How would you do Iron DM?
- Thread starter BabbageCliologic
- Start date
IamTheTest
First Post
I dont know much about FeDM in general, but I know occasionally I read posts about ENWorld's own. They are an excellent read, maybe someone could link to them?
IamTheTest
First Post
Nlogue
First Post
IamTheTest said:
Ah, this is a different Iron DM entirely than the one the OP is linking to. The OP is talking about Iron DM at Gencon, a crazy event in which DMs have only one hour to prepare an adventure based on three mystery ingredients and then they run the adventure for four to six players for four hours and compete for the coveted title of Iron DM.
I run the event every year. It's insane and very very good times for all.
If you are interested in doing this and learning more about it, head over to the Iron DM forums and you can post questions there, a lot of competitors from year's past post there (well, they're starting to do so again, the site went down and we just rebooted it recently). You can also read all about the contest there and check out past winner's sagas for ideas on how to best prepare.
Come to win is my best advice. Bring your A game and show no fear. the other DMs and your players will smell the fear on you and tear you apart!
IamTheTest
First Post
I suppose youre right. I think that there may be some things to learn by reviewing what others have done. In any case, they make good reads and if need be you could use them as practice...give yourself an hour and the list of ingredients and see what you can come up with?
Hey guys,
Just to point out, we've got several past Iron DMs, dontadow and netmancer and IRON DM specifically, who frequent the Gen Con Boards, and some of whom help run the event, and would I'm sure be happy to help you out with any specific Iron DM questions. Here's a link to the latest thread on that subject:
http://community.gencon.com/forums/thread/161386.aspx
Just to point out, we've got several past Iron DMs, dontadow and netmancer and IRON DM specifically, who frequent the Gen Con Boards, and some of whom help run the event, and would I'm sure be happy to help you out with any specific Iron DM questions. Here's a link to the latest thread on that subject:
http://community.gencon.com/forums/thread/161386.aspx
Wulf Ratbane
Adventurer
Three ingredients?
Amateurs.
Amateurs.
Festivus
First Post
Here is a link to what Logue is referring to: http://www.irondm.com/
Though the forums looked rather barren to me... do I ned to sign in or somesuch to see real chatter?
Though the forums looked rather barren to me... do I ned to sign in or somesuch to see real chatter?
DonTadow
First Post
Hi, two time iron dm champion here and honestly i should have won last year had I provided one more social encounter and the winner had not had two extra players) GRR still bitter....
In any case, this is a very fun event and I do plan on doing it again this year. I won't tell all my secrets but I will suggest that you really make sure you understand timing and don't get too convoluted with your plot. Don't be too sticky wit hit too. A lot of the tournament is figuring out what the players game for and giving it to them in the four hours.
I've seen a lot of bad DMs come through the tournament. I mean bad. And they may be fine dms at their home, but they get too stuck on their plots, they have no original ideas of their own and they are bad at timing.
Remember to give your pcs a beginning and an end, even if it's a negative one. If you got this amazing story and you realize time is getting short start condensing it. I've seen some really good DMs just get tangled up and run out of time, so the pCs in their game get no resolution of their adventure or what anything was about.
This year we are also doing an iron pc tournament if you want to get an idea of how iron dms DM. As I was writing the adventure for it i thought, man if any dms participate in this they will get a good understanding of my thought processes and how i compose my winning adventures. My biggest thing is that i hate lineear. If the pcs aren't directing the story i am not doing something right.
In any case, this is a very fun event and I do plan on doing it again this year. I won't tell all my secrets but I will suggest that you really make sure you understand timing and don't get too convoluted with your plot. Don't be too sticky wit hit too. A lot of the tournament is figuring out what the players game for and giving it to them in the four hours.
I've seen a lot of bad DMs come through the tournament. I mean bad. And they may be fine dms at their home, but they get too stuck on their plots, they have no original ideas of their own and they are bad at timing.
Remember to give your pcs a beginning and an end, even if it's a negative one. If you got this amazing story and you realize time is getting short start condensing it. I've seen some really good DMs just get tangled up and run out of time, so the pCs in their game get no resolution of their adventure or what anything was about.
This year we are also doing an iron pc tournament if you want to get an idea of how iron dms DM. As I was writing the adventure for it i thought, man if any dms participate in this they will get a good understanding of my thought processes and how i compose my winning adventures. My biggest thing is that i hate lineear. If the pcs aren't directing the story i am not doing something right.
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