How starting my Dungeon Master stock pot made me a better DM
A simple recipe for an easier game
I'm about to share my most valuable secret.
Have you ever wondered how other DM's seem to be a well of creativity? Constantly cooking up new ideas and whole sessions with barely an effort? Never fazed by even the most outlandish twist their players throw at them?
Of course, many are great improvisers who possess the swan-like ability to smile serenely as their feet furiously pedal under the table, but I suspect more often than not they are relying on a technique no one is talking about: the DM's stockpot.
The idea is extremely simple: every time you have an idea that you can't use today, put it in the stock pot.
It could be a fully fledged piece of content or a barely conceived notion. The important thing is to store it somewhere safe, ready for when you need it.
Almost every DM does a version of this, even if they don't use the term ‘stockpot’ or have a formal method of organisation. They move through the world, subconsciously collecting ideas that might be useful at some point, and then call on it during a crucial moment at the table. Their players wonder as they pluck a full encounter out of thin air, but if you asked them, they would explain they have been thinking about it for years.
My suggestion is that you formalise your stockpot. Use a technique that you find useful to organise your ideas so that you can both collect them and call on them at a moment's notice.
And of course, don’t just collect your own ideas - fill it with other people's ideas too:
A published adventure that you like the look of.
An Instagram post with a cool magic item.
A Substack post with a list of interesting NPCS.
All of them should go straight in your stockpot. These creators want you to use your content, they will be just as thrilled if you save it somewhere safe for a rainy day.
It's fine if things going into the pot need a little work before they're ready for your table. If you get a spare moment you might take them out and tinker with them, but I actually recommend waiting until you need them. You'll save more time and effort.
The point of this stock pot is to both fuel your creativity and to give you a life raft to cling to when the storm hits. Instead of having to panic because your players unexpectedly planeshift to the Feywild, you simply dust off the weird fairy adventure you put in the stockpot last year. Mid-session, even a monster stat block might be enough to feed your players while you get your thinking cap on.
Starting your stock pot today
These are three ideas I have taken from other places that I'm yet to use in my games, they’re just waiting their time to shine.
If you have an idea that you think other DMs might find useful to add to their own starter stockpot, please leave it in the comments. I love the idea that reading this article could see DMs walking away with a stockpot brimming with ideas from the whole community.
#1 Eye Chest
A large eye on the front of the chest carefully watches those who approach it. To open the chest, you must first cast invisibility on yourself.
This is a lovely puzzle in itself but has an additional appeal in ttrpgs. Firstly the legend of the Mimic would loom large over this puzzle, adding extra tension for your players, but also a second level invisibility spell is far more costly to a low level 5e party than the wizards in Hogwarts Legacy, making it an interesting way to tempt players into expending resources before the big fight.
#2 Ceremonial Dagger
A +1 Dagger that allows the bearer to cast cure wounds once per day. No attunement required.
A lovely reward for low level adventurers, particularly those without a dedicated healer. The lack of attunement means many players would use this throughout their career.
#3 Mage's Breath
A stick of incense brimming with magical potential. When burnt and inhaled over the course of a short rest up to four creatures can recover a total of 4 levels of spell slots, divided as they choose.
Eg. Four spell casters can recover a 1st level spell slot each, or one spellcaster can recover a 4th level spell slot.
Spell slots are infinitely useful and players of all levels always need more. The moment this item was put up for sale in this actual play I made a mental note for my stock pot.
Enjoyed this. I'll be swiping all three of these for my own stockpot.
Great tip. I love the Eye Chest and will definitely use that in a future game. My players are always joking that everything is a mimic. Lately, I’ve been posting one-page dungeons with a small adventure and dungeon layout. It’s hard to predict how long a session will take. Sometimes they breeze through it, and other times they spend an hour debating whether a door is locked. I'm hoping these one-pagers can fill a couple of hours when you have some unexpected game time.