After you roll the bunch of dice, you say “huh” and act like you’re writing something down. I’ll often pass notes to players. Sometimes the note will say “Nothing, just messing with everyone.”
When they make a stealth check, describe in detail the cracking sound of the stick the just stepped on, before telling them it doesn’t seem like the guard noticed you.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
My players usually scare themselves, honestly. They assume the worst, think every door is trapped, imagine a magic item will have terrible side effects with no evidence for it...so sometimes I ask them to roll nonsense saves. When they roll low, I dramatically describe them sneezing or something.
I used to ask them what their passive perception is and then say, "Okay, carry on." Freaked them out. Doesn't work now that the wizard has a passive of 22, though. lol
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
If the Wizard had a 17 WIS, and took the Observant feat, that happens at 5th level. If staring WIS was 15, it's realizable at 8th level with an ASI, and 9th level if the WIS was 14.
To the topic, I picked up from seeing it in some streams and discussions, having a roll for something and saying "ok, we'll deal with that later." At minimum the PC is concerned over a delayed consequences, and as DM I now have an "in" for some missed detail I can create and insert retcon style after the fact.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I like to randomly ask players "Yes or no" then make a note. Sometimes it's relevant, sometimes it's not. I also will roll a die and ask them high or low.
Asking "Are you sure" to mundane things. Player: "I will go and get drinks from the barman!" - "Are you sure?" - "I... am I? Would I do that? Can I check out the inn for traps? Is the inn a mimic? I stab the bar!" - "You get some very odd looks from the patrons, and when you pull your sword out the mood shifts significantly..." and so on.
Prepare yourself as if you're going to say something significant. "I go through the door", - "Okay," *straightens up, checks notes, leans forward with fingers steepled... "It's a small room containing mops, buckets, and other cleaning parephernalia."
One I found from my session last night is asking for more details on what they are doing, or how they are doing it. In this instance, the PC was placing a candle on a fey wishing tree, and I asked (purely for flavour, what would the character do) whether they were placing the candle with other groups of candles or on its own. the player was highly suspicious, thinking that there was a "wrong" answer which might trigger a trap or something - I was simply trying to involve them in what they were doing rather than narrating it for them!
So yeah, when a player says "I will pick up the thing", reply with "Ok, how do you pick it up, exactly?", and this will immediately make them sweat!
While they are taking a long rest and whoever is on watch is doing something flip to a random page in the monster manual and roll a d20 and start to describe sounds from the monster roaming the forest. It will be priceless when you say you feel eyes watching you. Then make the monster attack. Have fun and happy adventuring!
I just like to, whenever a PC rolls perception, to roll a d20 of my own, followed by my flipping to a page in the MM. I did this once and a PC was convinced a pile of snow was a yeti hiding. They stabbed multiple times before eating a large chunk of it.
Also ask for wisdom saving throws (with no affect) occasionally. I don't do this very often as it can derail the action but if the players get to cocky I will.
Finally, to make the PCs suspicious/scared not everyone, say any similarities between any NPCs they meet and one they have before, like "you see a tall warrior hefting a great sword. They're facial expression reminds you of that of the shop keeper you met earlier." This may or may not have caused my PCs the murder an NPC.
After you roll the bunch of dice, you say “huh” and act like you’re writing something down.
I’ll often pass notes to players. Sometimes the note will say “Nothing, just messing with everyone.”
When they make a stealth check, describe in detail the cracking sound of the stick the just stepped on, before telling them it doesn’t seem like the guard noticed you.
Request a player to roll a d20, but don't tell them why - just look like you've noted the result and move on.
*Roll damage*
What's your max HP again?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
My players usually scare themselves, honestly. They assume the worst, think every door is trapped, imagine a magic item will have terrible side effects with no evidence for it...so sometimes I ask them to roll nonsense saves. When they roll low, I dramatically describe them sneezing or something.
I used to ask them what their passive perception is and then say, "Okay, carry on." Freaked them out. Doesn't work now that the wizard has a passive of 22, though. lol
Your Wizard has a +12 to Wisdom?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
If the Wizard had a 17 WIS, and took the Observant feat, that happens at 5th level. If staring WIS was 15, it's realizable at 8th level with an ASI, and 9th level if the WIS was 14.
To the topic, I picked up from seeing it in some streams and discussions, having a roll for something and saying "ok, we'll deal with that later." At minimum the PC is concerned over a delayed consequences, and as DM I now have an "in" for some missed detail I can create and insert retcon style after the fact.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
Observant and Skill Expert, level 9 character. His passive investigation is 24.
One other tactic I use, OP, is dreams and nightmares. Great for RP fodder and foreshadowing opportunities.
I like to randomly ask players "Yes or no" then make a note. Sometimes it's relevant, sometimes it's not. I also will roll a die and ask them high or low.
Asking "Are you sure" to mundane things. Player: "I will go and get drinks from the barman!" - "Are you sure?" - "I... am I? Would I do that? Can I check out the inn for traps? Is the inn a mimic? I stab the bar!" - "You get some very odd looks from the patrons, and when you pull your sword out the mood shifts significantly..." and so on.
Prepare yourself as if you're going to say something significant. "I go through the door", - "Okay," *straightens up, checks notes, leans forward with fingers steepled... "It's a small room containing mops, buckets, and other cleaning parephernalia."
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
just smile after they do something. literally anything. they sit down. smile. a little giggle can help to make them even more afraid.
One I found from my session last night is asking for more details on what they are doing, or how they are doing it. In this instance, the PC was placing a candle on a fey wishing tree, and I asked (purely for flavour, what would the character do) whether they were placing the candle with other groups of candles or on its own. the player was highly suspicious, thinking that there was a "wrong" answer which might trigger a trap or something - I was simply trying to involve them in what they were doing rather than narrating it for them!
So yeah, when a player says "I will pick up the thing", reply with "Ok, how do you pick it up, exactly?", and this will immediately make them sweat!
Make your Artificer work with any other class with 174 Multiclassing Feats for your Artificer Multiclass Character!
DM's Guild Releases on This Thread Or check them all out on DMs Guild!
DrivethruRPG Releases on This Thread - latest release: My Character is a Werewolf: balanced rules for Lycanthropy!
I have started discussing/reviewing 3rd party D&D content on Substack - stay tuned for semi-regular posts!
While they are taking a long rest and whoever is on watch is doing something flip to a random page in the monster manual and roll a d20 and start to describe sounds from the monster roaming the forest. It will be priceless when you say you feel eyes watching you. Then make the monster attack. Have fun and happy adventuring!
-from your Half-Elf friend Theren Dotsk.
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"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
I just like to, whenever a PC rolls perception, to roll a d20 of my own, followed by my flipping to a page in the MM. I did this once and a PC was convinced a pile of snow was a yeti hiding. They stabbed multiple times before eating a large chunk of it.
Also ask for wisdom saving throws (with no affect) occasionally. I don't do this very often as it can derail the action but if the players get to cocky I will.
Finally, to make the PCs suspicious/scared not everyone, say any similarities between any NPCs they meet and one they have before, like "you see a tall warrior hefting a great sword. They're facial expression reminds you of that of the shop keeper you met earlier." This may or may not have caused my PCs the murder an NPC.
I am an average mathematics enjoyer.
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