D&D 5E First time playing D&D and I'm the DM. Anyone feeling helpful?

[Denalz]

Maybe they can rescue an important and powerful npc here, that will provide a plot hook later down the line.

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Mighty impressive dungeon!

As far as the NPC prisoner that can provide a hook later on, this advice got my wheels turning. I'm not sure how to reasonably incorporate it because this is a very primitive island, but it may help give the PC's direction when they get to the next adventure and have a less linear objective.

Btw, I've been thinking about loot. I'm finding from other boards that economy isn't a subject that many people focus on in D&D. This dissapoints me because I personally love video games that have a heavy economy element. In your experience to players care much about keeping loot balanced? Or are they just happy to know that they got a reward and then move on to the next challenge?

 

[S'mon]

Love this movie! Good to know there are others out there who can still appreciate the classics.

What do you think about loot? I'm trying to figure out how to balance the amount of money/stuff I give to my players. I feel like it's better to error on the side of abundance.

I agree, I see no harm in generous loot. You could roll a 5-10 Hoard plus some individual stuff, but I suggest including some extra items like a +1 dagger and other Uncommon-level stuff, maybe a Cloak of Protection, Bracers of Strength. Maybe a Rare +1 shield.

 

[Imaculata]

Btw, I've been thinking about loot. I'm finding from other boards that economy isn't a subject that many people focus on in D&D. This dissapoints me because I personally love video games that have a heavy economy element. In your experience to players care much about keeping loot balanced? Or are they just happy to know that they got a reward and then move on to the next challenge?

I think it depends on the group and the campaign. In my current pirate campaign, the capabilities of the players are sort of gated behind the type of ship they can afford. So the more loot I hand out, the quicker they get their hands on the best ship available. I'm trying to spread the progress of acquiring new and better ships across the campaign. This also means that I can gradually ramp up the scale and difficulty of enemy fleets.

I'm a bit careful with handing out powerful magical items as loot, to keep them special. But this has the disadvantage that a lot of higher CR monsters assume that the players have gotten their hands on certain types of magical weapons. So I have to be mindful of that.

 

[Harzel]

What do you think about loot? I'm trying to figure out how to balance the amount of money/stuff I give to my players. I feel like it's better to error on the side of abundance.

I would suggest a bit of caution. It depends greatly on your players, but generally, I think starting out with a bit too little is better than too much. It is better to keep them a bit hungry than for them to become jaded. You can always up the bounty a bit later if you really think you have been too stingy. Be especially careful with permanent/rechargeable magic items (+weapons, +armor, other magic apparel, rechargeable wand, rods, staves, etc.); you can be a bit freer with consumables (potions, scrolls, items that poof after their charges are used up).

I just skimmed back through the thread and I don't think you ever mentioned whether you started them at level 1 or level 3. In any case, I'd be more specific if I knew what level they are now.

 

[Denalz]

I just skimmed back through the thread and I don't think you ever mentioned whether you started them at level 1 or level 3. In any case, I'd be more specific if I knew what level they are now.

They are a level 3 party.

 

[Harzel]

They are a level 3 party.

Ok, then a few permanent magic items (~1 per PC), plus consumables is appropriate. I would go mainly with items from DMG tables A, B, C, and F (or similar if you want to make stuff up). You could roll random stuff if you think that would be fun, or pick out items such that each PC will get something particularly desirable. You could have some of the items carried and used by one or two sub-bosses that they encounter before the Anathema.

As far as gold (and gp equivalent items - gems, jewelry, etc.) goes, you are right, beyond the prices in the PHB, there are no real guidelines for D&D economies. Just to throw something out there, I would say that if they cleared the temple, it would be reasonable for them to come out with ~500gp (or equivalent items) each. However, story-wise, it doesn't seem like your Yuan-Ti would necessarily be sitting on a lot of coin per se at this point; so a good chunk of that could be in the form of, say, one valuable gem being held by the Anathema.

 

[Harzel]

Okay guys, I'm planning my first dungeon (in this case a Yuan-ti temple ruin). It will be sparsely inhabited since the Yuan-ti population on this island is just starting to rebuild after the long hibernation. My problem is I'm afraid that in order to have any reasonable number of opponents in there I will run the risk of over-whelming my PC's. I wanted to get your guys's advice on adding elements (objects, allies, ect) that my PC's can potentially use to their advantage when looking for a way to reach their objective. How can I make things potentially easier for them without spoon feeding solutions and while still keeping a convincing number of opponents in the mix? (I have already nerfed the yuan-ti in this temple to bits, I'm looking for more creative ways to level the playing field).

Can someone offer advice or perhaps link an article dealing with this subject?

Off the top of my head, things I don't think have been mentioned yet:

• Either being carried by Yuan-ti that they encounter early on, or in a plausible storage location in the Temple that they might get to early on, they could find some consumable magic items that Yuan-ti might reasonably have lying around. Healing potions are always popular.
• A Yuan-ti sub-boss might be carrying an amulet that can be used to cast the equivalent of Charm Person on other Yuan-ti (maybe just lower level ones). It might have, say, 6 charges. This would depend, though, on them having a way to find out what it is and how to use it. (Does the Wizard have Identify and/or would they have time to take a short rest to study it?) Also, you would probably do well to think in advance about the limitations of the charm if cast by an outsider (e.g. if the caster gets into a battle with other Yuan-ti).

EDIT: Also would be interesting to know how much you have nerfed the Yuan-ti. An Anathema looks like it is CR12 by the book. What will the one in your temple look like?