Dear Readers, as I write this post, I’m listening to the “My Mix” on YouTube, of which California Dreamin’ by the Moma’s & The Papas. Oldie but goody. And looking further down my list (California dreamin’ on such a winters day…), and I have a’ha’s Take On Me, Alexander Jean’s Highs and Lows, and theContinue reading “How-To DM: Music Soothes Even the Savage Player”
Tag Archives: Dungeon Master
Second-Hand DM Story: This Past Tuesday
Sorry for the post confusion today. I had to swap the Premium Content post day with my Friday post due to editing delays. Lots of edits in the next episode. Sorry for the confusion. As I said this past Wednesday evening, I was out of town Tuesday and Wednesday. So that I did not haveContinue reading “Second-Hand DM Story: This Past Tuesday”
Not a Player’s Perspective – How-To DM: When Things Go Awry
Our normal contributor for today is bogged down with work and exams from his master’s degree. Which is fine and totally understandable. This leaves me the ability to do another article today on something been thinking about. What do you do when your campaign gets derailed? We’ve all been there. You know what I’m talkingContinue reading “Not a Player’s Perspective – How-To DM: When Things Go Awry”
How-To DM: Converting Old Modules/Adventures
If there’s an activity that I enjoy as much as I enjoy miniature painting, it is the act of converting old modules. As I have detailed before, there’s an old adventure in Dungeon magazine issue 53, called “Clarshh’s Sepulchre” that is easily one of my most enjoyable modules to run. The best part of thisContinue reading “How-To DM: Converting Old Modules/Adventures”
I’m Stuck…
Note: if you are one of my Tuesday campaign players, do not read this until after 11 pm tonight. Spoilers. Dear Readers, I find myself in quite the quandary. You see, I’m stuck. I have about a half dozen projects I’m working on and I’m stuck between them. I have to finish doing prep forContinue reading “I’m Stuck…”
How to DM: DMing Kids
As many of you may have read, I have an affinity for kids. I, myself, have a number of them. I love kids. When I began Adventures League where I used to live, it was really just to get my kids out of the house to give my wife a break (we didn’t have anyContinue reading “How to DM: DMing Kids”
The Joys of Campaign Writing
I want to tell you all a story about how I got all mixed up giving character creation details to the wrong party. It happens to the best of us: you’re running multiple campaigns a week or month, and one for both of them is beginning brand new. In my case, it was both ofContinue reading “The Joys of Campaign Writing”
DM Story: I Killed Another Beloved NPC
My Tuesday group, having migrated online, has changed some. We added two online players that add a lot to the game. In any case, it is, like my Sunday game, all online. Due to the limited nature of the campaign, meaning the length, I made it rather episodic, so that there was no pressure ofContinue reading “DM Story: I Killed Another Beloved NPC”
Let’s Do Some World Building: More on the Village of Borest
Last time, we took a look at the concept of world building and applied it to a small town of Borest, specifically the inn. We fleshed out a few NPCs. Now, let’s flesh out some more. Last time, I said I’d flesh out the town mayor/selectman/elder. The reason I left him off the list isContinue reading “Let’s Do Some World Building: More on the Village of Borest”
DM Story: The Story of Kief
Back in the day, when I first played Dungeons and Dragons, my group consisted of my cousin Daniel being the DM (he was a few years older than us) and Jack (who was my age). We had many a grand adventure. Jack and I each had two characters, with me playing a thief (what theyContinue reading “DM Story: The Story of Kief”
How to DM: Forming a New Group
Today’s installment is on forming a new group; what to look for and what to avoid. I hope this helps you in forming your own future groups! Determine the Sort of Game You Are Playing This is the first and most important step in finding a new group. What kind of game are you planningContinue reading “How to DM: Forming a New Group”
DM Story: When a New Player Decided to Grapple a Troll at Level 1
I had a group of players who were literally ALL new to D&D. Super eager to learn and loves to play. And they do things that NO VETERAN PLAYER WOULD EVER consider doing. I was running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, and they are just starting. They deal with the bar right easily enough, and the troll/stirgesContinue reading “DM Story: When a New Player Decided to Grapple a Troll at Level 1”
Not All Puzzles Require Solving
Even though I was unable to play my normal Sunday Adventurers League game (I had to travel again yesterday), I was able to play my Sunday evening Discord game. I’ve talked about this group before (how the wood elf Elren befriended the tarantula named Benjamin), and it’s a good group. Currently, it’s made of ElrenContinue reading “Not All Puzzles Require Solving”
DM Story: How The Daily DM (accidentally) Traumatized a Table of Middle Schoolers
So, I was DMing a table of mostly middle schoolers (one of them is my son), and very early into the campaign, the party bard was tired of how long it took to get across the city and asked me how much it costs to hire a wagon. According to the PHB, it costs 1Continue reading “DM Story: How The Daily DM (accidentally) Traumatized a Table of Middle Schoolers”
Premium Subscriber Post: When Awesome Campaigns Fizzle Out
Until next time… P.S. – I hope you are enjoying the premium content! If there are any topics or subjects you would like me to address, feel free to let me know in the comment section below!
DM Story: Near TPKs
Dear readers, this blog post is brought to you by me using voice to text, so if there are errors or mistakes, blame Android. There comes a time in a dungeon master’s life where you build what you believe to be a good, challenging, and balanced encounter. Often times, due to the nature of howContinue reading “DM Story: Near TPKs”
Painting Update: Fighting Laziness and New Projects
So, here’s some of the projects I have worked on since the Space Marine, using the new techniques for drybrushing that I have learned. Behold! Manshoon! As you can see, the drybrushing/highlighting and shading techniques I learned turned out very well, I think. Next, we have Artemis Entreri…Gah, I shouldn’t have started this mini. IContinue reading “Painting Update: Fighting Laziness and New Projects”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: “Have Fun Storming the Castle, Boys!”
In our League game, the two female players were unable to make it to our session this week, thus the title. So when we last left our heroes, they had thwarted the attack on Ten Towns by the chardalyn dragon that Xardorok Sunblight, the duergar king and clan leader in the mountains, had created. TheContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: “Have Fun Storming the Castle, Boys!””
Of Miniatures and Subscriptions
Dear Readers, As you could tell recently, I had offered premium subscription services. The problem? WordPress.com can be…finicky sometimes. So although you can still support The Blog, you will be getting the premium content via email until I can get things figured out. This is JUST subscriptions via thedailydungeonmaster.com. I have the subscription on hereContinue reading “Of Miniatures and Subscriptions”
How-To DM: Rainy Days and…What Day is It? Thursday, You Say? Well, Yeah, Those Can Get You Down, Too…
Not sure what the weather is like where all of you are, but today is rainy and dreary. In a word: sucky. At least for me. That said, when you are having such a day, and you have no games to prep for, what do you do with that extra time when you are inContinue reading “How-To DM: Rainy Days and…What Day is It? Thursday, You Say? Well, Yeah, Those Can Get You Down, Too…”
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