Stop ignoring Inspiration points in D&D [DM Tips]

▼ Natural '22 Pin-Up Calendar ▼

► GIVE MORE INSPIRATION!
Do you use DM Inspiration at your D&D table? In this video, I argue that Dungeon Masters who aren't using Inspiration points are leaving a super useful tool on the table! Improve your Dungeons & Dragons game by rewarding your players for the roleplaying behaviors you want to see more of. It's that simple!

▼ How to vet & implement HOUSE RULES ▼

0:00 Intro
1:10 All About Inspiration
2:50 Why Give Inspiration?
4:13 Award Inspiration...
4:15 ...for fun character facts
4:46 ...for engaging with others
5:13 ...for punctuality
5:35 Francis III: Francis' Revenge
7:29 ...by popular vote
8:08 ...for comedic brilliance
8:25 ...to the MVP
8:53 ...for bringing food
9:07 ...for roleplaying flaws
9:33 ...player to player
9:55 ...for excellent puns
10:11 Make Sure Inspiration Gets Used

Logo animation by Rosie at Arcane Focus!

Music from Epidemic Sound

► FIND ME ONLINE:

[GinnyDi]

Use code GINNYDI to take 10% off your premium membership.

[adamnaameeazim]

To my fellow DMs, here's a pro tip for getting players to use inspiration. Give them an inspiration brownie that they're not allowed to eat until they've used that inspiration point. You're not gonna have any more cases of players holding onto that stuff for months.

[melloette]

The “fake gamer girl” sarcasm at the beginning is just *chef’s kiss* and this video was so ✨inspiring✨ to boot!

[matthewletexier]

Goddamn I am all for Ginny not taking shit from commenters. That was phenominal

[RemySetGo]

I just played a Triton in a one shot, and at the very end we were being served chicken for dinner. The last words of the campaign were me saying "wow I've always wanted to try chicken, I've heard it's the tuna of the land!" DM gave me inspiration to use in our main campaign later that week 😁

[JonathanUsmar]

The fake geek girl rant was phenomenal.
The sarcasm. The sass. The... Simultaneously genuinely plugging your pinup calender. Perfection.

[jackslack]

My standard running D&D gag was a not-so-subtle reverse psychology trick to keep the mood light. Any truly bad pun or dad joke would be met by an immediate glare, and then a withering, "Have inspiration and never do that again."

Unsurprisingly, my games turned into pun-filled, groaner joke filled joyfests, which was kinda what I wanted.

Use inspiration to condition your players!

[Logan_Baron]

"Fake Gamer Girl who only pretends to like D&D"
That reminds me of the early days of Critical Role. Watching it livestreamed at the time on twitch and still being able to read the comments. You'd have rando's popping in because they saw the D&D tag and would complain that "the girls" were only pretending to like D&D because they were being paid. My response was that D&D is fun, why would you think that girls or pretty girls (since that was often the claim) would not like doing fun things like D&D?

[jordanw]

I may have done a spit take when you started talking about your ulterior motives regarding the channel. There's a reason you're my favourite fake geek girl on YouTube.

[Flyde]

We have a house rule that every session someone has to explain what has happened in the last session but from the point of view of your character. If you did it, you get inspiration. I actually love that

[archon]

I've never seen Inspiration used, ever. So when I saw Aabria handing them out like candy on Exandria Unlimited I was honestly like "Wait what? Whats that?!". I loved how she handled inspiration points though, rewarding the cast for interacting in and out of character.

[Jane_]

I don’t use this so much now, but in my first campaign I changed the name “inspiration” to “badass cookie”. The players used them much more with that memorable name.

[TheClericCorner]

I use a deck of cards for inspiration. Players get it face down and turn it up when they use it. Face cards are +10, Aces are crits. The players use it every session!

[andrewmiller]

True story, I was at one time given inspiration at the table, for mimicking the Sand People cry so well when the DM described the cries and taunts of some enemies we had.

[MorganInWonderland]

"If you hate me after this, at least you've already watched most of the video."
Ma'am, if I weren't subscribed already, the idea of giving out Inspiration for puns would make me hit that button in the fraction of a second because, let's be real, puns are the best kind of joke.

[brontsmoth]

I always start new campaigns like: "I'm going to use inspiration more this time!" and tell my players this, and... I start off strong, then 3-4 sessions into the new campaign inspiration has been forgotten almost entirely...even by the players who might even have a leftover inspiration point sitting on their sheets until the end of time.

[tomdavis]

Since I run AL and generally don't have access to a character's flaws, I generally give inspiration for actions that are sub-optimal or low-probability, but are creative. So a player choosing not to engage in a combat, despite the fact that initiative has been rolled, because their character was focused on something else; or a PC who's not good at trying to negotiate/recall information/perform athletic tasks based on something in the situation or environment that compels them to do so. I want players to view their characters as more than just a collection of stats and abilities, but rather as a flesh-and-blood individual who may sometimes try something they're not good at, because they are unaware of that weakness, or have a momentary lapse where they forget themselves in response to something, or simply because they want to continue to try in spite of not being all that good. Basically, your character shouldn't always act like it knows what stat it has an 8 in, and I reward players at my table who act that out.

That and puns. You can always get inspiration for puns.

[nynkeandreae]

For everyone forgetting to hand out inspiration points or use them, maybe having something physical in sight would help. Like an object that represents the inspiration point. Having items that represent inspiration points behind the dm screen in line of sight might really help to remember handing them out. And once they are given, the players also have something physical to remind them to use it. I suggest something small, like colored stones, special dice or (fake) coins.

[yuna_bean]

I will never shut up about how much i love your ad reads. never skip.

[VivaLaDnDLogs]

I love watching Ginny argue with herself.

Most times I give Inspiration to any player who can make me break character with laughter while still staying in character.