D&D General Win The Title of D&D's Best DM

WotC is running a competition called the Dungeon Master Challenge. Similar to Paizo's old RPG Superstar contest, it features various design rounds which whittle down the contenders until only one remains.

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The winner gets a trophy and some D&D products worth just over $2K.

Note: your entry becomes the property of WotC, which can use it in any way it wishes, even if you don't win. They don't even have to credit you for it. Be sure to consider this when deciding whether to enter.

• The first design challenge for a 1,000-word entry is Thursday June 17th, and contestants have three days to submit their entries. This round is open to everybody who qualifies (18+, in one of a list of countries).
• 10 contestants will then proceed to the next round in July, which is an elimination stage with various weekly 1,000-word design challenges.
• Three of those will go on to the final challenge in September, which involved being a DM on a livestream, judged by a panel.

What's a Freelance RPG Writer Worth?

Freelance writers (as opposed to those on salary) tend to be paid per word. The rate varies from publisher to publisher, and on how experienced the writer is. Ed Greenwood, for example, can command a much higher rate than a new writer can. Obviously only you, the freelancer, can decide...

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[Parmandur]

Yeah, but training myself up on Father's Day weekend for the skill I have the least of was just impractical.

Using a less used skillset as the entry challenge actually makes a lot of sense: that way they can narrow down to a select group with a wider than average skillet from word go.

 

[Quickleaf]

Using a less used skillset as the entry challenge actually makes a lot of sense: that way they can narrow down to a select group with a wider than average skillet from word go.

Very true. I think making traps fun is sort of at the heart of being a DM. Not necessarily the writing and the specific format – those are just tools or a framework that anyone can learn – but at the conceptual level. Because a complex trap is all about how to take something that could be seen as onerous or punishing and turn that into an exciting play experience.

It made a lot of sense to me that the challenge started with a complex trap.

How do you make a trap encourage creative thinking and spark those ah-hah moments for players?
How do you make a trap elude to story elements (i.e. show not tell the narrative)?
How do you make a trap that involves all the players at the table?

Remove the word trap from any of those questions and replace it with "encounter" or "negotiation" or what have you, and that's touching at the very heart of what DMs do.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Very true. I think making traps fun is sort of at the heart of being a DM. Not necessarily the writing and the specific format – those are just tools or a framework that anyone can learn – but at the conceptual level. Because a complex trap is all about how to take something that could be seen as onerous or punishing and turn that into an exciting play experience.

It made a lot of sense to me that the challenge started with a complex trap.

How do you make a trap encourage creative thinking and spark those ah-hah moments for players?
How do you make a trap elude to story elements (i.e. show not tell the narrative)?
How do you make a trap that involves all the players at the table?

Remove the word trap from any of those questions and replace it with "encounter" or "negotiation" or what have you, and that's touching at the very heart of what DMs do.

Yeah, that was a fun part for me, coming at the puzzle and making sure someone other than the rogue and cleric had something do throughout, although in some cases, some of the players might not be happy for me thinking to include them. Definitely the same muscle I try to use when planning out future campaign developments, to make sure everyone has something to do throughout.

 

[M_Natas]

I made a complex trap for lvl. 1-4. Higher levels could disable parts of my trap design easily by magic (by design). It is a mages vault and the mage was supposed to be able to get her stuff from it.
Lorewise I only used stuff that was published in 5e to be on the safe side. But I had to cutnmost of the lore out, because of the length restriction. My first draft was like 1400 words - I had to cut a lot. Making a design with 7 active elements maybe wasn't the best choice
I hope I didn't make to many miastakes. English is not my native language.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Seven active elements! Were they high damage? If so, you may have created a Tier 1 Tomb of Horrors.

 

[M_Natas]

Seven active elements! Were they high damage? If so, you may have created a Tier 1 Tomb of Horrors.

They follow the damage according to XGE for traps. So they do 11 (2d10) Damage. But every element is in a different Area of the room. But in order to defuse the trap, at least one party members needs to be in one of the areas.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

They follow the damage according to XGE for traps. So they do 11 (2d10) Damage. But every element is in a different Area of the room. But in order to defuse the trap, at least one party members needs to be in one of the areas.

Oh, nice. That's got a CRPG feel, in a good way.

 

[M_Natas]

Oh, nice. That's got a CRPG feel, in a good way.

Yeah, I had video game mechanics in mind. Like - how can this trap be realistic (like, why would anybody ever built it), but also why is it solvable for player characters. So it ended up to be a vault and the traps are the unlocking system. And who puts in the wrong combination or tries to break the trap activates it.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah, I had video game mechanics in mind. Like - how can this trap be realistic (like, why would anybody ever built it), but also why is it solvable for player characters. So it ended up to be a vault and the traps are the unlocking system. And who puts in the wrong combination or tries to break the trap activates it.

Emphasis mine.

I went with the single best reason: terrible, cruel, evil posthumous revenge against would be tomb robbers!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Emphasis mine.

I went with the single best reason: terrible, cruel, evil posthumous revenge against would be tomb robbers!

Nine out of 10 pharaohs agree: It's a classic for a reason.