What is the #1 most important thing to remember about DMing?

[SteveC]

You only get to keep wearing the Viking Hat as long as the players let you.

 

[billd91]

I've already answered but I'll add more because I can't help myself.

The game, by which I mean the game played at your table, isn't the rules. It's far more than that. For the good of the game, if the written rules are getting in the way, use your powers of judgment as GM and break the rules as benefits your game. You and not the game designers are in a position to do this best. You're the game master not the adventure administrator.

 

[Hussar]

+1 to all these (don't be a dick, have fun, remember these are friends)

But, the absolute most important thing you must do as a GM, IMHO is NEVER write a plot outline. Flesh out your setting, create interesting NPC's with their own goals and motivations, but don't you ever write a GD plot outline...
To paraphrase South Park, every time I see a GM do this I want to shoot him in the twig.

Move the world along, not the game. Make your NPC's try to fulfill their goals, make stuff happen, and describe things that happen where the PC's are - it's the Player's duty to find the plot they want to follow, not yours. If you have an army march through the town, a plague infest the town and then an undead NPC proclaim himself king of all this land and the players are content to sit in the tavern and drink and flirt with the barmaids the whole time, let them.

Your job is to create and move the rest of the world along, it's up to the players to get involved in the world, find the story they want to take part in, and follow through with it, if they don't, let em sit and rot.

Heh, totally opposite to me.

Your world will never matter as much to the players as it does to you. You have a choice to make. Is your world more important to you than your players or not?

For me? An engaging story trumps any amount of scenery every time. Make sure that your campaign is the most important thing you spend time on.

 

[Dannager]

Heh, totally opposite to me.

Your world will never matter as much to the players as it does to you. You have a choice to make. Is your world more important to you than your players or not?

For me? An engaging story trumps any amount of scenery every time. Make sure that your campaign is the most important thing you spend time on.

Agreed.

 

[Thasmodious]

Never let 'em see you sweat.

 

[FireLance]

Remember that absolute power over what happens in the game world notwithstanding, you are not a god in real life.

(But if your players ask if you are a god, you may say, "Yes". )

 

[Kaodi]

Rule #1: See OP.

 

[Hussar]

Agreed.

Funnily enough, even knowing this and honestly believing it, I still spend way too much time on setting wank. ARRRGGHGHGH!!!

 

[Hassassin]

Think on your feet: whatever the players choose to do, try to take it in stride.

 

[buddhafrog]

I'm not answering the OP but want to add a twist to the question. The one thing that PLAYERS should do is:

Thank the DM

I mean this seriously in that giving the DM appreciation is just appropriate for the time he's putting in. It also encourages him to put his all into it and will eventually make for a better game. Lastly, it reminds everyone that we're a group, including the DM, who is playing together.