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Having Trouble As A DM
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<blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 7525619" data-attributes="member: 37579"><p>The DM paradox. Your players are having the best time, but all you can think about is "Are they having fun? How about now? Could they be having more fun? What am I doing wrong???"</p><p></p><p>Okay, first off calm down. You'll give yourself a complex. </p><p>Then tap your players for questions. Ask them for a list of 3 to 5 things they want to see in the campaign at some point between levels 3 to 10. </p><p></p><p>If you want to make it more overt, ask them what their character's goals are. Request two short term goals (which award xp like an easy encounter) and one long term goal (which award xp like a deadly encounter) and let them decide what those are. </p><p></p><p>Also, buy a package of index cards. </p><p>On each card write a rumour or place of interest or potential encounter. Nothing more than a couple sentences. Whenever you have an idea, write it down on the index card. Remember to include places that are just scenery and flavour. An interesting reef. A ruined lighthouse. A barren sandbar. </p><p>During the game, divide them into categories then shuffle the non-blank cards. Every time the players are in a bar and talking, give them a couple rumours. While travelling, put out a couple places of interests for scenes in the travel montage. When you need a random encounter, pull one of those.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jester David, post: 7525619, member: 37579"] The DM paradox. Your players are having the best time, but all you can think about is "Are they having fun? How about now? Could they be having more fun? What am I doing wrong???" Okay, first off calm down. You'll give yourself a complex. Then tap your players for questions. Ask them for a list of 3 to 5 things they want to see in the campaign at some point between levels 3 to 10. If you want to make it more overt, ask them what their character's goals are. Request two short term goals (which award xp like an easy encounter) and one long term goal (which award xp like a deadly encounter) and let them decide what those are. Also, buy a package of index cards. On each card write a rumour or place of interest or potential encounter. Nothing more than a couple sentences. Whenever you have an idea, write it down on the index card. Remember to include places that are just scenery and flavour. An interesting reef. A ruined lighthouse. A barren sandbar. During the game, divide them into categories then shuffle the non-blank cards. Every time the players are in a bar and talking, give them a couple rumours. While travelling, put out a couple places of interests for scenes in the travel montage. When you need a random encounter, pull one of those. [/QUOTE]
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