Any tips for a first time DM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Any tips for a first time DM [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Koofoo95
11-25-06, 01:08 AM I have been DMing for about 4 years and recently a player has expressed interest in running a game. I figured it would be good to take a break and the player, though new, has a fair grasp of the rules. I set him up with the forgotten forge, shadows of the last war, etc. adventure, I bought them but never ran them. So my question is, anything I could do to help him set the feel of Eberron?
wendigovegan
11-25-06, 08:23 PM As a player you can do a great deal to help the DM set the mood for other players. One of the best ways to do this is to make a PC who draws on the background of Eberron and can inject interesting aspects of the world into the game.
Try playing a member of a Dragonmarked house or one of the new races. Make sure to reference the last war to the other players, or ask them what their characters did during the war.
If you're starting with the Forgotton forge try playing a Sharn native who will be full of useful (or at least colorful) advice for the other PCs.
Players often forget that they are as responsible for creating the story as the DM and that every bit they contribute helps make the whole campaign seem more real and fleshed out.
goblin_pride
11-25-06, 08:23 PM I have been DMing for about 4 years and recently a player has expressed interest in running a game. I figured it would be good to take a break and the player, though new, has a fair grasp of the rules. I set him up with the forgotten forge, shadows of the last war, etc. adventure, I bought them but never ran them. So my question is, anything I could do to help him set the feel of Eberron?

Film fest, that's the best way to do it. Start with the list of movies that inspired the creators of the setting from the beginning of the ECS then add "M" by Fritz Lang (possibly Lieber, I can never keep the Fritzes straight), pretty much every Hitchcock film except The Birds, Rashemon by Kurosawa, any of the detective movies that came out 1940-1960, Cast a Deadly Spell and Witch Hunt (kinda hard to find but they're detective stories set in a high magic LA with a detective that doesn't use magic). I know it's rather a long list but that's the best way to explain Eberron, it's a hodge-podge of different styles and flavors, and the best part of the whole thing is that is so hard to explain.
lordalm
11-27-06, 02:14 PM I find that it is one of those things that has to come out during game play. If you players/gm isn't familiar with anything the Goblin Pride has mentioned, they are probally not going to go to all the trouble of viewing the material prior to play. Have them read the ECS, come to you before play with questions. Help the GM paint the setting when he brings it to the other players, and as already mentioned, help bring life to the setting by your actions in game. Many in my group are not so animated in thier portrayls, which is pretty much classic D&D (is there something to hit yet?)
Myrddin Wyllt
11-27-06, 04:27 PM Best thing you could do for him is lead by example. Already covered by lordalm.

Next best thing you could do is invite the other players to read the material before the game begins. An informed player is an interested player. Interested players make DM's life much easier...
lordalm
11-27-06, 05:17 PM Best thing you could do for him is lead by example. Already covered by lordalm.

Next best thing you could do is invite the other players to read the material before the game begins. An informed player is an interested player. Interested players make DM's life much easier...

AMEN Brother! :clap:
rabidclipper
11-27-06, 06:43 PM I second the "read the ECS" idea... its a huge (and wonderful) piece of D20 literature, but having them focus on the fluff portions will make things easier. They don't need to learn every spell and feat and crunch there is... but the fluff is fantastic....
goblin_pride
11-28-06, 09:41 AM AMEN Brother! :clap:

I resemble that remark.
lordalm
11-28-06, 03:09 PM I resemble that remark.

Yes you do. So does a couple of others. And some go out and buy books (because they want them, which is no problem) that have nothing to do with Eberron per se and already knowing I have a house rule against books that I don't own, since I like to be able to be at least conservant with the material presented in said book, and try to get me to allow it. I read (tend to skim the specifics on spells and feats, etc.) everything I buy.
goblin_pride
11-28-06, 04:19 PM Yes you do. So does a couple of others. And some go out and buy books (because they want them, which is no problem) that have nothing to do with Eberron per se and already knowing I have a house rule against books that I don't own, since I like to be able to be at least conservant with the material presented in said book, and try to get me to allow it. I read (tend to skim the specifics on spells and feats, etc.) everything I buy.

And some try to make the most obnoxiously overpowered annoying combinations of statistics they can get away with, just because it happens to be in the rules, which conveniently no one has read, often times even the player wanting to play said character.
lordalm
11-28-06, 05:31 PM And some try to make the most obnoxiously overpowered annoying combinations of statistics they can get away with, just because it happens to be in the rules, which conveniently no one has read, often times even the player wanting to play said character.

And now your related to him in game.
goblin_pride
11-29-06, 09:45 AM And now your related to him in game.

And I know perfectly well that pruning the family tree is acceptable in goblin society and pretty much expected at times. I'm surprised no one warned him about the trail of shallow graves I've left.
lordalm
11-29-06, 03:47 PM And I know perfectly well that pruning the family tree is acceptable in goblin society and pretty much expected at times. I'm surprised no one warned him about the trail of shallow graves I've left.

Funny considering he helped you dig some.....
goblin_pride
11-30-06, 09:17 AM Funny considering he helped you dig some.....

Not terribly bright at that end of the family tree, gonna need quite a bit of pruning.
Archangel62
12-02-06, 02:25 PM Not terribly bright at that end of the family tree, gonna need quite a bit of pruning.

Luckily the problem seems self solving. I keep thinking of the flavor text on the Goblin Piledriver Card.
lordalm
12-02-06, 07:45 PM Luckily the problem seems self solving. I keep thinking of the flavor text on the Goblin Piledriver Card.

Care to share?:confused:

Oh god its not a Tragic the Garnering card is it?:gah:
Archangel62
12-03-06, 05:53 AM Care to share?:confused:

Oh god its not a Tragic the Garnering card is it?:gah:

No, no, the quote is

"There isn't a problem that can't be solved by throwing goblins at it, if nothing else there will be fewer goblins"
goblin_pride
12-03-06, 07:44 AM "There isn't a problem that can't be solved by throwing goblins at it, if nothing else there will be fewer goblins"

That should read "fewer stupid goblins"
lordalm
12-03-06, 04:17 PM That should read "fewer stupid goblins"

Smart ones, stupids ones. Its not like they aren't making more...
goblin_pride
12-03-06, 10:08 PM Smart ones, stupids ones. Its not like they aren't making more...

You're welcome.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Koofoo95 11-25-06, 01:08 AM	I have been DMing for about 4 years and recently a player has expressed interest in running a game. I figured it would be good to take a break and the player, though new, has a fair grasp of the rules. I set him up with the forgotten forge, shadows of the last war, etc. adventure, I bought them but never ran them. So my question is, anything I could do to help him set the feel of Eberron?
wendigovegan 11-25-06, 08:23 PM	As a player you can do a great deal to help the DM set the mood for other players. One of the best ways to do this is to make a PC who draws on the background of Eberron and can inject interesting aspects of the world into the game. Try playing a member of a Dragonmarked house or one of the new races. Make sure to reference the last war to the other players, or ask them what their characters did during the war. If you're starting with the Forgotton forge try playing a Sharn native who will be full of useful (or at least colorful) advice for the other PCs. Players often forget that they are as responsible for creating the story as the DM and that every bit they contribute helps make the whole campaign seem more real and fleshed out.
goblin_pride 11-25-06, 08:23 PM	I have been DMing for about 4 years and recently a player has expressed interest in running a game. I figured it would be good to take a break and the player, though new, has a fair grasp of the rules. I set him up with the forgotten forge, shadows of the last war, etc. adventure, I bought them but never ran them. So my question is, anything I could do to help him set the feel of Eberron? Film fest, that's the best way to do it. Start with the list of movies that inspired the creators of the setting from the beginning of the ECS then add "M" by Fritz Lang (possibly Lieber, I can never keep the Fritzes straight), pretty much every Hitchcock film except The Birds, Rashemon by Kurosawa, any of the detective movies that came out 1940-1960, Cast a Deadly Spell and Witch Hunt (kinda hard to find but they're detective stories set in a high magic LA with a detective that doesn't use magic). I know it's rather a long list but that's the best way to explain Eberron, it's a hodge-podge of different styles and flavors, and the best part of the whole thing is that is so hard to explain.
lordalm 11-27-06, 02:14 PM	I find that it is one of those things that has to come out during game play. If you players/gm isn't familiar with anything the Goblin Pride has mentioned, they are probally not going to go to all the trouble of viewing the material prior to play. Have them read the ECS, come to you before play with questions. Help the GM paint the setting when he brings it to the other players, and as already mentioned, help bring life to the setting by your actions in game. Many in my group are not so animated in thier portrayls, which is pretty much classic D&D (is there something to hit yet?)
Myrddin Wyllt 11-27-06, 04:27 PM	Best thing you could do for him is lead by example. Already covered by lordalm. Next best thing you could do is invite the other players to read the material before the game begins. An informed player is an interested player. Interested players make DM's life much easier...
lordalm 11-27-06, 05:17 PM	Best thing you could do for him is lead by example. Already covered by lordalm. Next best thing you could do is invite the other players to read the material before the game begins. An informed player is an interested player. Interested players make DM's life much easier... AMEN Brother! :clap:
rabidclipper 11-27-06, 06:43 PM	I second the "read the ECS" idea... its a huge (and wonderful) piece of D20 literature, but having them focus on the fluff portions will make things easier. They don't need to learn every spell and feat and crunch there is... but the fluff is fantastic....
goblin_pride 11-28-06, 09:41 AM	AMEN Brother! :clap: I resemble that remark.
lordalm 11-28-06, 03:09 PM	I resemble that remark. Yes you do. So does a couple of others. And some go out and buy books (because they want them, which is no problem) that have nothing to do with Eberron per se and already knowing I have a house rule against books that I don't own, since I like to be able to be at least conservant with the material presented in said book, and try to get me to allow it. I read (tend to skim the specifics on spells and feats, etc.) everything I buy.
goblin_pride 11-28-06, 04:19 PM	Yes you do. So does a couple of others. And some go out and buy books (because they want them, which is no problem) that have nothing to do with Eberron per se and already knowing I have a house rule against books that I don't own, since I like to be able to be at least conservant with the material presented in said book, and try to get me to allow it. I read (tend to skim the specifics on spells and feats, etc.) everything I buy. And some try to make the most obnoxiously overpowered annoying combinations of statistics they can get away with, just because it happens to be in the rules, which conveniently no one has read, often times even the player wanting to play said character.
lordalm 11-28-06, 05:31 PM	And some try to make the most obnoxiously overpowered annoying combinations of statistics they can get away with, just because it happens to be in the rules, which conveniently no one has read, often times even the player wanting to play said character. And now your related to him in game.
goblin_pride 11-29-06, 09:45 AM	And now your related to him in game. And I know perfectly well that pruning the family tree is acceptable in goblin society and pretty much expected at times. I'm surprised no one warned him about the trail of shallow graves I've left.
lordalm 11-29-06, 03:47 PM	And I know perfectly well that pruning the family tree is acceptable in goblin society and pretty much expected at times. I'm surprised no one warned him about the trail of shallow graves I've left. Funny considering he helped you dig some.....
goblin_pride 11-30-06, 09:17 AM	Funny considering he helped you dig some..... Not terribly bright at that end of the family tree, gonna need quite a bit of pruning.
Archangel62 12-02-06, 02:25 PM	Not terribly bright at that end of the family tree, gonna need quite a bit of pruning. Luckily the problem seems self solving. I keep thinking of the flavor text on the Goblin Piledriver Card.
lordalm 12-02-06, 07:45 PM	Luckily the problem seems self solving. I keep thinking of the flavor text on the Goblin Piledriver Card. Care to share?:confused: Oh god its not a Tragic the Garnering card is it?:gah:
Archangel62 12-03-06, 05:53 AM	Care to share?:confused: Oh god its not a Tragic the Garnering card is it?:gah: No, no, the quote is "There isn't a problem that can't be solved by throwing goblins at it, if nothing else there will be fewer goblins"
goblin_pride 12-03-06, 07:44 AM	"There isn't a problem that can't be solved by throwing goblins at it, if nothing else there will be fewer goblins" That should read "fewer stupid goblins"
lordalm 12-03-06, 04:17 PM	That should read "fewer stupid goblins" Smart ones, stupids ones. Its not like they aren't making more...
goblin_pride 12-03-06, 10:08 PM	Smart ones, stupids ones. Its not like they aren't making more... You're welcome.