The Chain of Acheron: Ep. 1 - Red Sky at Morning | Matt Colville's D&D Campaign

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📝 You can find all the content Matt created leading up to the first session for The Chain of Acheron campaign here: www.mcdmproductions.com/the-c...
📔 You can also read the first 5 entries of The Chronicle (the Chain of Acheron's written history as recorded by King) here: www.mcdmproductions.com/the-c...
(⚠️ The Chronicle includes spoilers for the first 5 sessions of The Chain!)
🎲 Tactical Stream available here: • The Chain - Episode 1,...
#thechain #thechainofacheron #mcdm #mattcolville #dungeonsanddragons

[@Zurreco]

Any response to why some of the dice roll math isn't adding up during character creation?

[@helloMCDM]

We realize there is an error in the dice rolling video. Rest assured the players have correct math on their character sheets.

[@michaelrobinson6458]

MCDM channel dedication is replying to a comment on a 7 month old video. I love the effort you guys put into community communication

[@commandercaptain4664]

Ew, filthy 4d6 minus lowest rollers! 3d6 or GTFO! 😁

[@30noir]

@@commandercaptain4664 Caveman! Give me point buy or give me death!

[@haydenkelley7125]

@@30noir Imagine not using the 1d20 per stat strat! Give me randomness and death!

[@meima4313]

“I don’t take orders from dead men” f*** that was good

[@Gavarel]

SPOILERS AHEAD 0:00:00 WE PLAY D&D! 0:02:50 Rolling Stats 0:09:01 Where to find written words 0:10:16 Peptalk 0:11:05 LOOT! I mean the treasury 0:14:20 The rankings of the Chain 0:18:00 Matt casts battlefield camera! 0:19:20 Story time 0:22:50 Cue planning montage 0:27:04 Names! 0:30:11 Minis! 0:32:25 Oh, soldiers doing soldier stuff 0:36:38 That's Copper, not Tom (not Töm either) 0:43:28 The Black Company 0:53:25 An apple a day 0:57:00 Remember kids, stealing is wrong 0:59:55 Open, sesame 1:00:53 First time initiative 1:05:53 Mark! 1:07:34 To hell and back, a book waiting to happen 1:09:30 Oh noes. Not a wizard 1:11:15 Good night 1:13:00 Oh noes! Ajax 1:16:00 OH NOES! DEMON! 1:18:20 "I hit an AC of 34." 1:22:13 Judge micdrop 1:34:15 The job, and the situation 1:38:22 Wait a minute 1:43:21 Spidercat, spidercat 1:46:59 Apple 1:58:30 Lightning! Grease lightning 2:07:02 Commander casts Drop. It is not very effective! 2:09:50 Cutscene 2:18:10 Back to danger 2:20:48 The worst kind of promotion 2:22:05 Break starts 2:43:02 Break ends 2:45:10 Game Continues 2:52:10 A guy called Boots 2:52:35 Skill challenge 3:14:15 Ship mini 3:18:20 Boots, you flirt 3:23:50 This is our ride 3:33:02 Can we yelp this? 3:35:10 All aboard! 3:40:20 Where are we going? 3:41:24 Game end 3:43:20 New lieutenant needed (Time stamps by Azur Aben. He did this on Matt's original channel , I'm just copy-pasting here. He's the real MVP!)

[@azuraben5128]

Thanks for the quick copy paste ;) happy travels!

[@tdog4423]

Gabriel Takahashi hay do you know how to make battalion cards for dnd

[@anasb.8647]

i know it's been a long time since this post, but I just want to say Thank you

[@charlesstillman1225]

needs to be pinned!

[@fredrikhinton]

Matt: Yeah, this world is low fantasy unlike the last one which was crazy with magic! Also Matt: Yeah, a city the size of the large city you guys are in just teleport in above of you and is blocking out the sun

[@Savaris96]

To be fair i think he meant that the amount of magic items the party got in the previous campaign was over the top

[@azlanadil3646]

Yeah, happens to all the time. Practically every Tuesday.

[@mcrhombas3743]

It's the A Song of Ice and Fire school of low fantasy 😭

[@idontknowdude3021]

I'm starting as a DM (never played), and have a table of newbie players, watching this is helping me learn stuff ^^

[@CappainWill]

not a terrible idea but please don't expect your game to go this smoothly i did the same thing when i started playing (i also started as a dm) and it was hugely disappointing. though it's probably too late now.

[@idontknowdude3021]

@@CappainWill oh, I definitely didn't! And it was actually better than I expected ^^

[@kyleg2756]

@@idontknowdude3021 nobody starts off as a great DM.

[@antoniorezik4072]

@@kyleg2756 I bet to OP's group OP was the greatest DM they have ever seen

[@jackbrian7083]

@@CappainWill what exactly do you mean by dissapointing

[@rkfountain3472]

This is a fantastic campaign with great characters and a DM that isn't afraid to take a chance. I have played in or run Dungeons and Dragons games for more than 30 years and this.....this campaign is helping me to see the game as I did all those years ago. Heartfelt thanks to you all. Keep playing and I for one will happily keep watching.

[@dalfador1665]

"Listen guys, this days not gonna get any better." - Giant demon devouring a headless corpse in the background

[@zemorph42]

Now imagine the demon is orange, with a combover. That image flashed through my head as I read your post and now you must suffer as I did.

[@NegatveSpace]

"I need more d8" is always great to hear from the dm

[@freeinformation9869]

haha. You know something is coming up!

[@Darjaboo]

@Fiona Kriner It is when they are rolling for treasure!

[@shendudeamo6678]

My favorite line to throw at my players is, "you have a lot of hit points, right?" in a comedic sarcastic voice with a big shit eating grin as I'm picking up hand fulls of dice. I've done it enough that they have started replying with, "not for long."

[@dittmar104]

Its better then them saying d12s

[@glynrh8892]

@@shendudeamo6678 okay I’m stealing that 😂

[@rasputin9057]

God, rewatching this while waiting for the Chain to return just reminds me how much I love judge. "I don't take orders from dead men."

[@chappyhall6682]

Rewatching the chain and I don’t think there’s a better heart warming moment than when Matt says he’s so ducking glad they’re playing d&d again. Really gets me every time, can’t wait till all this crazy shit is over and Wednesday nights go back to being MCDM central again.

[@Lathlaer]

Not gonna lie, now that I know all the behind the scenes for this episode it's actually hilarious to see Matt rolling for that crit "Oh I'm not done" and grabs a fistful of dice xD

[@Amrylin1337]

Even as an experienced DM I find it very gratifying to see Matt not following the rules to their strict letter. Edition confusion isn't always a bad thing. Certain rulings in the moment are a lot more satisfying than what the PHB would otherwise allow you to do. Surprise, Object Interactions, and more were all not RAW but it worked fine!

[@christianRafaelCasti]

I saw all 98 videos of running the game but seeing this first episode playing makes me actually want to start to be a DM right away. The running the game videos just helped me figure out that I could. Pax Vobiscum.

[@ryans3001]

I've been all over youtube recently watching D&D vids from various creators and I have settled on your channel as the one which is most in-depth and satisfying.

[@Aardvark892]

This comment deserves a LOT more thumbs up. This is one of the best examples of streamed D&D available.

[@Lmwpitt]

Love this Skill Challenge business. Immediately built two of these into my campaign; one to escape a castle collapsing and another to negotiate a difficult situation with a dragon.

[@giovaniteixeira67]

Skill challenges are homebrew, right? I loved the concept. It works for lots of stuff.

[@Parker8752]

@@giovaniteixeira67 They were a mechanic in 4e that Matt really likes, so he uses them in 5e too.

[@Dan.the.Guitarman]

@@giovaniteixeira67 I believe they are mentioned in the dmg of 5e aswell

[@dwarfanage9379]

Everything starts popping off and Matt busts out the +$100 warhammer models backtobacktoback

[@yungchris6044]

I love the feeling of the Black Company books in this setting

[@richardmarriott-smith9517]

I've been a huge fan of Mat Colville for years now. I'm a DM because of his "how to be a DM" videos. Love everything he and his company MCDM do. This live play show is great. Love all the players too.

[@Helioglyph]

Sanguinius comes down from Moon's Spawn to summon a Pit Lord on the Black Company... auspicious start especially for a character named the Commander!

[@shadamyrr12]

im a little late but been a matt colville fan for a LONG time, watched all the videos on running the game and been looking forward to this for a long time. They say critical role is to dnd as porn is to bedroom funsies with your significant other. this is a more down to earth DND experience , one that we can all enjoy at our own tables at home w/ friends. looking forward to the entire campaign. thx matt and crew!

[@tomkelly00]

So this is the chain of Akron with casserole the vile

[@Kaidryn]

I highly encourage people watching this follow along with the diaries. They explain many of the events that some people might get angry about.

[@EpicTimeLady]

"Lars sees Power Rangers everywhere" Lmao, guess that's why the Commander's name is Red; nice

[@cmansgames]

I'm so happy that the Black Company is getting some rep! When I started to hear the names of the characters thats what I Immediately thought of.

[@ericcontreras3966]

Right! I was so stoked.

[@MagicianCamille]

Matt: Are those real? Anna: Which ones? Classic.

[@tiredjediknight3110]

I’ve been a big fan of the campaign diaries for a while now but there’s something different about actually seeing the group play. They’re clearly good friends and having such fun and that’s what DnD is all about really. The story of the chain is awesome.

[@Awkward_Rogue]

Nearing in on two years since I watched this live and I still lose my shit at "Hey, fuck you."

[@pafnutiytheartist]

It is very interesting to watch the stream of you playing after watching your DM advice videos and seeing how you implement your own recommendations.

[@algomaone121]

If this campaign were a movie, the opening scene is from the quiet interior of the abandoned house, interrupted by a displacer beast ridden by a goblin busting through the front door.

[@lklkRM]

Anyone else think of raistlin when Matt said "gold skin, white hair, and hourglass eyes" 😂?

[@whatiskensworth]

What an awesome start! Love the cinematic feel.

[@wuzillah]

Just started the campaign and I love tactical play and your heavy use of inclusion right off the bat making the group already care for each other in a way.

[@theduckquacksloudly]

It's absolutely awesome seeing how far your channel, and how the Running the Game series, has come. Thank you for all the inspiration, content, and fun. Cheers for the accomplishments, hope to see more from you in the future! :)

[@jasonmountain4643]

This is a high caliber channel right here. Love it! Finished your EPIC Dune game video, now checking your older vids. Keep up the awesome work. 👍

[@0Solar_Eclipse0]

Finally have time to watch this, I'm so excited!

[@nosomocorro]

So, I´am here after having watched all of the "running the game" videos. I´m excited about writing my own campaign for d&d. Thanks matt, you are a big part of my motivation!

[@baronaatista]

Listened to this whole thing as a podcast, going back and watching it now on youtube. I really loved everything about this campaign, the players are fun, and Matt is a truly excellent DM. I really hope you guys come back, I want to see more of the Chain!!!!!

[@jade-leighmacdonald4599]

The MAN! the LEGEND! the JERRY! The true unsung hero of the Chain!

[@warforgedwarden8021]

It's a pleasure watching all that wonderful advice from Matt being put to use before us. Thank you, Matt, for all the wonderful lessons and advice for running the game. I'm in the process of planning a campaign that I intend to start off very similarly to how you started the Chain here.

[@Shadehunter02]

Hourglasses for eyes, eh??? Someone's pulling from Dragonlance again... What a great book series.

[@Helixros]

Eyyyy glad I wasn't the only one who noticed xD

[@DekarNL]

I will start DMing my first ever campaign in 2 weeks. These titles and abilities are an amazing idea and I am definitely stealing it!

[@StarWindEnergin]

You guys have exactly my favorite kind of humor. You made me laugh out loud really hard many times during this. "I know you really want to kill me" "I dont want to kill you, Relg wants to kill you" "where's your rank and title? Can we just like hang that here?" (context based callback to earlier in the episode for anyone browsing comments before watching)

[@mathmagician5990]

I'm late to the party but I already love it I love how you can see when Phil is thinking

[@gametimewithprofjohn]

Watching this the second time is just as magical as the first. Very rarely that happens. Love you guys.

[@cosmoreverb3943]

The third time as well. Also the fourth. I may have a problem...

[@caidenhodges9103]

Watching it for the second time now

[@johndickman384]

Huge fan of your videos! As a new DM (well, the last time I DMed I was in college and played AD&D) I've appreciate the breadth of your topics that you delve into. And I love your books. Please write more!

[@andraszakupszki6200]

This took me back to Glen Cook's Black Company series... Thanks! :)

[@NineteenNinety]

I really miss this series. Going back for a second rewatch

[@cosmoreverb3943]

Me as well

[@ripper1157]

I LOVE this setting already!!!! Gj

[@BossTripp1]

"Why isn't it Wis for Wizards?" may be the most adorable thing i've ever heard.😂

[@kyleedinger5355]

I started watching this because I thought it would be like critical role. I kept watching because it wasn't.

[@andreasgroi4892]

I might start watching it. Never watched critical role, what are the main differences?

[@OldSchoolGM94]

@@andreasgroi4892 Critical Role is not nearly as gritty as this and relies more on role play then dice.

[@Medikto]

In critical role it's role playing, this is metagaming. In cr it's not " my character is going..." But " i'm going ..." In cr it's " a dangerous wizard" not a high level wizard". It's " a blademaster" ,it's " i am skilled with the sword" It's not " with that advantage i can get max dice" etc ,they have long (mcdm:tactics cr:plan) -talks too,but it's " when i draw his attention you can get behind him" etc. Mcdm is what are you gonna do Tom". It's what makes cr highly a engaging & emotional journey & mcdm just a casual game.

[@giovaniteixeira67]

@@HeyHiHowdy6969 My game looks more like CR than this highly tactical (classic) thing. I believe that most of the difference comes from players.

[@purplecow3000]

@@HeyHiHowdy6969 I believe "real dnd" depends on the group.

[@JotunMinis]

This is awesome! great content!!

[@toien]

I love the show! I hope it gets continued.

[@RatsWithUnknowablePowers]

Great first episode!

[@Sicktus]

....so, after watching the campaign diary for this episode for the 3rd or 4th time (I really want to do a hot start / cinematic opening one day and use the CD for inspiration), I finally took some time to watch the stream... Awesome. It really gave me a ton of ideas to work with, both as a aspiring DM and as a player... Gonna be watching episode 2 now (although I've seen all the campaign diaries, but hey...) Thanks & cheers, hope The chain will be back soon!

[@alexmartinezcoronado6422]

It does seem a very Matt thing to do, starting a series with a city's apocalypse.

[@glew7832]

haha Matt casually sliding in the "you should make that guy your character", referencing boots, kille me

[@Cuthbo]

Watching this waaay too late but just wanted to say: this is great, entertaining d&d.

[@ScyLancer]

It's been a while. I feel it's time to do another Chain Marathon.

[@ScyLancer]

Over a year and I never get tired of that intro.

[@kmaynard90]

watching this again, and hearing matt say "this is the most views well ever get" and looking at where MCDM gives me hope for dreams

[@nvsblty]

Super interesting opening session, I'm in!

[@gonecoastal4]

Looks like I have to clear my schedule for a while so I can get caught up on this campaign.

[@jade-leighmacdonald4599]

Don't know how I missed it thr first time but Tom's face at 3:16:56 after matt suggests that boots should be his character, he quickly hides it priceless!

[@hanshaus2672]

REWATCHING BECAUSE THE CHAIN FUCKING ROCKS

[@dmgallibond469]

Skills challenges are great fun, and it's great seeing how Matt runs them. My players love skills challenges in our 5e games. I use a slightly different system from Matt (one I unashamedly stole from Rodrigo Lopez on the Critical Hit podcast years ago). I do make everyone roll initiative, and I do set the same DC for all skills (the players don't know until someone hits it exactly). The rule on using skills then is as follows: each player cannot use the same skill as the player immediately before them in initiative order, and each one cannot use the same skill two rounds in a row. This forces creative and strategic thinking on skill use, in case the Monk and Rogue (both high Dexterity sneaky types) land next to each other in initiative order.

[@SparkB0x]

So great I can like it twice

[@SheppiTSRodriguez]

The art is amazing

[@MorrisMeynolt]

Avatar reference with cabbages made me chuckle. :D

[@MisterAkuru]

Right; I'm finally all caught up with "Running the Game" so now it's time for me to watch through this series :) I've only got two more dungeons to finish writing up until I'm all done my custom adventure for my players! ... until they go the other direction and I'm improvising again ;)

[@giovaniteixeira67]

that's a lot. I'm in the same page.

[@colmortimer1066]

I watch a lot of these type of shows like since 2013 when I saw my first videoed game. My biggest issue in most of them is that DM's feel like since this is a show characters should not die. This causes the party to get complacent and me as an audience member to not care as much, because there is no real threat. But this in the first 2+ hours showed me Matt does not care, the players and audience need to expect anything. It's bitter sweet since I have not seen a 5e fighter run in a video for 2 years, but I'd rather see a surprising campaign of who knows who may die this week than seeing one of my favorite classes being portrayed. It does add a lot more to the game/show when you know the stakes are high, and you may not make it through this fight.

[@andrewwelsh9194]

something tells me you're going to love Slim

[@Migalouch]

Yea which I like, but Lars also had no opportunity to avoid death, it's like Matt came in saying I'm going to kill someone immediately to set the tone and that doesn't take the players work into account when you just off one of the right away. Lars didn't stand a chance, and the situation was entirely out of his control which I felt was kinda crappy. A surprise during a surprise round, they were in combat that just didn't make sense.

[@Lathlaer]

@@Migalouch Exactly. People rave here as if killing a PC was a badge of honor but actually killing your player as a part of cutscene is a really crappy thing to do and I feel like it's even against the spirit of Matt's own advice. Sure, kill them in a fair combat due to dice rolls and their own mistakes but to have your "awesome demon" that you put there to showcase a kickass miniature grapple one of your PC's before they had any chance to run away is a weak move. I was very disappointed when I watched this, especially since I value Matt's content and his "Running the game" series so much.

[@BeyondHollywood]

@@Migalouch Agreed 100%

[@wesleyw2238]

Love and miss this! Would pay for it to return!

[@jonavery4978]

Man-Drake. That's like when I named my Lich boss "Killgore Moredeath".

[@10100viperman]

love i get to watch it again

[@Jindorek]

holy crap this was so many levels of awesome. now I want to DM again.

[@chumon1992]

Your intro is AMAZING.

[@thegoblet151]

Amazing how many characters were fated for death

[@magmatoad7235]

Am I the only one who got Blue’s Clues nostalgia when Matt thanked the sponsor?

[@ashleyhoughton8592]

Can't get enough of the chain even though I'm late to the party.

[@mattcorey997]

I have listened to a lot of d&d podcasts. I have scene all the episodes of critical role. In my opinion this is the third best live play, and as far as mechanics go I would put this one on top.

[@wesleyw2238]

I’m on my fifth rewatching of this playlist. I wish I had someone to play with. Never played dnd but that’s par for the course in south Alabama.

[@kamakalakakoa7771]

Holy shit I still can't believe how amazing that intro was

[@BenC...1975]

"I'll be back"....."only in a re-run"

[@discam0]

Thank god. I was looking for Black Company references, and they confirmed having read the books. Haven't read the books in nearly a decade, but I will enjoy this series I think.

[@jackhill3273]

This stream and Campaign is what made me start The Black Company Novels, I'm on the 4th book now. Also starting the streams over, hopefully I can watch all the episodes this time.

[@Gabriel800564]

I'm really interested in watching the VODs of this game. However, I feel like jumping in to episode 1 I'm missing some backstory about the world and the organization to which the characters belong. Is there a place to get more info about the setting?

[@helloMCDM]

Hi Gabe! You can find all the content Matt created leading up to this, as well as the first entry in the Chronicle, on our site: www.mcdmproductions.com/the-chain Just be careful, there may be some spoilers below the break on that page so we don't suggest scrolling too far!

[@fruity946]

I think I found a new hyper fixation. I cant wait to watch the next episode! :D

[@damax9]

You are a fucking legend, Matthew Colville, and I mean it!! Love from a spaniar in Wales, peace ✌🏼 out, homie.

[@Mattmanj42]

So, after watching the dune movie, I get a lot of similar vibes to Paul and Jessica fleeing from the Sardaukar and Harkonnens, as I do with the Chain fleeing Ajax. The Hawklords and the artillery on the Atreides ships, Paul and Jessica entering the storm like the The Rosso Cielo entering the maelstrom, both fleeing from the winged ships. love it

[@stevenfernandez4372]

Exceptionally dramatic and memorable way to start a campaign! 😲😯👏 And killing a lead player-character in the process of introducing the world and the prime villain is a very bold stroke! 😲 [Yes, Matt, I realise that you never set out to deliberately kill off PC's from the start - I have watched several of your "Running the Game" vidoes to appreciate that you aim to set steep challenges. As opposed to aiming for killing off PC's specifically.]

[@fantell]

watching em all again while I work, just to bring up the views

[@DatCameraMON]

Is that a "The Thing" board game in the background? Wow, niche. I approve.

[@cgilarno]

just found this and very excited to watch!!!! Does Matt have a video of "what is behind his DM screen" or even having a camera in action of the game to see behind his could be fun. Love wathching other DMs work stations!!

[@purplecow3000]

If you haven't found it yet, Matt has Campaign Dairies here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGHccmqKpMt7e68

[@bigdrippy4104]

aw man ive used that pugilist class and i even played a bloodhound bruiser too, it was awesome

[@Simon-gi8yr]

Nothing better thzan having big bad guys duking it out between themselves at the start of a campaign. Hopefully the party gets acquainted with those vampiresses that don't like Ajax!

[@Kangstor]

For thieves tools if you use xanathars guide rules and if they are both proficient on thief tools and sleight of hand than the roll is dex+prof with advantage.

[@MosBaked]

RIP Commander Red

[@TheHammockProduction]

rewatching again woo

[@MrThehoyce]

Giving a re-watch/listen and cracked up when Phil called Relg "Big Sloppy."

[@thegoblet151]

I still have not gotten over Phil's beautiful nicknames

[@morganmarks8725]

Killing a PC session 1 sets a tone. And I'm so very into it. I'm kind of late to this party but i enjoyed this. My only small beef is i really enjoy "mood music" so I had to watch it with my own soundtracks going. But other than that this is about what I had expected from Matt, and I hope y'all are still living a dream and making enough money to have a good life in your new job

[@Zaderos]

U just spoiled it :< Start putting spoiler warnings on comments guys

[@morganmarks8725]

@@Zaderos its been like 5 months. If you don't want spoilers stay out of the comment section lol.

[@Zaderos]

@@morganmarks8725 I only found this now You're right, it's just that me and a lot of other people have the habit to go to the comment section while watching a video

[@c_bass1971]

This comment is actually what got me finish the video. I wanted to see Matt kill a PC.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@@Zaderos This is on you mate.

[@aqualust5016]

That was such a fucking cool death. I’m actually excited to keep going with this series.