I have recently been given the responsibility of creating a D&D experience for my coworkers. This group includes a married couple in their mid 40's (As I am), another married couple in mid 30's, and two young adults. (17 and 19 years of age)
The two married couples have not played in many years, or not at all. (This is the same with the youngsters)
I also have not GM'ed or DM'ed in many many many moons. (pre-internet if that gives you an idea)
In order to insure they have a good time, I have decided to do my normal thing and go overboard.
Character creation and drinking party is 6/24 with first adventure to be sometime in July and on 2 week intervals.
I hate money, and having nothing to start with I went out and purchased basically all the books in DD and Pathfinder collections. (If this group busts in 2 weeks, I'll have stuff to sell..lol)
This will be a semi serious but fun bunch of noobs and will always include food, drinks (ton), and many chip options. (Cool Ranch!)
What I am looking for is off the track ideas from seasoned GM's regarding "fun" items or things to make sessions interesting to non DD types.
I've found that some atmospheric music adds to the fun. I downloaded an app called dndify which basically uses Spotify (or YouTube if you don't have Spotify) to play appropriate music for travelling, resting, combat, iins, caverns, woodlands etc. It's zero effort and adds a lot to the atmosphere.
Yeah, the atmospheric music is a must! But I recently started lighting a scented candle. I thought it was a bit weird but when I lit a wood scented candle while they were stuck in the bottom of a boat completely changed my non-RPing player into full RP mode. They said the smell and the sounds they forgot they were sitting at my kitchen table.
I like adjustable lighting as well. Dim it light down when in a dungeon.
Let us know how the first season goes and what you used!
I guess my best advice is to find out what do they think would be fun. I have some artistic ability so I always enjoy hand drawn pictures of my character or a significant situation I was involved in such as "discovering the Druids worship circle in the woods." If you have a player that likes to draw, see if you can leverage that. I bet everyone would enjoy some nice pictures. The music is well known and I think it is a great idea. When my party gets a map or a letter, I give them the map or the letter, I don't read it to them and I don't describe the map. I let them study it and take it with them. Of course I keep the original.
I hope you can get one or more of the other players to buy or get an online copy of the PHB. Then they are a little more invested in the game at the start. Sharing the PHB with them is going to become a time problem. You will need it to prepare your notes and they will need it to research their character alternatives.
Be careful with how you work with your wife as opposed to the other characters. Girlfriends and wives have caused difficult moments in many games. Good luck.
You are the bridge from what they love, (They are obviously geeky enough to want to try D&D) and fantasy adventures. Borrow and steel from the things you know they love. Make their D&D playground connect to what they love. Harry Potter fans add elements that are potteresue. Figure out how you can make those connections.
Making the jump to D&D can be daunting. You can get your feet wet and enjoy an evening of hanging out but some adults see it as a big time consumer. Help them get the feel and hooked on the basics fast. Maybe find a good youtube video about D&D basics.
Hello to all and thanks for allowing me to post.
I have recently been given the responsibility of creating a D&D experience for my coworkers. This group includes a married couple in their mid 40's (As I am), another married couple in mid 30's, and two young adults. (17 and 19 years of age)
The two married couples have not played in many years, or not at all. (This is the same with the youngsters)
I also have not GM'ed or DM'ed in many many many moons. (pre-internet if that gives you an idea)
In order to insure they have a good time, I have decided to do my normal thing and go overboard.
Character creation and drinking party is 6/24 with first adventure to be sometime in July and on 2 week intervals.
I hate money, and having nothing to start with I went out and purchased basically all the books in DD and Pathfinder collections. (If this group busts in 2 weeks, I'll have stuff to sell..lol)
This will be a semi serious but fun bunch of noobs and will always include food, drinks (ton), and many chip options. (Cool Ranch!)
What I am looking for is off the track ideas from seasoned GM's regarding "fun" items or things to make sessions interesting to non DD types.
(Smoke machines, celebrity guests, etc)
Thanks again and I will be taking notes,
Jimbolini
www.firesofheaven.org
I've found that some atmospheric music adds to the fun. I downloaded an app called dndify which basically uses Spotify (or YouTube if you don't have Spotify) to play appropriate music for travelling, resting, combat, iins, caverns, woodlands etc. It's zero effort and adds a lot to the atmosphere.
That's a good idea, thanks.
www.firesofheaven.org
Yeah, the atmospheric music is a must! But I recently started lighting a scented candle. I thought it was a bit weird but when I lit a wood scented candle while they were stuck in the bottom of a boat completely changed my non-RPing player into full RP mode. They said the smell and the sounds they forgot they were sitting at my kitchen table.
I like adjustable lighting as well. Dim it light down when in a dungeon.
Let us know how the first season goes and what you used!
Music-wise, TableTop Audio is THE best free source of ambience music and audio effect for almost anything you can think of.
Aside from that, depending on the adventure you want to run, physical handcrafted handouts are always a very nice touch
Born in Italy, moved a bunch, living in Spain, my heart always belonged to Roleplaying Games
Great suggestions, and thanks.
I'll see how it goes.
www.firesofheaven.org
I guess my best advice is to find out what do they think would be fun. I have some artistic ability so I always enjoy hand drawn pictures of my character or a significant situation I was involved in such as "discovering the Druids worship circle in the woods." If you have a player that likes to draw, see if you can leverage that. I bet everyone would enjoy some nice pictures. The music is well known and I think it is a great idea. When my party gets a map or a letter, I give them the map or the letter, I don't read it to them and I don't describe the map. I let them study it and take it with them. Of course I keep the original.
I hope you can get one or more of the other players to buy or get an online copy of the PHB. Then they are a little more invested in the game at the start. Sharing the PHB with them is going to become a time problem. You will need it to prepare your notes and they will need it to research their character alternatives.
Be careful with how you work with your wife as opposed to the other characters. Girlfriends and wives have caused difficult moments in many games. Good luck.
You are the bridge from what they love, (They are obviously geeky enough to want to try D&D) and fantasy adventures. Borrow and steel from the things you know they love. Make their D&D playground connect to what they love. Harry Potter fans add elements that are potteresue. Figure out how you can make those connections.
Making the jump to D&D can be daunting. You can get your feet wet and enjoy an evening of hanging out but some adults see it as a big time consumer. Help them get the feel and hooked on the basics fast. Maybe find a good youtube video about D&D basics.
Thank you for this, bookmarked. Ads during my Youtube D&D playlist was driving me nuts!
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
Yes, thank you for this...was a great help.
Night one has come and gone, characters were created and many many adult beverages were consumed.
Everyone seemed to have fun, and they all want to continue...so that's a good thing.
Thank you for all the advice, and we shall see how upcoming sessions go.
www.firesofheaven.org