This is not advice for the NEW Dungeon or Game master. This assumes you are already running games and looking to get better that the Craft
I have been a Dungeon Master since I was 12 and have honed my skills over the years and have gone through the usual phases:
1: Beginner, clunky and the dungeons were all about fighting, no sense of placement, treasure was haphazard and rolled on charts ...
....Every game starts in a tavern
2: Me against the players - Player kills was valued and you threw random monsters at players
..Every game starts in a tavern
3: Monty Haul - You now gave out tons of treasure and regularly fought gods
..Every game starts in a tavern
4: Adventure over random dungeons - You begin to put thought into the adventure as a whole
..Every game starts in a tavern
5: Building a world - you have a great handle on the rules, you now try to challenge the players rather than kill them. Death happens but it is random
..Every game starts in a tavern
6: It is not about the combat.. you go to great lengths to drop clues and puzzles into the game. Role playing playing and interactions become just as valuable as slaying monsters
..Every game starts differently
7: Design Junkie - You have all the tools to write adventures for any level and genre. You now are comfortable running games for any group of players. People start to invite you to run games for their group
..Every game starts Differently
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SO, now for the skills needed to excel at running Dungeons and Dragons and any other Game systems
I am going to break this down into 3 areas.. Skills, Practicals, and Game Time Tips
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1 - SKILLS
First, you have to love to read. This is the foundation above all else. If reading is not your thing, do not try to run any games
Second, the ability to soak in material, I am referring to Memory and recall... Reading is good, but if you have to go back to look up anything or read a passage a few times during the game, you bog down the game.
I have been blessed with a wicked Memory.. I can tell you details about where and how we met.. plus facts on any range of subjects. I retain about 90% of what I read or see
Watch lots of movies, does not matter what genre and time the movie was made. This especially helps in timing and suspense during the game. Knowing when and where to use these is crucial
Improvisational skills: You will need to react and redirect as needed and plans always shift
Creativity... players want something they have not seen before... it needs to be different or appear different
Balance... being able to use rules and set what is occurring, having a logical interpretation of the rules as needed
A Firm hand when needed, not allowing someone to be a rules lawyer if they are disrupting the flow of the game and at the same time allow creativity
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2 - Practicals
3 - GAME TIME !!!
Know your setting:
Have an idea what you are trying to do with each session. Don't be afraid to end at a logical point or where a major clue was give so they can ponder it.
Understand the dice rolls for the game you are playing, or other systems such as playing cards
Many systems use different dice or only a few dice or only one kind of dice like D10s or D6s
Information for one or 2 or a group of players should not be given at the table, if the party splits up do not feel like everyone has to overhear every conversation... let the players decide what they want to share. Sounds contradictory from other advice I have given, but players can use the time to use the bathroom, get drinks and relax.
Always throw a surprise in there,
The goal of a seasoned Game master is to keep the player guessing at what is coming, even if they know what they think is coming
Watch lots of movies, does not matter what genre and time the movie was made. This especially helps in timing and suspense during the game. Knowing when and where to use these is crucial
Improvisational skills: You will need to react and redirect as needed and plans always shift
Creativity... players want something they have not seen before... it needs to be different or appear different
Balance... being able to use rules and set what is occurring, having a logical interpretation of the rules as needed
A Firm hand when needed, not allowing someone to be a rules lawyer if they are disrupting the flow of the game and at the same time allow creativity
From
The Dungeon Master's Guide, 1st Edition
“It is the spirit of
the game, not the letter of the rules, which is important. Never hold to the
letter written, nor allow some barracks room lawyer to force quotations from
the rule book upon you, if it goes against the obvious intent of the game....
You are creator and final arbiter.
By ordering things as
they should be, the game as a whole first, your campaign next, and your
participants thereafter, you will be playing ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS as
it was meant to be.”
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2 - Practicals
- Be organized
- Bring Extra Pencils
- Bring Extra Dice
- Bring note pads
- have all you notes and handouts ready and accessible
- Separate table for Roleplaying and for miniatures if possible
I find that if the players are on your side from the beginning, they will accept anything you throw at them or do to them. If I am running a Role Playing intense game, then I usually reserve killing for a bone headed move...
I have no qualms about killing players, I prefer providing a tough challenge where they may be killed...Players stupidity is the leading cause of death in my games
During the Game
- Know the Material !!!
- Be Organized
- Be Energized
- Dig deep, be unique
- Don't be afraid to try it
- Don't Dream It, BE IT !!!!!
The more you bring the game to life, the better your players will respond. I use lots of different vocals and hand gestures... many people can attest to my horrible Jamaican accent and my equally well done other accents...
Game flow is important, anything that stops the action or pauses for too long is not helping the players to enjoy the game
3 - GAME TIME !!!
Know your setting:
Have an idea what you are trying to do with each session. Don't be afraid to end at a logical point or where a major clue was give so they can ponder it.
Understand the dice rolls for the game you are playing, or other systems such as playing cards
Many systems use different dice or only a few dice or only one kind of dice like D10s or D6s
Information for one or 2 or a group of players should not be given at the table, if the party splits up do not feel like everyone has to overhear every conversation... let the players decide what they want to share. Sounds contradictory from other advice I have given, but players can use the time to use the bathroom, get drinks and relax.
Always throw a surprise in there,
- I like to make players make a random saving throw for no reason..
- Say "Wow, they actually triggered that" and then roll a hefty handful of the same sided dice, preferably D8s
- Point at a player and say, remember this number, give them a random number and never mention it again
- mumble and roll dice, then count off the players at the table, stopping at the one you rolled. Ask them for their character sheet, do not explain anything, just make a check next a to a random item or write it down.
- Pick up a handful of dice, roll them, then ask everyone for a saving throw, then say "nevermind, it was another corridor"
The goal of a seasoned Game master is to keep the player guessing at what is coming, even if they know what they think is coming
I have gotten so much better at my craft since 1992
