How to create a D&D Tavern

Introduction

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Almost every D&D adventure starts in a tavern, features a tavern or even ends in one when the heroes enjoy a well earned flagon after defeating the evil menace threatening the land. In classic fantasy literature from the Lord of the Rings to the Dragonlance novels, taverns feature regularly.

They are a useful space for heroes to carry out multiple tasks and for DMs to help begin adventures or shape their overall direction. Because of their ubiquity, from time to time we can take them for granted and when we’re considering how to create a D&D tavern, we should be asking a slightly different question; how can this tavern become a great adventuring location?

What makes a great tavern for players to visit and explore and how does this place become a recurring site for adventures? This is what we will be examining in this article.