#dm-ing

[lesserbeans]

DND tommorow

I'm DM-ing for the first time for a group of first time players tommorow. I'm putting them in a very small dungeon to fight rats. Do you have any tips?

[utilitycaster]

Heyo! I’m running my first campaign as DM next week, and the adventure is a murder mystery with some battling involved. I know all of the technical stuff about this adventure (been studying all week) but do you have any tips for improvising in case something goes wrong?

For a murder mystery I’m not sure; I’ve tended to keep things much more open but with a mystery you kind of have to stick to the plan or your players are going to be gathering clues that don’t line up and get frustrated.

I guess the main things are just standard for any DM-ing, and I’m not amazing at these either yet but you know, practice makes perfect:

- don’t hesitate to have an NPC with relevant information show up somewhere different than intended unless they specifically are tied to a certain place, or make a new NPC. If the party never goes to the tavern, have them bump into someone or overhear something at the blacksmith’s shop and so on. Same goes with where exactly they find clues that aren’t tied to specific places.

- in general use your NPCs and don’t be afraid to have them guide people, especially early on, because often players are like “let’s talk with each other and not any NPCs!” and it’s maddening. Have someone make a big scene or set something on fire (I think Tamora Pierce said her advice for storywriting when you’re stuck is to have a troll run in with a crossbow); do not rely on your players to move forth the story. As a player, I am personally a story mover, but that is also probably why I am a DM.

- if everyone rolls low on a check you needed them to pass, do the “success with a setback thing”, eg, if they roll low on perception have them find the thing but have it alert someone who is suspicious of them, or have them find a strong hint to the real thing but not the thing itself. My personal advice is don’t give retroactive advantage; it’s kind of obvious when that happens, but if you’re really stuck it’s not like, a cardinal sin.

Good luck!

[weirdgirl-14]

When You’re a DM

Person: Oh!  You play D&D?  What characters do you have and like to play as? 

Me: 

[dungeonmalcontent]

I really only dm one game currently, and I have a "rule" that if any of my players want to use any of the brews on this blog they are welcome to. I often pick up a few random things I've reblogged and tuck them neatly into my games. My players are currently unphased by this house rule.

But I just had the though of "imagine what it would be like to start with a group of semi-new players and just start throwing these things at them." I love my players, they are some of my best friends, but sometimes I wish I had the time and resources to dm for strangers. Imagine the havoc I could wreak.

[katie-the-tennant-whovian]

But now dear player, I must ask you this:

Decide to move forward, or chase what you miss

Artwork done by jannelle-o

[utilitycaster]

yes please!!!! that long term campaign dm help would be ducking amazing. i also love to hear your process and see you post too so it's a win win for me on all ends lmao

Sounds good! there was also a reblog to this effect so I will!

[weirdgirl-14]

Me: (at the start of my Campaigns), Oh, God, I'm sorry-- it's a slow and awkward start. Please, I swear I'll improve the more sessions we have---

My Players: Oh, no, don't worry! We're having fun--!

Me: pLEASE BELIEVE ME-- I GOT GREAT PLANS, I PROMISE, BEGINNINGS ARE HARD, AAAAH, SORRY!!!!!

[araliadon]

A really nasty way of keeping the players focused as a DM, that I’ve just come up with… everytime they get “sidetracked” or start goofing off… just… start rolling dice and scribbling stuff down…