Results 61 to 90 of 127
Thread: 1001 DM Tips
-
2010-10-13, 11:59 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Bonsall, CA
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
But what if I'm using the generic character classes as described in Unearthed Arcana (AFB, but it's right after the gestalt rules)?
They don't mention psionics at all. Should I homebrew some?
Also,
131: If your player gives you cheese, retaliate with fudge. A second round of combat against the BBEG will be a lot more fun than watching the incantatrix or raging frenzied dervish or tornado-summoning tyrannosaurus-in-hide-armor kill the opponent before they can act. Just pretend they were temporary hp the first time.Blog for my latest (and hopefully last) campaign world: Thargothras!
Some less overused ways for your PCs to meet
Best compliments yet received:
-
2010-10-13, 12:04 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 12:05 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Bonsall, CA
- Gender
Blog for my latest (and hopefully last) campaign world: Thargothras!
Some less overused ways for your PCs to meet
Best compliments yet received:
-
2010-10-13, 12:11 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 01:00 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
Re: 1001 DM Tips
132: Traps are good. Trapped traps that push you into other traps are much better, though. Especially if the escape route from said trap is also trapped. And the mechanism to disable the trap, is itself trapped.
133: If one or more of your players is a rules encyclopedia or part-time DM, learn the rules at least as well as that player. You are at a distinct disadvantage in challenging the players if you don't understand the game as well as they do.
134: If one or more of your players is a walking Monster Manual encyclopedia, learn the rules for improving monsters via extra HD, class levels, and templates. It will keep them guessing and preserve the mystery.
135: If you're not strong on rule 134, you can get away with re-skinning a monster so that it looks completely different from its original. For example, you can create low-level demons using the stats for bugbears and slightly stronger demon brutes using ogre or troll stats. If you're clever, players won't know the difference.
136: Don't create solutions to problems, create problems in need of solution. Let your players create their own solutions. If you plan in advance how the players will solve a problem, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment when they don't try to solve the problem "the right way".Last edited by jiriku; 2010-10-13 at 02:43 PM.
Subclasses for 5E: magus of blades, shadowcraft assassin, spellthief, void disciple
Guides for 5E: Practical fiend-binding
D&D Remix for 3.x: balanced base classes and feats, all in the authentic flavor of the originals. Most popular: monk and fighter.
-
2010-10-13, 01:01 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
- Location
- Lacey, Washington
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
However, if you run an epic campaign, you might want to upgrade to a +6.
^~Cody T.~^
"I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." - Mewtwo
-
2010-10-13, 01:08 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2008
- Location
- My apartment
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Been there, fought that, died horribly.
Something fun and flavorful to get your DM throwing books at you: Katana Chucker
-
2010-10-13, 01:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Ohio
-
2010-10-13, 02:37 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- On Paper
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
138: Be Consistent with your rulings! If you don't keep track of mundane ammunition or the weight of gold, don't suddenly start.
139: If it would help the players, let the players control it. Frequently, the difference between a fun and helpful allied NPC and an annoying DMPC is whose holding the character sheet.
140: Be Inconsistent with your adventures! Don't let each session be another round of "Wander into room, kill monsters, take shinies". Try to make the experience different each time your players sit down.
141: Don't forget terrain. Something as simple as a table in the middle of the room, or a corner in the hallway can dramatically change the nature of an encounter.
141a: Don't forget to use the terrain. All the interesting features you put into the map are useless if the monsters act like they're in a plain, empty rectangular room.
-
2010-10-13, 02:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2007
- Location
- Harrisburg, PA
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
142: give the PCs freedom to discover what they believe in, and then make them FIGHT for it.
Last edited by obliged_salmon; 2010-10-13 at 02:39 PM.
Proud Happy Biscuit (TM) salesman
avatar: Fence the gypsy halfling rogue by Sampi
-
2010-10-13, 05:24 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 05:51 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2010
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
142. If something is worth doing, its worth overdoing. If a vampire has a creepy castle with paintings that attack you, make it so his statues, silverware, and topiary do to.
-
2010-10-13, 05:54 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Australia mate
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
143. if your players try to become pun-pun summon Cuthulu
144. Vampires make EVERYTHING better
144b. no i dont mean twilight
145. if you dont say something is fire-proof it WILL be set on fire
146. a tavern is NOT an original starting pointcall me Dragon
I have left this site for a while. I probablt wont be coming back.
-
2010-10-13, 05:56 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 06:07 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Bonsall, CA
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
146b: If you have trouble, read this list
The link has also been added to my sig.Blog for my latest (and hopefully last) campaign world: Thargothras!
Some less overused ways for your PCs to meet
Best compliments yet received:
-
2010-10-13, 06:10 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Last edited by dsmiles; 2010-10-13 at 06:12 PM.
Originally Posted by The Doctor
-
2010-10-13, 06:14 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Ama'varde
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 06:20 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Bonsall, CA
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Blog for my latest (and hopefully last) campaign world: Thargothras!
Some less overused ways for your PCs to meet
Best compliments yet received:
-
2010-10-13, 06:22 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jan 2010
-
2010-10-13, 06:23 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2010
- Location
- Australia mate
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
149. Pazuzu does NOT exist in your campaing world
150. ALL your shopkeepers neecd to be at least 2 levels higher than your party and packing more weapons than them if you want them to buy things without commiting murdercall me Dragon
I have left this site for a while. I probablt wont be coming back.
-
2010-10-13, 06:26 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-13, 06:41 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
This is actually brilliant. Players get whatever items they want, and can just get gift cards as treasure. I see no reason why a group of economically-minded wizards wouldn't put together a way to mass-produce magic items (which, judging by the amount of magic in standard D&D worlds, seems to have already happened) and then teleport them out to people... for a price. I'm totally using this idea.
-
2010-10-13, 06:43 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
If you look hard enough, you might still be able to find a copy of the actual Catalogue. It was a late 1e/early 2e supplement. Be sure to order the Catoblepas Death Cheese.
EDIT: Link. I just downloaded it myself. It's essential to my process.Last edited by dsmiles; 2010-10-13 at 06:52 PM.
Originally Posted by The Doctor
-
2010-10-13, 06:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Huh. I didn't realize that was a real thing. Anyways, I might incorporate ideas from that into whatever I finally come up with, or I might just say they find a copy of a catalog that has whatever item they're looking for in it, at a certain price, which will be teleported to them shortly.
-
2010-10-13, 07:31 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Dec 2008
- Location
- My apartment
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Been there, fought that, died horribly.
Something fun and flavorful to get your DM throwing books at you: Katana Chucker
-
2010-10-13, 10:57 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- Ohio
Re: 1001 DM Tips
151. Don't overthink your campaign starting point: A tavern will do. Even if you do start the PCs somewhere else, first thing they do is go to the tavern anyway.
-
2010-10-14, 10:25 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jun 2006
- Location
- Dinosaur Museum aw yisss.
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
The Iron Avatarist Hall of Fame!
Prizes(Un)Official Best Playground Avatarist Competition
----
Also, buy my stuff! T-Shirts too!
-
2010-10-14, 10:40 AM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Jul 2009
- Location
- In the T.A.R.D.I.S.
- Gender
-
2010-10-14, 01:39 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Sep 2010
- Location
- Bonsall, CA
- Gender
Re: 1001 DM Tips
Blog for my latest (and hopefully last) campaign world: Thargothras!
Some less overused ways for your PCs to meet
Best compliments yet received:
-
2010-10-14, 01:48 PM (ISO 8601)
- Join Date
- Aug 2009
Re: 1001 DM Tips
153: Stalking Serpentine is an excellent way to explore the GITP forums. Just mind the fangs.
Subclasses for 5E: magus of blades, shadowcraft assassin, spellthief, void disciple
Guides for 5E: Practical fiend-binding
D&D Remix for 3.x: balanced base classes and feats, all in the authentic flavor of the originals. Most popular: monk and fighter.