Anything BUT whatever dumb ass 💩 WotC has recently done or is currently doing, literally ANYTHING

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

On rugs of smothering: take them seriously. players expect to fight monsters in a place, they don't expect to fight the place itself. think about if you woke up one day in the afterlife, only to find out your blanket smothered you to death in the night. its scary and serious because you never expect it, not because of the appearance, like, say, a nightwalker or dragon.

Oh, that’s interesting. I always viewed them as a basic monster, not an environmental hazard. Maybe I could try that.

(Incidentally, I do use the animated armor and flying sword, just not the rug.)

I would personally use a rug of smothering as a trap in a hag lair, of course along with spider tea and swarms of flying swords.

I love Rugs of Smothering and pretty much all animated objects: These are incredible creatures that can shock the party and may actually be quite concerning in combat for the party at lower levels. Pretty much all of them are underused in my eyes, except for maybe the Animated Armor, which is almost guaranteed to have been a nasty surprise for every veteran D&Der.

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

Quote from BoringBard >>

I love Rugs of Smothering and pretty much all animated objects: These are incredible creatures that can shock the party and may actually be quite concerning in combat for the party at lower levels. Pretty much all of them are underused in my eyes, except for maybe the Animated Armor, which is almost guaranteed to have been a nasty surprise for every veteran D&Der.

Especially when you try to put it on . . .

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

 Me, whistling, having never DMed a full campaign before.

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

 Me, whistling, having never DMed a full campaign before.

 Me either. But I am now!

Quote from WoodsGirl0402 >>

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

 Me, whistling, having never DMed a full campaign before.

 Me either. But I am now!

 Thats more than I can say, what are you running? homebrew? or a module?

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from WoodsGirl0402 >>

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

 Me, whistling, having never DMed a full campaign before.

 Me either. But I am now!

 Thats more than I can say, what are you running? homebrew? or a module?

 I’m running the Planescape boxed set adventure. So really it’s like a mini campaign (probably only going to last through the beginning of March).

I've been working on my adventure for DM's Guild but it really isn't looking too great. Do you guys think I should still post it when I finish even though I'm not proud of it, or should I just scrap the whole thing altogether?

If I wrapped it up and published it, I think it'd be pay what you want with the suggested pay being 0.00 lol.

Edit: Y'know what, I'm scrapping it. I don't have the energy to finish it and it's an abysmal adventure lol.

Dispel magic was like a "must have" for years, and then they introduced "counterspell", lol.

That's why no one ever takes dispel magic anymore.

Well, except for that one Player who knows me too damn well. Knows that I will set magical traps on stuff simply because I am aware everyone stopped taking dispel magic.

I mean, holy cow, disguise that rug of smothering as a throw blanket. Or a curtain.

long ago and far away I had a room that was nothing but the kind of critters that everyone laughs at. Mimics. Rugs of somethignering, living cloaks, floor monsters, ceiling monsters, stuff like that. It was set up to show up at the time that a party needed a rest, as well, so the room looked like a great place to take a break. Beds, chests of drawers, a table with a wash basin and mirror, a large tub, a hearth with a goodly sized cauldron or cooking pot. an actual indoor water pump.

Even food.

And over half of it was a critter hunting for its next meal or a magic item meant to get out of control.

Some of it would prove useful -- a decanter of endless water in plain sight on a table, a scrying bowl just resting there. An everburning log.

rot grubs in the straw of the mattress, mimics as a bed frame, chest of drawers, mirrors of madness -- the amount of fun you can have as a DM is huge.

But, of course, players will give you very dirty looks for springing that on them in 5e when they are low on spell slots and and other things, lol.

Quote from BoringBard >>

I've been working on my adventure for DM's Guild but it really isn't looking too great. Do you guys think I should still post it when I finish even though I'm not proud of it, or should I just scrap the whole thing altogether?

If I wrapped it up and published it, I think it'd be pay what you want with the suggested pay being 0.00 lol.

Set it aside for now, move on to the next project, come back to it later and see if you can fix what was wrong.

Quote from BoringBard >>

I've been working on my adventure for DM's Guild but it really isn't looking too great. Do you guys think I should still post it when I finish even though I'm not proud of it, or should I just scrap the whole thing altogether?

If I wrapped it up and published it, I think it'd be pay what you want with the suggested pay being 0.00 lol.

 Didn’t you mention you possibly wanted to run it for the Temple group? I bet once Choir is done DMing , we’d all be happy to play test it.

That was a different thing I haven't even started working on but just have an idea for, sadly.

Question for y’all, how would you completely reflavor a monster that everyone has seen before to make it more interesting, without changing the stats?

like an Aboleth?

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

 About the rug:

Quote from TheMadGibber>>

Quote from SirTawmis>>

Rug of Smothering: No joke. Just used this a month ago in a low level campaign I run. Was used as a trap just inside the main front door - before entering if you don't speak the command before stepping on the rug - it attacks you. Not sure why you can't take it serious - at low levels it can be dangerous. Several other monsters have the same exact powers as the Rug of Smothering.

 Pretty sure the "can't take serious bit" is because it's, you know, just a living rug.

"As you enter into the dungeon, you encounter a dangerous enemy... A RUG! DUN DUN DUNNNNNN!"

Yeah, pretty much. I’d never use the rug for anything but a joke. Maybe the BBEG leaves a welcome mat outside their lair, and the welcome mat tries to smother the party, or something.

While it’s true that the rug is dangerous at lower levels, that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice. Compared to other CR 2 monsters like the ankheg, ettercap, or grick, it just doesn’t hold up. It only has one action, and its single interesting ability, Damage Transfer, only applies until someone escapes the grapple, which always happens pretty quickly unless they grappled a wizard. So it’s cool, but I feel like using a rug of smothering would be a waste if I could use a different CR 2 monster instead.

(Antimagic Susceptability doesn’t count because antimagic field is too high level and no one ever takes dispel magic. I mean, I’m sure some parties do, but most players I’ve DMed for only care about flashy things like lightning bolt and magic missile.)

So it’s funny, and it could work with some campaigns, but it’s just not a good fit for me.

 
Here's the thing... You mentioned using Animated Swords and Animated Armor. Which is cool. But that's a straight up fight.

The rug will require more thinking - especially if it manages to snag someone.

First of all - I always give it a surprise attack (meaning at advantage) unless someone is examining the rug. Which is hardly ever the case, because I put it just inside the house. So not a rug outside that says "Welcome" but the rug inside. So when people step in after opening the door - if the magic words, for example, are not spoken - the rug goes into effect.

A surprise hit, at advantage has some results.

The creature is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, blinded, and at risk of suffocating, and the rug can't smother another target. In addition, at the start of each of the target's turns, the target takes 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. 

So not only do I give it advantage for surprise - but then if it hits (which it has a good chance) - the target has the grappled condition on them - and unless they can get out, will begin to suffocate.

But you say, "Well the party would just attack it."

Great.

Because you know what else it has?

Damage Transfer. While it is grappling a creature, the rug takes only half the damage dealt to it, and the creature grappled by the rug takes the other half.

So when the party hits it - the rug is only taking half - the other person, potentially suffocating - is taking the other half of the damage.

The thing has 33 HP - which at low levels - when it's only taking half the damage - is a long time for someone else to be taking the other half of the damage while also potentially suffocating.

Add spice to the trap - that as soon as the rug takes 1 or more points of damage, the decorative swords and armor just inside the foyer become animated and attack anyone attacking the rug.

Quote from TheFriendlyArchfey >>

Question for y’all, how would you completely reflavor a monster that everyone has seen before to make it more interesting, without changing the stats?

like an Aboleth?

Most commonly (which is against what you're asking) - I've scaled creatures up and down (HP, To Hit, Damage) as needed. For example last month, the party fought some Kraken Priests who used Deep Scions to lure the adventurers (and a whole crew) to the nest of the young Kraken. So I took the Kraken's stats and lowered it because it was a Young Kraken (and the party was lower level to be handling a real Kraken).

However, I've created new versions of existing monsters and given them additional abilities. Like Ice Trolls, whose blood is so cold that fire does only half damage to them (Acid is what does full damage and slows down their regen) - as well as given them a "Chill Touch" - where any successful hit the damage does I think an additional 1d8 or 2d8 cold damage. 

I think it's not only fun to - but sometimes important to change things up - especially if you have experienced players at the table. Not that they will use Player Knowledge, but just so that they're "Oh damn! The troll also does cold damage!" and create some surprises and fun.

Quote from BoringBard >>

I've been working on my adventure for DM's Guild but it really isn't looking too great. Do you guys think I should still post it when I finish even though I'm not proud of it, or should I just scrap the whole thing altogether?
If I wrapped it up and published it, I think it'd be pay what you want with the suggested pay being 0.00 lol.
Edit: Y'know what, I'm scrapping it. I don't have the energy to finish it and it's an abysmal adventure lol.

So a friend of mine was playing D&D - and his DM had a pregnant wife. Well the day came where she had the baby and the DM needed to step back. They asked me to DM for them. They were doing a module. Rather than take over the module (the DM was new to DMing) - I created my own adventure based in the area of the module. I ran them through it - it was a small, haunted house kind of module. Some story about the family. I left the disappearance of the daughter (only one in the family not found) open. Thought maybe I would go back to it in case they needed me to DM longer I'd create another adventure involving hags that took her. The DM never decided to return and that group fell apart.

I ended up putting the adventure on DMs Guild (link to it and other things are in my signature). I've not made a metric ton of money, but I made money here and there. I think I sell the adventure for $2.50. And get 50% of whatever sells. So even if you put it up for $1.00 you'd get .50 cents. And if you check DMs Guild once a year, you may have some extra pocket change. So I would say do it - and see how it goes. You say you're not proud of it - so maybe create a second account (if you have one already) as your pseudonym. 

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Quote from BoringBard >>

I've been working on my adventure for DM's Guild but it really isn't looking too great. Do you guys think I should still post it when I finish even though I'm not proud of it, or should I just scrap the whole thing altogether?

If I wrapped it up and published it, I think it'd be pay what you want with the suggested pay being 0.00 lol.

 

Set it aside for now, move on to the next project, come back to it later and see if you can fix what was wrong.

 Well even on DMs Guild you can always update it there too.

So for example the first map on mine, I had attached the player's map - which did not include a secret passage being visible - so there was literally a dead end. Fixed it and updated the file and all was good.

Quote from WoodsGirl0402 >>

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from WoodsGirl0402 >>

Quote from SpiderTrapper >>

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere2 >>

Thanks for all of the advice on the zombies. I’d been more focused on the stat block than the actual implications on a campaign. Hopefully the Curse of the Husk will become the default for all zombies in 2024.

It seems like the consensus here is that zombies aren’t the best in terms of stats, but utilizing different DM tools as well as homebrew can make them far scarier. Since I do have an undead-focused campaign going on, I’ll try a lot of the tips here, and maybe get back to y’all on it.

(It’s so cool that we have a thread full of veteran DMs, lol.)

 Me, whistling, having never DMed a full campaign before.

 Me either. But I am now!

 Thats more than I can say, what are you running? homebrew? or a module?

 

 I’m running the Planescape boxed set adventure. So really it’s like a mini campaign (probably only going to last through the beginning of March).

 
This is excellent. How many sessions have you done? As someone new to DMing - what would you say is the easiest thing? Most difficult thing? Would love to hear it. I love hearing when people take the seat of the DM and hearing about their experiences!