Okay, so as it suggests, I WANT HELP. I'm new to dnd, and I've joined my friend's campaign, she's sick rn so I'm wanting to do the best to help her out by doing a stand in session. I'm not sure what I can do for the characters, they all don't really have a relationship with eachother and they rarely talk. I'd like to build their relationship dynamics and get the party talking for my stand in but I just don't know what to do.
Do you guys have any ideas? What would you suggest is important or a good starting point for this stand in? Thank you!
OK first thing to do is give up the idea of doing something complicated that'll totally change the way the other players will look at the game and the way they play. It's not something that'll happen in a single session even if you were equipped to run a session. That sort of thing takes multiple sessions and is just a product of time, trust and the type of players who want to do that stuff.
Secondly if you're new to D&D give up on the dream of something Earth shaking. Your first time DMing probably won't be amazing, in many ways its a different game from the player side and the first time you try will at best go well and probably won't even do that. Instead try something smaller and more manageable; choose a prewritten one shot and run that. You need to learn what goes into DMing a session and a prewritten module will teach you that, it'll teach you the flow of action, the types of NPCs you will need, and the types of settings. If you've got access to an anthology like Candlekeep Mysteries or Journeys Through The Radiant Citadel try one of the adventures in there but otherwise google free one shots and you'll get a lot of suggestions, I personally liked Wolves of Welton and Wild Sheep Chase but there's plenty of thers out there
Welcome to the D&D Beyond Forums and to D&D in general! :)
There are lots of helpful people on these Forums that have great suggestions, advice, and all around helpful information.
I see that you stated that you joined your friend's Campaign for a single session. In what capacity have you joined her session?
From the fact that you stated that it is your 'friend's campaign', I am making the assumption that your sick friend is the DM.
Are you stepping in as the 'stand-in' DM?
If so, I'd focus on trying to keep the game that your friend is running going smoothly and not trying to change too much. Being a first time DM can be a little overwhelming, so I would focus on making sure the players have fun!
If you are not going to be the DM, then just have fun playing :)
Cheers!
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Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty. Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers; Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas. Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Thank you for the help! Being a new player has been kinda rough cos I've not really been too talkative either cos I kinda struggle with what to say and the others are a lot more experienced compared to me. But my friend is the DM and is sick rn and is a new dm as well compared to the more experienced players but they are all super nice and understanding. I was thinking of doing a sheep chase but that was mainly because of rdr2 lol, but I did find the prewritten and I'll think I'll go with that cos I wouldn't really know how planning goes with encounters and the type of speech you have to use since ik you're meant to descriptions and let the players tell you have the characters feel. We have only had two sessions but since my friend is still recovering I wanna help her out since she's a new dm and has been feeling a bit put off of dming because she doesn't think what she puts out is good. So I think doing something simple for me would be nice and get the party still going even if it's as a oneshot
Hi! It's a short campaign from what my friend said where they go to Phandelver I think? Idk the campaign name ngl, but it then moves onto another campaign after that called avenerous or something. But I've offered to do a one shot but with the characters still but it's more of a side mission kinda thing and where they stop near the village. (Wandering sheep) one shot. Which I think is a good idea I'm only doing it just for this session till she gets better, I don't know much about dnd lore so I think it kinda works out. ^^
I don't know if this is what you're referring to relative to wandering sheep (CunningSmile mentioned the adventure in their post) but this is well regarded in the community. https://winghornpress.com/adventures/a-wild-sheep-chase/
I don't know if this is what you're referring to relative to wandering sheep (CunningSmile mentioned the adventure in their post) but this is well regarded in the community. https://winghornpress.com/adventures/a-wild-sheep-chase/
I’ve run it myself a couple of times. One of the best light hearted one shots I’ve found
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Okay, so as it suggests, I WANT HELP. I'm new to dnd, and I've joined my friend's campaign, she's sick rn so I'm wanting to do the best to help her out by doing a stand in session. I'm not sure what I can do for the characters, they all don't really have a relationship with eachother and they rarely talk. I'd like to build their relationship dynamics and get the party talking for my stand in but I just don't know what to do.
Do you guys have any ideas? What would you suggest is important or a good starting point for this stand in? Thank you!
OK first thing to do is give up the idea of doing something complicated that'll totally change the way the other players will look at the game and the way they play. It's not something that'll happen in a single session even if you were equipped to run a session. That sort of thing takes multiple sessions and is just a product of time, trust and the type of players who want to do that stuff.
Secondly if you're new to D&D give up on the dream of something Earth shaking. Your first time DMing probably won't be amazing, in many ways its a different game from the player side and the first time you try will at best go well and probably won't even do that. Instead try something smaller and more manageable; choose a prewritten one shot and run that. You need to learn what goes into DMing a session and a prewritten module will teach you that, it'll teach you the flow of action, the types of NPCs you will need, and the types of settings. If you've got access to an anthology like Candlekeep Mysteries or Journeys Through The Radiant Citadel try one of the adventures in there but otherwise google free one shots and you'll get a lot of suggestions, I personally liked Wolves of Welton and Wild Sheep Chase but there's plenty of thers out there
Greetings GalesExplosiveCdiff,
Welcome to the D&D Beyond Forums and to D&D in general! :)
There are lots of helpful people on these Forums that have great suggestions, advice, and all around helpful information.
I see that you stated that you joined your friend's Campaign for a single session.
In what capacity have you joined her session?
From the fact that you stated that it is your 'friend's campaign', I am making the assumption that your sick friend is the DM.
Are you stepping in as the 'stand-in' DM?
If so, I'd focus on trying to keep the game that your friend is running going smoothly and not trying to change too much.
Being a first time DM can be a little overwhelming, so I would focus on making sure the players have fun!
If you are not going to be the DM, then just have fun playing :)
Cheers!
Breathe, dragons; sing of the First World, forged out of chaos and painted with beauty.
Sing of Bahamut, the Platinum, molding the shape of the mountains and rivers;
Sing too of Chromatic Tiamat, painting all over the infinite canvas.
Partnered, they woke in the darkness; partnered, they labored in acts of creation.
Thank you for the help! Being a new player has been kinda rough cos I've not really been too talkative either cos I kinda struggle with what to say and the others are a lot more experienced compared to me. But my friend is the DM and is sick rn and is a new dm as well compared to the more experienced players but they are all super nice and understanding. I was thinking of doing a sheep chase but that was mainly because of rdr2 lol, but I did find the prewritten and I'll think I'll go with that cos I wouldn't really know how planning goes with encounters and the type of speech you have to use since ik you're meant to descriptions and let the players tell you have the characters feel. We have only had two sessions but since my friend is still recovering I wanna help her out since she's a new dm and has been feeling a bit put off of dming because she doesn't think what she puts out is good. So I think doing something simple for me would be nice and get the party still going even if it's as a oneshot
Hi! It's a short campaign from what my friend said where they go to Phandelver I think? Idk the campaign name ngl, but it then moves onto another campaign after that called avenerous or something. But I've offered to do a one shot but with the characters still but it's more of a side mission kinda thing and where they stop near the village. (Wandering sheep) one shot. Which I think is a good idea I'm only doing it just for this session till she gets better, I don't know much about dnd lore so I think it kinda works out. ^^
I don't know if this is what you're referring to relative to wandering sheep (CunningSmile mentioned the adventure in their post) but this is well regarded in the community. https://winghornpress.com/adventures/a-wild-sheep-chase/
I’ve run it myself a couple of times. One of the best light hearted one shots I’ve found