10 D&D Combat Narration Tips to STOP BORING COMBAT

Every D&D player everywhere has been in the world's most boring combat at one point or another. Today in the Lair, I give you 10 combat narration tips to help make your RPG combats more fun for you and your players.

Skip the Intro - 1:35

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Editing ▶▶ Zack Newman
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#dnd #dungeonsanddragons

[jeffreykershner]

The issue with graphically describing wounds (especially in 5e) is the "wake up better in the morning" aspect. Those descriptions worked in 2nd, where you're going to heal 1hp per day. But a long gash on the chest is a "dropped to zero hp" blow in 5e.

[swnyto]

Hey, YouTube, Luke doesn't suck. He's been a high school since dungeon master.

[Arcticmaster]

No. 3 sounds like something the DM should do on the enemy’s turn. Even if they aren’t attacking, just approaching or running away, that’s a good tip.

[tocSIN_]

Wish there was a way I could share this video with my group without it being taken the wrong way...
Them: "Are you saying we don't roleplay enough??"
Me: "...Yes. Yes, I am."

[danielpayne]

Combat narration is one of my DMing strengths, but still here to learn. I love the statement that combat sections are still as much role play as the skill check & NPC shakedown parts of the game.

[GrimGoblinLives]

Narrating if a spell fails spectacularly is also a good idea. Once my party's necromancer gave an epic speech about how he is great destroyer of life as he cast Fear on a group of enemies, including an enemy mage who was already cowardly hiding behind barrels. Everyone passed their save. So I described how the mage bursts out laughing. And then one after another every other target, including a guy who was already surrendering, burst out laughing. Moment of the session.

[sheasturgeon]

Thanks for the tips! I'll be running my first session as a DM with all-new players. I'm ready to flounder with the best of them!

[AwesomeSawyerAnimalLover]

I am running my game tonight that's supposed to be a combat heavy session and this gave me some great tips! Thank you!

[MsGinahidesout]

I've been a player for longer than I care to admit, but I'm relatively new to DMing. I find it challenging to run interesting combats bcs I feel like there's SO much to juggle!!

[Styxintheriver]

Helpful!! Now realized I saw Matt Mercer using a lot of these as well, though I've never seen him explain that specifically like this. Thanks!!

[abremacsclumsygamingchanne]

You had it right at one point. It's pronounced Viscera. I hope this was helpful.

[JohnW-yvyp]

"Luke doesn't suck" "yeah you do!" that cracked me up. Good tips, I love the descriptions.

[arronlock]

#9 Combat is role playing!

Yes! Yes! Yes! The whole game is role playing! From swinging a sword to casting a spell to ordering an ale - it's all role playing!

[zenhikerjoe]

Great video! I paused it a few times to mentally rehearse how I would use the tip in my campaign. The only tip I would add is the visualize the combat in your mind. While your players don't actually SEE you visualizing the combat, it makes it easier to come up with better descriptions. I know the DM is doing a lot mentally during a D&D session, but actively visualizing combat is worth the brain CPU cycles.

[MythicMachina]

One thing that I always like to do is encourage the players to describe their character's comabt style. Besides flavoring spells (which is always fun), I want to know how your charatcer fights. What kind of weapon are you using? How do you try to approach the enemy? Is your fighting style more calculated, or is it more savage? perhaps your style is more akin to a dance of sorts? By having the players answer these questions to you, It gives the DM much more to work with when describing comabt.

[wangatrocious]

One day, he’s going to call himself “Lucario, ” instead of “Luke Hart”

[colmbright]

I love the rogue more and more each skit

[theolddm]

Excellent advice, Luke. I myself hadn't really used the 'how do you do it' on killing blows until a few years ago, but it definitely does get the players engaged.

[Rolfe]

I really needed this video. I'm really self conscious when running combat that the players are bored

[KnicKnac]

I think my old DMs had the phrase "How do they die or How to you finish them off?" when a killing blow happened. I completely sure it has been a few years since I've played with them as DMs.