12 ways to use MOVIES to improve your D&D game

[@theDMLair]

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[@threadscore]

"I'm among friends." Are the "friends" in the room with us?

[@cermence3931]

3:18 1) Action OVER Inaction 4:49 2) Lean into CONFLICT 5:37 Examples from The Empire Strikes Back, 6:37 Attack of the Clones 7:49 3) The Three-Act Structure 9:39 How some Star Wars movies execute it 10:34 4) Foreshadowing 12:24 5) The Twist 15:24 6) The Setback 17:27 7) The final Showdown & the Set Piece 18:53 8) Show, NOT Tell 20:29 9) Character Goals & Motivations 22:25 10) The CHARACTERS are the Story 23:48 11) Use the World, Environment and Setting 25:37 12) Reoccurring NPCs

[@DramakilzU]

When homebrewing, I like to follow a formula: 1. Start campaign diving into action. 2. Have some respite to explore the environment, build intrigue, or do side quests. 3. Build up tension nearing the main goal/quest. 4. Have a climactic event (whether final combat or plot twist) 5. Have a full lengthy rest to deal with the aftermath of the climax. 6. Repeat steps 2-5 with some variation of pacing to not make the cycle predictable.

[@stevehall5000]

I always have to stand up for storm troopers, they are at a major disadvantage that always shooting at main characters

[@xisle555]

It's true. The first takeaway from movies, for me, was for combat. I fell in love with Jackie Chan movies and realized that 80% of fights in those movies was the environment. Whether it was Jackie using the environment or the bad guys, the environment isn't just important, it's vital. After that realization, I was running the 2nd ed. Marco Volo series that incorporated a run-away stagecoach fight and my players raved about that for weeks.

[@jancatperson8329]

In addition to being a great description of how to run a good game, this video also perfectly explained why Episodes IV-VI were awesome and the other trilogies…well…. I pretend episodes I-III never happened. Episodes VII-IX…well…yeah. The best thing about them is that my kid brother and I got to see Star Wars movies together again. (We saw the movie currently known as Episode IV twelve times over the summer of 1977. )

[@antimatters6283]

Luke: best twist, redone a millions times: Casablanca: Rick (Bogart) shoots Major Strasser. Renault says after tense moments: "Round up the usual suspects." Then to add to it, Renault and Rick walk off to join the fight against the Nazis.

[@EPPicstuff]

26:00 This is myth that Disney leaned into for some dumb reason. In A New Hope, the stormtroopers were ordered to miss their shots and let the princess escape because the empire planted a tracking device on falcon, and were planning to follow it to the Rebel Base. As soon as they escape the death star, Princess Leia figures out right away that the empire let them go too easily. Despite being tracked knowing they are being tracked, she makes the risky bet to return to the rebel base anyways so they can lure the Death Star into their Rebellion x-wing fleet attack. It was an all or nothing gamble. That was the part of the plot of Star Wars: A New Hope. Not to mention how the Stormtroopers massacred the Rebel troopers IN THE VERY FIRST SCENE OF A NEW HOPE. In Empire Strikes Back, stormtroopers killed a bunch of rebels on Hoth, and in Return of the Jedi, they were blasting Ewoks in the Battle of Endor before the Ewoks started to get creative with traps.

[@WilliamSlayer]

There are a bunch of movies that after watching I've said to myself: "That was a good day of D&D". Movies can hit the three pillars just like a good day at the table! 👍

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Hooks for characters can be derived from their backstories and an overall hook for the party

[@stevehall5000]

Londo, the king of butter, from Londo Lakes

[@luisaymerich9675]

Lakes was his last name. 😊

[@mononcrick9208]

Also Londo Molari in Babylon 5.

[@AaronJCM]

Hello!!! I love your videos and you have ABSOLUTELY been the only reason I can navigate being a DM! I run a campaign for a club at my work, primarily for young adults. This being said, your videos have helped me make this game amazing for the kids! However, some of the players are now starting to get frustrated with their own game play since the. campaigns have started picking up and being real fun to play, because they feel they don't understand how to use their own players on par with the others. It would be SUPREMELY helpful if you did a video that targets the Paladin (Solider), and did a run-through on how combat specifically works for them. My players are visual learners and would very much benefit from your video! Thanks for all the amazing content! And I hope you take this challenge on!

[@schwarzerritter5724]

"Have you ever noticed Stormtroopers can never hit what they where aiming for?" No, I have not. In the first movie, they take over Leia's ship quickly despite the defenders controlling a chokepoint. On the Death Star, they where under orders to let the intruders win, and they did not hit anyone on accident.

[@Dexter-ix1cx]

And to add to these theories, obi wan calls out how accurate stormtrooper can be back on tatooine as well as the weapon they use, the E-11 being designed for close range rapid fire and portability sacrificing combat efficiency ending up being horribly inaccurate (jedi outcast players will atest to this). Like much of the imperial gear, it is designed to be cheap and mass produced, to induce fear above all else and control the population through. Check out the Tarkin Doctrine if anyone is interested in more info on the subject. To end this lore dump, the fact stormtroopers can hit anything at all with the E-11 is already an achievement.

[@luisaymerich9675]

Apart from the storytelling and writing I like movies that serve to inspire settings for world building. One movie I like as a backdrop for a d&d town setting is the 1950s film Cyrano de Bergerac with José Ferrer and Mala Powers. The movie opens with a scene in a theater where leading citizens gather for entertainment. The movie then continues as the main character escorts a friend through a maze of backstreets and alleys where hired ruffians lay in wait to ambush them. Then the movie moves to the friend's bakery shop with a setup similar to a tavern with carousing soldiers drinking a laughing. I like referencing this movie when creating a town setting.

[@JayKing-i7w]

I don't think the last 3 Star Wars movies are as bad as you say they are. Your examples are points that make sense when comparing to creating a story in D&D and other role-playing games.

[@EPPicstuff]

I feel like calling this video "Lessons DMs can learn from star wars" would be more accurate, and would get more clicks.

[@ismirdochegal4804]

Points 9 and 10. In my current campaign I asked the players over and over what their characters goals are and they answer: I have no goal. Just amke things happen and my character reacts to that. So I came up with a plot. And now I have to figure out: how to engage the playercharacters, how to tell the story without loredumping it on them, and how to have the plot unfold at all without the players shutting down any going ons immediately.

[@MoonlitMongrel]

The Heroes Journey by Campbell is a great read. Once you have you will notice similarities to it in every movie

[@zenonx1]

Next week: best plot hooks involving bacon!

[@iPivo]

Next week: 12 lessons from Indiana Jones

[@psykomarvin]

Next in line : how to make the perfect The call of Cthulhu game following the Bridget Jones’s Diary rules.

[@sw33n3yto00]

Who the heck are Bubble Fett and Londo Kardashian!?

[@NuttySquirrel_8]

Your comments about the last 3 Disney Star Wars movies are 100% correct. Proceed.

[@brandtthebrent7227]

One thing I'd like to take a moment to point out is that some of the decisions made in movie creation that shouldn't be made in running a campaign or adventure are made because they're movies, intended for viewing audiences. The very notion of this in storytelling is called dramatic irony, when the audience knows things that characters may not. That's why things like the example of one character learning something the foreshadows or affects future events for another character who isn't part of the scene and may even be very far away work in movies, because the audience knows that it's foreshadowing what's happening which creates that drama and suspense that keeps people watching. All the points made and advice given about having things happen that directly involve the characters and drive action forward are all still very valid for story creation and definitely apply to running a dnd session. Since your "audience" is your players, who are directly controlling characters, scenes that affect them should definitely involve them, or at least if the fighter is having a foreshadowing experience about the wizard, it shouldn't be off in another city where he can't do anything to help his fellow party member.

[@davecam4863]

Oh Attack of the Clones is actually watchable if you fast forward through the Anakin padme scenes

[@archersfriend5900]

Only the first three were good.

[@NikozBG]

True, as Luke said it is like 2 movies jammed in one. The Obi Wan movie was actually good, the Anakin's one was a cringefest and total nonsense!

[@NegatveSpace]

I'd be curious to see if a version like that is any good.

[@jackmorrison5272]

True when compared to the New Trilogie. The only good Things about those is that they made me reevaluate the prequels in A more positive light

[@markmurex6559]

@@archersfriend5900 This is mostly correct, although Episode 3 was decent. If I had to just make a choice, I would agree with you that the first three movies were the best.

[@charlesbarthalmuelmortimer1445]

Great episode!

[@Frederic_S]

I LOVE your videos much more than ANY Star Wars movie!

[@johncook8900]

Ep 7 broke me. I never went further and I'm with you: I can't believe some people like those movies.

[@Therealravencry]

The prequel trilogy was great in it's own way Even phantom menace If for no other reason then for Darth maul.... And Liam Neeson

[@strawberrylotlizard]

It might be a little slower, but when I want to lure build sometimes I'll just go to Amazon, find an interesting little tchotchke or prop like a dragon hourglass or something and then I will build the lore whoever has it like the group or whatever based on how it looks.

[@Pasta_Parade]

Damn....i love the senate scenes in starwars. Makes it feel like a more believable world vs back to back constantt action

[@nickwilliams8302]

I totally agree that GMs should be looking at other media and asking how they can bring what works there into their campaigns. But there is a flip side. Sometimes there's things that can be done in other media that just don't work in TTRPGs. One of the more common reasons is that in TTRPGs, the audience is controlling the protagonists. Take the "Ocean's" movies as an example. You can't run those as adventures in a TTRPG. Those movies all have a twist where the audience finds out that they have been deceived as to what the protagonists are doing for the entire movie. That just can't happen in a TTRPG. It's prevented from happening by the very structure of TTRPGs, rather than the rules of any particular system.

[@r.downgrade5836]

It's pronounced Ruin Johnson and Jar-Jar Abrams, respectively.

[@theserpentshallwin]

You are100% correct about Episodes 7,8,9 Disney destroyed the franchise with Mary Sue and their garbage writing, and zero understanding of Star Wars & The Force. I have challenged both Johnson and Abrams to show up to a Con, so I can punch them in the face for fans everywhere. They are so pathetic it's like they did it on purpose. Thats not Luke Skywalkers character at all,,, he would never stand over a student, saber in hand, while he sleeps, deciding on whether or not to off him? See Maulers videos, he says it best for all of us, his critiques of 7,8,9 are priceless, you would really enjoy them. You're in-person players are really fortunate to have you as a DM too. Thanks for the videos,,

[@vincenthernandez2242]

I play a weekly game of Shadowrun and the GM recently did a great multi-session mission based on Robo Cop 😂 homeless were disappearing off the street and being experimented on to be turned into cyborg police officers, aka Robo Knights 😂 we had to find where the homeless were being taken, stop the scientists, rescue any survivors, gather evidence of the crimes being committed, and then go toe-to-toe with a finished Robo Knight prototype as the final boss fight. Then to wrap up, we leaked the evidence to the media so the project would get shut down. It was extremely fun and memorable

[@ปริพัฒน์ศาสตร์ปรีชา]

Thank!! I'm DM for a year. I watch your advise every video since I start DMing. I always want to do better however lately I feel I hit a barrier and I just can't... I'm stuck!! I look for answer everywhere.. I can now finally found it.. Thank you with all my heart for making this video!! Well I feel like I will watch it 10 or more time till it in my cerebrum can you plz do time stamp 😂

[@morrigankasa570]

I respect your effort and right to Opinions/Thoughts. BUT I DISAGREE WITH MUCH OF THIS VIDEO! The best types of Movies are Romantic Comedies and/or Regular Comedies! So therefore you don't need lots of action or conflict or drama to be enjoyable. I actually like "Shopping Episodes" and randomness being a big part of things. If I was playing a campaign/game I would prefer a ratio of 70% being casualness/roleplay/randomness with 30% being Combat/Action.

[@SirPogsalotCreates]

Luke gets goofier and goofier with every video lol

[@Pobafett]

I remember watching The Rise of Skywalker and thinking "This is so convoluted and poorly strung together, it sounds like one of my DnD adventures". I did not enjoy it. But I doubt I could do better,

[@NikozBG]

Well if you or I could do a better movie is besides the point. J.J. Abrams is a critically acclaimed professional in his field and he had one of the most popular movie IPs in his hands and somehow managed to fluff it up. This is absolutely inexcusable in my books.

[@Dreamfox-df6bg]

@@NikozBG I never was a fan of J.J., but even I am saying that he was a victim of the Disney and Lucasfilm way of making movies and shows. Filming scenes and cutting them together, leaving some out, without a real plan. Which brings me to the greatest weakness of the sequel trilogy. There was no plan. I'm even questioning to call them a trilogy. By the definition of the term I would say that we got a two-parter and a single movie.

[@neilchristensen87]

In actuality, JJ Abrams had a full three movie story arc. Rian Johnson on the other hand, absolutely hates sequels and franchises. He tried to kill the entire Star Wars franchise, on purpose. JJ was then forced to cobble a finale together in the end. However, that doesn't excuse the sheer number of universal inconsistencies that made those movies a mess.

[@baliofterenas]

You can't steal from an innocent street urchin because no street urchins are innocent....

[@kurisu7885]

In Han's case at some point his debts become irrelevant, namely with Jabba's death, so we seem him go all in on helping.

[@russellparker5043]

There is a module for the Star Wars RPG called *How the Gundark stole Life Day* if you are really curious…. 🤣

[@GeraldKatz]

Does it count if I run an adventure that is the movie? For example, I have an adventure that is literally the movie Night of the Living Dead. Starts in a graveyard of a pc visiting the grave of his grandfather. Attacked by undead, they eventually find an empty house . . .

[@WanderingSkullkid]

Man woke up and choose straight violence with the star wars fandom 🤣🤣

[@lucaalbanesi3193]

We want 12 lessons from Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon

[@intergalactic92]

16:10 would you say that in the next film the Empire strikes back?

[@Josh-qw1qm]

The mispronounced names are killing me lol

[@MikeAshkewe]

I was hoping I wasn’t alone in that 😂😂😂 Londo?!??

[@Josh-qw1qm]

Baba Fett… Awnakin… 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Bagel-Man.]

Holth💀

[@willmena96]

Like with Bethesda games, “it's a feature"

[@SenorSeahorse]

Conspiracy theory: it’s for engagement

[@GenericUsername-qp1ww]

if we're using films as an example then the Disney SW trilogy is Hoard of the Dragon Queen. We pretend it doesnt exist.

[@emessar]

Stormtroopers can hit things ... just not the main characters. Rebel Soldier #5? Sure. But even the main characters aren't completely safe. In Return of the Jedi Leia gets shot by a Stormtrooper ... it was only a graze, but it can happen.

[@NickTheCat_DieGoettlichenZehn]

What to do with players who don't like too many battles but more calm everyday situations the more the plot thickens?

[@brettmelnrick4854]

That’s Hollywood baby 😎

[@paularnegard2773]

Not to be that guy, but "the best twist in the history of science fiction", copied by so many after, was actually another thing Lucas stole from the novel Dune, which had the Paul / Baron Harkonnen twist over a decade earlier. Just here to give Frank Herbert his due for the greatest twist.

[@LeonardAndHisBiscuit]

"Man, the Prequel Trilogy kind of sucks, huh?" >Sequel Trilogy is created "Prequel Trilogy, my beloved..."

[@dirtywhitellama]

I've seen denouement written, and I've heard it pronounced, but never did it occur to me that they were the same word.

[@paddyohoyal]

"30 years?" How old are you my dude? Love the channel btw

[@biffstrong1079]

Conflict. Indeed. Now the prequels are railroads because we already know the ending. So it has to be a railroad. And even then they get some things wrong

[@TheRambonator]

Tolerated member berries on 7. Almost walked out of 8 on opening night. Refused to have any part of 9...

[@averykersjes3270]

I was in denial for 8, my first watch thru I really liked it but when I was rewatching it I kept going, this scene sucks but I can get through it, and then I did that for the whole film

[@Fnorder23]

Funnily enough, many of my best adventures were inspired by mid to bad movies 😂

[@DonKrypto]

You have innocent Street urchins? Wow all we have is small cut-purses and culits.

[@luisaymerich9675]

And I was thinking, what bullies. What can a street urchin possibly have that you would want to steal from them? PC: I want my wallet back. 😊

[@TheSasquatchjones]

Maybe if my group angers me I'll introduce Jarar binks as the BBEG

[@robertburns4429]

The opportunity to slaughter that monstrosity of a character would be a delight.

[@Grimtheorist]

Hothe, huh?

[@dungeonrock]

IMHO, "Rogue One" is the best Star Wars movie (and/or TV show). But that's totally not the point and your video is a very good lesson.😂👍

[@markmurex6559]

This video is all about Star Wars.

[@idleghawkeye1414]

Do you have real play videos of ur campaigns

[@terribe_preacher743]

I have to disagree. The final climax in aotc is not the arena battle, but the chase and duel with Count Dooku. Also, that duel was an absolute setback for Anakin and Obi-Wan.

[@MrTheholycole]

Star Wars catching strays this video lmao

[@viktore8]

I for one honestly love the politics in the prequel as well as the dialogue.

[@EPPicstuff]

Gehnosis. 7:02

[@lyudmilapavlichenko7551]

Dora the Explorer is top teir adventure fuel for DMs. Mark my words.

[@murgel2006]

Attack of the Clones was not a disaster, compared to any of the sequels it was an outstanding movie. A disaster is what Disney made.

[@russellparker5043]

I completely agreed that the original Star Wars trilogy was amazing however, I’m gonna weigh in on the eternal argument and say that they are Space Opera not… 😆

[@siliconhobbit483]

Luke! WHO is Baba Fett?? You've watched these films "a bajillion times" but...BABA FETT? /facepalm

[@jaybakata5566]

Did you say, "Baba Fett" twice? I love all of the DM Lair videos. And I love them even more when he mixes D&D (Baba Yaga) with Star Wars (Boba Fett).

[@tripp4130]

Put the smallest point of failure in a 5E game and they'll all quit.

[@GeraldKatz]

Should have spent less time ranking on Attack of the Clones and more time ranking on Disney Stars. Then again, Attack of the Clones at least deserves the passion behind the ranking and Disney Star Wars deserves to be ignored, so good job!

[@Malvisk]

Baba Fett? :) Baba Yaga on the brain?

[@tscoff]

Adventurers never steal from street urchins! Street urchins are poor!! Adventurers steal from merchants and bankers because that’s where the money is!!! 🤣

[@dennisthornton4434]

As long as your not still in Grandma's or Mama's basement. 😅

[@Dysfunctional_Reprint]

It's okay Luke, we're all losers here.

[@johnj1202]

I would have to disagree with your opinion about the Star Wars episode 2. Both Anakin's and Padme's relationship and the events in the senate serve to propel the action forward. The relation is helping us see what it is that will finally drive Anakin to the dark side in episode 3. It is a build-up for the next episode. Similarly, the senate deliberations serve the same purpose, showing us the politics that led to the fall of the old republic. Their inefficiency and dysfunctionality as well as the fact that there were plenty of warnings that were not heeded by the senate. Yet, I think what applies there might be close to something you said about dming. Choose the right players for the right story. Maybe these things were intended for a different audience to most Star Wars fans? Also, a lot can be said about the execution and the acting. I think there is where some of these scenes fail the most. If the same ideas were implemented a little better, the general opinion concerning them might have been different.

[@fishlobs]

im just not convinced that dnd games ought to follow the same pacing good movies do.

[@fred_derf]

But, what if you don't like Michael Bay movies?

[@WebbScoutLeader]

LonDoe Lando's sister.

[@iron_rush_theater1246]

Nice touch on the general weakness of all prequels .

[@chronosmyth2106]

I wonder if the mispronunciations are intentional?... Intentionally mispronunciating a word doesn't make seem interesting or unique. It just makes one look like a fool.

[@atomicnectar]

I was gonna say something nice but then he started talking smack about the BEAT Star Wars trilogy yes I will die on that hill

[@scottbartlett-ls7gc]

Boba Fett is a long O sound, like boba tea. If you are going to be a Star Wars purist please pronounce things correctly, huh? :) Despite that, love the channel! Edit: a couple minutes later ok, now you're just punking us with the mispronunciations...right??

[@BjornWithASlash]

Your French pronunciation is a lot closer than your star wars ones

[@Darkwintre]

Better, much better aotc wasn’t that bad!

[@WolfKeltenich]

Jeeeeiiii

[@CountAdolfo]

Luke... are you SURE you ever saw Star Wars? You are killing me, here... Geonosis. Geo... No... Sis. Etc. Etc. Etc. LOL... Oh... and The Last Jedi is the worst of them. By comparison, The Force Awakens is a masterpiece. Indeed... if you consider the title being literal... The Force Awakens ... it's actually a step towards fixing the Midichlorian nonsense... but Rian Johnson undid everything because his arrogant ass thought what HE wanted, and not what the audience wanted, was what mattered. But, I digress...

[@gameraven13]

Hey now Attack of the Clones gets a bad rap. Overhated lol

[@RuBoo001]

Hmm… How could one take these points and apply them to the prequel trilogy? Make them better movies, able to stand on their own as a trilogy, rather than “backstory”. Pages and pages of Anakin Skywalker’s cringe, edgy Mary Sue Sith OC backstory…

[@markturner1220]

I’m guessing your comments about the sequel Star Wars trilogy are comment bait, if so it worked on me! I liked them.

[@darcyw156]

Good vid Luke! I enjoyed even your terrible pronunciations!

[@robblumenberg5965]

I liked the STAR WARS prequels and original trilogy and I hated the sequel trilogy.

[@wulphstein]

I diagree. I want characters who I care about. I want meaningful activity, not just action gor action sake. I want discovery. In a d&d game, I wants treasure.

[@go-rpgs9157]

I love your channel, and I get so much use out of it on my way to be a better Dungeon master, but please stop mispronouncing Star Wars verbiage just to get more comments on your video. It’s very obvious what you’re doing and yes, I know, me commenting on it is feeding into what it is you are trying to do. But purposely mispronouncing Boba Fett and the rebel base Hoth is just a slap in our faces. Stop it!

[@digitaldiamondsnetwork9549]

You just hate woman leads 🤣🤣🤣🤣 im just playing

[@karsonkammerzell6955]

I actually felt like a lot of the issues of the sequel trilogy can be found in the original trilogy; but the OG trilogy had the benefit of being a fresh IP with no established canon. Few, if anyone, doubt that the sequel trilogy directors tried to damn near shot for shot much of what the OG trilogy did (especially 7) and this gave them the exact same issues, but whereas the OG trilogy got by on Star Wars as a universe having no meat EXCEPT what it was handing the audience at that moment, the sequel trilogy ended up stepping all over every movie, spin off, book, comic, encyclopedia, interview, etc. that ever fleshed out the universe. In short; the audience knew better. One of the complaints I saw constantly was Rey suddenly gaining power off screen, but Luke did the exact same thing. The difference was that it was much more believable in the OG trilogy because at the time it happened live (when the movies first premiered) the audience just accepted it because there was nothing to compare it against in fiction. Later more information from Lucas and such fleshed out the adventures that Luke had that showed that 'power up' and future generations knew what happened between scenes. In Rey's case there were no tie ins, books, info, etc. It was Luke's original state all over again, but the audience wasn't going to let it slide this time because the IP had SHOWN that it could explain the off screen stuff reliably. In fact what's so baffling was that two of the big complaints actually had scenes written AND shot that explained EVERYTHING but they cut them out as unneeded or bloat on the run time. That's just a overall movie problem I'm seeing lately now where directors, producers, and studios just seem to be okay explaining it all with the deleted scenes in a Blu-Ray release for more cash. Really annoying.