Hi, I've recently become interested in DMing a group of friends who have never played or really seen anything of a tabletop rpg game. I've watched some videos and listened to some podcast. I have a GENERAL idea, but I was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips for me!
Thank you to anyone who would choose to give advise! :)
I'd also recommend looking up threads here in the forums on that very topic. This is one of those perennial questions, and many of us have perennial answers for these threads :)
Also, there a number of web series giving new DM advice as well. BioWizard already covered Matt Colville, but there's a series by Matt Mercer, and WebDMhas a number of introductory videos, and are a good general resource.
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Definitely check those out but also keep your books close at hand and the interwebs available as you won't get 20 minutes into your first game before something comes up that you haven't read or seen. Just don't worry when that happens, still happens to me all the time lol.
Read the PHB. Print out a copy of the free basic rules for each player and encourage them to read those at the least. Find a good DM screen with a nice cheat sheet.
Remember it's a group game. All of you are there to have fun. And there is no right or wrong way to play. Find what works and brings the most to your group and stick with that.
My number 1 tip: watch that series that BioWizard suggested. Truly tops. After that:
If everyone is having fun, even if you’re not strictly following the rules, you’re doing it right.
If you cannot find a rule in under a minute, just make a decision, let everyone know that’s what you’re doing, and tell them you’re gonna look it up before next session.
It’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, that’s the best way to learn not to make them again.
Reread chapters 7, 9, and 10 of the PHB or Basic Rules, whichever you have. The vast majority of the stuff that will come up almost every session is in those three chapters.
Be open with your players about your newness. Make it clear that "I don't know, let's look," is an absolutely essential phrase at the table.
Also, I didn't start with anything home brewed; I started with a book to get comfortable. It's been a confidence booster, as I've started to see all the places where the book sucks, and almost immediately started adapting the content. I learned I find homebrew easier to run for me personally, but starting with that would have been hella intimidating.
Also seconding the advice to have lots of cheat sheets. Give yourself a nice page of basic rules, npc names, a few player stats, etc. It's nice and helpful.
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Hi, I've recently become interested in DMing a group of friends who have never played or really seen anything of a tabletop rpg game. I've watched some videos and listened to some podcast. I have a GENERAL idea, but I was wondering if anyone had any helpful tips for me!
Thank you to anyone who would choose to give advise! :)
Best advice is to watch the series Running the Game by Matt Colville. First episode:
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.
I'd also recommend looking up threads here in the forums on that very topic. This is one of those perennial questions, and many of us have perennial answers for these threads :)
There's a few here, here, and here.
Also, there a number of web series giving new DM advice as well. BioWizard already covered Matt Colville, but there's a series by Matt Mercer, and WebDM has a number of introductory videos, and are a good general resource.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Definitely check those out but also keep your books close at hand and the interwebs available as you won't get 20 minutes into your first game before something comes up that you haven't read or seen. Just don't worry when that happens, still happens to me all the time lol.
Read the PHB. Print out a copy of the free basic rules for each player and encourage them to read those at the least. Find a good DM screen with a nice cheat sheet.
Remember it's a group game. All of you are there to have fun. And there is no right or wrong way to play. Find what works and brings the most to your group and stick with that.
This book has been a godsend in my session prepping. I highly recommend it. https://slyflourish.com/returnofthelazydm/
My number 1 tip: watch that series that BioWizard suggested. Truly tops. After that:
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Fixed. :)
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.
Fixed it again for you. What was the final score of our contest again...?
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Be open with your players about your newness. Make it clear that "I don't know, let's look," is an absolutely essential phrase at the table.
Also, I didn't start with anything home brewed; I started with a book to get comfortable. It's been a confidence booster, as I've started to see all the places where the book sucks, and almost immediately started adapting the content. I learned I find homebrew easier to run for me personally, but starting with that would have been hella intimidating.
Also seconding the advice to have lots of cheat sheets. Give yourself a nice page of basic rules, npc names, a few player stats, etc. It's nice and helpful.