If I Were a Hag, I’d Ruin My Players Like This
In this video, we dive deep into the folklore, mythology, and design philosophy behind one of tabletop's most underutilised villains. From the ambivalent chaos of Baba Yaga to the iron clad terror of Black Annis, we unpack thousands of years of Slavic and European folklore to transform your hag from a swamp encounter into a campaign defining force. Learn how to weaponise dark bargains, corrupt your players' morality, and build lair encounters that make combat the last thing anyone wants. Whether you're a veteran DM or just starting out, this is your complete guide to running hags the way they were meant to be played. • My TikTok → / flameythegm • Join the Discord → / discord Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:32 - Why Hags Are the Best D&D Villains 1:24 - What Is a Hag? (Lore & Philosophy) 1:53 - Fey Origins & the Anti-Mother Archetype 2:42 - How Dark Bargains Actually Work 3:29 - Folklore Deep Dive Begins 3:39 - Baba Yaga 4:13 - Black Annis 4:37 - The Graeae & Coven Origins 5:11 - Brothers Grimm & the Rules Hags Follow 5:59 - Green Hag 6:18 - Sea Hag 6:34 - Night Hag 6:56 - Annis Hag 7:15 - Bheur Hag 7:29 - The Coven Mechanic 8:08 - Problem 1 8:33 - Auntie Ethel (Baldur's Gate 3 Breakdown) 9:43 - Problem 2 10:44 - Problem 3 11:44 - Problem 4 12:55 - Problem 5 14:04 - The Real Secret 15:08 - Hostage Tactics & The Long Con 16:07 - Lair Actions & Environmental Threats 16:44 - Mastering the Bargain 19:31 - Final Thoughts & Closing #villian #witch #gmadvice #worldbuilding #tabletopgame #ttrpg #dnd5e #roleplayinggame #dungeonsanddragons #daggerheart
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