Most Important D&D 5e Rules for Dungeon Masters

[@theDMLair]

📣 What rules do you find come up a lot in your games? 🔥 Free D&D adventures: bit.ly/FreeDnDAdventures 🔥 Join me on Patreon: bit.ly/theDMLairPatreon

[@davidsmith7752]

I actually disagree with just giving new players a Pregen character. I feel that it is the DM's job to, if they are going to bring a new player onto a table, ensure that they understand how play flows and how their character works. I think that the best way to explain the mechanisms of the game is to work through character creation and tell them how each part of the character works. It also allows them to make a character reflective of what they find interesting. I go to a pretty big AL group and am often called on to help new members through character creation, and I don't think that people would feel as engaged if they were just handed a pregen that had nothing to do with them.

[@theDMLair]

That's a great point. I think that if the DM has the time, meeting with the player to create the character together is the better method.

[@SuperRoboPopoto]

We generally use "takes a village" approach. The whole group chips in on teaching and helping with chargen for new players. Usually as a part of a Session Zero, pre campaign gathering. I find it helps break through a lot of the nerves of new group syndrome. We're all nerds here, no judgements, bro/girlbro.

[@tommylerberg2258]

only about 600 likes, this video is seriously under-appreciated. great job, man.

[@theDMLair]

Thanks, Tommy!

[@joshuaarmstrong2445]

In learning 5e, I made two characters for each class. It's a really good way to familiarize yourself with the book.

[@TB-ModelRR]

I'm getting a crash course being new to dnd. Between table top with my family, these vids and Baldurs gate, very helpful.

[@octalriver1349]

Wow thanks I hadn’t thought of this I’ve been wanting to play for a long time but haven’t been able too. But my friend found someone who would be willing to play with us, but I’d have to dm. This would actually help a lot with figuring out rules

[@anymeaddict]

I disnt really get good at DND until I was on my third character... Then I started making characters just cuz and I enjoy it so much

[@heyitsMattyP]

Here's my take on top five rules: Rule #1: Be drinking water constantly throughout the whole game; never not be drinking water. Rule #2: If you leave the table for any reason in the session, you will be replaced an understudy. Rule #3: At some point after session, you may be visited by a grey dog - DO NOT PAT HIM. He is a trap dog. Rule #4: If you die in the game, you die in real life. Rule #5: Remember to increase your proficiency bonus as you level up.

[@theDMLair]

All quite reasonable. Now, where do you get all the understudies from? And are any dogs harmed in the making of all the trapped dogs? Like they don't blow up, right?

[@robertnett9793]

Yep - since we installed the 'Character Death is Player Death' rule - players are wayyyy more focused...

[@theDMLair]

Dang right they're more focused. 😈

[@kentip3444]

Wait I dont remember no 4

[@untamedwild1]

Rule 3 is Very Important!

[@joshuasolt8416]

My #1 Rule as a DM.... "DO NOT COMPARE ME TO MATT MERCER. While Matt Mercer is amazing, but I am not him, I have my own style. Please STOP comparing me!"

[@theDMLair]

Amen to that. Happily none of my players watch critical role. We're too busy PLAYING D&D. Lol. Every DM needs to find his own groove. Furthermore, Mercer is running a D&D show whose primary goal is to entertain viewers; a DM runs a D&D game whose primary goal is to entertain the players. It's possible taking Mercers approach to running the show might not work for running a game.

[@joshuasolt8416]

@@theDMLair I agree. I Love watching Critical Role and Force Gray, both are outstandingly entertaining. However, I am not a voice actor, nor paid to write entire custom campaigns. I don't have that kind of time. I'll continue to watch his shows, but please let me be me.

[@theDMLair]

Yep yep!

[@Dan1Micek]

Agreed. I do watch Critical Role every now and then, and seriously can’t stress this enough. Do not compare you and your game to Matt Mercer, because you won’t get the full enjoyment of d&d. You will always try harder then you should, and it may make it harder to play/slow down the game to a snails pace. Matt is awesome and can help with learning some new tricks to bring different elements to your game, but it takes a lot of work to do what he does. Just enjoy being the dm and have fun. 😊

[@xornxenophon3652]

Strike back! Demand that your players look and behave like Deborah Anne Woll (aka "Jessica"), Vin Diesel and Joe Manganiello! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o56ke2SGfrBrqbc

[@gaefrogge5806]

I just DMd for the first time ever last night, ive been watching your videos for weeks trying to learn, and omg it went so well! My players had so much fun, thank you!

[@theDMLair]

awesome! Happy I could help. :D

[@angeldoesfunny]

​@theDMLair I'm about to do the same!!! First time in a couple days and all your videos have been very helpful my guy 🤙

[@1003JustinLaw]

One thing that I've learnt that I feel is worth sharing is that stat blocks given in the Monster Manual or Volo's or Mordenkainen's or whatever describes the AVERAGE member of that species, you are free to change stuff around as you see fit. When I ran my first campaign for my first group (Mines of Phandelver, still remains my favourite), I was really annoyed with the orcs just being able to use greataxes and javelins because, well, after the orcs run out of javelins it's just going to be a mob fight. Then I watched this video by Matthew Colville (sorry Luke) about messing with the monster stat blocks and I was like "wait you can do that?" so I instead gave two of the orcs longbows and have them fire from the back and that encounter at Wyvern Tor became a whole lot more interesting. I've seen so many complaints online about how boring the Bullywug or Thri-kreen or whatever are, well that's because the stat block given in the MM is just for the average shmo of that race, make one of them a fighter or ranger or cleric or whatever or better yet, build a Bullywug village with 20-some common Bullywugs, 5 warriors, 10 hunters, 1 shaman, 2 elders, and 1 chieftain, that's a LOT more interesting than a bunch of Bullywugs and Giant Frogs and some Snakes and whatever, now your world feels alive.

[@JadeyCatgirl99]

6:05 letting your players use pre-generated characters is good, but never force them to do that. The players' characters are their own. Something that they could do is start with a premade character, and edit it to fit their preferences. Making your character is a ton of fun, and I encourage you to do that as much as possible.

[@BelegaerTheGreat]

EXACTLY

[@TheOneandPrime]

At one point i owned about a billion D&D, AD&D 1,2 and 3 rd edition books. I started playing 1987 lol and to be totally honest we made up most of the rules on the spot, kept the flow going, cocreating an incredible story was what mattered to us. Twenty years later we still talk about some of those adventures. Rules are helpful until there not and DMs need to know when to roll it and when to wing it. The players would be shocked to know how many times they actually didnt survive but thanks to that handy DM screen hiding the rolls the story carried on ;) I stepped away for the last ten years and just recently returned to see what 5E and the internet generation of players has to offer.

[@ITSACRITICAL]

Brother you forgot the most important rule of them all: HAVE FUN! Awesome video thanks for tips.

[@theDMLair]

LOL - very true. 😂 If we're not having fun, what's the point?

[@robertnett9793]

What is this 'Fun' thou speakest of? Tis' a very serious matter. Thou shalt take RPG not lightely.

[@theDMLair]

Lol. 😂

[@RobertWF42]

Yes - but that leads to the trickier question: Is it more fun to play rules heavy or rules light D&D? Too many rules & the game is too slow & tedious. Too few rules and it's just a bunch of people sitting at a table making up stories. :-)

[@jawamaster]

@@RobertWF42 Whatever the DM prefers, as long as players are on the same page.

[@nickwilliams8302]

I think you missed out Appendix A : Conditions. It's really important to keep in mind that when the rules in another section say a particular Condition is applied to a character, it means something very specific. "Grappled" and "Restrained" are two very different things. This generalises to many other rules issues. If a given rule seems vague, look closely at the language the rule uses. What may seem like a very general statement may in fact refer explicitly to a very concretely defined concept. Basically, if something seems vague, see if it appears in the index.

[@theDMLair]

Totally! Conditions is super important. That section has a special orange post-it note bookmark in my PHB. 😀 I was screwing up lightly and heavily obscured for some time before I saw that they had definitions.

[@kyuven]

This is important for all editions of the game too. Like for PF knowing which conditions stack and which ones progress and how.

[@1003JustinLaw]

Oh just get the DM screen, or at least the Remastered one. It has all of the conditions listed on there.

[@shadowscall7758]

My problem is a lot of animal abilities are worded for grappling, then all of a sudden at the end of the description, it adds "Grappled Creature is considered restrained". I wish it would just use restrain throughout the whole thing.

[@theDMLair]

That's interesting about the grapple and restrained thing. I wonder if there's a reason the game designers worded it that way

[@THAC0Factor]

I think I'm going to follow your outline. I'm new to 5E (been only playing 1E since 1978) and I'm getting ready to host my Military Veterans group, next month.

[@theDMLair]

That's awesome! And thank you for your service. Respect. (My brother did two tours in Iraq.)

[@k0pstl939]

Thank you for your service!

[@AnGerBomB]

I'm not only dming for the first time, but also doing dnd for the first time, so running into this video is incredibly helpful seeng as I've spent the last week just writing down notes.

[@Jedi.Yanis2000]

Rgarding pre-generated characters, I want to try half-way pre-generated, meaning that I have prepped class-only char sheets, with gear and skills up to level 2 , leaving race, stats blank and making notes on what stats affect on the sheets (for example: Monk AC = 10+DEX+WIS above the box). I want to let the players bond to the very beginning with their characters, spending time to choose what they want to be, skipping the part of what skills they have, what gear they have and where all that is in the book. At my first time I tried 7 new players make characters from scratch. Choosing what they were was very enjoyable for them, finishing the sheets was more trivial and lots of rules and searching. I will try the half-made chars concept with another group of new players, and share experience

[@theDMLair]

That's a cool idea!

[@SuperRoboPopoto]

Maybe with new players, but that approach wouldn't fly at my table. There is already so little choice in low lever chargen in 5e it's pretty stifling.

[@Thkaal]

Rule number one don't get them wet rule number two don't expose them to sunlight and rule number three the most important rule never ever feed them after midnight. You ever notice how the rules for Mogwai and the rules for GM's are the exact same rules

[@theDMLair]

Excellent observation. 😂

[@alextrollip7707]

But i need my midnight snacks once i go on my DM research marathons late at night

[@joshuaarmstrong2445]

The first rule of knowing the rules is from the mouth of Gary Gygax: "There are no rules."

[@MikesClassicPinball]

Im absolutely hooked on all these vids, but this may be the best one with the most gold. Many thanks chief.

[@theDMLair]

You are very welcome! Happy to help. :-)

[@quonomonna8126]

second video in on the playlist and just wanted to say thanks for making these videos! i'm new to 5th edition but gradually getting into it, already looking at running two games in the very near future! watching these videos to help get in the right frame of mind!

[@theDMLair]

Awesome, you're very welcome. 😁 I think you'll like 5e. It's a great edition of D&D.

[@quonomonna8126]

@@theDMLair i just bought like a grand worth of stuff from my local store, yeah i paid a little more than i would on amazon but anyway i got all these cards for monsters, magic items, and spells...i figure they'll be great to save people from having to flip through a book to look stuff up and save on writing and erasing too...they really did step up their game with 5th edition, this is all quality top notch stuff....i got an adventure board i can draw on with a dry or wet erase pen, i got dungeon tiles for city, wilderness, and dungeon...yeah i want crazy, got basically everything but miniatures! i am going to run campaign modules i bought until i'm comfortable enough to try writing my own adventures plus i feel safer from the party going completely off rails because everyone is signing up for a specific campaign when they come to play, not to get on a ship to sail to another continent or something

[@darkagesvampire6926]

I love the passion that you put in your videos! Awesome DM lair i`m sure that soon your channel will be a big one!

[@theDMLair]

Thanks dude! 😀👊 Yeah, we're gonna take over the world! 😎

[@herosjourneyreturn4701]

Just noticed your Gandalf rune on a quick tea break during The Two Towers 👌. And just after lamenting the loss of my Elessar replica ring 😭 “The grief is still too near”

[@SerifSansSerif]

Ability checks are pretty important but DM set. So it's basically " roll for it" and I make up a number in my head for it. Combat is #1 section to learn, including advantage, disadvantage, reach, and what is a bonus action reaction and action. Flanking is a bonus to learn as well as cover and conditions. How to read monster stats is number 2, because they have recharges and special abilities and you don't need to memorize monsters, but how they are written. Weapons can be simplified to reach and versatile and light/simple. Spells just keep a spreadsheet but review the phb for class abilities so you know the big general bit for what players are going to throw at you. And honestly chapter 8 of the DMG is the only part you need. I didn't even know there were sections on creating NPC's or adventures.

[@okey3093]

In my campaigns, I make my players write down the page number to their spells, just in case

[@theDMLair]

Oh yeah, easy look up is key. Most of my players use a spell app on our phones that allows us to search and find spells in seconds. So handy.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

Our DM actually prints some cards with each player's spell and keeps adding them as we learn more spells. I find it more useful than searching the manual

[@goretoriumgaming8600]

My group doesn't have this rule, however myself as a player I have adopted this

[@MonkeyJedi99]

I made a Word document with all of my character's skills, traits, and spells that were beyond what fits on the space in the character sheet. As I level, I add skills and spells. I did this because as much as I like pdf rulebooks, the Players' Handbook pdf is a scan of the physical book with all of the art-only pages removed, so looking things up by page number doesn't work beyond the first few pages.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

@Al Kirk it's pretty handy

[@richosburn]

Very helpful place to start. Thank you

[@gegegebebebe5087]

I take some time prior game sessions and sketch out the nonstandard rulez I think I need during play on a sheet of paper, like grappling and knocking prone if my monsters are a horde of zombies.

[@OPgamingstyle]

The most important rule is whether or not you and your players are all having fun. Because why run the game if everyone isn't enjoying it.

[@lunarSoul0]

Im not never to dnd any more but i will be to DMing soon. But i can so character creation is probably my favorite part. Short of playing them

[@achimsinn7782]

I might be way too generous with that kind of stuff, but I allow my players to decide to go shopping whenever they are in a place where it makes sense. Because of that I have to come up with a fictional sortiment of items whenever they decide to do so. Of course I don't memorize all the items and prices in D&D, but I keep a copy of a pricelist around all the time. That list also contains a highest and lowest price for each item for bargaining purposes and I've split up weapons, armor, nonmagical items, magical items, potions, alchemical incrediends and scrolls into separate lists to make it easier to improvise a distinct sortiment for different shops. I also had the idea of giving the items different numbers so I could roll for which items are available, but that is just an idea. I never really managed to make that a reality.

[@RareGondola]

I've only played one legitimate campaign of D&D to level 5 as a Warlock. Now I'm finding myself DMing a group of 7 newbies to D&D and I'm worried about making a story between all of us without someone taking the spotlight.

[@annkatrinengj6420]

I have really never played dnd, but me and some firend's (all of us have never played) have allways wanted to play. They want me to be the dm cause I am the most nerdy. But I am super scared that I will ruin the game... videos like this helps a lot.

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

Dis vid helps alot thanks

[@jonathanschmitt5762]

Blindsight and Truesight are in the adventuring rules of the PHB Chapter 8

[@demonzero677]

I think this is already a thing, but making "spell cards" that give a jist of what the spell does, like the basic effect and dice involved, and basically having a spell Deck on hand, or even better making a deck of the pc's spells for quick access for them and you sounds kinda fun. Not sure how useful it would be but it sounds nifty to me.

[@kyuven]

It works well for spontaneous casters like bard and sorcerer, can be useful for wizards, but for druids and cleric types it kinda falls apart since they can pull any spell from the spell list out each day.

[@Jedi.Yanis2000]

It can work with druids/ clerics too, but you have to keep them in a dosie or something, like Card album and mark on the pages above. I tried to make it look like a spellbook once, when I was playing bard.

[@SarahAndreaRoycesChannel]

There are several good spell library apps for both mobile systems where you can look up spells quick and easy when they come up on the fly on your phone or tablet.

[@theDMLair]

I have some players who make spell cards, but most of my players (including me) use spell aps on our phone or D&D Beyond from a tablet or laptop.

[@c.d.dailey8013]

I think those cards are sold at game stores. Monster cards get sold as well. I want to get them, but I haven't yet. The spell cards might be what you are looking for, but I am not sure.

[@srmillard]

excellent categories! 👏

[@TerryAVanguard]

You probably not going to see this but, How much behind the scenes do you show the players. Ex 1: Between arcs I do one shots where I give the players npcs and let them experience what else is going on in the world, some times what the bad guy is up to. Sometimes how their actions effected a people the forgot about. Ex2: Telling a player after a fight how close the came to death, if that ability had only hit. (I roll in front of them so the know I didn't save them. Talking about items, I visually hid in the map that they missed Ex3: This is the one that got me. I was accused of railroading but it was a sand box game based off their actions. Because of rolls, their choices and bbeg it didn't work out well for them. I wanted to show them all the work I put in, all the choices I plan for not counting the ways I allowed them to go whatever way they wanted and how very different it could be. I like my players to know that their choices really do matter and to share all the work I put into it with them, but to much behind the scenes can ruin it for some people. So what do you share. Why. How do you let you players feel their agency matters?

[@evannibbe9375]

For spellcasting, you should have definitely explained the “concentration” requirement that many spells have and how it can be lost. This basically prevents spellcasters from rendering all melee characters irrelevant.

[@Chadok89]

1. If I don't know I decide, and if you think we should check the rules, we'll do it AFTER the session. 2. Conditions... Damn always forget conditions....

[@SuperRoboPopoto]

We use 1 unless it's a total bull call. At which point I'll pull the "Ehhh... I think you're wrong on this. Fuck you. Fight me." (We have kendo sticks and a "Trial by Combat" tradition)

[@anthonynorman7545]

What if I know the rule, no check needed (perhaps word for word)?

[@Chadok89]

@@anthonynorman7545 and how do I know you know it by heart without checking?! Maybe you got one word wrong that could totally change the interpretation. DM is here for that. That's why I decide in the fly what seems logical and we check later.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@Chadok89 because I routinely quote the rules as well as summarize typical RAW and RAI and homebrew approaches. Also, you should be familiar enough with the rules to recognize when they're being quoted and an on the fly ruling is likely to stay from RAW, especially when it goes against a quoting.

[@Chadok89]

@@anthonynorman7545 well, the rule "on the fly" will only stay if I think it make more sense and, more importantly, works better for my group/story/campaign. I prefer to change a rule to have a more enjoyable play with my friends that pretend to no one (because no one see us play) that we follow the book by the letter.

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

Tomorrow I'm going to become and be a dm for the first time I'm going to be the dm of my dm who dm me on sunless citadel and now I'm going to dm him on tyranny of dragons

[@theDMLair]

Awesome! Good luck! Let me know it goes. 😁

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

@@theDMLair Session one. today my first ever day as dm ( yesterday my player was sick) and first session of tyranny dragon. It's just me the dm and him the player. My player is really smart like really smart and creative he creates a bard fighter and ranger idk his other character they are still lvl 1 at the end of this session but the way he uses them is as powerful enough to kill all enemies in one round. Back to the canpaign he arrives at greenest ( under attack) I describe a blue dragon and he immediately say he wants to kill it ( the dragon will one shot his whole party ) he says he wants to snipe it with spells and crossbow ( just as I'm writing this your vid is playing and u say "when your players sees an enemy it immediately attacks it lol)he does this alot like he is really prepared kudos. so I say u don't want to fight it yet. He goes in town rolls initinative and kills eight kobold and the kobolds dont even get to attack ( 31 damage) and saves the the commoners from them. I then give him the oath bow and braces off archery . Next thing you know he snipes two acolytes that are trying to attack townsfolk and kills them instantly using one character. I use the next encounter to introduce an ally or a party member that will join our team ( a winter Wolf Dragon it can speak coming and dragonic and wolf and I made it really fast) so I put a cr 8 dragon soul and two acolytes and explain they are killed in eight fast scratches from the white blur. The wolf joins our team. But before I could explain that he says what his attacks. But I say before you even ready your spells a white blur show up and kills the cultist with many fast scratches. After that I say you out of the town hall to the middle of the town and is encountered with the first mini boss the half dragon champion. Irl the bell rings and I say we will continue the canpaign after school.im about to have the next session in 20 mins I'll tell you about that after the session. Btw his characters can dish out a total around 200 damage most the time in one round. Should I make his encounter like really hard like really tankie health enemy's will be able one shot his characters in two turns or a crit. Or should I do reduce exp. Or both. What should I do to balance his encounter? Hru dm lair thank you for the vids they are helpful

[@1003JustinLaw]

@@dayyanreinhold1395 Honestly to me it sounds like you have a min-max player on your hands that just wants to play the "sole hero that saves the world" kind of thing, also I see a lot of tactician going around. If you see one guy that's hogging all the attention maybe have a chat with him to have him cut back a bit so everyone can shine. Also, when you first start a module, a good idea to keep in mind is to always make sure that the characters start off at level 1 and work in reasonable ways they can multiclass, like the barbarian that just levels up and takes a level in wizard makes no logical sense: when the heck did he get the time to research on how to use arcane magic for instance. Personally I like to restrict multiclassing until everyone is around level 3 but that's just me. One more thing I'd like to mention, Horde of the Dragon Queen is a very railroad-y campaign module that really grinded on my when I read through it, spoilers for those of you who don't know it, you go to Greenrest, go to the cultist lair, go back to Greenrest, go back to the cultist lair again, and then probably go back to Greenrest again, go to Elturgard, go through this travel bit where a few things HAVE TO HAPPEN in a SPECIFIC ORDER, tail the cultist to Neverwinter, ignore Neverwinter (as in you can't explore it AT ALL), keep tailing the cultist (who are at this point annoyed of you), and go into this marshy place with a castle filled with baddies and your job there is to find this portal that takes you to another place with baddies and blah blah blah... As a DM you don't get to do anything creative, your players aren't allowed any chances to do character development or hop off the rails even for a bit, and just feels like a novel that you have to follow to the letter. That said, Rise of Tiamat is pretty amazing so what I'd suggest is to run Mines of Phandelver (just the best starting adventure in my opinion) then just pick up at around Neverwinter, with someone tipping the characters off to a bunch of shady people (the dragon cult) constantly taking valuable stuff into the Mere of Dead Men.

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

@@1003JustinLaw hmm hey that's some good advice thanks so much

[@p2jnyoom]

Kinda late to this video, but on the subject of pre-genned characters, I do recommend it to new players. Mostly because I started my descent into the life of D&D by a pre-gen. From my experience, know the following: You are (likely) just as strong as your allies, and hold just as important a role in the party. For me, my entire party was spellcasters/ranged fighters; in spite of the frailty of being a Sorcerer, however, I would toe the front lines (with the singular Fighter of the group occasionally joining me with her rapier rather than her bow). I was not the best at any ability other than Charisma, but I was the one who took to the front, which was necessary in some of our encounters. For this "suicidal" reckless abandon (which nearly got me killed at Lv. 3), and after numerous talks with the DM on various issues (I was his main source of feedback), he allowed me to opt out of Standard Array (not a good thing if everyone else rolls their stats, I can say) and roll stats and place them where I desire ([minor tangent] amongst other small things, like how he ruled that I alone can use another Sorcery Point to again double the duration of a spell; most effective when I blast them on a Shield spell to have it last over a minute (I have done the math and have a table on-hand for such things in case the DM doesn't believe me, don't worry. Fun fact: under this ruling, 14 Sorc Points is all that's needed for a 24hr Shield; 13 nets you a 13hr38min12sec Shield)). Which resulted in mostly the same stats, a few +1s in some things. It was kinda underwhelming, but not all bad, because he allowed me to reroll one (1) total, and I opted for Strength. And that reroll proceeded to increase my Strength from a 9 to a 14, which proceeded to give me reason to stay on the front line: I'm the only one with Athletics proficiency. So I am the best option for grappling a target. So I became the grapple caster: dragging the enemy caster away to handle alone (Draconic Sorcerer with HP rivaling the Fighter, so I have permanent Mage Armor and can more readily outlast a caster even if hit) whilst flinging spells at those who approach me as I play "mage assassin".

[@thevoidcritter]

One bit of advice I'd give: I don't think most stat blocks have to be memorized, but memorize the Commoner stat block. It's going to be the block you'll probably use most often, and it's easily customizable.

[@theDMLair]

Do your players fight commoners a lot? 😂

[@thevoidcritter]

@@theDMLair I'm running an urban adventure campaign, so there's less combat (although it's there) and like 90% of the fights that do happen are just various humanoids. And...okay yeah, my players might be a little murder hobo-y.

[@mavil64]

If the players start "Misremembering" stuff that's when my patented "Dynamic Balancing" kicks into gear :P

[@Sasqmo]

HEre's a good rule to give your players: 'Don't link me to Sage Advice, just because that's how they want it, doesn't mean that's how I'm going to play it, deal with it.'

[@theDMLair]

Yeah that's a good point. It is the DM prerogative to run his game he wants to run his game. I know there was once I figured it was about but there was an official ruling that Jeremy Crawford had like clarified and I just disagree with him and I did my own thing. That is the way we a DM have to do it sometimes.

[@Briansgate]

I disagree. I feel that DMs should not be that adamant about situations. Plus, I love that my players actually research and find out things for themselves.

[@1003JustinLaw]

@@Briansgate Yes and no, it's great to have a player that knows the rules BUT if this player starts to argue with you and is becoming a rules lawyer, that's when it becomes problematic. There is nothing more immersion breaking than when you, as the DM, rules on something and the rules lawyer whips out the PHB or whatever to correct you on it. As the DM, you hold the right to rule as you see fit in the moment of the campaign, because this is YOUR campaign world, YOU are the system, and YOU determines what happens. If somehow you made a bad move and you did something wrong, address it AFTER the game session. Usually when a rules lawyer challenge the DM, the DM tends to get a bit defensive because, speaking from personal experience here, it feels like the player is saying "you don't know how to do your job!". Maybe I'm being oversensitive or immature or whatever but a player that sticks to the t on every rule is just plain annoying.

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

For a very long time (trust me) I've introduced myself to new Players as follows: "Hello, I am the Game Master. At this Table I do NOT play God. I even tell Him what to do, so do NOT demote me." I'm an old-schooler, and our first cardinal rule has ALWAYS been, "Never EVER let the rules get in the way of the game." That's a delicate balance sometimes, but for the sake that the Game Rule Set is a static thing, written and archived in a permanent immobile state, and the actual Play of the Game is a dynamic thing, try as they might, the writers of any system are going to be unable to cover every possible situation, every condition, and every subtle undermining principle that Players and NPC's alike will contribute into your Games... Sooner or later (and usually sooner than later) some Player is going to find some action or series of unusual events to create an exception to that rule being "sensible"... AND you (GM) are going to have a choice. You can rule "by the book" and piss everyone at the Table off, get disappointed in yourself, and dislike everything about how that encounter resolves and the ripple effect there-after... OR you can toss the "book rules" and piss off the Rules Lawyer, but satisfy yourself and your Players with a ruling "call" that actually makes reasonable and fair sense of the situation. Finding those moments and being unafraid to monkey with the system or invent or even "retro-fit" the current mechanics in the game is what separates a "GREAT GM" from a "competent GM". ;o)

[@csgilmore3536]

My experience is that npc creation is extremely important, they need stats, ac, hp, and if they are at all important, probably made up like an actual character. The reason being, knowing some of my players, they are likely to try some shenanigans like shooting them with a spell because they felt like it or they have poor impulse control leaning in the murder hobo direction of things.

[@theDMLair]

Yeah, if you know your players are liable to throw down with every NPC they come across, then stats are needed. I'd probably have a handful of reusable stats from MM or Volos that I use. Making up unique stats for each NPC "just in case" is a lot of work.

[@csgilmore3536]

@@theDMLair yeah. I tend to do basic stats for basic NPC's and then in depth stats for key NPC's I want to keep alive and maybe play a part in the story at some point.

[@theDMLair]

Important NPCs definitely seem to need some plot armor sometimes, eh? Lol

[@robertnett9793]

I do the full character creation only for main villains, or frequently recurrinc NPCs. Most simple villain / evil agents only have a few bulletpoints for important stuff, an AC an attack-bonus and a damage die. goons really are just Hitpoints, AC attack-bonus and damage. Probably some info on special stuff if needed.

[@csgilmore3536]

@@robertnett9793 in my experience it is also good to have a basic stat block in case of spell resistance checks being needed also, though in most cases ac alone will suffice. For some of the weaker enemies I've even considered leaving hp out of it and just going if they get hit they die.

[@buckdiesel1614]

Nice Fehu necklace!

[@muddro420]

oy. i feel like you're gonna yell REV UP YOUR ENGINES at me any damn minute. tough to watch

[@toastofthemesiah]

Im with you it's like a wrestling promo

[@thecurator2045]

Trying to run the starter set campaign in 4 sessions

[@MonkeyJedi99]

I ran one session of that and only got through the goblins in part 1. And it took letting the party get to the town to let the guy they rescued get to safety, and they got a long rest in so they could go back and finish clearing them out. I let the goblins partially reinforce overnight. And they still left all beat up and out of healing.

[@luisarenee9803]

Senko i spent four hours trying to get them through the first dungeon. They didn’t even make it to the guy. FOUR. HOURS.

[@DazraelArianos]

I may be crazy but for spells I got a pdf and screen shot, cropped, and made a file of every spell so looking them up is just a few clicks.

[@sawy1.070]

Hey Luke (and everyone else who reads this comment) , I really enjoy your videos and they helped me a lot 🙏 But on one question I would need your special advice... So I'm running a homebrew game of fifth edition and maybe gave my players "a few" magic items to much😅 What would you recommend for taking away some of these items, without just using a magic Emp or saying they are suddenly missing Thanks in advance and greatings from Bavaria

[@adamrobinson6951]

I'd say it depends how the items were given. If they were found or sold to the party, you can have them diminish with use unexpectedly. Have a successful arcana check suggest that there are X more uses before it vanishes completely, but can be recharged with (Insert campaign hook here). If they were awarded to the players by an NPC, the items could be bought off the players by another NPC. I advise against any method that involves removing the items from the game with no player choice. However, a choice as simple as when to get the last use out of it or how much to sell it for can be enough to make players believe they weren't robbed. If you're really stuck, a magical monster that attacks the items can be interesting. If the players think the magic was consumed, but that they could've prevented it by smarter combat, they may be content.

[@sawy1.070]

Thanks a lot 😊might use the "x charges remaning" idea

[@theDMLair]

Hi Sawy! Honestly, I usually approach situations like this with an open conversation with my players. "Hey guys, I screwed up. I gave you too many magic items, and I feel like they are upsetting the balance of the game." Or something like that. Kick off a conversation with them. Hopefully you all can decide on a solution that solves the issue. My players are usually pretty understanding and will work with me to make things better. The solution may or may not be removing some magic items. However, a solution that everyone at the table can decide on has the best chance of not leaving anyone upset.

[@sawy1.070]

@@theDMLairThank you for the advice 🙏 I'll see how they are going to react

[@1003JustinLaw]

Depending on how much your PCs flaunt those magical items around, it's going to attract attention and there will be people who will think "hey that thing would look cool in my bathroom!" or whatever. So have them hounded by people that tries to purchase the item and won't take no for an answer, or feeling insulted when the characters turn them down, or downright try to threaten the characters to give up the item "and there won't be any trouble". Of course most people would think I'm suggesting "thief sneak in and steals item" but what if the person after the item is a person in power? He could have the local law enforcements show up at where the characters are staying and tell them that they are suspected of the theft of some family heirloom or another. Or maybe the guy does research on the characters and make them an offer they can't refuse, such as something that could potentially tie into their background. Taking items away are easy, as long as you come up with a logical reason that it's happening, so your players don't feel like you're cheesing them.

[@midnightgleam8353]

Luke, Its Pg 239 in the DMG where it has the ADV and Dis section

[@markgnepper5636]

Great stuff friend 👏 👍

[@bryankia]

I came here for wisdom from the barbarian... and kindness from the rogue. Where are the stars of the show

[@KubeJC]

I was thinking that the no. 1 rule is „just have fun”

[@trebot9292266]

Epic moment my friends. I grabbed my DM handbook with intent to open the "creating encounters" to see what they say. it was on the page i randomly opened. highfive peoples.... *crickets*

[@RubrDuky1]

Do you plan on doing a "Most Important D&D 5e Rules for Players" at some time?

[@theDMLair]

Yeah that's interesting idea maybe a video like about most important rules the players get confused or have questions about or something maybe? Or just the rules that they should read up on to put emphasis on as opposed to just reading the whole book through

[@RubrDuky1]

@@theDMLair that's a really long title. Maybe consider condensing it. LOL. Glad I could help.

[@celestesimulator6539]

I don't really play by the rules much. I just use dice, core stats, skills, and weapons. Then I just play with basic combat. It's all about the roleplaying, not the game.

[@theyrewatchingme6685]

my first campaign is in three days omg

[@scraplette9608]

Hope it went well 👍

[@r4yth0n87]

Number one rule in my opinion, SPELL COMPONENTS. If your letting your players have revivafy without a diamond, they are not going to die ever.

[@kokonaharuka2436]

Great video 👍🏼

[@joenapalm4841]

Hey! That's my CAT! He must have faked his death...in 2002...YOU MONSTER!

[@israelmorales4249]

damn! i'm still on Pathfinder

[@panicswildadventures3287]

I'm a new DM and I'm trying to implement 3.5e rules which ones do you recommend for it

[@GriswoldCain]

The intro ends @ 2:42

[@joshs6259]

PLEASE HELP MEEE. I started dming and a big confusing thing i don't understand is building places. I bought this book that is a general world but it has no real towns. If i make them is it homebrew? I want to run it close to the book as i can.

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

Any tips for tyranny of the dragon queen I should do or anything I should do for my players

[@theDMLair]

I've never run it. Just focus on everyone having fun. That's the best general advice I can give. 😀

[@dayyanreinhold1395]

@@theDMLair thanks

[@Aithusah]

Have any DND videos for people who are completely new to DND and want to dm for their group of completely new DND players?

[@JarlHavi]

Rules i hate and throw away is: 1-You must use components to cast a spell. Sure concentration is reasonable but if you’re telling me i need to pull out a sack of dirt, a jar of water, wind, and saw Cracatoa while i’m getting shot at from all directions to create a storm. That makes no sense and most spells have components that don’t show any correlation to the spell you’re trying to use. 2-You’re Character can’t be that well because it’s too OP. You need to change it. A character is only OP if the player knows how to be OP. Think about it. If you’re player’s character has a healing factor like Deadpool, but tries to take on a tank with only swords. Well then that’s not gonna go in the players favor will it. 3-Your encounters are TPK. If you’re fighting a boss or mini boss or hell in the boss’s dungeon where he keeps his most deadly weapons. Yeah, you’re gonna run into 5 monsters that are higher level. No way will he have kids defending the God Slayer 3,000.

[@shadowscall7758]

To be fair, the component thing can be pretty much ignored most of the time anyway, since most people have a component pouch/focus/holy symbol anyway. The only time components actually come into play is when a component has an associated gold cost.

[@anthonynorman7545]

The components can be annoying (foci and symbols for the win), but they all have a logical explanation. They're usually allusions to fairytales or old beliefs.

[@Elentaya]

Does it mean i need to buy all 3 books to even be able to dm? I bought alrady the players handbook but they all so expensive 😳

[@a.abarker8387]

you can find them on the internet's archive for free

[@RhinoHand]

Do you need a tabletop map to play? Becuase I wanna play with my friends via discord

[@theDMLair]

Not at all. Theater of the mind is the style of play that doesnt use a map and minis. You could 100% play just by voice over Discord.

[@RhinoHand]

@@theDMLair Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to describe every possible detail

[@audio_dregs]

Rice And Curry For Days nope. I’ve been DM’ing for a while now and have never used scale maps with minis. I have made maps of important cities and one of the entire Realm, but other than that, it’s all in our heads. And we play together at a table.

[@yetanotherbrokenworld6500]

Personally i never use them. If i feel the players need one they will usually get something i draw by hand a take a picture of.

[@joshuapanzer4735]

Strictly speaking, no, not at all. It really depends on how your group prefers it. Theater of the mind tends to be a little more vague, but more fast paced, especially in combat. Using a map gives you more control and more detailed positioning, but it does slow things down a bit. There are a bunch of online tabletops, I use Roll20 all the time, it's pretty intuitive in my experience, let's you customize ability rolls etc. It's pretty cool.

[@slixxfish4348]

The sad thing is I don’t have enuf money for eny of the handbook s

[@DavidKassa]

Wait he only has 50k subscribers

[@TimothyWhiteowl]

Learn your character, if you can't get it together by the 5th game you need to try harder.

[@Water64Rabbit]

So basically, the top rules are all of them in the PHB. Got it.

[@theDMLair]

Bingo!

[@isitnotwrittenthat1680]

It's a war game were you only have one guy instead of an army... you never had a deal with a necromancer, conjurer, summoning based cleric, or charismatic army gatherer have you? Or a player who sits on favors from nobles for that matter.

[@theDMLair]

I have a house rule regarding summons that limits their number. (Most DMs I know do.)

[@isitnotwrittenthat1680]

@@theDMLair fair enough, and most mages play blasters as it is

[@theDMLair]

True. Or controllers.

[@AuroraRainUwU]

me, a DM who cant afford a PHB. hmm yes good information

[@Briansgate]

ability checks are not skill checks

[@gabriellajoie9486]

Rule #1: have fun

[@Chaos.Kraken]

Do I spy the Wheel of Time behind you?

[@theDMLair]

Yep! :D One of my favorite series.

[@Chaos.Kraken]

@@theDMLair my husband and i may or may not have matching wheel of time tattoos

[@jeffknodel2829]

What would have made this video useful is actually discussing the rules and mechanics, not just listing what page in the books they are. You don't even start the list until 3 minutes in, and then you only name the rules, and talk about how important they are.

[@atcmoran7097]

Noise to signal ratio is very high

[@alexblake4705]

I have been trying to find a dm/gm that can maybe help me with some advice. If you have time please let me know. I tried messaging merser too.

[@alexblake4705]

@Al Kirk so I have been running a few 2.5 games and my husband wants to swap over to 5.0. Is there any advice you can give on how to swap it over. Also do you have any advice for him as a new forever dm. He is still new to the DM status.

[@zacharymoore5555]

Not enough facial expressions, couldn’t focus. MORE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS PLEASE.

[@HowtoRPG]

D&D 5e has rules worth learning?

[@theDMLair]

It sure does. It's frustrating to me as a player when I know the rules better than the DM and he's constantly fumbling through them and doesn't make an effort to get better. As long as the effort is there though, it's all good.

[@MaxCBPCenter]

2:43 for who wants to skip to content

[@jvkrause]

That was a long intro

[@IpolsYoutube]

20% of the video and I didn't hear the first rule yet Edit: 30% wow.

[@dcxoffender]

The manic editing makes this video hard to watch

[@theDMLair]

I'm sorry my video style doesn't conform to your personal preferences, Daniel. I encourage you to check out some of the other fine D&D content creators out there. Best of wishes.

[@doodledicemonsters]

@@theDMLair I like your style

[@kokonaharuka2436]

You’re a maniac🤣😮

[@The_Real_DCT]

Of course D&D is basically a wargame, it started life as a modification of the fantasy ruleset for a wargame called Chainmail. The original D&D boxset from the 70's came with three books and a copy of the chainmail rules for combat. Yes the game "has evolved since then"(not really if you actually played D&D for as long as I have but I don't bother arguing with you kids on this) but it still is built on the same basic core foundation as is all tabletop RPGs since they are spun pff from D&D which spun off from wargaming.

[@danielwestling9453]

bbc documentary

[@termanat.ailbibekov]

300 bucks

[@franklee3800]

A bit repetitive in the beginning bro. Get to the point quicker without padding it out so much.

[@TheWoodgardian]

Terrible video. 2 minutes in and youre still introing the whole video

[@alfie5168]

“Here’s a little tip before I talk about the rules: you should know the rules” You waste so much time it’s actually embarrassing.

[@parhamsanjari6347]

this guys facial expression gives me anxiety. calm down dude

[@kelinleeheller]

Learn the rules, heard 🫡