• 00:00:05 🎲 The City of Arches is a new high fantasy sourcebook for D&D available on Kickstarter, designed for ease of use for game masters.
• 00:01:06 ⚔️ The video discusses the five worst optional rules in D&D and one that will become permanent in the next edition.
• 00:02:01 🚫 Sidekicks from Tasha's Cauldron are criticized for slowing game pace and being overpowered, especially magic-using options.
• 00:04:20 ✈️ Flying character species like Aasimar can break game tension and bypass important challenges, making for less engaging gameplay.
• 00:06:02 ⚙️ Multiclassing is an optional rule often used for power-gaming rather than narrative depth, making character balance difficult for game masters.
• 00:07:51 ⚖️ Some feats in 5e can disrupt game balance, allowing characters to excel excessively in specific abilities, overshadowing challenges.
• 00:09:14 🗺️ Grids are highlighted as an optional rule that many players assume is standard; they can hinder immersion and slow down gameplay.

• 00:27 🎲 Initiative in tabletop RPGs, like D&D, might not be necessary, challenging convention.
• 01:09 🧠 Initiative concept originated from HG Wells' miniature wargame rules, not D&D's creator Gary Gygax.
• 03:44 🔄 New initiative system being developed for D&D, with individual rolls each round, based on action types.
• 04:41 🤔 Initiative critiques stem from realism and playability concerns.
• 07:17 🎭 Running combat without initiative: declare actions, roll dice, Dungeon Master narrates results.
• 10:20 ⚔️ Handling surprise attacks and ranged attacks without initiative, focusing on logical outcomes.
• 12:42 💥 Resistance expected when eliminating initiative due to ingrained RPG traditions, but can lead to more thrilling and unpredictable combat.

• 00:53 💡 Addressing overpowered characters in D&D: The Dungeon Master holds the authority to modify or disallow certain overpowered spells or abilities in the game to maintain balance within the party.
• 01:22 📜 Spells in D&D: Encourage mystery and variability by allowing players to know spell names but not their descriptions, emphasizing that actual understanding comes from casting the spell. Each spell might vary in damage, range, and effects.
• 02:46 🧙‍♂️ Spell access control: Limiting spell availability, akin to a valuable commodity, could be regulated by a non-player character master wizard who monitors and grants spells based on character behavior.
• 03:55 🏫 Magical colleges: Implementing institutions or colleges for spellcasting, requiring quests, tuition fees, and alignment-based access control to maintain and control the dissemination of powerful magic.
• 05:19 🎲 Introducing spell checks: Similar to skill checks, spellcasting in D&D involves rolling a 20-sided die to determine success or failure, adding an element of chance to spell outcomes.
• 08:24 ⚔️ Unlimited spellcasting: The concept of no spell slots in D&D; wizards can cast spells endlessly, but with the risk of catastrophic failures or self-harm if a critical failure occurs.
• 09:19 🧨 Managing wizard power: Encouraging caution and responsibility in casting spells by highlighting potential dangers or consequences, ensuring wizards don't become overly powerful or reckless.
• 10:27 🧟 Corruption points: Accumulating points from failed spellcasting can lead to mutations or corruptions, adding a self-imposed limit on wizards and preventing unchecked power growth.
• 12:05 🔄 Initiative and spellcasting: Declaration of spells before combat rounds, damage affecting the difficulty rating, and simultaneous spell casting depending on the situation or separation between the wizard and the target.

• 😮 Traps in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) are discussed in this video by Professor Dungeonmaster.
• 😅 Traps in 5th edition D&D are done on an ad hoc basis with no firm rules.
• 🔒 Three types of traps: grinder, puzzle, and situation.
• 💀 The grinder trap is common but can slow down gameplay and make players paranoid.
• 🔄 Combining the grinder trap with other elements, like an ambush, can add urgency and peril.
• 🧩 Puzzle traps rely on player intelligence, but some players may find them frustrating.
• 🤔 Tailor puzzle traps to suit your group's preferences or skip them altogether.
• 🧭 Puzzle traps can be made engaging by adding time limits or integrating them into the environment.
• 📚 Author Matt Mayfield's work on designing puzzles and riddles can be helpful.
• 💥 Situation traps involve complex scenarios and moral dilemmas for players to navigate.
• ⏳ The situation trap can involve multiple layers of challenges and consequences.
• ⚙️ Trap design elements: bait, trigger, confine, and time.
• 🕰️ Adding timers to traps increases tension and engagement.
• 🗝️ Examples of trap design elements and scenarios are provided in the video.
• 🎲 Designing traps with bait, trigger, confine, and time leads to more engaging gameplay.
• 👍 Likes, comments, and sharing the video are encouraged, and there are links to the Facebook group and Patreon for further support.

• 🎮 Pathfinder can feel like an MMO with repetitive optimal actions, leading to boredom for players.
• 🧙 The illusion of choice exists in both Pathfinder and D&D, where options are limited by game designers.
• 🍽️ Feat choices in D&D may seem varied, but some options are clearly better for combat optimization.
• 🎭 Characters in Pathfinder and 5E often become similar in terms of combat optimization at higher levels.
• 🍕 Cutting a pizza into smaller slices doesn't give you more pizza; similarly, smaller choices in character building don't significantly differentiate the characters.
• ⚔️ Total party kills are rare, thanks to increased healing capabilities in newer editions of D&D.
• 🔄 Different RPG systems have varying combat mechanics, but the end result is usually the same.
• 🎲 Ability scores in D&D offer small bonuses that don't make a significant difference in gameplay.
• 📚 Pathfinder and 5E are not the only options; there are other systems like Old School Essentials, Five Torches Deep, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, and 5E Hardcore Mode that offer different gameplay experiences.
• 👍 Professor Dungeon Master appreciates the support and hopes viewers can take something away from Dungeoncraft.

• 🎮 Starting a role-playing game with a fight sequence is an effective way to engage players.
• 🌌 Following Joseph Campbell's monomyth pattern can lead to successful fantasy role-playing campaigns.
• 👥 Creating character archetypes and relationships can help players gel together and complement one another.
• 👪 Having characters related to each other or creating a sense of family can establish trust and cohesion among players.
• ⚔️ Killing off mentor characters allows the hero to shine and avoids overshadowing the player characters.
• 🏰 The pursuit of power in a game is often more interesting than being already powerful.
• 🎭 Meeting and surpassing players' expectations as a Dungeon Master is crucial for a satisfying gaming experience.
• 👥 NPCs (non-player characters) should be created with caution, as players may have unpredictable reactions and preferences.

Proficiency die instead of set bonuses to speed up game and roll more dice. I think this evolved to his Deathbringer dice. Same concept basically.

Less exposition; more demolition--start with an action scene!

• 😎 Professor Dungeonmaster aims to make 5E D&D games grittier and more badass.
• 📚 Professor Dungeonmaster admires Critical Role for their enthusiasm, preparation, and quick turns.
• 💪 Professor Dungeonmaster appreciates the modularity of 5E rules and how they can be tweaked to create different game experiences.
• 🧙‍♂️ Professor Dungeonmaster's history with D&D includes playing Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.
• ⚔️ Warhammer was initially perceived as grittier than D&D, but after playing it for years, they realized they could achieve similar results by tweaking 5E rules.
• 🎲 Professor Dungeonmaster provides five tweaks to make your D&D game grittier, including restrictions on resting, rolling attack dice openly, reining in gods, reducing hit points, and eliminating death saves.
• 🛠️ Professor Dungeonmaster encourages game masters to hack and import rules from other games to achieve a grittier game experience within the 5E system.
• 💀 Deathbringer, a character in Professor Dungeonmaster's games, questions accusations of him getting soft and sings "Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

Apologies for the cutoff. Here's the continuation:

Number five, death at negative hit points and no resurrection. This tweak adds a significant level of danger and permanence to the game. In traditional 5th Edition D&D, characters are typically knocked unconscious when their hit points reach zero and can be revived through healing spells or magical means. However, in a grittier game, you can make death more impactful by implementing negative hit points. When a character's hit points drop to zero or below, they immediately die, and there is no chance for resurrection or healing.

By removing the safety net of revival, players will have to approach combat and dangerous situations with more caution and strategic thinking. This not only adds tension and a sense of danger but also makes the consequences of their actions more significant.

In conclusion, these are just a few tweaks that you can make to your 5th Edition D&D game to make it grittier and more challenging. Remember, you can choose to incorporate all or just some of these changes based on your preferences and the preferences of your players. It's important to communicate and discuss these modifications with your group to ensure everyone is on board and enjoys the new style of gameplay.

I hope these tips help you create a game that embraces verisimilitude, grit, and excitement. Happy gaming!

Love this idea.

• 🎯 Zone combat and zone terrain are advantageous alternatives to grid-based combat in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) and Pathfinder.
• 🔄 Zone combat is faster, easier, and more flexible compared to traditional grid-based combat.
• 📏 Grid-based combat, using tape measures to calculate distances between opponents, is commonly used in miniature war gaming and strategy games, but it can slow down gameplay and is less suited for collaborative storytelling and character creation in RPGs.
• 🧩 Zones in RPGs, such as Fate, Conan, and 5E Hardcore Mode, simplify movement and combat by dividing the playing area into specific zones or areas with defined rules and limitations.
• ⚔️ In 5E Hardcore Mode, there are typically two zones: melee combat and ranged combat. Movement and attacking are different within each zone, and there are limitations on who can attack whom.
• 🌟 The use of zones allows for abstract representation of various terrains and environments, offering flexibility in the game's setting.
• 🔥 Spells and abilities in zone combat have specific ranges and areas of effect, providing strategic options and considerations for players.
• 🏰 Ultimate Dungeon Terrain (UDT) is an example of terrain design that supports zone-based combat. It offers practicality, versatility, and the ability to reveal the terrain as the game progresses.
• 🎭 The use of UDT and zone-based combat draws parallels to live theater, where the focus is on the main characters in the center of the action, while the surrounding elements provide context and support.
• 🖼️ UDT strikes a balance between detail and simplicity, enhancing immersion without slowing down gameplay. It can be supplemented with pre-made 3D terrain pieces from various manufacturers.
• 📐 UDT can represent diverse settings, from castles and taverns to wizard studies and mad scientist laboratories.
• ✂️ Crafting UDT does not require extensive skills or supplies, and there are resources available to learn how to create it.
• 💰 Additional resources, such as Facebook groups and Patreon pages, provide access to related content, games, and tutorials for a small subscription fee.