A Beginners Guide To DMing A Dungeons & Dragons Game
Image Source: The Scroll
A lot goes into DM’ing (Dungeon Mastering) a Dungeons and Dragons game, or any tabletop RPG game. While the players have the easy job of creating their single character, the DM has the hard job of creating everything else. It can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time DM’ing, so follow this guide to make sure that you’re the best DM you can be.
First, the hardest part will be finding a group of players. If you have friends or family who are ready to play, that’s even better. However, if you want to DM, but don’t have people around you, you can always find a group to play online. This is always the hardest part of any TTRPG game, but once you find that group, the hardest part is over. You will also need to decide if you want to do a long-form campaign or a one-shot.
RELATED:
Next is creating your world. If it’s your first time DM’ing, this may be a difficult undertaking, as there is so much to include in your campaign setting. There are many pre-made campaign settings for you to use. One of them includes the expansive world of Exandria, from Critical Role. There are published campaign guides for a DM to follow based on Exandria. There are also many others you can find online.
Then you have to create your characters. The players aren’t the only ones that have to create a character, you as the DM have to create many different NPC’s (Non-player characters) that the players will encounter on their journey. Not only do you need to create what this character looks like, but you would also need to assign a class, and stats for the NPC as well. This part can also go hand in hand when you’re creating your world, as you can picture what NPC’s would be in what location. However, similar to campaign settings, you can also use NPCs that already exist, especially if you are using a pre-made world.
Image Source: Softonic
While creating your NPC’s, you will also need to decide what monsters your party will encounter. There are many different types in the world of D&D, so the easiest way to decide this would be to pick up a Monster Manual. It gives you everything you need to know about the creature, including stats, and what they can do in combat.
Now, create your story. Once you have your world, monsters, and NPCs, you need to put it all together and craft a story for your players to follow. You need to create what kind of encounters your players will take part in as well. Will there be a fight at a tavern? Will they stumble across a mind flayer on their journey through the woods? That is for you to decide when creating your story. You will need to begin the game, but once it gets going, the players should be taking charge. With creating your story, you will also need to decide where you will play the game. It could be in person, which some people prefer, or if that is not an option, there are plenty of online ways to play as well, and some of these are even free.
Image Source: Dungeons and Dragons Fanatics
After you have assembled a party, and created a story, your job does not stop here. You as the DM need to be prepared for anything. It’s recommended that you have an outline prepped for each game, but if not, just make sure you’re ready for whatever comes your way. Even if you do have an outline, players might think outside of the box, and that is okay. Another is to take notes. You don’t want to forget what happens in between each session, especially if they are spread out.
When it comes to rules, there are a lot of them. As a DM, you will not be expected to know all of them, but you should have a basic understanding of them. You can always check the player’s handbook if you are unsure of a rule as well. While there are the published rules, there are also table rules. Now these can take the place of a published rule, or change one up. If you don’t like how something is done, you can change up the rule, since it’s your table. Everyone should feel welcome at your table, whether it's their first time, or their 100th time playing D&D.
Finally, the last, and most important rule, is to have fun. Everyone is there to play a game and have a good time. If you are too strict on some rules, or make the encounters too hard, then your players may not have fun. If you feel like an encounter is too difficult, it’s always okay to check in with your players to make sure they’re still having fun. If players aren’t having fun, they may not want to play again, and that is never the outcome we want. Always make sure your table is having a fun time, because, after all, that is why everyone is here.
READ NEXT:
Source(s): D&D Beyond
Latest News
Featured
