Any Tips? [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Any Tips? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ronin_Nakuan
10-14-06, 01:40 PM i'm going to be running a game as a dm for the first time. I've only done it once before but that was just covering for the actual dm, i've been told that i was good though.

Although i'm a bit nervous running my own adventure so i was wondering if anyone had any tips for aspiring dungeon masters?
orionm42
10-14-06, 01:44 PM Welcome to the boards. :)

Plenty of advice around here. You may want to check out this thread (which is included in the sticky at the top of the forum) which includes a ton of advice for beginners...

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=139013

...and good luck with your session.
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer
10-14-06, 02:00 PM Use bookmarks to help you find things in the DMG, Postit notes stay in place without damaging the paper, I have the Exp tables, encounter numbers, treasure tables, Npc classes, Npcs by class, Prestege classes and magical items all at my finger tips.

have fun, very important, if you dont enjoy Dming fix the problem or stop doing it.

know the rules, if your using Ilithids know how to grapple, if the adventure features something like an ogre Magi or a spell caster know what there capable of.

Did I mention to have fun? :)

Know your players abilitys, know who can sneak attack, who has Cleave, and keep track of feats and items.

Do not let any book you do not posess and have not read in detail into your campeghn. Do not alow any spell, feat, race or class into yuor game that you have not expresly aproved. espechaly if its from a book you havent got/read/ aproved. To be safe I make my players level with me present and ask before they add feats, spells psionic powers ect. Goes double for Prcs. Our rule is new books can be added to the next campeghn, not the curent, subject to Gm ownership and aproval.

Dont just ban things out of spite though, of its over powered, or dosent fit the campeghn then ban it, but if the player can come up with a convincing reason for an unusual class feat whatever let them, no one wants a cookie cutter charicter.

Dont deviate from the wealth by level charts in the Dmg, or automaticly alow custom items. Too much, too few or unbalanced items can kill campeghns unless you know what your doing.

If your players come up with home brewed content ask for a full wright up, raed it carefuly and only aprove the race, Prc or what ever if it compares to similar offical matereal you have aproved.

Root for the monsters, but if your going to fudge rolls, fudge in the players favor.

Lastly, faced with 2 otherwise equal choises, always choose the cooler one.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ronin_Nakuan 10-14-06, 01:40 PM	i'm going to be running a game as a dm for the first time. I've only done it once before but that was just covering for the actual dm, i've been told that i was good though. Although i'm a bit nervous running my own adventure so i was wondering if anyone had any tips for aspiring dungeon masters?
orionm42 10-14-06, 01:44 PM	Welcome to the boards. :) Plenty of advice around here. You may want to check out this thread (which is included in the sticky at the top of the forum) which includes a ton of advice for beginners... http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=139013 ...and good luck with your session.
Eled_the_Worm_Tamer 10-14-06, 02:00 PM	Use bookmarks to help you find things in the DMG, Postit notes stay in place without damaging the paper, I have the Exp tables, encounter numbers, treasure tables, Npc classes, Npcs by class, Prestege classes and magical items all at my finger tips. have fun, very important, if you dont enjoy Dming fix the problem or stop doing it. know the rules, if your using Ilithids know how to grapple, if the adventure features something like an ogre Magi or a spell caster know what there capable of. Did I mention to have fun? :) Know your players abilitys, know who can sneak attack, who has Cleave, and keep track of feats and items. Do not let any book you do not posess and have not read in detail into your campeghn. Do not alow any spell, feat, race or class into yuor game that you have not expresly aproved. espechaly if its from a book you havent got/read/ aproved. To be safe I make my players level with me present and ask before they add feats, spells psionic powers ect. Goes double for Prcs. Our rule is new books can be added to the next campeghn, not the curent, subject to Gm ownership and aproval. Dont just ban things out of spite though, of its over powered, or dosent fit the campeghn then ban it, but if the player can come up with a convincing reason for an unusual class feat whatever let them, no one wants a cookie cutter charicter. Dont deviate from the wealth by level charts in the Dmg, or automaticly alow custom items. Too much, too few or unbalanced items can kill campeghns unless you know what your doing. If your players come up with home brewed content ask for a full wright up, raed it carefuly and only aprove the race, Prc or what ever if it compares to similar offical matereal you have aproved. Root for the monsters, but if your going to fudge rolls, fudge in the players favor. Lastly, faced with 2 otherwise equal choises, always choose the cooler one.