When I first started cutting my teeth on DMing 5e, I did it in Adventurer's League right when the system launched, weekly Expeditions at the FLGS for about 9 months. I had GM experience in 4e and other systems, studied the 5e texts before committing, and even now I recall the experience as generally positive. Met lots of new players and inducted dozens of them into the game. A couple of them are regulars at my table almost 5 years later.
There was one incident that sticks in my craw as the worst mistake I've ever made as a DM, however. A group of 4 high schoolers had arrived for this drop-in style of play. I'd had 3 older-aged regulars and 0 drop-ins before that, so it was a bit of shock. Still, 7 players = legal table, so I took it in stride and I feel like I handled it well.
On the last fight of the module, one of the brand new players landed a pretty hefty sneak attack against the boss with her rogue. DM fiat, this 'drew aggro' and his next attack would target her. It crit hit and maxed both damage dice, instant kill at level 1. During this particular phase of my DMing career, I was pretty anal about sticking to the rules and I rolled everything in the open, so I thought it would've felt squickier to retract than to confirm the kill.
The look of disappointment and confusion on her face haunts me to this day.
What's your biggest DM regret?
There was one incident that sticks in my craw as the worst mistake I've ever made as a DM, however. A group of 4 high schoolers had arrived for this drop-in style of play. I'd had 3 older-aged regulars and 0 drop-ins before that, so it was a bit of shock. Still, 7 players = legal table, so I took it in stride and I feel like I handled it well.
On the last fight of the module, one of the brand new players landed a pretty hefty sneak attack against the boss with her rogue. DM fiat, this 'drew aggro' and his next attack would target her. It crit hit and maxed both damage dice, instant kill at level 1. During this particular phase of my DMing career, I was pretty anal about sticking to the rules and I rolled everything in the open, so I thought it would've felt squickier to retract than to confirm the kill.
The look of disappointment and confusion on her face haunts me to this day.
What's your biggest DM regret?
Last edited: