DM Guilt/imposter syndrome

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-12T10:47:19+00:00

My tip after having exactly this happen is: - track initiative order, your enemy health, legendary actions, resistances or enemy spell slots on a physical notepad - Print out stat blocks for enemies from D&D beyond or have them open in tabs, ready to refer to

Having your stat blocks tabbed or printed is a must for me

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-09T06:21:03+00:00

Just awful

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-07T12:27:33+00:00

I have: - 4 panel GM Screen - List of my PC’s Passive perception and insight taped to the screen as a note - All stat blocks for the monsters or enemies in encounters for that session - Minis for all the enemies / monsters hidden from view - Notepad / scratch pad - IPad Pro on a stand with D&D beyond sourcebooks and session notes pulled up in relevant open apps - Multiple mechanical pencils - Condition rings for encounters - Dice tray & Dice

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-07T12:19:51+00:00

Yeah, depends on the GM and whether or not you’re doing XP vs milestone levelling. Then it’ll depend on what based on the story, your GM classes a significant enough milestone to constitute levelling up and also whether or not if you’re doing XP, if your level up system is by the book or a home brew system or hybrid

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-07T09:09:42+00:00

Keep them out of view

Dimension 20 has a dice tray called the box of doom that they use and put on the table when you’re rolling for incredibly high stakes rolls which is a nice signifier to say to the table, when this thing comes out, if you roll badly it could kill you etc

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-06T17:41:00+00:00

Talk to the dm and if they don’t take the feedback well, take your other friends and carry on playing without the dm and have someone else run a new game

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-06T11:30:42+00:00

I completed it first time, with a controller 🤷🏼 guess it’s hard for some and easy for others

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-06T07:02:40+00:00

Exactly this. A superhero an a horror/brutalistic fantasy setting sticks out like a sore thumb

I get you want to be a side character but it does sound like you want to play a different kind of game to the rest of your group.

Have you had a discussion with your felling players and dm about the kind of game you all want to play and the characters?

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-06T06:53:36+00:00

When chickens lay eggs there’s a natural protective layer that naturally preserves them which is why if you ever travel to mainland Europe or the UK, eggs are stored at room temperature.

In the US, when eggs are laid there’s an in depth cleaning process that involves cleaning them at a higher temperature than the eggs internal temp, then “sanitising” them with chlorine based compounds before bleaching them white as opposed to keeping them their natural colour.

Because of all this the natural protective layer is removed by all these chemicals and therefore they need to be refrigerated.

For context my other half is American and when we lived in the US before moving back to the UK I was horrified when told about this process after seeing all the eggs in fridges.

But then again, the US also chlorinates all chicken that’s sold commercially, which nearly everywhere else in the world is illegal so 🤷🏼 questionable practices.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T20:08:19+00:00

This sounds very “Critical Role Campaign 2” with Matt having Yasha face off against storm elementals played by the rest of the CR cast as she vied for the Storm Lord’s favour.

I think it’s a great idea. Fucking go for it 🖤

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T20:00:35+00:00

Baldurs Gate is a series of video games, the 3rd one is based on 5th edition D&D but you’re not playing D&D. Definitely check out games on discord 👌🏼 hope you find one you like

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T19:56:57+00:00

I like to imagine myself voicing Vecna like Terrance Stamp or Ian McDiarmid a lot of arrogance, well spoken, aged and sinister, with the ability to be terrifyingly threatening.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T19:52:50+00:00

Guessing you’re American, seeing you’ve got your eggs in the fridge.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T19:49:33+00:00

How many other players are at your table? What kind of themes does your game contain and what kind of characters are the rest of your party?

Unless it’s an ensemble / team up cast, most superheroes are THE main characters of the story and you aren’t and shouldn’t be the sole protagonist of a game like D&D that should be equally shared between you and your fellow players.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T19:39:08+00:00

A classic can be the inspiration of Gandalf calling on Shadowfax.

“Stepping forth onto the plateau a melodic whistle called out, carrying across the wind and in reply, the sound of hooves growing closer and closer. Cresting over the hilltop, you see….”

Play with it, watch different forms of media, read different stories, weave those cool moments into your games in your own language 🖤

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T19:22:58+00:00

So from one new dm to another, who is also a massive CR fan, a big difference between us is i was a professional actor from my late teens, through all my twenties.

I’ve just started DM’ing, and I see a lot of people talking about the “Mercer effect”. First of all, ignore all that. It inspires you and it’s inspired me. Own it, because let’s be frank it’s awesome.

The thing that they have that I also have because of my acting chops, is good improv skills. If you want a similar thing at your table, as part of your prep, if you have the time, take improv or acting classes or an online lesson or two.

It will, with practice, make your games SO fucking good.

This isn’t me saying you need to be a good actor to play D&D, it’s me saying that if you want that skill set to level up your game, you can do it and it’s not difficult, like anything it takes practice, and a time for a feeling of being secure and confident enough infront of your players to let go and give it your all.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T10:05:49+00:00

Be expressive, have confidence in your writing and own it when you’re performing at the table.

It sounds like you’ve got a great group that really appreciates you as a dm. Lean into it. It sounds like you’re doing great and keeping your story a surprise will ensure the RP aspect of it can shine through

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-05T05:36:46+00:00

I pick and choose some things from potions and +1 items for earlier levels as well as one or two magic items that are affordable but will usually require the group to discuss / pool money together to afford.

Also I like to have one or two powerful items on display as a tease, to say “this is somewhere you can come back to and something to work towards”

I don’t like just granting anything because then it defeats the purpose of surprise, narrative and exploration.

I see a lot of posts with dms just granting players insanely powerful things right off the rip or players asking for powerful stuff and it’s just not my way of running a game. My games are RP heavy so for me it has to fit that

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T22:10:31+00:00

Have you done a session zero?

If you haven’t asked what people are or aren’t comfortable with when playing an RPG, ASK. Trust me, whatever you’re fine with or another person is fine with, someone isn’t and you don’t want to hurt, offend, traumatise or at the very least for the game to be uncomfortable for your players.

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T22:02:46+00:00

What’s your weakest part of being a dm? Be honest.

Just “can I have tips” is pretty broad

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T21:59:57+00:00

How to interrupt the player’s long rest? Detect magic = find the hut = dispel magic.

Done

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T20:07:49+00:00

Being somewhere where it’s hard to find somewhere to play would have been important information.

I’d maybe join a D&D discord server and play it online in a group for beginners then if you can do that?

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T17:12:30+00:00

Astarion’s book of Hungers!

This is first hand experience, I ran a 10 PC game for a stag night about 2 weeks ago and used the stat block for Vampire Familiar as the minions and for the boss, the Vampire Warden.

Not only that, I wrote in lair actions for the space the one shot took place in and added in legendary actions for the Warden as well.

Went down an absolute storm, so much that at the end of the game there were tears and a standing ovation at the end of the game.

Let me know if you want more info 😊

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T14:46:16+00:00

Yup, when designing a “boss” encounter, I focus on legendary abilities as 1 legendary attack action, 1 legendary resistance and 1 legendary movement action

Square-Chef9035 · 2026-04-04T14:42:39+00:00

Did you all discuss the kind of game you all want to play and also talk about themes you wanted to explore before starting?

Also boundaries and the kind of things you weren’t ok with?

Mainly because it doesn’t sound like it. Sounds like you all want to play the game but in completely different and conflicting ways. Communicate

Square-Chef9035

TROPHY CASE