5 DnD Resources So Good they Should Be Illegal

If you do it with love, no lack of skill will get in the way of making something that means the world to you and your friends at the table
~ Brennan Lee Mulligan ~

5 Dungeon Master Tips

Have multiple paths (i like 3) ready to offer in case your players are stuck on what to do next.
Stars and Wishes are a great way to discover what you and your players enjoy about the game and what they are looking forward to.
Sometimes your players will invent a a villain they want to hunt down. Use them!
Use environmental effects in your combat encounters that both PCs and enemies can use.
If you’re gonna use a new house rule make sure to talk to your players about it first.

And I use them every session!

300 Character Warm Up Questions.
Every session I run I start with an in character warm up question. Not only does this get them thinking as their character but it also can do some world building or just give me info to use against them later. https://ko-fi.com/s/e7769cb606
DonJon Treasure Generator.
It’s easy to make a d20 loot table so make one for every session. Then I’ll have the player roll a d20 and improvise a bit with what s on the list. IME it has made for some great role-play and world building. https://donjon.bin.sh/5e5/random/#type=treasure
Initiative Tracker.
Having an itemized chart for initiative has helped me so much. With all the names, ac, hp laid out and space for conditions, and tick marks for who’s already taken a turn. It has helped make my combats run more smoothly. https://ko-fi.com/s/61bc29f354
NPC Generator.
I made a simple formula that can help you make interesting NPCs on the fly. You get 2 adjectives, a funny quirk, and sometimes even a pet with a funny quirk. https://perchance.org/crai g ofinspiration
8 steps of session prep by sly flourish.
Hand down the best thing to happen to my session prep. Having a framework for my notes every session has been super helpful for me and if you haven’t checked it out yet please do. https://slyflourish.com/lazy_gm_resource_document.html

Point of Inspiration

This weeks Point of Inspiration goes to WintersTales. AJ has been at the helm of major TTRPG productions like the 48 Hour Calamity, Wild Magic West, and Castleton. Which she just announced is going to get a setting book with a kickstarter launching in October. So please go give them a follow wherever you can. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMv3d2dynK2/

The Aechron Archive

The Village of Caebrek

Notable NPCs

City Watch Chief, Zenon Stormbringer – a flamboyant and sheepish Orc that is always up to date with the latest gossip and their pet Rosie the llama that will steal your hat.
Marshal Haley Ueda – an impatient and naive Half Elf that is retiring from their military appointment soon.
Dagna Hiro the merchant – a flustered and witty Aarakocra that is always up to date with the latest fighting, and their pet Lady the irish setter that has their own stuffed animal.
Zyglinda Sato the soothsayer – a calculating but dorky Tiefling that constantly tries to get others to be healthy with their omens.
Otokar Jim the gravedigger – a zany but reliable Goliath that wants the PCs to hunt a monster terrorizing the graveyard.
Taida Diba the smithy – a kind hearted and superstitious Duergar that is obsessed with reading the newspaper/getting the news.
Viola Oakstorm the innkeeper – a talented but affable Dragonborn that wants a magic item the PCs don’t have.
Evelyn Sullivan the miller – a thrifty and reclusive Minotaur that wants to be escorted to a dangerous location to find valuable treasure and their pet Capo the donkey that has a rival squirrel that taunts them.
Reverend Aria Tatum – a quirky and animated Centaur that is in charge of the local church of the Rootmother and their pet Willow the duck that is obsessed with magic.
Sabin Kanaan the miner – a flamboyant and organized Kobold that wants to go to a secret location out of pure curiosity and their pet Toulouse the horse that is good at tracking certain animals.

Livestream Schedule

Find me live on Twitch and Youtube every Saturday talking about dungeons & dragons and answering YOUR questions!

save the date!
i’m having a super special birthday stream on September 2nd and I would really appreciate it if you stopped by and said hello.
Tues Sep 2nd – all time pst
12 pm – Q&A & Games
330 pm – goblin heist adventure

Sales and Deals

Celebrate the 2025 ENNIE Awards with a bundle of award-winning and nominated tabletop RPGs! – 27 titles for $25 https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/kOvrDz (ends thursday at noon)
D&D Maps Sale, up to 30% off for a limited time https://www.dmsguild.com/sale.php?&filters=0_0_0_0_0_1000572&affiliate_id=3271765
Goodman Games $1 Throwback Sale, a bunch of old school adventures for $1 each, limited time only https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/36/goodman-games/category/54341/one-dollar-thowback-sale?affiliate_id=3271765

Reader Questions

Every month I make a post in Patreon and Ko-fi so that everyone can ask me a DnD or TTRPG related question. Once a week I answer every question on this post. Some questions make it to the livestream or inspire a tip video. Looking forward to helping out!

Reader Suggestions

Over on my discord server, the Dungeon of Inspiration, we have a channel called Stream Suggestions where you can recommend DnD or TTRPG products for me to look through while live on stream. This is not for homebrew or questions. This is for blogs, videos, products, kickstarters, events, etc. Let me know if you have any questions!

Poll No. 3

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5 Dungeon Master Tips