This summer we're tackling Dragon Mountain from the AD&D era using 5th edition rules!

May 17, 2017 3:55 PM

Start with making yourself some coffee. I prefer French press, but whatever floats your boat.

Soak everything in coffee

After a while lay it out and put it into the oven for a quick dry.

Should come out looking like this.

The tougher card board got a longer soak.

I did some twine too!

Don't drink it! There's twine in it!

Nice and dry.

Gluing it to a precut piece of cardboard.

After I punched some holes in it.

Here are the three pieces stitched together by a retired adventurer.

A pile of letters and a pile of maps.

Some got folded into letters.

Some more twine and dribble some wax on that for good measure.

Some got turned into scrolls.

Almost burned down the kitchen doing that. The missus was not pleased.

More scrolls.

And that was a few examples of the handouts. All coupled together with their original for easy access!

dnd

gaming

dnd5e

diy

I used to play AD&D for a little while, before I lost interest.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My fiance like to put this much effort into his campaign too! It makes them so much fun!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You are the type of GM I strive to be!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

If you use paper bag instead of regular paper wet with coffee scrape then dry looks more like aged parchment and has nicer texture

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

This is amazing. I never had the opportunity to try Pen&Paper Roleplay - always wanted to and still want... this makes me drool!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

oh man that is 100x more than I'd ever do. awesome!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The last time my DM put that much work into props, we unintentionally derailed his plot, and all his work was for nought.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

God I wish I had friends to game with still. Or ... friends, I guess. Being over 30 is weird.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Short vid of how the map moves! https://youtu.be/xzXzi0DLKUs

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Neat, and if the quest goes a long time you can chew the pages for a caffeine hit.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

We used to make maps like these as a kid. Draw-> crumble a bit -> paint with black tea -> soak in oil -> carefully burn holes

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As kids*

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Maybe will you provide more of the coffee in your pictures? The brewing, the pouring, the drinking...

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Really though BEAUTIFUL work on the project. Thats a ton of work and it turned out fantastically. But I know there was 200% more coffee! Lol

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And now the players will proceed to pursue everything but the planned campaign. This prep is good but hinders free RP if it's forced imo.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 2

If you're gonna do a pre-built adventure module you usually start by making sure everyone wants to, so I doubt that'll be a problem.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Use tea!!! No smell xx

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Holy sheeet that's some dedication to the cause

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

Thanks man! I'll upload a small video of how the map moves and share the link here in the comments.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I wasn't the DM, but I hosted the group. Decorated a room and made brownies and cookies and all kinds of stuff. Was a lot of fun.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Wish my dm was that involved

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

F'ing kobolds. Dragon mtn is the best there ever was.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

For the map, did you print it or draw it? Because I'm really tempted to do this

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I printed it from the map in the Dragon Mountain box set.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Where does one find a dragon mountain box set, of is there a link to the Map?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I bet you can find one at eBay. The box set is from 1994 and hasn't been in print since. Google is your friend for map finding.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A DM this dedicated should be compensated in all the beer and cured meat they desire.

9 years ago | Likes 100 Dislikes 1

We're gonna play in the home of a vegetarian. So he's gonna make Indian veggie buffé! Yummy!

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 3

I'll provide my own beer. Another guy is bringing his espresso machine.

9 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Ah, but is the DM's game as good as his fancy prepping? Can his stories hold you rivetted for hours?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As one GM to another. Nice job!

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Thank you!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I don't suppose you could share sources for your materials, or original art before you weathered it?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Failed your Wisdom check putting cardboard in the oven.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Is this a one time set or are most of the papers reused? Because it seems sad if such nice art is just thrown away after..

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Oh, and does it really matter what kind of coffee you use?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Where the hell can i find such a dedicated and detailed DM?! This... just. This...

9 years ago | Likes 273 Dislikes 2

I assume all that writing is really good calligraphy, right? You didn't wimp out and just PRINT it, did you?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I wish I was as dedicated dm. But adult life is tough Bro.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thank you! May I suggest either increasing g your perception or try to get inspiration to use with it?

9 years ago | Likes 111 Dislikes 2

Haha that's a good one *slaps knee*

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

Be the DM you want others to be.

9 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

I would honestly love to but I don't have any creative writing in me at all.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is how it works for my group. Everyone can DM, most do, we've got like 5 games running between us (I'm in 2 and run a third) It's A++

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you. My group never dms for me. It pretty frustrating

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I used to do stuff like this for my games, too. :)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

You know, I tried doing something like this my first game I DM'd in college. Old lady showed them the map showing where she had to 1/

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

dump the plague bodies she was carting out of town and asked that they deliver the message back to her town that she was almost there. 2/

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

She put the map away and promptly died. Party dumped the bodies and her in the hole, then asked, "ok, so where do we have to go to tell 3/

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

them she made it?" "It was written on the map." which was still on her, in the bottom of the bottomless pit. The map was supposed to last 4/

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

the entire goddamn campaign. OH WELL, TIME TO IMPROVISE.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Dude.. yes. I was just about to look up a tutorial to do this for my upcoming campaign. Thanks! Also: did you use a regular pen to mark the

9 years ago | Likes 26 Dislikes 1

Paper or did you print from the computer?

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

usually you want to do these with Photocopies, because Toner is waterproof usually and you can choose the paper type.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks. I was just going to use my at home printer.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I copied the handouts in the box using the copy machine at work. Then I let them soak in coffee with some of the grounds. 1/2

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

In the oven I used the lowest heat possible and let them dry in there. The grounds make splotches of discoloration.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Awesome. Thanks for the tip. Any other suggestions? I'm on my second campaign, have my own world and story/quests, etc.. playing 3.5 though

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

reskin the encounter to fit the new direction the players took. As always communication is key. Talk to your players about expectations(2/x)

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

When planning the story, plan encounters without tying them to a specific event. That way if your players do something else you can (1/x)

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

don't railroad players unless they like that in a game. Imagine every encounter you make with two questions, what if they kill it or run. 1/

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That way you realize the amount of work you should put into each encounter should it be inadvertently discarded by the players actions.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

what kind of game they want and ask about what they felt worked, or didn't work and what was fun and what wasn't that much fun. Most (3/3)

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

is to have fun!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1