I'm Taron Pounds: professional musician and composer, freelance graphic designer, and Platinum Best-Selling TTRPG game designer with a focus on Dungeons & Dragons 5e. My channel is kind of all over the place, so welcome to the madness!
I'm surprised that WotC doesn't also go after him on the name of the game. It seems wayyyyyy too similar to Dungeons & Dragons, and they sued Gary Gygax successfully multiple times when he tried to create a TTRPG that had a name similar to D&D. Many of us detest a lot of what WotC/Hasbro does on the corporate/legal front, with darn good reasons. But this is a situation where they actually have a legit case, they have the big pricey lawyers to bring it, and it would really help the Basic RPG folks so they could get this scam job nuked without them having to pay insane lawyers fees.
@garethhamilton12526 сағат бұрын
Would have liked to see more time spent on talking about the call of the deep adventure and less time trashing D&D stuff. I’m running a sand box nautical pirate themed campaign at the moment s this adventure seems perfect for me. Seems being the key word. I would have liked more spoilers to know for sure.
@Indestructoboy2 сағат бұрын
It’s critique. Anyone involved in a creative field understands critique
@garethhamilton12522 сағат бұрын
@@Indestructoboy I’m not involved in a creative field.
@stevdawizard3928 сағат бұрын
Stack this bad boy with the 5E Call of Cthulhu that lets you play 5E with the 7th Edition Call stuff without it being way to crunchy
@RaggedVentures12 сағат бұрын
This is great. Super helpful, targeted instruction. Two years on, I'm sure there are reasons you haven't done the stat block video, but I would be interested in that.
@Indestructoboy10 сағат бұрын
They changed the format on the statblocks immediately after this, and have done so again for D&D 2024. I'm not currently allowed to show how to replicate the look until 9/17
@OhThatRobin17 сағат бұрын
I ran this for my players and it was amazing. I changed a ton of stuff but I kept the skeleton of the plot because it was totally solid. The reason I mention that is I replaced Ramazith in Ramazith’s Tower with Loroakan who resides there in Baldur’s Gate 3. This was back when BG3 was still early access so I had only heard the name and that he lived there so I was like “wait I should put him in my adventure so when they meet him in BG3 it’ll be really cool” and now my party members post BG3 release are like “hahaha Loroakan is the worst I don’t even feel bad he got kidnapped by pirate cultists for the mind flayers. Also one of my players shunted one of the four mindflayers to the shadowfell and he’s still there for me to unleash in a plot later xDD
@DaVeO5218 сағат бұрын
I don't find ally punishment THAT terrible. If anything it opens up RP opportunities after. Or you can turn it into a humour s event. Arrow in the butt cheek. Setting a wolfkins tail on fire etc. Maybe just tone down the damage.
@LB_adventurer18 сағат бұрын
I love the Basic Fantasy RPG, it's by far one of the best OSR games. I have over a dozen of the books in physical copy.
@nope783221 сағат бұрын
drivethrurpg does not give one fuck about creators anyway. Have you been there recently? It's full full full of AI bullshit games. The idea would be rather to stop using drivethru
@monsaemonКүн бұрын
I’ve been wanting to run this campaign forever. I’m definitely gonna throw it in front of them and use mind flayers as a hook since they’ve all played at least some of BG3!
@theokogod6711Күн бұрын
Is that tentacle what I think it is?
@IndestructoboyКүн бұрын
It’s for home defense.
@theokogod6711Күн бұрын
@@Indestructoboy just so long as it does the job and reaches its target
@RogueWatsonКүн бұрын
Woo! Thank you for the shout-out, Taron! Great breakdown of the campaign, definitely a gem on the DMs Guild. I mean, I'm running it, which is the highest praise I can give. 😆
@sambro6657Күн бұрын
So what about third party 5e content like kobold press 2c gaming or Nord games? I respect you being fully done with official content by wizards of the coast and hasbro but have you also cut yourself out of all the amazing third party people? Who unlike hasbro and wizards did not try make a closed gaming license and basically destroy one a the best parts a the hobby. Run whenever you want at your table I just ask don’t let two greedy companies ruin amazing content from other companies.
@Indestructoboy10 сағат бұрын
I would hope that people were expanding their gaming experiences beyond 5E
@sambro66573 сағат бұрын
@@Indestructoboy I understand that view and actually will be expanding my gaming past 5e very very soon just don’t let the very awful actions of two groups of bad people ruin your consumer relationship with good people who respect and value there customers. Don’t burn the bridges that are built on years or trust and fun just because a bridge you thought you could trust broke on you and tried to make all the other bridges pay that bridge. But regardless yeah thanks to dungeon coach I’m soon gonna try dc20 and some other rpgs I have my eyes on also Goodluck going forward with rpgs.
@williamthomas1171Күн бұрын
Sounds like an awesome campaign. I'll have to check it out.
@davrosdavros7198Күн бұрын
Level for pcs.?I stopped listening partway for spoilers
@IndestructoboyКүн бұрын
1st to 11th level
@Zookind789Күн бұрын
squeaky chair
@Carl-eu6nsКүн бұрын
Seems like Madison has an AI infection. It also strikes me that maybe the Creative Commons agreement should be abridged to include a provision that mandates revisions be published as a separate 'Addendum Document,' that does not include the publishing of the OG writer's work.
@SavageGreywolfКүн бұрын
He's also done this with Open D6/Mini Six system content. I first became aware of this four months ago when Todd Lyons reported on it. This dude is pretty shameless- his 'church' itself is basically just a knockoff of LDS beliefs (and yes, Gothic Church isn't just a brand- he really bills himself as a religious leader. So much for 'thou shalt not steal').
@davidpeacock8276Күн бұрын
Dope
@walksevaКүн бұрын
To start, I love that this module earned the praise it did, especially after the hassle DMsGuild put JVC through in regards to rights and creating physical copies. I also respect that, as an effectively solo project, this is a masterpiece of structure. With that said, I wish I could share your appreciation for the module's contents as I wasn't too happy with my experience as a player. For each high and wowing set piece, there was a lot of frayed story threads and stone-walls that frustrated the group I played with. I really don't want to have this be a tl;dr wall of spam, but I can't communicate my disappointment without examples, so...y'know: 1) Action paralysis. Our group fluctuated between four and five players, but even at our largest size, the combat and exploration features perpetually ruined us. From madness traps, domination spells, mind-numbing mind blast stuns, and some healthy CR heavy-hitters, anything outside of basic goons often turned into 3 or 2 vs X encounters (often within the first turn). As the most egregious anecdote, we got to Berranzo for the first time, and between the front door and initial antechamber, three of us failed checks against short term madness or becoming stunned. Those who didn't immediately flee for the hills were captured and we just sat there laughing about it: haha, what a shitshow, curse these dice, let's try again with gusto, and similar banter. After those who fled regrouped, we returned to free the imprisoned half of the party...only to have it happen again within the next two rooms. It was baffling since, after the second time, I just assumed we'd have a tpk and be done with it. By my old notes, I think we officially tpk'd at least three times in similar scenarios of save-vs-sucking across the whole adventure (not counting just getting our butts whooped outright). It occurred so often that our last foray into Ascarle included DM-granted boons against charm...only stun and madness effects were in such abundance that it didn't matter and at least one person was just sucking their thumb or bumping into a wall during any given encounter. I skimmed the module after our campaign concluded just to see if my sore spots were due to self stupidity or whatever, but as far as I could tell, our DM played as written. As a sub-point, the module includes several sections for "capture vs kill" which came up plenty often for us -- And it highlighted, if not this module's fascination with no/negative action effects, 5e's shortcomings. We eventually returned to Berranzo at like level 8, but as far I read, that was definitely abnormal and hurt our pacing, which leads to my second issue: 2) Plot. It sounds great in the pitch, but there were so many deadends and voids in our actual play that we felt the need to beg for NPC directions or DM admissions to parse what was happening/what we should do. Our most confusing section were the city attacks on Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep since, true to your own retelling, there was a lot of awesome action, but from our PoV, we didn't know most context outside of Thiliossk's battle plan map, and when we did our little investigations, all that ended up happening was major NPCs becoming mind-controlled (and turning unhelpful/aggressive) or us discovering secret sects that "retired themselves" rather than give up information (trying to free Dagult Neverember drove us insane in more ways than one, and the aboleth surprise lair was cool but did not give us any answers on the larger plot). Even after the climax of freeing the kraken from the elder brain, we were unfamiliar with half the villainous characters. The pirate crew looked cool but were enigmas since they kicked our asses, captured us, but then split off so we could just kill the captain (the Storm Maiden didn't fight us the second time for reasons?), and the mind flayer crew outside of Thiliossk were introduced and defeated in the same combats which did not leave a not great impression. The setting and stakes are the sort of heights I wish Tyranny of Dragons or Princes of the Apocalypse rose to, but dear god was the bulk of play frustrating for myself and the group I played with. I'm glad other people like it, but I don't have fondness for the time I spent playing outside of playing with friends.
@finger3181Күн бұрын
A little shitty? No, it's all the shitty
@_Orman_Күн бұрын
I AGREE! This campaign is fantastic!! Currently running it!
@TheUglyGoblinКүн бұрын
Wooooah this is super interesting :o 😍 This is such a good video!
@aventus1177Күн бұрын
This video has so much helpful info! The methodology of creating an atmosphere quickly is fantastic
@GhostManBrandonDDpreКүн бұрын
Do not get this rip off scheme mixed up with Drakar och Demoner (Dragons and Demons, known in US as Dragonbane) the 1982 Scandinavian ttrpg, available through Free League of Sweden. Maybe drop Drive Thru a line with your displeasure, regarding this theft.
@Martin_DimiragКүн бұрын
Dimirag from the Basic Fantasy project here: More than purchasing Basic Fantasy, spread the word so others don't buy Demons & Dragons expecting a different game, more than attacking this person, protect possible buyers.
@ChrisGonnermanКүн бұрын
What he said. As usual.
@Dymond_Y2KКүн бұрын
Madison does have mad find and replace skills..
@brandonschneider3993Күн бұрын
I'd love to see your rebuild of this subclass and your interpretation of it.
@urbaneblobfishКүн бұрын
Basic Fantasy is such a clear labor of love and it shows. I hate that people are taking advantage of that and thank you for shouting out the creator.
@L337P1R4735Күн бұрын
Art will be either stolen or AI, bet.
@AJPickettКүн бұрын
Bloody disgusting behavior from Gothic Knobs as per usual.
@brandonschneider3993Күн бұрын
I think one thing the giant barbarian should do is be able to cleave multiple enemies within a certain range. Only a couple times per long rest. Maybe as a large size and then huge. With the range you have it makes sense and I always picture giants being able to do that.
@andyenglish4303Күн бұрын
I wasn't terribly impressed with this one, but maybe I'll give it a second look.
@DMTalesTTRPGКүн бұрын
Full on grift.
@MarkHydeКүн бұрын
This is really sad and thanks for calling this out man.
@HowtoRPGКүн бұрын
That is a shame.
@markrubelmann1182Күн бұрын
I wish I had seen this video a couple of weeks ago. I picked up the book and am halfway through reading it and decided to look on the KZreads to see if anyone shared my opinions. You absolutely nailed it. As a bleeding-heart liberal myself, I've been feeling like I'm wrong to grimace at all the preachy passages. Thank you for showing me it's not just me and I'm not actually a terrible person deep down inside. On the plus side, I got it on sale, so there's that.
@codyhood3061Күн бұрын
Yay Kraken week!
@sidsicker7358Күн бұрын
This is very similar to 1d4chans simple d6 system
@philipstaffinwiebe501Күн бұрын
My friend and I both wanted to run this for our group. He won the DM role, but that means he lost the ability to play in it. Really a great time. So much swashbuckling fun and high adventure.
@bardkunnКүн бұрын
very cool video !
@edwardromero3580Күн бұрын
Even the name is a rip off of the original Dragonbane, just flipped. What a piece of work this dude is.
@dungeondrКүн бұрын
Isn't dragons and demons the English translation for Dragonbanes Swedish name? Might be the other way around TBF 🤔
@IndestructoboyКүн бұрын
If it's a registered trademark as "Dragons & Demons", there's a non-zero chance that it could be in violation of the trademark.
@WallyDMКүн бұрын
JVC Parry is one of the best, I learned so much by working with him. AWESOME analysis here for Kraken week! Oh, and glug, glug, glug.
@masteringmarv446Күн бұрын
It’s now on my short list
@voryndagothDLКүн бұрын
This adventure is just built different compared to all the official 5e content. You can tell it's a passion project rather than "just another book to sell"
@pointyhatstudiosКүн бұрын
*glug glug glug* <- that's me drowning in an underwater adventure
@TrekirosКүн бұрын
Eric Watson mentionned, woooooooo
@RogueWatsonКүн бұрын
Ah snap!
@RollForTuracoКүн бұрын
I might actually want to run this one day, It's now on my wishlist of books to get
@DeficientMasterКүн бұрын
Great review except for that cringe KZreadr at 17:40
@BlandcoКүн бұрын
I can't even remember all the times where some GM has NPCs who could easily solve the issues at hand and made the PCs feel like idiot children. In Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd edition I blame the intro quest thing where it showed off the overpowered witch hunters to show players something powerful that their PCs could aspire toward. In 5E I just blame poor writing.
Пікірлер
I'm surprised that WotC doesn't also go after him on the name of the game. It seems wayyyyyy too similar to Dungeons & Dragons, and they sued Gary Gygax successfully multiple times when he tried to create a TTRPG that had a name similar to D&D. Many of us detest a lot of what WotC/Hasbro does on the corporate/legal front, with darn good reasons. But this is a situation where they actually have a legit case, they have the big pricey lawyers to bring it, and it would really help the Basic RPG folks so they could get this scam job nuked without them having to pay insane lawyers fees.
Would have liked to see more time spent on talking about the call of the deep adventure and less time trashing D&D stuff. I’m running a sand box nautical pirate themed campaign at the moment s this adventure seems perfect for me. Seems being the key word. I would have liked more spoilers to know for sure.
It’s critique. Anyone involved in a creative field understands critique
@@Indestructoboy I’m not involved in a creative field.
Stack this bad boy with the 5E Call of Cthulhu that lets you play 5E with the 7th Edition Call stuff without it being way to crunchy
This is great. Super helpful, targeted instruction. Two years on, I'm sure there are reasons you haven't done the stat block video, but I would be interested in that.
They changed the format on the statblocks immediately after this, and have done so again for D&D 2024. I'm not currently allowed to show how to replicate the look until 9/17
I ran this for my players and it was amazing. I changed a ton of stuff but I kept the skeleton of the plot because it was totally solid. The reason I mention that is I replaced Ramazith in Ramazith’s Tower with Loroakan who resides there in Baldur’s Gate 3. This was back when BG3 was still early access so I had only heard the name and that he lived there so I was like “wait I should put him in my adventure so when they meet him in BG3 it’ll be really cool” and now my party members post BG3 release are like “hahaha Loroakan is the worst I don’t even feel bad he got kidnapped by pirate cultists for the mind flayers. Also one of my players shunted one of the four mindflayers to the shadowfell and he’s still there for me to unleash in a plot later xDD
I don't find ally punishment THAT terrible. If anything it opens up RP opportunities after. Or you can turn it into a humour s event. Arrow in the butt cheek. Setting a wolfkins tail on fire etc. Maybe just tone down the damage.
I love the Basic Fantasy RPG, it's by far one of the best OSR games. I have over a dozen of the books in physical copy.
drivethrurpg does not give one fuck about creators anyway. Have you been there recently? It's full full full of AI bullshit games. The idea would be rather to stop using drivethru
I’ve been wanting to run this campaign forever. I’m definitely gonna throw it in front of them and use mind flayers as a hook since they’ve all played at least some of BG3!
Is that tentacle what I think it is?
It’s for home defense.
@@Indestructoboy just so long as it does the job and reaches its target
Woo! Thank you for the shout-out, Taron! Great breakdown of the campaign, definitely a gem on the DMs Guild. I mean, I'm running it, which is the highest praise I can give. 😆
So what about third party 5e content like kobold press 2c gaming or Nord games? I respect you being fully done with official content by wizards of the coast and hasbro but have you also cut yourself out of all the amazing third party people? Who unlike hasbro and wizards did not try make a closed gaming license and basically destroy one a the best parts a the hobby. Run whenever you want at your table I just ask don’t let two greedy companies ruin amazing content from other companies.
I would hope that people were expanding their gaming experiences beyond 5E
@@Indestructoboy I understand that view and actually will be expanding my gaming past 5e very very soon just don’t let the very awful actions of two groups of bad people ruin your consumer relationship with good people who respect and value there customers. Don’t burn the bridges that are built on years or trust and fun just because a bridge you thought you could trust broke on you and tried to make all the other bridges pay that bridge. But regardless yeah thanks to dungeon coach I’m soon gonna try dc20 and some other rpgs I have my eyes on also Goodluck going forward with rpgs.
Sounds like an awesome campaign. I'll have to check it out.
Level for pcs.?I stopped listening partway for spoilers
1st to 11th level
squeaky chair
Seems like Madison has an AI infection. It also strikes me that maybe the Creative Commons agreement should be abridged to include a provision that mandates revisions be published as a separate 'Addendum Document,' that does not include the publishing of the OG writer's work.
He's also done this with Open D6/Mini Six system content. I first became aware of this four months ago when Todd Lyons reported on it. This dude is pretty shameless- his 'church' itself is basically just a knockoff of LDS beliefs (and yes, Gothic Church isn't just a brand- he really bills himself as a religious leader. So much for 'thou shalt not steal').
Dope
To start, I love that this module earned the praise it did, especially after the hassle DMsGuild put JVC through in regards to rights and creating physical copies. I also respect that, as an effectively solo project, this is a masterpiece of structure. With that said, I wish I could share your appreciation for the module's contents as I wasn't too happy with my experience as a player. For each high and wowing set piece, there was a lot of frayed story threads and stone-walls that frustrated the group I played with. I really don't want to have this be a tl;dr wall of spam, but I can't communicate my disappointment without examples, so...y'know: 1) Action paralysis. Our group fluctuated between four and five players, but even at our largest size, the combat and exploration features perpetually ruined us. From madness traps, domination spells, mind-numbing mind blast stuns, and some healthy CR heavy-hitters, anything outside of basic goons often turned into 3 or 2 vs X encounters (often within the first turn). As the most egregious anecdote, we got to Berranzo for the first time, and between the front door and initial antechamber, three of us failed checks against short term madness or becoming stunned. Those who didn't immediately flee for the hills were captured and we just sat there laughing about it: haha, what a shitshow, curse these dice, let's try again with gusto, and similar banter. After those who fled regrouped, we returned to free the imprisoned half of the party...only to have it happen again within the next two rooms. It was baffling since, after the second time, I just assumed we'd have a tpk and be done with it. By my old notes, I think we officially tpk'd at least three times in similar scenarios of save-vs-sucking across the whole adventure (not counting just getting our butts whooped outright). It occurred so often that our last foray into Ascarle included DM-granted boons against charm...only stun and madness effects were in such abundance that it didn't matter and at least one person was just sucking their thumb or bumping into a wall during any given encounter. I skimmed the module after our campaign concluded just to see if my sore spots were due to self stupidity or whatever, but as far as I could tell, our DM played as written. As a sub-point, the module includes several sections for "capture vs kill" which came up plenty often for us -- And it highlighted, if not this module's fascination with no/negative action effects, 5e's shortcomings. We eventually returned to Berranzo at like level 8, but as far I read, that was definitely abnormal and hurt our pacing, which leads to my second issue: 2) Plot. It sounds great in the pitch, but there were so many deadends and voids in our actual play that we felt the need to beg for NPC directions or DM admissions to parse what was happening/what we should do. Our most confusing section were the city attacks on Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep since, true to your own retelling, there was a lot of awesome action, but from our PoV, we didn't know most context outside of Thiliossk's battle plan map, and when we did our little investigations, all that ended up happening was major NPCs becoming mind-controlled (and turning unhelpful/aggressive) or us discovering secret sects that "retired themselves" rather than give up information (trying to free Dagult Neverember drove us insane in more ways than one, and the aboleth surprise lair was cool but did not give us any answers on the larger plot). Even after the climax of freeing the kraken from the elder brain, we were unfamiliar with half the villainous characters. The pirate crew looked cool but were enigmas since they kicked our asses, captured us, but then split off so we could just kill the captain (the Storm Maiden didn't fight us the second time for reasons?), and the mind flayer crew outside of Thiliossk were introduced and defeated in the same combats which did not leave a not great impression. The setting and stakes are the sort of heights I wish Tyranny of Dragons or Princes of the Apocalypse rose to, but dear god was the bulk of play frustrating for myself and the group I played with. I'm glad other people like it, but I don't have fondness for the time I spent playing outside of playing with friends.
A little shitty? No, it's all the shitty
I AGREE! This campaign is fantastic!! Currently running it!
Wooooah this is super interesting :o 😍 This is such a good video!
This video has so much helpful info! The methodology of creating an atmosphere quickly is fantastic
Do not get this rip off scheme mixed up with Drakar och Demoner (Dragons and Demons, known in US as Dragonbane) the 1982 Scandinavian ttrpg, available through Free League of Sweden. Maybe drop Drive Thru a line with your displeasure, regarding this theft.
Dimirag from the Basic Fantasy project here: More than purchasing Basic Fantasy, spread the word so others don't buy Demons & Dragons expecting a different game, more than attacking this person, protect possible buyers.
What he said. As usual.
Madison does have mad find and replace skills..
I'd love to see your rebuild of this subclass and your interpretation of it.
Basic Fantasy is such a clear labor of love and it shows. I hate that people are taking advantage of that and thank you for shouting out the creator.
Art will be either stolen or AI, bet.
Bloody disgusting behavior from Gothic Knobs as per usual.
I think one thing the giant barbarian should do is be able to cleave multiple enemies within a certain range. Only a couple times per long rest. Maybe as a large size and then huge. With the range you have it makes sense and I always picture giants being able to do that.
I wasn't terribly impressed with this one, but maybe I'll give it a second look.
Full on grift.
This is really sad and thanks for calling this out man.
That is a shame.
I wish I had seen this video a couple of weeks ago. I picked up the book and am halfway through reading it and decided to look on the KZreads to see if anyone shared my opinions. You absolutely nailed it. As a bleeding-heart liberal myself, I've been feeling like I'm wrong to grimace at all the preachy passages. Thank you for showing me it's not just me and I'm not actually a terrible person deep down inside. On the plus side, I got it on sale, so there's that.
Yay Kraken week!
This is very similar to 1d4chans simple d6 system
My friend and I both wanted to run this for our group. He won the DM role, but that means he lost the ability to play in it. Really a great time. So much swashbuckling fun and high adventure.
very cool video !
Even the name is a rip off of the original Dragonbane, just flipped. What a piece of work this dude is.
Isn't dragons and demons the English translation for Dragonbanes Swedish name? Might be the other way around TBF 🤔
If it's a registered trademark as "Dragons & Demons", there's a non-zero chance that it could be in violation of the trademark.
JVC Parry is one of the best, I learned so much by working with him. AWESOME analysis here for Kraken week! Oh, and glug, glug, glug.
It’s now on my short list
This adventure is just built different compared to all the official 5e content. You can tell it's a passion project rather than "just another book to sell"
*glug glug glug* <- that's me drowning in an underwater adventure
Eric Watson mentionned, woooooooo
Ah snap!
I might actually want to run this one day, It's now on my wishlist of books to get
Great review except for that cringe KZreadr at 17:40
I can't even remember all the times where some GM has NPCs who could easily solve the issues at hand and made the PCs feel like idiot children. In Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd edition I blame the intro quest thing where it showed off the overpowered witch hunters to show players something powerful that their PCs could aspire toward. In 5E I just blame poor writing.