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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Saracenus" data-source="post: 5646255" data-attributes="member: 47839">Here is my perspective.I spent the first two season of Encounters building up a competent judge core. I didn't play much at all those first two seasons. I DMed a little bit, but my first job was to make sure all the admin stuff got done and my judges were up to snuff. I was the support staff and DM trainer.Currently I still do the background admin stuff but I mostly play at a table once a week (occasionally I will fill in for a judge who cannot make a session or if we get a lot of walk-in traffic and have to make an additional table).Currently we run a solid six tables a week and we probably will jump to seven tables with the Neverwinter season.Here a few things I did:1) I clearly set expectations on my DMs. They needed to be on time or contact me that they were going to be late and provide an ETA.2) I made a Portland, OR wide DDE DM mail list for all stores so we could share info, resources and cover for each other.3) I made sure that if a DM had a personal conflict that prevented them attending a game, that they ask for a replacement in a timely manner.4) First rule of D&D Encounters is, IS IT FUN. If it isn't, don't do it.5) I made sure to have an email conversation talking about the encounter a couple days ahead of the game. I would have a short 5 min. Judges meeting to go over any rough spots and let my DMs voice any questions or concerns.6) I made my judges take control of their tables. If a ruling was made, stick to it and keep the game moving. If you were shown that you were wrong after the fact make and apology and do better next time.I was blessed with lots of good people who stepped up early and now I have a DM that started out as a player and just completed her first season as a judge.Also as a general rule I make my judges take a break from Encounters after 2 seasons to recharge their batteries. The only exception is Max Hobbs, the Energizer Bunny of DDE DMs. He has been DMing every season for me and still going strong.Many of my DMs now have colonized other game stores and practically every store in Portland has a DDE game night.The short answer is take over, groom a couple of folks to be DMs and once the program runs itself, sit back and enjoy some gaming.My Two Coppers,</blockquote>

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