The last thing I want is for someone whose only experience with D&D was meh to try DMing and hate it because they were blindsided. Even players who have years of experience can be surprised by what it's like on the other side of the table. A little perspective doesn't hurt. Campaigns, even episodic ones, can be a lot to bite off for a first-timer. The most important thing is that everyone, including the DM, is having fun. And one-shots are a low-stress, low-stakes way to dip your toes into DMing, hence why I suggested it.
Do you have to think up all the teensy details of a world to run a game? Nope.
Do you have to read blogs and watch YouTube videos to run a game? Nope. (But if you wanna, Matt Colville's "Running the Game" videos and the 3 Wise DMs blog are very newbie-friendly.)
Do you have to know the rules of D&D well before you run a game? Nope, though it helps to be somewhat familiar - or have players who are, which you would, OP.
Do you have to have experience as a player before you run a game? Nope! Plenty of people started this hobby by DMing first, or have never even been players.
All you really need is a hook/story idea you think is fun and some players who buy into it. There's gonna be more improv and shepherding on the DM side of the screen than on the player side, and it can be overwhelming if you're not prepared. Note that I said can. (It commonly is, especially for novice DMs with ongoing campaigns, and forestalling this is I think where the caution on this thread is actually coming from. That said, it's certainly not a universal experience.) All DMs get better at the improv with practice, but planning ahead ("worldbuilding") and/or using existing content like published adventures makes it easier. Because D&D is not like a video game; players go off-script all the time. Sometimes, that can stress out DMs...though honestly, that's often where the real fun begins.
I love DMing. I love D&D. I want everyone to have the same amazing introduction to it that I did. My main hope for you, OP, is that you find the spark that ignites your imagination and makes the gaming experience a joy. Because when you do, and you share it with people at a table...that's magic.
The last thing I want is for someone whose only experience with D&D was meh to try DMing and hate it because they were blindsided. Even players who have years of experience can be surprised by what it's like on the other side of the table. A little perspective doesn't hurt. Campaigns, even episodic ones, can be a lot to bite off for a first-timer. The most important thing is that everyone, including the DM, is having fun. And one-shots are a low-stress, low-stakes way to dip your toes into DMing, hence why I suggested it.
Do you have to think up all the teensy details of a world to run a game? Nope.
Do you have to read blogs and watch YouTube videos to run a game? Nope. (But if you wanna, Matt Colville's "Running the Game" videos and the 3 Wise DMs blog are very newbie-friendly.)
Do you have to know the rules of D&D well before you run a game? Nope, though it helps to be somewhat familiar - or have players who are, which you would, OP.
Do you have to have experience as a player before you run a game? Nope! Plenty of people started this hobby by DMing first, or have never even been players.
All you really need is a hook/story idea you think is fun and some players who buy into it. There's gonna be more improv and shepherding on the DM side of the screen than on the player side, and it can be overwhelming if you're not prepared. Note that I said can. (It commonly is, especially for novice DMs with ongoing campaigns, and forestalling this is I think where the caution on this thread is actually coming from. That said, it's certainly not a universal experience.) All DMs get better at the improv with practice, but planning ahead ("worldbuilding") and/or using existing content like published adventures makes it easier. Because D&D is not like a video game; players go off-script all the time. Sometimes, that can stress out DMs...though honestly, that's often where the real fun begins.
I love DMing. I love D&D. I want everyone to have the same amazing introduction to it that I did. My main hope for you, OP, is that you find the spark that ignites your imagination and makes the gaming experience a joy. Because when you do, and you share it with people at a table...that's magic.
Lovely quote.