New Player’s Guide is going on hiatus, giving us some space to return to beloved series like Class 101, Spell Spotlight, How to Play Monsters, and to explore new ideas. In the meantime, however, we want to know what D&D questions are burning in your mind, so that we can answer them once we come back. Reply to the comments of this post with ONE question for D&D Beyond’s Lead Writer James Haeck.
We’re looking for questions about Dungeon Master skills, player tips, dungeon design, encounter design, magic item design, monster design, and anything else that will help you be the best DM or player you can be!
When New Player’s Guide returns from hiatus, we’ll have combed through your questions with a particular eye for ones that will benefit the entire D&D Beyond community. We can’t wait to read your questions!
Create A Brand-New Adventurer Acquire New Powers and Adventures Browse All Your D&D Content
James Haeck is the lead writer for D&D Beyond, the co-author of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus, and the Critical Role Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, a member of the Guild Adepts, and a freelance writer for Wizards of the Coast, the D&D Adventurers League, and other RPG companies. He lives in Seattle, Washington with his fiancée Hannah and their animal companions Mei and Marzipan. You can find him wasting time on Twitter at @jamesjhaeck.
Would you let a player character with the Dual Wielder Feat dual wield lances while on a mount?
It sounds like it went wrong at the start, because for some reason the hooks you initially used weren't strong enough, or you let them go too far before you introduced those hooks. I'm sure there's a way to get it back on track, but what it is depends on the specifics of the players, their characters, and your campaign. If you'd like to PM me here, I'd be happy to try to assist if you'd like. :)
New player and new DM; I use a few player characters in rare fights in my campaigns but they can be difficult to assign exp to because they can be so much more dangerous than any monster of even an equal CR. how do i go about assigning exp to player character fights? does gear factor in?
The trick (in my experience) is just to have a lot of plot hooks. like make a dozen different ways to reach the same place. or make the plot subtly unavoidable by making consequences that affect everyone including them (but not exclusively them) to make them want to do the plot. alternatively you could use the carrot strategy and give them a reward for following the plot but that seems a little shallow and see through for a DM. also try watching HowToBeAGreatGM on youtube, super helpful. hope that didnt violate the rules in any way XD
In the DMG, they have rules for determining the XP of a homebrew monster. If you treat the DMPCs as homebrew monsters and keep all their features in mind, it should allow you to calculate their XP. That's what I do.
EDIT: I see that others have answered this question, and also that it just threw my response to a specific comment in with all other general comments.. Not a great system but oh well. /EDIT
As long as you are wielding the stick with one hand, and not holding another weapon, the dueling fighting style will apply.
The spell requires a club or a staff, but does not require them to be non-magical, so it will work with any enchanted club or staff. This includes a +1.
Also, this is giving me some fun character ideas, so thank you!
A question that's been burning in my mind for a while. As a DM, how do I properly balance an encounter so that it's fun and challenging for players (without being overkill or way too easy) whilst taking into account magical items?
How to make your own unique class? Or how to play without class but customize what ever you want?
I would stack it all, but that's only because my group plays by the rule of, "Nerf when required". So I'd, if you want to play close to the rules, don't stack the two +2 if you had access to both because it says in the PHB that effects giving the same benefit to the same target do not stack, but the wording is vague. If in doubt, allow the DM to call, but don't hold them to it if later it looks like they done goofed. Eg, becomes overpowered, ruins the game etc.
I'd like a nice set of guidelines on making/pitching pre-made characters for players, thank you.
My question as new player, (but until recently forever DM), is how does one most effectively and sensitively given encouraging and constructive feedback to a new DM that is asking for feedback?
Whats a good way to not railroad you players but at the same time try and get them going toward the objective and pushing the plot forward?
i often find myself having to much fighting in my homebrew campaigns. how could i avoid this?
yes, it's one of the best uses of that feat.
More free Adventures!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd be really keen to hear more about balancing combat encounters. I've found my players walking through deadly encounters and running the risk of a TPK on a medium challenge after a long rest. Tips and tricks for creating a challenging but not overwhelming combat experience (especially for newer/less skilled) players.
It sounds awesome, James and company :)
My question is: how do you play cursed item, how do you avoid being cursed and get a chance to spot, that the item is cursed beforehand?
Augury has been suggested by one person, but the identify spell vs 1 hour of checking out the item, is not really different, except for saving 49 minutes and 54 second, compared to a ritual cast identify.
Any suggestions or houserules?
I'd like to know how to balance out multiraces, by which I mean if there are some examples that are not currently in official effect. For example, how can I balance out trying to play half-tiefling, with a hellish bloodline, and half-aasimar, a creature of the divine? This might be a bit much for a beginner, but if someone is ambitious...
Can we get a complete overhaul for the ranger class, as right now they feel like fighter subclasses.
Also can we get an extensive magicall item price guide and creation....
Can we get some more optional but complex rules system so we don't have to himebrew everything so the game for experienced players doesn't feel like a day at kindergarten.
Lastly can we get some epic levels and campaigns that go past 15...i am forgetting something but that will do for now
*delete this comment*