What a useless DM looks like

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  • čas přidán 2. 05. 2024
  • Being a DM is hard
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Komentáře • 2K

  • @Osfolt
    @Osfolt Před 13 dny +6307

    You never want to hear your dm say "I win"

    • @eisenklad
      @eisenklad Před 13 dny +220

      which is worse?
      "git gud scrub" or "I win"

    • @Chilliconkanye
      @Chilliconkanye Před 13 dny +162

      I've had a DM like that. I felt like he was trying to get a tpk. I'd get vibes that he just wanted to kill the players and that he was playing against us.

    • @raisgamesnz325
      @raisgamesnz325 Před 13 dny +6

      Haha, so true xD

    • @FrancJ5793
      @FrancJ5793 Před 13 dny +45

      When the DM is the main villain

    • @IaIaCthulhuFtagn
      @IaIaCthulhuFtagn Před 13 dny +87

      @@user-ge3tu1ut1e No the DM isn't playing against you, some of his npc's are. The DM is supposed to be telling a cooperative story, not winning/losing.

  • @pixel2966
    @pixel2966 Před 13 dny +1664

    “I wonder if there’s anything significant about anything at all.” Bro had an existential crisis 😭😭

  • @TheFiddleFaddle
    @TheFiddleFaddle Před 13 dny +330

    Now I want to see the argument that ended with "Okay fine Rowan, if you think it's so easy, you be the DM."

  • @Saucy_Jack
    @Saucy_Jack Před 13 dny +452

    The "farewell, sister" said to absolutely no one really sealed the deal for me. Great sibling relationship, that!

    • @GCEXTREMEMN
      @GCEXTREMEMN Před 12 dny +7

      So great he didnt even recognize her when she was first presented as an evil villain...or know she didnt have any kids or husband..

    • @minhduong1484
      @minhduong1484 Před 11 dny +4

      It would be have been funnier if he said, "Farewell, Schmerple"

  • @OutoftheWayFilms
    @OutoftheWayFilms Před 13 dny +3916

    "Aw, bye castle"

  • @pawekowalczyk6946
    @pawekowalczyk6946 Před 13 dny +1593

    I love how Alan is trying to make the best of the situation "will this cursed night never end? "😂

    • @Tullowit
      @Tullowit Před 13 dny +81

      Or he was referring to the game night. Heh

    • @herman1francis
      @herman1francis Před 13 dny +18

      ​@@Tullowitor It was a castlevania reference

    • @Bishop1664
      @Bishop1664 Před 13 dny +2

      Lol’d at this

    • @cchapa7470
      @cchapa7470 Před 13 dny +76

      "Farewell Sister"
      "Curse this forest"
      "Will thia curs-ed night never end"
      NGL this is totally me at the table. I totally commit to whatever the DM is trying to make happen, no matter how fumbling or inexperienced. DMing is hard and as a Forever DM I always try to encourage and support baby DMs!

    • @thecasualsperspective
      @thecasualsperspective Před 13 dny +6

      @@cchapa7470 Im like this in my day to day life. I just immediately jump on the train and see where it takes us. Sure, theres a 90% chance we crash... but what if we get lucky and have a great time?

  • @mattstanford9673
    @mattstanford9673 Před 13 dny +158

    "I win. And that's a pay cut for all of you. See you Monday."

  • @balorvalorbus
    @balorvalorbus Před 10 dny +35

    Alan's NPC lines are priceless.
    "Curse this forest".
    "Will this cursed night never end?".

  • @aenomalies_comics
    @aenomalies_comics Před 13 dny +2390

    "You enter a cave. It's big.... and..... erm.....dark"
    You really paint a picture DM, wow! It's as if I'm there!

    • @eisenklad
      @eisenklad Před 13 dny +63

      what cave... its a giant snapping turtle mouth that snaps shut.
      you are dead.

    • @Madi_Ernar
      @Madi_Ernar Před 13 dny +44

      "Oh, shut up. You step on a trap and lose both your legs. Roll for a survival"

    • @notajesternotaclown1102
      @notajesternotaclown1102 Před 13 dny +17

      "I have dankvision!"

    • @martinajurickova5750
      @martinajurickova5750 Před 13 dny +5

      how can you see how big it is when it’s dark in there? You know caves are pitch black :D

    • @DanKaschel
      @DanKaschel Před 13 dny +5

      Ever get the feeling that everybody else is getting a reference but you're not?

  • @CognizantPsyche
    @CognizantPsyche Před 13 dny +434

    I love how Alan keeps trying to stay in character: "Curse this forest!"

    • @SzaraSzarancza
      @SzaraSzarancza Před 12 dny +5

      They just joke around with different levels of immersion.

    • @RaiyZa_
      @RaiyZa_ Před 12 dny +10

      Also, "Hey sister... How are the kids?"

    • @Paajx
      @Paajx Před 12 dny +18

      "Will this cursed night never end?". Man's living up his character

    • @ronantheunissen8233
      @ronantheunissen8233 Před 11 dny +6

      Man's trying to pull through for the group, respect

  • @melmartinez7002
    @melmartinez7002 Před 13 dny +43

    "... you arrive at ... The Place."
    And that was pretty much the peak of the campaign.

  • @jillianstolling2602
    @jillianstolling2602 Před 13 dny +136

    Ah, yes, the "I win" at the end, a sign of a great DM.
    Many, many years ago, when I was in high school we would sometimes play at my grandparent's house because it had tons of space. Every time, at the end, when I was telling my grandmother thanks and letting her know we were leaving, she would ask, "Who won?". I would always laugh and say "Grandma, it's D&D, no one wins." I always tried to explain it was more like a team game where the point was to tell a story in a fun and challenging way but she never understood. That being said, I have played in groups where it really was the DM verse the party, far less fun but it was something different and the other players had decades of grudges they were playing off of. I might have been surprised but that group was my introduction to D&D so it took me a while to realize something was a bit off.

    • @jatzi1526
      @jatzi1526 Před 13 dny +5

      I could see a campaign working if it's setup that the DM is like an unreliable narrator set against your party. But not with the dynamic you described. That just seems toxic lol

    • @Vrex622
      @Vrex622 Před 13 dny +3

      I still get asked who won!

    • @spursamn
      @spursamn Před 10 dny +4

      My intro to D&D was very similar playing with a DM where it wasn't the DM vs the group, it was more the DM vs me, because they didn't like me but was the only DM in our group of friends.

    • @BayWa4eva
      @BayWa4eva Před 8 dny

      DM versus players is basically tower defense in pen & paper. sounds like a lot of fun if done right.

  • @raisgamesnz325
    @raisgamesnz325 Před 13 dny +388

    When the player says "I want to roll perception" and the DM responds, "Why?" you know your in trouble...

    • @darknessblades
      @darknessblades Před 13 dny +38

      Indeed, that perception check could have saved them rowan broke all rules of DMMING

    • @akheira3726
      @akheira3726 Před 12 dny +10

      Yeah and I would like to see castle if we are in the middle of the forest at night... lol I think, that this ambush was set up by paladin's sister. (she's evil)

    • @SzaraSzarancza
      @SzaraSzarancza Před 12 dny +2

      @@akheira3726 It's truly hard to blame her, anyone in her position would be evil if he/she has a paladin for a brother or sister.

    • @deutscher1a
      @deutscher1a Před 12 dny +4

      @@SzaraSzarancza palas done nothing wrong, they just wanna drink, tank, drink, eliminate evil, drink and tank - they also like to drink sometimes

  • @htwhtw-wy5vz
    @htwhtw-wy5vz Před 13 dny +838

    Now let's see what an overprepared DM looks like.

    • @bobjohnbowles
      @bobjohnbowles Před 13 dny +126

      Chances are you wouldn't notice. Because he is over-prepared.

    • @raisgamesnz325
      @raisgamesnz325 Před 13 dny +106

      "Oh, let me find that."
      Five minutes later DM finishes flipping through his lore book.

    • @scania9786
      @scania9786 Před 13 dny +122

      just watch Rob tear out pages in any of the other skits :-)

    • @goncalocarneiro3043
      @goncalocarneiro3043 Před 13 dny +30

      It would just be a compilation of PCs walking around and having seventeen adventures to pick from. Per location. With mini-quests on the way.

    • @mikkeljensen9488
      @mikkeljensen9488 Před 13 dny +44

      You enter the dark forest of alkazymkarach. you notice the trees here have grown in an unnatural way. As you inspect the trees closer it is clear that someone or something has tampered with the natural order of things. You see the bark has a bubbly surface and as you try to pinch it a violet fleeting dust appears from underneath. You inspect the bark closer and notice small insect of some unknown kind is the cause of this corruption. As you inspect the insect closer you notice the tinyiest speck of arcane magic coursing through them. As you inspect the arcane magic closer you notice a similarity between this magic and that of the mysterious tome you found earlier. As you inspect the tome closer you start to notice....

  • @NomenLuni1975
    @NomenLuni1975 Před 13 dny +129

    Brynley spontaneously attempting to be "bad and mean" had be in stitches. So hilarious. 🤣

  • @Seriph7
    @Seriph7 Před 13 dny +37

    "I wonder if there's anything significant about anything at all."
    Thats gonna be my friends in a few weeks when i DM our campaign for the first time! Im so excited!😊

  • @estranna
    @estranna Před 13 dny +1072

    I could hear Rob internally screaming in agony through this whole skit

    • @weswheel4834
      @weswheel4834 Před 13 dny +62

      He must have helped write it :D "What's the worst DM that you can imagine?"

    • @zura8879
      @zura8879 Před 13 dny +58

      Just his facial expression when asking if there is anything significant about anything says it all lmao.

    • @rhabeldibabeldi6812
      @rhabeldibabeldi6812 Před 13 dny +3

      Same 😂

    • @galiciaart
      @galiciaart Před 13 dny +17

      There's nothing significant about the screams

    • @rukisar6312
      @rukisar6312 Před 13 dny +2

      What would Rowan do with a one-shot campaign?

  • @user-ft7fq4ou4v
    @user-ft7fq4ou4v Před 13 dny +635

    I do like how the party are genuinely trying to support Rowan here in this. Rob's doing his best to try and prompt Rowan into giving more descriptions, Ben tries his best to play along with whatever will help Rowan get the story going until he eventually gives up, Alan continually tries to engage in RP he's presented with, and Brit tries to just be encouraging. It's really sweet, even if Rowan isn't the best communicator.

    • @coranbaker6401
      @coranbaker6401 Před 13 dny +83

      Communication aside, Rowan's real issue is that he thought it was a game where he had to kill the party to win.

    • @retroftw4644
      @retroftw4644 Před 13 dny +28

      ​@coranbaker6401 the best explanation i heard was calling dnd " collaborative story telling"

    • @MadGameBoy
      @MadGameBoy Před 13 dny +15

      Poor pALANdin trying his best to interact with everything 😢

    • @enzorocha2977
      @enzorocha2977 Před 13 dny +10

      love that the comedy comes from Rowan being dense (lmao just remembering the scenes), and how polite the band is trying to "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" him for more. "I wonder if there's anything SIGNIFICANT about this place." xD

    • @shaclown7721
      @shaclown7721 Před 12 dny +6

      "Isn't the best communicator"? That's a weird way of saying "he has no idea what he's doing, or what he's even meant to be doing".

  • @The_Chew
    @The_Chew Před 13 dny +30

    The first game I played was like this. None of us even knew how to play. We were in a field for some reason. There was a river and a castle. The castle was 5 feet wide and contained 3 ogres. When someone tried to attack one, we spent 15 minutes trying to figure out what AC was.

    • @Bombot78
      @Bombot78 Před 11 dny

      Great times ❤

    • @TM2DB
      @TM2DB Před 11 dny +5

      I usually stay out of the comments section. But I wanted to let you know that reading "The castle was 5 feet wide and contained 3 ogres." Had me cackling aloud for a good minute.

  • @Marmadock
    @Marmadock Před 13 dny +34

    I can’t admire more how Alan was doing his best to roleplay in this circumstances.

  • @tundranocaps
    @tundranocaps Před 13 dny +1219

    "Rocks fall, everyone dies," the Rowan.

    • @raisgamesnz325
      @raisgamesnz325 Před 13 dny +25

      And then: "I win!" xD

    • @praetorian3902
      @praetorian3902 Před 13 dny +14

      Before the rocks, Alan sees his sister and switches his name to Jaime Lannister.

    • @Suzuki_Hiakura
      @Suzuki_Hiakura Před 13 dny +2

      Funny story of how one DM had to kill off an OP character (basically showed up and killed a level 20 at level 7 without a scratch), they summoned "A giant rubber ducky as big as a city and made of lead, travelling at 9000m/s." Basically give their friend a most ridiculous and unavoidable death. The broken Homebrew item was a nipple ring that boosted AC by how much the character isn't wearing, so with nothing but the ring they had like 20 AC bonus from that, plus rolls, modifiers, etc.

    • @onslaught147
      @onslaught147 Před 13 dny +4

      @@praetorian3902 Beat me to it! I was going to say, it worked for Game of Thrones!
      Just the worst way to kill characters, especially ones with that much history and backstory. "Oh a few rocks fell on them, they're dead now, end of story."
      That happening in a high school dnd game between a group of friends is bad enough. But it happening on a giant HBO production? It's no wonder the creators got fired from their upcoming Star Wars production. The one they rushed the Game of Thrones ending to do.
      They ruined the show and their own careers for nothing.

    • @christophjohnson3777
      @christophjohnson3777 Před 13 dny +1

      ​@Suzuki_Hiakura had a dm do something similar. He summoned 2 high level demons out of nowhere just to kill me, but didn't know one of them was susceptible to my attacks.
      I died in the end, but i took one out and the other knew I'd been there! 😂

  • @Kxadd
    @Kxadd Před 13 dny +94

    The awkward acting is just so good. I completely lost it after the mysterious woman started hissing when being told she was "bad" :D

    • @AdrianColley
      @AdrianColley Před 12 dny +7

      I lost it at "bye castle", which acknowledged the castle's brief existence as the only thing that was significant about The Place.

  • @phyose4793
    @phyose4793 Před 13 dny +66

    I'd love to see "railroading" next.
    Maybe make this a mini arc of the series with you guys rotating DMs to try new things

    • @Ezullof
      @Ezullof Před 11 dny +3

      Railroading in TTRPGs being a bad thing is a lot more debatable though. In my experience, players always expect some level of railroading, unless they want to play a pure sandbow game with no DM.
      In DnD, you absolutely want a relatively high level of railroading when it comes to the story. Sure, options are good, but sometimes you need a good "cinematic moment".

    • @JGM0JGM
      @JGM0JGM Před 9 dny

      @@Ezullof Depends how the world in which the PCs "live" is set up. In my opinion, it is possible to set it up so that through various encounters several options are available on the players' "to do list". In that way, railroading can be kept to a minimum. Sure, one of those options is the main campaign, but it can be made so that it isn't all that obvious because some of those "to do" are appealing for various reasons (revenge, greed, heroism, etc.). Sure, once an option is selected, there will be some amount of "railroading", it's unavoidable, but over all players do feel that they have a say in what is happening. But such a set up does require more preparation from the DM, so it isn't for everyone. Also, if players prefer a short campaign, with an end, and then take a break for some time before starting again with a different campaign, then what I'm writing about is not for such players.
      Personally, I play with different DM's, and one of them is very good at this. Over time (we have been playing for several decades) we have built a list of about 8 or 10 choices on our "to do list", we can guess the main one, but several of them are connected so it's not all that obvious. Finally, there isn't a "main" campaign to finish, i.e. we keep playing, always meeting new NPC offering new challenges, so it never really ends. What I mean is that we don't have one big final goal, we have a goal, out of several ones, that once attained just opens up a new door to continue our story towards a new goal.

  • @Seelenschmiede
    @Seelenschmiede Před 13 dny +10

    A good DM paints a picture with his voice.
    A bad DM has a voice.

  • @canskasapaemanon708
    @canskasapaemanon708 Před 13 dny +260

    back in the 80s we let one of our players serve as dm because he was excited having come up with his first dungeon. it was a level 1 campaign. the first encounter was with a red dragon. game over in less than 5 minutes. well done benny!

    • @VonUndZuGeist
      @VonUndZuGeist Před 13 dny +73

      But he set up a dungeon and a foe. That's still more than Rowan managed.

    • @gatlank6080
      @gatlank6080 Před 13 dny +30

      "Guys! How could you all be dead? It took me hours to plan this!" Rips away half binder.

    • @addison_v_ertisement1678
      @addison_v_ertisement1678 Před 13 dny +4

      Benny and the jets!

    • @kamrad_ichu
      @kamrad_ichu Před 13 dny +3

      DM Benny in Call of Duty: you are in desert, enemy nuked you. Twice. End.

    • @PalleRasmussen
      @PalleRasmussen Před 13 dny +12

      LOL
      From 1994- 1999 and again from 2003- 2013 when a central member died; I played in a group of four- five, where three of us took turns GM-ing for the rest. Half a year each. Then you had a year to be a player, be inspired by the others and plan the next chapter of your campaign.

  • @Kazedor
    @Kazedor Před 13 dny +160

    "Will this cursed night never end?"
    I'm definitely using that one.

    • @Jpiggye
      @Jpiggye Před 13 dny +4

      Has some Castlevania 2 vibes from the NES. "What a horrible night to have a curse"

    • @mallard3084
      @mallard3084 Před 13 dny +3

      feels like a Dragon's Dogma quote imo

    • @rwandaforever6744
      @rwandaforever6744 Před 12 dny

      I'm leaning more towards "Diablo" quote...

  • @theq86
    @theq86 Před 13 dny +23

    Always love it when Brynley Stent makes an appearance; she played the after-thought NPC perfectly.
    Also love how Alan played the perfect supportive player.

  • @commandocommander4041
    @commandocommander4041 Před 13 dny +7

    I like how Alan is just into it all the way lmao, no matter what Rowan says he just rolls with it In-Character.

  • @doctorc.1442
    @doctorc.1442 Před 13 dny +370

    There's SO MUCH potential here about bad DMing, really. From obvious plot holes, to horribly overpowered self-insertion NPCs, completely unbalanced battles, misunderstood rules, and monsters gaining traits mid-fight because the DM really wants to win or railroad an encounter.
    You could make an entire series from that.

    • @lukeari9890
      @lukeari9890 Před 13 dny +38

      Hey, monsters suddenly getting a phase 2 is a respectable technique for when you realize you woefully underestimated your party.

    • @acg1189
      @acg1189 Před 13 dny +10

      @@lukeari9890 Yeah a Phase 2 power up is a totally valid trope to pull for a boss.

    • @shaclown7721
      @shaclown7721 Před 12 dny +3

      Actually no. Because your examples are of bad DM's that actually exist.
      Rowan is a parody of the worst of all that, portraying an impossibly bad DM that won't ever see the light of day.

    • @1blackone
      @1blackone Před 12 dny

      Aren't you just talking about CR3 90-92?

    • @Youre-Welcome
      @Youre-Welcome Před 12 dny

      💯

  • @eliasar5051
    @eliasar5051 Před 13 dny +83

    0:50 This is the cutest "mean" I have ever seen. It is so adorable 😆

  • @zukato4119
    @zukato4119 Před 13 dny +13

    Paladin Alan cracks me up so much
    "Will this cursed night never end"

  • @steveb6616
    @steveb6616 Před 13 dny +8

    I love how Rob is getting so pissed! "Is there anything significant about......"

    • @SzaraSzarancza
      @SzaraSzarancza Před 12 dny

      Some people really have a problem with taking "no" for an answer.😮‍💨

  • @Tullowit
    @Tullowit Před 13 dny +368

    The double meaning of "Will this cursed night ever end?" Was my favorite part.

    • @Conta_Minated
      @Conta_Minated Před 13 dny +4

      Not a problem, since we got to TPK pretty quickly. Not a moment too soon, you might add.

  • @zacheryc5724
    @zacheryc5724 Před 13 dny +94

    I love the small comments Alan keeps making that are totally in character and ignoring the player talk. True NPC energy.

    • @AzraealGamer
      @AzraealGamer Před 11 dny +2

      I wouldn’t say NPC energy. He is acting how players are supposed to act.

    • @zacheryc5724
      @zacheryc5724 Před 10 dny +2

      @@AzraealGamer I get that. I meant that rather than bicker and argue he simply stayed fully in character with reactionary lines and didn't engage in the table talk.

    • @AzraealGamer
      @AzraealGamer Před 10 dny +1

      @@zacheryc5724 I agree with you. That has always been my favorite players when I ran games

  • @Veckoza
    @Veckoza Před 13 dny +12

    As a forever-Paladin, Alan's attempt at ad-libbing his roleplay with "cursed villian!" is 110% accurate 😂😂😂

  • @asprywrites6327
    @asprywrites6327 Před 13 dny +3

    "Brother! It's great seeing you after all these years!" 2:26 "Okay, bye!"

  • @evatheepihipparch
    @evatheepihipparch Před 13 dny +509

    I love the bad greenscreen, represents the bad immersion

    • @najkraemer3117
      @najkraemer3117 Před 13 dny +18

      it actually wasnt bad xD this is some of their best work.

    • @applegeepedigree
      @applegeepedigree Před 13 dny +35

      Looks like the classic Windows XP background

    • @evatheepihipparch
      @evatheepihipparch Před 13 dny +17

      @@najkraemer3117 Nah i mean like it was obvious it was a greenscreen if you look at their edges and their lighting.

    • @perlundgren7797
      @perlundgren7797 Před 13 dny +3

      ​@@najkraemer3117 Uhm... Are you watching on a tiny phone screen or something? 🙂

    • @Ratatouillesky
      @Ratatouillesky Před 13 dny +1

      @@perlundgren7797 no he watching from the pinhole that show the window of the neighbour Phone

  • @georgeholly5489
    @georgeholly5489 Před 13 dny +91

    After 5 years of jurney you finally arrive into Win XP wallpaper.

    • @OmniscientWarrior
      @OmniscientWarrior Před 13 dny +4

      Glad I wasn't the only one that was seeing that

    • @radivojevasiljevic3145
      @radivojevasiljevic3145 Před 13 dny +3

      "It was long journey, from Windows NT 4 to Windows XP".😁

    • @VivaLaDirtLeague
      @VivaLaDirtLeague  Před 13 dny +11

      Glad you noticed the reference to that 😂

    • @georgeholly5489
      @georgeholly5489 Před 13 dny +1

      ​@@VivaLaDirtLeagueWas it intentional? You guys are legends😂

    • @megs4193
      @megs4193 Před 12 dny

      ​@@VivaLaDirtLeague guys I really wanted to get in touch with you guys, but I only have youtube and switch, I tried to see on a live if rowan could shout out my mum Annette, it was a embarrassing disaster for me, I don't like to bother people I don't know, but she's 73, she has emphysema, she's doing well, she's a huge gamer, especially ghost of tsushima, horizon all of them, lately assassins creed, she'll be 74 on the 23rd of July, the reason I stupidly asked for a shout out at the wrong time with to much information is because it made me so happy seeing her laugh because of all of you, I know she's scared, and you guys helped her forget, and anyone that makes my mum laugh makes me extremely happy ❤ if you get this, and you can, let me know here, I would never forget an act of kindness like that 🥲🦘🇦🇺🦘💕💕💕.

  • @Psuedo-Nim
    @Psuedo-Nim Před 13 dny +5

    This is the moment of ultimate despair, when the hope of the forever DM is quickly crushed, because they know that no amount of coaching or help is going to save the useless DM. You can almost hear their spirit break.

  • @uckto2720
    @uckto2720 Před 13 dny +3

    I loved the nod to the Windows XP background. Just the most default basic setting possible.

  • @Keln02
    @Keln02 Před 13 dny +601

    Rowan, panicking on OpenAI:
    "I forgot this was DnD Sunday, generate me a DnD campaign D:"

    • @royalgm
      @royalgm Před 13 dny +97

      AI would do better than this.

    • @johnburn8031
      @johnburn8031 Před 13 dny

      I asked ChsrGPT to generate me an example of an opening for a D&D campaign. I got
      Of course! Here's an opening for a D&D campaign:
      "In the land of Verathia, whispers of an ancient prophecy echo through the valleys and forests. It is said that a great darkness will soon descend upon the realm, threatening to consume all that stands in its path. As the first signs of this impending doom emerge, a diverse group of adventurers from different walks of life are drawn together by fate. Each harbors their own secrets and motivations, yet they share a common destiny: to uncover the truth behind the prophecy and vanquish the darkness before it's too late. Their journey begins in the bustling city of Eldoria, where rumors of strange occurrences and disappearances have begun to spread. Little do they know, their path will lead them far beyond the city walls, into the heart of Verathia's most dangerous and mysterious realms. Are you ready to embark on this epic quest, brave traveler?"

    • @goncalocarneiro3043
      @goncalocarneiro3043 Před 13 dny +26

      AI is not good at all at DMing still. But somehow it would still be better than this.

    • @ThatGuy-mp9og
      @ThatGuy-mp9og Před 13 dny +17

      ​@royalgm completely agree, all it takes is the correct prompts and it can do a pretty good story. I tried it once to see what it was capable of and it did pretty good, you just have to tweak it a bit after for a better flow and to nerf the fights it listed as some had insane levels to go up against lol

    • @insaincaldo
      @insaincaldo Před 13 dny +3

      This reads like the old version of AI Dungeon at best.

  • @pyredynasty
    @pyredynasty Před 13 dny +12

    I had one who loved to say, "you can do anything," and refused to elaborate. One time he told us he was disappointed we didn't play all the carnival games he prepared for us. Our answer was, "there were carnival games?"

    • @alterego3734
      @alterego3734 Před 13 dny +2

      The stolen version of your comment currently has 188 likes.

    • @pyredynasty
      @pyredynasty Před 13 dny +2

      @@alterego3734 Well I guess I'm happy people like my writing.

    • @Bombot78
      @Bombot78 Před 11 dny +2

      This tale does somewhat highlight the usefulness of a debrief. I'm guessing lessons were learned

  • @privacyvalued4134
    @privacyvalued4134 Před 12 dny +2

    Next: Make Balen the DM. "Great day for fishing!" "Rowan, we've fished at least 100 times at this lake already! And all we keep catching are carp."

  • @JohnDWJ
    @JohnDWJ Před 13 dny +6

    This. This hits hard. Oh the memories… lol, I love how Alan is taking it seriously no matter how random the changes are.

  • @SandraOnCloud9
    @SandraOnCloud9 Před 13 dny +41

    Alan's conversation with his sister was painful to watch! It reminded me of what it feels like to be interrogated about your life by family members at gatherings!😅

    • @OmniscientWarrior
      @OmniscientWarrior Před 13 dny +4

      But that really sold that they were siblings and it was thought out and not just half assed put together on the spot. Not as well put together as Skygrountree, the will established threat and a dragon. But that is some seriously high standards to meet.

  • @UnclePhil73
    @UnclePhil73 Před 13 dny +43

    I love how Robert can’t turn off being a back seat DM even as a player. 😂

    • @geoffreycannon2197
      @geoffreycannon2197 Před 13 dny +3

      The curse of the forever DM… I’m a member of that club :))

    • @tyrant-den884
      @tyrant-den884 Před 12 dny +3

      Its part of the reason I have trouble PCing.

    • @calebowens693
      @calebowens693 Před 11 dny +1

      Yeah... I feel that. Especially the moments where the GM wants to "sidebar" like a judge and a lawyer for a second to see what they should have someone roll for an odd thing they want to do.

  • @jaypee9575
    @jaypee9575 Před 13 dny +4

    I love Alan trying his best making small talk with his sister.

  • @Liz-nu5dr
    @Liz-nu5dr Před 13 dny +4

    "You're all dead. I win." That's so...Bored Rowan.....🤣🤣🤣
    Good DMs are marvellous. Rob is incredibly good. Let's treasure what we have!

  • @doomedbringer
    @doomedbringer Před 13 dny +47

    I like how he has a notebook while the other guy had a massively organized binder

    • @CortexNewsService
      @CortexNewsService Před 13 dny +2

      I liked that too

    • @fredriksaterby5781
      @fredriksaterby5781 Před 13 dny +1

      And that he only, and even barely, uses the first page where there are some scribbles and odd figures.

    • @jper4911
      @jper4911 Před 9 dny

      @@fredriksaterby5781 and then says "oh now i've lost my place where were we?"

  • @nicholepoisson4519
    @nicholepoisson4519 Před 13 dny +781

    I love how Britt is always sticking up for Rowan, but seriously I love Rowan but he is no Rob, lol.

    • @mrosskne
      @mrosskne Před 13 dny +11

      yeah, you can tell he's not rob because he actually lets the players make decisions that matter

    • @PalleRasmussen
      @PalleRasmussen Před 13 dny +6

      ​@@mrossknehe does? When?

    • @Suzuki_Hiakura
      @Suzuki_Hiakura Před 13 dny +12

      @@PalleRasmussen think they are referring to Britt cutting the rope bridge, cutting several play sessions they could have played.

    • @PalleRasmussen
      @PalleRasmussen Před 13 dny +6

      @@Suzuki_Hiakura I am confused; I interpret it as if Nichole meant that Rob does not let his players make decisions that matter. IE that he railroads them. You interpret it as if Rob does let them do so, with the cutting of the road example. The statement can actually be interpreted both ways, so there is support for both positions... Interesting...

    • @Suzuki_Hiakura
      @Suzuki_Hiakura Před 13 dny +4

      @@PalleRasmussen It could have been sarcasm? Just reread it and got the same conclusion lmao. I misinterpreted it originally xD

  • @thecerveza
    @thecerveza Před 13 dny +4

    Brit's little "Bye, castle" is so cute

  • @RobertHartleyGM
    @RobertHartleyGM Před 13 dny +2

    Alan had me in stitches in this one. 'cursed villain', 'cursed forest' and 'will this cursed night never end'. A player desperate to have fun on his one night a week where he gets to unwind.

    • @richf9748
      @richf9748 Před 12 dny +1

      The Alans interaction with his sister had me rolling. It looked like you were hiding behind your bow trying not to lose your shit laugjing during that exchange 😂

  • @mostafajamali9127
    @mostafajamali9127 Před 13 dny +30

    “ Farewell sister “ killed me 😂😂😂

  • @kayleespiritu8033
    @kayleespiritu8033 Před 13 dny +99

    Of course the DM would be Rowan. He doesn't even know what 100 gold looks like

    • @MyName-Jeff
      @MyName-Jeff Před 13 dny +5

      Of course he does. It looks like 5 minutes at a casino

    • @SzaraSzarancza
      @SzaraSzarancza Před 12 dny +1

      @@MyName-Jeff That's a -100 gold, not a 100 gold.😅

  • @AzraealGamer
    @AzraealGamer Před 11 dny +2

    There are a couple types of DMs.
    1: can only run a campaign using a premade quest and has to adhere to it.
    2: one that makes their own and has to adhere to it.
    3: one that can do 1 or 2 and are quick to be able to adjust to players flights of fancy in the middle of the campaign deviating from the campaign.
    4: one that takes parts from 1 and 2 and constantly changes and evolves the campaign as it goes on.
    I ranked them from easiest to hardest to do.
    No matter which you try, a first timer will never run a good campaign. For multiple reasons.
    1: they start farther up on the difficulty levels wanting to create their own campaign right away.
    2: players constantly challenging them on everything. This is troublesome to new DMs.
    I have played with DMs that sucked starting off and I took the campaign from them and gave them a character to play.
    Made it look like we planned it so he wouldn’t loose face.
    He has since with help became a decent DM. He figured out where he went wrong and even had good players that didn’t go nuts at mistakes even the big ones.
    In this clip, rowan is a newbie and needs the support of the players. It can be difficult as a player when things keep changing but to all players with a newbie DM, be patient and give supportive criticism at the end of the game session.

  • @RobertShepherd-kf4oe
    @RobertShepherd-kf4oe Před 13 dny +1

    My favorite DM lines are " you can try anything" and the dreaded "are you sure?"

  • @MainCoreNightcoreAMV
    @MainCoreNightcoreAMV Před 13 dny +69

    Rowan can be so competent representing such incompetence that sometimes I just can't stand to watch it and close the video just to open it again a few seconds later. Lul

  • @pbgandie
    @pbgandie Před 13 dny +29

    There is no way the DM said it was dark without at least one player proclaiming “I HAVE DARKVISION”
    Source: this DM

    • @Gillsing
      @Gillsing Před 13 dny +2

      The elf should have had night vision, suitable for nights in forests. But he wanted to light a torch. That would only be needed in total darkness, such as being underground.

    • @AdrianColley
      @AdrianColley Před 12 dny

      Did it get changed from infravision? It's been a long time since I played.

  • @combatdeffective2121
    @combatdeffective2121 Před 13 dny +1

    It's pretty funny that Rowan had to be the bad DM, cause Rob is so great he couldn't fake being bad at it.

  • @nemesisofeden
    @nemesisofeden Před 13 dny +2

    Alan and Brit tried their best to make it work. Props to them.

  • @theancientsobek855
    @theancientsobek855 Před 13 dny +16

    How dare Rob call it not a good campaign?
    It had evil sister plot twists, Castles, creepy forests and man I did not see that ambush coming!

  • @KingofGoblins1
    @KingofGoblins1 Před 13 dny +27

    That final "I win" when all the players die, usually for not doiung exactly what you have on your book, its so great. It would also been great the moment when the dm doesnt needs you and tells you - you ariva at a town, and you go to the tavern, there you meet a dark man, and you ask him about ... - and after a while, he tells you, now roll iniciative, and you at some point went to a vampire castle, but you dont know why because you stopped playing attention after 10 minutes.

  • @ElanorNarmolanya
    @ElanorNarmolanya Před 13 dny +2

    The fact that Rowan didn't even remember the name of Alan's character, he just calls him "the paladin" 😂😂

  • @BlackjackMain
    @BlackjackMain Před 13 dny +1

    This is a really good representation of how painful bad dm's are, I almost couldn't finish the video

  • @neowolf09
    @neowolf09 Před 13 dny +19

    Lmao at "I win" is such a Rowan thing to say 😂
    Rob is correct, he's a great DM. I highly suggest watching both campaigns and even the isolation games series. All hilarious content with great immersive stories.

    • @RobertHartleyGM
      @RobertHartleyGM Před 13 dny +5

      Aw thanks!

    • @mimig474
      @mimig474 Před 11 dny +3

      I've watched every DND episode multiple times & it never gets old.

  • @bigyoshi5170
    @bigyoshi5170 Před 13 dny +185

    Bit harsh to say he’s useless, this DM expertly incorporated the Paladin’s backstory by having his sister have an important role in the campaign

    • @3Clod
      @3Clod Před 13 dny +26

      yeah, she's evil and greeted "bye", important role 🤪

    • @bigyoshi5170
      @bigyoshi5170 Před 13 dny +27

      @@3Clodyes exactly! I’m so glad someone else sees how pivotal that moment was for the Paladin, showing him that even if he is faced with betrayal and loss there will always be others there for him like his party

    • @3Clod
      @3Clod Před 13 dny +14

      @@bigyoshi5170 bah, too many words, rowan's dm is more efficient "there's someone, she's evil, disappears"... see? more time to do other stuff like describing the forest! (which is dark so none can see it... aaaand they're all dead)

    • @jesusromanpadro3853
      @jesusromanpadro3853 Před 13 dny +5

      It was Alam fault for not remembering his sister.

    • @justadude7455
      @justadude7455 Před 13 dny +12

      Right!? Literally the most important NPC in the campaign

  • @martabachynsky8545
    @martabachynsky8545 Před 13 dny +2

    Sounds like stuff I did when I was 16 (back in the '80s with 1st Ed), and introduced to D&D by my brother who wanted me to DM (so he had chance to play for once instead of always being DM for our party). Actually, I wasn't as bad as Rowan because I loved (and still do) giving detailed descriptions of everything. I just thought it was me against the players because I didn't understand the DM's actual role.

  • @Welv1987
    @Welv1987 Před 13 dny +1

    It amazes me how Rowan is so good at being this level of stupid. A rare skill that we all enjoy. Good acting as always.

  • @Lazybonez378
    @Lazybonez378 Před 13 dny +92

    I love the detail rowen has a regular notebook instead of a massive dm binder like the other dm, which shows he doesn't really know what he's doing

    • @insaincaldo
      @insaincaldo Před 13 dny +17

      Hey now. You can make it fine like that, you just bookmark well.

    • @Werewolf_dr
      @Werewolf_dr Před 13 dny +8

      Yeah, the binder is a pretty recent thing, and not all GMs use them. Notebooks re completely feasible for good GMs.

    • @Lazybonez378
      @Lazybonez378 Před 13 dny +2

      @insaincaldo oh well sorry for dissing notebooks

    • @insaincaldo
      @insaincaldo Před 13 dny +2

      @@Lazybonez378 Meh, you can call it a crutch. My dombass would probably end up ruining some of the papers and lose them from a binder, even with sleeves for the pages.

    • @senhowler
      @senhowler Před 13 dny +5

      Rob throws out more pages of notes when his players go off the rails than Rowan prepares for the entire campaign.

  • @darthstardustv2644
    @darthstardustv2644 Před 13 dny +7

    "I win" perfectly encapsulates the attitude of a DM that doesn't quite get it.

  • @haariger_wookie5646
    @haariger_wookie5646 Před 13 dny +1

    I found the interaction with the sister very realistic. Just like my average smalltalk.
    10/10 super immersive

  • @4RILDIGITAL
    @4RILDIGITAL Před 13 dny

    The roleplay in your video really helped bring the characters to life. 😂

  • @MurMurYoutube_Astra
    @MurMurYoutube_Astra Před 13 dny +62

    That is the reason why Rob is always a DM

  • @Mavsta_13
    @Mavsta_13 Před 13 dny +17

    “Bye castle”, fucking killed me 😂

  • @armelior4610
    @armelior4610 Před 13 dny +2

    They should have seen the ambush coming, but evil sister distracted them so expertly that they didn't notice the sun setting and the trees growing around them. Good job, Rowan !

    • @SzaraSzarancza
      @SzaraSzarancza Před 12 dny

      One of things that DMs should be aware of and be able to identify, direct and properly react to it is the focus/lack of focus of players attention. Expecting players to respond to something that is completely outside of their attention because their attention has been focused on something else by DM is ridiculous and is mainly a pitcher's error not batter's error.

  • @redt3788
    @redt3788 Před 10 dny +1

    Wouldn't it be funny in their epic NPC Man series if a NPC became self-aware of the restart Mission button and realize that they are reliving the same moment over and over

  • @barneypurple3435
    @barneypurple3435 Před 13 dny +167

    It's either Rowan being Rowan as a DM, he's unprepared, or this is his first time DMing.

  • @chiangweytan5937
    @chiangweytan5937 Před 13 dny +13

    This should be a series... DnD with bad DM-ing.. random events and NPCs that confuse the players as they struggle to cope with the storyline.. lol

  • @AdrianColley
    @AdrianColley Před 12 dny +1

    2:19 "Oh, now I've lost my place!"
    _flips between the only page with writing on it and the next page_

  • @Ravenaxis
    @Ravenaxis Před 13 dny

    We've all gone through this spot, yawning, and ending browsing the closest comic book nearby while the DM "narrates"

  • @Gorbukoki
    @Gorbukoki Před 13 dny +21

    Rowan putting the "no and" into an unprepared session's improvisation.

  • @jocosesonata
    @jocosesonata Před 13 dny +7

    Alright! Now we need a 4 episode one-shot, where each player takes a turn being a DM. Rob sets the scene, the world, before the others have their go.
    Just one or so hour of DM'ing for each, before he retakes the reigns, and ends the one-shot.
    Come on, Rob! Take a quick vacation, be a player on-screen for once.

  • @charlesweinert4116
    @charlesweinert4116 Před 13 dny +1

    Alan validating everything Rowan says is the best.

  • @MysterySemicolon
    @MysterySemicolon Před 13 dny

    "I win." is quintessentially what not to do as a Game Master, encapsulated in one simple phrase.

  • @francisty139
    @francisty139 Před 13 dny +16

    The flexible well done graphics to contrast the useless DM skills to maximize laughter. Brilliant. Kind of like Hamish getting the bad ass armor that Rob should be wearing when he armors up.

  • @Duradan-
    @Duradan- Před 13 dny +43

    Rowan playing DnD like Monopoly. "In it to win it"

  • @JohnDoe-ld8nr
    @JohnDoe-ld8nr Před 13 dny +1

    It's nice to see a DM get a win once in a while. Goes to all this work to put together a story and monsters only for the players to always get to defeat them.

  • @alexanderfeoktistov6826

    new DMs come in two flavors: "you arrive at a place... uh... yea" or [chapter-length description of a location that drags on while the party falls asleep or plays on their phone]

  • @StArShIpEnTeRpRiSe
    @StArShIpEnTeRpRiSe Před 13 dny +19

    The lore in a nutshell. 🤣🤣🤣
    You arrived the place.
    It's a forest.
    At night.
    You all dead, because not noticed the ambush.
    I win.

  • @willemverheij3412
    @willemverheij3412 Před 13 dny +9

    Now I kind of want each of them to be the DM in an episode, to be terrible DM's in different ways.

  • @Lillyluri
    @Lillyluri Před 13 dny

    "If you want to be a player again, I can take over."
    When the forever DM tried to break the cycle once, and then wished he hadn't.

  • @jjsweetwandi7042
    @jjsweetwandi7042 Před 12 dny

    "Bye Castle" words you can use when the castle disapears, the party leaves the castle or the party has a wizzard who casts fireball.

  • @devihen
    @devihen Před 13 dny +22

    Suddenly I dont feel so bad when i DM players.

    • @RiesenWuschel
      @RiesenWuschel Před 13 dny +3

      Don't feel bad. You're needed and if they don't value you, we other tired, poor, huddled DMs will give you the praise you need.

    • @OmniscientWarrior
      @OmniscientWarrior Před 13 dny +2

      As long as you actually tell them what's going on, and keep up, you shouldn't be a bad DM. Not saying you will be a good one, but not bad is good enough to have some level of fun with.

  • @TheCrosshare
    @TheCrosshare Před 13 dny +14

    I mean, if you take out the lore, the rolls, the puzzles, the fights, drama, and all that "fancy" stuff, it's basically a regular old D&D campaign :D

  • @Salt_and_Peroxide
    @Salt_and_Peroxide Před 10 dny +1

    „I win” -DM that's fantastic

  • @Fuzzycat16
    @Fuzzycat16 Před 13 dny +1

    "We've finally arrived... aT tHe pLaCe."
    Love the captions

  • @VivaLaDnDLogs
    @VivaLaDnDLogs Před 13 dny +7

    "Did you guys know you can just send a Tarrasque in the first session? Roll for initiative. Tarrasque goes first. Attacks Hardwon, kills him. Legendary Action, attacks Moonshine, kills her."
    "Wait, Murph, can we at least roll for initiative?"
    "Nope. Another Legendary Action. Beverly is dead."
    "Um, uh, I talk to a small child!"
    "Nope. Too late, everyone's dead. Suddenly, breaking down the door comes Rian Urphy. He says, 'Don't worry, I've got this.' Why aren't you guys having fun?"

  • @etelvina141
    @etelvina141 Před 13 dny +18

    Schmerple! Such an astonishing story there that it can only be revealed bit by bit.

  • @ch5368
    @ch5368 Před 13 dny

    The one time I tried D&D... this is exactly how it was.
    If anyone talked at all in character, the DM would get really quiet & just sit there.

  • @SomebodysVincent
    @SomebodysVincent Před 13 dny +1

    A few of my favorites:
    - My sister! Good.
    - She's bad. She's Mean. *not that mean sound*
    - My sister. Is it really you? Oh yeah hi, it's me, your sister.
    - I win