D&D General You thought the Mercer Effect was bad...

[Oofta]

They do have videos about how to play, including how to DM. These are accessable at PlayDnD.com and here's a direct link


They are also in Spanish, German and French

Considering videos like this along with umpteen bazillion streamed shows, finding how to play the game is far easier than it's ever been. Which is part of why it's been as successful as it has been.

 

[Umbran]

I loved the D&D Movie. Super fun. Laughed harder and more than any other film I can think of. But hot damn... can you imagine DMing for players who's only experience of D&D is seeing the movie?

Yeah, that'd be a pretty easy way to start people off, I think.

Makes you wonder if he was actually just a thief that can play the lute

It isn't like Bardic Inspiration comes with a visible effect. His using mind-effecting spells without visible spellcasting isn't even the most inaccurate depiction of magic in the movie.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Players with no expectations beyond hijinks and a fun story?

Already got them, but the more the merrier.

 

[Undrave]

If a new player's only exposure to D&D was the movie, I'd have to sit that player down and explain that the movie is showing characters after they've already been played a lot (i.e. are considerably higher than 1st level) and that getting to be like the movie characters takes a fair amount of play, along with some luck.

Except for the Wildshape abuse.

Except for Chris Pine's character. He seemed to be a level 0 bard

Mastermind Rogue with the Entertainer background.

 

[Clint_L]

I think the "Matt Mercer" effect is apocryphal anyway. I've never seen it manifest. In general, people are smart enough to understand the difference between professionals doing something and everyone else doing it. It's why they don't storm of the court the first time they play pick-up basketball, enraged that the quality is nowhere near as good as the NBA.

 

[CleverNickName]

I loved the D&D Movie. Super fun. Laughed harder and more than any other film I can think of. But hot damn... can you imagine DMing for players who's only experience of D&D is seeing the movie?

Don't threaten me with a good time.

 

[overgeeked]

Don't threaten me with a good time.

Right? A group that doesn’t care about the rules, isn’t focused on optimization, is more interested in just goofing around and having fun for a few hours, and has more of a cinematic sense of D&D than a number-crunching wargame? Yes, please.

 

[MGibster]

I loved the D&D Movie. Super fun. Laughed harder and more than any other film I can think of. But hot damn... can you imagine DMing for players who's only experience of D&D is seeing the movie?

I take D&D about as seriously as a I do Adam West's Batman series from the 60s. I'd be more concerned about combat not playing out in an exciting cinematic way in the game like it did in the movie.

 

[Parmandur]

I take D&D about as seriously as a I do Adam West's Batman series from the 60s. I'd be more concerned about combat not playing out in an exciting cinematic way in the game like it did in the movie.

Ironically, taking some tips from Matt Mercer would help with that.

 

[Mistwell]

I loved the D&D Movie. Super fun. Laughed harder and more than any other film I can think of. But hot damn... can you imagine DMing for players who's only experience of D&D is seeing the movie?

"I stepped on the bridge trap by accident. Whoops?"
"Plan A and B failed, let's do Plan C!"
Yes. yes I can absolutely imagine DMing for players like that. That would just be another week.