Dungeons & Dragons - How to Prepare module T1 Village of Hommlet

This video gives advice helping to prepare the Dungeons & Dragons T1 Village of Hommlet and the T1-4 Temple of Elemental Evil campaign. Most new Dungeon masters DM's find it hard to pull off this DnD D&D Village of Hommlet module without adequate preparation.
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3orcs Recommended books to read
Rise of the Dungeon Master: Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D Paperback - Illustrated, May 9, 2017 amzn.to/3wLMrJP
Empire of Imagination: Gary Gygax and the Birth of Dungeons & Dragons Hardcover - October 6, 2015 amzn.to/3GahvHu
Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who Play It Paperback - September 9, 2014 amzn.to/3GrerqV
Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy Player's Tome
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336584/OldSchool-Essentials-Advanced-Fantasy-Players-Tome?affiliate_id=1802525
Old-School Essentials Advanced Fantasy Referee's Tome
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336585/OldSchool-Essentials-Advanced-Fantasy-Referees-Tome?affiliate_id=1802525
Highly recommended! Raging Swan Press campaign and item lists
GM's Miscellany: Village Backdrops II
www.drivethrurpg.com/product/221490/GMs-Miscellany-Village-Backdrops-II-SNE?affiliate_id=1802525
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Some materials adapted and/or derived from other online fan-created materials. Also, material referenced from: Canonfire, Dragonsfoot, Greyhawkery, Anna Meyer’s, Greyhawk Grognard, Maldin’s Greyhawk. Maps created in Wonderdraft and Dungeondraft using some Tom Cartos, Forgotten Adventures, Gogots assets. Some material on the Battle of Emridy Meadows adapted from material originally created by Mike Bridges. Living Greyhawk references originally created by Rick Bruner, Michael, J. Breslin, Sr., Lon Lademann, Michael Maenza. Verbobonc City by Banesfinger.
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[@alexkk6zly262]

Thank you for this! Ive been trying to figure out how to run the Temple of Elemental Evil for awhile and it sure has been challenging, especially as a baby DM. Its still hard to wrap my head around it bit this video has definitely been helpful. Thank you!

[@3orcs]

I am glad you find these video's useful. I been meaning to make more, just a matter of time. The more I do the more DM details I provide that players would probably not want to know about.

[@joncobb2931]

Black Jay's family was killed when he was away at the war with the temple. Important stuff.

[@3orcs]

oh...I need to add that bit into Black Jay's NPC's article background. Thanks!

[@dandekker8242]

This video was a HUGE help for me. I’m running T1 in a week and I have read it a couple times, but being able to listen your video while working helps solidify all the details. Great job!

[@3orcs]

Glad it helped!

[@retrodmray]

You did a massive amount of prep work for this, dude. Wow! All great stuff, but I don't have time for that anymore, don't have the money for that software, and am simply running for my wife and kids, so I just use Samsung notes on my tablet, and pen and paper with off-my-cuff flair, NPC'S, roleplaying creativity, and a small amount of railroading... they don't know better. 🤣 Actually though, I've been prepping and running D&D for over 30 years, and so that's my bag, not for everyone. So, I do see where you're coming from here. Thnx! 👍

[@3orcs]

Thank you, it helps that I been running this module for 35+ years. Keep notes, memorized things, got notes from other DM's over the years, Keep all artwork on my computer. The thing about making maps. Make a map 20 yrs ago, another 10 yrs ago, another last year and another last month. These things add up and can be used over and over again for the next campaign. :)

[@retrodmray]

@@3orcs Yes indeed....all those things, and for me, a lot of that is in my head for these. 😁

[@freddaniel5099]

As an introduction to the module I have added a dead messenger for the PCs to find beside the road as they travel to Hommlet. This gets the PCs talking to the villagers as soon as they arrive.

[@3orcs]

Excellent idea! I like it. There is a number of ways to engage the players before they arrive at Hommlet. Bringing this village and campaign to life is what any good DM should do. Gygax wrote the perfect recipe starter campaign here.

[@samsampier7147]

Great video. I want to prepare T1 for an upcoming Swords and Wizardry campaign.

[@joncobb2931]

Solid analysis. Thank you sir.

[@maxwestcomics]

Thanks for your input. I've been looking at the Town of Hommlet and I'm impressed with how fleshed out the town setting is. I'm iffy on the Temple itself given it is one big slog not unlike the Return sequel from 2001.

[@3orcs]

Glad it was helpful!

[@scyong]

This is a really detailed look at how to prepare for this module! To all new DMs out there thinking they must do all this prep thou, I would say don't worry as much, read through the module, take some notes and start running it first. The reason is that different players have different things they are attracted to during a game. Over time you will know what kind of players they are, and can prep accordingly, but to go into a module prep every single thing and worrying if it is enough will unnecessarily stress you out. Just give it a go and if theres things your players do thats not covered by the module - improvise! Your players wouldn't know and its a more organic way to run games.

[@3orcs]

True, but in the last 4 years I had a lot of time on my hands while working my remote job. Also, I want to point out that I am not just running this module. But an entire epic scale campaign that involves not only just the Temple of Elemental Evil but all the organizations and NPC's in a 500 mile radius with a dozen other modules and dungeons. If you get jumped by some Gnolls, or Bandits or Orcs. I know exactly what they know, who sent them and what they are doing in the area. Reasons connect all the way up the organizations of the Elemental Cult and Lords of Verbobonc. Its nice to have a wealth of material prepared. So it is easier to wing and improvise from that material.

[@Requel1987]

I personally do not use World Anvil, since I rather shy away from software, where you can lose access to your data and there are hard limitations if you don't pay. I recommend Obsidian, it's a note-taking app with many RPG-useful plugins, and you keep all the files on your drive in a readable format. So I can choose to use any different app any week and I won't have any problems. That is especially important for long-running campaigns, since its easy for tools like that to get out of use due to them being nonprofitable, especially when there's more and more tools available.

[@3orcs]

I looked at a lot of options about 5 years ago and World Anvil had the most going for it. On the cloud so I can access my campaign on any computer from anywhere. Its a novel authoring tool to help build worlds. It is current and being updated regularly. Also, the others are outdated and no longer supported. Just looking at my session reports will tell you how nice WA is.

[@ReustersPlace]

I intend on running this in two weeks... I am so unprepared. I like the world anvil setup you have but it would take me a long time to put that together

[@ReustersPlace]

Could I get your World Anvil link to see how you built this and maybe get some further advice?

[@3orcs]

Well, this module does take a lot of preparation. Over the years most DM's comments on this module has been consistent. That it's only a great module if the DM prepares a lot for it. But running it as is is boring for the players and the DM. I have made several video's ab out this campaign including half a dozen "village" video's of the area. I plan to make more. The next one I release in the next few days is more what I did exacty to start the campaign. Then make more on Session 1 and onwards.

[@VoltzNSmith]

Do you have a link to the world anvil page? that interactive map of Hommlet looks incredibly helpful.

[@3orcs]

Sorry but my world anvil campaign site is set to private since I used IP material for my private campaign use only. WOTC and other artists would get upset if I re-shared their maps and artwork.

[@hillerm]

So do you place a large Homlett map on the table? I’m just now learning how to run towns.

[@3orcs]

You could. I use Fantasy Grounds interactive map on a 55" 4k tv and use Fog of War

[@shawnsmith2016]

Is it possible for us to purchase a copy of your World Anvil for this?

[@3orcs]

Hey I wish! Unfortunately, WOTC owns the IP and I released this TOEE Campaign Setting under their Fan Content IP license. So I can only give it away for free. I have explored (no formatting) the articles into a PDF and but them up on my Patreon for free. Currently, I am looking into a way to rewrite all this so I can release it all into one Campaign Setting book. Just got to figure out how to reword it all :)

[@thebeatles9]

Is there a way that we can use / copy your World Anvil? Is there a patreon tier that will give us access to all of this work you've already done?

[@3orcs]

Unfortunately, I can only have 20 members added to my world anvil account. Its a private world and you would have to be a member.

[@l0gicland]

"Here's how to prepare for the module T1 - Village of Hommlet... So, I have this cool picture here, and there's the... wait no, you can't really see the Inn in the picture..." Could you maybe do a video on how to prepare for a "How to Prepare" video at some point? You ain't young dude, and the game is 40+ years old. If you can't DM without a laptop, how in the hell did the franchise even get to 2022?

[@727xer]

You'd think he'd at least read the fcking module before telling others how to "prepare" for it. So much misinformation! 😡

[@MoragTong_]

Being familiar with the adventure is a must, but memorizing it is stupid. Gygaxs' comment was stated in the context of a West Marches style game, where at the end of the night's session, you ASK the group (of which there are MULTIPLE) what they plan on doing next, so you can prepare the next session and the need for prep is paramount...TOTALLY different than a single party campaign when it comes to prep. After your first session, overpreparing for a single group is pointless and stupid. The party will most likely get through half of what you prepare, thus leaving you with even less to prep for the next session. My sessions last 6-8 hours every other week and my group didn't even get close to completing a 3rd of what I prepped in the initial session. After that, my "roll-over minutes" have racked up to the point that I rarely prep much at all...just refresh the night before the session on what the group may potentially do. Your advice is terrible.

[@3orcs]

Awesome that you did prepare that much. Most DM's don't. Your players will be better for campaign since you organized and prepared. Thats a sign of a good DM. Keep up the good work.

[@aaronsomerville2124]

I don't run my Old School games with a laptop so this video was not useful to me. Maybe put "laptop" somewhere in the title so that those of us who run D&D the traditional way don't waste so much time?

[@3orcs]

Sorry you found no value in the video. It seems you did not watch it all. I do talk about using pencil and paper. All the points I make are valid whither or not you use a computer or paper and pencil.