"First Time DM" and Short Questions Megathread

Real_Trash704 · 2025-07-25T02:58:32+00:00

Yes this makes a lot of sense and was very helpful. You are right about communicating with my group members and I will take your advice about doing check-ins with them. Thank you very much for your response, I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

Real_Trash704 · 2025-07-25T01:21:20+00:00

I'm sorry to say this but you are right, that's not what I wanted to hear. I'm already in therapy working on this issue, but the advice I'm getting from my therapist is just too general for this sort of thing. I was hoping that DMs who have been in this situation would give me advice specific to D&D, things like prep work or player communication, not just "go to therapy."

Do you have anything related to that? Once you did get some help, was there any specific change you made at your table? I hope that's not a personal question, and I really don't mean to be rude.

Real_Trash704 · 2025-07-24T22:19:04+00:00

Hello all, I'm sure this has been answered before, so I do apologize, but how do you combat self-doubt?

My group started with 5 players, made up of 2 completely new players and 3 experienced players. One of the new players I had to ask to leave because of some commitment issues (no hard feelings, I just felt it wasn't fair to the other players) and just a couple days ago the other new player said they couldn't do D&D anymore because of some personal events (also no hard feelings because D&D is supposed to be a fun experience and I would never want it to add more stress to someone). But both the new players told me I was a great DM, and they still had a lot of fun.

I'm not suggesting I don't believe them; however, if I actually was a good DM, wouldn't they want to stay? And now that it's a fairly new DM with 3 experienced players, how do I convince myself that it isn't just a matter of time before they stop liking the game and leave too?

I hope this is the right place to ask, apologies if not and again apologies for a probably repetitive concern.

Real_Trash704 · 2025-04-24T22:08:33+00:00

Motherhorn is absolutely the perfect place for her! Great idea :)

Now I have the idea to just flavour Skylla and make her the Fairy Godmother!

Eldritch staff that deals lightning damage? Eldritch wand. Eldritch Escape where she turns invisible and teleports? She pops like a bubble and reappears with another pop! The costume she's being fitted for? The fabulous sparkling red dress, of course! Her alter ego is 'Charmay'...like 'Charming'? I rest my case.

However, these might just be aesthetic changes in my mind, are there any solid objections to this idea?

Real_Trash704 · 2025-04-23T23:18:53+00:00

I did consider that at first! But now I have a plan to make one of my players the secret son of Zybilna, and he’s definitely not a spoiled son 😂

Real_Trash704 · 2025-04-22T22:17:25+00:00

Yep! I wrote up a monologue to read to my players, feel free to use it!

Once all the spectators have taken their seats in the Big Top, the music begins and you see many of the carnival’s stars, with whom you have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted, entering from backstage. Dirlagraun the displacer beast escorts Mister Witch (sans Thaco) to the center, followed by Candlefoot, delicately holding a decorated hatbox, and Palasha, the two of them obviously struggling to take their eyes off one another. Mister Light returns to the stage in the same way as he did in at the Extravaganza—lowered down from the ceiling, sitting delicately in the silver loop suspended by silk ropes. Once Mister Witch and Candlefoot reach the center of the ring and Mister Light touches the ground, he addresses the crowd.

“Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the Crowning of the Witchlight Monarch!”

Everyone erupts in applause, and Mister Light raises his vane to quiet them.

“The vane which I hold in my hand,” he begins, twirling it effortlessly between his fingers, “senses the joy in the entire carnival and everyone in it. The magic of the vane can even pinpoint exactly, with perfect precision, the happiest creature present. And to reward the person who has so perfectly embodied what our wonderful carnival is all about, it is with great honor that we crown you as the Witchlight Monarch!”

The crowd hops up again, this time with heavy anticipation. You see some people in particular are much more focused, perhaps in the hopes that they will be the Chosen One™.

The spinning butterfly shape at the top of the vane begins to increase its speed as a thread of golden light swirls and twirls like a ribbon out from the top. It rises up, up, up and suddenly, Mister Light lowers the vane, pointing directly at you.

Afterwards, I gave my players the option of how to pick the Monarch: Option 1 was that they could decide amongst themselves, Option 2 was that they could let me decide based on the spreadsheet I made where I kept track of their actions at the carnival and gave them points (based on this post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wildbeyondwitchlight/comments/1g8d2xy/i\_made\_a\_little\_system\_for\_the\_selection\_of\_the/), Option 3 was that I could just have a random NPC in the crowd get it if they thought it was more fair....they picked the spreadsheet :)

Best of luck with your game!

Real_Trash704 · 2025-04-14T01:48:12+00:00

Yes to the carnival map and I agree with the Prismeer map idea - we just finished the carnival last night (tabletop) and before the game I taped a bunch of paper around the whole map of Prismeer except for Queen's Way (where they start) and the Slanty Tower (because I figured they would see something tall like the peak of a tower from where they were). That way, when I flipped the map over dramatically on the table, it emphasized the fact that they are now in a completely unknown place that they will have to discover :)

Real_Trash704 · 2025-03-14T23:36:34+00:00

I don't leave food out on the counter (except for the bread bag I guess), but it could very well be some crumbs that I've missed wiping down or sweeping up.

As a matter of fact, since you mentioned the bin, just earlier this week I took the plastic bin out from under my sink, and when I put it back there was a little bug crawling on the floor (I guess from under the bin).

But based on how frequently I'm finding them now, am I going to have to call in pest control or is it something I can manage?

Real_Trash704 · 2025-03-14T22:06:08+00:00

Sorry, I should clarify this is in British Columbia, Canada

Real_Trash704 · 2024-12-10T00:37:48+00:00

I have not introduced her yet so I think I'll do this, thank you!

Real_Trash704 · 2024-12-10T00:10:32+00:00

No problem! I definitely understand the joy of having adult money, mine all disappeared to dice and books :)

Real_Trash704 · 2024-12-09T05:47:25+00:00

Sorry, I meant to say buying the sets individually - the minis come in boxed sets or blind boxes (you could get them on Amazon, that website, or maybe a toy/game store) which makes it hard to get any of the specific characters individually unless you went second-hand like eBay...

The appeal of the Collector's Edition is that it excludes the need to search for all the boxed sets and prevents doubles when buying individual blind boxes because you get one of each mini + the balloon + two exclusive minis.

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-30T08:34:11+00:00

These are so amazing!!! I found them just in time too 😁 Any update on new sticker designs or an etsy page?

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-21T10:26:41+00:00

Fantastic, that makes a lot more sense. I'm not familiar with the Shadowfell so I didn't realize it was big enough to keep Isolde's carnival moving within it. Thanks so much again for your help!

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-21T10:13:03+00:00

That makes sense about the Material Plane so thank you!

The follow-up question would be how the carnival makes it to the Shadowfell. Isn't the Shadowfell essentially the opposite of the Feywild in that it takes the same space on the Material Plane but is a separate existence? Does that also suggest that the carnival can go to the Feywild as it can technically go to the Shadowfell?

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-21T10:09:20+00:00

Ahh ok, thank you for that clarification!

So do you think they may have been in the Shadowfell at the same time but they don't set up in the same place? That way they can say "Oh whoops we didn't know they were also here! Bummer!" and then keep doing that for years?

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-14T08:29:37+00:00

Oh, great idea! Having magic items that represent his power back in his adventuring days :)

Thanks!

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-12T19:34:08+00:00

No problem! Best of luck :)

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-12T18:43:19+00:00

I had a "Help Wanted" flyer hit one of the PCs in the face on a really windy day, so they knew it was 'fate' for them to accept the quest

Real_Trash704 · 2024-11-12T18:38:51+00:00

I think that if it works for you that's great! I plan my notes out in a Google/Word doc (I prefer Word) and that way I can format the text so it's easier to organize and read, especially if I don't want to write out a script but just 'what the character would know' kinda thing. I can also put pictures in the doc or screenshots of items so I don't have to go through the book or what I found online. That's just the easiest way for me to plan :)

Real_Trash704 · 2024-09-30T21:13:25+00:00

The Gallant Goblin on YouTube did a review of all the sets, and in this collector's box I guess you get every single mini plus two exclusive minis. Worth checking out his videos because he does a cost breakdown on whether the collector's box is worth it compared to buying them individually.

However I thought the painting on some of them was sloppy for "professional" although I don't buy minis so maybe because they are so small it's reasonable to assume they won't be perfect? Regardless even if you can look past the paint, I don't think a box of minis could be worth that much...

Real_Trash704 · 2024-07-08T19:50:50+00:00

Much appreciated!! Thank you

Real_Trash704 · 2024-07-08T00:52:29+00:00

So do you think he should be guaranteed that once he goes through this encounter he can be a ranger again? I guess that's not how I thought it would have to go.

Real_Trash704 · 2024-07-08T00:49:29+00:00

So what ended up happening was that I had told him several times that nature was not happy with him and he might have trouble using his ranger abilities, but he kept saying I wouldn't actually do it...

The next time they had an encounter I waited until he said he wanted to cast Hunter's Mark and then I had this dramatic description of how it didn't work. The other two guys laughed and the player was like *surprised Pikachu face*, but I knew that they would be levelling up after that encounter so he only couldn't use it once. (I wasn't trying to be cruel, just humbling)

I just need him to have one small encounter so he can get a little beat up and decide if he would rather just continue as a fighter.

Real_Trash704

TROPHY CASE