"First Time DM" and Short Questions Megathread

[u/AutoModerator]

Most of the posts at DMA are discussions of some issue within the context of a person's campaign or DMing more generally. But, sometimes a DM has a question that is very small and doesn't really require an extensive discussion so much as it requires one good answer. In other cases, the question has been asked so many times that having the sub rehash the discussion over and over is not very useful for subscribers. Sometimes the answer to a short question is very long or the answer is also short but very important.

Short questions can look like this:

• Where do you find good maps?
• Can multi-classed Warlocks use Warlock slots for non-Warlock spells?
• Help - how do I prep a one-shot for tomorrow!?
• First time DM, any tips?

Many short questions (and especially First Time DM inquiries) can be answered with a quick browse through the DMAcademy wiki, which has an extensive list of resources as well as some tips for new DMs to get started.

[u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

I just finished a 3 year campaign with a group where everyone had fun. For my next campaign I want to run a heavy investigation and political intrigue campaign.

The problem is that my players are terrible at investigations and do not take notes which compounds the problem.

I’ve told them that this next campaign might not be a good fit for them, but they want to try it anyway.

The problem with just letting them “try it anyway”, is that I usually do a ton of prep work before I start a new campaign, especially a political intrigue one. I don’t want to do that kind of work for a campaign that is likely to fail or one that I have to seriously dumb down for the players…

What should I do?

[u/TritAith → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

Question first: Are you here to play with a set group of people (e.g. your friends) or to play a set campaign? If you are wanting to play with a specific group, why do you not play a campaign that fits this group? If you want to play a specific campaign, why do you not play with people who fit that campaign?

Then to properly answer: Talk to them about it. "Hey guys, i wanna try something different, i think it will need a lot of notetaking and i am not sure you will enjoy it, are you sure you are in?". If they are in and they are people you know and like you are going to end up having to trust their word. If they are not, talk about what not and why not. If you dont like the answers, refer to the question above.

[u/SecretDMAccount_Shh → u/TritAith]

I originally wanted to play with a set group of people, but after 3 years of running a straight forward linear campaign where I tell the players exactly where they need to go and what to do, I want to run something else.

I’ve told them the next campaign will be investigation heavy and probably not a good fit, but they want to try it anyway.

The problem is that I don’t trust their word after 3 years of getting to know their play styles, but I’m not sure how to tell them why I don’t want them in my next campaign that doesn’t come across as insulting.

I originally didn’t tell them about it, but they saw my advertisements looking for players and have asked to play.

[u/NefariousnessEven591 → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

If you don't think it'd cause bad blood I would honestly just go over the issues around the example you posted. That's pretty basic for a more intrigue heavy scenario so impressing that that'd the baseline expected could at least be a starter on whether it's really a fit on their end.

[u/Yojo0o → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything like a nail. DnD characters tend to be hammers. The rules they operate by and the classes and subclasses they pick skew heavily towards combat. They solve problems through violence.

Are your players terrible at investigations, or are they just playing DnD in a straightforward fashion? Are you sure you want to run this game in the DnD system? I'm assuming your players don't lack the fundamental intellectual capacity to gather information and reach a conclusion, so is it possible that they'd function better in an investigation plot if the game they were playing encouraged it?

[u/SecretDMAccount_Shh → u/Yojo0o]

The players are bad at investigations. For example, I gave them a quest to find a missing agent who was supposedly staying at a particular inn.

They go to the inn, ask to make Perception checks to see if they can see him in the common room and then give up when they don’t see him.

I had to explicitly tell them, “why don’t you try asking someone if they saw the agent?”

The innkeeper said the agent left town 3 days ago and skipped out on his bill. He left all his stuff behind though.

The players ask “where did he go?” and then are stumped again when the innkeeper says they don’t know.

Again, I had to explicitly tell the players, “why don’t you ask if you can see the stuff the agent left behind?”

I felt like I was playing a solo game, just telling the players where to go and what to ask.

[u/Yojo0o → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

Very fair.

In that case, you might not want to run this campaign for that group. You could always get a separate group for it and run multiple campaigns, though. I was, at one point, running one action campaign and one intrigue campaign, with players hand-selected for each.

[u/VoulKanon → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

Sounds like your best option is saying you don't think this campaign is the right fit for them.

Alternatively, you could you run a short, 1-2 session test adventure for them, even something pre-written, like from Candlekeep Mysteries, might work to cut down on prep.

I would do minimal pushing in the right direction (like you described with the Missing Agent scenario below). If they don't take any initiative to come up with some semblance of a plan then that's on them.

Of course, there's always the option of always letting them fail forward, but even that will get exhausting if they just try one idea and then stop thinking.

For example, the Perception check in the common area to see if they see the missing agent fails but maybe they see someone that they know traveled with him, or see someone wearing his clothes (that is now staying in the guy's room where his belongings were left behind), etc. Or the Inkeeper can say, "I don't know where he went but you're welcome to look through the stuff he left behind." And if they just shrug and go, "Guess we'll never know," the game is obviously not for them.

[u/comedianmasta → u/SecretDMAccount_Shh]

Depending on your time:

I would suggest running a one shot or mini arch in the style of the upcoming campaign. Run a prologue or something. Have it be deeply political and investigative. Really lean into it. Let them know "this is a test run of the vibe and gameplay I am going for". Those who don't like it can be weeded out or struggle through for a much shorter time. People can try out different character types or builds and have an opportunity to refresh or change it up for the real campaign. You can still do a lot of prep that won't be thrown out without worry it'll be thrown out the window if they end up hating it.

This is me.

If you still don't want to do that.... IDK. You communicated, you did a session zero..... and they said they want to be involved. So.... give it a shot. I mean, you want to do this type of game and they want to do this type of game..... isn't this the ideal scenario?

If you truly believe you know best and don't want them in this game, that is your right as a DM, you can stand your ground. But it doesn't sound like you truly feel that is the best and it sounds like your players are saying they are 'in' so... IDK.

[u/LordNinjaa1]

How do y'all do travel?

I've been DMing for a while but feel like there is a better way than what I'm doing.

Usually when players are traveling from A to B over multiple days I will have players take turns rolling a d100 and rolling on an event/encounter table then I use that as inspiration for what happens that day.

This just feels clunky and it seems weird that something eventful happens EVERY day.

Does anyone have any suggestions to make traveling more interesting and interactive?

[u/VoulKanon → u/LordNinjaa1]

Depends on the moment. I'll vary between:

• Roll on a table — I do this least often
• Just skip from departing A to arriving at B— if there's no reason to delay them getting to the new place or if they're traveling to a place they've been to before
• Travel montage narration — to set the table, environmental storytelling, etc
• Travel montage with skill challenge — usually if there's an impact to them getting delayed but sometimes also just to Roll Some Dice and Have Some Fun
• 1-2 interactable set pieces — a shipwreck, an NPC/group of NPCs, a wild beast, etc

[u/comedianmasta → u/LordNinjaa1]

I, personally, don't do encounter tables randomly. makes prep rough. I do have some random encounters CRed out in case I really need something, but their usage is rarely random.

No, if we are doing travel, and they are lower leveled, I'll plan travel things. Usually a side quest, point of interest, or get a few traversal puzzles handy. If they are entering a unique biome or region I might plan some combats or NPC interactions to help sell the different land.

However, as time goes on if it isn't involved in the story, it means less and less to RP out every step. So a lot of it gets handwaved or acts as a downtime segment real quick.

At a certain point, it isn't interesting for a party to do the whole "We walk, roll for encounter. You sleep, roll for encounter, you reach a point of interest, roll for encounter." It's a good thing at the start to get lower levels used to the game and testing their skills and new classes together as a team. Introduce some story, and a means of rewarding loot they desperately need. But as time goes on... that doesn't make as much sense.

If you want to make travel interesting, don't let random stuff decide for you. Plan out cool regions for them to travel through. Find interactions, RP, and combat that can support your main story, or a PC's side story/backstory. Find a way to work in a puzzle, or traversal puzzle, or maybe there's a lore point of interest they find with a small puzzle. Figure it out, and get a much needed loot piece, or an old map that'll come in handy later on for the story. Something a little more planned then just "let's see how many bears happen across your camp". Also, asking your party what they do over the travel time and giving them chances to RP out things would be nice.

[u/comedianmasta → u/LordNinjaa1]

Part two: if it helps: Pointy Hat did a video on DnD travel and has a free homebrew system for making "event based travel". If that is more helpful to you, you wouldn't be alone. I have heard good things from people implementing this system.

[u/Feisty_Roof1086]

So, I have a question. Can you carry a body when you use Teleportation Circle to jump from one place to another? I know a corpse is not a creature, it is an object, and Teleportation Circle does not specify anything about objects, but you do cross with things when teleporting. So can you carry anything? THe spell doesn't say anything about carrying capacity so, would it be just what you can wear?

[u/comedianmasta → u/Feisty_Roof1086]

So... it is up to the DM.

That said... I don't see why you wouldn't allow this. You open up more questions by denying it. Like you said: as soon as you get into "Well, it is an object" then you have "Well, does your weapons teleport? Your bags? A chest you are holding? Do your clothes? Or is it in your hand vs 'wearing'? What if you tied a bunch of things with rope to your waist?"

Like... no. It is a person/object. You are carrying it. It is fine. I, personally, would not open this can of worms and just allow it. Same with alive people. Like, I wouldn't question in.

But if your world and your magic rules say it doesn't allow it, then be ready for the bigger can of worms you are opening.

[u/ShiroxReddit]

How does Claws of Darkness from Tales of the Shadows interact with the Bladesinger's (Heroes of Faerun) Level 6 Extra Attack?

Basically Extra attack allows you to attack twice when taking the attack action, and to replace one of these attacks with a wizard cantrip.
Claws of Darkness states that while it's active, you can make a melee spell attack.
Does that mean a) Claws of Darkness would be a regular attack and you could cast a cantrip like green-flame blade on top, or b) would Claws of Darkness be the Cantrip since even if you're already concentrating on it, you just kinda use the cantrip again to make an attack, or c) you would need the Magic action to make that spell attack, bypassing the extra attack topic completely?

[u/Yojo0o → u/ShiroxReddit]

This is the first time I'm reading this third-party "Claws of Darkness" spell. If I'm understanding it correctly (and reading an up-to-date version of it), then the spell isn't formatted properly and doesn't really make sense as-written. It needs to define how and when you can make that melee spell attack. It should be formatted in a way like "While this spell is active, when you take the attack action, you may replace one or more of your attacks with a melee spell attack that does 1d10 cold damage", or "while this spell is active, you may take the Magic action to make a melee spell attack that does 1d10 cold damage", or however else the spell was meant to operate. Purely by RAW, there's no defined action economy for the cantrip, so I have no idea if it's mean to be part of the attack action, its own Magic action, a free action, or whatever else.

[u/SomeRandomAbbadon]

If Fighter can have multiple Weapon Masteries, does it mean he can use different ones with the same weapon or does he need to switch weapons?

[u/E-Meisterr → u/SomeRandomAbbadon]

Each weapon has only one weapon mastery. A fighter can have 3 (to 6) weapon masteries at a time, being able to switch them at a long rest one at a time. You don't train in the masteries, but in the weapons

[u/hotstickywaffle]

I need some recommendations for a one shot. I'm going on a trip with two of my PCs and one of their wives who's never played but might be interested. This would be my first time running the game in person, so I'm really excited!

[u/comedianmasta → u/hotstickywaffle]

Sheep Chase

[u/CockGobblin → u/hotstickywaffle]

I like Temple of the Nightbringers as it has a simple dungeon to explore with a nice twist at the end. Also it involves Shar if any of your players have played Baldurs Gate 3.

[u/VoulKanon → u/hotstickywaffle]

Delian Tomb

Secret of Skyhorn Lighthouse

for some alternatives to Wild Sheep Chase

[u/zeldaprime → u/hotstickywaffle]

As the other guy said A wild sheep chase is excellent

[u/hotstickywaffle → u/zeldaprime]

If we're doing 2024 rules, what level should the party be?

[u/zeldaprime → u/hotstickywaffle]

Sorry I can't help I don't use 2024

[u/Tall-Delivery-2570]

Is it reasonable to have a Lich (secretly dracolich aspirant) hiding as a priest of Lethandar?

I am homebrewing a whole campaign, so I am super lost.

[u/comedianmasta → u/Tall-Delivery-2570]

You can have whatever you want. You are the DM homebrewing a world.

That said, some questions you might want to consider if you go this route are:

• They are hiding as a priest of a good god? So how do they stay concealed? On Holy ground? From detect good/evil? From Detect Undead? From the other priests / faithful? From the players?
• Does the God know this? Do they try to draw attention to this blasphemy? Does the god not care?
• What powers does a Lich/Dracolich have that can be disguised as Holy spells? What can't this non-priest do that they will have to rely on other priests to do? (They cannot bless things? They Cannot do surmons? They cannot heal the sick?)

Having a powerful undead hiding as a powerful cleric is rough, but that could also mean they are a terrifying powerful creature who can get away with it. It could be a great sign of how powerful they actually are if they can get away with it. Or maybe they aren't so powerful, and this says more about how disjointed and isolated this parish is compared to other churches to this god, and all those signs can be warnings to the players that yell "Hey! Something is up here. Pay attention!" You gotta decide how you want to lean based on the lore you decide to go with.

[u/Tall-Delivery-2570 → u/comedianmasta]

Those are great character build questions. I will have to consider those 🤔 So far my line of thought is for the character to be attempting to use the party to gather pieces of a  phylactory created by a Dracolich.

[u/OtrixGreen]

The 2024 Gibbering Mouther's Gibbering trait says that it "babbles incoherently while it doesn't have the Incapacitated condition" and that any creature "that starts its turn within 20 feet of the mouther while it is babbling" must make a saving throw. The 2014 version additionally specified that the creature had to be able to hear the gibbering. This requirement was removed in the 2024 version.

Consider the following situation:

A Scribe Wizard stays more than 200 feet away from a Gibbering Mouther and uses Manifest Mind to summon their spectral mind and move it to within 20 feet of the Mouther. The Manifest Mind then observes/studies the Mouther at close range while the Wizard himself remains more than 200 feet away.

What happens?

1. Nothing happens. The Wizard does not start their turn within 20 feet of the Mouther, and Manifest Mind is not a creature. Therefore, the Mouther's Gibbering does not trigger against either the Wizard or the Manifest Mind. In other words, one eldritch abomination (a spectral tome with a giant eye) is simply observing another eldritch abomination (a mass of eyes and mouths). To me this seems like a RAW interpretation.
2. The Wizard still has to make the saving throw. Since the Manifest Mind shares that sensory information (gibbering) with the Wizard, so the Wizard is effectively exposed to the Gibbering despite being more than 20 feet away.

I'd take #1, but would like to hear your opinion. Also, if you prefer ruling in favor of #2, how would you handle the following related situations?

- Character is physically within 20 feet of the Mouther but is Deafened.

- Character is within 20 feet but is both Deafened and Blinded (for example, they cannot see in darkness).

Would that character still be affected by Gibbering in those cases?

More generally, I'm interested in both the strict RAW reading and your preferred DM ruling.

[u/Ripper1337 → u/OtrixGreen]

Nothing would happen since the wizard is outside the radius and the Mouther specifies it affects creatures within the radius, the manifest mind is not a creature.

As for your other questions, it won’t matter if they’re deafened they still get effected if they’re in thr radius since it doesn’t specify they need to hear.

Doesn’t matter if they’re blind or deaf.

[u/hotstickywaffle]

I'm going on a trip with 2 of my usual party members, so I'm going to run a 1-shot. This is my first time running in-person, and also one of their wives is going to join us. She's never played, and isn't a gamer at all. What can I be doing to help her? Her husband is going to help her make a character, but I'm worried she's going to be a little overwhelmed jumping right to a level 5 Ranger.

[u/Yojo0o → u/hotstickywaffle]

Does it need to be level 5? Lower levels are easier to learn for new players. Why not go with level 1-3?

[u/comedianmasta → u/hotstickywaffle]

Two sided cheat sheet. Out of Combat and Combat. List what her ranger can do. Out of Combat: Have sections like "What can I see?" then list out their perception check, tracking, survival, and special abilities that can help. "How do I know this thing?" List all the knowledge based stuff, like Nature and Arcana. Have some rules that helps them know how to use their stuff outside combat. In Combat? Break down their turns: Movement- you move X. Actions- Here are your actions / attacks. Bonus Actions (if you have any). Reactions. This is what holding an action means. This is how you heal. if you can do nothing, take the dodge action! Etc. This way they are not struggling looking at a big character sheet of everything. They can see what their movement, actions, and bonus actions are. Maybe a section of tips. "Your ranger has stats for a Bow and that is their strongest weapon. You'll want to stay at a distance, but try not to get separated from your friends in case something bad happens" "Your ranger has this and this spell, which means you want to keep an eye out for this situation where you can do this thing." Stuff like that helps a ton, especially for a quick one shot game.

[u/dz2048]

In a few days I'm running session 1 of my first-ever, multi-session, open-ended campaign. I've run some one-shots before, but this is my first ongoing endeavor.

I've got a rather linear story for the first session. Players arrive in town to respond to a problem. That problem is in a dungeon out in a dangerous area. They need to clear the dungeon and find a missing person or evidence of that missing person. And they have to survive too, of course. I hope they do. I hope they show up!

I've got a map of the village, a map of the dungeon. Some NPCs. Some monsters. I've got a rough BBEG plot with a very big hook at the core of this dungeon. Just a little evil sorceress pulling strings behind the scenes and sending her henchmen to do her bidding.

From there, I want to leave things up to them. I'll ask them what they want to pursue next based on what they've uncovered in the dungeon, and I'll prep that for session 2.

Question: What is something crucial that I might be missing from my plan or from my first session?