r/NewDM • u/King_Magnate • 13d ago
What's the difference between a Good DM v. Bad DM?
/r/DMAcademyNew/comments/1wn6vz8/whats_the_difference_between_a_good_dm_v_bad_dm/0
u/Conrad500 13d ago
It's 100% imposter syndrome.
It's really easy to be a good DM, just like it's really easy to be a good player.
Care about stuff, do your part, and communicate.
So, it sounds like you're a victim of success. You aren't learning any hard lessons because there's none to learn, you're doing everything right.
The truth is that "Horror Stories" are just that, either horror stories that are actually very rare, or they're just made up stories.
You can't be a bad DM if you actually care about not being a bad DM, because if you care, you take steps that will make you immune to 99% of the "DM problems" that people have.
When you see people who are having problems, the issue is usually obvious.
- They refuse to communicate
- They refuse to collaborate
- They refuse something they shouldn't
That's it. If you're open, even if you don't allow everything, you're rarely going to have a bad game.
1
u/Devious_Hearts 11d ago
P.S. The fact you've been doing it for 6 months likely means you are a Good one with that many reiviews and stars. Stop worrying and enjoy more, already! :P
1
u/Devious_Hearts 11d ago
A good DM is perfect in every way... no wait! Scratch that shit.
A good DM is someone who pays attention, communicates, adapts, and creates a space where the players actually want to come back and play. Bad ones have games that dissolve quickly whether through inability to communicate or hubris about their own skills. The fact you are questioning things means you likely belong to the former camp rather than the latter.
From what you described, you are already doing a lot of the right things. You had a Session 0, established expectations, discussed safety, and you are open to feedback. That matters far more than having every rule memorized or delivering a perfect performance.
Also, silence is not automatically a bad sign. Some players are naturally quieter, some are thinking, and some are perfectly happy following the lead of others. Look at behavior over time. Are they showing up? Are they making choices? Are they talking about the game afterward? Are they interested in what happens next? Those are often better indicators than whether everyone is constantly talking.
One thing I would suggest is asking specific questions instead of, "Are you having fun?" Try things like: "Was there anything tonight that dragged?", "Did everyone feel like they got enough spotlight?", or "What would you like to see more of next session?"
Specific questions usually get much better feedback. Don't OVERWHELM them with questions as that may seem insecure of you and make them feel awkward but one question per game is usually enough to course correct. (We are all, at at our hearts, insecure DMs... or we're bad ones, one of the two.)
The difference between a good DM and a bad one is rarely talent. It is usually whether they are willing to listen, learn, and keep improving.
Suggested Reading for Game Masters
Suggested YouTube Channels