D&D 5E (2014) First-time DM - having trouble with Princes of the Apocalypse

[Unwise]

Yeah, that link [MENTION=60100]Rabbitbait[/MENTION] is a very good resource. I am a very experienced DM and still found it useful. Partly because I read up on the bits my PCs are NOT doing. That way if they go off the rails and end up in another area, I at least have an idea of how the adventure could flow and the basic encounters to expect.

As a new DM, I think one of the best things you can do is to just be confident. If you worry about "ruining" the adventure I suspect you are more likely to do so. If in doubt, make something up, you can always rearrange things later. The more confident you seem while doing that, the more engaging the adventure will be. The more times you make something up on the fly in an "uh oh, what do I do now" moment, the more confident you will get with it.

 

[wedgeski]

Agreeing to DM is never anything except the best possible course of action.

If there isn't a quest or NPC written into the adventure, that's where you as the DM step in. Who will be at the Wagonworks when the PC's investigate? Will they be nervous at someone sniffing around, or boldly tell them to get lost, because there's a secret to be kept? Might they be lured into the Tomb of Moving Stones, so that the Believers can deal with them cleanly?

If you want to answer these questions in a way that's consistent with the adventure, you've got to know the adventure, and more importantly, the NPC's. You not only have to read the chapter on Red Larch, you have to have a handle on its NPC's and their attitudes. By poking around in Red Larch, the PC's will be getting their first glimpses of the elemental cults in the region, so you've got to be clear on the connection between the Believers and the Cult of the Black Earth. You don't have to be subtle about this stuff, either. If investigating the wagonworks causes everything to come out, then so be it. The players will love that their decisions have blown the secret wide open.

So my best advice is: read the Red Larch chapter. Then read it again. Information in PotA tends to be spread out, so make some crib notes as you go. Thus armed, you'll find yourself more confident to handle the party's actions.

 

[Carl Anderson]

Y'all are fantastic. Thanks everyone.

The idea of being confident is very appropriate; in fact, one of my players, the fellow who DMed my first D&D game (and something of a mentor to me at work), mentioned after the first play session that I seemed to lack confidence—and that working on that would go a long way to solving the issues I have.

I'm going to try to take some time before our next session and try to read as much of the book as I can, even the parts that don't necessarily seem like they'll come up right away...just in case my PCs go off in some direction I don't expect.

Looking forward to reading more on these boards...if this level of assistance is any indication, it's a great place to be!

 

[wedgeski]

The idea of being confident is very appropriate; in fact, one of my players, the fellow who DMed my first D&D game (and something of a mentor to me at work), mentioned after the first play session that I seemed to lack confidence—and that working on that would go a long way to solving the issues I have.

It comes with time and familiarity. We DM's always put ourselves under too much pressure!

I'm going to try to take some time before our next session and try to read as much of the book as I can, even the parts that don't necessarily seem like they'll come up right away...just in case my PCs go off in some direction I don't expect.

Chapters 2 and 3, and maybe the appendix that describes the cultists of Air and Earth, will do just fine for your next few sessions.

Looking forward to reading more on these boards...if this level of assistance is any indication, it's a great place to be!

It really is.