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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 6727741" data-attributes="member: 37579">Originally posted by wrecan:DM style: I try to mix it up a lot. I've been doing this about 30 years, so I'm always looking for new things to try. According to my players, I've been on a "the villain you thought you had turns into the ally you needed" kick for a bit, so I'll have to watch that.My games:4e, at this point. I just converted my "friends" game from 3.5. The game with my wife and kids had been converted from 3.5 to 4e as soon as it came out, and my solo game with my wife is being converted form 2e to 4e.Respect: My players have been with me for years, so we have a pretty respectful table.Distractions not allowed: Nothing. But we're old fogies, so that's not too bad Food: We're foodies. In addition to the donuts, chips, ice cream and cookies, one of my players cooks a quiche for each session. Another made scallops. I don't think we've had a pizza at a session in five years.Character names: I've had to put my foot down about names based on puns. I've got one player who I think it's his last defense mechanism so he can justify that he's not as geeky as the rest of us because he does't take his character too seriously.Missing players: We've all got kids and job commitments, so we do it "JLA-style". Whoever shows up at the session are the heroes available when everything goes down.Table talk: It's not fun unless you can MSTK3 the game as you play. Table talk is eaves droppable by NPCs only when I declare it.Rolling dice: As DM, I roll all dice in the open. I find it helps heighten the tension. Players can do what they want. I trust them. Nobody fudges anything. Only rule about dice is if it falls off the table you have to reroll, good or bad.Rules Discussions: I keep rules discussions to a minimum. I listen to the player's pitch, read the rule and then make the call. One made, discussions are reserved to after the game. If I change my mind, I make an announcement at the beginning of the next session.Metagame thinking: Haven't had this problem in years.Props: I love Dungeon Tiles. I'm an addict. I use them all the time I also have a bunch of minis. Here's a good tip. Go to a crafts store and pick up some cake decortation props. They have pillars that are perfect size and look great. For creatures for whom I don't have minis, I make paper minis. My kids like helping me tape them together as a craft project.Things I think I need help on: I need to describe the action better. I have a bad hapit of saying "He rolls, 15. hit. Take 12 damage". Instead I should say "He swings his mighty club, forcing you to strain yourself to get out of the way. (12 damage)"</blockquote>

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