RPG Worldbuilding - How to Dungeon Master Series

[@Zedrinbot]

I'm really impressed at how you walked through going from a super simple, kinda campy setup, to a really gripping encounter and plot for your players. This might be one of your most informative DMing videos I've seen so far (especially since this is the toughest topic to deal with IMO).

[@matsegberts8261]

top 10 chanels that deserve to have way more subs. Number 10: Don't Stop Thinking Number 9: Don't Stop Thinking Number 8: Don't Stop Thinking Number 7:Don't Stop Thinking Number 6:Don't Stop Thinking Number 5:Don't Stop Thinking Number 4:Don't Stop Thinking Number 3:Don't Stop Thinking Number 2:Don't Stop Thinking Number 1:Don't Stop Thinking

[@twilightwisdom5139]

I agree except Ceave gaming should be on the list as well

[@firstnamelastname3547]

You forgot Don’t Stop Thinking and Don’t Stop Thinking. I also think Number 6 should switch with #10 and Number 4 should be Don’t Stop Thinking. Who agrees?

[@Dracopol]

This is a mind-blowing video about your process of worldbuilding. You expanded an adventure beyond just kill-the-monster, grab-the-treasure -- although the players won't realize this at first. But isn't this more adventure design than world design?

[@bluemage4070]

it's bottom-up world building. he's letting the adventures shape what his world needs which is a lot less work then top-down. this way works well if you play one-shots and short story arcs long enough to have a fully flesh out world after a while. Bottom-up works well if you have the adventure lightly railed in the since of the characters the PCs play will want to do what is planned and not care about what is going on otherwise (hence why CJ mentioned that you only really need a continent, kingdom or even just a city 2:05 - 2:26). top-down would work well for more a sandbox game but you kinda need to have a world already for it along with things going on in it (factions, villains, etc.) that are always doing something whether the players knows it or not along with the people in the place they're in. this requires you to know a lot of general stuff and have thought of a lot of things but once you have it you could play off of it by heart since you made it. the thing to watch out in this way is info dumps. i'd imagine having hand-outs for info about backstory/history of things would be a good idea (like logs of info a game doesn't directly tell you but is there if you're curious like Final Fantasy 13 but don't starve them of a summary of it though like FF13 does)

[@bluetyphoon__]

This episode in a nutshell: 5:28 Oh wow, hes gonna show an example of a good story, sure lets see this. 6:06 Alright, so a new encounter sure, that's fine 6:31 Now we need a purpose for story reasons, good, good. 8:08 The hero now needs his own purpose sure sure. 8:24 Uhhhh I guess that works 11:34 UHHHHHHHHHH 12:05 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Morale: Lolis solve everything

[@davegreenlaw5654]

"..it'll be for the sweet, sweet drama juice!" That line alone just *MAKES* this entire video.

[@Chadwick-Strongpants]

Ravioli, ravioli, don't harm the Yuki Loli.

[@FlyingDominion]

Inquisitor Thomas my thought was that they could use fire spells to melt the ice and free the hero.

[@prestonjones1653]

Magic ice though.

[@jorunholm9060]

I know the person that inventet you

[@dude7803]

Holy shit it's Chadwick ruuuuuuun

[@kingconniebonnie2178]

It’s him! The great hero!! It’s, it’s, CHADWICK STRONGPANTS

[@Eldagusto]

Wow Well Done, I really like this Yuki-Onna Bloodlotus curse story! Its got it all, and then another super twist with the baby Yuki-Onna!

[@chrisvarona293]

CJ! Found you from looking up basic D&D. Been watching everything for the past week and learning to DM. Our friends are playing the first game tomorrow. Thanks for these!!!!!

[@tengauge7872]

Good luck

[@HoshouNeko]

Same

[@mattikul]

Nice Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe reference 🐭

[@Etherwinter]

I made a flat earth for my players. My next adventure for them takes them to an island near the edge; an island very much inspired by eastern/Japanese setting/mythology. It's gonna be funnnnn.

[@invaderzam]

Will they find out that the world is being lifted by 4 elephants riding the back of a giant turtle?

[@undefined010-b3h]

Hey man! I just binged your tutorial series. I've always wanted to play Dungeons & Dragons and got the general gist of it, but I never understood the nitty gritty like the maths, and where I lived was too rural to put together a group. Now that I moved to some place more populated, I found a group of friends who also wanted to play, but just like me was never given the opportunity. Out of the four of us, I was chosen to be the dungeon master for my love of Storytelling and artwork. Is kind of scary to be a dungeon master and yet never have played a game in my life, but your tutorial series has made me confident enough to know it's possible. We plan on playing loose with the rules for our first time, and cut out certain aspects like starvation and gold until we are more experienced. I'm also hoping that nobody brings a spell-caster to table just yet, lol. Anyway, this is a great experience that I've been wanting to partake in for years. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, and I look forward to your future videos!

[@austensantana2488]

I loved that story concept

[@shmuckling]

WOW! I've never seen the workings of DM-ing on this scale of detail before. Using this example I might eventually attempt to create my own encounters, down the road. Thank you so much!

[@flaviusbelisarius1951]

Looks like I’m not sleeping! Thanks CJ!

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Thank you for helping break through our collective writer's block.

[@bromossunstarranger8706]

Bromos would negotiate a trade, of the little girl for the Iced hero. if she said no. "off with her head!" get her Emerald Sanguinary! for Azarenka (dying girl in town). The Emerald Sanguine will save the Iced hero Valkner, retrieve the lotus petal to Azarenka and cure her! an excellent world-building video compact and FULL of Knowledge, it has me pausing for the flowcharts taking notes, rewatching it. Matt Colville look out! I'm world-building a campaign called GLOOMGOLD, felt like something was missing. Now I have those session building techniques to add to my toolbox! just the inspiration I needed to keep going this is so wonderful! thank you, CJ :)

[@Narkos6033]

I used this story once, only the setting. And man did it work, dude you help so much and def deserve more subs

[@doubeld.7536]

These video's are amazing! So many D&D channels don't put any effort into their video's. Most are just some nerds talking to each other without any editing. With a green screen if you are lucky, or from inside a car with their freakin phone if you are unlucky. So I'd like to thank you for all the effort you put into these. It is really appreciated.

[@Private-yr4pe]

That flat earth Ayeee

[@arandomzoomer4837]

It's a fantasy world.

[@johnthompson5335]

I have been pausing the flow charts and taking notes. Another great video and further testament to the power of visual aids. Well done!

[@jacksplatanimations4033]

I love this channel so much. It's clear he loves making the videos and the love and care really shows through

[@Big3Taxi]

YES!!! This is the episode I’ve been waiting for!!!

[@MegaLOLstudio]

WHY CANT I PRESS THAT LIKE BUTTON HARDER! damn i love your work, cant wait for next episode!! this rly helped me considering im trying to build a campain.. now you made it alooooot easier for me.

[@leapatata453]

YEEEEESSSS!!! this video will help me alot with how I write down lore and storys and place for my world!!! thank you CJ!!!

[@Dragonofdawest]

Perfect timing! I'm just beginning my oriental themed campaign with my players!

[@GooberGaryy]

Great video CJ I've been waiting for world building since you started

[@JohnCenaFan1]

This was such a great video! I'm a new DM myself, and one of my main issues was making a believable world. Seeing the process from start to end really cleared up the foggy parts in the creation process, and I'll be using this method immediately in my campaign. Thanks again for the spectacular animation!

[@telkei3365]

Mid way through the yukionna i thought about how the heroes would talk her in to releasing him, Which brought me to belive that she would be lonely and she would not want to give her only company away And the solution would be to stuff her in a bag of colding Take her every where withought worring of surviving on other climates BOOM New friend along the way I also find it funny carrying a head in a sack for conversation

[@joeywarren60]

*Bag of colding* Yes. Yuki pocket, and refrigerator.

[@yozymandias]

I highly enjoy this series. Going to be DMing for my first time. This series is inspiring. Thank you

[@the1band1wagon]

I am absolutely pinching this quest for my game. That was so good!

[@GregMossage]

Yet another FANTASTIC episode in the series. Huge thanks for the time and energy you put into these amazing videos!

[@BigFrakkinOgre]

Love the way you said "Moral dilemma"

[@BeatNasty]

I appreciate the nod to The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy on the thumbnail

[@yusefdoesthings7669]

Wow thanks CJ! This has been the most useful video so far. I had built my world of Naerion, but it felt kinda empty, and there wasn’t really much of a incentive. But now I have those techniques!

[@Priyo866]

Animations are so well done. This is awesome.

[@ethanbentley7057]

i create my own world because its AWESOME!!!!! Nice video btw

[@ethanbentley7057]

AAAA you liked my comment

[@dreddbolt]

I typically build from the top down rather than the bottom up due to the massive time gaps I endure in between GMing. I've also pondered the prospect of a possible japanesque homebrew 'module', planning to use traditional folklore and the game Nioh for research.

[@Clever_viper]

Wow! I loved this video way too much!! Loved the result of the backstory and the final card the guys had to play both broke my heart and made my dark DM mind start creating! Never considered the Bottom-Up technic, I usually want to have everything defined, but I can see I could use a mix of styles as both have benefits

[@ratattack7453]

My god that story made me shiver

[@ruis1982]

All I can say is that I would love to play in your game!

[@gravy473]

The story was intense! Such creativity

[@optimus2200]

AMAZING !!!! Love the adventure you made MOAAAAR !!!

[@BlopsssSssss]

What. A. Legend.

[@caodogao4327]

Holy shit, I loved your quest! Hope you don't mind people running It on their games, lord knows i'll do that just to see what my players will choose.

[@Dusxio]

That... is some amazing drama in that story! Wow!

[@TH3SHUR1F]

Yooo, guilty of the focus group idea here too. My game world is based on a novel series I'm writing.

[@arandomzoomer4837]

I might permanently borrow that idea. Not the setting you made, but making a setting based on my own writing. I've written one fantasy book.

[@kobediamond3837]

Another great vid! Love this series! I've had lots of great inspiration and ideas thanks to you ^ ^ - And I loved that encounter xD absolutely brilliant!

[@davidwoek3041]

Great video!!! I'm building a lengthy adventure myself now and this is really useful!

[@telkei3365]

Fantastic plot as always CJ

[@KaiserAfini]

What about being both types of worldbuilder ? You architect the setting, key NPCs and ideas to give initial story structure and immersion. But along the story, you sprinkle seeds with a general purpose, make notes about it and at a later point you figure out how to bring them together for The Reveal. A greenhouse worldbuilder, so to speak.

[@DontStopThinking]

Sure, that can work. You just have to get used to having to kill more of your darlings, as the figure of speech goes.

[@FlyingDominion]

I think this is basically what I'm doing. I've made a world and continents with general descriptions. I picked a continent for my players to start on and fleshed it out a little more with kingdoms and regions. I picked the most generic kingdom for them to start in and made provinces and a little bit of grand (for low level) story and picked a province a little ways away for them to start in. That was all the top-down that I did. Next I started figuring out how I wanted my campaign to start. I made a town, we made a baron, we went on some adventures, and the group couldn't meet often enough to keep it going. Then 5e came out and I introduced this world to a different group that has been reasonably frequent for a while. I scrubbed the old 3.5 party from the world, but left the town and baron. I've started them in a different province and given them a detailed 1st level of a mercenary guild hall (I'm so glad they haven't tried to travel up the stairs yet) that a town is starting to grow around (there's only a tavern right now). That's a fair amount of bottom-up. I suppose you could call this method "ends-in."

[@KaiserAfini]

Flynn Curtis For cool ideas on how to approach such a setting, may I recommend The Broken Diamond? Its an Active Play for Mage The Awakening with comments from the GM (Dave Brookshaw) and the players. You do not need to know the game, he goes over it in the first few posts. But its just sheer excellence in storytelling and worldbuilding. I would even go so far as say that, if you have a passion for tabletop games or storytelling, then that is an absolutely essential read.

[@beckener]

Wow that was awesome , great job ! these videos are so useful!

[@jaklegend3]

You're an evil mastermind. And I love it

[@Yinyanyeow]

[]*Smirk*[] 3:09 someone needs to wash after that. 4:35 CJ... you might need to get some cleaning in. Memes are showing up and got your screen smudged. By stars, I love how you do some of this story stuff. It makes me glad that I gained a great story bit of my own... 10:55 CJ, get the window cleaner... the memes came back and it messed up the glass up front. CJ, you know if your heroes haven't heard stories from the others of the curse then it will push their hand to battle. And a little girl as a proxy too? If you gave them nightmares then I hope you enjoy watching the chaotic heroes break something important.

[@anotherasian530]

That was a mind blowing story of the yukionna

[@majorbaconbr]

I Just love worldbuilding is my favorite part of being a DM

[@shadow_psych7069]

But.. but... WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!? Lol Another great video! I still remember when I was trying to build my 1st world (only about a year ago). I definitely got a bit caught up in "obsession" mode for a while, but my friends/players helped me refocus on the actual game. Lol I love your method! Hope you won't mind if I steal it for a bit, while I continue to develop my own style as a new DM. :P

[@DontStopThinking]

No problem. Use it to your content.

[@davy8990]

oh come on!!!! the history was so good !!!!

[@MrFuzzyscreen]

That was magical.

[@sethshinoko6611]

Noooooo!!!! Please make a animated dungeon and dragons campaign I’ve love to watch it I was so into it I want more

[@jacksplatanimations4033]

You should do a series where you just do quest backstories because man that was entertaining. (Also I'm pinching this quest)

[@Stavol2Dual]

Love your animations

[@jv7x]

Great story! I'm totally stealing it for my campaign XD

[@AlexanderArts]

I really liked your story!

[@joshuaestrada6042]

Whenever I DM in terms of worldbuilding I begin when the players make their character I personally believe that the game is about them. I use their backstories mostly. Everything else I just make it up.

[@aliromen2224]

Sees flat earth as the logo of the fifth episode branch *TRIGGERED*

[@lordilluminati5836]

oh god, this adventure was so damm cool

[@MichaelBoory]

CJ, That story is awesome! You wouldn't happen to have a link to that campaign?

[@krymsonuchiha14]

I felt called put with the aspiring fantasy writer one XD but tbf, im also making my dnd version of my story an au so there are pleanty of leeway for things to go and the story can easily be made by the players

[@ladjiel]

And people out there still shouting "a great DM doesnt need a lot of prepare, even maybe doesnt even prepared at all" idk man, when i see a good concept of a campaign like this, i just feel hooked (attached to the story about the yuki onna it self, feels like 3d live person) already, and how they back up their argument that DM doesnt need to prepare at all, actually the more time they spend to the preparation then the story and the gameplay will be a mindblown one

[@puppyguard2689]

That is awesome.

[@martinchua9104]

I keep inviting people to play now lol. Thanks CJ!

[@temotoes9182]

As a player I can say that me and my group might actually side with the yokai ( I think that's how you spell it?) if we didn't like the fiance NPC whereas the yokai might be likable. It might be hard though if there was some sort of obvious reward for saving him so we might ask for the hero's sword and maybe a favor. Also we might look into finding a way to stop the flower from killing her as soon as it leaves the area. We would probably earn her favor then and have what was basically a lich on our side. Or we might just kill her cause we like killing things...

[@GuardianTempest]

Did the daughter survive and become a companion? She's too cute not to keep around.

[@DontStopThinking]

Yes. They had to use modify memory to erase her trauma and wipe any recollections of their shenanigans.

[@cymo2433]

Dam that is fucked up.

[@telkei3365]

Don't Stop Thinking ..... Man ... How would they even DEAL with it later They erazed the moment of trauma, but now what are they going to do ? She could turn out exactly or worse than her mother, Leaving a child spirit alone with great power miiiiggt go wrong.

[@aqua4426]

and isn't the betrothed dead

[@Etherwinter]

An eternal reminder of what they did.

[@HuevoBendito]

Man, CJ. You're *cold as ice*.

[@JeanZGerman]

This was a great story idea. Also, which software do you use to make these videos?

[@slyfox0086]

I love love love your videos

[@rogerpaesani5074]

I approve of Papa Franku's memes

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Me too. But when you say it like that it sounds like a very cursed pizza place that uses dead rats as toppings.

[@EunoiaRPG]

Damn that's some good content

[@anonymousanonym1332]

CJ, you rock! Thank you for these amazing videos. What program do you use for animation?

[@DontStopThinking]

Thanks Anonymous. I use After Effects.

[@whitemaple1516]

How did you run the adventure? As in what kind of encounters did you have before the Yuki-Onna?

[@NiagaraThistle]

I know this is old, but does anyone else watching this REALLY want to play in one of this guys games? I was a closet wannabe RPG'er as a kid. Never played and now have a family of my own and i SO BADLY want to be a part of this guy's Kara-Tur-esque games.

[@rubenrodriguez1460]

Yoooo i would love if you made this into a module that we could use. I’m about to DM for the first time ever and I’m nervous because I don’t know what to start with.

[@CCaseyTnT]

Can you do a review on the blood hunter class?

[@Albertosn3]

So if I understand correctly being a good storyteller will be really helpful for being a DM...and if that is true D&D could be great practice!

[@earendilorbit]

Very nice

[@lilysthapit2222]

My newbie homebrew in a nutshell: 1. Get a fetch quest. 2. While returning, fall in a deep hole. 3. Get out of hole 4. You complete the fetch quest. 5. Get a new fetch quest.

[@underhaykids6861]

I like how you have a dark side C.J, I bet it makes you a great DM, and i like the idea of 'creepy cute' besides the art is adorable how long did it take you to design that C.J?

[@authorhalierivers]

I wish you had this in a module

[@dnl19-b5y]

I really would like to see that japanese island and civilisation, as i am running an asian style adventure tomorrow and need some help with that... Do you have a link to that?

[@arandomzoomer4837]

It has been a year, how did your adventure go?

[@falkyrie5228]

Oh no, the love triangle attacked again!!! Bad Writer Advice, please save us!!!

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Who is more annoying? Love triangle man, or cloud district man?

[@Couchyrick]

beutiful

[@Herohke]

Noooooo!!!! How could you do that to your characters!?? Such a tragic story!!! *sobs profusely*

[@arandomzoomer4837]

Me watching revenge of the sith.

[@blitszina2570]

Don't mind me,I'm just writing down that story idea for my own story arc plot so they can get more information and ideas depending on what they do

[@cymo2433]

11:42 can somebody elaberate on what ones sees under "a creepy cute kid yuki onna" ? ( also thanks for makeing me feel bad for my mini dm idea now.)

[@sterlingmckenzi2235]

Cymo a cute little girl what does weird but cute things like hug the players, play with dangerous ice monsters doesn't notice the dead body and MOST IMPORTANTLY don't make her annoying Hope this helps

[@VelocitasEradicato]

She would hop around a lot, had a somewhat poor posture, and do pretty creepy stuff once in a while ala "play with us". But also she was just kinda cute. She sat us down for lunch, then asked for one of us to help her. One person reluctantly got up, and went in the kitchen expecting the worst, ended up reaching for a jar on a high shelf. Though to be fair, he dropped another jar and it was full of what I believe was very intense laxatives. We had to polymorph him into a chicken to minimise "the damage".

[@TheDreamTwist]

jesus christ that was cruel... I love it

[@cameronmusick9575]

I came here to learn about world building, not cry my eyes out. 😭😭😭 (I'm just joking, by the way. Your videos are great and do not need any changes! 🙂)

[@arandomzoomer4837]

As nice as that compliment is, I'm now going to address you as emoji man.

[@rimboman3]

Could you activate the automatic subtitles? Thanks! :)

[@mladen7641]

The World is flat confirmed! XD

[@johnmurphy842]

What about making the story in depth ness more optional for example they now the basic needs but they can go and watch a show that tells the story more in-depth than just telling them out right

[@erindavis142]

Is there a way to purchase the guide for the yuki-onna story? I'd love to run it for my friends!