One Thing You Can Do to Become a Better DM

[Ycore Rixle]

The pause, the loop, the pace, all important in my opinion. I'll add (although it's arguably implicit in the pause et al.) "The Listen."

Listen to your players. Figure out what they want, what they want their characters to do and to be. Then you can hit them where it hurts and reward them where it counts. More immersion happens if players don't have a disconnect between character conception and actual gameplay.

 

[TarionzCousin]

For example if there is a particular greeting that you want the players to capture other than "What's up?" then always use it in every rp exercise.

Like this?

NPC Elf High Priest of Corellon "Sweet water and light laughter to you, Cilmarillien."
PC Elf, Level 1 Priest of Corellon "Yo."
DM He stabs you to death. Roll up a new priest of Corellon.

NPC Elf High Priest of Corellon "Sweet water and light laughter to you, Falinarien."
PC Elf, New Level 1 Priest of Corellon "... and Sweet water and light laughter to you, Father Aniyllimas."

 

[Lanefan]

Don't put your plot in the way of their fun. Be flexible enough to hit the curveball and then let the players throw 'em at you. And don't worry too much if nothing much seems to get done in a session as long as they're having fun not doing it.

Lan-"in other words, lighten up"-efan

 

[Aus_Snow]

Have a female?

 

[kitsune9]

Like this?

NPC Elf High Priest of Corellon "Sweet water and light laughter to you, Cilmarillien."
PC Elf, Level 1 Priest of Corellon "Yo."
DM He stabs you to death. Roll up a new priest of Corellon.

NPC Elf High Priest of Corellon "Sweet water and light laughter to you, Falinarien."
PC Elf, New Level 1 Priest of Corellon "... and Sweet water and light laughter to you, Father Aniyllimas."

There you go Tarionz! Fricking hilarious! I couldn't explain that better myself.

 

[Ydars]

The one thing that made me a better DM was this; stop just being a DM and PLAY for a while.

And no, I don't mean the 'idle hanging out with friends while someone else DMs' that I used to do as a hiatus in between MY campaigns.

I mean REALLY learning to play the game as a committed player. To the point where you actually don't automatically think of yourself as the DM in a game context any more.

Once you do that, you finally realise how to DM.

 

[steeldragons]

Great stuff here. Cool thread Tarionz.

Well, my biggies were already taken by Stormonu, YCore and Lanefan ("Don't take the rules too seriously", "listen" and "have fun", respectively).

The pacing, looping and giving pause are also all good.

So, guess I'll fall back on something I think I do well...Don't forget http://www.enworld.org/forum/plots-places/298194-its-little-things.html.

"Flavor", "Fluff", "Details" whatever you want to call them. If you want your characters to feel immersed in their world (and remember it IS their world, too) then give them the "little things" to feel the world around them.

This also pairs nicely with (and should be applied heavily with) Kitsune's "Looping" to help it sink in.

Have fun and happy DMing
(and happy holidays everyone!)
--Steel Dragons

 

[delericho]

Of late, I've become too focused on the 'game' elements, to the exclusion of the 'story' elements. As a result, my game has become too board-gamey. (This applies whether I'm running 3.5e, 4e, SWSE, WFRP or a game that can't be easily abbreviated.)

While the rules are important, they aren't what makes RPGs unique.

So, one thing I can do that will (I think) make me a better DM is: don't sweat the small stuff. Or, to paraphrase a certain Jedi, "let go your rules-lawyer self, and act on instinct."

 

[thejc]

ooohhhh shiny! Ill post two to catch up.

1.) Describe things. Don't say an troll charges the camp. How about "The small fire at your feet makes it hard to see. Whatever is out there sounds like a bear moving through trees. A rotting stench hits your nostrils. A creature breaches the fog bearing straight towards you. Even hunched it stands well over 7 feet tall. It lopes with an awkward stride and terrible speed, the large powerful arms drag the ground, ending with vicious claws. It's nose long, mouthfull of jagged teeth. It attacks you with both claws."
Player: WAIT! You're going to let THAT attack me?!
DM: Yes.
Player: Im gonna die.
*note this is like seasoning so use it for important things or just to throw the pc's off the normal you round the corner and see three orcs. If you do it for every encounter it will get sort of old and will cause some lag.
2.) Get in character(s). Not all of us are actors. But sometimes it helps to use a funny squeeky voice when playing meepo the iconic Kobold. Stand up when portraying characters of authority. Hunch and rub your hands together when playing the greedy merchant. You don't have to go overboard just a few physical things help with the suspension of disbelief. I myself do a few different voices for certain npc's and villains and such.

Also this goes with Pace that TC said. But be prepared. Have your stuff out and ready. It is the hosts job to have things in order, the gaming table ready to go, snacks, drinks ect. the gaming area fairly clean and free of clutter. You should also have food plans work out. Nothing kills a game quicker than getting ready, everyone greeting, recap, one encounter, some rp, then a major encounter that we roll initiative for and then everybody needs a cheeseburger.

 

[Zhaleskra]

Make sure in game puzzles rely on information that's "in-universe" instead of player knowledge of other meanings of the game's rules. I had the misfortune of playing in an adventure where the second version happened.