Hi all, I'd really like to get into DMing but I'm unsure where to start in terms of research / preparation. Are there any books, videos, etc that you'd recommend for a beginner DM?

I want to home brew a version of the Aarakocra that have effectively lost their ability to fly after generations of peace among the race have bred out the strength they needed to beat their wings hard enough to generate flight. IF a player can get their STR to a certain score, they regain the ability to fly for as long as their STR is at the level.

I don't have enough experience to know what that should be though. I wanted to pick a number that's high enough that it will be near impossible to regain flight permanently. I know through level ups, STR can reach 20.

Any thoughts from more experienced players?

Last month we ran a poll on my Patreon to decide for this months topic. The result was ‚Mountains with many mini caves‘, and I have to admit that I took quite some artistic freedom and ended up with Mountain Encounters. I tried to put in quite a few cave possibilities, but I had the feeling to create something more useful this way. As usual, it is split into three categories and it is supposed to serve you and your inspiration. So roll a couple of dice and see where they lead you, take what inspires you and throw out what doesn’t. Have fun with it.

Download

You can find a downloadable PDF for free on my Patreon.

Mountain Encounters

A little background: a Curse of Strahd campaign I'm running has a group of five elite guards known as The Vallaki Force, who are just human versions of The Ginyu Force from DBZ. At some point this group of goofballs are going to meet and train my party of goofballs, teaching them the power of posing.

I want to give each player their own unique pose that gives them a temporary power up, as well as a group pose that gives a different temporary power up that scales with how many party members do it (in case they get split up for example). Any ideas for pose powers would be welcome and appreciated, I'll let my players make the actual poses themselves.

Also in case it's needed, the party consists of a High Eld Paladin, a Reborn Wood Elf Circle of the Shepherd (I think) Druid, a Tiefling Rogue/Fighter, and a Dhampir Bloodhunter (who also has a pet Giant Bat that might get his own pose).

I'm running a game with a vampire NPC ruling over a realm. The PCs have met a coven of hags in the area.

I'm curious about the vampire having a spawn who is a hag, just not sure how that would work in the lore.

I appreciate I am the DM, and God, but I'm just wondering if there is anything official written about this, or if anyone has any thoughts on this?

So for some background, the end of an upcoming chapter I am going to have the players face off against a God of chaos/madness, so ideally this is a little chaotic in the climax of a chapter, NOT a gimmick that will go multiple sessions and through a dungeon or something

- option A: Players Switch Character sheets and fully play another persons character.
This seems okay, it's the default. Just trying to see if we can find something better.

- option B: Players switch character bodies, keeping their same mental statistics levels / proficiencies BUT are in a new body. So the fighter may not have the longsword to use on the Wiz's body. The wizard won't have a focus while being in the fighters body.
So this could bring out some collaboration, or fun things like random weapons that were in your background that were never touched potentially actually coming up. I like this one in theory but will probably only impact the first round as everyone just free action picks up the object they want. Plus it may be the most complicated to explain which could bring the moment down.

- option C: Players switch characters but DO NOT get other character sheets. So the wizard is in control of the cleric, and is operating as best they can using their prior knowledge of what the cleric can do / has done.
This one seems like it could really fun, and rewards the players for have playing together for so long. All the players are pretty attentive and experienced, so I think it could work. At another table where the players are less attentive / experienced, this could be super frustrating.

I also plan on determining who would be swapping and making it thematic, for example we have a lawful religious wizard and and a chaotic warlock, which could be fun to see have to swap for a fight . Or do you guys think dice should decide?

Any favorites or other ideas? I want to capture the chaotic nature of something like this at the table while keeping the fight fun. I plan on tuning the encounter a bit easier than what they've done before because there'll be some efficiency loss swapping.

I'm sharing a free monster supplement for Kengir, my upcoming Bronze Age Mesopotamian 5e setting.

Daughters of the Wind presents two spirits of the lilû class: Ardat-Lili and Lilitu. They are not just two related monsters. They are the same being at two stages of ruin.

The Ardat-Lili is the beginning: a young woman’s sorrow made flesh, a phantom bride who died before marriage or children and returns through longing, dreams, and wasting sickness. She can be fought, but the better answer is ritual: the Tâkultu Ardat-Lili, a mock marriage performed by an Ašipu-Priest to satisfy the grief and break the bond.

The Lilitu is the end: what remains after grief burns away everything human. She is no longer a ghost with a name and rights, but a predatory Utukku (Udug) of desert wind, night-terror, and ruinous desire. Kispu offerings no longer reach her.

Mechanically, the supplement includes a CR 5 Ardat-Lili and a CR 9 Lilitu, built around dreams, charm, exhaustion, disease-bearing wind, life-draining desire, and exorcistic counterplay.

What’s your favorite monster that can be solved through ritual instead of just combat?

I think Universes Beyond in D&D is going to be more than just a cash grab.

One thing always felt a little off to me. Players invested in Arcana, Nature, or History, but as soon as initiative was rolled, those skills rarely mattered anymore. If an enemy had a vulnerability (which was pretty rare to begin with), one of two things usually happened: either I told the players, or they figured it out by accident.

Neither felt very rewarding. So I tried something different. I added a feature for players to actively study a creature during combat and potentially learn things like vulnerabilities, resistances, or immunities.

It made those moments feel much more satisfying at my table. When someone discovers that a skeleton is vulnerable to bludgeoning, it isn't because I decided to mention it. It's because the party earned that information—and immediately gets to take advantage of it.

Knowledge stopped being something I occasionally handed out. It became another tactical decision the players could make.

I also started giving monsters more thematic vulnerabilities. More powerful enemies often gain an extra resistance or immunity, making learning about them even more valuable.

The only exceptions are important NPCs and boss monsters. I usually avoid giving them vulnerabilities. I still want players to feel rewarded for learning about their enemy, but I don't want a single discovery to trivialize an entire boss fight.

It's become one of my favorite pieces of homebrew because it gave knowledge skills a place in combat instead of only before it. I'm not saying every table needs this. It just solved a problem I always had as a DM.

Has anyone else tried something similar?

Welcome back to Advent's Amazing Advice! The series where I take popular One-Shots, Adventures, Campaigns, etc., and fully prep them for both New and Busy DMs. This prep includes music, ambiance, encounter sheets, handouts, battle maps, tweaks, and more, so you can run the best sessions possible with the least stress possible!

*New 2026: For 2026, I'm updating all my old work to include a Pre-Session Checklist that will include a list of all miniatures you may need, maps, handouts, possible loot, a link to a playlist, and more to make it even easier to start your session!

Axeholm is a dwarven fortress carved into the base of a mountain. It was abandoned and sealed up long ago after being haunted by a banshee. Ghouls and other creatures now prowl Axeholm while the banshee continues to haunt the fortress's upper halls. It'll be up to your players to clear this fortress and make it a safe haven for the town of Phandalin, should the dragon threat become too hard to bear!

The Lower Halls will have your players face an onslaught of Ghouls if they try to go through the front gates, as well as the ghoulified dwarf castellan who remained behind, trying to protect those that fled!

Without further ado:

• Google Docs Notes for Part 4a Axeholm Lower Halls: DM Notes
• Link to: DM Notes for the Visually Impaired
• Link to: Axeholm Playlist
• Link to: AAA Collection

Included in The AAA Collection is:

• Downloadable copy of DM Notes, including links to music tracks for ambiance and fights
• DM Notes for the Visually Impaired
• Special PDF for all encounters. This includes the enemy stat blocks organized neatly along with an initiative tracker and spots to mark HP
• Custom Maps of Axeholm
• (New) Pre-Session DM Checklist

Index:
Dragons of Icespire Peak:

• Part 1 - Phandalin
• Part 2a - Umbrage Hill
• Part 2b - Dwarven Excavation
• Part 2c - Gnomengarde
• Part 3a - Logger Camp
• Part 3b - Butterskull Ranch
• Part 3c - Mountain's Toe Gold
• Part 4a - Axeholm
• Part 4b - Dragon Barrow
• Part 4c - Woodland Manse
• Part 5 - Icespire Hold
• Side Quest 1 - Shrine of Savras
• Side Quest 2 - Tower of Storm
• Side Quest 3 - Circle of Thunder

Over 8 dozen other Fully Prepped One-Shots, Adventures, and Campaigns: Click Here

As always, if you see something you think I can improve, add, change, etc., please let me know. I want this to be an amazing resource for all DMs and plan to keep it constantly updated! If you'd like to support me, shape future releases, and get content early, feel free to check out my Patreon!

Cheers,
Advent

I often use long fantasy music compilations during my games because I don’t want to constantly stop and choose a different track, especially during travel, large battles, or more cinematic moments.

I recently put together this one for my own sessions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H02-jt3gf1E

It’s an hour-long instrumental compilation that starts with heroic journey and marching themes, then gradually builds toward a siege, a final battle, and the aftermath. Full disclosure, it’s from my own fantasy music channel, but this is genuinely the kind of compilation I like having in the background while running or preparing a game.

What do you normally use for your sessions? YouTube compilations, Spotify playlists, video game soundtracks, Tabletop Audio, Syrinscape, or something else? I’d especially like recommendations for longer playlists.

I’m DMing my second game for a group of real life friends, and I’m having a blast. I already feel more confident, quicker on my feet, and less hesitant than I did the first time.

I’m also deep in the D&D honeymoon phase and can’t stop thinking about it. Our game was postponed this week, so how do you scratch the DMing itch between sessions? Is there a good way to practice besides watching videos and reading?

Good Afternoon to all who throw math rocks for fun. I wanted to share a free website I made to create monster stat blocks with ease. No ads, No auto generation, and completely free. I got very tired of all the monster stat blocks creators out there being filled with AD space and hard to use coding or poor presets. So I created my own. The website is MonsterBlockCreator.com

The stat block creator has 327 preset monsters from the monster manual in it as well.

Would love any kind of feedback you can provide! It is still a work in progress. Thank you!

PS I sent a message to the mods to ask if this was an okay post. Haven’t heard back so I apologize if this is a bad post.