Here are the top ten Dungeon/Game Master tips that I posted to various social media channels in February 2023. These tips are great for almost any TTRPG like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, or Worlds Without Number.
- Instead of random one-shots, build one-shots that fill out a piece of the main campaign story as yet untold.
- Don’t just call a battle over when it gets long. Have a plan to finish a battle early that makes sense in the story.
- Inanimate objects that radiate death make great powerful bosses. You can’t stun a pillar!
- We all make mistakes when running a D&D game. Relax and move on – we’ll all get better with every game we run.
- Have players roll the recharges on monster powers so the others will blame someone other than you when Orcus kills them.
- Watch your players’ reactions to the battle. Are they angry and stressed for the right reasons or the wrong ones?
- Interesting villains might turn sides and become powerful allies. Leave open the possibility.
- Whether to kill, capture, or release a defeated foe is always an easy and interesting choice to give players.
- Don’t be afraid for a powerful monster to cast blasts on his own guys in order to hit a lot of players.
- Just because all of your monsters are statistically the same doesn’t mean your players need to know that. Pretend one’s a boss.
These tips are courtesy of Mike Shea at slyflourish.com.
If you have any questions please leave them in the comments below. Cheers!
Points of Inspiration 