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How I Write One-Shots 

UserIsInUse
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My D&D group likes to take turns DM'ing, and I've become known as the one-shot guy because I usually set up long, complex sessions. Our group has had a lot of fun doing these kinds of one-shots, and I haven't really seen videos about this particular style of one-shot on RU-vid, so I decided to make it.
Usually the advice is similar to what ‪@Runesmith‬ has talked about; coming up with an idea, having a series of encounters that lead into each other, and running it with whatever characters the players bring. But I like to make more open, longer one-shots, where the players have a buy-in, it's written around them, and they're just given a list of things to do in whatever order they wish.
I've run a few of these one shots before, and it's been successful at my table. I can't speak for everyone, but I think it's a nice way to mix things up. It's sort of like an open world campaign, but restricted to a single location. As I'm writing this, I think I didn't do as good of a job describing that as I should have -- I mostly focused on the example one-shot I've run before. I'll probably make a supplementary video to this later, or maybe replace it in a few years if I end up continuing making content. Who knows!
Let me know what you think!

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18 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 69   
@exSolarius
@exSolarius Год назад
i love the runesmith reference. riffing on his style during that portion was a very cool touch
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Hahaha thank you, I think he's great, want him to make more videos again!
@krinkrin5982
@krinkrin5982 Год назад
For your scenario, I'd basically only figure out who took the ring and why. That's it. Players brief would literally be: you are all courtiers. You've been tasked with finding the ring. And keeping it quiet. Go! I like how much backstory you gave to this.
@cameronsitton501
@cameronsitton501 Год назад
And if there was a halfling commoner who found the ring, then the one-shot could be the party escorting him to the wedding on an epic journey
@DanFlux
@DanFlux Год назад
I recently ran a one-shot that was written entirely around the characters my players decided to make. Since they focused all of their builds around combat heavy mechanics, I prepared a few combat scenarios for the one-shot. They decided to approach everything stealthily and rolled a nat20 at every clutch moment. There was no combat. The session was still awesome.
@tayloroh8563
@tayloroh8563 Год назад
Goes to show that being a DM is a constant learning journey! Thank you for some wonderful advice!
@gmanbo
@gmanbo 6 месяцев назад
2:47 If you want to run this scenario with a bit higher tension. The spy/ intelligence groups from both sides want the war over because of a bigger threat. Your players are a mix of both organizations. Teaming up to make sure nothing goes wrong. Adds some inter party tension+ allows for outside intervention.... + The need for a group of specialized troubleshooters.
@patrick.s3356
@patrick.s3356 Год назад
The simplicity of this prep is fantastic. Create a world based on your characters, create some key npcs, create a problem, create ties to the problem, then let the players loose to go muk around, all the while mishaps and interesting little events appear in their path. I love it. I’d also love to hear about your prep for a full campaign, or a summary of how this one shot turned out 🤘 Figuring out how to make my own DM prep easier is something I love brainstorming. There is a lot of dnd advice videos on youtube but not all of them stand out, or are incredibly convoluted. This is a great video!
@thehalfa95
@thehalfa95 Год назад
I used to have groups a lot where I'd give them a buy in or a one off rule and most the players would ask me if they could be the exception. It sucks when you give a prompt to players and they just ignore it and I'm glad I've found players with more respect for my time
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Yeah I've been pretty lucky with my group, been together a while and we respect each other and tell fun stories together. Any time there's been "the exception" in a game is when the DM is actively working with the player, we've had a few surprise betrayals and they're always fun at our table. Glad you found a good group!
@rangereric18
@rangereric18 7 месяцев назад
One shots are difficult for me so I tend to make them universally personal to all player characters. This establishes the stakes without the hefty world building I'd have to throw away at the end of the scenario. Otherwise, I run the risk of setting up stakes for a setting they have no previous knowledge or claim to. I would prefer my players said: "Remember that time when we played that one shot where we were all imprisoned by that prince and had to escape the dungeon before we cornered him and fed him to an angry mob?" As opposed to: "Well, we failed and the kingdom fell to darkness. Oh well, it was just a one-shot anyway."
@zerupsy
@zerupsy 11 месяцев назад
This is like what my friend does in his VtM games. "You can succeed.....at a cost." It has different rules for when it can be used. But he comes up with a drawback for you getting what you need. And not just attacks, skill checks, ability usage, etc.
@samuelcohen2016
@samuelcohen2016 Год назад
Every time I start One-shots - they're becames the long games
@gamerguy3497
@gamerguy3497 Год назад
Just letting you know that this video was at the top of my home recommendations. The algorithm has blessed you.
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Praise be 🙏
@Zamun
@Zamun Год назад
The little call out to Logan, hidden down below, was a nice touch. Good stuff
@samuelmitchell6328
@samuelmitchell6328 Год назад
I watch this pretty often. Idk if you actually are interested in making more videos like this or if this is all you have to say about how you run TTRPGs, but if it isn't I want you to know your take is interesting and informative and has helped me in my weekly sessions and the way you presented the info is concise but engaging enough to keep my attention the whole way through. I hope you continue to make these, but if not thank you very much for what you've already given.
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Thank you a lot, I've found myself a little busy with other projects and work recently, but am hoping to get back to this soon. Got a lot of ideas!
@samuelmitchell6328
@samuelmitchell6328 Год назад
​@@userisinuse look forward to seeing them.
@agustinvenegas5238
@agustinvenegas5238 11 месяцев назад
This weekend I'm running my first one-shot for strangers and this advice came in clutch for my needs
@TFconfused
@TFconfused Год назад
I like your DnD videos! Fun, quick and easy to watch
@nathanheidt1047
@nathanheidt1047 Год назад
Great advice! Hope you keep making more of these videos.
@anajuliavieira7228
@anajuliavieira7228 Год назад
I honestly have no idea of how I found this video but I'm so glad I did!!! I'm planning to run a one-shot soon and I will use these tips for sure!! Love the dnd content and subscribed, hope to see more from you
@LukeMason
@LukeMason Год назад
Keep up the D&D content! Love your straightforward style.
@Brainstrain
@Brainstrain Год назад
Rough night at the three feathers campaign has a great wedding scenario. The entertainers from a foreign clime can often be a great source of assassination or conflict, even if the players do everything right.
@Kabster_the_Lime
@Kabster_the_Lime Год назад
this is actually a pretty good resource for me, thank you! i meet a roleplaying group im in once a month and i have kind of become a primary one shot GM. This was very fun in the beginning when i had some original ideas but that spark has kinda left. What i liked most about your points you mentioned was the character creation. As i often play with some passive players, getting them in the mood by giving them clear ways of connecting their character to the story could be a good idea! looking forward to any new dnd/TTRPG content you might reliese in the future :)
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
I'm glad I can help! Thanks for the super nice comment!
@noxiousbones
@noxiousbones Год назад
I love the use of Runesmith reference, it’s such an amazing way to nod to other RPG content creators, but putting the emphasis on “everyone can have their own style, and is valid.” ❤
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Exactly! Love his stuff!
@Hot2Trotsky
@Hot2Trotsky Месяц назад
Stumbled onto your content in the wild today. I love this video and your ideas are presented in a clear and compelling way. Subbed and I look forward to seeing what else you come up with
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Месяц назад
Thanks a bunch, I appreciate it! Will have more free time soon to dedicate more time to this channel!
@matthewboyea3860
@matthewboyea3860 11 дней назад
Phenomenal, thank you
@userisinuse
@userisinuse 10 дней назад
Thank you!
@MemphiStig
@MemphiStig 5 месяцев назад
Perfect for groups who like long sessions. That was always my preference, too.
@Obdilord
@Obdilord Год назад
Amazing! Please make more?!
@myhandle365
@myhandle365 Год назад
This is great. You'll do well.
@WhimsicalWisp44
@WhimsicalWisp44 Год назад
Id love to see more about how this oneshot went! Maybe you could even publish it
@TheTkhhwilliams
@TheTkhhwilliams 5 месяцев назад
This was great! Thank you. I love how you kept trying over the the sentence like worrying on a rubiks cube until you got it just right. I'm curious how long this took you to develop once you got the working line. And starting with the inciting sentence was fantastic
@userisinuse
@userisinuse 5 месяцев назад
Thank you! I don't think I mentioned it in the video, but I actually work in video/film production, and I'm kind of just taking the advice people use to create a good logline for a film and applying it to D&D. A story is a story no matter the medium! I'm not super sure how long it took to build the game after I got the line, we did a session 0 to make characters before it and then I prepped it on a VTT with a map and NPCs and stuff so it wasn't super quick, but there are a thousand ways to do a one shot that are super quick to set up that night, I just like to give myself time to make it very fun and memorable! Thank you, I really appreciate it!
@Karmasu_L
@Karmasu_L Год назад
Thank you for the video.
@finnsterp9695
@finnsterp9695 Год назад
This guy has only dished out good advice
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Haha thank you!
@Gghosty
@Gghosty Год назад
Loved this video!
@xacbolay
@xacbolay Год назад
Great advice, really good approach
@Drudenfusz
@Drudenfusz Год назад
I have somewhat similar approach, the base idea however is usually for me a theme around with I build the conflicts that are going on. But regarding the involvement of the player characters I do exactly the same, maybe even more since I usually tell them the core theme so that they have even more incentives to drive the plot themselves. Thus if I would go with the same adventure you talked about in the video, I would hope the players actually take more of the roles that you had for NPCs, like the bride or the general and thus making it more about an inner conflict and allowing more exploration of character arcs.
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
That's cool! The examples I gave of what the players could be; the captain, the librarian, and the gardener -- those are the rolls my players chose haha. It'd be interesting to have the players be the ones causing the issues as well as trying to solve them, but that is starting to sound like a few-shot where they have to learn and grow. Sounding similar to A Court of Fey and Flowers from Dropout. Anyway, thanks for the comment!
@Drudenfusz
@Drudenfusz Год назад
@@userisinuse It actually can be done in a one-shot. Try the game Fiasco for this, which does that easily as one-shot, and that without even a GM.
@thomrik
@thomrik Год назад
@@Drudenfusz a lot can be learned from Fiasco as far as running one-shots
@mattcg149
@mattcg149 Год назад
Yoy don't know how many times I had the impulse to wipe my screen 'cause of those "sand" or "galaxy" backgrounds... Nice vid btw!
@kustisammul8453
@kustisammul8453 Год назад
That's the second DnD channel I've caught at it's beginning. The first one didn't last, but may you fare better
@tatsu280
@tatsu280 Месяц назад
I'd say set the Orcs up as having been verbally against this wedding/allegiance of kingdoms as a red herring, so that the party could either find out it was orcs, or maybe that one of the magical creature leaders representing a council of the kingdom did it, instead. Example of the council could be a Council of Five major factions in the rival kingdom to the Elves, consisting of say the Aarakocra, the Centaurs, the Gnomes, the Goblins, and the Tabaxi. The Orcs and other races consist as minor factions or those who refused to join the new government, but may or may-not be in aligned with the Elvin kingdom. Everyone is suspect, even put suspicion within the party depending on what races they chose and how the plot may thicken based around evidence, here-say, and rogue-like interruptions.
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Месяц назад
Awesome idea! That's a lot of fun!
@anchor7549
@anchor7549 Год назад
Great video!
@Typhoonatlas
@Typhoonatlas 11 месяцев назад
For me; 3-4hrs is usually 3encounters, 1 boss and a trap/riddle
@manuelmialdea5127
@manuelmialdea5127 10 месяцев назад
Thisnia very similar to how im writting my first campaign, although because of the length I have a heavy focus on themes.
@tyman1277
@tyman1277 Год назад
I love all the hidden comments on your vids!
@SophieTheSoft
@SophieTheSoft 3 месяца назад
Thanks for the great video! Please tell me what song plays at the end?
@Robocopster
@Robocopster Год назад
What happens when they don’t find the ring? Total party kill?
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
What I did was set up a bunch of things that could go wrong, and gave them many opportunities to solve them. If they don't solve a few, that's fine, but if they don't solve enough, the wedding wouldn't happen and now they have to fight the elves!
@Robocopster
@Robocopster Год назад
@@userisinuse If the party kills the Bugbear and the goblin, then would the elves be next?
@arkhamrejectscommunitybatr6599
I’m still new to DMing and making one shots. My first one I felt like I made it to rail roared tho don’t get me wrong my players somehow found a way to do nothing planed but we had fun. This time it’s going to be a reverse Robin Hood. He’s gonna be the bad guy. And I’m going to try making my players find out who’s side they want to be on. There going to catch him Stealing from the kings Vault and an epic Parkour chasing’s gonna happen. But yo make things really interesting. I think Robin Hood’s gonna be a changeling? Or have a Mary band of miscellaneous races 🤔
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Let me know how it goes!
@mrkripo6227
@mrkripo6227 Месяц назад
1:01 I heard this music from too much youtube videos. What is the name of it?
@mandyogilvie686
@mandyogilvie686 Год назад
208 like and 186 sub
@veselinnedkov643
@veselinnedkov643 Год назад
Giving the players some guidelines about who/what their PCs can be is such a huge thing for me. Giving complete freedom to the players is all well and good, but a PC needs to a) care about the task at hand and b) the questgiver should trust them enough to give them the task in the first place. In a proper big campaign you might be able to take your time and work it out during play. In one-shots there's no time. But that doesn't mean that just because it's a one-shot and there will be no follow-up, motivation and basic logic should not be present.
@userisinuse
@userisinuse Год назад
Absolutely agree!
@Stone_Orchids
@Stone_Orchids 5 месяцев назад
Wow, that was not the best... I rather avoid wasting time on stuff that add nothing to the experience and focus on the adventure itself, maybe you can add some cool new details about a setting you are already using in a campaign but if it's a one shot you have to cut all that you can to make it fit in a limited amount of hours a compact, quick, fun and complete experience to be remembered. Condensing an entire campaign for a single session of play make for unnecessary complexity that call for a railroad, when what is needed to have fun is depth in an adventure where players have more freedom
@userisinuse
@userisinuse 5 месяцев назад
To each their own! This is just how I like to write things, like I said in the video, feel free to use, tweak, or ignore anything I say!
@Stone_Orchids
@Stone_Orchids 5 месяцев назад
@@userisinuse indeed, it's always good to have a second opinion, I might not have appreciated your overall system but there's some great ideas in the mix
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