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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fanaelialae" data-source="post: 7919962" data-attributes="member: 53980">They are good suggestions overall. I expect a table that successfully implemented them would function like a well oiled machine.But I do think that they're more in the 'nice to have' category. While it makes running the game easier at the table, lots of those things can be handled by the DM without significant mental overhead. For example, when I DM I keep my notes brief and to the point. One or two sentences per scene. Just the facts. Similarly, when I do initiative I just use a sheet of paper and write down the order vertically on it, leaving lots of space between entries (this way I can jot initiatives down as they are declared, rather than needing to do any mental sorting beyond basic greater than or less than).My point being that there are lots of little tricks the DM can use to reduce their workload without offloading onto the players. Although a new DM isn't necessarily going to know about them. The same is true for offloading work onto your players.You can't generally offload the primary workload however. Prepping and running the game is work, and not everyone wants to do it.When new GMs ask me about advice for running their own game, one of the first things I tell them is something to the effect of:"That's great! Try not to stress about it or overwork yourself with too much preparation. Just do your best to run a fun game. It probably won't be perfect your first time, so don't waste time worrying about making it perfect. The more you work at this the better you'll be."I certainly don't focus on the fact that GMing can be a considerable amount of work. Most players grok that it's work even if not all comprehend the amount of work involved, so if someone chooses to try GMing that tells me that they aren't put off by a little work, which is a good thing for a GM. I'm not sugar coating it either though. I think it's important to manage expectations by pointing out that it is a skill. I've known more than one GM who had potential but gave up on it because their first game wasn't the idealized vision of perfection they'd imagined it would be.</blockquote>

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