I've seen a good number of posts that reference Matt Colville's YouTube series, Running the Game, and I assume that a good portion of the community is aware of his awesomeness. That said, I figured that there's likely a good slice of us who haven't yet been exposed to Matt's brain and thought I'd make the recommendation to anyone who falls into that category.
I'm still a relatively green DM (I've been running the game for about a year now), and like so many others who post in these forums reaching out for advice, I felt the nerves and uncertainty that accompany running D&D for the first time. Minis, grids, descriptive narrative, character inclusion, world-building, rules lawyering, combat tactics and tracking, NPC development...on and on and on...It's daunting at first and I think a lot of potentially amazing DMs don't allow themselves to jump into the experience for fear of these unknowns. Matt's very first video can quell all of these concerns and really motivate you to consider running the game for your first time. The man is just so damn encouraging and carries with him an incredible breadth and depth of experience. Matt truly is "a river to his people." If not for his videos, I might never have DM'd and it pains me to think of the experiences I wouldn't have lived if that had turned out to be the case. D&D is a part of who I am, a piece of my identity, a piece of my soul. As a DM, I get to be at the heart of that experience. I don't just reap the benefits myself--everyone at the table does, as well.
As I've progressed, my DM philosophy has shaped and formed, with each session teaching me new things and forcing me to consider the best approach to this or that. Matt's ongoing posts have been invaluable, taking thoughtful and articulate deep dives into a litany of common DM questions and concerns. He even goes as far in several videos to provide commentary on the social and cultural roots (and impacts) of D&D and those who DM. He's one of those people who feels like an old friend, even though if we met in person, he'd have no idea who I am. : )
It's to Mr. Colville whom I owe sincere gratitude for motivating me to dive in, head first, to the wonderful adventure of running D&D. If you ever read this, good sir, then I doff my cap to you with the most sincere respect I can give.
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"There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable." --Montolio Debrouchee
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I've seen a good number of posts that reference Matt Colville's YouTube series, Running the Game, and I assume that a good portion of the community is aware of his awesomeness. That said, I figured that there's likely a good slice of us who haven't yet been exposed to Matt's brain and thought I'd make the recommendation to anyone who falls into that category.
I'm still a relatively green DM (I've been running the game for about a year now), and like so many others who post in these forums reaching out for advice, I felt the nerves and uncertainty that accompany running D&D for the first time. Minis, grids, descriptive narrative, character inclusion, world-building, rules lawyering, combat tactics and tracking, NPC development...on and on and on...It's daunting at first and I think a lot of potentially amazing DMs don't allow themselves to jump into the experience for fear of these unknowns. Matt's very first video can quell all of these concerns and really motivate you to consider running the game for your first time. The man is just so damn encouraging and carries with him an incredible breadth and depth of experience. Matt truly is "a river to his people." If not for his videos, I might never have DM'd and it pains me to think of the experiences I wouldn't have lived if that had turned out to be the case. D&D is a part of who I am, a piece of my identity, a piece of my soul. As a DM, I get to be at the heart of that experience. I don't just reap the benefits myself--everyone at the table does, as well.
As I've progressed, my DM philosophy has shaped and formed, with each session teaching me new things and forcing me to consider the best approach to this or that. Matt's ongoing posts have been invaluable, taking thoughtful and articulate deep dives into a litany of common DM questions and concerns. He even goes as far in several videos to provide commentary on the social and cultural roots (and impacts) of D&D and those who DM. He's one of those people who feels like an old friend, even though if we met in person, he'd have no idea who I am. : )
It's to Mr. Colville whom I owe sincere gratitude for motivating me to dive in, head first, to the wonderful adventure of running D&D. If you ever read this, good sir, then I doff my cap to you with the most sincere respect I can give.
"There is a wide world out there, my friend, full of pain, but filled with joy as well. The former keeps you on the path of growth, and the latter makes the journey tolerable." --Montolio Debrouchee