How do you improve your DM skills?

[Shallown]

Feed back is important. Every 6 months or so I do a survey of my players. Its simply list 3 things you like about the game/the gm and 3 things you don't. That way I know what I am doing right and what I need to work on. This works only if the party is willing to be honest.

Second Is a technique I read about on the boards. Pick an area you, as a gm, are weak and Focus on it for 1-2 sessions. If your npc's are two diminsional then read up on things to help with that and make sure your next 2 sessions have a few NPC's and concentrate on making them the best you can. Make it a habit to make them real then after a few sessions attack your next weakness. It has worked for me fairly well. Realize though you occasionally go back and focus on something again and try to keep it sharp.

In this case, of focusing, you can get feedback on just what you focused on. Its not all on the GM to improve sometimes you need the players help to improve so ask for it.

Hope this helps

later

 

[barsoomcore]

If you can buy just one book to improve your DMing, buy Call of Cthulhu d20. Simply the best discussion of this craft/art/science I've ever read. TONS of brilliant information about how to create and run exciting, memorable games your players will love.

I've been reading this sort of stuff for twenty-five years now, and Monte Cook said it best when he said it in that book. If you're serious, buy it.

 

[Chupacabra]

If you can buy just one book to improve your DMing, buy Call of Cthulhu d20. Simply the best discussion of this craft/art/science I've ever read. TONS of brilliant information about how to create and run exciting, memorable games your players will love.
QUOTE]

Sage advice. That book is chock full of good ideas and tips.

 

[Thotas]

I agree with you guys ... I picked up CoC d20 for all the creepy stuff and amazed at how usefull Chapters 10 & 11 were for RPG, any where, any time, any genre.

 

[Garnfellow]

Get the Robin's Laws of Good Game Mastering. I found it to be very valuable.

I strongly second this recommendation. If you're seriously looking to improve your craft, this might be the best $10 you will ever spend.

I find it amazing that, given this hobby is 30 years old, so little support material has been produced that addresses the practical, real-life side of running a role-playing game. You can easily find dozens of advice-giving articles on how to improve your in-game mechanics: things like designing unique spells, adopting a pseudo-historical monetary system, or assigning variant XP awards. Now don't get me wrong; these wonky in-game topics can be pretty satisfying to tinker with in their own way.

But it's actually pretty hard to find an article that helps make your game more fun and exciting for everyone sitting at the table. And isn't that really the whole point of this hobby?

Robin fills a pretty big hole with this book.

 

[Ryltar]

Watch stage actors talk, move, well, act. After all, what is the DM, if not a cross between an actor and a novelist? As an aside, watch less movies, as most of the things a movie shows you will make for poor inspiration.

[edit]The Royal Shakespeare Company is the best.

 

[Darklone]

Agreeing with everything everyone else said. Going to drink a beer with the players (one by one) is good, you'll know what they would like to have in a game and what they don't like in your game. Then try to find compromises between most of the players.

Storyhours reading and bugging other DMs who are not too lazy to write one is another good idea. I stole a lot of ideas and knowledge how to build a campaign there. (mainly from Old One)

Last but not least: Never forget what/how you love to play. Example: I always loved D&D for being a system where you can have battles with 200 dudes and still get over it in one session. Some people complained, others loved it... all come back and do expect this stuff. Why? Because I like it and that makes me do it well.

 

[Psion]

Identify your weaknesses, and make a point of working on them game by game.

I'm trying to sharpen up my NPC characterization, depth, and involvement, myself.