I’m Starting a 5e Game: What Should I Know?

I’ve been a Pathfinder 1st Edition player and GM since the game released. I love the rich complexity of the game and the stories it allows you to tell and share with friends.

For all that, though, the idea of a 5e game has been growing in the back of my mind of late. Perhaps it’s the seductive (apparent) simplicity of the system and speed of play or perhaps it’s the rise of Pathfinder 2nd Edition that is prompting me to take the plunge coupled with my desire to play a game actively supported by its publisher. Whatever the reason, I can’t shake the feeling it’s time to try 5e again.

So—to the point of this article—if you play or run 5e, I’m after your advice.

Given I’m an old fart gamer/grognard of a certain vintage what should I know about 5e (beyond the rules) before starting to play? How do its assumptions and play style differ from Pathfinder or earlier editions of D&D? What am I going to find different (or perhaps problematic)?

If you’ve got any insights, or links to handy resources, please leave a comment below.

33 Reasons You Should Have Joined Raging Swan’s Patreon in 2018

Dressing, detail and flavour can elevate your game. Role-playing is a game of the imagination and anything you as a GM can do to help your players dive into your campaign world and suspend their disbelief is a good thing.

That’s why every month, patrons supporting Raging Swan Press at the $2 and up level get a free copy of that month’s 20 Things instalment and both monthly instalments in the Monstrous Lairs line.

In 2018, patrons who supported us for the whole year got free copies of:

  • 20 Things #22: Ocean Voyage
  • 20 Things #23: Fallen Dwarven Hold
  • 20 Things #24: Sun-scorched Desert
  • 20 Things #25: Curio Shop & Pawnbrokers
  • 20 Things #26: Townsfolk & Villagers
  • 20 Things #27: Ruined Castle
  • 20 Things #28: Travellers’ Inn
  • 20 Things #29: Lich’s Lair
  • 20 Things #30: Orc Village
  • 20 Things #31: Blue Dragon’s Lair
  • 20 Things #32: White Dragon’s Lair

And!

  • Monstrous Lair #1: Owlbear Den
  • Monstrous Lair #2: Troll Cave
  • Monstrous Lair #3: Ogre’s Cave
  • Monstrous Lair #4: Goblin Raiding Camp
  • Monstrous Lair #5: Harpy’s Nest
  • Monstrous Lair #6: Minotaur’s Den
  • Monstrous Lair #7: Giant Spider’s Web
  • Monstrous Lair #8: Ghoul Nest
  • Monstrous Lair #9: Wights’ Barrow
  • Monstrous Lair #10: Mummy’s Crypt
  • Monstrous Lair #11: Dark Creeper Village
  • Monstrous Lair #12: Medusa Lair
  • Monstrous Lair #13: Aboleth’s Sunken Cavern
  • Monstrous Lair #14: Lizardfolk Village
  • Monstrous Lair #15: Bandit Camp
  • Monstrous Lair#16: Thieves’ Hideout
  • Monstrous Lair#17: Witch’s Hovel
  • Monstrous Lair #18: Bugbears’ Lair
  • Monstrous Lair#19: Gnolls’ Camp
  • Monstrous Lair #20: Kobold Warren
  • Monstrous Lair #21: Pirates’ Cove
  • Monstrous Lair #22: Sahuagin’s Sunken Cave

That’s 55 pages of 20 Things and 48 pages of Monstrous Lairs for a total value of $58.85 completely free!

But more importantly than the money saved, these books helped busy GMs like you save time and bring the dungeons, towns, NPCs, wilderness treks and more in their campaign to life with virtually no effort.

So if you’d like to save your precious time and add detail and flavour to your game with free GM’s Resources from Raging Swan Press all you have to do is sign up to our Patreon campaign at the $2 or up level. Every month, you’ll get three free supplements from us as a thank you for your epic support.

Join Us!

I want your campaign to be as awesome as possible, and I’d love to start sending you your free GM’s Resources. To sign up to Raging Swan Press’s Patreon campaign, head on over to our Patreon page.

Raging Swan Press has a New Blog!

Over the weekend, I set up a blog at the Raging Swan Press Store and I’ve already posted up a couple of articles for the busy GM. If you need resources for an adventure featuring bandits or an adventure set in an evil fane check them out!

Please let me know what you think about the new format of the dX articles. I’ve tried to keep them short and sweet so a GM could print them out and take them to the game while providing enough detail to be useful. Let me know what you think, by leaving a comment on one of the articles!

State of the Swan 2019

Last year was a year of both growth and change, for Raging Swan Press. Looking back over the last 12 months in some ways it’s been a more turbulent year than almost any other in Raging Swan Press’s eight-year history. That said, Raging Swan Press has managed to grow despite battling some pretty serious “headwinds”.  (Gosh, don’t I sound professional and businesslike!)

Continue reading State of the Swan 2019