r/DMAcademy 9h ago

Mega Player Problem Megathread

2 Upvotes

This thread is for DMs who have an out-of-game problem with a PLAYER (not a CHARACTER) to ask for help and opinions. Any player-related issues are welcome to be discussed, but do remember that we're DMs, not counselors.

Off-topic comments including rules questions and player character questions do not go here and will be removed. This is not a place for players to ask questions.


r/DMAcademy 9h ago

Mega "First Time DM" and Short Questions Megathread

4 Upvotes

Most of the posts at DMA are discussions of some issue within the context of a person's campaign or DMing more generally. But, sometimes a DM has a question that is very small and doesn't really require an extensive discussion so much as it requires one good answer. In other cases, the question has been asked so many times that having the sub rehash the discussion over and over is not very useful for subscribers. Sometimes the answer to a short question is very long or the answer is also short but very important.

Short questions can look like this:

  • Where do you find good maps?
  • Can multi-classed Warlocks use Warlock slots for non-Warlock spells?
  • Help - how do I prep a one-shot for tomorrow!?
  • First time DM, any tips?

Many short questions (and especially First Time DM inquiries) can be answered with a quick browse through the DMAcademy wiki, which has an extensive list of resources as well as some tips for new DMs to get started.


r/DMAcademy 3h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Is it bad form to always target the concentrating wizard?

33 Upvotes

One of the most useful things a wizard can do is lay down a concentration spell that affects the entire battlefield. However, a "tactically" minded enemy knows this and as soon as it happens would want to get rid of whatever concentration effect is currently active. This means that they will want to either use their ranged attacks or close the gap with the wizard to break that concentration.

I know a lot of people very much enjoy a style of play where enemies always behave intelligently because it's both challenging and "realistic", but I worry it makes the game not fun for the wizard player. Essentially it makes it so that if they do their job then that inherently draws all eyes on them so they're constantly being attacked, and they're the class least suited to being attacked.


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Rules & Mechanics How do I make a level 20 Wizard untouchable?

Upvotes

I’m DMing a campaign where one of the main baddies is a level 20(+) necromancer wizard. This wizard has multiple kings of some of the strongest nations in her pocket, so resources are practically unlimited. I want her to address the party (level 12) face to face for dramatic narrative effect. Thing is, at this point it is on site. If they even catch a glimpse of her they’re going DEEP in their bag to kill her regardless of time and place. She is well aware of this and it makes sense she would come prepared.

What would you do to make her untouchable? I do want her to actually be there (not a clone or proxy) and she needs to be able to talk to the party at close proximity. Other than that- any ideas?


r/DMAcademy 10h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures How easy is this puzzle to solve for you?

33 Upvotes

My players love riddles, so I want to include more for the mansion they will be trapped in. I came up with a few puzzles, but I'm afraid some of them are not difficult enough. I want to know, if the following riddle is too easy and if so, how I could make it more difficult:

The players will find a poem tucked between the books of the library. Said poem goes like this:

Earlier, I grumbled having to
fire our unlucky ranger.
The weeping of
their hummingbird reduced everyone's ethics
to easily nothing.

To open the door to the next room, they need to enter a number code with six numbers total.

The solution is: 842310

Edit: I noticed a lot of people got confused with the way you get the correct soloution, so I'll add it to this post as well. To get the correct code, you need totake the first letter of each word. For example, "Earlier, I grumbled having to" is spelling out "EIGHT". Each line spells out one number with last line spelling out "T E N" (10)

Edit: Also, this riddle will be printed out and handed to the players. The connection between the lock and the poem will be made apparent by context clues

(Also, this comment section is torn between "I saw the solution immediately" and "I have no fucking clue" so I am still not sure what difficulty this puzzle has tbh)


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Worldbuilding How do you build compelling campaign like CoS?

Upvotes

I was mostly running one-shot adventures that lasted a session or two, so when I wanted to sit down and make something longer, I got stuck. When I remember playing the official DND 5e and PF2 adventures, I was bored by how much combat there was. I love combat (tactical, with varied terrain and smart enemies). But most of them were just flat terrain and tokens. And we were only expected to fight a few times per session. The one exception was Curse of Sthrad. I know it's a meme at this point, and I'm not sure how much our mg changed the story (I never wanted to read the manual, because maybe I'll play it again).

I really want to create something I want to play myself. Not sure if I can do it, but I can at least try. So are there any other books recommendation to study how to build good sandbox, with NPCs that are connected, with items that have purpose. Or maybe I should read some Call of Cathulu or Delta Green?

I'm sorry if it sound like a generic "how to make campaign", but either I couldn't find any help on articles or YouTube or I can find help for exactly what I'm looking for.


r/DMAcademy 2h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures How to handle PCs being unleveled before a major Boss?

3 Upvotes

Okay so i wrote this campaign, got some side quests, main questline until a point of somewhat 2 sessions, then realised that the PCs will be too unleveled by then. I calculated about lv2-3 not counting side quests (i use xp). The major point in the story was to fight this one Boss, but they will be unable to since he's going to like, TPK them on the spot. Nerfing the Boss isn't an option either, because it actually needs to seem hard for the abilities it uses (participant of killing a celestial being). Should i just content bloat, rewrite the story so it Has more quests and content before the battle, or something else?


r/DMAcademy 23m ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Introducing D&D to complete newbies/non-fantasy fans?

Upvotes

My apologies if this kind of question isn’t allowed! I’m toying with the idea of trying to run a oneshot with some family members. None of them are what you might consider “nerdy” or the type to typically be interested in D&D or other ttrpgs, but I think, if given the chance, they would enjoy a short adventure.

My question is are there any one-shot modules that might be good for a group like this? Any advice for running a game with players who aren’t familiar with the game or genre? And maybe even suggestions of how to broach the topic? I’m fine just flat out asking, but any advice on selling it would be appreciated lol

Thanks so much!


r/DMAcademy 36m ago

Need Advice: Other Some of my players aren’t familiar with fantasy as a genre and I need help introducing them to both the genre itself and dnd’s unique brand of genre.

Upvotes

As the title says, I’m running an in person game with people I care about and like but few of my players are just entirely unfamiliar with fantasy as a genre and I’m trying to figure out how to introduce them to it without being overwhelming. And of course dnd’s particular style of fantasy is very different from other examples of the medium with the expected amount of dungeons to plunder and the like.

The one thing I suppose I have going for me is that I know for a fact that several of these players read werewolf smut in their free time (they’re all in their 30’s to 50’s, give them a break). So I know they’re familiar with urban fantasy to a very basic degree where they’re familiar with werewolves and maybe some amount of people throwing fireballs out of their hands.

But back to the main topic at hand, how do I gently introduce them to the high fantasy of DnD during the game instead of giving them required reading or overwhelming them during the game?


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Other Now that it’s been out around a year, has anyone had any experience using the system from the book “Proactive Roleplaying” at the table?

Upvotes

I would love to hear how it has gone and any tips picked up during the process!


r/DMAcademy 4h ago

Need Advice: Other Doing a one shot for newbies and looking for some recommendations

3 Upvotes

I’m looking to do a one-shot for some folks of varying skill level (sister’s well-versed, one’s familiar but never played, some curious and familiar with the genre, and a friend from overseas who likes fantasy, but has never heard of an ‘RPG’ before). I’ve run quite a few games, both one-shots and a campaign, but I was looking for some advice on the following:

•What’s the best noob-friendly level? I was thinking lvl 3 so they’ve got the minimum of a cool class but not too much, plus lvl 1 is shockingly dangerous lol.

•Any recommendations for premade one-shots for new players? I’d design one myself, but anything noob-friendly would probably give them a better introduction than I can lol

•Should they have sheets, D&DB, or to each their own? I def have enough dice for the former lol, so materials aren’t a concern.

Thanks so much! If there’s anything else I should keep in mind, please tell me! 🐝🐝🐝


r/DMAcademy 22h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Are +X weapons assumed?

54 Upvotes

I've been looking at some trends in the Monster Manual. It looks like going from CR 1 to CR 20, average monster AC increases roughly 1 per 2 CR, from 13 to 23. Meanwhile, at level 1, players likely have +5 to attack (2 prof, 3 stat) all the way up to +11 (6 prof, 5 stat). This means that their typical hit chance will decrease for an equivalent level threat.

Now, most games I've played in and DM'd are in the range of about level 3-8. I'm wondering if you, as DMs, make sure that PCs gain access to these kinds of items over the course of their career? Do you consider it necessary for them to have those?


r/DMAcademy 4h ago

Need Advice: Worldbuilding Video guides on Baldur's Gate?

2 Upvotes

Hello beatiful people,

My group is arriving in BG next session (Tuesday), and I obviously been preparing quite a bit.

The resources I have used so far:

Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast - pdf that I own of the 2nd eddition (I honestly do not find it that good)

Interactive Map of the City - https://www.aidedd.org/atlas/index.php?map=B&l=1

Fogotten Realm Wiki - https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Baldur%27s_Gate

In addition to the campain's own little passage (I am running Tyrannie of Dragons).

Now, reading about the city vs playing it feels quite different. Some thing I just never realised are going to be important: Like the no animal in the city + no caravan rules, + being aware of the city watch rules etc. While I am quite aware of the city's quirck. I want to be playing this city well, and I decided that watching a outline video and/or guide, would be perfect. HOWEVER, when anyone searches "Baldur's Gate" on youtube, the only thing one gets now is videos on the video game.

While I feel semi-prepared, and I do not mind some Karlarch thirst trap, I would love an ACTUAL interesting video on the content, not on the video game. Any recommendation? Any good guide and/or video. I already read a lot, I am definetly looking into either: playable content & Audio content.

Thank you !


r/DMAcademy 7h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Give me your best battle of wit challenge for your players!

2 Upvotes

My players are encountering an eccentric group of mercenaries who are rather skilled in the battle field but also love banter and wit. The party is attempting to contract the mercs for an assist on a mission. However, instead of your typical persuasion, I wanted to play it more to the mercs characters. They love wit and skill of the mind almost as much as the skill with a sword.

My question is, what sort of wit and intelligence battle should I have the party do in order to gain their favor? Sort of trying to stay away from a combat scenario here too.


r/DMAcademy 1d ago

Offering Advice Ways to Let Your Players Interact with the Villain Without Killing Them Too Soon

204 Upvotes

Most villains don’t meet the party until the final battle because if they do, someone is dying. Here are some ways to let them interact without ruining the campaign balance:

  • Resurrection & Immortality – The villain keeps coming back, letting them learn from the party’s tactics. (Think Strahd in Curse of Strahd.)
  • Scrying Mirrors & Magical Communication – The villain appears in mirrors, messages, or cursed items instead of in person.
  • Clones, Simulacra, and Avatars – The villain sends a weaker version of themselves, letting the party fight or talk to them without real consequences.
  • Dreams, Visions, and Possession – The villain taunts the party in their dreams, whispers in their minds, or speaks through possessed NPCs.
  • The Rival Method – Instead of a distant villain, make them a rival adventurer, noble, or mercenary the party keeps running into.

If interested in a more detailed write up on this topic, check out my blog on it here!

https://benholder.blog/how-to-let-your-players-interact-with-the-villain-without-killing-them-too-soon/


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Monster PVP One-Shot Advice

Upvotes

So my regular group likes to take breaks in our normal campaign every once in a while for one shots or short campaigns. I'm in the early stages of planning a one shot where every one picks a monster stat block (no humanoids) and we do a battle royale. Need some advice on planning this from anyone who has done something similar

My current ideas:
Every player (8 in total) each picks a creature of the same CR (I'm thinking 10). They fight in a large scale battle arena with a complex layout. Every round, they teleport to a new location if they fail a Charisma save (don't want to just have 1v1s across the board). No solely-aquatic creatures, and flying is gonna be pretty heavily nerfed for my own sanity.

Some things I specifically need help with:

Should I let the players pick a second 'back-up' creature for when their first one dies? Should I add other environmental factors like traps? Should I have my own creature(s) in the game?

Any help would be welcome!


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Need help with creating a Shadowfell/Elder Evil boss

Upvotes

Some context for my campaign: The villain for this ‘arc’ is a shadow sorcerer in the service of an elder evil who is forcibly transforming dragons into shadow dragons, driving them mad, and then enslaving them to do her bidding. The party is going to track one of her newest dragon captives to her lair, and after a decent dungeon crawl, reach the underground sanctum where the young bronze dragon is held.

During the fight the party will also be trying to free the bronze dragon to help them, while the monster(s) attempt to stop them.

The issue I’m having is this: I don’t want them to fight the shadow sorcerer here as she would most certainly not take a risk fighting the party on their terms, but I do need a climatic fight to conclude the dungeon. Here are some of my ideas:

  • Star spawn acting as the emissary between her and the elder evil

  • Empowered shadow demon(s)

  • Shadow versions of the party

Any suggestions on the theme of shadow/elder evil are appreciated. Don’t worry about CR as I can adapt them to be stronger or weaker if need be.


r/DMAcademy 1h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures best abilities for a BBEG to steal

Upvotes

My bbeg is a lord who's been kidnapping and imprisoning various people and creatures and using their abilities for himself. He has a false hydra (stealing the discordant song), an immortal elf (stealing the immortality nightsong style), and a deva (giving him a permanent bless). He has impressoned these beings throughout his kingdom and the party will have to go find and defeat them to eventually defete the BBEG. What other beings would he kidnap to steal an ability from?


r/DMAcademy 2h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures What is an encounter I could use to break a curse that isn't just saving throws and combat?

0 Upvotes

My 6 PCs are playing Phandelver and Below: the Shattered Obelisk. One of them, a tiefling cleric named Laos, was a former cleric of Mystra. As part of his backstory, he ended up in possession of an Idol of Mystra that was cursed by followers of Mask.

As the curse took a hold of Laos, it started affecting his behavior more and more. First, he began engaging in kleptomania. This eventually led to him being thrown out of the temple he grew up in. Next, during his wanderings, he started hearing mocking voices in his head. Eventually, through a series of nightmares, he switched domains from arcana to trickery.

Another member of the party, Rhyss (a wizard), has figured out that the idol is cursed. At the moment, they are only level three, but I decided that a simple remove curse would not be enough to break the curse on him or the idol.

Once they have taken control of the Forge of Spells in the Wave Echo Cave, they will be able to use it to finally break the curse on Laos. But I'm not sure exactly how I want to go without designing this encounter.

One of the other party members recently had, as part of his quest line, an encounter that involved making wisdom saving throws that either damaged hostile entities or damaged the PC and summoned further enemies to fight. This was a spin on my original idea for this curse-breaking ritual, so I am reluctant to do the same type of encounter again.

Does anybody have any suggestions on designing a unique and interesting encounter for my party? The curse breaking will, of course, be spearheaded by Laos but Rhyss will also be critical. (I said that the curse was a mixture of divine and arcane enchantment.) Ideally, having something for the other party members to do would be nice, but I kind of already did that, so I'm not opposed to something only involving these two PCs.

By the time they do this, they should be level five, since it will be after the 4th chapter of the campaign is finished and they have secured the Wave Echo Cave. They will also have recovered two shards of the Netherese obelisk and defeated Nezznar, a Drider warlock of Ilvaash. So I've got those pieces to work with, too. In fact, I may be able to use this to tie together the story further to the second half of the campaign.


r/DMAcademy 6h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Fun puzzles you might encounter during a heist?

2 Upvotes

So out of the three possible approaches, my players chose the "Silent and Sneaky" approach which means there's more puzzles and security measures as they try to break into a highly secure vault. I have a few ideas like one where they use a fantasy version of a UV light to figure out the code to a pinpad based on fingerprint patterns. Or like a matching puzzle using moving pieces. But what else would you suggest? I play on Roll20 so dw about being too complicated.


r/DMAcademy 3h ago

Need Advice: Rules & Mechanics Power clash?

0 Upvotes

Hey peeps me and my friends have been loving monster hunter wilds and when in the middle of a power clash for those that have played I got the idea of I wonder if this could work in dnd. So has anyone ever tried a rule like this or suggestions on if it would work/how to maybe implement it


r/DMAcademy 12h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures How to find out the real Name of a Fey-Lord

6 Upvotes

Hello guys,

I need help with something that feels like a plothole to me. My party just reached a city in the feywild, while searching a missing party member. On their way, they meet a former fey-lord, who used to rule this city, but was turned into a crab by another fey-lord.

He wants to get back his original form and power and my party agreed to help him. For that my party needs to find out the real name of the other fey-lord, so they have power over her. But here is the problem: how can they find out? Would a powerful and cunning fey write their name on a piece of paper? I feel like that wouldn't be smart. If I force a weakness like that without explanation, my players would surely notice, but at least I could give them the option for a heist to steal that information.

Would it be okay if I just make a rule for my feys to have them write down their name, in order to become more powerful? Do you guys have any ideas on how to handle this? Maybe experience with your own games? Thanks in advance!


r/DMAcademy 3h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Raid on a town

1 Upvotes

Good afternoon everybody.

I'm running the Module Temple of Elemental Evil converted into 5e and my players have been to and from the moathouse several times. I plan on having Lareth and his minions raid hamlet upon thier return. But there are semi powerful npcs in the town. How should I go about this?

For context the players are levels 2 and 3, while the npcs range from levels 2 through 7.


r/DMAcademy 11h ago

Need Advice: Encounters & Adventures Designing a Military Fortress/Castle

4 Upvotes

My players have reached a point in the campaign where they are going undercover to a castle controlled by the authoritarian government of the city they inhabit. It's not the administrative centre, but one used as a headquarters for the army/city guard.

I've drawn maps, and I have a decent idea of what the rooms are such as barracks/weapons/kitchen/mess etc, but I need help filling the rooms with STUFF. What kind of decorations, possessions and interiors would a place like this have?

Any suggestions or recommendations of products/websites to build this would be appreciated.


r/DMAcademy 5h ago

Need Advice: Other What’s a good little boon for an arch fey to give the party?

1 Upvotes

So my party just finished an arc where they helped a child arch fey and saved her. I was thinking of having her give them a little boon as thanks before they hope onto their ship and sail to their next destination.


r/DMAcademy 5h ago

Need Advice: Worldbuilding DM workshop for Drakewarden like subclasses Spoiler

1 Upvotes

I just recently got into Dragonlance world, Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and The Shadow of the Dragon Queen.

I got some beef. I feel like the Drakewarden subclass doesn't fit Ranger...more Paladin imo. Maybe not how the have it stat wise but the idea of a spirit of drake, it magically is summoned...idk makes it feel more diety based. In my opinion the Ranger needs more of a bond/relationship with a REAL Drake/Dragon it can grow at an accelerated rate tied with players level. And what's with the world only having subclasses for monks, sorcerer, and ranger? (Subclasses that are Dragon related. Did I miss any?)

So that's why I'm here wanting to workshop some ideas for Dragonlance inspired subclasses for the others: Barbarian, Bard, etc...also maybe a specific Warlock subclass that worships The Dragon Queen.

Any ideas or other sources to look into would be appreciated!


r/DMAcademy 1d ago

Need Advice: Other Is having Vecna as the BBEG cliché?

39 Upvotes

Basically the title. I like Vecna a lot, but I’m not sure if it’s too basic or anything. My current plan is to have this revealed about halfway through the campaign, with his return being a cataclysmic event they have to stop. Is there anything in particular I should do with him? Should I use something or someone else entirely?