I'd submit: "You need to know all of the rules and be an excellent storyteller to be a DM"
The truth is that you just need to be present and willing to give it a try. You'll learn over time, but any DM is better than no DM, and people are awfully patient if you're putting yourself forward for...
(looks up "discommode" ... looks up "recce") Nice! I'm learning here!
I clicked on this thread specifically because I consider myself a good and experienced DM with 30 years experience in running, but combat tactics is the last place that I have barely explored. I'm so focused on story that the...
I actually ran Lost Mines of Phandelver basically word for word, play by play as it was written, but I can't think of any other adventure (ever?) that I can say the same for. Some adventures do need minor tweaking (like Rime of the Frostmaiden is pretty good from Chapter 3 on, but the first 2...