I loved Zac delivering that “no” to the dream because I imagine you’re right. Ricky DID think about it, just for a second. And it was probably a nice thought before he moved on like a normal person lol.
There's also him as gorgug in the final battle of Fantasy High: Junior Year where, after he and his team shrug off a mass stunning attack the big bad starts off with thanks to careful planning from the team, he just very briefly chimes in with "losersayswhat?" and it freaking WORKS lmao
Murph’s encounters are incredible! I started listening to NADDPOD because of Dimensions 20 and I absolutely love how Murph designs and executes encounters. In episode 27 of the 3rd campaign (King of Dragons) each player is partnered with a dragon as they square off against a 100 foot long mega dragon. Each player controls his/her character and one of the dragons. It is such an incredible encounter with so many surprised. Murph is awesome and really knows how to make it fun for the players and the listeners.
I always love a story in which everything a character does to avoid a certain outcome, in one way or another, promotes this exact outcome, so in many ways, Calamity is the ideal story to me. It's not how I started watching DnD on youtube - I actually started with the 2-episode Cast of Baldur's Gate 3 story, then watched Calamity, and am now in the middle of Campaign 2 of Critical Role. It's been a blast, and I'm sure it'll continue being a blast, and the thing that solidified to me that DnD on youtube, and Critical Role in particular, is a good idea for me was Calamity. So yeah, it's the perfect story for me.
I have honestly barely touched the non-Brennan DM D20 seasons because I didn’t like Aabria’s (and others she’s not the only one but this video is about her) DM style when I first saw it. Seeing this timeline of D20’s evolution though and realizing her impact makes me need to go back and rewatch her seasons fully instead of the clips. I always knew how skilled of a DM she was but I never realized how she can fully revolutionize the game in her own way through every genre lens. Thank you so much for this video it was an awesome retrospective! (Am taking advice for what season to watch next though).
To a lesser extent, she did it again with unsleeping city 2. Gets presented with a story about the homogenisation of the city and its culture, responds with a 1st generation immigrant whose whole deal is keeping her family's legacy and passing it on to her naturalised daughter
This is not to discredit Aabria or say she didnt come up with these ideas, but the tone of the video kind of removes the involvement of the massive talented team that works behind the scenes on D20. The people who are really raising the bar and increasing the production values are the crew! The miniature painters, set and graphic designers, art team, costume, make-up and hair, lighting team, camera team, editors ect ect ect. Dropout does an amazing job of making obvious that its never just a singular persons vision by shouting them all out every week in Adventuring Party after each episode is released.
As wondeful and exciting as this development is, I can't help feeling concerned that D20 (and other actual plays) might end up forcing themselves to keep upping the stakes and build more and more stuff to fill out their campaigns. Maybe to the point where the simplicity and charm eventually gets drowned out by bloated features and gimmicks. The players and their stories are what must remain on the center stage; not the stage itself.
Personally I prefer Emily Axford's personality brand, but any dimension 20 cast would be a treat at any table. That said, most of the traits you're discussing are things that are transferable to any player and aren't unique specifically to Siobhan Thompson. The examples are, but literally any decent player with a mind to can incorporate those kinds of traits. IE Siobahn Thompson is not the sole proprietor, owner, inventor, or rights holder to any of these traits, and all of these things have been discussed ad nauseum via any "tips on how to be a better player". I'm not saying that to dismiss, but more to say it feels a little weird to make this about her specifically. A fine example to be sure, but is she doing anything unique other than bringing her specific branded personality to the table? I'm not sure that's the case.
One of my favorite Brennan encounters that I never hear people talking about is the hot exit early in *A Starstruck Odyssey.* He threw SO many different obstacles from so many directions at a pretty low-level party who were literally just trying to get the hell back to their ship, and it was so fun and engaging.
Campaign 1, too me, was old school Epic Dungeons and Dragons with talented voice actors. Today it just feels like californians goofin' around and trying to save the world with intersectionality. Often they act more like villains than heroes.
Ricky was a massive influence on my all time favorite TTRPG character I've ever played: Reyner Crestford. I don't see playing a very upfront character as a bad thing. If anything, I challenged myself to make a character who is exactly who he presents himself to be interesting and fun. He's a lot like Ricky: good hearted, strong, courageous...and not very smart. But he's had a lot of growth. He's learned to retain a lot of his more positive traits, like his bravery and compassion, while working on his negative ones, like his impulsiveness and naivety. Playing him has been one of the greatest pleasures I've ever had in tabletop, and I'm gonna be sad when his journey comes to an end.
She does always seem to be thinking about the campaign, characters, and setting as a whole and I agree that is invaluable. I also love how much she contributes knowledge/lore wise. Brennan works in niche real world facts (like the latin) and Shiobhan easily hops in with her innate knowledge helping the party approach puzzles in the light the DM intended.
If your DM is generous, they can give you an Illusionist's Bracers which allow you to cast a cantrip as a bonus action. But said cantrip must be the same as the one you casted as your action. If you didnt cast a cantrip, the bracers dont work.
I struggle to understand what to take away from this video. I don't watch Brennan, so my takeaways are just, incorporate an appropriate humor style to your campaign; possibly use systems for different types of campaigns if you want; consider running a railroad; and Brennan has creative encounters. The last point probably speaks the most to Brennan's skill but the other points don't seem to defend the idea that Brennan is particularly good at D&D. I am beginning to get worried about all the new pro-railroading I'm seeing, it's very bad advice. If you craft a story-web and just focus on placing pieces around the world, major players with influence and goals of their own, and figuring out what they will try to do, then that naturally creates drama. Pre-planning *events* is intrinsically contrary to player agency.
The 3rd sezon of Candela Obscura with Aabria as the DM is EVERYTHING. The camera work, the drama, the light manipulation, the costumes! It was like watching an AAA movie.
I kinda feel bad posting this cause I don't want to take anything away from Aabria but I think you're giving her A LOT of credence for what the art departments provided
I had a player one time cast Wish and say they wanted the BBEG to have had a loving family and happy childhood. The BBEG became a Big Bad Evil Family instead. They love and care for each other very deeply, even more than they all love and care about murder!
Dude Siobhan is such a good role player and rules lawyer! I loved her the most as Jaysohn on Burrow’s End, since she showed her playful side, but I was already taken in by her as Adaine. Special mention, she was also great as Imela Pulse on Mentopolis. Her Stacy Fakename bit made me laugh every time 😂
My friend has told me a few times that out of the whole D20 cast, I am a player most like Siobhan and that in combination with the title to this video made me so nervous to watch it lmao. But listening to you break it down, I totally see what my friend means. I think I feel a little more confident as a player even though this video is about Siobhan lmao.
