3 Tips for Death Saving Throws

These three tips are meant to help add some weight to death saving throws during a D&D session. When a PC is at 0 HP and making death saves it can feel like their turn was a loss because they just roll a die and move on. The first two tips are meant to make them more fun and the last one will make it easier for everyone.

Every Death Saving Throw Comes With A Memory

Have the player give a memory from when they were younger or with other party members. You can have the player give a memory and then roll afterward. Or have them roll first, with a success being a good memory, and a failure a bad memory. By giving the players time to think and providing a memory they are having more of a full turn rather than just rolling the dice and moving on.

Ask the Player If They Want To Roll In Secret

The player can roll behind the DM screen or hidden from the other players so only the 0 HP player and DM know the result. This way the other PCs have more choices because they don’t know if their friend is doing ok. I’ve seen a whole party’s tactics change because they didn’t know if their friend is going to make it.

Use an Action to Help a Downed Character

This is from Baldur’s Gate 3 and is great for one-shots and new players. Allow a character to use a help action to bring a downed character to 0 HP and stable or 1 HP. If your players are death averse, this is a great way to have stakes while keeping the character alive. You could even have an NPC risk their life to save a downed PC to add some drama and suspense to a scene.

Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck on your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.

Recent Posts

• 3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

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2024-11-18 14:06:00

3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e

The Bloodied condition is a holdover from D&D 4th Edition, where when a monster reaches half HP, it has an ability it can use. The following are three of my favorite abilities you can give to almost any monster.

Berserk: as a reaction, the creature automatically attacks the nearest hostile creature to it.
This is great when those martial PCs are in melee and you want to keep them on their toes and moving around.

Frenzy: the creature has advantage on attack rolls against hostile creatures missing HP.
This is great later in a combat encounter when the PCs have been hit and are missing some health.

Recharge: as a reaction, the creature automatically recharges and uses an ability.
Imagine an ankheg or a dragon getting a second breath weapon in the same round. The players will freak out every time!

Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.

Recent Posts

• 3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

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Simple Monster Stats by CR

A handy chart with dnd 5e monster stats organized by CR. Includes Skills, AC, HP, to hit Bonus, # of Attacks, and the 6 ability score bonuses.

This table is intended to be used a base stat block to build upon. Add your own special abilities or use something like the Forge of Foes to help you build your own. Inspired by the Guide to Shadowdark Monster Statistics by Matt Dietrich and Monster Statistics by Challenge Rating by Sly Flourish et al.

sample monster stats by cr tableDownload

You can also get this and more d&d resources in my ko-fi shop for no extra charge. ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration/s…

Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck on your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.

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• 3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

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Shadowdark Guide to Monster Statistics by Matt Dietrich

A quick reference for building monsters for Shadowdark RPG

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Points of Inspiration

2024-11-18 14:06:00

3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e

The Bloodied condition is a holdover from D&D 4th Edition, where when a monster reaches half HP, it has an ability it can use. The following are three of my favorite abilities you can give to almost any monster.

Berserk: as a reaction, the creature automatically attacks the nearest hostile creature to it.
This is great when those martial PCs are in melee and you want to keep them on their toes and moving around.

Frenzy: the creature has advantage on attack rolls against hostile creatures missing HP.
This is great later in a combat encounter when the PCs have been hit and are missing some health.

Recharge: as a reaction, the creature automatically recharges and uses an ability.
Imagine an ankheg or a dragon getting a second breath weapon in the same round. The players will freak out every time!

Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.

Recent Posts

• 3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

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d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

I like to start my sessions with a fun ‘get-to-know-you’ question for the player characters. These questions serve two goals. The first is just getting the players to start thinking like their characters. The second is to build some character details that you can use later in the campaign, or even later in that session. Using these small details throughout the campaign will strengthen the connection the players have with their characters, and with the story. For example, when my group of PCs made it back home from their longest journey so far I described the sunset using their favorite colors that they told me about a few sessions previously. One time I had a PC’s family send him a batch of his favorite cookies that his parents made growing up, and I knew what they were because I asked. Seriously, just ask your players questions about their characters once a session and you will gain plenty of useful information to use against them in the future.

A good source for questions is the video from Ginny Di titled ‘50 Character Builder Questions for Your Tabletop Character.’ There’s a link in the description that has a link to a list of all the questions if you don’t want to watch the video.

If you want this table as a random generator check out my perchance page: perchance.org/craigofinspirati…

100 Questions to Start a TTRPG Session

1. Are you a dog person or a cat person and why?
2. Are you allergic to any foods?
3. Are you a morning person or a night owl?
4. Are you a picky eater or do you like to try new foods?
5. Did you have a childhood pet?
6. Do you have an insignificant memory that has stayed with you all these years?
7. Do you want to settle down with a spouse and kids?
8. Do you have any noticeable scars? If so, what are their stories?
9. Do you have any unusual talents?
10. Do you have a guilty pleasure?
11. Do you have any nicknames or street names?
12. Do you have any scars, tattoos, or birthmarks?
13. Do you prefer camping outside of town, or staying at the inn?
14. Do you have any unusual or nervous mannerisms, such as when talking, thinking, being afraid, under stress, or when embarrassed?
15. Do you have a good luck charm?
16. Do you have a favorite set of pajamas?
17. Do you keep any houseplants?
18. Do you cook meals or eat out?
19. Do you keep a journal?
20. Do you know how to swim?
21. Do you have any phobias?
22. Do you prefer hunting or fishing?
23. Do you enjoy surprises?
24. Have you ever broken the law and didn’t get caught, if so how?
25. Have you ever been in love?
26. Have you ever tended a garden?
27. Have you kept any toys from childhood?
28. Have you ever been fired or quit a job?
29. Have you ever gone to a psychic?
30. Have you ever let someone down?
31. How do you like to spend your free time?
32. How did you decorate your childhood bedroom?
33. How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
34. If you could go back and change one decision you made in the past, what would you change?
35. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
36. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
37. If you could retire with a big pile of gold, what would they do?
38. If you could open a restaurant, what would it be like?
39. If you were involved with a circus, what would they be doing?
40. What is the best compliment that you’ve ever received?
41. What is your favorite candy?
42. What is your favorite color?
43. What is your favorite holiday or celebration?
44. What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
45. What’s the worst play/street performance you ever saw?
46. What was your first job?
47. When was the last time you were in a place of worship?
48. Who is the most important person in your life and why?
49. What’s one place you’ve visited that you never want to return to?
50. What’s one thing you’re determined to do before you die?
51. Would you rather be hot or cold?
52. What is your most favorite pair of shoes you’ve ever had?
53. What was your greatest talent when you were younger?
54. What was your dream job when you were younger?
55. Would you change anything about your appearance?
56. What was your favorite family tradition as a child?
57. Who do you look up to?
58. What temperature are you most comfortable at?
59. Who was your best friend while growing up?
60. What do you do better than anyone else?
61. What’s one thing you would change about the person you love most in the world?
62. Who do you wish was here with you now? How would they make things better?
63. What did you dream about last night?
64. What’s something you quit, that you now regret giving up on?
65. What was the best party you ever went to?
66. What do you do if you can’t sleep?
67. What does your morning routine look like?
68. What is your favorite dad joke?
69. What’s the worst food you’ve ever had?
70. Would your friends describe you as organized?
71. What is your favorite season?
72. What is your spirit animal?
73. What is the biggest mistake your character has ever made?
74. What is your theme song?
75. Who would you trust the most with a secret?
76. What advice would you give to your younger self?
77. What is your most annoying habit?
78. What is the one task you would absolutely refuse to do?
79. What annoys you the most?
80. What is your favorite art form?
81. Would you rather be deaf or blind?
82. Who trained you in your skilled areas?
83. What do you do with your gear when sleeping?
84. What is your favorite piece of furniture?
85. When was the last time you went on vacation?
86. What’s the best haircut you ever received?
87. What is your favorite physical activity?
88. What is the tallest tree you have ever climbed?
89. What is your favorite weather?
90. What’s the first thing you buy for a new home?
91. What do you do when you get bored?
92. What do you daydream about?
93. What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
94. What is the last present you gave somebody?
95. What’s on your grocery list?
96. What is the biggest lie your character has ever told?
97. What one item do you save from a house fire?
98. When was the last time you sang to someone?
99. Would you rather have a housekeeper or a personal chef?
100. What do you do to relax?

Note that this exercise can be used in most if not all tabletop games. Besides Dungeons & Dragons, I could see it being used in games like Pathfinder, Worlds Without Number, Blades in the Dark, Call of Cthulhu, Mörk Borg, Starfinder, Fiasco, Numenera, 13th Age, Fantasy Age, Old School Essentials, Shadow of the Demon Lord, or even Level Up Advanced 5e.

Are there any questions you think should be added to the list? Let me know in the comments below!

Good luck with your next session, I believe in you. See you in the future!

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• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

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Navigate the underbelly of an industrial-fantasy city as a scoundrel among scoundrels in Blades in the Dark, an award-winning TTRPG by John Harper.

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Points of Inspiration

2024-11-18 14:06:00

3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e

The Bloodied condition is a holdover from D&D 4th Edition, where when a monster reaches half HP, it has an ability it can use. The following are three of my favorite abilities you can give to almost any monster.

Berserk: as a reaction, the creature automatically attacks the nearest hostile creature to it.
This is great when those martial PCs are in melee and you want to keep them on their toes and moving around.

Frenzy: the creature has advantage on attack rolls against hostile creatures missing HP.
This is great later in a combat encounter when the PCs have been hit and are missing some health.

Recharge: as a reaction, the creature automatically recharges and uses an ability.
Imagine an ankheg or a dragon getting a second breath weapon in the same round. The players will freak out every time!

Let me know if you have any questions. As always, good luck with your next session, I believe in you, see you in the future.

Recent Posts

• 3 Abilities for the Bloodied Condition in D&D 5e
• Simple Monster Stats by CR
• 3 Tips for Death Saving Throws
• Where To Find Me
• d100 Questions to Get To Know Your PCs

Support the Blog

• Support me on Ko-fi! Ko-fi.com/craigofinspiration
• Dice Envy: support the page when you make a purchase at bit.ly/3Rmr4tT
• Check out my Amazon shop for d&d recommendations shorturl.at/5Vvb8

#dnd #dnd5e #dungeonMaster #dungeonsAndDragons #gameMaster #ttrpg

D&D Dice and Other Cool Dice Sets for RPGs | Dice Envy

Update your D&D dice with cool subscription boxes or dice a la carte from Dice Envy. Check out our stone, resin, and wood dice for a better gaming experience.

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