First, a DM who needs a ready-made city can grab Saltmarsh as it is, rename it as desired, and plug it directly into his campaign. One of the more interesting locales, the Andrigal Mansion, also includes a map and makes a decent adventure. It is almost fully developed in this chapter, complete with a map, notable NPCs, and more than 50 locations. The city of Saltmarsh is a stereotypical D&D metropolis. A prime example of one such event is the Consuming Vortex of Traal, a tentacled, semi-intelligent magical vortex that devours everything in its path, eating whole cities. Players are likely to be attempting to stop these events or dealing with their consequences.
Dmg pdf 3.5 series#
These go far beyond an epic-level spell, and are events that can only come to pass through a series of incredible tasks. One excellent feature of this chapter is the section on magical events. The information here is not intended as a total campaign-builder’s handbook, but it is rife with good advice and great ideas. Also included is a wealth of information on medieval life, crime and punishment, cities and towns, languages, and more.
Dmg pdf 3.5 how to#
This chapter discusses how to build a good campaign, and provides considerable advice for the theory of campaign design. Some campaigns are action-packed escapades of constant dungeon delving and warfare, where others are slower and indulge in character development and subplots. Several pages discuss the different kinds of campaigns, from finite campaigns that begin and end, to continuity campaigns that go on indefinitely. Like the chapter before it, this chapter is one part theory, three parts grab bag. In short, this chapter is both a timesaver and a bag of tricks. Finally, there are several pages of encounter tables and sample treasures. There is lengthy advice on using miniatures, and adapting the D&D Miniatures game for the RPG. There are new traps, treasures, locations and encounters. This is like a buffet table for adventure ideas. Not only is there advice in this chapter, there is a huge amount of fun stuff to toss into an adventure. This chapter does address the methodology of constructing adventures, but it also provides suggestions for adapting published adventures and linking adventures together. All told, this is chapter is much more useful than I ever thought it could be.Īfter the first chapter, the reader might think that a chapter on adventures will dwell almost entirely on theory. It also discusses obvious things we never consider, like body language and the organization of the room. Other advice is also presented here, like how to adapt your DMing style or how to maintain adequate communication. I was extremely impressed by the wealth of advice, and may even have learned a thing or two. The advice is not the fluff and vague redundancies usually seen in RPGs. It tells a DM how to spot these different play styles, and useful ways to make sure they all have a good time. The chapter identifies stereotypes in players, like the power gamer, the planner, and the guy who just wants to be as cool as possible. What this chapter does differently is give actual, practical advice for doing those things. Provide something for everyone, be prepared, keep the game moving – we all know this.
The chapter starts out predictably enough, with the old adages we all know so well.
Nearly every core book has such tidbits of useful wisdom as ‘make sure you have fun’ and ‘give everyone a chance to play.’ However, this chapter is easily the best game-running advice essay I have ever read. Since the inception of RPGs, there have been hundreds of articles and chapters devoted to telling a DM/GM/Referee/Ultimate Arbiter of Rules how to run a game. It is obvious from the title that this is a book for the Dungeon Master, and that this is the fourth core book. The Dungeon Master’s Guide II is not winning awards for originality in naming. What you might not know is whether there is any point to buying a fourth core book. In fact, this whole paragraph is probably a waste of time for anyone reading this, because you probably know just when a defender gets an attack of opportunity against a charging rhinoceros. There’s the Player Handbook, the Dungeon Master Guide, and the Monster Manual. If you play Dungeons & Dragons – and probably even if you don’t – you’re familiar with the core books in 3E.
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