boring dm

[Wyrmcrest]

i don't know about the others, how could i shine out their characters if they're all brute forcers?

Create a weak NPC that they have to protect. Make sure they know the consequences if the NPC dies. It'll help keep them from zerging your badguys while at the same time create a fitting role for them.

Use casters against your PC's. That's their weakness so they'll have to start using strategy to overcome them. Use illusion and enchantments spells, not just fireballs and magic missiles. Charm one of those big brutes and turn him against his friends!

And I agree, ban the MP3 players. Also have everyone roll 5D6 at the start of the session. That's how much damage they take if they make a non game related comment at the table. Make sure to take breaks in which you can get non game related conversation out of the way.

Finally, don't take any of my advice if it's going to reduce the amount of fun had at the table.

Just so you know, I'm probably not the most exciting DM either. I should probably take some of my own advice.

 

[LostSoul]

Ask them what they like best about your game. Ask them for specific instances that they remember were cool.

Ask them about what they like in RPGs in general.

Try and incorporate that into your game.

 

[MoonZar]

over the past few sessions things seemd to go down pretty boringly, people just sit around the table listening to their mp3s or telling jokes but no one really pays attention to the game, everything ingame seems to be really boring.
if i haven't mentiond it, i'm the dm.
my question is, what can i do to make the game more lively, anything to bring the exitment back to the game?
things have been going quite badly for some time now and i fear the players will abandon the game if things don't improve.
any advice is welcome.
thanks in advance.

Well this doesn't help when the players listen to mp3. You should ask them to stop this, i personnaly think this very insulting for the dm.

 

[Hjorimir]

DMing is more art than formula. There are SO many things going on in a game that need attention. Players have varied tastes. I'd recommend that you focus on the fun and worry about everything else second.

If the flow of the campaign is stalling it is probably a good indication that it is time to switch things up.

 

[Jubilee]

I think before you impliment any changes you ought to have a chat with the group. It's possible that they've gotten into a rut, too, and if you start getting lively they may not notice (especially if they are listening to their mp3 players - talk about rude!). You need to sorta give them a wake-up call, I think, and say there are problems and you want to address them, but they need to be participating too. Afterall, it isn't entirely up to the DM to entertain the players - it needs to go both ways!

 

[BroccoliRage]

think of everything cool in every movie, book, video game and cartoon that is fantasy related that you have ever seen, choose a really good one, tone it down so your player can handle it without making it too easy, describe it in vivid detail without taking too long to do so, act really enthused because enthusiasm is contagious, make your players feel good when they succeed but dont rub it in their faces too much when they fail (a little face rubbing is customary, and always, always, ALWAYS leave off on a cliffhanger....

Too be continued.

or, if your players are illiterate jackasses, get a new group.
good luck and good gaming.

 

[kolikeos]

thanks all for the advice, i sure hope that our next dnd session will be more interesting.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

It could be your players have ADHD like a couple of mine do. More often than I'd like they get distracted by stuff out of game and distract other players as well.

I recommend just talking openly with your group.

 

[Yair]

I always feel awkward giving DMing advice, as I'm not the paragon of DMs. Here are my 0.02$.

Talk to them. Try to find out what is it that the like, and what turns them off. Don't just do this with one talk, make up a poll to give after your session and ask them to fill it before they leave - something very short, but with at least these important questions: "what did you enjoy in this session? what did you find boring, bad, or otherwise not enoyed?". Asking about what they want next, and whehter they enjoyed the session less or more than the recent ones is also good.
Try to be firm on them answering the poll, and on staying focused in-game while the game is on. But leave time for socializing (ordering food, taking a smoking break, whatever).

It's hard to turn an mp3-listening crowed to avid roleplaying junkies. Good luck.

 

[Wormwood]

Stop playing D&D for a while.

There are plenmty of games out there that don't require the attention and investment that RPGs do. Card games, board games, miniatures games, whatever.

Ask the group what they would rather be doing, then do it.