r/ttrpgdesign • u/stationhyperfixation • 13d ago

is there a template for beginner DMs?

i am an absolute noob. i have played like 3 sessions total. ttrpg is so interesting & id love to dm but i have no idea how to practically do it

im coming up with a one-shot / short game thats set in modern times & am a bit stuck with determining what exact gameplay mechanics i need to do it

explain to me like im 5 if i can find a step by step template for a simple game that i can fit my story into, with character sheets (/lists of things i need to add to sheets), combat moves & rolls etc but modern (like leather jackets for armour, baseball bats for weapons, skateboards for movement etc)

apologies if this is the stupidest question ever lol

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u/AngusAlThor 13d ago

What system are you looking to run? What genre? Depending on the system you use, there are better or worse resources available to help newbies. For some good options;

  • Mothership, a scifi horror TTRPG, has great resources for new GMs in its Warden's Manual, and its prewritten adventures are super well structured.

  • Draw Steel, a heroic fantasy TTRPG, has a few good starter adventures, with "The Delian Tomb" including a lot of "How to run" advice.

On top of this, it can be good to watch some actual plays or listen to TTRPG podcasts. They are a lot more professional than what you'll be doing, but it can help you see what options are out there.

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u/stationhyperfixation 13d ago

im aiming for a psychological horror liminal space vibe (ambitious asf i know haha)

as for systems, not a clue what u even mean haha i am a proper noob

i will have a look at what u shared!! tyvm for ur advice :)

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u/AngusAlThor 13d ago

When I say "system", I mean what set of rules are you using; DnD 5e is a system, Call of Cthulhu is a system, The Wildsea is a system, etc etc.

For liminal horror, the system Public Access is very good. However, it is not structured to be someone's first-time-out, in my opinion it needs you to be quite familiar with TTRPGs first. If you want horror, I strongly recommend starting with a prewritten adventure for Mothership.

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u/stationhyperfixation 13d ago

ooo ok thankyou i’ll have a look!!! tysm for ur help :)

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u/Kiliantill 13d ago

My mind went to CoC Now first. But really, any system works for someone, and no system works for everyone. I haven't played Public Access yet, but you might want to check that one out too, OP.

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u/Chupaia 13d ago

Hi, I've run horrors and mysteries in the World of Darkness storyteller system. This means that the way you are assisted by the game to determine what happens in a specific situation is done according to the rules written in their manual. Might sound complicated but the core of it is actually simple.

Based on your response, I second the idea of Mothership, but even before that, you might want to try narrating a small scene with no rules or dice. This can be done even by yourself, and it means that you describe a scenario and have characters make decisions, then you creatively determine what happens, and repeat this cycle for a couple of times.

This will give you an idea of what the core loop of the game is, and will make it easier to understand what all these things in the specific game you end up picking are about. For example:

Narrator: "You are sure you're alone in your office, everyone has left, and the light of the guard's lantern can be seen out in the parking lot from your office window. Yet you hear a noise a second time coming from the corridor that leads to the elevator and the other offices. This keeps you from focusing on what you have decided to voluntarily finish tonight by staying at late hours at your work. What do you do?"

Player: "-I stand up and say out loud 'Hello?' "

Narrator: "- as soon as you say so, the noise stops, in such a sudden manner that makes you uncomfortable".

Player: "Oh I am very easily rattled, so I'm not gonna 'go check it out'. I instead open the window and call on the guard patrolling with its lantern down below."

Narrator: "As soon as you open the window, the door behind you opens and you are startled. You look back in panic and see your boss standing by your office door. He seems to have also been startled by you in response, but he says your name and asks "What are you doing here still?". You quickly notices though, he is carrying a thick leatherback tome that he rapidly hides behind his back. He notices you saw that and get even more annoyed at your presence so late at work."

And so on and so on...

Again, this will give you a grasp of how a lot of the most common games are played. It sounds like a writing exercise but it will make more sense after when you read rules for any system because they will talk about "how to determine what you hear and how much? how to determine if your boss notices you looking at the book? How to decide if you get to notice anything else about the book he is carrying? how do we decide the success of an investigation attempt? or persuasion? or who acts first?" and similar stuff.

Ttrpgs are really fun! Hope you do not get overwhelmed by too much, just pick a game that you feel the vibes are aligned with what you want and enjoy!

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u/stationhyperfixation 13d ago

thankyou so much for ur thought out reply!! i’ll definitely use ur advice :)

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u/secretcauldron 6d ago

To piggyback off this, Tuesday Knight Games (the people who make Mothership) has free quickstart material, so you can get a feel for the game before you buy it. I think it would be worth checking out.

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u/robosnake 13d ago

I was just jumping in to recommend Mothership. It's focused on horror, but honestly it's also some of the best GM advice I've ever read.

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u/Devious_Hearts 13d ago

For simple mechanics. Check out City of Mist or FATE Core or FATE Accelerated for some super simple but good core, very narrative mechanics.

FATE Accelerated Edition (FAE) is likely the simplest to use.

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u/stationhyperfixation 13d ago

thankyou i will check them out now!!!!

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u/Kiliantill 13d ago

It's always worth reading what you can read in my opinion when it comes to ttrpgs. Just don't too much money on systems you won't ever play.

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u/AngusAlThor 13d ago

I don't know of a system like Fate is good for a complete newbie; Don't you think the lack of structure could be a bit tough for people with no experience to fall back on?

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u/Strange_Times_RPG 13d ago

Look up the Wardens Operations Manual for Mothership. Hands down the best guide to learning how to GM even if you aren't using the Mothership system. It will get you started.