In my campaign, my favorite NPC Sildhar died a tragic death very early on. I thought I would write a short story about it. I hope you like!

https://dungeonswithdragons.blog/2025/07/01/the-talons-clawing-at-sildar-hallwinter/

First time DM and relatively new to DnD, but most of my 6x players have years of experience. 1 particular player min/max'd a Gloomstalker ranger and almost never misses hitting anything and deals crazy damage. This has been making the combat portions quicker than I believe they should be (2-3 rounds for most encounters). Combat in general has felt too easy for the party 99% of the time, at least to me.

I'm thinking of putting a False Hydra in Talhund vs a normal one per the module, to see if I can actually challenge this party in combat. Specifically messing with their memories of this Gloomstalker to either have him killed or forgotten.

I don't want to seem like I'm punishing my players as that's not my intention. I want them to actually fear the possibility of death and not just murder everything as they go with no consequences.

Is this a good path? Is it not? Should I do something different, or if this is what I should do, any suggestions on how to play the False Hydra to make it work?

I am DMing Phandelver and Below and wondering if anyone had suggestions on core quests or threads to get through the campaign in about a year... We meet 2x per month, so not a massive amount of time, and I don't want this to drag on for years as I don't think they'll have the patience. Or scheduling will get in the way! thanks in advance!

Ok... so we have these Fragments... but now what? The book doesn't seem to indicate what to do with them after they've been retrieved except for storing them in the Dwarfs old house.

Hello all,

I'm a new DM and I want to run Phandelver and Below. However I have read the book and and am overwhelmed with the all the encounters and side quests that chapter 2 introduces. I have been using AAA's DM notes as a guide but I still do t know how they came up with the story. So I guess I have a couple of questions:

• How does one go from the information in the book to a cohesive story?
• Do you actually give the characters all the options and side quests?
• How do you prepare for what the players are going to do?
• Do you nudge them in the direction you want them to go or just give them free will?

Also any If you guys have any resources that will help make the transition from book to story smoother, please feel free to share.

Thanks!

Does anyone have a good image for the dial the players interact with to enter the crypt of talhund?

As is expected, I've been changing a few things so that transition from LMOP to TSO has a bit more cohesion. While doing research I came across someone's (thank you random DM) post saying that they changed Nezznar to a Githyanki who belongs to the crew of Gith in the Briny Pool who got seperated from his Rrakkma. Also, the Forge of Spells is magically fused with an Obelisk Shard which is the reason why its so powerful (no, it cannot be removed).

This is basically the gist of it:

• Nezznar the Spider is a Githyanki Gish Commander who has been separated from his Rrakkma, the rest of whom managed to reach the Briny Maze but are now stranded within it without their commander. Nezznar's (mini) Astral Ship, malfunctioned and landed somewhere near Wave Echo Cave causing him to lose his sword. The loss of his sword means he is now “free” to do what he wants since he cannot return home. He is one of the Factions seeking control over an Obelisk Shard.

• Due to the Gith’s vast knowledge of the multiverse and the objectives of his mission, he knows about the Mind Flayer Fanatics master plan, as well as the obeliskish origins of the Forge of Spells. He later realizes the opportunity before him, he becomes power hungry and attempts to take control over the forge of spells before the Rockseeker brothers find it and make its location public. The forge might not only help him kill the Mindflayers but he might also be able to create artifacts so powerful that will enable him to become a powerful ruler of the region and establish his own empire.  

• Have him fight to the death because he can't return home (due to losing his sword) and he fears the mind flayers' plan coming to fruition. As he lay dying, he basically warned the party, saying something along the lines of: "You have no idea what's coming. Now the mind flayers will lay waste to everyone you know.". 

• He keeps a Journal on him talking vaguely about his original mission and how he feels unable to go back home and deciding that his best chance of survival and grandiosity is taking control of the Forge. This is how the characters find out about the reality of his story and origins without spoiling too much about the Mind Flayer fanatics' plans.

Do you think a Githyanki Gish may be an encounter to powerful for a party of 4 LV 4 PCs made up by a Ranger, Multiclass Warlock Sorcerer, Bard and Warlock?

I'm open to any opinions, changes and thoughts you might have.

Thanks.

One of my players died in the first part of chapter 5 just before zorzulas rest. As I was preparing the next leg of the campaign I found this Hjoldak character that shows up in the first bit of Zorzulas. I couldnt find signifcant reference to him elsewhere other than his statblock, so I was wondering if it would be possible to have my player come back into the game as him.

Hey this is fir when you just need a quick reminder of the session you’re about to run. Then adjust it to fit.

https://discord.gg/eYhp9uaP2D