@Marcus-ki1en
Just found this video. As a sand box runner, I would add: how about smells of fir trees in the room, or snow /dirt in front of the wardrobe, or a breeze / air moving around the seam of the door. Anything to draw attention to the wardrobe. Don't forget to involve all the senses rather than just rely on narrative. If all else fails, have one of the children sent to hang up a coat in the wardrobe. Start with subtle hooks, shine a light to attract the moths, finally lead them by the nose if all else fails. Sometimes you may even need to meta game and say "guys - this is it"
@waynecribbs8853
Excellent opening and closing by reading from the book! I recently started a campaign with a nearby portal to the Feywild as the premise. Instead of starting the adventure in front of the portal, the PCs are following a trail of goblin attacks which will eventually lead them to the portal. As always, I try to use the 3ClueRule and a well-Jaquayed dungeon map to turn a boring railroad into a beautifully organic scenario with multiple paths of interest. Thank you Justin! Please keep making these!
@ingridplata2411
About the narrative control advice, I was thinking that in that situation I would have just directly teleported them to Narnia and then said "You have gone through a portal that took you here. Before you go off exploring, tell me how it happened"
@netomorgan7991
Things coming out of the wardrobe: a kind of "Time Bandits" solution
@jotunngigantopithacus
I have to wonder if these 'fantasy classic reframed for Gaming advice' videos are the most successful or memorable of your series. I know out of Colvilles videos, his similar advice video incorporating Tolkien's works is the only one I remember years afterwards. If it's not clear, this is a request for similarly structured videos in the future! Great work!
@Arnsteel634
Of course they find the wardrobe together, never split the party
@CamembertDave
As a GM, it's so important to not treat your campaign like writing a book, but it's a trap that is often fallen into.
@estebanrodriguez5409
Something to point out is that they way you set up the hook is in some way going to affect the tone of the game. For example, let's say you give the players a map of the mansion and a simple task "The Professor tells the kids to clean up the place on the following week", then it might create the expectation than other places in the house might hold similar interesting things. Or for example, you can create a mistery around why the Professor keeps dissapearing and why there are snowing footprints and strange objects on the study. The first scenario reminds me to the Spiderwick Chronicles, the second could be the begining of a horror story.
@paulsager6289
That was a masterpiece. Well done, ser!
@burtonmiller
Just got around to watching this. Simply brilliant, Justin. Once again, you make the tricky and onerous into the obvious. My favorites is filled with your videos.
@jefferypretti6096
This was another great video (and fantastic interview on The Smart Party, which clued me into this youtube channel). Something I've been thinking about a lot, mentioned in this video, is how "clues" and "hooks" can be treated in similar fashion. I would be interesting to see a compare/contrast of their use, how the principles of advanced gamemastery used for one do (or perhaps do not) translate well to the other.
@ZubinMadon
Loving every video. Long time blog reader and these videos are a perfect supplement
@Kierous
This videos are the best DM advice videos on youtube.
@AaronSteinPittsburgh
I wish I could pay you to read me to sleep every night. I hope you have children (or that you do someday or you have nieces/nephews) and they grow up with the joy of hearing you read them fairytales and fantasy novels. You sir, have an incredible reading voice.
@veritanuda
Cool breakdown and yeah, knowing how to get the best from your players is just as important as it is to craft the world that you want them to play in. Gaming is about fun and people enjoy it when they are made to feel part of the narrative and not just following it. Thanks for sharing.
@ronangarey7327
Excellent! Sounds like you create an excellent organic campaign sand box in your games!
@geoffdewitt6845
You've read the article, NOW WATCH THE VIDEO!!!
@nyxgalipeau
Your channel is still way underrated! Was impressed by the Alexandrian, and now following you on Youtube! :)
@markfaulkner8191
Brilliant! The best gaming advice video I have yet seen from any youtube GM guru.
@AndrewWilson-ol6jb