Dungeon Master Tips – Page 2

Why Every Campaign Needs a Story Question

Why Every Campaign Needs a Story Question A clear story question gives your campaign a compass.It frames the premise, focuses choices, and turns sessions into chapters that feel like they belong together. I use a simple format:When [inciting event] happens, the characters pursue [goal]. Will they succeed when [opposition] stands in the way? It is…

Critical Role C4E01 “The Fall of Thjazi Fang”

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 1 — “The Fall of Thjazi Fang” — offered a fascinating look at how to launch a new campaign. From a DM’s perspective, it’s a great example of how to introduce characters, establish tone, and bring a new setting to life from the very first scene. Brennan Lee Mulligan opened small, starting with…

Help Players Care About Your Lore

This month, I had my first Campaign Headquarters livestream on the channel, and it got off to a rocky start. I had some technical issues with the stream, and the video kept dropping out. But thanks to all of you who were in the chat live, I was able to adjust and restart with better success. So…

Hosting D&D Game Night? Start with These 4 Key Stages

There’s a special kind of magic that happens when everyone’s around the same table. The laughter, the shared snacks, the tension as dice roll across the wood grain—it’s a very different energy than an online game. And while I love the flexibility of virtual sessions, some of my most meaningful moments as a Dungeon Master…

The 3-2-1 Improv Framework for D&D

Whether you’re the Dungeon Master or a player, D&D has a way of throwing you into the spotlight. You get asked a question you didn’t expect.You’re called on to describe a detail you didn’t prep.Or someone turns and asks, “What do you think we should do?” And suddenly, you freeze—or you start rambling. That’s why I…

How to Connect D&D Sessions into a Living Campaign

As a Dungeon Master, there’s nothing quite like the thrill—and challenge—of planning a campaign that grows from one session to the next. For me, the key isn’t having every plot point mapped out in advance. It’s starting with a clear campaign story question that drives the action and using a simple structure to connect each encounter to…

10 Things I Learned from 30+ Years as a DM

Being a Dungeon Master isn’t about being perfect—it’s about creating a fun, collaborative, and memorable game. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few lessons that have helped me (and my players) enjoy the journey a lot more. Here are the first five: 1. You Are Welcome Here The first rule of running a game…

ChatGPT as an Assistant Dungeon Master

As a Dungeon Master, there’s nothing quite like the thrill—and challenge—of running a living, evolving campaign. For me, one of the best tools I’ve found for campaign prep isn’t a published adventure or a fancy piece of software—it’s ChatGPT. Specifically, I’ve been using the Projects feature in ChatGPT-4 to help me keep my notes organized,…

Beyond D&D: TTRPGs for Cinematic Action or Family Adventure

If you’re like me, you probably started your TTRPG journey with D&D 5e. It’s the big one, and it’s fantastic for learning the ropes. But once you’re ready to branch out, there’s a huge world of other games out there, each offering something unique. Today, I want to highlight two games that take you beyond…

The 2 Best Parts of the New D&D Monster Manual

The 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual marks the third and final core rulebook update for the year, bringing fresh energy and thoughtful updates to the fifth edition. While it doesn’t rewrite the core mechanics, it does reshape how monster information is presented—particularly in ways that are super helpful for DMs, especially those new to the game.…