Zac Gets One Over on Brennan | Fantasy High Junior Year

The Bad Kids are facing off against Baron's spooky henchmen when Gorgug has a stroke of genius.
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[@raydog508]

The way Brennan just sinks and goes “Nooo wait” will never not be funny

[@nickgotvyak5890]

Literally the same energy as in the Game Changer 2nd place (the Gong part)

[@petrikillos]

​@@nickgotvyak5890 LITERALLY

[@exactlysquirrel8331]

He’s wearing the same shirt I think too

[@hexonyou]

every time I watch it I just think "oof the psychic damage he just took". It's so fantastic.

[@eddiemate]

@@nickgotvyak5890 Honestly I felt like the one in Game Changer felt more... hopeless, I guess? Because he spends like 10 seconds realising Ally was totally correct, and he would've missed it if that was the point of the game. In this, my man just got got by something consistent that he overlooked.

[@the_clontz]

Siobhan's double-barrel bird flip is a whole ass mood.

[@mattlozinski1700]

I love that you can see it in the over the shoulder shot

[@Sabbathtage]

I love her so much!

[@asterisk5054]

she also dabbed on this episode, she's iconic

[@Tathracyn]

It's my favorite thing she does as adaine

[@alanguillermo3145]

I love that that is her signature move. 😂

[@icekold45]

Between Emily's cackle, the way it just went off without a hitch, Brennan dropping like he's been wounded, the "no wait", Ally's complete honesty, this was a great clip.

[@joshualibunao3576]

I think that Sam was on to something in game changer, because seeing Brennan sink and say “No… wait” is so satisfying to see. I love Brennan, but there’s just something about seeing the realization of his plans failing because the pcs have some trait, or homebrewed item that’s so satisfying.

[@NuglessMacArthur]

Possibly this season's Slippery Puppet

[@cexilady3333]

Zac doesn't say much but when he does. WHEN HE DOES IT IS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

[@iitstre_4550]

“Ayy, dems da breaks” 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@VonSnootingham]

"...Yeah, I killed him."

[@bpetewemh]

"Whoa dude"

[@grubbu7073]

I know realistically it’s probably Siobhan but my heart tells me Zac is actually the smartest person on the show

[@julypow]

Where is your bulb now?

[@VexWerewolf]

The thing I love about both Brennan and Matt is that when their players get one over on them, they always let it ride, and even if they're frustrated they're also PROUD of their players.

[@logicaloverdrive8197]

I love seeing DMs in the comments emphasize with them both because of the mixture of "Oh no, they fucked me." And "Wow! They're really paying attention!"

[@baturalpdurmaz9272]

Matt: Okay which level are you conter him Sam: 9th level Matt 😮 Sam: Yeah that's why i got close to you m*other f*cker

[@TheRedstonian]

Yooo omg it's Vex Werewolf my favorite Lancer meme god

[@AdamGaffney96]

@@logicaloverdrive8197 Exactly this, I imagine that whilst it hurts to have your plans foiled, it must feel good knowing your players are invested enough to remember everything!

[@shaxxshelmet1938]

Matt will never ever forget the cupcake

[@FoxerBoxerNaaniwa]

As absolutely hysterical as this moment is, it's also just poetically beautiful that Gorgug regains his clarity of thought through mindless rage. It is as Ayda said, his mind is a clear mountain lake... so long as he's enraged.

[@spitch13]

He is the greatest wizard of the age! As she predicted!

[@thisguy1924]

I love Brennan's "I will never finacially recover from this" moments, they are always fun to see happen the first time. and every other time after it.

[@shepardren8006]

My favorite is when in Starstruck Odyssey they get a Nat 20 on gambling in space Vegas.

[@jackmafo832]

​@@shepardren8006Operation Slippery Puppet is the peak of these moments.

[@HellInternAKACandyMD]

@@shepardren8006 My favourite is picturing everyones' face when they read your comment and have no idea what you're talking about just because they haven't seen it yet 🤭

[@Werewolf.with.Internet.Access]

“You want me to rage?” “Yes my minion, let forth your mindless, uncontrollable RAGE-! Wait no-!” “YyyyYep, let the good times roll! 😊” *sweetly and brutally unalives the living hell out of the wizard*

[@samusamythest7946]

This is KZbin, you can say real words here friendo

[@66Roses]

He doesn't unalive them, he kills them.

[@FiXato]

​@@samusamythest7946 Unfortunately KZbin does have a history of shadow-banning comments containing words or phrases that are blacklisted at the time.

[@Ganpan14O]

Warlock, not wizard. Good comment though.

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

@@FiXato Yep. I once got a comment shadow banned for saying the word "shit" (on a video where they said the word "Oh fuck" multiple times). Rewrote the comment exactly the same except used a euphemism for "shit" instead and it went through fine. Far as I know it wasn't even the uploader, just KZbin bots being weird again

[@rabbitryrabbit]

emily releasing her supervillain laugh as gorgug goes into a rage

[@caderoster8333]

The Axford Cackle is a staple here in the ‘hedron

[@SweetDeath777]

I call it Emily's witch cackle in my mind and it brings me so much joy along with Tasha's Hideous Laughter ( Lou's version)

[@frimi8593]

I love how absurdly rare of an occurrence it is to be both charmed AND frightened at the same time, and all at once negating it with your rage that specifically makes you immune to those particular conditions

[@DwiteLoot]

Can’t the Monk class - or a subclass of it - gain a class feature called something like Still Mind that lets them use their action/bonus action to cancel charm or fear effects on themselves? Still, Mindless Rage allowing him to turn and swing same-turn is super good and unlocked at a much lower level IIRC than the Monk feature.

[@XCC23]

@@DwiteLoot Stillness of Mind, yeah. One action per effect too.

[@christiankunce9491]

Zac’s DND playing is a lot like his comedic style. He might not have amazing luck, or be pure chaos. But when he needs to get _one thing right_ .By god it will be done right.

[@fliknightshade]

“Get Nasty!”

[@kevinbrown2095]

The way you can see Emily contort from the sheer pleasure of what she's about to witness! I like to pretend that she was possessed by [spoiler] in the lead up to that moment.

[@thiswayjose]

Nah, probably the Dice Devil working through her

[@Bluesabara]

Zac just going into a rage and negating it was nothing short of genial. But asking Brennan for permission so that he can't "no but" this situation? Absolutely god tier.

[@CoffeeStained]

Brennan said “Yes” but wasn’t prepared for the “and”.

[@Kurtlen]

Wow a rare moment where the Berserker Barbarian subclass comes in clutch instead of killing your own character like it’s designed to do. 😂

[@ragdollars2059]

I love how when Zac is saying it you can see Emily preparing her hands just off frame to point and laugh at Brennan

[@kleerude]

You can just barely see her grinning and then quickly hiding her grin so she doesn’t give the game away before the reveal. So cute.

[@seanrshivers]

Where's your bulb now? I take out my thermal detonator!

[@debran940]

I can't be surprised

[@EmpressEmbeth]

"My love... for you are my love..."

[@LordSvzklx]

It’s not just that he had the ability that let him get out of the position Brennan had put him in, it’s that he tricked Brennan into letting him, forcing him even, to use it XD that is some Grade A fairy tale trickster shenanigans

[@The_Jantof]

Lou’s quiet “vroom vroom, there’s gas in that tank” is so damned funny. It’s gonna be one of those things that I start quoting in my day to day life, and be sad that no one gets the reference.

[@PikaPetey]

The way brennan genuinely dramaticly faints back into his chair and desparingly cries "nooo!!" Is a pure mood.

[@Eramiserasmus]

Zac successfully tricking Brennan is a great moment. Shows there are cool ways to help your allies even when you are in bad situations.

[@jwjustinwatkins]

It's a crime we didn't get to see Murph's or Lou's reaction in the moment!!

[@pikazooka]

you do hear Murph's "Wooaahh" at 1:22

[@albertonishiyama1980]

The table slams are also probably Murph, since they're from the side we cant see and the one time it happens on camera Lou and Ally had their hands up.

[@leomuratore]

It's even better when you realize that Gorgug starts doing Kugrash's dance.

[@codyjordan8722]

this episode was set up to REALLY fuck the players up with high power enemies, rng encounters, rooms with no save mind control spells and a (potentially) nasty time mechanic, but they were just on their A game here. Id say murph is probably the mvp here weaponizing his shit luck by circumnavigating the entire encounter with rouge features followed by two low rolls on a d4 for the clock. excellent episode as far as play goes and a rare instance of a mechanically satisfying high level encounter.

[@luistorres-of3he]

You bad! You good! That will always get me

[@Luisavvas]

Math + rage is mage and that is why Gorgug is the best wizard

[@azertyqwerty8398]

As expected from the greatest wizard of our age.

[@LookinGoodAnya]

1:00 Zac can barely contain himself, knowing he's about to totally blow Brennan's mind 🤣

[@tonyroman100]

Best way to take advantage of the DM forgetting that your barbarian loses charm when they rage.

[@Mekhami]

yes, that was the whole video, good job.

[@primecreator5257]

@@Mekhamiyou must live a miserable life. In the future, keep your misery to yourself and let others be happy.

[@kylehahn4410]

I think it's just Gorgug's Berserker subclass, so pretty rare feature to be wary of.

[@admiralpepper6933]

​@@Mekhami No need for the snide comment, friend lmao

[@davidajayi6516]

@@Mekhamidamn who shit in your cereal this morning

[@_The_Dumbass_]

Commanded to get angry Angry that someone made him angry Can no longer be commanded

[@HellInternAKACandyMD]

Aw, almost a haiku. Still clever writing!

[@_The_Dumbass_]

@@HellInternAKACandyMD Controlled for anger Angered by given command Rage through the controll

[@HellInternAKACandyMD]

@@_The_Dumbass_ This stranger is proud of you!

[@_The_Dumbass_]

@@HellInternAKACandyMD This Brak thanks you!

[@nightshade1124]

1:22 And this kids, is the look of “I’m tilted… but impressed.”

[@nelevenchts]

Zac has been the MVP this season. In combat and character-wise. Such solid jokes and performance.

[@VestAround]

Thank god my dnd party has a Berserker Barbarian bc as soon as Zac started talking, I knew what he was going for

[@VestAround]

Also Siobhan flipping off Brennan should be merch 😂

[@mcjes16]

It's the " Hey thems the breaks" that gets me everytime.

[@MrStartrek2316]

Been replaying 1:19- 1:21 for Emily's cackle over and over.

[@miriamrosemary9110]

I love the "do a little dance" part so much! Brennan fully trusts Siobhan to do something interesting with temporarily being the bad guy, asking her what to do next (as Zara and Zayne), and she immediately comes up with something both really creepy and really silly (perfect for the vibe of this episode), and then the combination of Siobhan, Brennan and Zac playing off of that is sooo fun to watch! I keep replaying it. That together with the perfection that is the following bit about rage just makes this video so freaking good! So glad they compiled it into a video. Added to my favorites playlist

[@hannahmcaleer6283]

Ay, them’s the breaks 🤷‍♀️

[@dragonbowlsupper]

Emily the evil mastermind at it again

[@pool_deck5241]

Even if she has no power she will still find a way to fuck with Brennan😂

[@triccele]

Why? I mean, nothing against her, She's a brilliant player and I love her shenaningans, but this is all Zac. The only thing Emily did was telling him "go for it".

[@jmarquiso]

​@triccele Emily told her "ask him", which is a command. Brennan had to accept it

[@davidjennings2179]

I think she did encourage him (you can see her bursting with joy just off to the side as Zac is talking) but Zac is just so disarming with how he plays it that Brennan didn't suspect.

[@jmarquiso]

Totally a great collaboration. Talked about it more I'm Adventuring Party

[@tervardi]

This is right up there with Jester's Dust of Deliciousness.

[@triccele]

Yup!

[@morgan.williams76]

Dunno about that, that was a massively important part of a campaign. Definitely we'll up there with beau's stillness of mind at the cathedral though.

[@octodaddy1602]

This might have been the best episode in all of Fantasy High... The game mechanics, the roleplay, the set design, the props, the luck, it's all just PERFECT

[@cepcino]

If I could get my MVP plays punctuated by Emily cackling I’d be a happy man

[@leviqueen1504]

Facts, murphs a lucky man for a lot of reasons but having that absolute cackle around would be a genuine delight

[@petrikillos]

I love how he had and got rid of BOTH conditions

[@yodawgzgaming4416]

The way Brennan just sags under that realization is SO cool to see

[@SkyDesignsGames]

One of my favorite combat encounters of all time on this show, accented by one of the best Zach plays of all time. Priceless! Not to mention how great the whole "do a little dance" bit is LOL.

[@galaxyblade111]

I know it is no slippery puppet but damn if it isn't as satisfying...

[@beanboysean]

zac and emily need to sit beside each other more so that they can destroy brennan with their combined forces

[@nerdyespurr]

The actual psychic damage Brennan takes when he realizes he got bamboozled yet again by his players.

[@ShotgunSenpai808]

Zac's "Ehhhh dems the breaks" is so on point he broke Brennan! LOL!

[@theofficialnicholasyee]

I love how this has become a truly historic moment in the series

[@relitin]

This battle is one of my favorite from all the seasons!! It was funny and interesting and there were some really clutch dice rolls, but this moment above all else was amazing, I gasped out loud and was grinning like a madman!

[@LLCCB]

You see him and Emily trying hard not to laugh or telegraph what's about to happen as he's asking. So funny

[@demetrinight5924]

The funny thing is as a DM, you want your players to succeed at the same time you're playing your villains. I can completely see this turmoil in Brennan's face.

[@Xhalph]

If you try to manipulate Gorgug, you'll find he's one slippery puppet.

[@What-lt3lj]

This episode was some of the best d&d ive seen.

[@Plastic_Robots]

0:00 - 1:20 "Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great." 1:21 "You have no power over me!” (Emily/Fig loudly plays the Labyrinth synth on electric bass)

[@kevinkay8208]

Lol the way he collapses into the chair.

[@faroshscale]

ally doing lou's famous "YESSSUH!" at 0:48 was so fucking good

[@IcyAuron]

This was easily the best moment of the campaign so far.

[@CalamityCannon]

This is one of my favorite moments of late-stage Fantasy High and it alone could justify my dropout sub

[@JWLuiza]

Honestly I pay for dropout. Hardly watch it but will never cancel because of the beauty it provides the world. And the pain of Brennan here and on gamechangers.

[@dirtburger2773]

the fact that it was *EMILY WHO TOLD HIM TO ASK* even when it's not her directly messing with Brennan, she is still on her mission from Hell to kill him

[@triccele]

I love Emily, but why people is giving Zac's triumph to Emily? Zack is the one who knew his class features, who thought how it could use them in this situation and who came with the plan. The only thing Emily did was telling him to go for it. I get it, she's a brilliant player and was sent from hell to destroy Brennan, but this is all Zac.

[@xen6601]

​@@tricceleShe told Zac how to back Brennan into a corner. Brennan could have made it a save, but asking if he should enter a rage prevented that

[@triccele]

@@xen6601 even so, it was Zac's plan, Zac's idea, Zac's triumph

[@xen6601]

@@triccele acknowledging the ways friends help you doesn't take away from the triumph

[@triccele]

@@xen6601 yeah, I know that and I agree, but this comment (and several others) makes it look like it was Emily who came up with it. Emily had a very little part on this, and people should be applading Zac, not Emily.

[@yuvalne]

possibly the best moment of the season.

[@undetestable1]

I cant wait for someone to animate the part where they get possessed by Baron

[@J4Cinema]

The last time Brennan reacted this physically to being whomped was by Saccharina rescuing Jawbreaker in CoC. Ya love to see it

[@MisterTingles]

Brennan got the vapors

[@andrewwilson9579]

YOU BAD🤬 YOU GOOD 🥰

[@tylerquebedeaux1867]

Something you really notice on multiple viewings is Emily, partially out of frame, barely keeping it together as Zac asks if he can go into a rage… she knows what is happening and is delighted Zac and her’s evil plan to screw over Brennan is coming to fruition.

[@mcpherson1222]

Zac had trouble keeping it together too

[@KaelWrit]

I feel like if Brennan had realized it, he woulda been fair enough to make a role to see if it worked

[@leviqueen1504]

Feel like if this ever happens again with gorgug hes gonna make a role happen

[@someusername9591]

God I was so waiting for that. The one good part about that subclass lol

[@illluckindigo]

Absolutely got him

[@DetectiveOlivaw]

Brennan Lee Mulligan, human D&D handbook, defeated because he forgot one of the rules, is absolutely fantastic. Love that Emily was fully using psychology on him too, a perfect play all around

[@mboettcher349]

This along with using ship cannons in a regular brawl in Starstruck are a couple of famous tactical moments. So tactical, so timely.

[@_grumpytoad]

This was such a stand-out incredible moment from an already incredible episode!

[@jackyoh971]

This is so meta because the way Zac ask the vilain could have done the same mistake.

[@neminem233]

I laughed so hard at this when it showed up I genuinely, legitimately got a headache

[@phonedge]

I truly feel bad for Brennan, but every time I feel sad, I watched this clip and pull out the sacred phrase, “Hey, them’s the break.” to make myself feel better. 😌

[@Stargardts_]

lol, just like in crown of candy when she used the lightening strike on the people lined up~ always finding a way~

[@yue1084]

i love that everyone's first instinct when they hear "dance" is to do the hairy baby

[@rockassassin64]

As soon as he said Gorgug is charmed I knew what was about to happen i love Barbarin so much

[@drakhoon]

That was an amazing play on Zac's part. It can be hard as a GM to keep everything in on your mind, and on top of that you as the GM might know something that the NPC you are playing dose not. I don't think that the Warlock teacher would know Gorgug has mindless rage. I don't think every barbarian path gets mindless rage?? Still does not detract from the awesome play.

[@Brim_the_Wizard]

No only berserkers get it. Gorgug acts like such an atypical berserker barbarian most of the time that I doubt even Porter has a bead on what Path Gorgug is on.

[@estherarun8340]

​@Brim_the_Wizard That's such a silly thought, I love it. This weird, need barbarian, unlike anything Porter's seen before.

[@ayt3877]

theres hype and theres tricking your DM into screwing themselves

[@jodinsan]

Zac almost couldn't finish asking for permission to rage. He was already laughing because he knew how Brennan would react.

[@kennethmorgan8795]

Brennan's "No Wait!" Is always fun to hear

[@misteraskman3668]

I understand almost nothing about how any of this works (I don't even know what happening really) and yet this I understood perfectly. Amazing.

[@quantumgeekpod]

It's always fun to see those sudden turns that cause someone to go "What did I do?" Bonus points when that someone is the DM lol

[@unintentionally_edgy5867]

The sheer pain of “oh no I have a raging barbarian next to my caster”

[@psyberian]

It doesn't look like it's come up, but just to twist the knife Ally's wearing a Rage Against the Machine shirt. Just for that chef's kiss.

[@CrispyGFX]

Axfords reaction is just the best

[@archerelms]

Even if this didn't fool *ME* as the DM I would give it a high chance to fool the enemy who almost certainly doesn't know that he has that ability!

[@rookregent5623]

This was a cackle and a half

[@Arkham33]

Emily would make a fantastic witch with that cackle.

[@whitelikeblack1241]

This was so beatifull

[@edwardt.8704]

I have been busy for a long time, so I haven't caught up on D20 since Coffin Run and The Ravening War. Now I must definitely rejoin watching The Bad Kids, though I don't know if I should start from Junior Year so I can watch other seasons after or continue sequentially 😅

[@belindaluna2067]

Something very similar to this happened in Campaign One of Critical Role. In a battle with a vampire, as a matter of fact. Most parties live in fear of their Barbarians being charmed, but Berserkers are a whole other story.

[@lastnamefirstname8655]

nice clip. brennan sure was taken aback by zac's genius.

[@wisey105]

So few people use the Path of the Bezerker (with the Exhaustion penalty if you choose to use the Frenzy attack) subclass so Brennan was probably not thinking about that feature.

[@grayjphys]

I don't know if the crew reads the youtube comments, but i like how ankarna is suspiciously close to ankorna (the ducks in swedish).

[@thelocalhoodrat2881]

I've gained a sudden attraction to Siobhan this season and I don't know where it came from!

[@sonjaquan5775]

welcome to the club. i've been here the whole time.

[@AlastorNahIdWinRadioDemon]

Always fun to get one over on the DM like that.

[@wargriz8213]

As a DM I love this because he knew what he wanted to do to get him out of this situation as a player, but instead of trying to argue against the charm, found a way in-character to get the controller to order him to use it. And the NPC has no reasonable way of knowing his rage would do that, only that he can rage, so reasonably would order him to do so.

[@bigsarge2085]

A tale as old as time, happens to all of us GM's at some point! 😄

[@connienoland8400]

If i had a nickle for everytime zac outwitted brennan,id have 2 nickles.