Something new for your table, every morning.

A ready-to-run encounter, a homebrew magic item and an NPC, plot hook, tavern or monster for fifth edition. Free on the site, and in your inbox every Friday.

Today's encounter, Friday, November 6

The Smoke Graveyard

High fight for 4 level-5 characters in the city

A market stall lies overturned, apples rolling across the cobbles. A watch whistle shrills twice and then cuts off.

Two vampire spawn are dragging a fresh body toward the Smoke Graveyard.

2 × Vampire Spawn (CR 5, 1,800 XP each)

Run this encounter Roll one for my party

A2 × Vampire Spawn1party1 square = 5 feet

Homebrew itemCloak of the Twilight Court

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)

This cloak is made of thistledown felt, tied with a ribbon that can't be untied. It can cast Hideous Laughter and Blink.

NPCShagash the Unbowed

Old orc retired adventurer

Shagash the Unbowed, an old orc retired adventurer who wants to see the ocean once before they die.

The Friday kit

Every Friday morning, before the weekend's games: the week's best encounters, items and hooks in one email, plus a bonus encounter built for your party's size and level. Read it on your phone, run it at the table.

How the drops are made

No AI. Every drop is rolled from large random tables we wrote by hand, the same way DMs have rolled for wandering monsters and treasure for fifty years. Encounters are built to the core rules' XP budget for the party shown, with terrain that matters, a twist and treasure. Monster stat blocks come straight from the free System Reference Document.

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Pro builds a pack for your party: three encounters at low, moderate and high difficulty for your exact size and level, in the places and against the creatures your campaign is about, plus treasure, an NPC, a plot hook and a tavern. $5 a month, less than a set of dice.

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For DMs who like to browse.

A new encounter, homebrew item and a third drop on the site every day
Friday email with the week's best drops
One bonus encounter in every email, built for your party's size and level
The generator and every monster stat block, free

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Everything in Free, including the Friday kit
A Monday pack built for your party: three encounters (low, moderate, high) balanced for your exact size and level
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Two magic items scaled to your level, plus an NPC, a plot hook with its own encounter, and a tavern
A printable page for every pack, and an archive of past packs

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Earlier drops

Browse the archive

EncounterNov 5The Shattered Waystation

Moderate fight for 4 level-3 characters in the mountains

Two copper dragon wyrmlings led by a silver dragon wyrmling are sunning on the rocks, one eye open, waiting for a meal to wander close.

Homebrew itemNov 5Greatsword of the Twilight Court

Weapon (Greatsword), uncommon (requires attunement)

This greatsword is made of dew glass, decorated with dancing figures that change position overnight.

Plot hookNov 5The Missing Ferry

Adventure seed for level 3, in the mountains

The ferry across the river near Tallhaven disappeared with twelve passengers and Rook Wickmore the ferry-keeper.

EncounterNov 4The Whispering Standing Stones

High fight for 4 level-15 characters in the forest

A young green dragon and an adult gold dragon are circling overhead, drawn by the smell of the party's rations.

Homebrew itemNov 4Galeborn Morningstar

Weapon (Morningstar), legendary (requires attunement)

This morningstar is made of storm glass, and crackles with tiny sparks. It can cast Thunderwave, Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning.

Monster spotlightNov 4Troll

CR 5 large giant

A troll is searching for a lost heirloom, certain the party took it.

Questions

›Is this official D&D content?

No. DM Drops is an independent product, compatible with fifth edition. The monster stat blocks and spells come from the System Reference Document 5.2, which is free to use under a Creative Commons license (credits). Everything else is generated from our own tables.

›Is it written by AI?

No. Every drop is rolled from random tables we wrote by hand, the way DMs have always used them, and the encounter math follows the rules' XP budgets exactly. The same day always produces the same drops.

›Are the encounters balanced?

Each one is built to the core rules' XP budget for the party size, level and difficulty shown, and every encounter says how to make it easier or harder on the fly. Your table always knows best: adjust freely.

›Which edition is it for?

Fifth edition, using the 2024 core rules (SRD 5.2). Almost everything works with older fifth-edition books too.

›Can I use drops in my own game, stream or module?

Use them at your table, on stream and in your notes as much as you like. If you publish something commercially, please write your own text; the SRD material is yours to use under its license either way.

›How do I cancel Pro?

Use the Manage billing link at the bottom of any Pro email. You keep Pro until the end of the period you've paid for, then you're back on the free Friday kit.