d4: D&D Deep Dive

D&D:O is now D4! I'm excited to announce the launch of a fourth playlist, and with it, a rebranding of my channel. Come hear about the details!

The day has finally arrived! Come join us as we introduce you to the world of Aneria and hold our official session 0 for our upcoming D&D live play campaign! Learn about the world here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/aneria-niburu All About Aneria:(0:00) Character Introductions:(32:12) Where Are We?:(55:27) Triggers/Content Concern:(1:08:53) House Rules:(1:14:35)

The story begins!  5 heroes gather at a festival that will set off the adventure of a lifetime. Check out the world of Aneria here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/aneria-niburu I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ2IsZj_CAS0bZgA6O2pA/join Follow us here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.face...

Finally! It's time to do a Moon Druid. Lizards and Snakes and Bears, Oh My! (And Elephants!) I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ2IsZj_CAS0bZgA6O2pA/join https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized...​ https://twitter.com/dndoptimized​ http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimiz...

Slide into my DMs as we discuss grappling bears! Also, the challenge of balancing combat encounters for your players, and some tips and tricks for doing so effectively. I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ2IsZj_CAS0bZgA6O2pA/join https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-1...

Does Mercy exist in this Dojo? **Spoiler Warning** Yes Sensei. Yes it does. I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ2IsZj_CAS0bZgA6O2pA/join https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized...​ https://twitter.com/dndoptimized​ http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized​ Character Concept:...

Quick Ruling: Does Halo of Spores scale with Character or Druid levels? Afterwards, my DMs and I discuss the best way to Play D&D in between actual sessions. Come join the chat! I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ... ​ https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ ​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized... ​...

You voted on what you wanted to see Treantmonk and I collaborate on, and the winner was the Rune Knight! Come find out how each of us built around this *very* powerful Fighter subclass. Make sure to subscribe to Treantmonk's Temple if you haven't! https://www.youtube.com/c/Treantmonks... ​​ https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ ​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized... ​ https://twitte...

Today we talk about two things: 1 - Character Death, and 2 - Tips for improving interaction with players who are less engaged or maybe... *too* engaged. Come join the conversation! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Intro:(0:00) Character Death:(5:00) Less-engaged players:...

What if we could build a character that did significant sustained damage, irrelevant of the enemy's Armor Class or Saving Throws? https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized...​ https://twitter.com/dndoptimized​ http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized​ Character Concept:(0:00​) Level 1:(8:15) Levels 2-6:(15:00) Levels 7-9:(35:42) Levels 10-13:(47:32) Levels 14-17...

The Necromancer, and, specifically, Animate Dead when used in conjunction with Necromancy and Oathbreaker Paladin buffs, is, I think, pretty broken. Come find out why and learn how to build this team to do ridiculous, and essentially unplayable damage, and join the conversation about how we might balance it in game. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized...​...

Today we chat a little more about managing a horde of Undead and then talk about the recently announced Unearthed Arcana: Draconic Options. Come join us! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Suggestions for playing with Necromancers/Undead:(0:00) Draconic Options Intro:(16:4...

First of all: Familiars. Namely, Owls. Second of all: Combat. Some players love combat. Some prefer *everything else* we do in D&D and see combat as an inferior aspect of the game. How do you please both types? How much combat is the right amount of combat?  https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www....

Stealthy? Check. Great at scouting ahead, disarming traps, and picking locks? Check. Incredibly hard to kill and great at protecting your allies? Also check! Let's build a Rogue Tank. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/​ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized...​ https://twitter.com/dndoptimized​ http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized​ Character Concept:(0:00​) Level 1:(14:19​) Levels 2-6:(18:...

Three words: Spreadsheets of Desire. Also... what makes a good session 0? Why and how do you run one? Come join the conversation! I'd appreciate it if you'd consider supporting the channel by becoming a member! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9jQ2IsZj_CAS0bZgA6O2pA/join https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndo...

Previous version got cut short - apologies! Great sustained DPR, survivability, support, and utility all in one build!? Today we combine two subclasses that were new to Tasha's Cauldron of Everything into a regular Jekyll and Hyde - Path of the Beast Barbarian + Circle of Spores Druid = The Spore Beast! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-1007335483777...

Today we discuss the most recent Unearthed Arcana announcement - the Fey Folk! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Intro:(0:00) Quick Ruling: Smiting:(1:56) Our upcoming campaign!:(8:10) Fey Folk:(11:38) Fairies:(13:58) Hobgoblins:(29:17) Owl Folk:(39:09) Rabbit Folk:(44:53...

You are dark, you are brooding, you are *not* Batman. You're a Blood Hunter. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Math/Graph for this episode: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/101DFHEjSEX8JKXX0Ao-putc42BbTsiE7bnUS8c-V1GU/edit?usp=sharing Tier 1 Sustained DPR: http...

So, we have a new reigning champion of survivability. And they're a Wizard.  https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Math/Graph for this episode: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UwX6zBcw2Gu6IPo-uTpIWXIFn6BGb9W1R5Ysacxu9nM/edit?usp=sharing Master Tank Comparison: ht...

How do you deal with conflict between your players' characters in game? Do you encourage it? Help resolve it? How do you avoid letting it spill over and into conflict between your players themselves? https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized Custom Origin/Racial Feats:(0:00)...

Well, our call to action worked! Crap! :) Actually, I'm pretty ok with this ruling, even if it surprises me. Come see why. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.tiktok.com/@dndoptimized

This week we're trying something new: recreating a character from non-D&D fiction as a D&D character—namely: Kaladin Stormblessed from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. I had a lot of fun creating it, and am *very* interested in knowing your thoughts so please let me know! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://t...

Today we pause for a moment to ask Colby and friends a bunch of fan-submitted questions: How do you come up with your builds? What are your favorite in-game moments? What are your plans for the channel in the future? Do you even lift, bro? And many, many more.  https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized http://www.t...

Wizards of the Coast announced their new book this week: Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft. Come join me and my DMs as we take a look at what we know about it so far, and attempt some really corny humor along the way! https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized

Wait, you did all that damage with ... darts? Yup. Darts. Turns out, thrown weapons can be really, really good. https://www.reddit.com/r/DnDoptimized/ https://www.facebook.com/DD-Optimized-100733548377750 https://twitter.com/dndoptimized Character Concept:(0:00) Level 1:(6:54) Levels 2-6:(12:42) Levels 7-9:(27:32) Levels 10-13:(35:10) Levels 14-17:(42:21) Final Thoughts:(47:57) Math/Graph for this...