One piece of advice I've seen elsewhere, to make the players feel more neccessary, is to have everything be a secret. There’s not enough justification in-universe as to why the Cult of the Dragon is able to get away with as much as it does and why the Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet need the players. I mean, if two very powerful organizations of Faerun already know everything you know about the Cult of the Dragon and what they’re planning, then why are they asking you to fix things and go on elaborate errands when they are far better equipped and trained to deal with this problem? The solution is to have everything go on secretly "behind the scenes". Dragon Cult? pshhh, silly you, there's no Dragon Cult! A small town was destroyed by a dragon? Pah! It was probably just bandits! You're just crazy and paranoid! also NO CARAVAN, FOR THE LOVE OF GARY GYGAX NO CARAVAN!
This is so helpful! I'm starting a campaign this weekend with a new group and this has been my guideline while I read the actual book. Please, keep up the good work! We DM's appreciate it!
Man I wish I would of found this sooner! As a new DM I have been struggling with this module and keeping my players invested. This is such breath of fresh air. Keep of the great work!
Thanks for this! I'm running Lost Mines now (with some Ice Spire mixed in) and plan to do Tyranny of Dragons afterwards. But I heard it was quite a mess as written.
Thanks for this, I'm running my first campaign ever, and also for my kids and wife who are first time players, up to now I had a couple sessions already and they are loving it (and me too, weird experience start D&D as DM and not as player, but I just want to have fun with the fam) this video is super helpful, thanks.
I wish I had all your videos (and ones you haven't created yet on this series) before I started HOTDQ months ago. I would have completely architected the game differently! Rock on man.
I thank you I’m running a new campaign with this for some friends( most will be first time players and I’m dming as the most experienced player but this is my first time as a dm) so your videos on this are like a god send to me
hey bud, thanks for this. DMing this for my boys. Mostly their first D&D experience. BTW you have great radio voice. I appreciate the sound work/recording
This was so great! Love the way you've structured everything, making it easy to understand while still keeping all of the vital information. Helped me alot.
My best advice for Tyranny of Dragons is to replace like the first half with Dragonheist. Run the villains as the Cassalanters but change Asmodeus to Tiamat. Dragon Cult obviously wants the hoard in the vault and have become ingrained in the conflicts of Waterdeep. Sprinkle in HOTDQ characters like Rezimir, Leosin, and Langdedrosa as appropriate but otherwise run Waterdeep as normal. Win or lose at the vault, Rezimir escapes and the players follow her to Castle Naerytar. Bam. You've avoided the worst part Hoard, the on the road part, given players a killer adventure, and have set up the players' notoriety in Waterdeep where much of Rise of Tiamat takes place.
The me for these man really helps me prepare and keep it on my mind while I’m work thinking of how to make things better and be prepared for the next mission for my group !!
I think one of my peves with the campaign is that it is just two big world wise. The missions are technically weeks away from each other and who wants to play through a month on the road.
Great guide! I like the campaign a lot. Ran it once (bit never finished) and I'm running it again (on the verge of TPK in the Dragon Hatchery now). So I think it's good But your take on it is better still
Hey man! Great vid. Just bought Hoard of the Dragon Queen on DnD Beyond. My party is about to finish Waterdeep Dragonheist with Aurinax the Golden Dragon in the Vault. I plan to use 2 chromatic dragons to come through the roof of the Vault and attack Aurinax. After the fight I will give the player characters information on what is happening in the world. (They will be level 5 after finishing Dragonheist.) My question is; where should I guide them and what info can I let Aurinax give them? So basically, what chapter should I drop them into Hoard of the Dragonqueen? Thanks in advance for thinking with me! ;)
How do you conceal the fact that cult is going to bring tiamat back to life? the adventure is in fact called Hoard of the DRAGON QUEEN, plus a couple of my players already played some chapters of the campaign with other DM. The big revelation of Tiamat would be too predictable and too cringy because of that. Just add lots of information and leads of dragons and dracoliches on the Sword Coast maybe? Any thoughts? Thanks!
@@Discoblitz Hey, glad it helped! I'm hoping to put out a video on Chapter 2 in 2-3 days. If you're in hurry though, you can contact me on facebook and I'll share the general idea :)
I wouldn't worry too much about "recovering", it's just a suggestion to my taste after all. The idea behind it was to keep things fresh for the players. Just make sure they don't get bored with the investigation and always find new clues that keep them hooked.
This is one of the best DM videos I have seen. No fluff, solid animations, simple explanations that isn't trying to market anything. Love it.
Amazing work! I liked he way the you’ve combined all the pieces together in a complex story. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you!
One piece of advice I've seen elsewhere, to make the players feel more neccessary, is to have everything be a secret.
There’s not enough justification in-universe as to why the Cult of the Dragon is able to get away with as much as it does and why the Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet need the players.
I mean, if two very powerful organizations of Faerun already know everything you know about the Cult of the Dragon and what they’re planning, then why are they asking you to fix things and go on elaborate errands when they are far better equipped and trained to deal with this problem?
The solution is to have everything go on secretly "behind the scenes".
Dragon Cult? pshhh, silly you, there's no Dragon Cult! A small town was destroyed by a dragon? Pah! It was probably just bandits! You're just crazy and paranoid!
also NO CARAVAN, FOR THE LOVE OF GARY GYGAX NO CARAVAN!
This is so helpful! I'm starting a campaign this weekend with a new group and this has been my guideline while I read the actual book. Please, keep up the good work! We DM's appreciate it!
Man I wish I would of found this sooner! As a new DM I have been struggling with this module and keeping my players invested. This is such breath of fresh air. Keep of the great work!
Thanks for this! I'm running Lost Mines now (with some Ice Spire mixed in) and plan to do Tyranny of Dragons afterwards. But I heard it was quite a mess as written.
Yup, that's why I try to fix it with these guides.
I feel like I'm learning how to run this campaign from the (cooler) high school version of me. Great stuff friend!
Thanks for this, I'm running my first campaign ever, and also for my kids and wife who are first time players, up to now I had a couple sessions already and they are loving it (and me too, weird experience start D&D as DM and not as player, but I just want to have fun with the fam) this video is super helpful, thanks.
This is pure gold content. I'm glad I came upon your channel again. I hope you and family are safe and well.
Thanks for the comment 💞
I know some of you have been waiting for a new Dragon of Icespire Peak video. Fear not, for it's coming shortly!
Rime of the Frostmaiden now
I wish I had all your videos (and ones you haven't created yet on this series) before I started HOTDQ months ago. I would have completely architected the game differently! Rock on man.
Wow! I'm loving this Channel!! I can't believe I didn't hear about it sooner! Keep up the outstanding work!
Thank you so much, Deacon. I'm glad you enjoy my work!
I thank you I’m running a new campaign with this for some friends( most will be first time players and I’m dming as the most experienced player but this is my first time as a dm) so your videos on this are like a god send to me
hey bud, thanks for this. DMing this for my boys. Mostly their first D&D experience. BTW you have great radio voice. I appreciate the sound work/recording
Thank you 😊
This was so great! Love the way you've structured everything, making it easy to understand while still keeping all of the vital information. Helped me alot.
Glad it was helpful!
I'm two sessions in one this campaign and wish I'd found these sooner, this is going to make the rest of the campaign 100x better! :)
Great videos man! It’s also hilarious to see your hair grow episode by episode
That made me laugh :) Thank you
Excellent summary and tips. Thank you for sharing!
My best advice for Tyranny of Dragons is to replace like the first half with Dragonheist. Run the villains as the Cassalanters but change Asmodeus to Tiamat.
Dragon Cult obviously wants the hoard in the vault and have become ingrained in the conflicts of Waterdeep. Sprinkle in HOTDQ characters like Rezimir, Leosin, and Langdedrosa as appropriate but otherwise run Waterdeep as normal.
Win or lose at the vault, Rezimir escapes and the players follow her to Castle Naerytar. Bam. You've avoided the worst part Hoard, the on the road part, given players a killer adventure, and have set up the players' notoriety in Waterdeep where much of Rise of Tiamat takes place.
That's a pretty good solution there!
You have done a great job organizing this messy module
Ok, I have bing watched your new stuff. Good luck to anyone who runs this mess of an adventure.
It is messy :)
@@LutesDice I'm playing it and by god, it's honestly awful.
Why is everyone complaining about it? Makes me feelnweird because I loke it a lot. Loke the best __published__ D&D module I ever read
Really dig these videos. Super helpful. Thanks!
The me for these man really helps me prepare and keep it on my mind while I’m work thinking of how to make things better and be prepared for the next mission for my group !!
Great input. Love these ideas
Thank you!
Amazing job.
preparing to run this right now, subbed!
Have fun!
@@LutesDice Cheers, we played out first session and it was pretty good. Players made it to the keep and have bought into the premise.
hey! thanks for this video!! i am considering running it and this is. very helpful!✓
You're welcome!
Good job!
Thanks!
Great video, very helpful as a new dm combining lmop with hoard/ROT.
I think one of my peves with the campaign is that it is just two big world wise. The missions are technically weeks away from each other and who wants to play through a month on the road.
Great guide!
I like the campaign a lot. Ran it once (bit never finished) and I'm running it again (on the verge of TPK in the Dragon Hatchery now). So I think it's good
But your take on it is better still
I would love to keep Tiamat a secret, but in this day and age it's just not possible to run this module without everyone knowing it's about Tiamat.
Your voice is very good! Are you an actor?
In my dreams, yes, I'm an actor!
Where'd the fight scene in the first part come from?
Hey man! Great vid.
Just bought Hoard of the Dragon Queen on DnD Beyond. My party is about to finish Waterdeep Dragonheist with Aurinax the Golden Dragon in the Vault.
I plan to use 2 chromatic dragons to come through the roof of the Vault and attack Aurinax. After the fight I will give the player characters information on what is happening in the world. (They will be level 5 after finishing Dragonheist.)
My question is; where should I guide them and what info can I let Aurinax give them? So basically, what chapter should I drop them into Hoard of the Dragonqueen?
Thanks in advance for thinking with me! ;)
I know I’m late on this but, is there by any chance you have notes over what you did for hoard of the dragon queen? Like what you added and such?
I don't unfortunately.
Excuse me for off-topic.
Where did the video with dragon cultist came from?
It was like an official trailer for the Tyranny of Dragons storyline.
How do you conceal the fact that cult is going to bring tiamat back to life? the adventure is in fact called Hoard of the DRAGON QUEEN, plus a couple of my players already played some chapters of the campaign with other DM.
The big revelation of Tiamat would be too predictable and too cringy because of that. Just add lots of information and leads of dragons and dracoliches on the Sword Coast maybe?
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
what is the name of the video at 0:50
Will you be doing anymore Episode guides for chapters 2 onwards for HotDQ?
Hello, Tom. Yes, I'm working on it. The rough plan is that HotDQ video will come out every other week.
@@LutesDice Glad to hear it. I really enjoyed your Chapter 1 video and used a lot of it recently. I'm just starting Chapter 2 now and eager for input.
@@Discoblitz Hey, glad it helped! I'm hoping to put out a video on Chapter 2 in 2-3 days. If you're in hurry though, you can contact me on facebook and I'll share the general idea :)
@@LutesDice I'll do that for sure, thanks!
4:22 where you got this man if I may ask?
It's the art from the official module. I just googled Leosin.
Where did these cinematics come from?
It's from the official D&D TH-cam channel I think.
So how would I recover if I already told the players of tiamats return, but they don't know the cult is involved
I wouldn't worry too much about "recovering", it's just a suggestion to my taste after all. The idea behind it was to keep things fresh for the players. Just make sure they don't get bored with the investigation and always find new clues that keep them hooked.
:D