The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish The Blood Spire – Dragon Empire Prep Session 43
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Nov 7, 2025 Mike dives deep into prepping his Dragon Empire campaign, discussing player damage output and the influence of high-attack characters. He recaps thrilling past encounters, including the Blood Spire and the sinister rituals of the Blood Mages. The Lazy Dungeon Master method is employed for efficient prep, as secrets about blood magic and NPC motivations are examined. Future quest arcs promise intrigue and heists, while encounter design features creative foes, including blood giants and reskinned elementals, adding tactical depth to the upcoming session.
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Episode notes
Campaign Setup And Purpose
- Mike Shea introduces his Scourge of the Dragon Empire campaign set in the Marathi region using Tales of the Valiant rules.
- He frames the episode as a Lazy GM Prep session to prepare for the next game.
High Damage Characters Change Encounter Design
- Tales of the Valiant characters tend to deal high sustained damage and generate many attack rolls.
- High player damage changes encounter design by making HP and mitigation primary balancing concerns.
How The Party Approached The Blood Spire
- The party reached the Fallen Temple of Aten, now called the Blood Spire, to stop Blood Mages of K'nesh and rescue the Children of Mott.
- They planned and decided to skirt south to approach the main watchtower first.
