Misc Hints for DMs.

[Jolly Giant]

Always listen closely to your players' in-game conversation between themselves, especially when they're trying to solve some problem you've placed before them or guessing at an NPC's motives/plans/defenses. Sometimes they come up with answers and solutions that are far more creative/logical/fun than what you had originally planned out.

Hmm... I've really used a lot of words and made my point sound really complicated, havn't I? What I'm saying is basically, don't be afraid to steal your players' ideas and use them against them!

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Have each player give you a copy of thier Character Sheet, especialy any background info they've come up with. This not only stops 'creative restructuring' of characters but lets you have all the details of your players any time you wish so that you can add those personalised touches that either make the characters feel special, or suitably paranoid.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Buttercup]

Get in the habbit of Googling for small city newspapers. You can find all sorts of tidbits--NPCs, crimes, political wrangling, gossip--that you can make use of with only a little tinkering.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Here is a great website I use:

http://www.20000-names.com/

I chose a specific nationality and print out the names and then use those names for a certain demographic group.

 

[Xarlen]

Grab each character sheet, and copy down the PC's HPs, AC, and Saves on a 3x5 card. This way, if you need to do some ambushing, you don't have to ask a player for their AC.

Let them know about this. Pen this card on your screen so you can always see it. Update it when you need to.

Now, have a second 3x5 card with idle things written on it. Notes even. Write on the back of this card 'PC Stats'. Keep this loose, behind your screen. Pick it up every few sessions, when the PCs aren't doing anything, or are paranoid.

 

[thalmin]

Grab each character sheet, and copy down the PC's HPs, AC, and Saves on a 3x5 card. This way, if you need to do some ambushing, you don't have to ask a player for their AC.

Be sure to include their Spot and Listen scores as well.