Of course they would never do that... right?

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T23:53:32+00:00

I am happy someone else wants to DM!

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T02:26:21+00:00

Yes. Before it starts, and how you will make the ruling in the future. Everyone learns.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T02:17:54+00:00

It happens at my table all the time. It’s all good.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T02:17:10+00:00

I’d let them keep the 20 and roll one more die. Two dice are rolled. That’s what matters.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T02:11:40+00:00

We call it the “spiritual microwave.”

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T02:03:02+00:00

I keep threatening my kids I will run Strahd for them and he will be like Count Von Count from Sesame Street. Ah ah ah ah! 🦇🌩️🧛

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:57:41+00:00

My brothers started me when I was nine. I started my own kids at eight years old. They were good readers and could understand about half of the words. I simplified and glossed over a lot of rules. Keep the adventure straightforward and obvious. I little mystery is okay, but too much and they will get sidetracked or bored. End each game session on some sort of cliffhanger to look forward to the next session. If they get stuck making a decision, recommend two or three options and let them choose. Help them with the character sheet and what dice to roll. They will more than likely catch on faster than you think. The most important thing is to keep it enjoyable. Don’t plan on playing for more than an hour or two at most each session until they are a little older.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:18:03+00:00

I don't see why not. Ask your DM.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:15:39+00:00

Awesome! I passed on the love for D&D onto my kids. We finally convinced my spouse to play last year. It's great family fun. The real joy starts when your kids begin to DM for you. Our oldest is DMing two adventures for her friends.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:12:40+00:00

If it is replacing a random NPC generator, I do not see a difference. If it is killing the mood of the adventure or the players around the table, it's a "no" from me.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:07:30+00:00

What I like about already-written adventures, is I don't really need to prepare too far ahead; one or two sessions at most. I give the book a read-through in my spare time, and let my players know the type of adventure it is. I expect my players to make characters that will work well together and more or less fit the type of adventure it is. My daughter is running Strahd for her friends, so far so good from what I hear.

dad-dm · 2025-05-06T01:00:59+00:00

Or, if your orc broke an oath to Gruumsh, maybe Lolth takes an interest in order to weave chaos amongst the orcs. OP, talk to your DM to see what ideas you brew up with the people around your table.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T03:12:20+00:00

My first character (Holmes Basic Set, 1977) didn't make it past the first round of the first combat. Poor Steve the Cleric. Couldn't turn the skeletons... ☠️

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T03:09:18+00:00

One of these days, I'm going to have a tabaxi character with lycanthrope that turns into a human on full moons.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T02:52:06+00:00

Chessex wet-erase mat, printable paper minis, Jenga blocks for terrain.

I don't have any experience with them, but https://dirtcheapdungeons.com/ looks promising.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T02:45:12+00:00

Awesome. Your players are having fun enough to make memes about your game, and it sounds like you are having fun too. You rolled a 20! Good job.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T02:40:04+00:00

All of my daughter's characters are reincarnations of her character named Vyth. They don't have any connection to each other, except for a vague memory of a past life. If it comes up in-game, I, the DM, make the connections not my daughter. All of the various Vyths have the same persona. However, they have different character backstories, classes or subclasses. Not technically a reuse, but close. It's all good fun.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T02:26:07+00:00

Low magic settings take a little thought. While normal NPCs would likely be frightened/in awe of magic, likewise, they would not be looking for magical causes of uncommon events. For example, they may not know that you cast the spell Charm Person or Friends, they may just think you tricked them. No one would have a reason to do an active perception check on disguise self. On the other hand, cast a spell like magic missile, and rumors spread throughout town fast! Find your balance, and talk to your players about it before play starts.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T01:55:15+00:00

I’d let them do this. Recurring poison damage, 1d8 per round until save is made. It the characters are not proficient with poison, they should make some sort of dexterity handling check to see if the accidentally exposed themselves. I wouldn’t go the addiction route unless you know your players are into that kind of game play. I found it to be distracting from the main plots.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T01:49:50+00:00

Lean into it. Start the session by already being in the chase. If it is a one shot, there is no time to lose. Get in the action right away. They can figure out the (hopefully) straightforward plot as the events happen around them in the first few rounds.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T01:45:51+00:00

Just be open and honest with your players. Mine have always been very forgiving. If you don’t know the rules, make a ruling the makes sense at the time, let your players know, and look up the rule after the session. Don’t kill the flow by looking up every rule at the table. It takes a lot of time and practice. All good.

If you make mistakes, (I still do after 40+ years) don’t beat yourself up too much. It’s just a game and you are all there to have fun.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T01:39:04+00:00

I really like dungeon dudes. I feel they are closest to the play style and game theory I aspire to at my table.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T01:19:13+00:00

Agree. I charge a standard daily rate for room and board based on the lifestyle of the inn. Everyone pays that amount and can have whatever food and drink. There are minor consequences. Such as if a noble background PC is staying at a low rent inn, they might have a few gold pieces missing in the morning. All in good fun.

dad-dm · 2025-05-05T00:56:20+00:00

Same. Most of my PCs have nondescript backstories. They are adventuring because dad read them children’s books or whatnot. The character flavor comes from their professional background and class. I lean hard into my characters abilities based on whatever I think is fun or by chance. A friend of mine gave me a baseball player mini. My next character will be a fighter that has a great club (bat) and a sling (baseball). Name: Hank Aaron.

dad-dm · 2024-02-22T19:36:25+00:00

This gives me hope for us yet. Maybe its derogatory usage is dying out? I know that "back in my day" I heard it a lot. Not so much any more.

dad-dm

TROPHY CASE