Talking Dungeon Masters Guide ft. Baron de Ropp

[@Thomas.R.Howell]

You have easily become my new favorite dnd channel. Thank you for the insight and perspectives you provide!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Wow! That's an honor. Thanks friend. Glad you're enjoying the channel.

[@salty-nick]

About bullet points that can be expanded (16:00): i get the same impression from Knave 2e. The random tables are really good BUT since there's next to no "fluff text" around them, you really got to stop and think how to best use them. Watching some of Ben Milton's videos on how to use his tables to make traps was helpful exactly because of this.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Yes! He also has a great video about mixing tables together to create new monsters. The more lightweight stuff is definitely useful, though it may take some experience to really properly wield. I do think the more thorough books are great for new game Masters, but games like ICRPG rest in the middle where they explain themselves and are still really concise. I love Knave, but I've also had enough experience as a GM to use it the way I like.

[@gingerwhiskered]

All these collabs are so cool! Loving the channel, as usual

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Me too. It's awesome to get to chat with folks who are passionate about the hobby!

[@AboveTheTableGames]

I'd gladly chat all things tabletop, Gmuary & games in general. When you have time, feel free to add me to your que

[@RPG_Bliss]

Wow you are putting out a lot of great videos. I hope to support your efforts of GMuary.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thank you for the support! GMuary has been a lot of fun.

[@sirguy6678]

Excellent interview!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thanks 💚 it was fun!

[@jaykaye594]

My best tip for beginners to dungeon design is that loops are better than dead ends.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

That's a great way to frame it!

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

Excellent conversation.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thanks Wes!

[@vast3394]

Didn't realize @DungeonMasterpiece was yolked like that.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

"Do your reps." -Baron de Ropp

[@sleepinggiant4062]

I love the 1st edition DMG. So many tables!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

If you haven't yet, check out Knave 2e. I think you'll like it's tables.

[@TheVTTDM]

Look up 5 Room Dungeons. It's not an RPG but guidance on how to organize a dungeon and the kinds of encounters you'd like to put in those dungeon spaces. And 2024 DMG is so much better than 2014. I love ShadowDark.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

I love the 5 room dungeon concept. It's really solid stuff. I'll probably end up getting the 2024 DMG.

[@kalleendo7577]

Awesome!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Thanks for watching!

[@TwinSteel]

If you’re looking for a different way to do travel that treats the journey like an enemy unto itself check out the house rule quest

[@RPGDAD1980]

I made a comment to Perkins when the new edition was announced that the DMG needs to be more friendly to first time GM’s. I wish they listened to the community more

[@ElderGoblinGames]

To be fair, I do think that the 2024 DMG has a decent section on GM advice. Though like Baron says, I don't think it has heuristics for creating adventures. Though I've only taken a cursory glance at it so far. Just picked it up yesterday.

[@tinaprice4948]

I just ran a game for 4 new players, a quick 1 shot :D so much fun and stress free I think knowing that it was a short game :)

[@ElderGoblinGames]

One-shots are a great way to get new people into the hobby!

[@LibrariesandLattes]

Great video as always! Also, thanks for getting yet another jingle stuck in my head 😂👏👍

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Writing cheesy jingles is what I do best! Thanks 😁

[@LibrariesandLattes]

@@ElderGoblinGames well it’s one of your many talents!! You’re welcome 😊❤️

[@red_wullf]

The 2024 DMG does a MUCH better job of teaching someone how to DM than the 2014 edition, just like the 2024 PHB does a much better job of teaching someone how to play the game.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

I will definitely be checking it out as soon as I get the funds! Good to know though.

[@tinaprice4948]

Ya I agree, I never read the 2014 DMG, I used it to look up treasure and a few questions that needed answers , but the 2024 is REALLY well laid out for beginners. The way it is laid out you can easily read it and its enjoyable to read :D

[@OMGSAMCOPSEY]

From what i can gather everyone could benefit from some kind of NON-ESSENTIAL DMG. The regular dmg gives you the basic what you need to know to run encounters and set up basic dungeons and then the NEDMG would be in depth game design with pages devoted to advice from Game Masters about how theyre running their games

[@swordsnstones]

my issue for all DMGs are that they are looked at as "rulebooks" which they are not. they are merely guides, suggestions on how to run your games. Agreed not all of them are helpful to teach someone how to play or be a DM, GM, and or design a game session or campaign. It is left up to the players to be creative and resourceful to fill their sessions with monsters, Dragons, Dungeons, etc. for the generations that grew up on video games, these concepts are hard to deal with. These generations are used to having the rules and limitations laid out for them and can only function within a game using those rules and restrictions. So when it comes to playing TTPRGS they are left up to themselves to be creative, and with not much experience in doing that, the "guides" become hard fast rules. This makes the game a bit stale, [ IMO] as well there are no guides for how to use minis, or terrain, or hex games or paper to draw dungeons, etc. So maybe those that are greatly experienced in TTRPGs, could get together and come up with a step by step basic how to guide? Yes there are some floating around out there that are helpful, but nothing that says in some sort of detail that ok here is how the game runs...step one:, step two:...etc. maybe im out to lunch on this as i know there is so much data out there to absorb and possibly there is something that helps with this, but for DnD specifically, it would be nice for new players to the game to not feel overwhelmed when they first decide to play the game.... in my own guide i give examples on how to play, but even then i am looking to give a more detailed breakdown on how to run a session, at the basic level. ok nuff said, cheers Keep 'em Rollin'

[@ElderGoblinGames]

I'm hearing that the 2024 DMG does a better job, but for me 2014 didn't even have basic guidelines. It was basically: make a cosmology. Then draw the rest of the duck. There are better resources now (So You Want To Be A Game Master), but most people aren't reaching for those books to start out. You're right. There is a certain type of person who needs everything in writing to understand. Some of us are naturally more designers/ engineers, but there are a lot of folks out there who bounce off of games like D&D after a few tries because they feel they don't "get it."

[@tinaprice4948]

Are you saying Mausritter?

[@ElderGoblinGames]

Yes, Mausritter. Great rules lite game!

[@PhilipDudley3]

Can't make money teaching people to be self-sufficient.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

True. Which is what's great about so many of the indie developers. It's never been about money for them.

[@Runehammer1]

@@ElderGoblinGamesi must lol

[@ElderGoblinGames]

If you can make money doing what you love, then do it! I think you are one of the few who still loves it and can make money from it.

[@jaykaye594]

You're telling me. Most people don't even thank you for giving them a fish. Most of them just want you out of their shower.

[@PhilipDudley3]

@@Runehammer1 Runehammer is a special case, but that is the personal energy and excitement to be a member lifting people up! I'll gladly support Runehammer because of this!

[@juauke]

Funnily enough, even though the OG White Box is a mess, I think Sword and Wizardry: Complete Revised is probably the second OSR game I'd recommend for someone wanting to get into the hobby The first one being Shadowdark and the third one would probably be LotFP together with its free Referee book, very good advice there! My NSR recommendations are definitely (still) Electric Bastionland (for thoroughness) / Into the Odd (for conciseness) and ICPRG for the best new GM advice.

[@juauke]

I'm getting Mausritter soon! I hope I can play TTRPGs with new people! Also getting Trophy Gold and Trophy Loom!

[@ElderGoblinGames]

You'll have to let me know how you like those, they're on my list!

[@juauke]

@@ElderGoblinGames will do 😉

[@swordsnstones]

PS Yo! Baron yer jacked lol

[@ElderGoblinGames]

💪

[@cybrandir]

Ive recently started the hobby and after like two games decided dnd wasnt for me (Im the dm). We then moved to pathfinder, you have to realise that newbies dont know about the smaller indie titles, thats why its so good you are discussing them here. We had a few games but although we are having quite a bit of fun, I feel like pathfinder is too big(?) for us. We are doing theater of the mind and the combat is a bit simplistic as a result (while thats one of the strengths of pathfinder right?). We are also not nearly using all of the rules but there isnt really a push from the players to learn more. This all made me think of maybe playing a lightweight/more narrative focussed rpg since that might be more up our alley but I also dont want to change rpgs again after just 3 sessions. Do you have any tips?

[@ElderGoblinGames]

I would highly recommend checking out ICRPG for good GM tips, and Shadow Dark for a solid easy to run game. I like 5e and Pathfinder, but they can be a lot for newbies, and not a lot of great explanations of how to do things. Also if you want, you can join our discord we are always having discussions about the hobby, different games and ways to run them. Lots of good info there.

[@dadapotok]

You will not know what you like until you try and see for yourself, so it's actually cool that you're trying different stuff early into the hobby, and amazing that your whole group digs it. Into the Odd or any other Mark of the Odd games are as rules-light as they get. Even lighter? Most (all?) FKR games. The lightest? Single-page or business-card RPGs. Lightest game that I like is Egress.

[@TwinSteel]

🥳🫂👍🏿

[@salty-nick]

Twinsteel!!

[@TwinSteel]

Nick! I’m supposed to be writing up an after action report but gotta check this off first

[@ElderGoblinGames]

💚🧌🎲

[@chadliampolley6991]

Twin steel everywhere..

[@TwinSteel]

@ The Quest carries me ever onward

[@ricardo.mazeto]

5:52, the reason the standard hex is 6 miles is because the USA folks are unable to handle anything other than bald eagle units, because the correct measure is 10km. Bad ass Dark Souls shirt BTW.

[@ElderGoblinGames]

😆 bald eagle units.. I wish we would join the rest of the world and switch to the metric system. There's a great SNL skit by Nate Bargatze playing George Washington that I think you'd enjoy. Well worth a watch.