Or explore the absolute bare minimum amount of the town and then high tail it outta there like it repels them. Then they wonder why there is nothing to do in the tiny speck of a settlement they choose to spend a week in 🤣

Don't invoke Grandfather's name!

Oh yeah, I had the BBEG grab a lock of their hair very early in the campaign during one of their skirmishes 😈

Though unfortunately it has lead to my players adopting a "leave no survivors, leave no witnesses" policy 🤣

Reoccurring characters is an excellent device if your players are paying attention. The best is when you don't directly announce who they are and the players connect the dots and scramble to look through their old notes.

Or overly describe a mundane object (ie candle). They will turn on that object so fast and burn every spell known to man to find out why you did.

Honestly yes, and in a lot of ways helped me better visualize DnD combat. I usually use theatre of the mind and maybe some minis so it can get in a rut when I imagine DnD fights. But the variety of visuals, yells, spell effects was awesome. I hear Gale yelling "ignis!" anytime I cast Fire bolt now

Science will not stand for this affront! 😜

Thusly I say I am henceforth interested in being an investor. Verily.

One of the reasons I (try to) only DM for friends and family who are there to have fun and not "win" TTRPGs. It gets so weird and.... personal sometimes out of nowhere.