Novice DM Looking for Advice

[Pbartender]

I am not there to argue the finer points of rules discussion DURING the game (afterwards, sure), I am there to make fair rulings and present an entertaining time for all...

No one is arguing that. If anything, it's something I'd whole-heartedly agree with (see my post above, where I suggest just that).

We're talking about the tone of the confrontation. The difference between you and the OP, is that you've been DMing long enough to have already built up the respect, authority and trust with your players to the point where you can flat out tell them, "Put up or shut up," and not have them call your bluff.

The OP is new to all this, and hasn't gotten there yet. He still needs to build himself up to that position, and he needs to find a way to enlist his friend in helping him do that. A good friends should just need to be asked, but he may need to be coerced by the DM or the other players.

 

[Rel]

As for the problem player, I'd probably talk to him away from the table about it. Alone. The thrust of the conversation would be "I'm new at this and would like to improve but also let us all have a good time. I'd feel a lot better if I felt like you were working with me instead of against me in pursuit of that goal."

If he's really a friend then he'll probably help you out. If he puts getting a few jollies from messing with you at the game table ahead of your fun and that of the group...I'd probably tell him that you're still friends but until his attitude changes that he's not welcome to play in your game. I think that's a tough spot to be in but he's putting you there and not the other way around, so I think it's his obligation to change the offending behavior.

As for props and cool stuff to have aside from the game books, I'll give my standard recommendation: Descent.

This is a dungeon-crawl boardgame. The main box set comes with around 80 plastic miniatures representing around 20 different kinds of PC's and bad guys ranging from Beastmen to Giant Spiders to Ogres to Dragons and everything in between. It has a fairly big "snap together" dungeon that you can reconfigure in an infinite number of ways to represent almost any situation. It has TONS of counters representing everything from money to potions to magic items and a wide range of conditions (like being on fire or stunned or webbed).

Since I got my copy of this game I have used the bits of it in almost every single RPG session I've run (probably well over a hundred of them). It is, without question, the single best investment I've made in a gaming product that wasn't a core rule book. Ever.

And, as a bonus, it's a pretty fun game in its own right, though it takes a while to play. So if you have a session where not everybody can make it to the game and you have to cancel your D&D game, you can just play some Descent instead!

Good luck and welcome to ENWorld!

 

[vagabundo]

I second the conversation away form the table method. Talk it out with him. Get him on your side.

I'd also suggest getting the 4th edition DMGs, lots of edition neutral advice on DMing in there.

 

[jimmifett]

I'll concede the point that with an inexperienced DM, that person may not yet have the earned respect to openly tell a player they are disrupting the game.

I'll offer another possible solution. Have the offending player DM a one-shot session. Observe and learn from them and cherry pick the techniques that person uses into your DMing. I sat on the sidelines and watched a couple games before jumping in myself as a player. Then i played with many different DMs to learn styles that worked and didn't before i started down the DM path.

Descent is an excellent suggestion.

Listen to the penny arcade podcasts. Watch the video podcasts they (WOTC) did recently. Order 66 and Radio Free Homlet are excellent listens as well.

-J

P.S.: I *NEVER* listen the to Order 66 Podcast

 

[Draconicarmagon]

thanks for the advice guys, I've talked to him about the disruptions and hes conceded to help me instead of aggravate me to death =p

Edit: sorry about the one post wonders my computer is a slow piece of junk