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New to D&D and made DM. Help?!?!
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7197359" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>I've coached a few new DMs, but never one who literally had no experience playing D&D prior to DMing. I'd recommend finding a game you can drop in on and play or observe (game stores often have organized play events). If no face-to-face option exists, you could join an online game on Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds or even Google Hangouts. Having that experience as a baseline is really important.</p><p></p><p>Actually, I'll even offer to do an Intro to DMing 90-120 minute session over Skype / Google Hangouts if a couple folks are interested. I've been seeing a lot of new DMs on ENWorld and I think something like that could be helpful.</p><p></p><p>One tip I wished I'd received when I was 10-11 and DMing for my first time is to write down a "cheat sheet" containing basic info about each PC - their name, PC name, class/race/background, Armor Class (AC), passive Perception, darkvision, saving throws, and any special defenses or senses. You may find there are some things you want to be able to see at a glimpse...for example, I like having 2-3 story points about each PC right there on my cheat sheet; it helps me remember detail & reminds me to focus the story on *them*, not some "pet storyline" I have. Nothing wrong with "pet storylines", but those should only be indulged once the DM has an a game strongly focused on the PCs...at least IMO.</p><p></p><p>I'll recommend to you Web DM on YouTube - lots of good advice for new DMs.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7197359, member: 20323"] I've coached a few new DMs, but never one who literally had no experience playing D&D prior to DMing. I'd recommend finding a game you can drop in on and play or observe (game stores often have organized play events). If no face-to-face option exists, you could join an online game on Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds or even Google Hangouts. Having that experience as a baseline is really important. Actually, I'll even offer to do an Intro to DMing 90-120 minute session over Skype / Google Hangouts if a couple folks are interested. I've been seeing a lot of new DMs on ENWorld and I think something like that could be helpful. One tip I wished I'd received when I was 10-11 and DMing for my first time is to write down a "cheat sheet" containing basic info about each PC - their name, PC name, class/race/background, Armor Class (AC), passive Perception, darkvision, saving throws, and any special defenses or senses. You may find there are some things you want to be able to see at a glimpse...for example, I like having 2-3 story points about each PC right there on my cheat sheet; it helps me remember detail & reminds me to focus the story on *them*, not some "pet storyline" I have. Nothing wrong with "pet storylines", but those should only be indulged once the DM has an a game strongly focused on the PCs...at least IMO. I'll recommend to you Web DM on YouTube - lots of good advice for new DMs. [/QUOTE]
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