Comments on: 17 Steps to GMing a New RPG for the First Time http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time The Game Mastering Blog Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:06:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: First-Time RPG Referee « FrozenIsles Productions http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-9057 First-Time RPG Referee « FrozenIsles Productions Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:21:57 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-9057 [...] an older style of RPG… but to me it just sounds like good principles for running a fun game. 17 Steps to GMing a New RPG for the First Time by Martin Ralya is about your first encounter with a new system. How to GM, DM, ST or just Run an [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9057','First-Time RPG Referee « FrozenIsles Productions'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] an older style of RPG… but to me it just sounds like good principles for running a fun game. 17 Steps to GMing a New RPG for the First Time by Martin Ralya is about your first encounter with a new system. How to GM, DM, ST or just Run an [...]
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]]> By: How to Start an RPG Campaign Step 1 – Want It « The Homework Never Ends http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-8541 How to Start an RPG Campaign Step 1 – Want It « The Homework Never Ends Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:18:16 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-8541 [...] Stew's 17 Steps to GMing A New RPG for the First Time Filed under: Roleplaying and Games Leave a comment Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('8541','How to Start an RPG Campaign Step 1 – Want It « The Homework Never Ends'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] Stew's 17 Steps to GMing A New RPG for the First Time Filed under: Roleplaying and Games Leave a comment Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to [...]
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]]> By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-630 Martin Ralya Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:31:37 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-630 I'm surprised Sean himself hasn't stopped in. Sean, if you're reading this I'd love to know whether this post was what you had in mind, or if it was helpful to you, since you requested it. ;)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('630','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I’m surprised Sean himself hasn’t stopped in. Sean, if you’re reading this I’d love to know whether this post was what you had in mind, or if it was helpful to you, since you requested it. ;)
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]]> By: Dungeons and Dragons Sunday Link Smashup for June 01, 2008 http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-609 Dungeons and Dragons Sunday Link Smashup for June 01, 2008 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 16:12:45 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-609 [...] over at Gnome Stew wrote an excellent article on 17 Steps to GMing a New RPG for the First Time. This is especially useful right now, as many of us are about to run a new RPG (D&D 4E) for the [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('609','Dungeons and Dragons Sunday Link Smashup for June 01, 2008'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] over at Gnome Stew wrote an excellent article on 17 Steps to GMing a New RPG for the First Time. This is especially useful right now, as many of us are about to run a new RPG (D&D 4E) for the [...]
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]]> By: BryanB http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-540 BryanB Thu, 29 May 2008 18:53:40 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-540 Not only does trying a new game system open your eyes to new approaches and ideas, but it also allows you to appreciate the good ones that you already know while you are flailing around trying to grasp the new ones. :) I think it is important to allow yourself to experience rule six on the list. Often times I have hesitated to run a new system just because I felt that I wasn't ready enough. What does ready enough mean really? Mistakes are going to happen. Expecting perfection from yourself on a new rules set is setting yourself up for disappointment. If you do the best you can, that is all that anyone can ask. If the players are new to a game, they might not even notice the mistake anyway. If you have read the book and understand the core mechanics, then that should be enough to get started. Part of learning a system comes from realizing that you made an error and then refreshing your system knowledge on that paricular rule so that it becomes less likely that the error will happen again. Rule 14 and 15 are good to. Have FUN and just RUN that game already!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('540','BryanB'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Not only does trying a new game system open your eyes to new approaches and ideas, but it also allows you to appreciate the good ones that you already know while you are flailing around trying to grasp the new ones. :)

I think it is important to allow yourself to experience rule six on the list. Often times I have hesitated to run a new system just because I felt that I wasn’t ready enough. What does ready enough mean really?

Mistakes are going to happen. Expecting perfection from yourself on a new rules set is setting yourself up for disappointment. If you do the best you can, that is all that anyone can ask. If the players are new to a game, they might not even notice the mistake anyway. If you have read the book and understand the core mechanics, then that should be enough to get started. Part of learning a system comes from realizing that you made an error and then refreshing your system knowledge on that paricular rule so that it becomes less likely that the error will happen again.

Rule 14 and 15 are good to. Have FUN and just RUN that game already!

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]]> By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-532 Martin Ralya Thu, 29 May 2008 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-532 @Scott: Along with going in new directions, trying new RPGs (which I also love to do) makes your mind more limber. Every system you absorb makes it a little bit easier to absorb the next one, and more open to different approaches -- or at least I've found that to be true.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('532','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Scott: Along with going in new directions, trying new RPGs (which I also love to do) makes your mind more limber. Every system you absorb makes it a little bit easier to absorb the next one, and more open to different approaches — or at least I’ve found that to be true.
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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-531 Scott Martin Thu, 29 May 2008 16:27:04 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-531 I agree, and particularly like points 6 (Mistakes will be made) and 14 (Remember: It doesn’t have to be perfect, just fun). It's hard to adjust to a new game when you're used to having the rules down to a science in a familiar system... everything feels klunkier. But the new system might steer you in a direction you'd never approach in your familiar system-- that's a big part of why I enjoy exploring different RPGs.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('531','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I agree, and particularly like points 6 (Mistakes will be made) and 14 (Remember: It doesn’t have to be perfect, just fun). It’s hard to adjust to a new game when you’re used to having the rules down to a science in a familiar system… everything feels klunkier. But the new system might steer you in a direction you’d never approach in your familiar system– that’s a big part of why I enjoy exploring different RPGs.
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]]> By: age http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/17-steps-to-gming-a-new-rpg-for-the-first-time/comment-page-1#comment-513 age Thu, 29 May 2008 08:26:37 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=139#comment-513 Definitely Points 2, 3 and 14 stand out as most relevant in my experience "Read it once, then read it slow, play together.... and have fun as you go!"<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('513','age'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Definitely Points 2, 3 and 14 stand out as most relevant in my experience
“Read it once,
then read it slow,
play together….
and have fun as you go!”
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