What is the MOST IMPORTANT skill for a GM to have?

[Golden Bee]

Scheduling. Can't do it, can't play.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If you had to pick just one skill as the single most important one for a good GM to have at a high level, what would you pick?

For me, it is the ability to respond creatively to whatever the players throw at you. IMO, player agency is the thing that makes RPGs what they are and worth playing compared to other forms of games, and so the best GMs are those that can really riff of what the players bring to the table. I like to think i aim for that ability, even if I don't always achieve it.

What do you think is the most important GM skill? Whatever it is, do you feel like you are good at it? What do you do to try and improve, if anything?

Also -- let's keep this positive and NOT talk about what we think is an unimportant or overrated GM skill. Someone else can start that thread if folks want to talk about that.

I wish I had more, but I think you're right. Being able to respond creatively to PC action is probably the most important skill. I do think good, detailed rules can help with this, by covering a lot of territory that might otherwise fall through the cracks if forced to just make a fast call as opposed to a good call.

 

[DragonLancer]

The ability to improvise quickly and seamlessly on the spot. For high level play this is a must have ability IMO.

 

[Reynard]

Scheduling. Can't do it, can't play.

Is that a GM only responsibility?

 

[Reynard]

Apparently the second most important skill a GM can have is efficient page flipping...

 

[PHATsakk43]

A Good Memory. There is so much to remember, from rules, to what you agreed too last session, to what the NPCs are planning.

You can write stuff down but who has time to go poring through notes. When you’ve got a good memory not only is it easier to run the game, you don’t need to be as creative because you can just use stuff you’ve seen elsewhere.

I never had a good idea that I didn’t steal.

Yes, it is a major part of creating the verisimilitude of having the characters interacting with a continuous world where the players are having a week or so between sessions. It's difficult to do this without giving the game away.

Beyond the campaign details having an encyclopedic knowledge of the rules, while not critical, can also affect game play. This latter example is biting me pretty hard with my new gaming group.

I've ran 5E games for years, but for most of that time my table was as fluent with the game (or in most cases moreso) than myself, so I effectively leaned on my table to handle a lot of rules implications with only having to decide on an adjudication rarely. My new table has mostly new players. I also haven't ran much since 2022 or so. I didn't realize how rusty I am and also how much I had relied on my table.

 

[Starfox]

Once this thread has run its course, it would be interesting if someone would collate the options presented and make a vote on them.

I'd say storytelling skills, narration, weaving different plots and character arcs together. Basically being a good editor of the collaborative fiction being told.

 

[Cergorach]

Patience...

 

[Older Beholder]

Creativity, flexibility and patience all go a long way.

 

[Reynard]

Creativity, flexibility and patience all go a long way.

That's 3 skills.