DM Tip Twitter Archive: December 2010

by Mike Shea on 21 January 2011

Below is an archive of all of the Sly Flourish DM Tip Twitter posts for December 2010. Get daily DM tips at http://twitter.com/slyflourish!

#dnd tip: Use a sheet of 20x by 30x acrylic from Home Depot to place over your poster maps. It makes a huge difference. http://bit.ly/grEF1F

#dnd tip: In case you missed it, use @saveversusdeath's Dungeon Trick Generator to add spice to your encounters: http://bit.ly/fMsg1u

The Gamma World character generator (http://j.mp/hVdq1u) and the Junkulator (http://j.mp/eVgzSb) still blow me away.

I actually chose gold for Gamma World currency. It's lasted for 5000 years, I see no reason it couldn't last the Big Mistake.

You know you married right when your wife lays out your Dickwolves shirt for you on #dnd night.

#dnd tip: Reskin Monster Vault creatures by changing the flavor of their attacks rather than redesigning MM1 and 2 creatures from scratch.

#dnd Gamma World tip: Use ancient junk as a skill bonus including a 1/6 chance for something wacky! http://bit.ly/h0rqoR

.@gamefiend My gaming goals: Run 6 levels of Dark Sun, a few more Gamma World runs, DM Challenge at PAX and 4 ad-hoc games at Gencon.

#dnd tip: Use published adventures as a loose theme. You don't have to run them rigidly, make them your own and use what works for you.

Merry Christmas #dnd lovers! Give to Child's Play today: http://j.mp/4sl6u - Learn more from @cwgabriel and @tychobrahe: http://j.mp/4HqC3r

Watching Raiders of the Lost Ark for Christmas Eve. There are few movies with so many #dnd tips as this one.

#dnd tip: Think of your game and encounters as a way for players to show off their PCs instead of a way to thwart them. 4e is about the PCs.

#dnd tip: If your minis are looking a little warped or weapons are a little bent, use hot and cold water to soften and re-harden them right.

#dnd tip: Of all my adventures, the one people remember the most was the city defense where they got to set up the defenses. Try it.

#dnd tip: Always try to give every PC a chance to really shine every couple of adventures or so.

Extremely cool #dnd Gamma World character generator courtesy of @wizards_dnd: http://j.mp/g1OqEW

#dnd tip: In Gamma World, you can steal NPC types from anywhere. Just roll up their origins to see how weird they might be.

#dnd tip: Planning for two runs against your big boss lets you feel out his or her stats in one battle so you can prep for the other.

Also awesome Gamma World character creation guide by friend @gsllc http://j.mp/f98bk6

Extremely useful #dnd Gamma World origin cheat sheet: http://j.mp/gbGbKE Works well in addition to http://j.mp/fyxXFM

#dnd tip: After 100 sessions the two biggest speed boosts I found are fully-visible initiative cards and visible monster defenses.

Check out the unique death touch mechanic in this #dnd Dracolich-focused Kobold by @saveversusdeath: http://j.mp/gVxjYG

Gamma World DM Cheat Sheet by yours truly: http://j.mp/gnkg0z #dnd

#dnd tip: At level 15+ there's no such thing as a tough boss monster. Protect them with minions and skill challenges.

Some awesome Gamma World creation tools: http://j.mp/ggmb7e including this great cheat sheet! http://j.mp/gbGbKE

#dnd tip: Get creative with weapons. "short sword" can be as abstract as the Gamma World "one hand melee" weapon type.

#dnd tip: Always have a lifeline prepared in case of a TPK. Make failure as interesting as success and you will not fear their deaths.

I dig this home-made well terrain prop: http://j.mp/icEEyv

This is my favorite all-time Gamma World aid, the Junkulator by @davethegame, @jaredvonhindman and @direflail : http://j.mp/eVgzSb #dnd

#dnd tip: Never fall in love with your monsters and always accept that their destiny is to die.

#dnd tip: Can't explain the layers of the Abyss? Watch the multiple-dream layers of Inception for an idea: http://amzn.to/hBRqOo

Mmmm, fake ancient Wikileak memos as seeds for Gamma World adventures? Done!

#dnd tip from @sarahdarkmagic: Find a DM buddy and spend some time running ideas back and forth. The result is greater than the sum of parts

#dnd tip: Need a powerful level 33 Dracolich ? Use the "Dragon of Tyr" stats from the Dark Sun Creature Catalog.

#dnd tip: Flame snakes and fiendish snakes make for a variety of great monsters. Pick up four of each.

#dnd tip: Add choices to your nastier status effects: Stunned or take ongoing 10 psychic per tier. Immobilized or 2d8+12 dam to rip free.

#dnd tip: When your whole group is doing a bunch of damage at once, assign a player the job of tallying it together and giving the total.

Thanks to @Nullzone42 for the idea to put a sheet of acrylic over battle maps. It just feels awesome. 20x30 sheet is $12 at Home Depot.

Just heard @thadeousC's plug for my book on the 4 Geeks 4e Podcast (http://bit.ly/dRa9vJ). "That's not a terrible gift idea". Thanks =D

Hey math nerds: what are the odds on rolling an Engineered Human in gamma world? What are the odds on rolling the same number on a d20 twice

#dnd tip: The Demonomicon is probably the best book for planning out your epic-tier campaign. It's full of all sorts of nasty stuff.

Bought a big sheet of acrylic from Home Depot to put over #dnd battle maps so I can draw on them and keep them nice. $12.

#dnd tip: Pick up the Monster Manual 3 and the Demonomicon for epic-level updated monsters to go along with your Monster Vault.

Love this idea; figure out a way to use Ancient Junk in skill checks with a 1/6 chance for something wacky! http://bit.ly/htx8Gb

I used the Junkulator by @DaveTheGame and @JaredvonHindman in my Wed Gamma World game and it was awesome. http://bit.ly/eVgzSb #dnd tip: Always seek opportunites to add theatric descriptions to fun random events. Describe returns from near death or wild combo attacks

Mmmm, arsenic breathing aliens live in the bottom of Yosemite's lakes: Hello Gamma World! http://bit.ly/gTbHtV

#dnd tip: The Ravenloft board game has lots of cool minis to use in your campaign. The wraiths make awesome ice liches.

RT @chattydm: RT @criticalhits: Our full Gamma World guide: http://bit.ly/9u1QZU and new updates: http://bit.ly/gzpCFj

If you enjoyed these tips, take a look at Sly Flourish’s Dungeon Master Tips book or use these links to purchase the Monster Manual 3, the Player Strategy Guide, the Heroes of the Fallen Lands or bookmark this link to purchase anything from Amazon. You might also pick up some Gamemastery Flip-Maps from Troll and Toad, an official Sly Flourish sponsor.

Send feedback to mike@mikeshea.net.