Questions tagged [gm-techniques]
For questions about the practical arts and methods applied to gamemastering (GMing).
1,846 questions
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How can I keep the session fun for everyone when characters might be taken out during a challenge?
I recently ran a Cortex Prime oneshot for my RPG group. (Our regular GM couldn't make it that night. We normally play Pathfinder.) This is the third time I've run a oneshot for them in this system.
I'...
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Are there methods for using non-gridbased and non-topdown maps for combat effectively?
My campaign is set within a giant's castle wherein the PCs are ratfolk running around within the walls. Instead of DND maps I've been using Home Decor and other real life shots of homes/fixtures to ...
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How do you deal with *present* players whose characters aren't on scene/in another setting (due to separation) [duplicate]
So I'm working on this story and 2 characters get separated from another one (all three players would be present). Would it work?
How do I handle protagonism? I read that doing 15 min sessions with ...
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How do I run a longer minimal-prep one-shot?
Problem
This is the opposite time issue of the normal one-shot problem where someone struggles with a strict time limit. I've run a lot of 1-2hr zero-prep one-shots in Roll For Shoes. Wrapping up on ...
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How do I accommodate a player who asks for more structure when Roll For Shoes inherently lacks it?
A local ttRPG group organizes regular events where a few folks will run one-shots in various systems. I brought the extremely rules-light Roll For Shoes. I've run a lot of RFS one-shots for random ...
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Help with Homebrew Large Scale Combat Rules
I am currently trying to create large scale combat rules for my Symbaroum game and would love some feedback and advice since I struggle with balance. I don't use the symbaroum lore but have made my ...
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How to use cursed items without upsetting the player?
I think that a cursed item is fun. For the DM. Sometimes, for the players, too.
However, sometimes it's not the case for the player getting the curse.
They might feel gotcha'ed.
This is my biggest ...
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How to handle a warlock with Aspect of the Moon and Visions of Distant Realms?
I play a warlock in a campaign who has Aspect of the Moon and who is soon to take Visions of Distant Realms.
Aspect of the Moon.
You no longer need to sleep and can't be forced to sleep by any means....
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In Chuubo's do players have some control over NPCs in serving their Quest Goals / Flavor?
I recently played a session of Chuubo's Marvellous Wish Granting Engine where I had a character doing A New Job Quest:
I wanted to hit a Major Goal of spending money on someone else and I pitched to ...
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How to organize simultaneous campaigns' timelines
I have two D&D 5e 2024 campaigns going simultaneously, in the same area. I planned to run the campaigns by giving them different missions in an ongoing war.
My problem is here: Every game, the ...
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How to DM extended, multi-day battle with serial killer in 5e? [closed]
In my crime-city-focused game I've introduced a magic, drugged-out serial killer. The drug is magical and gives you energy which you can hone into magic, but the drug also pushes you to violence. The ...
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How do you create episodic/procedural campaigns?
Recently I've been watching two very similar TV shows, "Reacher" and "Tracker". They are both about a wandering adventurer helping people in need based off of pulp novels. However, ...
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Ideas for a group with great variability in session attendance
The problem I'm looking for a solution to is as follows: say I have a group of players with a great variability from one session to the next one. A couple of them might be almost always there, a ...
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How do I keep my party from advancing through the story too quickly?
For context: I am running a D&D 5e 2014 campaign that is primarily open world in my own homebrew setting similar to the one described in this question: How can I moderate the flow of information ...
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Is it within the the Dungeon Master's authority to alter a Difficulty Class set in the Players Handbook?
The 2024 Player's Handbook has several examples of what the DC is to accomplish specific tasks. For example, picking a lock with Thieve's Tools is set at a DC of 15.
However, the 2024 Dungeon Masters ...
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