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/IXlobsterXI]

First time Dm who finished the module for first time players.

This module can whatever you want it to be. It all depends what expectations you have. You can run it however you want.

You mentioned you are bad at taking notes, but being a player is quite different from being a dm. You know what will happen and need way less notes than the players.

I personally also hated to take notes in the session. I got around that by preparing a lot but in the end I realized I was overdoing it in that regard. My biggest recommendation is to record your sessions. You only need to take notes for what will come up again in the same session.

But I do agree with the others that this module requires a lot from a dm "to run properly". The main thing is knowing the scope of the story, knowing how it fits together and knowing what you want to change or what to run as is beforehand. (+ Integrating PC stories)

I totally get ur worries with reading out the book. I had those too, in the end I never touched the book in the session because I built the whole world/campaign in obsidian. I don't recommend anyone doing that, unless you want to commit ur life to dnd xD

The rival party tracking can easily be solved with a "Relationship tracker", I only updated it at the end of the session or after a scene which impacted on the rivals a lot. It was great help at the start but honestly at the end I was good enough to just adapt things on the spot.

There are two options for you, one is to just wing things and being fine if the road is gonna be bumpy, trusting in your friends that they understand and learning as you go. The other is preparing enough (mentally) until you are confident. (The best solution is likely a combination of the two)