DungeonCraft #45: Campaign Session 1

Let's be honest, it's not your first time watching this masterpiece.

Session prep 'Involves long walks and talking to myself' - My significant other laughed her head off when she overheard this, I have been known to pace, deep in thought talking through my ideas or even uttering fragmented conversations as I develop the mindset of certain NPCs or villains. Love it!

I just rewatched this one. This video is a DM's session zero and pre-session zero prep gem! Lots in here about how the DM connects to the kind of players in a group, how to do that, and world building. The world building is very interesting. As DMs, I think we invest time, energy, and details into the world. This video will teach you how to distill it down to just a few details. Those details are essentially the 'scuttlebutt' that all people everywhere talk about. Not giving too much detail keeps some mystery and unknowns alive and well!

This chanel took me back to D&D and down the OSR rabbit hole. Last sunday I started running a new old-school, West Marches style, gritty dungeon crawling game. Thanks to you PDM, and Ben from Questing Beast, and MCDM. Im here today judt to rewatch most stuff.

I recently decided to return to DMing after not playing for 20+ years. This video is far and away the most helpful one I have come across. I won't use everything presented, but the nuts and bolts story creation stuff is pure gold!

You may not have the flowing locks, the golden voice, or the elf ears, but damn if you don't have the fashion sense. Every DM has their thing, and I think that's yours. Love your videos man, don't ever stop!

I've run this six times now as a session 1 and it's a great one. A couple of ideas that have improved it for me: 1. For newbies Roll the stats during the contest or in lieu of a strength check ect. 2. Make the escape a chase scene / skill check with failures meaning more beastmen catch up to them. You want to make sure they face 2-4 especially if they never make it to the ruins to start to thin the herd. 3. Make sure u let player's sacrifice a character by jumping in front of a hit (let newbies know this an option). 4. 0 HPs = instant death. And don't give PCs any form of weapons right away let them use their creativity to find some.

You are quickly becoming my favorite Tabletop RPG channel! Keep up the great content!

I tried this when our groups regular DM was unavailable, my group loved it. I gave the ruins some weird runes that, according to local rumour, had hidden meaning. I had intended that the PC’s would later find a book with maps and drawings leading them back to the ruins and a hidden crypt or dungeon below. The player rolled a natural 20 so allowed him to correctly pronounce the magic words opening the crypt below which I had not prepared. They used the crypt and a hidden passage to escape the beast men bandits and had a blast.

I hate that I found your channel through the OGL drama, but I am glad to be here now. I love this look into your process of session prep.

This video is an absolute gold mine. You, sir, are a true hero for putting all of this out there.

We only did one 0 level session for DCC. It was funny because my players are so used to taking care of weak NPCs that they would use their best PCs first, then those would get killed, so at the end they were all left with their worst characters. I loosely suggested that they send in low stat characters to scout and check for traps, but they said that just didn't feel right.

Watched this series many times. I also tend to put music on, pace around the table and act out NPC dialogue. Glad I am not alone!

As a new DM preparing for my 1st campaign with friends, I appreciate this video so much!

First time commenter, long time listener! I love the idea of having my players start as peasants with peasant stats, and through the first session they discover their characters, gaining bonuses to stats through successful checks and rolls. Such a natural and organic way to build a character!

This has become my favorite rpg related channel bar none. Thank you d&d professor!

Watching this series again for the third time. Great stuff.

Wow, this is a great start to a grimdark campaign. The enemy’s remind me of Michael Crichton’s Eaters of the dead novel and the movie adaptation The 13th Warrior.

PROFESSION 46 - Mel Brooks would be proud! Your Funnel/Gauntlet Character Sheet needs to be made into a fillable PDF. Once again - you have made a MASSIVE contribution to the community! Thanks Prof!

I really like your dark and grim fantasy setting. In a world with such misery, there is a need for heroes. The story is full of hooks and make a great foundation for future sessions. I would really like to „steal“ your ideas and approach to the first session/setting. Concerning other Youtube channels: Don't worry, there is not enough to be said about this game and about stories. There is room for everyone on the internet and it doesn't matter if you are no mercer or colville. People are subscripted to these channels, because of different reasons. I myself watch all of you: CR, colville, dael kingsmill (monarchs factory), dungeon dudes, runehammer, black magic craft, wyloch, dm scotty, etc. etc. the list goes on and on and that is really good. This game and this world needs MORE storytellers, not less. It needs diversity and more different opinions and ideas. Keep up the good work!