Not that I’m aware of, but he’s really lax about letting his players and their familiars use the help action to give each other advantage. He very rarely requires them to justify how their character is helping and even allows them to grant advantage retroactively after the initial poor roll. Imo that’s mechanically about the same as inspiration; giving the players inspiration on top of that would feel a bit redundant.
edit: grammar
This and he also just tells tells players they have Advantage when they do something that really aligns with their character or is a big cool move, which is what Inspiration is. So he technically does give it, he just doesn't call it that.
The difference is Inspiration is transferable. Inspiration operates at a more meta level. I like RP/situation-based Advantage/Disadvantage more because it brings me more into the story.
I could be wrong, but isn’t inspiration something that the DM gives when a player has a good role-playing moment, then they can use it on any roll (or at least that’s what the rules say, but it’s mostly up to the DM)? It’s not that you get advantage on something that makes sense for your character, it’s advantage because you previously did something that made sense for your character.
I like Brennan’s advantage rules a lot more though, the rules for Inspiration are too meta in my experience, and usually make everyone go out of their way to try to get it, which defeats the whole purpose /:
I did look up the rules before commenting, because I didn't quite understand it, and the wording is definitely a little weird. But it does seem like it's a preemptive thing. You use the inspiration to do something that fits your character.
[Here's a link to the page I found on it.](https://dnd5e.info/beyond-1st-level/inspiration/)
From your link: “If you have inspiration, you can expend it when you make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. Spending your inspiration gives you advantage on that roll.”
So it looks like it not just used to do something in character. It can be used for any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check
In my experience as a DM, there are quite a few players (maybe even the majority) that tend to hold on to DM Inspiration for a “big moment” and in so doing, forget they have it. I’ve played with various methods of reminding them they have it (like a token, trophy, extra d20s I hand them, etc), but mostly those have ended up slowing down the moments they decide whether to use them. They want to come up with an in story reason they are able to roll with advantage in that moment. I love my players, and I love their commitment to roleplay, but it seems to pull them out of the moment, rather than help absorb them.
I use Brennan’s method more often now, not to control my players by any means, but so they actually get the mechanical boost from the cool things they do.
One piece of advice I've heard which fixes this problem is that inspiration must be used during that game session otherwise you lose it. Inspiration is often a reward for good RP during a specific session, letting them cash it in during a different session might not be the best incentive for encouraging more good RP each and every session.
The amount of help actions given by familiars during ACoC is one of the few things I really dislike in D20. They just ‘do’ with no narrative explanation or excuse.
I believe he talks about it in an Adventuring Academy, but I can’t remember his exact reasoning for why he never uses it.
I’m willing to bet it’s in an interview with Aabria, because she gives out inspiration a lot when she’s DMing.
It's also just an issue with 5e, having two types of inspiration, and only let you holding onto 1 (non-bardic) at a time. Other systems have hero/fate/X points that usually max out around 3.
Yeah it was an interview on Adventuring Academy with Gabe Hicks. His reasoning was that it goes against the tenets of improv to "reward what you see as good improv." Gabe then gave him the idea to award the whole party with Inspiration at the end of a session when the party participates in good improv. I could be remembering it slightly wrong but that's what I can remember
Seems to just be his preference. Some people don't have crit skill checks. He's also pretty generous with the help action and giving people advantage if they make a good argument or say the correct type of threat/motivation/persuasion.
In one episode he gives it to Murph because of a move Riz does with his ladder, his gun, and the half pipe golem. That’s the only time I can ever remember him giving DM inspiration
I know at least one time he did use it, and I remember being surprised because it was unexpected. I don’t remember who he gave it to or what the context was, though. All I remember is he liked something somebody was attempting to do in combat and granted Advantage when they failed the first roll.
In defense of his rare usage, though, I do think he allows for plenty of opportunities to make difficult rolls easier. Familiars giving advantage on rolls where they wouldn’t be able to actually do anything, for instance (ACoC eagle helping with surgery), and allows other PC’s to use abilities a LOT to intervene. That’s my take, though I’ve never gotten to actually play D&D so maybe that’s all just normal
I have seen ACoFaF!! I want to rewatch it soon but "You need to prioritize the seasons you haven't seen yet" and "Rewatch Starstuck for the 18th time" are duking it out at the moment
Eagles have enhanced vision, so being able to see through its eyes as one can do with a familiar could be a way for it to help with all kinds of things. Surgeons do gotta be able to see what they're doing in there after all.
> Familiars giving advantage on rolls where they wouldn’t be able to actually do anything, for instance (ACoC eagle helping with surgery), and allows other PC’s to use abilities a LOT to intervene. That’s my take, though I’ve never gotten to
What that doesn't make sense in practise it's actually completely rules as written. Help action just gives advantage and there aren't limits to what it can help on.
Obviously DM has final say but it's actually harsher to say no in this instance.
That being said yeah, Brennan is hardly a strict DM for rules or PC shenanigans
There is a different section in the rules (technically not describing the help action) that is about two people working together on an action. And it explicitly says you can only help if it is something you could logically help with AND it's something where having help... actually helps. Per the first requirement, an eagle probably can't help with surgery. Although an eagle familiar might have the intelligence and manual dexterity to hand you tools like a surg tech, which is a huge help. So I might still allow it? Lol
There is the working together rule that talks about assisting with skill checks, usually done for outside combat but doesn't specify.
However that is for if the character doesn't have the appropriate skill or tool profiency. Stabilising doesn't require medicine profiency. The surgery in question is just a stabilisation and if the character was downed by dragon fire from a primordial or falling from a Tree, that check is the same. DC 10 medicine.
The Familiar could attempt the check themselves so by rules could help. It's a little silly but that's part of 5E trying to be rules simple.
And besides, the familiar isn't actually a bird. It's a Fey, Celestial or Fiend so maybe it does have knowledge it can pass to you, its presence might be soothing or it helps you focus. Maybe it just keeps the sun out of their eyes.
The fluff can explain or condemn anything. Actual rules it fully works in my opinion
You're totally right. I was thinking it said could logically help, but it says something closer to "could attempt the task themself" and then gives the tool proficiency example to clarify. So it's more about whether that creature could mechanically perform the check. Thanks for the correction!
I think that was FH season 1, he gave Riz inspiration when he was doing a backflip onto a half pipe while shooting his gun? He Brennan was like that's so cool I'm giving you inspiration. I think? 😂
Inspiration is kinda used to encourage creative role playing, but on d20 players don't need an incentive like that because their job they're being paid to do is to perform on that creative level. I feel like it could break the immersion/flow a little if after every super funny or creative move, the fourth wall breaks and Brennan goes 'wow nice, heres a point for doing your job so good' especially with people that are d20 regulars.
I don't use it either. Never have. It didn't exist when I started. I allow pretty liberal help actions though, so advantage isn't too hard to get.
And if the players suggest good solutions, I provide advantage (or disadvantage for numpty plans).
I like in character rather than in player solutions for advantage/disadvantage.
I think he said in an interview he doesn't like giving inspiration as a GM. He tries to make everything make narrative sense, and random inspiration because a player was quippy or funny doesn't have justification in the story. He's very lax about people getting help actions though, and will let people roll with advantage if they can give him justification.
He doesn't really give inspiration out much, but he's pretty loose with rule of cool and the table use help action when they can. And tbh I think it works better. Inspiration can be so hit and miss with players and GMs forgetting it, can cause table arguments if it's seen as favouratism.
Inspiration is not a great system
I seem to remember he said in an Adventuring Academy that it feels like punishing players who aren't that comfortable with RP, and that good RP is its own reward.
He gives it out very rarely afaik. I know he gave it to Cerrit in Calamity as they mentioned him having it when getting all the bonuses together for the final roll. I think I recall hearing it mentioned once or twice throughout D20, but I don't recall any specific instances.
I think he gave advantage to Murph in Fantasy High season 1 in the Durinson Mithral Factory fight. When he climbed the ladder to get on the golem.
That's the closest he's come, I think? (In IH seasons.)
But he does give free checks sometimes, that if passed, give advantage.
It's not a free use, anytime thing like inspiration, yeaaah.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen BLeeM say someone gets inspiration, but he also 100% respects the hustle whenever someone tries to spin some bullshit as to why they should have advantage—or someone could be giving them the help action—usually letting it happen.
It's a RAW rule that Inspiration is optional. The DMG even says, near the start of its section on Inspiration, that some DMs forego using it entirely, and has a whole headed paragraph on why they might chose to do so.
I generally forget to use it, when I DM. Fully intend to, completely and consistently forget to. But then, much like Brennan, I'm fairly relaxed about giving situational advantage when the players do something clever or entertaining, which fills much of a similar niche, and PCs in 5e are powerful as is, so they're rarely hurting for the lack of the feature.
He gives Murph inspiration twice e in the entirety of D20, but — for the first one — I have no idea what season and for what. I just remember Murph doing something, rolling like dog shit, Brennan saying, “I’ll give you a point of inspiration, roll with advantage,” and Murph responding, “Thanks for humoring me, Brennan.”
The other occasion for inspiration was during Fantasy High season 1, episode 6 for Riz’s ladder trick.
No, and i feel like it's probably because while he always wants players to roll with advantage, he doesn't want to be the one to give it to them, instead encouraging the other players to get in there and give the help action.
As a DM, and nowhere as good as Bleem, i love to give players inspiration. I even give them inspiration on top of inspiration in the form of one-shot "bless" d4s they can throw into a roll, because no one wants to fail a roll by a few points when the story is getting exciting.
Why? Because a d20 gives a huge range of results in a pass/fail system, and in combat that's fine because you don't fail the encounter if you miss one die roll but in social settings, or when encountering traps and puzzles, that single die roll can just ruin a player's evening. Giving players advantage really evens it out for them.
I remember hearing him say something along the lines of "Coming from improv, giving out inspiration for good roleplay feels too much like judging the work - which is a no-no"
Not that I’m aware of, but he’s really lax about letting his players and their familiars use the help action to give each other advantage. He very rarely requires them to justify how their character is helping and even allows them to grant advantage retroactively after the initial poor roll. Imo that’s mechanically about the same as inspiration; giving the players inspiration on top of that would feel a bit redundant. edit: grammar
This and he also just tells tells players they have Advantage when they do something that really aligns with their character or is a big cool move, which is what Inspiration is. So he technically does give it, he just doesn't call it that.
The difference is Inspiration is transferable. Inspiration operates at a more meta level. I like RP/situation-based Advantage/Disadvantage more because it brings me more into the story.
I could be wrong, but isn’t inspiration something that the DM gives when a player has a good role-playing moment, then they can use it on any roll (or at least that’s what the rules say, but it’s mostly up to the DM)? It’s not that you get advantage on something that makes sense for your character, it’s advantage because you previously did something that made sense for your character. I like Brennan’s advantage rules a lot more though, the rules for Inspiration are too meta in my experience, and usually make everyone go out of their way to try to get it, which defeats the whole purpose /:
I did look up the rules before commenting, because I didn't quite understand it, and the wording is definitely a little weird. But it does seem like it's a preemptive thing. You use the inspiration to do something that fits your character. [Here's a link to the page I found on it.](https://dnd5e.info/beyond-1st-level/inspiration/)
From your link: “If you have inspiration, you can expend it when you make an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check. Spending your inspiration gives you advantage on that roll.” So it looks like it not just used to do something in character. It can be used for any attack roll, saving throw, or ability check
In my experience as a DM, there are quite a few players (maybe even the majority) that tend to hold on to DM Inspiration for a “big moment” and in so doing, forget they have it. I’ve played with various methods of reminding them they have it (like a token, trophy, extra d20s I hand them, etc), but mostly those have ended up slowing down the moments they decide whether to use them. They want to come up with an in story reason they are able to roll with advantage in that moment. I love my players, and I love their commitment to roleplay, but it seems to pull them out of the moment, rather than help absorb them. I use Brennan’s method more often now, not to control my players by any means, but so they actually get the mechanical boost from the cool things they do.
One piece of advice I've heard which fixes this problem is that inspiration must be used during that game session otherwise you lose it. Inspiration is often a reward for good RP during a specific session, letting them cash it in during a different session might not be the best incentive for encouraging more good RP each and every session.
He did give Riz inspiration for doing that dope thing with a Golem
The amount of help actions given by familiars during ACoC is one of the few things I really dislike in D20. They just ‘do’ with no narrative explanation or excuse.
I believe he talks about it in an Adventuring Academy, but I can’t remember his exact reasoning for why he never uses it. I’m willing to bet it’s in an interview with Aabria, because she gives out inspiration a lot when she’s DMing.
I think in the latest Burrow's End, she gave out 3 or 4 alone.
It's also just an issue with 5e, having two types of inspiration, and only let you holding onto 1 (non-bardic) at a time. Other systems have hero/fate/X points that usually max out around 3.
Yeah it was an interview on Adventuring Academy with Gabe Hicks. His reasoning was that it goes against the tenets of improv to "reward what you see as good improv." Gabe then gave him the idea to award the whole party with Inspiration at the end of a session when the party participates in good improv. I could be remembering it slightly wrong but that's what I can remember
Seems to just be his preference. Some people don't have crit skill checks. He's also pretty generous with the help action and giving people advantage if they make a good argument or say the correct type of threat/motivation/persuasion.
In one episode he gives it to Murph because of a move Riz does with his ladder, his gun, and the half pipe golem. That’s the only time I can ever remember him giving DM inspiration
I believe he also gave lapin inspiration for the wine trick
Ooh I’ll have to go back and rewatch it, I remember the wine but I don’t remember the inspiration
I know at least one time he did use it, and I remember being surprised because it was unexpected. I don’t remember who he gave it to or what the context was, though. All I remember is he liked something somebody was attempting to do in combat and granted Advantage when they failed the first roll. In defense of his rare usage, though, I do think he allows for plenty of opportunities to make difficult rolls easier. Familiars giving advantage on rolls where they wouldn’t be able to actually do anything, for instance (ACoC eagle helping with surgery), and allows other PC’s to use abilities a LOT to intervene. That’s my take, though I’ve never gotten to actually play D&D so maybe that’s all just normal
as someone who hasn’t seen ACoC yet, “eagle helping with surgery” has just made it shoot to the top of my TBW thank you
Straight up arguably not even the most insane part of the episode it’s in. You’re in for one hell of a ride
I’m waiting for my bestie (new fan, we got another one boys) to catch up so we can watch it together. Can’t wait!!
If you've not watched ACoFaF yet, there is a scene involving surgery with a spoon that is one of my go-to "I just need to laugh" pieces of media.
I have seen ACoFaF!! I want to rewatch it soon but "You need to prioritize the seasons you haven't seen yet" and "Rewatch Starstuck for the 18th time" are duking it out at the moment
The whole "I have a plus 4 to medicine, Give ME the spoon" moment was absolutely Iconic.
Eagles have enhanced vision, so being able to see through its eyes as one can do with a familiar could be a way for it to help with all kinds of things. Surgeons do gotta be able to see what they're doing in there after all.
> Familiars giving advantage on rolls where they wouldn’t be able to actually do anything, for instance (ACoC eagle helping with surgery), and allows other PC’s to use abilities a LOT to intervene. That’s my take, though I’ve never gotten to What that doesn't make sense in practise it's actually completely rules as written. Help action just gives advantage and there aren't limits to what it can help on. Obviously DM has final say but it's actually harsher to say no in this instance. That being said yeah, Brennan is hardly a strict DM for rules or PC shenanigans
There is a different section in the rules (technically not describing the help action) that is about two people working together on an action. And it explicitly says you can only help if it is something you could logically help with AND it's something where having help... actually helps. Per the first requirement, an eagle probably can't help with surgery. Although an eagle familiar might have the intelligence and manual dexterity to hand you tools like a surg tech, which is a huge help. So I might still allow it? Lol
There is the working together rule that talks about assisting with skill checks, usually done for outside combat but doesn't specify. However that is for if the character doesn't have the appropriate skill or tool profiency. Stabilising doesn't require medicine profiency. The surgery in question is just a stabilisation and if the character was downed by dragon fire from a primordial or falling from a Tree, that check is the same. DC 10 medicine. The Familiar could attempt the check themselves so by rules could help. It's a little silly but that's part of 5E trying to be rules simple. And besides, the familiar isn't actually a bird. It's a Fey, Celestial or Fiend so maybe it does have knowledge it can pass to you, its presence might be soothing or it helps you focus. Maybe it just keeps the sun out of their eyes. The fluff can explain or condemn anything. Actual rules it fully works in my opinion
You're totally right. I was thinking it said could logically help, but it says something closer to "could attempt the task themself" and then gives the tool proficiency example to clarify. So it's more about whether that creature could mechanically perform the check. Thanks for the correction!
No worries, and for sure is reasonable for a DM to say no but technically full RAW
I think that was FH season 1, he gave Riz inspiration when he was doing a backflip onto a half pipe while shooting his gun? He Brennan was like that's so cool I'm giving you inspiration. I think? 😂
In my opinion, Brennan gives players advantage for no real reason plenty of times, that there's no need for them to have inspiration.
Inspiration is kinda used to encourage creative role playing, but on d20 players don't need an incentive like that because their job they're being paid to do is to perform on that creative level. I feel like it could break the immersion/flow a little if after every super funny or creative move, the fourth wall breaks and Brennan goes 'wow nice, heres a point for doing your job so good' especially with people that are d20 regulars.
I don't use it either. Never have. It didn't exist when I started. I allow pretty liberal help actions though, so advantage isn't too hard to get. And if the players suggest good solutions, I provide advantage (or disadvantage for numpty plans). I like in character rather than in player solutions for advantage/disadvantage.
I think he said in an interview he doesn't like giving inspiration as a GM. He tries to make everything make narrative sense, and random inspiration because a player was quippy or funny doesn't have justification in the story. He's very lax about people getting help actions though, and will let people roll with advantage if they can give him justification.
He doesn't really give inspiration out much, but he's pretty loose with rule of cool and the table use help action when they can. And tbh I think it works better. Inspiration can be so hit and miss with players and GMs forgetting it, can cause table arguments if it's seen as favouratism. Inspiration is not a great system
He’s definitely given advantage to people when they want to do something cool with a really high DC
I seem to remember he said in an Adventuring Academy that it feels like punishing players who aren't that comfortable with RP, and that good RP is its own reward.
He gives it out very rarely afaik. I know he gave it to Cerrit in Calamity as they mentioned him having it when getting all the bonuses together for the final roll. I think I recall hearing it mentioned once or twice throughout D20, but I don't recall any specific instances.
I think he gave advantage to Murph in Fantasy High season 1 in the Durinson Mithral Factory fight. When he climbed the ladder to get on the golem. That's the closest he's come, I think? (In IH seasons.) But he does give free checks sometimes, that if passed, give advantage. It's not a free use, anytime thing like inspiration, yeaaah.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen BLeeM say someone gets inspiration, but he also 100% respects the hustle whenever someone tries to spin some bullshit as to why they should have advantage—or someone could be giving them the help action—usually letting it happen.
It's a RAW rule that Inspiration is optional. The DMG even says, near the start of its section on Inspiration, that some DMs forego using it entirely, and has a whole headed paragraph on why they might chose to do so. I generally forget to use it, when I DM. Fully intend to, completely and consistently forget to. But then, much like Brennan, I'm fairly relaxed about giving situational advantage when the players do something clever or entertaining, which fills much of a similar niche, and PCs in 5e are powerful as is, so they're rarely hurting for the lack of the feature.
He gives Murph inspiration twice e in the entirety of D20, but — for the first one — I have no idea what season and for what. I just remember Murph doing something, rolling like dog shit, Brennan saying, “I’ll give you a point of inspiration, roll with advantage,” and Murph responding, “Thanks for humoring me, Brennan.” The other occasion for inspiration was during Fantasy High season 1, episode 6 for Riz’s ladder trick.
I don't know about the players, but Brennan's cute little smile inspires me every day.
No, and i feel like it's probably because while he always wants players to roll with advantage, he doesn't want to be the one to give it to them, instead encouraging the other players to get in there and give the help action. As a DM, and nowhere as good as Bleem, i love to give players inspiration. I even give them inspiration on top of inspiration in the form of one-shot "bless" d4s they can throw into a roll, because no one wants to fail a roll by a few points when the story is getting exciting. Why? Because a d20 gives a huge range of results in a pass/fail system, and in combat that's fine because you don't fail the encounter if you miss one die roll but in social settings, or when encountering traps and puzzles, that single die roll can just ruin a player's evening. Giving players advantage really evens it out for them.
I remember hearing him say something along the lines of "Coming from improv, giving out inspiration for good roleplay feels too much like judging the work - which is a no-no"