It’s been almost a week and I’m still not right with all this.

My friend Knigobi and several other (larger) D&D content creators were belittled, demeaned, and mocked during a six and a half hour livestream by “Whatshisname.” I only refuse to name and shame the dude because he’s chasing YouTube clout with his actions. Starting an online argument with him is only going to make it worse. Mentioning his name is only going to get him riled up.

Unfortunately, I can’t change other people. I can teach, preach, lecture, and maybe scold in some cases for all the good it’s going to do. People have to want to learn, change, and eventually grow. The problem is that some people are very stuck in their ways, firmly believing themselves intellectually superior and their way is the only way. This has become truer in our modern world than I’d like on top of being a polarizing factor in the TTRPG space online.

Disclaimer: This is my blog. This is how I see things and how I feel. There is little factual information being presented. If you have issue with anything being presented, please contact me privately on X (Twitter,) Instagram, BlueSky, or by email. Otherwise, there are lots of platforms out there for you to vent your feelings and opinions, too.

Giving gaming advice on YouTube.

I’ve been observing channels and creator behaviors going on a decade now. I finally made a list of different channels, and their subscriber counts to figure out where to look in an effort to work with the YouTube algorithm. (It’s advice from some of the YT growth channels. Learn what “successful” looks like and then try to imitate it.) I’m amazed how many of these channels started out giving gaming advice and have long since stopped.

It’s a little tougher for content creators like my friend Knigobi who are coming in at this time to get traction by giving roleplaying and Game Master advice. It’s slightly more difficult without a Covid lockdown to boost all the numbers for gaming and YouTube. I don’t envy anyone in that position. Oh, wait. I’m in that position, too.

Now that we have three brand-spanking new core rulebooks for Dungeons & Dragons there is an ever-growing need for advice to NEW players and Dungeon Masters. Hit the brakes, though. YouTube has low key indicated to Guy of How To Be A Great GM that they have no intention to push up older channels in the algorithm. Search will still find the evergreen content, but likely the algorithm will pull up newer content first.

What I would recommend (and what I’m doing for that matter,) is trying to put out some of that solid, staple roleplaying advice from my years as a GM/DM and player. This new crowd coming up is intriguing, though, as Knigobi and her community/audience have taught me. A lot of the old advice doesn’t work quite as well without reframing it a bit for a new audience.

Meanwhile over on the “big” name channels…

Some of them aren’t growing with the new edition of D&D. Some aren’t even falling back on their 5E roots very well. Many are just making content to appease sponsors or promote whatever they’ve got in the works. It’s sort of shocking to me.

I’m not going to name anyone specific here, either. That usually gets me in more trouble than it could ever possibly be worth. It’s also out of respect for Knigobi. I’m constantly amazed at how she makes friends everywhere she goes and seems to know half of D&D YouTube already.

I know I’m critical of some of the big name DungeonTubers, and Knigobi is headed that way fast. If she ever puts a product up for sale or on crowdfunding, it’s going to be ridiculously huge overnight. She’s a hard worker and has lots of talent. I don’t gain anything from complimenting her. I’m just that darned impressed.

We had a round of ‘big” DungeonTubers moving away from YouTube or complaining about low numbers in their analytics. I don’t think they need to be gatekeeping. I think they need to up their YouTube game. To their credit, it’s not as easy as it might sound.

I think the one thing the big DungeonTuber channels get right is they are on the top tier of the TTRPG niche. I’ve already done a video on this and deleted it because it wasn’t quite what I wanted to say. We’ll try again this week on that one. If all I wanted to do was talk about D&D, I’m sure I’d have an easier time getting monetized. I know the grass is always greener but let me try it out anyway.

It’s not *just* about the money.

I’m on a fixed income and much more than a couple hundred dollars per month would jeopardize that. Otherwise I’d have to go huge overnight and stay there to replace my entire income. That second thing isn’t quite lined up yet. (I’m one big Law of Attraction moment away from that one.) Until then I just want a little extra money to support my hobby, maybe help a few people out.

One thing Knigobi gets right that I wish a lot of the big DungeonTubers would remember is the love of the hobby. Play tabletop roleplaying games because they’re fun. That’s kinda what we’re here for. Sure there are various products involved. I understand that. But there’s more to TTRPGs than selling them or buying them or even producing content around them.

It’s about motivation. I recently asked one of the big names, “Would you have still made this video if all you were getting was AdSense money.” He didn’t answer it, but he hasn’t hidden me from his channel, either. I’ll take that as a good sign. His last video was less about the sponsor and more about the topic at hand, so that’s a huge plus.

I’m only really looking for AdSense money. A hundred bucks per month looks pretty good from where I’m sitting. One of the big content creator advice channels once told me I was holding myself back by only going for AdSense money. Spoken like someone who has a course, e-book, coaching service, pyramid scheme, or something else going on.

The money would be nice, but I’m not looking to take advantage of my fellow human, especially my fellow gamers in order to do it. Maybe I am holding myself back, but I sleep better at night knowing I’m making my money in a way that aligns with my moral, ethical, and spiritual values. I feel it’s more about providing value, entertainment, and inspiration with whatever content I’m working on. If that’s in place, LoA indicates the money will follow.

Time for the usual stuff.

Bottom line in this and any TTRPG related content is please be nice to your fellow players and GM. If you treat other people like dirt, they’re not likely to come back. This applies to any game and on YouTube. Just be nice.

If something isn’t your jam, cool. Go find and do whatever is your jam. Find like-minded individuals. Join groups that embrace your playstyle. Find like-minded people on the various social media platforms. There is no need to ram your playstyle down the throats of random strangers on the Internet.

I’m going to etch it into stone around here somewhere: What works well at my table may not work well at yours and vice versa. It doesn’t mean anyone’s way of doing things in a game is any better or any worse than anyone else’s. As long as people are having fun, it’s okay.

If we’re not having fun playing TTRPGs, what are we doing here? I’m here to seriously enjoy my free time. I want to laugh and roll dice. Dragonbane is about MIRTH and mayhem. It’s all about the fun. Roleplaying can involve serious drama, but we should also maintain an air of levity in the game. If you want a super serious drama element in every game, great. Just not at my table, please.

Not every player is going to be welcome at every table. Likewise, I’m not going to sit down and run a game with people who openly hate. I have friends and loved ones who I care a great deal about. I want my table to be a safe place.

If a group of like-minded N**zis want to hang out and play (x_TTRPG_x) at their next gathering, it’s literally none of my damned business. Let ‘em. I’m not setting foot anywhere near that sh🦆🦆. Likewise, none of them are welcome in my house. (A previously published version of this article mentioned Pathfinder 2E, but in fairness to Paizo that has been changed to a generic sounding game. Sorry if anyone was offended. While I don’t speak for Paizo I have it on good authority they certainly do not support N**zis.)

At the end of the day, just be kind to one another. Please accept each other’s differences and move on if it’s not your thing. Please learn when to disengage from social discourse online. No one is the Universe’s gift to roleplaying. No one’s opinion is superior to anyone else’s in those regards.

Back to regularly scheduled hijinks tomorrow. I hear the call of the Giant Weasel for Dragonbane. We will get some Mighty Morphin March in at some point in time. We’re well overdue. Happy gaming if you have a session in the coming week. Game on.

Thank you for being here with me today. I appreciate you. Keep it real, but please strive for positivity, too. Please embrace the things that bring you the most joy in your life.