“Why is every shop keeper a high level veteran adventurer?” “Becuase low level adventurers like you guys have killed all of the non demigod shop keepers”

I would love to see him and Henry Cavil play something together

I love how his answer to "How to handle murderhobos?" is "Guilttrip them."

For realism’s sake, you should have every torture victim just tell the players whatever they want to hear without regard for accuracy. Lead them down a massive wild goose chase.

My firet time ever playing DnD, the DM opened everything with: "Okay. You're all dead. How did you die?" A cult revived us in order to act as warriors of some deity (can't remember who) in order to stop the end times or something along those lines.

When Flash Thompson is a bigger nerd than Peter Parker

I did a "0-level" start for a group once, where all they did was pick their race and assign stats, and start as adolescents. I had them all use the standard array. They were all reporting for their first day of training for (at least) one tour of compulsory enlistment in the city watch. During the first couple of in-game days, I had them "compete" in various training exercises to have them feel out what kinds of classes each were interested in. . During the night near the end of their first week of training, some bizarre disaster struck the town. Every monster type conceivable was present. Undead, aberrations, evil outsiders of all kinds, etc. And the group (and all the other recruits) had to decide what to do. The actual members of the Watch were being cut down left and right. One member of the party wanted to just run out and start fighting, but another kept their head and organized the trainees into a defensive force to hold the "fort", while the party went out to clear the streets and gather survivors to bring back. . As they got into encounters out in the town, I asked them when appropriate, "What do you WANT to do?" Specifically, what do they wish their character were capable of doing right then, rather than what are they actually able to do. Depending on how specific, and how reasonable, their desires were, I'd have them roll some related ability check, and see if they could pull it off. And I kept track of that, along with the results of their training. One guy had originally wanted to be a fighter, but ended up a barbarian. Another wanted to be an archer, and turned out a sorcerer. And I didn't just assign classes, I suggested classes based on what their choices were, and had them pick. And they all ended up playing something they hadn't considered when we started, and they were more attached to those characters than I've typically found in any group.

Professional actors playing DnD is something out of a legend to me. That must be the best experience ever

Joe didn’t answer super clearly on the rogue two weapon fighting question. In 5e, A rogue with a dagger in each hand can attack twice on each turn by using their bonus action to make an off hand attack. However the off hand attack doesn’t add ability modifier to damage unless the character has the “two weapon fighting” fighting style feature that Joe was referring to. For reference, the two weapon fighting rules are found on page 195 of the 5e Player's Handbook.

I could listen to Joe talk about D&D all day.

"Hey, I'm tired of starting adventures on a boat, or in prison. Any advice?" "Yes! Absolutely! Try a prison boat!"

So we've got a guy who's abs will grate aged cheddar, and also nerds out over his storytelling and dungeon-mastering. They will sing songs about you

I used to think ppl that played D&D were probably boring nerds, but I got into D&D when I was cooking at a chain restaurant in the early 90s. Our kitchen manager was hardcore into it and he would invite cooks and wait staff over to his apartment and we would stay up all night playing D&D and drinking. It was unbelievably fun. I was hooked. Great video Joe!

Wait... Isn’t that the guy who stole the hand of vecna!?!?

The “breaks knees” question is always interesting because every GM handles it differently, my GM keeps a “Karma list” where eventually, maybe not even in that particular world with that character but eventually, he will inflict a similar punishment on one of your characters. So if in your medieval fantasy world you break the shop keeps knees and steal all his wares, then maybe 7 years down the line you are playing a sci-fi cyberpunk game and your characters knees get broken and all your equipment is stolen.

-Successful acting career. -giant nerd owns it -Married to Sofía Vergara Joe is just winning at life, isn't he

Is no one going to acknowledged one of the first questions was asked by sam witwer, voice of Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, and starkiller

The list of random names is the best tip you could give any DM. When the party meets some random NPC, the world feels incredibly alive if you can give them a name straight away.

The most unique start I ever had: One party member was a necromancer and animated a pile of bones who turned out to be my character. My quest became to find out who I was.

The character of Christopher Skwaken needs to be explored and developed

Listening to his description of how Lawful Evil will go along with the plan until the paths diverge. . .like helping a band of players fight their ultimate foe and then stealing the Hand of Vecna and teleporting out? Such a great long play.

He looks like if Taliesin Jaffe and Travis Willingham fused together

Best opening for a campaign, or video game, for that matter: Your eyes slowly open. You see the back of a soldier driving a horse-drawn carriage through a forested region, the clip-clop of horseshoes interrupting the sounds of birds and the light wind through the trees. You find your wrists are bound. Also in your vision is a bearded man with blonde hair. His head is turned, but he wears a blue-tinted light armor, also bound. He then turns to you and says, "Hey, you. You're finally awake. You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there."

Love the hill giant baby story! In my favorite campaign I have ever run, the characters found a homemade straw doll in the pack of a goblin miner they killed. I only meant to add a little guilt to the equation, imagining this goblin making the doll for his kid. The part flipped out and two of my players became obsessed with finding this orphan goblin. They eventually did and adopted her. She has since become the most beloved NPC in the campaign and I have to worry about getting shanked IRL by my players every time she is attacked or endangered in any way. God, I love this game!!!!

"I dont wanna fight you Arkhan" "i wouldnt wanna fight me neither"

Someone's been hanging out with Taliesin Jaffe

"...somewhere off in the distance you swear you hear the faint sound of a baby crying." - My chaotic evil dwarven fighter with with Greater Favored Enemy -Giant - "Job's never finished..."

I cannot oversell how hard I laughed at 'Christopher Squawken'

"warlocks have so many tricks up their sleeves..." Yes, and most of them are called eldritch blast XD

It's amazing and heartening seeing how the aura around this game has evolved. When I first started playing in '81, we did so in 'secret' due to the stigma around it. My friends and I were 'dorks' and other school-kids made fun of us. My parents were worried I MIGHT try to summon a demon, and my grandparents were convinced it was a terrible thing. Fast forward 40 years.... and we have Joe Manganiello putting on Q&A's and celebrity games found on UKposts and Facebook. It's just awesome how times have changed in a good way.

Fun fact: every single book you need or want for DnD can be downloaded for free (or purchased online, if you feel nice and want to support the various publishers and authours)

Fun Fact: Even though the Dragonborn were first introduced in a Core book in 4th edition, they were actually introduced in 3.5 in the Races of the Dragon supplement.

Talking about romance in game, my best friend just gave me my Christmas present today, and it's a framed print of some art that she comissioned of my character and her girlfriend dancing together. It was so sweet that I started to cry when I opened it. I'm so invested in these adventurers lives, and just want them to be happy.

Christopher Squaken is definitely in my next DND campaign.

His passion for this topic is so infectious. Pretty sure they could make a successful show of Joe and his friends playing D&D.

When you twin polymorph t-rexes in a tavern, it doesnt matter what the DM had planned. You are in charge now.

I knew Joe was a geek, but that deep X-Men cut about the time Magneto became headmaster caught me. Mad respect.

This dude and Deborah Ann Woll are 2 of the major reasons why I got into D&D (been playing at least once a week since March). They’re both great role players, DMs, and overall D&D enthusiast. This video is awesome! 👍🏽👍🏽

That did not feel like 23 mins, love when passionate people pour their heart out on something they truly care about

That Christopher Walken impression caught me off guard lmao. What a legend.

The best DM tip I have ever heard, "Have post-it notes with names on them." My mind is blown, how did I never think of this!

I want him to appear back on Critical Role. Maybe even a one shot featuring Arkhan? Thanks, Wired. I needed this. I feel surprisingly starved for 'cool Joe Manganiello D&D content'.

12:15 never knew I needed to hear seagull Christopher Walken *eyes opened, mind expanded*

I once had to throw out an entire campaign storyline because my players did something totally unexpected. I was like okay, let me make up a whole new campaign on the spot 🤣 Wild thing is it turned into one of our greatest adventures and a campaign that took two years to complete. The DM or GM must be flexible and often improvise.

That Magneto reference was on point.

Joe is living his best DND life. it makes me want to live MY best DND life.

Currently playing a Chaotic Evil Fallen Aasimar Conquest Paladin, who fell in love at first sight with another Evil NPC, who is faking being a good person. This will be incredible one way or another.

there was this one time where my players walked into a village at night and it was being 'invaded' by 'monsters.' the barbarian decapitated a small zombie and as its head was flying in the air, its mask came off and they realized it was an elf child. Turns out the village was just celebrating Halloween.

That seagull's got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.

Now I feel bad about the orphaned hill giant babies.

If your players torture people, it's up to the others in the group to change that behavior if they don't want it - your group is a group, not 4 or 5 random unconnected NPCs. They can totally say "NO, stop. That's not who we are!" or they can join in and be "those guys". The DM just plays out how the environment and module characters would react.

I'm convinced Joe rolled 18's for all of his stats during his character creation at birth, and then proceeded to roll a nat 20 on succeeding in life.

Joe talking about not working to subvert the party goals... that's a nice hand of Vecna you have there! ;)

Christopher Squalken, wise seagull of the wharf.

The dual wielding answer is a little bit off, anyone can dual wield light weapons and after attacking with your main hand weapon, you can use your bonus action to attack with your off-hand weapon.

I love your creativity and enthusiasm! I started playing D&D in the early 80's, left for a long time, and am now returning. You have really amped up the excitement for me. Glad to see to it so popular these days.

"There's a long goal..." *stares in Grog*

Knowing this guy is a fan of Dragonlance, just makes me smile and want to follow his videos more.

He said "months or even years". Clearly, Joe knows Campaigning.

I could watch an entire series of Joe talking about D&D.

It's been over two decades since I heard anyone who knew that "Elf" was a class choice!

Vin Diesel has his own dark elf character tattooed on his skin but Joe has an original Jeff Easley painting of his character that was arranged by his impossibly hot wife.

"Disaster tourist guide" is always my go to thought process for DMing

The most important tip I can give anyone for DnD, player or DM, is take notes. Take lots and lots and lots of notes. You will think that you will remember the most important things, but weeks or even months later you'll suddenly run back into someone you've met before and have forgotten most things about that person and encounter. Having some basic notes to fall back on to help you remember really helps you flesh out those interactions making them that much more imersive.

dm: I don't wanna fight you Joe as a minotaur: I wouldn't wanna fight me neither!

Duuuude. With the blue mohawk, he can TOTALLY play Hades if there's a live-action of the Disney Hercules

Christopher Squawkin. that's it. we're reached the peak. This video is perfect.

Man the sea gull sounded just like Christopher Walken, that's hilarious.

Currently playing a party with both a Lawful and a Chaotic Evil character. 100% the Lawful Evil plays better with others and more generally respects the party.

Been playing the game for 25 years... The tip of having a list of names handy is legit.

I like playing lawful evil characters personally, with the approach that theyll generally do anything inside the law/their moral code to benefit themselves AND/or the party. In my experience the trick to a good edgy/loner/dark/evil character that gels well in a party is to let the party be the exception, the ones that the character actually cares about or will open up to.

love it when people are passionate about fantasy and games and having fun. would really like to play again, but I'm a bit of a introvert. played one DnD match about 18 years ago prob and can still remember it.

This man radiates such strong cool uncle energy

I see Taliesin has been at Joe's hair. Love it.

If I ever do DM, I'm going to set up a secret Karma scale for every character, and their karma score will affect how NPCs interact with them individually and with the group as a whole. Kind of like reputation mechanics in Fallout

I would love to sit in on one of Joe’s games just to watch and see him perform the character voices. I love DM’s who actually perform their NPC’s.

I wonder if this Dragonborn Paladin of Tiamat played a Critical Role in some story...

::My character after hearing the baby hill giant cry:: "well... it would be cruel to leave them out there helpless. Do I kill them or adopt them?"

7:05 it’s actually just a rule being able to attack with a light weapon as a bonus action after an attack action and a fighting style that allows you to add your bonus, and the feat let’s you use non-light weapons to duel wield and gives you an AC bonus when you do duel wield (to compensate for no shield)

the original DragonLance book was the first big book i ever read, i love that that's his favourite world, so comfy

guys fyi this badass guy who also played deathstroke in bvs .... played fricking Flash Thompson in Tobey Maguire's spiderman trilogy like wtf!!!

Wow, your wife got you an original Jeff Easley painting of your dnd character, that's some serious freaking love right there, I'm so jealous

@Joe, you’re one of my heroes for DnD. Your style of DM seems super fun.

So pleased hearing Dragonlance getting so much love. New book coming Joe, there's something to look forward to 🤘

Joe with his Slade Wilson hair and goatee talking about D&D is something else lol. That’s layers of nerdom

Most dangerous character is always the chaotic stupid one

the question about forming bonds between characters got me thinking about a session many years ago.. Star Wars D20.. a force sensitive Rodian scoundrel got force bonded with a Wookie Jedi Guardian.. complicated story line, but it was awesome!

I would absolutely do anything to be in a campaign with manganiello. I found dnd 3 years ago, I have about 3 campaigns going with different groups. I am DM for one of those, and the storytelling is one of the most satisfying things ever, and it’s clear that Joe is a master of his trade, looking several steps ahead all the time, but allowing the players to control the game. Joe, hit me up!

Correction: Two-weapon fighting does not require a Fighting Style or a Feat, those simply add your ability modifier to the damage and let you use non-light weapons.

i had a group of players once ask a streetside butcher for directions, they loved his accent so much they started asking him personal questions (ones i was not ready to answer since he was a throw away character) ended up having to improv a whole side adventure with this butcher cus he was so charismatic and the players absolutely loved him, he ended up joining them as a support npc for almost the rest of the campaign XD he would prepare whatever animals they hunted and cook em among other things!

Amazing how confident he was despite being completely wrong while he was talking about two attacks per action.

I am glad you mentioned that. I have just started with a group of friends. I have a bug bear rogue fighter. My inspirations are Chewbacca, Daryl Dixon, and Dembe. Ironic your cleric believes he can save you as Dembe believes he can save Red.

As far as torture goes my players know that their actions have consequences and their social standing will have an impact on the direction the story goes.

I’m taking Christopher Skwaken

For anyone reading subtitles, its Dragonlance NOT Dragon Lands. Its a Great series that I fell in love with when I was a wee boy, TSR. Joe is a great dude, and he makes me love his personality more every time i see him in something or online.

So much respect for this guy. Great video👏👏

I've been reading Dragonlance novels since the late 80s. Still do. Always cool to hear about another fan's passion.

We need more D&D videos with Joe Manganiello!

6:35 Any character can make an attack with two weapons so long as both weapons have the light property (daggers have the light property). The character uses their action to perform an attack with their main hand like normal but uses their bonus action to attack with their off hand. The off hand attack doesn't get the relevant ability modifier added to the damage roll unless the character has the dual weapon fighting fighting style. You can also pick up a feat (forgot what it's called but it's in the PHB) that allows you to ignore the stipulation that the weapons must have the light property

3:30 The most creative way a GM has ever started a game for our group was the GM actually started the campaign at one of the Pc's weddings, during the wedding ceremony the party was crashed by the Pc's ex who wanted the wedding to fail.