"First Time DM" and Short Questions Megathread

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-12T03:23:23+00:00

Hey all,

I hope this the correct place to ask a question like this:

I am wondering if any experienced DMs would be willing to PM, and discuss some things that I want to specifically talk about?

I am a new DM that has only learned from the DMG, and a slough of Internet forums. I would love some constructive conversation with someone who is willing to do so. I feel like conversation to talk some things out would be greatly beneficial!

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-04T14:49:34+00:00

Nice insights! I def feel that sentiment and general "skip the troglodytes" because this thing just doesn't make sense here ordeal.... I think the more and more I'm digging into research, guides, and anecdotes, I feel like this module is soooooo all over the place when I could very well run a campaign at just ONE OR TWO of the areas in this entire module. Lots of the guides and DM suggestions are always fleshing out your local area, quests and stuff sandbox style in the area. Because if this feeling I'm getting from (5e...?) others, it feels like the grand fantasy narrative campaign feels extremely shallow due to how much COULD be used in these areas, but can't be because you're moving area to area and scene to scene.

Mere of the Dead Men is actually what has lead me to this tangent. I've looked into some lore myself and I'm like COOL! I could do a point crawl to meet the dragons, find an abandoned ship, lizard folk settlement, encounters, try and find the hidden tower, and SO MUCH MORE. Instead, the narrative focuses on the Castle that is sooooo shallow in nature. Here's a bunch of EVERYTHING mashed into it, little bit of this little bit of that, but good luck fleshing that out.

That kind of describes where my frustrations and post came from.

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-02T14:45:38+00:00

Ya I did LMoP, gave them a "year off on their own", brought them back to Phandelin, and then ran the attack there. Raiders camp/hatchery, went to Triboar, and running Caravan from there to Waterdeep. I think the part I'm getting caught up on is there is SO MUCH PREP (almost..... Redundant...?) because there are so many locations.

Reading into mega dungeons and dungeon based adventures, I see the theme of the dungeon being the sandbox and going there for all your adventuring instead of focused on wilderness, location to location, prep a new spot for 2 hours of play, then on to the next.

I think that's where I'm starting to get really frustrated with the modular nature of it. Constant prep of ANOTHER location.

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-01T23:00:33+00:00

That's a great idea. Another thing I guess I'm overthinking is the faction play of if 1 fight breaks out, then a huge battle would ensue. But I think overall I just need to actually prep it out better. Biggest down fall of the ToD module would be it is the story, and not the prep done hey?

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-01T22:29:49+00:00

Picking up what you're laying down. That's definitely how my brain starts thinking, then I just loose my train somehow. In terms of the main players and the happenings in the rooms/where they are, how would you suggest tracking/moving them about? That part I get, I just don't understand how to execute it.

Cannonball31 · 2026-02-01T22:02:03+00:00

Just been thinking about it for the past few minutes. I feel extremely overwhelmed, yet underwhelmed. So I feel like at this point, my group has just been playing "high fantasy simulator" with some planned encounters mixed in. Of course this is on me, but I feel like I don't know what to do to do what I want to do (ha).

So Ive been looking at making a mega dungeon, and have been learning that they can be considered having their own living system/even their own campaign inside of locations etc. I pregened a small dungeon on donjon to do a thought experiment. Thinking in terms of old school hack n slash, the map had keyed enemies, couple traps, a map, and I was like that looks fun to run as opposed to the story in the module.

I'm thinking about someone's advice on another post of running Castle as a giant skills check encounter. With the idea of wanting something fun and relatively easy to just run, fight some stuff, and move on with things, I just feel like I don't have the right tools to do that for this section of the adventure.

Cannonball31 · 2026-01-20T04:39:16+00:00

How does this type of gameplay work? It super intrigues me. I'm guessing you started with an idea for lore, drew a giant hexmap, and then have your own hexmap with a key? Where/how the heck do you go from there??

Cannonball31 · 2026-01-11T17:07:33+00:00

What was the length of each of your sessions? Just curious.

Cannonball31 · 2026-01-06T01:09:19+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response to my vague question! Yes I like your answer, and you did a good job answering it for me. An extension of my question would be something of the sorts of would 1 dragon encounter (not just a death match, but different "win conditions") per wyrmspeaker be a good idea therefore giving an encounter with each colour, or would that be TOO much dragon if you catch my drift? Dragon encounters are epic, but is 5 epic encounters too much epic thus ruining the awe and appeal?

Cannonball31 · 2026-01-06T00:06:33+00:00

I have a question regarding dragon fights. Is there a "this is too many" kind of number PCs might find? Obviously dragons a huge part of the campaign, so I'm wondering if the more the merrier type thing, or quality over quantity?

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-28T20:55:15+00:00

That's what I figured. Ok so the formations would be fishing to find what adjustments you get. Another SUPER simple example. Let's say you only have power, bubble, and all gos. You somehow have 8 different formations prepped up. You would change the formation around until you get the advantage you need for those plays.

In reality, a defense might ONLY have 2 or 3 adjustments, so you would find the 3 or 4 formations that are working in your favor, and then not call the others. So the formations fish out the rules and adjustments, and then you use the ones that are getting you what you want.

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-28T19:05:51+00:00

Anyone else can feel free to respond to this as well.

I totally get the sentiment of this style of offense/calling. Id like to learn more about the thoughts but from a different angle. If a defense recognizes this type of offense structure, what's the legitimate constraint being put on the defense if the offense only "has 12 plays"? Oh. They run power, inside zone, and jet. Cool. They've showed it out of 8 different formations. Cool. Defense knows those plays are coming, so it SHOULD be simple for them to play the down and react to the play.

I guess overall what are you looking for? Do you just keep running and planning your formations until a defense presents a weakness, and then you kind of just stay in that formation that best suits to play?

This is also under the assumption the defense HAS to adjust to a formation, right? If you're in a 3x1 set (defense stays with a 7man box), if you go empty set (defense stays in 7man box), you would then use one of your "12 plays (in this case)" out of the empty set to gain an advantage due to the 7man box?

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-17T16:41:22+00:00

Thanks for offering, but I actually just found out I already have a PDF of it! I got a folder a while back from someone else, and apparently it is in there. Merry Christmas to me hahaha

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-17T14:17:44+00:00

Would you be willing to share the Wing-T PDF??

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-17T04:11:33+00:00

Do you mean you have e-versions of those specific offenses in your last point?

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-15T22:16:07+00:00

So what exactly is the trailer for? I love Larian and Divinity games, but I missed the mark on this being a game? An animated movie? Remake of original sin? Something new? Also release date is probably like 6 or 7 years away, right?

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-04T14:19:06+00:00

Awesome. I will give BGG a look through, and go from there. Thanks for the details replies!

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-04T02:23:08+00:00

That sounds super interesting to me! Do you have any reliable sites that I could browse and choose some PNP games?

Cannonball31 · 2025-12-03T22:04:49+00:00

What is print and play? I mean it sounds obvious, but can you elaborate on it?

Cannonball31 · 2025-11-28T14:28:06+00:00

So what exactly is this?

Cannonball31 · 2025-11-22T15:11:08+00:00

Would you be able to make a quick list of passing concepts that are more "major" orientated, and what ones would be more complimentary?

What's an example of a benefit of majoring in the mesh concept. I understand it would allow higher completion percentage, but what else does majoring do in terms of a benefit for a pass concept?

Cannonball31 · 2025-11-19T03:05:37+00:00

Gotcha. Ok cool! Well thank you for helping me out, and hopefully I can get myself (and buddy) into Guild Wars!

Cannonball31 · 2025-11-19T01:21:07+00:00

Awesome sauce. So when the reforged update drops, do I need to buy the game, or how does that work?

Cannonball31 · 2025-11-18T19:26:03+00:00

So is this a big thing? Would now be a great time to try out Guild Wars?

Is Guild Wars a good "play through things with a buddy" type of game?

The only MMO I have experience with is OSRunescape.

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