This went great except we're moving through the campaign a lot faster than the weeks of work I put into it. Still may be able to squeeze another two weekends out of it I think.

Luckily I designed some side quests that can keep them busy for a while after that, and included an Arena where they can get fights on demand. That should stall them until I figure out what to do next.

#DnD #DMproblems

I spent the weekend making fresh copies of all my players' character sheets. I did it by hand, which was a lot of work, but I just didn't want to stare at a screen for hours doing them by PDF. These should be good for another year of games maybe? I hope?

#DnD #DMproblems

Welp, learned a lot from accidentally TPKing the party last session, such as: don't do it if you can avoid it.

More seriously: Telegraph high-level enemies better, and make their intentions clearer if it's not to fight. Also, pointless hopeless fights aren't fun and give you a lot of extra work (I came up with a story reason for them to be taken prisoner instead, but helping players create new characters would be a lot of work too)

#DMPrep #DMProblems #dnd #dnd5e #ttrpg

Finally figured out a format for NPC index cards that works for me. But on the other hand, I also have all of that info (and more -- index cards can only fit so much) on my tablet. Choices, choices 🤔

#dnd #dnd5e #DMPrep #DMProblems

Why is the hardest part of DMing always getting my printer to do the right thing?! 🤬

#DMPrep #DMProblems #PrintersAreChaoticEvil #BBEG

Session one went to like 4.5h, but we all (players and characters) both survived and had a good time.

I now feel like I've dug myself into a massive hole here... There's plot threads going all over, and I have no idea where any of them lead. This is extremely uncomfortable!

#DMProblems #DMPrep #dnd #dnd5e

Love scene_four's idea of doors/curtain to manage that before-game time. "Doors open at 6, curtain at 6:30" manages expectations about when to arrive, gives explicit room for preparing/decompressing/chatting, and a clear idea of when the game will begin. Definitely going to try this with my new group.
#dnd #dnd5e #ttrpg #DMInspiration #DMPrep #DMProblems

Improvising NPCs though: still a weak point 🫤
#dnd #dnd5e #DMProblems

Scheduling a group remains the real BBEG, but that one-shot with two players was honestly pretty great.
#dnd #dnd5e #DMProblems

#dnd #ttrpg #scheduling #dmproblems

Player: "Sorry guys, I can't play on the 6th. Any other Friday in January is good though."

Me: Okay, can we reschedule for the 13th then?

Everyone: *agrees*

Player: "Oooooh, sorry gang. Looks like the 13th probably won't work."

Me:

With just hours to go before the one-shot I was going to DM, the no-shows start dribbling in. At least they told me ahead of time, I guess. How do you get people invested enough to show up?

#dnd #dnd5e #ttrpg #DMProblems

Are there any good options for a blank battle map (grid or hex is fine) that can take *dry* erase markers? Bonus points if it lays flat -- actually flat -- once unfolded/unrolled. I already have a ton of great dry erase markers for other purposes, so buying a mat that can make use of them would be great.

#DnD #dnd5e #battlemap #encountermaps #dmprep #DMProblems

OK, looking for some #dnd help from the #fediverse

I'm coming up on the end of my groups current #SunlessCitadel campaign.

I want to spin it out into a larger campaign with a #beholder as the BBEG.

I'm having trouble figuring out what a beholder's motivation for being a central figure would be.

I mean, it's an incredibly intelligent creature for sure, but what the hell does it want?

#DungeonsAndDragons #Dnd5e #DmProblems

In my off time, I love playing / running D&D games. I'm running two games right now and getting so many bye weeks and rescheduled games due to sickness that I want to start a third to fill the gap.

The risk of course that I find myself overwhelmed when they're all back on track. #dmproblems

#dnd #ttrpg #5e

Tonight in the Tomb of Annihilation, we have a new player who is playing a dark elf warlock. The party will discover the character embedded in the wall of the tomb, a la Han Solo style. I am ready to play, but have to wait about 3.5 hours #DMProblems #dnd #ToA

I think so far the worst part of DM'ing is that I can't share all my brilliant planning with anyone! I can't even post about it online in case the party sees it! Argh! #dnd #rpg #dm #dmproblems

My D&D group is also the group I hang out and do crafts with, so while I really want to share my progress with them, it would spoil them for future encounters...

#dmproblems