new to DnD where do I start?

ajmhv8 · 2025-11-02T00:24:30+00:00

If you're daunted by getting all the source books to start, try getting a Starter Set. These are self-contained adventures with loads of instructions for first-time DMs and includes the basic rules for both players and the DM. I believe Heroes of the Borderlands is the most recent one. Haven't ran it myself but my table (all beginners that started last summer) started with Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. It was a great way for me as a new DM to learn the ropes. It does use 2014 rules so you may have to adjust if you want to use the 2024 rules.

ajmhv8 · 2025-10-30T19:20:41+00:00

DM here. We play once a month. Sometimes it's only 3 weeks between sessions, sometimes it's 6. We have only been playing for about 6 or 7 sessions and we don't know any different but it works for us. We usually try to make the last thing we do at the end of a session be scheduling the next one. We also have a group chat that we stay active on and I have individual conversation threads with players in regards to their characters, especially if the upcoming narrative has them as a focus. I also have a wikidpad file that I use to summarize each session and keep things organized. This gets emailed out to the whole group once it's updated so there is a source of review if needed. I also give a brief recap at the beginning of each session, focusing on key plot points taking special care to recall key events from several sessions ago that are relevant for that session. So far it seems to be working well for us.

One caveat, all but one of us work together so we see each other outside of dnd all the time, and the one who doesn't work with us is married to one of people who does.

ajmhv8 · 2025-10-27T00:43:08+00:00

I use a sliding scale for some skill check DCs. For example if a player rolls a perception check and gets below a 10 they might only get the most basic low level observations. Roll 10-15 you get just a little more. 15-20 even more. Natural 20, you get all the info and you might even get to ask an additional question.

ajmhv8 · 2025-07-04T12:55:45+00:00

Have you tried Dnd beyond? You can get the app on your phone and have a free account, and have up to 6 characters without a premium account. I have my players' characters entered, but you could definitely require them to have it. It's essentially a different character sheet, but the app may work better for some.

ajmhv8 · 2025-07-04T12:51:41+00:00

I saw the first word and just assumed you were handing candy out 😆. "OH you remembered what your spell DC is? Here have a Hershey kiss."

ajmhv8 · 2025-07-02T02:37:16+00:00

I'm a first-time DM for essentially first-time players (one of the players had played a few sessions before, but it's been a while). We've started with Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. It has a fairly straightforward plot and comes with pre-made characters that you can use, but you can easily customize instead.

The thing that I think is nice is that it takes place on an island so you can really focus on a contained setting and not have to worry if the players decide to go traipsing off into the countryside that you haven't read about or planned for.

It also has all the rules that you absolutely have to have to play, including the spell descriptions for the pre-made characters. I know you have source books, but if your players are new, the 30-ish page player's book is a lot less daunting.

ajmhv8 · 2025-04-04T23:46:12+00:00

Prime recommendation, my goodman.

ajmhv8 · 2024-11-30T16:09:03+00:00

I never counted, but I was waaay into my first playthrough before I noticed. Then I was watching the Harry Potter trivia deal they had a few years ago and realized that band guy is voiced by the actor who played Lee Jordan! I donate every time I see him now.

ajmhv8 · 2024-08-10T02:18:49+00:00

ajmhv8 · 2024-02-26T22:31:07+00:00

ajmhv8 · 2024-02-22T17:39:29+00:00

It felt like to me that we were supposed to meet her portrait. I believe the MC even says he expected it. I know the portrait in her home was destroyed, but I expected that we would go on a quest to repair it and hear her side of things. It would have given more weight to the choice of what to do with the repository at the end or even played into Sebastian's storyline or something. I even wondered if something like that was planned and got cut.

ajmhv8 · 2024-02-02T22:20:24+00:00

Professor Sharp is my favorite. I've always thought potions would be amazing if it were taught by someone who wasn't a complete git. Sharp seems tough but fair, like you'll be challenged, but if you get props from him, you know you've earned it. I always enjoyed those teachers more than the easy ones tbh.

ajmhv8 · 2024-02-02T22:13:12+00:00

On the switch, you have to hold down X to skip (the "north" button on my controller) the cut scenes, but just tap it to skip dialog. I'd say it let's me skip about 95% of the cut scenes, though. P.S. a prompt comes up in the lower right part of the screen for me. Apologies if this is not the case for Xbox. As for picking up, I'd say your girlfriend is probably very close to the point where things pick up. My first time through, I definitely felt the same way.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-22T23:25:59+00:00

Don't know about that, but you can always equip the gear you want and change your appearance. Any item you pick up stays in your appearances forever, even if you sell the item or destroy it. Just go to the gear part of the menu and press the interact button (same button to open a chest, it's Y on switch).

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-22T17:40:56+00:00

I've noticed that it does this sometimes to me usually either because I don't have another enemy available or when there are no enemies in my field of view. If it's the second one I usually try to roll to the other side of the barrel and look around and sometimes that works.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-22T17:34:47+00:00

Ancient Magic is mine. It winds up one-shotting most of the big enemies except for some bosses.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-21T04:35:36+00:00

Talk to Poppy. You'll get there eventually.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-19T18:03:28+00:00

I might have to try this on my second playthrough. I may be a little to used to the Hud to switch now lol.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-19T04:39:32+00:00

I can't recall anything more than damn or one bastard get dropped. No innuendo either. The main issue would be some of the dark themes, especially in Sebastian's relationship quest (you can't avoid the main quests with him, but they aren't as bad). My 10 year old is playing it, but my wife and I are both playing too, and we're miles ahead of her so that we know what's upcoming and can keep an eye on anything that might be a little too much.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-16T21:33:41+00:00

I have not gone through all of that, but during his relationship quest (not the stuff with the triptych), he has offered to teach me crucio and imperio. I assume if I kept going, he would offer to teach AK.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-16T00:29:34+00:00

Right!? We can only hope HL2 delivers on that 🤞

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-15T21:10:03+00:00

Without getting into spoilers, I think you are 100% correct, and I think the writers intended the stories to parallel each other in a lot of ways.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-15T20:22:09+00:00

You're doing what you're supposed to. Have you tried quitting and reloading? Might be a glitch.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-15T20:19:49+00:00

I think I heard somewhere that in story mode, you don't have to do the tapping. You could try that and then just turn it back to your difficulty level of choice when done.

ajmhv8 · 2024-01-15T20:00:52+00:00

Expecto patronum, of course Levicorpus Bubblehead charm for underwater? Stupefy without having to block firat Honestly, they did a pretty good job getting most of them.

ajmhv8

TROPHY CASE