DM Guide

Hidden Items & Spoiler Protection

Keep loot secret until the perfect moment. Master unidentified items, hide/reveal, and DM-only tags for dramatic reveals and mystery campaigns.

Published January 20, 2026 • 7 min read

The Problem: Accidental Spoilers

Your party just found a mysterious sword. You add it to the loot tracker and... everyone sees "Flame Tongue" in the item name. The mystery's gone before they even picked it up.

Or worse: you're prepping loot for next session and a player glances at the shared screen. Now they know the boss drops a Staff of Power.

Two Systems for Secrecy

D20 Loot Tracker gives you two complementary tools for keeping loot secret. Use them separately or together depending on the situation.

System 1: Hide/Reveal (Loot Tab)

What it does:

Completely blurs all item details (name, value, stats, icons) from players. The item shows as a mysterious blur until you reveal it.

When to use:

  • Temporarily hiding items before distribution
  • Building suspense during "what's in the chest?" moments
  • Preventing players from seeing upcoming loot during prep

How it works:

  1. 1. Add item to Incoming Loot
  2. 2. Click the eye icon to hide it
  3. 3. Item appears completely blurred to players (DM still sees everything)
  4. 4. Auto-reveals when assigned to a player, OR click to reveal manually

System 2: Unidentified Items

What it does:

Shows a fake name instead of the real item name. Players see "Rusty Sword" while you see "Flame Tongue (unidentified as Rusty Sword)".

When to use:

  • Magic items that require identification
  • Cursed items you want revealed at the worst moment
  • Plot items that need investigation to understand
  • Items where the "true nature" is part of the story

How it works:

  1. 1. When adding an item, check "Unidentified"
  2. 2. Enter a fake display name (e.g., "Tarnished Ring")
  3. 3. Players see only the fake name everywhere
  4. 4. Click "Reveal" when the item is identified

Bonus: DM-Only Tags

Add secret tags to any item that only you can see. Tags persist even after items are assigned to players.

Example tags:

cursedplot-itemreveal-session-5identify-DC-18homebrewsentient

Creative Uses

1. The Cursed Weapon Reveal

Setup: Create a "Beautiful Longsword" that's actually a Berserker Axe

Timing: Reveal the curse mid-combat when rage takes over

Tag: "cursed, reveal-when-failed-save"

2. The Family Heirloom

Setup: "Tarnished Locket" is actually a Medallion of Thoughts belonging to a missing NPC

Timing: Reveal when they meet the NPC's family

Tag: "plot-item, belongs-to-mayor's-daughter"

3. The Appraisal Mini-Game

Setup: Multiple unidentified items, some valuable, some mundane

Mechanic: Arcana/Investigation checks to identify. Correct ID = full sell value

Tag: "identify-DC-15" or "identify-DC-20"

4. The Sleeper Agent Item

Setup: "Simple Ring" is actually a Ring of Mind Shielding with a trapped soul

Timing: The soul starts communicating after a few sessions

Tag: "sentient, soul-inside, reveal-session-4"

5. The Red Herring

Setup: "Ornate Dagger with Strange Runes" that's... just an ornate dagger

Purpose: Not everything needs to be magical. Keeps players guessing.

Tag: "red-herring, mundane"

Workflow: The Mystery Chest

Here's a complete workflow for a dramatic treasure reveal:

  1. 1Create a Hoard: "Mysterious Locked Chest"
  2. 2Add 5 items: 3 normal, 2 unidentified (cursed dagger, valuable ring)
  3. 3During session: Move hoard to Incoming Loot
  4. 4Hide all items: Click eye icon on each
  5. 5Dramatic reveal: Reveal items one by one as players examine them
  6. 6Unidentified items: Show the fake name until they cast Identify

Best Practices

  • Don't overuse: If everything is mysterious, nothing feels special. Reserve hidden items for truly important moments.
  • Match fake names to item type: "Rusty Sword" for a weapon, "Plain Gold Band" for a ring. Players get suspicious if everything is "mysterious."
  • Use tags for tracking: Add tags like "reveal-session-5" so you remember when to reveal plot items.
  • Log reveals: The transaction history tracks all reveals. Use it to reference what's been identified.
  • Consider player agency: Let Identify spells and successful checks actually reveal items. Don't hide things forever.

Try It Yourself

Create your first mystery item. Set up an unidentified cursed weapon or hide upcoming loot from curious players.

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