DM personal training

Psion

Adventurer

• Apr 22, 2005

• #1

I had a wacky idea come to me today while I was working out.

When I do my workouts, I use this little sheet to track reps and weight to track my progress.

Then I had this crazy idea: how could one do the same thing when it comes to trying to be a better GM.

Like say, making goals, things that you can improve. I know many DMing skills defy such characterization, but work with me here.

You know, you could say that I had one NPC quirk or interesting puzzle last week, next week I'll try for two, etc.?

 

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EricNoah

Adventurer

• Apr 22, 2005

• #2

That's a great idea. ID some areas of weakness and make a concerted effort to improve on maybe one per game session.

 

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Django

First Post

• Apr 22, 2005

• #3

One thing you could try is videotaping yourself for a session. I guarantee you'll find the result both illuminating and disturbing. I used to do this when I was an training instructor for a regional reprographics company. As part of my performance appraisal process, I was required to tape myself making presentations and teaching courses and then working to fix any 'flaws' in the delivery.

As a result of this taping and subsequent viewing, I found plenty of bad habits that needed addressing. I worked to eliminate all of the 'ums and uhhs', I expanded my vocabulary, and I began to feel more comfortable and relaxed when 'on stage.' I feel that my GM skills were positively affected by this as well.

 

EricNoah

Adventurer

• Apr 22, 2005

• #4

Django said:

One thing you could try is videotaping yourself for a session. I guarantee you'll find the result both illuminating and disturbing.

Click to expand...

Watching yourself on tape (teaching, for example), is a horrifying experience. Be warned!

 

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gizmo33

First Post

• Apr 22, 2005

• #5

Psion! Drop and give me 20 fully statted NPCs!

 

Crothian

First Post

• Apr 22, 2005

• #6

I think it would be harder since all sessions don';t need a puzzle or two, or quirky NPCs ior anything else that might go on the sheet. Now, if you are runninga lot of one shots and convention games I think this would work very well.

 

twofalls

DM Beadle

• Apr 22, 2005

• #7

Yeah, I think detailed notes are better. Gives you a record of the session and you can pick out the things that seemed to work well. Warning... if you do this electronically... backup copiously. I just lost a hard drive and 115 gigs worth of data. Most of it wasn't backed up. As a technician I tell folks all the time... backup, backup, backup... I need a dose of my own medicine.

 

Kid Charlemagne

I am the Very Model of a Modern Moderator

• Apr 22, 2005

• #8

I've done that, particulalry when i was learned 3E. I would take a rule, and find a way to implement it in that week's game.

"This week's game is brought to you by the feat 'Improved Grapple.'"

 

reveal

Adventurer

• Apr 22, 2005

• #9

I still say the best thing you can do is DM and ask for honest criticism. Use that in conjunction with making your sheet so you'll know the areas you need to work on. The next time you DM, go down the list and ask how you did in certain areas and track your progression.

 

Liquidsabre

Explorer

• Apr 22, 2005

• #10

reveal said:

I still say the best thing you can do is DM and ask for honest criticism. Use that in conjunction with making your sheet so you'll know the areas you need to work on. The next time you DM, go down the list and ask how you did in certain areas and track your progression.

Click to expand...

Though this only works if you have experienced and DM-skilled players. Asking your run-of-the-mill player for this information won't yield much beyond simply their likes and dislikes. An important piece of info and useful for running a game your players will enjoy, but not necessarily informative of how to become a better DM.

Generally players just aren't qualified to give useful and valuable tips on how to improve your DMing. To do so would be like a moderately successful author to go around asking his average reader how to improve his wirting style. It may yield some interest like/dislike info on his reader-audience but won't yield a qualified opinion, that's what the experienced and qualified editor is for.