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Post by Walrus on Mar 22, 2011 5:54:45 GMT -5
So here is the run-down. My friends brother is buying D&D and I have offered to tale the place of DM.
I'm relatively new to this, would I be able to get some tips on how to make game play interesting?
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 22, 2011 11:04:44 GMT -5
Don't be too rigid, you're all there to have fun, if you get stuck wing it.
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Post by RedsandRoyals on Mar 22, 2011 11:55:16 GMT -5
I can't give you any D&D specific tips, I'm afraid, but I can point you toward this for general GMing tips. Laughing Man touches on the two key principles of GMing though. First, remember you're there to have fun, and make sure your players have fun. Second, don't feel shackled to whatever your storyline is. Making it up as you go along is the finest tradition of all storytelling, so don't be afraid to change it up a bit. Reds |
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Post by Rook on Mar 22, 2011 12:39:26 GMT -5
Weeeeeeee. Finally a D&D thread. I have been DMing since 1981 so I may know a thing or two about it.  I would say the first and most important would be to know the rules. Only through a framework of the rules can you make a lasting impression on the players and their characters, having fun is not enough believe it or not. If it were enough you would just be story telling and not playing a game. So obviously you will need to read ALL the books you will be using. The good part is that you need not read ALL of each book though it is recommended. Only the game mechanics, spells, stats for critters and such. Second, make a decision on whether to play a prebuilt campaign world or craft your own. I have done both many times and can give you some pointers once you have made your choice. My suggestion to a beginning DM is to craft your own. It is quite easy initially and I can teach you my 'Web Campaign' method. Third (and this one way throw you off your game a little) decide what you do NOT want in your game. I can guarantee you that your players will both surprise and anger you with their ingenuity and play style. Not all the time but sometimes. This WILL happen if you play for any real length of time(months+). You may decide you don't like sorcerers or rangers, etc. Making a decision and telling the players what will not be available is so much easier than getting surprised by a cheesy prestige class and have it disrupt your game. Fourth, make sure you create or at least make an honest attempt to let every character at the table have a chance to shine per game session. Thieves need chances to sneak around, disable locks, sneak attack. Spell-casters need critters to cast spells at. Clerics need to heal and turn undead. You get the picture. Again, I can help with this. Honestly there is much more I can type but I need to know your experience at this and what edition you will be playing as well as if any players have played D&D before. |
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Post by Walrus on Mar 22, 2011 18:08:23 GMT -5
Thanks guys.
I did a little DMing with a bunch of friends once, but it was using the box set that has pre made characters in it?
As far as I know, most of the players will have little to no experience. 1 or 2 will have played with me before....
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Post by Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four on Mar 22, 2011 19:36:38 GMT -5
A tip: don't give your players Bags of Holding (at least I think that was what the item was) and tell your players that they can "put any equipment that they want in it."
The DM for the last D&D group I played with made that mistake. One of my friends stashed a Zentraedi battle cruiser (from Macross) in his, and I stashed an unlimited supply of water balloons in mine. When our thief player tried to pick my pocket and I caught him, I then proceeded to pelt his character with the water balloons. We were in an arctic environment, so the thief froze into a solid block of ice, and then an 18/00 strength character shoved the block of ice as hard as he could. The DM said that the character rolled up into a giant snowball and disappeared over the horizon never to be seen again. The thief player cried.
It was most amusing.
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Post by Walrus on Mar 23, 2011 4:25:12 GMT -5
That is gold... Its a shame I don't have the 40k version... whatever its called.
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Post by havoc on Mar 23, 2011 9:21:40 GMT -5
Dark heresy?
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Post by Walrus on Mar 23, 2011 18:17:37 GMT -5
Something like that...
I totally forgot what it was called earlier...
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Post by Dedrier on Mar 23, 2011 19:11:52 GMT -5
Make sure that you know what each your players are capable. If one of them is a rogue, you should be a couple levels ahead of him so that he doesn't surprise you with an ability. Classes with lots of abilities and feats centered on dungeoneering can ruin even the best laid traps. You should also check out many of the great DM websites. I have one linked below. dungeonsmaster.com/2010/01/eight-rules-that-will-make-you-a-better-dm/ |
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Mar 23, 2011 21:41:38 GMT -5
I have one question, do you know which edition you're playing? Because the current one is a bit different than the previous ones.
However, generally everyone has touched on the important parts of things. Don't be too rigid and try to force your players to do things, or do everything for them with just one character. This can get dull for them, as they're still individuals within the game. It's all about fun though, so try to enjoy your game, and your players will too.
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Post by cheminhaler on Mar 24, 2011 15:23:49 GMT -5
It's 4th edition D&D nowadays, isn't it? Back in my day it was 2.5e.. I still have most of the 2e books and a lot of the 1st ed as well.
My advice is to be rigid with the character generation. I hate how some of my DMs used to tweak character rolls. It's just heresy - what's the point of rolling dice, anyway?
Also don't be too generous with treasure. I once played a single player campaign for someone and they just turned into a murderous city governor (?) thief/mage half elf nutter, who just went crazy. His gang of cut throats just slaughtered all my NPCs all the time and got too rich. If only it wasn't for that Vorpal Katana +3. He always rolled a 20..
Anyway, I was about to bust him hard (a) for the murder of the former governor and his entire household (b) for usurping the governorship of the city (c) for murdering a lot of rich merchants and the like.
A paladin king was about to come and reclaim the whole island chain, and then he just stopped playing. Dry git.
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Post by cheminhaler on Mar 24, 2011 15:27:27 GMT -5
He used the 'Charm Person' spell a lot - even on his own loyal henchmen. Although he started as Neutral Evil, I reckon he ended up Chaotic Evil.
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 27, 2011 11:01:46 GMT -5
Pass secret notes to your players, make some of your players work against the goals of the party.
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Post by Trickstick on Mar 27, 2011 20:06:38 GMT -5
Tips for dungeon masters:
1. Keep your chains rust free.
2. Check the locks regularly.
3. Make sure that you carry out the proper safety checks.
4. Have plenty of lubricant.
Wait, what are we talking about?
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 28, 2011 11:14:00 GMT -5
TrickstickI don't think he's planning to play FATAL. BTW don't play FATAL it's awful.
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Post by The Envoy (AWOL) on Mar 28, 2011 13:51:20 GMT -5
FATAL is generally considered the worst RP ever made...
And for damn good reason.
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 28, 2011 18:12:45 GMT -5
Please consult the Anal Circumference Table.
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Post by Walrus on Mar 28, 2011 18:19:59 GMT -5
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Post by Dedrier on Mar 28, 2011 18:40:37 GMT -5
The game that none shall name? Why did you even bring it up? You're giving poor Walrus brain damage!
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 28, 2011 18:45:11 GMT -5
He'll live.
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Post by Walrus on Mar 28, 2011 18:47:39 GMT -5
Barely * twitches*
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Post by Laughing Man on Mar 29, 2011 4:47:28 GMT -5
Don't worry citizen the computer has taken note of your recent distress and is sending a clean up team to your home.
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Post by Deathkorpsman on Apr 14, 2011 5:00:20 GMT -5
The cleanup team has, unfortunately, been diverted due to a rampaging pack of rollerskating mutant communists. Your replacement cleanup team is on backorder. Please proceed to reprocessing center three. Have a nice day, citizen.
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