D&D General 40 Year D&D Campaign

[Mercurius]

I agree with you, and said so up thread.

BUT, when you declare, on camera, that you run the best game in the world - you're inviting criticism on yourself!

I saw and "liked" that comment, I believe.

But yeah, it is a ridiculous comment but....it is just a game, and of course such a comment is non-verifiable, not to mention entirely subjective, and thus not really worth fretting about either way.

I think what he means is simply that he tries to run the best game in the world, which really comes down to him running the best game he possible can - and I think his way of going above and beyond is certainly deserving of more accolades than criticism.

 

[R_J_K75]

I had the same question and pretty much the same response. Maybe people weren't comfortable in front of the camera but it was just kind of ... weird. So much boxed text all read in kind of a droning monotone instead of just presenting. Especially at the beginning, what 9 minutes it's mostly just the DM talking? Then there's the monster table which I'm sure is amazing for set pieces but I think I'd need opera glasses just to see the minis.

Primarily though, there just didn't seem to be a lot of interaction and it just didn't seem like anyone was having fun. But again, maybe they were just more reserved because it was being recorded. Maybe it's just a bad impression. The guy is obviously super-committed to making his world live and breath and I applaud that. The minis are cool, if not super-exceptional. But if this is what his games are like on a regular basis? Pass.

On the other hand if I were to record my own home game I'm sure some people would probably have the same reaction.

You summed up what I was thinking/said perfectly. I think our assumptions are probably pretty close to reality. I caught that too, 10 mins in until the PCs spoke up. I'd be hammered by then. I was sitting around drinking with my buddies last night tooling around on YouTube looking for tunes (never did play the Ballad of Dwight Frye like I wanted to) and PT2 of his show came up and I gotta say...I was trying to explain it to a guy whose played with us a few times but the game just wasnt for him and I came to two conclusions. 1) I have much respect for the guys game and dedication, Im kind of envious, 2) OTOH his game kind of seems too wooden and laconic, canned, for me. I believe its a nice look into other peoples games to get a different perspective. Again I dont know the guy or played with him so Im just making assumptions and speculating. If the games been going for 40+ years he's gotta be doing something right to keep his players happy and coming back I guess?

 

[R_J_K75]

But yeah, it is a ridiculous comment but....it is just a game

I found his comment rather sad and equated it to Arthur Bach. On the surface it seems cool and fun but when you dig a little deeper its sad. I got the impression that an extreme part of this guys time is spent on his game, and hes missing out on alot of other things in life which is too bad.

I think his way of going above and beyond is certainly deserving of more accolades than criticism.

At first I had the same reaction, easy target, low hanging fruit etc, but yeah my hats off to him.

Heres to Nerdom paired with a Budweiser.

 

[R_J_K75]

One thing I wish the interviewer had asked him: Did he used to play in a game as well and/or does he play now?

From the video it seems like he started running, never stopped and has no time to actually be in another game.

I've found DMs who never play (or worse have NEVER played) lack a vital perspective to their game!

Well said, hard to be a good player without having got behind the DM screen at least once and hard to be a good DM without having played at least once.

 

[Oofta]

Apparently there's a part 2. Full disclosure, I haven't watched it (it's an hour and a half).

 

[Mort]

You summed up what I was thinking/said perfectly. I think our assumptions are probably pretty close to reality. I caught that too, 10 mins in until the PCs spoke up. I'd be hammered by then. I was sitting around drinking with my buddies last night tooling around on YouTube looking for tunes (never did play the Ballad of Dwight Frye like I wanted to) and PT2 of his show came up and I gotta say...I was trying to explain it to a guy whose played with us a few times but the game just wasnt for him and I came to two conclusions. 1) I have much respect for the guys game and dedication, Im kind of envious, 2) OTOH his game kind of seems too wooden and laconic, canned, for me. I believe its a nice look into other peoples games to get a different perspective. Again I dont know the guy or played with him so Im just making assumptions and speculating. If the games been going for 40+ years he's gotta be doing something right to keep his players happy and coming back I guess?

Keep in mind, even on the actual play - we are lacking A LOT of context. Maybe his game developed/evolved the way it did because he found that's what HIS players really wanted - so the play style actually best suits them. Who knows?

We don't really know how much communication, involvement his players have in all of this. His game (at least as streamed) sure seems very, very fiat based - but, again we lack A LOT of context.

 

[Mort]

Apparently there's a part 2. Full disclosure, I haven't watched it (it's an hour and a half).

Combat starts at about the 13-14 minute mark. The system seems to be a a weird combination of 2e and Palladium Fantasy % rules and, for me, seems to be the worst of both worlds! I couldn't imagine going with a system like that after playing with Savage Worlds, or 4e or 5e, or even GURPS (which, while I love the books, I'm not fond of the play experience)!

The only reason it seams to run quickly is because, other than letting the players say what the do and roll the dice, the DM does EVERYTHING for them - which (as I said above) sure seems very fiat based.

 

[R_J_K75]

Wow, everyone's a critic and has something to say about how this guy is doing it wrong.

Ive made my comments, took a few shots up thread but I dont think anyone, at least that Ive seen, said hes doing it wrong. Critiscm is what it is, good, as long as its constructive. I watched that 30 min intro video and it reminded me of 1995 so I'll say a further look into this guys life would be intriguing. What if hes an small aircraft pilot on the side?

 

[R_J_K75]

Keep in mind, even on the actual play - we are lacking A LOT of context. Maybe his game developed/evolved the way it did because he found that's what HIS players really wanted - so the play style actually best suits them. Who knows?

We don't really know how much communication, involvement his players have in all of this. His game (at least as streamed) sure seems very, very fiat based - but, again we lack A LOT of context.

Good to keep in mind that we also dont know how much communication takes place out of game too.

 

[R_J_K75]

Combat starts at about the 13-14 minute mark. The system seems to be a a weird combination of 2e and Palladium Fantasy % rules and, for me, seems to be the worst of both worlds! I couldn't imagine going with a system like that after playing with Savage Worlds, or 4e or 5e, or even GURPS (which, while I love the books, I'm not fond of the play experience)!

The only reason it seams to run quickly is because, other than letting the players say what the do and roll the dice, the DM does EVERYTHING for them - which (as I said above) sure seems very fiat based.

WOW!! Screw this guy. At 15:51 he tells his player, "Im not asking for you talk"!! I'd have said some choice words and left right there. That is just disrespectful and doesnt seem like fun.