I've been DMing for about a year, but I recently moved away from my friends, so now 4 of us play online, and I always get super nervous before we start. I didn't really have the problem in person, but not I'm the last person to join the call even though I'm ready regarding dice, notes, and plans. My friends have fun, but it bothers me how much I stutter, go "um" or just don't remember what to say, or just descriptions short because I feel self-conscious about them. I just want them to have a good time, so I can know I did a good job.
Remember that they are still playing online because they enjoy the game you run.
Lots of people stutter or um when coming up with details on the fly. I'm pretty sure I start most of my sentences with "Alright, so ..." when moving the game along. Not every session is going to be perfect or Oscar-worthy, so just focus on your ideas you want to put across and let the players have fun interacting with the world.
If you think your descriptions are too short, why not write a few down and have your own box text ready before a session. If you're still concerned, do message your players privately and ask them for their feedback, they might not feel there's a problem at all.
The more sessions you run online, the more comfortable you'll feel with it all, so keep on going and enjoy some great sessions!
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Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
DMing in person is really different then DMing online. When in person you have all sorts of interactions, body language and responses that we use to gain feedback and adjust accordingly. But when DMing online a lot of those cues are gone and despite having people on the other end of the screen It can feel like you're talking to yourself. That in turn can make you feel more self-conscious. Which make those filler noises more obvious to yourself.
Here's my secret when I'm DMing online... They don't notice. They don't notice the mistakes I make. They don't notice the ums and ahhs, they don't notice the pauses. They do notice the effort you are putting in and that you are trying to make it fun.
I have found it gets easier the more you do. But a few tricks. Pauses are good. Use them for dramatic effect and in that time gather your thoughts. If you are struggling with descriptions and you feel it needs more details, bring it around to your players Eg, The forest stretches off in the distance the sun cutting through the branches......... Um, Bob it reminds you of your childhood, why is that? Then while they are thinking of something you can prepare your next steps. Allow your players the chance to add their personality to the world and it'll take the pressure off you a little. Warn them ahead of time first :)
It sounds to me like you just need to get used to the medium. When I first started doing text RP with MUSHes it took me a while to get really comfortable at it... then eventually I was confidently running my own MUSH (which I did for years). Then when I switched to MMOs, it took me a long time to get confident at that. Then I was running me own guilds (for several years). I'm about to start playing (not DMing) an online game with several friends and a few people I don't know (everyone is a friend of the DM), and I'm sure that will take a while before I'm comfortable with it. But if we imagine that a year goes buy and this time next year I'm still playing at it, I'm sure I will be comfortable with that too.
TLDR - give it time.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
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I've been DMing for about a year, but I recently moved away from my friends, so now 4 of us play online, and I always get super nervous before we start. I didn't really have the problem in person, but not I'm the last person to join the call even though I'm ready regarding dice, notes, and plans. My friends have fun, but it bothers me how much I stutter, go "um" or just don't remember what to say, or just descriptions short because I feel self-conscious about them. I just want them to have a good time, so I can know I did a good job.
Any advice?
Remember that they are still playing online because they enjoy the game you run.
Lots of people stutter or um when coming up with details on the fly. I'm pretty sure I start most of my sentences with "Alright, so ..." when moving the game along. Not every session is going to be perfect or Oscar-worthy, so just focus on your ideas you want to put across and let the players have fun interacting with the world.
If you think your descriptions are too short, why not write a few down and have your own box text ready before a session. If you're still concerned, do message your players privately and ask them for their feedback, they might not feel there's a problem at all.
The more sessions you run online, the more comfortable you'll feel with it all, so keep on going and enjoy some great sessions!
Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1!
Never tell me the DC.
DMing in person is really different then DMing online. When in person you have all sorts of interactions, body language and responses that we use to gain feedback and adjust accordingly. But when DMing online a lot of those cues are gone and despite having people on the other end of the screen It can feel like you're talking to yourself. That in turn can make you feel more self-conscious. Which make those filler noises more obvious to yourself.
Here's my secret when I'm DMing online... They don't notice. They don't notice the mistakes I make. They don't notice the ums and ahhs, they don't notice the pauses. They do notice the effort you are putting in and that you are trying to make it fun.
I have found it gets easier the more you do. But a few tricks. Pauses are good. Use them for dramatic effect and in that time gather your thoughts. If you are struggling with descriptions and you feel it needs more details, bring it around to your players Eg, The forest stretches off in the distance the sun cutting through the branches......... Um, Bob it reminds you of your childhood, why is that? Then while they are thinking of something you can prepare your next steps. Allow your players the chance to add their personality to the world and it'll take the pressure off you a little. Warn them ahead of time first :)
Hope this helps. You'll be fine.
It sounds to me like you just need to get used to the medium. When I first started doing text RP with MUSHes it took me a while to get really comfortable at it... then eventually I was confidently running my own MUSH (which I did for years). Then when I switched to MMOs, it took me a long time to get confident at that. Then I was running me own guilds (for several years). I'm about to start playing (not DMing) an online game with several friends and a few people I don't know (everyone is a friend of the DM), and I'm sure that will take a while before I'm comfortable with it. But if we imagine that a year goes buy and this time next year I'm still playing at it, I'm sure I will be comfortable with that too.
TLDR - give it time.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.