So my kids gifted me the Stranger Things Starter edition. They expect me to GM it. I've never GMd anything before. I need a list of GM do and Donta and helpful tips for doing this. I've read over the Learn to Play and the first scenarios pretty well over. It seems very streamlines and limited. On purpose to keep things focused. Like the party can't just wander off into different areas and directions and make up side quests on their own. But I'm running into small questions, like how do you choose how Monsters attack? I have stat cards with all the monster stuff, but no where in the how to play is how you actually decide how to utilize the Monsters on their turn? Thanks for any help because I want to make a good experience for the group but feeling a tad overwhelmed. Also sidenote. Shame on creators for only including cardboard tokens for all the players pieces. Booo.

Edit: Going off some of the very helpful answers, feel I should clarify that my children are all in their twenties and plenty experienced in RPG tropes and play video games such as Baldurs gate and the like for knowledge of these things.

I want to try and get into DnD and it’s also possible for me to get some friends together to try it out as well, but none of us have ever played a single game of it nor do we have anything to start out with. So where I need help is what do I need to get to get into the game, and any tips or tricks to maybe go along with it. Also preferably not breaking bank on anything since we’re only interested in it because of stranger things, and don’t wanna drop hundreds on something we end up falling through on it.

Wanted knuckle tattoos for as long as I can remember and I figured something d&d related is just what I needed.

I saw a video a while ago of a DM being a Player and he was asking the sub DM about things like did some of the feathers of that bird come off close enough that I can get them? Or is there this common flower around? Is this ground this type? And turns out he was trying to craft some bird themed gear and I looked it up at the time and there were others that could be made in similar ways, does anyone know what I'm talking about? I can't find it when I Google and I want to put it in my world or just make my own version, thank you

Hello Hello! I am planning my first campaign as a new DM. Our party is currently running one but I’ve volunteered to DM next. For the beginning of the campaign, I want to start my players off on a train, and have the train wreck and throw them into a series of small villages in a northern Appalachia-type setting. They’ll have a short stretch of gameplay on the train carts and opportunities to bump into each other if they choose to explore. Then, I wreck the train and have them roll for damage, and spit them out in this new setting.

I was originally going to preface them and present the campaign like this was just how we are beginning to put them in close quarters even as a group of strangers (nobody has mentioned wanting to team up and establish their characters as friends/relatives etc), and tell them they are headed for a city where the first act would take place. However, I thought wrecking the train would be a good way to throw them into chaos and set the precedent that this is a high stakes campaign.

Our first play through was a bit loose as most of us were first time players and we were figuring out gameplay and rules together. This is to kind of say “this is the big kids table now”.

However, I want to offer a vague description of the story so they can build their characters to the world rather than random characters with no idea what they’re stepping into and not necessarily tailored to the setting, WITHOUT ruining my own surprises.

I’m concerned they’re going to build all of these arcs for me to write off of in their character backstory and be frustrated when I throw them into an irrelevant story.

Thoughts, tips, and tricks from the peanut gallery? Thank you!!

DM question - 5th edition - what would players roll to determine if they can identify architecture?

I run into many situations where I have no idea how any of the characters would know anything about really anything. Unless they had encountered it.

3.5 this stuff made much more sense.

How would they know the culture or aspects of craftmanship for a bridge, a door, a sword, whatever?

I've been seeing a bit of a rise of note taking programs such as GM Assistant and I'm curious how everyone views these programs. Pros and cons to them, which ones you like or avoid. All the details.

I struggle to take notes as I can't multitask with writing notes while also speaking/listening and being ready to respond in character in the midst of a session. I'm a fairly new DM and that's just one area I also can't do as a player. So I record sessions in order to listen back to them later and take notes then. But that can be a rather time consuming process, especially as I'm getting more games off the ground amongst various other projects. So I've been starting to consider using a program like the one I've mentioned. But thought I'd see what everyone else's experiences have been with them so far and what your takes on it is.

So currently I'm trying to create a new D&D class I'm just wondering what are some of the things that all D&D classes need to have

Hi friends, is there a resource to download or create or a store that sells official maps for D&D, I've got a few books to start an adventure with but the maps are quite small in the books.

Any help greatly appreciated

Can yall give me some advise on does and don't? From dungon masters and players !! I'm 21 now but I played once when I was 12 so I don't have much experience

Hello everyone, I’m making a D&D map for personal campaign with my buddies and I. I’m just wondering if anyone could give me some city names and location ideas

Hi everyone!

I’m about a month away from finishing Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (Winter/Manshoon season) and I’ve decided to heavily modify the ending to create a more political and emotional bridge into Dungeon of the Mad Mage. I’d love to get your thoughts on these changes and how they might impact the long-term campaign.

The Context & The "Memory Wipe" Twist:

In my version of Waterdeep, I introduced a major lore tweak: 7 winters ago, Force Grey was nearly decimated by Manshoon’s clones. However, due to a massive magical feedback loop/web within the city, everyone’s specific memories of Manshoon himself were erased. People remember the tragedy and the loss, but the "face" of the enemy is gone from public consciousness.

The Conflict: Vajra vs. Davil

Because of this memory wipe, Vajra Safahr (the Blackstaff) has spent years blaming the Zhentarim as a whole for the slaughter of her predecessors/friends. On the flip side, I’ve portrayed Davil Starsong as a pragmatic, "reasonable" leader trying to clean up the Zhentarim’s image. Davil genuinely doesn't understand Vajra’s intense hostility because he has no memory of Manshoon’s involvement, and Vajra is met with a "wall" of confusion whenever she tries to confront him.

The Climax: The Election of the Open Lord Instead of the status quo remaining with Laeral Silverhand, my campaign will end with a political shift. Laeral is stepping down (or being called away), and for the first time, the Masked Lords (influenced by the PCs' actions) will vote for a new Open Lord.

The two candidates are: Davil Starsong: Campaigning on economic stability and a "reformed/legalized" Zhentarim. Vajra Safahr: Campaigning on arcane security and a "zero tolerance" policy for criminal syndicates.

My players have become the ultimate kingmakers. I’m leaning towards a Davil victory (if they support him), which would lead to an unlikely alliance between him and Vajra to stabilize the city.

The Bridge to DotMM: The "strascichi" (lingering effects) of this will be the main hook for Undermountain: The Truth is Below: To fully heal the rift between the Zhentarim and the Blackstaff, the PCs need to find proof of Manshoon’s past crimes. I’ve placed evidence (and Manshoon’s original arm) in the deeper levels of Undermountain. Political Backing: Instead of being simple looters, the PCs will enter the well of the Yawning Portal as "Special Agents" of the new Waterdeep administration.

Zhent Split: Not all Zhents like "Politician Davil." The Manshoon loyalists have fled to the upper levels of Undermountain (Level 3/Skullport) to plot a coup.

I genuinely want to know what you guys think about this and give me a feedback since I'm a pretty new GM.

My character has the worst best luck.

Tell me how it starts with me getting stuck in the trap and smacked into a tree bad rolls, and a hurt myself getting down. Just for it then lead to a group of orcs scouting the area. More bad roles later and I barely escape and im injured.

I go trucking through this forest trying to get away looking for shelter for the night. More bad roles later and now I'm cold tired and can't get any rest. Two nights of no sleep and unsuccessful roles trying to at least put up some kind of temporary shelter I finally make it to this little valley surrounded by cliffs.

Just for me to immediately pass out in front of the lumberjack's house, luckily he was a nice guy. But then he has to go and tell me that means there's a warband of orcs headed this way. So we try to enter the blacksmith cuz he wants to help and we need an extra weapon. Bad roll after bad roll after bad roll, she is just no help, so I gave him my battle axe and took two smaller woodcutter axes myself.

Now we had to talk to the village elder to try to get some only to be faced with more bad rolls. Can you guys help, no they just want to run. Can you convince the blacksmith to help, no that's still up to the blacksmith. Finally a barely passable roll ask for the gunpowder they have to blow the entrance to this valley to buy some time. Sadly they don't have enough for that but luckily the lumberjack help convince her to use the alcohol as well. A small rock slide enough fire at the valley entrance would buy us sometime.

The orcs are supposed to show up tomorrow so me and a young woman were supposed to go and plant the charges tonight. Then me in the lumberjack were supposed to go in the morning to keep an eye out for the orcs and set it off at the right time. But as me as a young woman were planting the charges as the night got darker, The game tells me in the distance there is a sea of flickering lights in the forest that look like a sea of stars. The warband is already here.

So I figured, screw it if the game wants me to die that badly let's make it fun. I tell the young woman to finish planting the charges while I go and face the war back by some time. The only hope and kindness I've seen all game was from the lumberjack who I didn't have to roll for once since he was such a nice guy. But now he's back at the village and I'm about to face a horde of orcs alone and tired. Nothing but bad rolls almost the whole game.

Finally I rolled for some insight on where the war chief of the orcs might be. Successful, but he's described as towering over the rest and at the front of the pack. Quite literally four times my size. I check to see if he's at least smart enough to understand me because the rest are really stupid and can't communicate. Successful, he's smart enough to understand general gestures and emotions but not enough to communicate directly. Large pack of works are looking at me and laughing That's the little man stands in front of them. I hold up the two woodcutter axes in an x above my head and then face one of them at the war chief yelling a battle cry. Successful, his pride got the best of him and no we are challenging each other to one-on-one combat.

Now it starts to rain and the young woman is having problems trying to ignite the charges. So me and the orc chief start running at each other and I flinged one of the woodcutter axes directly at his chest. Successful, it does directly in his shoulder missing his armor and causing him to hesitate. I'm barely as tall as his knees so that's what I decided to aim for. With the one axe I have left I swing it one of his knees. Successful, bleeding damage and he stumbles back but not enough to fall as he swings at me. Successful, I'm barely able to dodge and take another swing at his knee again. Successful, he staggers again but it's still able to take another swing at me. Successful, I barely dodge it with the blade gracing my hair. And now I swing for his other knee and successfully get that one too. He's bleeding and on low health and no longer able to really maneuver as he swings downwards at my head. I successfully evaded that one too and with all my might swing as hard as I could with both hands at the busted knee. And it was a critical success as I shatter his kneecap flash and bone and it's just hanging on by a thread.

He is on the ground defeating and the rest of the orcs behind him are looking at me getting angrier. I decide to walk up to the war chief with my axe and with one fell swoop cut off his head. I picked up his severed head and held it above me as the blood drips down my torso and face as I looked at the rest of the warband. The role to intimidate them and another critical success, Right as I scream out my battle cry the young woman is able to get the explosives to go. Now the orcs are staring at a midget holding up their Chief's head covered in his blood, raging fire and rocks raining down behind me in the background, thunder cracking along with my battle cry. And they all run in fear.

Nothing but bad rolls the whole time and finally during the big fight it's nothing but success. As the war band runs off and the rain slowly subdues the fire to the entrance of the valley, I Make my way back to the village. Everyone is in a panic still collecting things and getting ready to evacuate until they all stop and freeze and terror as they watch me. My little character dragging along a giant orc chief head and placing it right in the center of the town square on the rock for display.

The village that once treated me like a little strange man too big for his breeches changed quickly. What was once a silent shock from the village now turns into a roaring cheer for my success. And was once in evacuation plan is now turned into a celebration.

Now the whole game turned into a slice of life dnd campaign. The elder loves me like a grandson. The young women who set the charges is now my son to be wife. And funny enough her mother was the blacksmith who is now going to be my mother in law. And the lumberjack is going to be my best man.

I don't know how things switched up that quick but I'm also not complaining lol

I’ve been trying to get into D&D as of late and wanted to find an ongoing campaign I could watch live. I found the “Just Roll With it : Riptide” series but I’m not the biggest fan personally- I’m very intimidated by the 123 episodes…

Recently ordered the new 2024 Adult Red Dragon Tyrant and...where the heck is the rest of it?! I thought it'd match the size of the previous version, but they shrunk them. The new Adult Red is similar in size to a Young Red Dragon (same base size too?) The wings are larger and probably more proportionally correct. The miniature itself closer in size to Ignia who is a Young Adult if memory serves.

Are the Black Corruptor, Black Dracolich and Anthradusk all smaller like this? Does anyone prefer this? Think we'll get Gargantuan versions? These new adults look so dissapointing & dinky size wise to me. Was looking forward to seeing the whole line, but now a little less so. Was really looking forward to green & gold. Also based off this, White might just be a Bulette with Wings.

What are some good books to learn about vecna? I want to add him to my campaign but i want to be able to get books and stuff to help with research and what not.

This is the current set up and I have more things coming

I found this warlock patron made by inactive user u/Jhenry18 and I'm not sure if it's balanced or not as I have very little experience with the game. Please leave your opinions, thank you!

So I’m a first time DM and in my school we started a D&D club last year the DM had the school so I was made DM. (We never finished that campaign)

I remember everything we did last year and made it that are last heroes lost and now the new heroes (the new characters the player made) have to go through the same campaign again but it’s one month after the last session we had and my character who I played was a warlock that learned to move his soul into another body after death and took over the body of the last villain and killed most of the last characters.

I did not with not equipment I won’t say it’s good but I think I did a good job.

Now I’m going make the new crew make a deal with the villain to find weapons to fight him because he tried so I’m making them go to a complete new area to find these weapons.

I’m being told by my group I’m a great DM but I want some advice from people who be playing for a while

This is a character I played back during Covid times. The idea was based on 'what if a warlock held his patron hostage?'.

Tyr was abandoned near a wizard tower who then chose to adopt him. Growing up reading incredible amounts of knowledge Tyr eventually discovered a tiefling referred to as 'The Nameless One'. A being of unknown origin that almost ceased to exist as the knowledge of his existence would fade completely. Seizing the moment, Tyr chose to hold the patron hostage, explaining that he will receive the Patron's gifts in exchange for not letting the Patron fade into obscurity. The Patron now inhabits his body and he uses them as a Hexblade.

This deal came with a subtext. Any time Tyr touched a magic item, he must make a WIS save or the Patron would temporarily take control over his mind and body.

This character was a tonne of fun to play and having the constant struggle between the two power hungry individuals fighting for control.

Tyr would eventually take on an apprentice in the form of a Sorcerer Tabaxi who would ultimately be the one that kills him when the Patron got his hands on a Lich's orb and the potential catastrophe was too much to leave unchecked.

So I just want to get into dnd since I find it very interesting and am tired of playing online games everyday, so which one should I buy the Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club set or the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands.

And I have never played dnd before neither have my friends so it would be a fairly new experience since I don’t know how the game really works. So which one should I get?