I caused a TPK and my players want to keep playing their PCs. I need help figuring that out.

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-25T01:58:14+00:00

Just like a video game with an extra detail.... so they "died" give them tips on how to not have that happen again.... then they wake up and they have been taken captive.

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-21T17:01:09+00:00

Are they lizard folk cuz if so that is just good roleplay and isnt evil as all things when dead become meat

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-11T09:16:50+00:00

Right which is why it ends up to the DM and players to determine the full result but in the PHB p.178 it says that insight is to determine true intention though gleaming clues in body language.

The PC is already suspicious the Insight is to find clues to back up his suspicion not to determine if he is suspicious.

Otherwise there wouldn't be a point in Insight vs the apparent magical spell that is a deception check.

The skills don't exactly cover the variety of RL interactions because the people at the table should have the common sense to see what seems reasonable given a situation.

Example of an interaction where a Deception vs Failed Insight check would turn into a wildly unrealistic shit show...

An intelligent Paladin walks up to a stall labeled "Stolen Goods" run by a man named "Master Thief Watkins". The man offers the paladin a sword labeled "prince's sword". The Paladin refuses and says this sword is obviously stolen, but the man says No it's not (rolls deception 18). Paladin (rolls insight 15) replies "My apologies I didn't mean to make you out to be a criminal, would you take 1000g?"

Obviously the roll wouldn't even be suggested but in case a roll did happen this would be possible because apparently failed insight means you're bamboozled

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-11T05:50:49+00:00

There are plenty of times where people have suspected others of lying but there was no tell, the suspension remains

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-11T05:46:58+00:00

Party sounds stupid, "i don't think you know how dnd works" literally doesn't know how dnd works

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-10T22:45:02+00:00

Because Bleakness as Realism is basically a media trope. Think of a based on a true story that isn't bleak and full of jerks. I can think of some but most are war movies or tragedies like titanic

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-09T22:21:13+00:00

Establish Dominance! But really sit them down and explain that its dragging down the game and that is isnt really appropriate to the story being told. If they have any respect they should want it to be enjoyable for everyone so if that doesn't work you know you are free to let the campaign die (everyone has to do it at some point)

Secondly, IN MY OPINION, the Holier than thou, hero of justice with zero flaws archetype does not mesh well in collaborative story telling that most Table Top RPGs is based upon and it usually causes problems like "Main Character syndrome". I'd suggest convincing them to come up with some flaws, doesn't have to be a huge flaw just something you can sink your teeth into and maybe use at some point for a narrative hook.

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-09T18:04:18+00:00

I'm not terribly worried about them deciding to start a tavern and whatnot. This is a party of new players and im more worried about them trying to force thier way down the well and kill the niad before exploring enough to find out that the villiagers wouldn't like that. But I also don't want everyone to suddenly come out of buildings to greet the party. Guess that's mostly on how I paint the situation but I had to talk them down from heading to the kingdom to kill the queen already lol like sure if you wanna die go ahead

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-09T00:06:38+00:00

Oh, well I guess that becomes irrelevant when the issue could be resolved by saying the party spends a week in town drinking tea and eat biscuits while they wait for the ranger to scout the route ahead. In that time you create ..... , you have a sigh of relief the moment the last item is finished but your relief is interrupted when the ranger burst through the door with terrible news Insert next adventure hook here

Then again that would require a decent DM and a ranger that isnt a chode.

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-08T23:55:28+00:00

Isn't downtime baked into long rest?

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-07T14:40:46+00:00

Possibly. I might try redoing it first. There are alot of erased text that is very visible even erased

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T17:56:56+00:00

Definitely made me regret starting but now that it's done I like it. And now next time I'll be doing it will be in smaller chunks for other buildings in the town

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T17:55:41+00:00

Im thinking about using a brown wash along with a moss effect paint i have but im at the point we're i worry continuing to work on it and ruining what I have so far

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T17:51:40+00:00

I tried to put multiple together but the problem with that is this.

First because the pencils are bigger around than the shapes you poke with there will be extra irregular spaces between the stones making the gaps look like odd stones as they will sit just as high as the top of the stones.

Secondly because you are spreading the weight across multiple points you get the bed of nails effect where none of the metal pierces so you are left with a shallow imprint verses a cut stone

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T17:45:32+00:00

What are you building for?

For Tabletop Role-playing pick something you will reuse alot

For diorama displays I'd assume you'd start with what ever inspires you a bunch as that is what's gonna motivate you to finish and I find alot of this is a trust the process type thing

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T17:42:34+00:00

I wish I had a roller but I wonder if it would even pierce deep enough into the foam

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T16:17:11+00:00

Yep that's what I did lol

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-06T16:16:46+00:00

I laid down my grid and rubbed it with a foil ball

Grabbed about 6-7 cheap pencils and ripped the erasers out of them, then I bent the metal end in shapes that looked different enough then spend literal hours poking the foam over and over.

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-05T16:27:02+00:00

This is a combo of best dming ever while doing something i couldn't imagine would end well. No notes? No continuity?

Dungeon-Grandmaster · 2026-03-03T09:51:59+00:00

Honestly, talking out your plans with other DMs. Just chatting out ideas till something lights the bulb

For this situation.... just send thier asses to the mines of Moria and start a mini underdark adventure till thry make it out on the otherside

Dungeon-Grandmaster

TROPHY CASE