If you have any tips for DM dummies put them here! Anything from how to run your game to basic rule book things. Put ‘em here! :) this will help me a lot so come carry your wisdom forward
Get familiar with the spells, feats and abilities of your PC's. Never throw something out, just recycle it if the players didn't "go that way". Lead the way with roleplay. Don't get bogged down in the rules. If you're unsure, use common sense and move on, checking on the rule later. HAVE A SESSION ZERO. No phones at the table. Mold the game around your players. They're the heroes, not just adventurers doing heroic things.
Practice. Few (if any) start as a good or great DM, it takes time, experience and practice.
Don't compare yourself initially to those you think of as great DMs, just work on ensuring that both you and your table are having fun. The more games you run the more you'll find things you like and don't like -- also don't burn yourself out :)
Have fun and welcome to DMing!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
Think small. Don't load up your quest, NPCs, or even players with world-changing prophecies or elaborate backstories, especially at level one. Just give your characters goals they can complete by the end of a session, like "steal this artifact," "kill this monster," or "rescue this noble." That'll make them feel more powerful and meaningful.
My personal favorite hack: set in-game time limits. "The dungeon seals itself on Durin's Day" or "the cultists complete their ritual at midnight" adds urgency and prevents characters from backing out to take a long rest when things get hard.
Don't have expectations. We all were different flavors of terrible the first time we DMed, and that's okay. The important thing is getting together with good friends and having fun playing a game! (On that note, playing with people who are friends first and players second often makes for a better game, especially your first time.) If everyone enjoys themselves, you are a great DM already!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
If you have any tips for DM dummies put them here! Anything from how to run your game to basic rule book things. Put ‘em here! :) this will help me a lot so come carry your wisdom forward
This is all you need. It may take a while to watch, but these will help you become great.
Matthew Colville; Running the Game
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Get familiar with the spells, feats and abilities of your PC's. Never throw something out, just recycle it if the players didn't "go that way". Lead the way with roleplay. Don't get bogged down in the rules. If you're unsure, use common sense and move on, checking on the rule later. HAVE A SESSION ZERO. No phones at the table. Mold the game around your players. They're the heroes, not just adventurers doing heroic things.
I was just about to post this myself. This is probably the single most useful tool for a new DM to cut their teeth.
Wait until BioWizard sees this, she’ll be pleased that someone finally beat me to post it.
Reread chapters 9 & 10 of the PHB.
RUN A SESSION 0!!!
Those are my top three tips.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Practice. Few (if any) start as a good or great DM, it takes time, experience and practice.
Don't compare yourself initially to those you think of as great DMs, just work on ensuring that both you and your table are having fun. The more games you run the more you'll find things you like and don't like -- also don't burn yourself out :)
Have fun and welcome to DMing!
"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
Think small. Don't load up your quest, NPCs, or even players with world-changing prophecies or elaborate backstories, especially at level one. Just give your characters goals they can complete by the end of a session, like "steal this artifact," "kill this monster," or "rescue this noble." That'll make them feel more powerful and meaningful.
My personal favorite hack: set in-game time limits. "The dungeon seals itself on Durin's Day" or "the cultists complete their ritual at midnight" adds urgency and prevents characters from backing out to take a long rest when things get hard.
Don't have expectations. We all were different flavors of terrible the first time we DMed, and that's okay. The important thing is getting together with good friends and having fun playing a game! (On that note, playing with people who are friends first and players second often makes for a better game, especially your first time.) If everyone enjoys themselves, you are a great DM already!
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club