Hello there DM's,

I am about to embark on the challenge of DM'ing and all I have in DM backpack is a note book, pen, pencil and mobile phone for the few digital D&D books in my possession. Is there anything else that I need.?

Was planning on running my game via Roll20 and Discord and I've seen other comments on here that other's have done the same.

Are there any tips you can share or things I'll need that I've not thought of or got.?

Thanks.. :-) 

Welcome to the other side of the DM’s Screen. Here are my top pieces of advice:

• It’s okay to make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. That’s the best way to learn how to avoid those mistakes again in future. The only difference between the least knowledgeable DM and the most knowledgeable is the number of “learning opportunities” they have had.
• If you are ever find yourself questioning whether or not you are a good DM, just look around your table. If everyone is having fun, even if you’re not strictly following the rules, you’re doing it right. (When it comes to knowing if you’re a “good” DM, this is the only metric that matters.)
• Reread chapters 7, 9, and 10 of the PHB, the vast majority of rules that you will use almost every session are in those three chapters.
• During sessions, if you don’t know a rule and can’t find it in about a minute, stop looking. Make a ruling, let everyone know that’s what you’re doing, and that you’ll look up actual RAW before the next session. Then be sure you do as it will not only help you learn, it will give them even more reason to trust you next time, because there will always be a next time.

The absolute second best piece of advice I can give is this:

And the absolute #1 most important advice I can give is simply this:

• Have fun. 😊 Don’t sweat the small stuff. (Everything else is small stuff.)

I hope that helps.

All of the above plus:

If you are using Roll20 be sure to set up a few extra maps just in case the party goes in a completely different direction. Happens all the time.

Be sure to go over monster stats and features ahead of time and have hard copies available during the game.

You don't need to do a  range of voices for characters but as it is over Discord, find ways to differentiate them so players know who is talking.

If players don't know how to use Roll20 have a tutorial session.

Have a Session 0 to make sure everyone is on the same page about the tone of the campaign.

Talk to players ahead of time about things that might make them uncomfortable or be triggering. Create a list for all players to let them know that those lines can't be crossed. 

I would add the suggestion to not over-prep. Be prepared for your game session, no doubt, but maybe don't prepare 2-3 game sessions worth that your players might not get to, or if they do it will have changed because of their actions. Sly Flourish calls this thinking two horizons out or thinking three hexes out, and is very useful. He also has a useful article on Getting Started with D&D. A good bit of advice for anyone really.

Good luck and have fun!

I'd say make sure you have access to a name generator of some kind. I personally use fantasynamegenerators.com, since it's quick and easy to use for those moments when your party asks some unimportant NPC what their name is.

I'd also recommend keeping a few of the "generic" NPC statblocks handy... stuff like the Veteran, Soldier, Mage, etc. Again, this is mostly to cover for when a character who you didn't prepare a character sheet for somehow ends up involved in combat.

Would you like to join a community server and throw everything you have against players?