Getting Started with the Starter Set, Part 0: Gathering a Group

Hello, and welcome to Pact of the Tome. This article is the first in a series written for new Dungeon Masters who have picked up the Dungeons & Dragons 5E Starter Set and are planning to run a game with it for the first time. The first two articles cover the process of bringing a gaming group together and building characters, and each article after that will cover one "part" of the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure. I will not assume any prior knowledge about Dungeons & Dragons aside from information in the Starter Set rulebook.

Part 0: Gathering a Group
Part 0.5: Creating Characters
Part 1: Goblin Arrows
Part 2: Phandalin
Part 3: The Spider's Web
Part 4: Wave Echo Cave

The D&D Fifth Edition Starter Set is considered by many
experienced players to be the best introduction to D&D
in a long time. If you're considering getting started, I
heavily recommend it - and if you're on the fence, it's
only $20 at your local game store, or $12 on Amazon.

So you've got the Starter Set. Hopefully you've had the chance to flip through the included rulebook, the pre-generated characters, and the adventure/Dungeon Master booklet, Lost Mines of Phandelver. Maybe you've also talked to some of your friends about playing. What next?
In order to play D&D, you need a group of fellow players! At minimum, you'll want at least three players and a Dungeon Master, but many groups include up to 5 or 6 players. Finding people willing to give the game a shot can sometimes be a challenge, but it's absolutely worth it - D&D is best with a good-sized group where everyone can bring something different to the table.

Encounter Building Walkthrough: Kobold Guard Post

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Pact of the Tome! The article this week is very late due to sickness issues, but rest assured that it exists.

Today, we'll be discussing the encounter building rules in D&D 5E and working through an example of how to use them. You'll definitely want a copy of those rules on hand to reference, so either download the DM's Basic Rules (p. 56) or pull out your Dungeon Master's Guide and turn to page 82. We're also referencing the Kobold creature, which you can find in the DM's Basic Rules (p. 34) or in your Monster Manual (p. 195). Finally, I'll be borrowing some techniques from The Angry DM to make our encounter more exciting. In general, I highly recommend this guy's website - though his writing style is unique and doesn't work for everyone, his advice is gold and will improve your game. For this article, though, we'll be referencing his three-part series on encounter building - creatures, battlefields and ambiance, and putting it all together.