Artwork for podcast How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
The Art of Foreshadowing: Planting Seeds for Big Reveals
Episode 18922nd November 2024 • How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM • Justin Lewis
00:00:00 00:17:13

Share Episode

Shownotes

Want to take your campaign from good to unforgettable? In this episode, we’re diving into the art of foreshadowing! Learn how to plant subtle clues, create epic payoffs, and keep your players hooked with those jaw-dropping "aha!" moments. Whether it’s a prophecy, a recurring symbol, or a suspicious NPC, foreshadowing is your secret weapon for immersive storytelling.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • What foreshadowing is and why it’s essential for a cohesive campaign.
  • The difference between direct and subtle foreshadowing (and when to use each).
  • How to plan your big reveals and drop hints that feel natural.
  • Practical DM tips for layering clues, using red herrings, and tracking your foreshadowing efforts.
  • Real-world examples you can adapt for your table.

Quick Highlights:

  • Start with the reveal: What big moment are you building toward?
  • Use NPC dialogue, environmental details, and symbols to plant your hints.
  • Repeat clues and let them evolve, but avoid overwhelming players with too many.
  • Encourage player speculation—sometimes their theories are better than your plans!

Resources Mentioned:

  • Tips for managing clues and continuity in your campaign.
  • How to balance foreshadowing with the flow of gameplay.

Connect With Us:

Did you use any of these tips in your campaign? Share your story!

Mentioned in this episode:

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!

You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That’s where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master’s Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10.

Roll and Play Press

Give Us a Rating and Review

You obviously have really good taste, you’re listening to How to Be a Better DM after all. We thank you for your support. If you’ve ever gotten anything useful from our show, take a minute to give us a rating and a review. It goes a very long way to making it so How to Be a Better DM can help many more dungeon masters just like you. If you love our content, help others become better dungeon masters too.

Follow us on Instagram

Thanks again for listening to our show. If you like our content and would like to engage with more of our content, head over to our Instagram account, @howtobeabetterdm, and give us a follow. Make sure to watch some of our helpful Dungeon Master Rules videos to give yourself some structure and procedure as a Dungeon Master. Don’t forget to reach out with a DM and we can talk shop. https://www.instagram.com/howtobeabetterdmpodcast/

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube