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Forgetting to maximize the capabilities of the monster. I'm always forgetting to use special abilities of a monster, so as a result, the monster is defeated either too easily or without revealing what makes this monster so special other than its visual picture.

Celebrim is on a tear in this thread. Good reading though. As a long time DM, I spend tons of time preparing for the adventure. TONS OF TIME. On overall story for the campaign, on the world, on each adventure to drive the plot, for encounter balance, for fleshed out NPCs, for well designed...

My problem with box text is that it never seems to suit the situation in the game. Bland descriptions of a room describing dimensions and layout are suitable for an architect, not a adventurer, and do not add anything to a game if you are using miniatures and tabletop that clearly provide that...

o.k. I see. I've seen one DM use a narrative combat style where all the players sort of narrated what they were doing at the same time. The group was used to that style so they did not talk over each other much. I think it would work better with a theater of the mind style game. The DM only...

I generally have my monsters target the most dangerous threat that is the easiest to kill. Priority for most monsters is magic users, ranged fighter, sneaky characters, and so on with the heavy fighters being last. When the monsters have ranged weapons, some will screen the heavy fighters...

I'm not sure I understand the problem. Initiative seems to move pretty smoothly in my game so far. The ability to break up a move into segments have been a real plus for 5E that allows for a more fluid sequence in the game. My players tend to make heavy use of delaying their initiative turns...

Time for a battle report on how the Snow Goons worked during an encounter. Final version of the monster build is below in the graphic. Storyline is that the adventuring party is trapped in a snow globe under control of a wizard. The party is lost and disoriented at first, but they know they...

I'll see what I can do. I haven't done anything too great with the campaign treasure. Most my treasure has come from the source books. I just find an image online that I like to best represent the treasure and add the rules text. I keep a stock of generic potion bottles for the variety of...

Appropriate for any Office role play game, coming soon to a game store near you. Probably need to add "Embarrassing Prank" to the social attacks.

Interesting concept. Do you plan to have any damage to social HP for a failed social attack? Sort of a social failure? (Character attempt a witty retort but instead comes off as pathetic) I wonder what a critical social hit looks like (it is a "burn"?) and what a critical social failure looks...

Though no TPK is a satisfying event, I think play groups would take some gratification that the TPK occurred at the against the final boss who is supposed to be deadly. Perhaps, a TPK might be tolerable when the players know an especially dangerous situation, such as the environment, trap, or...

Sounds very memorable. And definitely more memorable than the original design.

Perhaps a color code for the thread title font? Or a secondary prefix?

I have some questions. I am sure you have thought of it but it does not appear presented in the text. What happens to the bodies of the PC whose conscious is absorbed into the Chimera? Is there a swap? As the Chimera does not speak, how does the party learn that the consciousness of one of...

I have so seen this -- overthinking what's right in front of them! :D

I should clarify my intent behind the "Self-Inflicted / Inner Conflict (PC Attacks PC)" choice. It was based only on an instance I saw many years ago (early 80's) when I saw a PC group TPK each other when the assassin started attacking his own group (the reason today I will never understand)...

I've heard that Cthulhu games often have TPKs are part of the plot in the game. I do not play that game, but I understand how that is possible. Paranoia also had a capacity to support that plot devise also. I've also heard of games culminating in a TPK on purpose as a way to ditch the...

DMMike, Interesting thread, but I think the discussion is drifting into group dynamics and compatibility over DM game management (which is how I understood your post initially). Group dynamics and compatibility (usually with the concepts of gaming styles of the group) is a challenge affecting...

What would be REALLY sick is to combined all the ideas together: One of the PCs is randomly selected to the be third head of the Chimera! (replace the goat head). Now the party will really be conflicted about attacking the beast!