The Edgelord - RPG Philosophy (The Gang Presents)

Brooding lone-wolf characters are common in tabletop games. But Edge Lords aren't as much of a problem themselves, as they can be a combination of other problems. Regardless, they’re still fun to poke fun at.
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Starring Mike, Todd, and Dweebles.

[@doctorjones278]

"He is of an indeterminate age, and his hair is of no particular color." Nailed it.

[@maddkossack1157]

@Doctor Jones "Indeterminate age" I get, but shouldn't real edgelords describe their hair as "blacker than dead ravens entombed in an obsidian sarcophagus"?

[@Nightbanekaizer]

@@maddkossack1157 Well technically yes but there are characters who are an exception in the long run. Sometimes they have red hair, sometimes they are secretly a blondie, or probably the most extreme cases of edgelords would come in the forms of Virgil from the Devil May Cry series since h is seen with white hair and usually a blue trech coat granted he wore all black in the last game, and then there is the Bloodborne Hunter. The Bloodborne doesn't speak much and his appearance can vary to great extend and his motives and goals differ. But he is a brooding hunter with an obsession of hunting beasts until the Eldrich horrors bring him to question his place in life, then he becomes a hunter of demons and a tomb raider considered the chalice dungeons he tends to pillage as he uncovers the plots of the Old Ones. Did I mention he is edgy, weilding both guns and a saw clever?

[@darknessml6145]

@@Nightbanekaizer I mean at least he gets shit done on record time

[@maddkossack1157]

@@@Nightbanekaizer I'm not sure about redhead edgelords (since I think that's usually done for Fiery Redhead characters who are more loud and shouty than dark and brooding), and I'm not sure most edgelords design their characters with blond hair (unless they're making an expy of an edgelord-type character from a movie/TV that incidentally had a blondie play the chcaracter). On the other hand, white hair is definitely a solid second behind black hair (both for Dante and Virgil, but also for Geralt/"Geraldo" of The Witcher fame), but I'd still say black hair is the most common "edgelord hair color", due to being associated with goths, blending in more with the all-black outfits, etc., etc.

[@Nightbanekaizer]

@@maddkossack1157 Yes but remember I said secretly blond. When I said that I meant the individual may have had blonde hair sometimes and only when transitioning into their edge lord status do they make changes. Its true also that most red heads are more loud and and likely to start a war cry before fighting. Though I have seen some characters with Dark Red hair though very rare may have some traits similar to an edge lord. If I were to name a blonde who almost became an edge lord I'd say Siegfried from Soulcalibur. You only need to look at his SC3 iteration when he still had a nightmarish voice. He merely avoid this by becoming a holy warrior wielding Soulcalibur in SC4.

[@mikelusby1090]

This video would be awesome if my heart wasn't so empty and full of tragedy

[@danacoleman4007]

Just remember, you are not alone in the fact that you feel alone!

[@destroyerinazuma96]

Dear agoooonyyy Just let go of meeee

[@wangwang2211]

I don't have time for your irony comment.

[@--enyo--]

😆

[@Escorpius17]

Lol!

[@chriskirby9408]

"Did he vanish?" "No, you see him hiding behind a tree over there." You're killing me!

[@paulofrota3958]

@@KefkeWren NOPE. He rolled and failed. As a 1st level character that's completely appropriate.

[@raphaelperry8159]

I've often seen this happen when the player insists on making a roll the GM didn't call for in the first place.

[@shugercube01]

When that happened, I LOST IT! lol!

[@Josephryanbanks]

Literally made me lol super hard, nope he's hiding behind a tree

[@richmcgee434]

This should really happen to Batman now and then. Like, about 1 time in 20. :)

[@Marines_Memelevolent]

"He looks at you with his doll-like eyes and remains silent"

[@joelsmall8565]

Ironically I've actually heard a player in my campaign say that.

[@n0etic_f0x]

I kiss him.

[@EliosMoonElios]

That is the most edgy way to keep distance from the other characters and players ever.

[@applepopapplerancher3211]

*Is this a CritCrab reference?!*

[@xandolf2852]

@@applepopapplerancher3211 yes and oh my god reading this made me happy.

[@Bluecho4]

Seth is right. Being a dark, broody stereotype isn't necessarily the problem. The problem is an unwillingness to work with the group or interact meaningfully with the world around them. That and hogging all the spotlight. Nothing stops you from playing the type, so long as your character doesn't detract from everyone else's fun.

[@danieleasterling5325]

Being the dark character is fun, but it takes more skill to actually keep the character dark while still being able to act meaningully within the storyline and contribute which seems like a better use of time. The character who is broken but not so annoying that people just want to murderhobo him.

[@0x777]

Another problem that usually arises with that kind of character (and the player behind it) is that they get mighty upset when nobody cares about their tragic background story. Usually right after someone asking about it only to hear that he doesn't want to talk about it.

[@kingduckie9135]

I made a batman like character. Kinda solitary, not the best at working with others and very blunt and not especially touching. Difference is I was a tabaxi so all that behaviour was his front to chasing things and getting drunk off milk so he had plenty of things that softened him and made him lovable. He became one of the favourite characters of the group.

[@futurewarriorhero123]

I actually think a good subversion of this is make a character that seems like a brooding loner but is really an introvert with terrible social skills that just wants to feel included :)

[@tubebubereboot6873]

In my experience, the bigger issue is players who label a person and/or their character a "problem". Usually the player who gets labeled has a character that vaguely resembles some trope the others have decided to hate because the internet told them to, rather than try to get along. "The character wears black and has a hooded cloak? Total edgelord." "They attacked someone and took something from them? Such a murderhobo." "They're playing a Paladin? Great, we really needed someone lawful stupid in the party." As the GM, all you can do is try to calm everyone down and encourage them to stop being so judgmental. That rarely works though because the judgy players think all those "RPG horror stories" they've read online prove them right, when most of them are fiction.

[@RedQueensAce]

That's the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms book opened to the page with Drizzt's stat block. I see you Seth.

[@SSkorkowsky]

Damn. Color me impressed that you caught that.

[@griselame]

Great book BTW :)

[@TonberryShuffle]

Drizzt had horrible stats in 3e...geez.

[@WTFisTingispingis]

Such a good subtle catch.

[@cabrondemente1]

When? Where?

[@EvilSandwich]

As early stupid as the characters concept was and as horribly as it went for him, you kind of sort of have to respect just how unflappable and committed the edgelords player was to the concept. And just how chill he was with the inevitable result.

[@DetectiveBarricade]

I think Todd's whole thing is to basically be that one "problem" player in these skits.

[@thereluctantdoomer3439]

What always infuriates me about Edgelords is they're usually really good Role Players devoted to a very boring concept.

[@hellhammerCCCP]

@@thereluctantdoomer3439 that is so true

[@Wendelvendel]

@@thereluctantdoomer3439 Perhaps but as irl (or is he?) Seth pointed out a boring concept among boring character concepts. I tend not to let my players play the same character on rerolling as a rule at my table and an edgelord that wants to role play can contribute to the story and fun. They are a classic archetype and I dont mind them (per se) within my games. I am more worried about some of the other problem behaviour that they can display as expertly displayed by this video. But then again all of that can be (although not always is) managed.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

Knowingly ignoring the concerns of the group and the game for selfish reasons is bad, Want to play the broody emo goth with angst, go play vampire, or make it a comedy, or both

[@Cretaal]

"I don't like to speak about my mother, it still pains me" "Oh no, did she die?" "No... she ate my last sweetroll. My life has never been the same since that fateful day"

[@thesong7877]

"What made you so evil, Doof?" "When I was young, I lost my toy train."

[@ione2251]

The best kind of edge Lord.

[@danieltobin4498]

Let me guess, someone stole your sweetroll

[@tomkelly00]

You don't mess with someone's sweet roll

[@shakirashipslied9721]

That monster

[@richmcgee434]

So Seth's GM character is named Seth. At what point does Thinks-He's-Real Seth realize that he too is actually just a character playing the "video host" role that that Never-On-Screen Seth has named after himself? This rabbit hole runs deep, and probably has a dhole lurking at the bottom. :)

[@billstephens396]

Standing at the bottom of that rabbit hole is a girl named... Malice... With a spindly man, that has a crazed look upon his face, who tips his multicolored top-hat to you and says, "Sick 'em, Malice!"

[@blazetheplaneswalker]

Uh does that require a SAN check?

[@billstephens396]

@@blazetheplaneswalker Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Go ahead and make the roll... (I've never played CoC, so I don't know the mechanics... I just like inserting colorful flavor into the games I run)

[@phishtrader7744]

Seth is a dude, playing another dude, while recording a KZbin video. I call it, Sethception.

[@billstephens396]

@@phishtrader7744 In the immortal words of The One... Whoa!

[@KimKhan]

I'll have a horror story to share. It came back to me in the video when the edgelord just sat and didn't follow out when the rest when on the heroic quest. Once I had a game with 5 players. 4 where lone strangers that tailed "the party" just out of viewing distance of each other. In a conga line.

[@stanard_bearer]

ok that sounds great, and I kinda want more details.

[@IamtheTolle]

I once had an edge lord thief character in a game I was in. The party hook goes off, everyone parties up, and they decided to rob random houses instead. By the time they decided to follow the GM had them roll to figure out where the party was. They rolled poorly and promptly left town and the campaign the wrong way. The GM just told them they couldn't find the party, roll a new character

[@KimKhan]

@@stanard_bearer It was a post apoc game and everyone except the friend I brought with me to the game played a lone wanderer. A cool and dark stranger that didn't need nobody else. So, when two people accepted a quest bait and travelled to the next town, one after the other the edgelords followed "the party" out of viewing distance just. In a line. It was clownshoes, and they also complained that the first enemy they thought was too hard when I was trying to give them an example of not enemy will be fair and balanced in this harsh and dangerous world C:

[@crazyeyes8962]

@@IamtheTolle Closest thing I had to that was a WHFRP game where we found out where a guy trading in Chaos wine that makes you see heretical dreams was living, so one of us split off from the group, broke into his vintage and smashed up all of his wares while the rest of us attended a party that we knew he would be hosting. That panned out a lot better than we expected thanks to our dwarf successfully dual-wielding daggers against a daemon, but otherwise the rest of our party probably should have died there.

[@blvalverde]

Like mama duck and her ducklings.

[@alexmercer2743]

"No, you have.... 5, including those two you just gave yourself." I was dying

[@craigkuhlman6869]

1d4, I bet

[@thatromanfella8377]

@@craigkuhlman6869 1d5... how would a 1d4 get 5?

[@Dagroth]

@@thatromanfella8377 1d4 + 2 fresh ones, perhaps?

[@TimaeusEXE]

@@Dagroth "including those two" usually indicates that number came from the total roled. Meaning he rolled a d6 and it landed on 5. d4s have a lighter sound when they're rolled.

[@ComicGladiator]

@@TimaeusEXE How on Earth does adding two he just killed, become he rolled a 5? Your logic escapes me completely.

[@MikhailKutzow]

Edge is like a spice. Without any, things can get bland, so a little of the right kind can improve nearly anything. And some occasions call for more than others. But too much can ruin things. And the Edgelord as depicted here is what happens when you dump the whole spice rack in. Also, a great video, and seeing the game master character develop self-awareness was hilarious. Like many here, I'd love to see another video like this one.

[@RedFloyd469]

I agree. I personally like lone wolf characters merely because they fit well with my personality. I like a bit of introversion and introspection. That doesn't mean I play destructively or that my characters are boring. I also feel as if the "tragic backstory" can be done well if it actually adds value to the character. It might add insecurities or phobias, it might make a person irrationally hateful of a specific group of people, which can create some interesting conflict. I also always make my lone wolves morally good (in my perspective). Introversion is too often fallaciously mistaken and misconstrued as selfishness or a lack of social skill or empathy. It also largely depends on the other players: will they take character backstory seriously, or will they just dick around? The latter can basically ruin any build up your planning, at which point it's better to just do what sounds fun even if it contradicts your character. Gameplay should always take priority, though I don't think it should come at the cost of interesting character backgrounds or something along those lines.

[@MikhailKutzow]

@@RedFloyd469 I'm the same way. I think an important distinction to make is "lone wolf in concept" vs. "lone wolf in practice." As badly as Todd's character handled things, he did, at the very least, go with the other players instead of doing his own thing. And if the other players take your character seriously (and you don't do anything to make them a joke), being a lone wolf does set up a character arc that can be interesting to roleplay through. I'm personally fond of the loner character who stays quiet and distant, but grows to genuinely care about their traveling companions.

[@reeses7839]

@@MikhailKutzow To be fair, the beauty of D&D is characters sometimes looking like badasses and sometimes making fools of themselves. I think a big thing whenever you're playing a much more "edgy" character, you need to be prepared to have some jokes made and need to understand how your character would react to those kinds of situations. I always find it funny whenever the edgelord character ends up getting embarrassed after failing the parkour up the three walls, or falls down the tree, misses the killing blow on the King, or something similar. Or, it could even turn into good character moments, depending on how your group and players handle it.

[@tafua_a]

A bit of nutmeg can make a good dish better. But nutmeg alone is just disgusting.

[@awesomechainsaw]

Agreed. I think the edgiest you can get without firmly planting tounge in cheek or coming off as ridiculous is Joshua Graham from Fallout New Vegas. Any further than the burned man and your gonna get laughed at.

[@loganatallah6558]

"Raidbow of darkness" that might be he best phrase I've ever heard Also the appropriate class for an edge lord is a necromancer

[@danielramsey6141]

Sounds like a name. Raidbow DarkBlade 😋

[@Thenarratorofsecrets]

rogue, and ranger really.

[@TheBorneBajesus]

If you role Pathfinder, the Assassin Prestige class is literally "I am evil, give me better crits"

[@JasuchinFaron]

Wasn't that literally the villain's power from the 80s My Little Pony movie? The Rainbow of Darkness?

[@CosmicG777]

I played a parody of an Edgelord using Pathfinder's Bloodrager class.

[@reorseX]

We must clone Seth so he can livestream a game with all the Gang together.

[@1217BC]

More of "The Gang presents" PLEASE!

[@Paxchi]

Oh thank God, someone who actually understands that Batman ISN'T a brooding loner, and hasn't been since he took Robin under his wing in 1940, less than a year after his own creation. There was an episode of a Batman animated series (called The Batman to differentiate it from Batman: TAS) that compared Batman and Superman and made the following points: Batman is constantly adding to his support network. Alfred and Lucius Fox (in this continuity) were with him more or less from the beginning, but he developed a contact on the police force with Detective Yin, then Commissioner Gordon, then added Batgirl and Robin to his team, etc. He relies on team-work because he's just one man and can't do everything on his own. His network is even more vast in the comics. Superman, meanwhile, frequently tries to do things on his own because he's aware of the relative fragility of most other people (fellow powerhouse heroes notwithstanding). He tries to take the world on his shoulders because he doesn't want anyone else to get hurt, and because he fears worrying about others will distract him at a critical moment. He's also so capable in so many ways that he would rather do things himself rather than trust others to do it. So rather than Superman being the team player and Batman being the ineffectual loner, Superman is far more often the loner and Batman is the team player. Superman is just nicer about it. Granted, both characters "learn their lesson" about teamwork frequently, but writers still like to bring that old lesson because it's a classic and they run out of ideas sometimes.

[@Oznerock]

That´s a neat analisys

[@crazyeyes8962]

It is indeed interesting that most people consider Superman to be "the people's hero" and Batman to be a brooding loner when they're actually the opposite. Batman is arguably a bit of a sociopath (a manageable one, mind you) but he understands, from a detached point of view, how valuable other people are to his crime fighting effort. Superman is fundamentally an alien being who has set up a mental wall that prevents himself from getting close to almost any normal human, he even has a "fortress of solitude" for crying out loud. I'm not a big comic reader but I have to wonder how much the topic of Superman's loneliness has been explored.

[@krispalermo8133]

@Crazy Eyes , Superman's loneliness has only been brought up a few times. Most people I talk to about Superman only see him as a man in blue tights and red cape. Or a work of childish fantasies . The do not really even want to think about the man Clark Kent. At lest he is married now with a son in the comics. In a few 1990's one shot issues, a criminal from Krypton got lose from the Phantom Zone, beat Superman hard. "Call it Plot of Story" cause no one can beat Superman if he Was Not holding back. When Super found the other Kryptonian at the Fortress on the Phantom Zone controls . Superman says don't even think you can free the others ! The other man from Krypton looks at him with a pityfull broad glace," Why would I want to do that to them ? This is such a slow simple minded world compare to Krypton. You must be so lonely here." Then Superman just stood there for a moment in an empty room.

[@kaihedgie1747]

@@crazyeyes8962 "Superman is fundamentally an alien being who has set up a mental wall that prevents himself from getting close to almost any normal human" And yet nearly everyone he's ever befriended in Metropolis is 100% human. And unlike Batman, the "team player", Superman has been in a successful relationship, and the one of the two with the longest running marriage. Superman's Fortress of Solitude isn't meant simply for him to get away from other people. It's simply another place to relax. It's also not a very lonely place as the area is filled with many endangered species that he himself has rescued and takes care of, effectively making it a shelter. He still lives in a modest home in Metropolis and he spends most of his days there. If you are a big comic book reader as you say, then you should know that Batman has admitted that Superman is more human than he is because he focused on the man and not the powers because he sees Clark as a humble man who never lords his power over others and keeps himself in check. Also, Superman doesn't try to do everything by himself. Even he has allies, both human and superhuman. He is never above asking others from help. If he thinks he's reached a dead end or doesn't know what to do next, he won't hesitate to ask others for assistance.

[@viniciussardenberg706]

@@kaihedgie1747 dude you have entered the territory of pretentious philosophy corner of the internet where people will try to sound deep no matter how shallow it actually makes their statement, also favoritism lots of it if 1 likes super man much better than bat man hes a shallow loner and boring if reversed than bats is a psycho edge-lord who just uses people.

[@joshuajenkins9932]

I gotta admit, the twist where it became a "The Gang" video was freaking great. I hope you do more interesting videos like this one in the future.

[@steesenshiller6470]

Lost it at the dungeon master character haha

[@ThatGuyMontag]

Is it wrong that I'd love to have Shadow join my campaign?

[@richmcgee434]

He's been there all along. Look, behind that tree over there.

[@johnnysizemore5797]

Not at all @ThatGuyMontag. Despite the Edgelord trope,"Todd" made a decent PC,but ended up falling into the trope too much&paid for it with a Character death. Shadow-as-PC could work if the Concept was toned down just a touch or two...

[@niteliniN]

@@johnnysizemore5797 If took it a tad down and made it a bit ore logical would be so awesome to see how the dorky i wanna be edgelord become a master of darkness.

[@gen1exe]

sadly he's too cool to join your PCs

[@oz_jones]

@@johnnysizemore5797 The most impressive part is that how consistent and how unflappable he was. Todd seems to be a great roleplayer. His character was just stupid.

[@Chipusono]

"Your mama named you Shadow?" When I say I cackled 😂

[@oz_jones]

Are you a seer? _yea, of clichés_

[@somebody4952]

I don't know why, but there's something weirdly wholesome about the brooding edgelord sincerely thanking the cleric for healing

[@aitoralvarez1212]

"You wouldn't understand" That's basically the best way to sum up an edgelord.

[@krispalermo8133]

I played and edgelord that walked slow like Jason Voorhess. He look like six miles of bad road on a good day. He was quiet, real quiet. Prayed a lot too. This guy was built as a Beat Stick. Multi-class 3e power house. With a self made neckless of Cure Light Wounds so he heals 1d8+3hp each melee round. When he was a young teenager he fell down a step hill playing with the other children were not suppose to be playing at. Broke both this legs and had no cleric to heal them. Why was he quiet ? Cause he was always thinking."Why did she acted like that and why did the other six guys told him not to think about it ? When your mom or wife starts talking like that, you go to the tavern and drink beer. That is all you need to know about women."

[@Marines_Memelevolent]

kris palermo imma be real with you chief, I have no idea what the hell you just said

[@darrenp9454]

At some point every GM has to deal with an edge lord...

[@Tony-dh7mz]

I’ve dodged that bullet,

[@Tony-dh7mz]

Com’on that guy sound fun In the right game

[@robertnett9793]

Yup but then we turn older than 16 and the problem solves itself :D Who am I kidding. According to my wive I am mostly not older than 5....

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

At least, after a handful of needless deaths and suffering unconscionably disturbing, self destructive courses, most edge-lords either learn to get good at the gig... or quit. ;o)

[@Tony-dh7mz]

There’s a right way and a wrong way, If it’s selfish and destructive to the game then it’s bad, If it’s like Willum Smith’s player and it’s a pirate game, it’s a good thing, (Pirates depended on scaring the crap out of their victims to reduce resistance, imagine a flamboyant crossdressing psychopath (they all had their special gimmick))

[@Wanderinpaladin]

I actually had a player make a "spider-bat-man" (batman with a cloak of arachnidia) character in 3rd edition. One night, while the party was taking time off in town, he went out on patrol. Me: You see someone with their foot caught in a hole in an alley calling for help. What do you do? (A commoner had been caught in a redcap's punji pit) SBM: I watch (in a batman voice) Me: okay....his cries get more desperate, he appears to be getting paler (I don't say this, but as the blood is draining into the pit) What do you do? SBM: I watch Me: okay....his struggling ceases, and he falls down out of the hole. You see he has severe damage to his foot as two "gnomes" come out of the shadows dip their red hats into the hole then grab the body and start heading down the alley, what do you do? SBM: I watch Me: Okay, anyone want to do anything else for the evening? SBM: wait (in his normal voice) isn't there anything for me to do on patrol? Other players: Dude, you just let an innocent get murdered by redcaps what else do you want to do? Be happy he's not giving you an alignment hit from Good to Neutral.

[@evannibbe9375]

Having the alignment be set to what their playstyle is is the appropriate response

[@AlgaeNymph]

"Who're you?" _"Shadow."_ "Hey, Clyde! How's the daughter?"

[@nanatheneko]

LOVE IT

[@liansmith4038]

Is that a FF6 reference?!

[@OmegaDeman]

This was awesome. Not even sure why it showed up in my search for DnD Hentai.

[@icantthink0faname206]

OmegaDeman what the fuck

[@The_Custos]

NANI?!

[@johnnygreenface4195]

You got what you came for

[@GrantBrownDog]

I think one of the problems with the Edgelord is that it's usually attributed to Rogues, so most players make their rogues all feel the same. I think it would be really interesting to see all the tropes and cliches of an Edgelord on a different class. Like a wizard who isn't a necromancer, or a druid who might dip into environmental terrorism. Spice it up a little.

[@fairystail1]

and edgy lawful good paladin people. Make it happen!

[@romanminaster5180]

"You dare Defy Me, the edgelord! You will pay for your indolence after I tell you about how tragic my life is and how I will become more powerful than god himself!"

[@indulgencerofindulgence5970]

Huh? Er no, a edgelord would angst about how everything is meaningless because all will be forever under the boots of god.

[@falkyrie5228]

I use to play a edgy character, it was a lot of fun for everyone at the table. I said things like "this night is darker than my soul" and stuff like that all the time, the other players found it funny so I kept doing it.

[@Nolinquisitor]

Where is the "I frikking love this" button?

[@richmcgee434]

I wonder if the algorithm counts each time you hammer the like button?

[@alicianieto2822]

I freaking love Shadow! He is the msot consistent, reasonable, party-friendly edgle-Lord I´ve seen! I woudn´t mind him in my party at all XD

[@wolftwinbladed7921]

Another great video Seth. I do agree that 'Edgelords' aren't necessarily terrible or game breaking, especially in a solo game. However it's when the character has to work with a party that it becomes a problem, especially as the grandmaster designs encounters for 3 to 4 players yet 1 of them is going off on there own and getting decimated. Points you proved very well in this video, and thankfully I haven't run into that problem and I even sent the video to one of my friends who is very much in that edgelord phase. Thank you for the informative content and have a great day.

[@MoshMage]

"while you guys are arguing the bandits ..." seems a whole lot my dm "while you guys were laying out the plan, you forgot to turn the comms off so the NCR knows of your plan and all your story now"

[@HNXMedia]

Nope, the most cliche of cliche characters is the tiefling. No style of tiefling in particular, just the tiefling.

[@b4thewar540]

“I will not partake in the courtship of fair wenches. For my heart is blacker than the clothes that conceal it, and I’m more than likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.”

[@michaelpaul7040]

The irony is, in the argument between Batman and Superman, Superman can literally do it all, alone.

[@danielramsey6141]

7:18 I cracked the moment we got to the self-scaring and Bearded dude's response. Dammit Seth, this video is just Gold!

[@nickmanzo8459]

Oh my God... this is that 12 year old kid who joined my table at the local game store one week like... to a tee. Sweet buttered Christ, this is too perfect.

[@Sgt-Wolf]

I hope he was joking.

[@nikinikolov6570]

Dude when I was 12 Shadow was cool AF. Alright *ashamed voice* when I was 16.

[@incognitoburrito6020]

We all went though the Bad Is Cool phase at some point. For me, it overlapped somehow with the Random phase. I'm so glad I didn't write back in middle school.

[@lonelywolf5659]

@@nikinikolov6570 To be fair shadow was a good character until they ruined him. I mean he cried in sa2 die protecting the world.

[@lonelywolf5659]

@@incognitoburrito6020 Oh yeah I remember that Phase in my life toobad most anime fans don't especially in the dark anime comment section Or morally Gray or edgy Protagonist that is OP I'm just like wow reading that.

[@SpySappingMyKeyboard]

In a channel named after Seth, where every character is played by Seth, the best parts don't have Seth.

[@anytimeanywhere7859]

Anti-social characters in a social game. Yahoo. Love this video though - nice to see the characters doing everything! Good work!

[@StarboyXL9]

You can and should always make it work. Such as an anti-social character learning that not everyone out there is a traitor just waiting for you to turn your back. Problem is too many ppl just play the character and never let them develop.

[@anytimeanywhere7859]

@@StarboyXL9 Sure, you can make anything work. You can make a legless weird baby creature that the party has to carry around with them that is ineffective at pretty much everything. It's just selfishness that takes from the party.

[@crazyeyes8962]

@@anytimeanywhere7859 Eh, not really. It would be interesting to play a crippled Alchemist in Pathfinder that gets carried around by a huge martial-type. Eventually you can get the ability that lets you give mutagens to other people (a really strong buff potion which normally only the Alchemist can drink) and you have a powerhouse warrior with a guy chucking bombs everywhere riding on him. I came up with this dual character concept and shamelessly stole most of it from DotA, but I think it would be really fun to roleplay regardless.

[@serijas737]

6:30 High professional DM - Stops a chit chat with an event.

[@popypopcat]

I'm pretty new to D&D so its pretty fun to learn about all of these cliche's on your channel lol

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

From thirty years in the game... This is a whole lot more fun than most of those cliches being learned "on the fly". ;o)

[@Tony-dh7mz]

It’s an issue with the player, not the game, Invite better people to your game

[@phishtrader7744]

Just remember, these are cautionary tales, not how-to manuals.

[@crazyeyes8962]

@@Tony-dh7mz That is usually easier said than done, especially in smaller towns. Sometimes people aren't always intentionally jerks.

[@Tony-dh7mz]

@Crazy Eyes Water water everywhere... It’s your choice,

[@squeethemog213]

This was lovely. I cannot wait to see more like this. It was a nice change if pace :3

[@TheAnonyomusGuy]

"No need to thank me." "I wasn't going too"

[@AkameOda]

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with the "edgelord" archetype as long as there's MORE to the character than that single personality trait. My 1st character was a loner barbarian, her quiet nature meant I got to ease into RP. My next is a veteran warrior with a loss & injury backstory, but it's made her become very protective & a healer.

[@Lazysupermutant]

I'll go get the broom to sweep up that fourth wall you just broke Seth

[@briannearon4066]

Seth, this was excellent! I really enjoy all your videos. Keep up the great work.

[@thereluctanthireling]

Start digging that second grave boys!

[@timbuktu8069]

"You're so edgy you walk between the raindrops" Love it.

[@lovecraftianguy9555]

Holy shit one of my first games a player named their character shadow and they were just like this

[@stevevondoom4140]

Shadow is the ninja from final fantasy 6.. ;)

[@camronchlarson3767]

"Show yourselves, cowards!" "Do not fear, for it is I" "Ah damn!"

[@rickyleeleonard5056]

I totally have this guy in my campaign. The longer the video went, the more it just described him and the things he does. And I’m sick of getting notes!!! 😂

[@ash-tv3bu]

"who are you?" "shadow" "the hedgehog?!"

[@muskatDR]

No. The edgehog

[@oz_jones]

@@muskatDR Hedgelord?

[@trumanpollardiii8243]

Hahaha, so funny. Your best work yet! I love the use of skits to describe how players feel about this personality at the table. Great stuff as always.

[@robertnett9793]

Seth - you are lucky to have such good friends. At least you get a bit of free time.

[@davewilson13]

It stuns me how much you and your brother look alike. He cracks me up, his love for the Ramones is legendary.

[@timandshannon03]

"You got flanked, and they beat your ass unconscious." I nearly spit out my drink!!!!! Hell yeah!!! Well played Seth!

[@PeterSFam]

I'd love to see you do a straight Cthulu one shot with the Gang.

[@stephenblevins3829]

I am a dark and brooding edgelord who lives in the shadows and knows only pain!

[@leebennett4117]

That's nice have a cookie🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@johlarson]

@@leebennett4117 Now he's a dark and brooding edgelord who lives in the shadows and knows only pain. And cookies.

[@dorca9308]

The sentence "you're so edgy you walk between raindrops" is one of the best things I've ever heard

[@clayfare9733]

This was clearly just an excuse to show off your minis. I respect that.

[@madcinder257]

"I'll save the bearded wench for you." "Damn right you will."

[@Crow.Author]

I have no idea how it’s possible for anyone in the gang to keep a straight face in the sketch. 😆

[@DavyManners]

I pull my dagger and carve a notch in my chest for each time this vid made me chuckle.

[@moneluve1000]

Omg this threw me back to when I was about 12, I used to rp online! One memorable time, I was in a zombie apocalypse rp with quite a few people, and there was an edgy character just like in this vid who legit kept writing themselves in the background and being moody, not interacting with anyone, and at some point literally everyone in our survivor group got in our cars and left edgy dude. We kept doing our adventure, and meanwhile edgy dude was pretty much just in the dust alone talking to themselves and saying edgy shit obviously trying to get a reaction and make the rp center around him. But nobody rose to the bait and we let him sulk in his shadowy moody corner while we had fun killing zombies and having group drama n stuff😂👌

[@oz_jones]

So... Everybody had fun?

[@indigoajnanyx6691]

I was with a group where every game basically devolved into focusing on the backstory of this one player who was just playing emo Jesus. And for someone who also comes up with complex backstories and personalities, it ended up losing my interest pretty fast.

[@stephenblevins3829]

You forgot one stereotype that was rampant back in the days of AD&D 2e...the twin scimitar-wielding dark elf that's totally not a Drizzt Do'Urden clone...🙄

[@scottknudsen6611]

On one hand I'd like to thank you for uploading a video just as I sat down with my coffee. On the other hand the video was too funny to allow me to drink it, so now it's cold. We'll call this one a wash. :)

[@jasonrobertson9618]

Great video! I started having flashbacks because I play with a guy who does a variant of the edgelord: the grizzled warrior who's an asshole because he doesn't want to get close to anyone... atleast that's what I think he's going for but he never stops being an asshole so the party usually just lets him come along because he's good in a fight.

[@BenHameen33]

"So what happened?" "You got flanked and they BEAT your ass unconscious."

[@cameronroberts4296]

I'm a loner Dottie...a Rebel.

[@duckstorm4779]

One of my favorite characters ever was a rogue named "Matches" whose whole bit was that he was putting on this air of being an edge lord, whod been orphaned and raised by wolves and whatever, but in reality he was a guy with a wife and kids, but since he saw all the other rogues doing it, he just went with the flow and copied what they did, assuming it was part of thieves cant. Over the course of the single adventure he was in, he came up with 16 different tragic backstories, lost 3 sets of parents, had lost a whole orphanage of siblings, and his dog had died. The other rogue in the group, who actually had a tragic backstory, hated matches so much that after the mission was complete, he just left without matches, leaving matches, who had been running distraction at the party, to figure his own way out. Matches ended up with a castle, while the other rogue lost a finger. Id say were even now.

[@cyrilgigee4630]

Me as a talkative edge lord like this guy would still be better than me as a socially awkward and innocent strong silent type. I could tell one hell of a horror story...

[@Hynesight2020]

OFF TOPIC: I appreciate your Keith Parkinson in the background. Never noticed that before.

[@Madkingstoe]

I love this! I would enjoy hearing your take on the Comedian. The kind of player who just likes to make a joke out of everything. They often have the group laughing, but keep distracting the scenes. I've encountered too many of those kinds of players over the years. They don't know how to draw the line and hold back on the jokes. They seem to be having a great time, but also don't take the game very seriously.

[@Madkingstoe]

Also just wanted to mention how much I loved just watching the group play. Its amazing how quickly you can forget that they're all the same actor. Great job!

[@cerocero2817]

He didn't get angry? He didn't throw dice at the walls everytime he got bad dice? He didn't constantly threat to kill the entire party during their sleep for no reason? He didn't cry like a baby when he got his character killed? He didn't plagiarize from an anime? Man, I wish my edgelords were like that

[@oz_jones]

This covers edgelord _characters._ Unfortunately you are stuck with edgelord _players._ :(

[@patrickbuckley7259]

Things from this video I have done. 1. I had a Paladin esq. character who would flagellate himself anytime he killed someone as a reminder of the life he had to take. With the intention that he would be remis to take a life knowing that if he did, that would mean he would have to pay the price later. Weird trait for a warrior priest but as odd as it was, I still think it worked, pretty much everything else about that character was as non-egdelord as it get's, chummy, borderline pacifist, with a kind heart, and a highly co-operative natur3e. 2. Had a someone anti-social druid. He wasn't intended to be so anti-social initially, but he had to deal with bigotry from other party members so often that it lead to him being a sullen loner. Worst part was if I hadn't kept on coming up with excuses for why he'd still be tolerating the parties bullshi, they would all have died in spectacular fashion many times over. Hated playing him due to all the anger he had, but that's what happens when you try to make a non-human character in a human dominated setting. 3. All Black, I am playing an Albino in all Black armor as of right now. Basically nothing else about him is edge lord though sup\per jovial chummy, all around good guy, with a mild temper. Your typically Champion of goodness and justice, well he is slowly mutating into a monster but that was not my choice.

[@rhuiah]

Pizza cutters: all edge, no point.

[@XX-sp3tt]

9:47 Well, he DID make a different character. Maybe he just likes the Gothic style of heroes? Interesting job BTW. Doing a one man show like this, is NOT EASY. I admire you for this.

[@kulak8548]

"We all die alone, dude."

[@HeyyItsDaleVODS]

"And sometimes Catgirl." *growls*

[@FirstLast-le2rf]

The amount of real joy when I saw that the "the gang" was going to do this episode was WAAAAAYYYY more than it should of been.

[@GM_Darius]

That Batman line should have read: He had Robin and Robin and Robin and he had Alfred and he had Batgirl. Also, Robin. According to my comic book friend, Bats had like... 8 Robins.

[@SeanLaMontagne]

I definitely could have handled another 10 minutes of this

[@seandremel337]

Recently rewatched this video after dealing with one of my younger players (15-16 y.o.) and he created a character much like this archetype: tortured, mistrusting, preferring to keep everyone at arms length for the sake of everyone else, and it got me thinking of ways to deal with players who make Edgelord characters. Here’s what I’ve come up with: let the player create this character, and they come up with the edgiest backstory possible - mom’s dead, dad abandoned them, brother sold them into slavery, cultists tortured them in Hell, and someone stole their Klondike bar. Then, after some time adventuring and the party is just wandering around, someone comes up to the Edgelord, claiming to be their sister, the family has been looking for them for months, and their mother is worried sick, revealing the Edgelord’d backstory is all one big lie. The truth is they’re just a normal person who left to adventure and took on an alter ego out of a fascination with stories of lone adventurers who save the world despite all their personal tragedies. The player gets to be edgy A.F., and the DM gets some interesting roleplaying and a sweet reveal with the truth.

[@Seoulwanderer]

No lie, I was laughing out loud for most of this video. Thank you, sir.

[@AzureIV]

4:16 I like that the Bard is the bearded wench wingman for the Dwarf.

[@Magnet_Chaos]

Batman had Robin, Alfred, Batwoman, Commissioner Gordon, Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, Signal, Batwoman, Batwing, Ace the Bat-Hound, Azrael, Orphan, Spoiler, Huntress, Clayface, The Outlaws, and Detective Chimp. You known for a character that everyone likes to describe as a loner... He sure as hell has a lot of help.

[@oz_jones]

Oracle, too. He is also one of the founding members of the JLA

[@jneff39]

I loved this video and can't wait to see what The Gang gets up to next.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

I love that The Gang are just called The Gang, as if they spent thirty minutes arguing about what the name would be, and settled on The Gang as the fact they're a gang was the only thing they could agree on.

[@SSkorkowsky]

This is now the official canon as to how they got that name.

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

@@SSkorkowsky Damn, a contribution to canon. This is arguably my greatest online achievement.

[@TimaeusEXE]

Actually tbh perfectly having multiple shades of black is actually impressive when you can distinguish them

[@MaxWriter]

Awesome. This must have been a lot of work but it turned out wonderfully. Well done.

[@patrickbarnes9874]

I was thinking the same thing. Having to do all the dialog of all the characters and then edit it all together, it must have taken hours and hours to put this together. It turned out fantastic!

[@beneaththefells]

I Love Seth. He's much more interesting than Seth.

[@ArtyBuggy]

I always liked the edge lord cliche, but when it's used in a way of development. The edgelord who doesn't let people in, but over time eventually starts to open up and maybe even smile around the party is done well. Kind of like The Last of Us. Joel is basically an edgelord, or hell even Wolverine from X-Men. Gruffy characters who can't get along with others easy but as they grow to care more they slowly open up.

[@madmadameminx]

"Your mama named you Shadow?"

[@fpanch0]

Edgelords are sometimes fun to play in an one shot haha. Do you have any advice on role playing a quiet character or a shy character.

[@JohnSmith-ro2sc]

A little bit goes a long way, and be active with actions.

[@SSkorkowsky]

^^^This^^^

[@JohnSmith-ro2sc]

@@SSkorkowskythanks for the endorsement! To further elaborate, be a bit more descriptive with actions especially when you don't talk much as a shy character. Say what you have to say in character to fill your role in the team, but describe (briefly) nervous shrugs or awkward silences when the shy/quiet character doesnt know what to say. Edgelords can work, but they need to tone that down a bit to work in a team based game. Its a hard line to walk trying to be the loner in a team based game. If you're trying to convey a loner at the table, but lightly play up the unfamiliarity of teamwork and camaraderie while making the occasional combat "tactical mistake" that doesnt threaten the entire party (it takes you an extra round or so to set up flank with the rogue, you forget to buff your allies, etc) to reflect the lack of familiarity with fighting with allies at your side. It gives a chance for character growth and it creates a better illusion that you are playing a loner trying to work with a team.

[@HuseyinCinar]

Well, when the characters told him to leave it to them this time.. That's when I knew this video would be special

[@Samaelthekind]

Now that I think of it, I have seen an edgelord style PC done well...once...in Pathfinder. It was a group collaborative effort to make it work tho. The PC was effectively a 'superhero' with a dark backstory and a purpose, as well as an alter ego that normally presented as a noble playboy. But when missions intersected with his personal crusade...out came the enchanted cloak, mask and blade that gave him his secret identity..The Red Raven! Shades of Batman, Zorro, Scarlet Pimpernel etc...while the rest of us supplied the magic and clerical mojo, rogue scouting, ordinary muscle and more public interactions. The DM paced things carefully to keep everyone busy and contributing, and I never felt like I was 'background' to the others...more like integral parts of a single machine...that kicked evil a$$!!! It was extremely enjoyable...a complete change from the many times broody solo players and metagaming power crazed attention hogs derailed campaigns.

[@OrdinaryTrevor]

I would watch an ongoing series of “The Gang.”

[@MisterGrooves]

As solo Computer RPG's rose to prominence and their protagonists became "swiss army knives" that could do it all, pen-and-paper RPG's began to cater to those same individuals. Gone was class as role, now your half-orc-half-elf-half-human-half-dwarf (yes that's four halves) could be a fighter, a thief, a cleric and a magic-user all at the same time with no penalties. It's fucking dumb.