Your Plot Isn't Real | Campaign Diary 2

[@Girthquake42069]

I think it's perfectly fine to have grandiose, soap opera like plots in TTRPGs but the golden rule is the entire table is writing it not just the GM. Also Happy Birthday!

[@tabletopbro]

100% Also thank you!

[@Blairrows]

I get similarly frustrated at the notion of GMs being upset about players "pivoting away from the plot". You can't perfectly predict what players are going to do for any given decision, nevermind a series of choices over a whole adventure, so the first time they go "off book" you'll be forced to choose between burning what you've used all of your precious preptime on, or railroading down a path they have just chosen not to go on. That's bad enough, but what's even worse is when you hear about a GM that's been "writing" a campaign for weeks, months, possibly even longer and not wanting to start until they feel like their plot is ready. They're robbing not only themselves, but also their players, of playing out dozens of sessions. Have a nice birthday.

[@tabletopbro]

Dude there's NOTHING worse than the idea of "writing a campaign" for an egregious amount of time and feeling like "it's not ready." You absolutely hit the nail on the head. The session is gonna go off the rails within three weeks and they're gonna be frustrated and miserable

[@irongolem123]

I can't believe I'm not already subscribed to you. But the good thing is, that allows me to subscribe to you now as a means to celebrate your birthday. Keep up the great work. I'm glad to have found a channel talking about my new fave TTRPG.

[@tabletopbro]

Holy shit the CTA actually worked??? 😂 I appreciate it though and I'm glad people are enjoying the content I'm throwing out into the world!

[@duzzo1]

These videos make me want to run DW more than anything else I've seen. Thanks mate, please keep them up! Edit: and happy birthday. For last month.

[@tabletopbro]

If you don’t care about the campaign recap and just want the discussion about your plot skip to 24:00

[@saraphys5555]

0:15 As a TTRPGer of 20+ years, allow me... Those people are noobs to the hobby, dont understand the point, and shouldn't be DM'ing until they learn that its THEIR world, but the PLAYERS adventure... This is true for D&D, Pathfinder, AGE System, 2d20, FFG Star Wars, Call of Cthulhu, Cypher System/Numenera, Warhammer, Battletech, Shadowrun, WHATEVER! Roll with it, adapt, move on... And if you cant... well, either find a new system, or find someone else to run the game.

[@tabletopbro]

Hard agree!

[@AvianDnD]

Plot is everywhere where the players go. Last session there were multiple hooks prepared where they would get on different main story tasks. Buuuut they wanted to chill in Waterdeep, go shopping and drinking. Which is completely fine. Give players the time to enjoy and do things that are not just the main story. after like 6h one of the players wanted to see if he recognizes anyone in the pub and BOOM main story hook possibility. Easy. Now they are preparing for a 14 day trip :D

[@tabletopbro]

Perfect!

[@hectorvivis3651]

Happy birthday, you magnificent individual of great quality.

[@tabletopbro]

Thankya sir!

[@hectorvivis3651]

@@tabletopbroIt's a great video BTW. It's both a recap and a good reminder that stuff off the "plotline" have more than its place, as long as it's fun.

[@gnrhero13]

Happy Birthday!

[@quickanddirtyroleplaying]

When folks complain about "the plot not advancing," they miss the point of emergent storytelling. Yes, there could be an adventure hook that starts the thing up, but where it goes is up to the PCs. NPCs will do what's on their agenda and if the PCs don't interfere, they carry out their agenda and the game world changes accordingly. Time stops for no man.

[@tabletopbro]

You're gosh dang diddly right!

[@quickanddirtyroleplaying]

@@tabletopbro You forgot to add "giggity" there 😆

[@shocktohp7314]

Came for the table top content, subscribed for Wind. also happy birthday.

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks! Wind is the best!

[@flexorlamonticus]

Awesome!! And Happy Bday!! I can't wait to hear what happens next! I totally agree with everything you said about player driven plot. I look at it like playing with action figures from when we were kids. The DM shows up with the cool setting toys (like the outrageously expensive Castle Greyskull that your parents would never buy for you, ha ha) and the bad guy / npc action figures, and all the players show up with their hero and pet/familiar action figures, and then you just play. Except for me, I do pretty much 100% theater of the mind, so the action figures and set pieces are just all in our minds. So it's more like playing with action figures but with an unlimited budget to buy ALL the set pieces, heroes, npcs, and bad guys you want at the store, ha ha. The plot happens when you show up with your theater of the mind set pieces, and the players show up with their hero action figures. Just like when we were kids. Yes, of course you can spend tons of time worldbuilding and have different tribes of elves and all sorts of cool shit like that, but then the plot happens when everybody gets together and the players decide which tribe they want to visit, who they want to befriend, who they want to fight and why, and what cool magic items they want to seek out and try to posess. etc etc Which is basically exactly what you are saying, ha ha. ANYHOW, that was my rant. I really enjoyed your recap and am excited about hearing more!!! I'm SO glad your players are into the setting and the game, man!

[@tabletopbro]

That's a great metaphor for it and I didn't even put those two together! Except in my case I had all the figures and my friends just played with them lmao. That is definitely the advantage of theater of the mind, no limitations in terms of figures! I'm glad you're enjoying the recaps!

[@flexorlamonticus]

@@tabletopbro Ha ha, it's like when we were kids and everyone wanted to go play at the house of the kid who had all the coolest action figures. You are that kid.

[@quintweevandruten4358]

Happy Birthday! Also thanks for running the Game a few weeks back in the discord(Tikpat really enjoyed it :)

[@tabletopbro]

Of course! It was fun!

[@scafutto]

🎉Happy birthday🎂 Great video! Playing to find out what happens is the way 😁

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks Douglas! And I agree! Way more fun that way!

[@Skimmer951]

Happy birthday bro! Btw I really enjoy the campaign diary.

[@tabletopbro]

Good! I'm glad you're a fan! And thank you!

[@calebfasnacht8698]

Yo, Happy Birthday! Glad to see that you're still kicking around, and that you treat yourself. 😁

[@AndrewGarrett_LordTubtub]

Love it! Good stuff here. You make so many solid points. The game is the plot of the story. The players are the hero. Make it about them. I am looking forward to more. Thanks for making stuff to entertain us.

[@bryancramer5013]

First, Happy Birthday man. You have gained another level in life! Second, the gaming world is lucky to have you, I wish half the gamers I know had your gaming intuition. I can't tell you how many GMs I've had that have tossed a game because we went left instead of right. Seriously, the tome of the howling dirge could be over here in the Cerulian Peeks instead of back there at Steading Soundsboringsowedidntwanttogothere. It's the main reason I primarily GM. Really enjoyed this video. Your gang sounds like they are a blast. Looking forward to number 3!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks Bryan I really appreciate it! Just shoving my head into my own ass here, I think branching out and trying systems that aren't 5e and focus more on that emergent storyline is what made me come to this conclusion a lot quicker than if I had just stayed with the Dragon game. Not saying there's anything wrong with enjoying 5e but other game systems teach better GMing principles methinks.

[@gkb444]

Thanks!

[@tabletopbro]

Holy crap thank you! I really appreciate it!

[@Zirbip]

It's just fun to say "Pleforkemoon". Instead of Happy Birthday, I wish you a Happy Pleforkemoon!

[@jerekheadrick3379]

You can definitely plan for an ambush or animal attack along the road. Maybe not set something up in the area but...

[@GaryAnastasio]

Happy Birthday man!

[@tabletopbro]

Preciate you

[@TheDrow_Bard]

Happy birthday man!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks!

[@tristanevans5024]

Happy Birthday Bro!!!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks Tristan!

[@Greybeardstavern]

MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!!🎉

[@tabletopbro]

Muchos gracias senior!

[@fredriksoderqvist5483]

Happy birthday dude!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks!

[@RestlessFrog]

🎉Happy Birthday, Bro!🎉

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks! I appreciate you!

[@TH3SHUR1F]

Happy birthday, amigo

[@tabletopbro]

Gracias senor!

[@g.bizzy_]

Happy birthday man! We miss the Heroscape videos 👀

[@tabletopbro]

👀

[@TheMadrepore]

Didn't click off.. Solid GM advice! It sounds like a blast to play!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks! I really appreciate it!

[@wilonascave]

Happy Birthday 🎲 🎂

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks Wilona!

[@bishopscatacomb9217]

Happy Birthday 🎉

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks!

[@norcalbowhunter3264]

Shouldn't you have had her use Defy Danger? I'm just asking from curiosity. Being new to DW it seemed like the idea was to set up a danger "A panther lunges out at you from the brush." Then you put the player in a spot "What do you do?" And if their response was to try to dodge out of the way you say "That sounds like a Defy Danger give me a roll plus dex." Again just a curiosity question since I'm so new to the system. Also happy birthday! 🎉🎈

[@tabletopbro]

That's actually a FANTASTIC question and might lead to a whole ass video. As you described the situation, that would absolutely be a Defy Danger. However I had the Panther just jump out at her and I WAS going to use the Hard Move "Deal Damage" BUT I wanted to at least give her an opportunity to deal some back. Hence my choosing of Hack n Slash! Both are totally viable options for that scenario but I wanted blood 😈 Also thank you!

[@nikgervae]

Happy belated!

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks!

[@Greybeardstavern]

Also, having ya’ b-day around Memorial Day is the best! I’ve have 54 of them! 😜

[@MrZupsky]

Happy B-day!

[@tabletopbro]

Thankya!

[@jayteepodcast]

🎉🎉🎉 Happy Birthday and the whole Heroes journey thing doesn't work in ttrpgs.

[@tabletopbro]

It CAN as long as the players are the one who steer the ship!

[@keithandreano]

Happy Birthday! Eat something unhealthy! :)

[@tabletopbro]

Maybe I will!

[@60508]

lol, I love players.

[@tabletopbro]

They're the best sometimes aren't they?

[@nitehood108]

Happy birthday!

[@IraRomfh]

Happy Birthday!

[@tabletopbro]

Thank you so much!

[@theblueexorcist12]

Happy Birthday !

[@tabletopbro]

Thanks!

[@MatthewAvey]

Happy Birthday!

[@tabletopbro]

Thank you!