my mates. great video btw :D

[@DesksAndDorks]

@shibe2042 much appreciated man! I got to crack open my 1st edition Warhammer book the other day and it was great. It's such a fun and brutal system.

[@Saerbhreathach]

Be proud of this piece. It is fantastic both from a historical and game design perspective. The academic dissection of the historical reference upon which low fantasy is based was delicious and delightful and I would love to see someone so well versed in the topic do more long form on their passion pieces - it’s wonderful to digest. On the fantasy parts, the delving into folk magic was awesome, and something that deserves more treatment if you can muster the focus to do it - it’s honestly something I’d never considered for a game like D&D, but what a paradigm shift considering this and how appropriate for a low fantasy setting! I’ll be adapting this for my own low fantasy run that I want to dive into shortly. This is so great! A lot to consider on the monsters front - the concept of fighting in a lair isn’t unique, but I liked the treatment here, and would watch a video diving into ways to approach the monster stuff, esp with a view to the smaller monsters stuff. Large monsters as megafauna works - it’s very Witcher, and the like - but for someone who may want to include some of the non-human races in their low fantasy setting (such as elves, goblins, gnomes, etc) which might have been more traditionally associated with magic, I’d love to see a video on ways to include them in a low fantasy setting. Anyway, fantastic work on this video and amazing content here. Keep it up!

[@DesksAndDorks]

I really appreciate the comment this video took so so so long to make and I consider it the best thing I've done up to this point. I love the idea of doing mega fauna as it's a pretty cool one! Also I'm touched you made.it to the QA. Going on my viewing data few did so it means a lot!

[@somedesertdude1308]

i prefer the middle part still tbh most people suck at low and high

[@robertanderson4921]

Excellent video, you just got a new subscriber.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Much appreciated!

[@billyg.personaltraining]

You used Low Fantasy Gaming's art a lot in the beginning. It's a fun system. It's 2nd Edition, Tales of Argosa, is great. I'm running Deathbringer, which is also great.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Oooooh I will have to give it a try! I liked the art but didn't include it as a rec because I haven't played it or read the rulebook.

[@billyg.personaltraining]

They have a free version on their website.​@@DesksAndDorks

[@lightlegion_]

You’re incredible! Keep it up!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Thank you my friend!

[@Romeo_of_Romelution]

I like both High and Low magic fantasy settings. Both offeres aspects and entertainment like no other within their respective style. This video proves that. Tho the title is a little click batty

[@DesksAndDorks]

Sadly it kind of has to be. If I titled it what I wanted the algorithm would have tanked the views.

[@eclat4641]

It is interesting learning about how some people/characters are more intelligent that we realise, or there are more groups that are separate but seen as one …

[@DesksAndDorks]

It's always the case that folks seem to be far smarter then we realizr

[@dracocoinguard1320]

German here, not sure if this is a translation or pronunciation mistake, 'Drachenbrut' would be dragon spawn, while dragon bride would be 'Drachenbraut'. Great video, and enjoyed your videos about guards, bandis, and knights.

[@DesksAndDorks]

100 percent a mispronounciation on my part. I really appreciate the correction!

[@cody1570]

A good game for low fantasy. War tales. It is a very well made game with some amazing mechanics. It does have zombies, monsters and such but they are myths mostly until you come across them. Ghosts and all but very rare. It is amazing game and a must for low fantasy players

[@DesksAndDorks]

I will have to check it out I haven't heard of that one

[@Nosjir]

Seconding Wartales! Similar to Battle Brothers or Mount & Blade. Would LOVE to find a ttrpg with similar systems to play solo, I've actually been taking notes on how to make one 😅

[@DesksAndDorks]

@Nosjir well mount and blade and battle brothers are high praise!

[@lukewhite1249]

One ttrpg Id recommend for low fantasy is Mythras. It has a really immersive combat system, a phenomenal system for folk-feeling magic, and a really good system for factions and cults There are a ton of expansions to make things even more immersive, but the prev reasons alone are all in the phb

[@DesksAndDorks]

I will have to check it out!

[@danielrood264]

I'm currently running a low fantasy Game of Thrones and Witcher inspired version of Rime of the Frostmaiden using Shadowdark. I think this system should definitely be in the conversation, particularly for its accessibility for 5e and new players.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That's awesome! Also if you're doing GOT I would look at the ruleset green ronin made for game of thrones. Lots of cool stuff there for building noble houses

[@smile-tl9in]

To be honest that concept of low fantasy you present might not be super fun to play with in an actual game. Without things like healing magic, being wounded might mean very long recovery time during which a player might be barred from combat or even playing. For a social game where most of what is done is social interaction it might be fine, but anything combat centric is going to be a slog spells that control the battlefield are also essential for proper tactical combat otherwise there is a risk of being overwhelmed by ennemies superior in numbers, which while realistic, isn't super heroic. I tends to prefer dragon age or warhammer's concepts of low magic when mage are born at random and their powers make them a dangers to themselves and others meaning they are rare and their powers are tightly regulated.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Having run a couple of campaigns in this way I will say that the lines/veils/expectations do a lot of heavy lifting. Players know what they are going to play will be brutal and harsh. Usually players will bring multiple characters (so they can switch back and forth during periods of recovery) which has the added benefit of letting players try new stuff. As for social while being in a small area means they get less NPCS because there are so few folks in a village and they depend on eachother it leads to deeper connections. Also. Dragon Age rules. Still one of my goats of RPG.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Also I realized I didn't add it to the original comment but Dragon Ages chantry mages and the Tevinter Imperium in general are incredible ways of handling magic users.

[@smile-tl9in]

@@DesksAndDorks on a side note while on the subject of folk magic, you could have mentionned potions, onguents, witch brews and alchemy. It might be a way to make your ritual magic more handy, allowing to create an effect that only triggers when needed by drinking the potion.

[@DesksAndDorks]

@smile-tl9in .....dangit. I CANNOT believe I forgot alchemy. That is a crushing omission and if I wasn't already balled I'd be tearing at my hair.

[@letendreelliott8778]

Warhammer mages aren’t born. Sure, you can have an aptitude, but it is still a learned thing unless you’re a Slann. Unless you’re referring to Warhammer 40k, in which case you’re right but I wouldn’t call 40k (and fantasy either) Low fantasy settings. Sure, to your Empire peasant the world might seem Low Fantasy, but look at at anywhere else in the world and magic is everywhere

[@czcrossman]

Awesome video! I’ve never GMed before I’m just a player, but video was still super interesting. Like the idea of my character finding a trinket that makes me immune to soup-poison 😂

[@DesksAndDorks]

You'd be surprised how often soup poison comes up! But in all seriousness I'm glad you liked the video!

[@liamparker8877]

Bro legit plagiarized my system before I could finish it 😂

[@DesksAndDorks]

Great minds think alike! I say finish it anyway and make people love low fantasy.

[@liamparker8877]

@@DesksAndDorks Hell yeah

[@DesksAndDorks]

I look forward to seeing it!

[@charginggemo]

One of my favorite things is taking high fantasy creatures (fairies, werewolves, vampires) and putting them in low fantasy settings

[@DesksAndDorks]

A single werewolf would STARCH the average community.

[@bazev9444]

Great video! Very educational!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Gabrieliuka]

I regards to entertainment, yeah, I wish we emphasized how much people tried to fill their time with dance and song. That's why so much of recorded folk music is work songs. Songs that are paced well for spinning, for threshing, for harvesting... People did not sit in the barn for 5 hours straight in dead silence, they passed time. And then went to dance or to do other art too: dye ribbons for clothes or home articles, paint windowsils, plant flowers, embroider some shirt for your sister, whittle a funny spoon or a whistle for your nephew... There are many things that made and continue to make life miserable, but people have always tried to find ways to fill their days wit hthings that either made them or someone else a little happier. So next time your party rolsl up to some farm, they may discover the family singing boistorously while threshing flax before they get pointed to some villager that does have some healing ointment for that bit which they get in a little wonky clay jar painted with lyellow flowers cause the healer'sgranddaughter likes sunflowers and trying to make pots.

[@DesksAndDorks]

One of my favorite things that happened in the last couple years was the massive upswing of sea shanties on social media. Seeing high schoolers talk about Stan Rogers brings me so so much joy.

[@meraduddcethin2812]

As an avid medievalist and medieval historian, this is such a marvelous video. There's a few nits to pick and a few omissions, but really well done. I really like your comments regarding folk magic and charms, things which persisted well into the 18th-19th century in parts of rural Europe. Also, the emphasis on both the cost of the equipment as well as the training levels required for proficiency is REALLY important. This can be best seen in the crossbow (and, later early firearms) vs. longbow in the Late Middle Ages. Stick+string is mighty cheap, but being able to use it effectively takes YEARS of work. Crossbows/arquebus are spendy, but it only takes weeks to be competent. One of the biggest issues I have with trying to bring the IRL medieval into a fantasy setting is timing. Whether it's technology, politics, the Church, or general society, the Early Middle Ages (roughly fall of Rome to Norman Conquest), the High Middle Ages (1066 to around 1300) and the Late Middle Ages (roughly 1300 to 1550) are each VERY distinct and different from each other. Regarding the social dynamics, the lack of literacy (~10% before 1600) and the importance of the guilds in the High-Late Middle Ages can't be overstated in the gate-keeping of knowledge. Great shout-out for the gambeson, the byrnie, dagger and spear (THE medieval weapon). Thank you again for such a great video. Earned a sub.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I'm very glad you enjoyed it! As you mentioned, there were quite a few things that needed to be omitted or dumbed down for gameplay use and ease of understanding, but I'm happy thay let you enjoyed the content! The crossbow bit about being expensive to manufacture vs easy to learn was something that had its own section but was cut for time! Like I said, I was very happy you enjoyed the content.

[@meraduddcethin2812]

@@DesksAndDorks One thing that links into your discussion of social activities is that the average peasant worked less than we do today. Between religious holidays, festivals, faires and other observances, a peasant in 1300 England worked < 200 days a year compared to 250 days/year as standard in the US today.

[@DesksAndDorks]

So technically yes but that analysis (and the fact that we are overworked, yay late stage capitalism) is a little misleading. My understanding is they technically have more days available but that it wasn't uncommon to have day work and night work done around the fire or at home. So technically less days but probably closer in hours. That being said because they were generalists adventuring would probably be more accepted as it is just another way to make ends meet.

[@meraduddcethin2812]

@@DesksAndDorks Agreed that there's always work to be done when you are far more self-sufficient than we are normally today. It's more that there was a lot more scheduled 'time off' than we have today. Regarding the 'generalist' idea, I agree that if you adventured _locally_, then it could be an alternate way of making coin (coinage is another discussion), but once you adventured past where the party is known, it would be different since you'd need someone to vouchsafe for you.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Just gotta say. I freaking love talking about this stuff. Doing this is legit one of the best parts about making content.

[@AlgaeNymph]

Speaking of recommendations, what's your opinion of Ars Magica? You play as literal wizards, with their own lairs and minions, so it's probably more mid than low fantasy. Still, it feels very grounded even when the narration takes a folkloric approach to nature; you can be materialist and practically not change anything.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I've heard very good things but haven't had occasion to try it myself

[@CaedmonOS]

How do you spell draconbruts

[@DesksAndDorks]

Drachenbraute is the correct spelling I believe.

[@martinliliebladh6181]

Great knowledge and information. Your passion shines through. Good work. Great video. I love it.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Glad you really enjoyed it!

[@w4iph]

Good stuff. I'll have to take some time and check out your games

[@DesksAndDorks]

Much appreciated my friend! You'll have to let me know what you think.

[@handsomeboi3767]

Battle brothers is peak low fantasy gaming.

[@DesksAndDorks]

It is very good!

[@Ymryrth]

My recommendation for a system is forbidden lands, it uses a d6 dice pool and damage is dealt to stats. It is exploration heavy and the books more than support that.

[@DesksAndDorks]

That's cool! I haven't tried it so I'm going to have to take a look!

[@jamesgordley5000]

This sounds to me more like *grounded* fantasy than what I usually hear when people say low fantasy, but I do very much like this. LOTR is high fantasy, but I see no reason why it’s world might not fit these realistic rules in most regards for the typical human or hobbit living there. I’ve heard Conan’s setting referred to as low fantasy. Not sure why, but maybe because the scheme/stakes of its storytelling is very earthbound, however weird or fantastical the magic and monsters may be.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I think it still fits. Obviously genre is fluid but of the big ones I've seen most focus on limited magic and medieval themes. Conan is a great example of something that bridges the gap between low fantasy and bronze age roleplaying. I really love that one.

[@jamesgordley5000]

@@DesksAndDorks How would you classify Ralph Bakshi's "Fire and Ice" movie (if you've seen it)?

[@DesksAndDorks]

I have heard good things about it but haven't tried it myself.

[@ljmiller96]

You can find Frank Frazetta Fire and Ice on the tubes and perhaps streaming sites. It's full hand animation with some rotoscope mixed in to give combat scenes more heft.

[@DesksAndDorks]

I've only ever found clips of it here on youtube so I'll have to see if I can find and watch the whole thing.

[@eclat4641]

This seems like a video i need to see!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Hopefully it held up!

[@themeangene]

I'm fascinated by how so many people are intrigued by the European Medeival period to the point even disparate cultures like Brazillians & Japanese can't get enough of it (their equivalent to weeb lol). There's just something very romantic in the truest sense of the word about the high Medeival period. The bonds that tied people together were just self evident in everyday life. A tradesman wasn't some faceless shop with employees coming and going: it was a father and son keeping alive a tradition for 300 years. Lords weren't typically bloated politicians making decisions from afar: they were expected to lead by example on the battlefield. And people were truly religious in a way so many modern people just couldn't understand. The Christian astheticism is coming from a place of genuine devotion for nearly everyone. Yeah obviously the world wasn't a cartoon but it was a time of incredible symbolic significance. There's just endless religious and alchemical symbolism everywhere including in the very architecture.

[@DesksAndDorks]

As someone I know in historical circles once said: catholicism went hard on the aesthetics

[@gebatron604]

“Allow players to cobble together suits of armour (assign armour values and benefits for each)” I’m so in favour of this. Instead of leather, chainmail and plate, I use helmet, breastplate and shirt. They have the same effects on speed and armour class, but make sense in-world and can be visualised and taken apart

[@Ender-bg2hx]

One of my favorite (yet frustrating if you mess up) games is Battle Brothers which is low fantasy.

[@DesksAndDorks]

Love me some battle brothers

[@JinbaHGS]

ThouTubeth. Great video!

[@DesksAndDorks]

Dangit Thoutubeth is really good Glad you enjoyed it!

[@juanpablobascur3708]

very nice video, i enjoyed listening to it fully ❤

[@DesksAndDorks]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@rugerandres7407]

Have you or do you plan to make any videos talking about a more high fantasy setting/rpg and how to make it reflect history or mythology better?

[@DesksAndDorks]

Have I? Sort of. We have the low level monsters series but I'd love to dive into high fantasy

[@StarlasAiko]

59:50 This works especially well with game systems that have hit locations.

[@StarlasAiko]

33:30 UnReal World has a very strong (and very frustrating, since I am unskilled) hunting mechanic. You actually have to first find prey, then you have to track it, while it runs away.