Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Being a DM is a tough gig. It requires a lot of extra "work" on your part.

Tailor the quests/storyline to the PCs classes - also don't forget to play to their alignments. This usually makes the PCs WANT to do whatever it is you are planning.

Do your best to populate the region that the PCs are in, makes it easier to ad lib when the characters go off on an unforseen tangent.

Sometimes you have to use the "carrot-on-a-stick" method to get the characters to play into your plot hooks. If the quest revolves around a town in trouble, just have the heroes assaulted by masses of people looking for help.

If one of you PCs classes are religious, just use the divine method - a priest/vision can help move a story along well enough. Heck you could even have the PCs get forced to do a couple quests - this requires leverage (kidnapped friend/family member/ etc)

I currently have a group of PCs trudging through the underdark and seemingly endless tunnels (lots of work - and LOTS of random encounters). I through in a bunch of different quest points throughout the tunnels, including towns/guard posts in distress, and other such random quests.

It really depends on how important a main campaign course is to you. You can do anything, you are the DM. Don't forget that.

yes i know this will probably be considered nedromancy but a problem just came up:

one of my Pcs who is a 9th level wereboar human sorcerer is about to take a level of dragon disciple and afterwards he is going to try to become a lich. My main problem is which bonuses override the others. second when he becomes a lich should he lose his shapeshifting ability? third the dragon disciple level bonuses still count right? and fourth the books dont have a specific way to make the phylactery, what have you guys done if this has happened to you?

What? You're going to let a PC become a Lich? That's crazy. How is he going to justify that?

How would he interact with commoners? How do you balance his massive bonuses? What is everyone going to think of a massively powerful undead monster?

Liches are intended to be a form of 'sub-boss' enemy. They're far too powerful to be PCs.