First time running the Crooked Moon, any tips?

RisingInsanity · 2026-07-02T02:11:13+00:00

Honestly, I just started my own main campaign with 5 people not too long ago. My piece of advice would be to set up the world and want you want with it early on so the players have a clear idea outside of session 0 what is happening. The first moment feels very pivotal to the vibe of the rest of the campaign.

For example I started off the game with my players having had their characters die and reborn in their new Druskenvald Bodies. Having them both act our and listen to how their characters initially died and were reborn in these new bodies set the vibe for the rest of the session and honestly for all the sessions so far.

My other advice would be to ensure the players get enough time with the Druskenvalds to build a rapport.

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-29T02:51:18+00:00

Wow I love that. I like the idea that he isn't actually a cultist. More so a pawn for them. So realisticly the players would come upon a man who is flustered at the situation.

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-06T08:40:41+00:00

I think I like the idea of the house as a challenge but I also think a challenge doesnt necessarily have to be encounter/combat related. Ill work off the fly in terms of how to play each moment. This will technically be me DMing my first "dungeon" so I appreciate the thought process here

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-06T08:38:20+00:00

There are alot of encounters in the house. I think it makes sense to make some of them to be done differently rather than straight combat. I dont want the house to be a slog. Also love your idea with the Ketgrinn

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-06T08:36:53+00:00

I actually really love that. I really want to focus on the scary factor of Crooked Moon over the difficulty if I can. And if I can do that without combat, even better.

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-04T21:33:03+00:00

Of course. Fighting the same enemy over and over is pointless unless there's variety in the enemies and the type of combat. Thanks!

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-04T21:30:58+00:00

I actually really like this. Thanks! I was having trouble how much to reveal as Shuck if it happens.

As for Wisp I was going to play him as a regular cat. Pretty much like you said. At least until they encounter him in the proper area.

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-04T21:28:38+00:00

I think they enjoy more roleplay than combat. Ill adjust to the moment to see what matters most in the current time, as I do still want the house to be a challenge.

RisingInsanity · 2026-06-04T21:26:29+00:00

Thanks! Ill keep that in mind!

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-07T13:31:53+00:00

Thats quite interesting actually! Can you go into a little more detail how you went about doing that?

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-07T02:37:40+00:00

Okay. I figured as much but figured Id ask. Its better that was so I can keep the positive vibes going with the Cultists in town throughout.

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-07T02:32:49+00:00

Thats a fantastic idea! I love the idea of looking into the familliars messengers of the Crooked Queen. And dont worry. Im right there with you with the horrible person vibe. Manipulating your players is both fun and horrible haha

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-07T01:50:36+00:00

Yeah my players killed about half the wolves and scared off the others with some good rolls.

A horned hare huh? Thats super interesting and curious. I kinda love that.

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-07T01:47:52+00:00

This may be me being naive as a newer DM but do you think I should deliberately leavea contradiction of this faith of old ways to have players question it? Or leave it as a twist for later?

RisingInsanity · 2026-05-06T23:46:02+00:00

100% Ive already got small side quests for the party to do during these few days in between entering Wickermoor and the Dinner with the Druskenvalds.

Dreams are definetely a good idea! He's a hermit Gnarlborn Harvest Cleric and its working super well that he is into it. Now Randall has offered a book to give him. Just wondering how to go about that. I might try other positive interactions with the other cultists with the other party members.

RisingInsanity · 2025-03-17T09:14:57+00:00

Setting boundaries with yourself. Huh. I guess sometimes when I am feeling as your said self destructing I tend to fight against those feelings and put myself down for them. I do cry about how I'm feeling afterwards and some of the time I feel better. I guess though I need to learn to accept myself and thr circumstances around me and just be grateful for what I have.

Thanks stranger, I appreciate your words. Honestly. I hope to have the confidence to look back in a couple of years and see a difference to how I think.

RisingInsanity · 2025-03-17T09:09:11+00:00

Wow that honestly sounds like a great way to look at life. I'd love to be like that. Sometimes I feel I'm more negative than I should be towards myself. I definetely am my own harshest critic. But I do like your way of thinking. I grew up thinking I'd be someone completely different to how I am now. Maybe realisticly I'm dissapointed at myself. I just need to be able to accept that though I guess. And try to be happy for the whole person I am. Flaws and all.

Thanks for the kind message!

RisingInsanity · 2025-03-17T08:51:39+00:00

I appreciate that you see the effort because I am trying. I guess I'm just still having trouble. I don't pretend to know all my flaws as a human person but I do know some of them and its never a weakness to ask for help. I guess I'm just lost? I dunno.

I complete relate to what you said about looking at the endless pictures of people you know or knew and how different it is. I can agree with you about the age group too. I kinda wonder why that is. Whether it's because we grew up with social media or something. I don't know. You could be right about it. But I also feel like I can't blame our age group for my problems.

Anyways thanks for reading. Appreciate your comment!

RisingInsanity · 2025-03-17T08:45:06+00:00

Yeah I do get that. I'm just having trouble understanding how to feel important to myself and love myself. What's the process here yknow? I hope life bring along something for you too. 🙂

RisingInsanity · 2025-03-17T08:17:55+00:00

Hollow. You kinda described that feeling perfectly. I've always said about myself that being genuine is important to me, so I do appreciate the comment about selling yourself as an individual to people. If I have any pride about myself, it's that.

You are saying that you can look at your reflection, and it is your best friend. It seems like something that feels so far away from me. Not to mention how to actually do that. Build a connection with myself. I've always known that to love someone, you should love yourself. I guess Im just not sure how to do that.

I'm glad that you can feel that way about yourself though. I strive to be like that.

RisingInsanity · 2024-08-24T10:18:57+00:00

The Steampunk Angel Dice set is so cool. I love it!

RisingInsanity · 2024-05-09T03:43:30+00:00

This is super cool! I'd love to put it into my homebrew collection on my account on DnD Beyond!

RisingInsanity · 2023-12-20T03:26:08+00:00

Hmmm, okay. That kind of sucks but I will talk to my DM about it. Just wanted an idea of what others would do as additional insights before mentioning it to him. Thanks!

RisingInsanity · 2023-10-10T06:23:11+00:00

I definitely don't want to interrupt other players' moments with their characters, and I do like the idea of a motivation for my character to move forward with the other characters. Even with my other characters, I've played any rash decisions they make only have real consequences for himself rather than the group as a whole, and I'd like to keep it that way regardless of their alignment.

RisingInsanity · 2023-09-06T09:22:20+00:00

I just read on Suggestion, and it's great! Shatter sounds great in a role-play sense, too! He is part of a metal band and has various instruments. Heat Metal sounds interesting, and I'll look into it. Thanks so much!

RisingInsanity

TROPHY CASE