What's your DMing Rule 0?

[RFisher]

These days mine is probably:

Say, "Yes!"

(Which is not to say that I should always say "Yes!" Just that I should be predisposed to saying "Yes!" rather than "No!" But it's not qualified as such to keep it pithy. "Be predisposed to saying 'Yes!'" just doesn't have the same ring.)

 

[cmrscorpio]

Whenever I start a new campaign, I give my players a hand out that contains my house rules. The first statement on that sheet is:

"My goal above all others is to run a fun campaign."

 

[kaomera]

"You're here to DM; run the game the players want or the game you want to DM, not the game you'd love if you where on the opposite side of the screen."

 

[Celebrim]

Rule 0: The DM is always right when he's sitting down.

 

[RavenSinger]

Kudos to FireLance for a good thread topic! And to the great responses already...

My rule 0, like others, is for all to have fun. I get that fun by knowing my players and providing situations in my world (my fun) for them to show off and explore their characters and the game (their fun). At least, that is how it is working with my current group...

RavenSinger

 

[Hjorimir]

I have two things I try to keep in mind as a DM:

I stole one of P-Kitty's mantras, which is basically, "Take whatever the PCs are trying to do and make it exciting."

The other is not letting the rules get in the way of a good time.

 

[Wombat]

"It's just a game -- that means we are supposed to have fun!"

 

[Random Axe]

My best advice is this: "Always be able (and prepared!) to WING IT."

Your players are ALWAYS going to surprise you, whether with unforeseen strategies, unforeseen LACK of strategy, or a propensity to latch onto tangents that have nothing to do with nothing. Just go with it and (to steal from most of the above posts) HAVE FUN ANYway.

 

[pawsplay]

"You GM to experience, not to create."

 

[SavageRobby]

These days mine is probably:

Say, "Yes!"

(Which is not to say that I should always say "Yes!" Just that I should be predisposed to saying "Yes!" rather than "No!" But it's not qualified as such to keep it pithy. "Be predisposed to saying 'Yes!'" just doesn't have the same ring.)

Right there with you on this one. "Find ways to say Yes" has been something I've gravitated to more and more over the years. Makes it more fun for everyone.