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Oh, Man, Do I Need Some DM Tips. . .
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<blockquote data-quote="Oofta" data-source="post: 7037026" data-attributes="member: 6801845"><p>You can get a lot of hints from youtube, but they are not your group. Some groups you watch on youtube are also going out of their way to be entertaining, not to enjoy the game.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This is tricky, and you have to find a balance between description of the action and keeping the game moving. I don't describe every hit or the reaction to every blow. I sprinkle it in along with BBEG dialog. I play it by ear since it depends on the group and their mood.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Things to help me. </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I have a small whiteboard I can track HP and so on</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">For more complex fights, I will print out a piece of paper for my monsters with notes and places to mark legendary actions and so on. Leave plenty of space for notes. You can also put this in one of those clear plastic paper sleeves and mark on it with your dry erase marker.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">We use minis so for fear effects and so on I use plastic rings from pop bottles that I put on the mini</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I print out a list of spells ahead of time. I got carried away and wrote an application for it, but all you really need is how many slots the creature has, spell name and level and maybe a quick note.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I use initiative cards so I can include a card for lair events and so on. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I also use monster cards. Basically a word document splitting a page into 4 sections (landscape mode) with 1 section for each monster. I type up the info I need, print it and laminate the sheets (you can get self-laminating sheets at staples and so on). Cut them into the four pieces and voila I have monster cards. Add in some blanks for the PCs and I have cards to use for initiative. I rarely have to look at the books and just use my cards for info. If I'm ambitious (and the monster is unique) I print a picture of the monster on the back of the card.</li> </ul><p></p><p>Experiment with different things to find what works for you. The first step is admitting you need to try to do something different. <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/glasses.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt="B-)" title="Glasses B-)" data-shortname="B-)" /></p><p></p><p></p><p>Have waves of bad guys, traps set up for the good guys, a mix of ranged and melee people. Have the BBEG disengage and run away only to trigger a pressure plate which causes a trap to set or spring (this is dependent on type of BBEG of course).</p><p></p><p></p><p>Play to the fact that the paladin got in a good hit. The BBEG cries out in anger and so on. Minions rush in screaming "You hurt master!" Reward the paladin for getting in a good hit by reacting to it.</p><p></p><p>If you can end on a cliffhanger, great. If you can't, don't force it.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Everybody has a bad day now and then. You can also just flat out ask your group what you could do to improve. They're going to be able to give you far better advice than we are. Just try not to get defensive and ask for honest opinions.</p><p></p><p>There are times too when as a player I just have other things going on and I just can't get into the game. It happens - you're thinking about your day and just have a hard time turning the real world off. When that happens, the best DM in the world isn't going to change things.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Oofta, post: 7037026, member: 6801845"] You can get a lot of hints from youtube, but they are not your group. Some groups you watch on youtube are also going out of their way to be entertaining, not to enjoy the game. This is tricky, and you have to find a balance between description of the action and keeping the game moving. I don't describe every hit or the reaction to every blow. I sprinkle it in along with BBEG dialog. I play it by ear since it depends on the group and their mood. Things to help me. [LIST] [*]I have a small whiteboard I can track HP and so on [*]For more complex fights, I will print out a piece of paper for my monsters with notes and places to mark legendary actions and so on. Leave plenty of space for notes. You can also put this in one of those clear plastic paper sleeves and mark on it with your dry erase marker. [*]We use minis so for fear effects and so on I use plastic rings from pop bottles that I put on the mini [*]I print out a list of spells ahead of time. I got carried away and wrote an application for it, but all you really need is how many slots the creature has, spell name and level and maybe a quick note. [*]I use initiative cards so I can include a card for lair events and so on. [*]I also use monster cards. Basically a word document splitting a page into 4 sections (landscape mode) with 1 section for each monster. I type up the info I need, print it and laminate the sheets (you can get self-laminating sheets at staples and so on). Cut them into the four pieces and voila I have monster cards. Add in some blanks for the PCs and I have cards to use for initiative. I rarely have to look at the books and just use my cards for info. If I'm ambitious (and the monster is unique) I print a picture of the monster on the back of the card. [/LIST] Experiment with different things to find what works for you. The first step is admitting you need to try to do something different. B-) Have waves of bad guys, traps set up for the good guys, a mix of ranged and melee people. Have the BBEG disengage and run away only to trigger a pressure plate which causes a trap to set or spring (this is dependent on type of BBEG of course). Play to the fact that the paladin got in a good hit. The BBEG cries out in anger and so on. Minions rush in screaming "You hurt master!" Reward the paladin for getting in a good hit by reacting to it. If you can end on a cliffhanger, great. If you can't, don't force it. Everybody has a bad day now and then. You can also just flat out ask your group what you could do to improve. They're going to be able to give you far better advice than we are. Just try not to get defensive and ask for honest opinions. There are times too when as a player I just have other things going on and I just can't get into the game. It happens - you're thinking about your day and just have a hard time turning the real world off. When that happens, the best DM in the world isn't going to change things. [/QUOTE]
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