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Hey folks, I just finished (most of) the filming for my War of the Ring tutorial, so I'm going to keep this pretty short. Shown above is the last game I played, using the review copy I got from the publisher. I considered using the painted copy I borrowed from the Murphs, but despite loving the look of the painted minis, I always want to show people what they're going to get right out of the box. Of course, I may come to regret that once I start editing the footage of these radioactively red orcs. We'll see.

There's only a few days left for the next game poll. Nemesis has a decent lead, but Brass could come back if there's a concerted effort. The other two are probably a little too far behind, but who knows, I've been surprised before.

I only did one Rahdo video this month, for a game called Mini Rogue, which I quite enjoyed for a microgame. And in case you're interested, I took a few pictures showing the tech that I'm using for those runthroughs, because it's considerably more than what I need for RTFM. 

The extra gear and time spend on the front end allows me to make videos that don't require any editing. Of course, having worked both ways, I prefer my RTFM set up. It takes a lot more work in the long run, but it allows for more control over the final product. Plus the rigging is a lot easier to navigate.


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Anonymous

Hi Shea, slight side question. Do you have a list of the names or all the equipment, or links? I'm wanting to get into videos myself, board games and otherwise.

RTFM

I don't have a list handy, but I can talk about some of the stuff. Cameras: these are all borrowed, but I use Sony Cybershot RX 100s for Rahdo, plus the IPEVO VZ-X top down camera. Honestly, you can find cheaper stuff. High quality webcams will do for that kind of filming, and then you won't need to worry about getting capture cards (or the Blackmagic ATEM, which is that big switchboard thing), but since my friend has these lying around, it works for my purposes. For RTFM I use a Sony A7s, which is pretty common these days for YouTube filmmakers, though it's also pretty pricey. Still, it's a very good camera. Sound: I use a fancier one for RTFM, but the Zoom H5 is honestly a great recorder. You can use it on its own or plug in a boom mic if you want to. The pole is a K-Tek Tadpole, which works pretty well if you also have a C-stand, a gobo clamp, and a boom pole holder. As with the cameras, it's all borrowed equipment. If I were starting from scratch, I'd probably just find a dedicated mic-stand, but having all the stuff makes it more versatile. That pop-stopper is just a cheap one I found on Amazon. Don't bother getting an expensive one, especially if you're just starting out. Lighting: I have two LED panel lights from Fotodiox. They're great, but again, you can get cheaper stuff that'll work fine. I recommend LEDs over traditional lighting because they use less power, don't get super hot, and you don't have to worry about replacing bulbs. I would also recommend using some kind of diffuser. Board Game videos are not the place for dramatic lighting and harsh shadows (unless you're going for a stylized thing, but I generally don't recommend it for this). My homemade solution is just parchment paper and clothespins, which honestly works pretty well. If you're doing live-play stuff, or just want to be able to switch camera feeds on the fly, you'll need a computer with a lot of USB 3 ports (or at least one and a powered USB hub, mine is from Anker, which is a decent company). You'll also want to start learning how to use OBS Studio. It's a free program and it's pretty intuitive, but it does take some getting used to. It can handle green screens pretty well, but it's not the most powerful software out there, so expect to have to wrangle it on a regular basis. The Streamdeck mini works with OBS and is very helpful for controlling it while the computer sits far away. You can preset a bunch of transitions and edits and it's especially handy if you want to livestream.

Anonymous

I really like (read prefer) the RTFM set-up and videos. I mean, it's still you on Rahdo's channel, but the care and detail you put into RTFM videos are a considerable cut above the rest...IMO. Can't wait to watch the WotR vid!

RTFM

Thanks, and I get what you're saying. If I were making live-play videos for RTFM I would do them differently, but since I was hired to do Rahdo-style runthroughs, I gotta stick to his format. And don't get me wrong, I certainly don't mind it. His stuff is way easier to produce and it's how he puts out videos almost every day, but it definitely leads to a different quality.

Anonymous

Exactly. I love Rahdo's style, if I want to get a quick feel for gameplay, but it is less sophisticated, because of the amount of daily content. No disrespect intended to him or to you.

Anonymous

Wow, that was a lot of info! Thank you so much for taking the time to write all that out! It means a lot. I have the Sony A7s, some basic LED panels and OBS, so I guess that leaves everything else haha.