DM Tips Twitter Archive: October 2011

by Mike Shea on 4 November 2011

Below is an archive of all of the Sly Flourish DM Tip Twitter posts for August 2011. Get daily DM tips at http://twitter.com/slyflourish!

#dnd tip: Time to go look for that bargain-bin halloween props for your game!

I know I sound like a broken record but I wonder if the MM3 damage boost was enough. What about lvl+16 at paragon and lvl+24 at epic? #dnd

Ok, this guy is 10x the DM I'll ever be: http://t.co/7uAH0euY #dnd

#dnd tip: Keep a big ziploc bag of all the table accessories you regularly need. Remove stuff you don't really use.

All of these cheat codes work in my game: http://t.co/U7vxztmW #dnd

#dnd tip: Build a list of 20 potential relationships between PCs based on the factions in your campaign world when starting a campaign.

Awesome interview on CNN (!) with my friend @newbiedm about RPGKids: http://t.co/d3vp7PU9

#dnd tip: Keep monster theme powers in your head that tie monsters together into a clear group.

#dnd tip: Auras are an easy staple for solo monsters and epic-tier battles. They are easily over-used though.

#dnd tip: Keep traps and environmentals simple. To make it really easy, have them auto-hit if a character ends its turn within the aura.

Great advice for fiction that works just as well for #dnd. http://t.co/8UDBxhF1

RT @insanitygawd: @SlyFlourish further tip. Accentuate poster maps with dungeon tiles, especially the 3d ones.

#dnd tip: Reuse poster maps by flipping them 180 degrees, starting the party at different spots, and changing the environmental effects.

RT @TheAngryDM: #dnd Tip: To a player, backstory means: "long list of tired cliches punctuated by random bouts of improbable awesomeness ...

Damage is low on the Naga and there's a lot of dazes but I dig these #dnd Naga and Oni updates by @loganbonner: http://t.co/Xww5gN5m

#dnd tip: Try to build up a set of generic miniatures that work well at all tiers and in many battles.

Had a fun #dnd Gloomwrought game tonight. The party fought Glorinda who split into three hag forms as a sort of split solo monster.

Glorious day! @wizards_dnd added Mordenkainen's Magnificent Emporium items to the Compendium! #dnd http://t.co/UJOHw4Ov

#dnd tip: Remember, bad villains always think they're the good guys.

#dnd tip: Have your characters build their backgrounds and relationships before you build your campaign's threads .http://bit.ly/oHGxad

RT @markgottselig: @SlyFlourish @SlyFlourish #DnD tip: In Gloomwrought, everyone is is kind of in a bad mood.

#dnd tip: In Gloomwrought, no one is pure and everyone has a hidden agenda.

Dungeon Effects: Wizards's latest Organized Play program, Lair Assault: Forge of the Dawn Titan, includes a... http://t.co/prufG9IS #dnd

RT @RosaMoonshadow: Tips for LA: know char (or use Essentials), buy damage resist/regen items, pick dailies that last for encounter & lo ...

#dnd tip: Scunci girl hair bands make great mini markers and only cost $3 at CVS. http://t.co/zjbLSyDj

Finished running a Lair Assault. Fun time but the whole party lived. I'm a pushover #dnd dm.

#dnd tip: When designing monsters (and this should be rare - reskin instead), go back to original 1e sources for inspiration.

#dnd tip: Combine two poster maps for a nice large encounter area worthy of two or three battles.

#dnd tip: A level + 5 elite can make for a great boss instead of a level +1 or +2 solo.

RT @Wizards_DnD: Secrets of the Ninja by Dave Chalker has stopped hiding and is now available for DDI subscribers: http://t.co/juiv8D1j

#dnd tip: Focus most of your preparation time time on the interactions of NPCs in your game world.

RT @dazedsaveends: If 5e is going to be anything like 4e, then it's gonna be like #GammaWorld. #dnd

#dnd tip: Pick up the Fantastic Locations map packs. For the money, you get four great poster maps: http://t.co/SVSTYUkr

Man, I dig @TheSheDM's tentacle miniatures: http://t.co/5uhOCpew #dnd

Some excellent #dnd Dawn Forge advice from my friend @newbiedm: http://t.co/i1NPU0Xs

RT @matt_james_rpg: @SlyFlourish If it's under the power/ability, and it includes the char who marked, mark doesn't activate

Does an attack power that triggers multiple attacks trigger a mark according to @Wizards_DnD? http://t.co/ABqc9agt #dnd

RT @RosaMoonshadow: From today's game- what defines evil act and how much should it affect party? What if one PC refuses to participate? ...

Picked up #dnd Lair Assault to run next week. I like how it handles resistances. Is it considered a spoiler at this point to mention it?

Watch how @bensrpgpile puts together a 3D battle area for Thunderspire Lab: http://t.co/mBOpdiMb Definitely NOT a lazy #dnd DM!

#dnd tip: Easy way to figure out damage dice: Level + 8 damage - (1 + max dice roll) for 2 dice. 15th lvl = 23 dam - 9 = 2d8+14.

#dnd tip: Go over your poster map collection regularly so you can whip one out whenever the situation calls for it at your game.

Playtested two powerful #dnd lvl 30+ solos last night. Both challenged the party without being either slow or boring. Happy with the design.

@DnDPrincessAria Although, traps might auto-hit if someone fails to disarm them. A failed check counts as a successful attack.

.@DnDPrincessAria On second thought, traps should probably have an attack roll. Hazards and env effects, don't always need them. #dnd

#dnd tip: Have more than five players? Have traps and hazards auto-hit instead of rolling attacks. Faster game and more damage output.

Very excited about the new #dnd map packs: http://t.co/tStIC3Um I love poster maps!

@Umbramancer Thank you for the heads-up. Checking into it.

RT @jaron95: I used @SlyFlourish's Cheat Sheet for minions w/ Resist 10 All that petrify targets who end their turn grabbed by 2 or more ...

@LearningDM I could get behind that. Inherent bonuses made my Dark Sun campaign a lot more fun and the players dug it.

RT @LearningDM: Today's Legends & Lore makes me even more confident in saying that inherent bonuses should be used in every #4e #dnd game.

Check out @TheIdDM's latest "No Assembly Required" monster: http://t.co/WXgeKHjU with art by @grantgoboom #dnd

I think #dnd rule 0.5 might be simpler: Roll when it's fun. Don't roll when it's not. Sometimes even high perception can't see a lurker.

I dig skill rule 0.5. If your player is thinking smart, don't punish with a roll. If they need a hand, let them roll to get one. #dnd

#dnd tip: Head out to your local drug stores or party stores to pick up some awesome halloween props for your game.

RT @deadorcs: Terrain tip: Have a favorite layout of dungeon tiles? Snap a picture with a camera or cell phone to remember the layout fo ...

Want to see some fast #dnd combat? Check out Episode 10 of the Metagame: http://t.co/vkuifNTN includes my favorite rendition of 2001.

RT @metagameshow: Metagame Ep 10 is released! Experience the future of gaming, Kubrick homages, and idiocy. http://t.co/JwrriE2S #dnd #rpg

RT @newbiedm: Continuing my search for cheap poster prints: Staples has 11x17 for 2 bucks, so 22x34 battlemaps for 4 bucks? Yes please. ...

RT @markmeredith: So, why not run ship combat this way? Is this a good idea? #dnd #4e http://t.co/rQAHwviQ

RT @criticalhits: Kara-Tur and Horror-themed issues of Dragon and Dungeon Table of Contents posted: http://t.co/ho2B33oL

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 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.