Vin D&Diesel

[oldkat]

I just discovered (and watched) this last night: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLEMb_RIZ3o

I'm curious to know how many like (or don't) this style of DMing. For me, it was storytelling 101, with the players as bit characters.
What's your take?

[Chainsaw]

Jan 15, 2016 16:02:13 GMT -6 oldkat said:

I'm curious to know how many like (or don't) this style of DMing. For me, it was storytelling 101, with the players as bit characters. What's your take?

Yeah, not my preferred play style at all, but I wasn't into drama class/club in school and didn't/don't do plays and improv theatre either. If they're having fun, whatever. I'm glad the game's robust enough for us all to play it the way we prefer.

[tetramorph]

I'll echo Chainsaw. It looks like they were having fun. And the DM was good at what he was doing.

That vid did not describe my play experience IN ANY WAY!

You could never video the way of playing I am used to: it would be as boring as watching a video of someone else's family open their Christmas presents!

I really encourage third person narration at the table: Dak (a FM) asks if there is a tavern in the village. Not: "Ho there, good yeoman, I must needs of adventure" and all that. I just can't pull it off realistically!

Also, the all the DMs dramatic description would have totally distracted me. Look: what is my objective? Where am I now? What do I need to do to get there? Is someone in the mud hut? Okay, "listen at door." Nothing strange. Knock. Talk. Reaction roll. Keep it moving please!

That said, there are times for good description and for some fun dialogue encounters. I've had some of my most fun OLD SCHOOL when I was playing with a character who had received a blessing that gave him CHA 18! The dude absolutely milked it and it was hilarious. But, again, that is player skill over character build. I am not used to having to "check" to see if I can do ANYTHING!

[sepulchre]

Tetramorph wrote:

Also, the all the DMs dramatic description would have totally distracted me. Look: what is my objective? Where am I now? What do I need to do to get there? Is someone in the mud hut? Okay, "listen at door." Nothing strange. Knock. Talk. Reaction roll. Keep it moving please!...I am not used to having to "check" to see if I can do ANYTHING!

Feel much the same way. I keep the description pointed but brief and in the third person. Dialogue is usually first person for referee and player alike. And yes, most of the dice is in the hands of the referee, while the result is then described rather than if one fails or succeeds with 6 or whatever.

If by "storytelling" we mean dramatic description, then this conforms to that definition. As others have mentioned it is nice to see players having a good time, and that is something to which we can all relate.

[Keps]

This style needs a name because it's pretty common on actual play podcasts ever since 5e was born. I can watch/listen to it easily but we don't play like this.

[Chainsaw]

Jan 16, 2016 2:51:58 GMT -6 Keps said:

This style needs a name because it's pretty common on actual play podcasts ever since 5e was born. I can watch/listen to it easily but we don't play like this.

Dramatic D&D? DD&D?

[Stormcrow]

It's just done that way for presentation purposes. If any of them play D&D in private I'm sure it doesn't look like that.

[simrion]

My take is this was done to promote his The Last Witch Hunter movie

[rex]

I just got around to watching the video... I thought it was fantastic! The DM was great. I wish I had a DM and a group that brought so much enthusiasm to the gaming table, if only for thirty minutes. Great job by everyone involved.