DM Guides - Deathsave

a red dragon descending upon a pastoral landscape dotted with grazing cattle. The dragon's massive wings are outstretched, its scales exhibit a detailed texture, and it emanates an imposing presence as it surveys the land below for potential food. The tranquil countryside, with its rolling fields, distant homesteads, and scattered livestock, contrasts sharply with the dragon's intimidating appearance, highlighting a scene where the world of fantasy intersects with a serene pastoral life.

A D&D dragon’s diet: What do they eat?

Apart from the occasional misbehaving player party, what do the iconic D&D namesake eat the rest of the time? There’s actually plenty of delectable, thematic options to spice up your campaigns.

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 30 January 2024

three elves clad in ornate, embellished armor, seated around a wooden table in a forest glade dappled with sunlight. The elf in the foreground has a contemplative expression, holding a crystal glass filled with a clear liquid. To the right, a female elf with pale blonde hair and a crown of silver sips from her glass with a straw, her gaze distant. The third elf, also with long blonde hair and fine armor, delicately holds a glass to their lips. The table is adorned with fallen leaves, reflecting the woodland setting, and the scene conveys a moment of respite and elegance.

DM Guides

D&D cuisine: What are your players eating?

Outside of simply quaffing potions and keeping track of rations to stay alive, there’s a whole other dimension that food can add to campaigns for the savvy dungeon master.

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 18 January 2024

Lying in a decrepit state within an ornate coffin, a corpse with ghastly pale skin and sunken features is depicted talking with Speak With Dead spell. The figure's mouth is agape in a silent scream, revealing darkened teeth, and the eyes are closed as if in eternal rest. Wisps of ethereal hair float around the head, adding to the spectral quality of the scene. The coffin is adorned with intricate details and is slightly ajar, with a heavy chain draped across the body, hinting at a desire to keep whatever remains inside from escaping. The artwork is rendered with a chilling realism, capturing the eerie essence of gothic horror.

DM Guides, DnD 5e Spells, Player Guides

Speak With Dead spell in 5e explained

Not getting the answers you want? Learn to shake down those corpses with this Speak With Dead spell guide for both players and DMs.

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 10 April 2023

DM Guides

Best beginner campaigns for new DMs

Starting out as a new DM but don’t know which campaign you should run? Check out these 4 campaign overviews along with pros and cons for new DMs.

Written by: Matt Wright

Published on: 30 March 2023

An unconscious player hoping the DM won't finish them off

DM Guides

Attacking unconscious players

You’ve incapacitated one of your players and their party isn’t near, but the question is: should you press the attack and kill them or move to another player?

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 12 March 2023

DM Guides

7 DnD 5e house rules to avoid at all costs

Tweaking the rules can be fun, but here’s 7 things that are sure to break your game.

Written by: Emma-Jane Stogdon

Published on: 23 January 2023

Two fighters in plate armour in the tavern looking very suspiciously at the character sheet with all 18 attribute scores

DM Guides, Player Guides

What are the odds of rolling the ‘perfect’ DnD character?

So your character has 18 in all attributes? And you rolled this at home. On your own, you say? Do you know the odds of that happening?

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 22 January 2023

Unfurled on a wooden table is an intricately detailed fantasy map, styled in a manner reminiscent of old cartographic designs. The parchment features stylized drawings of mountain ranges, landmasses, and ornate embellishments around the edges, with a prominent compass rose glowing luminously. The map is surrounded by what appears to be the dark wood grain of a tabletop and the handles of tools or weapons, suggesting a planning or strategy session for an adventure. The lighting is moody, highlighting the map's details and the golden hues of the paper.

DM Guides, Dungeons & Dragons Resources

World building can be a challenging and daunting task. It usually starts with a kernel of an idea you build out from, but it can sometimes be hard to know what bit to flesh out next. We’ve compiled 147 questions to help inspire you.

Written by: Mark Williams-Cook

Published on: 14 January 2023

Close up of a dark green D20 and other dice on top of a DnD guide

DM Guides

10 DnD 5e house rules for DMs to try

House rules can make or break a campaign. Here are 10 homebrew rules to try that will actually improve your DnD 5e campaign.

Written by: Emma-Jane Stogdon

Published on: 9 January 2023

DM Guides

The history of the Gelatinous Cube

Gelatinous Cubes have featured in every edition of Dungeons and Dragons. These squishy, transparent cubes of ooze prove that appearances can be deceiving, but just how much do you know about them?

Written by: Emma-Jane Stogdon

Published on: 3 January 2023