(animated) D&D How I DM.

This is a new DM style I've been using and it really helps protect you from over-prep.

Zee Bashew, dungeons and dragons animations. Animated spellbook dungeon master.

The discord:

You'll also need a Monster manual and a dmg to do this properly.

Finally a more in depth script:

NPC trait generator:

Music:
Bike sharing to paradise by Dan Bodan
Sunrise Drive by South London HiFi

[zeebashew]

Hey the old discord link was messed up so check this one out instead if you wanna jump in:

[OneRadicalDreamer]

Good to know that John Wick took to DMing after exacting revenge for his dog.

[AB-cwqt]

In between shooting guns and stabbing people, John Wick uses his spare time to make DnD videos.

[BrutusTheOwl]

I feel like this is a method best used with Veteran players who might get bored of a traditional campaign format. Otherwise it might be too immersion breaking for players who are newer and require a bit more to get drawn in to story and captivated in the mindset of the world.

[TheInfiniteAmo]

"Players tend to forget loose ends and remember closed circles."
Probably the best advice for new DMs, period.

[lokian]

Couple years ago found this video days after being wrangled into helping a first time DM set up an adventure. Rewrote the whole mess after watching this into the first module of a campaign that lasted 2 years and ran 1-20. That DM started off in over his head, now gets paid to DM games twice a month and still uses this style. Strong option here with LOTS of flexibility built right in.

[Csrumk]

15 minute time-out is such a well-kept secret. New DMs always have their mind blown when someone explains to them that it's socially acceptable to ask for some time to re-plan mid-game. Great advice.

[cjams]

Me when I’m hungover and pull up to the session with nothing but a piece of paper that says “Mind Flayer quinceanera”

[laserlights]

"People tend to forget loose ends but remember closed circles" fucking massive brain philosophical moment

[RobinBaggett]

The threats and boons idea is GOLD! I had been running a version of this for wilderness travel where the players roll a d12 each traveling day (1 is a hard encounter, 2-3 normal, 4-11 no encounter, and 12 was a beneficial encounter). But letting the players partake in the creativity is such a great idea.

[jkcazy]

Yep! The DM I grew up playing with and who taught me how to DM had this exact style. He was my bestfriend's dad, Jon. He has played just about any tabletop game you can think of over his RPG carreer (Gamma World, Vampire Masquerade, Scion, DnD, A D&D, and a litany of others including many homebrew systems he created for Elderscrolls, Fallout, and other fantasy worlds he wanted to have a tabletop system to play with friends).

He'd have maybe ever have one or two solid points planned out but the entire campaign would be driven by the players' desires and what they CHOSE to do- basically it was the DM's job to be the cosmic force of Karma in the dnd world they made together. The players have so much more fun feeling like the world is reacting to them and their choices rather than feeling like they are being prodded with a stick over and over again being forced into whatever was carefully planned out.

[dw]

The tip about adding seeding random mysterious elements is so immensely useful.
It gives the players the impression everything is connected in some cool grand plot while giving the freedom to adapt to their actions and choices

[lonodel]

One thing I have done in the past that is a blast is what I call 'Improved inspiration'

A player typically gets one per session, and it has a few mundane uses. You can burn it to automatically succeed on any roll which your character has proficiency. More interestingly, it can be used to alter the world and steer the plot. The players arrive in a small town after a long journey and are short on supplies. Unfortunately there is no alchemist here to supply potions and important reagents. One member of the party however is 'inspired' and mentions that she has heard word of a witch in the nearby wood that could get them what they need.

The use case of these have varied greatly. One time the players felt the reward for a certain task was lackluster so they used it to find some extra loot. Another time the rogue remembered that he just so happened to have a silver dagger on hand when stumbling upon a trio of were rats in some sewers. And yet another time the party couldn't decide whether to break for camp of push through the night so the bard pointed out a hamlet in the distance that 'wasn't on the map.'

Giving the players a little bit of power in shaping the game is a great way of keeping them involved in the process of storytelling and world building. When I started doing it I kind of expected many of my players to just try to us it to get stuff or make things easier for themselves. Surprisingly enough that has not been the case.

[PowahSlapEntertainmint]

Here's how I DM: "Ay girl, you like dungeons?"

[miniyodadude]

this explains why my grand plans turn out terribly, but my on the fly changes to the story turn out to be the best adventures

[maycontainnuts]

I wish I saw this before I wrote a 4-page spread on the general diets and exports of a small mining village before my PCs spent 20 minutes of that session trying to kill themselves and everyone around them

[Elemental-Phoenix]

I've always liked the idea that the players can always go do their own thing, and I'll happily accommodate them. But in the background, the main plot is still going and their decision to turn away from it may have consequences on the world. I can use those consequences to make the world more alive and interesting.

I *love* this idea for campaigns in already established settings

[magicflameofgold]

i know this is an old video but the fact that players forget loose ends and remember closed ones is so true and it makes it really easy to add fun random elements into the game

[wilfchapman-gandy]

Ah yes, i too learned to GM from retired hitmen played by Keanu Reeves.

[drakon]

Personally Im not a fan of trying this technique, but asking the players what they want you the dm to know is genius, im gonna do that from now on.