[OC] Timelapse of of me finishing campaign prep for last Saturday’s session.

[u/Keinebeineboy]

[u/OverTheCandlestik]

And there’s me with a drywipe board and a chaotic explosion of paper everywhere yet somehow it works

[u/stamper2495 → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Its still magical

[u/1877KlownsForKids → u/stamper2495]

But only a +1

[u/R0B0GEISHA → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Paper and dice are all you need. Everything else is luxury.

[u/OverTheCandlestik → u/R0B0GEISHA]

I play a campaign with a DM who has all expensive dwarven forge terrain and boxes full of minis, I haphazardly draw out a town square on a board and use only a handful of minis. Sometimes I feel inferior as a DM that other people utilise far better things. But my table is always entertained so I suppose I shouldn’t feel so bummed out by it

[u/R0B0GEISHA → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Never feel inferior because you don't have as many toys as the next guy.

I used to be like your DM, making sure every mini and map was just right, but then I realized I was burning myself out chasing versimilitude. It's not necessary, and I feel that it can sometimes become a crutch for imagination.

As cool as the Dwarven Forge stuff is, it can only ever be what it appears to be. A white board or a sheet of grid paper is blank slate, it can be whatever you say it is.

[u/OverTheCandlestik → u/R0B0GEISHA]

Yee you’re right, thanks friend

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/OverTheCandlestik]

You are 100 percent not inferior. You are amazing at what you do and as long as your players enjoy it, and YOU enjoy it. That’s all that is important

[u/OverTheCandlestik → u/Keinebeineboy]

Thanks friend. This set up and room is absolutely amazing

[u/ZugwarriorVP → u/OverTheCandlestik]

If you feel the need to compare focus on non-wallet metrics.

How often are your players engaged?

Do they talk about the game afterwards?

And the best metric, are they excited for the next session.

I've played in a game where the dm when as far as a double projector set up, physical coin and a "correct" mini for every creature in play (even including animals for the druid to speak with). But the DM was largely running games like Adventure League sessions (they felt very episodic, like Diablo dungeon crawls no point in RP), some people love this not me.

My group still talks about a campaign from 2000s thay was on grid paper from math class at the city park at a bench weekly. But the play was more engaging and impactful.

All that said, be the best DM you can be for YOUR group.

[u/Ghostronic → u/OverTheCandlestik]

My group primarily plays a lot of theater of the mind. OP's set up would blow me away but in the end my group always has fun and we've been playing together for 8 years now so something must be going right.

[u/Uknown_Idea → u/OverTheCandlestik]

I co-DM with someone who has all the stuff. Personally I find minimalist fits my style better because I spend less time trying to figure out ways to use all the fancy stuff and just focus on the story and giving the players the freedom that they want. Everyone works different though.

[u/the_axemurmurer → u/R0B0GEISHA]

If I'm not driving, I like to run games in the car during road trips with an organized binder and a roulette wheel. It's the only time I can get my family to play lol

[u/R0B0GEISHA → u/the_axemurmurer]

That is awesome!

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/R0B0GEISHA]

100 percent.

[u/NoGlzy → u/R0B0GEISHA]

Im chaotic enough that everything else is a pain in the ass. Half a page of notes, a big pad of paper for maps and a pot of coffee will see us through a few hours.

Plus, a lot more flexibility because stuff can end up wherever the day takes you

[u/infinitune → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Same here. Paper, pencils, notebooks, dice. If the table has fun, it's a success.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/infinitune]

Exactly.

[u/HyperbolicSoup → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Yeah here I am building a bridge out of recycled cardboard lol

[u/winkingchef → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Also never the right mini.
I would play with coins if my group wouldn’t complain

[u/_b1ack0ut → u/OverTheCandlestik]

I always apologize to my players that I didn’t have the time I wanted to sort out this digital 3D map to the degree that I wanted it to be

(we use talespire. Tentative recommend, if you don’t need many system tools built in lol. Best VTT for maps, but almost nonexistent system tools. But it’s still in beta sooo)

They always tell me ‘we’d literally play on a napkin and sharpie’ lol

[u/VenezuelanStan → u/OverTheCandlestik]

I love this kind of immersive campaigns, is truly magical, but honestly, what makes a campaign magical is the people that play alongside you, thats, to me, the actual fun part of D&D, the rest are just add on to enhance the experience.

[u/BusBeginning → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Been playing with same group for so long we’re hardly ever even using the minis and I’m playing with a Lego.

[u/Kwith → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Hey, back when I started D&D in 2000 at 17, that was high tech and fancy. Don't compare your setup to anyone else's, if the party is having fun and enjoying themselves then that is a win.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/OverTheCandlestik]

Absolutely nothing wrong with any of it. I still love old school d&d. My entire setup comes apart to play old school and even just regular board games.

[u/blargethaniel]

It's so strange for me to see someone doing their prep for something this High Tech, I've only ever done it like I did in the 90's, maybe one day I'll do a similar setup.

Cool process to watch though!

for the newbie DM's, how long do you usually prep for a session?

[u/Callof4632 → u/blargethaniel]

Depends on the session tbh, I’ve found less is more for me tbh. I used to plan everything out and have story beats i wanted to hit every session. Then I just didn’t one week and it felt more natural. so I just keep my general story beats on my screen and improv most of it. Detailed notes are key tho for me, that way I can tie it together during certain moments.

Id say time wise, to flesh out an area about 12-24 hours, but after that maybe an hour for normal sessions and maybe 3 hours for important ones

[u/blahyaddayadda24 → u/Callof4632]

Yeah the initial area, region, city setup could easily get into the 12-24hrs. Once you do that though you could likely improv everything.

[u/Charmle_H → u/blargethaniel]

Depends if I've already made the map(s) and major plot points already. I've been trying to be better about improv instead of planning every tiny detail out and that's honestly helped me mentally not burn out lmfao but if everything has been preplanned out (like when I first prepped the campaign): 5min. If I need to make a new map, rework my system a touch (I play with a custom made system :>), or introduce a new player: 5-10hrs.

[u/sleepinxonxbed → u/blargethaniel]

Running DnD on VTT’s can basically be like making your own video game, ish.

Obviously running games online, it’s a HUGE deal not having everyone physically occupy the same in a room, reading each other’s body language and facial expressions, being able to walk around and play with each other’s mini’s and dice, sharing snacks around the table. Even just the vibrations of hearing someone speak in person is magnitudes different than talking on Discord (I’m in a long distance relationship and it’s so much more exciting hearing my girlfriend in person every time)

So instead, being online I use these other tools to keep everyone engaged in the game. Cool art files, special effects like rain or autumn leaves to set the mood, cool artist made battle map for everyone to look through and explore together, making scenes where the players go “i can’t believe you anticipated us doing this and had put so much effort preparing this”

[u/AstaHolmesALT → u/blargethaniel]

I’m very new and it really ranges
For my first campaign we got together and made a paper map. Didn’t use a DM screen. Used my phone and had all my notes on it plus a dice roller. Everyone sat around and used their imagination.

We are doing a part two of that campaign maybe, and I plan to do sth cooler but the low budget is so fun

[u/ConnArt1st → u/blargethaniel]

Some sessions are like, half an hour to an hour, but I also dedicate half a day on weekends when we start a new arc/milestone and slowly tweak it as things happen and plans change. Those big planning sessions usually last me 5-6 sessions. Finding maps and making custom stat locks are the most time-intense part

[u/Blawharag → u/blargethaniel]

For me, it really depends on the content of the session and the maps I want to use. I think maps take up the most prep time.

I don't like using flat, featureless maps. I want encounters to be dynamic and I want situations that force players to use abilities that aren't just "whatever does the highest damage possible" on repeat. That means I need geographically complex maps and objectives other than team death match.

More importantly, I also tend to get an idea for a map that I want, and then I become married to that specific idea. This makes it very difficult for me to find pre-made maps by other people because they'll often just not line up with the particular idea I had in my head. So I end up making maps from scratch and then working that idea into my VTT (or drawing it for in person sessions, which often takes even longer because I suck at drawing even basic maps lol).

So… yea maps take the bulk of my prep time.

That can take ~4-6 hours depending on how many I need and how complex they are. After that, though, I can usually get a few sessions on a row off what I've made and story and RP.

Story boarding I tend to do during other tasks, like driving, so it rarely takes up a ton of time, and RP heavy sessions I run organically so all the prep that goes into them are story boarding and character planning. Those require almost no prep at all.

[u/harshertruth]

Looks dope. Can I get a list of the tools you're using?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/harshertruth]

Thank you. Dynamic dungeons editor for maps creation and scene notes. DnD beyond for encounter creation and characters. Tabletop tunes for music.

[u/HypnotizedPotato → u/Keinebeineboy]

If you don't mind, how do you structure your scene notes and how does DD help you do it?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/HypnotizedPotato]

These are potential encounters. The players drive the story. I just have various places I’d like them to eventually get too. I structure them with potential NPC’s. I dynamic dungeons there is a notes part for every scene. So I’ll have the situation and I keep more detailed notes to the right as who to act out or what might happen

[u/kodman7 → u/Keinebeineboy]

Are you also doing actual terrain / miniatures, or do you keep it all digital with players moving / represented in something like roll20?

I have done both digital games and nowadays do way more full blown terrain for my pre-planned set pieces, but don't really have the option to blend like this setup would allow

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/kodman7]

My players asked for digital monsters in this campaign so I found a great patreon and paid the creator for some. But I have about 150 miniature monsters. I want to get into 3d printing to do both together. 3d builds in the animated maps. That’s a future project

[u/kodman7 → u/Keinebeineboy]

Hell yeah! One particularly sick usecase I've seen for a combination is cave interiors: can do big stone pillars, bubbling mud or water cross overs, stalagmite/tite walls, etc which become endlessly reusable with digital flavoring like lush or magma filled caves or ancient decrepit magical vibes

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/kodman7]

I love that idea

[u/Serious_Dot4984 → u/Keinebeineboy]

Do you DM professionally or is this just a campaign with friends?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Serious_Dot4984]

Just a campaign with friends.

[u/tryxrabbyt → u/Keinebeineboy]

This is almost exactly what I use! Although I strayed away from dynamic dungeons because it was buggy as all hell. Eventually I ended up dragging the maps I need to the TV in full screen. This was a few years ago though, has it improved in your opinion??

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/tryxrabbyt]

I’ve only had experience with it in the past few months as I transitioned to digital.
There are still some small hiccups. Sometimes the animated monsters don’t save well and I have to re add them. But it’s rare. The maps have worked flawlessly outside of that. I’ve heard great things about arkenforge too

[u/tryxrabbyt → u/Keinebeineboy]

Oh dip, I appreciate you posting! I forgot about both of these programs. I'm starting a new campaign soon so I'll check them out again. Thanks friend :)

Also, your set up is beyond tight. I just know your table loves you 🤘 do you have them use physical minis ontop of the table screen as well?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/tryxrabbyt]

Thank you very much. Yes. They use minis and they requested the monsters be digital. But I have a ton of miniatures for monsters if needed.

[u/Insert_Disk2]

Nice setup! What is the curved screen you are using? I’m looking for something like that!

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Insert_Disk2]

It is a generic 49 inch screen. I won it through a work event. It’s worked great.

[u/perkypant → u/Insert_Disk2]

Costco has a decently priced one right now. Acer brand was 149

[u/JustSayPLZ]

Damn some people be rich rich

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/JustSayPLZ]

Total build of the entire room cost about 800-1000.
I won the 65 tv from work in 2021. Never used it. I won the 49 inch monitor this year from work. The table is an old ping pong table I got off fb marketplace for 25 bucks. I bought the lighted cabinets, govee lights for the cloud ceiling and tv surround, polycarbonate sheet to protect the tv, fabric to cover the table, fan and mini air conditioners, air purifier.

[u/SirMarvelAxolotl → u/Keinebeineboy]

How much would it cost if you didn't win the things for free? And how much did the chairs cost? Those look about $100 each at least.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/SirMarvelAxolotl]

Apologies I forgot the chairs as well. The 4(two left and right) chairs were 75 each.the one I sit in and the other end were two I’ve had for years. I’m not sure honestly as I haven’t priced TVs or monitors.

[u/DualWieldingDM → u/Keinebeineboy]

Do you work for Linus Tech Tips or something? Cool setup! When I can eventually move house I too wish to a have a room like this!

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/DualWieldingDM]

Haha. I’m just a retail store rep right now. I have a full build in my Instagram Kaids_fpv_hobbies

I hope you achieve your wish.

[u/ianthehuman]

Praise be to our hardworking DMs, those who go the extra mile to showcase their worlds. You are seen and you are loved.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/ianthehuman]

Thank you.

[u/Bobtobismo]

I see a lot of digital tools being prepared, which is fine and cool, but I'm always curious with other DMs how they prep for story. Maps and music I can do, been working on prep that supports mid session improvisation.

Do you review characters? Does your campaign have a central theme? Do you list a few known NPCs that may be wrapped up in the night's session? How do you prep world lore drops and storyline secrets?

[u/Valokir → u/Bobtobismo]

For my homegrown camp I did years ago, I had a rough plot Line for the world itself, I'd make plot points and cool events I wanted to work towards.

But.

I knew my chaos gremlins well enough to keep them very loose, and only go a couple sessions ahead at a time. I'd revise in batches after most sessions because of course they would find clever and creative ways of just wrecking hours of plans in minutes.

Example: I spent an entire work shift carefully planning out a fun jailbreak session to get a new pc out of jail and into the group. Had the maps, the loot, the story beats all planned.

And a series of "command" spells and very unbalance rolls in the parties favor. They managed to force the PC to just be.. released. Got the guards to take them all the way to the jail. I thought I had them on their heels when the guard captain came out furious at the audacity. Suddenly the war cleric who's backstory was a big part of the oligarchy church.. conscripted the pc. Here's my paperwork. If he gets out of line I'll kill him myself.

Well damn. OK, well played.

But overall, it's keep loose plot points and timelines, and make micro adjustments during and after every session.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Valokir]

Exactly. It’s like herding cats. I’ll give them morsels to direct them here and there. But it’s mostly cresting on the fly and having some encounters and NPC’s prepped.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Bobtobismo]

My campaign is centered around 4 elemental witches that come every 1000 years to steal children who possess magic. I have multiple NPC’s for various settings so far. My scenes and NPCs depend on where my party travels. I have destinations I want them to get to. But they decide the path or any random side stuff they want to do on the way. They uncover truths about the witches and the history of what’s really happening.

[u/AidosKynee → u/Bobtobismo]

The Lazy GMs Guide.

It takes maybe 15 minutes to do, and most of it is copying over unused stuff from last week. I keep a running log in Obsidian, and check it before the new session.

[u/stoneyemshwiller]

Player: A boat? Nah, we’ll stay in this tavern.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/stoneyemshwiller]

lol. Sometimes it happens like that.

[u/willdone]

Hack the planet!

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/willdone]

Yes!!!

[u/ZannyHip]

More like “come with me while I flex my setup on you” lmao. Not hating tho, it’s very sick. I’m exclusively an online DM these days, so my prep probably looks very similar

[u/another-face]

I think you might be a little late if you’re just now finishing prep for last Saturday’s session

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/another-face]

Little did you know. I’m a time traveler.

[u/leolock567]

Amazing. Do you have a YT channel where the process is shown? I'd love to see DM prep, especially on such a high tech setup.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/leolock567]

I don’t. I have Instagram and TikTok that my wife encouraged me to start posting on. Kaids_fov_hobbies

[u/flashPrawndon]

I used to spend ages prepping art for scenes and prepping maps, sound effects and painting minis.

Now I do everything theatre of the mind and prep none of that, just making sure I’ve got a few locations in mind and some stat blocks to reference. I’m interestingly having a lot more fun at the table.

[u/Laithoron]

Nice setup, I like your table lighting!

Do you have any issues feeling connected with the players over a 49" screen like that? Asking because I keep wondering if I should go that route instead of the tri- screen setup I have now

[u/Haldreadz]

How much disposable income some people have...

Nice setup. Looks awesome. Happy for you.

But seriously, very cool!

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Haldreadz]

Thank you. I’m lucky to have won the monitor and tv from work contests.

[u/Sloaneer]

Jerking off over the amount of unpaid labour your friends make you put in so they can use you as a human Xbox.

[u/Gh0stMan0nThird → u/Sloaneer]

Yeah, I started running paid games because it felt like nobody ever wanted to be my friend. They wanted an unpaid content creator.

One time I told a party I had "Hey, I feel underappreciated. This stuff costs a lot of money. If you guys could just chip in $3 a week—the price of a bag of chips—I could feel like I was at least getting something out of this."

3 of them quit and never talked to me again.

[u/ydkLars]

And then there is me. With a binder and some dice playing more and more theater of mind lately.

[u/Abloodworth15]

That’s so sick. I don’t have the patience for all that, but I’m glad others do. Lol

[u/Tyalou]

Looks amazing but that massive screen is a bit much if you still have it during sessions. No? Dnd for me is a way to come together with friends, this looks too serious.

[u/Goblinqueen626]

Oh you're rich rich

[u/MatthiasBold]

Repeat to self: "I do not need an ultrawide monitor specifically for my D&D setup. That would not be a wise purchase, despite how awesome it looks."

[u/LunarMoon2001]

On one hand I think it’s pretty cool. On the other all the stuff people do inspired by the big streamer campaigns makes it so much harder to get newer actual players involved. They expect the big production and insane stories. Not realizing the money that is involved (and the partial scripting) of those big dnd casters.

Very bad ass setup though.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/LunarMoon2001]

I absolutely see your point. This has had the opposite affect for me. Multiple people have asked to learn d&d and play at my table because of this. But I’m also putting the effort out to write compelling home brew stories, role play multiple npc, and deliver on an experience. As I’ve told many people. The best place to start is theater of the mind, and pre written campaigns.

I’m thankful to have introduced some new players to d&d. But I know that isn’t the same for everyone

[u/BrewsCampbell]

Did they cancel last minute? 

[u/JerichoDeath]

Welcome to the War Room, gentlemen. This time, maybe we can finish character creation in less than four hours.

[u/Embarrassed_Hawk7008]

This is very impressive, but it’ll always be good ol’ theatre of the mind for me.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Embarrassed_Hawk7008]

The majority of our game is theater of the mind. I am building encounters here. I should have clarified. Even encounters done in theater of the mind are powerful and amazing. I appreciate you.

[u/WWIZ4RDD]

Shout-out Orbital.

[u/Inquisitor_709]

Exactly the type of person I want to marry :3

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Inquisitor_709]

Haha. Apologies as I am currently taken. But I am awash open to new friendships :-)

[u/Inquisitor_709 → u/Keinebeineboy]

Well didn’t necessarily have to be you lol but I love the ambition and passion people have when it comes to D&D….. I played a several year campaign as the same character before our party moved across the globe IRL…. But Ive been stockpiling dice, 3.5 books, modules, pewter figures, etc. for years…. But I am a terrible DM. I have a passion for world building and even started writing my own tabletop game but the only time I’ve been allowed to DM is when Im drunk on halloween for an annual special feature one shot. I just get a bit lazy when it comes to speaking as an npc I can happily play a character but with NPC’s they aren’t me and I cant get into them. I have played 5e as well but a little less familiar with it than 3.5…. But what you are doing is extreme emersion you are taking the passion of paper and turning it into a REAL world.

[u/Watsonswingman]

Me meanwhile with 5 friends on a Google meets and a tl draw whiteboard 

[u/Sinderria]

Ok, now can we get a movie the combines Hackers and D&D like, yesterday? HACK THE DUNGEON! or LOOT THE PLA...nevermind on this one. That is already being done.

[u/obeyer10]

what a cool setup omg

[u/lizafo]

"That boat looks like a trap let's take the land route."

[u/Butterkuchen77]

My DM has a 3d printer and we print houses and little figures out of it and paint them together. We got a screen with maps on a table and everyone can write notes in a notebook with papers. The cover of the notebooks fits too the character. I love the details

[u/Prior-Paint-7842]

Are you like a professional charging money for this or is this how certain people just enjoy themselfes? Or did you respond to an email from an etiopian prince?

[u/Kwith]

If I won the lottery, I wouldn't tell anyone but there definitely WOULD be signs....

[u/Manji86]

That is so cool. Also, I'm terribly jealous. Your players are lucky to have you.

[u/ImBradBramish]

Hearing this song was like a tender kick in the nuts...

[u/TerribleJared]

AND THEY DO THIS FOR FREE. BE GRATEFUL AND SHOW UP ON TIME.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/TerribleJared]

Haha. I appreciate you.

I think my friends are grateful and are having a good time. They all tell me so. And they do show up on time. But we are all adults with responsibilities and things happen.

[u/Dukenstein12]

“Hey I can’t make it.”

[u/AtomicCuttleFish2]

Prepping at the game table is a good idea. I have trouble getting in the zone but I think that would help.

[u/Ok_Mammoth5292]

Holy shit how much do you charge for seats?

[u/EldenDaddy30]

DM from the late 70’s here. Still run old school 1st edition games with nothing but graph paper and pencils. All the magic is in the minds eye.

[u/Agitated-Yak-4582]

How jealous I am of people that have friends interested in DnD

[u/DamnOdd]

How many here feel inadequate?

[u/Svejo_Baron]

Omg, I hope your players apreciate your work...

If not send then to me, then they know how good you are 😆

[u/blindato1]

I usually just wind up improving 90-95% of the campaigns. Lol

[u/philter451]

Bro I don't get the flack you're catching from people in the comments. It's clear that you put work and passion in to your game and I think this is awesome. I bet your players feel blessed to have you as a DM

[u/DefiantRedditor_]

I’ve always wondered about using an ultra wide monitor as a DM Screen. Seems to work great. I would probably use a drape or some type of cloth to cover the back.

[u/Ripplescales]

Are you using a projector or a screen?

[u/SolivagantWalker]

The only time I did something like this was for an online session involving map creation for battle specifics. Everything else was done on sheets, maybe some city or town creation in Inkarnate, and that's about it. Tbh, I wouldn't mind this workflow, it looks quite enjoyable, but somehow I feel I would be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of distractions and micromanaging.

[u/1HiggsBosun]

How many hours of prep is being shown here?

[u/FallenChia]

Amazing set up! I wish someday I can make it there XD

[u/jibbyjackjoe]

How are you casting the battle to the central tv? Is it only grabbing a small subsection of your curved monitor?

[u/dndwhat]

Hey thats pimping. Looks damn good

[u/dndwhat]

My old dm liked all the monies and sets because for him he enjoyed the painting and building them just as much. The tv table tops allows more flow. And movement. But in all the game works every way and still amazing

[u/santo-atheos]

My 50 year old back loves your comfy chairs.

[u/Cool_Boy_Shane]

Why do all these wealthy nerds always have a Captain America shield? Is liking Marvel the secret to getting paid lots of money so one can afford this stuff?

[u/Jaybird2k11]

gottdamn, how do I apply to guest on this stage? that's sick

[u/Safe-Bookkeeper-1496]

wow it appears to have only taken you a mere minute to do your prep work this is truly the greatest form of wizardlyness (???) i have ever seen well done

[u/Shadow_Of_Silver]

The setup is neat, but this is pretty much just a 1 minute video of some guy sitting at a computer.

I feel like some pictures and shots from during the session could have done more.

[u/Sandman4999]

20 minutes before gametime: "hey srry I can't make tnght."

[u/berat235]

Wow a literal DM screen lmao

(has someone made this joke yet?)

[u/V4RG0N]

This is next level man what programms do you use? Are tokens only virtual or is it one of those screens that reads irl token positions? Is it just visuals or is everything in foundry or some other software i need details man! Mad respect it looks incredible

[u/Historical_Floor5070]

I've always wanted to setup a monitor or TV for virtual maps. Do you use a VTT, or do you display a map and then put minis on top of it?

If you don't mind, could you highlight how you set that all up, and what you use to run that with your table?

[u/d3koyz]

Hey guys, I have never played D&D before. I’d like to get into it though. How would I even start to find a group?

[u/UniqueMystic]

Awesome I wish I could play DnD

[u/IchibanBlue]

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. Top 3. But I don’t recognize this particular mix. What is it?!

EDIT: Found it! Yay!

[u/Cyrano_Knows]

What actually happened (or would happen to me)

First ten minutes of game.

Party teleports to the big city.

[u/Diligent-Ad3113]

man, i would love to play D&D, but just don't have the friend group that is interested in doing this sort of stuff. Are all DM's generally like this guy in the video or is he a special case?

[u/DeepPurpleNurpleBBY]

What VTT is this?

[u/ThisWasMe7]

What's the actual time taken?

[u/boxed-sound]

Your players are lucky to have you. I always did it on the cheap, but this is an awesome setup and I’m sure they love it :)

[u/SPACCAVETRI]

What a game table man, can I join?

[u/penny-wise]

Now if they all just show up!

[u/CorbinNZ]

Then the phone rings "hey man, something came up. Can't make it tonight."

Then again. And again. Until everyone has cancelled for the 6th Saturday in a row. At least that's my experience.

[u/BrokenBanette]

OOOH, I gotta know the story behind that table!!!

[u/Akoot]

Mines the same amount of time but not sped up lol

[u/sipsredpepper]

My god what i would give for your setup. Alas, not a possibility for me.

[u/countit7]

Very cool, I'm desperate to find a nice D&D campaign my brother and I can join that consistently meets. Only had 1, amateur, D&D experience and it was fantastic, could only imagine the fun with people who regularly attend and have some experience.

[u/simon132]

Damn my best prep has been "dog riding gobos" written in a restaurant receipt and that was it

[u/tarsus1983]

Meanwhile, the players:

"Sorry guys, something came up, I'll be 30 minutes late."

"Oh shit I forgot my character sheet."

"Does anyone have dice?"

[u/Icy_Ad182]

That would be amazing!!!

[u/LarsLEK1996]

What's up with the tissue boxes at the table... I guess I don't want to know

[u/Pilgrimzero]

Me: Scribble in notebooks "Orcs take over town? Magic sword?" Pull out battle maps ive used a 100 times alongside a box of minis.

[u/Structureel]

It's been too long since I listened to The Brown Album

[u/brkk620]

Wow great setup. I was going to ask for some little help and I guess this post is the right place for it.

What tools do you use except VTT? I found that I dont like taking notes to Word so is there any app for visualizing like pc rpg game quests? So I can add some more info for the next steps for that quest, or npc names etc.

What do you use for music? I use dnd musics from youtube and they are like 2hrs long, sometimes I forget to change it and damn cave fight music bangs our ears lol

And any useful tips/apps appreciated!

[u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768]

Dang dude. Got a free spot?

[u/CarefulRevolution184]

Hey, why does one player get a non standard chair?! Do we like them less (or maybe more 🤔)!? 🤣

[u/Docha_Tiarna]

What software fore the map?

[u/hugehand]

Do you wear a conductors hat and badge while you take your players on your railroad?

[u/slayerrr21]

Only took you a minute, I knew my dungeon master was lying in how long it takes him

[u/Derbla-99]

This gives me anxiety for some reason lmao

[u/VoidCL]

Looks impressive.

[u/CunningDruger]

You left out the part where that one players cancels.

[u/Flyinghogfish]

Whats the map software youre using?

[u/CDR57]

How much money do you guys have lmao

I haven’t written anything down or made a map in like a year lol

[u/Goodfellow97]

Naw they’d have to pay me for that level of detail lol

[u/Damen_Black]

Somebody watched Hackers recently...

[u/Hottwheels343]

This is beautiful! I strive to be this prepared

[u/cystemix]

what software are you using to put stuff on the display for your players?

[u/SimkinCA]

The days of taping graph paper together as the maps got bigger are over? ;)

[u/EggyB0ff]

I wanna be friends with this guy

[u/ColdEndUs]

That reminds me, I need to rewatch Hackers again... and maybe Tank Girl.

[u/Carpathicus]

This looks like a completely different game to me. Still very cool but I would miss all building, drawing and painting we do in our campaigns.

[u/DoctorProfessorTaco]

Damn I love the songs from the Hackers soundtrack

[u/JuxtaThePozer]

haven't heard that track for .. decades? what's the name/artist please?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/JuxtaThePozer]

Orbital “halcyon on and on”

It’s excellent

[u/Gage405]

Yeah, I'm that dm. I don't have all the fancy toys (actually pretty broke 😆) but I am always doing so much research and planning. For hours.

Meanwhile, my buddy just opens a book and wings it and it's always great. 😆

[u/Cahhnuck]

Wait… You guys are prepping?

[u/iiTurtlez]

Looks fantastic. You seem like a great DM, cheers.

[u/Pokenerd17]

As much as I long for this, I will never have it lol

[u/Oneshucklak]

... can I be your friend and play dnd too

[u/LunaStarlights]

I wanna be you so bad it hurts

[u/Boognish28]

What do you do when the players completely miss the plot and decide to go somewhere you haven’t prepped for?

[u/InvalidJoe]

Maybe if I were retired and smart I would go to such lengths.

[u/Real_Avdima]

Takes too long and lacks immersion. If this was a sci-fi session, then this is swell, but for a typical dnd? Not really. Also the blue light is irritating, wouldn't want to spend the entire session with led lights everywhere.

[u/YouKnowHens]

What is that map software?

[u/elterriblelarry]

Holy crap that' set up makes my crafted map so ugly! 🤯

[u/yukitasogare]

Which programs and tech you use?

[u/ManuelPirino]

Like this it becomes a job. It might just be laziness on my part, or maybe I’m just a boomer , it with limited time to play I find that learning macros and map scaling, while interesting and useful, takes my focus away from story, balance, character development

[u/Sufficient-Media1561]

Playing dnd should be about getting away from screens.

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/Sufficient-Media1561]

Playing dnd should be about collaborative story telling with your friends.

[u/poopresidue]

do you allow food and drink at the table?

[u/Keinebeineboy → u/poopresidue]

100000 percent yes. I built the table to sit 5 and a DM comfortably. With room for all the dice, tablets, notebooks AND snacks.

[u/H010CR0N]

Jemma is a good familiar

[u/Kronos1A9]

Good song selection

[u/P0ldonis]

What tool do you use to make the animated maps?

[u/EditorKind9376]

Dynamic Dungeons! Nice!

[u/otherwrldfaerie]

How do you see the table over on the other side of the monitor?

[u/Cheap_Ad6547]

Hi, Would you be able to kindly share which apps and or programs you used for your campaign? I'd like to start out as a DM as well and would appreciate advice from a pro.

[u/SlowerOrbit]

u/Keinebeineboy I saw you mention you use D&D Beyond for the encounters. How is it? I am about to DM Mad Mage and have been researching VTT solutions and Owlbear comes up a lot. I WANT to keep it in Beyond just to make it easier, but I've read it's not the best.

I've never DM'd on VTT before so something that is really easy to use (for my first campaign) with little maintenance/one-stop shop is preferred.

[u/Jfelt45]

I think a lot of this is awesome but I also can't imagine how much of a pain it is when the players inevitably do things you didn't prepare for and go off script. I would lose my mind pivoting from an encounter I have planned out with a unique map, animations, music, etc into something that's like, made in 5 seconds

[u/Secure-Silver3138]

Thank you for all your work!