DM Tip Twitter Archive, September 2009

by Mike Shea on 1 October 2009

#dnd tip: Mix open map and dungeon encounters to give your players a variety of battlefields.

#dnd tip: When running a Demilich, remember the Soul Drain is the primary attack. Damage almost doesn't matter. Keep Soul Draining! #dnd

#dnd tip: Consider the game "Mass Effect" for meaningful NPC dialog. It's rare to see a game with such a widespread plotline.

#dnd tip: Make sure to have significant choices for your players every two or three games. Make them big ones without clear outcomes.

@DaveTheGame Buy yourself a cheap baby name book. Great for pulling names out of the air for NPCs. #dnd

RT @ChattyDM Retort #dnd tip: Have players create their own minor quests to engage them and get DM off it's lazy scripted ass! Good advice!

#dnd tip: Outline minor quests for each of your players to keep them engaged in the story.

#dnd tip: You don't need a million dice at your table. Four or five of each type is enough. Mix the colors for multiple attacks.

#dnd tip: Let people take a quick break before your third encounter. We call it the "second encounter stretch". yaaawwwnnn.

Great #dnd tip from @newbiedm: "Adding a new (third) dimension to Dungeon Tiles" http://tinyurl.com/l3xqkp

#dnd tip: Get your game table fully prepped before your players show up to save time.

#dnd tip: give your party a nice tricky riddle-based puzzle when you have to go pee.

#dnd tip: Don't tell players if you make something easier or harder on the fly. Don't tell them you did it even afterwards.

#dnd tip: Don't be afraid to call a battle early, but do so in game terms. Turn them into minions or have them flee or escape.

#dnd tip: Remind players that immediate actions of their PCs require their attention off of their turn. Don't remind them if they miss it.

#dnd tip: Try to maintain a relaxed and neutral DM style. Save your emotion for your NPCs.

#dnd tip: it's a good time to find props for your game at the local party store with Halloween coming. Prices are best after Oct 31 however.

#dnd tip: Firegiant miniatures work very well for enlarged Duergar.

#dnd tip: Don't always put all your monsters out at once. Put them out in waves. Don't hesitate to attack from behind or ambush a campfire.

#dnd tip: Use a few 3x5 cards, one for each scene, with talking points and decision trees for your night's adventure.

#dnd tip from the high level talk: Use a player buddy-system to keep people engaged at the table. "Jake, work with Andy on your next turns".

#dnd tip: Don't be afraid in the epic tier to make big changes or as quoted from the high level talk "Go ahead and blow up Vulcan."

#dnd tip: Roll for skill checks often, even if you have a story element you plan on just telling to the party. Don't just give it to them.

#dnd tip: think about the forked decisions you'll offer in upcoming games. Forks are the middle ground between sandboxes and rails.

#dnd tip: Be like @wilw. Come up with your own Oath of Enmity whether it be authentic elven or a cutting dwarven insult.

#dnd tip: Take a few minutes at the beginning of some sessions to talk about the player group and what bonds them together.

#dnd tip: Work on your dynamic voice projection. Nothing can steal a game's energy than a mumbling DM.

RT @martinralya: Want more immersive descriptions on your game? The first thing you notice in a new place is how it smells. #dnd

#dnd tip: Secretly let a player know they're dominated. Hand out multiple notes to make it impossible to tell who.

#dnd tip: Always keep 3x5 cards handy to give secret notes to players.

#dnd tip: Buy cheap $2 whiteboards for your players. Have them write attack and damage for the DM on the board and hold it up.

RT @matt_james_FR: Having troubles finding a foundation to build your #dnd campaign? Crack open an old history book for some great ideas!

#dnd tip: Ensure your players are paying attention during the character's turn right before them. Let them preroll their attack and damage.

#dnd tip: A subscription to D&D Insider can save you a lot of money if you don't buy all the books. Who really needs every "power" book?

#dnd tip: Travel lite to your game. You probably only need your character sheet and a PHB. Don't bother grabbing all those books.

@newbiedm I usually don't tell them relevant skills for Challenges. I tell them the situation and let them pick their own skills. #dnd

#dnd tip: Use authentic images from the internet for handouts. Aztec sacrifical artwork makes for great creepy findings in an ancient tomb.

#dnd tip: Use twine to tie scroll props. It makes them look authentic.

#dnd tip: On a Mac, Shift Control Command 4 lets you screengrab the monster stat block from the monster builder or the D&D compendium.

I get really upset when my players refer to my excellent Solo version of a Bone Naga as the "banananaga".

My new favorite 4e save-or-die: Bodak Deathknights. Standard action weaken; action point death gaze; drops a character in two hits.

#dnd tip: Add two monsters for every character you have in an encounter above five. One monster isn't enough to push the battle difficulty.

#dnd tip: Let your players play dominated characters. Just ensure they act as their master wishes. Some players really love this chance.

@newbiedm I end up writing on my minis with a silver paint marker. It defaces them but nothing a wipe of turpentine wouldn't fix. #dnd

#dnd tip: For a buck, the cultist miniature in Legendary Evils is a great generic spellcaster. http://tr.im/w2oX

@ScorpiusDM I heard about the buddy system at the high-level seminar at Gencon. #dnd

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