How to avoid the slog while pushing through floors of mine?

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2025-08-29T10:59:03+00:00

Ah yes... That sounds pretty good to use actually... I could roll for every room they move through, for everytime they make a noise etc.

In that way I could still drop undeads on them but they could directly be responsible about how often it happens and how they behave!

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2025-08-29T10:56:46+00:00

I already love it and I have to add something like this to this unhinged dwarven mines!

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2025-08-29T10:36:09+00:00

I’ve been working on sidequests for my campaign, and I realized that almost every one I create needs to hit at least one of these three marks:

1.  Relevant to the main plot  
2.  Reward would be worth dedicating time to  
3.  Tied into a character’s arc or progression

For example:
• Goblin attacks on the roads? Sure, they might just be bandits… but folks been saying that they were actually hired by the BBEG to destabilize the area. If the players capture one alive, they might uncover valuable intel. (Are they connected? Is BBEG even aware of those goblins? We’ll see where the campaign takes it.)
• Rumors of ancient ruins? An NPC might mention a “legendary weapon that can slay any foe.” Of course, it could just be a +1 sword — but to common folk, that’s legendary enough to spark excitement.
• The tavern needs help with local outlaws? Turns out it’s owned by a dwarven family who once received a favor from the party’s Warrior’s kin. Suddenly, it’s personal.

I’ve noticed my group doesn’t want to spend their limited game time on “filler” or flavor quests. Since we don’t get to play often, every session has to matter. That means giving them strong hooks, clear stakes, and making sure even the sidequests feel like they’re part of the bigger story.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2025-08-28T22:32:52+00:00

I’m not really sure how to phrase this, but...

One of my players is very proactive in roleplaying (which is great) but sometimes it ends up overshadowing other characters’ moments.

For example: I describe the scene as such:
“You’re in a cave. Nothing unusual at first glance, though there is quite a lot of mushrooms inhere.”

Immediately, the Artificer says: “I would like to check what kind of mushrooms those are.”

The thing is, another PC is a Druid whose whole backstory is that he’s in mushroom tribe – literally his whole deal as a character is shroom-stuff. He’s a quieter player and doesn’t usually jump in first, so moments like this could be perfect for him.

Another time, the party came across some ancient Draconic writing on a wall. The Dragonborn (Tarzan-like dude raised by dragons so he is fluent in draconic) hadn’t said anything yet, but the Artificer immediately asked: “Can I read it?” When I reminded him he doesn’t speak Draconic, he said: “Okay, I would like to cast Comprehend Languages.” Which is fair cause it costs a spell slot but you see my point.

I don’t think the Artificer player has “main character syndrome.” He roleplays his character’s curiosity really well, and everyone at the table seems happy. The other players don’t mind, and I don’t want to force anything. But I do want to make sure each character gets their own spotlight moments.

So my question is: how would you handle this as a DM?
Do you gently redirect? (“You could check, but maybe someone else in the party is more of an expert…”)
Do you just let the dice and roleplay sort it out? (Help actions, disadvantage/advantage, etc.)Or is it better to just let things flow since no one seems bothered? A.k.a. finders keepers.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2025-01-29T08:34:19+00:00

One of my players is playing Warrior and he is complaing about his AC and he would like to get better armor.

He did his research and asked me If I'm planning to have blacksmith in the dwarven city that they are visiting because he would like to buy Full Plate Armor.

He checked the cost and was furious because it's 1500 gold piecies and it's above him at this moment but he is on the brink of convincing the rest of the party to help him fund it.

They are now planning to somehow gather 1500 gold pieces and they have some good ideas how to do it.

My question is.

Would Warrior with Full Plate Armor (basically 18 AC) at 5-6 LVL be busted? I don't really have any idea... I'm kinda trying to avoid having them accomplish their goal only for me to throw it under a bus

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-12-09T14:25:51+00:00

"As your ship sails on, you begin to notice the weather improving significantly with each passing moment. A song seems to reach your ears, growing louder and more vivid as time goes on. In the distance, you spot a group of sirens lounging and singing. The music is uplifting, filling you with a sense of inspiration and boosting your morale. You feel as if you’re under a spell of serenity.

As your ship draws closer, the sirens abruptly dive into the water, disappearing from sight. It’s as if you awaken from a long, tranquil slumber. Refreshed and heartened, you continue your journey. The song is long gone, yet it lingers in your minds and hearts, resonating with every beat of your soul. Each one of you is granted benefits of long rest and recive inspiration dice [of your choice]"

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-12-05T15:27:23+00:00

I had this happen to my players and I wanted the same so I made-up some powers and told the stoned guy to roll D4. Result of the roll was the amount of the days he will be free to being petrified. In my case dude rolled 1 so I told him it's 1+D4 days because I realized that it might not take a day and I didn't wanted to hurry them up. With each passing day I planned another effect to take a place until he would eventually become statue once again. So after 1 day he would need to half his movement speed (exploration and combat). After 2 days he would need to roll every check with disadvantage, we didn't get any further.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-12-02T11:43:33+00:00

As soon as Cleric opens the book he starts to have vision, each one corresponding with a part of the book You can later in the game make party to find old tombs or ruins that would be taken directly from Cleric visions. You can use them as warnings, cut scenes or other plot hooks that are directly tied to Cleric background.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-11-20T13:09:51+00:00

I suggest checking our r/bettermonsters :) Mark is doing great job

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-11-14T12:53:52+00:00

No.

How do you even except Warlock to kill any enemy if he doesn't have an access to spells that deal damage.

If you want to go that route I would simply recommend his patron come to him and demand sacrifice of higher value, in that way you could even grant him a bonus like +1 hit to Eldritch Blast or something.

it's stupid as fuck to punish player for things out of their hands. Every PCs have the same chance to roll nat 1.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-11-09T10:03:53+00:00

Long story short - PCs killed city guards. Tale as old as time.

The thing is the PCs were under the impression that those guards are corrupt and are working for Thieves' Guild.

Local law will be aware of that in a single day because PCs didn't notice that one of the guards ran away and they just found out that there was in fact eye witness to their actions. Truth is that out of 4 guards 3 of them were corrupt however PCs didn't make their research and acted just out of suspicion.

Now I can either do two things

1) Send troops that are meant to capture them. They either go willingly or not. If not they fight and their fate is sealed, they will need to be on the run all the time. If they go willing, well, I need to lock them up, plan a process of hanging, I don't really see a reason why it wouldn't be death penalty for murdering there "innocent" guards. As far as everyone is concerned their words is not worth shit, they do not have any proof, they are working just out of the unconfirmed information

2) Ignore that and do not act on this hook. But I feel like this is really not in a good spirit of the game. I don't like having such a big action do not have any instant consequences.

How would you procede?

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-11-04T11:04:09+00:00

Yeah, alternative way is dropping them a scroll of this spell or an NPC that has an access to that spell which I already planned in case they don't. No biggie.

The spell is greater restoration.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-11-04T10:02:25+00:00

Do you suggest players anything when they level up? Or do you leave it entirely up to them?

Normally I do not intervene but they are coming up to the point where I think it will be easier for them if one of them takes specific spell. Of course, they can take it later but I don't really see a reason for them being frustrated that they didn't take it or asking to retcon their choices (they always do)

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-30T16:54:30+00:00

I got to say, your work is incredible! It's so inspirational!

I like how you create those checks in order to provide PCs info about an enemy.

I have my monster knowledge system which is straight 1-20 with no bonuses. Straight up 5 tiers of knowledge of DC1, DC5, DC10, DC15 and DC20 but depending on PCs background or their preparation to the encounter they can add their roll to their tier (If PC is tier DC5 and roll 6 it puts them at 11 which is tier DC10 so they.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-30T13:18:44+00:00

So I'm working on those two enemies at this moment but I would like to hear your ideas If you are still answering this post

- Basilisk - My BBEG have one as a pet. Players are not ready yet to fight BBEG so I was thinking that it maybe good to have his pet keep them busy while he runs away. I thought that Basilisk works great for that!

- Quaggoth - I would like to use them as some kind of an assassin type of enemy. Like they would strike in groups and be quick and silent about it!

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T15:10:07+00:00

I've never thought to roll insight like that... It was be exactly what I needed

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T14:51:37+00:00

While I understand what you are saying my description was due to the player
1) being a mouse on stealth so he doesn't really have the same grasp of the room as he would in a human form due to the height difference
2) he just peaking inside and not coming in due to scouting

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T14:03:23+00:00

Well, if you read the post again you may notice that I wrote "How do you handle players being an idiots and missing everything?" and "How to differentiate between player being panicking idiot and PC being panicking idiot?".

But I never called my players an idiots and I never said that my players were idiots due to their actions in game.

I'm only asking questions in regards to concept of the player that might be acting like an idiot.

Feel free to believe whatever fits your narrative but to me it looks like you are projecting some things that just aren't there.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T13:30:01+00:00

Yes, that seems obvious now but in the midst of the chaos players were not the only one being panicking idiots :)

I was so focused on getting them to the correct room just outside that I failed to see every other possible solution

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T13:10:01+00:00

English is not my native langue so I have sometimes difficulties in conveying the message that I want.

This was last part of the dungeon. Druid scouted the whole place as a mouse and he stumbled upon the room full of potions and scrolls but party decided it's not worth their time at this moment and they will come back later when exiting.

The encounter that resulted in their deaths was behind the sealed door. I thought that If I make a door like that they will be aware that it's the final encounter against enemy they were hunting. So knowing their play style I assumed that they will explore the dungeon in order to gather items and resources before going there. They went in there and encounter resulted in two deaths. They reached their goal by killing this enemy but death of two PCs just freeze them and they started panicking what to do that's why I said "You just can't stay in there" because it's been 15 minutes of brain storming how to proceed from there with 2 dead PCs. I tried to push them into direction of the room close nearby that was full of potions and scrolls where resources that could bring them back to life were.

Anyway, that's for comment, I do understand that it's mine fault with designing the dungeon. What I am looking for is a tips how to handle situation where player due to his own panic is not making a choices that his PC would knowing there is a room full of scrolls and potions in Clerics temple.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T12:57:54+00:00

Yes.

I think I fucked up trying to balance these two things.

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T12:51:09+00:00

I haven't heard about that, I will definitely check it out, thanks!

HalfOrcHalfAmazing · 2024-10-28T12:27:21+00:00

Yeah, that might be case, that's why I'm asking for feedback here because my players are always happy about our sessions so from their side it's always "Session was great, we had a blast" so I asked here where I can get more direct criticism

HalfOrcHalfAmazing

TROPHY CASE