I like to keep my questions short. I'm very intelligent (empirically speaking), and I'm new to 5e, but also familiar with the rules, and a borderline perfectionist. I'm about to DM for a group of players that have been gaming together 15+ years and I'm nervous. Please give me some tips to get these guys engaged.
Cater to how the group plays. If they are more combat focused make encounters that test them, fight the way a monster would fight. Example A Dragon wouldn't logically land and try to attack the party it would more likely fly 200 feet and breath weapon when it can, Kobolds equipped with tower shields would turtle up while another group would hurl spears over them. If they are more story focused give them more puzzles and story beats to hit. Think of it as a novel series. Book one the team unites ending with the first battle with a major boss, book two the boss (If still alive ) gets his own group to get revenge and deals a devastating blow to the heroes, Book 3 The final battle.
Thanks, it does help. Finding what drives these guys is key. I hope to do a "zero session" to find out their aspirations and goals.... "You guys have been doing this for years, why do you keep coming back" kind of thing.
I've sat and watched them for two sessions now and a lot of them kind of check out, almost throughout the entire session. Hoping to find a way to keep them engged, although I have no experience at improv or voice acting.
Intelligence and understanding rules will get you so far. But an experienced group know the rules and can help you out with them as you're a new DM.
What experienced players will probably need is creativity. If they've been playing for 15+ years then they've probably fought everything in the MM, explored every dungeon worth exploring, and know every piece of lore there is to know. Think of way to surprise them, as you are new you shouldn't be too constrained by the archetypes of D&D which they probably are, so use that to your advantage.
What are they talking about in real life? Is there something happening in the world they're opposed to? Build your adventure around that and make the link obvious.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I like to keep my questions short. I'm very intelligent (empirically speaking), and I'm new to 5e, but also familiar with the rules, and a borderline perfectionist. I'm about to DM for a group of players that have been gaming together 15+ years and I'm nervous. Please give me some tips to get these guys engaged.
Cater to how the group plays. If they are more combat focused make encounters that test them, fight the way a monster would fight. Example A Dragon wouldn't logically land and try to attack the party it would more likely fly 200 feet and breath weapon when it can, Kobolds equipped with tower shields would turtle up while another group would hurl spears over them. If they are more story focused give them more puzzles and story beats to hit. Think of it as a novel series. Book one the team unites ending with the first battle with a major boss, book two the boss (If still alive ) gets his own group to get revenge and deals a devastating blow to the heroes, Book 3 The final battle.
I hope that helps a bit.
Thanks, it does help. Finding what drives these guys is key. I hope to do a "zero session" to find out their aspirations and goals.... "You guys have been doing this for years, why do you keep coming back" kind of thing.
I've sat and watched them for two sessions now and a lot of them kind of check out, almost throughout the entire session. Hoping to find a way to keep them engged, although I have no experience at improv or voice acting.
Intelligence and understanding rules will get you so far. But an experienced group know the rules and can help you out with them as you're a new DM.
What experienced players will probably need is creativity. If they've been playing for 15+ years then they've probably fought everything in the MM, explored every dungeon worth exploring, and know every piece of lore there is to know. Think of way to surprise them, as you are new you shouldn't be too constrained by the archetypes of D&D which they probably are, so use that to your advantage.
What are they talking about in real life? Is there something happening in the world they're opposed to? Build your adventure around that and make the link obvious.