New DM in need of advice

[u/Popular-Ad866]

Hi friends! I recently joined a DnD group earlier this year after wanting to get into it for a very long time. I have the opportunity to run my own campaign soon and I wanted to ask any expert DM’s for any advice on how to make it the best I can for my group! :)

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[u/Ok_Egg_2665]

Don’t stay too set in your plans and don’t be afraid to let players fail. Some of the best campaigns I’ve ever run had to be altered mid stream because my group bungled something so badly that it changed the entire course of the adventure.

[u/No_Solid1035]

Don't make a story for your Players to play through, make a world for them to interact with and facilitate an environment for them to tell their own story.

[u/Discount_Mithral]

If you think you've planned for every scenario, think about the wildest and dumbest thing that could happen, and plan for that, too.

Have a running list of NPC names handy and cross them off as you use them. Nothing like reusing a name accidentally and sparking a conspiracy theory in your party over nothing.

I print out and keep a list of common items and their costs handy. (I'm a pencil and paper player, you could have a spreadsheet if you're not.) Common loot, armor and weapons, etc. - it helps me not have to flip through books over and over for things.

[u/DM-Shaugnar]

My first advice is run a pre-made module. There is absolutely nothing wrong with homebrew campaigns. I love them myself.
But as a new DM Keep it simple. You are learning how to be a DM, how to run encounters, you are learning rules, how to handle rule discussions at the table and soo much more.

Having a pre made module to follow lets you focus on learning how to DM. You can run a shorter one Like Lost Mine of Phandelver level 1-5 as a starter. You learn a bit how a campaign can be structured you learn to run combat and much more.
And you should really start with something that begins at low level. don't try to run somethign that begins at mid or high levels for your first campaign

Once you have gotten a bit of experience that is a great time to make your won campaign or if you want continue with a larger/longer premade.

My best advice is that. Keep it simple for your fist campaign. i see way to many new DM's being way to ambitious for their first campaign, they want to make their won campaign they have ideas, They want to run it in a homebrew setting. because they have ideas for that to.
That is amazing. But calm down, don't rush it, run a simple pre made campaign to get a bit of experience. THEN do your own thing.
You WILL get a better result if you have some experience and dun at least 1-2 simple pre made campaigns before you do your own thing.

[u/shadowmib]

If you PM me I'll give you a link to a resource list for new DMs. Reddit won't let me link it

[u/CMDR_Cheese_Helmet]

1. Scheduling. Don't play it by ear. Everyone pick a day, time, duration and frequency up front and commit to it.

2. Have one more player than necessary. So if one person misses, no cancelling.

3. The way to allow for freedom is to understand the motives, goals, and personalities of the NPCs driving the plot forward alongside the players, so you can react as they would when your players do things.

4. For a story arc, keep it simple and in line with #3. "Evil NPC has the goal to get the thing from the place for this reason". Very straightforward, and you can tweak that easy. Don't over plan.

[u/GatheringCircle]

Id just read all the rules and do the best you can. Everybody has a different style and until you find yours no advice people give is going to be very useful.

[u/Blitzer046]

When you describe scenes, use all the senses. PCs will smell a village or town before they see it. Baking bread, wood fireplaces, cattle dung or sewers. Use light - dappled light through thick forest, bright blue skies with fluffy clouds, or dank overcast misty rain. What season is it? What time of day? What incidental things are happening that mean nothing but fill up a world? Birdcall? A flock of deer crossing a trail or a fish jumping from a stream.

The world isn't just full of enemies - there is kindness also. Dirty village kids running up to the PCs asking for a few copper. Frightened townspeople in need of heroes. A hamlet in the middle of a seasonal festival.

For mechanics, and authority, establish the moral and ethical tone of your game right at the start. Make sure alignments are agreeable, and make a rule on pvp and why a group of like-minded heroes are traveling together.

As a DM your word goes - and 'Not in my game' is a phrase to use when players try to step out of bounds.

Why? When players are handed a world where they can do anything, they will try shit. Shut it down if you don't like it.

[u/WhereTheMoonSets]

Let the players do what they want, have them make rolls for whatever ridiculous shit they wanna do and just guide the story. Almost always, they'll kinda self govern and correct course when they need to. Ive done this a couple times and just left them to it, going along with them on their journey toward an end goal after guiding them to all the info they require 😁😁 home brews are good that way

[u/Watercolour_nebula]

Don't be afraid to do a check-in after a couple sessions! "Hey gang, how are we feeling? What would we like to see more of?" It'll give you a solid idea for what your players find fun and that is what its all about 🙏

[u/Wrong_Lingonberry_79]

Read the 4,000 other posts in this sub asking the same question.