5 Tips For Being A Better Dungeon Master

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5 Tips For Being A Better Dungeon Master

So you want to be a Dungeon Master, eh? It's not an easy job, but it can be incredibly rewarding. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the path to becoming a great Dungeon Master.

1. Be Prepared

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it's surprisingly easy to let your preparation fall by the wayside. When you're running a game, there are a lot of moving parts and it's easy to get overwhelmed. Make sure you take the time to plan out each session in advance. Write down what you want to accomplish and what challenges your players will face. This will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. Your plans don’t have to be dozens of pages, just simple bullet points are more than enough. For example, if you use miniatures for encounters, make sure to prep a map in advance so that you aren’t wasting precious table time drawing out complex maps.

2. Know Your Players

It's important to know what makes your players tick. What motivates them? What do they find fun? What gets them angry? The better you understand your players, the better able you will be to give them an enjoyable game experience. Players fall into a number of broad categories that can help you prepare and deliver an experience that appeals to each of their wants. If they are power gamers, make sure to design encounters that challenge them and let them shine. A player that loves exploration and lore isn’t necessarily going to enjoy straight dungeon crawls that the other players love. So make sure to toss in some secret text or hidden glyphs that can reveal a weakness to the villain or a short cut to bypass encounters.

3. Be Flexible

No matter how well you plan, things will never go exactly as you expect. Be prepared to make changes on the fly and go with the flow. It's often said that the best DMs are those who are willing to throw out their plans and wing it when necessary. The player characters are the focus of the story, and thus should have lots of control over what happens. If you put a cloud of smoke rising above the trees to the east. Signs of a complex encounter you’ve planned. None of it matters if they choose to west just to explore. But, don’t put a stop to it. Instead ask what they are interested in, and try to expand on it. If you know your players, it should be easy to toss something together. If you need a moment, don’t be afraid to tell everyone to take a 10 minute break and give yourself some breathing room. Random combat encounters are a great way to buy yourself a bit of time. The players need never know that you didn’t plan ahead of time.

4. Be Fair but Firm

Your players will test your limits from time to time. It's important to be firm when enforcing the rules but try not to be too harsh. Remember, this is supposed to be a fun game for everyone involved. It’s easy to want to say no when it comes to the creativity of players and their characters abilities. When you need to make a ruling, if it makes sense the character should be able to do it, consider calling for a roll or just letting them succeed. If it’s too potent or game-breaking, consider allowing it, with the express purpose that, it isn’t how it works in the rules, but it’s cool so you’re willing to allow it. This encourages creativity, but with the caveat that the rules are there but you are the ultimate decision maker.

5. Have Fun! 

This is probably the most important tip of all. If you're not having fun, then neither will your players. As the DM we are players as well, so you have to not only take into consideration what the players want, but also what you want. So relax, let loose, and enjoy yourself! After all, that's what gaming is all about.  

Dungeon Mastering is a tough gig, but it can be extremely rewarding if done well. These tips should help you get started on the path to becoming a great DM. Just remember to have fun and stay flexible, and you'll be sure to give your players an amazing gaming experience! Watch us on Youtube and we will help you along the best way we can.

Related Article: 5 Tips to Help you become a Better Dungeon Master

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