D&D 5E Anti-DM Tips (AKA what NOT to do!)

[Uller]

39. When your players announce their PCs do something undesirable or unexpected, flip through the PHB and MM until you find a monster or spell that will stop them. Gotta keep those pesky PCs on track!

 

[Uller]

40. If a rule can be interpreted in different ways, make sure you pick the one that makes your players' PCs a uninteresting and ineffective as possible.

 

[Uller]

41. Definitely include a high level DM-PC with a low level party.

 

[MoonSong]

15. Never accept any player input on where he or she wants their character's arc to go in the game. Instead try to force their character into your vision for your gameworld, even if what you want is the opposite of what the player wants.

15. b specially if it is the opposite of what the player wants.

 

[Tony Vargas]

15. b specially if it is the opposite of what the player wants.

15bi: especially if she's playing a Sorcerer.

 

[Lanliss]

42. Include a massive number of deadly traps in your game. Inform your players they exist (so they can't call a Gotcha) but never give any sign of the traps until they have been triggered. Roll 20d12 force damage.

 

[Oofta]

43. Add excitement to your game by randomly killing PCs. Have a giant hand come out of the wall and smash a player flat. Plunge the party into darkness, when the lights come back on and one of the PCs is missing just shrug and say "the Grue got him." Keep the players guessing!

 

[Lidgar]

44. Give them a no-win scenario where they are captured by the enemy without a fair fight, stripped of all their gear, and then forced to break out of prison. Oh wait, unless you are playing module A4.

 

[Lidgar]

45. Run The Forest Oracle. Many times.

 

[ccs]

45. Run The Forest Oracle. Many times.

That's only a bad thing if you run it exactly as written.