DM Tips Twitter Archive: June 2012

by Mike Shea on 02 July 2012

Below is an archive of all of the Sly Flourish DM Tip Twitter posts for June 2012. Get daily DM tips at http://twitter.com/slyflourish!

Looks like my Astral Sea monster article comes out this month! Yay! #dnd http://t.co/Zta6ZhnN

#dnd tip: Keep a random loot list around to save yourself preparation time and embrace the lifestyle of the lazy DM: http://t.co/yCZqJZAH

#dnd tip: Always remember that published adventures are intended to be modified. Rework them to suit your style and your group's desires.

Note, I would NOT use "Advantage" as a replacement for 4e's Combat Advantage, but it can work well for an environmental or ad-hoc bonus.

#dnd tip: Introduce key villains in your campaign at least two or three sessions before your group faces them.

If you didn't see it, here is a two-page NPCs & Relationships PDF for your Caves of Chaos #dndnext game: http://t.co/SlY6H4b7

#dnd @trollandtoad Tuesday mini: The Ochre Jelly! Useful for a variety of slimes and oozes of all levels: http://t.co/mqCAzaU2

#dnd tip: Don't be afraid of adding ad-hoc powers to your big monsters on the fly. Use the DM Cheat Sheet as a guide: http://t.co/mQbUPStW

#dnd tip: Keep your players engaged in your campaign on off-weeks with weekly emailed flash-fiction.

Added five damage to all monster attacks to make up for a party of six. It was really rough but they survived. Two leaders helped.

#dnd tip: Don't plan out your campaign too far. Pick a general goal and let the story move naturally.

#dnd tip: Group having trouble coming to a decision? Lay out the options and call for a vote. Go with the majority.

Remember, each #dnd tip is a hypothesis waiting to be disproved. Use what works and discard what doesnt.

.@cakemage damn right. The DM holds full responsibility if they decide to listen to my particular line of bullshit or not.

@Squach Ive been using @Alphastreams 1, 2, 3 unit card system with simple, fast, and easy results.

Just hung my Random Dungeon and Wandering Monster posters from @blogofholding. http://t.co/UPAlyXOn

You can get your own @blogofholding Random Dungeon and Random Monster poster at http://t.co/ysu6wPia #dnd

#dnd tip: Need a good villain? Look no further than Raven from the book "Snow Crash". Great background and awesome sinister motivations.

@TheIdDM @BrainClouds Chest Squatthrust was blatantly stolen from MST3K: http://t.co/x4rgGmul

@thepareport: Never be afraid to roll perception. You never know who could be a bear. http://t.co/tt4JgvkG (via Reddit)

#dnd @trollandtoad Tuesday mini: The Animated Statue. An excellent environmental mini or dungeon dressing. And cheap! http://t.co/E4yF6rMK

#dnd tip: Plan only what you need to plan and force yourself to improv at the table. It makes for a much more open-ended game in the end.

#dnd tip: One of my favorite tips: Put yourself to sleep daydreaming through the eyes of your NPCs.

Some great game design thoughts in this #dnd Dungeon Command article by @minipete: http://t.co/WKpCPjpj

Procrastination & Self-Preservation | The Id DM http://t.co/eu9rB3Nv Mr. Chest Squatthrust indeed

@TheIdDM a fantastic article, as always. I believe in ridding ourselves of tasks not important to us as a way to combat procrastination.

@TheIdDM if you want to get more done, do less.

@TheIdDM btw, Im a huge fan of Getting Things Done. Been using it for five years and it changed my life. https://t.co/uwlbNf22

#dnd tip: 4e battles work best as large set-pieces and scenes. Build your adventures around these big scenes.

#dnd tip: Try running Fiasco with your #dnd group to give them insight into a game focused on group storytelling.

Some great #dnd tips from @StvWinter http://t.co/M1gN5uVQ

An excellent interview with @MonteJCook by @TheIdDM on game design and Monte's future project. #dnd http://t.co/V1lE5R4I

The more I look at it, the more I think the Monster Vault is my favorite all time #dnd product: https://t.co/4iv8u0x6

Lots of good #dndnext info in this Q&A with @mikemearls. http://t.co/WGLTmmtL

#dnd tip: Grab a set of re-usable maps to keep on hand. A lazy dungeon master focuses time on the RIGHT things! http://t.co/ZD8no32j

True or False: The success of your #dnd game does not depend on the amount of time you prepare for it.

The #dnd @trollandtoad Tuesday mini: the Living Sphere. A great mini for a monster or environmental effect: http://t.co/At2F0he4

@DreadGazeebo @Bartoneus My primary 4e criticism is that combat doesn't leave a lot of time for exploration and roleplaying.

@DreadGazeebo @Bartoneus And don't misunderstand me, I still love 4e, but that's one of the problems I have with it.

@DreadGazeebo @Bartoneus I've had luck putting exploration and roleplaying INTO my encounters. It helps.

What is the bare minimum you need to feel prepared for your #dnd game?

#dnd tip: Consider building sets of themes for your short campaign, letting PCs choose the set and then randomly determining the theme.

@KatoKatonian I think that is a common problem. Yet it isn't the prep that counts, its our confidence to let it run away from us.

@KatoKatonian What is the right way to get comfortable running an improv game?

@KatoKatonian Having @sarahdarkmagic hand me an adventure in the middle of a Hooters with 2 minutes of prep time helped my improv skills.

There's an improv 4e #dnd crew with @ericfell in Vancouver that looks pretty awesome. http://t.co/HxnQgZHH

#dnd tip: Preparing for improvisation means having the right tools available to you. What is your improvisation tool list?

Just now getting to the excellent Tome Show with @TheIdDM, @Squach, and @sarahdarkmagic: http://t.co/R9UDIz9N #dnd Some great tips!

#dnd tip: Understanding the motives of your NPCs and villains makes it easier to improvise their reactions to the PCs' actions.

Just fixed a typo on my DM Tips book home page that's been there for two years. I can't believe anyone bought this book.

#dnd tip: Instead of building your world or re-statting monsters, spend time understanding the backgrounds and motivations of the PCs.

For those who purchased my books, what were the things you liked LEAST about them? Be honest, I can take it! #dnd

How is it that no one ever put Stephen King's Dark Tower world into a Gamma World campaign? Or have you? You sneaky devils!

Here are the results of 817 surveyed #dnd DMs on game preparation times. What do you find surprising? http://t.co/PqCQRh4N

If you're fancy with Excel and want to chew on the #dnd DM survey results yourself, here's an updated copy: http://t.co/ByDYujdp

My latest #dnd DDI article, Perils of the Astral Sea, has been posted: http://t.co/sKlyQVGM requires subscription.

Those of you who said you wanted more example of epic-tier monsters should check out my #dnd DDI articles: http://t.co/zouC1DNV

This week's @trollandtoad Tuesday #dnd Mini: The Gravetouched Ghoul. A great affordable mini for all levels of play: http://t.co/FveI7zHa

#dnd tip: During your #dndnext playtest, experiment with both Theater of the Mind and gridded combat experiences.

BTW, @ChrisSSims added some really awesome mechanics to the Aleax in that article. It's fantastic. #dnd http://t.co/cZovJ5Wd

Thanks to @sarahdarkmagic for mentioning my Caves of Chaos article in this month's Joining the Party: http://t.co/pBpw2wfW #dnd

What is your favorite source for random charts and tables for fantasy RPGs? DMG 1st edition? #dnd

What I Learned from Adding New Players to the Group | The Learning DM http://t.co/4s6QkFo3 @LearningDM

I immediately thought about this video when I watched @dungeonbastard's, Flip Mat vs TotM vid. http://t.co/o5ltDkCT

#dnd tip: Keep your notable NPC list short for your mini-campaign. It makes it easier for the players to remember who's important.

#dnd tip: Build your NPCs and their actions as stand-alone characters and events, not just how they react to the PCs.

#dnd tip: Give your PCs a chance to parlay with defeated monsters instead of just always having them die off.

If you enjoyed these tips, take a look at Sly Flourish’s Dungeon Master Tips book or Sly Flourish’s Running Epic Tier D&D Games. You can also use these links to purchase the Heroes of the Fallen Lands, the Dungeon Master’s Kit, or the Monster Vault or bookmark this link to buy anything from Amazon.

Need some battle maps? Pick up some Gamemastery Flip-Maps from Troll and Toad, an official Sly Flourish sponsor.

Send feedback to mike@mikeshea.net.