The Problem With Joke Characters.

51K views • 1 year ago • 12:31 Some characters are funny, some characters are quippy, some characters are great at delivering the one-liner. But some characters are just a bad joke with no substance. Let's talk about the differences, and why this might be negatively impacting your game. 🎭 Joke Characters in D&D: Why They Fail (and How to Fix Them) Do you have a goblin named Booger Snot in your party? We’ve all seen them, characters built around one joke: silly names, weird voices, or chaotic energy with zero narrative weight. They’re funny for a session... until they derail the entire campaign. In this episode, we’re discussing the difference between: ✅ Funny characters who make us laugh and move the story forward ❌ Joke characters who are nothing but the joke 🧠 How to evolve chaotic ideas into compelling characters 🎲 When a joke character can work (and when they absolutely can’t) Whether you’re a DM setting tone in Session Zero or a player wondering if your himbo bard is a comic relief or a campaign killer, this one's for you. 📺 We break down examples from: Critical Role (Fresh Cut Grass, Nott the Brave) Drakkenheim (Pluto Jackson, Wrath) Actual play shows like Legends of Avantris And even classic media like LotR, Avatar: TLA, and Mass Effect 💬 Tell us in the comments: Have you ever played a joke character that worked? What made them matter? Or… did your table get derailed by Fartblaster McGee? ------------------------------------------------ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly DM tips, player advice, campaign breakdowns, and TTRPG chaos. 🎙️ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dungeondudes 👕 Merch & books: https://dungeondudes.com #DungeonsAndDragons #DungeonDudes #TTRPG ____________________________ Join our Patreon community for bonus video content and our private Discord server: https://www.patreon.com/dungeon_dudes Get our Drakkenheim adventures and 5e player options here: https://ghostfiregaming.com/dungeons-of-drakkenheim/ Grab official Dungeon Dudes shirts, merch, and more: https://www.crwnstudios.com/collections/dungeon-dudes Explore all our content, podcasts, and live shows on our website: https://www.dungeondudes.com/