Lost Mine of Phandelver Tips: Chapter 2, Phandalin

Mike offers tips for running Lost Mine of Phandelver, the D&D Starter Set adventure beginning with chapter 2, Phandalin.
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[@sylvnfox]

the way I run chapter 2: as the party enters town with the wagon 2-3 redbrands are "talking" with the priestess at the shrine and see them roll up to the provisioner's and approach demanding they pay the "income tax" the party deals with them however it is they do that then go around town. I don't even have the npc's mention anything about their quests because they are afraid of the redbrands and don't want retaliation. the party will have other encounters with the redbrands and eventually take them out. once that is done the town's people trust the newcomers and open up to them, offering them services and requesting they take care of some other problems

[@bitesized4503]

Great idea!

[@kingbeeYT]

I'm about to try my first time ever playing and dm'ing with young kids so this helped me figure a good way to keep them kind of on track depending on the choices they make

[@sylvnfox]

@@kingbeeYT if you are dealing with kids I would also advise when running chapter 3 NOT to send them to thundertree, it can get complicated and possibly anger a green dragon that WILL kill them. run old owl well, and run it as a social encounter. he is an archeologist and would know something of the ruins in the area. he can point the party to cragmaw castle. and if you want you can just have him know the general area it is located then run finding it as a hex crawl/skill challenge. and throw in a few premade "random" encounters.

[@kingbeeYT]

@@sylvnfox I'm gonna run it all but I will warm them the dragon is very very dangerous. One is a dragonborn so I'd feel bad if he didn't get to interact with one lol

[@xlDysenterylx]

How did it go? I'd love to hear how they liked the module​@@kingbeeYT

[@chowskiiithedefiant1641]

Thanks for the tips man. I’m a new DM and I’ve been studying on how to run this next sesh, And these tips really helped. This phandalin part is tricky as hell.

[@SlyFlourish]

Glad it helped!

[@jonnyramsden1161]

Good tips. I tried running chapter one and my players decided to just carry on to phandalin after the goblin ambush! I'd got so focused on prepping for chapter one that I didn't do anything for 2 (although I'd read it) and it was a bit of a nightmare where none of us knew what to do... I managed to get the guy from the shop to turn up the next day and persuade them to go investigate the ambush site more (as suggested in the book).

[@1970joedub]

Jonny next time you’re in a bind such as not being prepared just throw in some in some random encounters. Combat takes about an hour. This will give your players something to do and give you more time.

[@pruff3]

​@@1970joedub smart! This is why I read the comments section.

[@dazskadi612]

I am brand new to DnD and tabletop gaming but no stranger to fantasy and rpgs from other mediums, Me 34m, my wife 33F and my 3 kids 8, 11 and 12 all decided DnD would be a wonderful way to spend some family time, My wife took on DM for the first chapter and we had an absolute blast and the kids couldn't wait till the next session. The next session I was DM and I thought I would do great but oh my god it is insane with how many details there are to remember. I watch the life drain out of them a few times when I said, what do you want to do next? and they just all sat there. Omg! The book constantly tells me, you can only say this much, when in actual reality I need to give them nearly as much information as possible otherwise they're kind of left with a blank space. I will re watch this video a million times and others to get to understand it, But man I never really wanted to be DM I was really interested in being a player. But Now Im really keen to give DMing a full go and give my family an adventure to remember! thank you all! :D

[@tavernmancer]

I just had my second session of running LMoP as a new DM. The party arrived at Phandalin a the start of the session. I thought there would be a lot more exploring the town before things kicked off but once the party heard about the Redbrand from barthen and heard the rumour at the inn about the missing woodcarver they went straight to the dive bar to confront the Redbrand. I've run into a bit of a problem form a player that is familiar with the module and isn't blatantly meta gaming but their character definite "just happens" to come up with the right solution often enough to raise suspicion. I've decided I'm going to take a massive left turn and make Sildar and Gundren the bad guys. When the party gets to Glasstaff/Iarno they will recognize him as part of my world's equivalent of the Harpers. While he's yelling at them for blowing his undercover operation Sildar is going to come through the secret door behind him and stab him in the back, grab something off the desk, and teleport away after a Bond villain one liner. I'm also going to make the Nothic a recurring NPC, the party already made a deal with it to provide "meat" in exchange for information. I'm naming him Timmy Downdawell :)

[@ChristnThms]

I think you touched on something that's not just a warning for this adventure, but for all games. Turning a party loose in a town is a really good way to kill all interest, enthusiasm and momentum. In many games, when a DM asks, "What would you like to do?" it is the end of player participation. That may seem like a harmless question. But it is not. When a DM asks that question, what he's actually doing is admitting to the p,point, that he doesn't know what to do next. Since the players are entirely dependent on the DM to present them with cues and motivations, the players are left with the option to wait, or do random things. Both options force the players out of the adventure. As a DM, I try really hard to not present such traps. Instead, restating current options is a lot more useful. Even if there are several to choose from, presenting actual options is a lot more useful in keeping things focused, and ensures that players don't feel aimless.

[@SlyFlourish]

yeah, I like to offer a handful of choices or break things down into some potential downtime activities. Players are free to come up with their own choices too but its useful to have some things laid out.

[@ChristnThms]

@@SlyFlourish exactly. After I offer some bullet point options, I'll usually wrap that up with something like, "..and be thinkingaboutanythingelseyou'd like to do in town." That way they remain in motion and in the story, but are also given ample opportunity for other things as well.

[@SonOfTheNorthe]

I would ask around, in a general gist sort of way, "Okay, so, [character's names] have just arrived into town. How do the characters react to being in a foreign town where they don't know where anything is." Get the PCs to roleplay out deciding what their priorities are. Ask someone for directions? See if their map helps? Just walk in and look at all the street signs for the nearest tavern? And *then*, if they take too long doing that, that's when you add an inciting incident to keep the game running.

[@ChristnThms]

@@SonOfTheNorthe if that works for you, excellent. I know that if you did that at many tables I've played at, you'd get run over by a stampede of cats. You'd have the party split three ways in five minutes, and each part pursuing every EXCEPT what you're prepared for. Players don't ruin your plans on purpose. But they will, consistently, if you ask open ended questions.

[@davidsandrock7826]

@@SlyFlourish The module itself tells you to point them to the inn, where they will hear rumors that will give them those options _organically,_ rather than breaking immersion to tell the players directly.

[@jcirmsa]

Perfect timing, I'm running chapter 2 tonight. Probably a good idea to read through chapter 3 as well, like you said. The players might want to go take care of some of those quests! Thanks for your help, I love your videos!

[@MorriganJade]

Hah! Those doppelgangers are indeed a great idea to use outside of just making them an encounter inside Cragmaw Castle and Wave Echo Cave! In my campaign, the Black Spider wants to keep tabs on the adventurers. What better way than them being new inside Phandalin, "looking for work".

[@KingWeir]

As all new players, this is the point that we got completely bamboozled by. We got to this town and was like, whats going on, we've rescued Sildar but what happned with Gudren and we had no idea what to do next and my son who was DMin, was confused as well, as the story was suddenly branching into all these sidequests and all we wanted too do was resuce the Dwarf who hired us.

[@SlyFlourish]

Yeah, the big expansion can be difficult here but its worth figuring out how to run a more "sandbox" style campaign.

[@jloren4647]

Hey, thanks for doing this. Running this for some fried in quarantine and wanted some tips because the whole village and different motivations thing did slow me down.

[@C-bassy]

This is helpfull because it’s my first time DMing.thanks for the advice 😊

[@SlyFlourish]

Welcome to the hobby!

[@trevorgreen4384]

Great insights!

[@PhillipGibb]

This is great, my players' characters are busy in the Ruffians Hideout

[@bitesized4503]

I’m interested in using some reoccurring npcs such as an old man who constantly loses his cabbages (yes like in avatar) as it might lead to in-jokes and stuff. Really looking forward to running this campaign in general.

[@xalwine]

I like this, I had the redbrands trying to collect from a vegetable vendor who was an old man, when he told them he couldn't pay, they tipped his cart over and he exclaimed "My cabbages!" this was what finally got them to engage with the redbrands.

[@TheBierp]

Ok, I watched this whole video then I realized I had no idea what you said because I couldn't stop trying to figure out what the heck is on your right shoulder? It's in a very small frame. It kind of looks like a crab/lobster/scorpion/...kitten? I dunno, but I'm sure it's terrifying. Please enlighten me so I can rewatch this and learn how to DM this campaign. :)

[@jayson246]

The funny thing when I was playing and met the nothic, I loved him immediately and somehow tamed him because I got a nat 20, so he became my companion and best friend. I named him Jose :)

[@brnatlas9611]

Def useful

[@YoJesusMorales]

I finally spoiled myself this, I guess I'll try and see if I can run it online or with the sidekicks rules from tasha.

[@SlyFlourish]

Good luck!

[@nicholashartley8805]

Currently preparing to run this for a first-time group, with my first time as DM. The guide suggests that Glasstaff flees if he spots the adventurers (which is pretty likely, given the familiar) - what, if anything, do you change about that to make the big confrontation more likely?

[@ryanduddleson1806]

I would consider making Glasstaff and The Black Spider, the same person.

[@royhernandes8957]

So my players are playing there first game playing. Playing this thing so different and its so difficult

[@Krooks44]

I have been playing D&D for years but just now taking a crack at DMing a game. I am having trouble keeping all the options straight as I don't want to limit my players too much. Do you have tios for keeping the info readily available? I dont want to refer to the book for everything. Thanks.

[@evanmickel9347]

make/buy a good dm screen, also note cards will be your best friend. another great tool is game master 5th edition on the app store, you can install your own SRD to the compendium and your own campaigns. hope i helped a little :)

[@toughfff712]

I have a flow chart and note book. I run a hybrid Lost mines/Ice Spire (only one dragon). I created quest paths, and selected certain side quests that will activate as they progress with the main quests. When they ask question i then refer to my notes. I tend to always present conflict with decision making. Making them question their alignment. IE we need to save Gunden or save something else. Slay the dragon or clear the mine.

[@j2d4oi]

What's your cat's name?

[@GeoffreyCavalier]

+

[@jakebooo1]

My Nothic got, like, one word out before my players attacked it 🙃

[@hustuha]

they killed the doppelganger lol edit:they thought the doppelganger was the black spider

[@Thesacredsword2]

where did chapter 3 tips go

[@SlyFlourish]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJrUn5iJad19d68

[@Thesacredsword2]

@@SlyFlourish thank you brother tried looking for it on your channel couldn't seem to locate it ty

[@MegaCyberleader]

BOy am I ;llazy