It can sometimes take like 10-20 seconds to look up a new monster or looking up a rule or calculating values. Sometimes there's just a pause. How to eliminate that pause to keep it consistent.
A lot of it is just mastering DM preparation and/or refining conversarional ad-libbing skills. You can also have the information better collated for your use during the adventure. I print out most of the monsters I plan to use so that I have their stat info infront of me when needed.
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"The mongoose blew out its candle and was asleep in bed before the room went dark." —Llanowar fable
To be honest your players probably aren’t even aware of those small pauses, or at least not as aware as you seem to be. Even if they are it’s 20 seconds and it’s only human to not have everything memorised, if they’re complaining I think they’re being a bit unreasonable
You can buy decks of printable or physical monster cards. They are awesome to have in your DM kit. You simply bring with you a handful of random monsters, and the monsters you've prepped for the session.
These are something I honestly believe that every DM can benefit from. And players having the spell versions of these cards, means no more looking in books or online for spell descriptions!
They do, but I will say that they are getting more difficult to get hold of. I have no idea why. Paizo for example have their monster cards released just one month after their monster core book was published. Tales of the Valiant has cards for their monsters. So it does appear to be becoming the standard thing to have official versions of the cards available. Perhaps it's just typical WotC overpricing their cards, or deciding that the new books don't need that stuff?
What I'm trying to say here, is that if the official cards interest you - try to snap them up as quick as you can. I'm having trouble completing my set.
The cards were being made by another company under license, and it expired/was terminated some time back.
For whatever reason, WotC are uninterested in making them themselves, and either don't want to reissue the license, or nobody's been interested in picking it up.
I have the cards, but I never actually use them, and probably wouldn't even if they made them. I run games with DDB these days, even in person, and it's just a better tool for me.
It can sometimes take like 10-20 seconds to look up a new monster or looking up a rule or calculating values. Sometimes there's just a pause. How to eliminate that pause to keep it consistent.
A lot of it is just mastering DM preparation and/or refining conversarional ad-libbing skills. You can also have the information better collated for your use during the adventure. I print out most of the monsters I plan to use so that I have their stat info infront of me when needed.
I try to keep talking during that pause.
Homebrew: dominance, The Necrotic
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To be honest your players probably aren’t even aware of those small pauses, or at least not as aware as you seem to be. Even if they are it’s 20 seconds and it’s only human to not have everything memorised, if they’re complaining I think they’re being a bit unreasonable
If you're using physical books, bookmark the pages. If playing on-line, have them open in tabs, or use the DDB encounter tool.
You can often see the need for something coming beforehand, and look it up while your players are talking.
For rules, you can rule on the fly and look it up later. Once you have a decent handle on the rules, you'll usually be close enough.
Also, it's no big sin to pause if you need to look something up.
Thanks guys. That was really helpful.
You can buy decks of printable or physical monster cards. They are awesome to have in your DM kit. You simply bring with you a handful of random monsters, and the monsters you've prepped for the session.
From DMs Guild: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/205572/DD-5th-Edition-Monster-Cards
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wizards-of-the-Coast-C76420000/dp/0786966955/ref=sr_1_6?sr=8-6
These are something I honestly believe that every DM can benefit from. And players having the spell versions of these cards, means no more looking in books or online for spell descriptions!
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Thanks for that suggestion i did not know something like that existed.
They do, but I will say that they are getting more difficult to get hold of. I have no idea why. Paizo for example have their monster cards released just one month after their monster core book was published. Tales of the Valiant has cards for their monsters. So it does appear to be becoming the standard thing to have official versions of the cards available. Perhaps it's just typical WotC overpricing their cards, or deciding that the new books don't need that stuff?
What I'm trying to say here, is that if the official cards interest you - try to snap them up as quick as you can. I'm having trouble completing my set.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
The cards were being made by another company under license, and it expired/was terminated some time back.
For whatever reason, WotC are uninterested in making them themselves, and either don't want to reissue the license, or nobody's been interested in picking it up.
I have the cards, but I never actually use them, and probably wouldn't even if they made them. I run games with DDB these days, even in person, and it's just a better tool for me.
Thanks will do!