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I thought I might try to pull together some tools for DMs running D&D Encounters. This is oriented primarily toward physical tools you can use at the table to make the session more vivid and enjoyable for players, as well as easier for the DM to run.

Please feel free to post your contributions, including links to tools you did not create but which could be useful. I'll do my best to link from this thread.


Maps and Tiles
The supplied maps work really well. The only down-side is really the presence of fold marks, which you can alleviate if the store can keep them unfolded (or rolled in a tube) between sessions.

In addition, you could recreate them with Dungeon Tiles if you have them. I don't recommend using alternate tiles, as authors often really look at room size and layout to match the monsters.

It can be really cool to represent elevations and features. For elevations, craft stores usually have cheap 1" wooden square blocks you can use to represent high areas. If you have dungeon tiles, you can place the tile over them, to keep the same look. You can do the same thing with some features, such as putting blocks under a tile for a dresser or pillar. Pillars can also be found in wood from craft stores.

It can be fun as a DM to add some three-dimensional terrain. Naloomi's workshop has really nice terrain (available painted or unpainted for reasonable prices). You can also find sites that provide paper 3-D elements, cast mold plaster terrain, and even plastic pieces. Used here and there they can really make for interesting combats and help set the scene. My suggestion is to use a few pieces at a time so you become comfortable with using them without blowing your budget or making the combats too complicated.


Minis
There are several threads on the minis for prior sessions.
Session 6 2-2 spoilers: Show
Session 7 2-3 spoilers: Show
Session 8 2-4 spoilers: Show

There are many fine places to purchase miniatures. First, consider supporting your local gaming store - they are hosting D&D Encounters, they are local (support the local economy, be green), and they will only be around if they make a profit. For hard-to-find minis from older sets, there are various places to shop. This site can be useful for comparing prices. This site is also useful.


NPC/Monster Table Tents
A table tent is a folded piece of paper (looking like an old fashioned camping tent) upon which you write information describing your PC. They are used by many RPGA living campaign players. They provide a quick capture of what the PC is and often contain a picture. You can read more about how I use them here. An example Word PC tent can be downloaded here. You can find others online or use the ones that came with the kit.

I have been working on NPC and Monster tents for all of the D&D Encounters sessions. Basically, I search my saved image gallery, the galleries on DDI, and my old pdf books for suitable images for each monster. I share the resulting pdf so you can print them out (grayscale is fine, and even low quality ink looks great). Cut out the images vertically, so you have a long strip with the image at the bottom. Fold in half, so you have an upside-down "V". When the players see the monsters you can bring them out. You can even put initiative tents (miniature folded paper "V"s with numbers on them) over them and give others to the players. Call out initiative ranges and hand out the initiative tents in order. ("Anyone over 20? Ok, you get the #1. Anyone above 15?...")

The table-tents can be downloaded from here. They are done through the end of Chapter 2. (The latest file covers 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4).


Intro Scrolling Presentation
This cool downloadable flash presentation makes for a nice store backdrop to have at a counter or near the gaming table. It was updated for week 6, so we may see more in the future.


Dungeon/Dragon Articles and Sourcebooks
Dungeon (and sometimes Dragon magazine) often has articles that are relevant to the topic at hand. It can be useful to search the archives for pictures, monster ecologies, and other relevant topics.
Spoiler for encounter 2-2: Show


General DMing Threads
In addition to the above, here are some useful threads for DMs.

Useful Links for Dungeon Masters

A WotC group for trading ideas on Skill Challenges. You can also share ideas relevant to D&D Encounters here.


Ok, that should start us off. Any other tools you would recommend?

Thanks! Corrected with a link. I also added new parts, including minis for future encounters, terrain ideas, and a few other bits.

If anyone has good ideas for the 2-3 encounter, please let me know. I'm sure someone out there is crafty and has a cool idea the rest of us could steal. (Please use spoilers as needed).

Author's Notes on Remaining Encounters
Every DM should read these.  There are some important bits there.


On Scaling Down Encounters and Ensuring Fun
The thread for season 10 underscores that there are a lot of DMs out there that seem to feel they must run what is in the adventure very literally. There are also more than a few DMs that want to run the combats as harder than they actually are written.

This is an introductory program. The author and WotC have made it clear on the forums that the point is to be fun and to attract and retain players. DMs should make sure that they are making this fun and that any increase in challenge is actually desired by the players.

There are a number of ways DMs can scale encounters, even on the fly. If during prep a DM sees that the encounter seems rough, or if the DM knows the table is low on resources, then one of these methods can be used to lower the difficulty.

Spoiler for session 10 and the remaining sessions: Show

The part to follow is mostly written for DMs. However, for players, feel free to speak to DMs and let them know if the encounters have been to hard or too easy. Feeling overwhelmed? That is important information for your DM.

Spoilers for future weeks, for DMs only: Show