Sweating the (really) small stuff – over-prepping for a game"There are DMs who are like, ‘F**k it, this is imagination-land; I will wing all of this.’ But I am not one of those people."
Have we won yet? – coping with villains who have different squad goals"We did not go into this fight with the right strategy at all. We were all about defeating our enemies in the usual way, by killing them."
Doomsday device activated – coping with minor setbacks in the campaign"My character learned that his entire religion was a Ponzi scheme by extra-planar tentacle-monsters, so it was a stressful session for him."
A death in the family – coping with character death"In D&D, it’s not a kill-your-darlings type situation, because they’re someone else’s darlings."
As per my last session - Writing up recaps "Here is the recap I wrote for the very first session I ever DM'd. Looking back at it, the plot was definitely...not the strongest."
Play it again, DM – using music in sessions"The moment where the song started playing and you all went from, ‘Everything’s cool; we got this,’ to ‘What!? We're about to be murdered!"
Let’s split up, gang - to divide and conquer"None of you listened to my sage advice about party wear so everyone can see you all the time."
Stealing the Staff of Darkness - Out-of-hand Escapades and Fierce Friendships"It’s an intervention. It’s with the best intentions."
Campaigning in the off-season — taking it slow with a little bit of retail therapy"Listen, me and my AC of 10 and my bear furs and owl mask will do a-okay."