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Best GMing Advice you've ever gotten
- Thread starter Sacrosanct
- Start date
Joshua Randall
Legend
“Know where the game is going and don’t be afraid to end it when it gets there.” - paraphrased from 3e DMG
i.e. Don’t keep playing the game just because you “need” to reach level 20 (or whatever). Recognize the natural stopping point and end it.
i.e. Don’t keep playing the game just because you “need” to reach level 20 (or whatever). Recognize the natural stopping point and end it.
aramis erak
Legend
Reward clever attempts with amusing yet sensible results - not of need success.
It's as okay to lower the difficulty for an amusing or collegial decision as it is for one that fits the task. Yeah, go ahead and reward groupthink!
It's as okay to lower the difficulty for an amusing or collegial decision as it is for one that fits the task. Yeah, go ahead and reward groupthink!
For every action there is a reaction, what IF it! Meaning after something takes place think about what happens after.
Last edited:
Haiku Elvis
Knuckle-dusters, glass jaws and wooden hearts.
1, Don't be a douche. (Applies to players and GM equally)
2 There is no "right way". Any way of playing is fine as long as everyone is on the same page. Communication is key.
2, Failure is and should always be a possibility -don't put an obstacle/encounter in or call for a test unless you are prepared for it to fail or the party to be defeated. (It's a thing I see in a lot in adventures where there is, for example, a hidden door that calls for a check to be discovered but needs to be found for the adventure to progress)
3, Just because a player rolls doesn't automatically mean they have agency or are in control. It just means the result is being randomised. (Related to number 2, but I'm mainly talking to you -passive perception checks). Player agency means they get to make choices.
4 Having to make sh*t up on the fly for half the session as it didn't go the way you expected, doesn't mean you did something wrong or prepared badly it just means you've got mad skills. Bask in your achievement.
5 Don't sweat it. If it's not adding anything it's not needed. Skip it, drop it, whatever. If you need to bring it back later just let the players know up front.
2 There is no "right way". Any way of playing is fine as long as everyone is on the same page. Communication is key.
2, Failure is and should always be a possibility -don't put an obstacle/encounter in or call for a test unless you are prepared for it to fail or the party to be defeated. (It's a thing I see in a lot in adventures where there is, for example, a hidden door that calls for a check to be discovered but needs to be found for the adventure to progress)
3, Just because a player rolls doesn't automatically mean they have agency or are in control. It just means the result is being randomised. (Related to number 2, but I'm mainly talking to you -passive perception checks). Player agency means they get to make choices.
4 Having to make sh*t up on the fly for half the session as it didn't go the way you expected, doesn't mean you did something wrong or prepared badly it just means you've got mad skills. Bask in your achievement.
5 Don't sweat it. If it's not adding anything it's not needed. Skip it, drop it, whatever. If you need to bring it back later just let the players know up front.
overgeeked
Open-World Sandbox
Be like water.
Joshua Randall
Legend
MNblockhead
A Title Much Cooler Than Anything on the Old Site
Hussar
Legend
I dunno. I might enjoy some hot and steamy role play... err what were we talking about again?
MNblockhead
A Title Much Cooler Than Anything on the Old Site
Well, this is DnD. Whatever you are hoping for is likely going end in blood. Or at least a lot of annoying mephits.
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