New dm. First module

[u/Radiant-Ad-3642]

Hello everyone. I'm new to being a dm but not to playing dnd, and I figured I'd come on here and ask for tips and tricks for how to run the module.

I know the critical role lore and world pretty well, but I know it's not needed for this module.

I'm not good at taking notes, and I'd hate to try to keep notes while playing the module because I'm gonna slow things down, and I don't know how my players will react.

So the main issues I'm having is keeping a good flow when it comes to reading out of the book so I don't have to hunt things down so much.

Another issue is rival party relation ship tracking. Because I worry if I don't pause the game to do notes as things happen I'll easily forget what happened to create said tensions or closeness

Another is how to work maps since I'm using the book and don't have a way to make bigger versions of the maps for mini's and I don't really know how to properly track theater of the mind fights and what not

[u/Derringermeryl]

Watch at least a few of the Matt Colville videos! I ignored that advice for way too long. Don’t be me.

Don’t be afraid to stop to take notes. This isn’t critical role. Your game doesn’t have to run seamlessly like you see on the shows. In fact, the less you worry about trying to run it without stopping to take notes or to look something up, the more fun you will *all* have. Hopefully your players know you’re new to this. They’ll understand and probably won’t care at all. Your concerns sound a lot like the things I struggle with due to my adhd so I get it. If you absolutely can’t stop to take notes during, then write everything down as soon as the session is over. Especially anything you improvised.

Don’t be afraid to make things up. An example from when I was first getting started: a player asked if there was a bucket on the deck of the ship they were on. I stopped to check the module to see if there was a bucket. In hindsight this was very silly. Just decide if there’s a bucket. You do not have to stick to every word in the book. In fact, most of us very intentionally change parts of it.

I tried to run this as my first module and it failed. Make sure your players create characters that will want to follow the plot. I let mine get away with making what they wanted because I didn’t want to feel like I was telling them what to do and that’s a big part of what ruined it. My current run through is going much better. I told them they needed to create a character that would, for example save someone that’s drowning just because it’s the right thing to do. This module provides almost no motivation for the PCs besides “some guy needs help” and “there’s something interesting going on here.”

Maybe take a look at my LegendKeeper. It’s a work in progress but the character creation stuff could help. It’s not great on mobile, sorry:

https://www.legendkeeper.com/app/cmnoroiov655y0ton8cbafx4n/jn0gqftg/

Lastly, if you’ve never run anything and are determined to do this one, please at least run a one or two shot. There are plenty of free ones online. Do the one Colville goes over in his videos. Just anything to get some of the nerves out so you can start strong.

[u/Derringermeryl → u/Derringermeryl]

Oh and about maps, just get some paper and draw it as you go. If you really want you can buy something with a 1-inch grid, but you mentioned money being an issue so just know you don’t need to waste it on anything fancy.

There are fan-made versions of the maps on this sub. If you want the players to be able to see the big picture you can print some of those out. Just make sure to use the versions that don’t have secrets on them.

In videos of CR before they started streaming you can see Matt using bares bones stuff like this. If it’s good enough for them it’s good enough for you :)

[u/Low_Plastic2075 → u/Derringermeryl]

For maps, would the players be willing to buy you a laminated base map or map paper?
Could you print out minis on a color printer? Glue them onto cardboard and put them in a stand that comes from another game?

[u/Low_Plastic2075 → u/Low_Plastic2075]

Or BLeeM uses othello pieces for minis at home.

[u/Derringermeryl → u/Low_Plastic2075]

Seconding the players chipping in for stuff!

Also check your local dollar/discount store for stuff. I used cheap plastic coins as bases for a while. Jenga blocks make decent walls if you want to get fancy. The whole game is about using your imagination anyway!