Why Ask Why? - BECMI D&D

It's the question that keeps me up at night, that drives my storytelling, and which I first asked as a three year old...WHY? Do you have a rational explanation for your campaign? Do your monsters make sense? And...are they really monsters after all?

[@patrickholt2270]

I always liked the idea of kobolds making up for their weaknesses with cunning traps and tunneling, and decieving enemies into ambushes, and of course having the good sense to run away rather than fight to the death for no reason. They'd be cruel in the manner of people who get abused and hold onto their grudges and hatreds, grovelling before those above them and abusing those below them, but their main motivation I always thought would be hunger. They aren't wicked in the Biblical sense. It takes humans to dispossess widows and orphans, lend at interest, exploit labour and extort high prices for basic necessities.

[@phildicks4721]

Two words...Tucker's Kobolds!😁

[@phildicks4721]

In Dragon Magazine back in the late 80s/early 90s the magazine editor at the time Roger E. Moore, wrote about the Kobolds he experienced while in the Army in Germany. His DM who was named Tucker had a dungeon complex the PCs would explore. At the bottom floors were monsters like Balrogs, and Pit Fiends and all nasty critters that most players want to avoid. On the first floor he used Kobolds...those critters with 1/2 hit dice and 4 HP. You would think the PCs would love this, but because Tucker played the Kobolds as intelkegent critters who used flaming oil, ambushes, murder holes, traps, ect to defend their territory, the PC normal plans was to try to run as fast as they could to get to the elevator to the lower levels before taking too much damage. Yes thats right, the players would rather face Pit Fiends than Kobolds. Moore even recounted that one time after the PCs killed a boss type monster while losing half the party, the survivors were dividing up the treasure when the still living party leader said, " You all realize that now we have to run through the Kobolds to get back to town!" Thus the legend of Tucker's Kobolds were born.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Someone else mentioned Tucker's Kobolds. Mine do come back with a bit more firepower, once out from the Gnoll's control.

[@Nobleshield]

Reminds me of an old AD&D Dungeon adventure that had 7 Kobolds who were trained by a warrior and all had varying levels of Fighter; they were basically like the ninja turtles but Kobolds. Whole adventure was to show you that looks could be deceiving.

[@mikegould6590]

The goblin inventions slayed me. Especially the last one. :D

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I have to admit, I have my suspicions about Zuckerberg.

[@AuthoritativeNewsNetwork]

The Reach of Kilmarnock sounds like an excellent place to smack down the Ghost Tower of Inverness. 😆

[@davidbabbitt1839]

That is a hallmark of a great DM. Logical reasons how the NPC's and monsters in the world interact with it and the players. I am enjoying your video's. Thanks!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I'm almost entirely illogical in real life, so I need to apply some logic somewhere! And thank you!

[@BanditsKeep]

This is a fun thought experiment! I generally play 3-4 sessions before I start to figure out the "why", but when it comes down to it this really does help keep the game going - a thread to be continually pulled by the players wanting to know more.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Yeah, I like things tidy. In complete contradiction to my own life!

[@Grimlore82]

@Bandit's Keep nice to see you here ;-)

[@BanditsKeep]

@@Grimlore82 :)

[@Grimlore82]

This is the biggest push back against the satanic panic I have seen in a while. Nice job.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks. I find it all such silliness, after all. Fantasy takes evil seriously, which is something that the Church really should remember how to do, rather than getting fixated on a game!

[@Meeeeeeeestery]

What?! Kobolds are no bold? No bold kobold?! Coward kobolds?! Kowards?! (Sorry, Father, I had to)

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Absolvo te!

[@rburley77]

Excellent channel! Wonderful story telling and backstory!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thank you kindly, and welcome!

[@drivers99]

watching chronologically. Loving this series. I like how you add humor visually.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! That'll be a long piece of work if you make it up to the current video! I think it probably gets goofier as you go. Not the game or even the recap, but my editing.

[@xyonblade]

I do like definately evil things existing in D&D, Gray areas can be good for gameplay, but I really don't like the modern push to make everything gray, or to make nothing evil. There's just some people who kind of expect D&D to conform to their views on the real world, and they forget its a just game, set in a fantasy. I like your stories so far, hope to enjoy more!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Yes, and denying the existence of evil in the real world can lead, ironically, to great evil. In terms of fantasy, there has to be evil - that's sort of the point of it. It's fun to also play with how evil poisons the world around it, and on possible redemption - as is offered even to Saruman, for example, when Gandalf and company encounter him on the road near the end of Return of the King. (Book, obviously, not film.) But, as with Saruman, redemption is offered but not automatic. Anyone choosing to refuse it has chosen evil and, ultimately, evil has to be confronted. The fact that it can be confronted and defeated is what fantasy is all about. As G.K. Chesterton put it, "Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." For our campaign, the barrow wight, both as a one-off and as a potential future storyline, is an example of pure evil.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

And thanks!

[@erikmartin4996]

@@TheDungeonMinister excellent

[@DMTalesTTRPG]

I do see a lot of folks wanting grey, but “nothing evil” is a bit of a stretch. Folks wonder why a creature ALWAYS has to be evil (mostly humanoids)… and I find that fair. My 5e campaign has a band of Goblins who have repented their hatred for good and love of war and become the “Cult of the Shiny.” They run a small tent meeting in the party’s home base and heal folks. But there are very clear lines between good and evil in the campaign.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I think grey areas can actually accentuate the line between good and evil. It allows for repentance, which means that evil is a choice, which makes it actually evil. I mean, a grizzly bear isn't evil for attacking a hiker. It's just a bear. But a mugger, that's a choice. And Cult of the Shiny is now going to be the name of my band.

[@adamjaques1]

Excellent back-story creation - Bravo!!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks!

[@gstaff1234]

Just found your channel and had a blast listening to your thoughts, connections, and ideas. Will now have to backtrack to learn more

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Welcome!

[@mattjackson]

Excellent video, I like watching to devise this backstory on the fly, pretty cool. I too like to throw in moral dilemmas in my setting. Gotta say though, your sidebar comments are the best. Love it!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! It's always half planning, half improv in D&D, eh? (Insert snarky comment from the statue.)

[@namelessjedi2242]

This nicely illustrates what I think is the best approach to the game. Get playing first, worry about the background later, once you are invested and have some gameplay details to build off of!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Or, as I like to say, build the boat mid-ocean!

[@Fnordathoth]

Loving the explanation as to "why" the kobolds are there, quite thorough and again it makes sense. Always a good idea to ask "why" a thing is so when designing an adventure because your players will eventually ask that question themselves. Also adding the moral dilemma is great move as well.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Again, thank you! These are the things that I find fun about being a DM, setting up a world that makes sense and then working out the consequences of the players' actions. That and randomly throwing something down and then trying to explain how it fits in!

[@Fnordathoth]

@@TheDungeonMinister yeah it's great fun; I love DMing, been doing it a loong time.

[@al2642]

Hilarious! 🤣🤣

[@edwardkann2827]

Great job Father.

[@shaunhall960]

Finding the why... Excellent!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks!

[@williamobraidislee3433]

You’re going places and I’m gettin on board now lol. Subscribed and I’m gonna bully my friends into subscribing.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

You're too kind, but welcome aboard!

[@al2642]

Strongly disagree on the philosophy of evil, here, but the campaign is too cool. You must have real fun playing it with your family. Just amazing

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! The question of evil is a rich one for exploration. Tolkien, for instance, wrestles with whether or not orcs could be redeemed (I say no) and even what their origin was. The movies tied it up tidily, of course, as movies do but he vascilated on the subject himself.

[@theesotericorderofdagonref3646]

Nice video

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks!

[@Kalarandir]

Since I live near Killie. I can tell you it is pronounce Kill Mar Nock. The 'A' in Mar is pronounced AH. The 'O' in Nock is pronounced AW. Place emphasis on each syllable rather than run them together. In the west of Scotland, we tend to extend our vowels and roll our R's.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Bless you, that's helpful. Now watch me mispronounce it in a whole new way next time. Thanks!

[@Kalarandir]

@@TheDungeonMinister If you want to hear it spoken, then listen to this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5KQc6JoqbKZgJI. I have also spent many hours sitting in those stands with my head hung in shame. :(

[@TheDungeonMinister]

@@Kalarandir I grew up a Green Bay Packer fan through the 1980's, so I know your pain. And good to hear it spoken - the emphasis seems to be on the mar. I was putting it on kill, but of course it means Cell of Marnock, so emphasizing the mar makes more sense. Definitely stealing Killie as an affectionate term for the city.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

Haha I man after my own heart when it comes to the Kobold Dog / Lizard issue. It could be that this ruleset is my set from youth so to me Kobolds will always be little dog men. :D

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Comrade! I like how it opens a sort of sniveling cunning, the sort of creature that is easily beaten and dismissed in a frontal attack, but then stabs you in the back.

[@TheBattlinBarrowGaming]

​@@TheDungeonMinister And that is exactly how I run them haha

[@bromossunstarranger8706]

excellent video love the reality I'm equally intrigued with the social workings of monsters in the campaigns gives the game honesty and breathes in political machinations. next is the individuals motivations of each tribe leader, is one purely evil or just charismatic enough capable to manipulate or bully the weaker leaders into violent acts? or is it pure greed power and growth of their tribe or a common enemy that causes the shaky alliances.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Yes! This is the kind of stuff I like mapping out. The problem I run into is charging ahead with one idea and then later having to write my way out of it. I guess it both encourages foresight and keeps me on my toes! And thanks!

[@bromossunstarranger8706]

@@TheDungeonMinister yes the players can throw a wrench in about anything that has heavy preparation just write Backgrounds of the tribe not so much the members or leaders can help get started? Meaning give as much of the future plans of the tribes to the player's improvisation to kneed out the conflicts.

[@shallendor]

Real Kobolds are scaly dogmen!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I find that little raises the passions of a gamer's blood like the nature of kobolds. You can screw up goblins, wyvern or shambling mounds, no worries, but mess up Kobolds and it's good night Irene!

[@shallendor]

@@TheDungeonMinister Been playing for 40 years, it is hard to change my mind on some stuff! : )

[@Mercury-Wells]

Chuckle..."real" kobolds, eh?

[@Lightmane]

and all this time I thought we were just exploring a kobold cave. Oh wait, I said 'we'. I meant 'they'. 'They' were exploring... anyway...

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Sort of just a cave...in a hill in a county in a kingdom, etc.!

[@Lightmane]

@@TheDungeonMinister that's a song in a musical, I'm sure. Just can't place where : )

[@garygoucher4739]

Great story and love the reasoning behind why things are the way they are in your campaign. Just found your channel and I'm looking forward to working my way through your videos. What program do you use for your hex maps? They look great.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel! I use a free web site, hextml.playest.net They have a premium feature, but you can use it free if you save the map to your hard drive. The rivers and roads are a bit clunky, but in the main it's a great tool. I really like that I can upload and use my own icons for various things.

[@TKFKU]

17:17 You could struggle over this. Or keep in mind monsters are made to be slain and prisoners are only worth half xp!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I'm running the game half as DM, half as Papa, half as priest (and -50% as mathematician) so I do enjoy the odd moral quandary!

[@TKFKU]

@@TheDungeonMinister Well sure, I mean....the way I would send my pups through an adventure vs my friends.....completely different style is needed for obvious reasons haha. Well idk.....who hasn't wanted to throw their teenager into a spiked pit? (Trust me you'll get there.) But for now it's like bowling with the gutter bumpers in place.

[@kindermord]

Proper baddies are vital to any game. How much do you use figures in your games?

[@TheDungeonMinister]

We started without any. Later, when I started using enlarged graph paper to show the dungeons, we grabbed little figures from their toy box. Now they have actual rpg miniatures, and I try to have something on the table for actual combat encounters.

[@VengerSatanis]

Nice bust, hoss!

[@TheDungeonMinister]

A search term destined to cause trouble down the line!

[@Dave_L]

What is the manufacturer of your Kobold minis? They're great.

[@TheDungeonMinister]

I like 'em! They're Reaper.

[@vinimagus]

Great video, dear Minister! Did you create the story while you filmed?

[@TheDungeonMinister]

Thanks! You mean was I inventing it in real time with the camera running? No, just sort of dramatizing the process. The actual process was something like that, though with more variations...some of which actually ended up in the campaign setting, just in different ways!

[@vinimagus]

Thank you for the clarification. I really enjoyed your logic, the outcome, and the dramatization. 😀