C o o l, so this is a thing I decided I'd post outta nowhere. So I've only ever ran one campaign, which was one based on a homebrew world I ended up making. It flunked in the space of 5-ish sessions since my buddies weren't available, which made me feel like I did a shitty job as a DM. I'd like to think I'm great at coming up with worlds, concepts and whatnot but i'm absolutely terrible at putting things into practice. Is there any advice y'all could give in relation to like...DM'ing stuff? Putting stuff into practice, keeping things in shape without railroading-- The usual, y'know?
I honestly didn't know how to word this question since my brain's just not doing it's thing. So uh. I think the TLDR version is;
Any DM's have advice on how not to be a complete train wreck? T h a n k s-
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"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Easier to refer you to the more or less universally acknowledged experts. Look up Matt Colville, Chris Perkins or Matt Mercer on youtube. They've all done several videos on aspects of DMing (Colville has a pretty massive series called Running the Game).
edit: I'm going to suggest cutting yourself some slack as well. Extraneous circumstances can be a problem and more to the point, D&D is a cooperative game: good DMs make for better players, but good players also make for better DMs. Everybody has their part in making a good campaign, and everybody likely has to learn and grow into that. It's not on you alone if a campaign fails apart, and in fact it's not unlikely it's not on you at all. Do your best, strive to be better, that's all anyone can hope from you.
Ah, thanks for the reference! My most recent binge was JelloApocalypse's 'Tip Of The Tongue' series, as well as some of XP's, Davvy's etc videos on DM'ing, so thanks for adding onto my collection. The thread's a big help too, so thanks for that too!
Just saw the edit there. That sure is a motivating piece! That was kind of the only piece I've ever DM'd so I tried putting as much effort into it as possible for the sake of it and it burned me out preddy fast, so-- Fun times
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
That sure is a motivating piece! That was kind of the only piece I've ever DM'd so I tried putting as much effort into it as possible for the sake of it and it burned me out preddy fast, so-- Fun times
If there's one piece of info I can impart from personal experience: half of what I prepare never comes up and half of what does come up I end up improvising. I don't consider the stuff that doesn't get used a waste of effort (if anything, I'll have it in the bank for another time), but there are only so many hours in the day and it's not like I don't have to work and eat and sleep. :p It's good to pace yourself a bit, and to manage your expectations about what you create.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I HIGHLY recommend using the Essentials Kit or Starter Kit if this is your first time DMing. They tell you everything you need to know and nothing you don't. Also it's way cheaper than buying the DMG. Also their adventures are actually super great.
Personally, I prefer the adventure of the Starter Kit, and the DM tools and sidekicks and stuff of the Essentials Kit. Both are great.
I actually tried using the starter kit,, though for whatever reason,, I got confused the first time I tried it? Second time around, it went well though, so I guess it all chalked up to nerves and anxiety the first time-
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"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Ah, thanks for the link! Just finished up with a voice acting video so I'll hop right to this!
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"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Gotcha, so the series is pretty top tier then, huh? Thanks for the help!
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"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Matt Colville is one of the best-known DMs on the internet. He has a nearly 100-episode series on how to run D&D, plus has run a 24-or so episode D&D "YouTube show" called the Chain of Acheron. He has published supplemental rules for D&D (Strongholds and Followers, and the upcoming Kingdoms and Warfare), and is friendly with some of the other "big names" of the D&D community. You won't find better advice on how to run a game than what he has provided.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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 genuinely don't know how I missed. The series I love are like...The Mcelroy's 'The Adventure Zone', Slimecicle's 'Just Roll With It' and Critical Role. But like. I don't know how I missed this series if it's that well-known. I feel like I've been missing out., not gonna lie-
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
My advice for any fantasy creator, whether a DM or novelist or screenwriter, is to stop inventing worlds and invent a city or town. Your players will not be interested in your gods and continents until you give them an interesting plot and characters. Start small.
I genuinely don't know how I missed. The series I love are like...The Mcelroy's 'The Adventure Zone', Slimecicle's 'Just Roll With It' and Critical Role. But like. I don't know how I missed this series if it's that well-known. I feel like I've been missing out., not gonna lie-
Those are all series where you watch people play (and watch a DM DM). Matt Colville and others pull back the DM screen and show what goes on during prep.
Much of my work talks to how to bring narrative, story, and ideas to things that matter AT the table. Moving from create mode to implement mode.
Check out the many videos I have. Link in sig.
In short -
Work with the 5 bullet system. Build adventures in bullet points. What you write there asks questions. As you find answers, you create content. As to railroading - whatever answers your players come up with inform the 5 bullet points you'll use next session. Or something like that.
Starting small has n e v e r been my forte. I'd start small, and then just progressively get more intense as I'd write things down on the spot. Which definitely wears you down, so I might have to go back to thinking small. Thanks for the advice!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
R i g h t, gotcha! That's likely what makes it so iconic then. I've started Colville's series not even an hour ago, it seems very interesting so far!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Huh! I'll have to take you up on that, I'll check these videos out for the sake of learning what's up with the DM scene, so thanks for that! The 5 bullet system is something I'll have to take into consideration too.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Starting small has n e v e r been my forte. I'd start small, and then just progressively get more intense as I'd write things down on the spot. Which definitely wears you down, so I might have to go back to thinking small. Thanks for the advice!
I have the same problem. I never just make up a small adventure -- I always build a whole world and all the cultures in it. Foolish, probably, but I enjoy it in my way.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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.
Yeah, exactly! It's like...Most of the stuff I write never comes up for the players, but it helps with the need for perfection and whatnot. Plus, it makes it more realistic in my eyes, y'know? Especially if its based in the real world. Like, for one of the games of Monster Of The Week I co-DM'd, I ended up making an entire fictional town in Oregon, which was absolutely unnecessary since I could've just built it in an already existing town-- but it's so rewarding!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
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C o o l, so this is a thing I decided I'd post outta nowhere. So I've only ever ran one campaign, which was one based on a homebrew world I ended up making. It flunked in the space of 5-ish sessions since my buddies weren't available, which made me feel like I did a shitty job as a DM. I'd like to think I'm great at coming up with worlds, concepts and whatnot but i'm absolutely terrible at putting things into practice. Is there any advice y'all could give in relation to like...DM'ing stuff? Putting stuff into practice, keeping things in shape without railroading-- The usual, y'know?
I honestly didn't know how to word this question since my brain's just not doing it's thing. So uh. I think the TLDR version is;
Any DM's have advice on how not to be a complete train wreck? T h a n k s-
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Easier to refer you to the more or less universally acknowledged experts. Look up Matt Colville, Chris Perkins or Matt Mercer on youtube. They've all done several videos on aspects of DMing (Colville has a pretty massive series called Running the Game).
This thread on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/mattcolville/comments/8lyx62/other_youtube_channels_like_running_the_game/) lists a number of other references as well.
edit: I'm going to suggest cutting yourself some slack as well. Extraneous circumstances can be a problem and more to the point, D&D is a cooperative game: good DMs make for better players, but good players also make for better DMs. Everybody has their part in making a good campaign, and everybody likely has to learn and grow into that. It's not on you alone if a campaign fails apart, and in fact it's not unlikely it's not on you at all. Do your best, strive to be better, that's all anyone can hope from you.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Ah, thanks for the reference! My most recent binge was JelloApocalypse's 'Tip Of The Tongue' series, as well as some of XP's, Davvy's etc videos on DM'ing, so thanks for adding onto my collection. The thread's a big help too, so thanks for that too!
Just saw the edit there. That sure is a motivating piece! That was kind of the only piece I've ever DM'd so I tried putting as much effort into it as possible for the sake of it and it burned me out preddy fast, so-- Fun times
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
If there's one piece of info I can impart from personal experience: half of what I prepare never comes up and half of what does come up I end up improvising. I don't consider the stuff that doesn't get used a waste of effort (if anything, I'll have it in the bank for another time), but there are only so many hours in the day and it's not like I don't have to work and eat and sleep. :p It's good to pace yourself a bit, and to manage your expectations about what you create.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I HIGHLY recommend using the Essentials Kit or Starter Kit if this is your first time DMing. They tell you everything you need to know and nothing you don't. Also it's way cheaper than buying the DMG. Also their adventures are actually super great.
Personally, I prefer the adventure of the Starter Kit, and the DM tools and sidekicks and stuff of the Essentials Kit. Both are great.
You should watch the "Running the Game" series by Matt Colville. Great advice, and well presented.
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 actually tried using the starter kit,, though for whatever reason,, I got confused the first time I tried it? Second time around, it went well though, so I guess it all chalked up to nerves and anxiety the first time-
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Ah, thanks for the link! Just finished up with a voice acting video so I'll hop right to this!
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
This^^^
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
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Gotcha, so the series is pretty top tier then, huh? Thanks for the help!
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Matt Colville is one of the best-known DMs on the internet. He has a nearly 100-episode series on how to run D&D, plus has run a 24-or so episode D&D "YouTube show" called the Chain of Acheron. He has published supplemental rules for D&D (Strongholds and Followers, and the upcoming Kingdoms and Warfare), and is friendly with some of the other "big names" of the D&D community. You won't find better advice on how to run a game than what he has provided.
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--
I genuinely don't know how I missed. The series I love are like...The Mcelroy's 'The Adventure Zone', Slimecicle's 'Just Roll With It' and Critical Role. But like. I don't know how I missed this series if it's that well-known. I feel like I've been missing out., not gonna lie-
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
My advice for any fantasy creator, whether a DM or novelist or screenwriter, is to stop inventing worlds and invent a city or town. Your players will not be interested in your gods and continents until you give them an interesting plot and characters. Start small.
Those are all series where you watch people play (and watch a DM DM). Matt Colville and others pull back the DM screen and show what goes on during prep.
Much of my work talks to how to bring narrative, story, and ideas to things that matter AT the table. Moving from create mode to implement mode.
Check out the many videos I have. Link in sig.
In short -
Work with the 5 bullet system. Build adventures in bullet points. What you write there asks questions. As you find answers, you create content. As to railroading - whatever answers your players come up with inform the 5 bullet points you'll use next session. Or something like that.
All things Lich - DM tips, tricks, and other creative shenanigans
Starting small has n e v e r been my forte. I'd start small, and then just progressively get more intense as I'd write things down on the spot. Which definitely wears you down, so I might have to go back to thinking small. Thanks for the advice!
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
R i g h t, gotcha! That's likely what makes it so iconic then. I've started Colville's series not even an hour ago, it seems very interesting so far!
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
Huh! I'll have to take you up on that, I'll check these videos out for the sake of learning what's up with the DM scene, so thanks for that! The 5 bullet system is something I'll have to take into consideration too.
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.
I have the same problem. I never just make up a small adventure -- I always build a whole world and all the cultures in it. Foolish, probably, but I enjoy it in my way.
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.
Yeah, exactly! It's like...Most of the stuff I write never comes up for the players, but it helps with the need for perfection and whatnot. Plus, it makes it more realistic in my eyes, y'know? Especially if its based in the real world. Like, for one of the games of Monster Of The Week I co-DM'd, I ended up making an entire fictional town in Oregon, which was absolutely unnecessary since I could've just built it in an already existing town-- but it's so rewarding!
"I don't always do things right, and I don't always do things smart, and I don't always do a character voice, but whatever I do, I find joy in it. Because at the end of the day, that's all you got. It's looking back on the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." -->Merle Highchurch, The Adventure Zone: Balance.