gauging interest in 3.5 content videos

[Mike Miller]

I've been considering making youtube videos of a variety of 3.5 stuffs including class comparisons, DM prep sessions, explanations of mechanics, opinions, optimization levels, etc.

However, I wasn't sure if there is any interest in such videos. I couldn't find much in the way of these videos already in existence for 3.5. Therefore, it could go two ways. Either I would be filling a niche or no one cares anymore because 3.5 is so old. So I figured I would ask here to see what the playground thinks, at least. Obviously we already have an outlet here for this kind of thing, but I still want to ask.

these threads never get replies so I'm betting no one will respond

[theblasblas]

I'd definitely watch it, as long as it isn't a boring game-mechanics explanation. It might be too much too ask, but something like "the animated spellbook" would be awesome. Even if there aren't any cool visuals, I think the tactic of attaching a story to the mechanic or concept being explained would go a long way towards keeping people interested.

[Kelb_Panthera]

I was actually looking for exactly that kind of content just the other day. Most of what I found was just campaign streaming except for the little bit that was ripping on 3e for not matching up with the YouTuber's taste in gaming.

I'd be interested in seeing some stuff with more substance.

[Goaty14]

Yea... I suppose something similar would be nicer for some people than to scroll through endless threads discussing balance, and to just TL;DR a ton of the 3.5 "meta". I'd like something that either has cool visuals or is just short. Often times I see cool D&D videos that would be nice to watch, but instead it is just me watching a guy's face for 18 minutes

[Mike Miller]

I was actually looking for exactly that kind of content just the other day. Most of what I found was just campaign streaming except for the little bit that was ripping on 3e for not matching up with the YouTuber's taste in gaming.

I'd be interested in seeing some stuff with more substance.

I check every few months and am always disappointed that it is just campaigns or 3e vs. 5e videos.

Yea... I suppose something similar would be nicer for some people than to scroll through endless threads discussing balance, and to just TL;DR a ton of the 3.5 "meta". I'd like something that either has cool visuals or is just short. Often times I see cool D&D videos that would be nice to watch, but instead it is just me watching a guy's face for 18 minutes

Fortunately for you, I don't have a camera! Also, I wouldn't want to record my face because I feel the same way.


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Well, if anyone has any other ideas to bounce around I am interested in hearing your thoughts. Hopefully I will have some time within the next week or two to come up with some videos.

[Arcanist]

I'd be interested in video guides for running some fun modules like Red Hand of Doom or even your opinion on a machete order for an all modules campaign

[Mike Miller]

I have experience with all module campaigns, so I can definitely do that. RHoD is on my list of desired campaigns to run, but I haven't had a chance to run it yet. I have run some of the Sunless Citadel AP, I am running the World's largest Dungeon, and plan to run the Shackled City next.

[PhantasyPen]

While I don't think I would want to watch such videos myself, I do have multiple rookie players in my D&D group, and having videos that I could show them while I am teaching them the game would be a life-saver. (Possibly literally for their characters)

[GreatDane]

I'd be interested in watching videos about 3.5 mechanics, experiences, etc.

I have experience with all module campaigns, so I can definitely do that. RHoD is on my list of desired campaigns to run, but I haven't had a chance to run it yet. I have run some of the Sunless Citadel AP, I am running the World's largest Dungeon, and plan to run the Shackled City next.

If/when you make these videos, please focus on the campaigns/modules you've run, and the experiences you've had with them! There's a ton of theorycrafting that happens on the forums, but what excites me is hearing about how an adventure (and the game as a whole) plays at a real table.

As a side note, if you plan to narrate the videos, you should check out a few YouTube videos on the topic. Just like "watch this guy's face" videos, there are plenty of videos with interesting content obscured by a narrator who's just talking at a microphone.

[Mike Miller]

Well, I've recorded a couple so far. Here is the first video. I think I captured better audio on the second one, though. This one is about the Sunless Citadel campaign, primarily. I talk about using modules as a campaign in general terms.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

How about a few tutorial videos for newbies? Both on how the basics work, as well as on more esoteric and difficult stuff, like *gasp!* grappling! You could go on to discuss common houserules (such as critical hit and failure tables and why they're bad, psionics non-transparency and why it's bad, freeform swapping of ACFs, and the various stuff from Unearthed Arcana), various common and obscure campaign settings, crunch vs fluff, refluffing of mechanics to fit the character you have in mind, separating the character's class(es) from its "job" in the group, the idea of "character builds" and how incredibly important such can be to plan out from the early game, trap options, optimization, metagaming and why it's both good AND bad (and when is which), tips and tricks to improve a game for both DMs and players, game theory and how it relates to D&D, the tier system for classes, the history of D&D and how the legacy affects 3rd edition in particular, Planescape and the Great Wheel (perhaps a focus spot on each plane and a lot of ideas on what goes on there), ideas on how to use particular options in fun and exciting ways (such as illusions or uncommon cantrips), Tucker's kobolds, funny stories from the dawn of tabletop RPGs, and so on.

This seems like it could be really interesting.

[Mike Miller]

How about a few tutorial videos for newbies? Both on how the basics work, as well as on more esoteric and difficult stuff, like *gasp!* grappling! You could go on to discuss common houserules (such as critical hit and failure tables and why they're bad, psionics non-transparency and why it's bad, freeform swapping of ACFs, and the various stuff from Unearthed Arcana), various common and obscure campaign settings, crunch vs fluff, refluffing of mechanics to fit the character you have in mind, separating the character's class(es) from its "job" in the group, the idea of "character builds" and how incredibly important such can be to plan out from the early game, trap options, optimization, metagaming and why it's both good AND bad (and when is which), tips and tricks to improve a game for both DMs and players, game theory and how it relates to D&D, the tier system for classes, the history of D&D and how the legacy affects 3rd edition in particular, Planescape and the Great Wheel (perhaps a focus spot on each plane and a lot of ideas on what goes on there), ideas on how to use particular options in fun and exciting ways (such as illusions or uncommon cantrips), Tucker's kobolds, funny stories from the dawn of tabletop RPGs, and so on.

This seems like it could be really interesting.

You have lots of great ideas. Somehow I didn't even think of a lot of these. I have tons I could say on it though. Thanks for the insight. My plans prior to seeing your ideas was basically limited to a more in-depth look at the Sunless Citadel on a per module breakdown. I still plan on doing that, but I definitely want to talk about some of the things you mentioned.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

You have lots of great ideas. Somehow I didn't even think of a lot of these. I have tons I could say on it though. Thanks for the insight. My plans prior to seeing your ideas was basically limited to a more in-depth look at the Sunless Citadel on a per module breakdown. I still plan on doing that, but I definitely want to talk about some of the things you mentioned.

You could do a roleplaying podcast of sorts where you record a staged game between "a DM" and several "players" (mostly people who are just voice acting a pre-staged scenario) to showcase common (and not so common) issues in the game, and how to resolve them. Then at certain spots, you put the action on pause and explain things a bit more in-depth, both hows and whys on what's going on. Describe little shortcuts on making the game easier on everyone (such as pre-statting up summoned monsters, and rolling multiple dice at once during one's turn). Then some problems occur (both in- and out of character), and suggestions on ways to overcome them.

Could have something like that be a tutorial to teach n00bs the basics of how to play.

You might even do live-action LARPing (like The Gamers: Dorkness Rising) to make things more interesting.

[Elrak]

I too would enjoy a series on 3.5 mechanics, modules, tips and tricks etc.

I love going through the forums reading up what everyone else can come up with, but sometimes it would be easier just to be able to open up a video or pdocast and idly listen to the stuff.

[Mordaedil]

I'd also be interested, if only as a way to showcase to some people that "this is how 3.5 edition did things differently, not necessarily better or worse".

[Malphegor]

I'd watch, if only because 3.5 is really hard to find any user-made stuff on. A lot of websites are defunct, meaning guides like the ones on the gameologist forums are hard to find or you can only get the first page on the internet wayback machine, and there's times where it's hard to figure out what was a 3.0 rule and what was 3.5.

I for one could probably use a video that goes over the core classes, and goes over what one should look out for, especially in what books to get- for example, Complete Scoundrel has TONS of incredibly cool looking stuff for wizards, even if the book seems on surface to be a bard/rogue book for bard/rogues.

Magic items could be handy to do videos on, as some people might not be aware of the utility of unmoveable rods.

[Yael]

I've been thinking on doing newbie-friendly videos to help new players who join my table. I also noticed that there is less 3.5 content but from campaign podcasts or streams, and I'd like to have more content on the edition (Wizards showcase lots of streams and I'm not really that interested in 5e..)

Nice video, hope I'll get to see more

[Kelb_Panthera]

Ya know what could be fun to see? "TreantMonk's guide to being god" done up as a full-on snarktastic guide to proper wizardry in video form.

[Mike Miller]

Nice video, hope I'll get to see more

Thanks. I plan on uploading one a week. I probably don't have time to do more than that, but we'll see.

[Mike Miller]

Megadungeon talk is here. Balance and optimization as a group will be next, I think. Although the tier system should be its own discussion.

Also, I will probably be doing campaign updates of my upcoming Shackled City campaign, as well.

[Mordaedil]

Is there a problem with the microphone? I can hear you clearly, but it sounds a bit tin-like. Some odd background noises too.

Content of the video is good though, still listening to it. Audio got a lot better at 9 minutes.

The way I handle my own mega-dungeon is to divide things into floors, which I guess just makes it a normal dungeon, but I also put in a bunch of "crystals" on each floor that when the players break them, the entire floor becomes "safe" so backtracking or leaving the dungeon means the floors they've cleared the crystals on, are safe to just pass through.

[Mike Miller]

Is there a problem with the microphone? I can hear you clearly, but it sounds a bit tin-like. Some odd background noises too.

Content of the video is good though, still listening to it. Audio got a lot better at 9 minutes.

The way I handle my own mega-dungeon is to divide things into floors, which I guess just makes it a normal dungeon, but I also put in a bunch of "crystals" on each floor that when the players break them, the entire floor becomes "safe" so backtracking or leaving the dungeon means the floors they've cleared the crystals on, are safe to just pass through.

Something went wrong with my audio in one of my recordings. I am at work so I can't check, but my guess is that it was the megadungeon file. I remember it becoming clear rather abruptly and I couldn't resolve the issue with audacity.

I like your idea of making the levels clearly safe. Many years ago I made a similar megadungeon to what you are describing.

Each floor was it's own set of challenges that anyone could enter individually or as a group and it would always be the same for that person/group but different for anyone else. So each entry was unique and static, so the party knew they could clear a floor and return when they felt like it. I used it as a challenge side quest for fun/loot in a less serious game in high school, but it worked. I suppose it wasn't so much of a megadungeon as I remember it though.

[Mike Miller]

Video 3 is up, on balance and optimization.
A campaign update is in the works.

[Mike Miller]

I started a campaign update.

[Alabenson]

If you need anymore ideas for videos, I do have a suggestion. How about something discussing 3.5e homebrew, both showcasing some of the actual good homebrew and mocking some of the dreck that infests the D&D wiki.

[Mike Miller]

If you need anymore ideas for videos, I do have a suggestion. How about something discussing 3.5e homebrew, both showcasing some of the actual good homebrew and mocking some of the dreck that infests the D&D wiki.

I'm always interested in suggestions. I have done a fair amount of homebrew. I could go over some changes I make and why. Instead of mocking dandwiki, I could show some changes I make to the less useful official content. I just wouldn't want to mock random people's work, even if it is terrible.

[The Magister]

I would watch that. I'd definitely get a few of my newer players to do so as well, since it's getting a little exhausting (not to mention time-consuming) to constantly explain how things work and holding up the session in the process. Not that I'm calling them slow or anything, but I've noticed that they seem to learn better from videos than books.

[TotallyNotEvil]

Don't forget some snazzy animated graphics to help with. "A dude talking in his chair" is a rather harder sell than a voice-over set to at least nice pictures. Also, flowcharts. Very, very helpful.

In any case, I'd definitely look it up. And it could also be a very nice tool for new players, it's after all much easier to swallow for most of the younger people that they have to watch a couple twenty minute videos than read a few hundred pages of rules.

A lot of great content gets lost due to simply not being presented in a pleasant manner.

@edit: left the tab open way too long, missed the linked videos. Watching now.

So far, on the very first one, say you could work on perhaps rehearsing a bit more? Perhaps look up tutorials on public speaking or something, your pauses come at odd times and break the flow. It's a bit stilted.

[Mike Miller]

So far, on the very first one, say you could work on perhaps rehearsing a bit more? Perhaps look up tutorials on public speaking or something, your pauses come at odd times and break the flow. It's a bit stilted.

I will do that. I've already recorded a bunch, so hopefully it will come through eventually. I've also fixed some audio issues that are present in the initial 4-6(?) recordings.

[Mike Miller]

Bear Warrior musings. Also, if anyone has preferred prestige classes to look at, let me know.