#feeble answers

[feebledungeons]

I just finished binging Final Space, so thank you so much for that amazing post

😂 you’re welcome.

I freaking love final space. Tribor confidence = goals

[feebledungeons]

What are some of your favorite terrain challenges in combat? I am... new and struggling at making combats interesting beyond "Fight and kill this." I'm hoping this will be a step towards helping.

Ahahaha yes combat... that thing I’m really good at...

No but seriously, the way I cope with making combat fun is by treating it like a puzzle that the PCs can solve and the way to make a puzzle interesting is to make it solvable in various different ways (and leave room for the PCs to surprise you and solve it in an unexpected way). 

Terrain challenges are certainly a part of that and I’d recommend looking up nature photography of weird phenomena and geography to inspire you, but the main advice on combat I’d give is to think about it less like a fight and more like a problem that the PCs need to solve to attain their goals.

So if you think about it like that, combat becomes:

Problem: This adversary is blocking the PCs from doing something they want

Boring Solution: The PCs hit the adversary with damage until the adversary is not there any more.

So then you can add in:

Interesting Complication #1: If the PCs just go straight up head to head with the adversary they will die.

Which leads to:

Interesting Solution(s): 

The PCs can use the environment to their advantage (e.g. trigger a landslide, trick the adversary into a swamp, lure monsters to fight the adversary, force the adversary into a place where their power is negated like an antimagic field)

The adversary is unaware of the PCs and they can use this to ambush the adversary.

Or you can add in:

Interesting Complication #2: The adversary doesn’t want to fight the PCs.

Which can lead to:

Interesting Solution(s):

The adversary runs away from the PCs, leading to a chase sequence which you can run as a skill challenge or as a roleplaying opportunity.

The adversary calls in allies to block the PCs from fighting them. To make this even more interesting, the adversary’s allies could be people that the PCs don’t want to fight (e.g. innocents like honest guardsmen, brainwashed cultists, mind-controlled thralls).

The adversary tries to turn the PCs against each other, leading to some possible PVP roleplay. This could be through blackmail or appeals to the PCs.

Interesting Complication #3: The adversary is actually far more powerful than the PCs thought.

CAVEAT: This one can feel REALLY unfair to players if not handled in the right way. You need to make sure if you’re going to trick the players in this way that you have a Deus Ex ready to get them out of there, most likely at some cost to the PCs but still not just TPKing them out of nowhere.

This can lead to:

Interesting Solution(s):

The PCs need to escape. This becomes a reverse chase sequence.

The PCs need to survive and hold on until help arrives.

The PCs need to hide or distract the adversary.

On top of these things, it’s always good to remember to keep the adversary’s motivations in mind, even if it’s just a simple monster. Why are they attacking the PCs? What do they want? Can they get what they want without killing the PCs? Is there a point where they would bail? Are they reckless? Are they strategic? Do they hold a grudge and would they retreat to plot revenge? 

Just adding in basic motivations to your monsters, creatures or evil minions can make a combat feel less like: Hit Monster With Damage and more like a series of great moments and action.

I feel like I maybe ended up answering a different question than the one you originally asked but I hope it was helpful anyway!

Thanks for the ask!

[feebledungeons]

I could use some DM advice, I want to have my BBEG give a good monologue, but my party absolutely loves interrupting monologues for a surprise attack. It’s happened twice so far, and it’s all in good fun so I don’t pull a reason for them fail out of my butt on the spot. How can I balance my desire as a dm to give a dramatic speech with my desire to let my players have fun and be crafty?

Oooh interesting question! It’s always a tricky balance to make sure your players get to do what they want while also letting yourself have those little moments as a DM that you relish. The best solution is always to find a way for both sides to get what they want.

The Comedic Route

What about introducing your BBEG earlier in the narrative, all pumped up to do their big narrative monologue. They’re about to go ham with their exposition and are even winding up for some maniacal laughter maybe... When the players pull their tricks and interrupt!

However, you as the DM already know that your players are going to cause a ruckus so you let that play out and let your players get to feel like they got one over on you while making sure your BBEG has a foolproof escape plan (i.e. planar shift or similar).

But the thing to remember is that your BBEG still wants to do that goddamned monologue. That can become one of their primary motivations even. So they devote time to planning how they can not only win the overall plot struggle, but get to deliver their very clever diatribe as well.

Perhaps they keep trapping the PCs in more and more elaborate traps to try and incapacitate them long enough that they HAVE to listen. You can have this become a running gag throughout the campaign. 

Even highlight it by having the BBEG become more and more frustrated as they re-start the Same. Goddamned. Speech. Word. For. Word. Because. They’re. Going. To. Get. Through. This. Or. Die. Trying.

This could lead to some fun comedic moments and humanise your BBEG by giving them just a little vulnerability.

The Serious Route

Alternatively, if you wanted to take it in a less comedic direction, you could seed mystery into the plot about things that the BBEG knows that the PCs actively want to find out. 

This could be things like:

The location of missing loved ones

Hinting that the BBEG was somehow involved in something tragic that happened to them

Have them actually ‘kill’ the BBEG but they come back again and again with no explanation

Hints that the BBEG might actually be someone from a PC’s backstory

If these things are seeded into the story, either through NPCs or clues that the party discover, the party much more likely to want to talk to the BBEG than fight them straight away, especially if you make it clear that any knowledge the BBEG has dies with them.

You’ll have to remember to reward them with tidbits of information every time that the BBEG deigns to speak to them, though, otherwise they may come to the conclusion that they can find the information out easier elsewhere.

Once you have them hooked on gaining info from the BBEG or if they still attack without listening, you can have the BBEG become ‘disgusted’ with their lack of etiquette/manners/civilisation and withdraw from them, making it impossible to get to them until they’ve proven that they’re willing (even if it’s duplicitously) to parley. 

Then you can pre-engineer the situation so that attacking would obviously immediately end the interaction and allow yourself space to have your BBEG give that big speech. 

Once you’ve delivered it, I’d then say ask the players to all roll perception and the one that gets the highest spots a weakness in the BBEG’s defences that will allow the party to attack (thus giving them the chance to get in that surprise attack they so love).

The Failsafe

If none of that works... I’d say sit down with your players out of character and literally tell them you wrote a thing and you wanna have the chance to deliver it.

I did this in my Strahd game because it seemed like all of them were going to be too polite to ask my NPC about her tragic backstory and I really wanted to show it off.

If your players are nice, they’ll be excited to hear something you worked on.

Thanks for the ask and I hope that helped!

[feebledungeons]

My brother is wanting to dm a game that is suicide squad themed. We were trying to come up with a believable kill switch but got kind of stuck on a choker that casts fireball centered on it. Any ideas for a good kill switch for pcs? (it could be something that would have to be implanted)

Ooooooh I love this. I was thinking of running a Battle Royale inspired one-shot during these plague-y times so this has been on my mind.

All of the following enchantments should have specific triggers, such as: a code word sent to it through a Message Spell, the item is forcibly removed or the item moves into certain ‘forbidden’ territories. 

All of the spells mentioned should also be cast at maximum level and have no save if the item is still worn as intended. If the item is removed but that is detected by the item or the baddies then the spell should trigger but with a saving throw for the target.

Personally I’m a big fan of the HUGE GORE EXPLOSION for a kill switch so I like the fireball choker you mentioned:

The Huge Gore Explosion

Necklace of Fireball. When triggered, the target’s body explodes into tiny chunklets from the neck down. It’s a classic.

However you could go with a few other flavours of nasty if you wanted…

The Brain Melter

Headband of Disintegrate. When triggered, the circlet shoots thin green rays into the targets skull, dissolving their head and disintegrating their body from the top.

The Last Crusader

Goggles of a hundred ghosts. Goggles imbued with the tortured spirits of a hundred ghosts that, when triggered, all cast Horrifying Visage directly into the target’s eyeballs. The target is so bombarded by these images that they cannot save and age 1d4 x 10,000 years in seconds.

The Difficult Choice

Stone of Fortified Feeblemind. This stone has been implanted into the target somewhere tricky to get rid of. When triggered the target’s Intelligence and Charisma scores become 1 and their Wisdom drops to 5 permanently. They cannot understand language or communicate in any way and have become a dumb animal with only the most basic of instincts, including recognising and protecting their friends. The rest of the PCs must now decide if it’s kinder to put them out of their misery or use them for cannon fodder…

Hope that helps! Thanks for the ask!

[feebledungeons]

Do you listen to any D&D podcasts or shows? If you do, what's your favorite? If not which looks nice from the outside?

I dooooo!

1: Taz / The Adventure Zone

Season 1: Balance is my absolute fave.

Really fun and lighthearted but with some genuine feels creeping in there when you least expect it. I cried actual tears from my own eyes at the finale of Balance. And maybe at some other moments... but you’ll never get me to tell which ones...

I enjoyed Amnesty (their season 2) but I’m waiting for more Graduation (season 3) to drop before I get into it though. I’m a binger and I need more episodes available before I get invested otherwise I’ll get frustrated.

2: The Film Re-Roll

Belly laughs. They replay famous movies via GURPs (don’t worry you don’t need to know how the rules work, it’s very intuitive) as tabletop roleplay with their players taking the main roles.

I recommend starting with your favourite movies and moving out from there. I started with Speed and moved on to Jumanji and then was utterly hooked!

Definitely check out their horror movie/slasher episodes if that’s your thing, you won’t stop laughing.

3: The Dungeon Rats

Sadly this one is done. And it’s pretty much never coming back. But I must say I had a great time listening to it... Just don’t get too invested. It ends just when you want it to get going. That said, I’m glad I listened.

4. PLUG: Behind the Dice by @dm-wolfe

Now... I did start listening to this one because I may or may not be coming onto it as a guest. BUT it’s got a chilled out vibe of people just chatting about their favourite hobby and discussing various topics surrounding TTRPGs in a way that I really like. No big drama, no fuss, just people being passionate about the game in a happy and fun way.

---

and just because I’m SUPER INTO IT. I need to shout out a podcast that is not D&D related in any way but I love:

The Magnus Archives

If you like horror. Listen to the Magnus Archives. It. Is. Just. The. Best.

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Thanks for the ask!

Followers, please leave your Podcast recs in the comments! I am always always looking for more podcasts!

[feebledungeons]

What do you feel is the most clunky aspect of 5e that needs improvement?

I know you’ve sent me another ask but it’s SUPER HARD to answer and I’m going to have to do a FULL essay on that one so I’m sorry... you’ve waited so long but you’ll have to wait a bit longer for that.

In the mean time!

I HATE CR

It is very difficult to understand and it’s a dumb metric (to me!) and...

I

Am

Bad

At

Maths

They seriously need a better way to explain how to balance combat to us artsy DMs out here.

PS. Pls don’t try to explain it to me. I am a smol and gentle bean that has my own system to get by. I just wish they would implement an official easy explanation like they did with XP, with milestone achievements.

In the mean time thank GOD for all you cleverclog DMs online that let me google your brains.

[feebledungeons]

Glorious Thorn?

🥀 glorious thorn - something specific that’s made you love someone?

Oooh this is a tricky one! I’m more of a gradually come to love someone while I’m not paying attention type person but I suppose there must be a few events that have solidified that love:

Husbandman. He does a bunch of things that make me love him but the one he does most often that makes my heart burst is when he dreams about me and talks to me in his sleep. Knowing that he’s still thinking about me even when his brain is in dream mode just 💖💖💖

Kiddo. Today Kiddo asked me if he could restart his Animal Crossing island and just play on his own. I said it was totally fine and everything but he still got really upset thinking that I would be missing out and offered to save up his pocket money to buy another Switch so that I could have my own island and... omg that just melted me. 💖💖💖

My Players. I think I love them just a little bit more every time they go mental in the group chat after a session or roleplay their characters in chat or gush about NPCs. 💖💖💖

Thanks for the ask! This was such a lovely one to answer 🥰

[feebledungeons]

My group recently just doubled in size (we went from 3 players to 6) and this is the first or second time they'll be playing. I'm the DM because I was the only one who had played once before. How do I keep a campaign engaging and fun for everyone involved? I've been trying to encourage them to develop the backgrounds of their characters in hopes of working it in somehow. I also want it to be appropriately challenging, but not so hard that they would die the first time they play. Any advice?

Wow this is the oldest ask in my inbox so I’m sure that you’ve managed to work this out on your own and I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner!

However, ask for D&D advice and you shall (eventually) receive!

Doubling in size from 3 to 6 must have been a bit of a culture shock, Nonny, but I’m sure you coped with it. I’ll be honest 6 is my maximum, and what I run with my regular groups, which are players I’ve known for years and who are all familiar with my table and each other. Normally, I’d recommend a group size of 4-5 but 6 is completely workable.

Hmmm there’s a few different things here so I’ll go through them point by point under the cut.

How to Keep a Large Group Engaged!

You do need to work just a little bit harder as a GM with a larger group so here’s some top tips for keeping the game engaging while juggling that many PCs.

1. Keep Cheat Sheets on your PCs

I keep a running cheatsheet of what’s going on for each PC. I’ll review these cheat sheets when planning adventures and encounters. They are usually formatted as so:

Details: Character full name (including any aliases), physical description and run down of pertinent facts like race, class, age, etc.

Emotional Hooks: What the Player has told me are their BEST and WORST memories or their WISHES and FEARS, alongside my own notes on what I think the PC’s motivations are.

Backstory: Brief bullet-pointed backstory with important NPCs highlighted (alongside their relationship to the PC and possible ideas for re-integration into the story)

Current Story: Brief list of important developments to the PC during the campaign (i.e. they fell in love with an NPC, they were seriously injured by a werewolf, they are now a vampire) and ideas for re-integration.

The Future: Any other notes or ideas on how to engage the player and what their turn-offs are. I.E. This Player loves tragic role-play but doesn’t want any romance elements OR this player has a major fear of spiders so keep them away from the PC, etc.

2. Get your Players to keep campaign notes. 

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: you’re doing a lot of work as the DM keeping the world straight, the players should be helping you by noting down the plot. 

This accomplishes two things: 

It makes sure that they’re keeping notes to remind themselves of their own decisions AND it allows you to see what they’re remembering and paying attention to so that you can tailor the campaign to their enjoyment.

If I could give DMs only one tip for running a long campaign, it’s this one. It has helped me SO much.

3. Make sure everyone gets equal time by becoming ruthless with your timekeeping. 

This is not easy. 

I have been known on occasion to set alarms on my phone to remind me to move on but with practice it gets easier to have a little voice in the back of your mind saying ‘we’ve spend enough time with the Elf, time to get back to what the Gnome was doing’ and you’ll be able to judge scene length just on instinct. 

Until you feel confident with that, set yourself alarms or simply say to your players: 

‘OK we’ll start with X & Y, then move to what A, B & C want to do and finish up with Z before we take a little break. Remind me if the scene starts to drag.’ 

Don’t be afraid to ask your players for help with this.

4. Encouraging back-story building from your players. 

This one’s fairly easy. Ask them to send you their PC’s:

  Best memory

  Worst memory

  Secret wish

  Secret fear

This is genuinely all you need to start building out stuff that is going to help them engage with your story.

If they don’t do it, they don’t get their backstory re-incorporated. If only ONE of your players does this, you’ve already won. As soon as the other players see the fruits of their companion’s labours come to fruition in game, they will ALL want it and you’ll get through PAGES of backstory. 

Just get one on board and the others will follow.

5. Setting challenge. 

This is something I struggle with to this day. 

Generally, I am not a combat-heavy DM and I tend to focus on role-play over action so if there are any combat-savvy DMs out there that can help with the technicals, please step in. 

My main tactic is to google ‘good CR level for X players level Y’ and then probably throw in 2 more enemies that I can nerf, if needed. 

I also ALWAYS have a plan for each PC if they ‘die’. 

With Strahd, I have a mechanic built into the game where the player can choose to have their PC come back but as some kind of undead monstrosity and I add a side quest where they can gain back their mortality at some cost.

I hope that was helpful and sorry it took so long!