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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Stormrunner" data-source="post: 1608180" data-attributes="member: 13471">Seconding Virgil's recommendation - this is an important first step for any campaign.You're biting off an awfully big hunk here - first time as a DM, and you're not only making your own campaign world, you're doing it online.  If you can pull it off, that's great, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't work first time.  Being a DM is at least 5x as much work as being a player, making your own world is LOTS of work, and running an online campaign can be tough even for an experienced DM.  You might be better off starting out with a pre-made world like Greyhawk, Ravenloft, or Forgotten Realms - all the work of maps, countries, gods, and major NPCs is done for you, and the players are probably at least passing familiar with much of it ("Elminster? Yeah, I think I've heard of him...").  This cuts WAY down on your workload.  After you get more used to being a DM, it'll be a lot easier to "roll your own", as you'll have a better idea of what areas are likely to be a problem.  Even with a pre-made world, expect this to take most of your free time.Be prepared for things to go SLOWLY compared to NWN.  Paper RPGs are more flexible, but since the computer isn't doing all the math instantly for you, they take more time (especially in combat).  Doing it via chat/email slows things down even more.Go to your local college/university and sit in on one of the gaming groups there - not as a player, but as an observer.  Be completely upfront about it - say "I'm trying to learn how to be a DM, and I'd like to sit in on one of your sessions to see how you do it."  Take notes.  Pay particular attention to how the DM handles-initiative and combat-portrayal of/interaction with NPCs-"in character" vs "out of character" conversation-disputes between players (or between player and DM).If you can do this with several different groups, even better, as it lets you see different styles of DMing.</blockquote>

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