Author Archives: The Daily DM

Time of the Frostmaiden: The Lost City of Ythryn

When last we left our heroes, they were heading out at the direction of the Ranger who had found a way to the lost city. Climbing down the large hole, they came to several pools holding Remorhaz. It wasn’t long before they attacked the party. Using his paladin ability, abjure enemies, the paladin / barbarianContinue reading “Time of the Frostmaiden: The Lost City of Ythryn”

The Hallmarks of the “Perfect” Game Store

Dear Readers, I often talk about my game store like it’s a second home. That’s because, well…it is, sort of. This, my Dear Readers, is why I believe that my store has all of the hallmarks of being the “perfect” game store. I say “perfect” because, like anywhere, it has its flaws, but overall, thisContinue reading “The Hallmarks of the “Perfect” Game Store”

Miniature update: Acererak

I apologize today is a short post, but it’s been really busy and I am returning to in-store play at my local game store. I was trying to prepare for today’s session to make sure that our first session of our new campaign will go off without a hitch. I expect the articles from AContinue reading “Miniature update: Acererak”

Rime of the Frostmaiden: Reghed Tribes and the Caves of Hunger

When last we left our heroes, they had just rested after a grueling fight with some flame skulls. After their rest outside of the glacier, the party was approached by a group of the Elk Tribe of the Reghed tribes. Their chieftain, had a vision a party, wish to help them end the everlasting ofContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Reghed Tribes and the Caves of Hunger”

Miniature Painting Spotlight: Acererak Update

When last we left off, our Acererak mini looked like this: We were quietly drying on a dry cloth. Now let’s assemble this mini like the Avengers! I decided to use the Citadel Plastic Glue, a reliable miniature glue, but you could have used just about any miniature glue. It’s what I have on hand,Continue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight: Acererak Update”

Working on Acererak

Dear Readers, I bring you today my newest project, having finished almost all of my “minis of shame:” Acererak the dread lich of the Tomb of Horrors and Tomb of Annihilation. Acererak, one of the most feared creatures to haunt D&D. You remember this, right? Well, here he is on the back of the box:Continue reading “Working on Acererak”

Clarshh’s Sepulchre

This summer adventure is from the convention game I ran on sunday. I ran the same adventure on friday, but didn’t take enough notes. Also, I have given a summary, partial and otherwise, for other groups that have run this adventure. It’s a favorite of mine. It’ll likely be the last time I blog aboutContinue reading “Clarshh’s Sepulchre”

Comic Book and Pop Culture Expo (i.e. the local convention)

Dear Readers, You will not likely see a post from me for tomorrow, as I will be attending our local convention! I will be running a table both tomorrow and Sunday. I’ll likely post up about the game I am running as well as share a few pictures of the convention. It’s not a hugeContinue reading “Comic Book and Pop Culture Expo (i.e. the local convention)”

Product Unboxing: Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments Undead Set

We’re back again, Dear Readers, with another unboxing! Today’s unboxing is one of Army Painter’s D&D specific box of paints. Taking a look at the box, I’m already excited…soon you’ll see why. First things first, let’s see what we have: 10 paints exlusive to the D&D Nolzur’s line!! It makes me happy that I haveContinue reading “Product Unboxing: Nolzur’s Marvelous Pigments Undead Set”

Isn’t She Lovely…Isn’t She Beautiful…

Dear Readers, I was so excited about finishing her, I couldn’t contain myself, and had to post about her today! Behold, the night hag… I used Bright Gold to do the “beads” in her hair, as well as her bracelets, and then used one of the Effect paints, Glistening blood, to color the skull andContinue reading “Isn’t She Lovely…Isn’t She Beautiful…”

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”

Happy Easter, From All of Us at The Daily DM Blog!

A very happy Easter to all of you, Dear Readers, from all of us here at the Daily Dungeon Master Blog! May you have a “hopping” good game! ~The Daily DM and Staff

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”

Xanathar & How-To DM: Character Creation Guidelines

First and foremost, before I get into anything else, or do anything else, here he is, in all of his hateful and dreadful glory, The Xanathar: Isn’t he just the cutest?! Just…that way he looks like he’s going to either not kill you outright or disintegrate you? And even from the rear, you just KNOWContinue reading “Xanathar & How-To DM: Character Creation Guidelines”

Painting Profile: Finishing the Xanathar

Dear Readers, Today is a landmark day. But also disappointing! I’ll show you what I mean. You know where we left off, and here’s where we went! Here we are. We did the shading over the body! I used Nuln Oil (Citadel) shading for the main body, with Argax Earthshade for the mouth and eyeContinue reading “Painting Profile: Finishing the Xanathar”

Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Codicil of the White

When last we left our heroes, they were in the dungeon level of Auril’s Abode…her home. The party had just finished the Test of Preservation, and stood before the entryway to the Test of Cruelty. The party opened the door and found themselves in front of empty tents…Searching through, they found the Bear Tribe, preparingContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: The Codicil of the White”

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”

Painting Highlight: THE XANATHAR

Oh, boy, do I have an update for you all today, Dear Readers! I finally got my metallic color paints in! Here’s an unboxing for you: This is the box that I finally got in the mail! A lovely tray, with the lovely colors and the one effect. Additionally the 16 ball barrings that allowContinue reading “Painting Highlight: THE XANATHAR”

Rime of the Frostmaiden: Tests of Auril

When we last left our heroes, they were preparing to battle two frost giant skeletons wielding anchors on long chains. The heroes fought hard, and the frost giant skeletons fought just as hard. The party played it smart, though, and came out victorious. Heading further in, they found a female Frost giant, completely encased inContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Tests of Auril”

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”

How-To DM: Dealing With Player Issues

Dear Readers, our usually scheduled “Player Perspective” is not available today due to the writer being unavailable. As such, I am doing an early edition of “How-To DM.” I will return with “Player Perspective” when the player is available next, and tomorrow will be a painting update on the projects I am trying to finish.Continue reading “How-To DM: Dealing With Player Issues”

Rime of the Frostmaiden: Assaulting Auril’s Abode

When last we met, the party had decided to head out to the island known as the Isle of Solstice, upon which sits the ancient fortress called Grimskalle. Their transportation? The whale Angajuk, who has a magical boat upon his back. The party travelled for three days, Angajuk playing the tour guide, showing old shipwrecksContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Assaulting Auril’s Abode”

Quick Painting Update: The Shame Lessens

As most of you may know, I have a number of miniatures that I had begun to paint, but had abandoned for reasons like: “Gah, this isn’t as fun to paint as I’d thought it’d be,” and “This mini sucks. Why did I buy it?” and my personal favorite “I have so many minis…so many…OOH!Continue reading “Quick Painting Update: The Shame Lessens”

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”

How-To DM: Using a Random Encounter Table

So, you have a great campaign, maybe one you wrote, maybe a prewritten one. Who knows. And you have a random encounter table. The question usually comes up: what do you do with it and when do you use it… Here are some ideas: The Players Derail the Campaign So the players have gone totallyContinue reading “How-To DM: Using a Random Encounter Table”

Miniature Painting Spotlight: Miniature Restoration – Pegasus

Hello, Dear Readers! I hope your week is going well. I’ve been doing okay, truth be told, and working on a lot of self-care. In fact, today’s post is about a miniature that is dear to me. It’s my dad’s old mini for one of his favorite characters: the bard Pegasus. Pegasus was an oldContinue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight: Miniature Restoration – Pegasus”

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”

Let’s Do Some World Building

Dear Readers, I apologize for a lack of post this last Friday. Both yourdorkmaterials and I were swamped. Thanks for your understanding! So we’ve talked a lot about building adventures, and encounters, and campaigns, etc…But what if we want to build a world? Well, that’s what we are going to look at doing today, andContinue reading “Let’s Do Some World Building”

Miniature Painting Spotlight

So I promised an update on the painting of the female elven ranger miniature that one of our Dear Readers had won in our first giveaway, and here is where she was last… Well, she advanced some… She was coming along quite well… And then I did some more work, getting the base paint onContinue reading “Miniature Painting Spotlight”

Rime of the Frostmaiden: Small Group, Large Deeds

Dear Readers, this week, only three of my players were able to make our Sunday Adventurers League game. As such, this session was much more role-play centered than combat centered. When we last left off, our heroes were in a lost spire of Netheril, broken off from the floating city of Ythryn when it crashedContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Small Group, Large Deeds”

Where to Put Things

Dear Readers, I am not an organized person. I have to leave clutter around here and there, and my desk is barely usable. So when I decided to organize my miniature painting and modeling supplies, I want you to understand how excited my wife was. My wife is the organizing and storage lover in ourContinue reading “Where to Put Things”

Product Review: Army Painter Wet Palette

Today, Dear Readers, I am doing something a little different. Today I am doing a product review for the Army Painter brand wet palette. As I am a frequent fan of their brand of miniature painting, sculpting, and terrain products, I thought it was time for me to actually tell you about what I thinkContinue reading “Product Review: Army Painter Wet Palette”

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!

Painting Miniatures: Space Marine

Dear readers, today’s painting installment will be a step-by-step on how I go about painting a Warhammer 40K space marine. These are, in particular, primaris space Marines. Unfortunately, I will not be able to show you what they look like prior to priming, as I have already primed them. But I will go over howContinue reading “Painting Miniatures: Space Marine”

Home Campaign Combat and Battle in the Throne Room (Rime of the Frostmaiden)

Home Campaign As you may recall, my family’s home campaign is the Curse of Strahd. After dealing with the fallen paladin’s of Argynvostholt and gaining their support with defeating the Devil Strahd, the party headed to the Amber temple to retrieve The Holy Symbol of Ravenkind, a unique holy symbol created specifically to help inContinue reading “Home Campaign Combat and Battle in the Throne Room (Rime of the Frostmaiden)”