DM Tip Twitter Archive: January 2010
by Mike Shea on 11 February 2010
Below is an archive of all of the Sly Flourish DM Tip Twitter posts for January 2010. Get daily DM tips athttp://twitter.com/slyflourish!
#dnd tip: Give dragons a ranged breath weapon that shares their breath refresh. Make it burst 2 within 10. Scare your ranged attackers.
So my new way to distribute loot is to pick an item type, say a sword, and let the player pick the specifics as group storytelling. #dnd
#dnd tip: Give powerful dragons and other memorable solos the "heroslayer" trait from the Heroslaying Hydra: +2 att, +5 dam vs markers.
#dnd tip: trading card wallet pages for ring binders can store up to 54 small (1x1, to 4x1) dungeon tiles per page! (via @prax3des)
#dnd tip: James Bond shootouts show great ways to shake up an battle's environment. Consider the sinking building shootout in Casino Royale.
#dnd tip: give your players a familiar home base they can return to. It should be comfortable and relaxing like an old pair of shoes.
#dnd tip: Not all game music needs to be instrumental. Don't be afraid to have a bar scene with Lady Gaga's "Poker Face".
My recommendation to @davethegame for first two Dwarven Forge sets are the Realm of the Ancients sets 1 and 2. They're really great #dnd.
#dnd tip: Try to get a hold of the D&D Game Day character cards. They're absolutely fabulous for one-shot games.
#dnd tip: Too many choices can make the game less enjoyable. Don't overburden your PCs with too many decisions to make.
#dnd DM Tip Twitter Archive, November 2009 http://goo.gl/fb/6kyq
#dnd DM Tip Twitter Archive, December 2009 http://goo.gl/fb/qhIY
@Milambus DMG has the eqp rules for starting higher level: +1 level item, = level item, -1 level item, -1 item level in cash. #dnd
#dnd tip: Try to give your players at least one meaningful choice in an adventure with no pre-determined conclusion.
Posted some pics from our run through @brucecordell's "Death's Reach" #dnd adventure: http://bit.ly/69ngBN
#dnd tip: Take some time every so often to consider what the evil masterminds in your campaign are doing right now.
#dnd tip: Skeleton, ghoul, and vampire spawn minis make for great foes from level 1 to 30. Buy a bunch of them.
Glad to see @wizards_dnd using #dnd dungeon tiles in their encounter maps within the "Underdark" sourcebook. http://bit.ly/8XZt50
#dnd tip: There are too many powers for any DM to verify. Institute an "audit thy neighbor" policy to ensure people aren't overstepping.
#dnd tip: A good silver or iron dragon miniature can stand-in for many of the metallic dragons. Likewise with bronze dragon minis.
#dnd tip: Save pictures of fantasy art you really like so you can use it as a handout in future games. Keep a D&D scrap book.
RT @newbiedm: Interesting. Ready to print tokens for your PC's, complete with a bloodied side. Print, punch, play. http://i38.tinypic.co ...
#dnd tip: Storming an evil bar and then defending that bar from an attack can be a good change of pace from dungeon delving.
#dnd tip: Read or plan ahead and think of some ways to foreshadow the coming of a great evil or a new campaign setting. Foreshadow Dark Sun!
Simple encounter math - Num of Monsters = Num of PCs + {0 to 3} Level of Monsters = Level of PCs + {-2 to +2} #dnd (via @ObsidianCrane)
#dnd tip from @ObsidianCrane: divide skill challenges into scenes. 2 or 3 successes per scene. Makes the end easier to see for players & DMs
@newbiedm I got the Underdark book (http://bit.ly/7PxXwm). I haven't given it a full read but I like what I've seen. #dnd
Came up with a great theme song for Elder Arantham, my campaign's main bad guy: Missionary Man by Eurythmics. http://bit.ly/5gLj85 #dnd
#dnd tip: Don't be afraid to run a single battle on your gaming night. It doesn't always need to be two or three. Leave some time to relax.
#dnd tip: Don't be afraid to add 20 levels onto a heroic creature you really enjoyed. The monster builder makes it easy to scale monsters.
#dnd tip: round glass candle holders make for great props for crystal balls and other strange artifacts.
#dnd tip: Give your players a lot of different quests, each with a well-designed quest card so they can keep track of them.
Very cool, you can listen to the entire #ddxp WOTC 2010 Product Seminar: http://bit.ly/cMCvzV It's like being there but with less rolling =(
#dnd tip: Does a PC have a big moment coming? Try using a music playlist based on that PC selected by that player.
#dnd tip: Use a mix of player-selected items, story-focused items, random items, and item tokens for loot in your campaign.
Combat tracker: http://wiki.rpg.net/index.php/DnD4eCM Good but I miss good old pen and paper.
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