Streaming, why?

[Mgrancey]

I finally decided to ask this as I really don't understand why people find it interesting.

To be clear, and this is just to provide understanding not anything else, I am a very strong Introvert and am diagnosed with Asperger's. While I can understand watching a game to see what the system is like, and watching "cut scenes" movies of video games to watch the story, I really, really don't get the appeal of watching others game and not participating regularly. As I am an introvert I don't see the appeal in putting oneself out there like that; even if I am probably too old (ugh) to see appeal 'the' Twitter, Snapchat, whatever dribble is the latest trend, and just become disappointed in what Facebook has become. This is probably the only community I am really active on and that can sometimes go a while when work gets out of control.

I saw the crap that went down with 'The Quartering' and Twitch and watched when he went over the ToS of Twitch which showed they are way too nosy and ignore their own ToS. So with that added on top of other stuff, I just really, really don't see the appeal.

SO, why do you guys (those who do stream) do it? People who don't can chime in their thoughts if they would like; but I am not looking for a debate or argument just some understanding.

[Gwydion]

Hey Mgrancey. I stream to try and show people how easy it is to play a game on fantasy grounds. I hope that some people watch me and figure, "if that guy can do it, I sure as heck can". Its really just my desire to get more people into playing d&d (and soon PF2 and SotDL) and use fantasy grounds to make their lives easier. I also do it as I really like figuring things out. So, the whole puzzle of trying to figure out the best audio setup to get sounds to the players and the stream was fun for me.

[LordEntrails]

Watching Streams; I don't. I don't like video for learning things, not the way I learn. And would rather spend my time watching a professionally produced TV show. That said, I have watched some Critical Role and enjoyed it (during Stream of Many Eyes). At that point, it's not much different from watching community theater.

Why do I stream; To help build a community of streamers of FG. Much like Gwydion, so that those who enjoy watching others play can watch my group run. For new DMs or those who like to learn from video, they can see how I run. I'm not ideal, but have been DMing for over 35 years so I suspect their is something others can learn from me. I also stream to show the Undermountain module I've built and will be available on the DMsGuild when DoMM comes out. In a way it's advertising, but it also shows a DM how you can use the module to run your own group through. Plus, streaming is easy to do and doesn't feel like any type of exhibitionism to me (we don't use video) so there is no down side to streaming from my perspective.

[esmdev]

When I was new to running Fantasy Grounds I found it really helpful to watch some videos of streamed games. It was a big deal, for me at least, coming from 35 years of in person gaming switching to virtual gaming. I was quite nervous about it. Watching some of these games made me see that it wasn't that big a deal and would be pretty easy to adapt my play style.

Interestingly after watching a few sessions of the same group running Lost Mines I found myself wanting to see more of the group's adventure. The channel also had a lot of other good materials and many more adventures.

Myself I don't stream and probably wouldn't want to play in one either but I was really grateful that others did.

[Hurske]

The main reason I do, is for an archive of my own games. If any others care to listen, then I am fine with it.

Some of my players listens to the sessions they are in after the game. I will also use it to listen to myself sometimes. On my own style and improvements I needs to do.

[esmdev]

On thinking I could also see it as a useful way to avoid you said this, no I didn't, yes you did, etc., sort of disagreements. Plus you have a detailed log of the adventure I you wanted to go back over it for historical reference... Like working on a follow-up to something you did months ago, adding some flare from the adventure to your world doc, building a timeline. Also keeping things straight between separate gaming groups if you run the same adventure for multiple groups but want to run a continuation of just one of them with one but can't remember what that particular group did. Lots of ideas but hopefully that gets my point beyond just streaming for others to see.

[shadzar]

I am a very strong Introvert and am diagnosed with Asperger's.

Don't stream, you don't have to. If someone is offering a game and requires it to be streamed, you are welcome to say no. streaming services require permission to transmit, meaning someone else has to have your permission before your voice or video or anything gets onto their stream. you dont have to give that permission if you dont want to. nor without voice or video, you dont have to participate in chat only either. its your choice.


While I can understand watching a game to see what the system is like, and watching "cut scenes" movies of video games to watch the story, I really, really don't get the appeal of watching others game and not participating regularly.

For the life of me I can't see why people watch actors ham acting on CR myself, nor can many others, but lots of people are addicted to it. it really isn't fun to watch a game like that. Just wait until you hear abot the PVP D&D tournaments coming this month... that will really make you question why people are doing it, AND streaming it, when D&D isnt made for PVP. :D

What I can tell you is that people use the internet for TV now, and watching something like CR is instead of watching Roseanne, or whatever it is called now. So instead of grabbing FG, Roll20, or MapTool, or even OpenRPG and playing, they just prefer to watch other people be imitations of Lord of the Rings...

Now there is something else streamed that I will touch on, "creation" or DM streams. Rob2e streams Fantasy Grounds courses with Fantasy Grounds College (https://fantasygroundscollege.net/) founder Laerun to teach all those things you can't easily find how to do with just some text on a page and your own FG, but you can watch Rob do it live in FG.

GeoQuester streams DM streams where he maps to show people how to map, This month he is doing NaMoWriMo where chat helps as he writes one dungeon a day each day. This allows people to see how a published GM does it and helps them understand how to make dungeons work. Also he has a weekly talk show to offer help to DMs and players of all RPGs with any questions or problems.

There are a few other "Talk Shows' out there, more than i can name off the top of my head. As well tons of other streams where GMs are asking viewers for help creating maps, characters, streaming asking viewers to help them learn to play etc. It isn't all game streams where everyone is streaming Dragon Heist or Mad Mage until you get sick of seeing it.

FshSchmo also does module creation where he streams the process of coding modules into FG. (Rob2e and GeoQuester do this as well.)


As I am an introvert I don't see the appeal in putting oneself out there like that; even if I am probably too old (ugh) to see appeal 'the' Twitter, Snapchat, whatever dribble is the latest trend, and just become disappointed in what Facebook has become. This is probably the only community I am really active on and that can sometimes go a while when work gets out of control.
I think I already covered this. You don't have to do it.


I saw the crap that went down with 'The Quartering' and Twitch and watched when he went over the ToS of Twitch which showed they are way too nosy and ignore their own ToS. So with that added on top of other stuff, I just really, really don't see the appeal.

Twitch is in it for the money. Some people bought the porn site that was JustinTV and have to try to find a way to make every cent they can, without allowing all the porn JustinTV had. If you look in your browser cache, you will see MANY parts of the Twitch website still point to justin.tv web domain.


SO, why do you guys (those who do stream) do it?

I don't. my profile even says so. I joined when WotC moved the D&D podcasts there after the failure of the D&D video Podcast with Dave Noonan as DM during 4e. well didn't oin then, but watched. joined later.

Some on Twitch, just want attention, or think they will be the next Ninja or "entrepreneur" from streaming.


People who don't can chime in their thoughts if they would like; but I am not looking for a debate or argument just some understanding.

I chimed in. I use it to watch some thing like some video games. Free beats paying the price for the "story" in those games and having to buy a console to play them like PS4 and the latest non-MMO Final Fantasy. Twitch basically lives on those ToS violations of its own, because it lives off copyright violation which streaming video games i a nutshell is. People don't have to pay for the game to get to experience it in the case of those video games like FF franchise and many more.

But for the most part I frequent D&D DM streams, and try to make quality of life improvement for those who DO stream on Twitch either via OBS widgets, StreamLabs custom alerts, etc. It is just easy to tune into something some time while working to be able to listen to something that isnt the same movie you have seen 300 times before on TV so you arent sitting in a quiet room while tethered to a computer coding or writing, or mathing.

So if nothing else, slipping into a DM stream and listening for a bit, then popping out of lurk to give some fledgling DM a new idea or inspiration on how to do something in the game is better than TV anyway. I can share my experience having played and DMed since the 80s with people that otherwise would only get the exact few things from the "biggest" websites they find like NerdArchy or Taking20 youtube, or WebDM, or SlyFlourish, since many rehash the same things as each other, and many people actually think you can't break that mold of thought and do what you want with your own game and no be beholden to anyone else's ideas on how to play.

"It's your table, your players, your game. Play it how YOU want to." If i can get that concept to a few more people each day, then it is worth the time I have wasted on Twitch to listen to streams while working or doing dishes or whatever else where my wireless headset can get reception.

That is my knowledge and experience with it.

[Mgrancey]

Hmm. Didn't think of the tutorial use, or just plain log of game for reference, probably better than trying to do it with just a couple of people at a time.

Are Rob2e, GeoQuestor, and FshSchmo all on Twitch or somewhere else cause those sound worth a watch/listen.





For the life of me I can't see why people watch actors ham acting on CR myself, nor can many others, but lots of people are addicted to it. it really isn't fun to watch a game like that. Just wait until you hear abot the PVP D&D tournaments coming this month... that will really make you question why people are doing it, AND streaming it, when D&D isnt made for PVP. :D


I have seen it before, unusually as a one shot, are these PvP tournaments just a 3rd party or WotC? Cause I honestly have what would probably be some fun ideas for X-Crawl, including an actual X-Crawl tournament.

[shadzar]

Are Rob2e, GeoQuestor, and FshSchmo all on Twitch or somewhere else cause those sound worth a watch/listen.
https://www.twitch.tv/geoquester
https://www.geoquestergaming.com

https://www.twitch.tv/rob2e
https://www.rob2e.com

https://www.twitch.tv/fshschmo

all have discords, twitters, the first two are as old as dirt and started playing in the 70s-80s.
Rob past broadcasts are paywall gated to subscriber only, so you would have to see his stuff on Youtube, but the rest have plenty on Twitch still I think.

Been a while since Schmo did any development work using FG.

Rob and Geo both will be streaming tonight 9pm EST (GMT-05).

Rob with All Things Fantasy Grounds Talk Show with host Fantasy Grounds College Founder Laerun.
Tonight is DM and Player Expectations for the topic.

Geo with NaMoWriMo, where he is writing 50,000 words over the month of November, but not a novel, a module per day at about 1800 words per day. (chat helps write the adventure)
Tonight will be using a Dyson Logos map to create a mini-adventure from. (a castle map)


I have seen it before, unusually as a one shot, are these PvP tournaments just a 3rd party or WotC? Cause I honestly have what would probably be some fun ideas for X-Crawl, including an actual X-Crawl tournament.

Single elimination tournament with team PVP.... we dont know more details other than that because some fiasco and name change to RPGSportsTV (twitter.com/rpgsportstv) ...

[Mgrancey]

RPGSports? Isn't that the group that "booted" Boogie for no good reason when he hadn't even accepted since WotC is filled with hate for those who question certain people?

[shadzar]

RPGSports? Isn't that the group that "booted" Boogie for no good reason when he hadn't even accepted since WotC is filled with hate for those who question certain people?
Yes, to my understanding Lauralania invited Boogie2988, someone from EncounterRoleplay announced he would be a part before he accepted the invite. then some vocal LGBT personages started hating on Boogie, and WotC got wind pulled the plug on Boogie attending, and got the name changed from DNDSports to RPGSports.

EncounterRoleplay and DNDBeyond are producing this "thing". we will find out Saturday if it actually happens. I am just confused why the LGBT community started attacking anything for a charity event going to help promoting reading and writing to kids such as the 826 foundation.

https://826national.org/about/

We serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success.

also befuddles me why WotC, DNDBeyond, EncounterRoleplay, etc, would do this unless they don't want children of all races, genders, etc to succeed? Big names draw big crowds, and big crowds have more wallets to help the charity. :confused:

[Mgrancey]

Not going to comment on thoughts cause that will just lead to a rant on certain peoples and take conversation in different direction. Suffice to say, current love/hate relationship for DnD 5e as I really like system but I am dissatisfied because of attitude and behavior and not wanting to support it with my money.

[shadzar]

Not everyone cares for 5e, so i can understand that. Sadly it is what you will find most on Twitch unless you can catch HintFishy or Lowe505 streaming some AD&D or BD&D.

[Valyar]

Playing > Watching Others playing. If I can't play, I prefer to invest the time required for watching in something else.

[Mgrancey]

I like how 5e plays and simplification of rules and effects. DDAL was just leaving a bad "aftertaste" so I had lost interest in DnD and supporting them.

[celestian]

Playing > Watching Others playing. If I can't play, I prefer to invest the time required for watching in something else.

Or if you're like me and work where I can have something playing on the side it's pretty nice. I don't play 5e but I do enjoy watching some of these guys. It's a good way to pickup things to do and not do as a DM regardless of game type. It's also given me a lot of instruction on how to play 5e since my game is AD&D.

It's much more enjoyable to have that in the background than say some sporting event or news.

[shadzar]

DDAL was just leaving a bad "aftertaste" so I had lost interest in DnD and supporting them.

Assuming this means Adventure's League, the continuation of the malformed concept of RPGA; they never really worked. they only exist as gateways to bring people into D&D. the real meet and potatoes is outside of Adventure's League.

You can find a bunch of streams on Twitch that do DM prep, but do NOT stream their games. I dont have a big list or them, but there are a few out them when people arent streaming Starfinder, Pathfinder, Vampire, etc in the D&D category and you can navigate it to find actual D&D streams. Sadly lots of people NEED to associate with the D&D name to feel important rather than put things where they belong because they need the attention. which makes it vastly harder to find good content that isnt the average tom-foolery of CR, ERP, SoD, etc...

also, i think, the Fantasy Grounds College is trying to expand into some non-streamed games to help teach FG usage to people, so maybe they will have more info about paying outside of AL and can help. they have like 6000 members now?

if you look hard enough you will find all RPGs on Twitch in some form or another.. you jsut have to do the work since it is jsut a clusterfrick mess until they delete the D&D category to force these wannabes to learn to go somewhere else and stop living off of WotC IP. Heck one stream is sponsored by White Wolf, and Stream Vampire 5th ed in D&D category instead of Vampire's category. how pathetic is that? Paizo at least has the guts to get its own category as the number 2, but WW fell off th planet when it was the #2 RPG and now trying to cling to D&D fame again to make its comeback, sad if you ask me.

[rob2e]

Mgrancy, another simpler explanation to your original question, why stream (or more specifically why do people WATCH games being streamed)... It can be as easy as WHY do people watch football, rather than PLAY football, or why do people WATCH television or movies rather than BE AN ACTOR? Some things are better to see than to do?

I, for example, don't understand why people read books. Reading is never the answer.

[Valyar]

It's much more enjoyable to have that in the background than say some sporting event or news.
I have tried many times to play podcasts and streams in the background while working, but I found out that my brain shuts off music, background noises and all distractions when it gets really involved in something.
The only possibility to listen to audio books and other streams like that is when I am on a plane or train.

[Nylanfs]

I, for example, don't understand why people read books. Reading is never the answer.


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[RoleforFun]

I just recently started because I got really into D&D 5E and FG by watching Dave and others, so if my lowly videos can help someone else be comfortable with and enjoy tabletop RPG's and FG, then I'll be very happy about that. Also, the idea of bringing other people enjoyment just by doing my favorite hobby makes my heart smile.

Once I decided to start streaming:

A) I've noticed, with my friends at least and seemingly on other streams, that when we're streaming they seem to get more mentally and emotionally involved with the session. There isn't as much OOC or metagaming, they're really into playing their character and acting out, and everyone seems to have more fun because of it. Don't ask me why, but it is what it is.

B) After deciding I wanted to stream, I chose to make it as professional, fun, and crowd-involved as possible with my limited experience and resources. If people are spending their free time with us, they deserve our best in return.

C) If people watch regularly then we hopefully can get people interacting with (and even slightly influencing) the stories/combat. That would add an entirely new and exciting dynamic for my players and myself.

D) If we're ever fortunate to become popular enough to monetize, then it will allow us to justify spending more time on our favorite hobby. For myself at least, time is a precious resource with kids, work, school, etc... Mentally justifying playing any games is hard enough (I always feel a little guilty), and financial compensation helps get people playing more by mitigating the whole "what productive thing could I be doing with my game time instead" problem.

I'm sure there's more to it somewhere in the recesses of my soul, but those are the main reasons I'm doing what I am with our group, and hopefully soon expanding to multiple games/campaigns to multiply the fun with other streamers. Finding others with a similar mindset to team up would be great. I don't really like the whole "my channel/your channel" concept. The more the merrier in my opinion, and it would be easier for people wanting to watch if there were multiple streamers and campaigns on a single channel with an organized schedule, etc. Especially with different rulesets/themes. If you have any questions or would like clarification, fire away.