Still writing these, but I’ve gotten way behind, so I’m going to be doing a lot of summarizing to try and catch up. When we last left our Ingrates, Winter was captured by her old crew, and the party was on their way to save her. After much planning, part of which was Dacyria’s familiarContinue reading “A DMs Perspective”
Tag Archives: dungeon master story
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”
A DM’s Perspective
Brandon, my regular author for “A Player’s Perspective” is currently away on a business trip until August or so. Therefore, I will be doing “A DM’s Perspective” which is a game summary. That said, I will still be doing “A Player’s Perspective” articles for when we play “Kids on Bicycles.” After the incident with theContinue reading “A DM’s Perspective”
A Short DM Story
So the Ingrates were back in Borest. They discover that a creature called a Nilbog was the actual goblin leader that they hadn’t met back in the days where they originally came to Borest. After finding their lair (a forgotten dwarven fortress; dwarves are mythical in this world, at least in these parts), they foundContinue reading “A Short DM Story”
Eric and the Dread Gazebo
Recently, Dear Readers, it has come to my attention that some of you may not know this classic story. I will now recount it here, it having been retold countless times across the interwebs. This version comes from: http://www.experience-point.com/dnd-blog/2017/2/25/eric-and-the-dread-gazebo The Story In the early seventies, Ed Whitchurch ran “his game”, and one of the participantsContinue reading “Eric and the Dread Gazebo”
Ho-To DM: DMing Young People
Sorry for the late post…it’s been a busy day. I had a number of doctor’s appointments today, so please forgive me. Tonight, Dear Readers, was an awesome game. I’m not going to do a summary, although it would be great, but I will let you know that I am running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. But thisContinue reading “Ho-To DM: DMing Young People”
This Was Supposed to Be a Different Post..
The original plan was to write a post about running a game for young children who are brand new to dungeons & dragons. Originally, I was supposed to be doing just that tonight. That did not happen. When the organizer and I, for this particular event, had arrived, the store event organizer advised us thatContinue reading “This Was Supposed to Be a Different Post..”
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”
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”
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”
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!””
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Of Duergar and a Dragon
When last we left our party, they headed for the goblin fortress to make good on the peace treaty. The party stopped to rest on the way back from Brynn Shander with a herd of goats and a signed peace treaty, the gnome wizard casting Leomund’s Tiny Hut to provide shelter. One member stood guardContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Of Duergar and a Dragon”
The Struggle Is Real
Today, Dear Readers, I’m going to get very real with you. VERY real. So all of you can tell that my posting schedule has been more than erratic. The truth is that I’ve been struggling something fierce. With what? My depression. I’ve been struggling being very motivated to do much more than getting out ofContinue reading “The Struggle Is Real”
How To Add DnD To Your Resume
Dear Readers,This particular treatise was written by one of my teen players. They wish to remain anonymous, so there is no name associated with it. That said, this is the product of another person, and if you cite it or use it, please credit The Daily Dungeon Master Blog.Lastly, I included some D&D memes forContinue reading “How To Add DnD To Your Resume”
An Odd Post: How D&D Has Kept Me Going
Dear Readers, my posting, as I have said recently, has been sporadic. as I’ve said before, my multiple sclerosis has been kicking my backside. I’m really trying. That said, I did want to do a post today, even if it’s voice to text from my phone. Like many people, I started playing D&D as aContinue reading “An Odd Post: How D&D Has Kept Me Going”
Announcement & A Story
So we’ve run into a perfect storm at the moment. With my current health issues, as well as recent health issues for yourdorkmaterials, my posting schedule has been…difficult to work on. That said, again, I’m not abandoning or quitting The Blog. I just can’t do it. For those of you who are just readers toContinue reading “Announcement & A Story”
Dear Readers
I thought long and hard about continuing posting this week. Due my own family activities, and likely the activities of you, my Dear Readers, I have decided to take this week off, so that all of us may enjoy our holiday. I, for example, have soooooo much wrapping to do. In the mean time, hereContinue reading “Dear Readers”
How-To Paint Minis: Painting Minsc
Hello, Dear Readers! I only have a short post as my recent MS relapse has had me in near constant doctors appointments! That said, I have something to show you: Isn’t he wonderful? I finished painting his base, did some touch-up work, and shaded him. There is a shading technique that I want to tryContinue reading “How-To Paint Minis: Painting Minsc”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Helping Hillbillies and Delving Into a Mine
When last we left our band of heroes, they had just completed their trip to Brynn Shander to remove curses, restock their gear and head out to see about the troubles of Dougan’s Hole (they also had picked up a job delivering supplies to a reclusive gnome north of Lonelywood and heading to a pirateContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Helping Hillbillies and Delving Into a Mine”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Operation “Housekeeping” a Success
Dear Readers, due to my having just been discharged from the hospital yesterday, I missed getting my post out, and we didn’t end up playing. Therefore, today I’ll be giving a brief overview of what happened Sunday to make up for missing that post. Thanks for your love and understanding. ~The Daily DM ______________________________________________________________________________________________ WeContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Operation “Housekeeping” a Success”
Character Profile: Ad hoc Discord Group Playing “The Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga”
As some of you know, I’m back in the hospital for an MS flare up. Not fun. That said, I got bored last night and began running Baba Yaga with a group consisting of a couple of people I know in person and two of my Discord internet friends via voice chat on Discord. ThisContinue reading “Character Profile: Ad hoc Discord Group Playing “The Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga””
Lack of Game Tuesday and Lack of Post Yesterday
Hey all. I’ve talked about it a couple of times, but today I want to break off from my usual type of posts and talk about the reason I’m posting this mostly using voice to text, and even that is difficult… So, as I have said before, I have Multiple Sclerosis. More specifically, I haveContinue reading “Lack of Game Tuesday and Lack of Post Yesterday”
How-To DM: So There Wasn’t a Sunday Game For My Table, But Here’s a Post
So, as the title says, I didn’t have a game this past Sunday. The reason? Because I just needed a break. Today, we’re going to talk about DM burnout. It happens to the best of us: we DM time and time again, likely for multiple games and for multiple days, that stretch into weeks, months,Continue reading “How-To DM: So There Wasn’t a Sunday Game For My Table, But Here’s a Post”
Painting Highlights: Minsc and Manshoon
So here we are again! This week, although my phone is broken, I was able to get some photos uploaded of my current progress on both Minsc and Manshoon. Minsc and Boo I got bored with seeing the crappy base unpainted and did what I feel is a decent flagstone street motif. Additionally, you canContinue reading “Painting Highlights: Minsc and Manshoon”
The Australian Nightmare
Once again we take a stroll down Amnesia Lane back to the mid-1980’s, and this time the game was Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu. For those of you that are unfamiliar, CoC is a cosmic survival horror game based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft; it’s a very fun, very deadly game where you’re really justContinue reading “The Australian Nightmare”
How-To DM: Building Encounters (Part 2)
Hello Everyone and welcome! Last week we discussed one philosophy behind building encounters. Today, I’d like to talk about some practical mechanics behind implementing those philosophies into a game. For our purposes here, let’s assume a party of 5 4th level characters: a Goblin Totem Barbarian, a Human Moon Druid, a Human TWF Ranger, aContinue reading “How-To DM: Building Encounters (Part 2)”
The Dancing Hut: Return With an Offering
So…everyone, by now, should know that I try to tell these stories objectively; that is, I try to tell the story as it happened and no more. I really can’t do that today…it was too funny and just too bizzare. If my objectivity breaks, well, I apologize…also, I don’t have too many pictures for thisContinue reading “The Dancing Hut: Return With an Offering”
Rime of the Frostmaiden: Cauldron Conundrum and Ghostly Possessions
Having left off before a fight, the party engaged the three duergar. Seeing they were outmatched, one tried to run, to warn Xardorok, but was shot down quickly by party spells and arrows. Having dealt with the evil dwarves on the ferry, the party decided to head off along the coast to find the lostContinue reading “Rime of the Frostmaiden: Cauldron Conundrum and Ghostly Possessions”
DM Story: Tapping Him Gently With My Warhammer
Ah, the mid-1980’s. We had no computers. We had no cars. What we did have is the living room of my friend Bob’s house and his saintly mother who never complained about a mob of teenage boys in her house every Saturday and Sunday for hours at a time. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay was my 2ndContinue reading “DM Story: Tapping Him Gently With My Warhammer”
How-To DM: Building Encounters – Design
by yourdorkmaterials A Moon Druid, a Barbarian, a Rogue, a Monk and a Wizard walk into a cave…sounds like the start of a joke, doesn’t it? But a party like this can be a nightmare to build challenging encounters for. The Druid and Barbarian effectively have twice (or even three times at low levels) theContinue reading “How-To DM: Building Encounters – Design”
Player Character Party Highlight
This week, instead of my normal Tuesday Game Summary, I wanted to do something different. So…I’ve been thinking of explaining why the varying adventuring parties do what they do in my posts, but it always seemed to get in the way of telling what happened. Therefore, I’m going to give you an idea of whoContinue reading “Player Character Party Highlight”
Another Tuesday Prequel
So the last time I updated everyone on what happened in the Tuesday game before I started recording, was the 25th of September. We left off with losing track of Tilna, and the party locating her somewhere in the sewers. Following their locate person, they began seeing a strange symbol written in chalk on theContinue reading “Another Tuesday Prequel”
How To DM – To Roll or Not To Roll
by yourdorkmaterials We all love our shiny math rocks what go clickety clack. And rolling dice is the core mechanic of the game. But when do you let them roll? Not often enough, and your players might feel like they’re just observers. Too much, and the game bogs down, and your players are rolling forContinue reading “How To DM – To Roll or Not To Roll”
Rime of the Frost Maiden: Caer Konig and Duergar
Having finished the assault on Caer Dineval, the party was rewarded with free room and board by the Town Speaker, Crannoc. The party went a step further by agreeing to police up the bodies, if for no other reason than to take all of the chardalyn amulets. Deciding that the amulets were too much ofContinue reading “Rime of the Frost Maiden: Caer Konig and Duergar”
DM Story: The Day the Barbarian Lost His Head and Other Fun Stories
This story takes place some 15ish years ago. It is also a collection of stories from the same campaign adventure. Enjoy! I was running City of the Spider Queen for my game group, the one that I’d been running for since back in the 2nd Edition days. Do you all know those games where everythingContinue reading “DM Story: The Day the Barbarian Lost His Head and Other Fun Stories”
DM Stories: My Discord Group and Clarshh’s Sepulchre, a.k.a. How Elren Befriended “Benjamin”
I have a wonderful Discord group that meets (now) on Sunday evenings after I get back from Adventurers League. A big thanks to @Momo (Claa P. Trap), @Bisharp (Elren), @DoctorIcky (Momon), @Lurker (Vin Smoke), and @Legion (Calla), you guys are absolutely awesome. Claa and Calla do not appear in this story as they came inContinue reading “DM Stories: My Discord Group and Clarshh’s Sepulchre, a.k.a. How Elren Befriended “Benjamin””
How to DM: Creating Memorable Villains
What do you think of when you hear names like, Cruella DeVille, Melificent, Jafar, Scar (other than I can only seem to think of things Disney rolled out…)? They are memorable villains! Who can forget how awesome that fight between Prince Philip and Melificent was when she turned into a dragon? Who can forget theContinue reading “How to DM: Creating Memorable Villains”
Tuesday Game: The Haunt (Part 1)
So, this week, to celebrate “Spooktober,” I decided to run one of my favorite horror-themed adventures, and set this adventure on their path back to Waterdeep. October is a spook-tacular month in which to run spooky adventures. The brave and dedicated adventurers that investigate the strange and messed up stories are members of a rag-tagContinue reading “Tuesday Game: The Haunt (Part 1)”
Here I Go DMing Again
Thanks for joining me! This is a human barbarian that I painted for a buddy of mine. “Who am I? Why am I here?” – Vice Admiral James Stockdale
The Daily Dungeon Master Blog 