How long should a video be?
Added 2025-04-21 15:00:10 +0000 UTCWe never think about video length when making these videos, other than as a way to gauge the difficulty of writing and editing something longer. Is there an ideal length of Mystic Arts video in your mind?
How do you like the longer form book reviews? What about those shorter tip videos? How does length factor into your decision to watch or not to watch?
Comments
The main problem with most D&D content on YouTube is how /long/ each video is. A top 5 homebrew d&d rules video is fine, but it doesn't need to be an hour long. You're currently the best content creator because you know how to edit down a video idea (5 homebrew rules you should use) into a 10 minute video that's clear, concise, and very intentional. I just appreciate you/your team taking the extra time to edit good content into excellent content that respect my time.
SethWest
2025-05-17 19:34:54 +0000 UTCI have not felt like any of your videos are too long. I think you have a good feel for how much is a good amount to talk about a specific topic. Trying to pigeonhole yourself into specific video lengths restricts your ability to go into enough detail if a topic is more complex.
Lena LeRay
2025-04-28 23:42:50 +0000 UTCI find them informative regardless of the length, so I would choose “All of the above”.
Donner Holten
2025-04-24 15:33:15 +0000 UTCI voted 10-20 but anything 10-30 is a good length. I value the fact that you create thoughtful videos and that is difficult in under 10 minutes. As others have said, anything over 30 minutes makes it harder to find time to watch in one go.
Duncan Jones
2025-04-22 06:53:59 +0000 UTCIs there an option for "I will take literally any Mystic Arts content that I can get"
Jake Smarrella
2025-04-21 19:16:30 +0000 UTCAnything over 20 minutes gets into territory where I can't just watch in one go as I'll likely be interrupted. I think ideally like 8-14 minutes
Graham McGregor
2025-04-21 18:37:29 +0000 UTC15 minutes is perfect. I'll put that on as soon as I encounter it and the subject interests me. Anything over 30 minutes sits in my watch later list for weeks or months.
Berry Hermans
2025-04-21 18:21:16 +0000 UTCI mostly listen to videos rather than watch, though I did watch the hexcrawl one. I pick videos based on on length based on what I'm doing. A drive to work is 15 minutes, so those lengths get prioritized. While crafting, I prefer longer to ones. I usually skip videos under 5 minutes.
Cosmo Van Buren
2025-04-21 17:27:48 +0000 UTC+1 for what Jules said earlier. I also want to add that there is a large subset of YouTube watchers that enjoy long-form video essay content if you ever go that route (45 min +)
Alexander Gaskie
2025-04-21 15:56:49 +0000 UTCDefinitely agree that content should dictate length! Don’t feel constrained by an arbitrary metric
William Dickey
2025-04-21 15:54:15 +0000 UTCcontent should dictate length.
Tb2
2025-04-21 15:31:51 +0000 UTCI think videos should be the proper length to cover their topic, without hesitating with postponing some points: - 5–10 minutes is short but should allow to cover a specific topic. - 10–20 minutes is average length, which would be enough to develop on broader topics. - 20–30 minutes is long, but would be a mean to signal "this is a deep dive with a lot of aspects, but once we’re out we’ll have bitten a huge chunk". I’m a little more on the advanced side as a DM, so I think a 15–25 is the sweet spot for me. To elaborate a little, I’ll watch most of the videos if I think they will bring me something. And most of the time they do. As such, in my mind, the length of the videos should be dictated by content. You want to talk about a topic, this topic warrants that much time, that should be the length of the video. For instance, I think separating Action Economy and Resource Economy was a great idea. That said, time is also a factor in my choices of videos. I haven’t watched the video on the 2024 DMG because I agree with the title and I think 30 minutes to feed my confirmation bias is a little too much time. On the other hand, I crave Daði’s advices as they often formalize what I’ve already realized but not consciously registered, so a longer development, letting everything simmer in my brain, is something I highly appreciate.
Jules Lelay
2025-04-21 15:29:15 +0000 UTC25-30 min is the sweet spot for DM tips but I'd welcome longer book reviews
Carol Rozendo
2025-04-21 15:25:52 +0000 UTCThe real answer is as long as you need to make them but 20-30 feels like a good range usually.
David Brocklehurst
2025-04-21 15:09:07 +0000 UTCMystic Arts videos all feel timeless. Longer videos would only make me happier
Charles Wilson
2025-04-21 15:08:36 +0000 UTCThe hex video was amazing. 11/10. Also, it was thematic to have a Bob Worldbuilder style and the cameo was amazing.
Mattedge704
2025-04-21 15:06:19 +0000 UTCHonestly the video should only be as long as you deem it fit. If it's a hard topic that requires multiple talking points then it can be that long but if it's a relatively simple topic that can be covered in 5-10 minutes then by all means use those 5-10 minutes
Sigurður Pétur
2025-04-21 15:06:01 +0000 UTCI am more likely to watch (on the fly) a video that is 30 min or less. But i have really enjoyed the live streams VODs or the videos that are project based (lets build a ....)
Donald Koenig
2025-04-21 15:05:58 +0000 UTCI like the occasional longer video to deep dive a subject, but I feel the 10-15 minutes range is ideal for squeezing into a busy day. I have a list of your videos I want to get to, but my windows for open time are often small and it's tough to interrupt and then go back to one later.
Slade
2025-04-21 15:03:09 +0000 UTCI’ll watch every MA videos, they are all very enjoyable. Cheers from 🇲🇽
Bogar Villavicencio
2025-04-21 15:02:59 +0000 UTC
