5-Min Prep for 5E - Prototype

[PieAndDragon]

I've started on a 5-minute prep for 5E Prototype tool to help with getting ready for DMing a game of D&D 5E.

It might be something to help during a regular campaign, a one-shot or a loose adventure. If your players have a tendency to go off on a tangent then it might be useful all the time.

The content to be included was chosen in a previous poll.

So far - Encounters, NPCs (from Sobran), Rumours (from Morrus), Names (from Sobran), Settlements (in progress), Simple Dungeon (needs adapting for 5E)

To come - Simple Quests, Treasure, Villain, an Unusual Location

I'm looking for feedback about the Filters, Layout and any other suggestions!

 

[Gavin O.]

Hey, that's a really sweet tool, nice job.

 

[aco175]

My initial thought was that it looked pretty good. I like that it gave a brief description of why the monster is there and suggested other ideas to go with it. The first thing I had was ogres looking for food and suggested that giant centipedes are also around. I can take that and have them together or the ogres digging the centipedes up to eat or for another reason. A brief NPC also came up that I can have be part of the encounter or another encounter that leads in or out of the last encounter.

A list or rumors also came up which I liked. It had some immediate rumors and some more general ideas. Some of them may be something cool the players will want to follow up on and lead farther away from what the DM had planned. This can be good or bad depending on how you play.

The section on town creation was not that useful for a quick "What am I doing tonight game". I could see it if I am making everything up in the game and needed something to skim through on the way to the dungeon. I did like that it gave a bit on the local flavor of the town and the name of the local inn. I guess I was looking for the whole generator to be more a little contained set of encounters to get the main game back on track.

Things I would like to see included. I like stat blocks myself. I know many do not, but I find it easier to have them instead of looking up things when I play. A sentence or two of set-up to the encounter followed by some stat blocks I can cross off HP and such on. Ideally all fitting on one page I can just print out and go. A mini-map of a dungeon may be hard to create as part of something. I have seen other generators create instant dungeons, so you may not need one. If you are looking for a quick one night play or a sidetrack to get the play back on track you can include room description in the encounter intro. Something basic that the DM can expand if needed. I would use this for a quick 3-4 encounters and a NPC to lead in. Some of the rumors the NPC could use to get the PCs moving again, or get back to the planned adventure.

Overall I like it and would plan on using it.